Criterion Collection

[Ben]

I’ve heard really good things about Petite Maman, so would like to check that out, though it’s a pretty meagre edition.

[Randall]

Looking forward to Targets. I'd been planning on picking it up from the BFI, but they had to delay their release. It's still coming, but I'll likely go for the Criterion (even though a BFI rep does say they'll likely have better extras).

[Ben]

Yeah, no rush on Targets. Criterion doesn’t look bad but I’ll wait and compare editions as it’s one of those that will need a pretty convincing package to get me to bite, as it’s otherwise quite a down and dirty, typical Cormanfest, and a little nasty. Karloff is a draw, of course, but he's really not in the film that much, maybe less than a half hour, but otherwise it’s a typical 90 minute outing from the Corman factory, albeit one of the (slightly) better ones if definitely of its time. Interesting to see what the BFI can add, but the Criterion will be around a good while so no rush.

[Daniel]

May titles:

Petite Maman:
4K DIGITAL MASTER, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
New conversation between director Céline Sciamma and filmmaker Joachim Trier
Trailers
PLUS: An essay by author So Mayer

An update, it will also include My Life as a Zucchini (Ma vie de Courgette) as an extra. A charming stop-motion film that doesn't shy away from traumatic or sad moments.

[Ben]

Interesting. I take it that’ll be in HD too, as there was already a Blu-ray…

[blackcauldron85]

I know that I'm a few months late, but I've been on the fence about getting the Criterion Wall-e. For those who bought it, do you feel it's worth having even though you already have the Blu-ray?

[Ben]

Ultimately…not really. I got it as I am an insane completist, and there’s the novelty of a Criterion edition, but as a 2K master to begin with, it’s not any significant uptick from the already stellar Blu.

[Daniel]

Unless the packaging sways you.

[Randall]

Or the new extras.

[Ben]

Or the hike in cost…

Honestly, for what you get "added", it’s still not a robust new package, especially if you’re on the fence about it. If you’re a fan, go for it, but I’d wait for the Criterion sale for sure so that the cost is a more reasonable ratio to what you’re re-paying for.

[blackcauldron85]

That's why I'm on the fence... there's new stuff, but not a large amount of new stuff. I don't usually buy Criterion, so I wasn't thinking about a sale, but that's a good idea.

[Farerb]

The Disney 4K disc is superior as far as I know, the Criterion one has banding.

I think WALL-E looks great with HDR, the Blu-ray looks dull in comparison, greyish black instead of real black.

[Randall]

FYI: Criterion discs go 50% off at Barnes & Noble in July and November. Amazon sometimes price matches during the B&N sale, too.

[Ben]

Sorry…I did mean the Disney 4K. If you have that it would be dropping quite a chunk for not much uptick, but the sake might make it more worthwhile.

I haven’t watched the Criterion through, Farerb, or had a chance to compare, but is the Criterion really less than the Disney!? I thought they both used the same master that Disney prepared for them, or did Criterion do extra work and fudge the encode?

[Farerb]

Criterion added Dolby Vision, but people on Blu-ray com said it had banding and the Disney disc didn't.

Here is a post from someone there who provided links for screenshot comparison:

Banding in these three on the Criterion but not on the Disney disc:

(Right side): https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?a=1&x=70 ... 0&i=2&go=1

(Left side): https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?a=1&x=13 ... 0&i=3&go=1

(Top half): https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?a=1&x=51 ... &i=11&go=1

There are a few other places in the caps with banding as well but those were the more obvious ones. Not sure about the rest of the film.

The Disney discs seems better compressed overall based on the caps though. It’s not perfect either but it’s harder to spot the deficiencies compared to the Criterion, and imo it’s a good (and better) codec compared to the CC disc, even if not perfect.