The Criterion Collection

[jw007]

Originally Posted by scarletlion

Nah this is rubbish. It's more like the streaming technology isn't fit for purpose. I have a 300Mb connection. It works flawlessly downloading and uploading at superlight speeds. Then I try the MUBI app, which has loads of films I would love to watch and I want to support MUBI as I love what they do. But it doesn't work properly. Films look blurred, pixelated, crushed blacks, banding everywhere - and that's when the quality of feed isn't zoning in and out which happens every 5 or 6 minutes while trying to find the optimum image quality. It's garbage.

You can download their films but you have to watch from a PC or tablet. Nothing in the home media market touches physical.

I'd watch the Criterion channel to find out which criterion discs I'd like to own - but of course it's not available where I live.

Yes, I totally agree with this. These apps have glitches and I sometimes wonder if its because there are so many people using these streaming services at once that it slows everything down on their servers. It doesn't have anything to do with home internet speed if you have lightning fast connections cause its a poorly designed app that gives you subpar quality and frustrating technical issues.

And since I only watch films on my laser projector (an Android TV Smart Projector) with a 150 x 150 inch screen, I still cannot download digital copies unlike in a phone or tablet. But why on earth would I want to watch on a phone or tablet with a screen smaller than 10 inches compared to that? There's just no going back for me. These streaming apps are a bunch of bollocks.

[Robert Furmanek]

Some data and new research that I've compiled from primary source documents.

WAR OF THE WORLDS was first previewed for the trades in standard ratio (1.37:1) with mono optical sound at Paramount Studios on Feb 20, 1953. Variety published a review on March 4.

It opened in the UK in standard ratio and mono sound on April 3, 1953 at Paramount's 1,896 seat Plaza Theatre on Lower Regent Street, just south of Piccadilly Circus.

Initially announced for US release in May 1953, it was pulled out of that release date "after the panoramic possibilities became apparent" (Film Bulletin: June 1, 1953: https://archive.org/details/filmbull...p?view=theater)

The US premiere in re-tooled 1.66:1 widescreen and three-channel magnetic stereophonic sound was held at the massive 4,189 seat Warner Theatre on the boardwalk in Atlantic City on July 29, 1953.

http://www.incinerama.com/warnerac.htm

From there it went to New York's Mayfair Theatre on August 13.

The information presented in the Criterion release about the original stereophonic sound is inaccurate. Their research team confused a Dorset Panaphonic Sound test (mono optical steered to three speakers via control tones) with the actual discrete three-channel magnetic interlock stereo release.

Selected clips from WotW were shown to industry reps in a demonstration of Dorset Panaphonic Sound on the Paramount lot on September 24, 1953 (after WotW was in wide release) but it was never shown to the public theatrically in that system.

Criterion indicated the original stereo sound was minimal and anemic which is not accurate. The original high-fidelity magnetic stereo was, by all accounts, highly directional. Sadly, like all of the other Paramount stereophonic releases in 1953, it is now lost.

http://www.3dfilmarchive.com/the-fir...eophonic-sound

[Robert Furmanek]

August 13, 1953

[gbm82]

*puts on Netflix with flawless playback

[HipsterTrash]

Originally Posted by gbm82

*puts on Netflix with flawless playback

*just to watch the Kissing Booth trilogy*

[gbm82]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

*just to watch the Kissing Booth trilogy*

so that's you peering in the window?!

[CRASHLANDING]

Originally Posted by scarletlion

Nah this is rubbish. It's more like the streaming technology isn't fit for purpose. I have a 300Mb connection. It works flawlessly downloading and uploading at superlight speeds. Then I try the MUBI app, which has loads of films I would love to watch and I want to support MUBI as I love what they do. But it doesn't work properly. Films look blurred, pixelated, crushed blacks, banding everywhere - and that's when the quality of feed isn't zoning in and out which happens every 5 or 6 minutes while trying to find the optimum image quality. It's garbage.

Originally Posted by jw007

Yes, I totally agree with this. These apps have glitches and I sometimes wonder if its because there are so many people using these streaming services at once that it slows everything down on their servers. It doesn't have anything to do with home internet speed if you have lightning fast connections cause its a poorly designed app that gives you subpar quality and frustrating technical issues.

These streaming apps are a bunch of bollocks.

You both seem to conclude that streaming is the problem because of your own experience. But do you really think millions of people just tolerate video that constantly glitches out or buffers while being watched? That is not the case for most. Sure, there are limitations, and occasionally problems. And sadly those limitations can be more pronounced on the cinephile services like MUBI and Criterion, which don't have the resources for cutting-edge apps and limitless server farms.

But I never understand why some feel the need to belittle streaming. We can all agree (especially on these forums) that discs offer a superior AV experience. But streaming has many advantages and is a great complementary option to physical media for most people. I'm sorry for those who've had such negative experiences with it.

[kwr212]

Streaming has its place. There are a bunch of classic movies available in HD that are probably relegated to DVD forever in physical format. It seems lately unless something has a recent pristine 4K restoration, it is not getting a Blu-ray upgrade, so we are stuck with ancient DVDs for some early Criterion titles for which there are decent 1080p versions available through various services. Streaming/digital rentals/digital purchases have also replaced the video rental store for 99% of the world, and plenty of titles that are long OOP on physical are $4.99 or less for a digital copy. These aren't bad things.

As for streaming quality, there are variables such as the device you are using, your connection speed, and the app itself. Some apps don't match frame rate on one device but do on another, another app is only 4K HDR on select devices only, sometimes different services will have different transfers/cuts of a film, and so on, while physical media is the same across the board as long as you have a player and compatible screen. I will gladly upgrade digital copies to disc when available for these reasons, in addition to superior A/V quality and no worry about rights issues. In many ways, physical media is much simpler. The only downside I am experiencing now is how much physical space it takes up. Moving is such a pain with a large collection.

[gudemameshiba]

Originally Posted by CRASHLANDING

But do you really think millions of people just tolerate video that constantly glitches out or buffers while being watched?

I have no dog in this fight but I do think that the posters on this forum are not a representative sample of the viewing public when it comes to annoyance level when mapped against degree of compromise of visual quality. Think of how many people never turn off motion smoothing on their televisions.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by scarletlion

You can download their films but you have to watch from a PC or tablet. Nothing in the home media market touches physical.

Except Kaliedascape, which is better than physical. Large file sizes, and still compressed, but indistinguishable from DCPs.

[filmlover22]

That's some big financial investment. Agree that is a nice alternative.

[CRASHLANDING]

Originally Posted by gudemameshiba

I have no dog in this fight but I do think that the posters on this forum are not a representative sample of the viewing public when it comes to annoyance level when mapped against degree of compromise of visual quality. Think of how many people never turn off motion smoothing on their televisions.

That's absolutely true, we are the toughest audience! And believe me, streaming issues are real and super annoying when they happen - but I still think that's less frequent than it's sometimes portrayed.

I was only making the case that if we think of streaming as a complementary medium to physical (rather than a replacement), it has a lot of positives to balance the negatives. Personally I love the convenience, portability and ease of sharing with others (not to mention that it requires no precious shelf space )

[scarletlion]

Originally Posted by CRASHLANDING

You both seem to conclude that streaming is the problem because of your own experience. But do you really think millions of people just tolerate video that constantly glitches out or buffers while being watched?

Yes.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by CRASHLANDING

You both seem to conclude that streaming is the problem because of your own experience. But do you really think millions of people just tolerate video that constantly glitches out or buffers while being watched? That is not the case for most. Sure, there are limitations, and occasionally problems. And sadly those limitations can be more pronounced on the cinephile services like MUBI and Criterion, which don't have the resources for cutting-edge apps and limitless server farms.

But I never understand why some feel the need to belittle streaming. We can all agree (especially on these forums) that discs offer a superior AV experience. But streaming has many advantages and is a great complementary option to physical media for most people. I'm sorry for those who've had such negative experiences with it.

How do you come to the assumption: "that is not the case for most"?

Show me a poll. I'd like to see the results.

Maybe its my projector, who knows. If that's the case, I blame Epson.

[Gacivory]

Welcome to the Streaming Collection!

[jw007]

Streaming is the future for Criterion. It shouldn't be hush hushed or made into a taboo. If that happens, I'll miss the old days of real Criterion physical media.

[BunyipPouch]

Originally Posted by jw007

Streaming is the future for Criterion.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by BunyipPouch

Oh, I meant, streaming isn't the future and its going to go the way of the dinosaur.

J/K.

[jw007]

To change the subject, how many people here miss the Criterion Eclipse cult films series?

I still love my Aki Kaurismäki Eclipse 12 and 29 DVD box sets.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by jw007

Man, I hate streaming. I just tried to watch The Batman on HBO Max. The goddamn app kept freezing on me. How could anyone watch a 3 hour movie this way?

PHYSICAL MEDIA FOREVER! Long live Blu-ray!

I miss my Criterion blu-ray discs that are all in storage at my locker in NJ.

Streaming is for amateurs.

Originally Posted by jw007

To change the subject, how many people here miss the Criterion Eclipse cult films series?

I still love my Aki Kaurismäki Eclipse 12 and 29 DVD box sets.

So happy to see you came around to stopping the off topic posts that you started and want to get this thread back on track. The Kaurismaki DVD sets were great but I won’t give up my Kaurismaki Artificial Eye Blu-Ray set from England.