The Criterion Collection

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by jw007

Indeed. Ghosts come in many forms. Speaking of which, what's your favorite ghost story in the Criterion Collection? Mine is Kuroneko.

Here Comes Mr. Jordan

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by jw007

Indeed. Ghosts come in many forms. Speaking of which, what's your favorite ghost story in the Criterion Collection? Mine is Kuroneko.

[Show spoiler]

Kuroneko is excellent. It's difficult to pick the best, but I really like Mystery Train. I like the quaintness of the Memphis locations, the Elvis references (also "Blue Moon" and "Mystery Train") and every character is interesting. I really dig the dead pan humor.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Kuroneko is excellent. It's difficult to pick the best, but I really like Mystery Train. I like the quaintness of the Memphis locations, the Elvis references (also "Blue Moon" and "Mystery Train") and every character is interesting. I really dig the dead pan humor.

I totally forgot about Mystery Train! I guess I never really saw it as a ghost story but it is definitely the best Elvis ghost movie ever.

[TolerancEJ]

Originally Posted by jw007

Indeed. Ghosts come in many forms. Speaking of which, what's your favorite ghost story in the Criterion Collection? Mine is Kuroneko.

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Kuroneko is excellent. It's difficult to pick the best, but I really like Mystery Train. I like the quaintness of the Memphis locations, the Elvis references (also "Blue Moon" and "Mystery Train") and every character is interesting. I really dig the dead pan humor.

I just added both of these titles to my wishlist.

[NeilZ]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Criterion's first 50 Laserdisc releases:

[Show spoiler]

1. Citizen Kane - Released in 4K by CC
2. King Kong - Studio released it (some murmurs of CC getting it back, but nothing reliable)
3. The 39 Steps - Released on BD by CC
4. The Lady Vanishes - Released on BD by CC
5. The Third Man - Released on BD by CC (OOP, but they may have gotten it back)
6. Swing Time - Released on BD by CC
7. High Noon - Released by Olive
8. Invasion of the Body Snatchers - Released by Olive
9. The Magnificent Ambersons - Released on BD by CC
10. The Seventh Seal - Released on BD by CC
11. The Hidden Fortress - Released on BD by CC
12. The Red Balloon and White Mane -
13. Lola Montès - Released on BD by CC
14. Black Orpheus - Released on BD by CC
15. Shock Corridor - Released on BD by CC
16. Help! - Studio released it
17. The Graduate - Released on BD by CC (4K probably coming)
18. It's a Wonderful Life - Studio released it
19. Blade Runner - Studio released it
20. A Hard Day's Night - Released in 4K by CC
21. Monsieur Hulot's Holiday - Released on BD by CC
22. Sabotage -
23. Secret Agent
24. Young and Innocent
25. Grand Illusion - Studio released it (CC may have gotten it back)
26. The Asphalt Jungle - Released on BD by CC
27. 12 Angry Men - Released on BD by CC (Kino got 4K)
28. The Night of the Hunter - Released on BD by CC (Kino got 4K)
29. La Strada - Released on BD by CC
30. Forbidden Games -
31. A Night at the Opera - Studio released it
32. Scaramouche
33. Pygmalion
34. Vengeance is Mine (open matte) - Released on BD by CC
35. Fellini Satyricon - Released on BD by CC
36. The Producers - Studio released it
37. The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp - Released on BD by CC
38. Black Narcissus - Released on BD by CC
39. The Three Penny Opera
40. The Princess Bride - Released on BD by CC
41. Tunes of Glory - Released on BD by CC
42. The Horse's Mouth
43. Shoot the Piano Player
44. Monterey Pop - Released on BD by CC
45. Show Boat - Released on BD by CC
46. North by Northwest - Studio released it
47. Adam's Rib
48. Blowup - Released on BD by CC
49. Rashomon - Released on BD by CC
50. The Rules of the Game - Released on BD by CC

As you can see, the overwhelming majority has been released by Criterion on Blu-ray already. Some of those will likely become 4K releases down the road. Of the first 50, just two are Japanese films. The whole going back to their roots argument kind of falls flat here.

Problem is right there there's already a bunch of them unreleased that I'd very strongly want:
Sabotage
Secret Agent
Young and Innocent
Scaramouche (at this point probably more likely to come from WAC I guess)
Pygmalion
Shoot the Piano Player

And that's only scratching the surface as there are plenty of other iconic classics that only Criterion has access to now.

Then going back to Japanese movies, there's still plenty of unreleased films, such as some by Kobayashi among other known Japanese directors. Add to that all the Kurosawa films they're sitting on such as Sugata Sanshiro, The Men Who Thread on the Tiger's Tail, The Bad Sleep Well, Red Beard, Stray Dog, etc (all of which have HD scans ready to go). When Criterion started blu ray these films were on course to be fully released by the end of that decade. Right now it feels like it may never happen (unless they suddenly drop a box on us).

[hariseldon]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

I'd have rather just spent $20 for the Blu-ray a la Raging Bull, but an extra $5 for the UHD disc isn't terrible.

Maybe I'm missing something (or misunderstanding your post) -- if you'd rather have bought the BD, why wouldn't you since they released both formats?

[mande2013]

Where the f**k are the Ordet and Viridiana blu-rays? 'Tis the question. Shoot the Piano Player is definitely MIA, as well.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by NeilZ

Problem is right there there's already a bunch of them unreleased that I'd very strongly want:
Sabotage
Secret Agent
Young and Innocent
Scaramouche (at this point probably more likely to come from WAC I guess)
Pygmalion
Shoot the Piano Player

And that's only scratching the surface as there are plenty of other iconic classics that only Criterion has access to now.

Then going back to Japanese movies, there's still plenty of unreleased films, such as some by Kobayashi among other known Japanese directors. Add to that all the Kurosawa films they're sitting on such as Sugata Sanshiro, The Men Who Thread on the Tiger's Tail, The Bad Sleep Well, Red Beard, Stray Dog, etc (all of which have HD scans ready to go). When Criterion started blu ray these films were on course to be fully released by the end of that decade. Right now it feels like it may never happen (unless they suddenly drop a box on us).

I wouldn't say 6 films out of 50 is a bunch. Many of the older Kurosawa films you mention are in pretty bad shape, and need proper restorations. Just because something has an HD scan does not mean it's been given any extensive restoration work. Let's take Cure for an example. Criterion could have put that out on Blu-ray from a dated HD master years ago, but held off, and now we have it sourced from a 4K restoration. I think that was worth the wait, would you disagree?

You seem bothered that Criterion are using their position to redefine and expand their library with more diversity. You've said repeatedly that you just want them to "go back to their roots" as if they've somehow abandoned them. I think Criterion has done an admiral job of finding a nice balance between classics, indie films, and some mainstream/modern titles. I also feel Criterion has done a great job of addressing the blind spots that were sorely lacking from what you call their "bread and butter library". Obviously when incorporating more films from female and black filmmakers (among other blind spots), it will take longer for other stuff that were in the queue to come out.

Your complaints are also heavily focused on the smaller output of Japanese films now, but Japanese films have gotten way more love from Criterion, and other labels than most other countries. I love Japanese films myself; I've been waiting for Ozu's Floating Weeds since the format began, but I'm still glad that Criterion are giving films from countries like Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Taiwan, Russia, Hong Kong, Iran, and others more attention now than they've ever been able to receive in the past.

[BluCollector13]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

So Criterion might release a Scorsese WB set? Hmm. Will be interesting to see if they release The Departed AND The Infernal Affairs trilogy.

That's actually a good question. Would the set just be the two we've already known about and the previously unmentioned "GoodFellas" or would it be his ENTIRE catalog with WB, i.e. "Who's That Knocking On My Door?", "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" and "The Departed", too?

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by jw007

Indeed. Ghosts come in many forms. Speaking of which, what's your favorite ghost story in the Criterion Collection? Mine is Kuroneko.

glad you're still alive, JW!

Hoichi the Earless, the 3rd of 4 stories in Kwaidan is my pick. the entire film is good, but you can spend one hour (if that's all you had) on this segment of the film and be rewarded with awesomeness.

it's incredible, really. atmospheric, artful, and other words that start with 'a.' I already said 'awesome.'

[jw007]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

glad you're still alive, JW!

Hoichi the Earless, the 3rd of 4 stories in Kwaidan is my pick. the entire film is good, but you can spend one hour (if that's all you had) on this segment of the film and be rewarded with awesomeness.

it's incredible, really. atmospheric, artful, and other words that start with 'a.' I already said 'awesome.'

I need to check that one out too!

Oh, here's another good ghostly film as well (the oldest film (1921) in the entire collection but also one that always sends shivers up my sleeve)... The Phantom Carriage.

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

Maybe I'm missing something (or misunderstanding your post) -- if you'd rather have bought the BD, why wouldn't you since they released both formats?

The Blu-ray digipack was the same price as the UHD combo pack...normally, as in the case of Raging Bull, the Blu-ray-only pack is $5 cheaper.

[NeilZ]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I wouldn't say 6 films out of 50 is a bunch. Many of the older Kurosawa films you mention are in pretty bad shape, and need proper restorations. Just because something has an HD scan does not mean it's been given any extensive restoration work. Let's take Cure for an example. Criterion could have put that out on Blu-ray from a dated HD master years ago, but held off, and now we have it sourced from a 4K restoration. I think that was worth the wait, would you disagree?

You seem bothered that Criterion are using their position to redefine and expand their library with more diversity. You've said repeatedly that you just want them to "go back to their roots" as if they've somehow abandoned them. I think Criterion has done an admiral job of finding a nice balance between classics, indie films, and some mainstream/modern titles. I also feel Criterion has done a great job of addressing the blind spots that were sorely lacking from what you call their "bread and butter library". Obviously when incorporating more films from female and black filmmakers (among other blind spots), it will take longer for other stuff that were in the queue to come out.

Your complaints are also heavily focused on the smaller output of Japanese films now, but Japanese films have gotten way more love from Criterion, and other labels than most other countries. I love Japanese films myself; I've been waiting for Ozu's Floating Weeds since the format began, but I'm still glad that Criterion are giving films from countries like Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Taiwan, Russia, Hong Kong, Iran, and others more attention now than they've ever been able to receive in the past.

You make a good point. Also if rumors are true we might even get a Kurosawa box in the coming years.

[PipesDonatello]

Hopefully soon either The Tree Of Life or Y Tu Mama Tambien can join the 4K collection. Lubezki needs more UHD love.

[Lannister1098]

Just bought The Elephant Man for now on Blu-ray. Never seen it before.

[spacekitty]

Originally Posted by Lannister1098

Just bought The Elephant Man for now on Blu-ray. Never seen it before.

It's very coherent for a Lynch film. Sad story.

[jkoffman]

I've already returned half of the new Criterion releases I've received this month because they're too scratched. Devil In A Blue Dress UHD/BD arrived today and after inspecting it the UHD has a new wrinkle for me, a 1 cm circle mark on the play side that doesn't wipe off. I tried over a dozen times to capture a pic on my phone, but I can't get it. I might just send this one to Criterion directly.

[jkoffman]

I emailed the Mulvaney account and implied that I'm familiar with discs and had already tried cleaning them, yet got some personal response mixed with the usual boiler plate stuff about cleaning. I've handled tens of thousands of discs in my lifetime, from CDs to LDs to DVDs to BDs, and I've owned hundreds of Criterions, so it does get tiring to get a bit of a brush off again. I'm old enough to remember when brand new meant it was in new condition. Just trying to do my bit in hopes of seeing some improvement someday.

Thank you for reaching out and flagging this for us.

I have relayed your concerns to the relevant parties on our end for further consideration and investigation.

To help you minimize the discs you exchange, I did want to note that Blu-ray discs are fairly resilient and scratch resistant, meaning that cleaning will typically eliminate any minor issues and resolve most playback issues. Even if your disc is brand-new, cleaning the disc may be warranted. Here's the process, in case it's helpful:

Apply water and soap to a clean microfiber or cotton-based cloth, hold the disc from its outer edges, and wipe the bottom surface of your disc (i.e. the shiny side) with your cloth by rubbing outward from the disc's center ring to its edges. Do not wipe the disc in a circular motion.
Be sure to thoroughly dry the disc, as inserting a wet disc may damage your Blu-ray or DVD player - you can simply let it air dry, or wipe any moisture from the disc with a clean, dry microfiber or cotton-based cloth or tissue.

I understand the anxiety of seeing scratches on your discs, but it does not mean that the films are permanently damaged, especially when it comes to 4Ks and Blu-Rays, which are sturdy and can be cleared of smudges and slight scratches fairly easily with a gentle wash, using a little dish soap.

Since DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS was purchased via Barnes & Noble, we recommend contacting them first regarding replacement, exchange, or refund options.

If you run into any trouble with finding a resolution with them, or your disc is exhibiting playback issues, please don't hesitate to contact us again.

PHV_clean_disc (1).jpg

[MifuneFan]

Trying to get Criterion's support to address the scratched disc issue:

The IT Crowd 4x05 the best scene ever - YouTube

I shouldn't make light of the situation though, because it's really frustrating seeing these kinds of responses from Criterion, and the problem appears to be getting worse, with numerous reports of scratched discs from every one of their new releases. Criterion will stand behind their product if there is a playback issue down the road, so I suppose that's a little reassuring, but customers shouldn't have to be concerned about that, especially when this is something that can probably be easily remedied with just minor improvements to the disc handling practices at the replication plant. We just have to keep sending these complaints to Criterion, and hope they have the ability to improve the situation.

[KJones77]

Went to B&N today for my first pickup of the sale. Here's what I got: