GA Russell Posted November 4, 2014 Report Posted November 4, 2014 (edited) It appears to me that Amazon is having a sale on Essential Art House DVDs, with what I see going for around $15. I know that many of you are big fans of Criterion, but their movies seem to go typically for around $25. Are the Essential Art House products good enough to save the $10 per film, or do you recommend spending what it takes to get the Criterions? Edited November 4, 2014 by GA Russell Quote
medjuck Posted November 4, 2014 Report Posted November 4, 2014 They're basically the same. Janus Films is the majority owner of The Criterion Collection. (Of which. I'm proud to say that I was one of the founders back in the Laser Disc days-- I've nothing to do with it today.) The Essential Art House releases may have fewer bells and whistles but I presume they're using the same transfers. I'll try to find out. Quote
ejp626 Posted November 4, 2014 Report Posted November 4, 2014 If it's anything like the Criterion/Eclipse distinction (aside from the fact they don't put the same films on each label), Art House probably doesn't come with any bonus material, and maybe not even any commentary tracks. Quote
medjuck Posted November 4, 2014 Report Posted November 4, 2014 OK I found out. Art House is just the film without any of the bonus materials. Quote
Leeway Posted November 4, 2014 Report Posted November 4, 2014 I bought a few of those Essential Art House boxes some time ago at a steep discount; now at least several of the films are totally out of print, so turned out be a good deal. However, since I've gotten a subscription to Hulu Plus ($7.99 a month), I can see nearly all of the Criterion Collection, including some that have not made it to DVD. Hulu Plus is affiliated with Criterion; check out the Criterion web site. (CC might even own some of Hulu Plus). OTOH, not all the commentary is available on Hulu Plus. Still, I think Hulu Plus is a fantastic deal. Quote
GA Russell Posted November 4, 2014 Author Report Posted November 4, 2014 Thanks guys! I'm not particularly interested in the bonus material, unless there is a specific film you recommend it for. My interest is in the quality of the print. If you think that the Essential Art House prints are just as good as the Criterions, I'll save the ten dollars and go for that. Quote
ejp626 Posted November 4, 2014 Report Posted November 4, 2014 Thanks guys! I'm not particularly interested in the bonus material, unless there is a specific film you recommend it for. My interest is in the quality of the print. If you think that the Essential Art House prints are just as good as the Criterions, I'll save the ten dollars and go for that. The quality should be fine, but if Criterion recently remastered a film then the Art House will still be the older version. That doesn't apply to too many titles, I would think. Quote
medjuck Posted November 4, 2014 Report Posted November 4, 2014 I'm pretty sure that Criterion doesn't own a piece of Hulu. Hulu has just licensed the films from Criterion and eventually their license will expire. (Though they may renew it.) Quote
mjzee Posted November 4, 2014 Report Posted November 4, 2014 ImportCDs has 6 titles at around $12.50 each: http://www.importcds.com/Search/Guided/essential+art+house Quote
GA Russell Posted November 4, 2014 Author Report Posted November 4, 2014 Thanks Michael! I'll have to think about 8 1/2 at that price. Quote
bluesoul Posted October 7, 2015 Report Posted October 7, 2015 Criterion is having a 50% off sale today, wish I had learned of it sooner, but there is still 14 hours to go....https://www.criterion.com/sale Quote
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