The Criterion Collection

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

Does anybody else feel that Criterion seriously skimps on the special features for some of their blu-rays? For example, Yi Yi looks to have a rather pathetic selection. Days of Heaven really dissapointed me as well. Shock Corridor had a great doc but nothing else really. There are more that I can't think of at the moment. Also, EVERY Criterion should have a commentary track. There are many that don't, and I think it is ridiculous.

Compare the special features on Modern Times and The Thin Red Line with that of Revanche, Shock Corridor, or Days of Heaven, for example. Huge difference, but still the same price. Yes, the film is the most important part, but with the Criterion prices, you'd expect them to all maintain a certain level of value. Anybody else feel where I'm coming from?

Yeah, I definitely agree with this, particularly the commentary part.
It shouldn't be too hard to find an academic or critic willing to do a commentary if the creative people behind the film aren't available or willing.
Otherwise, it's fair to expect a different price point to those films that do come with a host of extras.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

Yeah, I definitely agree with this, particularly the commentary part.
It shouldn't be too hard to find an academic or critic willing to do a commentary if the creative people behind the film aren't available or willing.
Otherwise, it's fair to expect a different price point to those films that do come with a host of extras.

Careful, there's two ways they could take that

[rkish]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

Does anybody else feel that Criterion seriously skimps on the special features for some of their blu-rays? For example, Yi Yi looks to have a rather pathetic selection. Days of Heaven really dissapointed me as well. Shock Corridor had a great doc but nothing else really. There are more that I can't think of at the moment. Also, EVERY Criterion should have a commentary track. There are many that don't, and I think it is ridiculous.

Compare the special features on Modern Times and The Thin Red Line with that of Revanche, Shock Corridor, or Days of Heaven, for example. Huge difference, but still the same price. Yes, the film is the most important part, but with the Criterion prices, you'd expect them to all maintain a certain level of value. Anybody else feel where I'm coming from?

I agree with you to a certain degree on some titles. I'm willing to let some of the doc features go, if there is a good commentary. Yi Yi has a GREAT commentary with Edward Yang and my FAVORITE scholar of Asian films, Tony Rayns. For that reason alone, I'm buying Chungking Express this weekend, because of a similar Tony Rayns commentary.

BTW...for those that want a partial mini B & N sale...if you're a member, there is a 25% coup that is good through Sunday, 4/17. That and the 10% members discount makes it a $27.00 purchase. At least it beats most Amazon preorders and Chungking Express is currently $35.99 on Amazon.

[rkish]

HEY...GET YOUR COFFEE AND GET READY FOR OUR MONTHLY CRITERION COLLECTION THREAD POSTING MARATHON!

Happy Posting!

[ShellOilJunior]

My primary concern is the film's transfer. The extras are gravy.

[ccfixx]

DVDBeaver on "Blow-Out".

[ShellOilJunior]

Criterion's Twitter is going nuts. The page fails to load and switches between two URL's: twitter.com/criterion and twitter.com/#!/criterion

[charnier]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

My primary concern is the film's transfer. The extras are gravy.

Gravy's always a good thing, particularly if the meat is not first class

[BAMJoe]

Did the criterion store stop selling blank cases?

[rezpekt]

Originally Posted by BAMJoe

Did the criterion store stop selling blank cases?

No.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by rezpekt

No.

Unless you know something else, they aren't on their site right now... only the replacement covers with cover inserts. None of the blank cases are there.

CC

[rezpekt]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

Unless you know something else, they aren't on their site right now... only the replacement covers with cover inserts. None of the blank cases are there.

CC

Well, I thought that's what BAMJoe meant.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by rezpekt

Well, I thought that's what BAMJoe meant.

I did, too, until I quickly glanced over there to realize that the option to buy the empty blu-ray cases was gone.

[BAMJoe]

Interesting, I hope they aren't gone for good. I was going to order the 9 digipak replacement cases and then add on a couple of blanks to get the order to $50 to receive free shipping.

[BAMJoe]

Another question, isn't there a site that usually tells the new releases coming out a day or two early?

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

DVDBeaver on "Blow-Out".

I was shut down by posting that link last nite. They don't want us posting review links any longer. We have officially become oppressed.

[scottpcusa]

I have the BD of "The Double Life of Veronique" showing up in the mail today from Netflix and am looking forward to finally seeing it. If I like it as much as I imagine I will from reading the review, I will be ordering it from Amazon!

(Confession - I'm in the infancy of my obsession with Criterion releases!)

[Mr. Al]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

DVDBeaver on "Blow-Out".

I have this on dvd. Great movie!!

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

I was shut down by posting that link last nite. They don't want us posting review links any longer. We have officially become oppressed.

Ah, I see. I was read the "riot act" one time before, as well, which is why I stopped posting links. Then again, everyone else seems to post links all the time, so I thought "what the heck!".

High-Def Digest started cracking down on this a couple of years ago, as well, when I used to post the reviews from this site and other sites. So, I stopped hanging out over there because they were making such a big stink about it. It just seems silly to me. It's like school kids being stingy with their toys. If the sites had confidence in their own content and reviews, then I don't see the problem in trying to direct people to differing opinions that are out there on the internet.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by BAMJoe

Another question, isn't there a site that usually tells the new releases coming out a day or two early?

CriterionCast has been known to post trailers on YouTube for films that they think will be announced, but the guy that usually does the posting is busy with his wife about to have a baby so he's taking a much needed relaxation right now.

There are already two titles that are known to be getting blu-ray upgrades in July. That information can already be seen in the description for the titles on Criterion's site... the key is finding the DVD-only titles that now say "uncompressed audio" or something to that effect.