The Criterion Collection

[dvining]

Originally Posted by RBBrittain

Unless you're a buyer for a video store chain, rack jobber, distributor, etc., what any one of us is willing to buy doesn't amount to a hill of beans to either WB or Criterion; it's what customers AS A WHOLE are willing to buy. Even though one of my ancestors was supposedly a first cousin of Jesse James (though he referred to James as a common criminal), I have no interest in that film personally. Considering WB hasn't reissued it on BD since 2008 (the year after its release) except in a 2011 bundle with 1994's Wyatt Earp, there is reason to suspect WB's view about its viability is closer to mine than yours. (Hard to say about Criterion, but they would likely have to propose licensing it on terms more advantageous to WB than if WB reissued it directly.)

I was totally serious.

Totally.

[RBBrittain]

Originally Posted by dvining

I was totally serious.

Totally.

As was I, especially when editing it to add my own personal perspective. It's not what you or I want personally; it's whether or not it will sell enough to make its owner enough money. It's why CBS canceled its HD restorations of DS9 & Voyager after TNG underperformed on BD, even though I myself have argued its reliance on TNG's expensive original season-by-season BD release to pay for HD restorations was short-sighted in light of the continued syndication, Netflix, and now Paramount+ popularity of Star Trek in general that alone paid for TOS' refreshed special effects also seen on its BD release.

[chocolat]

Originally Posted by dvining

I bought the Blu-ray, and I'd buy the 4K.

That totally means that it would be a huge seller.

Totally.

make that the two of us. They've already broke even.

But Andrew Dominik did try and get them to put it out and his full director's cut to boot but he said they just didn't have any interest.

Maybe we can go back even further and Aronofsky can finally ask them again to put out The Fountain in his fully rearranged director's cut in 4K.

We should stop now. This could get very out of hand.

[Cinematt]

Originally Posted by evilive

Would be pretty rad if The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford got a 4k release from Criterion.

I think it's exactly the kind of film that Criterion would release in 50 years as a rediscovered masterpiece. Right now it's just a Brad Pitt film everyone remembers coming out but didn't watch because they heard it was slow.

[Rayjg]

Originally Posted by bipbop13

Another way to solve the problem, stop giving you picky bastards booklets!

They ain't giving us anything. Booklets are bought and paid for along with the rest of the package

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by RBBrittain

Unless you're a buyer for a video store chain, rack jobber, distributor, etc., what any one of us is willing to buy doesn't amount to a hill of beans to either WB or Criterion; it's what customers AS A WHOLE are willing to buy.

I see what you did there.

[Sabzi_Nic]

Well, Criterion really dropped the ball. I didn't pick up their Parasite and The Elephant Man release because I got the 4K's instead. I'm holding off on some Columbia titles just incase Columbia releases them on 4k. I just pre-ordered Kino's silence of the lambs on 4k, it was only 23 bucks. Great price. I do appreciate criterion though because they do a good job in releasing films that otherwise wouldn't get released on Bluray. Bringing up Baby, High Sierra, Deep Cover are some examples. I really really love that they are doing that. I just think with popular titles like Silence of the Lambs and Parasite they should have released a 4K instead. And criterion used to be the gold standard. I've been a loyal supporter for a long time, I just think others are doing better by releasing 4k's.

[dvining]

These are the jokes...

[KubrickKurasawa]

You have to admit Criterion does usually always have the CORRECT Audio and Aspect Ratio. That's more than you can say for the original studios (The Shining & A Clockwork Orange 4K's to name a few) some if not most of the time with their stupid Atmos/Convoluted/Doesn't transfer to a home theater setup audio poo mixes. But yes BD-100 discs are the bomb.

[Vinyl]

I decided to watch Onibaba because of the upcoming upgrade. A bit of backstory first. I first purchased the dvd over a dozen years ago. It was the only movie I was ever carded for before buying. When I first watched it, I kinda saw why I was carded. Looking at it now, I definitely see why I was carded when buying the movie.

[Show spoiler]There is a theme throughout the movie about sex being natural and part of the human condition, and Shindo shows explicit scenes openly because he views sex as completely natural and beautiful. But, I do like that he shows just enough and it’s not overly graphic.

I definitely see the psychology of each character and relationships between the main three characters clearer after revisiting it. I also see how this is a moral tale where nobody is fully right or wrong. Also, I still love the visuals dealing with the grass and the mask.

[SeanJoyce]

I'm going to feel stupid after I get the answer, but it's bothering me so I have to ask: sometimes the imagery from all these B&W samurai films bleed together, what is the one that opens with peasants getting chased around a field by a hulking warrior with bull horns?

[Show spoiler]One of them kills him through luck and presents his head as a demonstration of his valor and skill.

Thank you!

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by KubrickKurasawa

You have to admit Criterion does usually always have the CORRECT Audio and Aspect Ratio. That's more than you can say for the original studios (The Shining & A Clockwork Orange 4K's to name a few) some if not most of the time with their stupid Atmos/Convoluted/Doesn't transfer to a home theater setup audio poo mixes. But yes BD-100 discs are the bomb.

Is this out already?

[KubrickKurasawa]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Is this out already?

Nah man, but it's going to have Atmos and 5.1 but NO MONO / ORIGINAL AUDIO TRACK. Steelbooks have leaked with info on the backs. That's how I know.

[klauswhereareyou]

Well the 4K is not Silence of the Lambs. Maybe it's JFK...or Magnolia?

[hammer99]

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

Well the 4K is not Silence of the Lambs. Maybe it's JFK...or Magnolia?

Armageddon sold a lot of copies back in the day.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by hammer99

Armageddon sold a lot of copies back in the day.

I’d happily buy Armageddon 4K from Criterion!

[KubrickKurasawa]

I just want Criterion to crank out a fresh 4K scan unlike the 2K scan they did of the dupe negative of Seven Samurai 1954 on a BD-100. I have the iTunes 4.99 digital version LOL. Look how amazing the action scenes of Ran 4K look now I'd like seeing all of 7S action scenes with that 4K compression bonus factor.

[NeoNical]

Originally Posted by KubrickKurasawa

I just want Criterion to crank out a fresh 4K scan unlike the 2K scan they did of the dupe negative of Seven Samurai 1954 on a BD-100. I have the iTunes 4.99 digital version LOL. Look how amazing the action scenes of Ran 4K look now I'd like seeing all of 7S action scenes with that 4K compression bonus factor.

I'm sure there was a 4K restoration that came out a while ago for Seven Samurai. However, Criterion normally doesn't upgrade their titles unless if it's part of a new boxset. So if they do the Akira Kurosawa boxset, Seven Samurai would be shown in its 4K restoration for the first time on home video in the US.

I think the Japanese Blu-ray used the 4K restoration and it's a pretty big change IMO.

[Nori]

When Criterion started blu rays they upgraded tons of titles actually. I double dipped on lots of Japanese films, the Kurosawa titles, Samurai Trilogy, Sword of Doom etc.

Kurosawa on 4k would be hype worldwide. Seeing that UHD discs are region free Criterion would sell a whole ton of them. They could release them one by one like they did in the blu ray era. Same for anything of Hitchcock of theirs that they upgrade to 4k. Would sell like crazy.

[MifuneFan]

There's no home video release of the 4K restoration of Seven Samurai in Japan, so it's probably unlikely that Criterion could get it here. Toho kind of sucks when it comes to home video releases of new restorations (just look at Godzilla), and they're a huge headache to deal with if you're an American studio/label.