UHD Review The Last Emperor – Criterion UHD Blu-ray Review (1 Viewer)

[Robert Crawford]

If you were to estimate it through figures, how many sales would we be talking about for this LE UHD UK release ?

I believe we're more likely to be talking about 100-200 purchases from the US than, say, 1000 (I mean : I doubt 20-33% of the LE run - probably between 3000 and 5000 copies - went to the US !).

What are Criterion's expectations on this UHD release ? A first print run of 4000 copies ? That'd bring the importers to around 2.5-5% of what the domestic release is aiming to sell at first (and of course, if I'm underestimating the US sales potential of this 4K release, the importers are going to be even more of a minority).

Well, I’m not going to get into the weeds of discussing how many units are being sold because my main point is that most of us that already have the Arrow 4KUUD release have little motivation to buy the Criterion release besides the different bonus material and/or you’re a major Criterion collector.

 

[cda1143]

I also have the Arrow, along with the previous Criterion. I would only contemplate this new Criterion for the bonus features, if there even are any new compelling ones.

Importing is very easy these days, and generally no more expensive.

 

[titch]

Well, I’m not going to get into the weeds of discussing how many units are being sold because my main point is that most of us that already have the Arrow 4KUUD release have little motivation to buy the Criterion release besides the different bonus material and/or you’re a major Criterion collector.

I absolutely would not purchase the Criterion version, if it wasn't down to the fact you allude to - I purchase every single blu-ray and 4K UHD release Criterion publishes. The UK Arrow Limited Edition set, released last year (which I purchased), is superior to the Criterion release.

I don't want to postpone purchasing the Arrow Limited Editions (of titles I really want), in case Criterion subsequently decides to release their own version, because Arrow's Limited Editions invariably sell out. So, I end up with some double-dipping - such is life!

 

[JoshZ]

Robert - Seems a pity that it appears no entity has released this great film in proper aspect ratio, 4k theatrical & 2k extended in 2.35 region A.

My understanding is that Criterion's 4K disc of the theatrical cut is the proper 2.35:1. Only the accompanying Blu-rays (for both the theatrical and extended cuts) are cropped to 2.00:1.

Is the Arrow extended region B locked, and actual uncropped 2.35? By that, I mean not 2.0 masking the top and bottom?

Yes, the Arrow release was fully uncropped 2.35:1 for both the theatrical cut (4K) and extended cut (Blu-ray).

 

[tenia]

Well, I’m not going to get into the weeds of discussing how many units are being sold because my main point is that most of us that already have the Arrow 4KUHD release have little motivation to buy the Criterion release besides the different bonus material and/or you’re a major Criterion collector.

You're the one you wrote I'd be surprised by how many people, I only assumed you'd be able to give me some numbers to indeed have an idea and be surprised, hence my response.

Otherwise, yes : anybody already having a very good UHD release of this movie and not being particularly interested in a different set of extra features is unlikely to, well, need to buy a 2nd UHD release of it.

I simply wanted to give some context to what seemed a bit limited to what is, unless I'm given a different and more precise sense of it, a limited crowd.

I mean, imagine it's not a UK Arrow release that is the alternative but, say, a Czech one. Would you also say "oh well, the Criterion release is a little use for all of us already having the Czech UHD" ?

My understanding is that Criterion's 4K disc of the theatrical cut is the proper 2.35:1. Only the accompanying Blu-rays (for both the theatrical and extended cuts) are cropped to 2.00:1.

The Criterion UHD is the TC in 2.35, yes.
The Criterion 2024 BD of the TC is the old master, in 2.00.
The Criterion 2024 BD of the TV cut is an old master, in 2.00.

422 The Last Emperor - Page 12 - criterionforum.org

 

[Robert Crawford]

You're the one you wrote I'd be surprised by how many people, I only assumed you'd be able to give me some numbers to indeed have an idea and be surprised, hence my response.

Otherwise, yes : anybody already having a very good UHD release of this movie and not being particularly interested in a different set of extra features is unlikely to, well, need to buy a 2nd UHD release of it.

I simply wanted to give some context to what seemed a bit limited to what is, unless I'm given a different and more precise sense of it, a limited crowd.
I mean, imagine it's not a UK Arrow release that is the alternative but, say, a Czech one. Would you also say "oh well, the Criterion release is a little use for all of us already having the Czech UHD" ?


The Criterion UHD is the TC in 2.35, yes.
The Criterion 2024 BD of the TC is the old master, in 2.00.
The Criterion 2024 BD of the TV cut is an old master, in 2.00.

422 The Last Emperor - Page 12 - criterionforum.org

Whatever I’m done with you!

 

[tenia]

I just wanted to know how many Americans that frequent this forum imports physical media.

 

[JoshZ]

I just wanted to know how many Americans that frequent this forum imports physical media.

I think you'll find that the type of collectors who frequent physical media discussion forums like this one are likely to be much savvier about importing foreign releases than the general public. It may very well be that many of us here have import discs in our collections (I have the Arrow Last Emperor set near my desk right now), but that doesn't necessarily equate to significant import sales in this country overall.

 

[Robert Crawford]

While the theatrical version on the Arrow 4K/UHD is Region Free. The Arrow Blu-ray for the extended version is Region “B” locked.

 

[cda1143]

I just wanted to know how many Americans that frequent this forum imports physical media.

I think Josh answers that well.

I think you'll find that the type of collectors who frequent physical media discussion forums like this one are likely to be much savvier about importing foreign releases than the general public. It may very well be that many of us here have import discs in our collections, ... but that doesn't necessarily equate to significant import sales in this country overall.

I'm certain that a substantial percentage of this group seriously considers imports - especially with UHD being region free, but as Josh says, we're far from the mainstream. See below

... I purchase every single blu-ray and 4K UHD release Criterion publishes...

There's another Last Emperor thread with a significant discussion comparing releases from Japan and Italy. And one only has to look at the Leone Dollar trilogy threads before you'll find discussion getting very close to the Czech releases.

As far as unit sales numbers - no one except industry insiders have the slightest idea. And anyone who does isn't about to say.

 

[Patrick McCart]

I'm puzzled why Criterion bothered with making a new disc for the television cut from the nearly 20 year transfer used for the DVD set when they could have just used the remaster featured in practically every non-US release.

 

[SD_Brian]

I'm puzzled why Criterion bothered with making a new disc for the television cut from the nearly 20 year transfer used for the DVD set when they could have just used the remaster featured in practically every non-US release.

If I had to venture a guess, I'd say licensing costs.

 

[Patrick McCart]

If I had to venture a guess, I'd say licensing costs.

They have no problems licensing Arrow's masters for The Long Good Friday, Mona Lisa, or Time Bandits. Weird thing is that a 4-disc 4K set with extras not crammed onto the theatrical cut Blu and remastered tv cut would make it superior to Arrow's edition.

 

[Brian Husar]

Robert - Seems a pity that it appears no entity has released this great film in proper aspect ratio, 4k theatrical & 2k extended in 2.35 region A.

Is the Arrow extended region B locked, and actual uncropped 2.35? By that, I mean not 2.0 masking the top and bottom?

The Arrow blu ray is region locked, but if you have a Panasonic UB820 and know how to hack the region lock (which is very simple BTW) it looks like it should IMO.

 

[Peter Neski]

I absolutely would not purchase the Criterion version, if it wasn't down to the fact you allude to - I purchase every single blu-ray and 4K UHD release Criterion publishes. The UK Arrow Limited Edition set, released last year (which I purchased), is superior to the Criterion release.

I don't want to postpone purchasing the Arrow Limited Editions (of titles I really want), in case Criterion subsequently decides to release their own version, because Arrow's Limited Editions invariably sell out. So, I end up with some double-dipping - such is life!

I don't get it ,have you seen the new Criterion disc?

 

[TonyD]

Do we have a comprehensive comparison on this movie on what releases have what versions?

If Someone wanted the extended version, proper ar in 4K what should we be looking for?

 

[Robert Crawford]

Do we have a comprehensive comparison on this movie on what releases have what versions?

If Someone wanted the extended version, proper ar in 4K what should we be looking for?

The Criterion and Arrow releases have been noted earlier in this thread.

 

[Robert Harris]

Do we have a comprehensive comparison on this movie on what releases have what versions?

If Someone wanted the extended version, proper ar in 4K what should we be looking for?

You would not be looking for the extended version in 4k.

 

[TonyD]

You would not be looking for the extended version in 4k.

All I needed to know.

 

[JoshZ]

Do we have a comprehensive comparison on this movie on what releases have what versions?

If Someone wanted the extended version, proper ar in 4K what should we be looking for?

The extended version is not available in 4K, to my knowledge. The Turbine (Germany) Special Edition and Arrow (UK) Limited Edition both came with:

- Theatrical Cut 4K UHD (2.35:1) - new master created by Turbine
- Extended Cut Blu-ray (2.35:1) - master supplied by Schedule 2

The new Criterion release offers:

- Theatrical Cut 4K UHD (2.35:1) - master licensed from Turbine
- Theatrical Cut Blu-ray (2.00:1) - older Criterion master
- Extended Cut Blu-ray (2.00:1) - This one's not entirely clear to me yet, but it may be the Schedule 2 master cropped.