Author Topic: Ah Shitburgers! Tartan Films is liquidating their assets. (Read 1327 times)

HyperZoneWasAwesome · « **on:** May 20, 2008, 11:05:01 PM »

The highly awesome Tartan films, the dudes who have released a fuckton of very terrific foreign films in America (plus lots of crappy J-horror flicks to keep the lights on) is selling off the rights to everything they've done. The financial malaise seems to only be impacting Tartan USA, the British Tartan seems to be in no danger. I'm going to pour one out for my homies, Tartan films, thank you for bringing so many great films to America. :'(

TVC15 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2008, 11:06:32 PM »

Do they have the rights to Tetsuo 2? I still haven't seen that.

HyperZoneWasAwesome · « **Reply #2 on:** May 20, 2008, 11:09:13 PM »

they had a forthcoming domestic release. Who knows what's to happen with it?

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #3 on:** May 20, 2008, 11:10:35 PM »

Testuo 2 was Manga Video, apparently.

Edit: Okay, they did have a release coming up, but that doesn't look too good given their sell-off.

This is really sad news to hear since they put out some good movies that probably wouldn't have gotten any attention otherwise.

Solo · « **Reply #4 on:** May 20, 2008, 11:15:19 PM »

Ive long since owned the Vengeance trilogy, and thats all I really care about, so if they were to go under, Id live.

TVC15 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 20, 2008, 11:16:47 PM »

They did have some great stuff, but they also had a lot of not so great stuff. A good label, like Criterion, I know I can pick something up nearly randomly and I'll probably find something to like. That wasn't so with Tartan.

Solo · « **Reply #6 on:** May 20, 2008, 11:29:23 PM »

Exactly. Another reason I wont lose sleep over this.

BTW, anyone know if they ever did release a R1 version of A Bittersweet Life?

HyperZoneWasAwesome · « **Reply #7 on:** May 21, 2008, 12:00:14 AM »

Quote from: Solo on May 20, 2008, 11:29:23 PM

Exactly. Another reason I wont lose sleep over this.

BTW, anyone know if they ever did release a R1 version of A Bittersweet Life?

nope, just the UK release, same for I'm a Cyborg But That's Okay. The economics of the American movie business makes it unprofitable to license it for America, but not for a market that's at best 25% of its size. That's crazytown and we're living in it. And its not just Tartan that can't make it work here, its other companies too.
Incidentally, I just watched a HK import of A Bittersweet Life (still no American release) just last night. Gosh dang, that's a hellava flick.

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #8 on:** May 21, 2008, 12:24:54 AM »

Quote from: Solo on May 20, 2008, 11:15:19 PM

Ive long since owned the Vengeance trilogy, and thats all I really care about, so if they were to go under, Id live.

I was hoping the other two would come out on Blu-ray alongside Oldboy... :'(

Ichirou · « **Reply #9 on:** May 21, 2008, 05:52:24 AM »

Solo is coooold-blooded. We need more outfits that'll distribute quirky films. Tartan definitely delivered. I have some of their aforementioned asian crap and now I'm feeling the need to pick up some of their other DVDs before they go OOP.

bork · « **Reply #10 on:** May 21, 2008, 06:05:06 AM »

I couldn't follow Tetsuo II, thought it was awful. The ending was all weird, too. All I remember is

spoiler (click to show/hide)

The main guy(?) has a flashback to when he was a kid and some dude is fucking his mom in front of him. The end.

[close]

Eric P · « **Reply #11 on:** May 21, 2008, 06:17:25 AM »

tartan is good in that it brought more movies to americans that were previously only available through HK or Korean editions

however, as one of those people with a region free DVD player and a vested interest in foreign cinema, this doesn't really affect me.

GilloD · « **Reply #12 on:** May 21, 2008, 07:48:20 AM »

Let's all chip in and buy Oldboy and then re-release it with special 'bore features.

Solo · « **Reply #13 on:** May 21, 2008, 10:08:51 AM »

Owning Oldboy would rock.

TVC15 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 21, 2008, 01:26:39 PM »

Quote from: lyte edge on May 21, 2008, 06:05:06 AM

I couldn't follow Tetsuo II, thought it was awful. The ending was all weird, too. All I remember is
spoiler (click to show/hide)
The main guy(?) has a flashback to when he was a kid and some dude is fucking his mom in front of him. The end.
[close]

I really like Tetsuo. Like, a lot. I feel like I kinda have to see the sequel even though I've been warned about it so many times. I do recall at least a few people saying they liked it, though. The first movie is just kind of a perfect storm of influences of its time.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #15 on:** May 21, 2008, 01:40:04 PM »

Isn't abrader rich? Let's have him buy Oldboy.

Enl · « **Reply #16 on:** May 21, 2008, 01:43:37 PM »

Quote from: TVC 15 on May 21, 2008, 01:26:39 PM

Quote from: lyte edge on May 21, 2008, 06:05:06 AM
I couldn't follow Tetsuo II, thought it was awful. The ending was all weird, too. All I remember is
spoiler (click to show/hide)
The main guy(?) has a flashback to when he was a kid and some dude is fucking his mom in front of him. The end.
[close]

I really like Tetsuo. Like, a lot. I feel like I kinda have to see the sequel even though I've been warned about it so many times. I do recall at least a few people saying they liked it, though. The first movie is just kind of a perfect storm of influences of its time.

With the exception of the bizarre end, Tetsuo II is pretty much a largely different and not nearly as fun film. It tries to much to be an actual film with a coherent (?) storyline and less like an Eraserhead on a bad acid trip. It might be worth at least a one time viewing if you can find it.

Sucks that Tartan is going down. They've been really good at acquiring great Asian imports and giving them fine releases. I hope whoever takes the candle does a good job keeping the flame going.

Eric P · « **Reply #17 on:** May 21, 2008, 01:58:33 PM »

Quote from: TVC 15 on May 21, 2008, 01:26:39 PM

Quote from: lyte edge on May 21, 2008, 06:05:06 AM
I couldn't follow Tetsuo II, thought it was awful. The ending was all weird, too. All I remember is
spoiler (click to show/hide)
The main guy(?) has a flashback to when he was a kid and some dude is fucking his mom in front of him. The end.
[close]

I really like Tetsuo. Like, a lot. I feel like I kinda have to see the sequel even though I've been warned about it so many times. I do recall at least a few people saying they liked it, though. The first movie is just kind of a perfect storm of influences of its time.

it's worth watching

also, check out meatball machine and 964 Pinocchio or whatever and Rubber Lover

Eric P · « **Reply #18 on:** May 21, 2008, 02:00:08 PM »

Quote from: Enl on May 21, 2008, 01:43:37 PM

Sucks that Tartan is going down. They've been really good at acquiring great Asian imports and giving them fine releases. I hope whoever takes the candle does a good job keeping the flame going.

i'm guessing dragon dynasty

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #19 on:** May 21, 2008, 02:32:35 PM »

Quote from: Willco on May 21, 2008, 01:40:04 PM

Isn't abrader rich? Let's have him buy Oldboy.

I'm surprised Morphix hasn't tried.

News:

Author Topic: Ah Shitburgers! Tartan Films is liquidating their assets. (Read 1327 times)