Oh geez. I can’t afford this. Nobody can afford this. This is an inordinate amount of awesomeness for one week. Three Criterion discs, three classics from Studio Canal, a Scorsese, an anime anthology, Audrey Tautou and faux-vintage blaxploitation. How’s a guy supposed to pick a top five out of all this greatness?! Sigh…I’m going to cheat, that’s how.
1. 3 New from Criterion: REVANCHE, LOLA MONTÈS, HUNGER
Uh…yeah. Do I even need to type anything here? By now, you’re all well familiar with my obsession with the Criterion Collection and my need to buy every single Blu-ray disc they release. Essentially, these discs are the best of the best. Hand picked titles, both art house and Hollywood, restored and remastered to incredibly exacting standards. Home video releases as close to the original film versions as technology will allow. Sigh…
These three releases mark an incredibly strong week for Criterion. Both Hunger and Revanche are a part of the companies deal with IFC to distribute some of the best modern cinema has to offer. And Lola Montès, Max Ophuls‘ vibrant, stunningly beautiful final film, is bound to be a revelation on Blu!
Read more here: New Criterion Blu-ray Announcements: Hunger, Lola Montès, Revanche
Amazon: $26.99 each
2. 3 New from Lionsgate/Studio Canal Collection: RAN, THE LADYKILLERS, CONTEMPT
As if it’s not enough to have three new releases from Criterion this week, Lionsgate has decided to unleash its new Studio Canal Collection discs on us at the same time! Six film classics on Blu-ray in one week! This collection has sparked a lot of controversial conversation and consternation from collectors and film buffs (read all about it here and here) but in the end, is likely to provide us with more catalogue and foreign films on Blu-ray than we would see otherwise. I’m excited to check them out for myself.
Read more here: Lionsgate Announces Studio Canal Collection: Ran, The Ladykillers, Contempt on Blu-ray
Amazon:
Ran $22.99
The Ladykillers: $25.99
Contempt: $25.99
This movie looks like so much fun! I’m putting it at number three this week on the merit of its trailers alone. I don’t know if I’ll rush out to pick up Black Dynamite on Blu-ray, sight unseen, but I’ll gladly borrow it from a buddy or give it a rental.
I don’t usually do this half way through a list but you’ve just GOT to watch the trailer:
AWESOME!
4. HALO LEGENDS
I find it tough to be disappointed with Halo Legends, a new anime anthology based on the hit XBOX 360 video game. I’ve never played the game and knew very little about the franchise going in. So, I consider my viewing of the Blu-ray a kind of education on the world of Master Chief. I had no expectations and therefore wasn’t let down by my experience. That being said, it is an anthology. And like all anthologies it has its high and low points. Some of the stories are compelling. Some of the animation is beautiful. And it’s for those moments that I recommend this disc to Halo fans.
I love Audrey Tautou. ‘Nuff said.
ALSO AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY THIS WEEK
Clicking an image will take you to Amazon.com where you can learn more about and purchase the Blu-ray disc:
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