The Criterion Collection

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by NeoNical

Just found out Trilogia de Guillermo Del Toro is now OOP on the Criterion website for a Blu-ray boxset. Hoping it will come back in print and has it always been Out Of Stock during the ENTIRE B&N sale? Can't believe Criterion didn't announce it or this site (Had to check the GDT forum) and Criterion Forum saying it's OOP until now

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but as I understood it, the only official "announcement" Criterion gives that a title is OOP is when they mark it as such on the site.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Network23

Having just picked up and devoured "The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp" as my last blind buy Purchase of this sale. I would love to see an entire Michael Powell/Emeric Pressburger Criterion boxset. They have released most or all of their films at one time or another, but some are out of print, and some have never made it to Bluray yet.

Originally Posted by VaguellyAlluring1

They actually have. I imported almost all of their movies from the UK on blu-ray on the cheap, $10-15 shipping included. Transfer was pristine.

Well, half of them, anyway.

Yes:
49th Parallel
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
A Canterbury Tale
I Know Where I'm Going!
A Matter of Life and Death [Stairway to Heaven]
Black Narcissus
The Red Shoes
The Small Back Room [Hour of Glory]
The Tales of Hoffmann

No:
Spy in Black
Contraband [Blackout]
One of Our Aircraft Is Missing
Gone to Earth
The Elusive Pimpernel [The Fighting Pimpernel]
Oh, Rosalinda!!
The Battle of the River Plate [Pursuit of the Graf Spee]
Ill Met by Moonlight [Night Ambush]
They're a Weird Mob

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but as I understood it, the only official "announcement" Criterion gives that a title is OOP is when they mark it as such on the site.

Generally speaking, yes, but not always. Back in March 2010 or thereabouts, when their licensing deals with Studio Canal ended, they put out a press release that a whole bunch of their titles were going to go OOP at the end of the month.

[NeoNical]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but as I understood it, the only official "announcement" Criterion gives that a title is OOP is when they mark it as such on the site.

True, but for some reason Criterion didn't send any heads-up or news to anyone that it was going OOP so I feel a bit upset that I didn't even had a chance to get it while knowing it was going to go OOP. Even if it's only ONE product that's going OOP in comparison to the StudioCanal collection going OOP, it would've probably been a smarter move for Criterion to restock one last time (If they can) and announce the news so that they can make a lot of money quicker now that everyone is buying it in a rush.

I know that the boxset was by Sony Pictures Classics so I hope they don't do that to their other releases like the Before Trilogy for example soon.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by NeoNical

True, but for some reason Criterion didn't send any heads-up or news to anyone that it was going OOP so I feel a bit upset that I didn't even had a chance to get it while knowing it was going to go OOP. Even if it's only ONE product that's going OOP in comparison to the StudioCanal collection going OOP, it would've probably been a smarter move for Criterion to restock one last time (If they can) and announce the news so that they can make a lot of money quicker now that everyone is buying it in a rush.

I know that the boxset was by Sony Pictures Classics so I hope they don't do that to their other releases like the Before Trilogy for example soon.

That's my point. They typically don't.

Not a personal comment on your desire to purchase this set, but this site is littered with comments from those who "just had to have" a "favourite" title...after it went OOP. I know most of us can't buy every single release we want, but one has to prioritize in the knowledge that titles can come and go at a moment's notice.

[jshaide]

Aren't the Del Toro's still available as standalones?

[hariseldon]

Originally Posted by jshaide

Aren't the Del Toro's still available as standalones?

Yes, plus I've seen a couple BN stores with it in stock if you look. I think it's like the Bergman box and the online inventory isn't listing it so it may be a treasure hunt

Honestly I hate the packaging for the trilogy and prefer the standalones anyway. I did pay Criterion $10-15 a while back to send me an extra of the outerbox for display and the book -- though I do understand some people like the uniqueness

[MifuneFan]

The only thing I'd want from the trilogy set is the book (aside from the films of course). I could do without that fussy packaging.

[DaBargainHunta]

But I'm a Cheerleader (1999)



Yes, that's RuPaul in that shirt! But I'm a Cheerleader is a scathing satire of gay conversion therapy camps - and a damn enjoyable movie.

Natasha Lyonne plays a cheerleader whose parents and friends suspect her of being a lesbian. That's where Ru comes in - as a "coach" who is part of the "intervention" set up by her parents (played by Mink Stole and Harold and Maude's Bud Cort). The camp is run by a frightening woman with barely suppressed rage (played by Cathy Moriarty) who reminds me of Faye Dunaway trying to channel Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest. Clea DuVall, Melanie Lynskey, Eddie Cibrian (as a guy in daisy duke shorts named Rock - yeah, he's definitely straight!), and other familiar faces show up at the camp. Even the bald guy from Night Court (now with hair) eventually pops up. This has a great cast, including a fun cameo or two.

Artificially bright colors are purposely used for the camp, costumes, furniture, and misc. objects the characters interact with, giving the film a very striking aesthetic (here's one example).

(How conversion "therapy" is still legal is beyond me. Common sense will tell you that it's a straight-up scam at best and something far more insidious at worse. Shame on RuPaul's character for going along with the con!)

DaBargainHunta's Decree: This is the definition of a hidden gem. It's wildly, wildly entertaining! (Subtitles: Yes!)

BTW, here is a great interview on Criterion.com to read after you've seen movie: https://www.criterion.com/current/po...r-cult-classic (Warning: Contains SPOILERS.)

[Gacivory]

Love But I’m a Cheerleader! Hop Criterion releases it!

[SleazyForWeasley]

Heads up re: Damaged packaging
I purchased some titles at the BN sale this month. Two of my titles had non-disc damage. In the past Criterion has always been amazing about replacing damaged parts. They even have a webform that instructs people to use "BN Sale" if purchased via BN. So I requested a couple of replacement pieces, and threw away my receipt once I watched them to make sure the discs were fine. Today I received this email from them:

"Hi,
I see that you submitted requests for new packaging for WILDLIFE and ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW Blu-Rays purchased via Barnes & Noble.
Please note that the replacement packaging form is primarily intended for damages received on Criterion.com webstore orders.
Please attempt to contact Barnes & Noble for an exchange, credit or refund for the damaged product. If they are unable to offer you a resolution, please let me know.
In the past, we did have a replacement packaging program where various packaging elements were available at $5/piece or more, depending on the edition component.
Our team in NYC is continuing to work remotely for the time being so our replacement packaging program is currently on hold. It's feasible we'll reinstate this again in the future but I do not have a timeline for it presently. You are welcome to reach out to us later in the year for more information about the status of our packaging program."

Beyond gutted that they won't honor this despite their google form instructions and am probably stuck with damaged packaging.

[Sommerswerd]

Originally Posted by SleazyForWeasley

Heads up re: Damaged packaging
I purchased some titles at the BN sale this month. Two of my titles had non-disc damage. In the past Criterion has always been amazing about replacing damaged parts. They even have a webform that instructs people to use "BN Sale" if purchased via BN. So I requested a couple of replacement pieces, and threw away my receipt once I watched them to make sure the discs were fine. Today I received this email from them:

"Hi,
I see that you submitted requests for new packaging for WILDLIFE and ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW Blu-Rays purchased via Barnes & Noble.
Please note that the replacement packaging form is primarily intended for damages received on Criterion.com webstore orders.
Please attempt to contact Barnes & Noble for an exchange, credit or refund for the damaged product. If they are unable to offer you a resolution, please let me know.
In the past, we did have a replacement packaging program where various packaging elements were available at $5/piece or more, depending on the edition component.
Our team in NYC is continuing to work remotely for the time being so our replacement packaging program is currently on hold. It's feasible we'll reinstate this again in the future but I do not have a timeline for it presently. You are welcome to reach out to us later in the year for more information about the status of our packaging program."

Beyond gutted that they won't honor this despite their google form instructions and am probably stuck with damaged packaging.

You should never have thrown away your receipt. (I normally keep my receipt inside the Blu-ray case as a reminder of when I bought the item and how much I paid.) At B&N, their policy is opened items can be exchanged for the same product when it is defective/damaged. Since you bought it from them, you should have contacted them first about it. I always considered Criterion's replacement program as a privilege. It is nice if they agree to do a free replacement but I would never automatically assume they would do it.

[Show spoiler]

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Sommerswerd

You should never have thrown away your receipt. (I normally keep my receipt inside the Blu-ray case as a reminder of when I bought the item and how much I paid.) At B&N, their policy is opened items can be exchanged for the same product when it is defective/damaged. Since you bought it from them, you should have contacted them first about it. I always considered Criterion's replacement program as a privilege. It is nice if they agree to do a free replacement but I would never automatically assume they would do it.

[Show spoiler]

Spot on. Criterion is under no obligation to replace product purchased at B&N.

[happydood]

Originally Posted by jshaide

Same! Especially since Scream basically said they were done releasing these since the ones they did were poor sellers. Was really hoping all nine of these would come out. Now post Scream releases, I feel like Criterion doing ZOMBIE is the only realistic possibility.

That being said, I think the "one at a time" method Scream was doing with them did them no favors. They may have been restricted, but a 4 set ala their Universal/Vinny Price/Paul Naschy sets I think would have been better as a seller.

Yeah, I think we all got spoiled with that original dvd set that had all of the horror titles, so premium price for single short films wasn't as attractive to folks, I guess. But these films are certainly deserving of the treatment.

And in regards to your awesome avatar I'd love if Criterion would get a hold of The Unknown. Or really any of the Chaney titles whose dvd releases aren't translating as well to the new technology as some other old dvds have.

[BaronVH]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Spot on. Criterion is under no obligation to replace product purchased at B&N.

And it isn’t as if they are refusing. They are simply saying current events are affecting their services, which is understandable. If the person is a B&N member, they can look the transaction up, and a credit card company can do it.

[Scottie]

Janus Films update

Diary of a Shinjuku Thief (1969, Nagisa Oshima)
http://www.janusfilms.com/films/2001

Waiting Women (1952, Ingmar Bergman)
http://www.janusfilms.com/films/2005

[UnionJackMix]

Originally Posted by SleazyForWeasley

Heads up re: Damaged packaging
I purchased some titles at the BN sale this month. Two of my titles had non-disc damage. In the past Criterion has always been amazing about replacing damaged parts. They even have a webform that instructs people to use "BN Sale" if purchased via BN. So I requested a couple of replacement pieces, and threw away my receipt once I watched them to make sure the discs were fine. Today I received this email from them:

"Hi,
I see that you submitted requests for new packaging for WILDLIFE and ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW Blu-Rays purchased via Barnes & Noble.
Please note that the replacement packaging form is primarily intended for damages received on Criterion.com webstore orders.
Please attempt to contact Barnes & Noble for an exchange, credit or refund for the damaged product. If they are unable to offer you a resolution, please let me know.
In the past, we did have a replacement packaging program where various packaging elements were available at $5/piece or more, depending on the edition component.
Our team in NYC is continuing to work remotely for the time being so our replacement packaging program is currently on hold. It's feasible we'll reinstate this again in the future but I do not have a timeline for it presently. You are welcome to reach out to us later in the year for more information about the status of our packaging program."

Beyond gutted that they won't honor this despite their google form instructions and am probably stuck with damaged packaging.

What's their damage, Heather?

(seriously though, curious)

[JackBros]

I'm wondering if someone more knowledgeable than me can tell me the odds of Criterion releasing more Fred Astaire and Ginger Roger films, be it a nice boxset similar to the Dietrich/Von Sternberg one or single releases like Swing Time. One of the reasons I've been holding off on picking up Swing Time is the hope it'll be released in an eventual boxset but they've been pretty quiet about anymore of their films. I really want a Top Hat Blu-ray and all their other great films on Blu-ray for that matter, such a shame that many of the pairs films only have dvd releases if that.

I've heard the rko titles were not preserved very well, could cleaning up the films be causing problems?

[barsalou]

Originally Posted by SleazyForWeasley

Heads up re: Damaged packaging
I purchased some titles at the BN sale this month. Two of my titles had non-disc damage. In the past Criterion has always been amazing about replacing damaged parts. They even have a webform that instructs people to use "BN Sale" if purchased via BN. So I requested a couple of replacement pieces, and threw away my receipt once I watched them to make sure the discs were fine. Today I received this email from them:

"Hi,
I see that you submitted requests for new packaging for WILDLIFE and ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW Blu-Rays purchased via Barnes & Noble.
Please note that the replacement packaging form is primarily intended for damages received on Criterion.com webstore orders.
Please attempt to contact Barnes & Noble for an exchange, credit or refund for the damaged product. If they are unable to offer you a resolution, please let me know.
In the past, we did have a replacement packaging program where various packaging elements were available at $5/piece or more, depending on the edition component.
Our team in NYC is continuing to work remotely for the time being so our replacement packaging program is currently on hold. It's feasible we'll reinstate this again in the future but I do not have a timeline for it presently. You are welcome to reach out to us later in the year for more information about the status of our packaging program."

Beyond gutted that they won't honor this despite their google form instructions and am probably stuck with damaged packaging.

Seems like they still might help you out.

[Cremildo]

I wonder if Criterion would be interested in delving into Theodoros Angelopoulos' filmography if given the chance. I watched Eternity and a Day and The Weeping Meadow this year (I own the third volume of DVDs by Artificial Eye) and was floored. His films would look glorious in HD.