Guest BlackFlash Posted May 12, 2009 Posted May 12, 2009 My copy of Benjamin Button arrived today. I'm pleased to say it's a standard two-disc blu-ray case with a cardboard slipcover...like the US release of Iron Man. That's much better than the other Criterion blu-rays I have. After a quick peek at the movie, it looks like it has superlative picture quality confirming what I've read in reviews of the disc.
momaw Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 My copy of In The Realm of Senses arrived today and as with Benjamin Button it is a standard blu-ray case (not blue though, rather clear like PS3 games). Seems they must have changed their mind on the card cases. Personally I liked the card, but the main disappointment in them changing is now the cases are not uniform Look forward to checking this one out though.
Chesty Posted May 14, 2009 Posted May 14, 2009 My copy of BB is on its way so really keen to see how it stacks up vs the reviews to date.
Guest BlackFlash Posted May 14, 2009 Posted May 14, 2009 The reviews are accurate, but there is a deliberate aged and damaged look to some early scenes like an old photograph or film. It's sometimes steely looking, other times yellowed and faded with obvious "added" fake print flaws. There are some humorous, short black and white scenes. I did see some white speckle noise where there shouldn't have been any, but once and once only. There is some digital camera motion blur, but again very little. I enjoyed it very much despite it flaws. Not a film for everyone...but then, what movie is?
momaw Posted May 16, 2009 Posted May 16, 2009 Ok, so it's no RAN, but this is still pretty darned exciting!!! Kagemusha Akira Kurosawa 1980 180 minutes Color 1.85:1 Japanese 18 Aug 2009 In his late, color masterpiece, Akira Kurosawa returned to the samurai film and to a primary theme of his career—the play between illusion and reality. Sumptuously reconstructing the splendor of feudal Japan and the pageantry of war, Kurosawa creates a meditation on the nature of power.
momaw Posted May 26, 2009 Posted May 26, 2009 PLAYTIME JACQUES TATI 1967 124 MINUTES COLOR 1.85:1 FRENCH 18 Aug 2009 Jacques Tati’s gloriously choreographed, nearly wordless comedies about confusion in the age of technology reached their creative apex with Playtime, a lasting testament to a modern age tiptoeing on the edge of oblivion. Now that the the only "Hollywood" film Criterion is likely to release for quite a while is out, does anyone actually give a sh!t that I update this thread?
John_Melbourne Posted May 26, 2009 Posted May 26, 2009 (edited) PLAYTIMENow that the the only "Hollywood" film Criterion is likely to release for quite a while is out, does anyone actually give a sh!t that I update this thread? Heheh - only when the next "Hollywood" one is announced mate. Edited May 26, 2009 by John_Melbourne
Guest BlackFlash Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 (edited) Looks like Howard's End will be next: Link This will be a required purchase for me, since I have my instructions from management Edited June 5, 2009 by BlackFlash
momaw Posted June 16, 2009 Posted June 16, 2009 Some more releases no-one cares about: PIERROT LE FOU JEAN-LUC GODARD 1965 110 MINUTES COLOR 2.35:1 FRENCH 22 Sep 2009 Dissatisfied in marriage and life, Ferdinand (Jean-Paul Belmondo) takes to the road with the babysitter, his ex-lover Marianne Renoir (Anna Karina), and leaves the bourgeoisie behind in Pierrot le fou, one of the high points of the French New Wave. THE COMPLETE MONTEREY POP FESTIVAL 22 Sep 2009 Available as a complete set or as 2 separate releases: MONTEREY POP D. A. PENNEBAKER 1967 78 MINUTES COLOR 1.33:1 ENGLISH In 1967, at the height of the Summer of Love, the first and only Monterey International Pop Festival roared forward, capturing a decade’s spirit and ushering in a new era of rock and roll. Monterey would launch the careers of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Otis Redding, but they were just a few. JIMI PLAYS MONTEREY & SHAKE! OTIS AT MONTEREY D. A. PENNEBAKER AND CHRIS HEGEDUS 1986 63 MINUTES COLOR 1.33:1 ENGLISH Jimi Plays Monterey and Shake! Otis at Monterey, acclaimed documentarian D. A. Pennebaker’s Monterey Pop companion pieces, feature the entire sets by these legendary musicians, performances that have entered rock-and-roll mythology.
pathfinderti Posted June 16, 2009 Posted June 16, 2009 Normally and I say normally Criterion and/or Anchor Bay are region free, so let's see what pressure is brought to bear on the new releases by the studios from sourcing their original material, all the more reason for a region free player sadly, if pressure is applied. !!!!! Cheers pathfinderti
momaw Posted June 16, 2009 Posted June 16, 2009 Normally and I say normally Criterion and/or Anchor Bay are region free, so let's see what pressure is brought to bear on the new releases by the studios from sourcing their original material, all the more reason for a region free player sadly, if pressure is applied. !!!!!Cheers pathfinderti Unfortunately all criterion blu-rays are locked (including Benjamin Button which most mistake for a Paramount release) and surprisingly most of their DVD's are too if you try them in a region 4 locked DVD player.
momaw Posted June 18, 2009 Posted June 18, 2009 Ran is back on!!!!!!!! In the UK at least. Studio Canal is releasing and it can be pre-ordered here. Not criterion but pretty exciting. The Studio Canal was rated well on DVD.
Guest BlackFlash Posted July 17, 2009 Posted July 17, 2009 Three more upcoming blu-ray discs from Criterion. Info from Blu-ray.com Howards EndThis movie was the winner in a poll held at Amazon to let fans vote for the title they preferred to be published next by Criterion. It will use a high-definition digital transfer, supervised by cinematographer Tony Pierce-Roberts, accompanied by an uncompressed 5.1 soundtrack. Special features include: * New appreciation of the late Ismail Merchant by director James Ivory * Building Howards End, a documentary featuring interviews with Ivory, Merchant, Helena Bonham Carter, costume designer Jenny Beavan, and Academy Award–winning production designer Luciana Arrighi * The Design of Howards End, a detailed look at the costume and production designs for the film, including original sketches * The Wandering Company (1984), a 50-minute documentary about the history of Merchant Ivory Productions * Original 1992 behind-the-scenes featurette * Original theatrical trailer * An essay by critic Kenneth Turan Monsoon Wedding Video-wise, this title will feature a new, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised by director Mira Nair and director of photography Declan Quinn. Audio will be DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Special features include: * Audio commentary featuring Nair * Nair's short documentaries So Far from India (1983), India Cabaret (1985), and The Laughing Club of India (2001), featuring video introductions by the director * Nair's short fiction films The Day the Mercedes Became a Hat (1993), 11'09"01—September 11 (Segment: “India”) (2002), Migration (2007), and How Can It Be? (2008), featuring video introductions by the director * New video interview with actor Naseeruddin Shah, conducted by Nair * New video interviews with Quinn and production designer Stephanie Carroll * Theatrical trailer * New and improved English subtitle translation * An essay by critic and travel writer Pico Iyer Wings of Desire This director-approved special edition will feature a new, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised and approved by director Wim Wenders, accompanied by a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack. Special features include: * Audio commentary featuring Wenders and actor Peter Falk * The Angels Among Us (2003), a documentary featuring interviews with Wenders, Falk, actors Bruno Ganz and Otto Sander, writer Peter Handke, and composer Jürgen Knieper * Excerpt from "Wim Wenders Berlin Jan. 87", an episode of the French television program Cinéma cinemas, including on-set footage * Interview with director of photography Henri Alekan * Deleted scenes and outtakes * Excerpts from the films Alekan la lumière (1985) and Remembrance: Film for Curt Bois (about the actor who plays Homer in Wings of Desire) * Notes and photos by production designer Heidi Lüdi and art director * Toni Lüdi * Trailers * New and improved English subtitle translation * A booklet featuring an essay by critic Michael Atkinson and writings by Wenders and Handke Will definitely be buying Howard's End and Wings of Desire.
peterjcat Posted July 19, 2009 Posted July 19, 2009 Wings of Desire. One of my favourite movies! Stoked that this is coming to HD.
THX1979 Posted July 19, 2009 Posted July 19, 2009 Ran is back on!!!!!!!!In the UK at least. Studio Canal is releasing and it can be pre-ordered here. Not criterion but pretty exciting. The Studio Canal was rated well on DVD. would this use the same transfer as the HD-DVD version of Ran..?
Guest FourCrows Posted October 28, 2009 Posted October 28, 2009 (edited) Got my copies of Monsoon Wedding, Howard's End and Wings of Desire today. Yay! I see Criterion are now using clear plastic cases...like smaller DVD cases. I wish they'd make up their mind And Paris, Texas is scheduled for release early next year: Paris, Texas Looking forward to that one...and hope Until the End of the World may be in the pipeline somewhere....director's and theatrical cut would be nice! Edited October 28, 2009 by FourCrows
709er Posted October 28, 2009 Posted October 28, 2009 Got my copies of Monsoon Wedding, Howard's End and Wings of Desire today. Yay!I see Criterion are now using clear plastic cases...like smaller DVD cases. I wish they'd make up their mind And Paris, Texas is scheduled for release early next year: Paris, Texas Looking forward to that one...and hope Until the End of the World may be in the pipeline somewhere....director's and theatrical cut would be nice! How did you get Howards End so quickly? Inside source? Nice one. Would be great if you could post some brief comments on PQ and AQ.
Guest FourCrows Posted October 28, 2009 Posted October 28, 2009 (edited) How did you get Howards End so quickly? Inside source?..... I wish The e-tailer simply released it on the original release date. There's a noticable layer of grain, but the image is crisp with natural colours. Dialogue is crystal clear. Random screen caps: Howard's End Edited October 28, 2009 by FourCrows
709er Posted October 28, 2009 Posted October 28, 2009 I wish The e-tailer simply released it on the original release date. There's a noticable layer of grain, but the image is crisp with natural colours. Dialogue is crystal clear. Random screen caps: Howard's End Thanks for that FourCrows. Sounds great, and now all I have to do is wait for 3 weeks or so for amazon to air balloon it to me
Guest FourCrows Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 Thanks for that FourCrows. Sounds great, and now all I have to do is wait for 3 weeks or so for amazon to air balloon it to me Having just watched it all the way through, picture quality is fantastic if understated and in spite of the muted colours, which are mostly greys, browns and faded yellows...except the countryside scenes...those are stunning. Very 3D in many places. A few times I felt like I could just step into the screen But don't expect the polish of a modern film. The audio is also surprisingly powerful despite this being a dialogue driven film. You won't be disappointed. As for the movie...well...it's lost a lot of it's power for me and the other half. But still thought-provoking stuff.
Recommended Posts