The Criterion Collection

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

Of course, MP3s are revolting quality wise.

A lot of people who say that can't actually tell the difference in blind tests between a well-encoded mp3 (320kbps/above) and CD audio. And for those who think that physical audio always sounds better than digital download, 24-bit 96/192khz FLAC/WAV files made from studio masters can give you (theoretically) better sound than CD.

Even the vinyl sounds better claims have been debated, with people, including sound engineers, saying that the warmer sound which vinyl lovers prefer actually comes from rolling of higher frequencies which they can't fully handle. I don't have a vinyl player so this is just hearsay from the internet, mind.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by belcherman

The only one of the five missing from the collection is Wyler. Could Roman Holiday be in the works? That would be great, if true. Or it could be a tie-in with April's release of Woman of the Year. That release will include the documentary George Stevens -- A Filmmaker's Journey, which includes some of the WWII footage shot by Stevens.

Now that I think about it, it's probably the latter.

I think it's something different because Woman of the Year is out 4/18 and they met with him on 3/20. The screener BRs have been out there for a little while already.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by ravenus

A lot of people who say that can't actually tell the difference in blind tests between a well-encoded mp3 (320kbps/above) and CD audio. And for those who think that physical audio always sounds better than digital download, 24-bit 96/192khz FLAC/WAV files made from studio masters can give you (theoretically) better sound than CD.

Even the vinyl sounds better claims have been debated, with people, including sound engineers, saying that the warmer sound which vinyl lovers prefer actually comes from rolling of higher frequencies which they can't fully handle. I don't have a vinyl player so this is just hearsay from the internet, mind.

Yeah, a well encoded MP3 can sound excellent. Most can't tell the difference. I'd encode everything in FLAC but it's not practical, so I go with LAME 320 kbps VBR encoded MP3 files using Exact Audio Copy.

[xxnomad]

Roman Holiday is definitely coming out this year from someone. It has to...

[Arawn]

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

Of course, MP3s are revolting quality wise.

So are peasants.

[20th Century Boy]

Originally Posted by MassiveMovieBuff

I'm completely with you on the streaming topic but I own my TV as far as I know unless you mean there's so many new ones coming out.

I strictly have streaming and amazon instant video as a back up for movies I haven't seen yet or films that aren't on blu ray yet but that's it. For films I want to own and collect it's physical media all the way. Streaming is plagued with horrible compression, bad internet service, macroblocking and titles contracts running in and out. You also don't own the films. I want that security of knowing I physically own the film and can watch it anytime I want.

To be more precise Smart TVs. Pretty much anything from about 2015 on. Anyone genuinely wondering should check their terms and service agreements. Chances are if you had to even sign one to get your TV operating in the first place, then you don't own it and are not allowed by the company to make any modifications to it or repair without their permission. I know because I sent an unopened LG OLED back after making sure to discuss this with both the store I purchased it form and LG themselves.

Those of you with "dumb" TVs from pre 2014 or CRTs, then yeah, you prolly own them. If it's "smart" or 4k, prolly not.

Seriously think about that: you now have to sign an agreement before you can operate something that should just be a monitor for your devices.

[20th Century Boy]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Sonofa....! Do I have to pay $.15 extra per movie if I've watched too many by the time the lease is up?

Maybe not but streaming services are working on using TVs with cameras in them to scan your room to see how many people you have watching the movie to charge you for every person in the room or it won't work. And this is news I learned over two years ago so it's pretty close to being implemented by now I imagine. (Another reason I don't stream.)

[20th Century Boy]

I've always been shocked that CC hasn't nabbed any Billy Wilder films. There's only a few (mostly very early ones) left unreleased in HD.

[theater dreamer]

The Lost Weekend is ripe for Criterion's picking.

Originally Posted by 20th Century Boy

I've always been shocked that CC hasn't nabbed any Billy Wilder films. There's only a few (mostly very early ones) left unreleased in HD.

[latehong]

Originally Posted by 20th Century Boy

I've always been shocked that CC hasn't nabbed any Billy Wilder films. There's only a few (mostly very early ones) left unreleased in HD.

What do you mean "any" Billy Wilder film? Ace in the Hole is a great release!

[mja345]

Hypothetically, Criterion should release the massively underrated Wilder comedy "Buddy Buddy". It's never received a US DVD. It's not a masterpiece, but is a very good Lemmon-Matthau comedy and is Wilder's last film. It's right in line, in terms of tone and quality, with "The In-Laws".

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Criterion has a new post up about speaking with Mark Harris on 3/20/2017. His book Five Came Back has been adapted into a 3-hour Netflix movie.

The directors his projected are concerned with are John Ford, Frank Capra, William Wyler, George Stevens, and John Huston during the WWII years.

Could this mean a forthcoming release from one or more of those 5?

I don't think there's any connection between that particular post, and the possibility of a release coming from one of the 5 directors.

It say right in the article, the connection, and likely reason for the post:

With a new three-hour Netflix adaptation of Five Came Back premiering this Friday, Harris—with whom we’ve collaborated before on our edition of Alfred Hitchcock’s Foreign Correspondent—stopped by Criterion to chat about the growing pains these filmmakers experienced during this historical turning point and what their stories tell us about the fundamental tension between reality and illusion in cinema.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Yeah, a well encoded MP3 can sound excellent. Most can't tell the difference. I'd encode everything in FLAC but it's not practical, so I go with LAME 320 kbps VBR encoded MP3 files using Exact Audio Copy.

I do pretty much the same thing. I rip everything to flac AND 320 kbs VBR MP3. I listen to flac files via Plex on my home stereo, but most of my listening is on the go, either in the car or outside where the listening conditions aren't ideal. I've done side-by-side comparisons of the mp3s with flac and I tell myself that the flac sounds slightly fuller, but I'm probably kidding myself.

This is getting slightly off-topic, except to say that not all compression is evil. Done well, it can provide an excellent audio, or video, experience.

[ShellOilJunior]

There could be something happening soon with A Place in the Sun.

Amazon has a listing (Laden with errors) for a DVD to be released 4/25. Additionally, Gary16 on HTF said the film publication Classic Images listed a blu-ray release of 4/25 but has since pulled it. The most shocking thing? Paramount is allegedly releasing it.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

I still buy CDs, too.



This represents about the last six months, and I've slowed down considerably. I have some mp3s on my iPhone to listen to at the gym, but 99% of the time, if I'm listening to music, it's in my car, or on my home stereo. They just sound better to me than mp3s. And of course, vinyl still sounds the best, but I'm too much of a klutz. I'd spend $50 on a Beatles record, trip, bust it in half, and end up buying the CD, anyway.

Here's my full CD collection (from February 2012). Ever since, I've prob. obtained another 20 on top of what I had (making it a total of around 750 albums on CD as of today). At the time, I was sorting through my collection hoping to move all of the CDs to storage bins. Thus, they were on my lime green carpet for just a temporary amount of time.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by jw007

Here's my full CD collection (from February 2012). Ever since, I've prob. obtained another 20 on top of what I had (making it a total of around 750 albums on CD as of today). At the time, I was sorting through my collection hoping to move all of the CDs to storage bins. Thus, they were on my lime green carpet for just a temporary amount of time.

Was there a deal on Astroturf at Home Depot when you went carpet shopping?

[tisdivine]

Can I just say that Canoa is the reason Criterion exists for me lol What an amazing film. How is it celebrating its 40th anniversary yet Ive never heard of it?

If you haven't seen it yet do not wait for a sale. Skip a meal if necessary. Just get this movie. Im watching it again right now.

Ive been alive for 28 of the 40 years. Thats well over half lol it just doesn't make any sense to me that this film isnt more well known.

[Persona]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

Thank you. Here are the shelves I ended up going with for my Criterions.
Maybe not as sturdy as those I've seen folks use from Ikea, but they look good and hold a lot of flicks for $208 each.

I need to pick up a matching wall unit for my Eclipse set and odd and ends. In a couple of years I'll be tight on space.

[Show spoiler]

Best collection I've ever seen, very nice.

[theater dreamer]

Sacre bleu, Oildude. Had I been drinking a soda when reading your comment, it would be dripping down my laptop monitor right now.

The baseball fan in me approves! Chapeau! /tip of the cap

Originally Posted by oildude

Was there a deal on Astroturf at Home Depot when you went carpet shopping?

[theater dreamer]

Some real nice collections here, film and music. Warms my hears, actually, to see that I am not the last of a dying breed.

My plan is to move from Texas within the next two years, with London being the likely destination. Once I get settled in, I'm sure my collection will really explode in size. I want to really explore jazz and fusion more. I love anything from John Coltrane to Miles Davis and Dave Brubeck. I've only scratched the surface of the great American art form. Blues is another I'd really love to dele into, all the way back to Robert Johnson.

And I have many, many films to buy, and watch, yet!