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Criterion
Now that Toshiba is going to cease production of HD-DVD.
What's the timetable for Criterion to start releasing it's catalog of films on Blu-ray? (maybe by the end of 2008?) Criterion releases are the only SD-DVD's I still purchase. |
let me ask another (fun) question to the masses here:
what are your top five wish list titles 1) Playtime 2) The Last Emperor 3) Fanny and Alexander 4) The River 5) Black Orpheus |
I would love the upcoming Ice Storm on BD so I don't have to buy the SD version. But I doubt that's possible for a March title.
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I want every single Kurosawa title released as soon as possible, accepting that it's going to take Criterion awhile to ramp up on this. But yeah... the Kurosawa films should be first... IMO.
edit: did not mean that to sound like "get off your lazy asses, Criterion!". More like "when you are capable, make these a priority... please!" |
I hope day and date with DVD happens, but I don't know. Might be more likely to see a just few of the biggest most popular titles first. Can Criterion sustain 3 types of products? Blu, DVD and their Eclipse line? Would we get Blu Eclipse movies unrestored?
But a big x2 on Playtime Blu Ray. Hell yeah! |
If Criterion were to go Blu, I would think that the first titles that they would release would be-
Seven Samurai Ran Brazil Playtime Wes Anderson Films *Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums,The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Since Criterion has the rights to all the extras and I don't see Disney putting them on Blu anything soon at all I think that Critieron would put them out to make some extra $$$ and see how sales would do.* The Seventh Seal Thats about all I can think of that I would think Criterion would start off with if they were going to start making Blu Ray discs. |
Quote from a Q & A on Criterion's site.
Will Criterion be releasing its catalog in Blu-Ray or HD DVD? We know this is a concern for many of our customers, but we honestly don’t think consumers should have to take a stand in a format war. That said, we know how good our films can look in high definition because we’ve been doing all our mastering and restoration in HD for years. But the format war has as much to do with patent licenses and pressing plants as it does with putting gorgeous images on your screen. At this point, any solution that would let consumers upgrade with confidence would be a step in the right direction, and as soon as that solution emerges, we’ll be there. |
Which would I buy? Too many Criterion titles to even list.
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Here a question for you all:
Since Blu-Ray typically has 20-33% high list price than its DVD counterpart, would you still be willing to buy Criterion Blu-Ray's if they see the same kind of markups? For instance, something like House Of games or Days Of Heaven has a $40 list and sells for $25-$30. Would you buy a Blu-Ray of it for more than that? |
As a Canadian, I'd easily pay $40 CAD for a single title. Maybe $50 CAD... if it qualifies on my complete subjective "worth-it-o-meter".
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Since Criterion prides itself on exclusive extras, I would imagine that they will take their time putting out titles on Blu-ray, so that they can develop new, interactive features previously impossible on DVD. they ought to be the one company that will push the envelope in doing truly innovative things with PiP, BD-live, and other interactive content.
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I think my maximum price I would pay for a single disc would be $40 - (maybe) $50. At $50 blind buys would stop. And at either price point I would be very selective of titles I'd replace.
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Originally Posted by kefrank
Since Criterion prides itself on exclusive extras, I would imagine that they will take their time putting out titles on Blu-ray, so that they can develop new, interactive features previously impossible on DVD. they ought to be the one company that will push the envelope in doing truly innovative things with PiP, BD-live, and other interactive content.
So , I dunoo... I really don't see them as that big a deal anymore. I'm more excited now if we get a remastered major studio release of a classic more than I am getting a Criterion release. |
Originally Posted by whomod
I used to assume Criterion meant quality. But then I was severely disappointed with their release of the Red Shoes which IMO left a lot to be desired in picture quality. Same with the release of Sid & Nancy which looked just as if the only thing they did was convert the laserdisc release over to DVD.
So , I dunoo... I really don't see them as that big a deal anymore. I'm more excited now if we get a remastered major studio release of a classic more than I am getting a Criterion release. and now you have The Last Emperor where the OAR was compromised from it's 2.35:1 image cropped to 2.20 due to the demands of the director of photography and not Bertolucci himself... shame, shame, shame.... :mad: |
Originally Posted by whomod
I used to assume Criterion meant quality. But then I was severely disappointed with their release of the Red Shoes which IMO left a lot to be desired in picture quality. Same with the release of Sid & Nancy which looked just as if the only thing they did was convert the laserdisc release over to DVD.
But I know what you are saying: I don't know if I can bear to sit through "There Will Be Blood" because that "Parallax View" DVD is kinda shitty. |
I can give them a pass on RED SHOES and SID AND NANCY since those were early titles from 98/99 and definitely were LD transfers.
Sad about THE LAST EMPEROR. I hadn't heard that. At least it's not as far off as APOCALYPSE NOW is at 2:1 |
Originally Posted by theWitcher
Both of those releases were laserdisc ports, and both were released over eight years ago.
But I know what you are saying: I don't know if I can bear to sit through "There Will Be Blood" because that "Parallax View" DVD is kinda shitty. |
Favorite Criterion titles? I don't know but Charade and The Third Man pop to mind. I may be waiting a long time on those, however.
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Originally Posted by Giles
and now you have The Last Emperor where the OAR was compromised from it's 2.35:1 image cropped to 2.20 due to the demands of the director of photography and not Bertolucci himself... shame, shame, shame.... :mad:
Crazy, old cinematographers should be kept away from their films. |
The Red Shoes is one of the first titles I'd buy barring it was a brand new HD transfer.
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Originally Posted by BuckNaked2k
Actually the image was cropped to 2.00:1....shame indeed.
Crazy, old cinematographers should be kept away from their films. |
Originally Posted by BuckNaked2k
Actually the image was cropped to 2.00:1....shame indeed.
Crazy, old cinematographers should be kept away from their films. |
Just give me Contempt.
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As much as I want to upgrade a lot of Criterions I have no doubt their pricing will prevent that. I will upgrade the ones I really love like Third Man and Seven Samurai first and work on the others as I get the money.
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I suppose people with any shred of taste can concern themselves with high-definition DVD now. ;)
Mostly kidding, of course, but it's nice to see a thread without all the childish "format warrior" prattle! |
Black Narcissus in hi-definition. :drool:
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Drool..and CRIES & WHISPERS!!
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Originally Posted by Arpeggi
Just give me Contempt.
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If/When Criterion releases on BD, they'll probably start off with a major classic title by a master director... a major work by probably Kurosawa, Fellini or Bergman for example.
I would love to see 8 1/2 in HD. It looked incredible on DVD, so HD should be that much better. |
Originally Posted by MoviePage
Black Narcissus in hi-definition. :drool:
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Originally Posted by SomethingMore
I want every single Kurosawa title released as soon as possible, accepting that it's going to take Criterion awhile to ramp up on this. But yeah... the Kurosawa films should be first... IMO.
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Originally Posted by Matt Millheiser
Okay. I despise your pedantic attitude, your unctuous, double-faced visage, your disengenuous faint praise, and your overall persistent climb towards the wading-pool plateaus of mediocrity. Fie on you, sir. Fie. :mad:
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BTW, check your local Hollywood Video/Movie Gallery for closures/clearance sales... I just picked up 40(!) Criterions that I didn't have for $7.50 each, including Straw Dogs :)
the downside: - rental cases - no inserts The upside: - original art intact - most of these look like they were never rented; discs are immaculate The prices will drop as the clearance goes on. |
I loved Rat Catcher - I'd love to see this film in HD :)
Beautifully shot film, if you havent seen it - GET IT! ;) |
Originally Posted by SomethingMore
I want every single Kurosawa title released as soon as possible, accepting that it's going to take Criterion awhile to ramp up on this. But yeah... the Kurosawa films should be first... IMO.
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Nah, I think Bay should come before those two... ;)
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I would be off at Mach 3 to the nearest retailer to get Armageddon on Blu-ray. Criterion could do a lot worse than having Armageddon as their first Blu-ray release.
Still, everything by Kurosawa would be very nice too... although if Criterion were to release everything by Yimou Zhang on Blu-ray, I would be thrilled given most releases to date in Hi-Def have issues for non-Region A users (Curse of the Golden Flower region locked, HD-DVD releases without English subtitles). |
Originally Posted by ian959
I would be off at Mach 3 to the nearest retailer to get Armageddon on Blu-ray. Criterion could do a lot worse than having Armageddon as their first Blu-ray release.
Still, everything by Kurosawa would be very nice too... although if Criterion were to release everything by Yimou Zhang on Blu-ray, I would be thrilled given most releases to date in Hi-Def have issues for non-Region A users (Curse of the Golden Flower region locked, HD-DVD releases without English subtitles). |
Originally Posted by Coral
If/When Criterion releases on BD, they'll probably start off with a major classic title by a master director.
ARMAGEDDON? |
Soon! Hopefully Soon!
Update from The Criterion Forum. So I got the chance to talk to Criterion President Peter Becker last night at a screening of the Last Emperor (which by the way is an amazing restoration and transfer). Keeping you guys in mind I had to ask him a few questions... First I asked him about if and when Criterion will be switching to Blu-Ray, and he said that as soon as it has reached a certain amount of market saturation it's inevitable. And that were not quite there but almost. Then I asked for hints on upcoming releases that hadn't been announced and he mentioned Bottle Rocket (which I know everyone already knows) then he asked someone else from Criterion ( a Lady who's name I forget) And she said Patriotism is what she was working on, which I'm assuming is the Lost Yukio Mishima film. Then said SALO is being re-issued. If you know me you know I live for this film, so I questioned him about it a bit further. Its Slated for an August/September Release date and will include a making of documentary with Pasolini interviews. As to wether or not it includes the Venice film festival version he didn't know offhand. |
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