Region B alternatives to Criterion

[Hintermann]

I wanted to buy the BD of Purple Noon and considered saving money by going for Studio Canal's cheaper alternative to Criterion. Then I read that the SC release's video quality is atrocious by comparison and so am getting the Criterion Disc.

There are two other Criterion released movies for which cheaper Region B alternatives are available but I can find no information on their quality. One is Army Of Shadows and the other The Devil's Backbone. The video quality in the latter in particular has to be the best given del Toro's directional style.

Can anyone please comment on the regional comparisons for BDs of these two films?

[MifuneFan]

There's a review of SC's Army of Shadows on the site: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Army-.../66157/#Review.

Here's a comparison of The Devil's Backbone: http://caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleich...D=1841#auswahl

[Mansinthe]

video quality of devils backbone sucks in the EU ... the criterion release is far superior in terms of video / audio quality and has a great deal of bonus features as well.

the UK release looks really soft and washed out most of the time.


for army of shadows: i got my criterion release in ebay a few weeks ago for ~25$ including shipping. but the SC release is really good as well.

[Hintermann]

Thanks. Clearly, the Criterion wins for Army Of Shadows but I am a bit confused by the statements in that thread-link for The Devil's Backbone. How do I know which screenshot I am looking at? (Sorry if I am being stupid and missed something obvious)

Edit: Sorry, I just saw Mansinthe's post. That answer's my question, I guess. Thanks.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Hintermann

Thanks. Clearly, the Criterion wins for Army Of Shadows but I am a bit confused by the statements in that thread-link for The Devil's Backbone. How do I know which screenshot I am looking at? (Sorry if I am being stupid and missed something obvious)

Edit: Sorry, I just saw Mansinthe's post. That answer's my question, I guess. Thanks.

You can click on the fullscreen link liste on each screencap, or click a part of the image, and then when you roll your mouse over it, it'll show the other source. It says the source of the screen in the top left corner.

Here's an example http://caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleich...ess=#vergleich

[Hintermann]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

You can click on the fullscreen link liste on each screencap, or click a part of the image, and then when you roll your mouse over it, it'll show the other source. It says the source of the screen in the top left corner.

Here's an example http://caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleich...ess=#vergleich

Thanks for that. I have a good HD Monitor and went through all 10 of those screenshots. With the possible exception of #3, Criterion won through and through. #7 and #10 were clinchers because of the far better rendering of the sunlit outdoor scenes in the Criterion shots.

I noted that in the indoor shots, the skin tones looked healthier on Criterion than the SC. The Criterion shots appear to have a slightly higher contrast, again something that I quite like.

Thanks again, even though you have cost me some additional £30 for the two Criterion discs, including postage to the UK.

[tenia]

Actually, on Army of Shadows, it's more a question of color scheme than pure details level.
If it's easier for you, it wouldn't be the bad choice to get the Studio Canal release. Also, it includes a new 88 min documentary on Melville.

[ravenus]

I preferred the colder look of the SC release for Army of Shadows and for Red Circle, which is why I picked those up. Also Bunuel's Belle De Jour, I preferred SC's color scheme.

So no, it's not a case of Criterion clearly wins

[Hintermann]

Tenia, thanks for the link and it did help me change my mind.

And Ravenus, yes, I agree that the SC screenshots are better than Criterion overall for Army Of Shadows. This is probably because of the bluish haze of the bleak, wintery background, very different from that in The Devil's Backbone.

So, thanks to you people, I am going to get the Criterion release of The Devil's Backbone (apparently, it's spine number is 666!) and the Studio Canal version of Army Of Shadows.

[nitin]

detail wise I dont think there is anything perceptible, at least not in motion, between the two AoS so it comes down to which colour scheme you prefer.

With Belle De Jour, the Criterion is definitely sharper but again you might prefer the colors of the SC even though it is less detailed.

[dylan32]

Originally Posted by Hintermann

...Criterion release of The Devil's Backbone (apparently, it's spine number is 666!)...

I never noticed, that's cool! I'm also tempted to get this.

[joie]

Originally Posted by nitin

detail wise I dont think there is anything perceptible, at least not in motion, between the two AoS so it comes down to which colour scheme you prefer.

With Belle De Jour, the Criterion is definitely sharper but again you might prefer the colors of the SC even though it is less detailed.

Is it artificially sharpened? By being selective about what is sharpened, it can be difficult to spot.

[Hintermann]

Originally Posted by nitin

detail wise I dont think there is anything perceptible, at least not in motion, between the two AoS so it comes down to which colour scheme you prefer.

With Belle De Jour, the Criterion is definitely sharper but again you might prefer the colors of the SC even though it is less detailed.

I generally prefer slightly higher contrast as long as the skin tones remain as close to natural as possible. Also, for outdoor daylight shots showing the sky, trees etc, I prefer the colours to be on the vibrant side.

The video quality of Purple Noon on SC has almost been universally criticised in comparison with Criterion. I have to accept that.

I found that the Criterion BD for TDB was ahead on all these counts over the Studio Canal release based on those screenshots. Bu then it is a different kind of background to the muted, wintery landscapes of AOS where Studio Canal's approach seems to be better. Curiously though, that last screenshot of AOS is significantly different between the two - is it supposed to be like that?

[dylan32]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Just to give an actual example, the settings for Institute Benjamenta were originally set for a "normal" black and white picture - rich blacks, sparkling whites and a regular tonal range in between. But the directors and cinematographer were adamant that this was completely wrong - they wanted it to have extremely low contrast, almost a study in greyscale.

Funny, I recieved the BFIs Institute Benjamenta this week and watched it last night. First Quays feature for me, having only seen their shorts. That washed out, defocused greyscale is incredibly creepy.

[Hintermann]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

But suppose the filmmakers preferred something different?

In that case, I would like to see it from the film-makers' point of view. I was talking about comparisons in a general sense where they had a bit of leeway in the presentation.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by joie

Is it artificially sharpened? By being selective about what is sharpened, it can be difficult to spot.

I honestly couldnt say if the Criterion BDJ has been artificially sharpened. But its obvious that it is sharper and I would say it doesnt 'look' like unnatural sharpening (even though it might actually be) and basically that is good enough for me.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by Hintermann

I generally prefer slightly higher contrast as long as the skin tones remain as close to natural as possible. Also, for outdoor daylight shots showing the sky, trees etc, I prefer the colours to be on the vibrant side.

The video quality of Purple Noon on SC has almost been universally criticised in comparison with Criterion. I have to accept that.

I found that the Criterion BD for TDB was ahead on all these counts over the Studio Canal release based on those screenshots. Bu then it is a different kind of background to the muted, wintery landscapes of AOS where Studio Canal's approach seems to be better. Curiously though, that last screenshot of AOS is significantly different between the two - is it supposed to be like that?

Video quality on Purple Noon is poorer on the SC because of excessive filtering, not really because of color discrepanices (although the filtering contributes somewhat to colour too).

Re AoS color scheme, I think the generally accepted view is that the SC has 'truer' colours, but I dont know if that's actually based on anything apart from the fact that for Le Cercle Rouge, the SC defintiely has a 'truer' colour scheme than the Criterion and that in that period Melville preferred colder and desaturated hues. I am happy with how the Criterion AoS looks personally. But then again if I only had the SC version, I would be happy with that too.

[Hintermann]

Thanks for all the input. Based on the information exchanged, I have made the following decision.

Purple Noon - Criterion

Army Of Shadows- Studio Canal

The Devil's Backbone - Criterion

This thread could be useful (even if I do say so myself ) to discuss comparison's of other Criterion releases with their Region B equivalents on a general basis.

[levcore]

Originally Posted by Hintermann

Thanks for all the input. Based on the information exchanged, I have made the following decision.

Purple Noon - Criterion

Army Of Darkness - Studio Canal

The Devil's Backbone - Criterion

This thread could be useful (even if I do say so myself ) to discuss comparison's of other Criterion releases with their Region B equivalents on a general basis.

Criterion did an Army of Darkness blu ray???

[Judex]

Studio Canal's Last Year at Marienbad is also a good alternative to the Criterion release which is now OOP.