Criterion Collection Discussion

[oildude]

Has anyone here seen a movie from the early 1980s called The Grey Fox? I haven't seen or thought about this film in years, but for some reason my memory was triggered tonight looking at some photos from a climbing trip I took a few years ago in the Pacific Northwest. Thinking about it has made me wish it was part of the Criterion collection.

It was a little gem of a Canadian western starring Richard Farnsworth, based on a true story about an older man named Bill Miner who was released from prison around 1901. He is caught in a time warp, an Old West robber completely at a loss as to how to fit in to the new modern century. Seeing his first movie, The Great Train Robbery, he decides to rob trains in British Columbia.

I saw it in the early 1990s on VHS. It definitely left a memorable impression. I do know that even on VHS it had superb cinematography. It was a hypnotically poetic film, very moving, and a testament to the human spirit in telling the story of the caught-out-of-time ex-convict. I recall it won a number of Canadian film awards and was one of the finest performances from Richard Farnsworth, who had built a career first as a stuntman and then in supporting actor roles. This is one of his few starring vehicles.

The Grey Fox, Tender Mercies, and the Australian New Wave movies from the same time period were all films that put me on the road to discovering a new world of cinema.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

Wow, I am really surprised by this. Isn't it too early to get reviews for this title? I mean, I am not complaining but just wondering. Of all the October titles, this had me the most excited so a great release for it are fantastic news .

Reviews have been all over the place lately. The Killing was up almost a month early and Leon Morin didn't go up until at least a week after it was released.

In fact, I'm pretty sure The Killing was up a week or so before Morin (but I'm too lazy to look).

[pro-bassoonist]

Our screeners do not arrive on a set date each month - sometimes we can put up reviews a lot faster, sometimes we can't. There were other issues in the past as well, but not on our end. I have also delayed a few reviews because I wanted to see the booklets for certain releases before we publish the reviews (a long time ago certain members requested that we include some of the technical info in the reviews). It is not easy to please everyone. Bottom line is this: Criterion have been doing a tremendous job to supply us with screeners so you could see early reviews.

At the end of the day, as you could see, we have reviews for every single Criterion release, and I think that this is what matters the most - complete coverage. You could look up any release you want

[octagon]

My theory was they sent you The Killing instead of Leon Morin.

[Darkcritic]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Our screeners do not arrive on a set date each month - sometimes we can put up reviews a lot faster, sometimes we can't. There were other issues in the past as well, but not on our end. I have also delayed a few reviews because I wanted to see the booklets for certain releases before we publish the reviews (a long time ago certain members requested that we include some of the technical info in the reviews). It is not easy to please everyone. Bottom line is this: Criterion have been doing a tremendous job to supply us with screeners so you could see early reviews.

At the end of the day, as you could see, we have reviews for every single Criterion release, and I think that this is what matters the most - complete coverage. You could look up any release you want

I think I can speak for us all in the way of thanks to the reviewers of the site . Criterion reviews, in particular, have always been spot-on. Again, I was just wondering, but what you say actually makes a lot of sense .

[pro-bassoonist]

No, thank you

[Petyr_Baelish]

I think there needs to be a criterion release of silence of the lambs. There was a dvd apparently so...yeah...do that.

[nathan_393]

Originally Posted by Boone_Carlyle

I think there needs to be a criterion release of silence of the lambs. There was a dvd apparently so...yeah...do that.

Speaking of DVD releases Criterion did, I wouldn't mind seeing Criterion handle a Blu-ray release of Traffic.

For those that have seen both: is the current Traffic Blu-ray worth getting over Criterion's DVD? I've found the DVD for $9.99 at a local grocery store, which is why I'm asking.

[Petyr_Baelish]

Originally Posted by nathan_393

Speaking of DVD releases Criterion did, I wouldn't mind seeing Criterion handle a Blu-ray release of Traffic.

For those that have seen both: is the current Traffic Blu-ray worth getting over Criterion's DVD? I've found the DVD for $9.99 at a local grocery store, which is why I'm asking.

How dare you use my comments for a segue

[dejeckt]

Never picked up a Criterion blu ray before. Today I saw Breathless for $12 at borders...wasn't too sure so I passed on it. Came home and checked out the trailer... looks interesting but still not sure. Is the film any good?

[octagon]

It's definitely twelve bucks good.

Even if you don't get into the film you'll probably be glad you watched it. It's a nice package (one of their nicer booklets, actually) and even if you wind up hating it you shouldn't have any trouble selling/trading it.

I wasn't blown away when I watched it but I enjoyed it. I was glad I picked it up.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Monty70

Review is up for Harakiri.
http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Haraki.../26531/#Review
The image seems to be slightly windowboxed. (while the Eureka release is not)

I realize screenshots aren't the whole story but going by the comparative screenshots on this site, the Masters of Cinema version is, even if a tad softer, significantly more natural looking and easy on the eye than the overly sharp grainy Criterion transfer...IMO.

[dejeckt]

Originally Posted by octagon

It's definitely twelve bucks good.

Even if you don't get into the film you'll probably be glad you watched it. It's a nice package (one of their nicer booklets, actually) and even if you wind up hating it you shouldn't have any trouble selling/trading it.

I wasn't blown away when I watched it but I enjoyed it. I was glad I picked it up.

Thanks for the heads up, I was kinda kicking myself for not getting it today. Well I know what I'm doing before work^^ (hopefully it's still there).
There was another Criterion movie there, but I forgot the dang title.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Our screeners do not arrive on a set date each month - sometimes we can put up reviews a lot faster, sometimes we can't. There were other issues in the past as well, but not on our end. I have also delayed a few reviews because I wanted to see the booklets for certain releases before we publish the reviews (a long time ago certain members requested that we include some of the technical info in the reviews). It is not easy to please everyone. Bottom line is this: Criterion have been doing a tremendous job to supply us with screeners so you could see early reviews.

At the end of the day, as you could see, we have reviews for every single Criterion release, and I think that this is what matters the most - complete coverage. You could look up any release you want

Which is awesome
I'm quite fussy about reviews, particularly as I can get discs from different regions, so I always want to make sure I get the possible edition.

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by ravenus

I realize screenshots aren't the whole story but going by the comparative screenshots on this site, the Masters of Cinema version is, even if a tad softer, significantly more natural looking and easy on the eye than the overly sharp grainy Criterion transfer...IMO.

I'd have to see it in motion before I could judge the "harshness" of the sharpness...if it is indeed harsh. But what I'm noticing in the screenshot comparisons (if both sets are reasonably accurate) is that the Criterion is not only sharper, it is more detailed. And the additional detail has me leaning in its favor.

But overall, this is as subjective as it gets. Truly a matter of personal preference for each viewer.


I was quite happy to pick up Cul-de-sac, if...., and The Killing a few days ago. Bringing my still somewhat modest Criterion BD collection to a total of 46 films. Well, 48 if you count the feature films that Criterion has begun to include as supplements...De Palma's Murder a la Mod (from Blow Out) and Kubrick's Killer's Kiss (from The Killing).

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by Monty70

Review is up for Harakiri.

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Haraki.../26531/#Review

The image seems to be slightly windowboxed. (while the Eureka release is not)

Yeah, what's with the window-boxed image?
There should be no need for that at all.
It's hard to tell looking at the screenshots for the two editions, because they haven't provided a side-by-side comparison as they do at blubeaver, but a click glance suggests the Criterion is missing image around all edges.

[rezpekt]

Originally Posted by ravenus

I realize screenshots aren't the whole story but going by the comparative screenshots on this site, the Masters of Cinema version is, even if a tad softer, significantly more natural looking and easy on the eye than the overly sharp grainy Criterion transfer...IMO.

Criterion often boosts contrast/black levels for black-and-white films.

[KENTA]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

Yeah, what's with the window-boxed image?
There should be no need for that at all.
It's hard to tell looking at the screenshots for the two editions, because they haven't provided a side-by-side comparison as they do at blubeaver, but a click glance suggests the Criterion is missing image around all edges.

They did the same for the Kurosawa films that don't show as much information as their European counterpart editions.
Don't really know what's the issue here.

As for the PQ, the MoC version imo looks way better. The Criterion edition again has that harsh, digital 2k look (they surely used their old 2005 HD transfer here, as they always do with their re-issues), while the MoC transfer looks newer and much more natural.

[TLeeTx2012]

Received my first Citerion Blu today.

[Darkcritic]

Originally Posted by TLeeTx2012

Received my first Citerion Blu today.

Nice haul! I have been thinking about picking M but have never done it. I will probably pull the trigger in the next B&N sale. Easy Rider is also available in the CC. It comes with the BBS box-set, just in case you are interested in the rest body of work from the productions .