The Criterion Collection

[Snicket]

My B&N had one lone copy of Marienbad, it was in a digipack and was pretty beat up. I passed because $39.99 is still too high for me, and if I pay that it needs to be pristine. Guess I'll just chance it later.

[Thebunk]

To those that think physical media will disappear entirely are wrong. As someone else mentioned, just look at the huge resurgence with vinyl (which I collect, both new and used/older release). While the mainstream music audience has shunned CDs and have turned to digital downloads (both legal and illegal), real music lovers have found things missing from this new shift in the marketplace. Album artwork, liner notes, sound quality (a good analog vinyl pressing is unbeatable), the collectibility of certain releases and the interaction with physical media are some of the reasons why some people have flocked to vinyl. Some quick google research will yield the year over year growth in vinyl for the last 7+ years. Also, check out the annual event that is Record Store Day.

So what does this have to do with film or Blurays? Well, the parallels are evident. Walk into any Best Buy and the DVD/Bluray section continues to shrink just like the CD section has. So yeah, the days of mainstream releases may shrink but this opens up doors for boutique labels such as Scream Factory, TT and Criterion among others. Digital will never replace the packaging that Criterion puts together (artwork, essays, and special features). And yes, while many of these items could be replicated digitally, it is not the same as holding the physical artifact in your hands. That said, I don't think mainstream audiences care that much for these added features. Netflix is a big success and they do not include any of these items online.

So yeah I digital is here and is only going to grow. But for the the film loving collector, there will be a need and there will be those that will fulfill that need (as many are already doing and have been doing for some time.

[SlickDamian]

I'm going to have to pick up Leon Morin and Marienbad ASAP.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Thebunk

To those that think physical media will disappear entirely are wrong. As someone else mentioned, just look at the huge resurgence with vinyl (which I collect, both new and used/older release). While the mainstream music audience has shunned CDs and have turned to digital downloads (both legal and illegal), real music lovers have found things missing from this new shift in the marketplace. Album artwork, liner notes, sound quality (a good analog vinyl pressing is unbeatable), the collectibility of certain releases and the interaction with physical media are some of the reasons why some people have flocked to vinyl. Some quick google research will yield the year over year growth in vinyl for the last 7+ years. Also, check out the annual event that is Record Store Day.

So what does this have to do with film or Blurays? Well, the parallels are evident. Walk into any Best Buy and the DVD/Bluray section continues to shrink just like the CD section has. So yeah, the days of mainstream releases may shrink but this opens up doors for boutique labels such as Scream Factory, TT and Criterion among others. Digital will never replace the packaging that Criterion puts together (artwork, essays, and special features). And yes, while many of these items could be replicated digitally, it is not the same as holding the physical artifact in your hands. That said, I don't think mainstream audiences care that much for these added features. Netflix is a big success and they do not include any of these items online.

So yeah I digital is here and is only going to grow. But for the the film loving collector, there will be a need and there will be those that will fulfill that need (as many are already doing and have been doing for some time.

I say it will eventually die. Newspapers are shutting done one by one. Magazines are going out of print in favor of online only editions - even Hollywood's long-standing daily Variety just published its last edition. Books are moving toward e-books, and less publishers are printing Hardbacks and paperbacks.

Will it happen in our lifetime? Who knows. The rate at which technology grows is exponential, so in as little as 5 years they could have a new codec (whatever comes after the new h.265, which halves file sizes that we have currently, with even better compression) that turns 50gb into 5gb.

Yes, there is a resurgence in vinyl, but it's very niche. Blu-ray could remain as a niche thing, but you'll only see the biggest releases (or the most eclectic), while the rest go digital only, just like vinyl now.

If film can essentially die — and while it may not ever fully die, no one is making new film cameras, and many labs have stopped processing film in favor of digital workflow — then anything can happen.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by Thebunk

To those that think physical media will disappear entirely are wrong. As someone else mentioned, just look at the huge resurgence with vinyl (which I collect, both new and used/older release). While the mainstream music audience has shunned CDs and have turned to digital downloads (both legal and illegal), real music lovers have found things missing from this new shift in the marketplace.

Again, I don't know where people are getting these ideas from, possibly some forums, or magazines such as PC World that have an agenda to push, but the trends are different.

In 2012, CD sales actually went up. Fact. Article:

http://blogs.marketwatch.com/thetell...r-second-year/

“The quality of pop music been better recently, from Adele to Lady Gaga to Katy Perry to Susan Boyle, and people are responding to that,” Crupnick explained. “And 10 years after the advent of Apple’s AAPL -0.20% iTunes, far more people buy CDs than downloads.”

Also, please keep in mind that there is a major distinction here. A CD purchase, meaning buying an album, and an online purchase, meaning buying a download, isn't the same thing. Album vs. song(s).

The industry, including giants like Universal Music Group VIVHY +1.32% FR:VIV , Sony Music SNE -0.05% JP:6758 +1.05% and Warner Music Group, would certainly prefer to keep the CD alive as long as possible, since they cost so much more than a typical download. A CD might go for $14 to $20, or more for a 2-CD set. Downloads of individual songs are usually 99 cents, with entire albums going for $4 to $10 online. To keep the format going, they have to negotiate tough terms with retailers.

ALL THIS in addition to resurgence of the vinyl market.

Originally Posted by Thebunk

So what does this have to do with film or Blurays? Well, the parallels are evident. Walk into any Best Buy and the DVD/Bluray section continues to shrink just like the CD section has.

Not in my area, and I live in a very large metropolitan area. Best Buy's film media sections are the same.

However, there is a general trend to downsize floor space, which has absolutely nothing to do with physical media, but rather with the leadership's intent to restructure the business model, meaning make it more flexible to better compete with online vendors. And this really isn't a Best Buy dilemma only, it is something every single retail business has had to ponder/experiment with because of the economic conditions we witnessed during the last couple of years.

Originally Posted by Thebunk

So yeah, the days of mainstream releases may shrink but this opens up doors for boutique labels such as Scream Factory, TT and Criterion among others.

Agreed with the second part. The likes of Criterion and Shout Factory are good news for the consumer and film lover as they are likely to touch titles the majors won't. This scenario was present in Europe for many years before the crisis in North America.

Originally Posted by Thebunk

So yeah I digital is here and is only going to grow. But for the the film loving collector, there will be a need and there will be those that will fulfill that need (as many are already doing and have been doing for some time.

Digital has a place on the market, but it is not the one touted by some pundits. Anyone thinking that digital will replace physical media in the foreseeable future is betting on the wrong horse.

Just like those who did speculate that email will replace traditional mail.

Pro-B

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by retablo

I say it will eventually die. Newspapers are shutting done one by one. Magazines are going out of print in favor of online only editions - even Hollywood's long-standing daily Variety just published its last edition. Books are moving toward e-books, and less publishers are printing Hardbacks and paperbacks.

Your analogy isn't very good. I can't see how you could compare newspapers with music and films. Newspapers, and magazines, offer time sensitive information, which by definition isn't collectable (sure, you have some exceptions). Music and films are not time sensitive material, which is why people value and price them differently.

Books vs. music/films is a better analogy, but I am not seeing any indicators ahead of us that books are bound to disappear any time soon. Again, I feel very confident that books will be sold in my lifetime.

Originally Posted by retablo

Will it happen in our lifetime?

I am confident that neither books, nor CDs, nor physical media (films) will be gone in my lifetime.

Originally Posted by retablo

The rate at which technology grows is exponential, so in as little as 5 years they could have a new codec (whatever comes after the new h.265, which halves file sizes that we have currently, with even better compression) that turns 50gb into 5gb.

Codecs don't matter. They will have to invent something that alters human nature - and specifically targets humans' desire to possess/own physical items.

Originally Posted by retablo

If film can essentially die — and while it may not ever fully die, no one is making new film cameras, and many labs have stopped processing film in favor of digital workflow — then anything can happen.

And I really do not know what this statement is supposed to convey. You do not need to invent new cameras to keep making films. In fact, from what I am seeing and hearing, the likes of Tarantino actually wish to head in the opposite direction, back to how films used to be made.

Relax and enjoy the hobby.

Pro-B

[Snicket]

For those wanting numbers, here is an article from The Economist about home media sales:http://www.economist.com/news/busine...-split-screens

The physical media part begins under "The Hunger Games" title about half way down the page.

Last year was the first year since 2006 that home media (this included physical and digital purchases) did not drop (it also did not grow). Morgan Stanley predicts this will stay this way into 2016.

So not really encouraging news, but not terrible news either.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Your analogy isn't very good. I can't see how you could compare newspapers with music and films. Newspapers, and magazines, offer time sensitive information, which by definition isn't collectable (sure, you have some exceptions). Music and films are not time sensitive material, which is why people value and price them differently.

Books vs. music/films is a better analogy, but I am not seeing any indicators ahead of us that books are bound to disappear any time soon. Again, I feel very confident that books will be sold in my lifetime.

I am confident that neither books, nor CDs, nor physical media (films) will be gone in my lifetime.

Codecs don't matter. They will have to invent something that alters human nature - and specifically targets humans' desire to possess/own physical items.

And I really do not know what this statement is supposed to convey. You do not need to invent new cameras to keep making films. In fact, from what I am seeing and hearing, the likes of Tarantino actually wish to head in the opposite direction, back to how films used to be made.

Relax and enjoy the hobby.

Pro-B

That's fine if that's what you believe. I stand by my analogies. Codecs DO matter, just like people above me saying "hard drives are big enough" etc etc. If it becomes more of a convenience to download and own than to buy at a store, or wait for something to ship, then that alters human nature. I used to love collecting, but I changed, because I saw how much easier digital files are, how much less space they take up. i don't care about box art and booklets like I did 20 years ago when i collected Laserdiscs. But some people might. Which is why I said it might never die, but it will most certainly become a niche.

And it's fine if Tarantino, Nolan and Spielberg still prefer film now... many naysayers and top people in Hollywood have made the digital switch — the past 2 Oscars for cinematography have been digitally shot films. Not to mention the fact that Hollywood wants to implement all-digital projection in the next few years, so no more film prints will even be going out, except to (yep!) niche art houses that play older movies.

So change isn't just coming, it's already here. Generations die off and people change. 60 years ago, kids didn't even know what TV was. 20 years ago, we barely had mainstream Internet. 7 years ago we didn't even have iPhones, or hardly anything touch screen. Now it's the norm. All those things — which some people claimed would never become as important as they all are today — are almost necessities now, things we can't live without, yet before we had them, we didn't know what we were missing. So yeah, things change. I will happily embrace it, if I'm alive to do so.

[Spire]

I can only buy one right now and it's between Army of Shadows or Le Cercle Rouge. Army has been on my to-buy list for a while, but is there any reason I should pick Cercle in this instance? I know opinions differ, but I thought I'd ask.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by retablo

That's fine if that's what you believe. I stand by my analogies. Codecs DO matter, just like people above me saying "hard drives are big enough" etc etc. If it becomes more of a convenience to download and own than to buy at a store, or wait for something to ship, then that alters human nature. I used to love collecting, but I changed, because I saw how much easier digital files are, how much less space they take up. i don't care about box art and booklets like I did 20 years ago when i collected Laserdiscs. But some people might. Which is why I said it might never die, but it will most certainly become a niche.

And it's fine if Tarantino, Nolan and Spielberg still prefer film now... many naysayers and top people in Hollywood have made the digital switch — the past 2 Oscars for cinematography have been digitally shot films. So change isn't just coming, it's already here. Generations die off and people change. 60 years ago, kids didn't even know what TV was. 20 years ago, we barely had mainstream Internet. 7 years ago we didn't even have iPhones, or hardly anything touch screen. Now it's the norm. All those things — which some people claimed would never become as important as they all are today — are almost necessities now, things we can't live without, yet before we had them, we didn't know what we were missing. So yeah, things change. I will happily embrace it, if I'm alive to do so.

Sure. Things change, retablo. But you know what they say, and for a good reason: "The more things change, the more they stay the same".

There are all these different ways of seeing high-rez films now, beautiful color films, yet people still flock to see black and white classics.

There was a time when the music industry was convinced that "free music" on the radio will destroy the business. Well, it did not.

There was a time when the film industry was convinced that television and viewing films at home will destroy the business because people will no longer go to the theater. Well, it did not.

There was a time when some people speculated that instant mail a.k.a email will destroy traditional mail. Well, it did not.

More options is fine. And I am sorry, but IPhone isn't a "norm". Maybe in your area, but it isn't the type of norm you think it is.

Look, you made a good point. Technology changes, people become more educated each new century. But human nature does not change, retablo. Some of the very basic things people wanted thousands of years ago -- safe and comfortable place to live and raise their family, for example; proper education; many material possessions; -- are the same things people want today. More information typically forces people to want to own more things, which is why you are bombarded with it each day. It is the classic capitalist formula - inform and sell. You don't want to own something you know nothing about.

So, unless this very basic human quality is redefined, and I don't believe it ever will be, people will want to own physical products. And I feel very confident that music, films, and books will be amongst them for many, many years to come.



Have a great weekend, retablo.

Pro-B

[ZooTv]

Originally Posted by Spire

I can only buy one right now and it's between Army of Shadows or Le Cercle Rouge. Army has been on my to-buy list for a while, but is there any reason I should pick Cercle in this instance? I know opinions differ, but I thought I'd ask.

You absolutely can't go wrong with either... If you are in the position to only buy one, I'd say go with Shadows since you had your eye on it all along.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Sure. Things change, retablo. But you know what they say, and for a good reason: "The more things change, the more they stay the same".

There are all these different ways of seeing high-rez films now, beautiful color films, yet people still flock to see black and white classics.

There was a time when the music industry was convinced that "free music" on the radio will destroy the business. Well, it did not.

There was a time when the film industry was convinced that television and viewing films at home will destroy the business because people will no longer go to the theater. Well, it did not.

There was a time when some people speculated that instant mail a.k.a email will destroy traditional mail. Well, it did not.

More options is fine. And I am sorry, but IPhone isn't a "norm". Maybe in your area, but it isn't the type of norm you think it is.

Look, you made a good point. Technology changes, people become more educated each new century. But human nature does not change, retablo. Some of the very basic things people wanted thousands of years ago -- safe and comfortable place to live and raise their family, for example; proper education; many material possessions; -- are the same things people want today. More information typically forces people to want to own more things, which is why you are bombarded with it each day. It is the classic capitalist formula - inform and sell. You don't want to own something you know nothing about.

So, unless this very basic human quality is redefined, and I don't believe it ever will be, people will want to own physical products. And I feel very confident that music, films, and books will be amongst them for many, many years.

Have a great weekend.

Pro-B

I disagree.

Human nature changes by the products you give it. As soon as iPhones and Androids came out, those are the new norm, whether you'd like to believe it or not. And if every company said "We're not making physical media anymore, only downloads", then people would either adapt or just not buy.

Kinda like how all the brick and mortar stores are closing. Suncoast, Tower Records, Circuit City, Borders, even come Barnes & Noble... you think they asked the consumers what they wanted? No, they said "we're losing too much money to stay open, because people have adapted to shopping online." Some people prefer shopping in stores, but that's not their choice anymore.

That's how change happens. As soon as it becomes more cost effective (and bandwidth issues are resolved enough) to create non-physical products, they will start to slowly produce less and less. They've already started with books, magazines, and music... movies will be next.

Anyways, back to Criterion.........

[metaridley]

Yeah. Okay. Uh ... what pro-bassoonist said, that's what I'm thinking, and, uh ... Yeah.

[SammyJankis]

So.. uh..

I want a Linklater Before... box set from Criterion.

Yeah.

[pedromvu]

I had to buy Le Cercle Rouge from amazon, if the there is stock around when the B&N sale happens i will probably rebuy it and sell the other once the price goes up.

But i doubt it will last until july, seems best buy and walmart are now out of stock online at least.

[The Great Owl]

I just finished watching A Man Escaped.



A Man Escaped is a superb addition to the Criterion Collection, and it takes the fast track to my list of favorites.

My love of prison escape movies and my love of minimalism are both wonderfully satisfied by A Man Escaped. This movie proceeds at a luxuriously deliberate pace to convey an attention to detail with the protagonist's escape plans, and the viewer is ultimately rewarded with edge-of-the-seat tension.

Films rarely depict the process of handiwork in the same straightforward way that A Man Escaped does, with its multiple sequences of tools being created from everyday items in a prison cell. The focus on these processes illuminates the pressure placed on the main character of Fontaine (inspired by the story of French Resistance member André Devigny) as he listens to frequent executions from outside his cell and observes the shifting of routine as governed by the addition of new inmates and by sporadic interrogations.

The restoration of this 1956 film places the utmost care for the audio quality, and for good reason, because this is a story dependent on the sounds of events that occur offscreen. The Nazi enemies are usually confined to outside of the picture frame and presented as a faceless force of evil, but the danger is always lurking just outside the edge of our field of vision by way of sounds. The use of implied events to generate suspense has rarely, if ever, been put to better use in a film.

This Criterion Blu-ray sports a great-looking video transfer and an even better audio presentation to bring this riveting story of resilience in the face of terrifying adversity to the masses.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by retablo

Or the Twilight Time label.

But in all fairness, the CC transfer and extras best the StudioCanal version, so that's also why. It's an iconic, classic film.

How hypocritical. I remember someone bragging about selling their extra copies of TT blu rays for a 100 dollars.

[KRW1]

Originally Posted by retablo

I disagree.

Human nature changes by the products you give it. As soon as iPhones and Androids came out, those are the new norm, whether you'd like to believe it or not. And if every company said "We're not making physical media anymore, only downloads", then people would either adapt or just not buy.

There's this odd idea that one thing has to replace another. It won't, not anymore, we all watch in different ways. Books won't be totally replaced by e-books - it's more likely the e-book will have evolved into something else before books disapear. These little Kindle pads already look laughably retro and I speak as someone who has one. iphones and androids, too, are fashion statements. What looks modern now is going to rapidly date as fast as mobile phones with ariels did.

People talk about putting movies on a hard drive as the future ignore the fact that the industry is moving more and more towards online storage. Give it another few years and you'll be looking like a caveman with your pile of hard drives at home full of files. Discs, I'm pretty sure, will still be around. It's still the easiest, quickest and cheapest way to get 50gb from one place to another for millions of people.

Back on topic, I've just watched Leon Morin. What a great film.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just finished watching A Man Escaped.



A Man Escaped is a superb addition to the Criterion Collection, and it takes the fast track to my list of favorites.

My love of prison escape movies and my love of minimalism are both wonderfully satisfied by A Man Escaped. This movie proceeds at a luxuriously deliberate pace to convey an attention to detail with the protagonist's escape plans, and the viewer is ultimately rewarded with edge-of-the-seat tension.

Films rarely depict the process of handiwork in the same straightforward way that A Man Escaped does, with its multiple sequences of tools being created from everyday items in a prison cell. The focus on these processes illuminates the pressure placed on the main character of Fontaine (inspired by the story of French Resistance member André Devigny) as he listens to frequent executions from outside his cell and observes the shifting of routine as governed by the addition of new inmates and by sporadic interrogations.

The restoration of this 1956 film places the utmost care for the audio quality, and for good reason, because this is a story dependent on the sounds of events that occur offscreen. The Nazi enemies are usually confined to outside of the picture frame and presented as a faceless force of evil, but the danger is always lurking just outside the edge of our field of vision by way of sounds. The use of implied events to generate suspense has rarely, if ever, been put to better use in a film.

This Criterion Blu-ray sports a great-looking video transfer and an even better audio presentation to bring this riveting story of resilience in the face of terrifying adversity to the masses.

Glad you enjoyed it!

[brandon_260]

I've had to take a break from my new stack of Criterion films, due to last minute work on a paper and spending my movie watching time the last two days seeing Spring Breakers, but I'll be making my way through them again starting tomorrow. I think Still Walking is next, which I am very much looking forward to.