The Criterion Collection

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by joonskeezle

I never know what the purpose of comments like this are.

You are either calling us liars, or you are humblebragging about an unbelievably obnoxious amount of luck.

My first 95 were OK too. But then disc rot happened, Wong Kar Wai origami smudge lines happened, and now apparently a disc packer at the factory uses them as cat toys or frisbees before putting them in the cases.

[Art_bell]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

My first 95 were OK too. But then disc rot happened, Wong Kar Wai origami smudge lines happened, and now apparently a disc packer at the factory uses them as cat toys or frisbees before putting them in the cases.

I absolutely believe you all, it's just surprising to me because I've never heard of this happening before. But I believe you!

I mean, I've heard about the occasional disc getting dislodged in shipping, rattling around the case in-transit and getting scratched that way, and I've always heard that Criterion is great about taking care of situations like that. But brand-new Criterions arriving scratched or smudged, but being otherwise perfect is something I hadn't heard before using this forum. Particularly that it's rampant. That's a huge bummer.

[WillieMLF]

Oh man, a guy going by ArtBell, based on a guy who exists in the land of conspiracy and QAnon, talking about looking at data.... My head just exploded.

[regeyer]

I don't see what's wrong with people confirming that they have had no problems with discs they have received from Criterion. In fact, this information is helpful in determining whether the few complaints are rare or are a greater problem.

Me? Put me in the "I've never had a problem" category.

[jkoffman]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

My first 95 were OK too. But then disc rot happened, Wong Kar Wai origami smudge lines happened, and now apparently a disc packer at the factory uses them as cat toys or frisbees before putting them in the cases.

Same. I own nearly 300 and just got a replacement for a scratched new disc ordered in the last sale.

[Art_bell]

Originally Posted by WillieMLF

Oh man, a guy going by ArtBell, based on a guy who exists in the land of conspiracy and QAnon, talking about looking at data.... My head just exploded.

Not sure if you're kidding or not... I'm just a big fan of Art Bell and his show

[DukeTogo84]

I wonder what the chances are for Criterion to release The Power of the Dog. Would love some more of the big named Netflix films to start getting more releases.

[jw007]

I probably received some scratched discs over the last decade from Criterion but most importantly, I'll never forget the bronzed discs I received. The horrifying thing about that was, they weren't bronzed when I first saw them but as the years went by, the discs metamorphosized into nightmarish discs and when I went to check on some of them, after turning them over I no longer saw my reflection in the plastic anymore... but a monstrous image of a hideous man with 5 eyes, 10 ears, 3 noses, and a crooked smile with giant fangs that resembled the cover art of Hausu.

[Akibiyori]

Originally Posted by regeyer

I don't see what's wrong with people confirming that they have had no problems with discs they have received from Criterion. In fact, this information is helpful in determining whether the few complaints are rare or are a greater problem.

Me? Put me in the "I've never had a problem" category.

In 25 years of buying disc media, I can count the number of problems I’ve had on one hand. I haven’t had any problems with Criterion discs, not even the bronzing issue or more complicated packages like the Bergman and Fellini sets. I have had DVDs with light marks on them but nothing that actually required any replacement - they work fine.

But that’s anecdotal, and you can always find something that leads one way or another. Still, this current discussion was initiated by a disc that merely needed to be wiped off, which I’ve certainly had to do for otherwise perfectly fine discs from a number of companies, so I have to wonder how many times a similar situation has occurred - the damaged disc isn’t really damaged.

[JonBTS]

Originally Posted by Akibiyori

...or more complicated packages like the Bergman...

I contacted Criterion about Disc 5, Summer with Monika, skipping randomly starting at Chapter 20 and continuing until the end of the feature. Their response was that there are no known problems with the set, so I should clean the disc. You know, that thing most people do before they pop them into the player.

They also want to know what player I'm using, with what firmware, blah blah blah. Not a single issue with any of the other discs. Am I supposed to send them a video of me popping the disc into 4 different players and having the same result? It's a $300 box set, thought they'd care a little.

[gbm82]

Originally Posted by JonBTS

I contacted Criterion about Disc 5, Summer with Monika, skipping randomly starting at Chapter 20 and continuing until the end of the feature. Their response was that there are no known problems with the set, so I should clean the disc. You know, that thing most people do before they pop them into the player.

They also want to know what player I'm using, with what firmware, blah blah blah. Not a single issue with any of the other discs. Am I supposed to send them a video of me popping the disc into 4 different players and having the same result? It's a $300 box set, thought they'd care a little.

uh, I don't think that's nearly as common as you seem to think...

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by gbm82

uh, I don't think that's nearly as common as you seem to think...

I only clean a disk if it has problems (or there is some obvious mark on it - which has only ever happened for me with second hand disks), since the very act of wiping the disk has risks (think of the swirly fine scratch marks you see on car paintwork after several washes).

[JonBTS]

Originally Posted by gbm82

uh, I don't think that's nearly as common as you seem to think...

And that's fine, but the point was about Criterion being reluctant to replace a disc, not how strange you think I am because I clean a disc before I play it.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by JonBTS

And that's fine, but the point was about Criterion being reluctant to replace a disc, not how strange you think I am because I clean a disc before I play it.

If your computer had issues, and a tech support asked "Have you tried turning it off and on again?", would you be upset that they didn't instead say you can get a replacement computer? There are troubleshooting steps that need to be checked off first before replacements are sent out, especially in cases where there is no known issues. What they're doing is perfectly logical. Just because you, and most of us here know what to do before reaching out to them doesn't mean everyone does. They probably have a lot of experience knowing that many issues can be user related, and not necessarily a faulty disc. Did you respond to their inquiry, and did they tell you they won't be replacing your disc?

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by JonBTS

Am I supposed to send them a video of me popping the disc into 4 different players and having the same result? It's a $300 box set, thought they'd care a little.

LOL! I read that wrong the first time. I really thought you said that Criterion was demanding that you try the disc in 4 different players. And I was thinking this is ridiculous.

But, based upon what has actually happened, I don't think what they are asking is a big deal.

[Warm Gun]

What's going on with Fassbinder's In einem Jahr mit 13 Monden? What rights issue is stopping a label like Arrow or Criterion from releasing it? I'd import it, but those German Amazon import fees are so high.

[jordan-r]

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

What's going on with Fassbinder's In einem Jahr mit 13 Monden? What rights issue is stopping a label like Arrow or Criterion from releasing it? I'd import it, but those German Amazon import fees are so high.

I hope they get around to this before long. One of his two or three best movies.

[gbm82]

Originally Posted by JonBTS

And that's fine, but the point was about Criterion being reluctant to replace a disc, not how strange you think I am because I clean a disc before I play it.

That wasn't my point at all... you're the one seemingly upset that a company asks you to take a simple step before issuing a replacement...

[gbm82]

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

What's going on with Fassbinder's In einem Jahr mit 13 Monden? What rights issue is stopping a label like Arrow or Criterion from releasing it? I'd import it, but those German Amazon import fees are so high.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/393991037332

[MifuneFan]

Just be aware there are no english subs on that release.