The Criterion Collection

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by jw007

Don't look now, but its gonna be Don't Look Now!

If they release Don't Look Now and re-release TMWFTE in 2015, I will be very happy.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by BLUgrass

As far as discussion, I'm kind of curious how you guys each got into the Criterion Collection. Was it because a certain film you wanted was only available via Criterion? Was it more because of the treatment the films get via special features and new transfers? Was it for a particular director or genre?

I was first drawn to them during the DVD era primarily because of PQ/AQ. I wasn't really big on supplements back then and while I wasn't averse to expanding my horizons I wasn't really going out of my way to do it either.

The thing that really won me over though was their Complete Mr. Arkadin release. I'm honestly not all that big a fan of the film itself but that package is really impressive. It was a real eye-opener. That was when I started paying attention to Criterion itself.

[spargs]

Don't Look Now!!! Yes!!!

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by octagon

I think this might have 'Charade' written all over it. Charade was a title that never really hooked me until I saw it in HD. Then it just all seemed to fall together.

Don't Look Now is not my favorite Roeg film. In fact, I didn't really think that much of it but I could see it benefiting immensely from a better presentation.

I have the region B Optimum release and let's just say there's more than a little room for improvement.

I saw a really terrible SD quality version of it on TV several months ago, but I still was immediately hooked. The film truly frightened me, something that I cannot often say about horror films.

I watched The Man Who Fell to Earth a couple of nights ago, making it the fourth Roeg film that I've seen. It's probably my second favorite film of his, followed by Insignificance and lastly, Walkabout.

[Thebunk]

Originally Posted by anthonyls

or maybe a comment from criterion on the state of their blu-ray discs... They played fine back then, but now, you don't want to look.

lol

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Yes! My favorite Roeg film!

Glad to see it finally confirmed.

This is awesome.

[octagon]

I kind of wound up liking Insignificance. I really wasn't into it the first couple times I tried to watch it but once I warmed up to it I found it pretty interesting.

I need to watch TMWFTE again. I was a little intoxicated and all I really remember is thinking Rip Torn's Junk would be a cool band name.

Walkabout was pretty good but for some reason it just didn't stick with me. Images and moments from Insignificance pop into my head fairly regularly but I never really think about Walkabout until somebody else mentions it.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

maybe they haven't commented because it is a non-issue? or because no one at Criterion who reviews or owns the movies has confirmed it to be a real problem.

I've had one DVD just stop working. It happened to be the first DVD I ever bought and my favorite movie of all-time, too - my copy of Vertigo that I bought in like '98 or '99. just stopped working.

The issue of "rot" first popped up back in the LD days. It was a genuine problem caused by a substandard adhesive seal in some pressing plants. The imperfect seal allowed air in, which oxidized the disc surface. It was a progressive "disease" that got worse with time until an affected disc was simply not playable.

That said, the prevalence of rot was blown way out of proportion, as some people started categorizing any problem (such as drop-outs) as laser rot. In my LD-collecting days, I've probably had about 2000 LDs come through my hands, and I encountered fewer than a dozen legitimate cases of laser rot.

Shortly after DVDs came on the market, there came a hue and cry about disc rot on those as well. A number of early releases (mostly, it seemed, from Warner) developed problems, no doubt because the manufacturing process hadn't been perfected. I never came across a single DVD that showed signs of it. Even my copy of the most notorious rotter, Contact, continued to play fine right up until I sold it off after upgrading to a Blu-ray.

And now we have BD rot. I haven't checked out any of my discs yet, but will do that soon.

[Brad1963]

Is Criterion re-issuing The Man Who Fell to Earth next year? I'm also hearing of La Grande Illusion may be coming back? Did Criterion re-license Studio Canal titles?

[fdm]

Originally Posted by BLUgrass

As far as discussion, I'm kind of curious how you guys each got into the Criterion Collection. Was it because a certain film you wanted was only available via Criterion? Was it more because of the treatment the films get via special features and new transfers? Was it for a particular director or genre?

When I got an LD player, I chose Criterion Blade Runner as the freebie. I'd already been pretty immersed in films, foreign and domestic, for several years prior. The nearby LD rental store had some other Criterions I also rented. And I even bought a few, but mostly they were too expensive, and I didn't really end up with too many LDs owned.

My first DVD was Seven Samurai, just after it came back into print; I'd looked for it a few times, but nobody had it, and since the LD I rented froze up, was pretty determined to give it another go. At some point not too long after that, pretty much gobbled them up and haven't really stopped since. Was already buying blu-rays when Criterion finally decided to take the plunge.

I think about the time I got a dvr was when I started (seriously) falling behind on my pile of unwatched Criterions...

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by octagon

I kind of wound up liking Insignificance. I really wasn't into it the first couple times I tried to watch it but once I warmed up to it I found it pretty interesting.

I need to watch TMWFTE again. I was a little intoxicated and all I really remember is thinking Rip Torn's Junk would be a cool band name.

Walkabout was pretty good but for some reason it just didn't stick with me. Images and moments from Insignificance pop into my head fairly regularly but I never really think about Walkabout until somebody else mentions it.

Insignificance was really surprising, in my opinion. The film removes the stardom aspect of celebrities and shows them as real people with real problems. I think some of the ideas that were being thrown around were rather interesting, although I can't remember many of them for the life of me.

I think The Man Who Fell to Earth works really well in exploring the de-evolution of a character. By the time the films ends, Bowie's character has shifted to the point that he is unrecognizable.

Walkabout...meh. It was alright in terms of cinematography and what not, but the story did nothing for me. I feel as if the point it was trying to make regarding cultural blending and mingling was often lost in those moments where the characters were struggling to survive and find help.

Originally Posted by Brad1963

Is Criterion re-issuing The Man Who Fell to Earth next year? I'm also hearing of La Grande Illusion may be coming back? Did Criterion re-license Studio Canal titles?

Word on the street is yes, yes, and yes.

An Instagram user commented on a Criterion photo stating that her husband worked on the re-release slated for a February 2015 release. I hope more information surfaces before it is officially announced so I can still sell my OOP copy.

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

Is Criterion re-issuing The Man Who Fell to Earth next year? I'm also hearing of La Grande Illusion may be coming back? Did Criterion re-license Studio Canal titles?

Here's what we know.

People's Exhibit A
People's Exhibit B

So you tell us!

[captveg]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

Is Criterion re-issuing The Man Who Fell to Earth next year? I'm also hearing of La Grande Illusion may be coming back? Did Criterion re-license Studio Canal titles?

Unknown, but there have been lots of rumors lately that they may have. Hopefully they'll clarify at the Wexner talk.

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

Here's what we know.

People's Exhibit A

So you tell us!

Interesting. Maybe they are re-negotiating with Studio Canal to get certain titles back. It appears Lionsgate has no interest in releasing titles on disc anymore. Even though Lionsgate released a nice BD of La Grande Illusion Criterion needs it back to lead off the spine numbers again.

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by captveg

Unknown, but there have been lots of rumors lately that they may have. Hopefully they'll clarify at the Wexner talk.

That would be wonderful. Maybe Criterion will be able at last to release a better edition of Ran. Personally, I would love a BD release of The Fallen Idol and Bob le flambeur

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

Interesting. Maybe they are re-negotiating with Studio Canal to get certain titles back. It appears Lionsgate has no interest in releasing titles on disc anymore. Even though Lionsgate released a nice BD of La Grande Illusion Criterion needs it back to lead off the spine numbers again.

I believe Peter Becker (?) indicated as much in the Wexner talk (got another one of those coming up soon). Also, I added another Instagram to my previous post.

[TJS_Blu]

For what its worth, October 14th.

With its unparalleled library of world classics and critically acclaimed contemporary films, exquisitely designed packaging, and demanding technical standards, the Criterion Collection remains the Tiffany's of important releases on home video.

Join Criterion Collection Producers Kim Hendrickson and Curtis Tsui as they provide a behind-the-scenes look at Criterion's operation, focusing on recent and upcoming releases such as Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita (1960), Alfonso Cuarón’s Y tu mamá también (2001), Sydney Pollack’s Tootsie (1982), and John Ford’s My Darling Clementine (1946), among others.

Following the talk, stick around for a new 4K restoration of the timeless classic My Darling Clementine, John Ford’s take on the OK Corral legend starring Henry Fonda as Wyatt Earp and Victor Mature as Doc Holliday. (97 mins., DCP)

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Sundays and Cybele has just arrived.

I will watch it tonight and provide some feedback on how it looks and how it is.

My copy arrived also. I'm watching on Saturday evening.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

I'm also hearing of La Grande Illusion may be coming back? Did Criterion re-license Studio Canal titles?

I just bought the UK Digibook version a few days ago, so if that's true: you're welcome everyone

[The Great Owl]

Don't Look Now

This is going to be such an epic Criterion title. Here's looking forward to retiring my DVD at last.

Interesting timing, because I'm planning to revisit my Blu-ray of Walkabout tonight to see if I'm one of the unlucky ones. I watched my Blu-ray a year and half ago with no trouble, and there's no discoloration, but, hey...it's a good movie, and I've been wanting to revisit it anyway.