Criterion Goes Blu-ray!

Diehard cinephiles, get ready to buy your favorite movies all over again: The Criterion Collection will start releasing Blu-ray versions of existing titles this October. According to a recent e-mail sent to newsletter subscribers, "These new editions will feature glorious high-definition picture and sound, all the supplemental content of the DVD releases, and they will be priced to match our standard-def editions." Here's a look at the list of films slated for high-def release:

The Third Man
Bottle Rocket
Chungking Express
The Man Who Fell to Earth
The Last Emperor
El Norte
The 400 Blows
Gimme Shelter
The Complete Monterey Pop
Contempt
Walkabout
For All Mankind
The Wages of Fear

If one or two of those titles seem new to you, it's because they probably are. Kar Wai Wong's Chungking Express, Gregory Nava's El Norte, and Wes Anderson's directorial debut, Bottle Rocket, will be receiving the Criterion treatment for the first time.

Old News

I'd tell you the new Darjeeling Limited prequel, Hotel Chevalier, starring Jason Schwartzman and Natalie Portman, and directed by Wes Anderson, is available for free on iTunes, but you probably already knew that.

Darjeeling Limited trailer!

Wes Anderson is one of the few American filmmakers who can seriously be considered an auteur (others include Fincher, Jonze, Russell, Tarantino, the Coens, and the other Anderson, P.T.), so whenever a new movie of his is announced, it's big news, at least in my book. Well, here's the trailer for his latest endeavor, The Darjeeling Limited, which promises heartfelt comedy, beautiful scenery, and awesome music. Oh, and Owen Wilson. Pretty much everything you've come to expect from Mr. Anderson. Did I mention it was shot in India?

Anime Chimp Receives Live-Action Beating and Other Movie News

Who knew that the monkey from Speed Racer could be obnoxious in real life as well? Only difference is that when you (allegedly) beat up the live-action monkey, PETA comes knocking at your door.

Also, after seeing this screenshot, I'm really excited about the new Wes Anderson film, The Darjeeling Limited. Pictured are Anderson regulars Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman, along with one of my favorite actors, Adrian Brody. The film comes out Sept. 29 in NY, Oct. 5 everywhere else.



Thanks to Film Ick and Rushmore Academy for the tidbits.