What is criterion?

[Owen Lol]

Everybody says that it's so great.. What exactly is it?

[24frames]

a home video distibution company that has an arthouse focus

http://www.criterion.com/

edit* not video, but you know what i mean

[Beta Man]

They are also very instrumental in giving a "Proper" release (i.e. attention to detail) for many films that either have sub-par releases or wouldn't receive a release at all due to lack of popular appeal.

Criterion is great for their limited use of post production enhancing, and preserving O.A.R.

I suggest you give a couple of them a viewing when you see titles released by them that appeal to you.

[steve_dave]

Criterion started in the early 1980s with Laserdiscs and their first release was King Kong (1933), licensed from RKO Pictures, and was the first "special edition" home video release with an audio commentary.

Criterion would continue to license titles from Columbia/Tri-Star, Warner, Disney, and Orion and these laserdiscs would include extras at a time when the idea of a home video release just meant the movie was finally available on video. Criterion would in many cases handle the transfers, audio mastering, and production/clearance of issues. T

With the debut of the DVD format, Criterion began to change its focus. Titles they previously held the license to were taken back by their respective studios. Soon studios were beginning to release their own special edition DVDs. Disney still maintained its agreement with Criterion, allowing them to produce the special editions while Disney handled distribution and kept the rights to most of the materials used for the extras.

Criterion also handled the distribution for Paramount's Robinson Crusoe on Mars. The film was never released on VHS and the only laserdisc release was through Criterion. Paramount re-signed the agreement for Criterion to distribute Robinson Crusoe on Mars and also allowed Criterion to handle additional titles on DVD. This allowed several Paramount titles to have special edition DVDs when Paramount didn't want to produce these themselves.

Now with Blu-ray Disc, Criterion continued to evolve. Disney now chooses to produce special edition releases themselves and Paramount is more willing to take cash risks. Criterion has even had to relax their staunchy policy of withholding materials they produced with some new DVDs and BDs including extras from the Criterion archives.

Of course, Criterion does hold the rights to plenty of films and some studios are still willing to license titles to them. However, Criterion's former image of the leader in special editions has changed to the leader of unique and artful films.

[GLaDOS]

You may notice that The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button is a Criterion release, Owen.