Criterion Blu-ray

[Perkins Cobb]

Days of Heaven is one of a handful of titles just crying out for Blu treatment.

Nope, fixed again. Yes, Days of Heaven does belong on BluRay (because there's nothing to it except pretty pictures, but I digress). But this is one of Paramount's cultiest titles ... why aren't we complaining that Par should put it out on BluRay, and Criterion should give that slot to upgrading a Fuller or a Suzuki, something that nobody else would ever put out on Blu?

[Highway 61]

I'm surprised they haven't announced Amarcord actually. That would be insane on Blu, they have a transfer ready, and I believe they have full rights to the film.

I'm confident it will be out within a year. Criterion loves the Blu-ray triple dip (a business practice which seems counterintuitive for a niche label, but it must be working). As for Juliet, I suspect it will be a while before we see lower tier discs upgraded to Blu.

[Perkins Cobb]

Triple-dips seem to work for everybody. Isn't Blue Underground up to septuple dips by now?

[Cosmic Bus]

ITV in the UK are apparently prepping Olivier's Hamlet and Henry V, along with the 39 Steps for Blu-ray release before the end of the year. Would it be a safe bet to assume they'll end up on Criterion's slate sooner or later?

[aox]

quick question:

on the 7 or so Blu's I have bought, each contains on the menu a "Time Line" and "Chapters" link. They seem to both just be the chapters presented in different ways. Is this right? There has to be a point I am missing. What are other discernible differences between the two besides presentation?

[mteller]

quick question:

on the 7 or so Blu's I have bought, each contains on the menu a "Time Line" and "Chapters" link. They seem to both just be the chapters presented in different ways. Is this right? There has to be a point I am missing. What are other discernible differences between the two besides presentation?

I don't have any in front of me, so I might be wrong on this, but I think the "time line" is like chapters for the commentary track.

[cdnchris]

The timeline is simply another presentation for chapters for the film and commentary track(s) if one or more are included. You can also use it to bookmark your favourite scenes.

[aox]

The timeline is simply another presentation for chapters for the film and commentary track(s) if one or more are included. You can also use it to bookmark your favourite scenes.

Cool, thanks. Sometimes I am stubborn and refuse to believe that things are that simple.

[daniel p]

What is the likelihood Criterion will release Contempt on Blu?

I read they lost the rights, just wondering if I should buy the Studio Canal release or hold out.

[daniel p]

Thanks David.

I read about your thoughts on Belle, and purchased it yesterday and totally agree, it looks magnificent. Compared to my DVD, the SC Blu-Ray blew it away. I am not so sure about Le Mepris now, but as you say it is as good as we will likely get for a while. Double dipping on DVDs is something I never wanted to do, and I certainly don't want to start double dipping Blu-Rays, so I am undecided if I will purchase or not.

I haven't got Pierrot (still not regionfree yet) but the reviews are enticing. A shame Criterion no longe has the rights, and may not get them back.

Cheers for the info

[Ben Cheshire]

Those Swedish Fanny and Alexander Blu caps on DVDBeaver look DNR'd and smoothed, with subsequent loss of detail... Love it to be redone by a company who's not afraid of grain.

[Cough] Criterion! [\Cough]

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDRevie ... lu-ray.htm

[so lightly here]

I looked around the Rumors and News board and did not find any threads, any general rules about which CC catalog titles are candidates for release on blu-ray?

I'm wondering about the Fellini, Powell & Pressburger, etc. titles on standard DVD on sale at Amazon, Black Narcissus available on region B unlocked, etc. What are the chances we'll see these titles on blu-ray from CC?

I'm assuming that the Hitchcock and Lean titles that have reverted(?) back to the original rights holders are probably not likely titles to be targeted for CC blu-ray distribution?

Any thoughts, or a pointer to where this has been discussed?

Just received the UK Black Narcissus and the transfer is wonderful. The feature "A Profile of Black Narcissus" plays only the audio, but the film is amazing. I'll just keep my old CC for the extras. I must say that I wish there was an entire section devoted to BR that are coded 0 or are released in other countries and play region 1.

I have always had either a DVD or BR region one player. It seems that there are more opportunities now for getting BR discs produced outside of the US that are able to play on Region 1 players and it would be great to have a central place to find out about these. Just got the UK Le Mépris and Sunrise is in the mail. Although spending more bucks these days I am in seventh heaven!

[Ben Cheshire]

There's plenty of such sites, google would have told you that. Regionfreemovies.com is good, or bluray.com to search for individual titles. Hopefully you know of DVDBeaver. Gary checks everything he reviews on his Momitsu, which identifies the region, but I think you want a comprehensive list, not individual reviews, so I'd try regionfreemovies.com.

[so lightly here]

There's plenty of such sites, google would have told you that. Regionfreemovies.com is good, or bluray.com to search for individual titles. Hopefully you know of DVDBeaver. Gary checks everything he reviews on his Momitsu, which identifies the region, but I think you want a comprehensive list, not individual reviews, so I'd try regionfreemovies.com.

I have checked out these sites, but try typing in Sunrise at the regionfreemovies.com and you'll only get a National Geographic Special - everything I see there are US multi region editions. I want a thread here that allows all of the mighty scouts at this site to list their finds of region 0 or region A films released outside of the US. No site seems to do this efficiently.

[Elephant]

I didn't see this mentioned elsewhere, but Criterion's begun replacing the cardboard cases for the early Blu-Rays:

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=3538

[Minkin]

I didn't see this mentioned elsewhere, but Criterion's begun replacing the cardboard cases for the early Blu-Rays:

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=3538

Try checking here:

http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/vie ... start=2125" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ShellOilJunior]

Whoa, whoa, guys, guys, I'm happy to see the War Trilogy too ... but let's not go off-message here: Criterion sucks. If we stop telling them that, they might get the idea they don't have to release Out 1.

That bears keeping in mind...after all, where's that War Trilogy Blu Ray?

If it was available on blu-ray it'd be an obvious buy for me. I'll wait for the blu-ray now.

[aox]

agreed. this is a rental. Sucks, b/c this would be a no-brainer 'blind buy'. (I have seen Rome: Open City out of the 3.)

It's like the Human Condition all over again.

[Harmonov]

Ahhh...the euphoria of great releases passes and the bitching begins again.

I can't quit this forum or I'd lose out on my entertainment.

[onedimension]

Oh Criterion, I can never stay mad at you

[Jeff]

I demand that Criterion start releasing canisters of 35mm prints of their films for $39.95! It's by far the best looking technology available, and Criterion claims to represent the best! This technology has been around for 100 years! Get with the times, Criterion!!!

[knives]

agreed. this is a rental. Sucks, b/c this would be a no-brainer 'blind buy'. (I have seen Rome: Open City out of the 3.)

It's like the Human Condition all over again.

Did you want this to ever be released? Considering the trouble they had getting the transfer ready for the SD the massive work for a Blu would've delayed the release at least another year, plus they might not have rights to some of these in Blu.

[aox]

Ahhh...the euphoria of great releases passes and the bitching begins again.

I can't quit this forum or I'd lose out on my entertainment.

I just don't plan on buying it. Calm down. I will rent it. Thanks for your concern about my life though.

I demand that Criterion start releasing canisters of 35mm prints of their films for $39.95! It's by far the best looking technology available, and Criterion claims to represent the best! This technology has been around for 100 years! Get with the times, Criterion!!!

Then, I am guessing you have felt this way since 1984? 35mm is a viable home format? I didn't realize there was this much hate against theater owners. The fact is that Blu Ray is the format now... for home entertainment. Sorry. Your red herrings need a little salt and pepper.

I do plan on renting these though since they are they best we can expect right now and for a while. I plan to enjoy them

agreed. this is a rental. Sucks, b/c this would be a no-brainer 'blind buy'. (I have seen Rome: Open City out of the 3.)

It's like the Human Condition all over again.

Did you want this to ever be released? Considering the trouble they had getting the transfer ready for the SD the massive work for a Blu would've delayed the release at least another year, plus they might not have rights to some of these in Blu.

I wasn't complaining about the release in terms of the release itself. It's just that some of us want to move forward. I said explicitly I plan to rent them, which is completely acceptable in the industry and the western world. I can't wait to view them. My apologies to the conservative guard. Magna Carta->Constitution..... I suppose.

I can't believe people that love film are this resistant to seeing film in the clearest, cleanest, and most presentable way available. Not resistant per se..... but outright antagonistic. It's really unnerving.

[Ben Cheshire]

How come the 8 1/2 blu ray is one disc? The DVD is 2 disc... What a ripoff!

Spoiler

:p