The Before Trilogy (1995-2013)

[atlantajoseph]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

So I stood there in the aisles of the Noble and realized that I have not simply experienced this trilogy as a passive viewer...rather, in my inscrutable way...I have lived it. And thus I cannot bear to live with it as a collection of memories on my bookshelf.

A man comes to a point in his life when he realizes that memories are no longer bittersweet.

...they are the thorns of experience upon which the defeated fall and bleed.

Well damn.

[Supermartyoh]

Originally Posted by oubukibun

Before Sunrise begins immediately with the Criterion logo and then segues into the Castle Rock logo.

No Annette Bnning to be seen.

Oh well, thank you anyway!

Was that Castle Rock logo the original one with a Turner byline and kinda 35mm like? The DVD left it intact but I believe the recent streaming prints replaced it with an updated CGI revision barring a Time Warner byline? Being no Annette Benning is seen and if the Castle Rock is an updated one, then I imagine Criterion just reused the Warner HDTV/streaming master.

[Supermartyoh]

Originally Posted by Usefulidiot

Has anyone noticed black blobs behind Jesse and Celine during the scene in Before Sunset where they are getting up from the park bench? It starts at around the 42:28 mark on the bird feeder behind Celine and continues through the trees as they walk away. To my eyes it looks like something wasn't turned off of the noise management software prior to the encode.

Sounds like Criterion just reused the old HDTV/streaming master Warner made ages ago, abit with some clean up and a high bitrate.

[ThisKid]

Originally Posted by oubukibun

Before Sunrise begins immediately with the Criterion logo and then segues into the Castle Rock logo.

No Annette Bnning to be seen.

That's OK.

Besides, Columbia has been using the same logo since 1993.

Is it time for a change?

Every time I see a Columbia logo on TV, I change the channel because it's either a crappy rom-com or an Adam Sandler film.

The reason the torch lady doesn't show any emotion is because she's been drained from it.

She been at the forefront of horror.

[Usefulidiot]

Originally Posted by Croweyes1121

I do see what you're talking about, but it's so minor that I can't imagine a recall for it. Never would have spotted it had you not pointed it out.

Agreed, it's just a shame because it's the only blemish in an otherwise stellar set.

[Usefulidiot]

Originally Posted by Supermartyoh

Sounds like Criterion just reused the old HDTV/streaming master Warner made ages ago, abit with some clean up and a high bitrate.

I think Criterion usually uses PF Clean for dust busting. It's been a while since I dust busted, but I recall the software having a very finicky auto detect and clean tool that sometimes mistook blown out spots for neg dirt or specks, which it would remove and replace with black because there is no picture info from the previous and subsequent frames to interpolate. I'm probably wrong, but what I'm seeing in these few affected seconds looks a lot like that.

Not a huge deal, it's just too bad because the set is otherwise amazing.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by Supermartyoh

Was that Castle Rock logo the original one with a Turner byline and kinda 35mm like?

Yep, it's the same old Castle Rock logo that's on the DVD, with the Turner line

[Croweyes1121]

Originally Posted by Supermartyoh

Sounds like Criterion just reused the old HDTV/streaming master Warner made ages ago, abit with some clean up and a high bitrate.

I wouldn't think so. I've never seen the color palette look how it does on Sunset in this set outside of the theater.

[Supermartyoh]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

Yep, it's the same old Castle Rock logo that's on the DVD, with the Turner line

Ok, thanks! Guess the master Criterion used isnt the HDTV/streaming one I saw with the updated Castle Rock indent.

[BluProofie]

I was one who didn't much care for the packaging when it was first revealed, but it looks fantastic in person.

[starman15317]

Originally Posted by BluProofie

I was one who didn't much care for the packaging when it was first revealed, but it looks fantastic in person.

Agreed.

[SammyJankis]

Watched the first two with the significant other (who had never seen them.) These films just get better with age. They're even closer to my heart than I thought.

[Strife88x]

Originally Posted by jh901

I'm not sure what went wrong with my Amazon pre-order, but shipping was delayed until next week. Called service and they agreed to ship 'next day' delivery. Fingers crossed I get it tomorrow!

I'm still waiting for my copy to be shipped out. I called them twice and they stated that it will be delivered between the estimated window and availability was part of the issue, yet this has been on pre-order since mid November.

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by BluProofie

I was one who didn't much care for the packaging when it was first revealed, but it looks fantastic in person.

I'm in the same boat. While I won't go as far as to say fantastic, it definitely looks much better in person.

I do have some other gripes though, not related to the art.

1. I hate digipak packaging. It's so flimsy and easy to scuff up.

2. Why is the pak for Sunrise bigger than the other two movies? I realize it's to fit the booklet, but...

3. Why not make Sunrise uniform with the others and leave a slot in the case for the booklet?

4. Is it just me, or are these paks hard to pull out of the case? I have to handle it with kid gloves to avoid doing any damage.

Before the "We're happy to just to have this at all - be grateful!" crusaders come out with their pitchforks... Yes, I'm beyond ecstatic to have three of my favorite movies in a beautiful Criterion set, and I'm relieved that the packaging looks better than I feared. But, still, I think I raise some good points.

[fontcow]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

I do have some other gripes though, not related to the art.

...

2. Why is the pak for Sunrise bigger than the other two movies? I realize it's to fit the booklet, but...

3. Why not make Sunrise uniform with the others and leave a slot in the case for the booklet?

This. I'm quite sure putting the booklet in the Before Sunrise digipak was a bad idea. You wouldn't even need a "slot" for the booklet as with the three digipaks the booklet would have sat snug beside them in the box just like 99% of other boxsets. That way every time you take out Before Sunrise, you don't have the booklet falling out of the case, and it stays in the box.

But, it is what it is, and I try to remind myself not to get all worked up over packaging as the film itself is the most important part.

Especially after scoring it for $39.95 in that oh-so-minuscule moment the morning of November 16.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by Usefulidiot

Just finished watching the first two movies in this great set. But I may have found a QC issue. Has anyone noticed black blobs behind Jesse and Celine during the scene in Before Sunset where they are getting up from the park bench? It starts at around the 42:28 mark on the bird feeder behind Celine and continues through the trees as they walk away. To my eyes it looks like something wasn't turned off of the noise management software prior to the encode.

I too noticed this tiny issue, which lasts for only a couple of seconds, but is definitely visible if you're looking for it. I compared the BD with my 2004 Warner Brothers DVD. It's not a flaw in the BD transfer, it's inherent in the film, it's there in the DVD too, which is a completely different transfer. The BD is from an interpositive, not the original negative, probably so they didn't have to redo all the color timing from scratch. This must be a glitch from the digital color timing done in 2004, for the film's original release. Whatever it is, it's definitely not an issue with the Criterion transfer, so we can all rest easy.

[J.M.P.]

...I hate digipak packaging...

I did one cover for each film and they look great. I had to do extra work because the Criterium artwork has not the same dimensions and can not fit a standard Bly-Ray case. I do the same type of work for all my digipak's.

[oubukibun]

My booklet never fit back into the Sunrise DigiPack so I just have it as part of my regular book collection next to other misc. booklets and what-nots from special editions of videogames/films from the past.

The box is definitely a bit too snug, and I get a little paranoid I'll scuff the sides of the packs themselves if I take them out too often. But my Alien Anthology, being the original Digibook-esque case from its initial pressing, is also very snug and a pain and aside from one corner, remains intact, so perhaps it is just collector's paranoia.

Not the best box, but I am 100% satisfied nevertheless. Its imperfections do not become a hindrance once a solution is found for all of them, and I agree that a solution may indeed be found for them (at least the ones I've mentioned).

[Croweyes1121]

I've taken to holding Sunrise and Midnight in place and shaking Sunset loose when I want to take these out of the slipcase. This gives me space to take the others out so I'm not scuffing the slip when I remove them.

[Member-167298]

My Amazon pre order has been "preparing for shipment" for over a week. If this is how they try to convince people to buy Prime, it isn't working.