The Criterion Collection

[SpiderBaby]

got ya. Thanks.

[#Darren]

Last Year at Marianbad Criterion vs Optimum
http://www.avforums.com/movies/index...diareview=9890

[fdm]

Originally Posted by iDarren

Last Year at Marianbad Criterion vs Optimum

FWIW, the Optimum DVD looked really good (for a DVD). Haven't quite got around to the Criterion blu-ray yet. Some of the supplements described were also on their DVD (don't recall specifically which ones).

Did get Ran and Katharina Blum today; Contempt shipped a couple days later, so it's still in the mail for the time being.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by fdm

FWIW, the Optimum DVD looked really good (for a DVD). Haven't quite got around to the Criterion blu-ray yet. Some of the supplements described were also on their DVD (don't recall specifically which ones).

Did get Ran and Katharina Blum today; Contempt shipped a couple days later, so it's still in the mail for the time being.

Heard RAN isn't great. Still, its probably an upgrade over DVD.

[neo_reloaded]

Got Ran and Contempt in. Ran wasn't that visually impressive - there's an odd quality to the image that I can't quite put my finger on. Contempt was much better.

I have Belle de Jour on the way. Pretty much confirmed region B, though supposedly there's a way around it on some players (pushing the top menu button to bypass the region lock screen). Will have to try (or wait until I get a region B player eventually).

[retablo]

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

Got Ran and Contempt in. Ran wasn't that visually impressive - there's an odd quality to the image that I can't quite put my finger on. Contempt was much better.

I have Belle de Jour on the way. Pretty much confirmed region B, though supposedly there's a way around it on some players (pushing the top menu button to bypass the region lock screen). Will have to try (or wait until I get a region B player eventually).

Good to hear about Contempt. I ordered it and Elephant Man (which I hear also isn't great, but again better than DVD). Let us know about the region B bypass!

[neo_reloaded]

No luck with bypassing the region B lock on a US PS3. There isn't even a region lock message, the disc just exits right after starting. Someone said they got it playing on a standalone player, meh.

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

Got Ran and Contempt in. Ran wasn't that visually impressive - there's an odd quality to the image that I can't quite put my finger on. Contempt was much better.

I have Belle de Jour on the way. Pretty much confirmed region B, though supposedly there's a way around it on some players (pushing the top menu button to bypass the region lock screen). Will have to try (or wait until I get a region B player eventually).

So you got Belle De Jour and you can't even watch it right now? I am sure it will be out in region A before too much longer.......I want it too.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Elvis

So you got Belle De Jour and you can't even watch it right now? I am sure it will be out in region A before too much longer.......I want it too.

They already say on the studio canal collection website that all the titles will be available in the U.S. next year.

[neo_reloaded]

Originally Posted by Elvis

So you got Belle De Jour and you can't even watch it right now? I am sure it will be out in region A before too much longer.......I want it too.

Well I was certainly hoping it'd be region A compatible - I placed the order right after it was confirmed that Ran and Le Mepris were region AB, and the bad news about Belle de jour had not been released yet.

I plan on getting a region B or region free Blu-ray player anyway, so it's not a huge loss. While these Studio Canal titles will eventually be in the US, there are many discs that either won't necessarily ever be here, or will take a very long time. Also, some time foreign versions of BDs are just better than the domestic ones - I want to have my options open.

And regarding Lionsgate releasing the Studio Canal titles in the US in 2010 - I certainly believe it for Ran and Le Mepris, considering their logo is already on the discs if you say your country is the US. But all of them? I'm not so sure. Why wouldn't the Belle de jour disc be region AB and have the Lionsgate logo on it if they were going to release it next year? And I certainly don't think Lionsgate will be releasing Three Days of the Condor, considering that's a Paramount title over here and they've already released a quality BD of it. So while anything is possible, I don't feel too impatient getting some of the titles now.

[Bruce Morrison]

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

Well I was certainly hoping it'd be region A compatible - I placed the order right after it was confirmed that Ran and Le Mepris were region AB, and the bad news about Belle de jour had not been released yet.

I plan on getting a region B or region free Blu-ray player anyway, so it's not a huge loss. While these Studio Canal titles will eventually be in the US, there are many discs that either won't necessarily ever be here, or will take a very long time. Also, some time foreign versions of BDs are just better than the domestic ones - I want to have my options open.

And regarding Lionsgate releasing the Studio Canal titles in the US in 2010 - I certainly believe it for Ran and Le Mepris, considering their logo is already on the discs if you say your country is the US. But all of them? I'm not so sure. Why wouldn't the Belle de jour disc be region AB and have the Lionsgate logo on it if they were going to release it next year? And I certainly don't think Lionsgate will be releasing Three Days of the Condor, considering that's a Paramount title over here and they've already released a quality BD of it. So while anything is possible, I don't feel too impatient getting some of the titles now.

In the US, 'The Elephant Man' is also a Paramount title and 'The Deer Hunter' is a Universal title.

I suspect that only the foreign language films from the Studio Canal collection will be released by Lionsgate in the US.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by retablo

Heard RAN isn't great. Still, its probably an upgrade over DVD.

I did too, but they snuck it out before I made up my mind whether to cancel it (I figured I had a few days before Contempt shipped and they would ship it all together -- oh well). On the other hand, I'm one of those that think the Criterion Ran looks pretty weak, so it's gotta be better than that!

[Dave_6]

I haven't read thru this whole thread, but why is The Third Man not available from Amazon?

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by retablo

Heard RAN isn't great. Still, its probably an upgrade over DVD.

Is that the DVD or the BD release?

[benricci]

Originally Posted by Dave_6

I haven't read thru this whole thread, but why is The Third Man not available from Amazon?

It appears as though it's temporarily out of stock.

[Dave_6]

Originally Posted by benricci

It appears as though it's temporarily out of stock.

The only thing is that is usually says it's out of stock. It just says that it's not available. Almost like it won't be available anymore.

[benricci]

Originally Posted by Dave_6

The only thing is that is usually says it's out of stock. It just says that it's not available. Almost like it won't be available anymore.

They may be waiting for new stock if Criterion is set to re-issue it in the new clear plastic cases they've started using. So this cardboard case version might not be carried anymore...

[cbo]

Any word yet if the Che release will include both parts I & II ?????

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by cbo

Any word yet if the Che release will include both parts I & II ?????

I seriously can't imagine Criterion would release it any other way. Now, the only question, I think, would be whether Criterion will choose to release both parts individually and/or in a set with both parts... i.e. "The Complete Monterey Pop Festival" set, which has both individual releases housed inside the cardboard slipcover.

CC

[retablo]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Is that the DVD or the BD release?

BD.