Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[therewillbeblus]

Going to annoy God by praying extra hard for a Jean Eustache set announcement.

I really hope they release a compete works set rather than just the big kahuna, and ideally with contextual features. I’d love to get some academic extras on Une Sale Histoire

[ryannichols7]

the prospect of Criterion doing Freaks at long last would be exciting enough, but including Browning silents (also their first forays into the MGM silent era) would be a literal godsend. and would also be the best "October" themed announcement they've done in some time

[therewillbeblus]

and would also be the best "October" themed announcement they've done in some time

I dunno, after years of not really celebrating the month beyond maybe one release, last year's slate was pretty much all Halloween-themed. Lost Highway and Cure were terrific choices, and Eve's Bayou was an unconventional but inspired October title!

[Peacock]

A complete Eustache set (which surely is how they’ll do it as he only made two dramatic features?) or a Browning set including The Unknown and Freaks would make my day!

[ryannichols7]

titles up

Don't Look Now UHD
Videodrome UHD
The Others UHD
Nanny
Freaks / The Unknown / The Mystic: Tod Browning’s Sideshow Shockers

[Drucker]

The Browning set looks amazing, and I wonder if it portends anything else for MGM of this era, namely the silents.

[Finch]

In for the Browning set and maybe The Others 4k. I already have the Studio Canal 4k and Criterion BD of Don't Look Now, so I think I'm good for that film. Surprised they went out all horror for October like Radiance.

[guyetgenevieve]

Have they ever done an all Horror month before?

[Tuppence]

It's a great release, but the price gouging on the Browning set is pretty galling - $40 for the DVD versus $70 for the Blu-ray. Both double-disc sets. Has there ever been a comparable discrepancy between formats that big before?

[FrauBlucher]

Have they ever done an all Horror month before?

I could be wrong but I don't remember the entire month's announcement fitting nicely into the horror genre as this

[therewillbeblus]

Have they ever done an all Horror month before?

I could be wrong but I don't remember the entire month's announcement fitting nicely into the horror genre as this

Not as nicely, but last year's slate fit the bill. Arsenic and Old Lace obviously isn't horror, but it plays with lots of horror ideas down to Karloff's participation in the stage play

[Matt]

I think it’s probably been years since they did an all-horror October, maybe since the DVD days when there were just a few releases each month. I’m too lazy to verify though.

Perhaps not coincidentally, this is maybe the first month in years that I want (and may actually purchase) every release. I do wish it were possible somehow to just buy the 4K disc and case since I already have the Criterion Blu-rays for two of them.

[vsski]

I’m less surprised about the all horror line up. If Criterion really has financial issues or at least is more cost conscious these days, publishing horror titles seems to be the best way of making money. After all even c-grade movies seem to get lavish releases by some label (and presumably sell) and Criterion offers some first rate movies here.

[Tuppence]

I do wish it were possible somehow to just buy the 4K disc and case since I already have the Criterion Blu-rays for two of them.

If you're talking about Videodrome and Don't Look Now, I might suggest buying the UK UHD editions instead, since they have encodes (by Fidelity in Motion) that Criterion is unlikely to match, plus you get a great many alternate extras (including deleted scenes on Videodrome).

[Matt]

I meant this mostly as a money-saving and space-saving solution. Each of those releases is $30 right now at Diabolik, still more then the combo BD/UHD Criterions will be during a sale.

Anyway, it’s moot as Criterion would never let themselves get involved in an upgrade scheme again. The UHD disc, printing, packaging, storage, and shipping are already most of the cost, with the BD itself probably being a negligible portion these days. I just need to learn to accept the cost of buying these films multiple times.

[What A Disgrace]

If Criterion is going to dip into MGM precodes and silents with more regularity, one wonders if the focus will be on directors or actors. Obviously, there's a ton of Lon Chaney film should be released, but also Lilian Gish, John Gilbert, Greta Garbo and Marion Davies to consider, and there are key films in their oeuvre that can't be tied to auteurs like Vidor, Sjostrom and Browning.

[rrenault]

In for the Browning set and maybe The Others 4k. I already have the Studio Canal 4k and Criterion BD of Don't Look Now, so I think I'm good for that film. Surprised they went out all horror for October like Radiance.

I have the Studio Canal 4K of Don’t Look Now, but I actually sold my Criterion Blu-ray for I think about $53 a while back. Perhaps regrettably, I parted with a handful of my OOP Criterions to offset the cost of investing in 4K.

Due to both import costs and the QC issues at the Mexican pressing plant, I’m very selective about which Criterion and even Kino UHD releases I actually buy. The 4K Criterion of Breathless is in the mail right now. Beyond that, I’m tempted by Kino’s release of The Apartment, but I feel that could get a UK or French 4K at some point.

[Rupert Pupkin]

not so sure if this is the 4K restoration...

"The Doom Generation" is available at amazon.com : available in UHD (but no info when the movie starts (with the Strand logo) about a 4K restoration and director's "new" cut :
I'm not familiar with US rating; does 18+; as it appears on amazon.com means "uncut" "uncut" ?
the movie about 1h23 (color are vivid; as vivid like True Romance) but it could have more details and more "grain film like texture".


besides, on Strand movie web page, the "Doom Generation" is shown with coming soon to DVD and blu-ray logo on its web page.
Does that mean that a Criterion release is kaput ?
https://strandreleasing.com/films/the-doom-generation/

The UHD is referring to the streaming purchase. and there's nothing that confirms a Criterion release is coming in the first place.

Streaming on Amazon it does open with the Strand Releasing logo and there are restoration credits at the end so it is the new directors cut but content-wise it looks to be the same movie as the UNRATED DVD cut.

the Doom Generation is now announced on blu-ray via Strand release (no UHD) so it's kaput; no Criterion ? : https://www.amazon.com/The-Doom-Generat ... B0CCBPSHM2
The 4K restoration could be seen at amazon (unrated). Nice (I saw it); whilst the color are vivid I think that there is a lack of film-grain texture (fine grain); perhaps the blu-ray will correct that.
Perhaps the "Remixed and Remastered" in the amazon.com blu-ray says a lot about this 4K restoration which could be a digital re-edit remastered and not a 4K scan restoration.
Fortunately Millenium Mambo was released in France in UHD+BR.

[Adam X]

“Remixed and remastered” is just the same tag line used for the remastered DVD of The Living End that Araki gave the same treatment to.

[ryannichols7]

Days of Heaven has the purchase options taken away and new screenshots...being announced shortly

[DRW.mov]

Last Picture Show also has new stills

[yoloswegmaster]

Jackie Chan boxset is up

[yoloswegmaster]

La Ceremonie, Mean Streets, and Last Picture Show are also up.

[soundchaser]

Really burying the lede that two cuts of TEXASVILLE are included with The Last Picture Show!!!

[diamonds]

We are so back.