The Criterion Collection

[Sommerswerd]

Originally Posted by randian

I got the Region B from Arrow instead of waiting.

Same here. I immediately ordered a copy when I found out it was going out of print soon. Unlike the Criterion DVD, the Arrow Blu-ray contains the entire The Long Haul of A.I. Bezzerides documentary as an extra.

[gudemameshiba]

Originally Posted by Scottie

World Cinema Project Vol. 4 (potential), featuring Chess of the Wind

What are the odds that Xiao Wu (a WCP restoration) ends up in a WCP box instead of an individual release or Jia Zhangke set?

[ravenus]

War of the Worlds (1953) by George Pal and Byron Haskin was likely the first official movie adaptation of HG Wells' 1898 novel. Taking a cue from Orson Welles' 1938 broadcast, the script updates the film to the present time (and saves on the budget of a period production). Paring away the bleak humor and atheistic outlook of the Wells' source story, this is a mostly spectacle oriented affair where the no-goodnik aliens are countered by good old-fashioned American ingenuity, military heroics...and religion. Yes, there's some on-the-nose sentiment about the pious church-goers being saved by divine intent. One scene that stands out from the formula is when the panicked crowds become looters who even attack the vehicles headed towards performing rescue missions to counter the alien invasion.

The depiction of the alien invasion itself carries a lot of visceral impact, with the sleekly designed gliding spaceships and their red/green optical rays creating all manner of mayhem. The technicolor visuals, though not pin-sharp in detail, are a sight to behold on the blu-ray. The visuals are dated but still charming, and the sequences are a lot more energetic than what Haskin later achieved in 1964's Robinson Crusoe of Mars, whose alien destruction scenes appeared stiff and repetitive. My experience was especially enhanced by the skillful surround remix of the original mono track by sound designer Ben Burtt.

There are supplements covering the film's making and its VFX, the restoration by Paramount, and some additional audio features including an audio interview with George Pal, and a broadcast recording of a conversation between HG Wells and Orson Welles (this I believe is a public domain recording so even people who don't have this disc can easily access from the net). The foldout leaflet contains a decent essay discussion on Pal's WotW and comparing it to Spielberg's film and other versions.

[FragnitoM]

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

I'm disappointed that Netflix hardly seems to add new Criterion Blu-rays to their collection anymore. Search almost any Criterion release from the last few years and you will find only the DVD or nothing. I don't expect the service to be around much longer. I'll keep renting until it's over.

noticed it too but i will keep Netflix DVD to the end as well. ive had the service going on 20 years.

my library used to be great at adding criterion blu-ray and would add almost all the months releases, but now they have become super selective and only add dvd criterion. it may be them anticipating a streaming future but also i think many people steal criterion blu-ray’s in my county. especially oop titles unfortunately

[gudemameshiba]

Originally Posted by FragnitoM

my library used to be great at adding criterion blu-ray and would add almost all the months releases, but now they have become super selective and only add dvd criterion. it may be them anticipating a streaming future but also i think many people steal criterion blu-ray’s in my county. especially oop titles unfortunately

It's also a cost-saving measure. A new DVD from a 4K remaster is not the worst way to watch a movie, and many library patrons probably do not own a Blu-ray player. So if they think one copy of the movie will suffice, it stands to reason that the one copy is a DVD.

[FragnitoM]

Originally Posted by gudemameshiba

It's also a cost-saving measure. A new DVD from a 4K remaster is not the worst way to watch a movie, and many library patrons probably do not own a Blu-ray player. So if they think one copy of the movie will suffice, it stands to reason that the one copy is a DVD.

probably not a people don’t have blu-ray player thing— they still buy multiple copies of blu-ray’s of popular new releases and usually more than they do dvd copies of the same title. but i agree it’s probably mostly a cost thing since criterions are usually more expensive

[DukeTogo84]

I wonder if there is any chance that Criterion could sub license Shoplifters from Magnolia since the latter refused to release it on Blu-ray.

[omgitsgodzilla]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

I wonder if there is any chance that Criterion could sub license Shoplifters from Magnolia since the latter refused to release it on Blu-ray.

I've been seeing speculation for years that that was because Criterion was gonna do a Blu-ray. Judging by how long it's taking, we must surely be looking at a pretty stacked release!

[jshaide]

Maybe a special box set announcement today one week before announcements? That seemed to be the trend with the other big sets.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by jshaide

Maybe a special box set announcement today one week before announcements? That seemed to be the trend with the other big sets.

Maybe. Criterion tends to do the special announcements on Tuesday or Thursday.

[Azores26]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Maybe. Criterion tends to do the special announcements on Tuesday or Thursday.

So tomorrow they'll surely announce the long-awaited Kurosawa Boxset, nice! Thanks for the heads up! LOL

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by Azores26

So tomorrow they'll surely announce the long-awaited Kurosawa Boxset, nice! Thanks for the heads up! LOL

It's old hat to say that, but oh boy that would be so tight., haha

[BluProofie]

Originally Posted by randian

I got the Region B from Arrow instead of waiting.

When Criterion does it, it’ll probably have a new 4K restoration like the other two Dassin films.

[Class316]

I wish Criterion would release Olympia I and II by itself. They did for the Tokyo one and Visions of 8. ughhh.

[_Ewan_]

Originally Posted by BluProofie

When Criterion does it, it’ll probably have a new 4K restoration like the other two Dassin films.

The arrow release is already from a 4K restoration, isn’t it?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by _Ewan_

The arrow release is already from a 4K restoration, isn’t it?

Yeah, the Arrow release is from a 4K restoration. If we're lucky, by the time Criterion gets around to it, they'll hopefully do a UHD release as well.

I actually think that's one of the issues Criterion is considering with their hesitation to do UHD. They know any BD they announce that is from a 4K source/restoration will be scrutinized if it doesn't also get a UHD release too. I think other boutique labels have gotten away witih being more selective in what they release on UHD, but people will be harsher and expect Criterion to do every applicable title on UHD, even though that may not be financially possible, or beneficial.

[jshaide]

With the Shaw set in December, Cinematic Vengeance in November, and 88’s announcement, it would be rad if Criterion followed suit and released something in the same vein for November or December. Like those Jackie Chan titles they have or some John Woo.

[UnbelievableMontages]

Am I just unlucky or is the quality control on the Essential Fellini set cursed? I just opened my replacement from Amazon, which did ship in a carton this time. The box was a bit crushed, but the set seemed fine on the outside until I opened it up and saw this. These discs were stuck together and have a bunch of scratches on the back as a result, I don't know whether it was an issue with paint or glue, but I'm not sure how this was overlooked by Criterion?

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by BluProofie

When Criterion does it, it’ll probably have a new 4K restoration like the other two Dassin films.

It'll probably be the same master as I doubt Fox redid another 4K restoration in the time between the Arrow release and their restoration schedule being halted.

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Yeah, the Arrow release is from a 4K restoration. If we're lucky, by the time Criterion gets around to it, they'll hopefully do a UHD release as well.

Fox/Disney have never licensed out UHD rights.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

It'll probably be the same master as I doubt Fox redid another 4K restoration in the time between the Arrow release and their restoration schedule being halted.



Fox/Disney have never licensed out UHD rights.

Oh right, I completely forgot to think about who had the rights to it.