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TCM and Criterion Collection launching streaming service "Filmstruck"
- Thread starter Inferno313
- Start date
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Pretty much..
Expendable.
Member
So this is live now. Just signed up for $99 a year. The selection is pretty insane: Chungking Express, A Brighter Summer Day, In the Mood For Love, Hard Eight, Blood Simple, tons of Tarkovsky, Kurosawa, Chaplin.
Definitely an improvement over Hulu and supposedly when Criterion leaves Hulu on November 11, even more stuff will come over.
I have to say I'm quite happy. Also, the i0S app has launched.
Definitely an improvement over Hulu and supposedly when Criterion leaves Hulu on November 11, even more stuff will come over.
I have to say I'm quite happy. Also, the i0S app has launched.
GoutPatrol
Forgotten in his cell
What kind of subtitles do they have for films? English only?
CharminUltra
Member
Freyjadour
Member
Needs a decade search pronto unless I'm missing it.
"At the time of launch, FilmStruck will only be available in the United States."
This is really frustrating but I suppose I didn't expect much else. I've been trying to find a way to watch Criterion films for years but they're all Region A. I got a little jump of excitement seeing the title of this but I knew it was too good to be true. Why does Criterion outright ignore other markets? Goddamn it.
This is really frustrating but I suppose I didn't expect much else. I've been trying to find a way to watch Criterion films for years but they're all Region A. I got a little jump of excitement seeing the title of this but I knew it was too good to be true. Why does Criterion outright ignore other markets? Goddamn it.
SapphiCine
Member
There is probably more they could do to some extent, but I assume it comes down to them not being the primary license holders for many films. Japanese films for one would be a headache, from what I understand about Japanese licensing agreements.
I was going to wait until January when Roku is available to sign up for the service but my beta account granted me free access until the end of the year. That solves the problem! I can see if I will use it more than I did in the beta before making a financial decision on it (all signs point to yes). I wish they had a forum so film lovers can discuss the movies on the service. Maybe one day!
Infernostew
Member
Just waiting for that PS4 app to drop early next year. I went through the film list yesterday and it's absolutely insane. I'm glad someone decided to pick up the slack since Netflix's film offerings are garage tier in the US. I need Netflix to stop being such assholes about VPN so GOAT Canada can save me...
I just skimmed through the library a bit yesterday, and it seems mostly Criterion, which is cool but a bit disappointing because I had it in my head that Film Struck was going to be consolidating a lot of Criterion and TCM titles. So far this just looks like I'm swapping Hulu for Filmstruck.
In any event, I'm holding off for a few months until they launch the PS4 app. Hopefully they'll have some more non-Criterion selections added by then.
In any event, I'm holding off for a few months until they launch the PS4 app. Hopefully they'll have some more non-Criterion selections added by then.
Sorcerer
Member
Do you only get a one movie with the complete extras on Wednesday's for the Criterion Channel? This week its Mulholland Drive.
Looking that the rest there is one supplement or none. I thought they promised all extras for every movie.
I am very happy with the price, but bummed if its just the movies for the most part.
Looking that the rest there is one supplement or none. I thought they promised all extras for every movie.
I am very happy with the price, but bummed if its just the movies for the most part.
Extra Sauce
Member
Obligatory:
Had a blast browsing through all the categories. I love the host intros and section trailers. Thrilled with the selections. Better than I was expecting.
So much fun.
Really glad I have a Fire TV. The app is great. Awesome background images and smooth transitions. Very polished.
So much fun.
Really glad I have a Fire TV. The app is great. Awesome background images and smooth transitions. Very polished.
SpaceHorror
Member
So a year of great movies including Chungking Express all for the price of one OOP Chungking Express bluray.
Great deal! I'm signing up as soon as the PS4 app launches.
on the filmstruck side there's a lot of non-criterion stuff, most notably Ruth Orkin and Morris Engel selections and Arturo Ripstein. Seems like most of the "passport" themes as well are non-criterion.
The Last Wizard
Member
Pushed back to November and still couldn't launch Apple TV day and date:/
Edit: it got pushed back to December:/
Edit: it got pushed back to December:/
TyphoonStruggle
Member
WKW classics? Nice.
SapphiCine
Member
Is that not a big upgrade if they have 1080p encodes instead of bit starved 720p?
Not unless you cast from tab, but chromecast support is coming soon.
Sweet, well I can just move my Fire stick to my movie watching TV for now. Really considering grabbing this.
I have had a really hard time tracking down some films like most of Kurosawa's catalog, and this seems to have lots of it.
CharminUltra
Member
I'm just happy I don't have to dig up (and potentially damage) this baby anymore /notsostealthbrag
The Last Wizard
Member
Holy shit the catalogue is really good between the two options, also love how you can look through what they have without signing up. Really great way to build good will if that's why they did it.
I was gonna wait for the ATV app but may just sign up now and AirPlay.
I was gonna wait for the ATV app but may just sign up now and AirPlay.
The Last Wizard
Member
Nah, everyone knows Xbox people only care for shooters, guns and blockbusters.
Ask on their twitter they've been pretty active answering questions
Definitely interested in this service, as someone who would like to explore classics/indies and purchased some criterion releases before, but haven't seen that many, this seems to suit me much better.
But I definitely don't want to connect my tablet to watch these films though, I do that for some services that don't have native app on my tv and that's already too much of a hassle. Hoping for a PS4 app.
But I definitely don't want to connect my tablet to watch these films though, I do that for some services that don't have native app on my tv and that's already too much of a hassle. Hoping for a PS4 app.
I gotta say it's a little disappointing so far. The first ~6 Criterions I searched for aren't there. Streaming quality is decent to bad. Chungking Express and Tekkonkinkreet are the worst offenders so far. I know, I'm comparing streams to Blu-rays but the artifacts are really awful at times, especially in motion. CE is watchable but TK looks like mush in the opening flyovers. Then there's the weird aliasing. The mobile UI is alright but the web UI is slow to load and search results are a bit too broad. But the UI does look great and I'm enjoying flipping through the specialized categories.
I'm expecting most of these issues to be ironed out with time but I wonder if the picture quality is ever going to improve and if we'll get bitrate options.
Oh, and why can't I have a profile name separate from billing information :|
I'm expecting most of these issues to be ironed out with time but I wonder if the picture quality is ever going to improve and if we'll get bitrate options.
Oh, and why can't I have a profile name separate from billing information :|
ChoklitReign
Member
If it wants to be a cheaper alternative to Criterion Blu-rays it needs these features:
-High bitrate as an option to even "compete" (I mean as a reasonable substitute) with Blu-ray quality
-All the bonus features from the home releases that people expect to enhance their appreciation of the film (commentary, making-of's, etc.)
Not having anything to stand out means it's just a niche Netflix. All streaming services, like the music ones, need at least one "hook" to pique interest. I'm subscribed to Netflix and Amazon Prime but I'm probably going to cancel Netflix sometime next year. I'm interested in this but it truly needs to be Criterion Streaming to be worth it.
-High bitrate as an option to even "compete" (I mean as a reasonable substitute) with Blu-ray quality
-All the bonus features from the home releases that people expect to enhance their appreciation of the film (commentary, making-of's, etc.)
Not having anything to stand out means it's just a niche Netflix. All streaming services, like the music ones, need at least one "hook" to pique interest. I'm subscribed to Netflix and Amazon Prime but I'm probably going to cancel Netflix sometime next year. I'm interested in this but it truly needs to be Criterion Streaming to be worth it.
The Last Wizard
Member
PS4 app mid 2017 they said.
SapphiCine
Member
Which browser are you using? Maybe try another one. Streaming services tend to not support Chrome above 720p. Why isn't there any technical information in the FAQ or aPSY・S;222712871 said:
Found this under support. Jesus fuck. Service for film lovers my ass.
Think I'll wait to start the free trial.
Expendable.
Member
November 11 I believe.
I'm using Opera. I've tried using Firefox but the video content won't load no matter what I do and Edge won't let me sign in at all. Bleh.
eh, maybe I don't have a good eye for that stuff, but the Criterion transfers on Hulu generally looked pretty good to me. There was only a handful of movies where poor bitrates and artifacting was really noticeable.
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