Why do people prefer Criterion or Shout, Arrow, Kino Lorber etc?

[Movie shy]

Hi,

Just wondering why people prefer Criterion or Shout, Arrow, Kino Lorber etc. over a regular release of a film? I have Criterions and I like the extra special features you get and the packaging but for some films I am fine with my regular blu ray’s. For instance I love the film “All About Eve” and have the digipack that I got for 5 dollars at Big Lots a few years ago. The video is great and love the special features so no need to get the Criterion. I have “The Phantom of the Paradise” on Shout and am impressed with all the special features. I just wish the independent labels didn’t charges so much for films. Even with 50 percent off Criterions at B&N at 20 dollars a film that still seems expensive to me. I realize some labels will only have a limited number of printings so the price needs to be high but many times a regular blu ray will suffice. Any thoughts?

[StingingVelvet]

They tend to do better packaging and supplements, that's the main reason. They also sometimes do remasters the studios won't do. In general though IF a studio does a nice remaster and a nice release, like say Apocalypse Now 4k, then it's just as good as a Criterion or whatever. It's just those don't come out like they used to.

[GeoffOliver]

More extras, often better transfers, sometimes better packaging.

[Dailyan]

In addition what's been stated above (though "packaging", if we're talking cover art, is debatable imo), boutique labels are an opportunity for films to get released on disc. For example, I can't really imagine mainline studio releases for films like "3 Women", "Bigger Than Life", and "The Friends of Eddie Coyle" where a label like Criterion gladly released them.

[Cremildo]

Sometimes greater technical quality; informative booklets; nicer packaging etc.

But since you mentioned it in your first post, I don't double-dip everything indiscriminately just because a boutique label releases it. I, too, own the Fox All About Eve digibook, and have no interest in owning the Criterion. If I didn't already have the old release, then I'd buy the Criterion for sure, even if it's more expensive.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by Movie shy

Just wondering why people prefer Criterion or Shout, Arrow, Kino Lorber etc. over a regular release of a film?

I wouldn't lump Kino in with the other three. The advantage of Kino tends to be that they release a lot of titles that no other label would touch. People tend to complain when they get top-tier titles.

[AKORIS]

in addition to the prior answers... sometimes there is no other choice to begin with! I don't see a "regular" release of titles like "Night Of The Demons" or "Scanners".....

[Rozay]

Double dipping is a case-by-case thing. I don't need a release to be from them by any means, though they often tend to have nicer packaging / extras than other companies.

But I'm often dealing with the aforementioned brands because a lot of their releases are unique. Lots of older movies, cult classics, genre films etc. that aren't available elsewhere on blu-ray (or if they are, they're lackluster releases from many years ago).

[bonehica]

The real dilemma comes when you decide to go region free...then you have to deal with dueling boutique labels If you are an idiot completest like me, and want all the special feautres, well...you end up with the Shout and Arrow versions of Candyman and The Thing, the SC 4K and Shout version of Escape from New York and so on and so on. It's a sickness honestly. I've got the fever.

[thatguamguy]

Also, never forget that a lot of collectors put value on uniformity on a shelf. I must admit, there's a part of me that wants to upgrade "In The Mouth of Madness" and "Vampires" just to have the full Carpenter/Shout collection together. But, because the upgrade itself would be marginal, the price would have to be lower than Shout ever gets for me to seriously consider it.

[whateverman42]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

More interesting, offbeat films; great technical quality; informative booklets; nice packaging etc.

But since you mentioned it in your first post, I don't double-dip everything indiscriminately just because a boutique label releases it. I, too, own the Fox All About Eve digibook, and have no interest in owning the Criterion. If I didn't already have the old release, then I'd buy the Criterion for sure, even if it's more expensive.

I agree with most of this. If Criterion releases a film that's already been released on blu ray I'm buying the cheaper version 99% of the time. All About Eve, Dr. Strangelove and Charade come immediately to mind. Almost identical transfers, so the Criterion premium on packaging and extras is not worth it IMO.

However they are the only game in town for some smaller films that would never see a blu ray release otherwise, and that's when I'm willing to spend $30-$40.

It bothers me when they announce a film that has a very good blu ray release already out there. I feel they should focus on releasing films that don't have blus yet. But perhaps if they did that sales would suffer. I guess they know what they're doing

[Noremac Mij]

No one prefers Shout!

[Jay H.]

I have never bought a Blu-ray based on the label. If I like the movie I buy the disc. Some releases have better picture/sound/extra features than others. (I don't care about the packaging at all.) That's just how it goes.

There are quite a few people who have blind love for a specific label and will buy anything released on that label. Even if there is an existing release of the film, it's far cheaper, looks/sounds great, and has a lot of extras. That's rather silly...

[tama]

Originally Posted by Movie shy

Hi,

Just wondering why people prefer Criterion or Shout, Arrow, Kino Lorber etc. over a regular release of a film? I have Criterions and I like the extra special features you get and the packaging but for some films I am fine with my regular blu ray’s. For instance I love the film “All About Eve” and have the digipack that I got for 5 dollars at Big Lots a few years ago.

If it's already out or if I own a film and any of these Labels re-release that title it will depend on the Transfers themselves. In several cases these boutique labels will re-release a film with an updated/newer master:

Criterions In the Heat of the Night/Arrows An American Werewolf In London/Shouts When Harry Meet Sally.

Otherwise personally me I not as big a fan of extras and swag as I once was and will pass a re-release that offers no A/V upgrade (All About Eve as you stated).

[Bugg]

I just want the most faithful looking and sounding version of the movie. Most of the time the best versions are from the boutique labels. I don't really care about extras. If the transfer is the same I will always take the cheaper option if there is one.

[Steedeel]

I love Arrow, Artificial Eye, Criterion and VS. I don’t like Kino as that means region locked to me.

[Jay Mammoth]

Originally Posted by Noremac Mij

No one prefers Shout!

They would have been out out of business years ago if that were true. Luckily we love them and their awesome releases.

[Noremac Mij]

Originally Posted by Jay Mammoth

They would have been out out of business years ago if that were true. Luckily we love them and their awesome releases.

Nah, y’all love their slip covers.

[Jay Mammoth]

Originally Posted by Noremac Mij

Nah, y’all love their slip covers.

I don’t care about slip covers, remasters and bonus features.

[EVERYONE LIES]

I only prefer Criterion and Arrow for Universal and United Artists movies since those tend to look like ass when released by their parent companies. Features don’t matter to me because all my favorite actors and actresses are dead. I would prefer if every studio movie was released by Warner Archive and every B-movie by Vinegar Syndrome.