The Criterion Collection

[Poya]

Disney should cancel their Snow White 4K release and have Criterion release it instead!

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by Shane Rollins

A lot of Criterion’s moves lately has me afraid to buy some of their standard Blus. Seven Samurai, The Last Temptation Of Christ, and The Magnificent Ambersons are three of many. Haven’t seen or owned TLTOC or TMA yet, but Seven Samurai is one I have on tape, and I know that if I just baby that tape a little longer they’re going to announce it on 4K. TLTOC is going to be soon, since they’ve been on a Scorsese kick as of late.

Ambersons on the other hand might take a while. It’s a fairly new Blu-ray, not Welles’ most popular movie, not his most known movie, and the thing that would really move some units of that movie most likely doesn’t exist anymore. I will say this though, and I hope someone from Criterion sees this. If they redo Ambersons for either 4K or a redone Blu-ray, I hope they get everything that was on the laserdisc, especially the screenplay for the original cut. Its omission from the Blu-ray was a serious mistake on Criterion’s part, and it’s the reason I still give the LD higher marks than the Blu.

Yeah, I wouldn't advise anyone to get LAST TEMPTATION on Blu as the transfer is rotty. That's sure to get an upgrade sooner or later, but unfortunately in Criterion's glossary "sooner or later" could mean literal years.

Not sure about AMBERSONS for the same reasons you state. When I listed Welles I was thinking about THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND, which I hope gets released on disc someday. I can't imagine my Welles collection without it.

[Shane Rollins]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Yeah, I wouldn't advise anyone to get LAST TEMPTATION on Blu as the transfer is rotty. That's sure to get an upgrade sooner or later, but unfortunately in Criterion's glossary "sooner or later" could mean literal years.

Not sure about AMBERSONS for the same reasons you state. When I listed Welles I was thinking about THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND, which I hope gets released on disc someday. I can't imagine my Welles collection without it.

Only seen caps of TLTOC, and it seemed okay at worst. Your review was the final nail in the coffin for that one. Besides, the last Blu was a 2K job on I think an IP, and a new disc would definitely be a 4K scan of the neg. So I’ll patiently wait for that one. After Hours was proof that Scorsese, Schoonmaker, their team, and Criterion can do his films justice.

As for The Other Side Of The Wind, Criterion has done Netflix films before, but Welles’ children are very involved in his releases. They would be the real deciding factor as to whether or not this got a disc at all, and whether said disc was a Criterion release or not.

[captveg]

The Other Side of the Wind was specifically mentioned to be a forthcoming Criterion release when their deal with Netflix was announced, but my understanding is that it's hit significant snags in that becoming a reality. In other words, don't expect it anytime soon (I hope I am wrong).

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by sandman slim

Sayles said earlier this year they either hadn't started working on it yet or had only just started, can't remember which, but its coming.

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

What about the previous post to yours with "John Styles" instead of "John Sayles?" Isn't that a jinx jynx?

Auto-corrext is a travesty.

[Shane Rollins]

All quiet on the website front.

As a side note, go to the website and there’s a “High School Horror” section, which includes The Craft, Massacre At Central High, The Faculty, and Ginger Snaps. While those titles would never happen, the thought of a Criterion 4K of any of those thrills me.

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by captveg

The Other Side of the Wind was specifically mentioned to be a forthcoming Criterion release when their deal with Netflix was announced, but my understanding is that it's hit significant snags in that becoming a reality. In other words, don't expect it anytime soon (I hope I am wrong).

Most recent update is Rosenbaum is unsure.

Originally Posted by BudtheChud

Except he flat out says "They didn't tell me they are definitely not going to do it" so not really any confirmation.

I hope it does come out at some point. They still owe me a blu-ray.

Originally Posted by Mike0284

I remember learning about this movie from Patton Oswalt in the back of Criminal #4.

There are a lot of great reviews in the back of Brubaker comics, like the Kim Morgan ones which I’m not sure if they’ve been published elsewhere. Always great to see Sean Phillips cover art.

Originally Posted by latehong

With the new aspect ratio of 1.85:1, apparently. Probably the right choice, considering the theatrical standard of the era, but I still hope Criterion can provide the open matte 4:3 version they used for the 2008 DVD release as well.

Obviously a few Criterions have multiple aspect ratios, like Shane and On the Waterfront. Or people end up debating them compared to other releases, like Paris Texas (1.78:1 vs. 1.66:1). Meantime, The Night of the Hunter and Alice in the Cities went from 1.33:1 on DVD to 1.66:1 on Blu-ray. Some of the Sirks feel contentious with 2.00:1 as well.

[Shane Rollins]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

Obviously a few Criterions have multiple aspect ratios, like Shane and On the Waterfront. Or people end up debating them compared to other releases, like Paris Texas (1.78:1 vs. 1.66:1). Meantime, The Night of the Hunter and Alice in the Cities went from 1.33:1 on DVD to 1.66:1 on Blu-ray. Some of the Sirks feel contentious with 2.00:1 as well.

Assuming that’s the Alan Ladd movie, the aspect ratio is and has always been 1.37:1. That was how George Stevens shot it, what he shot for, and what he intended. He just didn’t write 1.37:1 on a piece of paper because he didn’t think he had to. Right after Shane came out, widescreen became a thing. The film was matted to a variety of different ratios, all without Stevens’ approval. When he tried to make his voice heard, he was either informed of how widescreen worked (as if he didn’t know), told how his film would look better in widescreen (it doesn’t), or even asked “But are you sure you didn’t want it widescreen all along?” (Widescreen didn’t exist when the movie was filmed.) “Are you sure you don’t want a mulligan?” (He was sure.)

When Stevens made Giant a few years later, he explicitly shot it for 1.66:1, and made sure to write down as many times as he could what the aspect ratio was so there wasn’t any controversy like there was with Shane.

When Shane was restored, George Stevens Jr. was brought in to supervise. When asked what the aspect ratio was/should be, he told them it was 1.37:1. His father had repeatedly told him that, and also repeatedly told him the shit he went through with putting out an Academy Ratio movie on the eve of widescreen.

The aspect ratio of Shane is 1.37:1.

Much like The Wizard Of Oz, GWTW, and even several OAC Disney movies, while they were presented in multiple aspect ratios over the years, they only had one real aspect ratio, and executives and projectionists decided they knew the movies better than the filmmakers did.

Also, I never knew Shane had a Criterion release. News to me.

[cjamescook]

Originally Posted by captveg

The Other Side of the Wind was specifically mentioned to be a forthcoming Criterion release when their deal with Netflix was announced, but my understanding is that it's hit significant snags in that becoming a reality. In other words, don't expect it anytime soon (I hope I am wrong).

The sad thing about this is that there was an Indegogo on this that collected over $400,000. Benefits for contribution included receiving a copy of the completed film, with options for download and physical media. Netflix took over the effort, leaving in place the commitment to send DVD and Blu-ray media to supporters. That never happened.

Something should be done before allowing another company such as Criterion to commercialize it.

[stonesfan129]

I finally received my 7 replacement discs from the Wong Kar Wai box set. I will test them all tomorrow and verify they play correctly with no skipping. I worked with Jill on this, and they were very helpful in getting these replaced (for free) and standing behind their product. Overall, a very positive experience. It's too bad they can't shift all their production to the German pressing plant which seems to put out better quality discs, or reopen the Japanese pressing plant. Thanks.

[captveg]

Originally Posted by cjamescook

The sad thing about this is that there was an Indegogo on this that collected over $400,000. Benefits for contribution included receiving a copy of the completed film, with options for download and physical media. Netflix took over the effort, leaving in place the commitment to send DVD and Blu-ray media to supporters. That never happened.

Something should be done before allowing another company such as Criterion to commercialize it.

Oh, I know. I contributed with the BD reward.

[FragnitoM]

Originally Posted by stonesfan129

I finally received my 7 replacement discs from the Wong Kar Wai box set. I will test them all tomorrow and verify they play correctly with no skipping. I worked with Jill on this, and they were very helpful in getting these replaced (for free) and standing behind their product. Overall, a very positive experience. It's too bad they can't shift all their production to the German pressing plant which seems to put out better quality discs, or reopen the Japanese pressing plant. Thanks.

i never understood the wkw issue i got it on release day and never had a problem. was it only some people who had trouble? or was it certain players?

[Areyakiddin]

Originally Posted by Shane Rollins

Also, I never knew Shane had a Criterion release. News to me.

That's because it doesn't (not even on laserdisc). As far as I'm aware, there's also not a Blu-ray anywhere in the world that has a widescreen version of Shane. OP must be thinking of another release.

[Egbert Souse]

Originally Posted by Areyakiddin

That's because it doesn't (not even on laserdisc). As far as I'm aware, there's also not a Blu-ray anywhere in the world that has a widescreen version of Shane. OP must be thinking of another release.

Masters of Cinema had a limited edition with the as-filmed 1.37:1 on one disc plus a second disc with two 1.66:1 presentations: one as framed for projection in 1953 and another thats adjusted shot by shot for the optimal framing. It's one of those films that was released in widescreen, but filmed with 1.37:1 intended.

[stonesfan129]

Originally Posted by FragnitoM

i never understood the wkw issue i got it on release day and never had a problem. was it only some people who had trouble? or was it certain players?

I think there was an issue with bad pressings in some of these sets:

https://www.criterion.com/current/po...efective-discs
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dvd...r-wai/35930516

No idea how widespread it was, but there were a lot of people with the issue. When I emailed Criterion, they said they were aware of it and all discs except for "AS TEARS GO BY" had the issue reported, but that they would replace this one if mine had skipping, which it did.

I wonder if Criterion is pressing their discs at the Mexico plant or the Germany plant. I have heard a lot of reports of Mexican-pressed discs having fingerprints and scratches right out of the box on quite a few 4K Blu-rays (not just Criterion ones). I have had the issue on one disc (a non-Criterion title). The few I have which were pressed in Germany have all been spotless.

[MifuneFan]

Delayed till Monday. The good news is, The Red Balloon is finally coming.

Don't fly away...we'll be announcing our DECEMBER 2023 titles on Monday (9/18)!

[Darth Marcus]

Yay for Red Balloon. Boo for delayed announcements.

[jedidarrick]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Delayed till Monday. The good news is, The Red Balloon is finally coming.

Maybe that'll be Spine #1200!

[fdm]

Originally Posted by Shane Rollins

All quiet on the website front.

As a side note, go to the website and there’s a “High School Horror” section, which includes The Craft, Massacre At Central High, The Faculty, and Ginger Snaps. While those titles would never happen, the thought of a Criterion 4K of any of those thrills me.

I may end up watching a few more of those, but the one I watched the other day (for the first time) was I Saw What You Did Last Summer. Not really my thang, but I did see a little bit of it when flipping channels not too long ago, and made a mental note to possibly give it a watch someday. It was pretty okay. And it expires from the channel at the end of the month so as good a time as any to catch it.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by jedidarrick

Maybe that'll be Spine #1200!

I wsa going to say it already had a spine, being in the collection already, but apparently it was a Janus release, and never got one. Same with Paddle to the Sea (1966), and White Mane (1952). Perhaps all of them will be released together for December.