I don't think digibooks ever get designed with the expectation that you can gut them to fit a standard case. They're all custom made, which makes that a somewhat impossible task. I think the best you could hope for is that you buy a stack of cases and hope that someone is nice enough to offer up hi-res scans of the outer artwork for you to print off and place inside the sleeve.
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The Criterion Collection in 2017: All Fancy Movie GAF Releases Welcome!
- Thread starter omgkitty
- Start date
Criterion sells replacement cases. They are really only for those early slipcase releases though. Not sure why they have one for Night of the Hunter.
Side note: Picnic at Hanging Rock comes with a copy of the original novel. Thought that was a cool touch.
Side note: Picnic at Hanging Rock comes with a copy of the original novel. Thought that was a cool touch.
Son of Cervantes
Member
Did you guys click the link? I'm not talking about Blu-Ray cases, I'm talking about plastic sleeves like the type used to protect comics. They're used in Japan when used games and movies are sold.
The ones Amazon sells are for 12mm BR cases, but the larger Criterion releases (Seven Samurai, Godzilla, etc.) don't fit in them.
The ones Amazon sells are for 12mm BR cases, but the larger Criterion releases (Seven Samurai, Godzilla, etc.) don't fit in them.
Well, in that case, just buy some ziplock bags!
Aw man, I was gonna make one last order of some Melville titles but they're all out of print! What the hell is up with his films and Criterion?? Most of his best seem to be long gone and Le Samourai never even gets a blu release. Depressing.
Are they ever successful at regaining licenses? It seems Le Cercle Rouge has been gone since 2011 =[
Are they ever successful at regaining licenses? It seems Le Cercle Rouge has been gone since 2011 =[
Most of them were licensed from Studio Canal, who took their ball and went home that same year so that they could focus on releasing those titles, and many others, themselves, to rather mixed results. I think the only one that they didn't have was Le Samourai, which might be the most requested Blu-ray upgrade in Criterion's catalog at this point.
Ah, that's a damn shame. I need to get my hands on Le Cercle Rouge somehow one day, love that movie.
It really sucks since it didn't even make it to a year before Studio Canal pulled everything. The secondhand prices are especially brutal on that title.
Son of Cervantes
Member
At least Studio Canal has released a good version of Ran on Blu-Ray. No such luck for Le Cercle Rouge.
Amazon has it used for $55, if you're willing to pay that much.
The Studio Canal version of Grand Illusion is supposed to be excellent, fwiw.
Amazon has it used for $55, if you're willing to pay that much.
The Studio Canal version of Grand Illusion is supposed to be excellent, fwiw.
And all it took was killing Criterion's Blu-ray in the 11th hour to do so!
Yes, I'm still bitter.
Son of Cervantes
Member
Well, everything else being the same, I would rather have a Studio Canal release than a Criterion one, if only because I don't care so much about the box art and a Studio Canal release would be much more affordable.
That said, I suspect a Criterion release of Ran would be better than the Studio Canal release. The Studio Canal release has some edge enhancement which makes the image look a bit too clean, not filmic.
Does anyone here have the Samurai Trilogy on Blu? I have the old DVD set (must have bought it twelve years ago or so) and it has an abominable transfer, looks like a laserdisc more than a DVD. I confess that it's not my favorite version of the Musashi story on film (the Kinnosuke Nakamura version is much much better), but it gas a great Toshiro Mifune performance and would be nice to own in Blu if it's a really massive upgrade.
That said, I suspect a Criterion release of Ran would be better than the Studio Canal release. The Studio Canal release has some edge enhancement which makes the image look a bit too clean, not filmic.
Does anyone here have the Samurai Trilogy on Blu? I have the old DVD set (must have bought it twelve years ago or so) and it has an abominable transfer, looks like a laserdisc more than a DVD. I confess that it's not my favorite version of the Musashi story on film (the Kinnosuke Nakamura version is much much better), but it gas a great Toshiro Mifune performance and would be nice to own in Blu if it's a really massive upgrade.
I have them, but haven't popped them in yet. Here's some comparison shots from dvdbeaver for the three films.
Samurai I
Samurai II
Samurai III
I'm glad I picked up Le Cercle Rouge and the other Melville's right when they were going out of print. I'm not as on top of Criterions as I used to be, but I always try to grab the stuff that's going out of print before it sky-rockets in price. The only one I slept on was The Third Man, because I wasn't sure if I wanted to upgrade everything to blu-ray at the time. I eventually caved and picked that one up about two years ago for probably $90 or so.
Son of Cervantes
Member
I have the old Third Man DVD...it came out on Blu before I had a PS3, and I didn't notice it had gone out of print.
That's really unfortunate, since Studio Canal's Blu pales in comparison to what Criterion did, and almost quite literally with the picture quality disparities! I even sprung for the plastic case replacement when Criterion was still offering it, as the paper digibook it came out as was a bit on the fragile side.
BaronLundi
Member
That's pretty strange. SC Ran is just ok and SC Cercle rouge is fine. Not great, but fine.
Guessing most here have heard, but CinemaGuild is finally giving Los Angeles Plays Itself a home release, and it's up for preorder http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LOMGG06?tag=thfist07-20
I still haven't seen it, if I hear of a cinematheque screening before or around the home release I'll catch it on the big screen but if i have to go for the blu that's not a big deal.
I still haven't seen it, if I hear of a cinematheque screening before or around the home release I'll catch it on the big screen but if i have to go for the blu that's not a big deal.
Unfortunately, Studio Canal's distribution partner in the US is Lionsgate, and I don't think I need to tell anyone about their complete ineptitude towards classic cinema releases.
Son of Cervantes
Member
BaronLundi
Member
Oh yeah I have all 3 so I can confirm that the Renoir has been treated well.
My point was that the SC Cercle Rouge blu was significantly better than the Ran one.
My point was that the SC Cercle Rouge blu was significantly better than the Ran one.
TheKaeptain
Banned
Too bad CC doesn't listen to their fans.
Son of Cervantes
Member
It's probably a rights issue. There's so many movies Criterion issued on laserdisc that they've never re-issued...stuff like Akira and Citizen Kane (though those have both gotten fantastic releases, thank goodness).
Even with the near-total decimation of the anime market in the US for physical ownership, I really wish that Criterion would get serious about animated releases. How there's not even a decent release of Fantastic Planet from anyone, let alone them, is utterly baffling.
Son of Cervantes
Member
Blu-Ray editions of Millennium Actress, Perfect Blue, and Tokyo Godfathers would also be most welcome.
Cosmic Bus
pristine morning snow
The very good MoC release is region-free and in NTSC, so there's not really any reason to pass it up.
I had no idea it was region free. I thought MoC region locked everything these days.
Tempting!
I didn't know all of that about Studio Canal. What a bummer. Best thing now for Le Cercle Rouge is $55 for a used copy. Lame lame lame. And SC doesn't seem to be doing shit as far as a new release. Same goes for Army of Shadows.
Those are literally two of my favourite movies ever. Oh well.
Those are literally two of my favourite movies ever. Oh well.
Net_Wrecker
Member
The Samurai Trilogy upgrades are pretty huge. Much better color, brightness, and IQ.
Son of Cervantes
Member
Good to know, thanks!
BaronLundi
Member
Also it's 7.99£ and shipping is always free to anywhere on the eureka store.
http://www.eurekavideo.co.uk/offers/BD.html
Dragoon En Regalia
Member
I wonder if that closet's where they keep the old LaserDisc spines...will get back to you guys on that one when I make several successful movies and get invited to their office.
Anyone know if that Touch of Evil blu is region locked?
Son of Cervantes
Member
No idea, but the US release is excellent, so why bother importing the MoC release?
My research indicates that the Blu-ray is indeed region B locked.
COSMIC BUS, YOU LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIE
Son of Cervantes
Member
The US version is really, really good. Includes all three versions of the movie (the recent reconstructed version, which is the only version that came out on DVD, I think...it's the one I own, anyway...the theatrical version, and the preview version) via seamless branching.
It's really good stuff, a very worthy release IMO.
It's really good stuff, a very worthy release IMO.
For the truly hardcore, both the MoC and R1 sets are missing the Academy ratio version of the preview cut, which has a been a real bone of contention in the past, between the people who get very hot over which was the preferred aspect ratio of the film. The elements for the full frame preview cut were apparently not up to use.
Cosmic Bus
pristine morning snow
My research indicates that the Blu-ray is indeed region B locked.
COSMIC BUS, YOU LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIE
The MoC DVD, which is the only version I was aware existed, is absolutely region-free.
Seems they've since reissued it as a dual-format Blu/DVD pack; the Blu is locked (as requested by the rights holder), the DVD continues to be R0 NTSC.
BaronLundi
Member
Just checked my copy. Region B indeed
But like Son of Cervantes said the US universal is certainly on par if not better.
by some grace of god, cinema guild is releasing los angeles plays itself, maybe my favorite documentary ever, on blu-ray this fall. i'm not sure how they remastered or got the rights to all these clips...but god, i'm so excited to see a proper release of this.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LOFYBP0/?tag=neogaf0e-20
here's a clip about one of the parts about modernist homes in film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hYg01uqz9U
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LOFYBP0/?tag=neogaf0e-20
here's a clip about one of the parts about modernist homes in film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hYg01uqz9U
BaronLundi
Member
Awesome news.
If you don't typically like musicals, I wouldn't get it. Umbrellas of Cherbourg is pretty much completely sung, Young Girls of Rochefort is an homage to the classic Hollywood musical, Donkey Skin is a somewhat odd but still relatively typical musical...you get the idea. Lola isn't a musical but has by all accounts a dreadful transfer due to restoration fuck-ups, and that leaves Bay of Angels, which is very good, and Une chambre en ville is a late period Demy musical that they threw in...just because, I guess. It's good though. That said, I love his work (and Michel Legrand's music), and Cherbourg and Rochefort are two of my favorite films, period. But as always, your mileage will vary.
That is pretty nuts! I got to see it at the Egyptian in LA like a decade ago...they said it would never release anywhere because of the rights. Stupendous doc.
Jo Shishido's Cheeks
Member
Oh man, hadn't heard about this and so just read up on it.
So gutting, it was the film I was looking forward to revisiting the most...
Yeah, it sucks, because this restoration was only done a couple years ago, and presumably it won't be worked on again any time soon (and I think the negative is lost?). I already have Cherbourg and Rochefort from the French BR releases, but the set is still worth it to me to get Bay of Angels and Donkey Skin in Blu.
Son of Cervantes
Member
What exactly is wrong with the Lola restoration?
It's a shame a lot of studios don't give a damn about film preservation. I was just reading about how the 70mm elements for John Wayne's The Alamo are just rotting away because MGM refuses to pay for a restoration or to allow for a crowd funded restoration effort (as they don't want to seem cheap). So depressing to think in a few years an important piece of film history will be lost.
It's a shame a lot of studios don't give a damn about film preservation. I was just reading about how the 70mm elements for John Wayne's The Alamo are just rotting away because MGM refuses to pay for a restoration or to allow for a crowd funded restoration effort (as they don't want to seem cheap). So depressing to think in a few years an important piece of film history will be lost.