1025 The Grand Budapest Hotel

[tenia]

Not that he really has to state the obvious, though. It just is very practical filler for his conclusion.
I wonder why bothering requesting reviewing this title since he doesn't seem to be particularly eager to cover it.

[Mr Sausage]

Might be he meant something more like "I have to say, this is definitely a release created for fans."and is just not a good enough writer to express it.

[kcota17]

Some more of his very professional writing:

This should be the exact same master that Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment used to produce the first release if The Grand Budapest Hotel in 2004.

[dwk]

Beaver

[Finch]

Going by the bathtub shot, the Criterion is more teal leaning than the Fox BD.

[domino harvey]

Interesting to note that the Blu-Ray extras were updated to include an essay by Mark Twain. Well sure, we all saw that coming!

[TheKieslowskiHaze]

I have the movie digitally (Vudu). Wondering if the transfer/extras/packaging are worth getting the Criterion Blu-Ray for. Thoughts from those who have it?

[swo17]

It's not out until next week

[TheKieslowskiHaze]

It's not out until next week

Oh boy. Probably enough time for it to creep closer and eventually into to my mental shopping cart.

[bluesforyou]

Going by the bathtub shot, the Criterion is more teal leaning than the Fox BD.

It is not more teal leaning; just less warm.

[PfR73]

Unwrapped this release today; I'm looking forward to the extras, but I'm disappointed to discover the "Please Set Your Monitor to 16x9" card is missing from the beginning of the film, though it had appeared theatrically and been included on the Fox Blu-ray.
The Criterion release of The Darjeeling Limited was similarly missing the "SHORT FILM (To be played before the feature)" & "Part 2" cards, which were present when I saw the film theatrically and had also been included on the original Fox Blu-ray.
They may seem insignificant, but I've always enjoyed these little "Wes Anderson-isms" and feel like they really help place each film in his universe. So while I'll enjoy the Criterion releases for the extras, if I want to watch the actual film, I'll be watching the Fox discs of these films.

[flyonthewall2983]

Anderson and the other participants on the commentary track spend about a quarter of the time talking about other films, which if it wasn't so pleasant and charming to listen to I'd probably have more of a problem with.

Watching it again, and after listening to what Wes says about the period in the commentary, it's frighteningly ironic that this was released in 2014 and the period in which it takes place in is, though fictional, ostensibly just before the rise of Nazism or whatever equivalent it would have been in that world.

[jazzo]

Unwrapped this release today; I'm looking forward to the extras, but I'm disappointed to discover the "Please Set Your Monitor to 16x9" card is missing from the beginning of the film, though it had appeared theatrically and been included on the Fox Blu-ray.
The Criterion release of The Darjeeling Limited was similarly missing the "SHORT FILM (To be played before the feature)" & "Part 2" cards, which were present when I saw the film theatrically and had also been included on the original Fox Blu-ray.
They may seem insignificant, but I've always enjoyed these little "Wes Anderson-isms" and feel like they really help place each film in his universe. So while I'll enjoy the Criterion releases for the extras, if I want to watch the actual film, I'll be watching the Fox discs of these films.

This is similar to me discovering that one of my favourite jokes in Bottle Rocket was excised from the otherwise spectacular Criterion edition of the film; the removal of the "Job Opportunities in Government, 1995" volume Anthony grabs off the shelf in the middle of their "Book Store" robbery, and finding it replaced with a plain old WWII photo.

It's nothing, really, and Wes Anderson can obviously present his films any way he wishes, but I did find it a little heartbreaking that one of the jokes that made me laugh out loud, circa 1996 in Toronto's Bloor Cinema, was gone. I loved it because it didn't have to be there, but it most definitely was, and it added so much texture and warmth to everything. Clearly, it made Wes and Owen laugh at one point.

I suppose I could always just re-buy a used copy of the DVD that I'd unloaded for the Criterion.

[FrauBlucher]

I listened to the commentary track last evening. I have to say it was one of the best commentary tracks I listened to from a director. Wes and the others were very conversational like they were sitting around having cocktails and they just didn’t focus on the film itself during moments that didn’t need to be. Love that they talked film history and filmmakers which shows Wes’ knowledge and influences in his direction. They referred to a “Marty”. I will assume it was Scorsese they were referring too.
Btw… Wes asked if people still watch DVDs (clearly he is a fan of blurays). I guess he doesn’t watch the Criterion Closet videos. Ha

[B....]

..... I have to say it was one of the best commentary tracks I listened to from a director. Wes and the others were very conversational like they were sitting around having cocktails and they just didn’t focus on the film itself during moments that didn’t need to be.....

Totally agree!
I am also impressed with the more appealing image depth which all but makes up for the similarities to the previous BD release. This is one of those films that I keep up front on the shelf.