The Criterion Collection

[DimitriL]

Originally Posted by regeyer

So let me get this straight. Criterion is dropping DVDs and only releasing BD/UHD combo packs, for $50? I sure am glad the Criterion Channel is up and running because their physical media plan is dead on arrival. Of course, that may be their intended goal.

Uh..no. They’re dropping DVD (though there’s apparently been an announcement from Criterion on Reddit saying they are NOT dropping new DVD releases), but they’ll have both UHD/BD *and* BD-only sets available from this point on.

[Mike0284]

Originally Posted by jshaide

In just a month this forum went from “a KANE release would be so useless” to “how dare they ruin the cover of such a film!!”

[JasonMichael]

Originally Posted by AdmiralNoodles

What a stupidly uninspired and incredibly lazy cover. Thankfully there's custom cover artists who offer better drivel compared to this tripe. I do agree Criterion need to get with the program and have official original cinema poster-artwork on the reverse.

"This drivel is FAR better than that tripe!"

[BudtheChud]

Working somewhere that carries most Criterion releases, most folks definitely are going for the blu-ray. However, there's a lot more people buying the dvd versions than you might expect.interested to see how it goes with the new 4ks, since there hasn’t been a ton of interest in people wanting 4K versions of movies when available.

[moviebuffed]

Originally Posted by DimitriL

As someone pointed out, it’s literally the K from the movie’s opening title card.

Yes. It was pointed out long after I made my comment.

[BunyipPouch]

Originally Posted by Hilliard

That's terrible. It was already too high as it is.
Totally exorbitant; pure greed. Never say Criterion does things as a work of love, this is purely for the money.

???

During sale times (let's be honest, when most people buy Criterion), it's only $5 more than the bluray price point.

That's about what was expected. A $5 upgrade for UHD seems totally fair, the same as most other labels, if not better. Did you except UHD to be the same price as blu ray or?...

[mmarczi]

- All of the vociferously negative comments about the Citizen Kane cover are hilarious to me, especially the conflation of 'effort' with quality. I'm not going to say it's the most brilliant cover ever made, but the iconic Kane 'K' is a pretty reasonable cover for one of the most iconic movies ever made, about an iconic character (who liked to put his monogram on everything) based on an iconic historical figure played by an iconic actor and director. Sure, they could have done something different, but this film doesn't need something different. Anybody who's seen the film before should understand the relevance.

- I don't think we can definitively declare that Criterion is done with DVDs of new releases going forward. What does seem clear is that they won't be doing DVDs of new releases they press to 4K to avoid having three different versions. Criterion doesn't even put out DVD versions of box set-type releases anymore unless in combination with blu-rays like in the WCP sets, so OUATIC not getting a DVD release is not really a shock. La Strada comes from a blu-ray only box set as well, so I'm not entirely sure what to make of the lack of a DVD. Not that I care if they do off with DVDs, but we should know more definitively with next month's slate.

[tatterdemalion]

Originally Posted by NeilZ

That’s going to change in the years to come. Every ps5 and new Xbox that has a disc player can play uhd’s a and as people upgrade their tv’s they’re going to be 4k hdr10/dv compatible.

It’s the way forward anyway you look at it.

Like laserdiscs were? Very few upgraded from VHS/Betamax to laserdisc, most didn't start upgrading until DVDs came around and stopped there. I buy BD but besides my friend hoytereden no one I know buys anything but DVDs, my entire family, friends and acquaintances. All are casual viewers and don't' have a need to see a film perfectly, all they want to do is watch it. Plus the cheapest price is still the main goal of many who buy physical media.

I think of blu-rays and UHD like laserdisc, as a niche market. We need people to support all three formats for physical media to survive. If you put all your eggs in one basket that goes beyond affordability for many, it'll just kill the market for the product.

[NeilZ]

Originally Posted by tatterdemalion

Like laserdiscs were? Very few upgraded from VHS/Betamax to laserdisc, most didn't start upgrading until DVDs came around and stopped there. I buy BD but besides my friend hoytereden no one I know buys anything but DVDs, my entire family, friends and acquaintances. All are casual viewers and don't' have a need to see a film perfectly, all they want to do is watch it. Plus the cheapest price is still the main goal of many who buy physical media.

I think of blu-rays and UHD like laserdisc, as a niche market. We need people to support all three formats for physical media to survive. If you put all your eggs in one basket that goes beyond affordability for many, it'll just kill the market for the product.

Apples and oranges. Laserdiscs never had the wide ready to play user base that blu rays and now UHD's have. There's literally hundreds of millions of people who have the ability to play blu-rays (and now tens of millions who can play UHD's) in their houses thanks to the rise of multimedia players (their game systems include the ability to play the formats). Also internet and social media helps provide a tremendous boost in visibility for both formats that laser discs never had.

Even casual movie viewers will upgrade when they have to. I also knew people who stood firm with VHS all the way until they realized they were being phased out of shops, then they upgraded to DVD's. The only reason DVD's stay around is because they're so cheap to press and manufacture and somehow people are still happy with them, so there's little incentive for distributors to stop manufacturing them.

[tatterdemalion]

Originally Posted by NeilZ

Apples and oranges. Laserdiscs never had the wide ready to play user base that blu rays and now UHD's have. There's literally hundreds of millions of people who have the ability to play blu-rays (and now tens of millions who can play UHD's) in their houses thanks to the rise of multimedia players (their game systems include the ability to play the formats). Also internet and social media helps provide a tremendous boost in visibility for both formats that laser discs never had.

Even casual movie viewers will upgrade when they have to. I also knew people who stood firm with VHS all the way until they realized they were being phased out of shops, then they upgraded to DVD's. The only reason DVD's stay around is because they're so cheap to press and manufacture and somehow people are still happy with them, so there's little incentive for distributors to stop manufacturing them.

Yeah, I forgot the small detail that a 33 1/3 record sized laserdisc couldn't fit in the small rectangular slot of a VHS player. And the prices always were up in the holy guacamole range. I had a good job back then and was able to buy the $120 Criterion CAV copy of 2001. Now if I can buy just one movie at $20 a month I celebrate!

In our modern case I do hope all three formats stay around. I would hate for those who can only afford cheap DVD players & $5-$10 DVDs not to get a chance to keep buying films.

BTW, I'm one of those who still buys CDs; talk about a true niche market; being I also prefer my music in physical format, even if quite a few of the modern CD manufacturers think compression and loudness is what we want. Thank goodness I'm not one where brightness in music bothers me. As long as it's not so loud that the sound breaks up I can handle it. The worst CD I have is from Repertoire Records, the mini-sleeve CD of Renaissance's "Scheherazade and Other Stories," which sounds like it was mastered through a broken Jensen speaker at full volume. Thank goodness I found an AF gold CD of that for cheap years ago.

[Bk_Tan]

Originally Posted by RBBrittain

I told everyone the BDA wouldn't stand Criterion going rogue on UHDBD. Still doesn't say the BDs in their UHDBD sets won't be region-locked, however -- especially since there will still be separate BD releases.

Incidentally, though Kane is top-billed it won't drop till 11/23 along with Menace II Society. Mulholland Dr. 4K drops 11/16 so it will officially be Criterion's first UHDBD. They also aren't resetting their spine numbers: Mulholland Dr. remains Spine 779, Kane is Spine 1104, Menace II Society is Spine 1105.

Why didn't they do that for the original Blu Ray?

Is it just because they know the UHD market is small that's why things are region free now? What's the logic?

[Vigojean]

Curious to see screenshots for 4K Mulholland Drive, because I doubt it’ll be that much of an improvement over the Blu-ray

[tatterdemalion]

Originally Posted by Vigojean

Curious to see screenshots for 4K Mulholland Drive, because I doubt it’ll be that much of an improvement over the Blu-ray

I wonder how many here read Robert Harris' recent 4K review of Children of the Corn, Django & The Bird With the Crystal Plummage on HTF? Part of my earlier post about keeping other formats around comes from the review and comments made on that review. It's always best when you have choices. You never know what transfer will work and what won't.

[NeoNical]

Excited for November. November is going to get me broke for a while. Kinda wanted The Piano earlier but I can wait as long as they hit it out of the park ‘cause the Blu-ray versions haven’t been looking too well. Weird that the film was presented with a “new restoration” by StudioCanal 2 years ago with a Blu-ray for it but now there’s a 4K UHD in the making. Was that “new restoration” an actual 4K restoration or what? And looking from screen captures of that newer StudioCanal Blu-ray, doesn’t look like a major difference between that and the Miramar version other than encoding.

Oh yeah Menace II Society, excited to revisit this first time in years. Glad I didn’t bought the Blu-ray at my local DVD store a few days ago

[NeoNical]

Not Criterion related but just saw Kinji Fukasaku’s House on Fire (1986, Kataku no Hito) and it seems worthy of getting some recognition in the US. Just like Fall Guy, this is one of his lesser known works and stars Ken Ogata, Mieko Harada, and Ayumi Ishida (Also Hunter in the Dark should get a release). The print I’m watching is like some broadcasted or VHS tape but looking at a few screenshots that somehow exist for this rare film, there seems to be a restoration for it and absolutely blows the TV version out of water. Also was Japan’s pick for Best Film at their Japanese Film Ceremony in 1986. A very nice drama, and you can see a few glimpses of Fukasaku’s trademark handheld camera movement used in fights as well, although the films tone is almost always subtle and sometimes dramatic, never violent or extreme like his earlier yakuza flicks. Really surprised that I managed to catch a screening of this randomly. Besides Fall Guy, this is probably his only essential title that still hasn’t gotten a Blu-ray in the US yet but it seems like a restoration and a Japanese Blu-ray exists for this somewhere. Interesting flick worth checking out for the Fukasaku fanatics 7/10

[randian]

Originally Posted by tatterdemalion

BTW, I'm one of those who still buys CDs; talk about a true niche market; being I also prefer my music in physical format, even if quite a few of the modern CD manufacturers think compression and loudness is what we want.

Preach it! I've purchased a few albums I had to immediately get rid of because the extreme compression made the kick drums hurt my ears at modest sound levels.

[zack14]

How dare they ruin the cover of such a film!

[tatterdemalion]

Originally Posted by randian

Preach it! I've purchased a few albums I had to immediately get rid of because the extreme compression made the kick drums hurt my ears at modest sound levels.

Turn down the volume! Yeah, when the kick drum flattens the music you know the "remastering" is part of the loudness war. I admit recent releases have gotten better. The ZZ Top 10 CD box set from a few years ago had a nice smooth sound. The Rhino Fleetwood Mac offerings from Then Play On to Tango in the Night are hit and miss. The pre-Buckingham/Nicks era sounds fine but Rumours is on the verge of painful.

I have a pretty cheap amplifier so about five years ago, when I had extra cash, I purchased a pair of over-the ear Sennheiser and Grado headphones, since I exclusively listen to music and movies through headphones. The Grado's are more bottom heavy and the Sennheiser top heavy, so I switch headphones at times in accordance to what is needed in my music listening. I use only the Sennheiser's for my movie watching though.

Anyway, back to Criterion. I have noticed the covers recently looked bad online to me but quite nice when I received them. Mirror, The Cranes Are Flying and The War of the Worlds are a few of them. I have the feeling the Citizen Kane cover will also look better in hand if I ever decide to double dip.

[BaronVH]

Originally Posted by BunyipPouch

???

During sale times (let's be honest, when most people buy Criterion), it's only $5 more than the bluray price point.

That's about what was expected. A $5 upgrade for UHD seems totally fair, the same as most other labels, if not better. Did you except UHD to be the same price as blu ray or?...

During the argument about them not going 4K, I pointed out that there was the issue about cost to produce. I am surprised it is not greater than $10 more. They are not the big studios, and they have to pay for the license. Plus, they put a lot into their titles. I am a little concerned that the $10 increase is not enough, but I am sure they crunched the numbers to determine how much they can bear versus what people will pay, but it does not seem to be much uproar at all, so that is good.

[Harvey Dent]

While I do have a lot of respect for Robert Harris and do hold his work in the highest regard , I found his article a bit supercilious . They way he runs down us common folk as people who do not know what they want ,is not funny at all.

Saying which I did cancel my order of Children of the Corn 4K after reading his views.

The other two I already own and like

Originally Posted by tatterdemalion

I wonder how many here read Robert Harris' recent 4K review of Children of the Corn, Django & The Bird With the Crystal Plummage on HTF? Part of my earlier post about keeping other formats around comes from the review and comments made on that review. It's always best when you have choices. You never know what transfer will work and what won't.