The Criterion Collection

[darrellmaclaine]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

I decided to hold off on an essay long rant for this month as I'm just tired, but I'll build up my energy for next month if there are a ton of 4K upgrades of already good movies and no new to HD Japanese films.

For this month I'll just post a gif of how I felt after seeing the Criterion e-mail this morning.

I am not the world's biggest Criterion cheerleader and have negative interest in 4K but I am genuinely surprised someone could be disappointed by that slate. Very 'classic Criterion' lineup, something for everyone, upgrades not swamping out new titles, and one of the major classic Hollywood gaps filled. If you don't like at least one out of Sorcerer, Brazil or Midnight do you even like movies?

[queen_kitty]

I will definitely be picking up Midnight in the July Barnes & Noble sale!

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by darrellmaclaine

I am not the world's biggest Criterion cheerleader and have negative interest in 4K but I am genuinely surprised someone could be disappointed by that slate. Very 'classic Criterion' lineup, something for everyone, upgrades not swamping out new titles, and one of the major classic Hollywood gaps filled. If you don't like at least one out of Sorcerer, Brazil or Midnight do you even like movies?

You challenging me bro with fighting words??!!

I actually really do like Sorcerer and Brazil, but I'm 100% satisfied with the current releases of them.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Jaymole

That would have been much, much better. I personally would love to see A View from the Bridge which, as far as I know, has never been released on any video format.

That's one of the very few Lumet films I've not seen, but reading about it, it sounds fantastic! Looks like some Italian company probably has it. Maybe something Radiance could go after?

[darrellmaclaine]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

You challenging me bro with fighting words??!!

I actually really do like Sorcerer and Brazil, but I'm 100% satisfied with the current releases of them.

Agree that the previous Brazil release is faultless, but the new restoration/grade/sound mix on Sorcerer (assuming the Criterion master is the one the UK already have) is transformative and immersive.

(I think we are both on the same page about upgrades and 4K, but if you're a fan of Sorcerer, you have to see the revised version. We're not talking George Lucasing or anything, it's just better and sells the atmosphere so vividly.)

[BamaDullard]

In the latest episode of his “Ask Eddie” web series, Eddie Muller confirmed Criterion is working on a 4K release of The Big Heat. He said they contacted him to do an audio commentary, but he declined.

[DimitriL]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

You challenging me bro with fighting words??!!

I actually really do like Sorcerer and Brazil, but I'm 100% satisfied with the current releases of them.

That’s fine, but I mean, almost half the titles this month were literally new to HD. And it’s not fair to say, “but I didn’t mean THOSE!”

Also, I am NOT 100 percent satisfied with Sorcerer’s more than decade-old release. Don’t my preferences have any weight?

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by darrellmaclaine

Agree that the previous Brazil release is faultless, but the new restoration/grade/sound mix on Sorcerer (assuming the Criterion master is the one the UK already have) is transformative and immersive.

(I think we are both on the same page about upgrades and 4K, but if you're a fan of Sorcerer, you have to see the revised version. We're not talking George Lucasing or anything, it's just better and sells the atmosphere so vividly.)

Hmm. My first time viewing the film was with the current BD and I really enjoyed it. It had a pretty vivid yet gritty look. I think almost anything can always look better, but when I find a release I'm satisfied with I just stick with that otherwise risk spending way too much money. There are some releases where I think the PQ is just "ok" that I will upgrade as well.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by DimitriL

That’s fine, but I mean, almost half the titles this month were literally new to HD. And it’s not fair to say, “but I didn’t mean THOSE!”

Also, I am NOT 100 percent satisfied with Sorcerer’s more than decade-old release. Don’t my preferences have any weight?

Shouldn't be almost HALF, but almost ALL. 4 upgrades in 1 month is nuts!!! NUTS!!

Also the Sorcerer previous HD scan was already the chef's kiss for me.

I wasn't going to rant this month, but the bait is too strong!

Yeah, I took the bait...

[DimitriL]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Shouldn't be almost HALF, but almost ALL. 4 upgrades in 1 month is nuts!!! NUTS!!

Also the Sorcerer previous HD scan was already the chef's kiss for me.

I wasn't going to rant this month, but the bait is too strong!

Yeah, I took the bait...

Hey ma! I put out the bait and I caught one!

(Also, the original Brazil transfer is like, what, 20 years old now? Like, 2005? If any big film is due, it's THAT one. At some point, there's "I'm satisfied because I want to save money and that's worth more to me" and there's Tarantino going, "You know, I prefer the way my VHS looks...")

[Colonel Blimp]

Well, I still have the 3-disk DVD set of Brazil and I think it's got all the same features, etc. so I'm good on that score.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by DimitriL

Hey ma! I put out the bait and I caught one!

(Also, the original Brazil transfer is like, what, 20 years old now? Like, 2005? If any big film is due, it's THAT one. At some point, there's "I'm satisfied because I want to save money and that's worth more to me" and there's Tarantino going, "You know, I prefer the way my VHS looks...")

Personally think the Brazil Blu-ray is a thing of beauty. 20 year old master or 1000, if it's look amazing, it looks amazing. There are plenty of crummy 20 year old masters, and Brazil isn't one of them. I knew it was coming, but really wish it was in a month with 6 new to HD upgrades, and not 3.

I'm thinking of adding a signature to my profile that simply says "I hate Criterion."

[jrsl76]

I just realized that I have $50 worth of codes from Criterion. I last ordered from them last February so I have 1x $20 and 3x $10. I also should hit my $50 coupon this sale.

I’ve got 12 items planned between my regular purchases and the coupons.

[DukeTogo84]

Also, as much as Criterion is bugging me right now, there is something that is bugging me a whole lot more! Post in spoilers as it's not movie related.

[Show spoiler]Watching the video of someone dragging away a baby wombat from its mother as the mother panics in the background got me all riled up this morning.

I really hate this person right now.

[DimitriL]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Personally think the Brazil Blu-ray is a thing of beauty. 20 year old master or 1000, if it's look amazing, it looks amazing. There are plenty of crummy 20 year old masters, and Brazil isn't one of them. I knew it was coming, but really wish it was in a month with 6 new to HD upgrades, and not 3.

I'm thinking of adding a signature to my profile that simply says "I hate Criterion."

Well, maybe just, "I want Criterion to go bankrupt because I want them to only put out titles that appeal to 300 people instead of 25000."

Also, it looks...fine. It doesn't look great on my 65 inch TV. It looks old. Heck, even my wife, who is like the opposite of a pixel-peeper and is just fine with her handful of her own legacy DVDs, could tell the last time I put it on. All this is subbjective, of course.

[Jobla]

Nothing for me this month, sadly.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by DimitriL

Well, maybe just, "I want Criterion to go bankrupt because I want them to only put out titles that appeal to 300 people instead of 25000."

Also, it looks...fine. It doesn't look great on my 65 inch TV. It looks old. Heck, even my wife, who is like the opposite of a pixel-peeper and is just fine with her handful of her own legacy DVDs, could tell the last time I put it on. All this is subbjective, of course.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but sometimes I'm not sure how subjective it is with these discs.

I've mentioned it in the past, but I'm not completely against Criterion filing for bankruptcy or something of that nature. They have a stockpile of films that other labels could pick and give a nice home to.

The big mainstream films will still get their releases and the smaller films will have a chance to live a better life elsewhere. Yeah, not trying to spark outrage, but sometimes it just feels better for Criterion to just vanish into the air.

Don't get me wrong, I DON'T want that to happen, they release a good product, but I just wish they had a better method of getting more films out.

[SleazyForWeasley]

I might pick up Brazil 4K. It's one I've owned on LD, and DVD, but skipped the Blu. Definitely in for Sorcerer. Disappointed they aren't releasing any films to coincide with pride month. There are so many good queer titles not out on BD or UHD. I always think they should throw us one bone each June but haven't in at least 2 years now.

[noirjunkie]

I'll be curious to see what Sorcerer looks like. Not long ago, I attended a repertory showing that screened an archival print, and it looked much warmer than what ended up on the WB blu-ray.

[kingdoxie]

Originally Posted by mifunefan

midnight (1939) blu-ray

https://www.criterion.com/films/28989-midnight

[Show spoiler]

I've been watching The Greatest Films of 1939 and was having trouble sourcing this one, so this is great news.