Vote: The Criterion Collection on Amazon

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The Criterion Collection's section on Amazon.com is currently holding a 36%-Off sale on all Blu-Ray titles in the Collection available thereon. While I'd definitely support an urge to splurge on a few titles from that list (e. g., The Last Emperor [1987], Chungking Express [1994], Bottle Rocket [1996]), I'd far more highly recommend, reader, that you take a look at the vote going on immediately beneath the banner for the sale on the site hyperlinked above. This vote, supposedly legitimate, queries Criterion aficionados - who else would be visiting the sale's site? - "What would you like to see be the next Blu-Ray release from the Collection?" How much Criterion will actually consider the results of such a poll in determining the actual release-schedule of its Blu-Ray line is a matter, no doubt, of much uncertainty, but the fact remains that the possibility of being able to participate in this determining is too interesting to pass up. Now, it's not a free-for-all decision; Criterion has laid out five possible titles from which to choose: Au Revoir les Enfants (1987), Down by Law (1986), Howards End (1992), Kwaidan (1965), and Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975). But this limitation to five is OK for me, because it contains one title that I would very much like to see released in Blu-Ray format: Howards End, a classic piece from The Merchant-Ivory Collection (a subset of The Criterion Collection) featuring gorgeous visuals, an enchanting score, and very strong performances from its leading actors, including Vanessa Redgrave, Anthony Hopkins, and Emma Thompson (who won the Leading Actress Oscar for her role in this film). Were it released in Blu-Ray, I would go out and buy it in a second - and would encourage you all to do so too. So, head out strong - test the film out if you don't believe me - and mark your ballots soon. Short clips as excerpts from the special features of all the potential films are posted on the voting page for your background erudition.