DVD Afficianados: Criterion Question

Reality's Fringe

Reality's Fringe

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Ok, so I've been hearing people say "get the Criterion Collection" "the Criterion Dvd is coming out soon" and "Man, I want that Criterion but it's 100 bucks!" I would like to know what the hell makes Criterion so special that it warrants the huge price tag on most of them. I checked a website but it seemed to be sucking criterion's collective weenie so I would rather just get a straight answer from someone here who knows what the hell they're talkin' about. Why, why is Criterion so special?
 
They start off as $40 movies (average) but if they go out of print they can become worth more (like This is Spinal Tap).
But yeah swick is correct, their editions of dvds have some of the best transfers (taking longer times to make the dvds) and some of the best features. Sometimes Director approved stuff is added.
I'm hoping they add Bottle Rocket to Criterion since Royal Tenenbaums and Rushmore are already.
 
I also think generally they have a smaller print run and are only available for short time (there are some exceptions). I could be wrong though.
 
Criterons have better transfer than the usual DVDs you find. Not all of them have extras that are worthwhile though. One thing that they do have in common is that they are waaaaay overpriced.

I do own a few myself: Seventh Samurai, Onibaba, Fellini's 8 and a half, Kwaidan
 
[quote name='chickenhawk']I also think generally they have a smaller print run and are only available for short time (there are some exceptions). I could be wrong though.[/quote]

Some films are out-of-print. The ones off the top of my head is "Silence of the Lambs" and John Woo's "Hardboiled". Both are sought after by DVD affectionados.

The other ones dont generally go out of print.
 
I have a few of them that are just rereleases (Robocop, Armageddon, The Rock). I have Chasing Amy, but that's the only release of it I've seen.
 
Reality's Fringe said:
Whys is the Transfer so much better than anyother giant corporate juggernaut such as MGM, Universal etc? Can someone give me an example?
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A lot of these movies are really old films. They have to be cleaned up. The dust has to be removed. The scratches have to be removed. Thats part of the process before it is put on DVD.
 
I love my Criterion movies, but I agree they can be a bit pricey.

I own: Robocop, Silence of the Lambs, Sid & Nancy, Rushmore, Chasing Amy, The Royal Tennenbaums, Sanjuro, Yojimbo, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Do the Right Thing, Beastie Boys Video Anthology. MP's Life of Brian, The Rock, Samurai I, Sparticus, and Traffic.
 
i think they also do better sound mixes to get higher quality dts and dobly D surround sound.

also, i believe they get the director's approval (if he/she is still alive) before they release the dvd
 
[quote name='6669']I have a few of them that are just rereleases (Robocop, Armageddon, The Rock). I have Chasing Amy, but that's the only release of it I've seen.[/quote]

Incorrect. Robocop was a new transfer and original cut footage was restored.
 
id say if you have a good home theatre setup it is worth the extra money, only if its a movie you are gonna watch many times. i have owned both versions of fear and loathing and the criterion is far superior in sound and there are a lot of cool extra features.
 
Reality's Fringe said:
I don't know. I'll have to pick one up myself. It sounds a little iffy to me, especially for the insanely high price tags.
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Well, I think you missed the point: the high prices are usually only on out-of-print DVDs. Most Criterion disks are only marginally more expensive than normal, if at all.
 
No, I've seen opnes still in print going for 30-40 dollars at my BB when the same movie is one rack away at $9.99-14.99 It's like This is Spinal Tap; I've heard the Special Edition (14.99) is better than the Criterion one (way too high). I was just wondering what made them worth the extra cash, and I think to really find out I'll have to buy one and compare it with a standard edition to know for sure.
 
Back in the days of laser disc, Criterion discs either restored old films, have a bunch of extras for the movie, or both. Now a days with DVD, the movie studios are also providing this (for the most part). You're pretty much guaranteed the best audio and picture quality with Criterion, but if you're happy with what you get on the studios' release save your money and stick with that.
 
I dont think the Special Spinal Tap can be anywhere near as good as the Criterion one, Criterion gets exclusive rights to some stuff. But that DVD is really high price cause its OOP.
Why not buy em and keep em sealed till they go out of print and sell them.
Try comparing the features from the original Traffic to the Criterion Traffic dvds.

edit: i have never seen spinal tap criterion or not, i should have said that but traffic should prove a better example.
 
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