Criterion Discs review on DVDtown

Hello DVDTown Reviewers,

Why don't we see new Criterion DVD reviews at dvdtown? I was eagerly waiting for Ikuru, and Stray dog. Plus I don't see many Criterion reviews except for the Hitchcock DVDs and few others. Any reason?

--Ranjan

Hi, Ranjan:

Yes, there are reasons why I haven't been covering Criterion a lot lately:

1) Criterion's been on a tear releasing a lot of obscure stuff that no one but die-hards have heard of.

2) Lack of time in terms of reviewing priorities.

3) Lack of personal interest in some titles.

However, I'm working on reviews of "Tunes of Glory" and "Stray Dog" right now. They should be up sometime today. :)

Eddie

That explains it :). I am looking forward to these reviews. I agree Criterion has been releasing crappy stuff lately. I am sure there is a reason for that - maybe the US movie studios like to market their own stuff. The licensing fees that Criterion has to pay for releasing the movies might be very high. For example Robocob and Silence of the Lambs was on Criterion collection couple of years ago but they are now replaced by the MGM SEs. Also Hitchcock box set is officially OOP and MGM will release it as a bare bone release. Criterion should seriously reduce the cost of these DVDs:)

The funny thing about those Hitchcock DVDs from MGM is that several of them are actually owned by Buena Vista (Disney's parent company) through ABC (yes, the TV channel). The movies are being released by MGM as part of a deal that has MGM distributing some of Buena Vista's DVDs. Some of these were originally released by Anchor Bay (such as "Candleshoe", "Rebecca", "Spellbound", and "Notorious"), whose deal to distribute some Buena Vista properties has expired.

At any rate, public domain Hitchcock like "The Lady Vanishes" and "The 39 Steps" will still be carried by Criterion. It's a good thing, too--those cheapo versions of "The Lady Vanishes" and "The 39 Steps" are almost unwatchable.

once again, it doesn't matter if they're "available" on DVD if only the super rich can afford to buy them! Or view them, you can't even rent the behemoths!

Just because you haven't doesn't make it a bad system at all. There probably would never have been as wonderful a version of "Fear and Loathing," the definative director's version of "Brazil" along with controversial films like "Straw Dogs." Masterworks like Kurosawa's films, Samurai and otherwise (like Ikiru).

uh huh, well it's a bad system if you ask me. Never bought a criterion (although sometimes tempted, but they are just too darn expensive!), and probably never will at that price.

Because they put a lot of time and effort into cleaning up the audio and video of these films and putting together unique documentaries and extra features on films that would otherwise be lost to the ages. They don't have major studio money backing them, so they need to recoup costs of production through the sales of the discs so they can keep producing special sets. Basically, their pricing structure is a throwback to the days of laserdisc when it wasn't unusual to pay 100 dollars or more for a single movie. It was easier to subsidize their costs then.

Why are criterion so expensive? I don't see the need to bay $80 for a film that is "artistic" but shallow and boring. Its just silly. As well, they never stock enough, so you have to buy online and stuff, It's just such an obscure company that everyone's heard of!

no no, I'm a baragin hunter, more than a third of those I got under $15 Canadian, even the rare ones (ebay, previously viewed, bins), I've probably never spent more than $25 Canadian for a DVD (I can't be sure, but over 150 yes), so when I see a film go for $79 Canadian as a discount for Criterion... oh what the hell, I dont care anymore

Get over it, seriously. In one thread you're claiming you have 5 pages worth of DVDs, yet you think it's too much to spend 25 dollars for a Criterion (and they're generally much less than that, I got the Kurosawa box of four movies for 60 dollars). Make up your mind. It's like you're complaining and arguing for its own sake, and it's getting old.

to look at a Criterion disk is somewhat intimidating, with its lines that go up and across the edges of the case and the little printing that says 'criterion collection' at the top, then you turn it over and the case is not only havy, but the small print lists off the billions of little things that this dvd has... right down to: 'plays actual movie', then you're like: what have they done?! It's like the unveiling of Frankensteins monster. Prestigious and snobby.

I know for me, I dont mind paying the high prices, because for a lot of my favorite films (Kurosawa, older French Films,) its the only chance I have to get them on DVD. Also, compared to the studio releases (Rushmore, Videodrome, Fear and Loathing, Brazil), the Criterion Releases are so much better as far as video presentation and special features I dont spending the extra money. For the most part, they release films that will not sell well, even if they charge 15-20, but if it wasnt for them, who knows if I could get some of the titles...

they simply don't like the kinds of movies that criterion releases!!!

And why do u think people will not buy Criterion at bargain prices?

It's a difficult juggling act. I know that several DVD Town users buy Criterions when they find bargains, but the reality of that situation is that people who buy discounted Criterions will buy Criterions anyway. On the other hand, there are people who won't buy Criterions, no matter how cheap the discs are. Therefore, again, a price threshold actually makes more sense than selling cheap DVDs.

I understand the whole pricing setup for the Criterion discs. But I feel their can be a better pricing structure for more sales..

I have tough time believing that they don't have Studios backing in making these discs. Criterion might be using their own staff for doing restoration and making documentaries. They have to pay licensing fees and royalties to the studios. This is the factor that increases the price of the Criterion disc. For example, Great Expections is available for $34.99 but MGM was planning to release it for $13.99.
However, you have to also see most of the time people are looking for better versions of the film and they will not buy it if it is too pricey. At the end of the day, these discs are consumer items, the more you sell, the more money you will make. You can spend countless hours on restoration and documentaries but if it is expensive, as a consumer I will think twice. Onijay, brings out a valid point, what kind of consumer segment Criterion is targeting? Criterion marketing strategy confuses me sometimes but they do have some great releases! Thats what makes them unique:)

onijay,

if you don't like them (based on the movies themselves, their prices, or whatever), then you don't have to buy them. no one is making you add criterions to your library.

eddie

whoever said I would buy them? I certainly never did, I'm just trying to understand why they would make them so expensive, now I have the answer...

Ruthee,

But if Straw Dogs is only 20 dollars instead of 35... how many more sales do you see for such a fringe title? I don't see many, if any.

Well Justin 90% of titles from Criterion are fringe titles. Atleast thats what is happening lately. I agree most of the titles are strictly targeted to the hardcore fans. By keeping the price down to $20, I might be enticed to buy it. With $35 price tag chances are remote. There are good titles too like Brazil, Spartacus in their catalog. Brazil costs $49.99 and I understand all the bells and whistles of this release. But as a consumer, I can probably buy a better TV series for the same price. Remember Criterion released Hitchcock boxset last year. It was priced at $120. Had the price been like $75-80, there would have been lot of people buying it.

In comparison, look at Warner, they are releasing Hitchcock set for $70, 9 movies. Thats a good deal. I am sure there are lot of people like you and I, who will pick this set. If Criterion was releasing this set, the price would have been $140+.

But I do agree that Criterion has found a niche in creating DVDs of the lesser known artistic films. Whether it is profitable for them only time will tell or they know it better..:)

What Justin really meant was that Criterion, as a stand-alone company, doesn't have any protection from bad sales. Most other studios are owned by huge conglomerates, so poor DVD sales won't hurt the company as a whole. Therefore, Criterion prices its discs at a certain level that

a) secures profits from a minimal amount of sales;
b) ensures profits through a certain level of elitism (people like to buy Criterions for the prestige factor).

Justin,

It is difficult to find a new Criterion disc for $25. All the good release like Fear and loathing, Last temptation of christ, third man etc are over $30. Spartacus goes upto $45 at some places. I am sure you can find bargains after doing good hunting for the DVDs you want. The best bargain that I have been able to find is to wait for the discount at deepdiscountdvd.com thru' dvdtalk. Plus the price of the criterion disc never drops in the first week of release. Most of the retailers online sell it for pretty much same price.

--Ranjan

We just learned something VERY important about Onijay: he's Canadian. The Criterion prices in Canada are MUCH higher, by comparison, to the US prices. I'm not sure why, but it's not the first time I've heard that.

see I'm not insane! Thats what I've been trying to tell the whole world!

If you want to know more about Criterion Collection and why they cost what they do check out the link below:

- EXTERNAL LINK -

But really people, you think that they are over priced and I even saw that someone said you can't get any one of them less than $30. First of all, they release films that have a better restoration than anyone I have seen on the market. Secondly, the deal in films that are historic masterpieces and each worth watching not only for the entertainment, but to experience the history of film. Finally, if you are paying > $30 then you are paying too much!

I usually pay $19 to $26 for each title with exception to box sets. If you are a DVD collector and do not already know how to get the best priced DVDs then you are doing yourself an injustice.

For the most part I consider my Criterion films my collection and the others are just films I watch. You can see my collection at the following link if you are interested:

- EXTERNAL LINK -

If you are a collector you will want to look into - EXTERNAL LINK - for keeping track of you movies as well as finding the best price for films. This is at least a start, but if you want the best pricing you will have to look.
:o

I wouldn't exactly consider Armageddon an "historic masterpiece" (even though I bought the criterion version on e-bay). Nor did it have substantial audio or video (it wasn't even anamorphic!). Criterion also release quite a few films that I would consider "acquired tastes", but at any rate thank you for the price list.