The Criterion Collection

[JediFonger]

2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th this

Originally Posted by rkish

I'm hoping that this is the start of a trend with Universal and Criterion. I'd love to see CC release Spartacus on BD and use the great transfer that Robert Harris said existed and that Universal "should" have used, instead of the lesser quality transfer that they used and DNR'ed to excess.

[rezpekt]

Originally Posted by rkish

I'm hoping that this is the start of a trend with Universal and Criterion. I'd love to see CC release Spartacus on BD and use the great transfer that Robert Harris said existed and that Universal "should" have used, instead of the lesser quality transfer that they used and DNR'ed to excess.

Same here. I posted my thoughts to AVS last week so I'll copy my post over here:

Here is what I'm guessing: Universal allows Criterion to release Blu-ray upgrades but at least a year after Universal's own Blu-ray release.

Do the Right Thing was the first one, released in June 2009. Aside from color timing it looks quite okay and has most of Criterion's special features. So there is no point for Criterion to release it on Blu-ray.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was next, released in February 2010. Almost no special features. Now being released by Criterion.

Traffic was released in April 2010. Poor transfer. Almost no special features.

Spartacus was released in May 2010. Poor transfer. Few special features.

Dazed and Confused is still unreleased. HD DVD had few special features.

[jrmac2000]

Just finished Lola Montes. I must say I enjoyed this film a lot more then I would have thought. My wife, who picked the movie, fell asleep. But hey, what are you going to do?

[jrmac2000]

Originally Posted by rezpekt

Same here. I posted my thoughts to AVS last week so I'll copy my post over here:

Here is what I'm guessing: Universal allows Criterion to release Blu-ray upgrades but at least a year after Universal's own Blu-ray release.

Do the Right Thing was the first one, released in June 2009. Aside from color timing it looks quite okay and has most of Criterion's special features. So there is no point for Criterion to release it on Blu-ray.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was next, released in February 2010. Almost no special features. Now being released by Criterion.

Traffic was released in April 2010. Poor transfer. Almost no special features.

Spartacus was released in May 2010. Poor transfer. Few special features.

Dazed and Confused is still unreleased. HD DVD had few special features.

I would love to see all of these reissued with the Criterion treatment.

[BasicGreatGuy]

Just ordered "The Double Life of Veronique." $24.99 is a good price(Amazon). I haven't seen it before. Looking forward to it.

[SlickDamian]

Originally Posted by Antonmassacre1

Hi SD, I live in Toronto and they shipped the cases to me no questions asked at the US prices.

Hey, how long ago was that? I just sent them the payment in US dollars through PayPal. I hope they'll ship to Newfoundland!

[Yami]

Am I the only person who prefers the Park Circus/MK2 release of Modern Times to the Criterion? I think the Criterion is too dark and I like the rounded corners on the Park Circus/MK2 release. I'm debating over whether to wait before purchasing the rest of the Chaplins but the Park Circus/MK2 covers match

[s00perd00per]

Originally Posted by Yami

Am I the only person who prefers the Park Circus/MK2 release of Modern Times to the Criterion? I think the Criterion is too dark and I like the rounded corners on the Park Circus/MK2 release. I'm debating over whether to wait before purchasing the rest of the Chaplins but the Park Circus/MK2 covers match

Well I guess it's certainly a matter of preference, which looks better. But if you're looking at the whole package, the Criterion has a lot more to offer.

[Pyoko]

Originally Posted by Yami

Am I the only person who prefers the Park Circus/MK2 release of Modern Times to the Criterion? I think the Criterion is too dark and I like the rounded corners on the Park Circus/MK2 release. I'm debating over whether to wait before purchasing the rest of the Chaplins but the Park Circus/MK2 covers match

Does the Park Circus release really have rounded corners? I don't see any on the screenshots in the review on this site. The German Kinowelt disc does have them though.

In any case the Criterion easily has the best transfer of the bunch with the fewest number of discernible problems. The brightness is personal preference but I like a bit stronger contrast, I don't think these films need to look so washed out just because they're old.

[HumanMedia]

Originally Posted by Yami

Am I the only person who prefers the Park Circus/MK2 release of Modern Times to the Criterion? I think the Criterion is too dark and I like the rounded corners on the Park Circus/MK2 release. I'm debating over whether to wait before purchasing the rest of the Chaplins but the Park Circus/MK2 covers match

For image quality I far prefer the MK2 release also. It has less image cropping and preserved the tonal range. In the criterion the blacks are crushed, which looks very strange in bright daylight with such deep shadows. Even the signature shot walking on the road has shadow detail crushed.

It seems wrong to crop so much of the frame away to remove the rounded corner for a modern audience - give us the full frame!

[zombeaner]

Originally Posted by HumanMedia

It seems wrong to crop so much of the frame away to remove the rounded corner for a modern audience - give us the full frame!

I know it is a personal preference, but that is such wrong headed thinking. Do we demand our modern movies be transferred open matte? If we did, the majority of modern films would be on Blu-ray in 4x3

[Yami]

Originally Posted by Pyoko

Does the Park Circus release really have rounded corners? I don't see any on the screenshots in the review on this site. The German Kinowelt disc does have them though.

Hmm...according to DVDBeaver the A/V should be exactly the same. I've just being browsing to decide whether to go for the Criterion or Park Circus you see.

EDIT: Just give it a rent on iTunes, it doesn't have rounded corners (I'm presuming it will be the same for the Blu-Ray). I'm slightly disappointed but I'm not going to bother importing the MK2

[Pyoko]

Originally Posted by Yami

Hmm...according to DVDBeaver the A/V should be exactly the same. I've just being browsing to decide whether to go for the Criterion or Park Circus you see.

That seems to have been an assumption that turned out wrong. There are a number of matching shots between the reviews of the two on this site, and the Park Circus looks to be even more cropped than the Criterion (look at the shot of the gamine in bed for example.)

And again the Criterion has the better transfer, with slightly better definition, more consistent grain, less edge enhancement and a true greyscale image (both the Park Circus and Kinowelt have a slight green tint.) To me the choice seems easy, unless you're really that bothered by the increased contrast on the Criterion.

[42041]

Originally Posted by HumanMedia

It seems wrong to crop so much of the frame away to remove the rounded corner for a modern audience - give us the full frame!

If it wasn't supposed to be seen, don't include it. The projector aperture is smaller than the image on the film... were the corners of the image ever visible on a properly projected print?

[blkhrt]

Got a nice little package in the mail today...



I've been on a pretty big movie bender the last few days (my wife is out of town), including 8 1/2, Cronos, Night of the Hunter, and Wings of Desire. I was going to stream Antichrist tonight (after the Pens game), but might have to watch one of the Fullers instead.

[BasicGreatGuy]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

Got a nice little package in the mail today...



I've been on a pretty big movie bender the last few days (my wife is out of town), including 8 1/2, Cronos, Night of the Hunter, and Wings of Desire. I was going to stream Antichrist tonight (after the Pens game), but might have to watch one of the Fullers instead.

Glad you finally got your "Pierrot le Fou." Congrats.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

I was going to stream Antichrist tonight (after the Pens game),...

Given its hit-or-miss nature I wouldn't suggest a blind buy but if you have the option of renting the BD I would absolutely go that way over streaming. It's not the kind of thing you would pop in to show off your system but it can be very visually striking at times.

And given how dark some scenes are and how generally muted the color scheme is overall I would expect compression to just play hell with it.

It's well worth a watch (or five), though. I enjo...well, that's not the right word...was engaged throughout the first viewing and am very much looking forward to sitting down with it again and trying to figure out just what the hell I was watching.

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by BasicGreatGuy

Glad you finally got your "Pierrot le Fou." Congrats.

Thanks. The case has a crack in it, but I'm just glad to get a copy.

Originally Posted by octagon

Given its hit-or-miss nature I wouldn't suggest a blind buy but if you have the option of renting the BD I would absolutely go that way over streaming. It's not the kind of thing you would pop in to show off your system but it can be very visually striking at times.

And given how dark some scenes are and how generally muted the color scheme is overall I would expect compression to just play hell with it.

It's well worth a watch (or five), though. I enjo...well, that's not the right word...was engaged throughout the first viewing and am very much looking forward to sitting down with it again and trying to figure out just what the hell I was watching.

Thanks for the tip. I was thinking about getting the BD from Netflix, but thought it might be a good time to watch it, what with the wife out of town. I might end up just buying it next BN sale (assuming one happens)...I have a few of his other movies on DVD that I enjoy.

[Pressedmeat]

I just started my criterion blu ray collection:
Seven Samurai
The Thin Red Line

What should I get next?

[BasicGreatGuy]

Originally Posted by Pressedmeat

I just started my criterion blu ray collection:
Seven Samurai
The Thin Red Line

What should I get next?

Give "The 400 Blows" a try.