So when does Criterion start releasing on Blu-ray? - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

Mikado · 02-20-2008, 03:14 AM

And what do you think they will release first? What do you want them to release first?

EM3 · 02-20-2008, 03:22 AM

I can just hear the cries for Salo!

dugpa · 02-20-2008, 04:01 AM

Probably not very soon. They have been playing things safe for some time now. One thing I'm suspicious of is their claim that all of their titles have been mastered in HD for several years now. Knowing them, I have a feeling they were mastered at 1080i and thus we'll be treated so some of the same issues Warner was taken to task for on a few of their early hd-dvd's. Remember, this is the same company that had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the world of anamorphic releases.
Too bad too, as they probably have the most titles of any company that I'd love to have. It's always hard to know what they still do and don't have the rights to, but just picking from their list of existing discs and assuming what's still in print they'd still have the rights for, I'd buy without hesitation these titles again on HD:
Seven Samurai
The Lady Vanishes
Amarcord
The 400 Blows
A Night to Remember
The Seventh Seal
Insomnia
Brazil
The 39 Steps
Autumn Sonata
The Third Man
Rushmore
The Last Temptation of Christ
The Magic Flute
Cléo from 5 to 7
Chasing Amy
The Element of Crime
All That Heaven Allows
Do the Right Thing
Cries and Whispers
The Hidden Fortress
Carl Theodor Dreyer Box Set
Wild Strawberries
8 1/2
The Royal Tenenbaums
Solaris
Contempt
Band of Outsiders
I Am Curious... Box Set
Stolen Kisses
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
The BRD Trilogy
Through a Glass Darkly
Winter Light
The Silence
Knife in the Water
La strada
Naked Lunch
Scenes from a Marriage
Smiles of a Summer Night
A Woman Is a Woman
Videodrome
Shadows
Faces
A Woman Under the Influence
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
Opening Night
Secret Honor
Tanner '88
Fanny and Alexander Box Set
Short Cuts
Jules and Jim
Divorce Italian Style
F for Fake
The Man Who Fell to Earth
Ugetsu
Forbidden Games
Young Mr. Lincoln
The Virgin Spring
The Complete Mr. Arkadin
The Fallen Idol
La Jetee / Sans Soleil
Stranger Than Paradise
Night on Earth
The Milky Way
Days of Heaven
Sawdust and Tinsel
The Last Emperor

So maybe it's a good thing they haven't started releasing blu-ray yet. I'd be broke!

Mikado · 02-20-2008, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dugpa

So maybe it's a good thing they haven't started releasing blu-ray yet. I'd be broke!

That reminds me of what I left off, how much do you think Criterions will sell for?

dugpa · 02-20-2008, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikado

That reminds me of what I left off, how much do you think Criterions will sell for?

Probably $45-50 MSRP, street price around $40 depending on where you buy.

Mikado · 02-20-2008, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EM3

I can just hear the cries for Salo!

I can't wait to see people eating poo in HD!

I can just imagine the discussions: I think I can see corn in the Blu-ray release. The PQ is fantastic!

orko007 · 02-20-2008, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikado

I can't wait to see people eating poo in HD!

I can just imagine the discussions: I think I can see corn it it in the Blu-ray release. The PQ is fantastic!

LOL.

Shawn Watson · 02-20-2008, 10:47 PM

Criterion don't exist in the UK and since BD is region coded I wouldn't be able to buy any of them.

Shawn

videoworx · 02-21-2008, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn Watson

Criterion don't exist in the UK and since BD is region coded I wouldn't be able to buy any of them.

So, before Criterion actually announces anything, you've already gone ahead and assumed they'll be region coding their content.

Just FYI, I bought a couple of Blu-Ray discs from the UK last month, and they play just fine in my US player.

dugpa · 02-21-2008, 02:55 AM

I doubt you'll see too many of the smaller indie distribuitors do region encoding (hell, not all the major studios do it for that matter). My Tartan Seventh Seal plays fine here. Though Criterion does have some titles where they only have the rights in the US, and they may region encode those. So it's probably a case by case basis with them.

Shawn Watson · 02-21-2008, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by videoworx

So, before Criterion actually announces anything, you've already gone ahead and assumed they'll be region coding their content.

Just FYI, I bought a couple of Blu-Ray discs from the UK last month, and they play just fine in my US player.

They region code their DVDs.

Shawn

videoworx · 02-21-2008, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn Watson

They region code their DVDs.

Shawn

So do all the major studios that supported HD-DVD.

Shawn Watson · 02-22-2008, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by videoworx

So do all the major studios that supported HD-DVD.

But most of the BD supporting studios do region coding also.

And what is the effing point in coding old films? It's a pointless pain in the ass.

Shawn

videoworx · 02-22-2008, 01:03 AM

Right, so you agree that it's the studios that enforce the region coding, and not the format. Region coding is completely optional when making Blu-Ray discs. If Criterion chooses to use it, write them a nasty email - don't blame the medium.

Pirate · 02-22-2008, 01:15 AM

I don't even want to think about replacing all my Criterion discs. A second job would be needed.

dugpa · 02-22-2008, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn Watson

But most of the BD supporting studios do region coding also.

Actually not really. Warner and Paramount don't region encode their blu-ray titles at all. Sony, Lionsgate and Disney only do new releases, not catalog titles. Fox is the only major studio that region encodes every single title.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn Watson

They region code their DVDs.

Actually you'll find a good number of Criterion's dvds are region 0. For many years they rarely made dvds that were region 1. Then a bunch of the overseas rights holders for various films got pissed off that people were importing Criterion's discs of the same titles from the US instead of buying locally. The result is that Criterion had to start region encoding many discs or face losing the rights to the films.

Shawn Watson · 02-22-2008, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dugpa

Actually not really. Warner and Paramount don't region encode their blu-ray titles at all. Sony, Lionsgate and Disney only do new releases, not catalog titles. Fox is the only major studio that region encodes every single title.

tomdkat · 02-22-2008, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dugpa

One thing I'm suspicious of is their claim that all of their titles have been mastered in HD for several years now. Knowing them, I have a feeling they were mastered at 1080i and thus we'll be treated so some of the same issues Warner was taken to task for on a few of their early hd-dvd's.

So, if you're right about they have titles mastered at 1080i, wouldn't that mean their titles have been mastered in HD? I find your comment above contradictory.

Peace...

dugpa · 02-23-2008, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomdkat

So, if you're right about they have titles mastered at 1080i, wouldn't that mean their titles have been mastered in HD? I find your comment above contradictory.

I should clarify. I'm suspicious that their titles have been mastered in an HD format that makes them ready for blu-ray release. Again, I'm talking about something similar to Warner's problem when they started out with converting 1080i masters to 1080p discs. Though I suppose Criterion could just release the films 1080i. Either way, we won't know until they actually decide to release something, and so far the crickets are still churping when it comes to them.

tomdkat · 02-23-2008, 12:53 AM

Ok.

Peace...

dlalla · 03-04-2008, 03:52 AM

I sent them a long e-mail entitled 'Feelin' Blu yet?' after a long e-mail and reply the year prior with their usual stance that they wouldn't want to force their customers to choose etc...

Well now there's no arguement left, so send them e-mails telling them that you have no plans to buy Criterion DVDs anymore, because why should anyone, knowing that a technically far superior Bluray version with greater and more interactive features could be had in the future.

I told them in an e-mail that I've virtually stopped buying their titles altogether...why should I buy a DVD anymore? I was just being honest with them. I love their stuff. But Criterion DVDs are not cheap, so why spoend all that money and then be tormented with the added cost to upgrade? I managed to order Tartan's issue of Seventh Seal at great expense and shipping, Volver etc...

There's not much in foreign and in cinemaphile releases out there yet in Bluray. They'd own the genres and could really show off the potential of the new technology.

Since they have many titles, the biggest most pressing issue would be for them would be potential re-licensing and re-creation of new menu systems taking advantage of Blurays pop-up superimposed menuing and the new proposed bluray 2.0 spec for interactivity and web content.

My hope is that they will ramp up on these new hurdles and start releasing in the next few months. I'm not holding my breath for weeks. But I sincerely hope it won't be 'wait until fall 2008' when people are back in the stores after summer.

They do quality work, but if that's how you feel (won;t buy DVDs because you know there could be a bd release) you should e-mail them. It may change their approach to this.

PS: If anyone likes rock / goth / punk / industrial sound, I HIGHLY recommend Nine Inch Nails Beside you in Time - Live. Beautifully filmed, great quality video and audio and an amazing set. I can;t see how it could be much better. Parental advisory though: keep the kiddies away...

No6PackJoe · 03-04-2008, 06:11 PM

So how would they handle spine numbers, reissue under the old number. They also lost (expired) distribution rights to some of their releases, so there would be gaps in the numbering.

Moonraker · 03-04-2008, 06:29 PM

Probably start a new numbering system like they did when they went from LD to DVD

orko007 · 03-05-2008, 12:10 PM

New numbering would be ok.

I don't always buy the Criterion edition of a film, when there are equally as good foreign versions, but I'd still kill for some of these titles. I'm itching for Solaris with the Criterion extras on BD.

dugpa · 03-07-2008, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orko007

I'm itching for Solaris with the Criterion extras on BD.

Keep in mind that most extras will probably be SD ports, so you wont get any improvement with them. But the film itself should get a nice boost, assuming Criterion does it right.

DVDdetective · 03-08-2008, 01:08 AM

What can Criterion do as a niche in the BD marketplace that is not currently being done?

Keep in mind that they started issueing full books in DVD packages since other major companies were getting their special editions of catalogue films surprisingly decent treatment.

dugpa · 03-08-2008, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DVDdetective

What can Criterion do as a niche in the BD marketplace that is not currently being done?

T

02-20-2008, 03:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mikado Actor Join Date: Jan 2004	So when does Criterion start releasing on Blu-ray? And what do you think they will release first? What do you want them to release first? __________________ My collection Reality exists as an objective absolute—facts are facts, independent of man's feelings, wishes, hopes or fears.- Ayn Rand

02-20-2008, 03:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
EM3 "Suspended" Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Southern WV	I can just hear the cries for Salo! __________________ The beatings will continue until morale improves!

02-20-2008, 04:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
dugpa Nothing But the Best Join Date: Sep 2004	Probably not very soon. They have been playing things safe for some time now. One thing I'm suspicious of is their claim that all of their titles have been mastered in HD for several years now. Knowing them, I have a feeling they were mastered at 1080i and thus we'll be treated so some of the same issues Warner was taken to task for on a few of their early hd-dvd's. Remember, this is the same company that had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the world of anamorphic releases. Too bad too, as they probably have the most titles of any company that I'd love to have. It's always hard to know what they still do and don't have the rights to, but just picking from their list of existing discs and assuming what's still in print they'd still have the rights for, I'd buy without hesitation these titles again on HD: Seven Samurai The Lady Vanishes Amarcord The 400 Blows A Night to Remember The Seventh Seal Insomnia Brazil The 39 Steps Autumn Sonata The Third Man Rushmore The Last Temptation of Christ The Magic Flute Cléo from 5 to 7 Chasing Amy The Element of Crime All That Heaven Allows Do the Right Thing Cries and Whispers The Hidden Fortress Carl Theodor Dreyer Box Set Wild Strawberries 8 1/2 The Royal Tenenbaums Solaris Contempt Band of Outsiders I Am Curious... Box Set Stolen Kisses Ali: Fear Eats the Soul The BRD Trilogy Through a Glass Darkly Winter Light The Silence Knife in the Water La strada Naked Lunch Scenes from a Marriage Smiles of a Summer Night A Woman Is a Woman Videodrome Shadows Faces A Woman Under the Influence The Killing of a Chinese Bookie Opening Night Secret Honor Tanner '88 Fanny and Alexander Box Set Short Cuts Jules and Jim Divorce Italian Style F for Fake The Man Who Fell to Earth Ugetsu Forbidden Games Young Mr. Lincoln The Virgin Spring The Complete Mr. Arkadin The Fallen Idol La Jetee / Sans Soleil Stranger Than Paradise Night on Earth The Milky Way Days of Heaven Sawdust and Tinsel The Last Emperor So maybe it's a good thing they haven't started releasing blu-ray yet. I'd be broke! __________________ DVD collection LD collection Will rent this sig space for blu-ray discs.

02-20-2008, 10:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
Shawn Watson Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Underverse	Criterion don't exist in the UK and since BD is region coded I wouldn't be able to buy any of them. Shawn __________________ A PTA meeting with cucumbers instead of parents.

02-21-2008, 02:55 AM	#10 (permalink)
dugpa Nothing But the Best Join Date: Sep 2004	I doubt you'll see too many of the smaller indie distribuitors do region encoding (hell, not all the major studios do it for that matter). My Tartan Seventh Seal plays fine here. Though Criterion does have some titles where they only have the rights in the US, and they may region encode those. So it's probably a case by case basis with them. __________________ DVD collection LD collection Will rent this sig space for blu-ray discs.

02-22-2008, 01:03 AM	#14 (permalink)
videoworx Would Make a Good Incubus Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: nowhere near Nebraska	Right, so you agree that it's the studios that enforce the region coding, and not the format. Region coding is completely optional when making Blu-Ray discs. If Criterion chooses to use it, write them a nasty email - don't blame the medium. __________________ And let’s not forget the fact that Tron turned the Frisbee into an instrument of righteous smiting.

02-22-2008, 01:15 AM	#15 (permalink)
Pirate Moderator Emeritus Loves Yellow Subtitles Join Date: Jun 2003	I don't even want to think about replacing all my Criterion discs. A second job would be needed. __________________ Early Adopting So You Don’t Have To.

02-23-2008, 12:53 AM	#20 (permalink)
tomdkat Official Forum Warmonger "Dial Tone" Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Hayward, CA, USA	Ok. Peace... __________________ My DVD Aficionado List "At last we shall reveal ourselves to the Jedi, at last we shall have revenge!"

03-04-2008, 03:52 AM	#21 (permalink)
dlalla Supporting Actor Join Date: Mar 2008	A suggestion to emphasize why they should and to encourage them to start... I sent them a long e-mail entitled 'Feelin' Blu yet?' after a long e-mail and reply the year prior with their usual stance that they wouldn't want to force their customers to choose etc... Well now there's no arguement left, so send them e-mails telling them that you have no plans to buy Criterion DVDs anymore, because why should anyone, knowing that a technically far superior Bluray version with greater and more interactive features could be had in the future. I told them in an e-mail that I've virtually stopped buying their titles altogether...why should I buy a DVD anymore? I was just being honest with them. I love their stuff. But Criterion DVDs are not cheap, so why spoend all that money and then be tormented with the added cost to upgrade? I managed to order Tartan's issue of Seventh Seal at great expense and shipping, Volver etc... There's not much in foreign and in cinemaphile releases out there yet in Bluray. They'd own the genres and could really show off the potential of the new technology. Since they have many titles, the biggest most pressing issue would be for them would be potential re-licensing and re-creation of new menu systems taking advantage of Blurays pop-up superimposed menuing and the new proposed bluray 2.0 spec for interactivity and web content. My hope is that they will ramp up on these new hurdles and start releasing in the next few months. I'm not holding my breath for weeks. But I sincerely hope it won't be 'wait until fall 2008' when people are back in the stores after summer. They do quality work, but if that's how you feel (won;t buy DVDs because you know there could be a bd release) you should e-mail them. It may change their approach to this. PS: If anyone likes rock / goth / punk / industrial sound, I HIGHLY recommend Nine Inch Nails Beside you in Time - Live. Beautifully filmed, great quality video and audio and an amazing set. I can;t see how it could be much better. Parental advisory though: keep the kiddies away...

03-04-2008, 06:11 PM	#22 (permalink)
No6PackJoe Actor Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada	So how would they handle spine numbers, reissue under the old number. They also lost (expired) distribution rights to some of their releases, so there would be gaps in the numbering. __________________ No6PackJoe There's always a quicker and easier way to do it wrong.

03-04-2008, 06:29 PM	#23 (permalink)
Moonraker A Look Inside... Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Brooklyn, NY	Probably start a new numbering system like they did when they went from LD to DVD __________________ "Time, won't leave me as I am, but time won't take the boy out of this man." - U2 "In my dream I was drowning my sorrows, But my sorrows, they learned to swim" - U2 A Look Inside ... ARCHIVES \| XBOX Gamertag: MoonrakerC \| PS3 Network: MoonrakerB \| Twitter: MoonrakerB

03-05-2008, 12:10 PM	#24 (permalink)
orko007 Actor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: AUSTRALIA	New numbering would be ok. I don't always buy the Criterion edition of a film, when there are equally as good foreign versions, but I'd still kill for some of these titles. I'm itching for Solaris with the Criterion extras on BD. __________________ BLU-RAY THE CHOICE OF THE NEXT GENERATION!

03-08-2008, 01:08 AM	#26 (permalink)
DVDdetective Actor Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: vancouver BC	What can Criterion do as a niche in the BD marketplace that is not currently being done? Keep in mind that they started issueing full books in DVD packages since other major companies were getting their special editions of catalogue films surprisingly decent treatment.