The Criterion Collection goes Blu!

[erowe83]

Criterion is the holy grail of DVD companies! WOOHOOO!

Now if only Criterion could get the rights release the most beautiful film of all time: 'The Conformist' on blu-ray. I would lose control of all bodily functions.

[Squozen]

Originally Posted by gvortex7

Great movie indeed, but get ready to pay a "super fancy" $40-$50 for it.

I paid a fancy $150 for it on laserdisc, and a fancy $70 on DVD, so BRING IT ON!

[Teazle]

Originally Posted by Octavio

My thoughts exactly. For me:

$5 for a movie like "Eragon" is too much even if it's on Blu-ray.

$30 for having Buñuel's "The Exterminating Angel" restored, remasterized, packed with great supplements and perhaps even with a booklet essay worth every penny.

I feel the same way. Content is king and this massively affects the value proposition.

I'd be very keen on The Third Man et al but for me $40-$50 is really more than I can afford to spend on a single title. $30-$35 I can manage if the content is good enough to justify the purchase, and even then I'd have to sacrifice some of my hi-res audio collecting which would be a shame.

It looks like I'll be missing out on these Criterion titles unless I can scrape them up secondhand (unlikely).

[Squozen]

Originally Posted by Teazle

I feel the same way. Content is king and this massively affects the value proposition.

I'd be very keen on The Third Man et al but for me $40-$50 is really more than I can afford to spend on a single title. $30-$35 I can manage if the content is good enough to justify the purchase, and even then I'd have to sacrifice some of my hi-res audio collecting which would be a shame.

It looks like I'll be missing out on these Criterion titles unless I can scrape them up secondhand (unlikely).

You've not heard of Amazon, then?

[Teazle]

Originally Posted by Squozen

You've not heard of Amazon, then?

Last time I looked at amazon.ca (I'm in the Great White North) the BD prices were just barely competitive with retail. I'll take your advice though and give it (and maybe amazon.com if importing doesn't prove too big a hassle) another look, especially if they can get the Criterion titles into my price range.

[WriteSimply]

Me and my boyfriend is excited about this. I'm sure he's looking forward to The Last Emperor and the Bergman films.


fuad

[Octavio]

Originally Posted by Teazle

Last time I looked at amazon.ca (I'm in the Great White North) the BD prices were just barely competitive with retail. I'll take your advice though and give it (and maybe amazon.com if importing doesn't prove too big a hassle) another look, especially if they can get the Criterion titles into my price range.

Most criterion titles I've bought didn't cost me more than 30 bucks (amazon).

The most I have paid for a criterion release was for Ingmar Bergman's "Fanny and Alexander 5 disc special edition". It costed me about $50 but believe me, It is one of the best purchases I've done.

Quality over quantity.
Why should I like to have 5 crappy movies on BD like "Alien vs Predator" instead one of the best movies ever made?

[Zyclone]

because sadly something like AvP is going to pull in more sales numbers then Fanny and Alexander

[Beta Man]

For all of those saying "where is XXXXXX" or "Where is YYYYY" or "why not release "ZZZZZZZZ"

There are a lot of criterion movies out there (I have about 250 of them or so, and there are more than that) so be patient people!!!!

THESE movies are collectible..... (not normal releases.... nobody is gonna want "Rise of the Silver surfer" 2 weeks from now, let alone 10 years! )

Originally Posted by Bluubyu

Robocop would be cool (I've got it on Criterion dvd) but I don't believe they have the rights to it anymore, Dead Ringers also would be sweet.

I spotted Robocop on Blu yesterday, but I don't think it was a Criterion Blu.

[Octavio]

For those who still wonders why Criterion releases are more expensive.

Why do Criterion DVDs often cost more than other DVDs?

Our prices reflect all the resources we put into making each DVD a special release. Each DVD has a producer who finds the best supplemental features that will help further the appreciation of the film, often producing original content. The technical staff ensures that we are working with the best original source materials and digital masters by performing rigorous visual and audio restoration processes.

For more info about The Criterion Collection:

http://www.criterion.com/asp/faq.asp

Originally Posted by Teazle

I feel the same way. Content is king and this massively affects the value proposition.

I'd be very keen on The Third Man et al but for me $40-$50 is really more than I can afford to spend on a single title. $30-$35 I can manage if the content is good enough to justify the purchase, and even then I'd have to sacrifice some of my hi-res audio collecting which would be a shame.

It looks like I'll be missing out on these Criterion titles unless I can scrape them up secondhand (unlikely).

Originally Posted by Zyclone

i have'nt seen it myself but i would'nt disagree that the imagery and what happened in el salvador is'nt shocking.

i just think that the US censors would be more worried about a back lash against something like battle royale then voces incoentes.

I would hope not, although it seems sometimes like a minority of our US population is more offended by nudity and sex than the surgical strikes and other high tech killing that usually arrives in a sanitized version for our CNN viewing. I use to purchase Stern and Der Spiegel to view actual pictures of the carnage wrought by US weaponry that you didn't see in American media outlets. Now we can find some of these images on the internet.

Regarding 'Voces Incoentes'. I want to see it. I worked with Salvadorians in LA during the years that this stuff was going on (as many young people had been sent away to the USA and elsewhere by their families to escape the killing and crime), and I heard some of their stories. Many actions of the junta/rebels/dictators that our government has tolerated over the years has invariably come back to bite us. Perhaps it's a case of choosing sides between bad and worst, or perhaps it's about (sic) protecting our national interests.

Killing sucks, and government sanctioned killing sucks more.

For all the Chinese made 'I support the troops' magnets stuck to vehicles in our country - just wait for the veterans of the Iraqi/Afghanistan conflict backlash that's coming as vet resentment grows. Let's see how loved the vets are when they are pissed off and seeking retribution by acting-out aggressions in their communities.

[Frumious Boojum]

I'm a bit confused about the Battle Royale discussion... Didn't it and the sequel have an uncut release in the US on DVD?

(The original book was much better than the movie, btw... the game has a lot more impact in the context of the book.)

I just can't wait until the preorders start being posted on the Criterion titles. I wish their new Vampyr release was among the first releases... the old DVD version (From Image, I believe) was HORRID (huge non-removable subtitles in the classic "Closed Captioning" white text on black blockes).

[Zyclone]

Originally Posted by Ria Rhodes

I spotted Robocop on Blu yesterday, but I don't think it was a Criterion Blu.

its a fox release

[erowe83]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

For all of those saying "where is XXXXXX" or "Where is YYYYY" or "why not release "ZZZZZZZZ"

There are a lot of criterion movies out there (I have about 250 of them or so, and there are more than that) so be patient people!!!!

THESE movies are collectible..... (not normal releases.... nobody is gonna want "Rise of the Silver surfer" 2 weeks from now, let alone 10 years! )

I own about 150 criterion releases so far. Out of curiosity, what are a few of your favorite? I am thinking about picking up a few more soon.

[b-coli]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Battle Royale is unavailable for North American licensing. I was charged with acquring the film in both 2001 and 2004 by 2 seperate major lables. Toei wanted a Crouching Tiger size release for it, and refused to accept the reality of "Kids killing kids=NC-17. We either cut the film to ribbons to get an R (estimated 30+min cut), or it'll play in 12 theaters". In 2004 when I went to try again, they refused to even acknowlege the film's existence at the US office (seriously).

i actually beleive they refused to acknowledge its existance, with our administration and the puppets in office, i could see how they would want to ban battle royale 2 since they say in the movie that the USA is basically a terrorist state by going around bombing various countries, but if criterion can release lord of the flies, then i don't see why we can't get the original battle royale someday.

thanks for trying though ! hopefully it will come out on blu somewhere region free. i was just hoping that criterion could do it since i know it would be done right if they did unlike all the crappy versions going around the net.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by erowe83

I own about 150 criterion releases so far. Out of curiosity, what are a few of your favorite? I am thinking about picking up a few more soon.

Before the Rain is a good documentary about Macedonia that is really good, and eye opening since I married a Ukrainian-Orthodox, but I digress.....

Forbidden Games is good.... it's almost "Twilight-Zone-esque"!

Blood For Dracula is a good take on horror flicks, in a different way altogether....


I'll spare you from the "Brazil, etc" that I'm sure you own, but it IS one of my favorites

I have Salo, and it's "Disturbing" and not on the top of my list (for enjoyment, at least.... collectability wise, it's tops!)


EDIT.... 1,500 DVDs, Very impressive!!!!!

[Deadset]

Good news, I only have about 30 er so Criterion's, would love to upgrade a few of my favorites

Kagemusha
Ran
Hard Boiled
Equinox

[erowe83]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Before the Rain is a good documentary about Macedonia that is really good, and eye opening since I married a Ukrainian-Orthodox, but I digress.....

Forbidden Games is good.... it's almost "Twilight-Zone-esque"!

Blood For Dracula is a good take on horror flicks, in a different way altogether....


I'll spare you from the "Brazil, etc" that I'm sure you own, but it IS one of my favorites

I have Salo, and it's "Disturbing" and not on the top of my list (for enjoyment, at least.... collectability wise, it's tops!)


EDIT.... 1,500 DVDs, Very impressive!!!!!

Yea, Salo is quite crazy. I actually have Before the Rain on pre-order as we speak. HELL YES! Blood for Dracula is awesome, if you havent seen Flesh for Frankenstein watch that! I think its even better. Morrissey is the man.

[erowe83]

Originally Posted by Deads3t

Good news, I only have about 30 er so Criterion's, would love to upgrade a few of my favorites

Kagemusha
Ran
Hard Boiled
Equinox

Ran on blu-ray... I think i just set myself.