The Criterion Collection

[Ray Jackson]

The scene in Drive My Car where the mute actress performs her scene in the play with sign language, is one of the most powerful things I’ve ever seen in a movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghP5fgUVU-E&t=87s

[Watershipdownisgood]

Well since I have student loans coming out on August 1st I have decided I won't be buying anymore Criterion titles that aren't pre-orders till the the week after next week when I get paid again. So no more titles Criterion, or otherwise unless it's a pre-order till then.

Pre-orders I have coming
Enemy Territory Blu-Ray
Fires on the Plain
The Burmese Harp

[HenryHill]

I buy Criterions at B&N precisely because Amazon needs competiton to keep them (semi) honest. However, after the B&N sale ended, I upgraded Pandora's Box and Time Bandits with the Mid-Atlantic 30% coupons. And for anyone interested, The Big Heat 4K is still $19.98 at Amazon.

[Scottie]

Would anyone be willing to validate this information?

I've broken down Ingmar Bergman's Cinema, comparing and contrasting it to the standalone releases offered in terms of quality and extras. I want to ensure that I didn't miss or mislabel anything. My goal is to make it obvious which version is the best to own. Thanks! (Note: I've purposely opted to omit that the box set features new menu designs.)

[Show spoiler]Opening Night

Disc 1: Smiles of a Summer Night

Identical to the 2011 standalone release. Extras included: an introduction by Ingmar Bergman, a conversation between Peter Cowie and Jörn Donner, and a Swedish trailer.

Disc 2: Crisis / A Ship to India

No extras for either film.

Disc 3: Wild Strawberries

Identical to the 2013 standalone release. Extras include: a commentary by Peter Cowie, an introduction by Ingmar Bergman, a behind-the-scenes feature about the film, and the documentary "Ingmar Bergman on Life and Work."

Disc 4: To Joy / Summer Interlude

"Summer Interlude" is presented in a new 2K restoration from 2017. In terms of quality, the 2012 standalone release can be seen as dated. That being said, the 2012 disc has a higher bitrate compared to the 2018 disc, which shares its space with "To Joy." No extras for either film (2012 release also didn't have them).

Disc 5: Summer with Monika

Identical to the 2012 standalone release. Both discs present the film in its original, uncut version. Extras include: an introduction by Ingmar Bergman, Peter Cowie's interview with Harriet Andersson, the documentary "Images from the Playground," the feature "Monika Exploited," and a trailer.

Disc 6: Dreams / A Lesson in Love

No extras for "Dreams." There is an introduction by Ingmar Bergman for "A Lesson in Love."

Centerpiece 1

Disc 7: Scenes from a Marriage (TV version)

Identical to the 2018 standalone release. No extras.

Disc 8: Scenes from a Marriage (U.S. theatrical version) / Saraband

U.S. theatrical version of "Scenes from a Marriage" is identical to the 2018 standalone release in terms of quality. That being said, this disc has a much lower bitrate compared to the standalone release, as this disc shares its space with "Saraband." Extras include: an interview with Ingmar Bergman, interviews with Liv Ullmann and Erland Josephson, and a feature about the different versions. No extras for "Saraband."

Disc 9: From the Life of the Marionettes / Hour of the Wolf

No extras for either film.

Disc 10: Shame / The Passion of Anna

Extras for "Shame" include: a broadcast, an interview with Ingmar Bergman, an interview with Liv Ullmann, and the documentary "An Introduction to Ingmar Bergman." This film received a standalone release in 2019 with the same extras. The standalone release has a higher bitrate since it doesn't share disc space with "The Passion of Anna." No extras for "The Passion of Anna."

Disc 11: Faro Document / Faro Document 1979

No extras for either film.

Disc 12: Through a Glass Darkly

Extras include: English dub, an introduction by Ingmar Bergman, an "exploring the film" feature with Peter Cowie, an interview with Harriet Andersson, and the U.S. theatrical trailer. This exact disc is offered in "A Film Trilogy by Ingmar Bergman" from 2019. That disc, however, also includes interviews with Gunnar Björnstrand and Sven Nykvist.

Disc 13: Winter Light

Extras include: English dub, an introduction by Ingmar Bergman, an "exploring the film" feature with Peter Cowie, the documentary "Ingmar Bergman Makes a Movie," and the U.S. theatrical trailer. This exact disc is offered in "A Film Trilogy by Ingmar Bergman" from 2019.

Disc 14: The Silence

Extras include: English dub, an introduction by Ingmar Bergman, an "exploring the film" feature with Peter Cowie, a poster gallery, and the U.S. theatrical trailer. This exact disc is offered in "A Film Trilogy by Ingmar Bergman" from 2019.

Disc 15: The Virgin Spring

Identical to the 2018 standalone release. Extras include: English dub, commentary by Birgitta Steene, an introduction by Ang Lee, interviews with Gunnel Lindblom and Birgitta Pettersson, and an "Ingmar Bergman at the AFI" feature.

Centerpiece 2

Disc 16: The Seventh Seal

"The Seventh Seal" is presented in a new 4K restoration from 2018. The 2009 standalone release can be seen as outdated. Extras have been ported over from the 2009 release: English dub, commentary and afterword by Peter Cowie, an introduction by Ingmar Bergman, the "Bergman Island" documentary, an interview with Max von Sydow, a talk with Woody Allen about Ingmar Bergman, a "Bergman 101" piece on Bergman's career, and a trailer. The 2023 4K UHD is sourced from this 4K restoration. The inferior 2009 disc is included with that release.

Disc 17: The Devil's Eye / All These Women

No extras for either film.

Disc 18: Sawdust and Tinsel / The Rite

Extras for "Sawdust and Tinsel" include: commentary by Peter Cowie and an introduction by Ingmar Bergman. 2018 standalone release is identical to this disc, but with a higher bitrate, since it doesn't share space with "The Rite." No extras for "The Rite."

Disc 19: The Magician

Identical to the 2010 release. Extras include: a visual essay by Peter Cowie and two interviews with Ingmar Bergman.

Disc 20: The Magic Flute / After the Rehearsal

Extras for "The Magic Flute" include: an interview with Ingmar Bergman, an interview with Peter Cowie, and the "Tystnad! Tagning! Trollflöjten!" documentary. 2019 standalone release is identical to this disc, but with a higher bitrate, since it doesn't share space with "After the Rehearsal." No extras for "After the Rehearsal."

Disc 21: The Touch / The Serpent's Egg

Extras for "The Touch" include: a documentary by Stig Björkman shot during production. Extras for "The Serpent's Egg" include the program "Away from Home."

Centerpiece 3

Disc 22: Persona

Identical to the 2014 (and 2021) standalone releases. Extras include the visual essay "Persona's Prologue: A Poem in Images," interviews with Bibi Andersson, Ingmar Bergman, Liv Ullmann, and Paul Schrader, on-set production footage, the documentary "Liv & Ingmar," and a trailer.

Disc 23: Thirst / Port of Call

No extras for either film.

Disc 24: Cries and Whispers

"Cries and Whispers" is presented in a new (2K/4K?) restoration from 2017. It drastically improves upon the 2015 release, which didn't use the original camera negative. Extras have been ported over from the 2015 release: English dub, an introduction by Ingmar Bergman, a conversation with Harriett Anderson, on-set production footage, the "Ingmar Bergman: Reflections on Life, Death, and Love with Erland Josephson" interview, the video essay "On Solace" by Kogonada, and a trailer.

Disc 25: Waiting Women / Brink of Life

No extras for either film.

Disc 26: Autumn Sonata

"Autumn Sonata" is presented in a new 2K restoration from 2017. Extras have been ported over from the 2013 release: English dub, commentary by Peter Cowie, an introduction by Ingmar Bergman, the making-of documentary, an interview with Liv Ullmann, an interview with Ingrid Bergman at the National Film Theater in London, an a trailer.

Closing Night

Disc 27: Fanny and Alexander (TV version)

A new restoration (2K/4K?) compared to the 2011 release, improving upon the colors and fixing the aspect ratio. No extras.

Disc 28: Fanny and Alexander (Theatrical version)

A new restoration (2K/4K?) compared to the 2011 release, improving upon the colors and fixing the aspect ratio. Extras have been ported over from the 2011 release: English dub, commentary by Peter Cowie, and a trailer.

Misc.

Disc 29: The Making of Fanny and Alexander

Identical to the 2011 disc included with "Fanny and Alexander." Includes the making-of documentary, the "A Bergman Tapestry" documentary, the "Ingmar Bergman Bids Farewell to Film conversation," stills and costume galleries, and set models.

Disc 30: Additional Supplements

A single-layer disc consisting of first-time Criterion extras: the montage "Laterna Magica," the interview "Ingmar Bergman at 60," an interview with Sven Nykvist, the conversation "Women and Bergman" with Nils Petter Sundgren, Bibi Andersson, Pernilla August, Elin Klinga, and Gunnel Lindblom, the feature "17 Short Stories" consisting of outtakes from "Bergman Island," and the documentary "...But Film Is My Mistress."

[Egbert Souse]

I'd probably bring up the individual release of The Serpent's Egg from Arrow Academy, which used the same transfer and has some exclusive extras IIRC.

Also, The Seventh Seal is the only 4K restoration. Everything else is from HD or 2K masters.

[M A]

Originally Posted by Egbert Souse

I'd probably bring up the individual release of The Serpent's Egg from Arrow Academy, which used the same transfer and has some exclusive extras IIRC.

Also, The Seventh Seal is the only 4K restoration. Everything else is from HD or 2K masters.

Autumn Sonata (boxset version) is a 4K restoration as well. The others are all 2K, yeah.

[Egbert Souse]

Originally Posted by M A

Autumn Sonata (boxset version) is a 4K restoration as well. The others are all 2K, yeah.

The transfer notes say 2K, though, it lists Smiles of a Summer Night as 2K despite it obviously being the older HD master.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Egbert Souse

The transfer notes say 2K, though, it lists Smiles of a Summer Night as 2K despite it obviously being the older HD master.

Could it be a discrepancy on the restoration notes, similar to Smiles of a Summer Night?

The original Autumn Sonata BD was a 2K restoration from the OCN. I have a hard time believing this new one is also 2K. The Swedish Film Institute lists the film as 4K, even though it could have happened in more recent years.

https://www.filminstitutet.se/sv/fa-...r/hostsonaten/

[dwk]

New additions to the channel that open with the Criterion and Janus logos:
Magnificent Butcher
The Tit and the Moon
Golden Balls
Volavérunt
Le garçu

[TheHighRoller]

What are the chances that Criterion upgrades Christopher Nolan's Following to 4K? I know its only 16mm but it was from a 4K scan.

How common are 4K Blu-rays of 16mm films (Criterion or otherwise)?

[HipsterTrash]

I decided to catch up and nab a bunch of Fassbinder titles. I realized that they have left that DVD set of his early features alone. Really hope they decide to release those films on blu/4k at some point.

Speaking of, I hope more Eclipse sets/films get a update at some point.

[Egbert Souse]

Originally Posted by TheHighRoller

What are the chances that Criterion upgrades Christopher Nolan's Following to 4K? I know its only 16mm but it was from a 4K scan.

How common are 4K Blu-rays of 16mm films (Criterion or otherwise)?

Seems likely since it's Nolan and there's several notable 16mm-origin 4K UHDs like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Effects, The Evil Dead, Pi, Killer of Sheep, most of For All Mankind.

[koberulz]

I'm getting a “Sorry, you have been blocked” error from CloudFlare when attempting to access the Criterion site...

[Dr. Zaius]

Danny Boyle’s Closet Picks - YouTube

[Scottie]

I'm sure he just popped in while promoting 28 Years Later, but it'd be cool to see Criterion release Slumdog Millionaire.

[HipsterTrash]

Originally Posted by Scottie

I'm sure he just popped in while promoting 28 Years Later, but it'd be cool to see Criterion release Slumdog Millionaire.

Who knows? Maybes he's there cause both Life Less Ordinary and Millions are getting the Criterion treatment.

[Show spoiler]Doubt it.

[Scottie]

LOVERS ON THE BRIDGE - 4K Restoration Trailer - YouTube

[regeyer]

I watched Wild Strawberries, which I borrowed from the library, for the first time on 8/1/13. I enjoyed it so much I decide I was going to buy it. But I didn't end up getting it until I bought the Ingmar Bergman set on 7/27/19. I started watching some of the films in the set and Wild Strawberries is the 4th film. It wasn't until after I watched it on 8/1/19, and I was entering it into my movie diary, that I realized, without planning it, that I watched this movie both times on 8/1, six years apart. So now I consider 8/1 to be Wild Strawberries Day and I try to watch it on that day every year. And I’ll be doing that again tonight.

[duggie walker]

Originally Posted by Scottie

LOVERS ON THE BRIDGE - 4K Restoration Trailer - YouTube

Excellent news! Carax's greatest film and just a wonderful movie.

The "fireworks" section is one of the most brilliant sequences in film history. This is a film that deserves to be better known.

(But I feel it should only ever be called Les Amants De Pont-Neuf. It's too French not to be)

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by duggie walker

Excellent news! Carax's greatest film and just a wonderful movie.

The "fireworks" section is one of the most brilliant sequences in film history. This is a film that deserves to be better known.

(But I feel it should only ever be called Les Amants De Pont-Neuf. It's too French not to be)

Agree.

It is a strange romantic film. Jean-Yves Escoffier´s cinematography is superb. I cannot wait for the 4k. The scene in the Louvre makes me nervous every time. The candle is so close to Rembrandt´s painting.