The Criterion Collection

[nitin]

Ugetsu is a classic I personally struggle with. I like it and it’s undoutedbly well made, but it doesn’t work for me on the emotional level that it works on for so many people.

Sansho the Bailiff on the other hand works much better and therefore would be the one I recommend to start with.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by yoloswegmaster420

Wong Kar-wai Confirms 4K Restorations of All His Films Will Arrive in 2020

That means I better sell my OOP blu-ray of Chungking Express asap! Thanks for the news.

[zoodermin]

Originally Posted by yoloswegmaster420

Wong Kar-wai Confirms 4K Restorations of All His Films Will Arrive in 2020

This is great news! I really hope we get a Kurosawa boxset this year and a Wong Kar Wai one next year.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by BenOswald

I'm thinking of checking out some Kenji Mizoguchi titles, anyone suggest a good starting place? I'm familiar with Shindo & Kurasawa's work on Criterion (but not Ozu)

Maybe Ugetsu? Seem more supernatural, something I really like about Shindo.

Ugetsu is a great film and highly recommended, but in some ways it's less typical of Mizoguchi as a film-maker, as he primarily made social tear-jerkers like Sansho The Bailiff and Story of the Last Chrysanthemum.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by jw007

That means I better sell my OOP blu-ray of Chungking Express asap! Thanks for the news.

Not gonna bother selling my OOP Fallen Angels, Happy Together, Chungking, etc. It ain't a sure thing til I have the new disc in my hands and can confirm it bests the old disc.

(Plus what happens if I want to watch one of those between now and then? Stream it? Nah?)

[Xtempo]

Originally Posted by BenOswald

I'm thinking of checking out some Kenji Mizoguchi titles, anyone suggest a good starting place? I'm familiar with Shindo & Kurasawa's work on Criterion (but not Ozu)

Maybe Ugetsu? Seem more supernatural, something I really like about Shindo.

Sansho should be good a good place though I only have that, Ugetsu and Life of Oharu and Eclipse 13 Kenji Mizoguchi's Fallen Women which all I highly recommend. Whatever you are in the mood for since it's your choice.I still need some more though.

Also Ozu is fantastic and he is absolutely my favorite director of all time and second would be his protege Koreada

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by 20th Century Boy

I asked elsewhere but I'll ask here too: Does this mean a 4k restoration of the og version of Ashes of Time?

I recently saw the Redux version on DVD and on it WKW explains that the lab that originally had the film in storage closed overnight and they (WKW et al, presumably) just received a phone call that they had to come pick up their stuff. When they arrived they found the film in pieces scattered all over the place. Hence the need to redo everything. I was under the distinct impression that the original simply no longer exists. If that's correct (which it may not be) then a 4K scan of the original couldn't possibly happen.

[Killer Meteor]

Originally Posted by Knaldskalle

I recently saw the Redux version on DVD and on it WKW explains that the lab that originally had the film in storage closed overnight and they (WKW et al, presumably) just received a phone call that they had to come pick up their stuff. When they arrived they found the film in pieces scattered all over the place. Hence the need to redo everything. I was under the distinct impression that the original simply no longer exists. If that's correct (which it may not be) then a 4K scan of the original couldn't possibly happen.

I'm fairly confident an archival print or two must be around, albiet with burnt in subs.

[italy12]

Quick question for the group...

What are your thoughts on titles in the collection coming out by the big movie studios in 4k? For example, Pan's Labyrinth is slated to come out in 4k by Warner/New Line.

Do you get rid of your CC in lieu of the better version?
Do you get the 4k and keep the CC?
Do you ignore the 4k version altogether because of your loyalty to CC?

The last one is more of a joke, but it is probably what I would do.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by 20th Century Boy

Careful. Their memberships auto-renew now.

At the time I had one, the default was auto-renew, you just had to change that on the website. Is it different now?

[IanSchultz23]

I interviewed John Sayles a couple weeks ago and he said Matewan and The Secret of Roan Inish are set for Criterions at some point.

[kwr212]

Originally Posted by italy12

Quick question for the group...

What are your thoughts on titles in the collection coming out by the big movie studios in 4k? For example, Pan's Labyrinth is slated to come out in 4k by Warner/New Line.

Do you get rid of your CC in lieu of the better version?
Do you get the 4k and keep the CC?
Do you ignore the 4k version altogether because of your loyalty to CC?

The last one is more of a joke, but it is probably what I would do.

I’ll probably pick up the 4K during a sale and keep my Criterion. I’ve held off on buying Criterion’s The Princess Bride specifically because a 4K is already streaming and I feel has a good chance at release. Criterion just needs to get into the 4K game already.

[bonehica]

Originally Posted by italy12

Quick question for the group...

What are your thoughts on titles in the collection coming out by the big movie studios in 4k? For example, Pan's Labyrinth is slated to come out in 4k by Warner/New Line.

Do you get rid of your CC in lieu of the better version?
Do you get the 4k and keep the CC?
Do you ignore the 4k version altogether because of your loyalty to CC?

The last one is more of a joke, but it is probably what I would do.

Will buy the 4K, but will also keep the CC edition. Even if all the extras are ported over, the 4K won't have the booklet...and I love booklets

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by italy12

Quick question for the group...

What are your thoughts on titles in the collection coming out by the big movie studios in 4k? For example, Pan's Labyrinth is slated to come out in 4k by Warner/New Line.

Do you get rid of your CC in lieu of the better version?
Do you get the 4k and keep the CC?
Do you ignore the 4k version altogether because of your loyalty to CC?

Not specific to Criterion but I do sometimes have multiple editions of films due to different extras / packaging. I'm talking here about DVD and blu because I haven't as yet made the 4K jump but the same reasons hold.
For example,
Arrow and (older) BU BD editions of Zombie Flesh Eaters
BD and 2-DVD SE's of Master & Commander, Ran, Akira, Terminator (not least because the DVD set is signed by Jim Cameron).

If there are no meaningful reasons to keep more than one edition, I will discard the previous one, like the Criterion DVD of Picnic at Hanging Rock after Second Sight put out their magnificent BD.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by italy12

Quick question for the group...

What are your thoughts on titles in the collection coming out by the big movie studios in 4k? For example, Pan's Labyrinth is slated to come out in 4k by Warner/New Line.

Do you get rid of your CC in lieu of the better version?
Do you get the 4k and keep the CC?
Do you ignore the 4k version altogether because of your loyalty to CC?

The last one is more of a joke, but it is probably what I would do.

I have held on to the Criterion DVD of The Third Man even though I now on the StudioCanal release. I'm keeping it for the extras and because it's one of my very favorite movies. For a movie that wasn't one of my very favorites, I probably wouldn't even upgrade. Sometimes good is good enough.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by IanSchultz23

I interviewed John Sayles a couple weeks ago and he said Matewan and The Secret of Roan Inish are set for Criterions at some point.

Did you happen to get any new word on "City of Hope"? I'm still hoping they can work out those rights someday, I own all of his other films, even "Amigo".

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by IanSchultz23

I interviewed John Sayles a couple weeks ago and he said Matewan and The Secret of Roan Inish are set for Criterions at some point.

Yes!!!! This is the greatest news!!!

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by italy12

Quick question for the group...

What are your thoughts on titles in the collection coming out by the big movie studios in 4k? For example, Pan's Labyrinth is slated to come out in 4k by Warner/New Line.

Do you get rid of your CC in lieu of the better version?
Do you get the 4k and keep the CC?
Do you ignore the 4k version altogether because of your loyalty to CC?

The last one is more of a joke, but it is probably what I would do.

I'm sure 4K can look great with the right system properly calibrated, but I'm done upgrading. As someone who cut his collecting teeth on VHS, DVD technology was a quantum leap - especially in allowing me to see films in their intended AR. BD was another clear improvement, and remains astonishing to my 50 year-old eyes. Also, I like smaller screens (40" is the sweet spot for me), which probably negate any perceived improvement in PQ.

[BenOswald]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

Yes!!!! This is the greatest news!!!

Yeah, I looooove Matewan. It could really benefit from a re-transfer / restoration. The DP Haskall Wexler also shot so many great movies:

Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolfe
In the Heat of the Night
Medium Cool
One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest
Coming Home
Bound for Glory

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by BenOswald

Yeah, I looooove Matewan. It could really benefit from a re-transfer / restoration. The DP Haskall Wexler also shot so many great movies:

Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolfe
In the Heat of the Night
Medium Cool
One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest
Coming Home
Bound for Glory

Yeah, I love Haskell, one of the first to use the steadicam on Bound For Glory!

Matewan has never had a good release. The DVD is literal garbage!