The Criterion Collection

[mande2013]

According to DVDBeaver, the Army of Shadows rerelease has a slightly improved transfer over the previous disc, despite the fact the two releases are sourced from the same master.

[Cremildo]

The CriterionForum review says it's exactly the same transfer. I wonder who's right.

[mande2013]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

The CriterionForum review says it's exactly the same transfer. I wonder who's right.

DVDBeaver could have sourced the stills having viewed the two releases on different systems, which could account for discrete variations in image quality. Blu-ray.com hasn't bothered reviewing the re-release, so...

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by human_machinery

I just looked it up, and there is a Criterion release for Sabotage... on Laserdisc.

Yes, indeed there is. I even have a copy. There are also Criterion LDs for Secret Agent and [i]Young and Innocent]/i] (both of which I also have), and Blackmail (which I don't).

(As well as ones that they've released on DVD and BD, like The 39 Steps, The Lady Vanishes, Rebecca, and Notorious. And North by Northwest.)

[MifuneFan]

https://www.criterionchannel.com/ven...a-of-a-samurai

Watched a film called Vendetta of a Samurai (1952) on the Criterion Channel yesterday. I was surprised to see that its screenplay was written by Kurosawa. The film stars plenty of Kurosawa's regulars including Mifune, Takeshi Shimura and others. In many regards the film is the complete opposite of Seven Samurai; it's very short at just 80 mins long, and it completely does away with the heroic, and romanticized depiction of samurai life.

The film has a somewhat confusing start, jumping right into a very theatrical battle showing the protagonist (played by Mifune) killing scores of enemies. A narrator then comes on to say that the legendary tale shown here has been completely embellished, and the protagonist only killed 2 people. The movie then goes on to tell what really happened through a series of flashbacks, ultimately culminating in the same battle sequence from the start, but now completely grounded in reality.

What makes this fairly linear and meandering film noteworthy for me is just how well it captures the human side of a battle. It shows these larger than life characters flailing around, shaking, and truly scared to lose their lives. It's far removed from most samurai films where you see calm and collected samurais slice through one person, after another. Right after finishing, I went back to the beginning to watch the embellished version of the battle again. Knowing the story, and characters now, everything that confused me initially fell into place. It also was interesting to see the contrast in the depiction of the battle back to back.

Anyway, just thought I'd give some thoughts on it. I should note that Criterion has the wrong description for the movie. It mentions the 47 Ronin story, but the film has nothing to do with that.

[Ray Jackson]

I really hope the Zatoichi box set is back in print by the B&N sale in early July.

...assuming there is one.

[hariseldon]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I really hope the Zatoichi box set is back in print by the B&N sale in early July.

...assuming there is one.

The 2015 set has never been OOP though I guess it might have been OOS for part of the Nov sale. It's in stock at BN right now plus it was part of the Criterion flash sale in Feb.

Or are you asking about the original 2013 25 disc set that has been OOP for quite a while. I can be almost 100% sure that one will not be re-released

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

Or are you asking about the original 2013 25 disc set that has been OOP for quite a while and almost 100% will not be re-released

The DVD/BD combo will not be re-released. I was fortunate to grab one of those during a B&N sale. But those are not coming back.

To be honest, I've never used the DVDs. The same is true for all my BD and HD DVD combos. I never use the DVDs. So, while they are nice to have, it certainly makes sense not to do a combo.

[koberulz]

If you never use the DVDs, why is it fortunate that you got one?

[jjlikesonions]

Originally Posted by mande2013

According to DVDBeaver, the Army of Shadows rerelease has a slightly improved transfer over the previous disc, despite the fact the two releases are sourced from the same master.

Hmm. If it IS the same master, maybe it's just an improved encode? Looking at the screenshots on DVDBeaver, I can see a subtle but definite improvement in PQ on the new release. The grain is more defined and the skin tones are deeper and more realistic.

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by koberulz

If you never use the DVDs, why is it fortunate that you got one?

Because I'm a hoarder.

They're nice to have in case I ever need them. Or I can lend them to people who might not have a Blu-Ray player. Not to mention that they make my set more valuable.

Plus, I paid the same price that everyone pays now, but I got an extra 9 discs, or something like that.

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

https://www.criterionchannel.com/ven...a-of-a-samurai

Watched a film called Vendetta of a Samurai (1952) on the Criterion Channel yesterday. I was surprised to see that its screenplay was written by Kurosawa. The film stars plenty of Kurosawa's regulars including Mifune, Takeshi Shimura and others. In many regards the film is the complete opposite of Seven Samurai; it's very short at just 80 mins long, and it completely does away with the heroic, and romanticized depiction of samurai life.

The film has a somewhat confusing start, jumping right into a very theatrical battle showing the protagonist (played by Mifune) killing scores of enemies. A narrator then comes on to say that the legendary tale shown here has been completely embellished, and the protagonist only killed 2 people. The movie then goes on to tell what really happened through a series of flashbacks, ultimately culminating in the same battle sequence from the start, but now completely grounded in reality.

What makes this fairly linear and meandering film noteworthy for me is just how well it captures the human side of a battle. It shows these larger than life characters flailing around, shaking, and truly scared to lose their lives. It's far removed from most samurai films where you see calm and collected samurais slice through one person, after another. Right after finishing, I went back to the beginning to watch the embellished version of the battle again. Knowing the story, and characters now, everything that confused me initially fell into place. It also was interesting to see the contrast in the depiction of the battle back to back.

Anyway, just thought I'd give some thoughts on it. I should note that Criterion has the wrong description for the movie. It mentions the 47 Ronin story, but the film has nothing to do with that.

I decided to watch this tonight. I must say, I found it boring. I was about 15 minutes in and it already felt too long. Compare that with Seven Samurai, which is over 3 hours in length, but never seems too long.

I did exactly what you suggested. I went back and watched the first few minutes, and the film made sense in doing so. It just, in my opinion, takes too long and did little to hold my interest.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

The 2015 set has never been OOP though I guess it might have been OOS for part of the Nov sale. It's in stock at BN right now plus it was part of the Criterion flash sale in Feb.

Or are you asking about the original 2013 25 disc set that has been OOP for quite a while. I can be almost 100% sure that one will not be re-released

It hasn’t been in stock at Criterion for a good long while.

...at least every time I check.

[hariseldon]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

It hasn’t been in stock at Criterion for a good long while.

...at least every time I check.

Odd. I did see it in stock just before the Flash Sale. I also hadn't noticed it disappearing from other stores.

Anyway -- not labelled OOP and B&N still has it in stock online and in a bunch of stores. At some point late June I might check with the local stores and have them put a copy on hold for you. If you want to get really cute if B&N has the normal 40% sale Fathers Day, I might buy a clean copy then and do a buy return at the beginning of the 50% sale (all assuming both the 40 and 50% sale happen like normal).

[theater dreamer]

Don’t feel bad, not even a little bit. You are paying a premium price for a premium release, and have every right to expect that you’ll be receiving a movie with new, pristine packaging. If you receive an order from Criterion, be it a single movie, or a box set, and it’s not in satisfactory condition, you not only have the right to report this to Criterion, as a fellow collector, I would say you...we all have an obligation to do so.

Yes, rectifying the situation might cost Criterion a few bucks in the short term, but we are also doing them a service. They need feedback from their customers. If their fulfillment centers are not doing an acceptable job-if the product being shipped out doesn’t adhere to the quality standard they set, Criterion needs to know this. I believe that they take their reputation very seriously. They don’t want anything to blemish that reputation. And they have shown, time and time again, and without fail in my many experiences interacting with them, their customer satisfaction is of paramount importance to them. Some companies talk about the customer, and don’t back the talk up. Criterion does. They have answered any concern I’ve ever had promptly, and if I’ve received an item that did not meet my expectations, they’ve made it right. When I get something damaged, I contact them, providing my order number and pictures, and they send replacement packaging. And when the replacement pieces arrive, without fail, I make sure to send them a thank you for their exceptional service.

Originally Posted by FragnitoM

Seems like every order I place directly with criterion I need to submit requests for replacements. Just got another order where the slip cover art were scrunched /damaged on both movies because of how they were inserted into the case by the manufacturer.

Starting to feel unlucky... Is it just me? I feel bad like criterion is going to see I order replacements for for everything but damn I spend a lot of money on criterions I just want it to be Not damaged

[Reddington]

Svet giving the thumbs-up to Tunes of Glory:

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by regeyer

I decided to watch this tonight. I must say, I found it boring. I was about 15 minutes in and it already felt too long. Compare that with Seven Samurai, which is over 3 hours in length, but never seems too long.

I did exactly what you suggested. I went back and watched the first few minutes, and the film made sense in doing so. It just, in my opinion, takes too long and did little to hold my interest.

Yeah, as I mentioned, it's a meandering kind of film, and initially the constant flashbacks were a bit grating too. Only by the end did I appreciate it more, particularly for the nice tension it built up right before the battle, and the more realistic (if not anti-climactic) engagement between samurais who have seen little to no action in their lives up until that moment. I think in some regards, the story mirrors some aspects of the 47 Ronin story, which is probably why Criterion erroneously mentions it in their description. You have the revenge aspect, the searching for the whereabouts of their enemy, the waiting of years to enact that revenge, etc... All of these are trademarks of the 47 Ronin story (and I'm sure many other famous Japanese tales), but it's all truncated into a sort of Cliff Notes version in this adaptation.

As a side-note, it was nice seeing Mifune as a very traditional samurai. He's played samurai countless times before, but very rarely as just a leader of a clan, wearing the full samurai garb, and hairstyle, as he does here.

[theater dreamer]

I can’t believe it’s nearly the 15th again. Even if the announcement is delayed a bit, that’s still something to look forward to.

As I mentioned on the Powerhouse (UK) films discussion, I watched The China Syndrome again last night. It doesn’t have a domestic release, and I feel that would be a great addition to the Criterion Collection. Jack Lemmon and Jane Fonda give fantastic performances, Lemmon, especially. Forty years after its theatrical release, it hasn’t lost any of its potency.

I’ve imported the Indicator Series blu from the UK, but I would gladly double dip if doing so got this masterful film a release in the States. The penultimate scene frightens me every single time, because it could happen tomorrow, and the public would never know. The China Syndrome would probably make my top ten list for American films released in the second half of the decade.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

As I mentioned on the Powerhouse (UK) films discussion, I watched The China Syndrome again last night. It doesn’t have a domestic release, and I feel that would be a great addition to the Criterion Collection.

Image released a Blu years ago.

[Show spoiler]

[jesseb]

Just visited Criterion's site, and there's a new pre-order available:
https://www.criterion.com/boxsets/32...-greatest-hits
Bruce Lee: His Greatest Hits coming July 14, with The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, The Way of the Dragon, Enter the Dragon, and Game of Death