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Although no historical or epic film historically correct, this one comes close. I only meant demise in regards to their empire, that is it. I don't think anyone in the world can argue that the Mayan empire has ended. Can me move on please...

Peacock wrote:

Adam wrote:I still haven't seen Apolcalypto though, and would like to, for the entertainment value.

Trust me, you won't find any.

The last moment makes the whole thing worthwhile.

Does this letter from Peter Becker mean that this board's lovers' quarrel with Criterion is over?

onedimension wrote:Does this letter from Peter Becker mean that this board's lovers' quarrel with Criterion is over?

No, it's just a matter of time before someone starts parsing the terms of the letter showing how Becker has "misrepresented" some fact or other, or someone will start comparing the terms with the Mission Statement and on and on and on...

Gosh, I wasn't even mad at Criterion*, and I still find myself forgiving them after Becker's email.

Bottom line is, it was always silly to think that these releases were being delayed for anything other than the "right" reasons, especially after the holiday season announcements came and went. They've done far too much good, vital work over the years to deserve anything other than the benefit of the doubt.

* - well, maybe a little bit about the lack of a Z Blu-ray, which I still think was a miscalculation.

Monsoon Wedding gets a Blu-ray and not Z, a highly acclaimed classic. Blows my mind.

Cinephrenic wrote:Monsoon Wedding gets a Blu-ray and not Z, a highly acclaimed classic. Blows my mind.

I'm pretty sure the decision had nothing to do with which was the better film (for the record, I'm pretty sure Monsoon Wedding was fairly acclaimed as well). I'm guessing that it was fairly easy to put Monsoon Wedding onto Blu-ray and much more difficult and expensive to put Z on Blu-ray (at least at a level of quality that Criterion would be willing to put out).

I didn't say one was better than the other, just that their decision on what goes on Blu-ray. It would have been nice to get it now on Blu than later. I don't know if I should pick it up (already have older version), or wait for a eventual Blu-ray edition in the future. I'm probably not the only one with this frustration when it comes to investing high prices for great editions.

The question will keep getting raised until Criterion explain more clearly why the market realities of Blu Ray uptake mean they do not adhere to their stated ideal of making the best quality materials available in the best possible way.

As it stands they really have botched things up, leaving people in doubt as to whether or not films will appear on the format at a later date, ensuring people wait and see rather than buy, making it harder for them to figure out if the interest is there for Blu Ray editions beyond the obvious established works.

Indeed. I am quite happy with Becker's answer but if, as he states, they have spent a lot of time and effort (and money) on Human Condition, why not release it in Blu-Ray too.
Similarly, if they don't release the Rosselini war trilogy in Blu-Ray, this will be a shame considering all the time and effort they appear to have dedicated to it.
(The choice of Monsoon Wedding is puzzling, considering the Blu-Ray upgrade doesn't look dramatically better than the SD version from the screenshots Chris posted in his reviews)

akaten wrote:The question will keep getting raised until Criterion explain more clearly why the market realities of Blu Ray uptake mean they do not adhere to their stated ideal of making the best quality materials available in the best possible way.

As it stands they really have botched things up, leaving people in doubt as to whether or not films will appear on the format at a later date, ensuring people wait and see rather than buy, making it harder for them to figure out if the interest is there for Blu Ray editions beyond the obvious established works.

Thank god. I'm so relieved that we naysayers,curmudgeons and malcontents are beginning to claw back lost ground after it felt that the whole forum was uber-cosy and schmoozed up.

Arn777 wrote:Indeed. I am quite happy with Becker's answer but if, as he states, they have spent a lot of time and effort (and money) on Human Condition, why not release it in Blu-Ray too.
Similarly, if they don't release the Rosselini war trilogy in Blu-Ray, this will be a shame considering all the time and effort they appear to have dedicated to it.

Adding an existing DVD upgrade is about equivalent to adding a new DVD production to the schedule, at least where our
technical team is concerned, and that is where our capacity is most constrained.

Becker makes it clear that a BluRay release requires significant resources, so it appears the choice is more more films released or more BluRays.

Yes i kind of get that but if they spent months working on a title (like Human Condition or a trilogy), I don't believe it takes double that amount to produce a Blu-Ray edition as well.

akaten wrote:The question will keep getting raised until Criterion explain more clearly why the market realities of Blu Ray uptake mean they do not adhere to their stated ideal of making the best quality materials available in the best possible way.

As it stands they really have botched things up, leaving people in doubt as to whether or not films will appear on the format at a later date, ensuring people wait and see rather than buy, making it harder for them to figure out if the interest is there for Blu Ray editions beyond the obvious established works.

I agree with this 100%.

Now if their DVD to Blu-ray upgrade program wasn't a complete joke I'd be much more willing to buy the DVD releases without thinking I should just wait for the possible Blu-ray release. 20$ plus 5$ for shipping and then the cost of mailing back the DVD and you don't even get packaging? Versus ~24.99$ on Amazon for the whole hog? What Kool-Aid do I need to be drinking to think this is a good idea?

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate Criterion and what they do. I know market expectations/the economy/production problems/solar flares/etc. make things hard for them. I know it would be stupid for them to just come out and say they plan on releasing everything they can in their catalogue on Blu-ray so hold off on the current DVD releases unless you just can't wait. I want to give Criterion more of my money but in the end, whatever, it's their company and they can do what they want. If a DVD version is going out of print, I'll pick it up. Otherwise, I don't mind waiting for the Blu-ray.

Did Criterion continue to issue or release films on Laser Disc after they began their DVD line?

Or you can, you know, take ten minutes to set up an Amazon Marketplace account and sell the DVDs you wish to upgrade. I made $4 upgrading THE THIRD MAN, lost $6 upgrading PLAYTIME.

Also they probably legally couldn't release Human Condition on blu. I would've thought everyone on the board would have heard of the six months embargo japan has on blus.

knives wrote:I would've thought everyone on the board would have heard of the six months embargo japan has on blus.

Who run Barter Town? Embargo on.

Not having an unlimited budget for this stuff, it's an easy call to wait for an eventual Blu of a film I want. No matter how much I want a certain film, there's always something else I want just as much and which can consume my limited resources just as well. I envy those that have DVD collections that number in the thousands but I can't do that, and I never seem to be at a loss for titles to buy when the time comes to place an order.

So, as much as I love Criterion, and as awesome as it would be to have Z or THE HUMAN CONDITION, I feel zero obligation to buy them until they suit my preferences. For me, there's just no sense in indulging myself in an internal debate about it; it's an open-and-shut case.

aox wrote:Did Criterion continue to issue or release films on Laser Disc after they began their DVD line?

Yes. For a year or so as I recall.

As long as Criterion keeps releasing superb Blu-rays like Last Year at Marienbad and Pierrot le fou--- I really can't complain. Pierrot is just

I'd imagine Criterion has some big guns for Blu-ray next year.

My Life to Live and Seven Samurai would make for an exciting January.

Hey, I can dream

Cinephrenic wrote:Monsoon Wedding gets a Blu-ray and not Z, a highly acclaimed classic. Blows my mind.

They've just answered a Facebook question and indicated that a Blu-ray of Z is a year or more away.

Jeff wrote:

Cinephrenic wrote:Monsoon Wedding gets a Blu-ray and not Z, a highly acclaimed classic. Blows my mind.

They've just answered a Facebook question and indicated that a Blu-ray of Z is a year or more away.

Nice to know. Thanks Jeff.

I don't know how reliable this site is, or where it gets its information, but it lists these as tentative upcoming releases for Criterion Blu-rays:

January
Che
Following

February
Stagecoach

Also, this isn't a Criterion, but the site also lists Punch Drunk Love, whose supposed September Blu release never materialized, as a tentative release for March 2010.

swo17 wrote:I don't know how reliable this site is, or where it gets its information, but it lists these as tentative upcoming releases for Criterion Blu-rays:

January
Che
Following

February
Stagecoach

Also, this isn't a Criterion, but the site also lists Punch Drunk Love, whose supposed September Blu release never materialized, as a tentative release for March 2010.

Unscheduled and Rumoured

Amarcord (1973) (Criterion edition) (would this be confirmed by this message board?)
Au Revoir Les Enfants (Criterion edition)
Contempt (Criterion Edition)
Down By Law (Criterion edition)
Human Condition, The (Part 1 (1959/I), 2 (1959/II), 3 (1961)) (Criterion edition)
Koyaanisqatsi (Criterion Collection)
Kwaidan (Criterion Collection)
Naqoyqatsi (Criterion Edition)
Picnic at Hanging Rock (Criterion Edition)
Powaqqatsi (Criterion Edition)
Rossellini's War Trilogy (Rome, Open City (1945), Paisan (1946), Germany, Year Zero (1947)) (Criterion edition)
Walkabout (Criterion Edition)
Y tu mamá también (Criterion edition)