Violet Criterion Arthouse Overload!

Seen any good movies lately? Better brace yourself, then. Austin's Violet Crown Cinema and DVD/Blu-Ray overlords the Criterion Collection are joining forces to bring you the antidote to whatever Adam Sandler does next.

Dubbed "Arthouse Monthly," the four-part series kicks off Tuesday, April 10 with – fittingly – Yasujiro Ozu's Late Spring.

The best part of this is the fact that VCC will be screening the chosen films prior to their imminent Blu-Ray release via Criterion. Rampant rumors of the equally imminent death of the Blu-Ray digital format be damned, it's still infinitely preferable to see the works of Ozu, Hiroshi Inagaki (Musashi Miyamoto – Samurai I, Tuesday, May 15), Charles Chaplin (The Gold Rush, Tuesady, June 5), and Jim Jarmusch (Down By Law, Tuesday, July 3), in the large-screen format as intended by the filmmakers. And on nice comfy couches, with a full bar, as Mae West and W.C. Fields intended. (Sadly, no West or Fields this round.)

As an extra incentive to those of you who need such things, according to the press release, "there will be giveaways, which will include a copy of the film being screened that evening and free rental cards from Vulcan Video. Vulcan will also be on hand the night of the screening with select titles that will be available for cash purchase in the lobby. Following the screening, attendees can take advantage of an extended happy hour until 11PM to discuss the film."

Tickets are on sale as of this writing and you can get them, and more info, here.