The Criterion Collection

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by DimitriL

I don't think that makes a lot of business sense? I get Janus Contemporaries for films where it's like, these are really good, we want them to have a proper release but we don't think they're gonna sell a ton. A film that wins best animated film, though? That basically creates its own marketing push? A Criterion release would sell like the proverbial hotcakes.

They are, after all, a business too.

In some ways it does. The lower entry price for Janus Contemporaries titles means that mainstream customers who either aren't familiar with Criterion or don't typically buy them would be much more inclined to pick up a title like Flow that's around $15-$20 on Amazon (or $12- $15 during half-off sales) vs around $30-$35 for a full-fledged CC release (and $20-$25 on sale) depending on the format.

You also have to keep in mind that the JC line sort of runs on autopilot in the sense that Criterion doesn't have to worry about producing a lot of new extras for these releases. So in that regard they are saving time, money, resources, etc..by releasing it as a JC title rather than taking up a CC slot that would necessitate more extras (including printing booklets). I imagine the limited number of monthly CC slots (5 or 6 typically) was one reason why they created a separate line for new releases. As a general rule the line exists for titles like Flow so from Criterion's POV it would be rather strange for them to not use it for the release. Like I said though, I hope I'm wrong and we get a nice Criterion Collection release of it, preferably also in 4K with some good extras.

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I hope I'm wrong, but I feel Criterion are going to simply release a Janus Contemporaries Blu-ray for Flow and call it a day. Evil Does Not Exist is a another title that should have easily been given a proper Criterion treatment. I also feel like Criterion messed up by not creating a 4K option from the start. There have been some visually stunning films like EO, About Dry Grasses and others that would look pretty great in 4K but are seemingly stuck at BD for the foreseeable future.

I still feel Flow will have a 4k release. Maybe it will be the first Janus Contemporaries UHD.

[Trekkie313]

Monsters and Madmen collection and Fiend Without A Face are overdue for at least a Blu-Ray upgrade from their ancient DVDs.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by Trekkie313

Monsters and Madmen collection and Fiend Without A Face are overdue for at least a Blu-Ray upgrade from their ancient DVDs.

I’d also add Equinox. I’m a sucker for stop-motion animation and it’s a fun film.

[JVM30]

Besides Flow, All We Imagine as Light and other releases Janus has under its belt, which other 2023-2024 releases can you see joining the Criterion Collection? Some picks of mine are:

Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World
Ghostlight (maybe as a double release with Saint Frances)
Good One
His Three Daughters (Netflix's deal)
Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell
Nickel Boys (Amazon has a deal with CC)
No Other Land
The People's Joker
Pictures of Ghosts

[DrasticHandprint]

Originally Posted by JVM30

Besides Flow, All We Imagine as Light and other releases Janus has under its belt, which other 2023-2024 releases can you see joining the Criterion Collection? Some picks of mine are:

Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World
Ghostlight (maybe as a double release with Saint Frances)
Good One
His Three Daughters (Netflix's deal)
Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell
Nickel Boys (Amazon has a deal with CC)
No Other Land
The People's Joker
Pictures of Ghosts

The People’s Joker is with Altered Innocence, I don’t think they’d license out to Criterion to compete with their own Blu-ray.

[Egbert Souse]

Originally Posted by DrasticHandprint

The People’s Joker is with Altered Innocence, I don’t think they’d license out to Criterion to compete with their own Blu-ray.

And it's already a stacked release.

[HipsterTrash]

Originally Posted by JVM30

His Three Daughters (Netflix's deal)

Fincher said Netflix don't care about his films getting releases. I know he was speaking personally of his his own work and deal. But I imagine that they also don't care about releasing other films from their grasp.

[Scottie]

Just got an email about Flow being available to rent/own digitally.

In the middle of the email is this line:

Coming soon to the Criterion Channel and Janus Contemporaries

So.... I said I was going to be optimistic, but I don't know, man.

[zoodermin]

The Criterion Channel just sent an email saying that Flow "is coming soon to the Criterion Channel and Janus Contemporaries" so that's that I guess.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by zoodermin

The Criterion Channel just sent an email saying that Flow "is coming soon to the Criterion Channel and Janus Contemporaries" so that's that I guess.

[HipsterTrash]

Originally Posted by zoodermin

The Criterion Channel just sent an email saying that Flow "is coming soon to the Criterion Channel and Janus Contemporaries" so that's that I guess.

I know Janus titles don't really get lots of features but maybe they can tack on Zilbalodis' Away with Flow.

[ScottMDJ]

Now that Criterion is selling streaming files, I’m hoping I can get feedback from those who tried some titles.

I’ve been collecting Criterion movies for many years, and I know discs will give me superior bitrates, etc. However, it’ll take me many more years before I can upgrade all my dvds to blus and blus to 4k. Meanwhile, I’ve got some credit I can spend on the streaming versions right now.

Anyone have good experiences with the titles that are now available?

[Ikari]

I'm really starting to wonder, if I should just stop bothering with Criterion altogether. Finally got my last part of the order

They still can't put the covers inside the box properly. I can understand a mishap here but this is kinda silly. With all the import costs, these aren't cheap even on sale. Amazon's packaging doesn't help the cardboard packaged ones either...

[concolt]

Originally Posted by Ikari

I'm really starting to wonder, if I should just stop bothering with Criterion altogether. Finally got my last part of the order



They still can't put the covers inside the box properly. I can understand a mishap here but this is kinda silly. With all the import costs, these aren't cheap even on sale. Amazon's packaging doesn't help the cardboard packaged ones either...

The movies wouldn’t play for you?

If you just slide them back in you can’t even tell.

[ScottMDJ]

Originally Posted by Ikari

They still can't put the covers inside the box properly. I can understand a mishap here but this is kinda silly. With all the import costs, these aren't cheap even on sale. Amazon's packaging doesn't help the cardboard packaged ones either...

FWIW, this hasn’t been a particular problem for me. I think you might have just had a run of bad luck.

It’s not the worst idea to send a few photos to Criterion if it’s happening often. I do think they care about quality control and wouldn’t mind a note sent in the spirit of pointing out a small, recurring problem.

[ophone]

I know the reasons why they exist, but I'd prefer if movies wouldn't have these extra plastic wrappers, I take these off as soon as I get them.

[Ikari]

Originally Posted by concolt

The movies wouldn’t play for you?

If you just slide them back in you can’t even tell.

At $25 + $5 shipping + 22% tax I get a bit more touchy about sloppy manufacturing compared a more bargain bin edition.

I get shipping damage, especially with Amazon's sloppy packaging, so I understand my Criterion digipacks won't be pristine but misaligned covers to the point of minor damage is a bit annoying.

[RojD]

What are people's thoughts about 4K and animation? I saw Flow in a theater, and I didn't see a color or light pallet that I thought could be significantly impacted by a home release in 4K over a typical Blu-ray release.

I've been hesitant to upgrade most of my anime to 4K for that same reason (tho I think the art direction for Flow would have made it an especially easy decision to stick with blu). I'm guessing with anime like the recent Mononoke, there would be more vibrancy in a 4K release.

Other thoughts? Experiences?

[DimitriL]

Originally Posted by RojD

What are people's thoughts about 4K and animation? I saw Flow in a theater, and I didn't see a color or light pallet that I thought could be significantly impacted by a home release in 4K over a typical Blu-ray release.

I've been hesitant to upgrade most of my anime to 4K for that same reason (tho I think the art direction for Flow would have made it an especially easy decision to stick with blu). I'm guessing with anime like the recent Mononoke, there would be more vibrancy in a 4K release.

The question for me is not whether it’s vibrant. It’s whether it’s accurate. And 4k is about so many other things than just color (and resolution). Motion, grain reproduction, bitrate, artifacts. These are all things that are ESPECIALLY important in animation reproduction - especially hand-drawn animation.