The Criterion Collection

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by Fabs

I think at this point, we should forget about Criterion's purpose. They've released the most important films of the past and recent times, but now I think they put out whatever they feel like. Sure, they upgrade and still release films that are important or interesting. But I think they're more focused on releasing films they know will sell well (Wes Anderson, David Cronenberg, Terry Gilliam, The Big Chill, Tootsie, David Lynch, Brian De Palma, etc). Now, these films aren't bad. Most of them are really great films. But most don't really need a release. They're already available.

And people say all the time that Criterion pushes out stuff like Wes Anderson to get more money to release obscure stuff. And while that's partly true, I don't get how Eureka/Masters of Cinema doesn't release these kinds of films but still manages to put out a ton of obscure and important films that really don't have a huge market.

What is their purpose?

All I could find is:

2. How does Criterion decide which films receive the “Criterion treatment”?

We aim to reflect the breadth of filmed expression. We try not to be restrictive or snobby about what kinds of films are appropriate. An auteur classic, a Hollywood blockbuster or an independent B horror film has to be taken on its own terms. All we ask is that each film in the collection be an exemplary film of its kind. Of course we can’t just pick movies and put them out. The process of getting the rights to release a film can take years. Even if we want a film, we can’t work on it unless the film’s owners grant us the rights.

Which seems too broad, I think everyone has their definition of what should Criterion release and sometimes we follow them so hard that we end up being angry when they release something we don't want because we feel each of those releases is a missed opportunity for something else.

But the reality is they will release what they want, and unless people stop purchasing their releases they can do as they please, I think overall they have been pretty consistent in what they have released over all this years, and we should be grateful that there are lots of other labels for more obscure tastes.

Also there is the problem of the rights, and master sources, I think it is better that they keep releasing 5-6 titles a month, if the other option is releasing 1-3 a month because they are waiting for a restoration of a big title to be finished.

[darkness2918]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Seems like you lost all credibility haha, not sure why everyone is against you, I don't like to criticize movies I haven't seen, but I also won't blindly defend them just because Criterion puts them out.

I try to watch all Criterion release, and for me some of them have been pretty bad, even some respected ones, but I guess that is just my opinion, I mean for what it's worth, I never had hopes for Tiny Furniture, and once I saw it I didn't like it, same with Hausu.

I guess in this case you have to put serious spoilers just so that someone who already seen it can believe you

Same with me, I just started buying/watching Criterion releases this past summer so ive been trying to watch everything that looks interesting to me. While ive enjoyed the majority of the films ive seen some I didn't, even ones considered classics by some on here.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Seems like you lost all credibility haha, not sure why everyone is against you, I don't like to criticize movies I haven't seen, but I also won't blindly defend them just because Criterion puts them out.

I try to watch all Criterion release, and for me some of them have been pretty bad, even some respected ones, but I guess that is just my opinion, I mean for what it's worth, I never had hopes for Tiny Furniture, and once I saw it I didn't like it, same with Hausu.

I guess in this case you have to put serious spoilers just so that someone who already seen it can believe you

It's so silly lol, even if I put spoilers I bet someone would argue I saw it in a clip or trailer haha.

Well the intro is a space sequence kinda thing - surely that's enough? Doesn't show in any trailers or clips.

Anyway - if people think I'm a liar then be it, I didn't like the look of a film and when I continued to dislike after a viewing, not sure why people have such a problem with this but I don't care tbh

[pro-bassoonist]

The Brood Blu-ray REVIEW



This is the best high-definition presentation of the film that I have seen to date. You won't be disappointed.

If you are fan of the film, you probably want to have this release and the UK and Australian releases as they all have some very good supplemental features (I really like The Directors: The Films of David Cronenberg that is included on the Aussie disc).

I really hope Crash would end up with Criterion. It is, in my opinion, Mr. Cronenberg's best film, and it will be great to have an excellent release with plenty of supplemental features (especially with Deborah Kara Unger). Top score from Howard Shore as well





Pro-B

p.s. Later today we will have a review for Mister Johnson. Three more reviews should be up by Sunday night.

[mja345]

"Crash" is with Warner Archive now, so I think it will be tough to get a Criterion release anytime soon. I have the Warner Archive DVD and it's a great transfer for a DVD and has some solid special features. I have a feeling the best we can hope for is Warner Archive upgrading it to BD.

[aewb]

Originally Posted by ElliesDad

You may have missed the press release: "Criterion has, in keeping with new acquisition, production, and distribution standards and policy, announced that they are currently revising their mission statement, and that effective as of the first of next month it will read as follows: 'Criterion Collection, a continuing series of classic and contemporary films which may be important to someone, somewhere.' "

Don't get me wrong, I've been a huge Criterion supporter for years and when they hit the mark it's a joy to behold. That said, a good number of their releases this year have ranged from questionable to incomprehensible (nothing to be gained here by providing examples) and what makes this in fact so frustrating is that the Criterion product is so good.

If another company chooses to issue a mix of good films and turkeys, so what. But when the availability of blu-ray releases of so many great (and important) films seems to be rapidly diminishing and when so many of the ones that are available have been poorly mastered, it is always disappointing when a Criterion slot goes to a lesser, to be generous, release. For every Tiny Furniture or My Winnipeg that comes along another Nights of Cabiria or Roman Holiday, or Horseman on the Roof, or A Very Long Engagement, or an extended edition of Cinema Paradiso languishes, perhaps never to see the light of day.

Ok, I'm done...

I feel the same way about the bolded films as you do about Tiny Furniture and My Winnipeg, everyone has a different opinion on what constitutes an 'important' film. Arrow released Cinema Paradiso a while ago BTW.

Originally Posted by Fabs

And people say all the time that Criterion pushes out stuff like Wes Anderson to get more money to release obscure stuff. And while that's partly true, I don't get how Eureka/Masters of Cinema doesn't release these kinds of films but still manages to put out a ton of obscure and important films that really don't have a huge market.

Maybe that was true in the early days but MoC seem to be primarily interested in American films these days. Dragon Inn and Cruel Story of Youth are definitely the exception and what happened to the silents?

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by darkness2918

I personally like the Cronenberg, Lynch & De Palma stuff Criterion release.

They're good films, but do they really need a Criterion release when there are Blu-Rays already available? Mulholland Drive has 2 Blu-Ray versions currently out before the Criterion. Eraserhead was also out a year before Criterion's, in a pretty stacked Lynch Blu box set. Dressed to Kill has been out on Blu for 4 years.

They're great films, but Criterion should be concentrating on things that don't have previous editions throughout the world on Blu Ray.

Originally Posted by pedromvu

What is their purpose?

"Since 1984, the Criterion Collection, a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films, has been dedicated to gathering the greatest films from around the world and publishing them in editions that offer the highest technical quality and award-winning, original supplements."

[Superted]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

The Brood Blu-ray REVIEW



This is the best high-definition presentation of the film that I have seen to date. You won't be disappointed.

If you are fan of the film, you probably want to have this release and the UK and Australian releases as they all have some very good supplemental features (I really like The Directors: The Films of David Cronenberg that is included on the Aussie disc).

I really hope Crash would end up with Criterion. It is, in my opinion, Mr. Cronenberg's best film, and it will be great to have an excellent release with plenty of supplemental features (especially with Deborah Kara Unger). Top score from Howard Shore as well





Pro-B

p.s. Later today we will have a review for Mister Johnson. Three more reviews should be up by Sunday night.

Just pre ordered based on this review, thank you

[spargs]

Originally Posted by Fabs

They're good films, but do they really need a Criterion release when there are Blu-Rays already available? Mulholland Drive has 2 Blu-Ray versions currently out before the Criterion. Eraserhead was also out a year before Criterion's, in a pretty stacked Lynch Blu box set. Dressed to Kill has been out on Blu for 4 years.

They're great films, but Criterion should be concentrating on things that don't have previous editions throughout the world on Blu Ray.



"Since 1984, the Criterion Collection, a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films, has been dedicated to gathering the greatest films from around the world and publishing them in editions that offer the highest technical quality and award-winning, original supplements."

I don't recall Mulholland Dr. or Eraserhead having a Region A release prior to their Criterion release...

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Fabs

And people say all the time that Criterion pushes out stuff like Wes Anderson to get more money to release obscure stuff. And while that's partly true, I don't get how Eureka/Masters of Cinema doesn't release these kinds of films but still manages to put out a ton of obscure and important films that really don't have a huge market.

From what I understand, MoC do not perform any restorations themselves. They are primarily restricted to licensing existing masters and preparing encodes without much additional clean-up work, which is why in several cases in the past comparable releases from the two have generally shown more damage/dirt and less contrast adjustments in the MoC transfer (although one could argue it makes the transfer look more organic). Criterion have done a fair number of restoration projects, which are much more expensive than licensing an existing master. Also, Eureka're a much smaller company than CC, and probably cannot afford the rights to the more commercially viable stuff (even if it promises more profits)

Originally Posted by aewb

...but MoC seem to be primarily interested in American films these days. Dragon Inn and Cruel Story of Youth are definitely the exception and what happened to the silents?

I believe that's because they have some kind of time-limited deal with Paramount for their catalog and want to get as many of those out the door as possible before it shuts.

[CriterionBlues]

Can't wait for The Brood. Already watched Rabid in anticipation and will soon see Fast Company and re-watch Shivers.

Thanks, Pro-B!

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by spargs

I don't recall Mulholland Dr. or Eraserhead having a Region A release prior to their Criterion release...

You're correct, they are Region B. But Mulholland Dr., in particular, has been out for 5 years. A region free Blu Ray player is about the price of 5 Criterions and if you're into film you should have one anyway.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by aewb

I feel the same way about the bolded films as you do about Tiny Furniture and My Winnipeg, everyone has a different opinion on what constitutes an 'important' film. Arrow released Cinema Paradiso a while ago BTW.

Maybe that was true in the early days but MoC seem to be primarily interested in American films these days. Dragon Inn and Cruel Story of Youth are definitely the exception and what happened to the silents?

I find myself wanting more MoC films lately then Criterion. I try to wait for the Criterion releases, but out of fear of some of the MoC's going OOP end up picking them up. Gave up on quite a few and ordered the UK versions like Lady Snowblood, The Murder Lives at 21, Pickup on South Street, Tales of Hoffman, Onibaba. Not to mention ones I purchased back in 2012 like a bunch of the Imamura films or Passion of Joan of Arc
I'm still kicking myself for not getting the Late Mizoguchi boxset. Figured we would atleast see Ugetsu from Criterion.

Still love the Criterion Collection, but I've questioned a lot of their release choices lately. I have nothing against a film like JellyFish its just doesn't look like something I would care for. In some cases I'll pick up the Criterion release later, but only if the transfer is significantly better or it offers some special features that interest me.

Was really hoping to see some announcements for The Kid, Bicycle Thieves, Red Beard (Venice 2015 restoration), Le Samourai, Ugetsu, Tales of Hoffman, After Hours and quite a few others.

One thing I would love to see Criterion do is offer a subscription service where you pay for a full years worth of titles at a substantial discount. They don't have anything like that do they?

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

I haven't heard this, at least not recently.

The iTunes transfer has an HD option. I haven't DL'ed and won't, but the other iTunes releases (like Watership Down) were comparable to the physical release.

It was a question asked in a online chat a while back, maybe even a couple years ago now. They indicated they were not going to release a Blu ray until they were able to come up with a suitable transfer. Same with Andrei Rublev.

[silverlakephil]

Any fans of Kinuyo Tanaka ? Like Toshiro Mifune, I think she was the premier Japanese actress back in the day. There's not a film I've seen with her in it I didn't like (Ugetsu, Sansho the Bailiff, The Life of Oharu). If you have Hulu, I recommend checking her out in Sandokan no.8, one of her last films, and she was just as amazing in that. I need to check out Red Beard and Ballad of Narayama soon, and I understand she directed 5 films of her own.

[kuro_sawa]

Originally Posted by Fabs

You're correct, they are Region B. But Mulholland Dr., in particular, has been out for 5 years. A region free Blu Ray player is about the price of 5 Criterions and if you're into film you should have one anyway.

Actually MD has been available in a region A friendly (and cheap) release for just as long. The real reason to be excited for the CC is that they are advertising a new 4k transfer.

[kuro_sawa]

Originally Posted by Meggs2015

Another month goes by, with an uninspiring (to me), December releases. Are we ever going to see The Decalogue?

I think they're going to release it but I'd imagine it's not exactly the easiest thing to do. I have no idea what condition the materials would be in and how much work would have to be done (money wise as well). Thankfully the Facets DVDs are pretty good, very watchable.

[Brad1963]

Every month after the new announcements there seems to be discussion about Criterion's choices. I'm not always interested in everything they release, but IMO they are always consistent with what they promise and do offer a diverse line up on films. I've been a collector since the Laserdisc days and I cannot remember a time when they offered so much as they do now. Film restoration has made it possible to deliver films like Blind Chance and Here is My Life, and to have Day For Night on Blu ray is a dream come true.

Sometimes I read these posts and the postings on the main page and wonder what people expect from Criterion. I've read comparisons to other labels and try to understand the connection. Criterion really cannot be compared to anyone else IMO. They are their own special brand, offering titles they feel need to be brought into the marketplace for whatever reason. But they do it with the understanding that their followers enjoy a wide variety of films and they do not expect you to love them all.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by Fabs

You're correct, they are Region B. But Mulholland Dr., in particular, has been out for 5 years. A region free Blu Ray player is about the price of 5 Criterions and if you're into film you should have one anyway.

I used to think this way, but I have seen many times the argument that only a fraction of the audience buys region free players or is willing to import films, I know with the internet it is much easier, but I think it's a fair point, you would think at least the hardcore fans that post here everyday would do it, but I don't think even 100% of them do it.

I guess we will see, if it becomes one of the biggest sellers it will mean not many people purchased from overseas, or maybe they double dipped

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by spargs

I don't recall Mulholland Dr. or Eraserhead having a Region A release prior to their Criterion release...

Region free Blu-ray for Mulholland has been out since May of 2011. It's usually less than $20 shipped to the states for the whole set.

Edit: Sorry, I missed Kurosawa's post.