Criterion and StudioCanal

[ByMarkClark.com]

I already own the vast majority of these titles so this isn't a big loss for me, personally. Although it IS depressing that Spine Number 1 and things like THE ORPHIC TRILOGY will be OOP. Also, it would have been nice to know about this while the recent DD 45% off sale was still running. But even so, there was only one real must-have for me that I needed to order (namely, ALPHAVILLE).

Somebody clarify for me, though: What are the other remaining Studio Canal titles currently in the CC? I'm assuming those will all go OOP eventually, too, once those licenses expire.

[Kirkinson]

On their Facebook page Criterion clarifies that titles from the soon-to-be-OOP list now listed as sold out on their web site are only temporarily sold out, and that they will indeed honor all orders placed before the end of March.

[marvinmeraz]

Well, at least Studio Canal is giving these titles beautiful packaging treatment. I mean CC started getting cheap and greedy using plastic BD cases instead of custom packaging like they use to do with DVDs. One thing that attracted me to the CC was their beautiful packaging treatment, it made me feel the film was just as special as their packaging. Now I feel sad when I get a beautiful film in a 25 cent plastic case.

I give credit to Studio Canal for at least their packaging. Their BD transfers will probably be very decent and I have no problem buying from them as well. They appear to have decent extras too.

I was super upset when I found out CC would not be doing custom packaging from BD. They got greedy and used the "study durable" case excuse. I'm not stupid, it's all about profit and they got greedy like every corporation.

[Flike]

Actually, Criterion has stated they didn't like the look of the flimsy digipaks they were using. They wore poorly and warped in shrinkwrap, looking shit on a shelf. This is why they now use custom cases.

And you're in for an unpleasant surprise if you're holding out for the stateside StudioCanal releases...

[aox]

Greedy? Those uniform plastic cases are the best thing they have done.

[Brian C]

I don't really even understand the logic of the "greedy" comment. I liked the digis too (in principle, anyway), but the consumer outcry against them was very vocal. It's weird to say that 'listening to your customers' is "greedy." I suppose in some sense it's true, in that happy consumers leads to a better bottom line ... but by that standard, any customer service is "greedy." And no one would ever say that.

[Jeff]

Besides that, the cases were custom ordered from Scanavo to Criterion's specifications. Not cheap or "greedy."

[Der Spieler]

Maple Pictures in Canada have released "La bête humaine", "Grand illusion", "Forbidden Games", "Port of Shadows", "Children of Paradise" and quite a few other titles in bare-bones but good transfers that go for about 15$. I don't know if they'll go OOP though.

[domino harvey]

The four recent exclusive EAH releases should be top priority for everyone, because Le Trou has been out for years, but these are all in their first printing still. Probably the best non-Blu retirement (until Lionsgate releases them in a box or something, that is)

[willoneill]

Maple Pictures in Canada have released "La bête humaine", "Grand illusion", "Forbidden Games", "Port of Shadows", "Children of Paradise" and quite a few other titles in bare-bones but good transfers that go for about 15$. I don't know if they'll go OOP though.

I'm fairly certain that Lion's Gate owns Maple Pictures.

[Zot!]

I realize that people are upset because Criterion are losing a number of titles, but there doesn't seem to be much that can be done regarding that.

However, from what I can gather, the StudioCanal Blu-Ray releases are on the whole not particularly shabby. Is this not the case? I see some people grumbling here a bit, but I'm not sure what the actual issues might be.

[domino harvey]

Criterion is virtually the only American DVD label left that is wiling to provide academic extras. You think a Studio Canal release is going to go after Mulvey et al?

[Jeff]

Criterion is virtually the only American DVD label left that is wiling to provide academic extras. You think a Studio Canal release is going to go after Mulvey et al?

A lot of the extras that Criterion was including were licensed from StudioCanal anyway. They've got a Phillip Kemp commentary on their upcoming release of The Ladykillers, and I think many of the StudioCanal France, Optimum, and Kinowelt releases of the "StudioCanal Collection" have scholar interviews, commentaries, booklet printed essays, or visual essays. Ain't nobody like Criterion, but they aren't bad.

[John Edmond]

A lot of the extras that Criterion was including were licensed from StudioCanal anyway. They've got a Phillip Kemp commentary on their upcoming release of The Ladykillers, and I think many of the StudioCanal France, Optimum, and Kinowelt releases of the "StudioCanal Collection" have scholar interviews, commentaries, booklet printed essays, or visual essays.

Agreed, Studio Canal Classics already have provided academic extras for their Classic series. So while they may not go after Mulvey they probably will chase after et al. Honestly, I'll tick the "this is a good thing" box if Studio Canal actually release these films reasonably quickly - as it'll free Criterion to release less obvious films.

[fdm]

From a blu-ray perspective, check out any review of the Studio Canal release of Ran. That will give you some idea of worst-case scenario. (To date, Criterion seems to be on the best-case scenario side of things, far as I know.) Extras are fine, but if it looks like shit then what's the point.

[John Edmond]

I'll admit Ran is unpleasant, but it is the worst-case scenario due to its specific history (aka recycled master from HD-DVD release - expect any Studio Canal film that received HD-DVD release to have the same problem). Anyway, we all know that Ran beats Criterion's version of the Last Emperor - at least Ran is in the right aspect ratio.

[Flike]

I've done a lot of research on the Contempt disc in anticipation of its release and, admittedly, I think there are minor quibbles but I've also seen Criterion Blu(s) with similar issues. Most of the complaints I imagine come from those on the more mainstream Blu-centric sites that don't know what an older film looks like, because it looks and sounds like an exceptional disc... to me.

[Florinaldo]

If StudioCanal intends to reissue some of these, then all the hand-wringing and hair-pulling we have witnessed in recent days will be pointless. I own several titles from that publisher and they are mostly very good, often with excellent extras.

True, they may have misfired on their Ran BR, although I still have to see conclusive proof of that, but their R2 editions of some of the titles going out of print rivaled the CC versions, like Quai des Brumes or Le Jour se Lève for example.

Of course, there is very little chance of these titles or others like Gervaise or Mayerling seeing the light of day on Blu-Ray or even being reissued at all on SD.

Personally, I don't care if a good DVD edition of a great film comes from CC or from another publisher, as long it exists and makes the film available to cinephiles.

[captveg]

I'm pretty much with Jeff and Mozart on this one - not the end of the world, and if StudioCanal raises their bar ever so slightly they'll have a nice side collection I will be greatly interested in.

I especially want to back up Mozart on his observation that, for the Blu-ray consumers, Criterion has their hands full of 400+ titles to re-issue on Blu-ray. If this frees their hands up a bit for the other titles StudioCanal does not have it could very much be a win-win. StudioCanal seems to be more likely to release a Blu-ray of, say, Le trou well before Criterion would get around to it.

Ultimately, I'm a fan of the films, not Criterion. I'll never have the full collection (I barely have 60). If Dragon Dynasty/Vivendi releases a high quality Blu-ray of The Killer, I'd much rather have that than the old OOP Criterion. Same goes with StudioCanal and Grand Illusion, which is already on their schedule in France.

From what I can tell from reading the Forthcoming threads, Criterion has their plate quite full for the foreseeable future.

[HistoryProf]

Criterion is virtually the only American DVD label left that is wiling to provide academic extras. You think a Studio Canal release is going to go after Mulvey et al?

A lot of the extras that Criterion was including were licensed from StudioCanal anyway. They've got a Phillip Kemp commentary on their upcoming release of The Ladykillers, and I think many of the StudioCanal France, Optimum, and Kinowelt releases of the "StudioCanal Collection" have scholar interviews, commentaries, booklet printed essays, or visual essays. Ain't nobody like Criterion, but they aren't bad.

that doesn't do those of us in the U.S. much good though does it?

[tajmahal]

A lot of the extras that Criterion was including were licensed from StudioCanal anyway. They've got a Phillip Kemp commentary on their upcoming release of The Ladykillers, and I think many of the StudioCanal France, Optimum, and Kinowelt releases of the "StudioCanal Collection" have scholar interviews, commentaries, booklet printed essays, or visual essays. Ain't nobody like Criterion, but they aren't bad.

that doesn't do those of us in the U.S. much good though does it?

It does for the blu-ray editions, as, so far, they are both region A & B. You have a choice of region at start-up. I believe Senso is the only title, thus far, which has not been slated for an English-subbed blu release. I could be wrong.

[Jeff]

that doesn't do those of us in the U.S. much good though does it?

In time it will. As rights free up in the U.S., Lionsgate should be releasing most of the StudioCanal Collection as direct ports of the versions in other regions. There are some titles like The Elephant Man, The Deer Hunter, Mulholland Drive, and The Go-Between that are tied up with U.S. studios, but I expect that we will see well-appointed Blu-rays of most of the others. The specs for the first round of U.S. releases are here, and you can see that they have the same Criterionesque content as their French, English, and German counterparts. I'm looking forward to a Blu-ray of Peeping Tom, which I think they'll get to later this year. Many of the discs from other regions are Region A compliant anyway.

[jurples]

recycled master from HD-DVD release - expect any Studio Canal film that received HD-DVD release to have the same problem

studio canal released the elephant man on hd-dvd, and i have yet to see any reviews of their blu-ray that mention it having the same audio pitch problems that plagued the hd-dvd edition.

[John Edmond]

Sorry, I should have clarified. I wasn't referring to any specific problems, just noting that Studio Canal are likely to re-use their masters for the HD-DVD releases if possible. Since these transfers are already a couple of years old, and were made when companies were just getting used to releasing films on HD, the previously HD-DVD released films are more likely to have problematic Blu-Ray releases.

[Mozart]

Ultimately, I'm a fan of the films, not Criterion.

True for me as well, although I honour of course Criterions enourmous contribution to home cinema presentation.
But most of the users here seem not too interested to discuss my analysis (or parts of it) so far...

Mozart