The Criterion Collection

[Jason Rietman4k]

Way off topic, but has anyone heard of "Incubus"? 1966 William Shatner Gothic horror film considered lost for a while. It is an effective, curiosity, before Star Trek. All it has for home video is a poor DVD release. I contacted Kino a few years ago if they could get it but said they'd liked too--but couldn't. Who could I contact best that would be interested?

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Jason Rietman4k

Ah, thank you. Yes that makes me think it is Criterion as well. Can they hurry up if they're doing it! I've been waiting years for proper releases of these outstanding thrillers.

Yeah, I agree. I would love Bullet in the Head as well. That film never even got a DVD in the US and it's easily one of Woo's best. Dragon Dynasty had the rights for a decade and did nothing with it.

[Akibiyori]

Originally Posted by UnionJackMix

Where were those WB discs made, that there were many pages worth of people trying to figure out if their copies were victim of the rot? I don't remember the common factor except they were pressed dics from a certain year range of release. Also because I haven't found copies of mine with the rot (not that I looked that well, unfortunately most of mine are stacked - yeah I know).

Here’s a picture of what the problem discs look like...(the information around the center of the disc)



You can’t tell by sight if your disc is dead or dying, it doesn’t show on the surface but you should be able to quickly tell just by tracking through the disc. If it isn’t already dead, you’ll likely find playback issues around the layer change, somewhere in the middle of the disc.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Yeah, I agree. I would love Bullet in the Head as well. That film never even got a DVD in the US and it's easily one of Woo's best. Dragon Dynasty had the rights for a decade and did nothing with it.

There's a decent (not great, but decent) Region A release from Nova Media in South Korea.

[NeoNical]

If Daisies wasn't an Eclipse title, it could've been a Blu-ray title since Night and Fog got the Blu-ray treatment. That would've been cool. But, Red Balloon still didn't receive an upgrade and that's not an Eclipse title but I'm hoping a cheap lower tier Blu-ray release will come out for $15 max but that $10 price is perfect for this film.


EDIT: About Bullet in the Head, that still needs a Blu-ray release in America. Sure it's in other regions but I don't think many people will import it (That just might be me though). Hopefully, a restoration will come around for that title so the chances of a new Blu-ray is much higher which I think most companies wait for the new restoration.

[jjlikesonions]

All of the existing blu-ray releases are upscales.

[Jason Rietman4k]

Hong Kong Rescue will work on Bullet in the Head from a 4K scan of 35mm.

[AdmiralNoodles]

If Criterion won't release their 4K mastered titles on 4K UHD disc in the near future, it's time for them to lower their MSRP for Blu-rays by a vast amount to reflect that. There's no excuse for the absurd price gouging, even if they are a niche company with more and more abysmal commisioned art for the titles they release. I'll keep importing and only buy very select titles. Time to get with releasing those 4K mastered titles in a 4K+BD combo option as many other studios have been doing.
Probably the main reason why I've stuck to buying this label second hand or through deals far surpassing the deals featured during the B&N sales. I can wait...
Apologies for copy pasting from the December Announcements on the main page but go figure.

[dwk]

So should Arrow also lower their MSRP?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by dwk

So should Arrow also lower their MSRP?

Was going to post the same thing.

[dwk]

I mean I wouldn't mind lower prices, but really who here doesn't buy most of their Criterion Blu-rays during B&N's and Criterion's sales?

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by AdmiralNoodles

If Criterion won't release their 4K mastered titles on 4K UHD disc in the near future, it's time for them to lower their MSRP for Blu-rays by a vast amount to reflect that. There's no excuse for the absurd price gouging, even if they are a niche company with more and more abysmal commisioned art for the titles they release. I'll keep importing and only buy very select titles. Time to get with releasing those 4K mastered titles in a 4K+BD combo option as many other studios have been doing.
Probably the main reason why I've stuck to buying this label second hand or through deals far surpassing the deals featured during the B&N sales. I can wait...

Of course, who doesn't want lower prices, but I'm sorry, your suggestion is one of those message board ideas which has no relation to reality. There is simply no reason at all for Criterion to lower their MSRP simply because you believe they are not commensurate with pricing for a niche product that at the moment fewer people will pursue and adopt.

Right now Criterion obviously does not believe they are competing with the 4K format and that they are "gouging" their customers by retaining their same pricing levels. How many 4K titles are out there that seriously reflect either the mission statement of Criterion or the amount of releases on Blu that they have already put out? Do you really think with their being so relatively little adoption of 4K in the marketplace that it would benefit them to lower their suggested prices? If 4K eventually becomes more popular and Criterion starts releasing them then I can see the point of doing that, same as when Blus gradually eclipsed DVDs and the latter became overall cheaper to purchase. But right now they would be shooting themselves in the foot, openly admitting that they are producing an inferior product and losing their status in the hobby.

That logic may work just fine when preaching to the choir on a message board, but it just doesn't happen in the real world.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by AdmiralNoodles

If Criterion won't release their 4K mastered titles on 4K UHD disc in the near future, it's time for them to lower their MSRP for Blu-rays by a vast amount to reflect that. There's no excuse for the absurd price gouging, even if they are a niche company with more and more abysmal commisioned art for the titles they release. I'll keep importing and only buy very select titles. Time to get with releasing those 4K mastered titles in a 4K+BD combo option as many other studios have been doing.
Probably the main reason why I've stuck to buying this label second hand or through deals far surpassing the deals featured during the B&N sales. I can wait...
Apologies for copy pasting from the December Announcements on the main page but go figure.

Nice first post in the Criterion thread. How have we survived all this time without the benefit of your expertise on Criterion's pricing, business model, and artistic choices...?

[DaBargainHunta]

We'd all love lower prices, sure, but folks here who took one Business 101 course in their life need to stop parading around as if they're business experts. You're not, we know you're not, and your posts prove you're not.

[CrossRhodes94]

Originally Posted by AdmiralNoodles

If Criterion won't release their 4K mastered titles on 4K UHD disc in the near future, it's time for them to lower their MSRP for Blu-rays by a vast amount to reflect that. There's no excuse for the absurd price gouging, even if they are a niche company with more and more abysmal commisioned art for the titles they release. I'll keep importing and only buy very select titles. Time to get with releasing those 4K mastered titles in a 4K+BD combo option as many other studios have been doing.
Probably the main reason why I've stuck to buying this label second hand or through deals far surpassing the deals featured during the B&N sales. I can wait...
Apologies for copy pasting from the December Announcements on the main page but go figure.

Okay, I get it most people want them to release titles in 4K.. But you're acting like a child by throwing a temper tantrum...

[DandyDancing]

Originally Posted by dwk

I mean I wouldn't mind lower prices, but really who here doesn't buy most of their Criterion Blu-rays during B&N's and Criterion's sales?

I buy everything direct.

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by DandyDancing

I buy everything direct.

Criterion.com has 50% off sales too.

[DandyDancing]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

Criterion.com has 50% off sales too.

I meant like full price when announced.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by DandyDancing

I buy everything direct.

Which is cool if you do. But even then you're likely getting a 20% discount on the SRP (on a regular single-BD release), which is standard on Criterion's site.

I have done this a couple of times, and also bought from Amazon at anywhere from $22-$25. But like many, I save buying for the 50% sales. At $20 a pop, I've never felt "gouged" - not even remotely.

[cgpublic]

Originally Posted by AdmiralNoodles

If Criterion won't release their 4K mastered titles on 4K UHD disc in the near future, it's time for them to lower their MSRP for Blu-rays by a vast amount to reflect that.

Not to put too fine a point on it, perhaps it's time for you to upgrade from your 27" computer monitor to view those precious UHD discs, albeit with HDR ON, before lecturing Criterion and everyone else on this board what 'time' it is.