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Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

#1
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5/7/08 at 3:47pm
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From latest newsletter:

Dear Criterion Collection Newsletter subscriber,

We’ve got some exciting news for this fall, and we wanted you to hear it first.

Our first Blu-ray discs are coming! We’ve picked a little over a dozen titles from the collection for Blu-ray treatment, and we’ll begin rolling them out in October. These new editions will feature glorious high-definition picture and sound, all the supplemental content of the DVD releases, and they will be priced to match our standard-def editions.

Here’s what’s in the pipeline:

The Third Man
Bottle Rocket
Chungking Express
The Man Who Fell to Earth
The Last Emperor
El Norte
The 400 Blows
Gimme Shelter
The Complete Monterey Pop
Contempt
Walkabout
For All Mankind
The Wages of Fear

Alongside our DVD and Blu-ray box sets of The Last Emperor, we’ll also be putting out the theatrical version as a stand-alone release in both formats, priced at $39.95. Our Blu-ray release of Walkabout will be an all-new edition, featuring new supplements as well as a new transfer; we will also release an updated anamorphic DVD of Nicolas Roeg’s outback masterpiece at the same time.
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Criterion DVD/BDs Owned: 55, Total DVDs Owned: 527, Blu-ray Discs Owned: 223
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#2
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5/7/08 at 3:49pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles



I thought I would never, ever use the dancing banana, but with some news "ya gotta dance!"
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#3
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5/7/08 at 3:52pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

Looks like I'll be triple-dipping The Wages of Fear and The Third Man (just bought the new Third Man DVD a few months ago) as well as double-dipping The 400 Blows. The Last Emperor and Gimme Shelter will also be mine; glad I never got the DVDs of those.

Looks like, other than older TV or absolute must-have B-catalog titles, my DVD buying days are over.
My DVD/BD Collection
Criterion DVD/BDs Owned: 55, Total DVDs Owned: 527, Blu-ray Discs Owned: 223
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#4
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5/7/08 at 3:57pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

Good news indeed. I'll certainly replace my DVD of For All Mankind and pick up the new Bottle Rocket disc. It's a nice, eclectic mix of titles which is a great way to jump into Blu-ray.

Xbox Live: mugwumps

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#5
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5/7/08 at 3:57pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

Gee that cropped Last Emperor again,I am glad we won't have to buy the
whole set again,if I buy it. Great news The Third man is a Must!!
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#6
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5/7/08 at 4:02pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

OMG! Walkabout was without doubt my most wanted Criterion title in Hd. No matter what else does or doesn't show up this year, as long as this makes it out properly realized, I'll consider this a great year for Blu-ray.
If they are ever able to release the big studio licensed films, Days Of Heaven would be an absolute must. I would also be thrilled to see Two-Lane Blacktop done without all the sad ringing visible on the dvd set.
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#7
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5/7/08 at 4:06pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Neski
Gee that cropped Last Emperor again,I am glad we won't have to buy the
whole set again,if I buy it. Great news The Third man is a Must!!

Was Criterion's the cropped version?

Doug
"I'm in great shape, for the shape I'm in."
Bob Hope in The Ghostbreakers
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#8
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5/7/08 at 4:12pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas Monce
Was Criterion's the cropped version?

Doug

Yes. Per Bertolucci and Storaro.
My DVD/BD Collection
Criterion DVD/BDs Owned: 55, Total DVDs Owned: 527, Blu-ray Discs Owned: 223
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#9
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5/7/08 at 4:12pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

Yup. Cropped to 2.00:1 from 2.35:1.
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#10
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5/7/08 at 4:17pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandon Conway
Yes. Per Bertolucci and Storaro.

I knew that one of them was cropped at the insistence of Storaro, and that Storaro would prefer that all of them be cropped, but I thought there was a version out there that wasn't. For some reason I thought it was the Criterion release, but now that I think of it, it might have been an import.

Doug
"I'm in great shape, for the shape I'm in."
Bob Hope in The Ghostbreakers
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#11
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5/7/08 at 4:22pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

The Third Man is a must buy for me (I'm glad I didn't "upgrade" from my initial Criterion release). The others look interesting and will at least get a rental but the best part of this is future Criterion releases in hi-def. Excellent news.

Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes time, and it annoys the pig.

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#12
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5/7/08 at 4:24pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas Monce
I knew that one of them was cropped at the insistence of Storaro, and that Storaro would prefer that all of them be cropped, but I thought there was a version out there that wasn't. For some reason I thought it was the Criterion release, but now that I think of it, it might have been an import.
There was a Region 0 NTSC version from Korea that was not cropped that has a much better transfer than the US release. There was also a PAL version in Europe that I think was struck from the same HD transfer.
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#13
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5/7/08 at 4:29pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandon Conway
Our first Blu-ray discs are coming! We’ve picked a little over a dozen titles from the collection for Blu-ray treatment, and we’ll begin rolling them out in October. These new editions will feature glorious high-definition picture and sound, all the supplemental content of the DVD releases, and they will be priced to match our standard-def editions.
I hope they space them out to no more than 3 or 4 per month! I want most of these. I'm especially looking forward to 400 Blows and Gimme Shelter.

Quote:
Alongside our DVD and Blu-ray box sets of The Last Emperor, we’ll also be putting out the theatrical version as a stand-alone release in both formats, priced at $39.95.
Does this mean we get both versions on Blu-Ray or are the 2 versions going to be separate purchases? I'm a little confused by the wording.
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#14
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5/7/08 at 4:29pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulDA
The Third Man is a must buy for me (I'm glad I didn't "upgrade" from my initial Criterion release). The others look interesting and will at least get a rental but the best part of this is future Criterion releases in hi-def. Excellent news.

Yeah The Third Man is a must buy for me.

Doug
"I'm in great shape, for the shape I'm in."
Bob Hope in The Ghostbreakers
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#15
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5/7/08 at 4:29pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

I never bought Criterion's re-release of The Third Man (although I came close a couple of times) but I'll definitely pick up that and Bottle Rocket.

It's very nice to see that their price will match the SD versions too.
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#16
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5/7/08 at 4:47pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulDA
The Third Man is a must buy for me (I'm glad I didn't "upgrade" from my initial Criterion release). The others look interesting and will at least get a rental but the best part of this is future Criterion releases in hi-def. Excellent news.

Ditto. This is the one I am definitely picking up and I too am glad I didn't pick up the latest release. The others will at least get a rent from me.
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#17
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5/7/08 at 4:53pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

Outstanding.

400 Blows, Wages of Fear and Contempt should do nicely. Actually, I can imagine how amazing Contempt would look - the DVD looks fantastic.

Can't wait for some Bergman and Fellini.
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#18
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5/7/08 at 5:13pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

WOW!
AMAZING news.

Chungking Express, Bottle Rocket and Third Man for sure.

others I will have to do my homework on as I haven't seen the rest.

Blu-ray just keeps getting better and better
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#19
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5/7/08 at 5:18pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

What terrific news.

But now I've got to re-consider the whole "buy or not buy" the cropped Last Emperor on BD.

For anyone who wants to catch up on the controversy surrounding The Last Emperor...

There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!
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#20
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5/7/08 at 5:59pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

"But now I've got to re-consider the whole "buy or not buy" the cropped Last Emperor on BD."
at least there is a Pal version which isn't cropped,
I wish "Days of Heaven" was on that list
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#21
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5/7/08 at 6:13pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

Criterion, don't forget 49th Parallel.

"I believe in censorship. After all, I made a fortune out of it." -Mae West

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#22
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5/7/08 at 6:40pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon
What terrific news.

But now I've got to re-consider the whole "buy or not buy" the cropped Last Emperor on BD.

Ain't that the truth.....I thought I wouldn't have to think about this issue for a long time yet, but Critereon had to go ahead and join the Blu-ray ranks. Decisions, decisions......

From that list(besides The Last Emperor), I would say that 'Bottle Rocket' and 'For All Mankind' have me very interested.

A Blu-ray re-issue of Spartacus would really make me dance though....
Recently watched- BSG: Razor[BD], BSG: Season 3, Ghost Rider[BD], X-Men Origins: Wolverine[BD], BSG: Season 2[BD], Forever Knight: Season 3

Currently watching- Heroes: Season 1[BD], Michael Palin: Pole To Pole, Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series[BD], Magnum P.I.: Season 7
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#23
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5/7/08 at 6:44pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

Fantastic news! The Third Man, Walkabout & Man Who Fell To Earth will be instant buys for me. I'll no doubt pick up 400 Blows & Gimme Shelter soon after release too.

So many titles in the Criterion catalogue that I'd re-buy in 1080p, but I'm really keeping my fingers crossed for Brazil.
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#24
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5/7/08 at 6:46pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon
What terrific news.

But now I've got to re-consider the whole "buy or not buy" the cropped Last Emperor on BD.

For anyone who wants to catch up on the controversy surrounding The Last Emperor...
Why would you have to re-consider just because it's on BD? The issue of cropping that bothered so many in that thread will probably still remain the same with this release except it's in high definition. Maybe, some are purists only in SD and not in HD.
G.W. McLintock: Camille, you're on your own.
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#25
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5/7/08 at 7:36pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

For me, the HUGE news here is El Norte, one of my all-time favorites. I'd given up hope of ever getting an R1 DVD, and I didn't dare hope for a Criterion, and a Criterion Blu-Ray is beyond my wildest dreams. I'm over the moon about this.
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#26
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5/7/08 at 8:09pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

went right past me, but with the mention of Brazil, maybe Criterion will soon release Time Bandits on Blu-ray.
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#27
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5/7/08 at 8:15pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

Just to add I hope Criterion will release their Blu-Ray titles all region for those of us who wish to import to the UK (or elsewhere of course).
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#28
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5/7/08 at 8:25pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

Double dipping on Walkabout, and Bottle Rocket.

Starting to get happy about Blu-Ray

                          

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#29
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5/7/08 at 8:43pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

Quote:
Originally Posted by Marc Colella
Outstanding.

400 Blows, Wages of Fear and Contempt should do nicely. Actually, I can imagine how amazing Contempt would look - the DVD looks fantastic.

Can't wait for some Bergman and Fellini.


Agreed. Like others, I'm glad I didn't double dip on The Third Man.

Contempt looked great in SD with great colors so that could be a real winner in HD.
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#30
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5/7/08 at 8:52pm
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Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

This is awesome. "Walkabout" for me and hopefully in the future "Naked Lunch."

" I think it's time we go to plan B". "What's plan B?" "That's the one where we don't do something stupid".

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