for example movies that havae gotten a criterion and other studio release such as Fear and Loathing or Life of Brian, the only one i can think of is time bandits having superior sound and pic quality, even better features, with the only thing lesser than the criterion being the commentary, any other criterion's to avoid because of superior releases availible from other studios(region 1 only)?

I believe that the OOP Criterion How to Get Ahead in Advertising is letterboxed while the MGM release is anamorphic.

Silence of the Lambs Special Edition has more bonus features than the Criterion disc.

I believe "Robocop" in the new Trilogy edition has a better transfer. not sure about the extras.

For a long time robocop was the best on criterion, now they have like 10 different versions of it so i'm not sure anymore too many to keep up with. I also was told by many that the armageddon on criterion was only mediocre and not worth the extra $ over reg. ed. But i'm just basing it on heresay.

The Robocop situation opens up a whole new can of worms because of the transfer and the aspect ratio

I like the Armageddon Criterion, albeit non-anamorphic, it has a great commentary track

INSOMNIA. The CC release was shit w/ only Trailers & TV Spots. The regular edition is ALOT better.

Oh and I have both Silence because Regular SE has Documentary & Deleted Scenes and CC has Commentary & Deleted Scene.

Which "regular" version are you talking about?

I was thinking the same thing.

Criterion released the original film, and it looks quite good (I think it was their first anamorphic release) THe other version was the remake.....

The Regular Insomnia:SE that was released after the CC. Both versions are reviewed here at this site....

Oh god I'm a stupid shit. The other version WAS the REMAKE. I'm a dumb stupid confused shit....

Happens to the best of us, don't sweat it ... but you're a better man for admitting to it.

the bank dick in the new universal w c fields box set seems to have better picture quality.

Time Bandists has a better transfer from Anchor Bay and I believe also the Harder They come has better subtitles in the non-criterion version. MGM Robocop is almost the same as the Criterion. You can find the best answers for your question at www.dvdbeaver.com

Too many

but

Hard Boiled
The Killer
Arrmageddon
Seven Samurai
Yojimbo
Time Bandits
Withnail and I

all are better elsewhere off my head, theres many many more, but as Criterion have quite a few films under there belt I guess some are always going to be surpassed by other companies in other countries. These are just the ones I own in other forms other than Criterions.

I am sure theres an online list of all the better versions out there somewhere.

More? Perhaps, but not better. The Criterion's audio commentary is very good. When I reviewed them, I gave both a "B+ for extras, so it's a wash.

The MGM "Robocop" has stronger extras, though not by a ton; the old one's audio commentary was a little better. I prefer the transfer on the Criterion version, however. It may be non-anamorphic, but it's noticeably better defined than the MGM version.

I felt the same way about the MGM "Silence of the Lambs" - the non-anamorphic Criterion was superior, and its 2.0 audio was better than the MGM's 5.1...

Brazil

I couldn't agree more.. I am now convinced that Criterion is the single most overated ( and overpriced) DVD manufacture in existence today. Unless you love the quanitity of supplements, of course.

I would also add

1) Naked Kiss. Check out VCI's version for $6. Yes, it is open matte instead of Widescreen but it is an incredible transfer, has a great short as a bonus and - of course - is about 1/5 of the cost of the criterion

2) Brazil. Seriously. Universal's bare bones release is essentially the SAME video and audio. My advice - rent the CC version and watch "Battle for Brazil" and then buy the Universal. Will save a lot of money and not miss much from the CC set that is really worth anything (imho).

3) Monty Python - Holy Grail

4) The Rock

5) Spinal Tap.. Actually, I liked the extras on the MGM version a lot better.

6) 39 steps from Delta isn't nearly as good as the CC but it is VERY watchable. Not one of my favorite Hitch films and glad I bought the $5 version.

7) Carnival of Souls. Check out the Image version.. Of course, you will not get the History of Kenya, Tractor Safety and Dental Hygiene films on the CC, : )

Question: of the list above, I am not aware of another version of 7th Samurai. What is this? will definitely want to "upgrade" my version to a non-CC if I can.

I usually notice the foreign films get better treatment than a Criterion release of the same movie.

Criterion released Monty Python and the Holy Grail?

And the Criterion has the entire Evangalist performance as well....one of the best extras on any dvd I own.

Please point out which of the following foreign films released by Criterion in 2004 have a superior DVD release available from another distributor (if I understand your post correctly):

The Rules of the Game Renoir, Jean France 1939 216
Ikiru Kurosawa, Akira Japan 1952 221
Diary of a Country Priest Bresson, Robert France 1951 222
Maîtresse Schroeder, Barbet France 1973 223
Onibaba Shindô, Kaneto Japan 1964 226
Le Corbeau Clouzot, Henri-Georges France 1943 227
Salvatore Giuliano Rosi, Francesco Italy 1961 228
Scenes from a Marriage Bergman, Ingmar Sweden 1973 229
The Testament of Dr. Mabuse Lang, Fritz Germany 1933 231
A Story of Floating Weeds / Floating Weeds Ozu, Yasujiro Japan 232
Stray Dog Kurosawa, Akira Japan 1949 233
The Tin Drum Schlöndorff, Volker Germany 1979 234
The Leopard Visconti, Luchino Italy 1963 235
Mamma Roma Pasolini, Pier Paolo Italy 1962 236
Smiles of a Summer Night Bergman, Ingmar Sweden 1955 237
A Woman Is a Woman Godard, Jean-Luc France 1961 238
The Lower Depths Kurosawa, Akira Japan 239
The Lower Depths Renoir, Jean France 239
Early Summer Ozu, Yasujiro Japan 1951 240
French Cancan Renoir, Jean France 1955 243
Elena and Her Men Renoir, Jean France 1956 244
Port of Shadows Carné, Marcel France 1938 245
I Vitelloni Fellini, Federico Italy 1953 246
The Battle of Algiers Pontecorvo, Gillo France 1965 249
Fat Girl Breillat, Catherine France 2001 259
Eyes Without a Face Franju, Georges France 1960 260
Fanny and Alexander Box Set Bergman, Ingmar Sweden 1982 261

One can quibble over the merits of a few of these, but my point is that Criterion has an enviable record of producing definitive DVD representations of a wide range of films, but especially foreign films.

Critics always drag out releases from 1998-9. Yes, Criterion was late to adopt anamorphic enhancement (as were a few of the major studios), and yes, some of their earlier transfers were based on non-Hi-def masters from their laserdisc days. But with the exception of Warner Brothers, I don't see any other company which consistently achieves the same level of excellence as Criterion--particularly over the last 3-4 years. If you'd care to back up that ludicrous statement with evidence, I would love to read what you have to say.

These all depends on what you consider superior. Transfer? Audio? Extras?


This is all a matter of opinion. What most of what people consider to be lesser releases from Criterion are actually between spine #1 and #100 and they were released on the early stage of the DVD boom. They were the best and sometimes the only release that a movie had at the time. MGM release of Silence of the Lambs is supposed to be better because: 1) They own the print, 2) It was released on 2001, when DVD was far more advance in technology and was offically the next mainstream format of Video. All those DVDs on the list have newer versions which are supposed to be upgrades. If they aren't, then the company releasing them are not doing their proper jobs. Now even some of those "lesser" Criterion releases are getting re-released with more Extras and better transfer. (ex- Fritz Lang's M ) . I am for one, all about the extras and almost nobody offers them as Criterion. Criterion Brazil has the same transfer as Universal but the latter doesn't offer me 2 different cut of the film or an amazing third dic containing wonderful extras. The Criterion Straw Dogs blows away the current release by MGM. I don't think that Criterion is overrated at all and I ussually get my bang for the buck when I purshased their releases.