The Criterion Collection

[checkerboard]

ha!

[Phillip c. Niethe]

Originally Posted by checkerboard

ha!

Are you quoting James Brown?

[captainsolo]

If anyone is looking for a single standard title to pick up in the sale and wants to get the most value for their money then Criterion’s release of HIGH SIERRA is pretty much impossible to beat. New 4k restoration, better picture and sound quality than the film has ever had on video, the lesser seen outstanding Western reimagining COLORADO TERRITORY in a gorgeous new scan of a Library of Congress element, phenomenal extras plus a feature length documentary on the legendary Raoul Walsh.
Oh and it’s also the turning point in a certain star’s career…the film that cemented his legend.

[concolt]

Originally Posted by dressedtokill

RIP James Caan

I just watched Thief yesterday.

[dressedtokill]

Originally Posted by concolt

I just watched Thief yesterday.

Wow, eerie. It really is a terrific movie and the score is just...chef's kiss.

[mande2013]

The decline of Criterion quality control is partly why I'm only sticking to buying their UHDs that are ABSOLUTE MUST OWNS for me. Otherwise, I can hope for an Arrow, BFI, or a release from the rights owner ala StudioCanal. The only CC 4Ks I have are Le Cercle Rouge, Citizen Kane, and The Red Shoes. I also ordered Raging Bull, and I'll probably get Blow Out too.

So even if they do eventually release UHDs of titles like Barry Lyndon, Eyes Wide Shut, and heck, why not North by Northwest, they'd probably get WB UHDs in Europe anyway.

The issue may partly be that Criterion (albeit somewhat less than KL) simply tend to release too many films at a time, giving them less time to focus their efforts on each individual release. Consider how Arrow, Indicator and BFI tend to trickle them out more.

Criterion and Kino seem to operate with a philosophy of "get 'em out there and make 'em available".

[Snicket]

Arrow has had their fair share of problems and replacement programs too.

[malakaheso]

Why is the stock of Criterion discs so low at Amazon nowadays? It never used to be that way.

I can't order from B+N because I'm in Australia, and I can't order from Amazon because nothing I want is ever in stock.

It's incredibly frustrating!

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by mande2013

The decline of Criterion quality control is partly why I'm only sticking to buying their UHDs that are ABSOLUTE MUST OWNS for me. Otherwise, I can hope for an Arrow, BFI, or a release from the rights owner ala StudioCanal. The only CC 4Ks I have are Le Cercle Rouge, Citizen Kane, and The Red Shoes. I also ordered Raging Bull, and I'll probably get Blow Out too.

So even if they do eventually release UHDs of titles like Barry Lyndon, Eyes Wide Shut, and heck, why not North by Northwest, they'd probably get WB UHDs in Europe anyway.

The issue may partly be that Criterion (albeit somewhat less than KL) simply tend to release too many films at a time, giving them less time to focus their efforts on each individual release. Consider how Arrow, Indicator and BFI tend to trickle them out more.

Criterion and Kino seem to operate with a philosophy of "get 'em out there and make 'em available".

How many quality control incidents have there been with Criterion in recent times? I can only recall the Citizen Kane, and Hard Day's Night ones, which were resolved in a relatively quick time. There's a bigger issue on the distribution side with the Mexican replication plant scratching discs, but I'm not sure what Criterion can do about this as it's one of the only plants left in NA. I could understand if there were several releases that have had QC issues, and ideally it shouldn't happen at all, but if you're just talking about two titles out of the many they're releasing, then I'm not entirely sure your post is warranted.

[jkoffman]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

Why is the stock of Criterion discs so low at Amazon nowadays? It never used to be that way.

I can't order from B+N because I'm in Australia, and I can't order from Amazon because nothing I want is ever in stock.

It's incredibly frustrating!

Are you sure that Amazon US isn't showing you the "outside of the country" view of what's available for you to purchase? We here in the US have that issue sometimes when trying to purchase from Amazon UK and others. What titles are showing out of stock for you at Amazon US?

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by jkoffman

Are you sure that Amazon US isn't showing you the "outside of the country" view of what's available for you to purchase? We here in the US have that issue sometimes when trying to purchase from Amazon UK and others. What titles are showing out of stock for you at Amazon US?

Pretty much all of the ones I want except for pre-orders. e.g. Walker, Ashes and Diamonds, Citizen Kane etc.

I can only order those titles from marketplace sellers.

[jkoffman]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

Pretty much all of the ones I want except for pre-orders. e.g. Walker, Ashes and Diamonds, Citizen Kane etc.

I can only order those titles from marketplace sellers.

Then it's as I suspected, Amazon is blocking them from shipping to your country. All 3 of those examples are in stock for US customers.

[mande2013]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

How many quality control incidents have there been with Criterion in recent times? I can only recall the Citizen Kane, and Hard Day's Night ones, which were resolved in a relatively quick time. There's a bigger issue on the distribution side with the Mexican replication plant scratching discs, but I'm not sure what Criterion can do about this as it's one of the only plants left in NA. I could understand if there were several releases that have had QC issues, and ideally it shouldn't happen at all, but if you're just talking about two titles out of the many they're releasing, then I'm not entirely sure your post is warranted.

I was referring more to the scratched discs. Yes.

[gbm82]

Originally Posted by mande2013

I was referring more to the scratched discs. Yes.

scratched discs aren't really a criterion thing though. that's a manufacturing issue and there's not really many options....

[BunyipPouch]

Originally Posted by gbm82

scratched discs aren't really a criterion thing though. that's a manufacturing issue and there's not really many options....

I have it on good authority that Jon Mulvaney (Criterion Customer Service Legend) personally scratches every disc before they are sealed and shipped. I've heard he also has very long and sharp nails. I plan on boycotting Criterion until his vandalism is stopped.

[gbm82]

Originally Posted by BunyipPouch

I have it on good authority that Jon Mulvaney (Criterion Customer Service Legend) personally scratches every disc before they are sealed and shipped. I've heard he also has very long and sharp nails. I plan on boycotting Criterion until his vandalism is stopped.

You're right. I'm actually Mulvaney and I only scratch the discs for people I don't like.

[WillieMLF]

Originally Posted by mande2013

The decline of Criterion quality control is partly why I'm only sticking to buying their UHDs that are ABSOLUTE MUST OWNS for me. Otherwise, I can hope for an Arrow, BFI, or a release from the rights owner ala StudioCanal. The only CC 4Ks I have are Le Cercle Rouge, Citizen Kane, and The Red Shoes. I also ordered Raging Bull, and I'll probably get Blow Out too.

So even if they do eventually release UHDs of titles like Barry Lyndon, Eyes Wide Shut, and heck, why not North by Northwest, they'd probably get WB UHDs in Europe anyway.

The issue may partly be that Criterion (albeit somewhat less than KL) simply tend to release too many films at a time, giving them less time to focus their efforts on each individual release. Consider how Arrow, Indicator and BFI tend to trickle them out more.

Criterion and Kino seem to operate with a philosophy of "get 'em out there and make 'em available".

Finally, someone who gets IT! Criterion is releasing TOO MANY films.....

[MifuneFan]

If the main "quality control" issue that he's referring to are the scratched discs then it doesn't make a single difference if they release 1 disc a month or 10 since the scratched discs have nothing to do with the amount of titles Criterion are releasing.

[MifuneFan]

Janus Films is credited for new screenings of One Way or Another (1974) from Afro-Cuban director Sara Gómez:

[Rayjg]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

janus Films is credited for new screenings of One Way or Another (1974) from Afro-Cuban director Sara Gómez:

Feminist? Communist? Neorealist? Plain? Sounds like fun for the whole family