The Criterion Collection

[Volume11]

Originally Posted by QuasidodoJr

Darn tootin'! Whether they're $3 DVDs from Big Lots, or Criterion discs that I know won't be seeing a blu-ray release anytime, soon - if I can still watch them and enjoy them, I'm all for it.

I view every DVD bought as a potential title I will have to upgrade at some point to Blu.

[Volume11]

Originally Posted by kndy

Hey CG, hopefully B&N will do it again in November. I want to get more but this time I'm going to have to limit myself. Mainly because I still have so much to watch from the last sale and our Hollywood Video is now at 80% off...and waiting for one last drop (next week) before I go after some of the foreign film titles.



Yes, DVD's that will more than likely never come out on Blu-ray ever.

I don't buy that argument at all. Right NOW it is still not worth the upgrade for many titles with less than stellar elements available or that were shot on broadcast quality tape based on manufacturing costs coupled with similar visual results to DVD. But, in the FUTURE when replicating costs have dwindled even lower than they are now and blu ray is the majority selling format (and they have come down quite a bit from even two years ago when Criterion first started releasing blus) it will be more common to see blus released for titles that weren't candidates a few years back simply because most studios will have entirely moved on to Blu simply based on replication and mastering costs coming down.

I heard the same argument from the Laserdisc and VHS cinephiles concerning film elements not being worth the DVD upgrade when in fact, as time marched on thousands of titles that didn't see a huge improvement from Laserdisc or VHS editions ended up on DVD due to studio uniformity and costs plummeting.

[kndy]

Originally Posted by Volume11

I heard the same argument from the Laserdisc and VHS cinephiles concerning film elements not being worth the DVD upgrade when in fact, as time marched on thousands of titles that didn't see a huge improvement from Laserdisc or VHS editions ended up on DVD due to studio uniformity and costs plummeting.

Yeah, this is true for other companies but for Criterion, I don't think so. With only so many releases per month, they are tapping into newer titles and maybe 1-2 past titles. From 1-500, I just don't see them releasing the majority of them on Blu-ray. Granted, we may see some of those titles transfer back to another company and be released by Lionsgate, Warner, Universal, etc. and then possibly be released on Blu but I just don't see it happening anytime soon for Criterion.

There are so many newer titles that people want that is more appropriate for Blu-ray and I don't know if many of those older films and the surrounding elements would be appropriate for Blu. Like recent releases this year and last that many of us have hoped to be for Blu-ray and were not..."Dillinger is Dead", "Made in USA", etc. There must be a reason why they weren't released on Blu-ray.

Especially the classic releases. There are many of us expecting DVD or Blu-ray releases and Warner and Universal have opted for a direct-to-DVD approach ala DVD-R.

And with technology changing rapidly, I don't think anyone really knows the longevity of Blu-ray. Another decade, more or less?

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by capnnarcolepsy

In interest of predictions, here is something from criterioncast's twitter feed:

"Some clues regarding tomorrows Criterion new release announcement: 3 of the titles were once on Criterion laserdisc, 2 didn't make it to DVD"

Take it with a grain of salt, but sometimes these guys are on point. Commence speculation.

Considering there were almost 400 Criterion LaserDisc I'm gonna pass on predicting that.

[Volume11]

Originally Posted by kndy

Yeah, this is true for other companies but for Criterion, I don't think so. With only so many releases per month, they are tapping into newer titles and maybe 1-2 past titles. From 1-500, I just don't see them releasing the majority of them on Blu-ray. Granted, we may see some of those titles transfer back to another company and be released by Lionsgate, Warner, Universal, etc. and then possibly be released on Blu but I just don't see it happening anytime soon for Criterion.

There are so many newer titles that people want that is more appropriate for Blu-ray and I don't know if many of those older films and the surrounding elements would be appropriate for Blu. Like recent releases this year and last that many of us have hoped to be for Blu-ray and were not..."Dillinger is Dead", "Made in USA", etc. There must be a reason why they weren't released on Blu-ray.

Especially the classic releases. There are many of us expecting DVD or Blu-ray releases and Warner and Universal have opted for a direct-to-DVD approach ala DVD-R.

And with technology changing rapidly, I don't think anyone really knows the longevity of Blu-ray. Another decade, more or less?

At another decade that would put Blus life span at a little longer than DVD has been around currently...so again, by that logic, even if its five years from now the selection of titles previously thought unfit for blu would change.

[ChadFL]

Can anyone recommend some good Criterion horror films for me to consider? I know it's not a genre Criterion is really known for but I'm sure there are some very good ones out on DVD.

[capnnarcolepsy]

Wow...here is a comprehensive list of all of the laserdisc releases and their spine numbe once they made it to DVD or just blank if they didn't make the transition. Yeah, there's a ton of them, so speculating would be a tough job. I'm just amazed someone took the time to compile the list.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...rdisc_releases

[csdot]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Can anyone recommend some good Criterion horror films for me to consider? I know it's not a genre Criterion is really known for but I'm sure there are some very good ones out on DVD.

Videodrome!

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by csdot

Videodrome!

I know. I've seen it many times and enjoy it. Going to hold off for it till the Blu-Ray comes out.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by capnnarcolepsy

Wow...here is a comprehensive list of all of the laserdisc releases and their spine numbe once they made it to DVD or just blank if they didn't make the transition. Yeah, there's a ton of them, so speculating would be a tough job. I'm just amazed someone took the time to compile the list.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...rdisc_releases

By the time you sort through that list and figure out which ones it may be they will have already made the announcement tomorrow. I don;t bother even trying to predict Criterion releases. They do a great job at keeping things a secret.

[Volume11]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

By the time you sort through that list and figure out which ones it may be they will have already made the announcement tomorrow. I don;t bother even trying to predict Criterion releases. They do a great job at keeping things a secret.

Plus, we will know tomorrow so why bother?

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by g.schweet

I will now use this post to gloat that one of my local cinemas is showing Rohmer's Six Moral Tales this weekend, and yes I will be in attendance. (actually maybe more like )

My local cinema is showing The Complete Metropolis this Friday........ I hope I can get some free time....

[stobbart]

Paths of Glory and The Killing.....those have been rumored for a long time now and will more then likely be released together whenever they get around to it

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by kndy

Like recent releases this year and last that many of us have hoped to be for Blu-ray and were not..."Dillinger is Dead", "Made in USA", etc. There must be a reason why they weren't released on Blu-ray.

I can bet you (which I am mad at due to me liking these titles) that "Dillinger is Dead", "Made in USA", "2 or 3 Things...", "von Sternberg silents" didn't make blu because Criterion thought they wouldn't sell (in the case of the silents not buying blu rights, even though they knew they were going blu at that time). I would bet on that. There is no excuse why Dillinger (a Janus release) didn't make blu other than they didn't want to spend the $ to make blu-rays, which is very sad doing that to the customer. Around here it seems Criterion can release anything and alot of people will buy it. So it shouldn't of went down like that.

[Volume11]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

I can bet you (which I am mad at due to me liking these titles) that "Dillinger is Dead", "Made in USA", "2 or 3 Things...", "von Sternberg silents" didn't make blu because Criterion thought they wouldn't sell. I would bet on that. There is no excuse why Dillinger (a Janus release) didn't make blu other than they didn't want to spend the $ to make blu-rays.

Exactly. I think too many people in this thread take Criterion's veiled answers as too literal and run with their own meaning. I think from day one Criterion has catered to the DVD loyalists way too much and have also undrestimated how well they would do in the Blu sector...the numbering decisions and DVD only selections are proof of this...

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by kndy

Hey CG, hopefully B&N will do it again in November. I want to get more but this time I'm going to have to limit myself. Mainly because I still have so much to watch from the last sale and our Hollywood Video is now at 80% off...and waiting for one last drop (next week) before I go after some of the foreign film titles.

Yeah, I might wait for a Nov sale, though if that rumored "Nw Hollywood set" comes out, that will be alot of money in itself.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by Volume11

Exactly. I think too many people in this thread take Criterion's veiled answers as too literal and run with their own meaning. I think from day one Criterion has catered to the DVD loyalists way too much and have also undrestimated how well they would do in the Blu sector...the numbering decisions and DVD only selections are proof of this...

And what sucks is they know that the ones who do want these "never been released in the U.S." dvds, that we will spend money on the dvds. It's a win-win for Criterion. They got sells off of them and didn't have to do a blu-ray because they know there isn't a better version out there, so they went the CHEAP route and threw together dvd-only versions.

But just look for a second at those titles I listed. I can bet if there was crappy dvd versions out there, Criterion would of did a blu release. But since there was no other version, they knew they would make money off of us by not having to spend too much.

WE SHOULD TAKE A STAND! (but I will still buy dvds, Criterion)

Dillinger is Dead, Made in USA, and those von Sternberg silents on blu-ray now dang it!

[Volume11]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

And what sucks is they know that the ones who do want these "never been released in the U.S." dvds, that we will spend money on the dvds. It's a win-win for Criterion. They got sells off of them and didn't have to do a blu-ray because they know there isn't a better version out there, so they went the CHEAP route and threw together dvd-only versions.

But just look for a second at those titles I listed. I can bet if there was crappy dvd versions out there, Criterion would of did a blu release. But since there was no other version, they knew they would make money off of us by not having to spend too much.

WE SHOULD TAKE A STAND! (but I will still buy dvds, Criterion)

Dillinger is Dead, Made in USA, and those von Sternberg silents on blu-ray now dang it!

That aspect annoys me a little but what gets me is the lack of transparency with most of their decisions. Kevin of Eureka actually answers real questions, gives real logical insight into the MoC line's future plans, states what the reasoning is, and openly embraces blu...add a new numbering syystem and its hard not to be like "ehhh, what the eff, Criterion?".

[keldons]

can we pretty much bet on Hausu and Antichrist for tomorrow?

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by capnnarcolepsy

In interest of predictions, here is something from criterioncast's twitter feed:

"Some clues regarding tomorrows Criterion new release announcement: 3 of the titles were once on Criterion laserdisc, 2 didn't make it to DVD"

Take it with a grain of salt, but sometimes these guys are on point. Commence speculation.

So if there is 2 tomorrow from laserdisc, I went throughout the Criterion laserdiscs and came to these that have been rumored by Criterion:

The Night of the Hunter
The Game (David Fincher)
Paths Of Glory
The Killing

and

Five Easy Pieces & The Last Picture Show (the only 2 titles of out the rumored NEW HOLLYWOOD BOXSET that was on Criterion Laserdisc.) Can the biggest surprise for me come tomorrow?