Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[Mr.DarjeelingLimited]

New video by Criterion on Youtube entitled coming soon with the Complete Films of Stanley Kubrick.

[Brianruns10]

It looks like Criterion has confirmed a Kubrick boxset. They posted a clip reel of all his films, on Facebook, and said, "Coming soon."

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1327182026185183/

[DimitriL]

I'm assuming by complete, this means all the short docs too (I didn't recognize some of the images, so I'm guessing those are from those films).

[aox]

It'll be interesting if Spartacus is included, which is generally not seen as a real Kubrick film.

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

What's the source of the footage of the meat being sliced and Kubrick getting a haircut?

[Brianruns10]

It'll be interesting if Spartacus is included, which is generally not seen as a real Kubrick film.

Spartacus is shown in the reel Criterion posted, so it would seem assured that one is going to be included. It'll be exciting to see that Technirama in 4K.

[PfR73]

The first set of clips after the initial clapperboard go in chronological order, so I think that indicates these are the films that will be included:

- Day of the Fight
- Flying Padre
- Fear and Desire
- The Seafarers
- Killer's Kiss
- The Killing
- Paths of Glory
- Spartacus
- Lolita
- Dr. Strangelove
- 2001
- A Clockwork Orange
- Barry Lyndon
- The Shining
- Full Metal Jacket
- Eyes Wide Shut

What's the source of the footage of the meat being sliced and Kubrick getting a haircut?

The Seafarers

(note, I don't think that's Kubrick getting the haircut, just someone who looks somewhat like him)

[aox]

It'll be interesting if Spartacus is included, which is generally not seen as a real Kubrick film.

Spartacus is shown in the reel Criterion posted, so it would seem assured that one is going to be included. It'll be exciting to see that Technirama in 4K.

Thanks. I must have blinked.

[denti alligator]

I assume the announcement will come soon, then. Between monthly announcements.

[omegadirective]

I didn't see it mentioned.. but is this likely to be all 4K versions?

[PfR73]

Do you mean 4K only (no Blu-ray) or 4K of all included? I can't see it not having 4K versions of all the films (except maybe the shorts) as all of them except Lolita already have extant 4K releases. And I can't see Criterion not doing Blu-ray versions either. I guess that just leaves the question of whether the set will be dual-format or 2 different single-format releases.

[Mothlight]

Looks like Sister Hyde’s (likely) doing the artwork for the collection.

[FrauBlucher]

And that would be a way to get Spielberg into the Collection. On the back of Kubrick

Ha, I'd love that. Though the rumor has been pervasive that they have Empire of the Sun, which I would very much approve of.

I should’ve added a wink. I was being cheeky as they say

[A Tempted Christ]

Interestingly, both The Shining and Full Metal Jacket are in 1.85:1 which I assume is how they were originally shown in theaters. Warner's previous releases of those were in 1.78:1.

[PfR73]

That's not anything special about the Kubrick films, Warner as a matter of routine issued almost all 1.85:1 films as 1.78:1 on DVD & Blu-ray, while Criterion typically respects actual 1.85:1. For instance, Body Heat was 1.78:1 on Warner's DVD & Blu-ray, but it's 1.85:1 from Criterion.

[rrenault]

Interestingly, both The Shining and Full Metal Jacket are in 1.85:1 which I assume is how they were originally shown in theaters. Warner's previous releases of those were in 1.78:1.

How are you sure about this if no specs have yet been revealed for the set?

[mikeainslie]

That's not anything special about the Kubrick films, Warner as a matter of routine issued almost all 1.85:1 films as 1.78:1 on DVD & Blu-ray, while Criterion typically respects actual 1.85:1. For instance, Body Heat was 1.78:1 on Warner's DVD & Blu-ray, but it's 1.85:1 from Criterion.

for their 4k restorations tho, they've mostly been keeping their 1.85 films in 1.85, and since we never knew what kubrick's philosophy would have been with high-def, i really wish vitali (the same vitali who thought that barry lyndon was never 1.66 and refused to let lolita be presented on dvd in 16:9 anamorphic widescreen because it wasn't shot with anamorphic lenses) didn't insist that the shining and fmj were in 1.78 on their 4ks

[mikeainslie]

Interestingly, both The Shining and Full Metal Jacket are in 1.85:1 which I assume is how they were originally shown in theaters. Warner's previous releases of those were in 1.78:1.

How are you sure about this if no specs have yet been revealed for the set?

because the clips in the teaser are in 1.85

[PfR73]

I assume it's referring to them being framed 1.85:1 within the Criterion promo video linked above.

[Oedipax]

By "complete," I assume this means they will also include the international cut of The Shining, the deleted original theatrical ending of The Shining, the longer 'premiere' cut of 2001, outtakes of Harvey Keitel and Jennifer Jason Leigh in Eyes Wide Shut, as well as academy ratio variants on The Shining (for both aforementioned cuts), Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut (all restored in 4K, naturally). Bonus points if we get the Stargate sequence from 2001 synced to an Atmos mix of Pink Floyd's Echoes. (Yes, I'm aware none of that will happen.)

But I do look forward to re-buying all but one (it's just Lolita, right?) of these titles on 4K and for about the 12th time in general on video, going back to the DVD days

[Mark L.]

By "complete," I assume this means they will also include the international cut of The Shining, the deleted original theatrical ending of The Shining, the longer 'premiere' cut of 2001, outtakes of Harvey Keitel and Jennifer Jason Leigh in Eyes Wide Shut, as well as academy ratio variants on The Shining (for both aforementioned cuts), Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut (all restored in 4K, naturally). Bonus points if we get the Stargate sequence from 2001 synced to an Atmos mix of Pink Floyd's Echoes. (Yes, I'm aware none of that will happen.)

But I do look forward to re-buying all but one (it's just Lolita, right?) of these titles on 4K and for about the 12th time in general on video, going back to the DVD days

I know this is a joke, but I fully expect at least the international cut of The Shining on 4K and stuff like original audio, etc., otherwise this is a complete waste of time and effort from Criterion for a bunch of stuff that has already been released on 4K. I know Criterion has disappointed with this kind of stuff occasionally, but if you get the chance to do this I have to imagine they do it right.

Is there anything else like this we can actually (reasonably) hope for? Would they include both versions of Eyes Wide Shut for completions sake?

[FlickeringWindow]

By "complete," I assume this means they will also include the international cut of The Shining, the deleted original theatrical ending of The Shining, the longer 'premiere' cut of 2001, outtakes of Harvey Keitel and Jennifer Jason Leigh in Eyes Wide Shut, as well as academy ratio variants on The Shining (for both aforementioned cuts), Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut (all restored in 4K, naturally). Bonus points if we get the Stargate sequence from 2001 synced to an Atmos mix of Pink Floyd's Echoes. (Yes, I'm aware none of that will happen.)

But I do look forward to re-buying all but one (it's just Lolita, right?) of these titles on 4K and for about the 12th time in general on video, going back to the DVD days

I know this is a joke, but I fully expect at least the international cut of The Shining on 4K and stuff like original audio, etc., otherwise this is a complete waste of time and effort from Criterion for a bunch of stuff that has already been released on 4K. I know Criterion has disappointed with this kind of stuff occasionally, but if you get the chance to do this I have to imagine they do it right.

Is there anything else like this we can actually (reasonably) hope for? Would they include both versions of Eyes Wide Shut for completions sake?

While I'd rather see 4K boxes for Welles and Kurosawa first, a complete Criterion 4K box of Kubrick will probably outsell the Bergman box within the first year. Also an opportunity for Criterion to be more known for putting out complete box sets for filmmakers. Imagine if this doing well got Disney to hand over the Fox John Ford films for a big box.

[Oedipax]

That's a very good point about the original audio, and I hope Criterion won't let us down there with choosing between mono and more modern mixes!

In terms of other extras, I'd love it if they stacked these with all the existing commentary tracks throughout the years and added some new ones to boot.

Regarding EWS, I think it would be a shame to dedicate another disc to some crappy CGI fig leaves - I'd much rather have the 'helicopter shadow' cut of The Shining, thank you very much. But an extra feature that delved into the initial release of the film, the CGI figures being added, certain things in the sound mix and music tracks being tweaked after Kubrick's death, etc, would be extremely interesting, and also incredibly unlikely to happen.

The aspect ratios in the trailer for some films being 1.85:1 instead of 1.78:1 does lead me to hope some of these will be fresh 4K transfers/encodes. Does anyone know if there are encode issues for any of the existing 4Ks? Aside from a little macroblocking reported in the Barry Lyndon 4K from Criterion, I don't remember hearing about anything else.

[MichaelB]

It would be trivially easy to seamlessly branch both versions of Eyes Wide Shut onto a single disc. And very possibly The Shining, too.

It only gets tricky if there are loads of differences—for instance, to cite a project I worked on myself, Indicator’s Patrick contains seamlessly-branched 4K UHD versions of the Australian and Italian cuts of Patrick, but there were so many changes made to the US cut that we ended up having to include a complete feature encode in HD only. (It’s no great loss; it’s a watch-once curio.)