The
long wait for Criterion's break into the world of Blu is just about over, and we're assured that our patience will not have been in vain. According to Criterion technical director Lee Kline: "If our Blu-ray discs are going to come out, then they'd better look right." Presumably addressing the
delays, he noted that "we had to make sure that the compression was right, that the audio encoding was up to par, and we had to make sure that the discs played on all players, particularly the older generation models, as well as [the] PlayStation 3." Possibly the most exciting news is that the
first wave of releases will be available for purchase on December 19th. Also of note, each title will "not be housed in the traditional blue-colored Blu-ray boxes that the major studios have adopted, nor will they carry the Blu-ray Disc logo. Rather, the Criterion titles will carry a small credit on the back of the box indicating that the title is in the Blu-ray format, and there will be a blue sticker on the shrink wrap indicating the same." Way to go your own way, Criterion.
posted November 26th 2008 3:19PM
Wow a studio that actually gives a flip about the individual consumers and doesn't just dump what they have out and hope it works.
What does Warner Bros. have to do with any of this?
Actually, Buena Vista has been including mail-in rebates for people who own both the DVD and Blu-ray version of a movie. Kill Bill 1/2 had it, not sure what other titles.
Nice job confusing the heck out of consumers with your packaging, Criterion. You'll be justly rewarded with a ultra-high return rate when people accidentally buy Blu-ray Discs for their DVD players.
Oh, Trent... stop being a noob.
For one, Criterion undoubtedly would have had to pay a huge sum of cash for the "privilege" of licensing the Blu-Ray logo on their movies, making purchase of said discs even higher. For two, their BD movies are more expensive than their DVD counterparts and are clearly marked as such on their website. For three, Criterion is offering discounts on the BD movies if their customers have already purchased the same movies on DVD in the past; do you REALLY think that any other "mainstream" studio would do the same?
I for one am glad that the company cares about the quality of their product as Criterion does, and will accept a few differences to their products so they stand out from the other titles in my other collection.
So, relax your puckered starfish. This is a good thing.
Guys, I'm glad you're optimistic enough to not be worried. The reality is that people don't read the package, and will be confused.
There were enough issues already with HD DVD and Blu-ray in their respective distinctive packages. To think that the snooty Criterion target market is any smarter is just silly...they're still human.
Scott, I have to address another point.
For someone calling others a "noob", you should do some fact-checking.
Putting the Blu-ray logo on a disc or case is part of being a licensee...you have to be a licensee to use the word Blu-ray or to sell discs on the format.
Also, I'm not attacking Criterion's overall mission or integrity, I just think the packaging move was stupid.
Thanks for your overreaction to my simple point.
@Scott:
Wait, they pay to release a Blu disc, and they have to pay again to put the label on the cover? That doesn't seem realistic, although I wouldn't doubt it these days.
There's a lot of folks (like me), who prefer the standard blue BD cases.
@Scott, just so you know, the criterion blu-ray discs are being sold for the exact same price as their dvd counterparts. just another reason to love criterion.
Criterion is not a studio. From their wiki:
The Criterion Collection is a privately held company that distributes "authoritative" consumer versions of "important classic and contemporary films," first on Laserdisc, and then on DVD, Blu-ray and downloading online.
And to respond to TrentD: I think anyone paying the money to buy the Criterion version of a movie will be discerning enough to know that they are buying the Blu-ray version. Their not going to get them out of the Wal-mart bargain bin.
Plus they will have a large "Blu" sticker on the shrink wrap. See image above. I hope people buying the discs can still read.
Trust me they can't. Many Blu-ray discs have a huge sticker on them stating that they only play in Blu-ray players, yet we get them returned because they don't work in peoples DVD players.
I sometimes wonder if the Internet was only designed for whining about things people do *wrong*.
Criterion makes the VERY BEST DVDs money can buy. It's absolutely AWESOME that they've gone Blu, and are releasing some great titles. I have The Third Man DVD, and will consider replacing it. Their Wes Anderson releases are especially enjoyable (Rushmore had GREAT features), and I can't wait to see what Bottlerocket has to offer.
In terms of content -- and their commitment to producing high-quality transfers -- Criterion can't be beat, and I'm betting that carries over to their Blu-rays. After how totally awesome Criterion is, the complaint (whining!) about packaging really just becomes a sad statement about the poster, rather than on Criterion itself.
-Pie
Buy the discs BEFORE you call us whiners. I love Criterion, too, but these packages are lousy. Please read my full post below.
Im pretty sure they would still be ponying up the same bluray licensing fees everyone else does. It is a bluray release which means they have to pay licensing to the BDA. I dont think they can get away with not paying licensing fees by just changing the packaging. If that was the case im sure other stuidos would have done the same. Im with Trent. Its a silly move to confuse consumers with different packaging. Not all buyers are discerning HT buffs that will know the difference. You give to much credit to some consumers. If the packaging is pretty much the same and the price is the same then i think there is a high chance they wont know the diff. PLus these will look out of place with collectors current BD packaging.
I have no problem with Criterion packaging their products the way they choose. They are including a Blu-Ray sticker on the front, with the same mention on the back. I'm sure it'll be in the Blu-Ray section, and anyone buying a Criterion movie is probably a little more astute than your average buyer.
That's being said, no matter what you do, people still buy Blu-Ray movies by mistake, thinking they'll work in their DVD players. Why just the other day I was in the store and this guy was explaining the benefits of Blu-Ray to this woman, and left her with the impression all she needed to do was buy a Blu-Ray disc to achieve an HD picture. I stopped her as she was heading out with Blu-Ray discs in hand, and found out she had neither a Blu-Ray player or an HDTV. Like it or not, there is still confusion in the marketplace.
I think Criterion should be commended for keeping the price of their Blu-Ray discs the same as their existing DVD prices. And for offering a discount to people that already own a DVD of a certain title, if they want to upgrade to Blu.
While I agree with you wholeheartedly about praising them for not pricing their Blu Rays higher than their conventional releases, the "upgrade" procedure isn't a very good deal.
I checked into it.
You have to mail in your previously purchased disc copy (of say disk 1 of The Third Man, in a RECENT version, not the first Criterion release of the title), keeping the case to put your Blu Ray in once it arrives. The cost for the exchange is $25 ($20 plus $5 shipping). Add your initial shipping to that, and you'd be better off just buying the title from Amazon for $26.99 and selling your old one. Plus, their site cryptically says they reserve the right to discontinue the exchange program at any time...good news if you send your DVD in, eh?
In my opinion, the exchange isn't a great deal. I'll just sell my original copies on eBay before buying the Blu Rays.
Before you're so quick to end your review with the celebratory "way to go, Criterion," perhaps you should have had a few of the discs in hand. While I LOVE the Criterion product line, and have no qualms about the image quality or performance of the Blu Ray discs themselves, the cardboard packaging of these initial releases leaves much to be desired. They feel very cheap and insubstantial. The shrinkwrap on the two titles that I purchased distorted/warped the cases so that they never really sprang back to correct shape. WORST OF ALL, for some bizarre reason, the sleeves are different proportions than any of the existing dvd or blu ray cases. So when you have them on the shelf, the few Criterion titles released in this manner will "jut out".
Picky on my part? Well, yes. But it's all perceived value. Why should my CONVENTIONAL copy of Criterion's release of The Third Man be housed in a more protective and better designed case than my Blu Ray copy of the same title? Wouldn't you think they'd want consumers to be drawn to these new releases? And want to protect them in better cases.
I wrote to Criterion about my dissatisfaction with these cardboard sleeves/cheap packages. Their consumer rep was quick to get back to me, telling me that the cases were a temporary measure for the first wave of their Blu Ray releases until they could design their own plastic case without the blue "band" on the top.
Well, that leads me to wait before I buy any more Blu Ray Criterion dvds. I would rather have them in better grade packaging, from the company that had prior to this set the standard for the best DVD packages around.
Michael Martin
Graphic Designer AND Film Buff
Finally! I've been waiting for blu-ray to stop having those ridiculously ugly blue plastic boxes before I buy any. As a graphics designer, I always found those horrifying.