The Criterion Collection

[Warm Gun]

What do you think are the chances of Woman in the Dunes getting remastered soon? I'm hesitant about getting a dated master and know it's one of Japan's most known art movies (so maybe higher priority for their studios).

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by ukulelemonster

If Night of the Living Dead, Cure, Arsenic & Old Lace are indeed the other titles in addition to the confirmed Lost Highway, then this might be the most "Halloween" Criterion has ever been. Not that I'm complaining since I've always wanted Criterion to release more horror and horror adjacent films.

Along with the rumored Warner Archive releases, October's gonna really hurt my wallet.

One thing I really want to know is this: who has I Walked With a Zombie and why are they holding it hostage?

My guess is either Criterion or WAC. It’s probably MIA because the existing print is not too good. Every time it shows up on TCM I hope it’s going to look better but it still has the same damage that’s on the old dvd.

[Jorvic]

Would be great if one of the 4K UHDs is Boogie Nights. It's crying out for a release on the format.

[spacekitty]

Originally Posted by Bradsdadg

Could the 1997 US title be Lolita? I know Imprint has theirs coming out in September...

That would be great. But considering its subject matter, I wouldn't be surprised if no American label wanted to pick it up.

[SGFfilmfan]

Wait, don't they have "The Sweet Hereafter" from 1997?

[mastadge]

Originally Posted by SGFfilmfan

Wait, don't they have "The Sweet Hereafter" from 1997?

Canadian production, no?

[trobrianders]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

Hopefully the 1944 USA film is The Miracle of Morgan's Creek.

One to strike from my sig.

[apearson28]

I want the 1944 to be Arsenic and old lace too but I wouldn’t be surprised if it is Miracle of Morgan’s Creek or Hail the Conquering Hero

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by apearson28

I want the 1944 to be Arsenic and old lace too but I wouldn’t be surprised if it is Miracle at Morgan’s Creek or Hail the Conquering Hero

It's October. It's definitely Arsenic.

[Mothravka]

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

What do you think are the chances of Woman in the Dunes getting remastered soon? I'm hesitant about getting a dated master and know it's one of Japan's most known art movies (so maybe higher priority for their studios).

No idea, but a nice 4K Blu-ray would be very nice!

[Mindfather]

It's gonna start getting real awkward if most of the upcoming releases don't start becoming predominantly 4K.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Mindfather

It's gonna start getting real awkward if most of the upcoming releases don't start becoming predominantly 4K.

Not really.The 4K market is still way too small to support niche films getting 4K releases. Very few labels, aside from maybe Vinegar Syndrome, and some horror labels (like Synapse) can get away with releasing 4K titles of more obscure/underground stuff. For bigger labels, it just doesn't make much business sense to do it right now. You also have to factor in that Criterion very likely can't get 4K rights to every one of their releases. We still don't know if Toho will give them 4K rights to any of their stuff. Then there are other situations like the titles licensed from Studiocanal, where it very much appears that they can't release it in 4K until SC has done the same internationally.

[NeilZ]

Originally Posted by Frankie S

‘I Know Where I’m Going!’ is British not American.

Good point.

[NeilZ]

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

What do you think are the chances of Woman in the Dunes getting remastered soon? I'm hesitant about getting a dated master and know it's one of Japan's most known art movies (so maybe higher priority for their studios).

I would think very low, but I could be wrong. On the whole they haven't been getting upgraded unless they're also cult favorites. Besides when it comes to Japanese movies Criterion seems to have pulled the brakes. There's still many Kurosawa films that Criterion holds that they haven't even gotten to blu ray yet. I wish Criterion would go back to its roots.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by NeilZ

I wish Criterion would go back to its roots.

Please elaborate on what you define as Criterion's roots.

[DimitriL]

Originally Posted by NeilZ

I would think very low, but I could be wrong. On the whole they haven't been getting upgraded unless they're also cult favorites. Besides when it comes to Japanese movies Criterion seems to have pulled the brakes. There's still many Kurosawa films that Criterion holds that they haven't even gotten to blu ray yet. I wish Criterion would go back to its roots.

They haven’t pulled the brakes - we just got An Actor’s Revenge, The Funeral, Drive My Car and After Life. And many Japanese films are notorious for their rights issues.

I would certainly love even more Japanese films, they’re a crucial linchpin of cinema, but they’re also better represented in the collection than any other non-English speaking country except perhaps France and Italy, and I’m delighted to be getting a broader view of world cinema in the collection.

[Cremildo]

An Actor's Revenge was released 4 years ago.

[jkoffman]

Originally Posted by Mindfather

It's gonna start getting real awkward if most of the upcoming releases don't start becoming predominantly 4K.

I guess I might be reposting this over and over again. It's been nearly a year since Criterion announced their first 4K release. Since then, they've announced a total of 18. Of those, only 7 are upgrades from previous Criterion BDs. I wouldn't expect that many upgrades from their collection of over 1000 titles. UHD still sells less than BD, which sells even less than DVD. It's a niche format in a now very niche domain, not to mention the increased costs in restoring and producing them.

[The Sovereign]

Originally Posted by SanCarolina59

Same guy who leaked the prior announcements posted this about the October announcements:

Man, the potential here is dizzying. Really looking forward to Monday for a change. And even more so, October!

[Mindfather]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Not really.The 4K market is still way too small to support niche films getting 4K releases. Very few labels, aside from maybe Vinegar Syndrome, and some horror labels (like Synapse) can get away with releasing 4K titles of more obscure/underground stuff. For bigger labels, it just doesn't make much business sense to do it right now. You also have to factor in that Criterion very likely can't get 4K rights to every one of their releases. We still don't know if Toho will give them 4K rights to any of their stuff. Then there are other situations like the titles licensed from Studiocanal, where it very much appears that they can't release it in 4K until SC has done the same internationally.

Scream Factory is doing it. Species 4K just arrived today. Is that less niche than the rest of the David Lynch/DePalma/Croenenberg catalog (and many others)? I'm not saying do every movie 4K if it doesn't make sense, but they need to pivot and focus on releasing ALL the ones that do garner 4K soon.

Also, you are underestimating the 4K market, would anyone expect that Kino Lorber would be dunking on Criterion? Its been happening consistently. One of the main topics on this thread is predicting which releases will be upgraded soon.