The Criterion Collection

[ShellBeacher]

Came here to eat whatever as I predicted a few months ago that Criterion wouldn't touch Gilliam or von Trier anymore. I'm happily surprised to see Criterion release these titles, considering certain recent cultural discussions around these two... Have wanted an upgrade of Europa/Zentropa for years as I have fond memories of discovering by renting a VHS from Blockbuster all those years ago, and it sticking in my head! I have the Munchausen Blu but will buy Criterion's upgrade to support that title!

Now any chance of more disc releases of JUZO ITAMI??? My bet is that they are working on whatever Kurosawas they have for a big 4K box set.

[MifuneFan]

We're looking at the year 3169 now guys, thanks a lot.

[ilenewoodsfan99]

Very happy about Imitation of Life! I'll definitely be picking this up, despite having the 2 movie pack. Here's hoping this means good news for the 1959 version!

[NeoNical]

Originally Posted by BunyipPouch

Branded to Kill trailer link is broken

Hopefully this works. I don't know why but it keeps looping back to that weird page, even though I copied the link directly from the page.

Basically the original theatrical trailer but restored (I'm assuming they put the 4K restored version and then replicated the title cards because the title cards look way too clean)

"Branded to Kill -4K Digitally Restored Version-" Official trailer (Eng sub) - YouTube

[Rayjg]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Imprint's title selection is great, but man technically they're barely a step up from Mill Creek. Dated masters and even inexplicable interlaced looking crap like Body Parts. Have they gotten better in the last year?

I watched their Osterman Weekend German theatrical cut a few weeks ago on a 77 incher and didn’t notice anything egregious outside of some print damage. I own a few more but haven’t watched them yet.

[ShellOilJunior]

There is somewhat of a history of clamoring for a movie's release again and again and having it work out. Some dude on social media years ago would pester Criterion for Godard's Weekend. Criterion eventually responded and said something to the nature of "stop asking, it's coming soon."

[Azores26]

Originally Posted by NeilZ

As mentioned above, they've all been released, and the scans look pretty good. Also a lot of the bigger titles have even had new 4K scans. Movies like Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Hidden Fortress, Jojimbo, Sanjuro, and I think also Kagemusha.

Basically Criterion is so far behind when it comes to Akira Kurosawa releases that I think it can only be resolved by releasing a box. Presumably will use the new 4k scans on blu rays, or maybe even a few 4K's who knows.

Thanks for the heads up guys, I had no idea. It is very strange that Criterion hasn’t released them yet then.

About the Kurosawa boxset, I wonder if they’re waiting for some special date, like they did with the Bergman and Fellini boxsets. Kurosawa’s wouldn’t be so easy though (as he was born in 1910) but maybe they’re waiting for the 25th anniversary of his death next year? Or maybe the 70th anniversary of “Seven Samurai” in 2024?

It’s probably nothing of that sort though. Maybe they’re not even planning a Kurosawa boxset at all, and we’ve been just engaging in wishful thinking for the last 7 years LOL

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by Azores26

Thanks for the heads up guys, I had no idea. It is very strange that Criterion hasn’t released them yet then.

About the Kurosawa boxset, I wonder if they’re waiting for some special date, like they did with the Bergman and Fellini boxsets. Kurosawa’s wouldn’t be so easy though (as he was born in 1910) but maybe they’re waiting for the 25th anniversary of his death next year? Or maybe the 70th anniversary of “Seven Samurai” in 2024?

It’s probably nothing of that sort though. Maybe they’re not even planning a Kurosawa boxset at all, and we’ve been just engaging in wishful thinking for the last 7 years LOL

It just may be a matter of having the best transfers available. Perhaps there is extensive restoration still required. I don't think Criterion has abandoned Kurosawa, and I don't think they want to rush just anything out to the market. When there was a Fellini drought a few years back, it was because they were prepping a collector's set. So a Kurosawa set makes perfect sense. My question is, where are the Almodóvar titles we are supposed to get from Criterion? All About My Mother was almost 3 years ago.

[CRASHLANDING]

Originally Posted by jw007

The January titles are growing on me.

At first I was confused about Bergman Island as I thought it was an upgrade of the Marie Nyreröd documentary also entitled Bergman Island. Now I see this is a feature film that was released last year, so I definitely need to watch that now.

I originally thought the same about the documentary! The 2021 film is on Hulu if you have access and prefer not to blind buy. Looks interesting, especially the cast, so planning to check it out there.

[ShellOilJunior]

When/if Criterion issues a Kurosawa UHD/Blu box set, I'm convinced the packaging will be unlike anything we've seen in the home video industry.

Criterion will partner with The Folio Society for the 300-page hardbound book included with the set. The set will be constructed with a yet-to-be-discovered element capable of becoming a steelbook, plastic case, or digibook - you decide. ALL Kurosawa's movies will be included, and all will be presented in 4K and 2K. To optimize bitrate and maximize fluidity, each of AK's 33 movies will receive its own UHD disc. All movies offered in 2K will be down-rezzed from fresh 4k transfers. If you don't want the blu-rays, Criterion will give you a $100 gift card to take them back.

33 UHDs, 33 Blu-rays, 66-disc set.

SRP: $2999.99
"Half off" price: $99.99

[Scottie]

Janus added Take Out to its site.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by CRASHLANDING

I originally thought the same about the documentary! The 2021 film is on Hulu if you have access and prefer not to blind buy. Looks interesting, especially the cast, so planning to check it out there.

Thanks for the tip! I do have Hulu, its my main streaming provider, but right now the app does not perform well on my projector for some reason (lots of video freezes while the audio plays every few minutes watching a film or show). It might be the app or my projector (or possibly the VPN / slow internet connection I'm using here too).

I'll let you know what I think of this film though.

[dbhl3000]

November is coming up. Any rumors on if and when the Barnes & Noble Criterion 50% off sale will start?

[Rayjg]

Originally Posted by Scottie

Janus added Take Out to its site.

CriterionDash?

[hariseldon]

Originally Posted by dbhl3000

November is coming up. Any rumors on if and when the Barnes & Noble Criterion 50% off sale will start?

Not heard anything, but Oct 28 is a good guess if you work backwards from CyberMonday since they've seemed to run the sales 30-31 days for a for a few years (discounting 2020)

If not the 28th , then Nov 4

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Scottie

Janus added Take Out to its site.

Already ordered it in the flash sale. Dunno if it tastes good yet.

[NeilZ]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

It just may be a matter of having the best transfers available. Perhaps there is extensive restoration still required. I don't think Criterion has abandoned Kurosawa, and I don't think they want to rush just anything out to the market. When there was a Fellini drought a few years back, it was because they were prepping a collector's set. So a Kurosawa set makes perfect sense. My question is, where are the Almodóvar titles we are supposed to get from Criterion? All About My Mother was almost 3 years ago.

I don't think there's anything they need to restore anything unless maybe his last couple of films, the Japanese studios have been good at preserving most of all Kurosawa. As mentioned in the previous page they even did brand new 4k scans of nearly a dozen of his films (Throne of Blood too, which I didn't see listed in the previous list, and Ran by Studio Canal).

When Criterion finally does a boxset it should be the ultimate package.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by NeilZ

I don't think there's anything they need to restore anything unless maybe his last couple of films, the Japanese studios have been good at preserving most of all Kurosawa. As mentioned in the previous page they even did brand new 4k scans of most of his films (Throne of Blood too, which I didn't see listed in the previous list).

When Criterion finally does a boxset it should be the ultimate package.

Has Toho released them in Japan yet?

Where can I find info on The Hidden Fortess, Throne of Blood, and others that got a 4K scan by the way? Couldn't find anything about that when I googled it.

[mande2013]

On the subject of Kurosawa, the 4K restoration of Rashomon was blu-ray only'd here in France just this week, courtesy of Potemkine.

[M A]

Originally Posted by mande2013

On the subject of Kurosawa, the 4K restoration of Rashomon was blu-ray only'd here in France just this week, courtesy of Potemkine.

I believe Rashomon only has a 4K scan, 2K restoration.