The Criterion Collection

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Hands down Arrow releases best packaged box sets in UK - hard to compete with their releases tbh! BFI, Arrow, Criterion, Eureka! Etc all have their own unique selling point and they vary enough for me to want to buy from all of them - even double dip!

In the past 12 months or so Arrow's packaging for the LEs has just gone into orbit.

I still love Eureka's too though - love the classic simplicity but uniformity of their packaging, and the booklets are always knockout. Criterion I'd put on the same level.

I try not to double dip unless absolutely necessary so I'm hoping the relative overlaps between the labels remains small. I don't need to be picking up third copies of Nosferatu or Birth of a Nation for example!

[DaveyJoe]

Criterion right now

[octagon]

Originally Posted by CouncilSpectre

Eureka/MoC are the obvious ones but there's also Arrow and the BFI who usually have great on-disc content as well as a fantastic physical package.

Yep, and Network might not be as flashy but they're building a pretty nice library too.

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by octagon

Yep, and Network might not be as flashy but they're building a pretty nice library too.

Network, Signal One, Studio Canal's VINTAGE CLASSICS line. We're spoiled rotten really. Oh, and 88/101 Films.

[mja345]

Yeah, the UK has America beat soundly in terms of classic/high-brow boutique labels for sure. We seem to be stockpiling horror/cult labels. Don't get me wrong, I love my horror/exploitation/cult cinema, but it does seem absurd when very shitty 80s slasher flicks are getting BD releases before many masterpieces. Criterion kind of has a monopoly in the US on "high-brow" releases. Twilight Time and Kino release some of the same kind of films, and as big a fan as I am of both labels, they're both different kind of companies than Criterion. The UK has a bunch of distributors duking it out for high-brow territory, while we have a bunch of distributors duking it out for the low-brow territory (horror, exploitation).

[duggie walker]

Yes, but remember that Warner Bros. release virtually no catalogue titles in the UK and we don't have companies like Kino or Olive or Twilight Time churning out releases.

Basically, if you're really into Japanese movies and elaborate editions of 80s slasher movies, you're well-served by Arrow. But those of us who are mainly interested in classic US catalogue titles can only hope for occasional releases by Eureka and, now, Signal One. So Criterion UK may help to fill that gap for Region-B collectors.

[theater dreamer]

Arrow UK is releasing The Human Condition on Blu-ray May 30th. Right now, it's about $70 USD pre-order.

I'm dying to see this. Criterion has the DVD streaming on Hulu, so I'll be able to watch the whole thing before it hits the streets. If I love it as much as I think I will, and if Criterion doesn't upgrade this soon, I'll be sending a good chunk of change to Arrow. I might be buying only my region-free player, and this set in May, but somehow, I think I'll muddle through.

And, I'm going to make it my life's mission to expose Americans to the work of Masaki Kobayashi. Because, right now, when we hear the name "Kobayashi", we think of this guy:

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I hope Criterion gives us a bluray release of Mommy!

I'd love a Criterion release of The Hours, but I doubt it would ever happen. Every time I come across a film I love my reaction is "why hasn't Criterion released this?"

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

Arrow UK is releasing The Human Condition on Blu-ray May 30th. Right now, it's about $70 USD pre-order.

I'm dying to see this. Criterion has the DVD streaming on Hulu, so I'll be able to watch the whole thing before it hits the streets. If I love it as much as I think I will, and if Criterion doesn't upgrade this soon, I'll be sending a good chunk of change to Arrow. I might be buying only my region-free player, and this set in May, but somehow, I think I'll muddle through.

And, I'm going to make it my life's mission to expose Americans to the work of Masaki Kobayashi. Because, right now, when we hear the name "Kobayashi", we think of this guy:

Yes! Ha ha! I said the same thing some months back. I, too, can't wait to see The Human Condition for the first time. $70 is too much , though, I think. I'd bet that Zavvi will have it for like $50 some time this summer.. And they ship to the US for like a buck.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

I'd love a Criterion release of The Hours, but I doubt it would ever happen. Every time I come across a film I love my reaction is "why hasn't Criterion released this?"

It's more the fact that there is NO bluray for this in UK

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by mja345

Yeah, the UK has America beat soundly in terms of classic/high-brow boutique labels for sure. We seem to be stockpiling horror/cult labels. Don't get me wrong, I love my horror/exploitation/cult cinema, but it does seem absurd when very shitty 80s slasher flicks are getting BD releases before many masterpieces. Criterion kind of has a monopoly in the US on "high-brow" releases. Twilight Time and Kino release some of the same kind of films, and as big a fan as I am of both labels, they're both different kind of companies than Criterion. The UK has a bunch of distributors duking it out for high-brow territory, while we have a bunch of distributors duking it out for the low-brow territory (horror, exploitation).

Good post.

I love love love what is happening with 1980s slasher cinema on Blu-ray right now. Blood Rage, The Mutilators, and all of these throwaway flicks are being treated with the same reverence that Criterion treats Kurosawa or Fellini titles, and they have been given a second life, whether they deserve it or not. I started watching my Blu-ray of Pieces last night, and was floored at the quality of the transfer and the extras.

I do, however, wish that there were more of a U.S. market out there for movies like Touchez Pas Au Grisbi, Le Combat dans l'ile, or Ossessione.

I think that Cohen Media is on to a good thing, and I'm glad that films like Two Men in Town are helmed by that label, but I still wish that there were more.

I'm glad that Criterion is pushing Tootsie, The Big Chill, and films like that nowadays, but I hope that it's not at the expense of the Jacques Becker titles and other forgotten greats that they used to put out on DVD.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Yes! Ha ha! I said the same thing some months back. I, too, can't wait to see The Human Condition for the first time. $70 is too much , though, I think. I'd bet that Zavvi will have it for like $50 some time this summer.. And they ship to the US for like a buck.

Thank you for the heads up about Zavi. I've never bought from them before, but I'll start checking out their web store.

This is another example of why I love this forum, and this discussion group in particular, so much. Not only do I gain a deeper appreciation for the movies I have watched (thereby encouraging me to watch them again), I am turned on to a lot of brilliant directors, cinematographers and actors, as well as movie gems I might have somehow missed. Then, to top it all off, I get a real sense of community here. And that's the best thing of all. I like that the people who participate in the Criterion discussion are looking out for one another. Whether I am looking for a heads up about an upcoming sale, or get a tap on the shoulder, and a helpful suggestion that is completely unexpected, there is a real Esprit De Corps here. You guys greatly enhance my experience as a cinephile, and I cannot thank you enough.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

<snip>

And, I'm going to make it my life's mission to expose Americans to the work of Masaki Kobayashi. Because, right now, when we hear the name "Kobayashi", we think of this guy:

[Show spoiler]

Not necessarily ... it might all depend when you grew up. This is the guy that comes to mind when I hear the name Kobayashi.

(I used to love this stuff).

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2plwbc

[TheLaughingMann]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

Arrow UK is releasing The Human Condition on Blu-ray May 30th. Right now, it's about $70 USD pre-order.

I'm dying to see this. Criterion has the DVD streaming on Hulu, so I'll be able to watch the whole thing before it hits the streets. If I love it as much as I think I will, and if Criterion doesn't upgrade this soon, I'll be sending a good chunk of change to Arrow. I might be buying only my region-free player, and this set in May, but somehow, I think I'll muddle through.

And, I'm going to make it my life's mission to expose Americans to the work of Masaki Kobayashi. Because, right now, when we hear the name "Kobayashi", we think of this guy:

This is my Kobayashi.

[Arawn]

This is the guy that comes to mind when I hear "Kobayashi":

[Show spoiler]

[TheLaughingMann]

Originally Posted by Arawn

This is the guy that comes to mind when I hear "Kobayashi":

[Show spoiler]

Kobayashi-Maru...Kirk's way of saying "Nope sir...I don't like it" to unwinnable scenarios.

[theater dreamer]

I wonder if Pete Postlethwaite ever ate 20 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Jesus, the man could do everything else. One of the most gifted actors I've ever seen. He is truly missed.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

Thank you for the heads up about Zavi. I've never bought from them before, but I'll start checking out their web store.

This is another example of why I love this forum, and this discussion group in particular, so much. Not only do I gain a deeper appreciation for the movies I have watched (thereby encouraging me to watch them again), I am turned on to a lot of brilliant directors, cinematographers and actors, as well as movie gems I might have somehow missed. Then, to top it all off, I get a real sense of community here. And that's the best thing of all. I like that the people who participate in the Criterion discussion are looking out for one another. Whether I am looking for a heads up about an upcoming sale, or get a tap on the shoulder, and a helpful suggestion that is completely unexpected, there is a real Esprit De Corps here. You guys greatly enhance my experience as a cinephile, and I cannot thank you enough.

Another site to keep in mind is base.com. Like Zavvi they have low per item shipping (usually £1.49 per item), but unlike Zavvi they remove VAT when the item is being shipped to the states.

They don't have Human Condition listed for sale yet however.

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

It's more the fact that there is NO bluray for this in UK

It's true; it's odd that Network released Tom a la ferme on Blu-ray but didn't do the same for Mommy. The DVD is still strong and has a lot of extras but it definitely could have done with a Blu-ray release.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

I'd love a Criterion release of The Hours, but I doubt it would ever happen. Every time I come across a film I love my reaction is "why hasn't Criterion released this?"

I'd love a proper Bluray of it. Be it either Criterion, eureka, Arrow, i don't know, please someone!