The Criterion Collection

[Member-222782]

Watched an unboxing video of the Essential Fellini set and all I could think of was, Wow, Criterion really wants to win the Most Awkward Packaging award year after year. How are people supposed to display that thing? It's a gorgeous-looking set, no doubt, but very awkward. The top prize for awkwardness, of course, goes to the Showa Era Godzilla collection. I couldn't find a single easel good enough to prop that thing up so it's leaning up against the back wall of my shelf. I hate it that way but it's the only way.

[fred25_Ca]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

Watched an unboxing video of the Essential Fellini set and all I could think of was, Wow, Criterion really wants to win the Most Awkward Packaging award year after year. How are people supposed to display that thing? It's a gorgeous-looking set, no doubt, but very awkward. The top prize for awkwardness, of course, goes to the Showa Era Godzilla collection. I couldn't find a single easel good enough to prop that thing up so it's leaning up against the back wall of my shelf. I hate it that way but it's the only way.

You're not the only one. I did custom covers for these, I couldn't not have all the Showa movies with the rest of my Godzilla and Kaiju movies. I put the big box in another room with my comics, the only place it fits. I have no idea why Criterion are so keen on making these big sets nowadays.

[regeyer]

I'm not a fan of the big boxed sets either. It makes it very difficult to store things. Yes, they look cool. But when it comes to storing things they are terrible. I basically take the large sets and use them to decorate the man cave. But they can't be stored in my main movie closet or the other storage cabinets. This goes not only for Criterion releases, but for many others as well.

[Azores26]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

There are only a few Kurosawa's that I would say I really want on Blu-ray. The main ones I want are DRUNKEN ANGEL, THE BAD SLEEP WELL, DERSU UZALA, and a RAN release that's better than the Lionsgate one and doesn't have the horrible color timing of the Studio Canal release.

I'd buy all the others, but those are my most wants.

I've recently watched the 2016 SC "Ran" blu-ray, and frankly I thought it looked gorgeous. I do agree that it would look even better if the colors were less "teal-ish", but I remember someone in the 2016 SC release thread saying they had watched an original film print from 1985 and it actually looked quite similar to the 2016 blu-ray.

That seems to indicate that the color timing on the 2016 SC release is more accurate to Kurosawa's intentions than the previous release. But I've never watched an original film print myself, so I really have no idea how it's supposed to look.

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

Red Beard.

It's my personal favourite. And I want with bated breath for it every announcement but it never comes.

Don't forget "Stray Dog"! It's probably my favorite Kurosawa not yet on blu-ray.

[fred25_Ca]

Originally Posted by regeyer

I'm not a fan of the big boxed sets either. It makes it very difficult to store things. Yes, they look cool. But when it comes to storing things they are terrible. I basically take the large sets and use them to decorate the man cave. But they can't be stored in my main movie closet or the other storage cabinets. This goes not only for Criterion releases, but for many others as well.

Yeah, it's a new trend, suddenly all the smaller labels are jumping on it, I have no idea why. I'm sure we're not the only ones turned off by how big they are. If they made smaller sets (like arrow is now doing with the Gamera sets), they wouldn't loose any buyers. I know I passed on a few sets because of it (and will continue to) and the people who don't mind them would surely still have bought them if they had been smaller, I have no doubt. I can't see how making them so high and big helps them to sell better. Wouldn't it make more sense to make beautiful smaller sets that wouldn't disappoint this many people? I keep seeing comments from so many collectors who dislike them. Making them smaller seems like a win-win situation for me, i'm really puzzled by this new trend.

[fred25_Ca]

Originally Posted by Azores26

I've recently watched the 2016 SC "Ran" blu-ray, and frankly I thought it looked gorgeous. I do agree that it would look even better if the colors were less "teal-ish", but I remember someone in the 2016 SC release thread saying they had watched an original film print from 1985 and it actually looked quite similar to the 2016 blu-ray.

That seems to indicate that the color timing on the 2016 SC release is more accurate to Kurosawa's intentions than the previous release. But I've never watched an original film print myself, so I really have no idea how it's supposed to look.



Don't forget "Stray Dog"! It's probably my favorite Kurosawa not yet on blu-ray.

Yes, Stray Dog is my most wanted Kurosawa movie not released on blu ray yet. My 1999 dvd needs an upgrade badly. :P

[HipsterTrash]

Originally Posted by regeyer

I'm not a fan of the big boxed sets either. It makes it very difficult to store things. Yes, they look cool. But when it comes to storing things they are terrible. I basically take the large sets and use them to decorate the man cave. But they can't be stored in my main movie closet or the other storage cabinets. This goes not only for Criterion releases, but for many others as well.

I get it. For sure. They're something nice to consistency and having a clean look to the shelves.
But there's just something fantastic to these mega collections and having everything in one place. The fact that almost all of Varda and Bergman's work is house in these collections is terrific.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Azores26

I've recently watched the 2016 SC "Ran" blu-ray, and frankly I thought it looked gorgeous. I do agree that it would look even better if the colors were less "teal-ish", but I remember someone in the 2016 SC release thread saying they had watched an original film print from 1985 and it actually looked quite similar to the 2016 blu-ray.

That seems to indicate that the color timing on the 2016 SC release is more accurate to Kurosawa's intentions than the previous release. But I've never watched an original film print myself, so I really have no idea how it's supposed to look.

Ran was the first Japanese film I EVER saw so it holds a special place in my heart. My dad took me to a showing in 1992 when I was quite young and the visuals stood out to me as the film made a huge impression. It looked absolutely nothing like the Studio Canal release. Nothing. The colors were vibrant and it really felt like a true summer movie. Ran is a big deal to me which is why I personally truly dislike the Studio Canal release.

[koberulz]

30% off at Criterion until the 23rd, includes pre-orders.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

Red Beard.

It's my personal favourite. And I want with bated breath for it every announcement but it never comes.

Red Beard and Ikiru are two of the only films that make me reexamine my life every time I watch them.

...they make me want to be a better human being.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by ravenus

^Oh yeah, something like a blu-ray upgrade of their Rebel Samurai set. If they can add Samurai Assassin to that, I'd be overjoyed.

Yeah, I would love to see these upgraded, and surprised it hasn't happened yet. All of these looked rather good on DVD, so I would imagine the masters are in good shape.

My personal dream is for Criterion to release the two Hideo Gosha films they have the rights to on Blu-ray. (Bandits Vs Samurai Squadron, and the exceptional Hunter in the Dark) If they could somehow get the rights to Goyokin, then that would be truly epic.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Red Beard and Ikiru are two of the only films that make me reexamine my life every time I watch them.

...they make me want to be a better human being.

If a film makes you feel that way, then that's truly a powerful film. I just watched Arrow's release of Shohei Imamura's Black Rain and when it was over I really didn't know how to react. I just felt like I needed to be nicer to people, and that life truly is short and passes us by.

[spatafore]

Originally Posted by koberulz

30% off at Criterion until the 23rd, includes pre-orders.

pass, 50% or die.

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by spatafore

pass, 50% or die.

Hell yea, my man

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

I get it. For sure. They're something nice to consistency and having a clean look to the shelves.
But there's just something fantastic to these mega collections and having everything in one place. The fact that almost all of Varda and Bergman's work is house in these collections is terrific.

There is no doubt that the set can work well. Heck, I have a few different large sets and I've displayed them throughout the man cave. The problem is that I'm running out of space. Doing this once or twice is fine. But as the sets grow the ability to display them properly diminishes.

Not to mention, as I've indicated in other posts, the sets don't protect the discs as well. I'd rather have a case that protects the discs as much as possible than have a case that looks great, but makes it more difficult to protect the discs.

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Yeah, I would love to see these upgraded, and surprised it hasn't happened yet. All of these looked rather good on DVD, so I would imagine the masters are in good shape.

My personal dream is for Criterion to release the two Hideo Gosha films they have the rights to on Blu-ray. (Bandits Vs Samurai Squadron, and the exceptional Hunter in the Dark) If they could somehow get the rights to Goyokin, then that would be truly epic.

Actually, yeah, screw Kurosawa. Big box set of various non-Kurosawa samurai films. Yesssssss.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by koberulz

30% off at Criterion until the 23rd, includes pre-orders.

I might finally buy a t-shirt and coffee mug.

Anyone own a CC t-shirt?

...how’s the material/fit?

[MifuneFan]

Not sure if it's been mentioned but Criterion at some point released another of those Postcards books, this one including 2019 titles like the Godzilla Showa cover.



https://www.criterion.com/shop/produ...cards-volume-4

[HipsterTrash]

Originally Posted by regeyer

There is no doubt that the set can work well. Heck, I have a few different large sets and I've displayed them throughout the man cave. The problem is that I'm running out of space. Doing this once or twice is fine. But as the sets grow the ability to display them properly diminishes.

Not to mention, as I've indicated in other posts, the sets don't protect the discs as well. I'd rather have a case that protects the discs as much as possible than have a case that looks great, but makes it more difficult to protect the discs.

I can understand that for sure. The Bergman collection is huge and hefty. And the way the discs sit isn't ideal. But it works.
I doubt Criterion would go the way of Arrow. They released that huge cereal box of Herschell Gordon Lewis films. It's big.
But I went for the smaller new release. Sometimes I'm happy just getting the titles themselves as opposed to showing something off.

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

I can understand that for sure. The Bergman collection is huge and hefty. And the way the discs sit isn't ideal. But it works.
I doubt Criterion would go the way of Arrow. They released that huge cereal box of Herschell Gordon Lewis films. It's big.
But I went for the smaller new release. Sometimes I'm happy just getting the titles themselves as opposed to showing something off.

I've been the opposite. I've been getting into fancy box sets over the last couple years. Some sure are purdy.

I also end up putting them atop my shelves, so in a way they kinda save me space in the grand scheme.