The Criterion Collection

[mande2013]

Originally Posted by StLouisRibs

I'd say slowly phased in. Criterion has to make an announcement and include it in press releases when they even change the packaging, so if it were to return to print they'd likely make some hoo-haa out of it (not to mention that, oddly enough, it'd give the first oppurtunity for the BD titles to be upgraded to newer scans; I had hoped the Dual-Format change could do this with nice new 4K scans for 400 Blows and Breathless, but they simply stuck to the old discs (compare with Playtime, which was given a new scan that's apparently much improved))

Oh, well would Pierrot Le Fou really need a new transfer? You mean I might not be set for life if I simply choose to exchange my current disc for a rot-proof one corresponding to the 2009 art sleeve?

I understand films like Contempt, Grand Illusion, and Discreet Charm wouldn't return sans blu-ray upgrade, so those I would expect invariably to be included in a monthly announcement were they to return.

Also, I don't see how there'd be anything to complain about with the current Breathless and 400 Blows transfers, but to each their own I guess.

Well the old Playtime transfer was fairly poor anyway, and everyone knew that. Le Cercle Rouge and The Leopard could use new transfers though, not new transfers per se, but transfers Criterion has always been reluctant to adopt, although they've existed for ages. So I won't buy the Criterion release of The Leopard until this issue is rectified, if it ever will be. At least with Le Cercle Rouge it's only a color timing issue. With The Leopard, we're talking differing aspect ratios.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

if you are really that much into background infos for a movie you are able to read that up on the internet as well. there are lot of essays avaible for free.
even commentary tracks...

i have some early criterion DVD releases. some of them dont even have a booklet. the cover art isnt great either. not to mention the cheapeast DVD case i probably own.

its not like they startet doing "half assed" releases recently.


maybe sometimes its better to have not that much bonus features instead of boring ones. i went trough a few criterion movies that had some bonus features that nearly bored me to tears...alot of people just dont care for a audiocommentary by some movie buff etc...

I do read up online but I still want a physical copy included with he film - you can watch loads of supplements online, lets remove those from Criterion releases! Great idea!

Hey you can even watch the films online - why not just ditch Criterions and disc releases as well - super idea.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by CinemaBlu

Shout Factory recently bought Westchester Films which has some films licensed to Criterion. They may decide not to renew the licenses once they expire. Titles that could possibly go OOP include Foreign Correspondent, Stagecoach and Godzilla.

But Foreign Correspodent was JUST released in the Bluray version..

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Yeah I get that, but they can always buy existing essays and such. Also I'm sure they will have in-house writers if need be.

Bu the still pissed off they are releasing these 'half assed' packages.

"Half assed" is a bit much, especially when they've just released their most lavish package of the year in TATI. The quality of the discs remains consistently great.

This idea that in-house writers could simply write everything is naive. Regardless of how good they are they're not going to be experts on every subject. There's no point in doing it just for the sake of doing it. Using existing essays still costs money too.

[mande2013]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

"Half assed" is a bit much, especially when they've just released their most lavish package of the year in TATI. The quality of the discs remains consistently great.

This idea that in-house writers could simply write everything is naive. Regardless of how good they are they're not going to be experts on every subject. There's no point in doing it just for the sake of doing it.

I still wish they could have made both the Tati and the Demy films available as standalones, unless the licensing agreement stipulated box set only. Oh well...

How many people are buying that Tati set just for Playtime? I would imagine many.

Generally speaking, I don't care for boxsets, unless it's a series, such as The Three Colors Trilogy or the Six Moral Tales, or if the films in the set simply aren't commercially viable as standalones, and that's not the case with either the Demy or the Tati films, if they can release stuff like Letter Never Sent and Dillinger Is Dead.

[CinemaBlu]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

But Foreign Correspodent was JUST released in the Bluray version..

Pierrot le fou went OOP pretty soon after it was released.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by mande2013

I still wish they could have made both the Tati and the Demy films available as standalones, unless the licensing agreement stipulated box set only. Oh well...

I wish they had made Five Easy pieces available as a standalone...
I won't buy the boxset just for this..

Originally Posted by CinemaBlu

Pierrot le fou went OOP pretty soon after it was released.

Hmm. then maybe I should get this in this sale since it's in my wishlist.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by mande2013

I still wish they could have made both the Tati and the Demy films available as standalones, unless the licensing agreement stipulated box set only. Oh well...

How many people are buying that Tati set just for Playtime? I would imagine many.

Generally speaking, I don't care for boxsets, unless it's a series, such as The Three Colors Trilogy or the Six Moral Tales, or if the films in the set simply aren't commercially viable as standalones, and that's not the case with either the Demy or the Tati films, if they can release stuff like Letter Never Sent and Dillinger Is Dead.

I like Tati as a set because it's complete. Demy is a little different as it's a bunch of films randomly thrown together. Perhaps individual releases will come out at a later date, as was the case with Cassavetes?

[mande2013]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

I like Tati as a set because it's complete. Demy is a little different as it's a bunch of films randomly thrown together. Perhaps individual releases will come out at a later date, as was the case with Cassavetes?

Yes, maybe. We'll see. Maybe Criterion just wanted to 'get 'em out', since they weren't going to announce six Demy standalones all at once. I might get Criterion's Tati set at some point, but I settled for Studio Canal's standalone blu of the 4K restoration of Playtime here in France for the time being.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by mande2013

So I won't buy the Criterion release of The Leopard until this issue is rectified, if it ever will be. At least with Le Cercle Rouge it's only a color timing issue. With The Leopard, we're talking differing aspect ratios.

If they release a new Leopard, I hope they could look into The Last Emperor too, and release the new restoration that was used for the Italian 3d Disc, and is the only one with the original aspect ratio!
http://caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleich...ess=#vergleich

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

"Half assed" is a bit much, especially when they've just released their most lavish package of the year in TATI. The quality of the discs remains consistently great.

This idea that in-house writers could simply write everything is naive. Regardless of how good they are they're not going to be experts on every subject. There's no point in doing it just for the sake of doing it. Using existing essays still costs money too.

Im in a really crap mood today and not to be rude don't really care right now... I probably would have a different option had it been another day but just not in mood atm.

And when I meant in house writers I meant writing introductions or trying up interviews, so a short introduction to another essay or critics opinions, or behind the scenes. I mean Eraserhead has a segment of the book interview.

Its just nice seeing the extra effort and shows they care and make it all that more desirable, currently just feels like they are throwing the films out rushed and that they don't care.

I know I'm wrong but in my current state I really don't care if I'm wrong or sound like an idiot.

Also I'm aware I know they have done some great releases recently and have put a lot of care and time into them, I just wish THEY didn't choose which release wa special as we all consider different films to be special to us and seems a shame when one may seem neglected cause to them its not as good as another release.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I dont mind either but Criterions are pretty specific and there are alternate version at a lower cost, even streaming. If you are that worried about a few extra dollars or whatever then stream or buy DVD's elsewhere. Don't ruin for others.

On the other hand, having a leaflet instead of a booklet isn't going to destroy your life. At least there's something. Most releases don't have any inserts other then perhaps promotional crap for merchandizing, or instructions on how to get your digital copy.

I'm sorry that you (and others here) feel cheated, but all this sturm und drang is a bit much.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jayembee

On the other hand, having a leaflet instead of a booklet isn't going to destroy your life. At least there's something. Most releases don't have any inserts other then perhaps promotional crap for merchandizing, or instructions on how to get your digital copy.

I'm sorry that you (and others here) feel cheated, but all this sturm und drang is a bit much.

Its more frustrating they are cutting corners to save money, while we continue to pay the exact same price. Because some people can't get out of the DVD stage - which is fine and I get not everyone can afford or appreciate bluray etc but its frustrating older technology is affecting others and stuff.

If they kept the dual format it would have been great but as I said people who only get DVD's codlin get over they had to pay a little for bluray as well (which fi they upgraded saved a fortune) - Id be happy to ditch the digipaks if they did dual format as I did like the thicker plastic cases.

But meh...

[GenPion]

I don't have the releases with leaflets yet, but I agree booklets are nicer and it would be great from Criterion to go back to booklet style inserts. I'm not sure if they will, but it's something I would appreciate too. It's more like reading a mini-book than a hand-out.

[adamhopelies]

First of all, chin up mate, don't let stuff get you down.

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Its just nice seeing the extra effort and shows they care and make it all that more desirable, currently just feels like they are throwing the films out rushed and that they don't care.

I'm surprised you feel this way. None of the recent discs feel "rushed" to me, I actually think Criterion have been on fire of late.

It's worth mentioning that for me Criterions have got cheaper since they went back to individual releases. I'm now paying £22.99 delivered for a new release versus £23.99 before.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by GenPion

I don't have the releases with leaflets yet, but I agree booklets are nicer and it would be great from Criterion to go back to booklet style inserts. I'm not sure if they will, but it's something I would appreciate too. It's more like reading a mini-book than a hand-out.

I don't think anyone would disagree with this, but I can understand their rationale. It's a shame.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

First of all, chin up mate, don't let stuff get you down.



I'm surprised you feel this way. None of the recent discs feel "rushed" to me, I actually think Criterion have been on fire of late.

It's worth mentioning that for me Criterions have got cheaper since they went back to individual releases. I'm now paying £22.99 delivered for a new release versus £23.99 before.

Thanks I don't mean to take it out on here - I know they have done an incredible job and given us a lot of incredible cinema to enjoy, and I know its about the films presentation. I just see Criterion as a company that offers the full package and it just shows they care. These leaflets feel rushed or a quick job and it the first thing you see when you open these films are the artwork and booklet and how sit presented. It puts you in the mood and when you see some cheap looking leaflet its already a negative in your head and off putting.

But when you look at set slick Zatoichi, Tati, Qatso, Antichrist, Hausu etc etc you are excited the moment you lay eyes on the artwork and packaging and then you have these amazing well thought out booklets and it draws you in and puts you in the mood for the film!

I would never usually have been excited about Zatoichi tbh and would have skipped it, but the artwork and design drew me in and got me excited, and it made me want to discover the films and explore and because of that I did find and discover new film i'd never usually touch and I'm so appreciative of that!

I just struggle to get excited when its some annoying leaflet you have to unfold and try navigate and then you need to fold it back up and just doesn't feel worth it.

It worked so nicely with Ace in the Hole because it linked with the film and the artwork, the idea of opening an newspaper - just draws you in.

These don't feel as thought out *shrugs*

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by CinemaBlu

Shout Factory recently bought Westchester Films which has some films licensed to Criterion. They may decide not to renew the licenses once they expire. Titles that could possibly go OOP include Foreign Correspondent, Stagecoach and Godzilla.

Thank you for the information! I'll try to look up Westchester Films and see what other titles, if any, they might have licensed to Criterion, just to be on the safe side.

I had also heard something, somewhere about I Married a Witch being "at risk" ... if anyone can confirm or has more definite information, that would be appreciated,

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jmclick

Thank you for the information! I'll try to look up Westchester Films and see what other titles, if any, they might have licensed to Criterion, just to be on the safe side.

I had also heard something, somewhere about I Married a Witch being "at risk" ... if anyone can confirm or has more definite information, that would be appreciated,

I Married a Witch is a great little flick, awesome transfer, its got amazing visuals for the time it was made and its so fun. You should get just for that haha.

[CHEЯNOБLY!]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Its more frustrating they are cutting corners to save money, while we continue to pay the exact same price. Because some people can't get out of the DVD stage - which is fine and I get not everyone can afford or appreciate bluray etc but its frustrating older technology is affecting others and stuff.

No, its not fine. DVD-hanger-ons should be ostracized from society like lepers.

[Show spoiler] Ha! I suppose they are helping to keep physical media alive, so at least they are good for something.