The Criterion Collection

[milo bloom]

As someone who has moved their focus to vintage horror/scifi and Jackie Chan stuff, Criterion hasn't been releasing much for me either. I feel bad about not supporting them, but it seems they have plenty of other fans.

The only thing I'm really interested in is the new Jackie Chan set they're doing.

[lukas741]

I'm not one to talk and cause any additional drama than there needs to be, but, wouldn't it be better for the CRITERION COLLECTION to, also, fill that niche as well, they are very well established, respected, and have been around for years, plus had great success with a 3D film...PINA...why NOT more?

[Taylor3978]

Originally Posted by speedracer5

I might look at "Freaks" but I'm going to watch it on my DVR first.

FWIW I'm not a huge fan of Tod Browning's other films, including (gasp) Dracula.

But Freaks is a freaking masterpiece. It has got to have been a big influence on the horror comics in the 1950s that got us the Comic Code. You'd almost believe it's a film that grew out of EC Comics, but Freaks came out twenty years earlier.

[speedracer5]

Originally Posted by Taylor3978

FWIW I'm not a huge fan of Tod Browning's other films, including (gasp) Dracula.

But Freaks is a freaking masterpiece. It has got to have been a big influence on the horror comics in the 1950s that got us the Comic Code. You'd almost believe it's a film that grew out of EC Comics, but Freaks came out twenty years earlier.

I've seen "Dracula" and it's okay. But I much prefer James Whale's films like Frankenstein and The Old Dark House. I'll have to watch "Freaks." Maybe I'll try to watch it when I get closer to Halloween. I think it'd make a good companion to the 1947 version of "Nightmare Alley." Maybe I'll do a double feature.

[speedracer5]

Originally Posted by milo bloom

As someone who has moved their focus to vintage horror/scifi and Jackie Chan stuff, Criterion hasn't been releasing much for me either. I feel bad about not supporting them, but it seems they have plenty of other fans.

The only thing I'm really interested in is the new Jackie Chan set they're doing.

While I'm sure there are a lot of great foreign films out there, I own a handful of French New Wave, but for the most part, none of these films interest me. I don't want to watch a depressing movie about poverty or some horrible accident, or whatever other topic. Not to say that these films aren't worthy and don't have merit, but that's not the subject matter that draws me to a film. I wonder if they're having problems getting rights to Classic Hollywood because the studios either want to release their own films, or companies like Kino who has secured deals for a lot of the Paramount/Universal libraries, are getting to the rights first. It's interesting that Kino has released 4K versions of a lot of films that have a Criterion blu ray.

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by speedracer5

While I'm sure there are a lot of great foreign films out there, I own a handful of French New Wave, but for the most part, none of these films interest me. I don't want to watch a depressing movie about poverty or some horrible accident, or whatever other topic.

Yeah, because that's all foreign films are

[mclellandj]

I don't see any US alternative to Criterion that does what they do so I'm always surprised when most of the comments are complaining about the films they put out.

When their primary US competitors are putting out Count Dracula, D.A.R.Y.L. and the remake of The Last House on the Left, i'm pretty happy with the selection of films Criterion works on -- even more so now with Janus Contemporaries.

Kino is good too but doesn't really curate the films they put out. I'm glad Indicator now has a US branch but they are still mostly doing a lot of beautiful editions of niche stuff.

[TolerancEJ]

Originally Posted by mclellandj

I don't see any US alternative to Criterion that does what they do so I'm always surprised when most of the comments are complaining about the films they put out.

When their primary US competitors are putting out Count Dracula, D.A.R.Y.L. and the remake of The Last House on the Left, i'm pretty happy with the selection of films Criterion works on -- even more so now with Janus Contemporaries.

Kino is good too but doesn't really curate the films they put out. I'm glad Indicator now has a US branch but they are still mostly doing a lot of beautiful editions of niche stuff.

I'm just glad there are so many labels trying to obtain licenses and release films on HD, some for their first time.

My favorite extras of many Criterion releases are the inclusion of short films of the director's early career.

[mclellandj]

Originally Posted by TolerancEJ

I'm just glad there are so many labels trying to obtain licenses and release films on HD, some for their first time.

My favorite extras of many Criterion releases are the inclusion of short films of the director's early career.

Yeah me too. I'm not saying Criterion is above criticism or anything but I guess it just feels like considering how most of these boutiques service horror/cult fans I'm glad Criterion have stuck to their guns with the types of movies they platform.

[Nori]

Criterion has been pretty good for me lately but I still wish they’d up the Japanese releases.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by speedracer5

While I'm sure there are a lot of great foreign films out there, I own a handful of French New Wave, but for the most part, none of these films interest me. I don't want to watch a depressing movie about poverty or some horrible accident, or whatever other topic. Not to say that these films aren't worthy and don't have merit, but that's not the subject matter that draws me to a film. I wonder if they're having problems getting rights to Classic Hollywood because the studios either want to release their own films, or companies like Kino who has secured deals for a lot of the Paramount/Universal libraries, are getting to the rights first. It's interesting that Kino has released 4K versions of a lot of films that have a Criterion blu ray.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Bradsdadg

Great list! The thing about Criterion with me is that my list is always changing. They have a good amount of titles always coming out, and sometimes my tastes change a bit as to what I want to see next. I need to make a new one for the next sale

During Deep Discount's most recent discount code offer, decided to get:



I'd forgot to include in the list of Criterion titles I want to get that you replied to, the Criterion US Blu-ray release of In the Heat of the Night. I don't have a 4K set-up (and having double-checked the Blu-ray.com review it appears the KL 4K Blu-ray release only has the film on a 4K Blu-ray disc, with the two sequels on a Blu-ray disc with some extras. I hope to get a copy of the Criterion US release of In the Heat of the Night with the KL double feature Blu-ray of the two sequels (not a dealbreaker, but after asking in a North America thread, the KL Blu-ray releases of the two sequels don't begin with restored opening logos).