The Criterion Collection

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by ravenus

These had 4k resto's that looked pretty great on their Arrow and Second Run releases. The fact that Arrow Academy's 2015 release of Firemen's Ball still hasn't sold out on Amz UK is indicative of what the sales potential is for these releases. Maybe that's one of the reasons?

It's easy to forget or disregard or just plain overlook this aspect of physical media when we start rattling off our Wantlists. Some titles just have no marketability at all and maybe we don't want to admit to ourselves because it's a personal favorite, but the reality is that labels don't want to cater to a minority demographic who champion a film that won't make a dime.

[poisonmail]

So our wishlists should only include commercially successful juggernauts or what? I’m sick of the mindset in the collector community that we should behave ourselves and only ask for what’s reasonable. Sorry for not being a bean counter, I want silent films and weird stuff and I will keep asking for it all I want and I’ll let the people who work for the companies worry about what’s economically feasible.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by poisonmail

So our wishlists should only include commercially successful juggernauts or what? I’m sick of the mindset in the collector community that we should behave ourselves and only ask for what’s reasonable. Sorry for not being a bean counter, I want silent films and weird stuff and I will keep asking for it all I want and I’ll let the people who work for the companies worry about what’s economically feasible.

You're overreacting to what I posted. I was not suggesting people only post Wantlists with titles that plausibly stand a chance of being released, what would be the point in that? But I was definitely saying accept the reality and don't whine and moan every time a more obscure or esoteric title from your list is never announced. In other words, live in the real world, but go ahead and put your fantasy world out there as much as you like.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by ravenus

These had 4k resto's that looked pretty great on their Arrow and Second Run releases. The fact that Arrow Academy's 2015 release of Firemen's Ball still hasn't sold out on Amz UK is indicative of what the sales potential is for these releases. Maybe that's one of the reasons?

Arrow releases aren’t limited. The booklet and slipcover are limited. So like other Arrow titles, Fireman’s Ball will keep being sold until their license runs out.

[edmoney]

Originally Posted by Vinyl

I was thinking about Criterion releases that are hidden gems that you never hear discussed, specifically thinking about Patriotism. I then thought about the dvd era and how cheap it was to throw something on a disc back then. Now people want brand new scans that look pristine. I feel in doing so we are missing out on getting updates to releases that are a few decades old at this point for what we have now. Those decades old discs are mainly forgotten about.

I wanted to highlight some old Criterions that will probably never get an upgrade. I would also like everyone else’s takes and releases that would fit the criteria. I leaving out a lot of Japanese films because of the vocal few who talk about them. I know there are others can think of, but this is just off the top of my head.

Patriotism by Yukio Mishima
Eisenstein: The Sound Years
The Testament of Dr Mabuse
Unfaithfully Yours
The Monsters and Madmen box
The Firemen’s Ball
Loves of a Blonde
Divorce Italian Style

Why couldn't Eisenstein: The Sound Years get an upgrade? I know Ivan the Terrible got a Blu-ray release in France from Bach Films. There are also Mosfilm restorations of the films (although not sure if it was used on the aforementioned Blu-ray).

[jshaide]

I’m still holding out on the Forman’s. I keep thinking it’ll be a three set with Black Peter in it too.

Soooo many things from that period of time I’m hopeful for. The Lean Dickens pair also comes to mind, Eisenstein for sure.

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

It's easy to forget or disregard or just plain overlook this aspect of physical media when we start rattling off our Wantlists. Some titles just have no marketability at all and maybe we don't want to admit to ourselves because it's a personal favorite, but the reality is that labels don't want to cater to a minority demographic who champion a film that won't make a dime.

Especially now where we the consumer is demanding the highest possible quality at a reasonable price. Demographics changed drastically in the past few decades, and the labels know that fact, and have changed course because of that shift.

Labels are not throwing out junk releases because of the cost of everything involved being significantly more than ever mixed with the shrinking market and change in consumer demographic. Gone are the days where labels could put an untouched transfer on disc and sell it like gangbusters. They can hardly put a low bit rate transfer on disc without some people not buying solely for that reason.

Also, gone are the days where the consumer finds a favorite movie has a brand new physical release by seeing it on the shelf. We endlessly discuss new releases months before we even lay eyes on them.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by Vinyl

Especially now where we the consumer is demanding the highest possible quality at a reasonable price. Demographics changed drastically in the past few decades, and the labels know that fact, and have changed course because of that shift.

Labels are not throwing out junk releases because of the cost of everything involved being significantly more than ever mixed with the shrinking market and change in consumer demographic. Gone are the days where labels could put an untouched transfer on disc and sell it like gangbusters. They can hardly put a low bit rate transfer on disc without some people not buying solely for that reason.

Also, gone are the days where the consumer finds a favorite movie has a brand new physical release by seeing it on the shelf. We endlessly discuss new releases months before we even lay eyes on them.

Of course people like us who frequent sites like this live in our own worlds when it comes to films and physical media and our reflections of same don't necessarily translate beyond it, but it has been interesting and gratifying to see that labels can still survive without the masses passing their approval. In other words, it's a good thing many of us collector's have disposable income to not only request the best something can be, but to help make that happen with our purchasing habits. When movies on discs first started who would have ever guessed the sheer amount of cult, catalog and seemingly obscure choices that might someday be released and in editions so gold we never could have hoped for it or dreamed of it.

Honestly, back at the beginning did anyone predict that the most obscure martial arts titles from Asia would not only find success and with potential buyers and audiences demanding they be treated with the utmost of respect and honor? Or Tod Slaughter ending up being bestowed the accolades of a Van Gough or Monet? We are living in the best of times when it comes to showcasing film history and not just history from college courses or French critics or New Yorker snobs, but ALL of film history.

[RojD]

Originally Posted by Jackie Scanlon

Also worth noting Lynch/Oz is filled entirely with subjective opinions and suppositions (most of them very dry and academic ) based on nothing more than the fact Lynch is a fan of the film. I thought it was rubbish, but John Waters' segment is pretty good. Probably the only thing worth watching it for.

Not filled entirely; there were a few facts. The Wizard of Oz was released in 1939, for example. LOL! And I won't go down a rabbit hole about "subjective."

I was expecting something complicated and elliptical from a documentary with complicated and elliptical filmmakers talking about a complicated and elliptical filmmaker. I actually enjoyed hearing what each filmmaker picked up on in The Wizard of Oz and brought to watching Lynch. I thought they all had fun with it, and I had fun listening to them, especially Kusama, Lowery and Moorhead (whose films I don't even like).

And I'm pretty sure I'll bring some of their responses to Lynch the next time I rewatch one of his films. I had a good time with these guys. I might even rewatch The Wizard of Oz.

[koberulz]

"Documentary of film analyses has too much film analysis" is a weird take.

[Bates_Motel]

And there it is, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me 4K.

[ZeeCobra]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

And there it is, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me 4K.

My genuine reaction. I know there was a French release scheduled, but last I saw it seemed to have been cancelled. Now we've got true confirmation - what an incredible start to the year!

[NeoNical]

There was also the German 4K steelbook that was supposed to have come out this month I believe but it's been delayed millions of times (Set for June for now).

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

Arrow releases aren’t limited. The booklet and slipcover are limited. So like other Arrow titles, Fireman’s Ball will keep being sold until their license runs out.

But the Arrow Academy line is dead since at least 2021 (their existing licenses were relabeled as Arrow Video), and I doubt they were doing blu-ray+DVD combo packs after 2018, so you're talking about a run at least that old.

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by JoelGoodsen

I recently spoke to one of the actors from Risky Business and asked them if they had heard anything about a 4K disc release. They said they haven’t been contacted for special features, but they heard it was with Criterion.

Pure speculation, but this would make sense, even more so since Warner didn’t release the film on 4K last year for the 40th anniversary.

Between this and the update on Kickboxer, your return to the forum has been a particularly glorious one.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by jshaide

I’m still holding out on the Forman’s. I keep thinking it’ll be a three set with Black Peter in it too.

Just saying that all these releases sourced from 4K resto's are region-free, and from labels that put as much care into their catalog as Criterion does:

[GenPion]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

And there it is, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me 4K.

Even better if it's some sort of Criterion box-set with the entire series and film on 4K UHD (as rumored).

[koberulz]

Originally Posted by ravenus

But the Arrow Academy line is dead since at least 2021 (their existing licenses were relabeled as Arrow Video), and I doubt they were doing blu-ray+DVD combo packs after 2018, so you're talking about a run at least that old.

They're just not branding the releases separately anymore, they're not reprinting the old AA discs with new artwork.

[JoelGoodsen]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

Between this and the update on Kickboxer, your return to the forum has been a particularly glorious one.

Going out in a blaze of glory! Haha. Would be some year getting Kickboxer uncut 4K and Risky Business 4K. Until they are in our hands though, it is all dust in the wind my friend!

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by GenPion

Even better if it's some sort of Criterion box-set with the entire series and film on 4K UHD (as rumored).

I have a draft of my Z to A set on eBay for the second a full series is maybe announced.