Kino Lorber Studio Classics

[Orlac]

For the benefit of those who didn't follow my link, the poster that Orlac/[Redacted] was berating so needlessly aggressively was talking about the BFI's Invasion of the Body Snatchers, which as far as I'm aware doesn't suffer from any technical problems over and above the fact that it's an elderly transfer from less than optimum materials.

That's low, even for you.

[Orlac]

For the benefit of those who didn't follow my link, the poster that Orlac/[Redacted] was berating so needlessly aggressively was talking about the BFI's Invasion of the Body Snatchers, which as far as I'm aware doesn't suffer from any technical problems over and above the fact that it's an elderly transfer from less than optimum materials. Which I'd argue is a different situation from the Silence of the Lambs one, which would appear to be an unambiguous technical cock-up that should have been spotted at the QC stage.

No-one on here needs to know any names I use on different forums.

If you have a problem with how I am on other forums, feel free to criticise me on those.

Of course you can't, because you burnt your bridges on those forums and can't participate on them.

So you attack me on here, where I can't block you because you enjoy admin priviledges. Which frankly, you are abusing.

Not acceptable.

[domino harvey]

Orlac, I’ve removed mentions of your username on other forums, as that’s certainly not pertinent to this discussion. As for the other posts, look, both of you do this back and forth a lot. I’d invite you both to just ignore each other’s posts moving forward… which I believe I’ve requested before. Please consider listening this time

[tenia]

Of course you can't, because you burnt your bridges on those forums and can't participate on them.

Quite an unfair way to frame what happened on blu-ray.com, which was/is part of both a much larger and very specific issue with someone in their staff. I mean, that's the place which banned both Michael AND Nick Wrigley.

[MichaelB]

For the record, I don't have moderator powers either here or in the vast majority of other Criterion Forum subforums, so even if I was inclined to abuse them, I wouldn't be able to.

And even in threads where I do have such powers, I use them exclusively for tidying up posts in the BFI and Indicator threads - I honestly don't think I've ever done anything else.

(Aside from accidentally but irretrievably deleting someone's post many years ago, for which I apologised immediately and profusely.)

[vsski]

Getting back to the actual thread about Kino’s shoddy QC, while of course everyone can choose to buy their discs as they please, I for one stopped buying them altogether, even if it’s a title I may be interested in. Instead I’m typically waiting / hoping that one of the UK labels publishes the same title, as based on my experience in many cases it turned out to be superior than the Kino one (thinking of many of the Eureka silent films here as an example). I believe Domino is correct that by now they have a volume strategy and most of what they are putting out is acceptable, but seldom outstanding or reference quality. And if you combine this with the atrocious behavior of their reps, I see no reason to spend my money on this label. At it stands, every month there are more discs put out than I have the money to buy or time to watch, so since I have to make a selection anyhow, why would I buy a title from a label with a questionable track record over an equally interesting title from a label I trust more. And yes, I can hear people say Kino has put out some titles no one else did, and of course if this is one that’s been on someone’s top of the list, they will by it. I for one no longer want to deal with this label.

[swo17]

Eh, if it's the best available version of a film I'll still buy it, and occasionally they'll put out something like this year's Ken Jacobs set, which I would consider both essential and unlikely to be replicated by another label (at least in its entirety)

[Finch]

To add to swo's point, no one in the UK has released Nothing Sacred, never mind twice, or the Tyrone Power Mask of Zorro. And the Kino BD of Five Graves to Cairo is the best available disc of the film though that is admittedly more due to Universal sending the older master to MoC by mistake than of Kino's own doing. They also put out a very respectable release of Confidence which I don't see Second Run topping. They have sales frequently enough that I feel like grabbing their WC Fields releases (unless Indicator or another UK label come through within the next 12 months) down the line. I've been lucky enough that the titles I wanted from them haven't had flawed masters or Kino futzing with them for the worse (a la Bitter Moon) but I'm definitely not preordering any title from them.

[dwk]

As Finch said, they have so many sales that the discs are often cheap enough that, even if the release is a little below average, you usually don't feel ripped off.

I hate to admit, but as my viewing habits have changed, I don't really need oodles of extras for every disc I buy. So often I'd prefer a light on extras disc for $10 over a disc that is loaded with interviews that need to be edited (coughshoutfactorycough) that costs $25. But, as the market continues to shrink, I don't know how sustainable the light on extras, high volume of releases model is. I assume most people would prefer buying digital instead of buying a Blu-ray that only has a commentary track.

[nitin]

I only buy Kino titles in their sales, usually at a price that means I dont feel ripped off if there is a cockup or a much superior edition is released elsewhere. Having said that, I did order 100 titles from their recent sale simply because I cant see too many of them getting other releases.

[Calvin]

In other Kino news, they've confirmed that they have John M. Stahl's When Tomorrow Comes

[Red Screamer]

Wonderful news, an all-time great melodrama!

[Finch]

I've not seen When Tomorrow Comes but it sounds intriguing (weird though that they haven't also gotten the other Irene Dunne/Charles Boyer pairing, Love Affair)!

[domino harvey]

It’s public domain, they may not have resources or desire to do so

[Red Screamer]

MoMA just restored Love Affair, is playing the print in December, and planning on a home video release, sez Dave Kehr.

[soundchaser]

In a two-pack with their restoration of Rosita, no doubt. (Which is to say: don’t hold your breath.)

[Ribs]

With the announcement of Dressed to Kill coming soon, Kino has really dove headfirst into former Criterion MGM titles with potentially problematic crossdressing plotlines on UHD, this making the third such title.

[bfaison]

while of course everyone can choose to buy their discs as they please, I for one stopped buying them altogether, even if it’s a title I may be interested in.

I've been "boycotting" Kino for years, buying only second hand or not at all. I totally understand people who still buy their products, but I personally won't support them directly and cringe whenever a film I might want in my collection is bought up and spit out by them. Doubt I'm hurting their pockets any though, reading the blu-ray forum after every new debacle is like observing cases of Stockholm syndrome.

[dwk]

With the announcement of Dressed to Kill coming soon, Kino has really dove headfirst into former Criterion MGM titles with potentially problematic crossdressing plotlines on UHD, this making the third such title.

I have to admit I always chuckle when I see replies to Kino's MGM UHD announcements about how they are "destroying" Criterion by getting the rights to release these on a format that is still barely cracking 7 or 8 percent of the market. Followed by the inevitable bitching that Kino screwed up the audio/etc. when said titles are released.

[Calvin]

Kino have said on Facebook that they asked for Blow Out but it was unavailable

[dwk]

It is possible that Criterion were able to get the UHD rights to Blow Out when they got the UK rights.

[Finch]

Hopefully at least some reviewers will pay proper attention to the Dressed to Kill disc. I have the Arrow and skipped the Criterion.

[dwk]

Kino also said that Carrie is with another label.

[nitin]

Hopefully Arrow have Carrie then. Also hopefully release Dressed to Kill with proper mono instead of a downmix of the 5.1, which is bit of a botch job.

[black&huge]

Kino also said that Carrie is with another label.

If not Shout then a 4k criterion release would be the perfect opportunity to reintroduce it into the collection