The Criterion Collection

[Egbert Souse]

Originally Posted by The Sovereign

Maybe wishful thinking, but I feel like the omission of a Kurosawa film in this inaugural 4K group just signals a forthcoming collection even more. And once everyone's bought that, the 4K editions will follow.

I'd actually be happy with a "big box" of all his films on Blu-ray, then just supplement that with the handful of UHDs that could be released either given the popularity or surviving elements. None of his 40s films have good enough elements for 4K. I'd say best case scenario would be Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Throne of Blood, The Hidden Fortress, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, Dersu Uzala, Kagemusha, and Dreams. (Lionsgate already has Ran coming)

And really, the only films I'd be itching to have on UHD out of those are the last three color films.

[UnionJackMix]

Man I hope now people will finally shut up about Criterion not going 4K because that broken record in every single new release announcement was getting oldddd...

[bergman864]

Originally Posted by UnionJackMix

Man I hope now people will finally shut up about Criterion not going 4K because that broken record in every single new release announcement was getting oldddd...

Nah, they'll just adapt it when a new release announcement doesn't mention one of the six 4K titles.

Edit: Or worse, why is title A 4K and not title B?

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by UnionJackMix

Man I hope now people will finally shut up about Criterion not going 4K because that broken record in every single new release announcement was getting oldddd...

Soon to be replaced by endless Criterion 4K wishlists. Fun!

[DimitriL]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Yeah, Sonnenfeld will tell everyone he meets how much HDR is a gimmick and how he was forced by Netflix to use it, and how hard it was, blah blah blah. He whines a lot.

Oh yeah, that’s kind of his thing. Just thought it was interesting in light of the original comment and how often we might see the HDR pass. Would we get it on a 4k of Blood Simple considering his opinions? Interesting question.

[peschi]

Originally Posted by UnionJackMix

Man I hope now people will finally shut up about Criterion not going 4K because that broken record in every single new release announcement was getting oldddd...

Im sure it will be replaced with complaining every UHD release about the encoding. *edit nvm it already started*

[lemonski]

Originally Posted by asmodeux21

Hopefully, Fidelity in Motion( and our hero David M.) or someone/compression service who is competent is involved in all of the 4k UHD Criterion titles. I won't buy Criterion titles that fall prey to lego compression.

It’s particularly galling in cases like La Piscine, where a perfectly good 4K transfer was available in France but Criterion foist a Lego-like Blu-ray onto their customers…..only a month or two later to announce they are going 4K. Either wait and do it right or do it right the first time! Muppets.

[UnionJackMix]

Originally Posted by peschi

Im sure it will be replaced with complaining every UHD release about the encoding. *edit nvm it already started*

It was good to end the day with a good laugh, thank you!

[Surge92]

Originally Posted by lilboyblu

Hate to say you’re wrong, but “You’re wrong.” Once you get a quality 4K setup and watch a good 4K disc, you’ll understand the hype.

And not only that. With Criterion's notoriously subpar compression on blu-rays, 4K UHD would hopefully do away with that, provided they got someone actually good to do their encoding. They should ring up FiM.

[The Great Owl]

When 4K UHD with HDR first came down the pipes, I was inclined to think of it as a "from here on out" sort of thing, meaning that I plan to buy all new movies in the format as they are released, because those movies were specifically shot with the color dynamic range in mind.

Black Widow or Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse with HDR? Hell to the yeah!

Citizen Kane or The Red Shoes with HDR? Hmmm. Possibly.

As I watch the 4K format more, however, I am seeing quality releases of old movies with HDR and am pleased with the results, so I dunno.

I like for everything to look as faithful to the original intent as possible. If a filmmaker or historian feels that HDR is not needed for a title, then so be it.

[ilenewoodsfan99]

Looking forward to Citizen Kane and The Red Shoes in 4K!

[Audiopusher]

I’d be on board for an “Idiocracy” in 4K announcement.

[SkyMasterson]

Originally Posted by minister_x

At least the press release implies the UHD disc itself will be extras-free, so no worry about lengthy extras putting a squeeze on the main feature. And of course there won't be the worldwide audio and subtitle tracks taking up any room either (although I guess that will just give them an excuse to avoid using BD-100s).

So with that in mind, it will be especially shameful if the compression is garbage.

Yea, which I'm fine with, but I really do hope they put audio commentaries on the 4K disc as well.

WB made that mistake with The Goonies(and maybe other WB catalog titles?) and it definitely bothers me lol.

[Dk8819]

Originally Posted by Shampooed

Yeah, count me as a negative on this one. If prices go up to support the cost of making a 4K disc, I think the net result is more people just throw up their hands and move to streaming. Blu Ray already looks great, and also seems increasingly like a niche market already. This will accelerate that trend. Obviously this is just a guess on my part. Who knows what will happen.

As well, to me, this simply means that Criterion is stretched thin, putting money, time, and effort into re-releasing movies that already look fine on Blu Ray, rather than transferring their old DVDs to Blu Ray, which really does make a big difference in the quality. More people working on Citizen Kane means fewer people working on Trouble in Paradise, as I see it.

Welcome the all-streaming future, is the real message, I think.

Once again, just my two cents.

I could not disagree more with this. Did Kino stop releasing bluray when they went to 4k? How about Shout, Arrow, Lionsgate, Synapse etc etc. As long as there are people who buy this stuff I don't see it going anywhere soon. People having been begging Criterion to go to 4K and the moment they do it's "It better not be a combo pack", "If prices go up a lot of people are moving to streaming". It's all the same thing anytime something like this happens: beg, receive, complain on repeat.

[Yojimbo]

Originally Posted by The Sovereign

Maybe wishful thinking, but I feel like the omission of a Kurosawa film in this inaugural 4K group just signals a forthcoming collection even more. And once everyone's bought that, the 4K editions will follow.

I agree. It's been almost five years since the last Kurosawa release that there almost HAS to be something coming.

[TheArgentinian]

Originally Posted by UnionJackMix

Man I hope now people will finally shut up about Criterion not going 4K because that broken record in every single new release announcement was getting oldddd...

Am I the only one who finds people dunking on CC funny? It was like waiting for a comedian to say his catchphrase.

[UnbelievableMontages]

Originally Posted by Yojimbo

I agree. It's been almost five years since the last Kurosawa release that there almost HAS to be something coming.

Seven Samurai got restored in 4K several years ago, I think it'll see 4K treatment from Criterion for sure. It's one of their most popular titles.

[Shampooed]

Originally Posted by Dk8819

I could not disagree more with this. Did Kino stop releasing bluray when they went to 4k? How about Shout, Arrow, Lionsgate, Synapse etc etc. As long as there are people who buy this stuff I don't see it going anywhere soon. People having been begging Criterion to go to 4K and the moment they do it's "It better not be a combo pack", "If prices go up a lot of people are moving to streaming". It's all the same thing anytime something like this happens: beg, receive, complain on repeat.

If they have looked at their balance sheets and are still making a lot of money from Blu Ray, my suggestion is: stick to blu ray production and keeping making more movies available on blu ray, rather than giving us a world in which Citizen Kane is available in every format but no other movies are available at all 🤓

I never complained about 4k releases myself because I'm waiting for 16k 🤣

[Cinematt]

Originally Posted by UnbelievableMontages

Seven Samurai got restored in 4K several years ago, I think it'll see 4K treatment from Criterion for sure. It's one of their most popular titles.

Have they had Japanese releases though? I'd be surprised if they let Criterion put these out on region free 4k before they've had a release in Japan, given we've still not got English friendly releases of plenty of his 'lesser' films on BD.

[UnbelievableMontages]

Originally Posted by Cinematt

Have they had Japanese releases though? I'd be surprised if they let Criterion put these out on region free 4k before they've had a release in Japan, given we've still not got English friendly releases of plenty of his 'lesser' films on BD.

Don't know, but Toho restored it in 4K in 2016.