The Criterion Collection

[Lordy]

Upgrading from Criterion DVDs to Criterion Blu-rays was always a no-brainer to me, and it still is. The upgrade decision from Criterion Blu-rays to Criterion 4K is a much tougher sell. The Red Shoes comparison you posted is a good case in point. A minimal gain from Blu to 4K from what I can see and just isn't worth the added expense. I think this will be the case most of the time especially in much older films such as The Red Shoes. There's only so much that can be done with films this old that weren't shot with more modern equipment. That's why I've decided to be very selective with these Criterion 4K upgrades. Additionally, the initial Blu purchase would never be watched again since the upgrade copy comes with a Blu-ray copy in addition to the 4K. To my way of thinking that's a waste of money also. And then there's the issue of shelf space.

I've already decided to pass on the Red Shoes upgrade as well as A Hard Day's Night, but Le Cercle Rouge may be a different story. The only exception I've made so far is Mulholland Dr. On releases such as The Piano I'll shell out the extra cash for the 4K/Blu-ray combo edition if they are new to the Criterion roster.

My two cents.

[koberulz]

STOP LOOKING AT SDR YOUTUBE VIDEOS TO DETERMINE HOW WORTHY A 4K HDR UPGRADE IS.

We've been over this, people.

[Sifox211]

The thread for this title in the 4K forum is full of posts of wonderment at this disk. I'd believe members here way more than some YouTube poster.

[hurm]

Is it true there's going to be a sale on the Criterion website this month? Sorry if this has been asked before, kinda new to all the different sale schedules

[mmarczi]

Originally Posted by hurm

Is it true there's going to be a sale on the Criterion website this month? Sorry if this has been asked before, kinda new to all the different sale schedules

Yes, within the next few weeks on a Tuesday.

[gbm82]

Originally Posted by koberulz

STOP LOOKING AT SDR YOUTUBE VIDEOS TO DETERMINE HOW WORTHY A 4K HDR UPGRADE IS.

We've been over this, people.

So Vimeo is ok then?

[Matt89]

Thought I should mention that anyone who has bought Criterion's release of Written on the Wind should check their disc for scratches. Mine was pretty badly scratched so I exchanged it yesterday at the store where I bought it. Like you could feel the scratches that's how deep they were. I managed to get a copy that wasn't (too badly) scratched, but the folks at the store had to go through FOUR copies before we found one that was acceptable. He said Criterion discs are the ones that keep getting returned the most, either due to QC with the discs (like with Citizen Kane) or tons of batches with scratched discs.

I remember my copy of Criterion's Fast Times was also scratched to hell. Probably the most scratched disc I've ever seen from a new release, it was like someone put the disc face down and scraped it across the floor with their shoe. It was almost laughable how absolutely mangled it was. Same thing for their UHD of Menace II Society. I had to exchange that one too because both discs were scratched to hell.

Last fall I ordered a few Criterion titles off Amazon.com because they were price matching the B&N 50% off sale, and I had to replace THREE copies of Foreign Correspondent because every copy that arrived had the cover stuffed into the case at an angle, giving the entire front and back this weird rippled effect that almost looked like water damage.

In the past year alone I've exchanged about 7 or 8 Criterion discs due to QC issues or scratched discs. Wtf is going on over at Criterion? It's like every release I'm having to return or exchange because of some issue. Also, their lack of booklets and their newfound obsession of putting all their essays in these stupid leaflets where you have to unfold an entire damn poster in order to read the bloody thing is also super annoying. How hard is it to just put a booklet into your release?

Anyway lol that's my Criterion rant for the day.

~Matt

[jw007]

I'm only intending to upgrade my blu-rays to UHD blu-rays for very select titles (or films I absolutely adore). Triple dipping isn't something I'm proud of doing, but since I started buying Criterions around the time when they started releasing the films on blu-ray (between 2009-2011), I haven't had to upgrade too many of the dvds I bought of theirs fortunately (unless some of their upgrades happen to be for films I originally had on dvd). I can see myself owning a dozen or less 4k UHD blu-rays from Criterion out of the 300 blu-rays I have from Criterion in my collection today.

[bergman864]

Originally Posted by gbm82

So Vimeo is ok then?

Vimeo? Is that like a payment service?

[Mushi Minion]

Originally Posted by gbm82

So Vimeo is ok then?

DailyMotion or bust.

Ok.ru as a final resort.

[HuggyBear73]

Are we ever gonna get... TROUBLE IN PARADISE.. on blu?

I mean.. it's Lubitsch's best film IMO.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by HuggyBear73

Are we ever gonna get... TROUBLE IN PARADISE.. on blu?

I mean.. it's Lubitsch's best film IMO.

It's probably coming this year. It's the film's 90th anniversary this year too.

[HuggyBear73]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

It's probably coming this year. It's the film's 90th anniversary this year too.

That gives me hope!

[HipsterTrash]

So announcements next Tuesday, huh?

[regeyer]

Sorry everyone, it was not my intention to criticize the 4K release of The Red Shoes. I saw the one YT video and I wanted to get some opinions, which you people have now provided. Based upon those opinions, including those in the other thread, I will certainly upgrade to the 4K.

Also, I was assuming that the YT video was in 4K. If it's not, then the video is essentially worthless in comparing the two.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by regeyer

Sorry everyone, it was not my intention to criticize the 4K release of The Red Shoes. I saw the one YT video and I wanted to get some opinions, which you people have now provided. Based upon those opinions, including those in the other thread, I will certainly upgrade to the 4K.

Also, I was assuming that the YT video was in 4K. If it's not, then the video is essentially worthless in comparing the two.

YouTube can be in 4K, but they have worse compression than Mill Creek set. They aren’t a good judge of quality even on the best system, and you can’t rely on the people not doing there own color correction on videos.

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

YouTube can be in 4K, but they have worse compression than Mill Creek set. They aren’t a good judge of quality even on the best system, and you can’t rely on the people not doing there own color correction on videos.

That makes sense. I guess the best way is to get the opinions of others, like those in this group, who have compared the two.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by regeyer

That makes sense. I guess the best way is to get the opinions of others, like those in this group, who have compared the two.

I always find with discs is to get multiple perspectives. Because even here there are people that will proclaim releases great and it’s because they like DNR. I saw someone, on another forum, proclaim Criterion’s Some Like it Hot to be better than Kino’s 4K, because Kino’s had more grain visible.

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

I always find with discs is to get multiple perspectives. Because even here there are people that will proclaim releases great and it’s because they like DNR. I saw someone, on another forum, proclaim Criterion’s Some Like it Hot to be better than Kino’s 4K, because Kino’s had more grain visible.

I agree. Getting multiple opinions is the best way.

I recently upgraded to a 4k UHD screen and I bought Blade Runner (UHD). The only other copy I have is the 2007 HD DVD. I should identify that the HD DVD is excellent. But I expected the 4K UHD to be much better.

I was able to compare them by playing both at the same time, and switch the inputs. I was quite surprised. Yes, the UHD was better, but only slightly.

Some movies clearly show an upgrade. The Ten Commandments, for example, looks much better on 4K UHD than the Blu-Ray. There's no question. But with Blade Runner I was expecting much more.

[jkoffman]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

I always find with discs is to get multiple perspectives. Because even here there are people that will proclaim releases great and it’s because they like DNR. I saw someone, on another forum, proclaim Criterion’s Some Like it Hot to be better than Kino’s 4K, because Kino’s had more grain visible.

Was their name Peter Jackson?