The Criterion Collection

[retablo]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Right---and if it didn't have a Criterion logo on it, there's no way it would sell for that much or be this sought-after.

Or the Twilight Time label.

But in all fairness, the CC transfer and extras best the StudioCanal version, so that's also why. It's an iconic, classic film.

[Scottie]

While the Indomnia Releasing release of "Holy Motors" is superb, I would have preferred if The Criterion Collection had released this film instead. I'm sure we would have gotten a minor improvement in quality, a nice essay, and some extras that would do this film the justice it deserves. It's easily one of my favorite films of 2012.

I finally got around to watching my copy (despite opening it prior to its release date) and I'm really glad that I did. It's definitely a film that you have to be in the mood for because it's very hard hitting and complex at times. I enjoyed the film as much as I did (despite not understanding it very well) because it was exactly that - it has a lot of room for interpretation and it touches on a lot of concepts that we have seen in previous releases via Criterion.

Whether it's making connections or "masking" oneself for various situations in life, the film tackles all of it and presents it neatly during the long and arduous journey that Monsieur Oscar undertakes throughout one particular day.

I highly recommend you guys check it out. I'm sure if you guys enjoy many of the Criterion films, you will enjoy this one without a doubt!

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Right---and if it didn't have a Criterion logo on it, there's no way it would sell for that much or be this sought-after.

I've been thinking about this sort of thing for the past day or so, as I've watched the rush for Melville movies that were announced as out of print.

I'm torn between two schools of thought....

• I've been collecting movies for decades now through VHS, DVD, and, finally, Blu-ray. As such, this is not my first rodeo when it comes to watching movie availability, and experience tells me that the good movies will always resurface eventually to be available for anyone who wants them. I've seen "limited edition" movies go out of print, only to resurface under another license a few years later, so I cannot help wondering if an amazing restoration of The Third Man might not show up again years down the line with a little patience.

However...

• I am also aware that physical media is on its way out, and that the increasing popularity of streaming movies might throw a new monkey wrench into the equation. This makes me wonder if the movies currently on Blu-ray are seeing their last hurrah in a physical format. Will certain Twilight Time movies, for example, ever come back in a physical format? I want to think that they will, but I cannot predict what will happen after a while when streaming movies are available for all. In a sense, Blu-ray collectors are already holding out against a tide.

One reason why I rushed out to upgrade my essential favorites to Blu-ray after buying my first Blu-ray player was because I was aware that Blu-rays go out of print rather quickly. I made a list of the movies of which I am the fondest, and prioritized buying them in this format.

[KRW1]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

If yours comes in the digipak, then there will probably be some plastic cases left on Criterion for a short while at least. Don't hold me to that, though.

I think the digipacks have gone, they were replaced about the same time as Chunking Express came out, I think. It's a shame for me as I'd been meaning to try to get hold of a Marienbad digipack but I imagine it'll be next to impossible now.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I've been thinking about this sort of thing for the past day or so, as I've watched the rush for Melville movies that were announced as out of print.

I'm torn between two schools of thought....

• I've been collecting movies for decades now through VHS, DVD, and, finally, Blu-ray. As such, this is not my first rodeo when it comes to watching movie availability, and experience tells me that the good movies will always resurface eventually to be available for anyone who wants them. I've seen "limited edition" movies go out of print, only to resurface under another license a few years later, so I cannot help wondering if an amazing restoration of The Third Man might not show up again years down the line with a little patience.

However...

• I am also aware that physical media is on its way out, and that the increasing popularity of streaming movies might throw a new monkey wrench into the equation. This makes me wonder if the movies currently on Blu-ray are seeing their last hurrah in a physical format. Will certain Twilight Time movies, for example, ever come back in a physical format? I want to think that they will, but I cannot predict what will happen after a while when streaming movies are available for all. In a sense, Blu-ray collectors are already holding out against a tide.

One reason why I rushed out to upgrade my essential favorites to Blu-ray after buying my first Blu-ray player was because I was aware that Blu-rays go out of print rather quickly. I made a list of the movies of which I am the fondest, and prioritized buying them in this format.

I personally can't wait for digital downloads. The best thing that ever happened to me (I say facetiously, but still) was importing all my 1000+ CDs into lossless audio... now instead of 2 huge bookshelves of discs, I have 1 little hard drive (and 2 backups just in case). I would love to get all the wall space back from my 1000+ blus and my 1000 DVDs.

[Hawkguy]

I notice that ebay has pretty much cleared out of nearly all the newly OOP titles....wasn't expecting it to this extent.

[metaridley]

I personally don't think digital downloads or streaming are anywhere close to touching Blu-ray's many qualities at the moment (the physical media format is here to stay for quite awhile methinks) and as someone who likes having a physical copy of his movies/TV shows/albums, I'm in no rush for it to be overtaken.

Then again, I don't own thousands of DVDs/Blu-rays/CDs, which I'm also happy about.

[Zen_Amako]

I picked up Last Year at Marienbad (digipak version) at my B&N today with the 15% off coupon. I actually owned it before, but it was one of the movies I sold after I lost my job. While it isn't one of my favorites, I can see myself wanting to revisit it in the future. I'd rather add it back to my collection before the prices get stupid.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

• I am also aware that physical media is on its way out, and that the increasing popularity of streaming movies might throw a new monkey wrench into the equation. This makes me wonder if the movies currently on Blu-ray are seeing their last hurrah in a physical format. Will certain Twilight Time movies, for example, ever come back in a physical format? I want to think that they will, but I cannot predict what will happen after a while when streaming movies are available for all. In a sense, Blu-ray collectors are already holding out against a tide.

I am unsure where this "awareness" is coming from, Owl, but someone has seriously misinformed you. Physical media is most definitely NOT on its way out. On the contrary, not only are sales numbers (meaning total business revenue for physical media) very healthy, but there is actually pretty serious movement with formats that supposedly died long time ago (vinyl).

Physical media isn't going anywhere. In fact, I would go on record here and state that it won't go anywhere in my lifetime.

Pro-B

[joie]

Originally Posted by retablo

If they own the rights, which they still do, then the issue is either 1) timeliness or 2) having a proper master. Why did they release The Magician and Summer With Monika & Sumer Interlude before re-issuing better, more classic Bergman films? It just happens.

If DVD sales are chugging along, why release a Blu-ray? My sense is that the DVD-to-Blu-ray upgrade market isn't as good a cash cow for them as something new may be. Selling off their DVD stock before doing an upgrade, which may entail a new DVD pressing, could be a consideration, too.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by joie

If DVD sales are chugging along, why release a Blu-ray? My sense is that the DVD-to-Blu-ray upgrade market isn't as good a cash cow for them as something new may be. Selling off their DVD stock before doing an upgrade, which may entail a new DVD pressing, could be a consideration, too.

That's assuming that DVD sales ARE chugging along... and that everyone bought the DVD version that's already out, which might not be the case. I know many people who didn't buy many DVDs who now buy blu-rays, and they are waiting for upgrades to purchase any titles that aren't (or haven't gone) going OOP.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

..just because it's in the Criterion Collection.

If it wasn't, most people would settle for the alternate release.

I settled for the StudioCanal release.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I settled for the StudioCanal release.

I'm going to as well---haven't yet, but there's no way I'm going to go Criterion for that one when there's that solution available.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

I am unsure where this "awareness" is coming from, Owl, but someone has seriously misinformed you. Physical media is most definitely NOT on its way out. On the contrary, not only are sales numbers (meaning total business revenue for physical media) very healthy, but there is actually pretty serious movement with formats that supposedly died long time ago (vinyl).

Physical media isn't going anywhere. In fact, I would go on record here and state that it won't go anywhere in my lifetime.

Pro-B

Thanks for the response, and it's encouraging to read.

It's just my general impression that media has been shifting to digital formats, mostly because the businesses that sell movies and music in the physical medium are slowly disappearing in my area, and most people whom I know in the real world do not pay for physical media anymore.

I'm a "Hope for the best, but plan for the worst." type, though, so I try my best to have good existing versions of favorite movies in the physical medium just in case they go away.

In that sense, I hope that you're right, but I'm glad that I already own my Melville films just in case.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

I'm going to as well---haven't yet, but there's no way I'm going to go Criterion for that one when there's that solution available.

I love the film, but at most I'll be revisiting it only one or two times a year. It'll take quite a few viewings to justify $200.

[joie]

Originally Posted by retablo

That's assuming that DVD sales ARE chugging along... and that everyone bought the DVD version that's already out, which might not be the case. I know many people who didn't buy many DVDs who now buy blu-rays, and they are waiting for upgrades to purchase any titles that aren't (or haven't gone) going OOP.

Yeah, I didn't buy any DVDs until after I started buying Blu-rays, so am one of the people interested in the upgrades. I would think that if they were having trouble selling DVDs, they would price them differently.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

It's a very intense film, it's my favourite out of the 4 BDs going out of print actually.

Same here. I can certainly appreciate the other two Melvilles (haven't seen Marienbad yet) but I got a lot more out of Leon Morin.

Originally Posted by retablo

Or the Twilight Time label.

But in all fairness, the CC transfer and extras best the StudioCanal version, so that's also why. It's an iconic, classic film.

You think? I mean, I'm sure TT has completists too but do you think their secondary market prices would be anywhere near what they are now if there were other editions of Fright Night or Christine available?

Then again, who knows. I can't even begin to understand some of the steelbook chatter sometimes.

[KRW1]

The Third Man is bound to come back one day. It was only out for a short time, they'll be keen to realease it again as soon as they can. It'll require nerves of steel for anyone who bought one to profit. I still fondly remember selling my Salo DVD for about $200 about 3 months before the re-release.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by octagon

You think? I mean, I'm sure TT has completists too but do you think their secondary market prices would be anywhere near what they are now if there were other editions of Fright Night or Christine available?

Then again, who knows. I can't even begin to understand some of the steelbook chatter sometimes.

I was just commenting to the one guy who said only CC movies fetch high prices when they go OOP. TT's have sold for as much or more as well.

[A Sith Lord?]

Physical media for movies will vanish when harddrives are big enough to store thousands of movies at hhighest quality.

CDs died because 700mb were a needle in a haystack with modern sized harddrives.

I can store all of my favorite songs + songs i seldom listen to on a small micro sd card.

I can't store all of my favorite movies in highest available quality yet on an affordable harddrive.