Press Release Criterion Press Release: The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

[darkrock17]

Just to confirm, this is not about a naked dude jumping into a pool full of ice ?

That movie stars Jason Alexander

 

[Johnny Angell]

Just to confirm, this is not about a naked dude jumping into a pool full of ice ?

Ice water is known shrink some things. But, no.

 

[dpippel]

Just to confirm, this is not about a naked dude jumping into a pool full of ice ?

 

[maxfabien]

My problem with Criterion is their releases do not have closed-captioning or subtitles in other languages. My old Universal Entertainment "Shrinking Man" dvd has it. One would think a quality distribution company like Criterion would include these features.

 

[John Sparks]

I have the Arrow release but I am 99% sure Im getting this, and anticipate Criterion improving upon it. But will also read reviews (from reputable reviewers) just to make sure it really is an upgrade.

Is DVDBeaver one of those?

 

[Derrick King]

My problem with Criterion is their releases do not have closed-captioning or subtitles in other languages. My old Universal Entertainment "Shrinking Man" dvd has it. One would think a quality distribution company like Criterion would include these features.

Are you talking about the films or the extras? While, unfortunatly the special features and bonus films do not have subtitles (unless they are in a language other than English,) all of their English language films have SDH except the following:
By Brakhage
Festival
Fishing with John
Gimme Shelter
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (the Japanese dialogue is subtitled)
Monterey Pop
Summertime

 

[Martin_Teller]

LOL at the thought of subtitles on By Brakhage

 

[TheSteig]

Looks like the main differences between Arrows and Criterions ISM is Arrows has a Tim Lucas commentary, Criterions will have a Tom Weaver commentary, plus Criterion is giving it a 4K scan which should give the film an uptick in PQ .

 

[Lord Dalek]

Just to confirm, this is not about a naked dude jumping into a pool full of ice ?

 

[Nelson Au]

I have not seen this film in ages, I think I last saw it when it was shown on Creature Features. I have a DVD copy that I never got around to watching.

This release surprises me that Criterion would take this one on. I guess I’ve forgotten if there was an underlying theme or cultural reference the film made that makes it a title Criterion feels is significant. Perhaps as the press release says, it’s about existentialis. I recall the ending had a series of thoughtful questions in my mind. I’m not at all saying this film is not deserving! I love these films as they were a part of my youth. So I’ll be adding it to my library and will watch this version.

 

[darkrock17]

I have not seen this film in ages, I think I last saw it when it was shown on Creature Features. I have a DVD copy that I never got around to watching.

This release surprises me that Criterion would take this one on. I guess I’ve forgotten if there was an underlying theme or cultural reference the film made that makes it a title Criterion feels is significant. Perhaps as the press release says, it’s about existentialis. I recall the ending had a series of thoughtful questions in my mind. I’m not at all saying this film is not deserving! I love these films as they were a part of my youth. So I’ll be adding it to my library and will watch this version.

Criterion always surprises me with their releases, they're not the stuffy nosed, artsy fartsy company many people think they are.

 

[B-ROLL]

I have not seen this film in ages, I think I last saw it when it was shown on Creature Features. I have a DVD copy that I never got around to watching.

This release surprises me that Criterion would take this one on. I guess I’ve forgotten if there was an underlying theme or cultural reference the film made that makes it a title Criterion feels is significant. Perhaps as the press release says, it’s about existentialis. I recall the ending had a series of thoughtful questions in my mind. I’m not at all saying this film is not deserving! I love these films as they were a part of my youth. So I’ll be adding it to my library and will watch this version.

I can definitely the the societal high value of Robinson Crusoe on Mars ... !

That's why it was one of the first Criterion blu-rays I bought.

 

[Nelson Au]

Robison Crusoe on Mars is in my library too! As is The Blob. The first Criterion laserdisc I got was 2001: A Space Odyssey, followed by Forbidden Planet and Blade Runner And A Hard Days Night.

 

[maxfabien]

Are you talking about the films or the extras? While, unfortunatly the special features and bonus films do not have subtitles (unless they are in a language other than English,) all of their English language films have SDH except the following:
By Brakhage
Festival
Fishing with John
Gimme Shelter
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (the Japanese dialogue is subtitled)
Monterey Pop
Summertime

I am talking about the films. Unless there is some secret way of accessing it, none of my Criterion Blu-rays offer any captioning, SDH or foreign language , in the menu.
12 Angry Men
Anatomy of a Murder
A Hard Day's Night
Here Comes Mr. Jordan
Lost in America
My Own Private Idaho
Shallow Grave
Tootsie
Criterion's release of foreign language films (ex: Purple Noon, Y Tu Mama Tambien) do have English captioning of course.

 

[dpippel]

I am talking about the films. Unless there is some secret way of accessing it, none of my Criterion Blu-rays offer any captioning, SDH or foreign language , in the menu.
12 Angry Men
Anatomy of a Murder
A Hard Day's Night
Here Comes Mr. Jordan
Lost in America
My Own Private Idaho
Shallow Grave
Tootsie
Criterion's release of foreign language films (ex: Purple Noon, Y Tu Mama Tambien) do have English captioning of course.

Anatomy of a Murder. Subtitles are accessible via the Subtitle button on your players remote:

 

[Gerani53]

4K is fine, but are they 4K-ing off the original negative, or merely spiffing up a fine grain interpositive? Nowhere is OCN (original camera negative) mentioned, which, as we know, is generally the starting point for all state-of-the-art 4K or even 2K presentations. Example: Arrow recently spent their own money for an original negative scan of Universal's MAN OF A THOUSAND FACES (1957, same year as SHRINKING MAN), and boy, does it look gorgeous. Their SHRINKING MAN was NOT an OCN transfer; it looks fine, but it's simply not in the same super-quality league, for obvious reasons. When a negative is scanned, the video company fully acknowledges that fact, with understandable pride. We can only assume the original neg on SHRINKING MAN no longer exists (Arrow would have certainly gone that route, as they did with THOUSAND FACES). Bottom line? Criterion seems to have pushed to the max what they can do with the fine grain IP Universal provided, and this release will undoubtedly be the best version of THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN one can purchase. Although I'm disappointed we're not getting a state-of-the-art OCN incarnation, I liked the improved quality based on the clips provided, and there's no doubt I'll be adding this to my collection. It's just... what could have been!

 

[Derrick King]

I am talking about the films. Unless there is some secret way of accessing it, none of my Criterion Blu-rays offer any captioning, SDH or foreign language , in the menu.

Yes, they don't offer a menu option, but they are accessible with the subtitle button on your remote.

 

[mskaye]

As this haunting film has always been one of my personal favorites, I don't know why I never got around to ordering the Blu-ray from Europe, but I didn't, and now I'll just hope to enjoy this release with these wonderful bonus materials.

I agree 100%. This film is a profound meditation on existence as well as being one of the best sci-fi films of the era. In many ways, with its narration etc., it feels like a warm up for The Twilight Zone (and of course there is Richard Matheson's contribution.) The visual scheme is genius. Sometimes spare but perfect. Arnold dreams up some brilliant visual metaphors in this film. The ending never fails to bring me to tears and can be compared to the feeling I get from the end of Bresson's Au Hasard Balthazar. Highly recommended. In some ways, there's a transcendent quality to it that is like 2001.

 

[darkrock17]

I agree 100%. This film is a profound meditation on existence as well as being one of the best sci-fi films of the era. In many ways, with its narration etc., it feels like a warm up for The Twilight Zone (and of course there is Richard Matheson's contribution.) The visual scheme is genius. Sometimes spare but perfect. Arnold dreams up some brilliant visual metaphors in this film. The ending never fails to bring me to tears and can be compared to the feeling I get from the end of Bresson's Au Hasard Balthazar. Highly recommended. In some ways, there's a transcendent quality to it that is like 2001.

Yes this film is very Twilight Zone-esque

 

[maxfabien]

Anatomy of a Murder. Subtitles are accessible via the Subtitle button on your players remote:

View attachment 104693

Anatomy of a Murder. Subtitles are accessible via the Subtitle button on your players remote:

View attachment 104693

Thanks for the info. That satisfies half my complaint. Now about foreign language captioning...