I wasn't. I guess I don't have all the facts. That's why I said we'll see. I would rather wait for a demonstration than jump into HD-DVD/Blu-Ray.

Cool combo player. Any good?

Not the same thing. If you are going to be playing HDDVD's you will need a new player. If you have a HDDVD player, you will still be able to play DVDs on it so it would be possible to keep the same numbering scheme even if Criterion releases only HDDVD's.

Sad? I don't agree with that -- Criterion is in business to make money. They've found a model that helps facilitate that, and at the same time they are doing good work by helping to restore and present films that otherwise wouldn't have the same care given (for example, look at the Criterion Sid & Nancy vs. the MGM edition)

I don't see Criterion switching over until a clear format is decided on -- look how long it took them even to offer anamorphic transfers because of concerns of how they looked on 4:3 displays. I wouldn't expect Criterion to be releasing any HiDef format discs until (a) a winner is decided in the format war and (b) you can get a player for under $300.

I'm a completist but I'm not made of money. If I get a better version of a disc the old one goes out the window, whether eBay, FYE or a trade. Blu-Ray (or HD DVD if it wins out in the end) is not the same change as Laser --> DVD. DVD has so much momentum as a medium that companies would be idiotic not to present Blu-Ray as the next version of DVD. "This is DVD but only better" should be the sales pitch.

Couldn't disagree more -- 35mm film has a hell of a lot more resolution than 480 lines -- or 1080 lines for that matter. Ideally we all have nice prints of all the films we love in our homes and project them in a dark room, but that's not practical so compressed video in the form of 1's and 0's is what we get. "Analog" is not a dirty word as far as quality is concerned when dealing with a medium like film.

-- Jim

I'm sorry. Let me rephrase. It is SAD that people buy Criterion products to have a number on the side. I never said I blamed Criterion for their business ideas.

Also, I can't see Criterion letting good HD transfers potentially go to waste by sitting on them too long. I.E. losing film rights.

I do think that Criterion may have a problem securing more mainstream titles when these formats come out. The studios know how much money DVDs bring in so they will be even less likely to sell the rights to Criterion for some things. IMO.

As far as the merits of HD vs DVD vs LD/VHS I'll throw this up since people keep suggesting it is not that much of an improvement.

From a PQ perspective the jump to HD is much larger than the one from LD/VHS to DVD. Resolution is not the only advantage of HD material. That depends on how large your display is and how far away you are seated. The following shots will show one huge benefit HD brings in regard to color. It will also show how muted standard dvd color really is.

LOTR DVD LOTR HD

LOTR2 DVD LOTR2 HD

LOTR3 DVD LOTR3 HD

You can bet whichever format wins out is going to be touted as the "NEXT BIG THING!!!", not the "old" thing improved.

That's true, but Criterion's strength isn't releasing mainstream titles now anyway.

For LDs, absolutely. I still use this as my primary LD player and it's still going strong. Great picture quality.

The DVD side of things is something else entirely (which isn't surprising, since it was a 1st gen player). Black levels are messed up, pic quality isn't great, it isn't progressive, no DTS, etc.

I'd recommend it in a heartbeat as a LD player (and I was very happy with the DVD performance for the first few years I had it, 1999-2000 or so). But it is inadequate as a DVD player in this day and age.

Yes, because I want to see the scratches on the film even clearer now.

I'm still waiting to start collecting the Criterion UMD Collection.

What exactly is sad about it? People collect things. The Criterion collection features numbers on the spines, so collectors know exactly what holes in their set need to be filled. That, paired with the fact that Criterion consistantly releases amazing movies (thus far, I've been disappointed with exactly two of the movies they've released, mainstream billpayers aside), and you have a hell of a collection for somebody to attempt to build. It can be compared to somebody putting together a set of sportscards. You may find it "sad," but they enjoy their collection. No need to get all "my way of collecting it better than yours" condescending on us.

-JP

I'm sorry you feel my labeling of people who pay 30+ for a spine number only as condescending. I guess it is great for people with more money to burn.

Thanks for bringing up sports cards. I stopped collecting them when I was a teen b/c it went from a hobby that kids could enjoy to 3$+ packs with six gold foil cards in them. I guess we have collectors to thank for that? Regardless, to each his own.

^

Why is it that people on these message boards are so quick to offer their opinions on how others should spend their money/live their lives/enjoy themselves/etc ?

A lot of bitterness in your opinion there "I guess it is great for people with more money to burn." implies to me that you would be buying every CC title if you could afford it.

If someone wants to pick up a CC title because of the general quality of their selections and releases -- great! If someone wants to get them all the spine #'s and watch all the movies -- great! If someone wants to buy them all and leave them sealed because they enjoy collecting -- great!

It takes all kinds to move the world, and things would be generally more pleasant if people weren't so quick to judge others' activities. The bottom line is that you should be able to spend your money however you see fit without people harping on you about your choices -- in the end they are YOUR choices to make and no one else's.

Sorry, letting the Libertarian in me jump out there, but I thought it had to be said.

-- Jim

Criterion has not committed to either Blu-Ray or HD-DVD. I believe they're planning to sit tight until the format war is sorted out.

that's a good move, imo.

If you swing by Otter, you'll find the favourite topic is toilet action.

That's a pretty noticeable difference in color. Are you sure there isn't other factors at play besides the jump in resolution?

I strongly hope Criterion start again. I only got into DVDs in 2000 and being in New Zealand and 15 years old, had never heard of it.

HD has better color than dvd, but I really don't believe those capture. The difference in color are way to big, they doesn't look the same at all...

I hope the spine numbers start over again, if nothing else just to make the collectors squirm a little.

This coming format is great, but really, I think it's further off from mainstream acceptance than a lot of us think. It's only worth getting into if you have an HD TV. The machines are likely to be very expensive at first, and there will be uncertanty about the format since studios and electronics companies are dividing themselves over it. Some movie studios will be Blu-Ray and some HDDVD?? That's crazy. For now, an HD TV of a decent size (over 30 inches) is way way way out of my price range and will be for at least a few years, so I will not be adopting this new format this year or the next or the next or the next, and most people won't either since most people aren't terribly technically savvy or rich.

I love Criterion. I'm sure they'll make the right choices when the time comes. Couldn't care less about the spine numbers.

No, I mean if you have the money to burn on the Criterion collection great for you. It was not intended as a slam so I'm truely sorry if you read it that way.

BTW, I have 90% of the Criterion collection. Payed big bucks to get the OOP titles back in 2001. I could care less what others buy, as the more copies Criterion sells of a more mainstream movie might get a copy of Ran funded that much quicker. Regardless, sorry if you thought I was putting you down.

Thats the point. The color difference is that big. Pop in the dvd of the Two Towers and check it out. Go to the chapter, The Black Gate.