Criterion RELEASE DATES:SINCERE MISTAKES OR CRUEL JOKES? - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

11-17-1999, 05:03 PM

Is anyone else out there as sick and tired of Criterion's ever-changing release dates as I am? I mean come on, I love their work but have they ever released a film on the date first promised? Grand Illusion was announced more than a year ago and was delayed one more time, for old-times sakes, last week. Why don't they set more realistic dates and why don't they offer any excuses for this happening 2 or 3 times to each film they release? Anybody have any ideas?

jb523 · 11-17-1999, 08:25 PM

Criterion is a very small company that tries very hard to bring us the best. Grand Illusion, in particular, was postponed because they found a new and much better print to work off of. Rather than just finish up the project and release what they had, they started over again, so as to be able to produce a higher quality dvd. I'm sure there are a variety of reasons for these last-minute, post-production delays, and as irritating as they may be at times, I won't complain.

I can't think of a Criterion title that wasn't delayed, but in a small company, there are no such things as "realistic goals." Whatever goals they may set for themselves, they are going to go over, because they don't have the funds or clout to apply much pressure to the production timeline. More than likely, they set ambitious goals for themselves so as to bring us as many quality dvd's in as short a time as possible. If I do have any complaints regarding Criterion, it is that their transfers are not always top-notch (although with a few exceptions, they are improving). Also, I wish they would release fewer bare-bones dvd's and do more feature-laden stuff, even if they have to slow down production. Leave the featureless titles to Anchor Bay, Fox Lorber, and Image. In any case, these are wishes, and I'm mostly pleased with the job that Criterion has done thus far.

11-20-1999, 08:32 AM

Yes I agree that Critirion is getting better with the quality of their transfers(brazil is beautiful looking)but I hope they will re-release some of their very poor first dvd's with new transfers like Silence of the lambs (contrast is VERY bad) & to bring their best laser discs to dvd like Halloween(the commentary track is the best I've heard & the transfer is damn near equal to the Anchor Bay dvd!)but I know I'm not the first to wish for these things.

[This message has been edited by dougpirana (edited 11-21-1999).]

Will Munney · 11-20-1999, 06:00 PM

Criterion did make street for Life of Brian. I was shocked when I received it this week, sure that it was going to be delayed.

I just wish they'd stop putting out so many bare bones disc's. I thought extra's were their forte, but I've been disappointed by alot of their decisions, especially on Kurosawa, which except for 7 Samurai have been poor disc's.

jb523 · 11-21-1999, 06:48 AM

Let's not forget that we have criterion to thank for extras in the first place. Without them we wouldn't really be able to expect much in the way of special editions on anything at all. I guess it's because of their reputation that we have come to expect only the best from them. It would be nice if the criterion collection were only special editions (with nice transfer, only of films that I liked or respected), but more than likely they just don't have the money.

11-17-1999, 05:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
Django	Criterion RELEASE DATES:SINCERE MISTAKES OR CRUEL JOKES? Is anyone else out there as sick and tired of Criterion's ever-changing release dates as I am? I mean come on, I love their work but have they ever released a film on the date first promised? Grand Illusion was announced more than a year ago and was delayed one more time, for old-times sakes, last week. Why don't they set more realistic dates and why don't they offer any excuses for this happening 2 or 3 times to each film they release? Anybody have any ideas?

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11-17-1999, 08:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
jb523 Supporting Actor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: San Francisco, CA	Criterion is a very small company that tries very hard to bring us the best. Grand Illusion, in particular, was postponed because they found a new and much better print to work off of. Rather than just finish up the project and release what they had, they started over again, so as to be able to produce a higher quality dvd. I'm sure there are a variety of reasons for these last-minute, post-production delays, and as irritating as they may be at times, I won't complain. I can't think of a Criterion title that wasn't delayed, but in a small company, there are no such things as "realistic goals." Whatever goals they may set for themselves, they are going to go over, because they don't have the funds or clout to apply much pressure to the production timeline. More than likely, they set ambitious goals for themselves so as to bring us as many quality dvd's in as short a time as possible. If I do have any complaints regarding Criterion, it is that their transfers are not always top-notch (although with a few exceptions, they are improving). Also, I wish they would release fewer bare-bones dvd's and do more feature-laden stuff, even if they have to slow down production. Leave the featureless titles to Anchor Bay, Fox Lorber, and Image. In any case, these are wishes, and I'm mostly pleased with the job that Criterion has done thus far.

11-20-1999, 08:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
dougpirana	Yes I agree that Critirion is getting better with the quality of their transfers(brazil is beautiful looking)but I hope they will re-release some of their very poor first dvd's with new transfers like Silence of the lambs (contrast is VERY bad) & to bring their best laser discs to dvd like Halloween(the commentary track is the best I've heard & the transfer is damn near equal to the Anchor Bay dvd!)but I know I'm not the first to wish for these things. [This message has been edited by dougpirana (edited 11-21-1999).]

11-20-1999, 06:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
Will Munney Supporting Actor Join Date: Jun 2000	Criterion did make street for Life of Brian. I was shocked when I received it this week, sure that it was going to be delayed. I just wish they'd stop putting out so many bare bones disc's. I thought extra's were their forte, but I've been disappointed by alot of their decisions, especially on Kurosawa, which except for 7 Samurai have been poor disc's.

11-21-1999, 06:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
jb523 Supporting Actor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: San Francisco, CA	Let's not forget that we have criterion to thank for extras in the first place. Without them we wouldn't really be able to expect much in the way of special editions on anything at all. I guess it's because of their reputation that we have come to expect only the best from them. It would be nice if the criterion collection were only special editions (with nice transfer, only of films that I liked or respected), but more than likely they just don't have the money.