The Criterion Collection

[aladdin123]

Criterion, please announce UHDs of In A Lonely Place, Dog Day Afternoon and Network for November's line-up this year.

[DimitriL]

Originally Posted by jshaide

Still waiting for the day they finally change the layout of the mainline after all these years.

You know, I don't see that happening at this point. It's now been around for 20 years, much longer than any of its other brand identification, and the style carries over into its entire aesthetic. Plus I think it was developed for a certain efficiency and timelessness, where the choices were designed to age well. I suppose they might update someday, but it's hard for me to see unless a new honcho comes in and wants to stamp their own identity on the business.

[darrellmaclaine]

Originally Posted by DimitriL

You know, I don't see that happening at this point. It's now been around for 20 years, much longer than any of its other brand identification, and the style carries over into its entire aesthetic. Plus I think it was developed for a certain efficiency and timelessness, where the choices were designed to age well. I suppose they might update someday, but it's hard for me to see unless a new honcho comes in and wants to stamp their own identity on the business.

Saying that the Gotham font, once ubiquitous in modern design, is starting to show its age now, and contemporary graphic designers are moving towards harsher-looking, more angular kinds of sans serif typefaces, big bold statement serifs, or handwriting. Possible if they ever did a refresh they'd keep the layout but update the fonts.

[mande2013]

Originally Posted by aladdin123

Criterion, please announce UHDs of In A Lonely Place, Dog Day Afternoon and Network for November's line-up this year.

There's always a chance Sony do a UHD of In A Lonely Place themselves like they did with The Lady from Shanghai.

[DimitriL]

Originally Posted by darrellmaclaine

Saying that the Gotham font, once ubiquitous in modern design, is starting to show its age now, and contemporary graphic designers are moving towards harsher-looking, more angular kinds of sans serif typefaces, big bold statement serifs, or handwriting. Possible if they ever did a refresh they'd keep the layout but update the fonts.

Possible? But I think that those harsher fonts - and I saw this all through the 90s - often go dated so quickly. I’ve certainly used some of them in my design work but I just don’t know what kind of longevity they’ll have.

Criterion is an unique position where their font and style treatment is SO ubiquitous - especially after weaving it everywhere on the Criterion Channel, notably as the credit font on its original programming - that it’s not just a nice display agent, but the one that says “Criterion font.” Very tricky when it becomes brand identification.

It’s funny how these things evolve. As you say, Criterion chose Gotham at a moment where that font style was absolutely peaking - it was such a key product of the Obama era, down to the famous Hope poster. I doubt a designer would go right to it now as a default part of their toolkit (though it remains a handsome font). But I think it’s become something different as Criterion’s style template.

[darrellmaclaine]

Originally Posted by DimitriL

It’s funny how these things evolve. As you say, Criterion chose Gotham at a moment where that font style was absolutely peaking - it was such a key product of the Obama era, down to the famous Hope poster. I doubt a designer would go right to it now as a default part of their toolkit (though it remains a handsome font). But I think it’s become something different as Criterion’s style template.

It's interesting isn't it? I think Gotham (and other related ones like Avenir) is in that weird limbo at the moment between contemporary ubiquity and retro timelessness. It's neither 'now' or a classic.

I'm like you - I'm not *crazy* on the angular sans serif stuff either but it's what people seem to expect at the moment. When doing something myself I prefer to lift something out of an older limbo in the hope of anticipating a trend, as when it works it really works. Late 80s and early 90s typesetting styles are on the verge of coming back round I think thanks to a lot of big brands refreshing to their "classic logos", so I always play with those first. My greatest ever design success was a corporate logo which I knowingly did as a slight mid-80s throwback as a long shot idea, and when I see it on team shirts and things now it looks pretty timeless and fresh!

The Wes Anderson releases feature a subtle, hand drawn version of Gotham I've noticed. Looks quite good. Maybe that's a solution!

[FindOneInEveryCar]

Originally Posted by Sommerswerd

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIYr2eAlazo

I'm still waiting for someone to grab that DVD/Book of Mr. Arkadin.

[dwk]

Originally Posted by FindOneInEveryCar

I'm still waiting for someone to grab that DVD/Book of Mr. Arkadin.

It is a great release. I'm kind of surprised that they still have a copy (or copies) left, as it has long since been replaced with a bookless version.

[everygrainofsand]

Originally Posted by Xander2017

I'm a huge William Hurt fan, so definitely grabbing Altered States later this fall.

Fairly recently, my pal had me watch Kiss of the Spider-woman, with Hurt. I read the blurb, and told him it sounded like a boring slog, that I'd rather not watch. Of course by the end of it, I was a blubbering wreck, declaring it was the best thing I'd seen in months! Hurt is such an exciting actor; just absolutely thrilling to watch

[rodrigosanche55]

What Japanese movies would you recommend? Better in 4k, or blurays with remote possibilities of being upgraded soon.
So far I got Lady Snowblood, Lone wolf & Cub, Onibaba.
Thinking about the Godzilla boxset..

[FindOneInEveryCar]

Originally Posted by dwk

It is a great release. I'm kind of surprised that they still have a copy (or copies) left, as it has long since been replaced with a bookless version.

I loved those big, fat cardboard DVD slipcases in the mid-2000's, especially if they had a book inside. I have a bunch that I'll never part with, even if and when I upgrade the actual DVDs (Mr. Arkadin, Short Cuts, Man Who Fell To Earth, etc.).

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by rodrigosanche55

What Japanese movies would you recommend? Better in 4k, or blurays with remote possibilities of being upgraded soon.
So far I got Lady Snowblood, Lone wolf & Cub, Onibaba.
Thinking about the Godzilla boxset..

Seven Samurai: Kurasawa masterpiece, one of the best looking 4k upgrades this year
Ugetsu: a fatalistic wartime tragedy, a potter becomes obsessed with a ghost
Sword of Doom: Tatsuya Nakadai vs Mifune epic sword fight, pure nihilism
Kuroneko: another Shindo horror film, ghost story where mother and daughter are ghost cats set on revenge
Godzilla vs Biollante: not in the Showa set

[nNark]

Well. Writing this July 2025 after seeing that ALTERED STATES— one of a small handful of films *I* love that seemed determined to remain off the labels’ calendars— is finally getting its 4K. Been saying for a long time that this was long-overdue. Guaranteed purchase for me.

One of my regular criticisms of many boutique labels (and, at some point, Criterion) is the use of “newly-commissioned art” for catalogs titles. Many are cool ideas on their own, some really hit the mark and most make me wonder who’s getting paid to approve these. The ones that don’t work are ones that feel like labels just jumping on current artsy trends, with no regard for context or how a graphic is the final stage of the movie, itself. I’m not down on such art in general, as I’ve indicated (though I AM tired of seeing certain styles everywhere)… I just want such styles to properly apply to a particular film. As an artist and lifelong movie fan, I feel the cover art should best serve the film, first, not be all about the trendy or cute art.

The Criterion HISTORY OF VIOLENCE cover is— I’m sorry— wrong on all levels. Cute as an Instagram pic, maybe, but a bizarre choice: not “ironic” or a good playing-against-expectations. Also, why would they want the cover of Del Toro’s NIGHTMARE to look like it’s made for the 1947 one?? I’m flashing on another weird one: the Cinematographe BR of LITTLE DARLINGS. Line art and design that just DOES NOT WORK. By itself, it can be whatever, but it needs to represent the film! Yes?

[Member-922335]

Originally Posted by rodrigosanche55

What Japanese movies would you recommend? Better in 4k, or blurays with remote possibilities of being upgraded soon.
So far I got Lady Snowblood, Lone wolf & Cub, Onibaba.
Thinking about the Godzilla boxset..

I own every single Japanese release Criterion has put out so I'm a bit of a fan and recommend everything lol. Lady Snowblood is my favorite but a close second is Ugetsu, so I had no problem upgrading to the 4K and it looks beautiful and as noted above, the Seven Samurai 4K is fantastic as well.

Non-4Ks, I love Kwaidan and if you like Lone Wolf and Cub the Zatoichi is really great. If you do pick up the Godzilla set (amazing by the way) I found some artwork online a few years ago to make my own cases. The book looks great on the shelf but a bit of a pain to keep taking discs in and out of...

[aladdin123]

Criterion's blu-ray of Only Angels Have Wings is so beautiful. The photography and grey-scale are so heavenly!

[rodrigosanche55]

Originally Posted by playsignal76

I own every single Japanese release Criterion has put out so I'm a bit of a fan and recommend everything lol. Lady Snowblood is my favorite but a close second is Ugetsu, so I had no problem upgrading to the 4K and it looks beautiful and as noted above, the Seven Samurai 4K is fantastic as well.

Non-4Ks, I love Kwaidan and if you like Lone Wolf and Cub the Zatoichi is really great. If you do pick up the Godzilla set (amazing by the way) I found some artwork online a few years ago to make my own cases. The book looks great on the shelf but a bit of a pain to keep taking discs in and out of...

thank you! my only worry with the Zatoichi boxset is: can we expect an update soon, only bluray box?

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by rodrigosanche55

thank you! my only worry with the Zatoichi boxset is: can we expect an update soon, only bluray box?

Like almost every criterion box set of that size, I highly doubt they will ever have a 4k version. There would need to be 4k scans and then restorations of every film, which is both a huge time and money expense.

I also highly recommend:
Kwaidan: a Japanese ghost story anthology.
Pale Flower: nihilistic yakuza film about a yakuza who can’t get used to society after being incarcerated
Akira Kurasawa’s Dreams: anthology that I consider one of his best works, and his last work.
Branded to Kill: Suzuki’s last “studio film” that eventually got him blacklisted for a decade

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Vinyl

Seven Samurai: Kurasawa masterpiece, one of the best looking 4k upgrades this year
Ugetsu: a fatalistic wartime tragedy, a potter becomes obsessed with a ghost
Sword of Doom: Tatsuya Nakadai vs Mifune epic sword fight, pure nihilism
Kuroneko: another Shindo horror film, ghost story where mother and daughter are ghost cats set on revenge
Godzilla vs Biollante: not in the Showa set

Great list, but regarding Sword of Doom there is no Nakadai vs Mifune in the film. They do square off in Samurai Rebellion, Sanjuro, and Yojimbo.

[NeilZ]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Great list, but regarding Sword of Doom there is no Nakadai vs Mifune in the film. They do square off in Samurai Rebellion, Sanjuro, and Yojimbo.

Yeah I think that was somewhat teased like it might happen in a sequel but they never made it if I remember correctly. Still a very satisfying film.

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by rodrigosanche55

What Japanese movies would you recommend? Better in 4k, or blurays with remote possibilities of being upgraded soon.
So far I got Lady Snowblood, Lone wolf & Cub, Onibaba.
Thinking about the Godzilla boxset..

Watch 1977's House, it'll change your life. The Sword of Doom. The Ballad of Narayama. Also check out the work of Mizoguchi if you haven't already (Sansho Dayu is my personal favourite of his).