The Third Man CC DVD & Blu-ray OOP

#1

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10/26/09 at 3:23pm

Tim Tucker
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According to the Criterion website and their Facebook page.

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#2

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10/26/09 at 3:37pm

mdnitoil
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Yeah, the news hit the DVD Talk forums and folks are starting to hit up Amazon. I'm embarrassed to say that I'm one of them. I had the original release and just never got around to upgrading.

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#3

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10/26/09 at 6:21pm

Tim Tucker
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I ran out at lunch, and picked up a copy at Barnes & Noble.

BARBARA WRIGHT: You're from Earth?
MORTON DILL: No... no, ma'am, I... I'm from Alabama.
Doctor Who: Flight Through Eternity

#4

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10/26/09 at 8:19pm

David_B_K
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Glad I bought the BD during a Barnes & Noble sale a few months back. I still had the original DVD version, but the BD is a big improvement. I'd just like to download cover art and ditch the cheesy cardboard case.

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#5

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10/27/09 at 5:22am

Tim Tucker
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There is (or was) a replacement program for that. From criterionforum.org:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Mulvaney

We currently have THE THIRD MAN replacement cases in and we will be receiving the rest come November. The cost for a replacement case is $5, which includes shipping. If you would like to go ahead and purchase an upgraded case for THE THIRD MAN simply make a payment of $5 to the email address store@criterion.com through PayPal, providing your mailing address and item needed in the message field, and we'll send it out to you! If you prefer to receive [it and other] cases together, I would advise waiting until we have all cases available and then making the payment of [$5 each] through Paypal.

BARBARA WRIGHT: You're from Earth?
MORTON DILL: No... no, ma'am, I... I'm from Alabama.
Doctor Who: Flight Through Eternity

#6

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10/27/09 at 6:45am

David_B_K
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Thanks, Tim. I will give that a try. I just looked at their forum, and as of a few days ago, they still had replacement covers.

Onkyo TX-SR606
Toshiba HD-A2. HD-A3
Panasonic DMP-BD60
Mitsubishi WD-62725 62" DLP

#7

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10/27/09 at 7:04am

Sten F
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I don´t like the "windowboxed" format so the previous Criterion is still the best in my book.

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#8

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10/28/09 at 9:52am

Albert_M
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I have the first criterion release from a while back and am content with it.

#9

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10/28/09 at 6:23pm

MarcoBiscotti
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I wonder if MOC will pick it up now for R2 and take advantage of int'l sales...

#10

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10/28/09 at 6:51pm

David_B_K
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Quote:

Originally Posted by Albert_M

I have the first criterion release from a while back and am content with it.

Have you rented the Blu-ray? It is really (IMO) an improvement over the original DVD.

Onkyo TX-SR606
Toshiba HD-A2. HD-A3
Panasonic DMP-BD60
Mitsubishi WD-62725 62" DLP

#11

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10/29/09 at 6:20pm

Dick
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It is an improvement, in that it offers the tremendous clarity of the better classic Blu-ray titles with what apears to be the proper grain, plus great contrast. This is one of those movies that has such superb cinematography that only the best avalailable video source will do. This OOP status surprises me...the Blu-ray hasn't been out for more than a year, has it?

#12

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10/29/09 at 7:09pm

Mark Edward Heuck
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I'm not 100% on this, but I have heard Rialto Pictures is planning another reissue of THE THIRD MAN to arthouses in 2010 - perhaps they've asked Criterion to put it on moratorium to boost ticket sales. Happens all the time with MGM when they have a new Bond film in the works.

\"As I looked back over my life, I realized that I enjoyed nothing--not art, not sex--more than going to the movies.\" -- Gore Vidal

#13

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10/29/09 at 7:24pm

Brandon Conway
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Rumor has it that this is a casualty of a Studio Canal / Lionsgate deal.

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#14

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10/29/09 at 9:01pm

mdnitoil
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Amazon just sold out of the Blu so the rush is obviously on. And yeah, this is not a moratorium thing, it's a Criterion no longer has the license thing. It looks like it's falling victim to the same thing Ran did as they are both Studio/Canal.

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#15

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10/30/09 at 11:12am

Tim Tucker
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If that's the case, what other Studio/Canal titles could be pulled from Criterion?

BARBARA WRIGHT: You're from Earth?
MORTON DILL: No... no, ma'am, I... I'm from Alabama.
Doctor Who: Flight Through Eternity

#16

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10/30/09 at 8:57pm

BillyFeldman
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While it may be an improvement over the Criterion DVD, the Criterion Blu-Ray of The Third Man is nowhere near what it should be and that has everything to do with their source material. A gorgeous restored DVD came out in England a couple of years ago and that's what The Third Man should look like.

#17

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11/1/09 at 3:49pm

Bob Graham
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Who released the THIRD MAN DVD in England that you are talking about, Billy? I think I'd like to pick that up rather than the Criterion.

#18

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11/1/09 at 8:07pm

BillyFeldman
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It's Universal UK (from Studio Canal) - a two-disc special edition. Checking amazon.uk it seems to have disappeared off the face of the Earth. There's one from Optimum that also says Studio Canal, but I don't know if it's the same as this one.

Update: This is the weirdest thing ever - I can find no trace of the Universal DVD anywhere - no reviews (I could have sworn there was a comparison on DVD Beaver, but his redesigned site is very odd and you can't search the way you used to), no mention of it anywhere. I'd be curious to see if anyone else can find it.

Edited by BillyFeldman - 11/1/09 at 8:43pm

#19

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11/2/09 at 2:53am

John Hodson
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The original UK DVD came from Warner / Studio Canal. After Warner lost the UK rights to this and a whole other slew of Studio Canal owned titles, the much improved edtion (which is a tad better than the Criterion transfer IMHO) was by Optimum, who are owned by Studio Canal. Universal never has released the disc in the UK, though they have in France where they have a distribution deal with Studio Canal.

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#20

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11/2/09 at 2:57am

Mark Edward Heuck
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Quote:

Originally Posted by mdnitoil

Amazon just sold out of the Blu so the rush is obviously on. And yeah, this is not a moratorium thing, it's a Criterion no longer has the license thing. It looks like it's falling victim to the same thing Ran did as they are both Studio/Canal.

I am certain that Criterion will do what they can to relicense both titles. While StudioCanal seems to be funneling the majority of their product to Lionsgate, they still seem to prefer making individual licensing deals with Criterion for the prestige titles in their catalog. The only instance I can think of where a Criterion-level movie went to Lionsgate was DIVA, and I suspect that may have been Criterion's decision to pass on it and let it go there. Right now, I'm sure they're just bickering about money and residuals and all the related matters that go into sublicensing.

That being said, I did pick up a RAN, and I will likely get my THIRD MAN very soon.

\"As I looked back over my life, I realized that I enjoyed nothing--not art, not sex--more than going to the movies.\" -- Gore Vidal

#21

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11/3/09 at 5:31am

BillyFeldman
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That's weird - I made a response to this last night, but I'm guessing I clicked "clear" instead of "submit" because my eye always seems to go down to the left. Anyway, I think what I have is Australian maybe - packaging is all in English, 2 DVDs, from Studio Canal and Universal, and if I'm remembering correctly it's better-looking than the Optimum, which I also have. Maybe I'll put both of 'em on and check it out again - but doing a Google search I can find no evidence that what I have here exists. Cue Twilight Zone music. But I have it, nonetheless.

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Hodson

The original UK DVD came from Warner / Studio Canal. After Warner lost the UK rights to this and a whole other slew of Studio Canal owned titles, the much improved edtion (which is a tad better than the Criterion transfer IMHO) was by Optimum, who are owned by Studio Canal. Universal never has released the disc in the UK, though they have in France where they have a distribution deal with Studio Canal.

#22

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11/3/09 at 5:53am

John Hodson
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Ah, that will be this Australian set then?

So many films, so little time...
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#23

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11/4/09 at 10:02am

Dave Fredriksen
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It is now unavailable, sold-out, out of stock at all the major e-tailers... the BLU-RAY edition that is.

#24

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11/4/09 at 5:23pm

BillyFeldman
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That's the one! I probably got it from that online store, actually. But I had to have read about it somewhere and now can't find any reference to it on any board that I frequent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Hodson

Ah, that will be this Australian set then?

#25

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11/5/09 at 8:00am

Rick Z.
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Up again for $29.99 at amazon! Just ordered mine, hurry before the speculators order 20 copies each and inventory runs out again. Remember they only have what's left of this.

UPDATE: gone again

Edited by Rick Z. - 11/5/09 at 8:54am

#26

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11/11/09 at 10:38am

Albert_M
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Quote:

Have you rented the Blu-ray? It is really (IMO) an improvement over the original DVD.

I don't have a Blu player. Yes I know the prices are falling rapidly - now - on blu players but I didn't have the energy to branch out at those prices (and title prices)

That is changing and I might make the jump next year.

#27

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11/16/09 at 1:04pm

Dave Fredriksen
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Out of Stock again at B & N - and checking my open orders on amazon.com, order placed a few days ago at $19.99, it says this item will ship after December 25th - if ever is what I think.

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