The Criterion Collection

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by fdm

I like Ran a lot. But I've only seen the dvd (and the film when it first came out). I thought the dvd was just a fair to middling transfer, thinking how much better it could look on a blu-ray done right (not saying I remember precisely what the film looked like back when it came out though).

Seems to be the general mindset is that the blu-ray sorta kinda looks like the 35mm prints that are circulating these days, with some dnr/ee added to the mix, so barring a complete restoration, that's about the best it's going to look for quite some time (unless they decide to do a non-dnr/ee-ed version which I wouldn't bet on ever happening). And also the blu-ray looks better than the dvd, but by how much, I couldn't say at this point, and opinions seem to vary somewhat.

So, Criterion for the supplements and an okay dvd transfer (nothing to write home about); the blu-ray to get at least a bit better of a picture, unsure what supplements it offers.

I thought Criterion were supposed to give movies very good transfers they couldn't have gotten otherwise.

[nametag]

Originally Posted by BasicGreatGuy

By the way, I was just on the B&N site. If you click on the "Red Shoes" DVD listing, you can then click on the other formats (Blu-ray) selections.

http://video.barnesandnoble.com/DVD/...5059312/?pwb=2

So, for those who haven't ordered yet, it looks like you can still get it from B&N.

Thanks, just bought. Even with importing it to the UK it's still cheaper than anywhere else.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

Beta,
Just wanted to let you know that I didn't come across any blu-ray copies of "The Red Shoes" today, so hopefully someone else will step up and help you. If not, ban them from the forum.

CC

Someone found a work-around to order it online (go to the DVD of it, then select "other Formats" and the Blu-ray is available to order)

Originally Posted by painted_klown

Well, I watched Salo/120 days of sodom, today. Wow!!!

P.S. Silly question here. Is the title of this film pronounced SAL-OH or SAY-LOW?

to say the least

The commonly accepted pronunciation is "Ole-Ass" as it's quite backwards........

[Show spoiler] I've always pronounced it Sah-Low, (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈsɑlo])

[JediFonger]

i have both (&used to have the HD DVD a long time ago). i've also seen this theatrically a while ago in June. the PQ is pretty bad even in the cinema, so let's get that out of the way. the source is poo poo, nothing we can do about it. having said that, this is (likely) the best the PQ will look for the foreseeable future.

the SC BD has framing issues towards the end of the movie, black bars show up and you can see where the print ends. Criterion DVD does NOT have this issue. SC BD (despite a bit more resolution) feels more like a hack job, you might as well grab the DVD.

in terms of subtitle quality, the theatrical cut i saw had the best subs.... but that translation was never included in either the DVD or the BD. i think the Criterion is better of the two SC BD just has all types of crap that doesn't make sense.

so all in all due to framing issues on SC BD, poor subtitles, i'd vote for the Criterion DVD hands down!

Originally Posted by BasicGreatGuy

"Ran" Criterion DVD or StudioCanal Blu-ray?

[Beta Man]

I agonized over the decision to buy the Blu-ray for a long time, having read the reviews etc.... and finally picked it up via the trading forum here..... I have watched the film twice since picking it up here...... Once was the BD I got, the other was my Criterion DVD version..... I'll probably NEVER watch the current SC BD version of Ran again....... It's not terrible.... but I much prefer my DVD copy of it..... it looks a LOT more natural.

[JediFonger]

the SC copy i have is the imported UK version that is all cardboard/paper, not the case edition. and for some strange reason it smells like piss, there's a nice little booklet that came w/it. aaanyways...

just got Black Narcissus. is it me or is the artwork bleed a lot larger than the plastic case itself? no matter how i fidget with it... the artwork is larger than the plastic that covers it... so should i chop that extra edge off?

there's only 2 titles i don't have from the B&N sale: 8½ and Lola Montes. after that it'll complete what i gots =D

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by BasicGreatGuy

"Ran" Criterion DVD or StudioCanal Blu-ray?

I thought the Bluray of course looked much better then the DVD. Although had criterion released it on Bluray it probably would have looked even better. That being said I liked the StudioCanal release very much.

The edge enhancement it barely noticable and the added grain adds a lot IMO. You can go over to DVDbeaver.com for a in depth comparision. There's are a few people that said the colors are closer to how it looked theatrically, but not perfect.

[JediFonger]

it isn't edge enhancement. it's in the film source, i bet it's probably even in the raw film stock that AK shot. most likely unchangeable... unless a lot of $ was poured into the restoration.

[capnnarcolepsy]

It's been the worst time ever to have had bank issues left and right, but I was finally able to put in an order. Here's my rundown, hidden away as to avoid "list persecution"

[Show spoiler] DVD:Oshima's Outlaw Sixties
Three Films By Hiroshi Teshigahara
Empire of Passion
Dazed and Confused
Brazil (3-Disc)
Man Bites Dog

Blu: Stagecoach
Walkabout
Bigger Than Life

Hoping to make one more go-round before its all over. It's funny that the entire time leading up to the sale I was planning to just finish out the remaining Blu's, but there are just so many good DVD's, I couldn't pass them up. I definitely have to get "Berlin Alexanderplatz" again. I think someone else mentioned this happening to them, but I ordered it a few months back from someone on Amazon and received a (quite impressive) Asian bootleg. The box was near perfect, save for it having a generic "7 Disc DVD Set" logo where the spine number should have been.

[PowellPressburger]

Well here is my list which is mainly DVDs that I bought. I of coourse spent a lot more than I meant to.

[Show spoiler]a' Nous la Liberte
Au Hasard Balthazar
Ballad of a Soldier
Black Narcissus (BD)
Brief Encounter
la Commare Secca
Complete Monteray Pop Festival (BD)
Firemans Ball, The
Fists In the Pocket
Floers of St. Thomas, The
Fugitive Kind, The
Golden Age of Television, The
Hands Over the City
Hiroshima Mon Amour
Human Condition, The
I Fidanzati
I Vitelloni
Il Generale Della Rovere
Il Posto
Jigoku
Loves of a Blonde
Maitresse
Million, Le
Mona Lisa (for the commentary track)
Night Train to Munich
Patriotism
Pepe Le Moko
Pigs, Pimps & Prostitutes
Pygmalion
Red Shoes (BD)
Salvatore Giuliano
Seduced and Abandoned
Shop on Main Street, The
Spartacus (because the UNIVERSAL BD release is trash)
Taking of Power By Louis XIV, The
Time Bandits (For the commentary track etc)
Under The Roofs of Paris

eclipse releases

Larisa Shepitko
Rossellini's History Films - Renaissance and Enlightenment
Nikkatsu Noir
Goerge Bernard Shaw on Film

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Well here is my list which is mainly DVDs that I bought. I of coourse spent a lot more than I meant to.

That makes me feel better. I thought I bought too much.

[KubrickFan]

Originally Posted by neo78956

The Benjamin Button release was a bit confusing for people. Last time I spoke with Criterion on the phone, I mentioned it and asked out of curiosity how the film ended up in the CC so fast. Their response was that it was a joint thing with Paramount. Basically, Paramount split the cost of the DVD and BD with Criterion so that Paramount would handle initial distribution and marketing, while Criterion would do all the transfer and supplemental work in exchange for rights to the film itself, simply because the people in charge loved it and felt it would be a significant addition to the collection.

In other words, it was a win-win for everyone. Paramount gets to sell the deluxe DVD and BD and make more money off of it initially while saving the money for the transfer, while Criterion gets to make a bunch of money on a popular film while also adding a film they like to the collection.

Actually, according to David Prior (who was the DVD/Blu-ray producer) all the work on it was already finished when Criterion became involved. It's a Criterion title in name only, nothing else.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by Banned User

That makes me feel better. I thought I bought too much.

the very first sale they had for the 50% off... I spent over 1,300.00 and I had 25% off coupons and I used a coupon for every single dvd i bought on top of my member discount. I had friends shop with me in about 7-8 area stores. It was crazy

[neo78956]

Debating on what to get for my final purchases for the B&N sale. Should I get Red Desert or The Red Shoes on BD? Or Kobayshi's "The Human Condition" on DVD?

P.S. CG, I have a tip from one Batman geek to another. Go check out the new DCAU movie "Batman: Under the Red Hood". I wasn't expecting much, but I LOVED it. It's a little jarring at first not to have Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill's voices, but it was a fantastic DCAU movie, and the best one since "Batman: Mask of the Phantasm" IMO.

[neo78956]

Originally Posted by KubrickFan

Actually, according to David Prior (who was the DVD/Blu-ray producer) all the work on it was already finished when Criterion became involved. It's a Criterion title in name only, nothing else.

I thought Criterion handled the transfer and supplements? If it's a Criterion title in name only, why did they even bother in the first place?

[Jimbo976]

Originally Posted by neo78956

I thought Criterion handled the transfer and supplements? If it's a Criterion title in name only, why did they even bother in the first place?

Maybe brand recognition to enhance sales of their other titles? There had to be a few people they checked out other Criterion releases after buying this title.

[Higgs1]

speaking of Benjamin Button, does anyone have the custom cover that will fit in the clear criterion cases? I found the link many many pages back but its been taken down :-/

if anyone can please help me out and pm me or post it here I'd be very happy!

also how are you guys ordering these opposed to other blu rays? Do you mix them in by title or have your own "criterion" section? I really haven't decided if I'll mix them with my 300 other discs or keep em seperate

[oyboe]

I'm supposed to be done buying blu rays during this sale, but I find The Leopard very intriguing. The review on this site makes it sound amazing. Anyone here have any opinion? Is it slow moving?

[whbinder]

Originally Posted by Exist2Inspire

The only reason I ask is because I was looking at the B&N website and they ship with UPS, and I would prefer NOT to get metaphorically raped by their crazy handling/brokerage fees

Uggh. It's worse than that. I ordered from B&N on the 21st. They used DHL to ship to the post office so the post office can deliver it to me. That would be fine if my post office had received it yet. DHL doesn't know where my package is, but Barnes and Noble won't ship a new one.

[Sukuri]

Originally Posted by Higgs1

also how are you guys ordering these opposed to other blu rays? Do you mix them in by title or have your own "criterion" section? I really haven't decided if I'll mix them with my 300 other discs or keep em seperate

I have my Criterion like I have my scotch/whiskey;

Group together on the top shelf.