The differences between the Arrow and Criterion versions of Lady Snowblood is crazy.
Top is Arrow. Bottom Criterion:
More here.
Top is Arrow. Bottom Criterion:
More here.
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The Criterion Collection in 2017: All Fancy Movie GAF Releases Welcome!
- Thread starter omgkitty
- Start date
On crappy LTE right now, pics won't load. Is the Criterion better?
Puck Beaverton
Banned
I think I prefer the Criterion because holy shit does that look good.
I think the images aren't loading because they're linked. Just look at the link. The criterion transfer reminds me of their All That Heaven Allows transfer.
killertofu
Member
I want the Before Trilogy so much....
Ohh okay now I see. Wow, definitely a lot different. A bit bright in spots, but seems like a nice upgrade overall.
cj_iwakura
Member
They're masters at restoration, watching the before/after on things like 3:10 To Yuma and Rashomon blows my mind.
That said, I'm not always a fan of their translations. They tend to go for more making the spirit of the translation more spicy than being faithful, but it's never that offensive... just sometimes blatantly inaccurate.
Cosmic Bus
pristine morning snow
Snowblood looks absurdly different than any previous version I've watched, to the point that I'm skeptical of how faithful they actually were to the original prints. Wouldn't be the first time Criterion thought they knew better than the filmmakers.
lol, they used to include catalogs in each DVD during the '90s and there are numerous films listed as "coming soon!" in those that still haven't materialized.
lol, they used to include catalogs in each DVD during the '90s and there are numerous films listed as "coming soon!" in those that still haven't materialized.
You know, as nice as those screencaps look, they don't seem like they're in the keeping of that era of chanbara films, which gravitated more towards the look of the Arrow caps than the Criterion. The one that really jumps out at me is the one with the man in the water: you can tell he's in murky water in the Arrow grab, but he looks like he's being pulled into tar in the Criterion grab.
A recent-ish example of this happening was the massive level of disparity that Miramax's release of Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman had versus virtually every other release in the color department. The Miramax release is way the hell more colorful, but every other release had a more muted palette, which is more in keeping with how the original films with Shintaro Katsu looked. Given Miramax's history with foreign films at the time, I doubt very much they had Kitano signing off on their version.
A recent-ish example of this happening was the massive level of disparity that Miramax's release of Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman had versus virtually every other release in the color department. The Miramax release is way the hell more colorful, but every other release had a more muted palette, which is more in keeping with how the original films with Shintaro Katsu looked. Given Miramax's history with foreign films at the time, I doubt very much they had Kitano signing off on their version.
Uuuh, that's quite different.
Yeah, something is off with the Criterion one, it looks good but it doesn't look accurate. And I can't tell because I'm not at home so I'm on a laptop with an inaccurate display but aren't the blacks really crushed?
Great example btw, that Miramax release was so odd.
[Citation needed]
To be less snarky and expand upon why I think that is a bad argument; yes there are a lot of releases of older films that look way more muted than they should. But there are also many, many older films with an intentionally muted palette (I might even add especially so in the 70s) so assuming that a muted palette on a release is an error is making quite the leap.
I do agree with you that making an absolute judgement on this matter is premature (and I really shouldn't get into this since I'm not even on a calibrated display), but the look of the Criterion does not match what I would expect of a Japanese film in that genre, from that decade and like I said above the blacks seem crushed (yet again, I'm on a less than ideal display so don't take my word as gospel)
Puck Beaverton
Banned
Probably picking up that Gangster VIP set. Haven't seen them (I've heard the first was good) but that artwork looks dope and I enjoyed Rusty Knife enough to check these out.
Oh, sweet. Artificial Eye has announced April as the date when they start with their Tarkovsky releases, the boxset seems to be coming later. Looking forward to see what they bring in terms of PQ/AQ/extras (really hope they use the Swedish film institute restoration of The Sacrifice).
cj_iwakura
Member
I would double dip for a Strangelove Criterion in a nanosecond.
What is this Bitter Rice movie releasing tomorrow?
Fancy Clown
Member
Ordered Sword of Doom since I haven't seen it in Blu so imagine it will be stunning, and Three Outlaw Samurai which is a blind buy but it looks pretty dope.
TheKaeptain
Banned
I already have Brief Encounter
I probably should have mentioned that this is just the unboxed version of that film, as it was previously exclusive to the David Lean/Noel Coward set from a couple of years back.
Fancy Clown
Member
Damn, Phoenix cover is sexy. I still need to see the movie tho
Jo Shishido's Cheeks
Member
MORE HOWARD HAWKS!!!
Great news!
What's with the wonky composition on the Brief Encounter artwork?
It looks very awkward.
Great news!
What's with the wonky composition on the Brief Encounter artwork?
It looks very awkward.
Net_Wrecker
Member
The Phoenix cover is A+++. Really good movie too, but I don't know if I'm dying to own it.
And yes, hooray for more Howard Hawks.
And yes, hooray for more Howard Hawks.
Fancy Clown
Member
Something something reflecting the elusive and transient nature of their romance with the very off center framing
Infernostew
Member
Really like the cover for Phoenix. Shame I wasn't crazy about that film.
greta talking about how great brief encounter's (and don't look now's) sex scenes are is pretty great. brief encounter is tremendous.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxdHsbolCAc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxdHsbolCAc
Definitely buying Barcelona.
Also, their Instagram posted a cool picture today: https://www.instagram.com/p/BApW7XIyzSe/
mattiewheels
And then the LORD David Bowie saith to his Son, Jonny Depp: 'Go, and spread my image amongst the cosmos. For every living thing is in anguish and only the LIGHT shall give them reprieve.'
Twilight Time has The Last Detail on blu, every now and then they get something must-have. No Woody for a long while though, it seems.
killertofu
Member
Anyone grab Llewyn? How is it?
Fancy Clown
Member
I have it, but I haven't watched it yet. I can report back when I do.
canoli2006
Member
I got it and loved it. The extras such as the making of and the Another Day, Another Time concert were nice additions.
Fancy Clown
Member
Just warched it today. It looks fantastic and the extras seem very cool. I'm watching a 40 minute extra of Guillermo Del Toro interviewing the Coens about their filmography and it's wonderful.
Studiocanal will finally release a newly restored version of Akira Kurosawa's Ran. As someone who owns their previous effort, it can only be better. No word on US release, Lionsgate did release the previous version but have basically released fuck all lately in terms of Studiocanal back catalogue releases.
The British Film Institute will release Richard Loncraine's film Richard III. If you missed out on Twilight Time's release or just have access to a region B player BFI is here to save the day.
The British Film Institute will release Richard Loncraine's film Richard III. If you missed out on Twilight Time's release or just have access to a region B player BFI is here to save the day.
I still haven't seen Ran, but I've always thought Tatsuya Nakadai looked crazy in that movie.
It's absolutely terrific so if you're able to you should check it out. The 4K restoration is getting a US cinema release at least (though limited), if you don't have a region free player or Lionsgate actually end up releasing it on blu-ray.
And for you second point, it is an adaption of King Lear after all.
I actually have the old Studiocanal version lol. The run time has put me off so I just haven't gotten around to it yet.
Understandably, but it doesn't feel like nearly three hours long at all, it's one of those utterly captivating films that just grabs your attention and manages to hold it for the entire duration. But yeah, I understand why. I put off Ben-Hur and Lawrence of Arabia for the longest time because of the same reason. Still haven't seen Gone with the Wind for that reason (and well, the racism doesn't help).
Lawrence of Arabia might be the shortest long film I've ever seen. The movie just goes.