The Criterion Collection

[Egbert Souse]

Originally Posted by Vigojean

Calling something “overrated” is usually a cheap cop-out, unless supported by evidence. I think the problem some people have with Kane is that, despite the immaculate execution and entertainment value, does it stir you emotionally? Do you care about its themes? If the answer is no, people will snub the movie. The only reason Eternal Sunshine is so highly beloved is because everyone has been a poor sap who got his heart broken, so people can relate. But not everyone relates to a rich businessman, etc. Basically, most people judge movies based on emotions and themes. Vertigo stirs my emotions; Kane does not. Both masterpieces, though.

It does stir me emotionally. Both films do. If you take away from Citizen Kane that it's about a rich guy, you've missed the point. Kane had nothing as a child until he was adopted and no matter how much he tried to not let the wealth and power corrupt him, it just made him into what he hated the most eventually.

[guizhang]

finally, all here



edit: 2 of the discs were loose in the essential fellini box, but thankfully no scratches/damage to them

[tatterdemalion]

Scraped up a few extra $20 bills so grabbed two more:



Hoping Ichikawa's Fires on the Plain, Shinoda's Double Suicide and Kobayashi's Samurai Rebellion get upgraded soon. It's been a long wait for these films. At least Onibaba, The Burmese Harp and Floating Weeds had UK releases with The Human Condition finally crossing the Atlantic recently.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Apple2Forever

I imagine this has been discussed before, but is the lack of region coding for the UHD format possibly a reason they haven't made the jump to the format? Aren't most of their blu-rays region locked (unlike some other companies like Vinegar Syndrome which tend to release region free discs)?

I doubt that's a significant reason. If I have heard correct, some UHD's have been made region-locked by locking the disc menu file, so while the actual UHD content is not locked, you won't be able to access it on a normal standalone player.

I really think it's concerns about consistency in SKU's and worry about what % of their catalog they can afford to put out UHD with decent returns while dealing with fan expectations is what has kept them cautious about the market.

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by Vigojean

Calling something “overrated” is usually a cheap cop-out, unless supported by evidence. I think the problem some people have with Kane is that, despite the immaculate execution and entertainment value, does it stir you emotionally? Do you care about its themes? If the answer is no, people will snub the movie. The only reason Eternal Sunshine is so highly beloved is because everyone has been a poor sap who got his heart broken, so people can relate. But not everyone relates to a rich businessman, etc. Basically, most people judge movies based on emotions and themes. Vertigo stirs my emotions; Kane does not. Both masterpieces, though.

I tend to agree with that. Calling "art" of any kind overrated in itself is ridiculous. This isn't science or a sport. In science we get definitive answers. In a sport we can know exactly who or what is the best. But with art it's never going to be precise. And that's why I like what I like and I don't care what anyone else likes.

Personally, I'm not a fan of Citizen Kane. Never was. Boring. But that doesn't mean it's not a great film. It only means that I don't like it.

[BaronVH]

I love all this talk about Kane. Of course much has been written about it, and there is no way I could touch on it. If I were to describe the story, which is great, many people would not be interested, but that would be similar to other classics. What cannot be denied is what the film did then that was groundbreaking at the time and still today. At the time was the special effects, which are mostly unnoticed (like the famous cut through the glass or seeing the ceilings). All of that is easily replicated today. What is still groundbreaking is the dialog. In most films, one person talks, then the other person talks, and so on. That is not real life. In real life people talk at the same time and over each other. That happens in Kane. What is amazing is you can still understand it. That requires extreme precision.

There are obviously many other components to the film that I am not addressing, but I do think it deserves all its praises over the years. Of course, you either like it or you don’t. But it was groundbreaking and still has not been matched in several areas.

[ShellOilJunior]

Predictions-

Blast of Silence
#1100 Citizen Kane UHD
Devi
Mulholland Dr. UHD
Onibaba
The Silence of the Lambs UHD

[dkelly26666]

I'm not even posting 'wish lists' anymore as that hasn't been too successful for me, lately.

I'll just wait and see. Hopefully, there's some stuff for me to get excited about.

I just hope they post today, and it's not one of those months where they mess with us for a few days, LOL.

[yoloswegmaster420]

The page for Onibaba on the Criterion site has added 9 different screenshots and a clip of a scene of the movie, which is a strong indication that an upgrade will be announced today.

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Predictions-

Blast of Silence
#1100 Citizen Kane UHD
Devi
Mulholland Dr. UHD
Onibaba
The Silence of the Lambs UHD

I'm not thinking the UHDs will start today. But BLAST OF SILENCE seems like a good bet since that is apparently coming this year. I could see that fitting into the more low key December (and the movie has Christmas connections too).

I'm thinking MUDBOUND for November, another we know is coming "in the fall".

Would love love love an ONIBABA upgrade. MABUSE would be great (and has a "blu-ray" format tab on the Janus site). Still always hopeful for I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE or FREAKS. But otherwise, I have no clue what might be in store. I've continuously been thwarted this year at trying to guess titles.

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by yoloswegmaster420

The page for Onibaba on the Criterion site has added 9 different screenshots and a clip of a scene of the movie, which is a strong indication that an upgrade will be announced today.

Ooooo.

The DVD is currently unavailable too!

[jordan-r]

As always, hoping for Inland Empire and more Fassbinder.

[ShellOilJunior]

I think Onibaba is also due for some new cover art.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I think Onibaba is also due for some new cover art.

I like the DVD art so I wouldn't mind if they kept it, but I'm down for whatever.

With regards to the screenshots, I'm pretty sure those have been up for a while. I remember commenting on them, and saying they didn't look bad at all. With that said, Onibaba is part of my predictions too, because it is overdue.

[cgpublic]

Citizen Kane overrated? In what context? Subjectively, that it's not an entertaining film? Or objectively, that it's not an influential film?

If you believe Kane is not an entertaining watch, well, that's an opinion, and like most opinions, has little or no relevance other than to seek approval or agreement unless some new context or insights are offered for consideration.

On the other hand, independent of Kane's many technical strengths as a film, e.g., cinematography, if you are suggesting that it's not the first film of significant influence to employ a non-linear approach to its narrative, well, you can attempt to make that argument, but the words and related works of filmmakers over the past 80 years to follow in Welles footsteps beg to differ.

For those who have an interest in cinema, history and the space between, in my opinion it's a fascinating watch, for what is on screen and for what transpired off-screen, for what it represented to audiences in 1941 and for what remains true in 2021.

I don't believe I'm alone in that opinion, and if Criterion were to choose Kane as their first UHD, from a symbolic, historical and commercial perspective, most would agree the selection to be as close to preordained in comparison to most other logical suggestions, The Grand Illusion or Seven Samurai.

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I think Onibaba is also due for some new cover art.

And upgrades from that period usually get new art and new DVD editions so I’d say the odds are high

[yoloswegmaster420]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I like the DVD art so I wouldn't mind if they kept it, but I'm down for whatever.

With regards to the screenshots, I'm pretty sure those have been up for a while. I remember commenting on them, and saying they didn't look bad at all. With that said, Onibaba is part of my predictions too, because it is overdue.

The Wayback Machine screenshot for July 1 only shows 3 screenshots, none of which appear on the site now.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by yoloswegmaster420

The Wayback Machine screenshot for July 1 only shows 3 screenshots, none of which appear on the site now.

I definitely remember seeing more than 3 of those. They're pretty distinct shots.

[nissling]

Originally Posted by cgpublic

I don't believe I'm alone in that opinion, and if Criterion were to choose Kane as their first UHD, from a symbolic, historical and commercial perspective, most would agree the selection to be as close to preordained in comparison to most other logical suggestions, The Grand Illusion or Seven Samurai.

It was their first Laserdisc, thus making it their first release of all time so one could argue it already has a high symbolic value for the company.

By the way, Citizen Kane is awesome and easily Welles' best film.

[GrouchoFan]

My, somewhat biased, humble proposal: A Night at the Opera in 4K UHD.

Make it happen, Criterion!