The Criterion Collection

[Kyle15]

I figure they'll simply be plain Scanovo cases with a black sticker on the front, and appropriate format info on the back. It's not that much of a debacle to be honest.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by Kyle15

I figure they'll simply be plain Scanovo cases with a black sticker on the front, and appropriate format info on the back. It's not that much of a debacle to be honest.

Listen buddy, this ain’t the thread for these wild and crazy ideas!

[nathan_h]

Originally Posted by UnbelievableMontages

It would also be sweet if Criterion can go ahead and add a 4K streaming feature to their streaming service.

Originally Posted by Scottie

This is excellent news. It was long overdue.

While I will not be purchasing these films as I moved exclusively to streaming a couple of months ago, I hope Criterion will be providing upgrades for these titles on iTunes.

I assume these 4K releases will have a $49.99 disc MSRP.

While streaming can't supplant physical releases, it does offer a less expensive, less risky delivery mechanism for Criterion, so hopefully they use that avenue to open the flood gates.

They've got at least two methods:

1) Their own streaming channel. I would love them to use this for their plethora of 4k scans that presumably would take years to make it into the physical media queue.

2) Their digital sales channels, like iTunes. In the past, iTunes has been good about offering 'free' upgrades to HD titles purchased through Apple when a 4k release from the same distributor and studio offers such a release. Trouble is, for licensed content that doesn't tend to be the case.

For example, if you own the 1080p itunes version of Nashville with the Criterion imprint on iTunes, I don't think you'll get the Paramount 4k version. (Hypothetical example. I didnt pay attention to what version of Nashville was on the service previously since I had the BR.)

Similar, in part, to how disk to digital Vudu redemption didnt work if the disk one had was from Criterion.

Hopefully this is not a limitation when it comes to films Criterion/Janus owns rather than licenses (eg, bunches of Bergman stuff) but I am only moderately hopeful. Why? Well, for the Criterion Channel iOS app, because SOME of the content has limited licensing, they put restrictions on everything (eg, no screen mirroring of content to a TV) even though nearly every other provider at this point has figured out how to selectively protect licensed stuff versus owned stuff (eg, Amazon, Disney+, Netflix, Hulu have different levels of functionality for offline viewing on a per title basis). So it stands to reason Criterion may just restrict all digital upgrade freebie paths, essentially defaulting to the lower common denominator.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

When 4K UHD with HDR first came down the pipes, I was inclined to think of it as a "from here on out" sort of thing, meaning that I plan to buy all new movies in the format as they are released, because those movies were specifically shot with the color dynamic range in mind.

Black Widow or Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse with HDR? Hell to the yeah!

Citizen Kane or The Red Shoes with HDR? Hmmm. Possibly.

As I watch the 4K format more, however, I am seeing quality releases of old movies with HDR and am pleased with the results, so I dunno.

I like for everything to look as faithful to the original intent as possible. If a filmmaker or historian feels that HDR is not needed for a title, then so be it.

HDR is simply a container. A bigger, more capable container. It can more readily accommodate precisely what the original print looked like, without changing it, better than SDR.

Originally Posted by Vigojean

Mulholland Drive is basically a TV pilot, so I’m not expecting the 4K to look that much better than the Blu-ray. But now I gotta buy a PS5 just to watch 4K movies

Time will tell, but since 1080p, SDR and REC709 color cannot capture a 35mm film completely, I'd guess the UHD version could have more detail, more dynamic range, and better color saturation & fidelity.

[GoCeltics]

I'm going to go ahead then and keep my Bergman set order. Thanks to all of you guys for the help.

[DimitriL]

Originally Posted by nathan_h

Time will tell, but since 1080p, SDR and REC709 color cannot capture a 35mm film completely, I'd guess the UHD version could have more detail, more dynamic range, and better color saturation & fidelity.

Right. If it had been shot on 16mm, the benefits might not be super apparent, but Lynch shot 35 with a lot of his usual feature film crew, so it could look great. There’s some moments of intense and deeply saturated color in the film that I think could particularly benefit from the upgrade.

[dvining]

Originally Posted by GoCeltics

I'm going to go ahead then and keep my Bergman set order. Thanks to all of you guys for the help.

It's a great set with several real gems I had never heard of. Waiting Women was one I had no idea existed and became one of my favorites.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by AdmiralNoodles

Why Criterion and not other companies?

Yes to other video companies! Criterion's announcement yesterday was the tipping point for me to take the plunge. There are plenty of amazing films that have been released on 4K that will never be offered by Criterion and I will buy those too.

Originally Posted by CrossRhodes94

Criterion is probably his favorite

One of my favorites, yes. Almost 55% of my blu-ray collection are composed of Criterions.

Originally Posted by SteelyTom

Just in time for the single-disc Vertigo 4k release in September.

I might develop vertigo if you say another word on this!

[jw007]

In honor of Criterion's forthcoming 4K blu-ray debut of Citizen Kane, I am showcasing my old Orson Welles A Safe Place avatar below:

[Cinematt]

Originally Posted by nathan_h

2) Their digital sales channels, like iTunes. In the past, iTunes has been good about offering 'free' upgrades to HD titles purchased through Apple when a 4k release from the same distributor and studio offers such a release. Trouble is, for licensed content that doesn't tend to be the case.

For example, if you own the 1080p itunes version of Nashville with the Criterion imprint on iTunes, I don't think you'll get the Paramount 4k version. (Hypothetical example. I didnt pay attention to what version of Nashville was on the service previously since I had the BR.)

iTunes doesn't sell separate HD and 4K versions, you simply get the best quality available at the time. When a 4K version is added by the studio to a previous version it has the same ID number so essentially you own the licence to the ID number and get to watch the best quality one if you want. The studio can also remove the 4K version that was available when you made your purchase, essentially downgrading you to HD only. In practice this usually only happens when they're tweaking the files somehow and the 4K usually returns in short order, but it's a theoretical problem area for consumer rights.

When a different studio lists the same movie it has a different ID number, this has recently happened with Paramount buying the Miramax catalogue, everything has been re-listed and people that own the Miramax versions won't get free upgrades. (Everyone will soon be complaining about this when Scream hits iTunes in 4k.)

So if you've bought a Criterion version on iTunes and Criterion then start selling the 4K then you should get it for free, if the Criterion licence lapses then any subsequent listing from any other studio won't upgrade your Criterion one.

[bradnoyes]

Now that the dust has settled I've come to terms with the fact that I'm obviously going to be buying each and every one of Criterion's UHD releases. Gotta start saving up some money and my criterion channel subscription is the first thing on the chopping block. Not gonna need that anymore!

[mande2013]

Well I'll probably future proof buy Citizen Kane. I haven't upgraded to 4K yet and probably won't this side of Christmas. I will, however, make the occasional future proof purchase until I do so.

With that said, should I feel silly having splurged on the Fellini set last Christmas season? I wonder how far into the future 4K standalone releases of titles like Amarcord and 8 1/2 are.

[Cinematt]

Originally Posted by mande2013

Well I'll probably future proof buy Citizen Kane. I haven't upgraded to 4K yet and probably won't this side of Christmas. I will, however, make the occasional future proof purchase until I do so.

With that said, should I feel silly having splurged on the Fellini set last Christmas season? I wonder how far into the future 4K standalone releases of titles like Amarcord and 8 1/2 are.

I paid roughly the price of 5 individual releases to import the set here in the UK, so I can live with rebuying a couple of favourites and still getting good value from the collection, not least because it contains a bunch of films that are either OOP or DVD only in their main collection entries.

[Dollar Colonel]

Originally Posted by bradnoyes

Now that the dust has settled I've come to terms with the fact that I'm obviously going to be buying each and every one of Criterion's UHD releases. Gotta start saving up some money and my criterion channel subscription is the first thing on the chopping block. Not gonna need that anymore!

How else are you going to get a $10 subscriber coupon for the store?

[Mothravka]

Originally Posted by bradnoyes

Now that the dust has settled I've come to terms with the fact that I'm obviously going to be buying each and every one of Criterion's UHD releases.

Even if it happens to be a film you don't like?

[KubrickKurasawa]

Kubrick, Mizoguchi, Kurosawa, Tarkovsky, Lumet
All are Day 1's for me
1. Barry Lyndon
2. Ugetsu
3. Rashomon
4. Solaris
5. 12 Angry Men (1957)
6. Stalker
7. Yojimbo
8. Seven Samurai
9. Dreams
10. Ikiru

I am super excited! So ya...the wait begins....

[bradnoyes]

Originally Posted by Mothravka

Even if it happens to be a film you don't like?

I will likely pass on something if I genuinely despise it. But UHD releases have a funny way of opening my eyes to films I didn't necessarily appreciate before once I have a chance to see them presented as near as possible to the director's original intent. So I'll definitely be giving some releases a second chance on UHD.

[tama]

Originally Posted by StopSnitchinStopLyin

Geek Scooped Citizen Kane 4K

hold this colossal L bozos

Hey I brought a you a few beers. You seemed very thirsty hitting up my PM's about this post.

Hope you enjoy them. Cheers.

[Nori]

Originally Posted by KubrickKurasawa

Kubrick, Mizoguchi, Kurosawa, Tarkovsky, Lumet
All are Day 1's for me
1. Barry Lyndon
2. Ugetsu
3. Rashomon
4. Solaris
5. 12 Angry Men (1957)
6. Stalker
7. Yojimbo
8. Seven Samurai
9. Dreams
10. Ikiru

I am super excited! So ya...the wait begins....

So hyped for Kurosawa too. At least now we know they'll be coming (where as when Criterion wasn't doing UHD we could only hope). Just have to wait for Toho to finalize UHD releases in Japan and Criterion can probably match the release dates with US releases (as they did with the blu rays).

Since most of the Kurosawa movies seem to have 4k scans the hype can begin.

[iamnoone]

Originally Posted by jkoffman

VHS era bonus:

[Show spoiler]

Not a snow-related globe, but here was another neat VHS era bonus, a blood-globe.

michael-myers-halloween-bloody-snowglobe.jpg

[jkoffman]

Originally Posted by iamnoone

Not a snow-related globe, but here was another neat VHS era bonus, a blood-globe.

Roseblood!