The Criterion Collection

[Nocheduro]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Apparently so. This was 2-3 years ago, so hopefully some sort of breakthrough has happened since then.

Hopefully the 70mm negative is still usable.

[Ray Jackson]

In my personal opinion, Inside Llewyn Davis has the best special features package of any picture in the Collection.

It’s extraordinary.

...the film is fantastic as well.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by AreaFive

I would love to see Criterion release Tarsem Singh's The Fall and the Coen brothers' The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.

I tried to watch Ballad of BS once on Netflix.

Love the Coen Brothers.

...just didn’t get it.

[SeanJoyce]

^If you love the Coen Bros., what was there to "get"?

[pepeandy]

As a collector of media of all types for decades and after observing the growth of the 4K UHD format in the last years, I am more convinced than ever that Criterion Collection's first title is no longer a matter of "if" but a matter of when, and it seems to me like this might be sooner than we think.

By now, the format has well proven it's not going anywhere and is here to stay for a very long time. At this point it's almost needless to say that the format looks bloody fantastic and is superior enough to Blu Ray for collectors to slowly transition into the needed tech., which is also more accessible now than its ever been and the pandemic has accelerated this enormously with 4K TV's mass sales to collectors and the general public. As a result many of us are now 4K UHD ready and several collector's boutiques of the likes of Severin, Shout, Arrow etc. haven't hesitated to get into the the format releasing titles on 4k UHD none of us in our wildest dreams thought of ever seeing in beautiful Box Sets. From upcoming blockbusters such as The Good the Bad and the Ugly by Kino, and Santa Sangre by Severin and Crash by Arrow in Uk (Which was released at the same time on Blu Ray by Criterion) have only become more interesting and promising for the format in the past months.

There's been all kinds of discussions about Criterion's real economic interests being Libraries and Academic institutions, plus collectors/audiences who aren't so interested on high-end tech, but with all we are seeing, I could almost guarantee if they release any visually impacting 5 titles a year they would have a total sold out by us who already own the format and those getting into it.

Also, I don't think this will stop people from buying Criterion Blu Rays and even DVDs as they know 4K Re-releases might take a while to come out depending on how they manage their releases plan.

With all this said. My prediction is this 2021 Criterion will announce and release their first 4K UHD Blu Rays first titles. They are sitting on a gold mine and would be a tragedy for them not to do so out of hesitation.

Your predictions?

[Reddington]

I can see Criterion maybe releasing "new" titles on 4K where there is an appropriate master, but it's surely fanciful thinking to expect a dive through the catalog - with dozens of BD releases getting UHD upgrades. There are also all the business factors: Would Criterion release them as standalone titles, or 4K+BD? If the latter, would they then also produce a separate standalone BD? What would the SRP be (would have to be higher than $39.95; the price of a "standard" BD release)? Would they be discounted during Flash and B&N sales (let's be honest, these are the only times many people buy Criterion titles)? And so on.

What I also find interesting is the concept that 4K is "superior" to BD, when this forum is full of reviews of releases that indicate improvements are marginal at best, and endless posts debating HDR grading anomalies and other issues. Criterion already gets bashed by some for encoding/compression issues - so 4K releases will need to be nigh on perfect to avoid all that negativity.

I'm currently buying 4K+BD releases of titles I don't own (when the price is right), but still view BD as the mainstay of my collection. I'd be more than happy to see Criterion embrace 4K, but frankly, how many people outside a vocal minority of passionate collectors on sites like this are really clamouring for it to happen?

[filmlover22]

Reddington, I totally agree with your assessment. 4K seems a very narrow niche to me.

[KubrickKurasawa]

Regarding 4K they could pull 6 titles like The Columbia Classics Boxset.

That thing goes for a lot of dough it has 2 B&W and 4 Color Films.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington / Lawrence of Arabia / Dr. Strangelove / Gandhi / A League of Their Own / Jerry Maguire

Criterion could copy that format with...
12 Angry Men / Seven Samurai / Barry Lyndon / The Graduate / The Breakfast Club / Dazed & Confused

Do it

J/K imho they won't for many many years. But it's fun to think they might make 4k's isn't it guys. Peace.

[Blacknapkins]

Anyone else having trouble with criterion and scratched discs lately?
I'm on my second copy of Elephant man
this time the disc was out of the hub a few small marks on edge but nothing bad. I'll test it out and hopefully it plays ok.

[bsend]

Would Criterion every be able to do a Goddard box set, or would it difficult since his films are also available via Lionsgate (through Studio Canal)?

[BuckarooBanzai]

Originally Posted by bergman864

While some early Blu-ray releases have held up, there were a lot that, yes, technically look better, weren't a major jump that led to a lot of people saying DVD is still "good enough". And let's not forget that a label like Arrow put out whatever HD master they were given back in the early days of them releasing Blu-rays.

I'm still waiting on a better release of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid that surpasses the DVD I have.

Long story short, I'm not rushing Criterion into the UHD format even though other boutique labels are pushing forward with excellent releases.

P.S. We're still getting new to Blu-ray titles in 2021.

The 4K digital copy available looks much better than the DVD.

[DukeTogo84]

So Geekgab had the next Criterion boxset reveal up, but it was taken down at Criterions request. Anyone catch it?

[B-Rose22]

My copy of War of the Worlds was scratched that I got from Christmas from the B&N 50% off sale. Just got my replacement copy the other day and it was perfect thankfully.

Personally I've been encountering scratched discs a lot within the past couple of months across the board from any company/distributer. Something tells me the quality control in the pressing or packaging stage is lacking right now, it is really frustrating.

[yoloswegmaster420]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

So Geekgab had the next Criterion boxset reveal up, but it was taken down at Criterions request. Anyone catch it?

According to other people, Geekgab is someone who just reposts rumors from other forums and acts like it's his own information that he's providing. So I would take anything he says with a huge grain of salt. That being said, I am interested in learning about the next boxset that Criterion is planning on releasing.

[dwk]

Originally Posted by bsend

Would Criterion every be able to do a Goddard box set, or would it difficult since his films are also available via Lionsgate (through Studio Canal)?

The Lionsgate titles were licensed from StudioCanal and Kino has picked up most of those. With a couple former Criterion titles rumored to be back with Criterion.

So, I think Godard's films are with so many different companies (and he has made so many films) that at best an Essential films of would be the only possibility.

[FragnitoM]

Originally Posted by pepeandy

As a collector of media of all types for decades and after observing the growth of the 4K UHD format in the last years, I am more convinced than ever that Criterion Collection's first title is no longer a matter of "if" but a matter of when, and it seems to me like this might be sooner than we think.

I hope soon. I honestly don’t get the Criterion buyers who are so dismissive of UHD and HDR/DV. Not people giving logical reasons why they haven’t but the ones who claim Blu-ray is good enough.

The UHDs I own look stunning in UHD with Dolby Vision or HDR. I’m thinking if they do, their first titles will probably be something with a broad appeal—something like Silence of the Lambs maybe.

[ElliesDad]

Doing a bit of a 'catch-up' and noticed several posters remarking that they've received scratched or damaged discs in the mail. I've been remarkably lucky in this regard as I can only really recall one incident of trauma some years ago when a Criterion arrived with a broken corner on the case.

But the thought did cross my mind after reading the tales concerning the convoluted routes that USPS deliveries have taken (talkin' about you Ray!) that have left the posters mindful of the traveling gnome in "Amelie", whether all of the seemingly inexplicably unnecessary transferring and handling by the post office could be an issue. And if 'inexplicable' seems to be a reach here's the tracking history (read bottom to top) for my latest acquisition (hopefully), "Fanchon the Cricket", from Flicker Alley, due in on Friday. Basically LA to Vancouver...via Detroit.

[Show spoiler]
Jan. 16 9:41 pm
Item processed
Mississauga, ON

6:37 pm
Item has arrived in Canada and will be presented for review
Mississauga, ON

Jan. 13 5:59 pm
International item has left originating country and is en route to Canada
Uslaxa, USA

January 16, 2021, 9:41 pm
Arrived at Facility
CANADA
Your item arrived at a facility in CANADA on January 16, 2021 at 9:41 pm.

January 16, 2021, 6:37 pm
Processed Through Facility
CANADA

January 16, 2021, 6:37 pm
Customs Clearance
CANADA

January 15, 2021, 4:21 am
Departed
TORONTO, CANADA

January 14, 2021, 10:00 pm
Departed
DETROIT, UNITED STATES

January 14, 2021, 7:59 am
Departed
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES

January 14, 2021, 1:49 am
Arrived
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES

January 13, 2021, 5:59 pm
Processed Through Regional Facility
LOS ANGELES CA INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER

January 13, 2021, 5:59 pm
Arrived at Regional Facility
LOS ANGELES CA INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER

January 13, 2021, 5:40 pm
Shipment Received, Package Acceptance Pending
LOS ANGELES, CA 90009

January 12, 2021, 12:16 pm
Arrived Shipping Partner Facility, USPS Awaiting Item
LOS ANGELES, CA 90051
Shipping Partner: RR DONNELLEY

January 12, 2021, 8:52 am
Departed Shipping Partner Facility, USPS Awaiting Item
LOS ANGELES, CA 90051
Shipping Partner: RR DONNELLEY

January 12, 2021, 8:41 am
Arrived Shipping Partner Facility, USPS Awaiting Item
LOS ANGELES, CA 90001
Shipping Partner: RR DONNELLEY

January 12, 2021, 2:54 am
Arrived Shipping Partner Facility, USPS Awaiting Item
LOS ANGELES, CA 90052
Shipping Partner: RR DONNELLEY

January 12, 2021, 1:39 am
Arrived Shipping Partner Facility, USPS Awaiting Item
LOS ANGELES, CA 90028
Shipping Partner: RR DONNELLEY

January 8, 2021, 4:58 pm
Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item
LOS ANGELES, CA 90093

[bergman864]

Originally Posted by BuckarooBanzai

The 4K digital copy available looks much better than the DVD.

I'm hoping for a disc.

[yoloswegmaster420]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

So Geekgab had the next Criterion boxset reveal up, but it was taken down at Criterions request. Anyone catch it?

I just re-read this and this part is sticking out for me for some reason. Is Geekgab claiming that Criterion requested him to take it down? That wouldn't make much sense since outsiders have always revealed future Criterion releases without being requested to take it down.

[dwk]

Originally Posted by yoloswegmaster420

I just re-read this and this part is sticking out for me for some reason. Is Geekgab claiming that Criterion requested him to take it down? That wouldn't make much sense since outsiders have always revealed future Criterion releases without being requested to take it down.

The only thing I can think of is if he posted box art early, they may have requested it get taken down. Or the artist/designer could have requested that they take it down.

DukeTogo84, have you DM'd Geekgab to ask what the Criterion set was? WThey might be willing to tell you privately.