Why would it be a surprise for a Criterion Blu-Ray to get a great review? I'd only be shocked if a Criterion Blu failed to get a great review.

What's with the low score for supplements is what I'm wondering. Criterion always includes a massive amount of supplements to their releases.

no schock... just deciding... whether i should still wait for the B&N sale.... or day1... man i vacillate back and forth a lot on the Kurosawas.

Yes, but neither "Yojimbo" and "Sanjuro" never had a wealth of supplements on their respective Criterion discs. It's a fair score for the amount of extras, and the score also depends on how worthwhile pro-b thinks the extras are for each disc, I would think.

And I don't think Criterion release always include a "massive" amount of supplements. I think Criterion includes what they can that they fill is worthwhile, but there are many discs without a "massive" amount of extras. I certainly wouldn't consider both "Hunger" and "Revanche" as having a lot of extras.

CC

it's nice to have... but even if there WERE no extras, i'd still grab the Criterion. i have no idea why people have an entitlement issue of all movies MUST have extras. i'd rather that be a separate purchase if they want and to do the bonus/extras professionally, not just slapped in marketing kit or afterthought.

Dag nab it! Another expensive DVD I'm going to have to replace with a much better Blu-ray! Criterion is costing me a fortune!

Those screenshots are beauties! A nice crisp/clear audio track....... Winner winner chicken dinner!

Wow, more excited than ever! I actually have never seen Yojimbo, but I own the Criterion DVD of Sanjuro and the image leave much to be desired. Let's hope it's the same with Sanjuro. Only 20 days to go....

Until last year I'd never seen a Kurosawa film period. Now his films are some of my all-time favorites. I've never seen Sanjuro and Yojimbo either so I'm really looking forward to them.

Does Criterion have rights to release any IFC film or just a certain number of them? Because I can think of a few other IFC films I'd love to see on Criterion Blu - 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days tops the list.

Because Criterion is the originator of releases have extras. Personally, Criterion has spoiled me with extras and scholar commentary. So, I tend to expect it. Granted, if it's an earlier release and if the extras are not there, I can understand it but if it's a newer release. I would be disappointed.

But yeah, I do purchase Criterion titles that have no extras of late...ala the Eclipse Series, Essential Arthouse and the the Rialto 10th.

Just watched "Dillinger is Dead"...now that is one hell of a bizarre ending. Have to watch that ending again. I'm not familiar with Ferreri films but heard and read many things in regards to "La Grande Bouffe". Now that would be an interesting Criterion release.

I listened to your advice and purchased the Sherwood player.
I noticed that it's no long being sold/shipped by Ritz Camera anymore on amazon though.

I also ordered the BFI release of Salo, as well as a few other BFI's.

Salo is a movie that I feel no need for an upgrade to blu...the SDVD that CC put out looks great upconverted on a ps3 and the packaging is just fantastic. Thats the one thing I miss about CC blus, the packaging is just all the same. The DVDs came in all shapes and sizes, and I know this was to accomadate more discs and booklets. I feel its just a shame that we lost that kind of uniqueness in the transition to blu. Like the Videodrome DVD, a VHS styled pull out was just genius.

Meh I was just checking some prices on Criterion blus and they've all gone up to 30. :( I wanted to pick up Days of Heaven and Revanche

First of all, thanks for changing your avatar. I was getting tired of looking at Larry David's sullen face. ;)

And I'm sure the Amazon prices will drop again... and rise... and drop, etc. It's not like Amazon is not known for price fluctuations, ya know? Since I always pre-order the moment the titles go up on sale, the lowest the new titles go is usually $26.99. After the release date, though, is when Amazon starts playing games with the prices for the Criterion films.

CC

The way I look at it the ratings are arbitrary. Look more at what the reviewer says. For example, the reviewer of Yojimbo gave it 4.5/5 yet said:

"It is one of the most dramatic upgrades to emerge from them since they began releasing on Blu-ray. Bravo! VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED."

Also, he gave the supplements a 3/5 but failed to say why the score is average. Were there not enough extras or were the supplements provided not of highest quality?

I can't imagine how a CC blu-ray could get an average mark for extras when they usually provide a book and a least three pieces on the disc worth watching PLUS the extras are in 1080p. Can anyone think of a studio who actually transfers all the extras to HD?


All in all, this site's reviews are very good (albeit a bit mechanically written at times) in comparison to other sites. Criterionforum.org is the best place for CC discussion on the net but it's reviews are often lacking. If I had a $1 for every review I've read on the site where the reviewer admits to "not being into <name of director>" (like with 8 1/2)-- their reviews tend to be dispassionate.

There's a review with screencaps up on DVDBeaver.

Here's the Dope. I wholeheartedly second your recommendation.

i put make way for tomorrow in last night, and couldn't stop watching it. ended up finishing it to very late hour... but it was well worth it =P. what an awesome movie.

not BD-related... but man =). Criterion=ftw.

I wish that was a Blu release, may have to pick up the dvd since it seems it may be a while. I ordered a bunch of Bergman DVD's today since I'm impatient: Wild Strawberries, The Silence, Through a Glass Darkly, plus the Criterions for Yi-Yi, An Angel at My Table, and Kind Hearts and Cornets...With my luck these will all be announced in the next run, but at least no more waiting!

the DVD is cropped for CRT's overscan... which is kind of ridiculous in these day and age.

that reminds me... have there been any Criterion that's B&W and 4.3? i can't quite recall if 7th Seal was it... or if it accounted for overscan...