Blogging Through The Collection: This Week In Criterion Blogs

When I came up with the idea to start aggregating the various Criterion Collection related blogs that I read on a somewhat regular basis into a weekly column, I had grand plans to set up reminders for myself, bookmark posts into folders, and produce a compelling weekly blog post for all of you. Unfortunately, the birth of my daughter, and all of the other responsibilities of my life have managed to position themselves between me and that goal. I thought maybe if I switched to a monthly format, that would make things easier, but in reality it just gave me less of an excuse to work on the post. I’ve decided to reboot the column and produce it on a weekly basis. We’ll see if I can keep it going this time. As much as I pretend to be organized and productive, I am really a lazy, lazy guy.

Here is what is going on this week in the world of Criterion Collection bloggers (at least the ones that I bookmark and read on a weekly basis).

First off, I’m going to remind you all that in addition to maintaining this site, I’m trying to keep up with the world of Tumblr through our CriterionCast.Tumblr.com blog. As I’ve stated on the podcast, I’m trying to use that blog as a way of updating various Criterion Collection related news items that might not require a full blog post here on the site (or if I just don’t have the time to write and format a blog post for the news item). I’m trying to post interesting pictures, video clips, or link to other posts that I come across. This past week I’ve grabbed a screenshot from the Rushmore DVD, to compare it to the Facebook tease from Criterion, posted pictures of the final product for the If   Blu-ray, posted some select images from The Rules Of The Game, dug up a Secret Cinema video for their presentation of the Battle Of Algiers, as well as listed the various additions to the Hulu Criterion channel, including all of the supplements that were added. I haven’t really found a way to integrate our Tumblr blog with our proper site at this point, but if any of you have a way, I’m all ears. There is a link up in the page bar here on the site, labeled “tumblr,” which will take you to that site quickly and easily.

Our friend and loyal Eclipse Series reviewer, David Blakeslee has been continuing his journey through the Criterion Collection with his Criterion Reflections blog. This week he has taken a look at the Mikio Naruse film When A Woman Ascends The Stairs. Over the past several months, David has been working through the Silent Naruse Eclipse set, in his Journey Through The Eclipse Series column here on the site, which you all should be reading.

Over at Criterion Confessions, our friend Jamie S. Rich has taken a detailed look at the recent Criterion Blu-ray for Todd Solondz’s Life During Wartime as well as the new Blu-ray upgrade for Akira Kurosawa’s High And Low. Make sure you’re following Jamie on Twitter as well.

If you haven’t been following along with Film School Rejects’ Criterion Collection related column, the Criterion Files, you’ve been missing out on a weekly look at the films of the America Lost And Found, the BBS Story box set. This past week Landon Palmer dove into the King Of Marvin Gardens. You can also read the corresponding pieces for Head, Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, Drive He Said, A Safe Place, and The Last Picture Show. We’ll attempt to tackle the BBS set this September, once we finish our War Arc of August.

Our friend David Ehrlich, who runs the Criterion Corner tumblr, has completed his move from Cinematical to Movies.com, where the Criterion Corner has been reborn. You can find all of his reviews for the July Criterion Collection releases here. David also recently wrote up a post, in which he lays out several musicals that he’d like to see join the Collection. You all really should be following his Tumblr though, as he manages to re-blog some really great stuff on a regular basis.

Over at the Criterion On The Brain blog, you can find reviews for Mouchette, Ivan’s Childhood, and Le Bonheur from this past week.

Check out Sam Smith’s process post on his poster for the theatrical run of World On A Wire from Janus Films. It’ll be interesting to see if this ends up as the final cover for the Criterion DVD and Blu-ray, or if they’ll have Sam come up with something new.

Our friend Michele Rosenthal, who is diligently illustrating various films from the Criterion Collection over at her Criterion Affection blog, has drawn a fantastic image from The Spirit Of The Beehive, a film I hope is upgraded to Blu-ray soon.

Since I haven’t written one of these in a couple months now, I’ll go ahead and direct you to our friend Matthew Dessem’s Criterion Contraption blog, where he has recently taken a look at The Scarlet Empress and The Rock. Both are really great reads, as always.

If I’ve forgotten anything, feel free to leave links in the comments below, to other Criterion Collection related reviews and think pieces. It’s always fun to see who is taking time to shine a light on the films that Criterion chooses to release.

Now I’m off to get my post ready for tomorrow’s November 2011 releases! Exciting times!