The Criterion Collection

[benricci]

Originally Posted by postmodel

But a solid Blu-ray doesn’t mean they shouldn’t upgrade to 4K.

I think you've gotta understand that for a lot of us who've been collecting titles on home video for 30-40 years (or more), there's a lot of upgrade fatigue. Frankly, we'd rather see new titles hitting disc than just upgrades of old favorites that have all been on the market for years already.

Again, if you're pumped on 4K upgrades, that's awesome for you. Just try seeing it from other people's points-of-view too...

[IPreferPi]

Terrific lineup for November, coinciding with B&N's annual sale. My wallet just spontaneously combusted.

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by mclellandj

I think this is the first month I already own every single title in some other format (in Shape of Water's case, just different cover art).

I would say this does read like a "we need money" month.

I think most people feel this is a month of many desired titles finally getting upgrades.

[Watershipdownisgood]

I’m excited I don’t own any of these physically at all

Also three of my revised predictions were correct I knew Paper Moon was coming this month. This is great

I’m picking up
Paper Moon 4K yes thank you Criterion it’s about time
Seven Samurai 4K
Godzilla 4K
Funny Girl 4K
Scarface 4K more Howard Hawks count me in

Also wow this is a stacked month six titles that’s a lot of films. Also two Japanese 4K titles in the same month is pretty awesome.

[ponytail]

Originally Posted by Shanghai Express

Paper Moon is loooong overdue! Seven Samurai upgraded! That's Criterion. As for Scarface, Funny Girl, and Shape Of Water... three 4K upgrades of movies already available on fine Region A Blu-rays. That's Criterion running on fumes. I guess I just hate this era of superfluous 4K upgrades. But I hope they make a lot of money in November so they can afford to upgrade more of their DVD-only titles.

Yup, it’s hard for me to get excited about a bunch of 4k upgrades when they’re (presumably) sitting on stuff like Captain Blood and Top Hat.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by postmodel

I love the cover for The Shape of Water. I just adore when an image from the film is utilized…whether it’s an actual shot or an artist rendering.

It's an illustration from Greg Ruth, one of my favorite illustrators. He's done some pretty incredible illustrations for Criterion's covers in the past, including Notorious, The Others, Double Indemnity, The Power of the Dog, The Piano, and others.




I know there are some people that thought some of these were photos before it was pointed out to them.

[BunyipPouch]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I know there was a post where someone said the prediction lists seem too unrealstic, but if someone said the following were all coming in the same month, it would look pretty damn unrealistic. This is arguably the greatest single month slate Criterion has ever done.

Seven Samurai 4K
Godzilla 4K
Paper Moon 4K
Funny Girl 4K
Scarface (1932) 4K
The Shape of Water 4K

If you're a huge fan of upgrades, sure, but when 5 out of 6 are already available on already-great, relatively-recent, reasonably-priced blurays (including 3 from Criterion themselves), then the slate is totally meh. I knew that'd be the case with the move to 4K though, that a significant number of releases would simply be upgrades of blurays we already have. Bummer. I have 728 Criterion titles, not gonna re-buy them all for a 5-10% upgrade in visuals or whatever, so upgrade announcements are totally a waste for me unless it's an all-time favorite or something.

In and very happy and 100% in for Paper Moon though, awesome release, but my blurays for the rest will do just fine.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by dwk

Real monkey's paw situation for DukeTogo, two Japanese releases but they are just UHD upgrades.

Haha. Yeah, I'm pretty happy with the current BD's, but I'm not complaining too much as they gave me a most wanted title for October, so that prevents any real complaints from me for a little bit.

I do hope they release some new to disc in the US Toho titles soon like Red Beard and The Bad Sleep Well soon enough.

[benricci]

Originally Posted by BunyipPouch

If you're a huge fan of upgrades, sure, but when 5 out of 6 are already available on already-great, relatively-recent, reasonably-priced blurays (including 3 from Criterion themselves), then the slate is totally meh.

Make that all 6 if you're region free -- Paper Moon's region B blu-ray in the UK looks great, has a ton of extras and only costs like 10 quid on Amazon. It's been out for many years now.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by BunyipPouch

If you're a huge fan of upgrades, sure, but when 5 out of 6 are already available on already-great, relatively-recent, reasonably-priced blurays (including 3 from Criterion themselves), then the slate is totally meh. I knew that'd be the case with the move to 4K though, that a significant number of releases would simply be upgrades of blurays we already have. Bummer.

In and very happy and 100% in for Paper Moon, awesome release, but my blurays for the rest will do just fine.

4K upgrades are big part of the industry now, and it's clearly big business or labels wouldn't be doing it so often. For November, one of Criterion's biggest months, it was inevitable we'd see more 4K upgrades than anything else. I think some of the usual staunch anti-4K upgrade folks also fail to see that 4K upgrades can also provide the film with a much improved transfer/scan/restoration than what existed on some Blu-ray from years back. It's not always just an unnecessary bump in resolution from the Blu-ray release.

[themp3000]

I think I’m just in for Paper Moon 4K. I might consider The Shape of Water 4K but late GDT stuff is incredibly mid. I’ll get BFI’s Seven Samurai 4K. Not buying Gojira a third time. No interest in Scarface or Funny Girl, watched both on the Channel a ways back and didn’t think too much of them.

Pretty underwhelming month to me but to each their own.

[Ishai]

Originally Posted by jshaide

Thought Shape of Water felt like a waste til I discovered I never actually bought it.

Still, from all the Fox titles Disney has locked up...

[Areyakiddin]

It's really a shame that they didn't put Scarface in a 4k Howard Hawks pre-code boxset with the two Columbia movies they presumably already have under license (although I think The Criminal Code would need a new 4k remaster).

[GenPion]

Great month with only outstanding announcements in the new lineup.

I am surprised to see Godzilla 4K and Seven Samurai 4K in the same month but I'll take it, that's extremely exciting! Still hoping for a massive Akira Kurosawa box-set of some kind eventually materializes, too.

A nice surprise to see The Shape of Water join the Criterion Collection.

[pauleky]

A fabulous month. Paper Moon is pre-ordered. Will pick up Funny Girl, Godzilla, and The Shape of Water eventually. Possibly Scarface, too. Of course, I only recently bought the Seventh Samurai Criterion...sigh. I've finally learned not to buy any Criterion catalog items. As soon as I do, they'll release a 4K.

[starsteam]

Pretty great month for Godzilla and Seven Samurai. Don't know how to feel about Shape of Water. I was actually going to give my Fox 4K disc a first-spin next month. I can't imagine there would be much improvement. I'd probably still pick it up when it's on sale though.

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by benricci

I mean, if I'm being honest, how many more times to I really need to buy a new copy of Godzilla? I think I'm good. I've had it on tape, then laserdisc, then DVD and now currently the Criterion Blu-ray.

I wish BFI still had the rights so they could offer something different, but I’m already turned off GZ-1 4K having no subs for the fourth disc.

[mclellandj]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

I think most people feel this is a month of many desired titles finally getting upgrades.

Two things can be true at once, maybe?

[GenPion]

Funny Girl and Paper Moon are both excellent additions to the collection, too. Both on 4K, no less.

I've never seen the classic Scarface but that sounds like a superb release, too. It's another great month stacked with excellent 4K editions.

[mike1990]

Already have the Criterion digital version of Seven Samurai. I got it cause I don't like the box it comes in, so probably won't double dip

Scarface is a definite yes though. Been looking to replace my DVD copy