Criterion and Dual Format

[cdnchris]

I just got an e-mail about this as well and came here to post. I find it odd it'll be only a few titles. April's choices seem weird: Breaking the Waves stays dual-format but every other title gets a DVD-only edition on top of the dual-format.

[swo17]

This is terrible news, as my library will surely just stock the DVD-only editions now.

[Ashirg]

I'm thinking DVD editions are for rental only.

[knives]

I'm with Swo on this. It seems largely counter intuitive though Ashirg is probably right.

[Ashirg]

Looks like I was wrong. DVD Empire has these DVD editions for pre-order.

[Yaanu]

Were there really that many people who complained about having to buy dual-format?
Also, it looks like Criterion.com hasn't updated with any news or stealth-updates about the DVD-only releases, so it might be a retail option only. Or they just haven't updated yet. Time will tell, I suppose.

[Moe Dickstein]

Could be this is an experiment to see what sales are like for the versions.

[Shrew]

If there's a backlash/demand, I'd imagine it's coming from institutions more than the general market. Local libraries may have been less willing to buy dual-format releases than Criterion expected.

[Askew]

The DVD only release for The Great Beauty has been up for pre-order on Criterion's site for a couple of weeks now.

[Moe Dickstein]

yeah but this is the first time they've been offered for non new release films.

[swo17]

Perhaps pre-orders for those DVD editions exceeded expectations, prompting this latest change.

[Ashirg]

What's more interesting, is that the new list price for DVD-only editions is 24.95 instead of old 29.95

[Matt]

If there's a backlash/demand, I'd imagine it's coming from institutions more than the general market. Local libraries may have been less willing to buy dual-format releases than Criterion expected.

I will cop to being part of the problem. I've stopped buying most new Criterion titles for my library due to the extra work the dual-format releases make for our cataloger and other staff. I'll go back to buying every title with a stand-alone DVD release again.

[domino harvey]

Matt: you just made the list, pal

[Jeff]

I wonder if the new DVD-only editions will have a Criterion sticker that says "FOR-MATT FORMAT."

[Matt]

I more than make up for this shortcoming with all the stuff I buy for myself, though.

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

I'm thinking DVD editions are for rental only.

Or local libraries like mine that buy Criterion but don't do blu-ray.

[macaca]

HTF are reporting that several future titles will now see DVD only editions alongside the regular Dual Formats.

Am I an idiot, or does this completely defeat the purpose of the dual-format release?

[swo17]

People who haven't made the leap to Blu-ray yet will surely be split between those who prefer the lower price point of the DVDs and those willing to pay a little more to futureproof. And some of those who have adopted Blu-ray still occasionally find use for the DVDs included in the dual format editions. So no, it doesn't defeat the purpose.

[FrauBlucher]

There are probably a few who are stubborn about converting to blu, but for the most part I don't see Criterion continuing this practice of DVD only for any length of time. This could just be a fact finding undertaking by the marketing departments of CC or Sony.

BTW... Is the Sony logo on the backs of the new releases. I couldn't tell from the packaging photos.

[RyanGallagher]

BTW... Is the Sony logo on the backs of the new releases. I couldn't tell from the packaging photos.

The Sony logo is not on the back of these releases, nor the sell sheets in the PDFs for the upcoming titles.

[macaca]

People who haven't made the leap to Blu-ray yet will surely be split between those who prefer the lower price point of the DVDs and those willing to pay a little more to futureproof. And some of those who have adopted Blu-ray still occasionally find use for the DVDs included in the dual format editions. So no, it doesn't defeat the purpose.

My understanding was It was cheaper to produce 1 package with 2 formats, as opposed to making 1 for each. So producing both makes no sense to me, at all.

Like many, I definitely have no use for 2 extra DVDs & bloated packaging, but I guess we're in the minority.
Let's keep catering to the people who are late to the party. \:D/

[Moe Dickstein]

Eventually the DVDs will go away, but this is just the first step and there will be bumps in the road.

[Zot!]

MASTER OF THE HOUSE will be getting a DVD-only edition, as well as RIOT IN CELL BLOCK 11, A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME, and IL SORPASSO.

What is the reasoning here?

Edit: This looks to have already been discussed.

[Yaanu]

Interestingly, the upcoming DVD-only editions are all one-disc releases; only the previously-announced GREAT BEAUTY release has a two-disc DVD edition. Also, in a few cases, the booklets are condensed to only one essay.
So there's that incentive to get the dual-format release.