The Criterion Collection

[Bn43]

Well, now I feel the Vintage World Cinema label had no excuse not to release their 4K scan of Nights of Cabiria in 4K HDR earlier this year.

If I could go back, I wouldn't have bought The Red Circle two months ago. At least it was entertaining, though.

[NeoNical]

Hopefully, Criterion will give Le Cercle Rouge justice. This has been my most anticipated release all year

[jedidarrick]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

You have no excuse to keep posting that Criterion has no excuse. You’re the millionth person to mention it. We get it. Do something proactive about it and message Criterion instead of spamming the boards.

Glad I’m not the only one annoyed by this. I compared the 4K Cult to the Snyder Cult, and I stand by that statement. Criterion has released a ton of great titles this year, but all these people do is whine about the lack of 4K despite the many reasons why Criterion hasn’t made the move (lack of support from licensors, small market size).

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by NeoNical

Hopefully, Criterion will give Le Cercle Rouge justice. This has been my most anticipated release all year

I've put off buying the current Blu-ray at its steep price because I'm hoping Criterion will reissue it with a new transfer. I'm guessing that this point it will probably happen in 2021.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by jedidarrick

Glad I’m not the only one annoyed by this. I compared the 4K Cult to the Snyder Cult, and I stand by that statement. Criterion has released a ton of great titles this year, but all these people do is whine about the lack of 4K despite the many reasons why Criterion hasn’t made the move (lack of support from licensors, small market size).

Yet most every other label their size doesn't have these issues, so it's a smokescreen. It's funny seeing people defend them at this point when so many other labels have no issue going 4K, as they should.

And there is no 4K "cult". The fact that you eye-rollingly refer to it as that says more about you than it does about people who would justifiably prefer 4K releaes.

This is just yet another title I have zero issues giving my money to the superior label who provides a superior product, and it's not the "cult" of Criterion.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Yet most every other label their size doesn't have these issues, so it's a smokescreen. It's funny seeing people defend them at this point when so many other labels have no issue going 4K, as they should.

I personally don't feel like I'm defending them. They SHOULD go 4K for some of their films. I'm just tired of seeing numerous posts daily saying that they should. Complaining here does absolutely nothing and instead of spamming this board as some sort of act of defiance, buyers either should not buy their product or send Criterion a list of complaints.

[Bn43]

If Criterion never decided to upgrade from DVD, tons of people (including some fans here) would have complained about all the movies held hostage on the inferior format. Cult my butt. It's a normal enthusiast reaction to a company refusing to adapt to a changing market, and it won't stop, so deal with it.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Bn43

It's a normal enthusiast reaction to a company refusing to adapt to a changing market, and it won't stop, so deal with it.

The market is changing, and the physical format is losing. If people don’t want to buy Blu-Ray it’s fine, but not supporting it will do more harm than good overall. Criterion doesn’t want to go 4K then thats their choice. People obsessing over it is simply making this forum a more toxic environment and people have the right to not want to hear the same BS over and over again. 4K might not even be around in a few years and we don’t need to see the complaints increase.

[dwk]

You do know that StudioCanal owns the worldwide rights to Le cercle rouge and thus can press one disc for multiple regions. An economic advantage over only releasing a title in one market.

And frankly, let's not pretend that a 50 year old, slow French film is going to move massive numbers in the US (if it would, Lionsgate would've held on to it.)

[yoloswegmaster420]

I see the members of the 4K cult are here, time to go back to bed

[Bn43]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

The market is changing, and the physical format is losing. If people don’t want to buy Blu-Ray it’s fine, but not supporting it will do more harm than good overall. Criterion doesn’t want to go 4K then thats their choice. People obsessing over it is simply making this forum a more toxic environment and people have the right to not want to hear the same BS over and over again. 4K might not even be around in a few years and we don’t need to see the complaints increase.

Physical and streaming can co-exist, which is why Criterion and Netflix are still doing both. It's more money. Not adapting on the physical side is bad, though. Again, I'm sure several of you would be complaining about a DVD-only Criterion, while the rest would complain about your "toxic BS cult obsession."

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by Bn43

Physical and streaming can co-exist, which is why Criterion and Netflix are still doing both. It's more money. Not adapting on the physical side is bad, though. Again, I'm sure several of you would be complaining about a DVD-only Criterion.

Whatever is going to happen is going to happen. Worrying about it will change nothing. Might Criterion fail? It's possible, but I think unlikely. Will other studios and even formats fail? Yup. It always happens. And new ones will replaces them. There are no guarantees.

[UnionJackMix]

The reason why I will always reject the fatalist claims "physical is dead" etc etc is because unless people speak out against this, it will happen.
Groups of fans have actually managed to get labels to alter track listings of music releases, so I am sure it's not "whatever is going to happen is going to happen".
Now more than ever the public has a power and a voice.
I will forever silence they naysayers because you never know where studios are gathering their information, feedback and stats.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Bn43

It's a normal enthusiast reaction to a company refusing to adapt to a changing market, and it won't stop, so deal with it.

The problem is that the "market" (for 4K players) has been in decline sales-wise year-on-year since 2017. And if I recall correctly, no major manufacturer slated a release of a new model for 2020.

If there is a committed group of "enthusiasts" buying 4K titles, but no expansion in the customer base, maybe Criterion doesn't see a compelling argument in embracing a format that is stagnant or declining in terms of adoption by consumers.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

The market is changing, and the physical format is losing. If people don’t want to buy Blu-Ray it’s fine, but not supporting it will do more harm than good overall. Criterion doesn’t want to go 4K then thats their choice. People obsessing over it is simply making this forum a more toxic environment and people have the right to not want to hear the same BS over and over again. 4K might not even be around in a few years and we don’t need to see the complaints increase.

Which is why people are raising the issue. They want to buy physical media and they want to buy it from Criterion but they make it difficult when they refuse to move with the times.

The other boutique labels that have transitioned to 4K are only doing it with select titles and most people are fine with that because they understand that it's not practical to do it with every release, which only makes it more glaring when Criterion aren't keeping up.

Raising the issue here is relevant because it's a critique related to the label, if people don't want to "hear the same BS over and over again" they can ignore that particular post just like I ignore the particular posts when people post their endless and irrelevant wishlists about what they plan to buy in the next B&N sale.

[Bn43]

Originally Posted by Reddington

The problem is that the "market" (for 4K players) has been in decline sales-wise year-on-year since 2017. And if I recall correctly, no major manufacturer slated a release of a new model for 2020.

If there is a committed group of "enthusiasts" buying 4K titles, but no expansion in the customer base, maybe Criterion doesn't see a compelling argument in embracing a format that is stagnant or declining in terms of adoption by consumers.

All disc players have been in decline...

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Bn43

All disc players have been in decline...

I don't doubt it. But surely that reinforces the point?

I have some 4K titles myself, and I'd be more than happy to see Criterion enter the game. But logically, one must assume that they've done the analysis, and at least so far it hasn't made commercial sense.

[Bn43]

Originally Posted by Reddington

I don't doubt it. But surely that reinforces the point?

I have some 4K titles myself, and I'd be more than happy to see Criterion enter the game. But logically, one must assume that they've done the analysis, and at least so far it hasn't made commercial sense.

Then why does it make commercial sense for the other boutique labels? Smaller labels than Criterion.

Another half a million 4K players were sold in 2019. There's a market Criterion would benefit from.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by Bn43

All disc players have been in decline...

True, but I imagine the chunk of the user base that has a 4K player is just a tiny fraction of the market of people who own a BluRay player. Many of us here are devoted movie fans who want the best technology but we also live in a small bubble of the overall market. Also, I imagine like when Criterion sold dual BluRay/DVD releases where a lot of people were angry they had to pay for a BluRay they didn't want, I could imagine many complaining if they were forced to buy a dual 4K/BluRay release. I have to say I couldn't care less whether they do or don't release 4K releases and for films such as Le Cercle Rouge if people want the 4K so bad they can always import the Studiocanal version as 4K is region free.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Bn43

Then why does it make commercial sense for the other boutique labels?

I can't answer that.

I can only go by what seems more reasonable: Criterion having done the analysis and it not being viable; or Criterion obstinately refusing to adopt the format and intentionally alienating potential customers (e.g., those who bought the SC 4K release of The Elephant Man, instead of the Criterion BD).