The Official Criterion UK Thread

[Cinematt]

I'd strongly suspect they're resetting the numbering, it would just be confusing and frustrating to the new crowd of non-importers that they're looking to reach with this move, and would prevent them from releasing anything in the UK that they don't have US rights to without using a number that then wouldn't be available to US collectors.
It also allows/encourages people in the UK to get on board with collecting a fully numbered set.

This is great news though, given how major studios are ignoring back catalogue BD we need as many boutique players as possible, though obviously it poses a challenge for the boutique labels that have already been regularly releasing films in the UK that Criterion do in the US.
It also means we might get re-releases of titles the US doesn't have anymore, or opportunities to licence things the US can't get - potentially including things released on older formats by Criterion where they have exclusive extras.
And you can pretty much guarantee this means the UK will finally get a full set of Wes Anderson movies on BD!

But please, please do reversible sleeves without the BBFC logos!

[Cinematt]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

And while I really can't see this happening, it would be quite something if they embarked on UK-only releases. Sony not licencing out to anyone else over here certainly gives them an advantage in this regard.

I wouldn't expect them to start that way, it's much cheaper to port existing titles, and less risky to only put production effort into titles they can release across markets, but if the UK market grows enough for it to be profitable, and someone will only offer them the license in one region, why not? Especially if they can get away with making it a region free encode that the US will import...

And whilst it might not make RRPs any cheaper than the US it will lead to there being a much bigger second hand market. At the moment second hand copies really hold their value well, we'll see that drop once they're on the shelves of CEX.

[FinnishFilmFan]

I really am praying for Wes Anderson catalogue and Malick's Days of Heaven and Badlands! Also we need more Bergman films on blu-ray. Remember this isn't exciting only for the UK but the whole Europe

[kristoffer]

This is fantastic news!

Maybe they can buy Studio Canal's rights to Escape From New York, Le Samurai and Don't look now! [emoji847]

[mattyl149]

I'm looking at the artwork on Amazon, and they've gone with the US Criterion design

As you can see below, it looks like the numbers are not starting from one. Hopefully this is changed seeing as these don't have the BBFC ratings on

[FinnishFilmFan]

Originally Posted by mattyl149

I'm looking at the artwork on Amazon, and they've gone with the US Criterion design

As you can see below, it looks like the numbers are not starting from one. Hopefully this is changed seeing as these don't have the BBFC ratings on

I think those images are not final. Just the US release picture. It would be incredibly stupid for them not to start the spine numbers from one. I think the cover art itself will be the same, but they will change the spine number.

[BigNickUK]

Originally Posted by mattyl149

I'm looking at the artwork on Amazon, and they've gone with the US Criterion design

As you can see below, it looks like the numbers are not starting from one. Hopefully this is changed seeing as these don't have the BBFC ratings on

Where is it on amazon uk?

[moviegeek1992]

Originally Posted by mattyl149

I'm looking at the artwork on Amazon, and they've gone with the US Criterion design

As you can see below, it looks like the numbers are not starting from one. Hopefully this is changed seeing as these don't have the BBFC ratings on

I think that's just the US artwork that they have as a placeholder at the moment, as you said no BBFC logo. I doubt they'd continue the US numbering as someone else pointed out, it will be confusing to newcomers to Criterion.

[Ill_Be_Back]

Oh man this is huge news. I was just watching the Criterion release of Following last night and was thinking to myself when will Criterion release over here. Hopefully they will have some huge releases lined up. If it were a possibility maybe get the Zatoichi boxset released over here. I came close to importing it many times, customs always prevented me.

[Pecker]

For me, the far bigger news here is that at least two of those titles are Sony.

If Sony have now decided to licence out in the UK, anything is possible.

Will they now do so with Arrow and MoC?

Steve W

[FinnishFilmFan]

Originally Posted by BigNickUK

Where is it on amazon uk?

Just search "Criterion Range".

[Hatfield Peverel]

Originally Posted by Pecker

For me, the far bigger news here is that at least two of those titles are Sony.

If Sony have now decided to licence out in the UK, anything is possible.

Will they now do so with Arrow and MoC?

Steve W

Sony are actually distributing Criterion's UK titles themselves, so it's not quite the same as letting them go to other labels.

[FinnishFilmFan]

Zavvi has all of these listed at 27.99. I really hope that's not the final price...

[BigNickUK]

Originally Posted by FinnishFilmFan

Just search "Criterion Range".

Thanks!

[Persona]

Great news, I wonder if Criterion store will ship to the UK now?

[adamhopelies]

I wouldn't be surprised to see them abandoning numbering altogether for the UK releases.

[FinnishFilmFan]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

I wouldn't be surprised to see them abandoning numbering altogether for the UK releases.

Collectors love the spine numbering, though. Some people must buy them all only because they have to have a complete collection.

[rezpekt]

Originally Posted by FinnishFilmFan

Zavvi has all of these listed at 27.99. I really hope that's not the final price...

28 GBP seems to be in line with the regular 40 USD.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by NjabPhungula

Both the Artificial Eye and Sony/Criterion listings of Ivan's Childhood are up on Amazon:

AE:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ivans-Childh...dp/B01AWK5PAC/

Sony:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ivans-Childh...dp/B01CJHLOOW/

So, I guess this means that Artificial Eye is going to have to cancel their blu-ray. Interestingly, though, the Sony (I assuming it's the Criterion) is listed as Region-Free.

More the other way around if anything - Criterion/Sony will have to cancel their edition as AE were there first (like BFI had to cancel Rocco and His Brothers).

This could also be a situation where the rights are between different parties and these are both licensed from different companies, in which case both are able to be released. That is rare though, and usually only the case with public domain films (e.g. Nosferatu, The Birth of a Nation).

[Ill_Be_Back]

I wonder if the BBFC logos will be printed on the sleeve or just stickers?