On Five: Criterion Collection Blog

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Andre Jurieu · #26 Post by **Andre Jurieu** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 6:11 pm

Jeff wrote:I've chosen to believe that the blog is an answer to my previous call for a little Kriterion Kumbaya (you know Poochie would spell it with a 'K').

Catch you on the flip side, dudemeisters. NOT! Hey, kids, always recycle... TO THE EXTREME! Bust it!

#27 Post by **Matt** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 11:29 pm

This blog is already the best thing Criterion has ever done in terms of customer relations. Getting a definitive answer(with reasoned explanation) from Peter Becker on Criterion's stance on the HD format war that puts to rest 18 months of speculationis like magic.

Gregory · #28 Post by **Gregory** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 1:10 am

Peter Becker wrote:more Mizoguchi, anyone?

Boy howdy!

peerpee · #29 Post by **peerpee** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 1:57 am

What a fab post about HD (so soon after the first too!) --- I wonder if they can keep this up? --- Will be ace when they start handing the blog baton around the office....

Cinesimilitude · #30 Post by **Cinesimilitude** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 5:32 am

peerpee wrote:What a fab post about HD (so soon after the first too!) --- I wonder if they can keep this up? --- Will be ace when they start handing the blog baton around the office....

I want HD Criterion so bad, But It's good to know what's what.

Cinephrenic · #31 Post by **Cinephrenic** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 7:29 pm

Why don't we have a poll on HD/Blu-Ray/DVD? And another on how many people own the players. Just and idea.

#32 Post by **Mr Sausage** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 9:18 pm

Cinephrenic wrote:Why don't we have a poll on HD/Blu-Ray/DVD? And another on how many people own the players. Just and idea.

Polls are like a disease: once unleashed they fester and multiply.

I'm going to leave the poll option alone for a while; I'd like to think we're not the Home Theater Forum quite yet.

davebert · #33 Post by **davebert** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 10:37 pm

I have this rash that wants to know if I can drive.

Also, this blog will only work if it posts links to YouTube and gripes about its day.

Cinesimilitude · #34 Post by **Cinesimilitude** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 7:29 am

Liz Helfgott added to the list of contributors. Looks like the baton may be changing hands shortly.

Nothing · #35 Post by **Nothing** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 1:33 pm

hmm, so even Peter Becker confesses to their Mizoguchi neglect... a bit late now though...

Schkura · #36 Post by **Schkura** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 3:47 pm

1) Who else would "confess" to it?

2) Too late for what?

Nothing · #37 Post by **Nothing** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 5:20 pm

well, English subbed editions of Sansho Dayu, Life of Oharu, Crucified Lovers, Empress Yang Kwai Fei, Street of Shame and Lady from Musashino already exist. Criterion could certainly add to this, though I suspect Sansho Dayu will be next on their list (maybe we'll see Story of the Late Chrysanthemums too, who knows). But what we're really waiting for now is Mizoguchi (and Antonioni, Tarkovsky, etc) on HD... which it seems they're in no hurry to fulfill...

godardslave · #38 Post by **godardslave** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 5:49 pm

Nothing wrote: But what we're really waiting for now is Mizoguchi (and Antonioni, Tarkovsky, etc) on HD... which it seems they're in no hurry to fulfill...

who is the mythical "we" you talk of?
I am certainly not waiting for HD criterion releases. Infact HD doesnt really interest me in the slightest.
I really have no intention on spending more money on HD releases, when i am perfectly happy with the excellent dvd editions of many films i have bought in the last few years.

kinjitsu · #39 Post by **kinjitsu** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 5:51 pm

Nothing wrote:But what we're really waiting for now is Mizoguchi ... on HD

HD, as in new high-definition digital transfer created on a Spirit Datacine in 2K resolution from a 35mm original fine-grain print?

arsonfilms · #40 Post by **arsonfilms** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 7:15 pm

kinjitsu wrote:
Nothing wrote:But what we're really waiting for now is Mizoguchi ... on HD
HD, as in new high-definition digital transfer created on a Spirit Datacine in 2K resolution from a 35mm original fine-grain print?

Ooooh, snap!

HD mastering on an SD disc will suit me just fine until I can afford to spend a few grand on an HD setup, thank you very much.

Here, here, kinjitsu, good show!

fred · #41 Post by **fred** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 4:31 am

Nothing wrote:maybe we'll see Story of the Late Chrysanthemums too, who knows

I would be well and truly shocked if this film ever appears on Criterion given the state of currently available elements. The newly struck 35mm print which ran at Film Forum earlier this year was appalling. I was assured by Bruce Goldstein it was struck from the best available materials in Japan. If this is true, the film is all but lost. It's difficult for me to imagine any amount of digital restoration ever bringing this up to Criterion's standards.

gubbelsj · #42 Post by **gubbelsj** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 4:58 am

fred wrote:I would be well and truly shocked if this film ever appears on Criterion given the state of currently available elements. The newly struck 35mm print which ran at Film Forum earlier this year was appalling. I was assured by Bruce Goldstein it was struck from the best available materials in Japan. If this is true, the film is all but lost. It's difficult for me to imagine any amount of digital restoration ever bringing this up to Criterion's standards.

Don't forget Eclipse....

Nothing · #43 Post by **Nothing** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 8:31 am

I wouldn't say SD suits me just fine, there is a huge quality jump between the two. The main thing stopping me from taking the HD plunge is a lack of software. As much as I'd enjoy watching The Searchers, Goodfellas and Miami Vice in HD once or twice, it isn't enough to justify the outlay for me, especially as one needs a 1080P display, eg. the Sony Pearl/Ruby, to see the discs in their native resolution and to their best advantage. If Criterion started releasing titles that would tip the balance, I think.

Of course, any video source has massively reduced latitute in comparison to film, I'm often disgusted by even the best transfers and it is deeply worrying that, in 10 years time, 35mm may have been all but replaced by digital projection - so maybe HD isn't such a pleasant prospect afterall...

miless · #44 Post by **miless** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 5:59 pm

Nothing wrote:Of course, any video source has massively reduced latitute in comparison to film, I'm often disgusted by even the best transfers and it is deeply worrying that, in 10 years time, 35mm may have been all but replaced by digital projection - so maybe HD isn't such a pleasant prospect afterall...

and don't forget the unfortunate switch from film to digital for production... the image will never end up looking as good as an old 35mm (or 70mm!) projection.

I am proud to live in a city (Portland) with a number of independent theaters that will (hopefully) never make the shift.

Cinesimilitude · #45 Post by **Cinesimilitude** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 5:07 am

2 new posts have been entered and not a word? Where has all the speculation gone? Borat in the Criterion Collection, wha?

Nothing · #46 Post by **Nothing** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 9:40 am

I believe he's just saying that they went to see Borat at the weekend (not that it's joining the collection).

Some wise words on window-boxing there... The obvious thing for all future Criterion releases is to use an old D1 master and windowbox it down to 1/4 of the screen size - after all, "it's all about the film".

Highway 61 · #47 Post by **Highway 61** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 10:20 am

Wise words? Hardly. Turell didn't provide any defense for window-boxing at all. His stance can basically be summarized as, "since the films we release are so great, it doesn't matter if we're too lazy to frame the film correctly at the highest possible resolution." I know I'm being hard on him, but I'm just utterly mystified that no DVD producer out there can accurately replicate a film's framing and colors on a consitent basis. It has to be harder than I think because no one can do it!

Edit: Seconds after I posted, I finally see your sarcasm. Sorry. I am an idiot.

Steven H · #48 Post by **Steven H** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 2:16 pm

At least he aknowledges that they don't live in a magical film bubble and there is a window-boxing "debate". It's also interesting that the blog doesn't have a comments function for this debate to spread beyond the monologue. They should just link to this thread (or maybe they shouldn't.)

And for what it's worth, I prefer Borat to Forbidden Games.

Cinesimilitude · #49 Post by **Cinesimilitude** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 4:33 pm

Nothing wrote:I believe he's just saying that they went to see Borat at the weekend (not that it's joining the collection).

Yes, I'm fully aware of that, but It's an important film and Criterion has had dealings with Fox in the past. I was simply trying to stir up some speculation.

Cinephrenic · #50 Post by **Cinephrenic** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 4:45 pm

I hardly doubt Fox would let Criterion release this. They must be crazy.

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