The Criterion Collection

[Yearbook]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I agree. It's something I feel doesn't get discussed that much. There isn't a boutique label that has been able to keep the vast majority of their titles in print as long as Criterion are able to. Look at the hundreds of titles that have gone OOP from Eureka, Kino, Shout, and Arrow for comparison. Additionally, Criterion also doesn't drop the booklets/leaflets down the line either as Eureka, and Arrow, and others have done. For me personally, that removes a lot of the FOMO involved with collecting their stuff. With Eureka on the other hand, I have to worry often about something going OOP, and I've made several FOMO purchases over the last couple years just to ensure I own a copy before it's gone.

Hopefully this isn't a jinx, but I'm still surprised most of the Fox licensed stuff is still in-print.

[sherlockjr]

Originally Posted by Yearbook

Hopefully this isn't a jinx, but I'm still surprised most of the Fox licensed stuff is still in-print.

I believe most of the Fox licensed titles were licensed before the Disney acquisition. No idea how long the licenses are for. Who knows if those licenses will be renewed when they expire? Although since Disney currently has no interest in physical media, let alone physical media of old films, perhaps Disney licensing will just see it as free money and easily renew when the time comes.

Or not.

[Yearbook]

Originally Posted by sherlockjr

I believe most of the Fox licensed titles were licensed before the Disney acquisition. No idea how long the licenses are for. Who knows if those licenses will be renewed when they expire? Although since Disney currently has no interest in physical media, let alone physical media of old films, perhaps Disney licensing will just see it as free money and easily renew when the time comes.

Or not.

I've been hedging my bets and picking some up sale by sale, 3 Women this go around, Kagemusha last time (if only Disney would relent and let Criterion release their version of Toho's 4K scan). But maybe Disney will get desperate enough to let that crusty old stuff go for extra pennies on the Quarterlies without needing living directors advocating for releases ala Shape of Water and All of Us Strangers.

Of course, the dream is Disney sells that 20th Century library they don't see value in (ie non-Marvel or Star Wars), but I'm not counting on it.

[mi470]

incredibly random question, but does anyone have a list of which Criterion Closet videos made the "Criterion Closet Picks" disc in the CC40 boxset? been looking everywhere for a list and i don't think enough people have bought it to be able to share that information

[Surge92]

Just those two for me. I'll get more in July, or whenever the next 50% off sale is.

[MovieBuff647]

Originally Posted by Yearbook

Hopefully this isn't a jinx, but I'm still surprised most of the Fox licensed stuff is still in-print.

I blind bought AN UNMARRIED WOMAN and ALL THAT JAZZ at one point for this reason just to be safe.

[dbhl3000]

I am in a Stockholm Syndrome relationship with Criterion. They kidnapped me back in the laserdisc days and now I have more films of this label than any other label by far even though I really can't afford that many without hurting my finances. But, here I am loving my kidnappers enough to buy No Country For Old Men, Wages Of Fear, Jo Jo Dancer and Drugstore Cowboy today.

[lilboyblu]

Obligatory sale haul post:

[SpiderNerd09]

Grabbed just these ones. Planning on getting more during the July Sale (Night Moves, Anora etc)

[dwk]

Originally Posted by Shane Rollins

Now we just need to figure out the equivalent of the rest of the July 2024 titles.

[Show spoiler]Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid 4K and Blu-ray

Date: First Tuesday

Description: Highly acclaimed film, long mistreated on home video, never on Blu-ray or 4K before this, demanded for decades, word eventually got out that Criterion had it, and it quickly became one of their most demanded titles ever.

Equivalent this year: Despite having a previous Blu-ray release, Eyes Wide Shut on Blu-ray and 4K makes sense, especially considering the director's cut has never been released in any form, and there is a new 4K restoration of it. (However, I have no clue what cut it is.) There are also several other picks from Scorsese, including Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, a redone 4K of Goodfellas (all it needs is proper HDR and DV, so it would cost relatively little and sell very well), or possibly The Last Temptation Of Christ.

And while this is very unlikely, another film that fits Pat Garret's description, and easily my most wanted Criterion film ever, is the 117-minute director's cut of The Devils. I see the rumors picking back up that Criterion has this and is just playing coy about it. I personally can't verify those rumors, as I've heard nothing to suggest that this is going on. However, I would love - love love love love love - if this turned out to be true. Bar none, it would be my favorite Criterion release ever.

EDITED TO ADD: I just thought of another film that fits this description: Last Summer from 1969. Warner Bros. is supposedly not doing this because they can't find two minutes of the movie on any film prints, so they'd rather not do it at all. Perhaps Criterion has it and is willing to take a step down PQ wise? Or perhaps an uncut print has been found and Criterion has it?

Risky Business 4K and Blu-ray

Date: Fourth Tuesday

Description: Masterpiece from the era of Hollywood many of us clamor for (fall of the Code-90s), everyone who's seen it knows how good it is, but few truly grasp how great this film is. Had a good but not great Blu-ray, and many just assumed the film's home video lifespan had come to an end.

Equivalent this year: This too could be The Last Temptation Of Christ, despite the fact that a Criterion Blu-ray already exists. However, they could throw a major curve ball and give us Dog Day Afternoon on both formats. As has been intimated further in many threads regarding A Clockwork Orange, Warner Bros. notoriously produced many 4K restorations that they in turn never released. ACO was the most notable example, as one could go to the special features and see 4K-restored clips of the film, while the actual film remained a 2K master made in an era where VHS tapes and laserdiscs still existed.

Additionally, Criterion could give us one of Kubrick's films, since it's been years since we got anything of his. The pre-Spartacus stuff would be cool, but I think they'll wisely save them for another month. However, Lolita on both formats, Strangelove on 4K, 2001 on both formats, ACO on both formats, BL on 4K, and The Shining, FMJ, and EWS are all possible.

Perhaps another Best Picture winner, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest on both formats, could occur too. And depending on how deep into the Zaentz library they go, The Unbearable Lightness Of Being and At Play In The Fields Of The Lord could be up too. (Amadeus will come from someone in no more than five years.)

Or, for the most curviest curve ball of all, maybe they'll give us two Friedkins in two months...the theatrical cut of The Exorcist on both formats.

EDIT 2: There's actually a lot of older Warner Blus that need updating, ones that aged way worse than Risky Business. The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford, Bonnie And Clyde, Doctor Zhivago, Quo Vadis, An American In Paris, Meet Me In St. Louis, The Dirty Dozen, The Adventures Of Robin Hood, and Falling Down all come to mind. Even some of their stronger ones, like Casablanca (great PQ, AQ though, that's an opus), The Maltese Falcon, A Star Is Born 54, Ben-Hur, Vision Quest (has a WAC Blu-ray or DVD ever gone to Criterion before?), and Little Shop Of Horrors, could be a candidate for a Criterion 4K.

Le Samouraï 4K

Date: Second Tuesday

Description: Classic foreign film, French New Wave, getting the long-overdue 4K upgrade it deserved, from a crusty Blu-ray.

Equivalent this year: If they keep it within France, there's three great options from Truffaut: The 400 Blows, Jules And Jim, and Shoot The Piano Player.

If they go outside of France but keep it within Europe, Salo. (However, as said before, Ritrovata did the restoration, and reviews aren't good.)

If perhaps they leave Europe and go to Japan...oh boy, are there some good possibilities there. High And Low is already done, and all signs point to that being the next Japanese film to hit 4K through Criterion. I also wouldn't count out Tokyo Story, which has had a 4K master for a while now.

But either way, the equivalent of Le Samouraï will be foreign, and will be a 4K.

EDIT 3: How did I forget about P&P? I Know Where I'm Going! has a 4K master prepared. That's definitely coming out one of the months this year. Hopefully Black Narcissus is next, since the Blu-ray honestly isn't that impressive. It reminds me of some of the weaker scenes (PQ wise) on The Devils, where the blacks and grays crush and the whites devolve into cream and light gray frequently.

Another candidate, though it will be controversial, would be a 4K of Querelle, which I'd support, since the Blu-ray transfer is easily 15-20 years old despite the disc dropping just last year.

Farewell My Concubine 4K and Blu-ray

Date: Fourth Tuesday

Description: One of the greatest modern Asian films, barely escaped the grips of CCP censorship, and now the uncut film is out for the world to see, primarily due to this release.

Equivalent this year: My mind is taken back to America, for a different film censored by the CCP, an American film whose sadly abridged run ended with a round of conciliatory ass-kissing on the part of several American studio executives. The film is Kundun.

Yes, Disney doesn't want to work with boutiques. Yes, Disney thinks sitting on films is a virtue. But if Andrew Stanton can get WALL-E, and if Andrew Haigh can get All Of Us Stranger, and if Guillermo del Toro can get The Shape Of Water, than Martin frickin' Scorsese can get Kundun.

Perfect Days 4K and Blu-ray

Date: Third Tuesday

Description: Modern masterpiece from an established director, a foreign film coming across the pond for the first time, and taking its place alongside some of said director's other films.

Equivalent this year: Perhaps another Wenders film, or one of Herzog's films. Fitzcarroldo, perhaps?

Black God, White Devil Blu-ray

Date: Third Tuesday

Description: A foreign film well known to those who follow cinema, but almost entirely unknown to those who only know basic films. Long mistreated on video, and restored for a recent release.

Equivalent this year: Two Jodorowsky films come to mind, El Topo and The Holy Mountain.

Anyone else care to take a shot at this? Drawing equivalent titles for the ones we had last year?

I don't expect very many direct equivalents for last year's slate. So, here is my guess for July:
The Wild Bunch 4K
Point Blank 4K
Cape Fear set 4K
Kenji Misumi's Sword Trilogy 4K
Manchurian Candidate 4K
Saving Face Blu-ray

[MovieBuff647]

Originally Posted by Shane Rollins

What bothers me about the Chaplin discs is that they only include the Chaplin-approved rerelease cuts, and not the OG theatrical cuts, especially since most if not all of the OG cuts still exist and are available on tape and disc elsewhere.

It certainly moves his films way further down the shopping list for me than they'd be if they included the original cuts.



This is last year's July...



...and this is last year's June...



So June 2025's Brazil is the equivalent of June 2024's Blue Velvet: a highly awaited 4K upgrade of a beloved Criterion Blu-ray, from an acclaimed director, that was guaranteed to sell like hotcakes.

Now we just need to figure out the equivalent of the rest of the July 2024 titles.

Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid 4K and Blu-ray

Date: First Tuesday

Description: Highly acclaimed film, long mistreated on home video, never on Blu-ray or 4K before this, demanded for decades, word eventually got out that Criterion had it, and it quickly became one of their most demanded titles ever.

Equivalent this year: Despite having a previous Blu-ray release, Eyes Wide Shut on Blu-ray and 4K makes sense, especially considering the director's cut has never been released in any form, and there is a new 4K restoration of it. (However, I have no clue what cut it is.) There are also several other picks from Scorsese, including Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, a redone 4K of Goodfellas (all it needs is proper HDR and DV, so it would cost relatively little and sell very well), or possibly The Last Temptation Of Christ.

And while this is very unlikely, another film that fits Pat Garret's description, and easily my most wanted Criterion film ever, is the 117-minute director's cut of The Devils. I see the rumors picking back up that Criterion has this and is just playing coy about it. I personally can't verify those rumors, as I've heard nothing to suggest that this is going on. However, I would love - love love love love love - if this turned out to be true. Bar none, it would be my favorite Criterion release ever.

EDITED TO ADD: I just thought of another film that fits this description: Last Summer from 1969. Warner Bros. is supposedly not doing this because they can't find two minutes of the movie on any film prints, so they'd rather not do it at all. Perhaps Criterion has it and is willing to take a step down PQ wise? Or perhaps an uncut print has been found and Criterion has it?

Risky Business 4K and Blu-ray

Date: Fourth Tuesday

Description: Masterpiece from the era of Hollywood many of us clamor for (fall of the Code-90s), everyone who's seen it knows how good it is, but few truly grasp how great this film is. Had a good but not great Blu-ray, and many just assumed the film's home video lifespan had come to an end.

Equivalent this year: This too could be The Last Temptation Of Christ, despite the fact that a Criterion Blu-ray already exists. However, they could throw a major curve ball and give us Dog Day Afternoon on both formats. As has been intimated further in many threads regarding A Clockwork Orange, Warner Bros. notoriously produced many 4K restorations that they in turn never released. ACO was the most notable example, as one could go to the special features and see 4K-restored clips of the film, while the actual film remained a 2K master made in an era where VHS tapes and laserdiscs still existed.

Additionally, Criterion could give us one of Kubrick's films, since it's been years since we got anything of his. The pre-Spartacus stuff would be cool, but I think they'll wisely save them for another month. However, Lolita on both formats, Strangelove on 4K, 2001 on both formats, ACO on both formats, BL on 4K, and The Shining, FMJ, and EWS are all possible.

Perhaps another Best Picture winner, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest on both formats, could occur too. And depending on how deep into the Zaentz library they go, The Unbearable Lightness Of Being and At Play In The Fields Of The Lord could be up too. (Amadeus will come from someone in no more than five years.)

Or, for the most curviest curve ball of all, maybe they'll give us two Friedkins in two months...the theatrical cut of The Exorcist on both formats.

EDIT 2: There's actually a lot of older Warner Blus that need updating, ones that aged way worse than Risky Business. The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford, Bonnie And Clyde, Doctor Zhivago, Quo Vadis, An American In Paris, Meet Me In St. Louis, The Dirty Dozen, The Adventures Of Robin Hood, and Falling Down all come to mind. Even some of their stronger ones, like Casablanca (great PQ, AQ though, that's an opus), The Maltese Falcon, A Star Is Born 54, Ben-Hur, Vision Quest (has a WAC Blu-ray or DVD ever gone to Criterion before?), and Little Shop Of Horrors, could be a candidate for a Criterion 4K.

Le Samouraï 4K

Date: Second Tuesday

Description: Classic foreign film, French New Wave, getting the long-overdue 4K upgrade it deserved, from a crusty Blu-ray.

Equivalent this year: If they keep it within France, there's three great options from Truffaut: The 400 Blows, Jules And Jim, and Shoot The Piano Player.

If they go outside of France but keep it within Europe, Salo. (However, as said before, Ritrovata did the restoration, and reviews aren't good.)

If perhaps they leave Europe and go to Japan...oh boy, are there some good possibilities there. High And Low is already done, and all signs point to that being the next Japanese film to hit 4K through Criterion. I also wouldn't count out Tokyo Story, which has had a 4K master for a while now.

But either way, the equivalent of Le Samouraï will be foreign, and will be a 4K.

EDIT 3: How did I forget about P&P? I Know Where I'm Going! has a 4K master prepared. That's definitely coming out one of the months this year. Hopefully Black Narcissus is next, since the Blu-ray honestly isn't that impressive. It reminds me of some of the weaker scenes (PQ wise) on The Devils, where the blacks and grays crush and the whites devolve into cream and light gray frequently.

Another candidate, though it will be controversial, would be a 4K of Querelle, which I'd support, since the Blu-ray transfer is easily 15-20 years old despite the disc dropping just last year.

Farewell My Concubine 4K and Blu-ray

Date: Fourth Tuesday

Description: One of the greatest modern Asian films, barely escaped the grips of CCP censorship, and now the uncut film is out for the world to see, primarily due to this release.

Equivalent this year: My mind is taken back to America, for a different film censored by the CCP, an American film whose sadly abridged run ended with a round of conciliatory ass-kissing on the part of several American studio executives. The film is Kundun.

Yes, Disney doesn't want to work with boutiques. Yes, Disney thinks sitting on films is a virtue. But if Andrew Stanton can get WALL-E, and if Andrew Haigh can get All Of Us Stranger, and if Guillermo del Toro can get The Shape Of Water, than Martin frickin' Scorsese can get Kundun.

Perfect Days 4K and Blu-ray

Date: Third Tuesday

Description: Modern masterpiece from an established director, a foreign film coming across the pond for the first time, and taking its place alongside some of said director's other films.

Equivalent this year: Perhaps another Wenders film, or one of Herzog's films. Fitzcarroldo, perhaps?

Black God, White Devil Blu-ray

Date: Third Tuesday

Description: A foreign film well known to those who follow cinema, but almost entirely unknown to those who only know basic films. Long mistreated on video, and restored for a recent release.

Equivalent this year: Two Jodorowsky films come to mind, El Topo and The Holy Mountain.

Anyone else care to take a shot at this? Drawing equivalent titles for the ones we had last year?

I would've said THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG before it was announced that NEON is releasing it themselves via Decal. Could still get a Criterion later like MOONAGE DAYDREAM, but it's definitely not happening this summer now.

[Yearbook]

Originally Posted by MovieBuff647

I blind bought AN UNMARRIED WOMAN and ALL THAT JAZZ at one point for this reason just to be safe.

I keep eyeing All That Jazz myself, maybe I'll throw that in July, get two Scheider Criterions at once.

[Brer247]

Got a second order in before the sales end. I felt compelled to upgrade all the remaining titles where I could:

Autumn Sonata Blu-ray

The Magic Flute Blu-ray

Brief Encounter Blu-ray

The Killers Blu-ray

Short Cuts Blu-ray

The Naked Prey Blu-ray

Blast of Silence Blu-ray

Also, would someone mind pointing me in the direction of where I can be shown how an easy way to add movie images to posts? Thank you

[Surge92]

Originally Posted by Brer247

Also, would someone mind pointing me in the direction of where I can be shown how an easy way to add movie images to posts? Thank you

If you're referring to posting release covers, when you go to post, click on [BD] from the toolbar and insert the site listing number for a particular release, which you can pull from its URL.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Brer247

Got a second order in before the sales end. I felt compelled to upgrade all the remaining titles where I could:

Autumn Sonata Blu-ray

The Magic Flute Blu-ray

Brief Encounter Blu-ray

The Killers Blu-ray

Short Cuts Blu-ray

The Naked Prey Blu-ray

Blast of Silence Blu-ray

Also, would someone mind pointing me in the direction of where I can be shown how an easy way to add movie images to posts? Thank you

Go to any database page. For this example here's the one for The Killers:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Killers-Blu-ray/99148/

Take the number at the end. and put it into one the following brackets:

[BD]NUMBER[/BD]

[medium]NUMBER[/medium]

[small]NUMBER[/small]

And voila:



Same thing for DVD, except there's just one option available:

[DVD]NUMBER[/DVD]

You can practice this out in this thread:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...=306896&page=7

[Brer247]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Go to any database page. For this example here's the one for The Killers:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Killers-Blu-ray/99148/

Take the number at the end. and put it into one the following brackets:

[BD]NUMBER[/BD]

[medium]NUMBER[/medium]

[small]NUMBER[/small]

And voila:



Same thing for DVD, except there's just one option available:

[DVD]NUMBER[/DVD]

You can practice this out in this thread:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...=306896&page=7

I appreciate the extra info I didn't even know to ask for, thank you!

[Brer247]

Originally Posted by Surge92

If you're referring to posting release covers, when you go to post, click on [BD] from the toolbar and insert the site listing number for a particular release, which you can pull from its URL.

Thank you!

[ophone]

Originally Posted by belcherman

I finally decided on Mystery Train since I don't have any Jim Jarmusch in my collection.

There have been Criterion releases of my 3 favourite Jarmusch films:

[h0h0x]

I went from a cart of 25 to 10 with a minute left in the sale. $70 in credits brought my order to just under $150. Half are blind buys (Ace in the Hole, Winchester '73, Drugstore Cowboy, King of Jazz, and Naked Lunch).

[ilenewoodsfan99]

Didn't get many from the sale. I decided to go with

8 1/2 4K
Seven Samurai 4K
The Seventh Seal 4k

The latter is new to my collection and the other two are upgrades.