re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

Criterion looks really bad here. They can tack on as many extras onto the Parasite BD as they want, but the video quality can't compare to the UHD-BD - which is cheaper to boot.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

Agreed. Ultimately it comes down to the presentation of the actual film itself and Criterion comes up short here.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

Not a fan of the stacked discs either considering that these are all unique films and not parts of a series.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

I'm not convinced, sorry. "HD" transfers generally actually mean 2k, and the prior Blu-ray already looked excellent. There was nothing wrong with it that begged for a restoration or remaster unless the license holder wanted to go to the effort of preserving/archiving it in 4k. And given that the license holder in this case is Studio Canal, which has been making an aggressive push in recent years to upgrade its catalog to 4k (often with underwhelming results, but that's a separate discussion), I don't see why they or Criterion would choose to re-scan this one now only in 2k.

I think it most likely that Pierrot is just a reissue of the disc from 2009.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

HD transfer usually means 1080p. I know that's pretty close to 2k, but it's the verbiage they've always used.

​​Edit to add: the original release also apparently had some issues with tinting filters that presumably will be corrected.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

Is Criterion's transfer for Parasite the same as the Blu-ray disc included within the UHD set?

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

That sucks about the packaging. You know, the few Criterion BD digi-packs I own all feel flimsy and cheap. Maybe Criterion just sucks at making digi-packs, lol. I think I'm going to pass on this release, unfortunately. I already own Warner's BD of Enter the Dragon and have the Shout BD double feature of Fist of Fury/The Big Boss. Way of the Dragon I haven't seen in probably over a decade, but I recall being kinda bored with it. Game of Death and Game of Death 2 I don't care about; I've seen both and don't think either one was a good movie.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

Probably the same source, but maybe a difference encode.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

Amazon had this on sale for $62.49 the last few days. I had some credit which brought it down to $45, so that's fine with me that the set is like that.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

Too bad they couldn't have done something along the lines of the Karel Zeman 'pop-up' box, where each time you flipped the 'page' to a new movie, a cut-out of Bruce Lee or his fists or feet would literally spring off the page. :lol: They'd surely need to create an outer shell box that was a lot sturdier than the Zeman set, though, as that one's easily crushed if it's not shipped in a box.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

My Bruce Lee set is scheduled to come on Tuesday.

and that's it on Bruce Lee for me. The well has completely run dry on his content.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

For me and Bruce, next stop is possibly 4K disc, should anyone in Asia get to that - and that the remaster is a significant improvement. But that’s a slim chance based on every remaster we’ve seen on these movies.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

How faithful are those Blu-ray.com alerts when Amazon has for preorder. They should have it soon, no?

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

I feel the same. Though just today I did also order the Longstreet DVD set, because the completionist in me wanted to have Bruce Lee's full appearance there and not just some clips. Seems like he really got to bring a lot of himself to the role in the four episodes in which he appeared.

I think I can live without having his appearances as Kato on any format. Maybe.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

Anyone see this?

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/dvdtalk...3bbfe9f15.jpeg
Wondering how it is as movie, presentation. All 5’s at Blu-ray.com and seems really good.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

COME AND SEE is one of the most consistently horrific, bleak and depressing war (or anti-war) films ever made, but it’s also one of the most important. It’s about real Nazi genocides in Russia, so it’s tough viewing, and utterly (and rightly) hopeless in its view of mankind. That said, I think it’s a phenomenal film. And I’m hopeful this is a huge improvement over the ancient Kino edition.

I always thought the opening of Roger Ebert’s review was nicely put:

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

wow. sounds great about Come and See. i look forward to it now...

up for preorder. At $30 now, but i'm sure will go down...this will be pinnacle of my Criterion Collection. Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Come and See is one of the best war films ever made. Very honest and brutal film that doesn't glamorize the horrors of man's inhumanity.

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But The Thin Red Line still blows it away? (TTRL is a DVDTalk War movie favorite, right?).

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

The Thin Red Line is much more poetic and despite showing the horrors of war, it also has tons of little segments that show the beauty of nature and whatnot. Occasionally, it flows at a somewhat lyrical pace...Come and See is just absolutely, unrelentingly brutal, and just a really difficult film to watch. Especially the ending. As other's have pointed out, the film just doesn't pull any punches.

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^ and your pick would be? My store ran out of C&S when i stopped by earlier today. Did get the Eric Rohmer Set and Until the End of the World.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

My Bruce Lee set arrived today. Yeah the packaging is disappointing considering the MSRP. Very flimsy looking set.

The Shout set also had shitty packaging. I'm sure the content is going to be great, but Criterion dropped the ball here on the packaging.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

So is Come and See like 1x viewing?

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

If that!
As good as a movie is, I honestly don't know why anyone would want to ever watch it more than once.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

Come and See is a good movie, but I definitely had some issues with the acting. It also could've used some tighter editing.

But yea, I don't think it's something that has much replay value.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

Guess I'll take up a somewhat contrary position here and say that I think COME AND SEE does have replay value, albeit with the viewings spaced apart, perhaps. And Criterion's extras appear to contextualize the film -- and the devastating real-life Nazi invasion of Belarus -- better than any previous edition. Personally I think it's a better and more important film than THIN RED LINE, but I'm biased as I think Terrence Malick is a remarkable artist but not worthy of the deification he often receives. COME AND SEE is a beautifully made show, less pretentious than Malick's picture while still offering moments of visual and thematically poetry, but it's still a very intense experience, and not to all tastes.

I'm not one for posting YouTube videos of armchair analysts, but this is an interesting overview. It's a bit spoiler-laden, though, especially after the 12-minute mark, so proceed with caution.



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Seems like everyone on the forum has seen C&S (except me). :lol:

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

Not me.

I get why that stuff is important, but I can't do brutal stuff like that.

I could only watch something like Dancer in the Dark once before I sold off the DVD.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

Interesting parallel to DANCER IN THE DARK. I have a similar reaction to most of Von Trier's films (except for ZENTROPA). They're usually fascinating to watch but once is enough, partly because it often feels like he's pushing easy 'transgressive' buttons to stay relevant. Klimov, on the other hand, simply depicts an awful period as realistically as one could in Russia in 1985. The psychological brutality in COME AND SEE is front and centre in the character of the boy aging beyond his years, while the physical brutality, I think, pales in comparison to the carnage displayed in most modern war films made since then, with their blood and limbs and guts spraying every which way because the filmmakers think that's the only way a distracted contemporary audience will get the message. Even at that, I'm still more likely to get this version of COME AND SEE from the library first, mainly for the supplements.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

Speaking of von Trier, I still have to watch my copy of Breaking The Waves.

Meanwhile, I'll maybe prep for it with a double feature of Come And See and Army Of Shadows...

Bleak is right up my alley these days.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

I'll watch Come and See when it hits the Criterion Channel.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

It's already there. Or is it one of the odd films that are only available to Canadians?

I'm not sure that I want to put myself through it, right now. I've already watched a number of pretty dark films, recently, and this sounds like it'll put those to shame.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

It's there for 'merica too. Added it to my list yesterday.

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i'm getting tomorrow. i'm not sure what kinda mood i got to be in to watch this. i'm eager to, don't get me wrong, but hard, real material, always gets me...

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

Really, only the final 30 minutes of C&S is where the eye-opening moments occur. It's not like the film is unwatchable from start to finish. In fact, it seems more akin to Ivan's Childhood, and even that one had a more unhappier ending than this film.

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

So Come and See would not be considered a part of the dominant cheesy 80’s films i take it...

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I haven't seen it.

Definitely am curious about it mostly because of how excited people are about its release on Blu-Ray.

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geez, now i don't even want to see it. i don't want to be brutal slapped in the face over and over. not right now that is...

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

How’s Wildlife, movie and extras? It’s got good actors, Dano as director. Wondering if good package overall? More palpable than Come and See, I assume. At least more replayability?

re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
 

I got the Bruce Lee set from Amazon. I agree with the sentiment that the packaging isn't commensurate with the MSRP. On the other hand, it's not that awful and is better than Legacy Collection packaging. I'll still probably make custom covers and put the set in regular Criterion cases, when I can muster the motivation.

Some scattered thoughts on the set:

• A quick spot check of the movies shows they look excellent, though I'm certain the Hong Kong films are using the same transfers as the most recent Shout! releases. This is as good as I expect these movies to ever look and I'm ok with that.
• I did a really brief comparison of the Mandarin and Cantonese mono tracks on a couple of the movies. The mix on the Cantonese track seemed much more bass heavy and less balanced than the Mandarin track.
• I watched a couple of the Criterion-exclusive extras with Matthew Polly talking about each film and they're pretty solid. I actually learned a couple of things I didn't know before.
• I still dislike how every release of Bruce Lee's movies, including this one, treats Game of Death as part of the "official" canon, when it's an exploitative hack job. The new special feature about Brucesploitation movies even covers it as one of the awful offenders in the genre, so why is it included here as one of his Greatest Hits? (I know, it's the iconic track suit. -ptth-) Rather than including Game of Death here as one of the Greatest Hits, I'd rather have seen a special features disc dedicated to delving deeply into Bruce Lee's original vision for Game of Death and relegating the 1978 Game of Death to an "extra" like Game of Death II is treated.
• On a related note, I watched some of Game of Death Redux. It's probably the best presentation we're going to get of Bruce Lee's completed footage from Game of Death, though the image quality and vocal performances seemed a little uneven.

All in all, I'm happy with the set. It's cool having everything together in one cohesive set with a great presentation and the new extras Criterion put together are pretty interesting so far.