The Criterion Collection

[Kenneth M]

Originally Posted by DimitriL

There's no way that a private plant would even begin to justify its costs. That's a long-term, slender margin investment that requires spectacular amounts of capital and a ton of clients to keep it running. And there's already waiting lists for critical parts at existing plants, not to mention that demand for physical media is not exactly on an upward curve.

If I was a CEO of a company and did such a thing in the current economic state of the industry, I would fully expect not only to be fired but escorted off the premises in a perp walk.

Wow! Dramatic!!

Dimitri, maybe Vinegar Syndrome isn't a catalog that you peruse, but their business model should be one you explore. They have purchased their own 4k and BD manufacturing equipment and do their own restorations. They also allow for "partner labels" where new or existing companies can source everything in-house, including distribution. What if Criterion were to follow suit? What if they were to offer partnerships with other labels, replete with a little "Criterion Resored & Approved" moniker applied to side label projects. One thing I've learned in business is that competition breeds innovation, and this would only lead to better products for us, as well as expansion and growth of genre titles.

I am not for one second saying that this would be the vehicle for getting back the (likely) billions he spent on acquisition. Likewise, you made me a little confused when you scored a point against yourself by parroting that other plants are waiting for critical materials. That would support Criterion's need to get their own manufacturing equipment.

Where I am coming from is my own personal experience with Criterion. I began collecting Criterion titles in the 90's, going to pawn shops in the old-money side of town when people were dumping their pristine LD collections as DVD was starting to assert its dominance. I opened an eBay account in September of 2000 solely to bid on Criterion DVDs to add to my collection. I watched in horror as my "The Killer", "Salo", and "Hard Boiled" began to bronze and stop working. I supported them by buying the first BD releases which also had their own well documented issues. Now Criterion uses the infamous Mexico manufacturing plant where discs don't work and frequently arrive scratched. Criterion's quality has remained stagnant at best, while other labels have surpassed them. Please read a modern thread where everyone names their favorite manufacturer label. Criterion is largely mention with "used to be..." precursors. Personally, for me, it is a very sad state that Criterion is in. Especially for us that have been with them from the earlier days, championing them, as they took being the best very seriously.

I hope Steven Rales has experienced some of the things I experienced with Criterion. I hope he has purchased this, not as the shrewd businessman Steven Rales, but as the philanthropist Steven Rales. I hope he wants to right all of the previous and present sins of Criterion and put them back on top where many of us believe they should be.

I did check to see if I could find any quotes from Mr. Rales, just to get a barometer of him as a person and couldn't find anything. From what little I can discern from the short list of movies he's connected to, he has fine taste in cinema. And I know he's a very successful Jewish businessman. This will either hinder or help us, as with every successful Jewish businessman I know, there are no half-measures. Every decision is full out, or nothing at all. If nothing changes in a year, we will have our answer. He bought this solely to sit on and wait out the musical chairs and sinking ships of the streaming wars. And that would be a purely financial state of mind. I very much hope that's not the case here.

[Rayjg]

Originally Posted by dwk

Are you secretly one of the Deadpit Radio guys and trying to put Shout out of business?

Actually I’m 73-year-old billionaire Steve Rales. And by the way I’m in great shape

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Bradsdadg

Their quantity is already pretty solid when you think about it. Their quality isn't exactly the pinnacle of boutiques anymore. There are other companies that put out work that some would say is even better.

I don't know what will happen, but I'm hopefully it will still mean good things for all of us

Name three other companies that put out better quality restorations? Kino Lorber can't be one, right?

I am crossing my fingers regarding the change in ownership. But who knows, maybe the new billionaire owner will decide to make blu-ray editions out of all the existing DVDs!

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Rayjg

Actually I’m 73-year-old billionaire Steve Rales. And by the way I’m in great shape

Hi, 73 year old fit billionaire. Are you on the ketogenic diet too?

[Richard--W]

Originally Posted by Rayjg

Actually I’m 73-year-old billionaire Steve Rales. And by the way I’m in great shape

Since you're a billionaire you should fund my low-budget
independent film noir. To be shot it in 6K with a state-of-the-
art 3-D alternate to boost it at the box-office and on home
video. Just send me a check. Don't worry about the financial
return. It will come.

Originally Posted by jw007

Hi, 73 year old fit billionaire. Are you on the ketogenic diet too?

Since you're a billionaire you should fund my low-budget
suspense thriller. To be shot in 6K with a state-of-the-art
3-D alternate to boost it at the box-office and on home
video. Just send me a check. Don't worry about the
financial return. It will come.

Any other billionaires here?

[Richard--W]

Barnes & Noble is having a 30% off sale on Criterion.

Is the 50% off sale still happening, does anyone know?

Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid 30% off

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

Any other billionaires here?

Present.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

Barnes and Noble is having a 30% off sale on Criterion.

Is the 50% off sale still happening, does anyone know?

Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid 30% off

In July

[Richard--W]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

In July

So the 30% off sale is a precursor.

Okay, thanks.

[Bradsdadg]

Originally Posted by jw007

Name three other companies that put out better quality restorations? Kino Lorber can't be one, right?

I am crossing my fingers regarding the change in ownership. But who knows, maybe the new billionaire owner will decide to make blu-ray editions out of all the existing DVDs!

Second Sight, Vinegar Syndrome, Scream/Shout, Arrow. I'm not saying they are bad, just that they aren't #1 in the game anymore. I don't know if this new owner will be good or not, but I'm also not fixated on his wealth. I'll give him a chance for the time being.

[Namuhana]

SHOESHINE - Official 4K Restoration Trailer - YouTube

Really hoping we get a Criterion release of this sooner rather than later

[DimitriL]

Originally Posted by Kenneth M

Dimitri, maybe Vinegar Syndrome isn't a catalog that you peruse, but their business model should be one you explore. They have purchased their own 4k and BD manufacturing equipment and do their own restorations. They also allow for "partner labels" where new or existing companies can source everything in-house, including distribution. What if Criterion were to follow suit? What if they were to offer partnerships with other labels, replete with a little "Criterion Resored & Approved" moniker applied to side label projects. One thing I've learned in business is that competition breeds innovation, and this would only lead to better products for us, as well as expansion and growth of genre titles.

Always interesting to talk to someone who’s been into this for awhile. I’ve been collecting Criterion releases since 1987. I’m not gonna get into a discussion about quality, other than to say I’ve seen their ups and downs (I remember the outrage when they released a CAV set of Lawrence of Arabia with virtually no special features for that nosebleed price of $125). I personally have been extremely excited about their last couple of years of releases, with more and more interesting representation and discoveries. As for physical quality, well, the last five years have been disastrous for the industry at large, with recalls and authoring errors all over the place.

Anyway, Vinegar took advantage of a moment to get that replicating equipment (which makes more sense for a label that focuses on quantity, not a Criterion that’s virtually never broken 6 in a month outside of boxes). But the industry is consolidating. Disney’s gone to Sony. The reason why plants are waiting on critical parts is that crucial replacements don’t get made because of lack of demand. And that’s with the big players who can throw their weight around. Can you imagine what would happen to a boutique whose press fails with no available spare parts? It would destroy their business. I honestly get where you’re coming from - even a few years ago, it’s an interesting proposition - but right now, it’s mostly risk with very debatable reward.

[Ned Brainard]

I'm hoping that Rales likes The Wedding March, Captain Blood, and Trouble in Paradise.

[Ishai]

Originally Posted by DavidRoylance

Nobody buys a business unless there is very good cash flow before the new owner gets involved.

There are plenty of acquisitions of distressed companies that are losing money and are in a dying market or just somewhere in the middle where the new owner believes they can get that company to be more profitable.

You can't assume they have very good cash flow because someone acquired them, without knowing all of the transaction details and why he actually did it.

[MrGarmonbozia]

I appear to have asked my black ring question in the middle of a rumble 😜

[kenrik]

Is there a big difference between dvd extras and blu ray ones or are they the same?

Cause i might take the Guillermo del toro trilogy in dvd but im wondering if im gonna miss something.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by kenrik

Is there a big difference between dvd extras and blu ray ones or are they the same?

Cause i might take the Guillermo del toro trilogy in dvd but im wondering if im gonna miss something.

Anything that was simultaneously released in BD and DVD should have the same extras. But if you can afford the blu, you should go for it purely for the difference in A/V quality. UHD is the buzzword now but blu-ray was the first format that came near to representing cinema-level visual quality even on mid-sized home screens.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

Any other billionaires here?

I was merely responding to him with a question. Lol.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by Kenneth M

I watched in horror as my "The Killer", "Salo", and "Hard Boiled" began to bronze and stop working.

First I ever heard of that.

(Translation: I find that hard to believe… mine aren't bronzed in the slightest.)

[Richard--W]

Originally Posted by jw007

I was merely responding to him with a question. Lol.

I know. I was making a joke. Sort of.