The Criterion Collection

[FloJoe85]

Originally Posted by regeyer

Until Criterion starts providing English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing for the extras, I couldn't care less whether a new release even has extras. Criterion only provides subtitles for extras spoken in "foreign" languages. You would think that in 2023 that Criterion would finally provide such an accommodation for the disabled. Yet they refuse to.

I'm with you on the request, but I'm quite sure the costs are the only reason, not because Criterion is purposefully trying to shortchange the disabled community. Is there another boutique that provides them for extras?

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by koberulz

It costs a ton of money.

The cost of doing business my friend.

Ironically, if they show an extra on the Criterion Channel it has the subtitles. Why? I'm assuming it's required by law. Yet, on the discs, no subtitles.

[FloJoe85]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

Haven’t Criterion releases stayed at $40 MRSP/$30 on the website and most retailers/$20 on sale for at least the past decade though? And $30 MRSP for a release with limited extras is still $10 more than a lot of new studio releases.

What studio has new releases with MSRP below $30?

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by FloJoe85

Is there another boutique that provides them for extras?

Vinegar Syndrome does.

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by bonehica

If you enjoyed that, definitely check out Tokyo Drifter!

Definitely a great blind buy for me. It’s not as over the top as Branded to Kill! but definitely has some amazing scenes, one of my most favorite scenes of all time being the black and white over-exposed first scene, and great use of color after that.

Originally Posted by NeilZ

Yeah Japanese movies which used to be among the best represented by Criterion in the DVD age, is currently very highly underrepresented.

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Yeah, I do hope they start releasing more Japanese films soon. I wouldn't mind their lack of Japanese releases if they simply didn't have the home vide rights to so many of them.

From what has been said here, they have to be released in Japan first, then the international market can get their chance at it. Not sure why in the last few years creeping toward a decade it’s been like pulling a stubborn tooth to get certain films from certain studios. I don’t mind waiting if I know distribution deals are being worked out, but in the meantime I am losing my interest and looking elsewhere besides Criterion for purchasing films. What they have on offer these days looks great, but not interested enough for a purchase. A positive in this is me branching out and watching and purchasing different things from different distributors.

[NeoNical]

Happy 40th Anniversary to Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence and 50th Anniversary to Fantastic Planet

Janus Films recently uploaded via Instagram an interview with Sakamoto and Bowie discussing their film, Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence. As a 4K restoration does exist and given a Japanese theatrical re-release back in December, maybe we can expect a 4K of this eventually. The color grading is, however, much more darker and heavier on the green colors in comparison to the current edition. It’s surprising that some scenes like the first shot in chapter 2 of the Blu-ray is now a literal day-to-night difference with the 4K restoration because of how dark it is. Colors are obviously much deeper although I don’t know how this will really turn out to be on home video. This restoration did actually appear in the Moonage Daydream documentary that came out on HBO Max a week or two ago as well.

Speaking of Oshima: In the Realm of the Senses, Empire of Passion, and Cruel Story of Youth all have 4K restorations that haven’t seen the light of day in the US market as well (Realm and Empire were released by Umbrella and Youth’s Eureka MoC release is OOP). Hoping to see more of his works become available again to the public.

[qw0aszx]

Originally Posted by NeoNical

As a 4K restoration does exist and given a Japanese theatrical re-release back in December, maybe we can expect a 4K of this eventually. The color grading is, however, much more darker and heavier on the green colors in comparison to the current edition.

It may be difficult for this 4K version to be licensed out, I believe Oshima Production owns this film in Japan while Studio Canal owns the international rights. But the 4K restoration was done by Oshima Production only without any involvement with Studio Canal, from the original camera negatives kept by Oshima Production. Shanghai International Film Festival managed to show this 4K restored version in 2021, they basically have to license it twice, from both Oshima Production and Studio Canal and have to got approval from both of them. It's clear that they have no intentions to show this 4K restored version overseas because the 4K DCP shown at Shanghai is still one with burnt-in Japanese subtitles, the one they made for re-release screenings in Japan.
I had the chance to see this version at that year's Shanghai Film Festival, the colors are very different from the old HD version but I do not find it too distracting as some of Eclair's green filtered restorations, it actually works good in many scenes. However it do have noticeable DNR applied to the image, not a disaster but definitely from light to medium DNR.

[ShellOilJunior]

I think the new Criterion/Janus setup is a good deal. It's a way of getting movies on physical media that might not otherwise receive a release (or at least not a release for a long while with Criterion releasing 5-7 movies a month). If the movie being released is available in another region, then it provides the consumer with another option.

More than anything, I'm excited for Barnes and Noble because the retailer hasn't sold CC releases for $15 since coupon codes were outlawed during the sale (which never ends of course).

[FloJoe85]

Originally Posted by regeyer

Vinegar Syndrome does.

I wish these companies we spend so much time with would be more forthcoming with their costs and share more about how they operate. It could certainly clear the air about any number of issues that regularly get brought up here. While I don't appreciate the attitude of that one KLI rep, they have dropped some important details and figures from time to time here that makes me more understanding of the choices companies are faced with. Criterion virtually never lets you see behind the curtain, after nearly 40 years in business.

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

If the movie being released is available in another region, then it provides the consumer with another option.

The UK Blu-rays of No Bears and T&L are barebones, which is why I really hope the Criterion/Janus releases are as good as they can be. I’m doubtful Godland will get a UK Blu-ray, as Curzon have been cutting back on UK discs outside of classic reissues. French/Italian/Dutch releases of The Eight Mountains don’t have English subtitles - same with Godland. I also wonder if we’ll hear anything about Lynch/Oz or All that Breathes - plus some of this year’s Sideshow Berlinale acquisitions like Orlando My Political Biography, Afire, Totem.

[bsend]

Originally Posted by FloJoe85

I wish these companies we spend so much time with would be more forthcoming with their costs and share more about how they operate. It could certainly clear the air about any number of issues that regularly get brought up here. While I don't appreciate the attitude of that one KLI rep, they have dropped some important details and figures from time to time here that makes me more understanding of the choices companies are faced with. Criterion virtually never lets you see behind the curtain, after nearly 40 years in business.

I feel most businesses in general don't want to share their costs for many different reasons. It's certainly nice to get a behind the scenes look and a better understanding of the process. I'm sure anything related to licensing and restoration fees might hurt their future negotiating or more fans asking for a difference in price. Not to say it might be a premium cost for the product, but I feel like it would only come with more headaches to let their customers know information about the business.

[ShellOilJunior]

I don't think Criterion has an obligation to disclose business costs and practices. If they were publicly traded, that would be another matter.

[FloJoe85]

Originally Posted by regeyer

Vinegar Syndrome does.

I was gonna pop some of mine in to see how they fare, but didn't get a chance yet. Do they offer subs for their special features on all of their releases? How long have they been doing that?

[FloJoe85]

Originally Posted by bsend

I feel most businesses in general don't want to share their costs for many different reasons. It's certainly nice to get a behind the scenes look and a better understanding of the process. I'm sure anything related to licensing and restoration fees might hurt their future negotiating or more fans asking for a difference in price. Not to say it might be a premium cost for the product, but I feel like it would only come with more headaches to let their customers know information about the business.

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I don't think Criterion has an obligation to disclose business costs and practices. If they were publicly traded, that would be another matter.

Don't get me wrong. I understand the reasons from a business perspective to not share their own specific figures, per se. But obviously there are ways to discuss it more generally, give ranges of costs for such things as special features, commentary, subtitling, etc. It's not like Kino or somebody else would have some huge advantage if Criterion or anyone spoke about any of these industry standard costs. I guess I was just hoping that somebody like a Criterion who has been in business for decades, is well respected, and often takes a scholarly and public friendly view on educating might tackle a few behind-the-scenes subjects. Instead we're left with years of posts like "Why doesn't [this company] offer [this feature] or release [this movie]?" Presumably bloggers and tweeters don't want to write that story because they think it'll bite the boutique hand that feeds them, so the cycle continues. Let the forum "experts" rule! lol.

[MifuneFan]

Predictions:

Saint Omer
The Big Chill 4K
The Devil and Daniel Webster
CODA 4K
Heroic Trio / Executioners (or other HK action film)

[Brad1963]

my predictions for August:

The Age of Innocence (UHD upgrade)
American Factory
High Hopes (1988)
Saint Omer
Sólo con tu pareja (BD upgrade)

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by FloJoe85

I was gonna pop some of mine in to see how they fare, but didn't get a chance yet. Do they offer subs for their special features on all of their releases? How long have they been doing that?

I can't say they do. All I know is that the extensive extras on Road House all have English subtitles.

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I don't think Criterion has an obligation to disclose business costs and practices. If they were publicly traded, that would be another matter.

I agree. But just as they have to pay for a wheelchair ramp to access their offices, pay for handicap bathrooms, and other assorted fees, they should pay to caption everything on the discs, including the extras. It's the cost of doing business.

But, realistically, they're not going to do it until the government forces them to.

[Christ ooo]

Straw Dogs 4K maybe

[Egbert Souse]

Got a hunch Criterion will do a 4K of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World this year.

Also, I'd expect Lindsay Anderson's O Lucky Man! as well, unless Warner Archive is handling it instead.