Thoughts: Criterion's March 2011 Titles

Unlike my February thoughts, I think I'm pretty solid in my picks for their March titles although I'm bound to change my mind at any point, which were announced this afternoon. They announced three new titles this afternoon and two reissues for Blu-Ray. Let's start off with what I won't be buying for reasons ranging from "it doesn't sound interesting" - which is silly given its the freaking Criterion Collection. Everything about it shouldn't be meh or blah. I've changed the format of how I'm going to post these from now on and may go back and forth. It ultimately depends on which is easier for me.

First up The Times of Harvey Milk (Epstein, 1984), which is a documentary about Harvey Milk and later inspired Gus Van Zant's Milk a few years ago. Much like Van Zant's Milk, I'm not interested in this film either. Documentaries rarely do much for me in this regard. Second in the "I'm not going to touch it" category, The Mikado (Schertzinger, 1939). I've never even heard of this and the premise seems slightly uninteresting. I'll likely wait on reviews, but it has a long way to go to get my interest. That does it for titles I'll be passing on, now to more moderate good-bad and good news. The Times of Harvey Milk is out March 22nd and The Mikado is out March 29th on DVD and Blu-ray.

There is only one title in the maybe pile, that is Topsy-Turvy (Leigh, 1999), it looks and sounds interesting and has good ratings on Rotten Tomatos and IMDB. Although I like to try to limit myself to two Criterion releases a month and that quota has been filled by the remaining two titles from Criterion's releases. It's worth noting that Topsy-Turvy's Criterion cover is awesome. Which leads me to this interesting fact: out of the three new titles, only one is a maybe and two are definitive no. A pretty weak month in terms of new stuff. Topsy-Turvy is out on March 29th on DVD and Blu-ray.

The first of two titles I'll be picking from Criterion's March slate is Yi Yi (Yang, 2000). I love coming-of-age tales and Yi Yi looks to be really good in that respect. Having seen the trailers, read reviews and done my homework on the film, it will be a superb addition to my thriving Criterion library. The second title is Au Revoir Les Enfants (Malle, 1987), another coming-of-age tale and judging from reviews, trailers and homework on the film, it looks like yet another amazing piece of cinema. Both are getting released on Blu-ray on March 15th. DVD releases for each already exist and remain in print.

That's all for now.

EDIT: Upon further investigating and study, the only March title from Criterion I will be purchasing is Au Revoir Les Enfants. Thanks.

Thoughts: Aniplex USA importing The Garden of Sinners of Blu-Ray to U.S.

... and why I'm more than likely not going to purchase it.

I've been a huge supporter of this series of films and have wanted (re: #2 on my wish list) for some time. However, I have to do a 180 when Aniplex USA announced they would be using RightStuf and later Bandai Store to import and release the Blu-Ray set here almost a week after Japanese release. On top of that, Aniplex USA makes it explicit that its for "U.S. and Canada customers only" on their page for the set, to try and likely prevent that pesky reverse importation myth. Which begs the $400 question: why price it so high when you have regulations in place and who would really go to the trouble of it?

Although the price is only a small reason I'm not buying this. As time has gone on and I began to reflect on this release and details. The glaring point of not buying this is simple. It doesn't come with the OSTs/original soundtracks. Would I sacrifice getting 1080p Garden of Sinners in exchange for OSTs? Yes. I would. I want those OSTs. That is the definitive deal-breaker. You would think at $400, they would have no problem including the OSTs in the set. It's just the one big, glaring weakness of the set.

It's disappointing to be sure, but I can't justify putting $400 on something that is not the "definitive" release. If need be, I'll wait for limited edition DVDs with the soundtracks. As much as it'd pain me to buy a DVD, Aniplex leaves me no real choice in the matter. I simply can't plop $400 on something that is not a complete package. I know I certainly can't be alone in this train of thought. Spending $400 on this would be far more reasonable if the OSTs were included.

Winter 2011 Anime - The Golden Waste's Picks.

Fractale (top left)
A-1 Pictures & Ordet
Synopsis via Anime News Network;

The story takes place in an island, where a "Fractale System" is beginning to collapse. One day, Crane finds an injured girl called Phryne under a cliff. She disappears leaving a pendant. Crane sets out for a journey with the girl-shaped avatar Nessa to look for Phryne and discovers the secret of the Fractale System.

Yutaka Yamamoto's latest project, after his recent crappy Black Rock Shooter OVA, I had dismissed the guy as a pretty mediocre director who really doesn't know how to put a serious plot or any real story into his works. The series, which is animated by Aniplex's A-1 Pictures and Yamamoto's Ordet, looks pretty from the artwork and the promos. I'm skeptical about this being good, but at least its on noitaminA which means it should be good. They've never let me down before after all. Althought there is a first time for everything.

Wandering Son (top right)
AIC Classic
Synopsis via Anime News Network;

Shuicihi Nitori appears to be a shy and quiet preteen boy, when he transfers to a new school he quickly makes friends with the tomboyish Yoshino Takatsuki who sits next to him. It soon becomes apparent that both Shucihi and Yoshino are more than simply a sensitive boy and masculine girl, they both are transgendered. Together they decide to take the first steps toward becoming the people they want to be.

This is the series to watch for me. It's the other noitaminA series airing this particular season. I fully expect it to be a real masterpiece. I've been hyped up about it since it was announced. This has not changed. With every promo video and picture, the hype grows and grows. The series is directed by Ei Aoki, who is known for directing Ga-Rei Zero and Girls Bravo. While I felt both were pretty mediocre and gimmicky, they weren't on noitaminA. As a huge fan of the manga, I am hopeful and expect this anime will do the series justice. This is one not to be missed.

Gosick (bottom left)
BONES
Synopsis via Anime News Network;

GOSICK takes place in 1924 in a small, made-up European country of Sauville. The story centers on Kazuya Kujo, the third son of a Japanese Imperial soldier, who is a transfer student to St. Marguerite Academy, where urban legends and horror stories are all the rage. There he meets Victorique, a mysterious yet beautiful and brilliant girl who never comes to class and spends her days reading the entire content of the library or solving mysteries that even detectives can't solve.

I'm really uncertain on BONES to be honest. They are an amazing studio, don't get me wrong. Although their last few series have been lackluster to say the least. I enjoyed Heroman and what I saw of Star Driver, but neither really had screamed quality story or plot to me. That's where my concern comes in, the guy who directed Heroman, Hitoshi Nanba, is directing Gosick. The novels are spectacular and raise a high bar in story. I'm cautiously optimistic, to be honest. Anyways, it has a loli with pipe.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica (bottom right)
SHAFT
Synopsis via Anime News Network;

No synopsis available.

There's nothing yet to be said about the series except its a SHAFT original anime, directed by Akiyuki Shinbo, a magical girl series and it has Ume Aoki (Hidamari Sketch) character designs. All these developments intrigue me and thus, out of curiousity, I will catch a few episodes of this series. I am always in support of more original anime and with Shinbo at the helm, this should no doubt be unique and well done. I'm hopeful this will be the surprise show of the season.

Anyways, those are my picks for Winter 2011's anime season. How about you?