The Criterion Collection

[P@t_Mtl]

I think it's just a generic email send no matter what the reason. Something I ordered November 2 as been delayed until January 13 2012. It's no big deal, they are not charging me for it until they ship.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

So for the veterans, how bad is it for titles going OPP for Criterion. After more then three years here I think only three titles have been confirm as OPP on Blu-ray?

For a long time P@t_Mtl, the granddaddy of Criterion OOPs was the white ring (all region) Salo DVD. At its aftermarket peak, a DVD of spine #17 would set you back several hundred bucks...and that was used*. To this day, Criterion completists who want all first editions in their libraries will still pay more for an authentic used offering of that wretchedly letterboxed Salo DVD than the recently remastered Blu-ray new and sealed. Although few are willing to subject themselves to this film more than once - my Salo Blu-ray still remains unopened; I 'got' it the first time around, thank you very much - anyone who collects Criterions mainly because they are a numbered series, simply must have that spine number or else their OCD goes off the scale. This is what keeps sales of the Criterion RAN and Contempt DVDs alive despite being available via Studio Canal on Blu-ray. Ditto for Criterion's The Third Man on both Blu-ray and DVD, plus several other titles.

With many other labels, when a title goes Out-of-Print it might simply signal a better edition is in the works and due for release within a few months or a year down the line, so they're just clearing out existing stock from retail channels. However, when a Criterion title goes OOP, it usually means that they've lost the rights, so it might very well never appear again with a spine number. As others have already noted, for awhile these titles will remain available from many retailers, so they don't necessarily seem OOP. But eventually that remaining stock dries up, and that's when the fun** begins...

* assuming you could find a Criterion original, and not a Hong Kong/Malaysian knock-off.

** and one of the reasons I made a promise to myself to buy Criterion Blu's when first released, even if forced to pay full retail. No way did I want a repeat of the madness that ensued over Criterion OOP DVDs.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Old Geezer

I received an e-mail from Barnes & Nobel this morning that my pre-order of Designs for Living and Branded to Kill has been delayed "because the release date had changed". Anybody else get a similar e-mail from them? I received similar treatment with my pre-order of The Three Colors Trilogy, finally receiving it about a month after release date. I sent them a nasty return e-mail letting them know that maybe they ran out of the product but the "release date" had certainly not changed.

Be careful that they don't cancel your order because of that. Also, be thankful that you got the pre-orders in at the 19.99 price (I'm assuming you did), because not everyone did, and B&N could have easily cancelled all of them because they were a mistake. They're probably delayed because so many people bought them. A lot of others got delayed for other titles.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

For a long time P@t_Mtl, the granddaddy of Criterion OOPs was the white ring (all region) Salo DVD. At its aftermarket peak, a DVD of spine #17 would set you back several hundred bucks...and that was used*. To this day, Criterion completists who want all first editions in their libraries will still pay more for an authentic used offering of that wretchedly letterboxed Salo DVD than the recently remastered Blu-ray new and sealed. Although few are willing to subject themselves to this film more than once - my Salo Blu-ray still remains unopened; I 'got' it the first time around, thank you very much - anyone who collects Criterions mainly because they are a numbered series, simply must have that spine number or else their OCD goes off the scale. This is what keeps sales of the Criterion RAN and Contempt DVDs alive despite being available via Studio Canal on Blu-ray. Ditto for Criterion's The Third Man on both Blu-ray and DVD, plus several other titles.

With many other labels, when a title goes Out-of-Print it might simply signal a better edition is in the works and due for release within a few months or a year down the line, so they're just clearing out existing stock from retail channels. However, when a Criterion title goes OOP, it usually means that they've lost the rights, so it might very well never appear again with a spine number. As others have already noted, for awhile these titles will remain available from many retailers, so they don't necessarily seem OOP. But eventually that remaining stock will dry up, and that's when the fun** begins...

* assuming you could find a Criterion original, and not a Hong Kong/Malaysian knock-off.

** and one of the reasons I made a promise to myself to buy Criterion Blu's when first released, even if forced to pay full retail. No way did I want a repeat of the madness that ensued over Criterion OOP DVDs.

Since I was not part of any forums in the good old days of DVD I actually never noticed titles going OPP. I might have never noticed it for Blu-ray if it was not for you guys here

In general I buy Criterion when they are release and use the sales to get some of the others later but I doubt I will ever be in trouble since I have no interest in getting the full collection. Some movies I will see from rental and such but they don't mean as much to me to the point I would want to own them and watch them so often. I wasted to much money and space on DVD with stuff that just sat there having been watch once and then just collected dust for almost 10 years. I have learn my lesson

Still I would love to see a pic of an entire Criterion collection that include Lasedisc, DVD and Blu-ray. I am sure someone must have manage that somewhere, must look prety cool

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

That isn't entirely true.

They announced the StudioCanal and Rialto exoduses, but otherwise there is not usually an official announcement. They did not announce the Handmade Films going out of print, or the recent BRD Trilogy.

They did announce Solaris and The Rules of the Game, but those were due to altered, upgraded editions rather than loss of license to the film.

The StudioCanal group was the first time I recall them announcing titles going out of print. That was also a unique case because they went back into production on some titles to try to meet demand (hence why there are still copies of Pierrot le fou to be had two years later).

Ah, I thought they announced them, because I thought I saw something about some of their DVD only titles going OOP a few months back, with no upgrade in sight.

[Todd_Gaines]

Originally Posted by Old Geezer

I received an e-mail from Barnes & Nobel this morning that my pre-order of Designs for Living and Branded to Kill has been delayed "because the release date had changed". Anybody else get a similar e-mail from them? I received similar treatment with my pre-order of The Three Colors Trilogy, finally receiving it about a month after release date. I sent them a nasty return e-mail letting them know that maybe they ran out of the product but the "release date" had certainly not changed.

I got an email this morning as well for Tokyo Drifter and Branded to Kill. I called them and they told me the BD's were at another warehouse or something like that and that I would be receiving a shipping notification sometime today. Hopefully you will get the same email notice today as well.

[JHas]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

That isn't entirely true.

They did announce Solaris and The Rules of the Game, but those were due to altered, upgraded editions rather than loss of license to the film.

They announced those when they upgraded?!?!??

I don't recall that, and why wouldn't they do the same for the likes of Shock Corridor, The Naked Kiss, Diabolique, etc...

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by JHas

They announced those when they upgraded?!?!??

I don't recall that, and why wouldn't they do the same for the likes of Shock Corridor, The Naked Kiss, Diabolique, etc...

If I remember correctly, those 3 titles were not remastered or had new added content. They only changed cover art.

[italy12]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Alas.... it was "Wacky Chicken" and not "Wacky Cock"
The Gold Rush will be a pleasant surprise to those who have been clamoring for more Chaplin though.

There are so many things I could say right now...

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I have no real experience with Criterion going OPP.

P@t,
What OPP are you referring to above? Other People's Property?
Are you referring to the 1991 hip-hop hit single from Naughty By Nature?

Or, did you really mean OOP for out-of-print?

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by italy12

There are so many things I could say right now...

At least he said gold rush and was not talking about the glory hole

Anyway, disregard what I said, let the channel return to Criterion OOP talk

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

P@t,
What OPP are you referring to above? Other People's Property?
Are you referring to the 1991 hip-hop hit single from Naughty By Nature?

Or, did you really mean OOP for out-of-print?

I was talking about Ontario Provincial Police, I am from Canada afterall

Darn it! Why is it you always catch me with these errors

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Darn it! Why is it you always catch me with these errors

I'm just an arse sometimes. I tend to think I'm a playful arse, though, if that's any consolation.

[TylerDurden]

You down with OPP!? Yeah you know me!

Seriously the only OOP title I want is The Man Who Fell To Earth. I was lucky enough to catch a screening at a cinema art house back in the 90's.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

I'm just an arse sometimes. I tend to think I'm a playful arse, though, if that's any consolation.

What I like is you are constant

[italy12]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

A male Chicken is a cock. Wouldn't it be too obvious to say "Wacky Cock"? Either way, it's a long shot for Cockfighter as Gold Rush has been known for sometime (way to waste a clue on something they announced they had already).

True, but for some on here, it is confirmation that it is indeed coming sooner, not later. We may be able to get through an announcement day, for the first time in a while, without someone saying, "GREAT, ANOTHER MONTH WITH NO CHAPLIN! WAY TO RUIN MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF MY CHILDREN, CRITERION!!!"

So, for what its worth, that clue probably made at least one person need to change their shorts.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by italy12

True, but for some on here, it is confirmation that it is indeed coming sooner, not later. We may be able to get through an announcement day, for the first time in a while, without someone saying, "GREAT, ANOTHER MONTH WITH NO CHAPLIN! WAY TO RUIN MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF MY CHILDREN, CRITERION!!!"

So, for what its worth, that clue probably made at least one person need to change their shorts.

It's not the right Chaplin, WAY TO RUIN MY LIFE CRITERION!!!!

[italy12]

Originally Posted by Old Geezer

I received an e-mail from Barnes & Nobel this morning that my pre-order of Designs for Living and Branded to Kill has been delayed "because the release date had changed". Anybody else get a similar e-mail from them? I received similar treatment with my pre-order of The Three Colors Trilogy, finally receiving it about a month after release date. I sent them a nasty return e-mail letting them know that maybe they ran out of the product but the "release date" had certainly not changed.

I received 2 in the middle of the night. I had originally ordered all four of December's releases. I got an email late Tuesday night saying that Design For Living and The Lady Vanishes shipped, but then, when I woke up today, saw two more emails, one each like you got for the other two December releases.

I'm thinking of cancelling them and going to the store the final week before Christmas for the 40% off sale. I have two 20% off coupons which expire on 12/24 from a mailing I received way back in November. This will certainly come out cheaper then the 19.99 plus tax I paid for these at the start of the last 50% off sale.

[italy12]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

P@t,
What OPP are you referring to above? Other People's Property?
Are you referring to the 1991 hip-hop hit single from Naughty By Nature?

Or, did you really mean OOP for out-of-print?

[Swordsman83]

well i guess the only criterion blu ray i will buy will be the curious case of benjamin button..