NoirFan

From Blu-ray.com-- Figured this would be a Universal release instead of Criterion, but I would have enjoyed the Criterion extras in HD. Perhaps at some later date.

Gizmo

I recently read something that Criterion only started securing rights to release films on Blu-ray shortly before they released their first wave of titles. So Criterion would have to purchase the rights from Universal to produce a Blu-ray version.

Grain

I have the German Blu-ray of Fear and Loathing, which only has DTS-HD Hi Res, not Master. I found it to not sound as good as the TrueHD soundtrack on the HD-DVD, and I actually felt that the video was slightly poorer also. Looking forward to this, but I'd rather have had the Criterion version, like NoirFan says. I've bot more versions of Fear than I can count though, so a couple more won't hurt!

DthRdrX

It's a wild card if Universal will let Criterion have it again. I remember reading an article in 2005 stating this was Criterion's best selling title at the time.

Gizmo

But Blu-ray might be different since Universal may not want a double-dip from a different studio eating into its sales. Fear and Loathing was a fairly old DVD (1998?) before Criterion came along (2003). Aside from Benjamin Button, everything Criterion has put out on BD seems pretty obscure (to 6JP).

DthRdrX

Thats my point. Universal will be hesitant to let it go after they saw how well it sold for a catalog title.

smirnoffski

Seems like a port of the HD-DVD release.

I wonder why Universal didn't pull off a release like Do the Right Thing i.e. by porting over all the Criterion extras for the studio BR release.

I will be passing on this and holding onto my Criterion, thank you very much.

Evil ASh

Almost ordered the german disc today. Well, it looks like I'm going to be waiting for this release instead. I'll be keeping my criterion no matter what.

tylergfoster

The Criterion Fear & Loathing is 2 years less old than the Criterion Do the Right Thing, and most of the Criterion Do the Right Thing material is archival stuff rather than stuff Criterion created for the release. In comparison, I see Fear and Loathing at Target, so it must sell a boatload of copies, and Criterion created a great deal of exclusive extras like the Hunter S. Thompson commentary, which, if Universal even asked to license, was probably extremely expensive.

Solid Snake

Looks like I'll be keeping the Criterion DVD...damn fine one too.

E Unit

Yeah, but wasn't this the case with Dazed and Confused? And Criterion was still able to release it even though there was a Universal DVD release both before and after it?

kms_md

i will be keeping the CC dvd as well and not be upgrading to the new BD.

DthRdrX

Ultimately it is up to Universal. I don't expect them to allow Criterion to release this anytime soon because that would take sales away from the new Universal release, which looks very similiar to the HD DVD.

Gizmo

Appears to be a carbon copy except for DTS MA instead of TrueHD.

islandclaws

I've got the Criterion DVD and the HD DVD. I won't upgrade again unless Criterion manages to get their edition out on Blu.

Solid Snake

Ditto...no upgrade till Criterion gets it.

smirnoffski

UNLESS the Universal release goes on sale for a ridiculously low price like 8.99 or so, THEN it wouldn't hurt to own two copies.

Solid Snake

....I'd dip for that...I'd just hate to switch discs if I wanted to hear a commentary and etc...

Dr. DVD

I'm fine with my Criterion.

Solid Snake

Has criterion released any announcement on a Blu for this or their situation w/ it?

MTRodaba2468

I have the Criterion for this already. I'll probably upgrade for the PQ & SQ, but hang onto he DVD for the extras.

Josh Z

The contracts for most of the titles that Criterion licensed in the past only covered specific formats (either Laserdisc or DVD). They would need to re-license the title from Universal.

Since Universal is releasing their own Blu-ray edition, they're probably not that interested in licensing it out to Criterion again, which would just cause competition for their disc. At the time of the Criterion DVD, Universal's own DVD edition was several years old and not moving a lot of units anymore. Licensing it to Criterion at that point created a new revenue stream for the title.

Likewise, I'm sure that Criterion would rather focus on other titles that aren't already being released on Blu-ray by other studios.

Zen Peckinpah

Same here, will stick with my Criterion DVD and my HD DVD with the TrueHD soundtrack.

NoirFan

DVD Beaver

Joe Molotov

Looks good, if I see it for less than $15, I'd probably pick it up.