The Criterion Collection

[SmittysGelato]

Originally Posted by Xtempo

Finally finished A Canterbury Tale. I had to watch it in spurts nothing is wrong with it except I couldn't take it all in at once. The action was very limited and the glue man part was boring the ending was oddly the most compelling part of the movie when the 3 main characters go their own ways.

Are the other Archer Powell and Pressburger films better or more compelling that you want to watch in one sitting?

If you haven't seen The Red Shoes or Black Narcissus yet, those are the most compelling titles from them that I have seen.

[Xtempo]

Originally Posted by SmittysGelato

If you haven't seen The Red Shoes or Black Narcissus yet, those are the most compelling titles from them that I have seen.

I will look into those. A Canterbury Tale is the first one I saw of theirs. and I got because I thought would be interesting and it being Chaucer and all.

[SmittysGelato]

Originally Posted by Xtempo

I will look into those. A Canterbury Tale is the first one I saw of theirs. and I got because I thought would be interesting and it being Chaucer and all.

A Matter of Life and Death is great too. One of the best opening scenes to a movie ever.

[ScottDS]

Originally Posted by Xtempo

Finally finished A Canterbury Tale. I had to watch it in spurts nothing is wrong with it except I couldn't take it all in at once. The action was very limited and the glue man part was boring the ending was oddly the most compelling part of the movie when the 3 main characters go their own ways.

Are the other Archer Powell and Pressburger films better or more compelling that you want to watch in one sitting?

I watched all the P&P films I could get my hands on last year. A Matter of Life and Death (sadly not on the Channel at the moment) is a great start and I immediately fell in love with it. The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp is long but it might just be my favorite... some critics consider it the finest British film ever made. Black Narcissus is compelling. Oddly, I don't find myself revisiting The Red Shoes... it's technically brilliant and beautifully shot but it left me a bit cold. I Know Where I'm Going! is a fun meet cute with a good dose of magic realism.

A Canterbury Tale I must say is one of the weirdest movies I've ever seen. And I agree with you about the ending... you get the impression big things are happening even if you're not entirely sure what those things are.

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by johnpaul2

That's... not really how it works for Criterion. DVDs don't sell so well for them, but they're heavily dependent on institutions like literally no other US label (possibly any label actually).
It also doesn't cost "nothing" to produce a DVD : while the disc itself might be cheap to produce, you still have to use cases, produce the booklet, do the layouts for everything, handle the logistics of a separate reference, and probably insure all the related stock.

Libraries are these institutions. There are MANY libraries around the US, and I am sure many here can attest to it, that carry a lot of CC titles in DVD for rental. These cities/municipalities do not get these DVD's for 50% off like we do. They generally pay somewhere near full boat, as they have budgets and cost is only a number. Where I live, there are MANY libraries that have a bunch of CC releases to rent. And yes, it basically costs nothing to produce a DVD. The discs cost nothing and the booklet/cover layouts are already in the system, as they are the same as the blu-ray ones. Just resize, simple. If they get $20 for a DVD from an 'old school' buyer, which CC has MANY, or get purchases from libraries, as example, they are profiting significantly from the sale, as opposed to getting $20 for a blu from a CC or Barnes website sale. I would be willing to wager a lot that CC makes most of their money off DVD sales and not blus and I'm sure many will agree. There is a reason why they still sell them prominently on their website. Why increase your cost, with an uncertain return, when the process you already have in place works. Frankly, it's smart business, but to the many that want the "highest technical quality" they will have to wait.....

[johnpaul2]

Originally Posted by jcs913

Libraries are these institutions. There are MANY libraries around the US, and I am sure many here can attest to it, that carry a lot of CC titles in DVD for rental.

I know this, what I meant was that for the general audience (ie institutions aside), DVDs don't look to be selling that well for Criterion.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

So we should get new titles tomorrow. I'm guessing we might finally get the announcements for Memories of Murder.

I am guessing we will get more complaints about no UHDs...

[ravenus]

If businesses could be run by armchair hypothesis, this forum would be full of tycoons

[johnpaul2]

Originally Posted by ravenus

If businesses could be run by armchair hypothesis, this forum would be full of tycoons

On the other hand, we've seen labels that definitely looked like they were run by armchair hypothesis, so who knows ?

Joke aside, there are some data publicly available and we, especially here, can look at what other labels are doing, so it's not as if those discussions (mostly just open questions, not advices to Criterion as to how to run their business !) are based on things pulled out on thin air. Sure enough, Criterion have date we don't have, but it still doesn't mean we can't wonder what those are !

[johndoyle123]

Originally Posted by regeyer

Prediction: Criterion will never release a UHD. They will release 4K, but that will be through the Criterion Channel. Let's face it - physical media is dying. I'm not happy about it, and I think it stinks. But the writing has been on the wall for sometime.

Me? I'll hold on to my DVDs, HD DVDs, and Blu-Rays for as long as they last. And I'll keep buying physical media as long as it's available.

What is this nonsense obsession with dying...
it’s not going to die, the statement is absurd, declining into a enthusiast only niche in a good few years time like vinyl ? 99%
Dying ? 1%

You’d think disc wasn’t still massively bigger than other market niches like vinyl etc (which is considered trendy and successful)

Unless your definition of dying is some loose anything that isn’t growing by even 1% a year is dying, then yes it’s dead... it’s the complete wrong terminology for this market as it is for ANY physical media market

[DukeTogo84]

I say this every month and every month I pretty much leave empty handed, but hoping for something Japanese related for the March titles. Would love it if it was Samurai or Word War II related.

[jshaide]

My only wish this month (and every month really) is for something that's a SURPRISE. Not something that's been rumored, confirmed, Janus toured. Something that's like "oh that's neat!"

[joy-division]

Originally Posted by johnpaul2

That's... not really how it works for Criterion. DVDs don't sell so well for them, but they're heavily dependent on institutions like literally no other US label (possibly any label actually).
It also doesn't cost "nothing" to produce a DVD : while the disc itself might be cheap to produce, you still have to use cases, produce the booklet, do the layouts for everything, handle the logistics of a separate reference, and probably insure all the related stock.

Criterion hardly do booklets anymore, save on digipaks, only pamphlets. And yes, it does cost pretty much nothing to replicate a DVD Less than $2

How are doing the other indie labels, then ? Criterion is basically the last big indie not to have released a UHD yet. Do you think Shout has Region B rights on what they released on UHD is the US ? Kino ? Do Carlotta in France have Region A rights ?
Of course they don't.

Have you seen what the majority of Shout factory's 4K titles are? As for the rest, Studio Canal have already released them in the Region B zone so doesn't matter & Arrow have both US & UK branches

[Shanghai Express]

Trouble In Paradise 4K UHD with HDR and virtual reality deleted sex scenes with Kay Francis and Herbert Marshall please and thank you

[joy-division]

Saw a package in the letterbox today. Thought if was something from ebay but went to pick it up & it was amazon, hadn't ordered anything from Amazon recently
Was Notorious & The Tale of Lady Kaguya. Should have known seeing as it was a jiffy bag

As much as I've been pining for Notorious, may put it on hold as watched Kuroneko last night(can't remember the last time I saw such amazing lighting ) & want to watch the companion piece Onibaba

[ToonySpoonGoon]

March announcements

[Cremildo]

Well, someone ought to be excited about those!

[FragnitoM]

FINALLY more Mike Leigh!!!

[DandyDancing]

Is that defending your life cover final?

[DandyDancing]

Btw 10/10 mastapiece announcement.