The Criterion Collection

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Unfortunately, they now get to see the same thing on many streaming platforms...

Yep. I wonder if physical media does become extinct and streaming is the primary alternative, if future filmmakers will once more reject the 2:35 ratio for the same reasons it was falling out of favor 40 years ago.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Wow, best month ever:

Yup. I'm not overly excited about the Bruce Lee set but it's definitely a Big Deal and the rest of the lineup is spectacular.

Obviously 'best anything ever' is hyperbole to some extent or another but you could make a pretty solid case here.

Originally Posted by spudeus

Pal's War of the Worlds coming out of left field (for me anyway!). Must-have, though in many ways I enjoy The Time Machine even more.

It's not just you. When the Australian release was announced I thought that might maybe bode well for an eventual US release but a fully stacked Criterion release wasn't anywhere near being on my radar.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by octagon

It's not just you. When the Australian release was announced I thought that might maybe bode well for an eventual US release but a fully stacked Criterion release wasn't anywhere near being on my radar.

I thought that Paramount would either release it as part of their Presents line or if we were lucky maybe Shout would release it via the Scream sub label, but I never would've bet that Criterion would release a fully stacked release. So I'm super pumped.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by Scholer

Okay, with such stunning covers for all the other releases for July, I have to point out just how shitty the cover for The Lady Eve feels to me! How on Earth that got through quality control, I’ll never understand.

I kind of like it. To me, it looks like a classic movie poster done in the style of Al Hirschfield. While I don't like it as much as the classic comic book art of War of the Worlds, it's miles better than the totally uninspired cover for Marriage Story.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Yep. I wonder if physical media does become extinct and streaming is the primary alternative, if future filmmakers will once more reject the 2:35 ratio for the same reasons it was falling out of favor 40 years ago.

Good question. Makes me wonder if we will see more filmmakers embracing the 2.00:1 ratio for cinematic exhibition, given it's resurgence among TV directors over the past few years as a compromise solution.

[BTSMGL]

I know this website is literally Blu-ray.com, but I still have to ask: anyone know why "Taste of Cherry" is being released on Blu only? A rights thing like when Kino does Blu-only releases, or are they testing the waters for when they soon stop DVDs completely?

[The Great Owl]

War of the Worlds, of course!

Bruce Lee box set, of course!

The Lady Eve, of course!

I'll probably grab Marriage Story, but I'm still on the fence with it. I dunno.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'll probably grab Marriage Story, but I'm still on the fence with it. I dunno.

Show of hands: does anybody think there's a chance in hell he's not getting this?

Anybody? Anybody at all. Don't be shy.

It's adorable that you keep playing this game though

[dkelly26666]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Thinking the same here. I almost went for the upcoming Aussie releases of War of the Worlds and The Duelists. Maybe the latter will get a Criterion release?

I most definitely would be happy to see a Criterion release of "The Duellists".

What a striking film that is.

I'm also the world's biggest ever Harvey Keitel fan, so I'd be extra enthusiastic.

[StarDestroyer52]

Looks like they added an extra feature to The Cameraman:

The Motion Picture Camera (1979), a documentary by A.S.C. cinematographer and film preservationist Karl Malkames, in a 4k restoration

Source

[dwk]

Originally Posted by BTSMGL

I know this website is literally Blu-ray.com, but I still have to ask: anyone know why "Taste of Cherry" is being released on Blu only? A rights thing like when Kino does Blu-only releases, or are they testing the waters for when they soon stop DVDs completely?

Who knows. Some recent Blu-ray upgrades haven't had updated DVDs (Haxan) and OOP boxsets havent been reissued when they got Blu-ray upgrades. Not to mention new boxsets not getting DVD releases at all (Godzilla, Bruce Lee), so they must just not see a market in issuing, or re-issuing some titles on DVD.

[The Great Owl]

Off the announcement topic for a moment...

I now have a 4K UHD Player (Sony X700) and a newer 4K television (Sony X950G).

For those in the know, how does the Criterion Pan's Labyrinth standard Blu-ray stack up to the 4K UHD Blu-ray release of that movie?

I'm wondering if it will be worth my while to double-dip.

[MJD64]

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by professor echo

i attended a seminar at the los angeles county museum of art in the 90's which featured many of the top cinematographers of the day discussing their art. To a man, each agreed that if it hadn't been for laserdiscs and letterboxing there would likely have been no more movies made in 2:35. They said directors were sick and tired of seeing their films bastardized with panning and scanning on tv screens. Scorsese had said pretty much the same thing when he made cape fear, his first 2:35 film. He had no interest in that aspect ratio until laserdiscs made it viable for watching those films at home.

Originally Posted by professor echo

i wonder how many people nowadays are aware of the role played by laserdiscs and criterion in the preservation of widescreen aspect ratios?

Well stated, Professor Echo. I would also greatly credit Criterion with pioneering and popularising audio commentaries - they were essentially de rigueur in the heyday of DVD, and largely thanks to Criterion paving the way on LaserDisc.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by MJD64

Well stated, Professor Echo. I would also greatly credit Criterion with pioneering and popularising audio commentaries - they were essentially de rigueur in the heyday of DVD, and largely thanks to Criterion paving the way on LaserDisc.

Not just audio commentaries (and OAR). They also pioneered all the various types of special features that we know and love.

[dragon53]

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, FAIL SAFE and THE GREAT ESCAPE---no more slim pickins at the next Barnes & Noble Criterion sale.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Off the announcement topic for a moment...

I now have a 4K UHD Player (Sony X700) and a newer 4K television (Sony X950G).

For those in the know, how does the Criterion Pan's Labyrinth standard Blu-ray stack up to the 4K UHD Blu-ray release of that movie?

I'm wondering if it will be worth my while to double-dip.

I can’t comment on the PL UHD but congratulations on the hardware upgrades!

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I can’t comment on the PL UHD but congratulations on the hardware upgrades!

Thanks!

The downside is that I saw Portrait of a Lady on Fire at the theater, and it chaps my tail that we're not getting a 4K UHD disc of that film. I may have to go looking for an import 4K disc of that one if such a release comes to fruition.
EDIT: There doesn't appear to be any import 4K releases forthcoming.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by dragon53

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, FAIL SAFE and THE GREAT ESCAPE---no more slim pickins at the next Barnes & Noble Criterion sale.

Seriously. After years of pillaging the B&N sales I pretty much shifted almost exclusively to purchasing directly from Criterion during their flash sales but that should definitely change come July.

[spudeus]

Originally Posted by octagon

It's not just you. When the Australian release was announced I thought that might maybe bode well for an eventual US release but a fully stacked Criterion release wasn't anywhere near being on my radar.

I was half-expecting news of that fabled 4K restoration of WotW in UHD this year (especially with the Spielberg version upgrade), but in a way this is more interesting/exciting.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Thanks!

The downside is that I saw Portrait of a Lady on Fire at the theater, and it chaps my tail that we're not getting a 4K UHD disc of that film. I may have to go looking for an import 4K disc of that one if such a release comes to fruition.
EDIT: There doesn't appear to be any import 4K releases forthcoming.

There’s more than a few of those for me too. Walkabout, Picnic at Hanging Rock, the Malick titles, etc.