The Complete Kubrick

[Finch]

Their communication on this set and the individual releases is pissing me off. If I recall correctly, when the set was announced, there was a one off mention that Lolita would get a standalone release but nothing about the rest. A week ago, with the set hitting soon, they said there'll be standalones of some of the other films but no mention of which ones and when. I was on board with the set because they seemed to imply initially that it was just Lolita for a separate standalone release and the set was getting restored original audio tracks. And now it turns out the only ones that got a new grade were Barry Lyndon and Eyes Wide Shut. The encode is appreciably better on A Clockwork Orange but I don't care about that film. If they weren't allowed regrades on the other films, that's on Warner but still doesn't make this development less disappointing. As it stands, I'm not splurging on this thing even at half price and wait for confirmation what gets released individually next year. Hoping for The Killing, The Shining, 2001 and Full Metal Jacket. Paths of Glory if I can't rebuy the MoC UHD.

[DRW.mov]

The million dollar question is which future standalone release, if any, will include A Life in Pictures?

It would have made sense to include it on the Eyes Wide Shut release, but oh well…

It appears to only be included on the bonus disc in the set so I wouldn't put too much hope on it appearing outside of the boxset. Standalones will more than likely repeat the film specific discs from the box.

[hearthesilence]

tbh I wasn't expecting much of a difference between discs (though when I sampled the Full Metal Jacket caps, the grain filtering was more apparent in certain shots). I'm more curious about the sound - simply having the original mono soundtracks is a huge deal.

[Noiretirc]

Interesting. I’m guessing the aspect ratios are fixed on The Shining and Full Metal Jacket though. Correct?

This!

I've never been "technically anal", but even I know that some Kubrick aspect ratios have been fucked up. (Kubrick himself allowed it?)

Does this box supply the final word on this subject?

(I still didn't purchase.)

[flyonthewall2983]

The million dollar question is which future standalone release, if any, will include A Life in Pictures?

It would have made sense to include it on the Eyes Wide Shut release, but oh well…

It appears to only be included on the bonus disc in the set so I wouldn't put too much hope on it appearing outside of the boxset. Standalones will more than likely repeat the film specific discs from the box.

WB has it on YouTube

[Noiretirc]

Youtube!

I'm sorry. What am I missing here? I could probably watch Lawrence Of Arabia on youtube.

[Zot!]

Youtube!

I'm sorry. What am I missing here?

It is a talking-heads documentary shot on SD video....YouTube should be fine, honestly.

[rrenault]

Their communication on this set and the individual releases is pissing me off. If I recall correctly, when the set was announced, there was a one off mention that Lolita would get a standalone release but nothing about the rest. A week ago, with the set hitting soon, they said there'll be standalones of some of the other films but no mention of which ones and when. I was on board with the set because they seemed to imply initially that it was just Lolita for a separate standalone release and the set was getting restored original audio tracks. And now it turns out the only ones that got a new grade were Barry Lyndon and Eyes Wide Shut. The encode is appreciably better on A Clockwork Orange but I don't care about that film. If they weren't allowed regrades on the other films, that's on Warner but still doesn't make this development less disappointing. As it stands, I'm not splurging on this thing even at half price and wait for confirmation what gets released individually next year. Hoping for The Killing, The Shining, 2001 and Full Metal Jacket. Paths of Glory if I can't rebuy the MoC UHD.

I have similar sentiments. I could be tempted by a standalone UHD of A Clockwork Orange if it happens, given the superior encode, but I think I'm good with Warner's 2001 UHD.

P.S. Of Kubrick's final six films, Full Metal Jacket is the one I'm not a huge fan of and don't particularly feel the need to own. Paths of Glory is the only pre-2001:ASO Kubrick film I actually own for the time being.

[rrenault]

The million dollar question is which future standalone release, if any, will include A Life in Pictures?

It would have made sense to include it on the Eyes Wide Shut release, but oh well…

It appears to only be included on the bonus disc in the set so I wouldn't put too much hope on it appearing outside of the boxset. Standalones will more than likely repeat the film specific discs from the box.

WB has it on YouTube

It's also available for digital purchase/rental on Apple TV, and it has a good chance of popping up on the Criterion Channel for a 2-3 month stretch at some point.

[Zot!]

Their communication on this set and the individual releases is pissing me off.

If you are on the fence about the set, why not just wait. It is NOT a limited release. It is prestige repackaging of films that are already widely available in nearly as good quality (from the same scans even). I much prefer THIS approach to releasing a dozen Bergmans, and only THEN doing the big box with better scans and exclusive films, natch.

[rrenault]

Their communication on this set and the individual releases is pissing me off.

If you are on the fence about the set, why not just wait. It is NOT a limited release. It is prestige repackaging of films that are already widely available in nearly as good quality (from the same scans even). I much prefer THIS approach to releasing a dozen Bergmans, and only THEN doing the big box with better scans and exclusive films, natch.

Regarding the Bergman and Fellini sets, I’d been wandering why on subsequent pressings of the standalone blurays of titles like Amarcord, Cries and Whispers, Fanny and Alexander, etc they didn’t just switch to newer masters, but then you’d have a chorus of people who bought the older versions complaining their editions are now worthless and they now “need” to repurchase the films, so nobody can win I guess.

At the same time, what is Criterion supposed to do if they have access to a newer master of a film several years after having already released an older master on bluray? Should they just not make it available simply to placate collectors and maintain the “sheen” or what-have-you of the already existing edition, unless of course they’re doing a full-blown format upgrade of a film?

In short, are they supposed to just manufacture scarcity of a newer master in order to preserve the “prestige” of the current physical release even if it has an older master?

And yes, I’ll admit I’m being deliberately provocative with this post.

[Zot!]

I will still whinge and fuss, but I am all for it...keep the improvements coming. With my budget I am typically not an early adopter, so that makes it easier....though as a result I also miss out on things. I happened to invest in Bergman too early incidentally, but c'est la vie.

That said, I'd much prefer they put out some of the films we know they have been gatekeeping for years rather than some dumb upgrade of something I've bought dozens of times. Other labels are far more exciting for me in that respect, and I'm spending my money on King Hu and Jacques Rozier instead of Kubrick. But it's okay, this is certainly a major feather in Criterions hat, and they are sill a standard bearer for the industry. Respect.

[Noiretirc]

Youtube!

I'm sorry. What am I missing here?

It is a talking-heads documentary shot on SD video....YouTube should be fine, honestly.

Sorry. My bitchy ott comment here was in regards to wanting it on disc, not youtube. (I don't do commercials!)