The Criterion Collection

[WillieMLF]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Thelma and Louise 4K


I'm sorry, but anyone who actually thins this is one of Criterion's worst years, or even that this is somehow not an incredibly strong year already is seriously deluded and have their tastes so narrowly constricted that it blocks off all senses of actual reality.

It's more like if there are no Japanese titles, then life is pointless....

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Thelma and Louise 4K
The Rules of the Game 4K
Time Bandits 4K
The Seventh Seal 4K
Mildred Pierce 4K
Three Colors 4K
Wings of Desire 4K
Dazed and Confused 4K
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen 4K
Branded to Kill 4K
The Fisher King 4K
Targets
Pasolini box set
Europa Trilogy
Inland Empire
Romeo and Juliet
The Last Hurrah for Chivalry
Petite Maman

I'm sorry, but anyone who actually thins this is one of Criterion's worst years, or even that this is somehow not an incredibly strong year already is seriously deluded and have their tastes so narrowly constricted that it blocks off all senses of actual reality.

We can agree to disagree, but when I look at that line up, I'm just not impressed. Most of those are upgrades of existing releases, some that are more than fine to begin with. Only two of those interested me and even then, one was for nostalgic reasons.

Everyone has different tastes in films and what they enjoy and want to spend money on, and again, for me personally this is the worst year for Criterion. For some, it's the jackpot, but it's not something I see.

I don't think I'm deluded, I just don't like the choices they are making.

[WillieMLF]

I wish Criterion would release only the titles I want!

[RevolverOcelScott]

Originally Posted by WillieMLF

I wish Criterion would release only the titles I want!

It sounds like they are as you're paying them a 4th time for an ok movie.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by WillieMLF

I wish Criterion would release only the titles I want!

There is nothing inherently wrong with wanting the titles you enjoy or think you would enjoy.

[Cremildo]

I'll be sitting June out. You know what, though? That's fine. It's good that I don't feel the need to buy every single release every single month. Plenty of interesting stuff from previous months and other labels.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by WillieMLF

It's more like if there are no Japanese titles, then life is pointless....

They released that movie already!

[DukeTogo84]

I think in the end of the day what bothers me most about Criterion versus other labels, is that we KNOW of a lot of the titles they have. We really don't know about a lot of the titles others labels may or may not have. Criterion has HUNDREDS of titles I actually want. Hundreds. So after 6 months and getting nearly 0 of those hundreds is slightly frustrating. If Criterion didn't have the films, I think others and myself wouldn't care all that much, but it's the wasted potential. Criterion is focusing a bit too much on the upgrades for my tastes. At this point, Radiance, Kino, Arrow, 88 Films, Indicator, Vinegar Syndrome, Severin, are releasing more new to HD titles than Criterion. Or at least, it sure feels that way.

Criterion used to be the top dog in my book, but now they feel like the bottom of the barrel. Which is a shame because they HAVE a lot the titles, but chose to do nothing with them. Instead we get another release of Time Bandits.

[Shanghai Express]

It's been a year of marquee releases for sure but they've all but ignored pre-1960 cinema. The three titles they've announced in six months (Imitation Of Life, Mildred Pierce, Seventh Seal) each had existing North American Blu-rays, the latter two of which were by themselves. So only one new acquisition so far. Hope that pattern changes. I don't want to say they're getting lazy because all these major releases are coming out but their pre-1960 selection is increasingly threadbare. It's been a while since they "rescued" an older title or served something surprising and unexpected. We knew all about Arsenic and Hotel du Nord long before they hit the shelves.

[WillieMLF]

Ugh! Bottom of the barrel… Poor Togo! I need to get Becker on the horn, STAT!

[GenPion]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

I think in the end of the day what bothers me most about Criterion versus other labels, is that we KNOW of a lot of the titles they have. We really don't know about a lot of the titles others labels may or may not have. Criterion has HUNDREDS of titles I actually want. Hundreds. So after 6 months and getting nearly 0 of those hundreds is slightly frustrating. If Criterion didn't have the films, I think others and myself wouldn't care all that much, but it's the wasted potential. Criterion is focusing a bit too much on the upgrades for my tastes. At this point, Radiance, Kino, Arrow, 88 Films, Indicator, Vinegar Syndrome, Severin, are releasing more new to HD titles than Criterion. Or at least, it sure feels that way.

Criterion used to be the top dog in my book, but now they feel like the bottom of the barrel. Which is a shame because they HAVE a lot the titles, but chose to do nothing with them. Instead we get another release of Time Bandits.

I love the Criterion Collection and the label is still the benchmark for high quality supplements. Criterion remains one of the leading labels for restorations. Nonetheless, I can't argue with you in terms of the output.

Even though there are still tons of titles from Criterion I need/want to pick up and add to my collection at some point, it does seem problematic that the label holds on to so many titles for so long (to the point one wonders if everything will even be released someday).

Whereas Kino Lorber and some of the other boutique labels are putting out even more titles than Criterion and are generally speaking exceptional editions (only perhaps a step behind in the supplementals).

Nothing is wrong with quality over quantity but considering Criterion holds rights to some films for many years without releases, it can occasionally seem frustrating.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by WillieMLF

Ugh! Bottom of the barrel… Poor Togo! I need to get Becker on the horn, STAT!

At the end of the day it's simply my opinion and no need to mock it. I do consider Criterion bottom of the barrel for boutique labels in terms of titles released, and you may not which is fine. I do feel like it's harder and harder for people to simply agree to disagree without ridicule which is unfortunate.

[GenPion]

Originally Posted by RevolverOcelScott

Considering the sheer volume of classic Japanese titles getting new 4K restorations... patience is key!

I still hope/expect a Kurosawa Blu-ray collection at some point (hopefully with a bevy of 4K UHD titles as well now that so many have been released in Japan).

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by GenPion

I love the Criterion Collection and the label is still the benchmark for high quality supplements. Criterion remains one of the leading labels for restorations. Nonetheless, I can't argue with you in terms of the output.

When I hold a Criterion product in my hand, I'm usually very satisfied with the end result. I'm rarely displeased with their PQ even though others have complained about compression.

I just find myself holding a Criterion product less and less. Before they were the benchmark, but now I feel other labels are just as good if not better. When I get an Arrow release I know it's going to be top quality just like I feel about Criterion.

The amount of titles they do have is staggering. Yet, they chose to release another release of Chilly Scenes of Winter. Did Chilly Scenes of Winter need another release over the hundreds of titles that simply don't have a Blu-ray or any HD disc? I'm not sure what's going on over at Criterion, but it's disappointing.

[RevolverOcelScott]

Originally Posted by WillieMLF

Ugh! Bottom of the barrel… Poor Togo! I need to get Becker on the horn, STAT!

We get it, your post history is littered with snark and low tier passive aggressive insults. Move on.

[trobrianders]

So the blus that come with the 4k releases of Time Bandits and The Rules of the Game. New from the 4k restorations or the original Criterion releases?

[NeilZ]

I’ll start where I disagree with Togo in that personally there’s quite a few titles I was very happy with last year so I certainly don’t think it was their worst year (I think it was the best year in 2~3 years). Especially love all the Lynch and Gilliam upgrades, among others such as the Denzel Washington ones. Also very happy about Branded to Kill recently too, and finally getting a Romeo and Juliet was nice as well..

For the rest I fully agree with Togo. It’s almost a disgrace that such a large catalog of titles are monopolized and basically left unreleased. Japanese titles are definitely among the most (if not the most period) affected. So for fans of Japanese cinema such as myself, it’s unbelievably painful to see month after month nothing (or sometimes a symbolic 1 off announcement), while several hundred titles stay locked away unavailable for any other label to pick up.

What makes it worse is that Criterion has its roots in Japanese cinema as one of the quintessential parts of their catalog. They used to cover Japanese cinema with the greatest of passions.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by NeilZ

I’ll start where I disagree with Togo in that personally there’s quite a few titles I was very happy with last year so I certainly don’t think it was their worst year (I think it was the best year in 2~3 years). Especially love all the Lynch and Gilliam upgrades, among others such as the Denzel Washington ones. Also very happy about Branded to Kill recently too, and finally getting a Romeo and Juliet was nice as well..

I actually thought last year was pretty good with their October slate being one of their best in years. It's the 2023 slate where my qualms lay. I too am happy with Romeo and Juliet, but I'm pretty content with their previous releases so not as happy about the upgrades.

Still everything else you mentioned was accurate to a tee. Criterion was once one of the most dependable labels in regard to Japanese cinema. It's fine if they want to change trajectory, but the fact remains they hold the rights to a lot of the quintessential Japanese titles, many with fantastic HD scans. I do wish they would either sub license or simply releases more titles with less features. Their current release of Last Hurrah for Chivalry was almost devoid of special features, but I was fine with it because we get the film in HD which is the most important part.

[themp3000]

I’m just over here, disappointed/crying wildly/moaning loudly/suffering inexplicably by the lack of Salo on 4K UHD. Criterion doesn’t love me either. I need counseling now.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by TenYearLurker

Ahhh, the classic, "Why did this title get released when we still don't have this other title that I deem to be more worthy?" It's genuinely stupid. You understand that a Time Bandits release doesn't somehow keep Brazil from being released, yes? As has already been pointed out, Disney will be a much bigger hurdle for a 4K release materializing than Criterion deciding to do a 4K release of Time Bandits first (which, again, has zero bearing on a Brazil release).

Unless I missed something, Brazil is a Universal film, not Disney.