Yeah, judging from the screen shots, it's a bit too much DNR for my taste.

1st: I don't see nothing wrong with it.
2nd: why is this being talked about in the criterion page again?

Sorry, my fault on the tangent. Back to CC discussion now....

It's no big deal, just didn't remember why it came about.:cool:

Plus I am on your side on the subject, there is nothing wrong with those screenshots IMO.

I just made my first CC purchase: Wages of Fear, Last Year at Marienbad and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The Seventh Seal and The 400 Blows will take up to 2 weeks to arrive, but I ordered everything together. Now the fun begins...

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas DVD is a criterion but the HD-DVD and the upcoming Blu-Ray editions are not. The HD DVD version is dirt cheap. How is this movie? Should I wait for a decent criterion release or get the HD DVD?

There's an amazing Criterion DVD release, like you mentioned. So, I would choose that one, if I were you. Otherwise, wait to see how Universal's blu-ray release is gonna be.

CC

I have it on HD DVD and PQ/AQ is perfect but if Criterion ever release a Blu-ray version, it surely will be way better on the supplements because the current version has almost nothing to offer.

i'd kill for Se7en to get the Criterion BD treatment!

Criterion no longer has the rights to release Fear and Loathing..

Why do you say that? There's no indication that the title is out of print on DVD. I'm not arguing, it's just that I'm curious what you're basing this on.

Probably because Universal Studios is releasing it on BD Feb 2nd, but I don't know how rights work, so maybe they get to re-release it after Universal.

There have been several titles which Criterion has released while other studios have concurrent releases. It depends on all sorts of issues with contracts. Usually when Criterion loses the rights to a film they list it as out of print on their website, even if some are still on store shelves.

They have rights for the DVD, yes. To release a BD version would require getting clearance and possibly a separate set of rights to do so. Major studios seem very happy to release BD versions on their own - Universal is actually releasing Fear and Loathing on BD in February 2010. There is no way they're going to let Criterion release a BD to compete with theirs.

I don't know exactly what their individual agreements state, but I imagine distributing a major studio film has a decidedly different agreement from distributing an indie or classic film that no major studio has their claws in. For something like, say, Benjamin Button, I'm sure every facet of the Criterion release was approved by Paramount - they can't just go out and make a new version without Paramount's approval. On the same note, I doubt Universal is willing to let Criterion do whatever they want with regards to a Johnny Depp property.

Well, Universal put out a DVD of the film and let Criterion compete with theirs. Actually Universal has put out a few films while also allowing Criterion to release them. (Spartacus comes to mind).

It's not unreasonable to assume Universal and Criterion have an agreement which prohibits a Blu-ray release, but you know... assumptions and a nickle are worth a nickle.

The original poster said Criterion lost the rights to the film, not that there was no clearance for a Blu-ray. Perhaps it was just odd wording on his/her part. Everything since then has been well informed conjecture, but I still don't see any evidence that they "lost the rights to the film", nor any evidence that they don't have the rights to Blu-ray. We really don't know much about such things here, so a statement like that warrants a little citing.

No offense intended towards anyone.

Do to the nature of things, there isn't going to be "hard evidence" as anyone outside the company won't know, and anyone inside the company is probably reluctant to talk publicly about their agreements with other companies. But just from the way the home video market works, it seems extremely unlikely.

Many of the major studio films that Criterion has released on DVD were released many years ago, before the home video market matured to the point it has today. Looking even further back at Criterion's laserdisc catalogue is unbelievable to me as they would never get a crack at those titles today. Major studios have clued in to the fact that there is a big market out their for special edition DVDs/BDs of their titles so there is little reason to license them out to Criterion or other studios. Benjamin Button was a rare exception to the rule, and even that was handled differently from the past - from my understanding, Paramount was in control of much of the process, and it's obvious the discs are actually being manufactured and distributed by Paramount given the normal blue Blu-ray case it comes in.

So just do not expect Blu-ray upgrades of many major studio films released by Criterion in the past. It simply ain't gonna happen. And frankly, I'm perfectly happy with that - major studios have got their butts into gear in regards to those titles, so Criterion can focus their efforts on films the major studios won't. Some will bemoan the loss of some Criterion-exclusive special features, but just go get the Criterion SD DVD if it's that important.

I agree with everything you've said neo. 100%.

GGX stated, as a fact, that Universal lost the rights to Criterion. Since - as you say - there's rarely any evidence of anything (short of a title going OOP), it struck me as odd to state that as a matter of absolute fact.

I agree that it's unlikely. GGX stated this info as news. I'm curious where this information came from. If, in fact, GGX simply means, it's unlikely to come to Blu, well that's fine. If there is some information that lead to his very specific claim. I'd like to know the source.

I certainly don't expect that. This has turned into a conversation about Blu-ray. The original post said nothing about Blu-ray, only that Criterion had lost the rights to Fear and Loathing, which would mean a discontinuation of the DVD, which would be alarming if true.

That's all.:)

so has anyone exchanged their cardboard packages for the plastic ones. i was going to wait until they were all in and im under the impression that that is now. any pics aside from the third man?

I don't mind Crit. losing the rights so much to Fear and Loathing because the HD-DVD transfer was well done. The extras still exist on the SD CC dvd and that's fine with me. On the other hand, it saddened me when they "lost the rights" (or whatever the case may be) to Do the Right Thing. I love that movie, and I really would love to add it to my BD collection, but the transfer on the Universal BR is just wrong. I love the orangy look of the film that criterion presented enough to not "upgrade" to this version, and sadly, it probably won't ever be re-issued with a proper transfer.

I ordered all of the remaining ones, but I believe they are still waiting on Bottle Rocket at the moment. I can post pics as soon as they arrive though. (I'm hoping it won't take too long for Bottle Rocket). The nice thing is after the first two you order @ $5 each, all the additional ones are only $2.50 each. I got all 8 of the remaining ones (already did Third Man) for $25.00, which is much better than $40. I'll keep you updated, and if anyone else gets them before me, please post pics as well.

The Third Man: CC.com still showing OOP, but Amazon.com just got it back In Stock and selling for $29.95. Note that blu-ray.com show's price history with last price of $19.95 so not sure if there is going to be a price drop, but I'm not going to take any chances.

out of curiousity, i checked ebay prices...cheapest is $50...this is worth EVERY PENNY of $30 IMO

I just wish Criterion would expedite the BD release of Armaggedon.

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not. If not, read this very page for information about the odds of Criterion releasing a film such as Armageddon on BD.

When it is released on BD, Armageddon will surely be put out by Disney, the studio the film actually belongs to. Last I heard, there were issues with this title as certain elements had been lost in a fire and they'd have to go back to negatives and re-transfer or some such. I'm sure it's coming sooner or later.

Criterion only distributed Benjamin Button, they didn't work on the extras or anything. The decision to do that was made pretty late in the game and all the work was already done by David Prior and his team. It's a Criterion release in name only.

Question about the Replacement blu-ray cases. I recently stated that i had purchased 5 criterion collection movies:

The Seventh Seal
The Last Emperor
Bottle Rocket
Kagemusha
Chungking Express

Today (1) of the (5) films came in: The Seventh Seal, and i must say i love the bluray case (the clear ps3 game size case). Question being the replacement cases that criterion is selling for certain movies for $5 are the cases all like these (thick clear cases) if so i would love to shell out 20 bucks for the other 4 movies to look like this, or are the replacement cases standard blu-ray cases..

don't see that price anywhere on Amazon. you have a link?

I saw that price last night. It's now OOS.

They're the clear cases

Yeah, I picked up another copy of it at $29.95, as I just sold one of my other copies on these very boards for $45. This title has just skyrocketed in price in absolutely no time at all. I am interested to see if it will go to the stratospheric levels some others have reached on DVD, as many of the conditions are right.
1. It was out for only about a year.
2. The blu format was new, and not (overly) widely adopted yet
3. Its a CC.... These are some of the very same circumstances that made Salo so sought after on DVD. (released in 1997, out less than a year on a new format that wasn't yet widely adopted)
-Once more of the CC enthusiasts start adopting Bluray, the completists will stop at nothing (or any price) to fill the holes in their collection.

Like anomynous said, the replacement cases are the standard Criterion clear case like the one that your copy of "The Seventh Seal" came in. Also, "Kagemusha" will already be in the clear case, as well, when you receive it. So, you'll only need to purchase the replacements for 3 of the 5 titles you ordered. Plus, according to what has been previously posted, if you're buying a group of cases, it's $5/case for the first two and then $2.50 for each case thereafter.

CC

thanks for your answers anomynous and ccfixx

Anyone.....


:pray:

Sure, why not? PM me your info and I'll figure out how to ship them to you. :)

I emailed criterion about the replacements cases but never received an answer. Do you know if you can pay via PayPal? Also, the $5 for the first two cases means $10, correct? Thanks!

you can only pay by paypal

heres the portion of the email

The cost for the replacement cases is $5 per item; this includes the cost of shipping. Simply make a payment to the email address store@criterion.com through PayPal, providing your mailing address and
item(s) needed in the message field, and we'll send out the case!

Just Rec'd this answer from Citerion

Thanks for your email! I'd be happy to give you some more information on the Blu-ray case replacements!




We are offering replacement cases for the following titles:




THE THIRD MAN

THE LAST EMPEROR

THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH

BOTTLE ROCKET

CHUNGKING EXPRESS

THE 400 BLOWS

THE LAST METRO

EL NORTE

LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD




Please note that we are temporarily out of stock on all cases and expect more to arrive next week. The cost for the replacement cases is $5 per case; this includes the cost of shipping. For multiple cases we offer a discount of $10 for the first two and $2.50 for each additional case beyond that (so, for instance, $12.50 for three cases).




To order the cases, simply make a payment to the email address store@criterion.com through PayPal, providing your mailing address and item(s) needed in the message field, and we'll send out the materials!




I hope this information is helpful! Please let me know if you have any more questions and thank you for supporting Criterion!




Best,




Jon Mulvaney

This is the same e-mail I just received, as well. It must be the standard reply now.

CC

Nice to see a case for BOTTLE ROCKET on their list.

Are those all titles with a cardboard case? I assume that those are the same amounts to be paid for someone who lives abroad?