The Criterion Collection

[BohemianGraham]

Thanks guys. Apparently Hulu Plus is a bit more difficult to get with the unblocking service, due to the whole Canadian credit card thing. I'll need to get a prepaid puppy, and do a lot of jiggery pokery to get the Plus subscription to work. Hence me asking how much of a difference there was between regular Hulu and Hulu Plus. I'm actually more interested in what free Hulu has to offer than Netflix, as I know Hulu had the Criterion deal.

US netflix is actually going to be free for me, as I can use my parents account with the unblocking service on my computer, it will act as if I'm in the US visiting, and thus get all the US content. I'll only have to pay the 7.99 if I want to use my BD player as my streaming device, which is a bit redundant as I have my desktop plugged into my TV anyways.

[NeoMaximuz]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

My thoughts on a couple of the day's topics:

I don't think it is impossible that Criterion will get the rights back to the Studio Canal films. It depends on how their versions are selling. At some point it might be more cost effective to renegotiate the rights than it is to produce their own versions.

Also, since someone mentioned the Universal restorations, I just saw on twitter that they are working on a new restoration of Vertigo, which is exciting.

Vertigo you say? That and the '30s-'50s monsters are the ones I'm dying for.

[scottpcusa]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

?..jiggery pokery...

Is that Canadianese?

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

What does this even mean, Shell? Is it the "in thing" right now for people to choose an earlier part of a filmmaker's career as opposed to their later career? Is it considered a "film snob's" perspective to personally enjoy a particular period from a filmmaker instead of another? In my opinion, your chosen phrase, "quite fashionable," comes off to mean to someone might say it just to get noticed or be "outside of the box." Yes or no?

You're not going to get a non-biased argument from me on this one. Lawrence is my favorite film. We'll leave it at that.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by scottpcusa

Is that Canadianese?

Try Gallfreyian. You need to watch more Doctor Who.

[scottpcusa]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Try Gallfreyian. You need to watch more Doctor Who.

That's one show that I have never watched, but is on my MUST SEE list.

[billzfan]

Does anyone here own the Studio Canal version of Kurosawa's Ran? I know it's not a Criterion release but I figured there's more Kurosawa fans here than any part of the message boards. I was also wondering if there's a difference between the Australian and US releases because the Ausie one is a little cheaper. Thanks

[dag]

Interesting, BG. I hadn't thought of trying to get access to American streaming, but then again, my television isn't hooked up to the internet (I think? I'm actually technologically illiterate.) Just last week, I cancelled my Zip subscription, after 26 months and just under 300 rented discs. I had rented a large number of Criterions from them, but last year they stopped getting any new Criterion BDs. I live in Toronto, and, since discovering them last spring, rent my discs from what could very well be the largest video store in the country. Yesterday I picked up three Criterion BD titles that I've been waiting months to watch. I'll let you know my thoughts on Wednesday night after finishing them...

On another unrelated note, last night I finished reading Pauline Kael: A Life in the Dark. I found the book to be a stupefyingly boring account of the controversial movie critic. Certainly, Kael's writing in The New Yorker was always worth reading, but her views could be alarmingly off-base. I say the biography is boring because it barely rises above a nearly year-be-year account of "Kael's most controversial column was..." or "Kael strongly disliked Woody Allen's newest film [or praised Robert Altman's newest]..." or "Her newest collection of reviews was published..." Kael loved to read, but I couldn't tell you anything about it. She "traveled to Europe" a few times, but she was rather provincial in her lifestyle. I, too, enjoy reading books and watching movies, and I've been fortunate to have travelled a heck of a lot more than many people, but that doesn't make for an interesting biography. Best just read through her old columns at the library.

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by NeoMaximuz

Vertigo you say? That and the '30s-'50s monsters are the ones I'm dying for.

Yep, and it sounds like they are working pretty hard on these restorations. The same person tweeted that Universal spent 16 weeks working on the restoration of Jaws. I would hope they would give Vertigo the same attention (or at least as much as it might need).

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

Yes. This looks to be an absolute must-buy...I'll probably wait for the UK release, though I like the fact that the French release has the actual French title on the cover.

Do you know if the booklet text varies with the release? That would probably be a pretty decent tie-breaker in favor of the UK release.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by octagon

Universal Centennial - Restoring the Classics - A Lifetime of Memories - YouTube

I'm not sure if this is the exact feature on All Quiet on the Western Front (and presumably other 100th releases) but it's a pretty interesting watch for those who haven't seen it.

They say some unnerving things about 'fixing distractions' but for the most part they hit pretty much all the right 'responsible steward' chords.

And it's just plain fun to watch.

Is removing or blurring out the grain on optical closeups one of their 'fixed distractions' ? Nothing responsible about that.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by scottpcusa

That's one show that I have never watched, but is on my MUST SEE list.

New or Old? Or both? I enjoy all of it.

Originally Posted by dag

Interesting, BG. I hadn't thought of trying to get access to American streaming, but then again, my television isn't hooked up to the internet (I think? I'm actually technologically illiterate.) Just last week, I cancelled my Zip subscription, after 26 months and just under 300 rented discs. I had rented a large number of Criterions from them, but last year they stopped getting any new Criterion BDs. I live in Toronto, and, since discovering them last spring, rent my discs from what could very well be the largest video store in the country. Yesterday I picked up three Criterion BD titles that I've been waiting months to watch. I'll let you know my thoughts on Wednesday night after finishing them...

Oooh, what store? My friend in TO cancelled Zip.ca because he couldn't get anything out of them, and has been trying to find ways of watching Criterions, but suffers from Rogers internet. He has been putting off cancelling them for almost two years now.

I found out about Unblock US from some of my friends, who use it for Hulu and Netflix. It's 5 bucks a month, and also give you access to iPlayer from the BBC and a lot of other goodies. I have a desktop computer hooked up to my TV 24/7, so I will be using that for Hulu and Netflix, once I get rid of Aliant. I'm stuck with them for another month because of the whole 30 days notice thing. Since they upgraded the firmware on the cable box, my PVR setup has been completely borked, and I can't really justify an extra 40 a month just to watch TCM. I'm not even recording films anymore, I'm recording freaking test patterns because it keeps randomly changing the channel or shutting itself off.

I'm hoping Hulu has all the Criterions available for free, but even if it doesn't, it's still a good deal to get netflix, Hulu, BBC, and all the other stuff for 5 bucks, vs. 40 some bucks for TCM and a bunch of other channels i hardly watch.

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by octagon

La Grande Illusion Bluray Review

I don't know exactly where or when I'll order it but I don't like my chances of holding out on this one for too long. I've been pretty restrained with region B pickups so far but that refurbished Black Friday region-free Insignia is going to start costing me some serious cash sooner or later and reviews like this make sooner seem like the smart bet.

Eh, I'll just eat cheaper cat food when I'm old...

I wonder why it's even region B locked?

I've been tempted by that cheapo Insignia region free player as a backup just to play region locked discs, but considering the last of them are REFURBISHED I don't know if I'd want to be stuck with a broken down player, and a bunch of region B discs I could no longer play on my main unit. For now I'm still waiting/hoping for either region free releases, or U.S region A releases

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by octagon

Do you know if the booklet text varies with the release? That would probably be a pretty decent tie-breaker in favor of the UK release.

Good call, the French one is in French. UK well, English. Guess I'll be waiting.

Originally Posted by blkhrt

Yep, and it sounds like they are working pretty hard on these restorations. The same person tweeted that Universal spent 16 weeks working on the restoration of Jaws. I would hope they would give Vertigo the same attention (or at least as much as it might need).

I really, really hope that there is a special team or something working on the Vertigo transfer. I don't want to start a real tangent here, but I've been slightly underwhelmed by Universal's special 100th annum transfers. I mean, they're not terrible but you can certainly see where they could be better. Vertigo has the opportunity to absolutely blow you away on bl-ray, as it should, and I would love for it to do just that.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

New or Old? Or both?

Both for me, but Old is the one I prefer

[g.schweet]

They've been showing a bunch of Hitchcock films in HD on Retroplex lately, including Vertigo, and they look marvelous already. I don't see why they even bother with the "restoration", the results are minimal at best, and terrible at worst.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Both for me, but Old is the one I prefer

To paraphrase David Spade the other ten guys should just change their names to Not Tom Baker.

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

Netflix is 7.99 a month. If you wanna get all the Criterion titles you have to get Hulu Plus. I think a couple of Criterion titles were streaming on Hulu but they might have expired. But yea, I highly recommend Hulu Plus for Criterions. I've seen alot of great films threw this service.

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Plus. I'm actually more interested in what free Hulu has to offer than Netflix, as I know Hulu had the Criterion deal.

US netflix is actually going to be free for me, as I can use my parents account with the unblocking service on my computer, it will act as if I'm in the US visiting, and thus get all the US content. I'll only have to pay the 7.99 if I want to use my BD player as my streaming device, which is a bit redundant as I have my desktop plugged into my TV anyways.

I really want to cut the cable cord, but for me it doesn't add up (for FiOS, the prices are rigged irritatingly: ~$75 for high speed internet, ~$75 for HD cable package or $90 for both -- the same as ditching cable and getting Hulu & Netflix). That said, while researching feasibility I found this site which keeps up to date what Criterions are on Netflix. I'm doing a month-long trial membership and it's addictive. Looking forward to finally checking out Certified Copy this week.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by billzfan

Does anyone here own the Studio Canal version of Kurosawa's Ran? I know it's not a Criterion release but I figured there's more Kurosawa fans here than any part of the message boards. I was also wondering if there's a difference between the Australian and US releases because the Ausie one is a little cheaper. Thanks

I have the Studio Canal release of Ran. It's not a perfect release but it's also not the horror that some tried to make it to be back when it came out.

I can't help you on the differences, never seen the Australian version. All I can tell you is that the Studio Canal release is not perfect but still quite enjoyable. I decided to keep my Criterion DVD copy anyway however.It's debatable if Criterion would have manage to do a better job on it or not.

[blg]

Originally Posted by AgentOrange

I wonder why it's even region B locked?

I've been tempted by that cheapo Insignia region free player as a backup just to play region locked discs, but considering the last of them are REFURBISHED I don't know if I'd want to be stuck with a broken down player, and a bunch of region B discs I could no longer play on my main unit. For now I'm still waiting/hoping for either region free releases, or U.S region A releases

I've been going back and forth about whether to buy a region free player also. I know for me, i'd want a player i could use as my primary player which means dropping $600 on the chipped Oppo player. I'm still not sure if i'm willing to do this for what amounts to probably less than 50 movies.