Criterion announces first Blu-ray titles - Page 17

I say we get:
AK100
Che DVD/Bluray
Gimme Shelter Bluray
Stagecoach DVD

outside chance:
Cronos DVD/Bluray (I think this'll be a first week of January release)

I thoroughly expect them to go DVD only on Stagecoach which causes everyone else to go, WTF was the goddamned point of releasing it then?

I was hoping against a BD release right now to save me a bit of cash. However, this means me hunting down a multi-region BD player. Oh, well as the man said, it's Stagecoach.

"A Christmas Tale" is finally being given a blu-ray release in December!

CC

I'd be really excited if they were adding Z to the bluray schedule as well. 

However, now that all of October's releases have been pushed into November according to Criterion's site, we have 4 titles for November and none in October.

CC

Monsoon Wedding is coming out October 20.

Not according to Criterion's site now.  Monsoon Wedding now has a release date of November 20th.  All October titles have been pushed into November.

EDIT:  Thinking about it, though, the date of November 20th doesn't fall on a Tuesday, obviously, Criterion could have accidentally put in November instead of October.

CC
Edited by ccfixx - 9/16/09 at 3:42pm

well the two SD releases have not been pushed, the Eclipse and Z.  I wonder if it has to due with Bluray replication or check discs that didn't pass muster and the general QC process. 

"Gimme Shelter" is listed on the site now for Dec. 1st.

CC

Here's a quick Criterion-related question, perhaps you guys can help me, I'm just thinking of getting a region free player, so I can indulge in Region A (i'm from Australia) Criterion titles.

They're all priced at $25 at the moment. As far as I've heard they're all top shelf releases, but are there any you guys prize over the others?

I'm tossing up between The Third Man (which I've seen and love) and Chungking express and Pierrot le Fou (both of which i've never seen, but thinking of blind buying)

What do you peoples think my first puchase should be?

 Criterion explains the release delays here:


So the November 20 date on the Monsoon Wedding page does appear to be a mistake, just as Chris surmised.

Delete.

Edited by Ben Cheshire - 9/16/09 at 9:44pm

Ben, you might want to wait on The Third Man and Chungking Express because both are in the flimsy digipaks that Criterion used on their first 8 or so releases and Criterion has said that they are going to be offering them in the clear keepcases that they now use, but they've not given a date as to when the new keepcase versions will be available. 

Now, if the packaging doesn't matter, I'd say you should go with The Third Man.  It looks great and is packed with quality supplemental material.  I love Chungking Express, but the disc only has a few extras and while I think the transfer is great, in that it is accurate to the source material, it can be seen as disappointing to people who aren't familiar with the film or WKW's style.  I haven't seen Pierrot le Fou, so I can't comment on the Blu-Ray.

Thanks Derrick. You should see the new Studio Canal Collection digipacks... These Criterion ones look very sturdy by comparison! At least CC gave you a dome for disc storage; these Studio Canal ones have a cardboard hole that the disc slips into; like, as if I want to pay prestige prices for a classic disc, and then risk it getting scratched just to take it in and out... Sheesh.

Here's a case question, though. Do we assume that Criterion will be issuing all forthcoming titles in blu amaray; will it be safe to pre-order Pierrot without worrying I'll be buying a digipack?

Edited by Ben Cheshire - 9/16/09 at 9:50pm

 Pierrot Le Fou is in the clear style keep case like Playtime. 

You can look at the packaging here. 

http://www.criterionforum.org/DVD-packaging/pierrot-le-fou-blu-ray/the-criterion-collection/606

From what I understand, this is Criterion's new standard packaging. They intend to offer this style replacement case for all previously released BD titles in the very near future...for purchase, of course. Kagemusha is also in this style case.

 Before I bother with emailing Criterion, does anybody know with which title the new case design started? I'd like to avoid purchasing as many replacement cases as possible. 

Oh my! Criterion make such classy products it makes me drool (sic?) Definitely blind buying this.

 Thanks, Brandon. You are a fount of useful info.

There's so many great Criterion DVD's. I can't wait to see Belle and the Bete, Brazil, Written on the Wind, My Man Godfrey, 8 1/2, Regle du Jeu, Battle of Algiers, Heaven Can Wait, Pandora's Box, If..., Breathless, Days of Heaven, Vampyr, all Max Ophuls, and Melville, and Archers!!! I'd say their criterion must be pretty good.

However, there have been lapses. Ahem Beastie Boys. Ahem Michael Bay (2 entries wtf?)

They later indicated that The Leopard is slated for bluray on their facebook page, but not time frame was given so it could be years til they get to that.  I am glad they're trying to increase blus to three or four, and it would seem to explain why they've had months where only one or two titles come out.