The Criterion Collection

[Reddington]

Catching up on a few pages of posts.

I've no problem at all with the K cover artwork.

And I've no doubt 4K releases will be in the Flash Sales. However, it will be interesting to see if B&N stores embrace them (do they even stock UHD titles currently?).

Originally Posted by NeilZ

I think Criterion will do fine if they stick to 3 UHD announcements per month for now.

Was thinking about this. Will we see 4K titles every month? If so, how many? Will they favour new releases, or upgrades? It's gonna be fun...

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Was thinking about this. Will we see 4K titles every month? If so, how many? Will they favour new releases, or upgrades? It's gonna be fun...

I'd be amazed if they could do one every month for any prolonged period of time. I don't think any boutique label has done that so far. I think after November, we'll probably see 1-2 releases every month for the next 4 or so months, but then I see them just doing one every couple of months or so.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I'd be amazed if they could do one every month for any prolonged period of time. I don't think any boutique label has done that so far. I think after November, we'll probably see 1-2 releases every month for the next 4 or so months, but then I see them just doing one every couple of months or so.

Inclined to agree. Although if any boutique label could...

Separately, just browsing on Diabolik and the pre-order prices for the first three titles are lower than anywhere else I've seen: Citizen Kane is $41.99, and Menace II Society and Mulholland Drive are $36.99 each.

[mmarczi]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I'd be amazed if they could do one every month for any prolonged period of time. I don't think any boutique label has done that so far. I think after November, we'll probably see 1-2 releases every month for the next 4 or so months, but then I see them just doing one every couple of months or so.

It would be absolutely astonishing if they started releasing three 4Ks a month, or even two, with regularity. This is nothing like the DVD-to-Blu-Ray transition.

[koberulz]

Originally Posted by AreaUnderTheCurve

it costs very little to produce the UHD disk

This is outright false.

Originally Posted by regeyer

I think Criterion is going to have to start increasing the number of titles they release, especially in UHD. If they don't, sales are going to suffer. Significantly. Why? Because people will choose not to buy and wait for the inevitable UHD release. It's common sense really.

I wouldn't expect any future Blu-ray releases to get upgrades. Why wouldn't they just release the 4K immediately?

[tatterdemalion]

Originally Posted by regeyer

I think Criterion is going to have to start increasing the number of titles they release, especially in UHD. If they don't, sales are going to suffer. Significantly. Why? Because people will choose not to buy and wait for the inevitable UHD release. It's common sense really.

There are many titles that will never see a 4K UHD release. I buy almost exclusively blu-rays now but that hasn't stopped me from buying the occasional DVD. I love Mystery Science Theater 3000 and if I had that "I won't buy it until it's released in..." mindset I'd only have the MST3K movie right now. I need to watch Joel, Mike and the Bots. Many TV shows I want, or own, are still DVD only: Get Smart, Green Acres...and many of the 1970's Japanese Tokusatsu programs during the henshin craze, unless you're willing to pay $500 or more for a Japanese blu-ray release version of Kamen Rider and Kamen Rider V3 that's non-subtitled.

I'd rather own something in a 'lesser' format than not own it at all.

[Lannister1098]

Originally Posted by biglou114

If you are looking for an outside example of thousands of people buying a single movie for too much, look here:

https://shop.a24films.com/products/m...32160093077553

This movie was 100% worth the price in my opinion. Premium yellow cloth packaging and a cool art book. Only disappointment was the lack of special features.

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I actually thought of an interesting solution for this very problem the other day. I thought about how Criterion may be able to quiet the fears of having to double-dip, and I figured maybe Criterion could include an "upgrade voucher' with every new Blu-ray only release. And if in the future Criterion did release that same film on UHD, a person could mail in that voucher (or maybe submit it online with the voucher's unique code), with say $10 (the difference between a BD and UHD release) and Criterion would send them the disc(s).

That will never happen. They'd lose too much money.

And maybe you're right. Maybe most people won't care. But I really think there will be people who pause their purchases. I know I will and I don't even have a 4K screen yet.

[Professor Echo]

It seems like all the reactions to Criterion's 4K release announcement have faded and the thread is currently wallowing in the doldrums. You can usually tell when posts start looking desperate to stay on topic and yet still get attention and stimulate discussion.

This post isn't helping to change the situation any, but I'm as bored as everyone else and just wanted to post something.

[Bakura666]

Earlier this week, I sent out an email to Criterion asking why they chose to feature one BTS documentary over another for their Citizen Kane reissue. This was their response:

“Hi Garrett,

Thank you for writing in, and for your excitement about our upcoming CITIZEN KANE release!

To serve as a broad overview, we chose to include the extremely rare, two-hour BBC film The Complete Citizen Kane, which we feel is the most comprehensive documentary overview of CITIZEN KANE, from the film's production, to controversies over its authorship, to the attacks on the film by William Randolph Hearst, rather than including The Battle Over Citizen Kane.

We hope that once you have the edition and are able to work your way through the special features on the disc, that you'll find the content we gathered enjoyable and informative.

I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any follow up questions.

Kind regards,
Jon”

[ShellOilJunior]

Re: waiting for a UHD version of a movie

These are the criterion I use in deciding to buy/not to buy:

- 4K transfer available?
- may tie in in with a big round number anniversary. Movies without a 4K
scan may receive one (e.g. Black Narcissus turns 75 in April)
- last released on blu-ray >4 years ago
- Current print run sold out or close to it
- world cinema or contemporary classic

[jkoffman]

Originally Posted by Dk8819

That’s a fantastic release and well worth the money.

Packaging can be entertaining for a moment, and A24 does great work, but honestly I'd spend more for actual video content, in every case. Imported this for only $14 USD, and includes both cuts and a featurette.

[jkoffman]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

It seems like all the reactions to Criterion's 4K release announcement have faded and the thread is currently wallowing in the doldrums. You can usually tell when posts start looking desperate to stay on topic and yet still get attention and stimulate discussion.

This post isn't helping to change the situation any, but I'm as bored as everyone else and just wanted to post something.

It's gone quickly from predicting how they'll lose money by not releasing UHDs to predicting how they'll lose money by releasing UHDs, and nobody's even seen one yet.

[WillieMLF]

Originally Posted by jkoffman

Packaging can be entertaining for a moment, and A24 does great work, but honestly I'd spend more for actual video content, in every case. Imported this for only $14 USD, and includes both cuts and a featurette.

I honestly didn't even think about going overseas for this. As someone who constantly rags on the packaging, I completely fell for that A24 package, hook, line & sinker. I at least got a booklet, and you didn't

[jkoffman]

Originally Posted by WillieMLF

I honestly didn't even think about going overseas for this. As someone who constantly rags on the packaging, I completely fell for that A24 package, hook, line & sinker. I at least got a booklet, and you didn't

A24 is an exception, for sure. Tin cans and flip covers are not my thing.

[Dk8819]

Originally Posted by jkoffman

Packaging can be entertaining for a moment, and A24 does great work, but honestly I'd spend more for actual video content, in every case. Imported this for only $14 USD, and includes both cuts and a featurette.

I think that's a great release as well. I would not buy the bluray only release from A24 as I agree the price is high but for the 4K I have no issue as most 4K discs from boutique labels are at around that price point.

[Cinematt]

Criterion have 20 years of releases under their belt since they started on DVD, and given they still release new titles it would take them twice that time to go back and upgrade everything in the catalogue. Anyone stopping buying BDs in general because a 4k might come along is playing a very boring lottery. There might be some releases where I think chances of a reissue are higher and I dodge them, but I’ll just be spending the same money on releases I don’t think have a hope of an upgrade. I might guess wrong and lose a bit of extra money from time to time, but if I wanted to be rich I’d not be spending thousands on little shiny coasters in the first place
Fundamentally I’m quite confident Criterion are better at the movie business than I am, seeing as they’ve been convincing me to drain my bank account for decades, so I don’t worry too much that they can’t make a decent business decision. I think they’ll be here for a while yet.

[jshaide]

I mean, when Criterion did the switch to blu how many of their very recently released spines from the waning months of DVD only were upgraded right away?

At this juncture, I feel if Criterion does a blu-ray only during a format switch they made a carefully considered decision and aren't plotting some kind of long-con scheme where, surprise! that movie we released a few months ago is now getting an upgrade! They have 1000 films in their back catalogue, several of which haven't even come to blu-ray yet. And it's not like the UHD decision just came out of nowhere, some "hey! let's do this now!" These things are in the works for months and months. The UNCUT GEMS release for instance was probably purposefully done when it was because. . . it probably isn't getting that bump.

If you want the thing when it is released and it is blu-ray only, I really wouldn't hold my breathe. Life's too short anyways, and with the number of back catalogue titles and rumoured/announced acquisitions coming, if the new release isn't UHD it probably isn't going to be in any type of near future.

[koberulz]

Originally Posted by Bakura666

Earlier this week, I sent out an email to Criterion asking why they chose to feature one BTS documentary over another for their Citizen Kane reissue. This was their response:

“Hi Garrett,

Thank you for writing in, and for your excitement about our upcoming CITIZEN KANE release!

To serve as a broad overview, we chose to include the extremely rare, two-hour BBC film The Complete Citizen Kane, which we feel is the most comprehensive documentary overview of CITIZEN KANE, from the film's production, to controversies over its authorship, to the attacks on the film by William Randolph Hearst, rather than including The Battle Over Citizen Kane.

We hope that once you have the edition and are able to work your way through the special features on the disc, that you'll find the content we gathered enjoyable and informative.

I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any follow up questions.

Kind regards,
Jon”

That's a lot of words to say absolutely nothing.

[jw007]

What I'm REALLY intrigued about is the possibility of Criterion releasing 4K UHD box sets. I know people have been dreaming about a Kurosawa box set, but imagine if it was all UHD? Does anyone think that their box sets will get upgraded? (Such as the old release: America Lost and Found: The BBS Story)