Criterion (sort of) on HD
 

Can't believe that 4 Criterion films are on HD DVD from Universal. Traffic, Spartacus, Dazed And Confused, and Fear And Loathing. I have all on SD DVD Criterion, but have pre-ordered Spartacus and Fear And Loathing.

I wonder if Criterion is looking at these sales figures to decide when to jump into the format?

The new transfer of Brazil was amazing upconverted, but I'd be all over a Universal HD copy.

I doubt this has anything to do with Criterion. Universal probably wants to squeeze the Criterions out.

Critierion is a very niche company. I doubt they will take a chance on an even smaller niche until one of the formats is better established.

It was actually more like Universal on Criterion and now Universal on Universal.

Sure, but I think it's interesting anyway.

all four of those had Universal releases on DVD before they were released by Criterion.

Who knows if the rights to the Criterion versions will expire before they do decide to release on HD DVD (or BD).

Double-edged sword for them I guess. Companies like Criterion and Anchor Bay can't afford to have all their stock sent back to them because a format died. On the flip side they have done a lot of new HD remasters the past few years and, by waiting to pick a format to support, could potentially lose rights to release them in HD.

MBoyd, Criterion owns no films. They license the rights to make a release of a film. Sometimes they do their own restoration work, and they own all their transfers and special features, but those films were always Universal's. In fact, all of them have relatively barebones SD DVD releases straight from Universal.

Oh yeah I know all this. I just think its neat that there are 4 releases out there that are on Criterion also. I would think that they would consider the sales of these when deciding what format to choose. I just want some HD Fellini

HD 8 1/2... :drool:

These are essentially mainstream films compared to Criterion's usual titles (even Spartacus, relatively speaking), and Criterion's versions are surely among their best sellers. The sales of these films are obviously going to be bigger than Fellini's and Kurosawa's, and are not an indicator of how well the typical Criterion title will sell.

If we surveyed the early adopters though how many would have some criterion titles? I'd put money on 2/3. Whether or not it;s a foreign or non-mainstream film I couldnt guess.

Oh hell yeah. I need to try the upconvert!! New thread time. . .

Not sometimes, but all the time in regards to the restoration work. They do all of the restoration, Menu production, Special features and even packaging. They do it all.

PS...