International Blu-ray users: How do you feel about missing out on Criterion releases?

[classicfilmcollector]

I mean this must really suck I am in the UK myself and consdering getting a region 1 player since alot of these release are director approved and packed with extras.

[LordCrumb]

In terms of the films, I don't think we really miss out, the films do eventually get released by other distributors.

I would like to start buying Criterion titles, but they are just so much more expensive than any other distributor, and they tend to go OOP quickly (how that happens in the days of Blu-Ray, I don't know, do they have limit as to how many copies they are allowed to release?).

The ones I would really like to have are;

Paris Texas, Seventh Seal & Walkabout

[Papercat]

The few films that they've released that I'm interested in have been released here, so I don't care.

[marvinski]

makes me sick!

[degas]

I bought a region free player (Oppo BDP-83), so that's no problem for me.
Before that I had a region A PS3.

[crs]

Originally Posted by degas

I bought a region free player (Oppo BDP-83), so that's no problem for me.

Same here. I've got a regionfree Oppo but also a regionfree HTPC system. Making an Oppo regionfree is very easy, and on a HTPC it's even easier to achieve, so there's no reason to feel left out at all.

[retask]

Criterion is really for people who is over-average interested in films and collection films so I think europeans who is interested in this kind of things are willing to get a region-free player. Me myself live in Norway and I bought a region-free player on ebay, and the total cost including shipping and taxes was still cheaper then buying the same R2-player here. As for criterion DVD everyone has (should at least have) a region free dvd-player.

[Bluyoda]

I got myself the amazing Oppo BDP-83SE, and therefore I can enjoy all the American releases (I only buy American BDs, as I did with DVDs), including the sweet Criterion releases. (Check out my collection to see my Criterion titles)

I am so looking forward to C.C's Modern Times and A.K's Seven Samurai!!!

I just can't stand the stupid titles on the German BD releases. (I live in Austria)

Hope that helps!

[The Driver]

If you like films you must go region free. It was the same day 1 with DVD.

If you just like whatever you can get your hands on then just buy a local player and put your head in the sand and ignore the best version or only version. I can't imagine too many people like that here but maybe there is.

Either way Blu-ray is nowhere near as bad for being locked (not even close) but having the ability to watch Region A locked titles in the UK is great as it gives you access to much more stuff. I maybe only have 10 or 15 locked As out of 200+ Blu-rays. Maybe 50 of those are released in Region A but not locked so play anywhere. Virtually every main-studio Region 1 was locked to Region 1 -we don't have that with Blu-ray thankfully.

I'd say if you have a region free DVD player and are happy watching just DVDs then there's not point being here either.

[rezpekt]

I'm not missing out anything...

[KubrickFan]

I'm glad I took the step of letting my BD player be made region free about a year ago. I was used to having a region free DVD player for so long, that it really took getting used to not be able to play every region anymore. It wasn't cheap, but I'm glad I did. Not because Criterion is necessarily better every time, but I like to have the choice, when one version isn't as good as the other. Now I simply won't have to miss out on the best version, whether that one's released by Criterion or Eureka.

[Aristide Massaccesi]

I had my Panasonic BD-35 modified to play all regions.

[Sky_Captain]

I'm finally Region A capable, but have no inkling to buy any of Criterions previous or forthcoming titles.

They're not the be and end all of quality releases anymore.

[Immersion]

Luckily I purchased a multi-region player, and I'm hoping to pick up some titles.

For a UK/European buyer, which are the cheapest stores to buy from? I can't seem to find that many good deals for shipping abroad.

Cheers