The Criterion Collection Films (4K UHD Blu-ray or Blu-ray)

muchnut

Jun 29, 2022 1:53 PM

640 Comments

Joined Sep 2020

muchnutJun 29, 2022 1:53 PM

640 Comments

Quote from msgodec

:

This is a heads up for everyone who follows these semi-annual Criterion Collection sales at Barnes & Noble. I've confirmed at two local stores that the sale will start this Friday, July 1st.

Criterion Collection [barnesandnoble.com]

This advance notice should give you time to consider what movies you may want to buy when the sale starts.

Thanks OP! I'll take a look. I always look forward to these sales

1

dubmang

Jun 29, 2022 2:49 PM

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dubmangJun 29, 2022 2:49 PM

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what makes this criterion series so special/ expensive?

3

1

Kozmik

Jun 29, 2022 5:07 PM

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KozmikJun 29, 2022 5:07 PM

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Quote from dubmang

:

what makes this criterion series so special/ expensive?

It's a boutique label that puts more thought into features than standard movie releases. They, unlike studios, work with the director and or cinematographer to reproduce the theatrical image as accurately as possible.

You can see this by comparing still images of Criterion releases to standard, such as Dazed and Confused or Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Criterion actually introduced the concept of special features as a thing and studios began copying it (but to a less deep instance).

Every month 5 or so new titles get announced and released. The films run across cinematic history and genre and nearly every genre has a good number of Criterion titles.

At a 50 off sale the prices are great and worth getting into.

Other boutique labels exist but my other favs are Scream Factory and Arrow, both focus on cult and horror films

21

3

RowdyReptile

Jun 30, 2022 7:51 PM

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RowdyReptileJun 30, 2022 7:51 PM

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Quote from Kozmik

:

It's a boutique label that puts more thought into features than standard movie releases. They, unlike studios, work with the director and or cinematographer to reproduce the theatrical image as accurately as possible.

You can see this by comparing still images of Criterion releases to standard, such as Dazed and Confused or Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Criterion actually introduced the concept of special features as a thing and studios began copying it (but to a less deep instance).

Every month 5 or so new titles get announced and released. The films run across cinematic history and genre and nearly every genre has a good number of Criterion titles.

At a 50 off sale the prices are great and worth getting into.

Other boutique labels exist but my other favs are Scream Factory and Arrow, both focus on cult and horror films

Interesting. Great write-up.

The Princess Bride is my all-time favorite and I've bought it across several versions of DVD, Blu-ray and digital 4K. I've read the William Goldman novel (loved it!) and recently read the Cary Elwes book "As You Wish", detailing his time on the set.

Now you've got me tempted to buy the Criterion version [criterion.com] for the special features. It includes "
Edited 1987 audiobook reading of Goldman's novel The Princess Bride by Reiner", although I see that's also available on hoopla [hoopladigital.com], which is a far more convenient way to listen to it, rather than sitting in my living room listening to a track on the blu-ray.

2

1

pmarin

Jun 30, 2022 8:08 PM

5K Comments

Joined Jan 2006

pmarinJun 30, 2022 8:08 PM

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I can't emphasize enough how much I appreciate what the Criterion Collection does and produces. The careful detail to history and background features has been mentioned. Also there are often booklets with articles and analysis of the movie and the people.

Most of all, they dig up stuff that is clearly non-mainstream. Films from the 1920s-1960s. Historical eras long lost to most U.S. viewers. Foreign films, often in original soundtrack with subtitles (yes, you have to either learn the foreign language or read the subtitles -- deal with it!). Many of these are clearly not made with a profit-motive but clearly just to preserve some cinema history and make it available to an audience again in the highest quality possible.

Also most of their hardcopy (disc) editions sell-out and are unavailable after a while, and become collector's items, though I'm not saying to buy them for resale, but be aware things are available for usually a year or less only.Finally there is an online streaming Criterion Channel that you can subscribe to ($89/year I think). Movies rotate in and out, just like Netflix. There are always at least 50+ things to watch I think. If you have taken a break from Netflix or other streaming services, consider giving Criterion Channel a shot. Watch some old stuff you probably didn't even know about -- you might like it! And you are supporting a good cause.

9

PpP5661

Jul 1, 2022 4:34 AM

671 Comments

Joined Apr 2014

PpP5661Jul 1, 2022 4:34 AM

671 Comments

Quote from Kozmik

:

It's a boutique label that puts more thought into features than standard movie releases. They, unlike studios, work with the director and or cinematographer to reproduce the theatrical image as accurately as possible.

You can see this by comparing still images of Criterion releases to standard, such as Dazed and Confused or Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Criterion actually introduced the concept of special features as a thing and studios began copying it (but to a less deep instance).

Every month 5 or so new titles get announced and released. The films run across cinematic history and genre and nearly every genre has a good number of Criterion titles.

At a 50 off sale the prices are great and worth getting into.

Other boutique labels exist but my other favs are Scream Factory and Arrow, both focus on cult and horror films

Not just the image but audio too.

3

g10ny

Jul 1, 2022 4:44 AM

1.9K Comments

Joined Nov 2005

g10nyJul 1, 2022 4:44 AM

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Quote from dubmang

:

what makes this criterion series so special/ expensive?

Young padawan,

This collection even has the proto-Star Wars, originally named The Hidden Fortress. A princess that has to be rescued, evil enemies, a secret transport, two servants (if this reminds you of C3PO and R2-D2, you're on the right track.) Oh, it's a Japanese film.

4

airecoos

Jul 1, 2022 3:38 PM

95 Comments

Joined Oct 2020

airecoosJul 1, 2022 3:38 PM

95 Comments

Handful of 4K options are solid, but Sound of Metal pre-order looks to be excluded from the 50% off promotion.

3

dealappeals

Jul 1, 2022 4:29 PM

6.3K Comments

Joined Feb 2006

dealappealsJul 1, 2022 4:29 PM

6.3K Comments

Uncut Gems was incredible.

4

1

mgehani90

Jul 1, 2022 4:41 PM

292 Comments

Joined Feb 2016

mgehani90Jul 1, 2022 4:41 PM

292 Comments

Quote from TenderFruit9330

:

Handful of 4K options are solid, but Sound of Metal pre-order looks to be excluded from the 50% off promotion.

I'll be getting Sound of Metal for sure in the November sale.

1

NavySardine761

Jul 1, 2022 5:04 PM

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NavySardine761Jul 1, 2022 5:04 PM

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Quote from Kozmik

:

It's a boutique label that puts more thought into features than standard movie releases. They, unlike studios, work with the director and or cinematographer to reproduce the theatrical image as accurately as possible.

You can see this by comparing still images of Criterion releases to standard, such as Dazed and Confused or Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Criterion actually introduced the concept of special features as a thing and studios began copying it (but to a less deep instance).

Every month 5 or so new titles get announced and released. The films run across cinematic history and genre and nearly every genre has a good number of Criterion titles.

At a 50 off sale the prices are great and worth getting into.

Other boutique labels exist but my other favs are Scream Factory and Arrow, both focus on cult and horror films

I've been collecting them since Laser Disc days.

What they offer today in comparision to the rest of the market for the premium price is a shell of its former self.

I keep buying them as they do get exclusive rights to a number of films I'm interested in having the highest quality possible. That said, these days you have to look around for each release, just because Criterion releases it doesn't always mean the best presentation that is out there for each release, where that used to be almost a guarantee.

And the special features can be a real hit or miss - expecially given standard studio issue discs now have special featues as the norm (which as you say Criterion was first to market with this concept)

The fact DVDs are still the biggest seller for them speaks volumes instead of actually presenting to the highest technical specifications which used to be an actual motto they had.

2

1

chabala

Jul 1, 2022 6:15 PM

92 Comments

Joined Dec 2010

chabalaJul 1, 2022 6:15 PM

92 Comments

Barnes & Noble's garbage website performance is killing this deal. Looks like Amazon has 50% off on most of the titles as well though.

dealstorm

Jul 1, 2022 6:26 PM

7.3K Comments

Joined May 2006

dealstormJul 1, 2022 6:26 PM

7.3K Comments

Quote from chabala

:

Barnes & Noble's garbage website performance is killing this deal. Looks like Amazon has 50% off on most of the titles as well though.

This. Just saw a presentation from a major site where they talked about monitoring and addressing their page load times. B&N doesn't seem to have caught on to this, though.

Also, I'm sure some Criterion acolytes have memorized the content of every Collection, but not everyone has. No excuse for not having even a minimal description.

MaroonVest6451

Jul 1, 2022 8:53 PM

20 Comments

Joined Apr 2021

MaroonVest6451Jul 1, 2022 8:53 PM

20 Comments

It was an incredible experience to watch Uncut Gems.

1

GUSHandGO

Jul 1, 2022 10:03 PM

847 Comments

Joined Jul 2011

GUSHandGOJul 1, 2022 10:03 PM

847 Comments

Quote from chabala

:

Barnes & Noble's garbage website performance is killing this deal. Looks like Amazon has 50% off on most of the titles as well though.

This is exactly why I always buy Criterion titles from Amazon during the B&N sales.

The Criterion Collection Films (4K UHD Blu-ray or Blu-ray)

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