1104 Citizen Kane

[Caligula]

I am one of those who want the Blu-ray, not the 4K Blu. I am pondering purchasing it from Amazon who is price-matching the BN-sale, but... Can anyone indicate how Criterion are at replacing discs overseas (in my case, South Africa)? I certainly don't want to buy the thing, then be stuck with the rigmarole of sending the disc back (at substantial expense) to the US in order to get the corrected one. If that's gonna be the case, I may as well wait for the next BN sale middle next year (if they do that) and hope Amazon price-matches. Anyone outside the US have experience?

[filmyfan]

I am one of those who want the Blu-ray, not the 4K Blu. I am pondering purchasing it from Amazon who is price-matching the BN-sale, but... Can anyone indicate how Criterion are at replacing discs overseas (in my case, South Africa)? I certainly don't want to buy the thing, then be stuck with the rigmarole of sending the disc back (at substantial expense) to the US in order to get the corrected one. If that's gonna be the case, I may as well wait for the next BN sale middle next year (if they do that) and hope Amazon price-matches. Anyone outside the US have experience?

I am kind of in the same boat (in UK though) - actually ordered from Amazon on Saturday - and then saw all the fuss yesterday.

I may cancel my order - (although possibly maybe to late for that - not sure?) see what transpires today I guess.

[Glowingwabbit]

I would suggest waiting if you are an international customer. It's not like this is a limited edition. They've also made no comment on the matter so a replacement is not guaranteed yet.

[ShellOilJunior]

Hopefully this policy will be used on the Kane blu. No need to mail in the disc.

https://www.criterionforum.org/forum/vi ... 75#p739806

[filmyfan]

I am one of those who want the Blu-ray, not the 4K Blu. I am pondering purchasing it from Amazon who is price-matching the BN-sale, but... Can anyone indicate how Criterion are at replacing discs overseas (in my case, South Africa)? I certainly don't want to buy the thing, then be stuck with the rigmarole of sending the disc back (at substantial expense) to the US in order to get the corrected one. If that's gonna be the case, I may as well wait for the next BN sale middle next year (if they do that) and hope Amazon price-matches. Anyone outside the US have experience?

I am kind of in the same boat (in UK though) - actually ordered from Amazon on Saturday - and then saw all the fuss yesterday.

I may cancel my order - (although possibly maybe to late for that - not sure?) see what transpires today I guess.

Too late now anyway - its shipped!

[Matt]

Mine actually arrived via Amazon Prime this morning. I only saw it on my way out the door, so haven't opened it or checked the discs yet. I tried to cancel the pre-order yesterday, but it was too late. And yes, I'm another who bought the 4K/BD combo but is not yet 4K-capable. It was half-price plus a $5 off coupon and free shipping, how could I turn that down?

[yoloswegmaster]

The blu-only version is now listed as "Currently Unavailable".

[yoloswegmaster]

They have now added the following disclaimer to the CK page:

We have become aware of a problem on Blu-ray disc 1 of all of our editions of Citizen Kane that affects the contrast in the feature film, starting around the 30-minute mark and lasting until the end of the film. The 4K UHD disc is not affected. We are in the process of getting corrected discs manufactured and will be making replacements available to all of our customers.

[Glowingwabbit]

I just got my copy in of the 4K and I'm honestly not sure how many times I want to actually open this thing. Even handling it carefully it already has wear to it. And of course I folded it back up and put the slipcover on only to realize I forgot to put the booklet back in.

Edit: it also feel likes the slipcover (which is quite flimsy) is a bit too tight on it...nevermind it's because I didn't fold it back up correctly.

[Matt]

We discovered this weekend that there is a problem with Blu-ray disc 1 in all of our Citizen Kane editions that affects the contrast in the feature film, starting around the 30-minute mark and lasting until the end of the film. The 4K UHD disc is not affected. We are in the process of manufacturing corrected copies and will be making replacements available to all of our customers. We hope to have replacement discs ready to ship before the end of the year.

If you would like to exchange your disc, please send the Blu-ray disc 1 only (no packaging) to:

The Criterion Collection
Attn: Jon Mulvaney / KANE
215 Park Ave South, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10003

There is no need to protect the disc you are returning, and please do not send the packaging or other discs, as we will not be replacing complete sets.

Please include your address for the replacement disc. We’ll also send you a $10 gift certificate to Criterion.com.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at orders@criterion.com.

Our apologies for this inconvenience, and thanks as always for your support. Best wishes for a happy, safe, and wonderful holiday.

Glad they are on top of this already, but surely there must be some way in 2021 to prove ownership without mailing the disc to them? I would happily forgo a $10 coupon if it saves me a trip to our miserable post office (always a line, always one single rude clerk, never a parking spot).

[dustybooks]

If there’s no need for protection, could one just slip it into a slightly larger than normal envelope and stamp it?

[Drucker]

Has now been mentioned on Twitter, as well.

[therewillbeblus]

Glad they are on top of this already, but surely there must be some way in 2021 to prove ownership without mailing the disc to them? I would happily forgo a $10 coupon if it saves me a trip to our miserable post office (always a line, always one single rude clerk, never a parking spot).

I just had to take a picture of my World on a Wire blu-ray disc earlier this year in order to be issued a replacement, so there are ways in 2021 and they're just deciding not to offer them this time, probably because it'd be too exhausting to drift through emails rather than receiving a package with the word "KANE" on it, that they don't even need to open to catalog and issue replacements.

So with the jump in formats, did Criterion just look at the UHD disc and not check the blu-ray? Seems like a lazy response to a consequence of laziness

[swo17]

If there’s no need for protection, could one just slip it into a slightly larger than normal envelope and stamp it?

Or in place of a stamp, print out a shipping label at home?

I get that there oughta be some kind of hurdle, and I think the $10 GC more than makes up for it, but I feel bad as it seems to put them at even more of a loss. I guess they must have run the numbers on GC utilization and deterring frivolous requests, and know what they're doing though. For instance, I wonder how many people that are UHD-capable might prefer having the corrected disc in theory but don't feel it's worth the bother. I also wonder how much of this cost is covered by insurance and/or can be passed on to other at-fault parties

[yoloswegmaster]

They said on Twitter that you can just snap the discs in half and put it in a regular envelope.

[Matt]

They said on Twitter that you can just snap the discs in half and put it in a regular envelope.

That is so wild! Even with a defective disc, I don’t know if I could bring myself to do that (especially without a replacement in hand already).

[swo17]

They said on Twitter that you can just snap the discs in half and put it in a regular envelope.

That is so wild! Even with a defective disc, I don’t know if I could bring myself to do that (especially without a replacement in hand already).

Well I'll break anything in half for $10

[BirdLives]

Kudos to Criterion for doing the right thing - and also, incidentally, exactly what I suggested they do a few posts back

How many discs do y'all figure they need to remake? After all, this is a movie from 1941 that's already been available on blu ray for years. I'm guessing no more than 3000. I know nothing about blu ray manufacturing, but I'd guess this is a problem that can be solved in a week or two.

[cgm13]

It appears that B&N is now pulling all stock of the 4K release. People on the bluray.com forum are talking about it and I have had two separate in-store pickup orders to the two B&N's in my area cancelled even though the website says the stores have it in stock for pick up. What a mess.

[swo17]

Now what am I supposed to crack in half?

[FrauBlucher]

I just came back from B&N. Apparently they got word this morning not to put them out and will be returned. Even the UHD versions. I spoke with the manager and she seems to think that when they are reissued that the sale price will be honored or some kind of discount. We'll see. I don't think CC did good job especially with a sale going on. But maybe and hopefully they will allow B&N to honor the sale when they re-release it.

[Roscoe]

It's still listed as for sale and available for next day arrival on Amazon. My copy was delivered this morning.

[black&huge]

with the screw up on the blu ray disc this may also be the perfect time to request alternate packaging from Criterion like when the whole All About Eve kerfuffle happened.

[swo17]

Yeah, they aren't going to change that

[cdnchris]

The hubs caused damage to the booklet and were just, well, really shitty. They have no reason to change the design of this one.