User Reviews

. . . though I only saw the word "Criterion" and NOT Mr. Tsui's surname here. However, it turns out that some possibly fly-by-night company calling itself "Criterion" has hired Mr. Tsui to produce hundreds--or maybe it's thousands--of Unvetted DVD bonus features to accompany Classic Movies that apparently have slipped into the public domain. Unlike that vast majority of reputable outfits, Criterion bumbles along in a Loose Cannonish sort of way, not feeding review sites such as this one full information on ANY of their own documentary shorts, and not even partial details about the burgeoning bulk of their misty iceberg under the waves. Take MODES OF MASCULINITY: THE WESTERN AND RED RIVER, included on Criterion's 2-disc 2014 RED RIVER set, for instance. Try coming up with any information on this 13 minute video essay by someone labeled on-screen as "Lee Clark Mitchell." There's nobody of that name with a single credit on this site, not even in the "Self" category! Though "Mr. Mitchell" drones on and on about Owen Wister, Zane Grey, Chase Borden, banks, and milk brands, and though clips from RED RIVER are punctuated by stills of cowboy actors such as Clint Eastwood, one needs to take such information with a grain of salt, not knowing whether Criterion is any more reputable than the company that put the early John Wayne flicks RANDY RIDES ALONE and THE STAR PACKER on a two-for-a-dollar disc (new). Since this is one of Curtis Tsui's most recent producer credits (of 21 total, officially), it's important to say "buyer, beware" (at least until he and Criterion get their act together, as Warner Bros. does for thousands of Looney Tunes-related items, or as Eon Production Company does for thousands of James Bond-connected pieces).