Criterion Collection?

[ChitoAD]

I don't understand the Criterion Collection. What is its purpose? Does the movie look better? Does it have more special features?
seriously i have no clue, anyone care to enlighten me?

[Belloche]

Criterion is a company that makes DVDs/Blu-rays. They deal mainly in art films and foreign movies. They made their reputation on quality transfers and great extras on films that might not otherwise be released in North America. Their stuff is top notch, but is not different from any other Blu-ray.

[Beta Man]

From their Help section.

http://www.criterion.com/help#q1

[hdogg523]

im glad someone asked because i really didn't know either haha.... i need to pick up benjamin button to see what all the fuss is about

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by hdogg523

im glad someone asked because i really didn't know either haha.... i need to pick up benjamin button to see what all the fuss is about

There is about 4 hours of Bonus material on Benjamin Button (good stuff too) and every bit of it is in HD if I remember correctly.

[bferr1]

Criterion were the innovators. They are the reason why you have special features like documentaries, deleted scenes, trailers and commentary tracks in the first place. It all had to start somewhere, and it started with them and laserdiscs way back in the late '80s. They also pride themselves on the quality of their transfers as well as the historic and cultural importance of their diverse collection.

[ChitoAD]

^^^^^^ interesting!


Thanks for the answer guys! It helped a lot

[generalZee]

According to this old Criterion catalog that I have from the mid 90's, listing all the Laserdisc editons that they had available at the time, a lot of which I currently own. They split their releases into three catagories, legendary masters, essentials and director approved. The legedaries are films from a specific director, like Akira Kirasawa, Martin Scorsese or Alfred Hitchcock, listing some films that best describe that directors artistic vision. The essentials are films that best describe a genre, a time period, etc films like Carrie, Blade Runner, Monterey Pop and Wizard of Oz are examples. And director approved are films that certain directors have gone through Criterion to release the best version possible, these editions are always marked by a sticker with the director's signature. David Fincher, Jon Woo, Micheal Bay and Quentin Tarantino have released director approved additions through Criterion. They do there own film to tape transfers, packaging design, etc, which is why Criterion editions tend to cost more.

[KrugerIndustrial]

Criterion indeed seems to have top notch transfers but it's killing me they have to lock them for region A only.

[elslayer]

Originally Posted by generalZee

According to this old Criterion catalog that I have from the mid 90's, listing all the Laserdisc editons that they had available at the time, a lot of which I currently own. They split their releases into three catagories, legendary masters, essentials and director approved. The legedaries are films from a specific director, like Akira Kirasawa, Martin Scorsese or Alfred Hitchcock, listing some films that best describe that directors artistic vision. The essentials are films that best describe a genre, a time period, etc films like Carrie, Blade Runner, Monterey Pop and Wizard of Oz are examples. And director approved are films that certain directors have gone through Criterion to release the best version possible, these editions are always marked by a sticker with the director's signature. David Fincher, Jon Woo, Micheal Bay and Quentin Tarantino have released director approved additions through Criterion. They do there own film to tape transfers, packaging design, etc, which is why Criterion editions tend to cost more.

I dont think Tarantino has a Criterion out which one are you talking about?

[RodneyOz]

generalZee is quoting from a catalog of theirs from the laserdisc days. Although there's no Tarantino out on a Criterion DVD (let alone Blu), they did release Pulp Fiction in a 4-disc laserdisc boxset (which is a wonderful object btw), and it's this that the quoted section refers to.

[nichart]

I have a question regarding the packaging. I'm pretty sure the Criterion blus come in packaging similar to a Digibook. Are these the same size as a Digibook, or more along the lines of a standard bluray case?

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by nichart

I have a question regarding the packaging. I'm pretty sure the Criterion blus come in packaging similar to a Digibook. Are these the same size as a Digibook, or more along the lines of a standard bluray case?

There are various case styles from Criterion for their Blu-rays.

1) The "original 9" as I refer to them.... which were the first 9 releases that came in a digipack-cardboard type deal with a slip-case over them..... They are about as thin as a standard Blu-ray case, and probably about the same size.

2) Things like "Night of the Hunter" and "Seven Samurai" (among others) came in a cardboard type case with a paper slip-box type thing over them... they are much thicker, and probably a little taller....

3) Clear plastic cases very similar to PS3 game cases.

4) Box sets vary.... and the rare exceptions occur too... like "Videodrome" is the plastic case, with a slip-box type thing over it.

[nichart]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

There are various case styles from Criterion for their Blu-rays.

1) The "original 9" as I refer to them.... which were the first 9 releases that came in a digipack-cardboard type deal with a slip-case over them..... They are about as thin as a standard Blu-ray case, and probably about the same size.

2) Things like "Night of the Hunter" and "Seven Samurai" (among others) came in a cardboard type case with a paper slip-box type thing over them... they are much thicker, and probably a little taller....

3) Clear plastic cases very similar to PS3 game cases.

4) Box sets vary.... and the rare exceptions occur too... like "Videodrome" is the plastic case, with a slip-box type thing over it.

Thanks for the info!

[jwoodwar]

Yeah some of the best PQ's ever! One of them that is the best I've seen is The Thin Red Line. But older I would have to say Seven Samurai!

[SANAFABICH]

Originally Posted by Belloche

Their stuff is top notch, but is not different from any other Blu-ray.

Except for "Armaggedon".
Oh, and they do supervise their HD transfers with special care, so it is quite different.

[wilky61]

Criterion is like the Cadillac of home-video. If you're interested in foreign and/or artistic films/dramas, then you should poke around within the catalogue. Many collectors are head-over-heels for Criterion's releases (you've probably noticed).

To anyone who's curious, here are 10 of my personal favorites:
Ace in the Hole (1951, american)
Jules et Jim (1962, french)
Rushmore (1998, american)
Sullivan's Travels (1941, american)
Do the Right Thing (1989, american)
La Haine (1995, french)
Le Samourai (1967, french)
Umberto D (1952, italian)
Drunken Angel (1948, japanese)
Band of Outsiders (1964, french) [trivia: Tarantino got his production company's name from this film's French title]


And here are 10 of what I perceive to be the "most important" in their collection (expect artistry):
Seven Samurai (1954, japanese)
Bicycle Thieves (1948, italian)
Rashomon (1950, japanese)
The Third Man (1949, it's complicated but let's just call it "british")
Breathless (1960, french)
8-1/2 (1963, italian, also imo this is a difficult/complex film but i don't want to dissuade you)
La Grande Illusion (1937, french)
The 400 Blows (1959, french)
M (1931, german)
Tokyo Story (1953, japanese)

[Rebecca8]

Thank you for the info
even i'm not asking yet, i found the answer

[Exile]

When George Lucas croaks can get the original Star Wars films on Blu from Criteron?

[Tibor Lugosi]

Originally Posted by Exile

When George Lucas croaks can get the original Star Wars films on Blu from Criteron?

Ha! That'll never happen!

On the other hand, the last few Criterion movies I've watched (Au revoir les enfants, Gomorrah, White Material and Amarcord) left me kinda... meh! Don't know what all the fuss is about. It seems most movies in the Criterion collection definitely aren't mainstream. Mostly artsy-fartsy types (I know, blasphemy! ) with something more mainstream popping up once in a great while... just my 2c..