Carrie (1976) (Collector's Edition)

[ThisKid]

Originally Posted by Val Lewton

Say what you will about Scream's custom covers, but at least they have reversible sleeves with the original artwork on the flip side. That's preferable to being stuck with something like this:

OK, I can kind of see why you don't like The Brood's artwork (it's very minimalistic), but the Scanners artwork is awesome! Criterion also had some fun with the interior artwork, so what's so bad about it?

[Thomas Guycott]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterFan

I see lots of people talk about how SF's art looks so retro and that it reminds them of VHS artwork they saw in their old video rental stores, but I can't recall seeing that floating head style till Jackie Brown or Halloween H20. Their artwork seems to have a lot more in common with films now than those in the 80's/early 90's, since it seems all posters since The Lord of the Rings/Harry Potter use the floating head style.

That's what happens when people don't do their research.

[JohnCarpenterFan]

If the negative is really in a terrible state then I'm hoping that it's not Scream Factory since they rarely ever go back to the negative. Carrie deserves to be preserved with a high quality scan of the original negative, something Criterion is far more familiar with.

Got to get that negative scanned before it's beyond salvageable.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterFan

If the negative is really in a terrible state then I'm hoping that it's not Scream Factory since they rarely ever go back to the negative. Carrie deserves to be preserved with a high quality scan of the original negative, something Criterion is far more familiar with.

Got to get that negative scanned before it's beyond salvageable.

Trouble is, if it's that far gone then even Criterion might baulk at the cost, it's the sort of restoration that the studio themselves should be handling (and may yet be, with the resulting transfer being passed on to Shout).

Yeah, Criterion did a new 4K transfer themselves for Dressed to Kill but AFAIK that movie didn't need any particularly heroic measures to pull it back from the brink, whereas popular stuff from the '70s in particular often seems to be in dire need of total rescue before it crumbles away forever (Godfather, Star Wars).

I could see Shout doing 4K off an IP but that may well be the limit of their ambitions.

[kristoffer]

I hope it is MGM since I want a Region B version as well.

[cakefactory]

Carrie is a major enough movie that I would guess the studio was going to do it sooner or later anyway for future streaming and what-not. One of the most famous horror movies of all time, one that's just a couple years ago had a big-budget hollywood remake, seems unlikely to be allowed to "die." I'm guessing whoever releases it is getting a transfer from the studio. Maybe I have too much faith in major studios?

[asb854]

Day 1 buy

[Rockercub]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

Carrie is a major enough movie that I would guess the studio was going to do it sooner or later anyway for future streaming and what-not. One of the most famous horror movies of all time, one that's just a couple years ago had a big-budget hollywood remake, seems unlikely to be allowed to "die." I'm guessing whoever releases it is getting a transfer from the studio. Maybe I have too much faith in major studios?

As long as they do a better job than Fox did with Phantom of the Paradise.

[Spooked]

This is exciting news regardless of who's releasing it. I've got my fingers ready for the pre-order.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Trouble is, if it's that far gone then even Criterion might baulk at the cost, it's the sort of restoration that the studio themselves should be handling (and may yet be, with the resulting transfer being passed on to Shout).

Yeah, Criterion did a new 4K transfer themselves for Dressed to Kill but AFAIK that movie didn't need any particularly heroic measures to pull it back from the brink, whereas popular stuff from the '70s in particular often seems to be in dire need of total rescue before it crumbles away forever (Godfather, Star Wars).

I could see Shout doing 4K off an IP but that may well be the limit of their ambitions.

Criterion still go to bat for the films they love, though. Consider It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, which not only got the restoration it badly needed, but was also presented in more than one cut, with footage very few of us thought would ever see the light of day ever again. And recently, Criterion have been tapping into their LD nostalgia factor big time, particularly with MGM, so I think they've accepted that for many of their Hollywood LDs, it will be down to them to re-rescue the films and put them on Blu-ray. Certainly, most of us probably never dreamed that by 2016, we'd see the Criterion LD titles of 12 Angry Men, The Big Chill, Dr. Strangelove, The Fisher King, The Game, The Graduate, Mona Lisa, and Tootsie all return to Criterion on Blu-ray, in addition to the likes of Easy Rider, The Manchurian Candidate, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Scanners and The Thin Red Line joining them, obviously, with others on deck.

Criterion had their moment in the sun of eclectic cinema several years ago, and while we arguably might not have seen too many arthouse and foreign casualties (in lieu of letting home country cinema go by the wayside), it definitely seems as if Criterion have again accepted the task of promoting more mainstream catalogue titles, particularly in the past few years. From my perspective, many, many more of the former Criterion LD titles are now possible candidates to be reclaimed as Blu-ray titles than what was ever dreamed necessary back in 2008.

[Geoff D]

Good call on IAMMMMW, although it's worth mentioning that the transfers for most of the Sony titles were supplied by Sony themselves so it's a no-brainer for Criterion to enter into that partnership once again (especially since they've strengthened it further with the UK CC/Sony tie-up) and get those titles out there with some new extras tacked on like Strangelove (which for all the LD 'nostalgia' doesn't include a thing that the LD had apart from the trailer).

[Val Lewton]

Originally Posted by ThisKid

OK, I can kind of see why you don't like The Brood's artwork (it's very minimalistic), but the Scanners artwork is awesome! Criterion also had some fun with the interior artwork, so what's so bad about it?

Some films have such iconic artwork, that it's often best to just leave it alone:

[JohnCarpenterFan]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Trouble is, if it's that far gone then even Criterion might baulk at the cost, it's the sort of restoration that the studio themselves should be handling (and may yet be, with the resulting transfer being passed on to Shout).

Yeah, Criterion did a new 4K transfer themselves for Dressed to Kill but AFAIK that movie didn't need any particularly heroic measures to pull it back from the brink, whereas popular stuff from the '70s in particular often seems to be in dire need of total rescue before it crumbles away forever (Godfather, Star Wars).

I could see Shout doing 4K off an IP but that may well be the limit of their ambitions.

I heard MGM have been having some financial problems for the past few years, so I'd be surprised if they did empty their pockets for a Carrie preservation.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by Val Lewton

Some films have such iconic artwork, that it's often best to just leave it alone:

Its a good thing the artwork doesn't matter, right? I mean, you only see the spine on the shelf so who cares what's on the front?

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterFan

I heard MGM have been having some financial problems for the past few years, so I'd be surprised if they did empty their pockets for a Carrie preservation.

Indeed they have, but keep in mind the recent 4K do-overs of Rocky, RoboCop, TGTBATU, Rain Main and any others I'm forgetting. I doubt any of them needed major surgery like Carrie apparently needs, granted, but I still think a studio-led restoration from MGM isn't beyond the realms.

[Val Lewton]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Its a good thing the artwork doesn't matter, right? I mean, you only see the spine on the shelf so who cares what's on the front?

Yes, that's the way I personally feel about it. My original post was in response to a conversation about cover art.

We all have our preferences, and I always prefer classic artwork when possible.

[The Great Owl]

This thread reminds me how much I don't care for the Criterion cover art for The Brood, since it's a big spoiler for the movie.

Everything else about the Criterion edition of The Brood is spot-on perfect, though. That Blu-ray has one of my highest recommendations.

[JohnCarpenterFan]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Indeed they have, but keep in mind the recent 4K do-overs of Rocky, RoboCop, TGTBATU, Rain Main and any others I'm forgetting. I doubt any of them needed major surgery like Carrie apparently needs, granted, but I still think a studio-led restoration from MGM isn't beyond the realms.

Let's just hope they don't have enough money to hire Bologna for the coloring process like they did for TGTBATU.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by Val Lewton

Say what you will about Scream's custom covers, but at least they have reversible sleeves with the original artwork on the flip side. That's preferable to being stuck with something like this:

I think the artwork for Scanners is very nice but I still think The Brood's cover looks like a "black lady in a Snuggie" rather than Samantha Eggar.

[GeoffOliver]

This is good news. I have the existing Blu-ray, and while the video/audio quality is serviceable for my standards, there's no question it needs a restoration, and with new bonus features. The current Blu-ray has none unless you have the DVD combo pack.

Scream Factory was asked about Carrie once on their Facebook page. They said they wanted to release a collector's edition with a new transfer, but MGM said they couldn't have it. Wonder if they finally gave in, or if MGM themselves are doing this.

The film itself is one of my all time favorites. It might be the first teen-oriented horror film, and it has some deep themes and messages. It was pretty groundbreaking for it's time and holds up very well 40 years later.