The Criterion Collection

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by Pvtjoker87

Anyone else underwhelmed with the 2021 releases compared to 2020

This wasn't exactly my favorite year for Criterion in terms of purchases. And there were actually two months where I didn't get anything at all, which I'm not sure has happened in the 10 years plus I've been closely following them. But I wouldn't say I was UNDERwhelmed.

[MifuneFan]

I think the Wong Kar-wai set would have absolutely been a highlight of the year for many had it not been botched the way it was. I think that left a sour taste in many of our mouths

Still if you look at the caliber of titles Criterion released this year, it's hard to say this was a weak year. This is an excellent lineup.

Parallax View
Three Films by Luis Buñuel
The Furies
Memories of Murder (still a great release despite the revisionism)
Nightmare Alley
The Human Condition
Pickup on South Street
Bringing up Baby
Mirror
Beasts of No Nation
Mona Lisa
The Damned
Onibaba
Throw Down
High Sierra
The Incredible Shrinking Man
Ratcatcher
Devi
Once Upon a Time in China 6-film set
Uncut Gems 4K
Citizen Kane 4K
Mulholland Drive 4K
Menace II Society 4K
The Red Shoes 4K

And they've also put out some important works that some consider the release of the year like The Signifyin' Works of Marlon Riggs. There are some that I'm less familiar with, but are no doubt highlights for others like Mandabi, Deep Cover, After Life, etc..

[PowellPressburger]

For anyone who has pre-ordered titles direct from Criterion do you ever get them early or do they deliver after the release date?

[DukeTogo84]

I think Criterion had a pretty solid year with 2021. Not as good as 2020, but solid. I think outside of December I will have gotten at least one title for every month which usually doesn't happen. The highlight for me was the Human Condition trilogy which is something I've been waiting to get a US release for what seemed like a lifetime.

Hoping 2022 gives us a few long wanted titles like After Hours and many Japanese titles. I think Cure is a safe bet, but would love to finally see that Kurosawa boxset, and maybe some Hideo Gosha while we are at it.

[Member-682067]

Originally Posted by jshaide

This wasn't exactly my favorite year for Criterion in terms of purchases. And there were actually two months where I didn't get anything at all, which I'm not sure has happened in the 10 years plus I've been closely following them. But I wouldn't say I was UNDERwhelmed.

Depends on who you ask.

For me as a Criterion customer, I don't see any year as a 'bad' year because for every title that comes out that doesn't have a chance of me getting there's another that comes out where(to me) they strike gold such as the upcoming release of 'The Damned'.

And there's always an opportunity to pick up releases that I haven't gotten around to getting that weren't originally high on my list.

Some research into other brands(and the acquisition of a region free player) can help a lot of people fill in some holes for titles they have in mind.

BFI's 4k release of "The Servant" is definitely a highlight of my year as a blu ray collector, took long enough for anyone to recognize it's absence in the market.

People around here always nitpick the technical specifications of releases from brands but miss the point that if you didn't like the movie in question that's being released, you either wouldn't get the movie at all or obsess over said technical specifications.

[Shanghai Express]

I’ll finish 2021 with three Criterion purchases: Secrets & Lies, Nightmare Alley, and Pickup On South Street. I know I got at least five or six in 2020.

[Gacivory]

There’s been a lot of 2021 releases I got. I’m happy with 2021 from Criterion!

[StarDestroyer52]

I haven't got as many titles as previous years, but that's largely because of finances, I bought a ton of films in the first 5 months of the year and have a large backload of films I need to get to, and even while I haven't been buying a lot of titles the second half of the year IMO this is still a good year just because of these three titles: Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Nightmare Alley, and the OUATIC set. Plus, Criterion finally went 4K which many people wanted for years and even if the WKW set could've been better, I will probably grab that during a sale next year.

Also, in other news, I finally subscribed to the Criterion Channel and am looking forward to watching a lot of the foreign language films I haven't had the chance to watch yet or buy yet. I'm still as determined to physical as always, but the Channel allows me to watch many films before buying to determine which ones should get my money and don't. Plus, I don't have the same finances I had earlier this year to get every title I want, even with sales.

[mmarczi]

Originally Posted by StarDestroyer52

Also, in other news, I finally subscribed to the Criterion Channel and am looking forward to watching a lot of the foreign language films I haven't had the chance to watch yet or buy yet. I'm still as determined to physical as always, but the Channel allows me to watch many films before buying to determine which ones should get my money and don't. Plus, I don't have the same finances I had earlier this year to get every title I want, even with sales.

If you're a fan of Golden Era Japanese films, you just made a very wise decision. They own a ton of films from directors like Keisuke Kinoshita, Mikio Naruse, and others that they're not likely to ever put on disc, but which are streaming there.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by mmarczi

If you're a fan of Golden Era Japanese films, you just made a very wise decision. They own a ton of films from directors like Keisuke Kinoshita, Mikio Naruse, and others that they're not likely to ever put on disc, but which are streaming there.

Yep, huge fan of the Golden Era of Japanese films and have long wanted to dig deeper into some of the work that is unlikely to come to disc.

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by mmarczi

If you're a fan of Golden Era Japanese films, you just made a very wise decision. They own a ton of films from directors like Keisuke Kinoshita, Mikio Naruse, and others that they're not likely to ever put on disc, but which are streaming there.

When you realize how many films they have had available to them, for years, but never put out on disc… it’s truly sad.

I wish they still did Eclipse, as that was a way to release a lot of these films that will never make it to Blu-Ray.

[jjhunsecker]

Films I suspect Criterion has been sitting it on:

There are a few well known titles that have not received a blu-ray release (at least here in America) or an upgrade, which makes me suspect that Criterion has the rights and for whatever reason have not put these films out. I have no insider knowledge, and there is pure speculation, but I think these are "educated" guesses :

Carnal Knowledge
The Defiant Ones (every Stanley Kramer directed film from 1955 to 1969 has been released on blu-ray in the US- EXCEPT this...)
Darling
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
After Hours
(2 Scosese WB titles that surprisingly WB or WB Archives haven't released on blu-ray)
West Side Story (I was really hoping Criterion would add this to their 4K releases....it seems to be a natural)

I would have added "Catch-22", but I suspect Criterion may no longer be licensing from Paramount.

[traths]

Originally Posted by jjhunsecker

Films I suspect Criterion has been sitting it on:

There are a few well known titles that have not received a blu-ray release (at least here in America) or an upgrade, which makes me suspect that Criterion has the rights and for whatever reason have not put these films out. I have no insider knowledge, and there is pure speculation, but I think these are "educated" guesses :

Carnal Knowledge
The Defiant Ones (every Stanley Kramer directed film from 1955 to 1969 has been released on blu-ray in the US- EXCEPT this...)
Darling
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
After Hours
(2 Scosese WB titles that surprisingly WB or WB Archives haven't released on blu-ray)
West Side Story (I was really hoping Criterion would add this to their 4K releases....it seems to be a natural)

I would have added "Catch-22", but I suspect Criterion may no longer be licensing from Paramount.

I would add Arsenic and Old Lace to that list. I think Criterion is rumored to have been sitting on that one for a while.

[mmarczi]

Originally Posted by Fabs

When you realize how many films they have had available to them, for years, but never put out on disc… it’s truly sad.

I wish they still did Eclipse, as that was a way to release a lot of these films that will never make it to Blu-Ray.

Yeah, a part of me would definitely like to see the Eclipse series come back, but admittedly, I've also stopped buying them knowing that I can just stream them in roughly the same quality without missing much but a short essay or blurb that is probably available for each movie on Criterion's website. It's tough to get me to buy a DVD these days, but I did recently buy some Second Run DVDs I'm not sure will ever get upgraded and the Flicker Alley Meliès package. The fact that they recently (back in anuary) put The Ascent on standalone Blu-Ray also makes me more hesitant to plop down for a set of DVDs that are readily available to stream.

[KubrickKurasawa]

Originally Posted by Fabs

When you realize how many films they have had available to them, for years, but never put out on disc… it’s truly sad.

I wish they still did Eclipse, as that was a way to release a lot of these films that will never make it to Blu-Ray.

I bought Ugetsu and Kenji Mizoguchi Eclipse release in 2015 I just put them in my Amazon cart didn't even pay attention and I was shocked when I opened up all DVD's!! Then I double checked and laughed that they were not any Blu-Ray releases of these films in N.A.. I also am shocked that the J-Horror classic Onibaba is a few weeks away from a standard 2K Blu-Ray release in 2021...it should be a 4K in my mind, but there's nothing I can do about it. I feel I'm possessed by a 4K demon for wanting these on 4K. I need to be stopped.

[Professor Echo]

I understand people being disappointed with the monthly round of announced releases from Criterion as it's easy to forget that the label is invested in a vast array of film types and as such is rarely going to please everyone every time out. Add to this expectations from knowing or even just hoping they are sitting on long favorite titles awaiting release and it's a sure way to brew frustration.

I myself see it a bit differently. As I am not blessed with unlimited funds and cast a very wide net over a infinitely eclectic universe of movies, I find I have little time to be disappointed in any announcements or lack of announcements from any label. Instead I'm drowning in oceans of announcements from other labels and new releases and old ones I've missed and double dipping madness and the whole damn perpetual tidal wave of STUFF I want. I like Criterion well enough, but they aren't the only game in town and I'm actually grateful some months when their slate hasn't a single title I'm interested in. My money is consistently being thinned by literally an entire world of releases and doesn't stand much of a chance in being strictly beholden to one label over another.

So not a lot of time to waste on disappointment as the hobby continues to thwart the doom and gloom forecasts of its demise and keeps seducing my passions and wallet with reckless abandon.

[BenOswald]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

I understand people being disappointed with the monthly round of announced releases from Criterion as it's easy to forget that the label is invested in a vast array of film types and as such is rarely going to please everyone every time out. Add to this expectations from knowing or even just hoping they are sitting on long favorite titles awaiting release and it's a sure way to brew frustration.

I myself see it a bit differently. As I am not blessed with unlimited funds and cast a very wide net over a infinitely eclectic universe of movies, I find I have little time to be disappointed in any announcements or lack of announcements from any label. Instead I'm drowning in oceans of announcements from other labels and new releases and old ones I've missed and double dipping madness and the whole damn perpetual tidal wave of STUFF I want. I like Criterion well enough, but they aren't the only game in town and I'm actually grateful some months when their slate hasn't a single title I'm interested in. My money is consistently being thinned by literally an entire world of releases and doesn't stand much of a chance in being strictly beholden to one label over another.

So not a lot of time to waste on disappointment as the hobby continues to thwart the doom and gloom forecasts of its demise and keeps seducing my passions and wallet with reckless abandon.

Very well articulated. To add to this sentiment, I find my tastes + exploration always growing, so finding releases becomes a moving target, especially with the vast amount of releases from the 30s-40s-50s that are still being mined for great new presentations, while some long standing releases move OOP. All the while trying to project what my interests will be in the future. Quite a fun juggling act!

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by postmodel

John Waters has his Camp John Waters event every year and everyone was “sworn to secrecy” about upcoming projects he talked about but someone confirmed with a flamingo emoji in a Criterion Facebook group that Criterion are definitely doing Pink Flamingos. I know there was initial talk of Warner doing it themselves and then talk of Criterion, but this helped to solidify it getting the big C on the cover.

I’d be down for that (in 4K please!) and Inland Empire getting announced tomorrow!

Has there ever been a stray comment about DESPERATE LIVING getting a release?

[Ned Brainard]

Originally Posted by jjhunsecker

Films I suspect Criterion has been sitting it on:

There are a few well known titles that have not received a blu-ray release (at least here in America) or an upgrade, which makes me suspect that Criterion has the rights and for whatever reason have not put these films out. I have no insider knowledge, and there is pure speculation, but I think these are "educated" guesses :

Carnal Knowledge
The Defiant Ones (every Stanley Kramer directed film from 1955 to 1969 has been released on blu-ray in the US- EXCEPT this...)
Darling
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
After Hours
(2 Scosese WB titles that surprisingly WB or WB Archives haven't released on blu-ray)
West Side Story (I was really hoping Criterion would add this to their 4K releases....it seems to be a natural)

I would have added "Catch-22", but I suspect Criterion may no longer be licensing from Paramount.

Criterion likely has The Wedding March (1928) and Ruggles of Red Gap (1935).

[DimitriL]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

I understand people being disappointed with the monthly round of announced releases from Criterion as it's easy to forget that the label is invested in a vast array of film types and as such is rarely going to please everyone every time out. Add to this expectations from knowing or even just hoping they are sitting on long favorite titles awaiting release and it's a sure way to brew frustration.

I also get sort of annoyed in general at the speculation that leads to frustration. The truth is, pretty much no one around here understands what the situation is with any given title. Are there holdups at the label? Is there a restoration going on? Are there rights issues? Are they trying to find supplemental material? Are their materials in less than acceptable condition? Is the director or cinematographer taking their time to come in? Are they waiting on other labs or studio entities? Are we just assuming they have the rights to a particular film? Do they know they’re going to lose the rights in a short period and it’s not worth the amount of effort? Are they coordinating a release with other films for a box set?

There’s an astonishing amount of variables at play and we’re privy to just about none of them. All I know is that Criterion has not and never is going to release anything based on what people expect them to do. I especially laugh all the time when people build up expectations over a certain spine number coming up, only to be disappointed when Criterion clearly considers it unimportant and immaterial in the scope of things. Whatever they put out is, to me, fine. I’ve got nothing riding on something being in the collection or not, and whether or not it happens when I expect.