Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles - Page 8

Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

Regardless of the change in the aspect ratio (which isn't Criterion's fault, it's Storaro's) it is a great looking disc. Criterion just wants to have the director's approval for a release, if possible. Is that such a bad thing? I think not.

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Agreed. Unfortunately.

Re: Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles

well it's certainly better than SD DVD counterpart =P

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Maybe it's time they consider whether some sort of exception provision should be put into their standing policy on the matter.

In my not so humble opinion, the filmmakers are *not* *always* right about *everything* in the presentation of their films. If Criterion basically have zero provision for overriding a filmmaker's desire to provide an *exclusively* *different* presentation of the film -- vs a presentation that's more obviously faithful to the original (whether intent or not) as at least an option for us to choose -- then something's not completely right w/ their policy.

Such a provision could be as simple as declining to release the title at all (or postponing it indefinitely), if they do have misgivings about the filmmakers' desires. They don't have to play to whatever hidden agendas of the filmmakers afterall (if there are any), if they really feel strongly about the integrity of the whole process.

Anyway, I'm still not buying TLE. Also, such incidents of IMHO failure in their process will just lead me to scrutinize their other releases more closely before buying. Certainly, it doesn't give me a whole lot of confidence in the thinking they'll always get it right.

_Man_

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The filmmakers may not "always be right" but it is still "their right" to do as they wish if they retain ownership of their creation--and I don't see how Criterion's policy is inconsistent in the case of The Last Emperor. Absent any formal direction, Criterion can do as it wishes within the confines of the licensing agreement it has for a film but if the filmmakers retain their rights, it would be EXTREMELY inappropriate for Criterion to not honour the filmmaker's wishes.

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It is, indeed, the filmmaker's "right" to do whatever they want with their creations. More power to them; I'm not their master.

But it is also my "right" to not reward them for making alterations to their creations that are, IMO, wrong, misguided, boneheaded, or, in some instances, obviously motivated by self-interest, such as appears to be the case with Storaro and his quixotic 2.00:1 quest, via his promotion of a universal AR: Univisium.

Knock yourself out, Storaro. Good luck with that. And I genuinely hope that everyone who does purchase Criterion's TLE completely enjoys it and gets everything out of it they hoped. I've never felt that my passions and opinions are the end-all last word for anyone but myself.

That being said, I ain't buyin' it. That's my "right."

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I'm with Dion.

And it could also be Criterion's "right" to take a stand and amend their own policy on the issue. If it would be bad for business I wouldn't expect them to, necessarily. But it is a practice which makes me second-guess whether their releases are something I would blindly want to buy.

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That's why it's really a shame that Storaro's motivations are so questionable on this release. It (Bertolucci's/Storaro's decision to change the AR) raises so many questions along the whole chain that it creates problems for Criterion and fans alike.

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Well, not *all* possible alternative solutions would necessarily lead to that problem though.

For instance, consider what I suggested above. With that suggestion, *IF* Criterion felt *strongly* (that the filmmaker is wrong) about a particularly exceptional case, then they can always just choose to *not* release the title at all until some other time when agreement can be reached. IMO, there's nothing particularly wrong w/ that approach nor should it necessarily scare away other filmmakers from wanting to work w/ Criterion as long as they do that very rarely and very judiciously (and provide a good explanation to all in each such case).

And yes, your (underlying implication, whether intended or not) is correct. Criterion cannot really make everyone happy all the time. And that's not what I'm asking them to do. But I'm questioning the policy of trying to make the filmmakers happy *all* the time regardless of how wrong a particular filmmaker may be.

Basically, IMHO, what this boils down to is whether Criterion's ultimate goal is simply to *blindly* make filmmakers happy (in this process) or to actually do justice to the films themselves.

_Man_

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Well, Criterion sure didn't make me happy with that release.

[sobs]I guess they like Storaro more than they like me![/sobs]

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Still waiting on Picnic at Hanging Rock and Walkabout.

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Picnic at Hanging Rock would be great,also I am still waitng any verson of "El Sur"

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Criterion's June 2009 releases are "The Seventh Seal" and "Last Year At Marienbad."

CC

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Last Year at Marienbad - Yes!!!

- Walter.

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They should release THE VIRGIN SPRING to cash in on the remake of THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT.

Vincent

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Just got my first Criterion blu ray, the 400 Blows. The packaging is absolutely awful. cheap and lame, especially in comparison to the elegant Pinocchio bluray. if criterion has something against the typical bluray case, put a slip cover over it. they're already putting a slipcover over their cheap cardboard, might as well give us a decent case as well.

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I said the same thing when the first batch of Blu rays were released by Criterion and so many thought they were glorious... I picked up 400 and Last Metro on tuesday and also looked the case over for the standard DVD for Last Metro and it looked incredibale and STURDY packaging etc... it just feels like the biggest slap in the face for higher quality blu ray but lower quality case... they area pain.

Some have said that Criterion is working on a new case that should mirror the clear ones they already use for DVD but shorter.. that would be better.

The transfers on 400 and Last Metro are wonderful.... both of my cases however are slanted and won't mold into a nice lined up case on the self... oh well... I still think it was Criterion's biggest mistake was their cases.

I still buy the titles I want but I sort of oddly enough hide them on my shelves cause they look bad. Everyone who looks through my dvds always states how bad the Criterion cases are on the Blu rays... and I don't point them out they just glance them over and think what?

Waiting for the release with the new style case.... may not come till the end of the year though.

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Yes I agree that The Last Metro and The 400 Blows both look very, very good on Blu-ray. I'm really looking forward to tons more Blu-ray releases from them.

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Wow, that is bad news. I was looking forward to it.

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Just got the Criterion email letter that indicates that Guillermo Del Toro's CRONOS is coming from them. Fingers crossed for a Blu-Ray release.

Whatever happened to FOR ALL MANKIND, btw?

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A member over on blu-ray.com has posted pics of the packaging for "The Wages Of Fear" blu-ray. It looks to be one of Criterion's first blu-rays with the new clear plastic case.

CC

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Well I'm glad they are now using a plastic case, but not so glad I bought my only Criterion title in cardboard, which as others have mentioned, was squashed from the start.

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yes, my criterion was squashed and the cheap cardboard is not appreciated (I've never liked any digipaks or snappers), shame they couldn't get the plastic cases in time for the 400 Blows.

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i wonder if that case is thicker than the standard BD case

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Yes someone confirmed at the Blu-ray site that it is as thick as the UK releases or the PS3 Games ... so that is cool I am fine with that.

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isn't that as thick as DVD cases? i want slimcase for everything now to save shelf space. i'm talking SLIMMER than BD cases even. i can understand if the BD case contains seasons of series like dexter or lost, but most single disc or double disc film features can be done via really slim cases to save shelf space and still read the back spline titles.