The Criterion Collection

[MovieBuff647]

Originally Posted by DimitriL

I couldn’t begin to guess about their thinking, and I’m not a pixel peeper anyway, but I have noticed an enormous reduction in complaints about their encoding for 4k discs compared to the BD days.

There's absolutely been improvement—their 4K restoration of PAPER MOON on BD alone looks wonderful with a very sturdy encode to boot—but still enough space for more to go beyond just using NexSpec and/or Pixelogic.

Originally Posted by Brad1963

I tend to think Criterion wanted them all along, but MGM wanted them to hit the market on UHD sooner that Criterion was willing to to release them. So they entered the agreement with Kino probably knowing that they would pull them as soon as they saturated the market enough. These are simple re-issues for Criterion since they already have the Blu-rays with supplements in the market place.

Quite a few of MGM's licensing of some titles with Shout, Fun City, Arrow and Kino were very brief. I'm still angry that I missed A Fish Called Wanda with Arrow. It feels like sometimes that MGM likes to keep making deals. Except for Criterion, which MGM seems to like to have long term licensing agreements. These titles will no doubt stay with Criterion for the long haul.

It makes me think of when Twilight Time was in its prime and Nick Redman saying that MGM wants them to release the titles quicker than they were doing.

I'd expect Kino to bring back A FISH CALLED WANDA in the US. Final Cut is doing so in the UK very soon.

[DimitriL]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

Quite a few of MGM's licensing of some titles with Shout, Fun City, Arrow and Kino were very brief. I'm still angry that I missed A Fish Called Wanda with Arrow. It feels like sometimes that MGM likes to keep making deals. Except for Criterion, which MGM seems to like to have long term licensing agreements. These titles will no doubt stay with Criterion for the long haul.

One thing I mentioned before is that almost all these deals happened before Amazon bought MGM, and that alone may have changed their stance on licensing and who they want to go with. I suspect that a Criterion title has longer sales legs in general.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by Dragun

Did Criterion make a deal with Milestone Film & Video, since they released I am Cuba and Killer of Sheep? Perhaps Criterion will release other Milestone titles, like the 2022 restoration of Losing Ground.

Milestone is releasing that themselves.

[DavidRoylance]

For me the whole month is underwhelming.

In the Heat of the Night released previously by KL with a 2nd disc completing the Virgil Tibbs trilogy. The Musketeers 4ks have been out via Studio Canal in Europe for ages. Only Umbrellas 4k is a potential for me here.

[DavidRoylance]

Most importantly, where is the 4k of Trouble in Paradise. It's Valentine's night and my only option to show my wife looks like a ropey 3rd gen print.

[Scholer]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

A bit surprising that The Wind Will Carry Us isn't coming to 4K too. It's definitely a new restoration/scan compared to what Cohen put out, though some may not like it as I'm noticing more teals and yellow hues compared to that release. Still looks like a notable upgrade in terms of detail though.

It is a travesty is what it is.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by DavidRoylance

It's Valentine's night and my only option to show my wife looks like a ropey

[NeilZ]

I hope they fixed the audio pitch issues with both Musketeer films, if they did than would warrant double dipping.

[Scottie]

Last month I intended to guess Chungking Express, forgot to, and it was announced.

This month I intended to guess Killer of Sheep, forgot again, and it was announced.

What do you guys want me to forget to guess for next month?

[jedidarrick]

Originally Posted by Scottie

Last month I intended to guess Chungking Express, forgot to, and it was announced.

This month I intended to guess Killer of Sheep, forgot again, and it was announced.

What do you guys want me to forget to guess for next month?

A 4K of Brazil, please.

[MifuneFan]

Duke about to list 200 Japanese films for Scottie to forget to guess

[Shane Rollins]

Originally Posted by Scottie

Last month I intended to guess Chungking Express, forgot to, and it was announced.

This month I intended to guess Killer of Sheep, forgot again, and it was announced.

What do you guys want me to forget to guess for next month?

Gotta be The Devils. One of the least likely Criterion titles (probably only the original cut of The Magnificent Ambersons is more unlikely), but easily the one I want the most from Criterion and WB, and overall second only to the OG Star Wars movies.

Originally Posted by pikwik

I disliked "The Three Musketeers". Tarantino really talked it up in "Cinema Speculation", so my expectations were too high.

I like both films, they're good. I can't honestly say either film rocked my world though. For me, Reed is Urbain Grandier first, Frank in Tommy second, and Sikes in Oliver! third (which, still a good movie, but definitely wayyyyyy below 2001 on the totem pole).

Originally Posted by DimitriL

There are already three Oliver Reed films in the collection. (The Brood, Women in Love and Baron Munchausen.)

Eff them all. We need The Devils. One, it's a true masterpiece of film. Amazing story, great acting, great screenplay, beautiful photography (even the various scenes with heavy blacks, whites, and grays are eye-popping), powerful commentary...it may have some ugly moments, but it's a truly beautiful film.

Two, this movie has never had any respect. Ever.

Three, every single release ever, US or UK, legit or not, is cut and in terrible quality. And the deleted scenes aren't just graphic, they're profound, important scenes, especially the RoC scene.

Honestly, Criterion could have a slate with The Devils and six Uwe Boll films, and it would likely be the best boutique slate of all time.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by Scottie

Last month I intended to guess Chungking Express, forgot to, and it was announced.

This month I intended to guess Killer of Sheep, forgot again, and it was announced.

What do you guys want me to forget to guess for next month?

Just my usual:

The Adventures of Antoine Doinel
Great Expectations David Lean
Oliver Twist David Lean

and for good measure:

49th Parallel
A Canterbury Tale

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by Scottie

Last month I intended to guess Chungking Express, forgot to, and it was announced.

This month I intended to guess Killer of Sheep, forgot again, and it was announced.

What do you guys want me to forget to guess for next month?

Pedicab Driver please.

[Jobla]

Originally Posted by Dragun

Did Criterion make a deal with Milestone Film & Video, since they released I am Cuba and Killer of Sheep? Perhaps Criterion will release other Milestone titles, like the 2022 restoration of Losing Ground.

I was hoping that Criterion would do THE EXILES (1961), but Milestone did finally release a Blu-ray of it. For many years, the film was only available on DVD because Milestone didn't have enough confidence in the salability of the Blu-ray format.

[EPlay]

I'll likely buy The Musketeers set. I do have the Studio Canals (and about 4 other releases over the years), but "Three" is my favorite film of all time. I went through phases where I'd say "The Deer Hunter" or "Fargo" were my favorites, but the heart cannot deny it's always been "The Three Musketeers".

[ShellOilJunior]

No UHD for The Wind Will Carry Us is a missed opportunity.

[Watershipdownisgood]

Originally Posted by 255isking

Please watch Ugetsu, from the April slate. Mizoguchi is beautiful.

I’m probably just going to pick up the old Blu-Ray for that title.

[Shane Rollins]

Originally Posted by EPlay

I'll likely buy The Musketeers set. I do have the Studio Canals (and about 4 other releases over the years), but "Three" is my favorite film of all time. I went through phases where I'd say "The Deer Hunter" or "Fargo" were my favorites, but the heart cannot deny it's always been "The Three Musketeers".

Like Ebert, I think I have different "favorites" and "greatest" picks. There's some overlap, but it's not 100%.

"Favorites" include The Wizard Of Oz, Freaks, The Ten Commandments, Quo Vadis, most of Kubrick's work, and too many 70s-90s films to list.

"Greatest" includes Metropolis, Citizen Kane, Casablanca, Rashomon, Goodfellas, and many made after the Code fell.

And The Deer Hunter is one of the few Best Picture winners that can truly be called underrated. It's moved me and broke my heart since childhood, and I wish it was more known and more appreciated than it is.

[Watershipdownisgood]

Killer of Sheep is definitely on my to buy list for day one pre-orders along with four other titles I hope we get even more African American cinema this year from Criterion we got this, and Jojo Dancer so far. Hopefully though a lot more of them are coming maybe a big blaxploitation box set is coming, but that’s just an assumption on my part.

Anyways, my copy of Jojo Dancer got delivered today I didn’t pre-order it last month I decided to wait on buying it. However, I’m greatly looking forward to rewatching it on Saturday as it has been years since I last watched it.

I forgot Brother From Another Planet is also coming physically from Criterion later this year so that should be pretty exciting I’m really looking forward to that one.