New Criterion "M" - a must-own!

[Tim Casey]

I was pretty much satisifed with my old laserdisc (which was also available as a Criterion DVD), but this new disc is a jaw-dropper, again. There's a GREAT 24 minute documentary on the physical history of the print and the picture and sound quality is astounding - some scenes look like they were filmed yesterday.

This is probably one of my top ten favorite films of all time - maybe even in the top five. This disc only solidifies its reputation.

P.S. It's from the camera negative; it ends up that the damn thing was sitting in a Berlin warehouse, untouched, for all these years....

[John B Good]

Criterion = don't buy until they do it right? I am pretty pleased with the M I have.

[Todd Fredericks]

Criterion = don't buy until they do it right? I am pretty pleased with the M I have.
I wouldn't blame Criterion. The negative wasn't available when they did the first DVD. We should be happy that they're willing to revisit a title when better elements are found. Nobody's forcing anybody to buy the 2nd release. I sold my old copy of "M" (for a bit more than I originally paid for it) so for me it's a win-win situation. :)

[Ed Bishop]

I wouldn't blame Criterion. The negative wasn't available when they did the first DVD. We should be happy that they're willing to revisit a title when better elements are found. Nobody's forcing anybody to buy the 2nd release. I sold my old copy of "M" (for a bit more than I originally paid for it) so for me it's a win-win situation. :) Exactly. This is a major-league keeper.

Criterion hasn't always had the best elements to work with(check out their LD's of the '30s Hitchcock films), but at the time, they either were the only ones putting some titles out, or were the best among those who where(especially stuff that, at the time, might have been considered P.D.)

Nope, in the new century I'll go with Criterion, they've really done some fine, fine work!

:ed:

[Todd Fredericks]

Exactly. This is a major-league keeper.

Criterion hasn't always had the best elements to work with(check out their LD's of the '30s Hitchcock films), but at the time, they either were the only ones putting some titles out, or were the best among those who where(especially stuff that, at the time, might have been considered P.D.)

Nope, in the new century I'll go with Criterion, they've really done some fine, fine work!

:ed:

I agree. Criterion works with the best known elements they can get their hands on at the time of a project. They have also delayed some titles because better elements were recovered within a release window ('Grand Illusion'). How can anyone criticize them for offering the opportunity for an upgrade further down the road (they even offer a deal for the owners of the deleted DVD)? I'm happy that we have this choice.

[John B Good]

I also have their earlier Charade, Beauty and the Beast, just seems to be a pattern with me :(

[Tim Casey]

These movies are worth it. Their re-release of "Beauty and the Beast" also contains the wonderful surround-sound Philip Glass opera as an alternative audio track, and the picture quality looks even better.

If it seems like a pattern to you, that's because they're always trying to do a better job. Would you rather have waited for this "M" and not watched the film at all in the past twenty years? I wouldn't get too bummed out.

[R. Cat Conrad]

This is the version I own, and have for quite some time! Those owning DVD players with decent PAL/NTSC conversion could've been enjoying this restored classic for awhile. I'm pretty sure that this is the same restoration that Criterion is utilizing:

http://www.bensons-world.co.uk/dvd/products/8/7000000081366.asp

As I recall, I got this for less when originally purchsed, but current $$$/lb conversion rates may still make this edition cheaper than the Criterion version.

:cheers:
Cat

[njwiv]

From what I've read, the Criterion is a separate restoration from the Eureka DVD. Folks on HTF are differing as to which one has the better picture.

[Todd Fredericks]

I'd recommend the Criterion if someone has an NTSC "only" display. Multi-region DVD players are brilliant but there will be no comparason between an NTSC disc (from the same source or similar) than a player-decoded disc. This is also true for any NTSC disc taken from a PAL source (always go with the NTSC). A professional standards conversion will always out-shine a on-the-fly conversion.

[Paul C.]

I have the Australian version of the restored "M", which is mighty nice - I believe the same as the German and Eureka UK PAL versions. I understand that the transfer/encoding work for the Eureka/German was done by an Australian firm - they were later in releasing an Australian version, but put it out in some nice limited edition packaging. This edition beats the old Criterion no worries.

Having said that, the new Criterion looks really good, from stills I've seen on the net. It is very sharp and appears to have no contrast boosting, which the PAL version does seem to exhibit in comparison. The lack of PAL speedup makes it the preferred purchase, I reckon (assuming that the PAL is sped up - I understand that the UK & German reissues of Metropolis are to be preferred over the US Kino, not only because of higher bitrate, but also because that movie was shot in 25fps anyway, meaning that the PAL plays at the correct speed).

[R. Cat Conrad]

Good points, Paul. I have both the KINO and Eureka Metropolis and can attest to it's superior quality, although both are quite nice. You're right, this probably has to do with the slight speed (fps) difference and the fact that the folks at KINO decided to release their version as a single disc DVD-9 with more compression (lower bitrate).

One day I hope that a version of this masterpiece is released at a slower speed, even if they have to alter the original symphonic score to compensate. The accelerated speed creates a bit too much of an "Keystone Kop" look, something I'm sure that Lang never intended in his original release prints. The speeded up jazz dance sequence almost appears comical, which is unfortunate. As I understand it, when the restored Metropolis was shown in early road show engagements with house orchestra (i.e., before the original release's orchestral score was added) the projector speed was 20 fps, and all the movements appeared much more natural (i.e., fluid).

Anyway, sorry about the digression from the "M" discussion, but I guess I'll have to check out the recent Criterion release based upon some of the comments here, as it appears to be an upgrade over the Eureka. Such is life in the every changing world of DVD collecting! :rant: :crazy: :biglaugh:

:cheers:
Cat