The Criterion Collection

[Polaroid]

The Celebration cover is genius. I did wish they would release the Dogme films in sets, pretty sure this is first Criterion cover for a film that doesn’t feature ‘A Film By’ which is great as it respects the manifesto.

God I hope they release more!

[kvnbhovis]

Bit of a letdown with this month's picks. I will get the 4K Hard Days Night and The Piano but was hoping for one or two older films.

[mande2013]

Are Mr. Klein and Cure likely to get UHD releases from Criterion? The new restorations were only released on standard blu-ray in France, so I guess we'll see. Supposedly Second Sight forwent a UHD of Walkabout on the grounds they didn't think it would be profitable enough.

Amores Perros, The Seventh Seal, and Breathless I think could be likely UHD upgrades in the short term, since the elements are obviously in place for those titles (maybe Barry Lyndon too). It's hard to say regarding the Fellini titles, and Kurosawa's filmography seems to be plagued with rights issues right now. Someone was hinting at a possible UHD of Nights of Cabiria, but I doubt that would be one of Criterion's early UHDs, considering they stuck to blu-ray with La Strada.

I reckon The 400 Blows will also get a UHD upgrade at some point in 2022, although I'll probably end up getting a Carlotta or BFI standalone, since it would likely be cheaper for me.

[Reddington]

Nothing for me this month...but plenty on my list.

Hopefully, the Flash Sale on Tuesday. I sat out the KL sale this time around (hard to do with so many great titles), to focus on Criterion.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by mande2013

Are Mr. Klein and Cure likely to get UHD releases from Criterion? The new restorations were only released on standard blu-ray in France, so I guess we'll see. Supposedly Second Sight forwent a UHD of Walkabout on the grounds they didn't think it would be profitable enough.

Cure I would say is likely, but probably not for Mr Klein. They're getting it from Studiocanal, who are the ones that released it on just BD internationally. Can't see them licensing the 4K rights to Criterion when they didn't even do one themselves, but we'll see.

[mande2013]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Cure I would say is likely, but probably not for Mr Klein. They're getting it from Studiocanal, who are the ones that released it on just BD internationally. Can't see them licensing the 4K rights to Criterion when they didn't even do one themselves, but we'll see.

Ok, in that case I just find it odd Carlotta in France opted to go standard blu-ray-only on Cure, considering they've embraced the 4K format.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by mande2013

Ok, in that case I just find it odd Carlotta in France opted to go standard blu-ray-only on Cure, considering they've embraced the 4K format.

Is the Carlotta release from a 4K restoration? I don't see it mentioned anywhere on their site, or cover art that it is. I think Janus / Criterion are the ones debuting the new 4K restoration of Cure.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

The Celebration cover is genius. I did wish they would release the Dogme films in sets, pretty sure this is first Criterion cover for a film that doesn’t feature ‘A Film By’ which is great as it respects the manifesto.

God I hope they release more!

Good to see you back.

We might be due for an appearance from Ray Jackson, too

[Herry Dunston]

Going back to the "no commentary" for The Piano. It's available for the UK and Aussie releases, right? Could it be a PAL-related reason why it couldn't be ported over, because converting the audio to NTSC would make it sound weird?

[Egbert Souse]

Originally Posted by Vigojean

It’s a tragedy is what it is. We need to clean up 20th century masterpieces, not worry about some digital movie from the 21st century. Where’s Freaks, One False Move, The Girl Can’t Help It, Hard-Boiled, Chaplin’s First National movies?!?!?!

There's actually a valid reason why Criterion has had a shift in releases and it's because lab/scan work has been delayed over the pandemic.

Freaks would likely necessitate transporting nitrate elements (unless only safety elements survive), which can only be done in the cooler months of the year. The Girl Can't Help It wouldn't happen without a 4K master from Fox/Disney since they don't allow outside work. The Chaplin First Nationals have likely taken a while over elements issues since we do know they've made new scans in recent years, but likely only as part of a larger project.

Meanwhile, films from the 1990s and onwards aren't going to have as much complications involved. Especially stuff that's already digital-based or has existing remasters/restorations.


I'm in for The Piano and A Hard Day's Night on UHD. Latter is one of my all-time favorite movies.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Is the Carlotta release from a 4K restoration? I don't see it mentioned anywhere on their site, or cover art that it is. I think Janus / Criterion are the ones debuting the new 4K restoration of Cure.

Japan actually was first with a release with the 4K remaster of Cure on Blu-ray. https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Cure-Blu-ray/276905/

No 4K disc there, so I would be shocked if Kadokawa allowed a 4K disc here as they have been acting a bit "funny" with Arrow with not allowing them to even release the remastered versions of two of the Yokai films even though those remasters exist.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Good to see you back.

We might be due for an appearance from Ray Jackson, too

Yeah, where are my missing blu-ray boys! Ray Jackson and Polaroid... those guys are legends... but of course I am as well.... and oh, whatever happened to CriterionBlues and RojD! Haven't seen bwdowiak in a while either.

[Vigojean]

Originally Posted by Egbert Souse

The Chaplin First Nationals have likely taken a while over elements issues since we do know they've made new scans in recent years, but likely only as part of a larger project.

I didn’t know that. I got the Essanay and Mutual shorts on Blu-ray but I keep waiting for Criterion to release the First National shorts, even though The Pilgrim is almost full-length

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

It's minimalist to be in line with the Dogme 95 movement. You can read a brief guide to it here:

https://www.movementsinfilm.com/dogme-95

And even The Celebration broke at least 1 rule (having the camera attached to the monopod for that one sweeping shot)

[Egbert Souse]

Originally Posted by Vigojean

I didn’t know that. I got the Essanay and Mutual shorts on Blu-ray but I keep waiting for Criterion to release the First National shorts, even though The Pilgrim is almost full-length

One complication is that Chaplin's estate owns the First National films, so there's probably a lot to consider about versions. There's an original print of The Pilgrim that was discovered in an archive not long ago. I'd be happy with reconstructions of all the films with re-orchestrated scores (a la The Gold Rush) with Chaplin's preferred versions and The Chaplin Revue also included.

It's also entirely possible that after all the waiting for the First National films, A Woman of Paris, and A King in New York... maybe Criterion will just do a comprehensive box set instead. Good opportunity to include the newer 4K restorations of Modern Times and The Great Dictator.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Herry Dunston

Going back to the "no commentary" for The Piano. It's available for the UK and Aussie releases, right? Could it be a PAL-related reason why it couldn't be ported over, because converting the audio to NTSC would make it sound weird?

It's not a PAL-NTSC thing because the blu-ray is 1080p24

[Vigojean]

Originally Posted by Egbert Souse

One complication is that Chaplin's estate owns the First National films, so there's probably a lot to consider about versions. There's an original print of The Pilgrim that was discovered in an archive not long ago. I'd be happy with reconstructions of all the films with re-orchestrated scores (a la The Gold Rush) with Chaplin's preferred versions and The Chaplin Revue also included.

It's also entirely possible that after all the waiting for the First National films, A Woman of Paris, and A King in New York... maybe Criterion will just do a comprehensive box set instead. Good opportunity to include the newer 4K restorations of Modern Times and The Great Dictator.

I actually contacted Chaplin's estate a while back about releasing his First National movies, in particular The Pilgrim, and they told me that I should email Criterion and tell them that the movies are "in demand." So clearly the ball is in Criterion's court. I'd like to see a box set, but not sure who has the Essanay and Mututal rights. They look good on the Blu-rays I own. Keystone is just DVD.

[Herry Dunston]

Originally Posted by ravenus

It's not a PAL-NTSC thing because the blu-ray is 1080p24

The UK/Aussie releases, right?

Then it's just a clearance issue.

[Reddington]

Interesting announcement in the KLSC thread:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...ostcount=61826

The Great Escape - 4K release

[KingOfBunnies]

Haven't been on the forums in a while, but has the half-off sale happened yet? Or did I miss it?