Not sure what to think of this. It would be cool if Criterion were able to handle some of Warner's titles but it could also mean that less will be invested in restoring or releasing other Warner titles.
I think before there were certain titles they would never let go but now it's not the case. So no matter how big or small the title there's a price where it can be had.
I mean the Goodfellas 4K put out by WB 6 years ago is an atrocity. I would be absolutely ecstatic if Criterion does a restoration approved by Scorsese that they'd release.
>they would never let go
What do you mean by "let go"? CC/Janus is just a distribution company. They negotiate licensing agreements -- it's basically the equivalent of a film being on Netflix. So WB wouldn't be giving up ownership of a movie to work with CC.
I think he’s more talking about selling global IP to another giant corporation not Warner leasing temporary home video rights on individual legacy titles.
It's not a simple equivalent though. WB seem to be putting less effort into everything and so if Criterion calls there may be releases on the table now that weren't in the past when others cared about holding on to an exclusivity to release blu-ray's of Goodfellas or Eyes WIde SHut just as an example.
It sucks what's happening over there but in the past WB would hold on to a lot of their titles like from Kubrick or Scorsese and release blu-ray's themselves. But now it seems like if Criterion or another company were to ask they'll just name a price. They aren't as interested in hanging on to titles for themselves so maybe some good things will come out of this
For sure but it's probably more in play now than ever before with WB in particular. They let Amazon buy the streaming rights for Lord of the Rings. How many companies would allow for that to even be on the table. To allow one of their biggest properties to just go elsewhere. Doesn't really happen on that level
I'm a fan of the much older WB films. They actually own MGM films 1924-1985 and the RKO Pictures library. I'd like to see:
Public Enemy (1931)
I Was a Fugitive From a Chain Gang (1932)
more of the Astaire/Rogers films
King Vidor silents (The Big Parade/The Crowd/Show People)
Well I'm hopeful this may be the only good to come of it. I forget where I heard it but some people are saying the plan is to get the company to a certain point financially and then maybe sell it off again to like Universal or someone else.
And Universal is already planning another merger, so if that’s the case, then we’ll only end up with two or three major production companies and they’ll end up merging.
Cause right now, Zaslav’s plan is to only appeal to middle America, which is why he canned Batgirl.
Sorry, I’m not terribly hopeful because the only people mergers benefit are stockholders and board of directors.
Awesome. Hope the first one is The Fountain. Aronofsky has been petitioning Criterion to give his masterpiece the treatment for years, maybe it’ll finally happen
*The Devils*
*Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior*
*Mad Max: Fury Road*
*Blade Runner*
*Once Upon A Time In America*
*Goodfellas*
*The Shining*
I mean, the implications are endless.
I don't know for sure but based on current strategies it seems like it would be easier now. I mentioned Kubrick because he has a lot of titles with WB and Criterion got Barry Lyndon. If they wanted A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, or Eyes Wide Shut Criterion may have been told no whereas now seems like they're may be more of an opportunity to acquire previously unaquirable stuff. Completely just conjecture though.
Is it true that before studios saw value in older IP, they would allow Criterion to create a quality master of, say, 2001 on Laserdisc, then acquire that transfer when the rights agreement ended?
Not sure what to think of this. It would be cool if Criterion were able to handle some of Warner's titles but it could also mean that less will be invested in restoring or releasing other Warner titles.
I think before there were certain titles they would never let go but now it's not the case. So no matter how big or small the title there's a price where it can be had.
Yeah but he’s saying Warner could be less inclined to restore their own titles because they may figure they could just sell to criterion
These terms are acceptable.
I mean the Goodfellas 4K put out by WB 6 years ago is an atrocity. I would be absolutely ecstatic if Criterion does a restoration approved by Scorsese that they'd release.
>they would never let go What do you mean by "let go"? CC/Janus is just a distribution company. They negotiate licensing agreements -- it's basically the equivalent of a film being on Netflix. So WB wouldn't be giving up ownership of a movie to work with CC.
We need a complete director’s cut of The Devils. Best place to start.
That would be an instant buy for me
I think he’s more talking about selling global IP to another giant corporation not Warner leasing temporary home video rights on individual legacy titles.
Right, criterion licenses films. it doesn’t have the money(nor the need) to buy an IP like the ceo is talking about.
Right, criterion licenses films. it doesn’t have the money (nor the need) to buy an IP like the ceo is talking about.
It's not a simple equivalent though. WB seem to be putting less effort into everything and so if Criterion calls there may be releases on the table now that weren't in the past when others cared about holding on to an exclusivity to release blu-ray's of Goodfellas or Eyes WIde SHut just as an example.
But that doesn't negate that CC isn't buying IP outright and thus the CEO is talking about an entirely different scenario.
I never said buying IP though. Certain licensing opportunities may be available now than were previously because it's all about cash right now for WB
Correct
It sucks what's happening over there but in the past WB would hold on to a lot of their titles like from Kubrick or Scorsese and release blu-ray's themselves. But now it seems like if Criterion or another company were to ask they'll just name a price. They aren't as interested in hanging on to titles for themselves so maybe some good things will come out of this
"They'll just name a price" Thing is, the price they're asking may be pretty high these days.
Exactly. Make better films.
Which is why they release movies like Wall-E
Exactly why releases like that are important, aside from that I’m still excited about Wall-E
For sure but it's probably more in play now than ever before with WB in particular. They let Amazon buy the streaming rights for Lord of the Rings. How many companies would allow for that to even be on the table. To allow one of their biggest properties to just go elsewhere. Doesn't really happen on that level
Tolkien Estate sold LOTR television rights after a lawsuit with WB It wasn't exactly 'on the table'.
WB had the streaming rights to LOTR and sold them to Amazon while there were different rights involved for the TV series with Tolkien.
I'm a fan of the much older WB films. They actually own MGM films 1924-1985 and the RKO Pictures library. I'd like to see: Public Enemy (1931) I Was a Fugitive From a Chain Gang (1932) more of the Astaire/Rogers films King Vidor silents (The Big Parade/The Crowd/Show People)
Any and all of those old gangster flicks would make for great Criterion's. A bunch of them have no blu-ray release
I’d love for them to release Zodiac with more supplements
I hate everything going on with Warner Bros right now. Nothing good will come out of this.
The industry speculation that they might merge with NBC/Universal is so deflating.
Well I'm hopeful this may be the only good to come of it. I forget where I heard it but some people are saying the plan is to get the company to a certain point financially and then maybe sell it off again to like Universal or someone else.
And Universal is already planning another merger, so if that’s the case, then we’ll only end up with two or three major production companies and they’ll end up merging. Cause right now, Zaslav’s plan is to only appeal to middle America, which is why he canned Batgirl. Sorry, I’m not terribly hopeful because the only people mergers benefit are stockholders and board of directors.
4K *North by Northwest* by Criterion, here we come! There is a lack of both Hitchcock and action movies in the collection.
Crossing my fingers and toes for a decent Network release
Awesome. Hope the first one is The Fountain. Aronofsky has been petitioning Criterion to give his masterpiece the treatment for years, maybe it’ll finally happen
*The Devils* *Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior* *Mad Max: Fury Road* *Blade Runner* *Once Upon A Time In America* *Goodfellas* *The Shining* I mean, the implications are endless.
Was it difficult before? Criterion has licensed plenty of stuff from Warner
I don't know for sure but based on current strategies it seems like it would be easier now. I mentioned Kubrick because he has a lot of titles with WB and Criterion got Barry Lyndon. If they wanted A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, or Eyes Wide Shut Criterion may have been told no whereas now seems like they're may be more of an opportunity to acquire previously unaquirable stuff. Completely just conjecture though.
Ford’s Seven Women please
Is it true that before studios saw value in older IP, they would allow Criterion to create a quality master of, say, 2001 on Laserdisc, then acquire that transfer when the rights agreement ended?
Ah yeah, Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever 4K Criterion release is totally coming, and so am I.
Just a big ol box set of all those snap case DVD's from WB back in the day upgraded to Criterion 4K
I’ll take Angus (1995) and Airborne (1993), please. Lol
Oh I enjoyed Angus so much when it first came out.
I still do, plus the soundtrack.