New blu-ray:
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’And now for something completely different…'
The ‘Monty Python’ sketches left on the ‘Just For a Laugh’ topic the other day, reminded me of just how much I used to enjoy the series many years ago…
As a result, I’ve just been out to my local ‘CEX’ shop, and bought series 1-4…
I’m looking forward to these… ‘Nudge, nudge, wink, wink’…
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Love me some Monty Python goodness!!! 
The first season (series) was the first ever DVD I imported directly from the UK, and it’s been a prized item in my collection ever since. I’m still debating whether to upgrade the show to Blu Ray as the DVDs look very crisp and clear, but you never know “eh,eh?” ‘nudge, nudge’. 
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New blu-ray:
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Some new arrivals
Another of the great Umberto Lenzi/Tomas Milian films.
Antonio Margheriti, channeling his inner Howard Hawks, with a 1971 re-make of his 1964 classic Castle of Blood. Even though I’ve never seen Web of the Spider for some unknown reason, I’ve always been curious about this one though I suspect it loses something from the original simply by being in color. I am particularly looking forward to seeing Klaus Kinski take on the Edgar Allen Poe role and am equally intrigued to see Michele Mercier take over from Barbara Steel in the role of Elisabeth Blackwood.
A really good eBay “Buy it Now” deal on the Spain release.
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Love Brothers Till We Die, one of Tomas Milian’s finest efforts.
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Upgrades from blu-ray to 4K UHD blu-ray:
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New blu-ray:
25% off selected Criterion titles at HMV. I might grab 12 Angry Men (oo-er, missus!) before the promotion ends.
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New collection:
I have to admit that while I think the original Planet of the Apes is a classic, this was a nostalgia purchase. I remember as a kid of about 8 or 9 years old that one of the channels showed the original five on five consecutive Friday nights. Given that this was in the days before even VHS or Beta, all the boys in my class, as well as a cute pigtailed tomboy named Missy, were impossible for our teachers to deal with as we spent all week discussing and acting out scenes from the prior film while eagerly anticipating Friday night for the next chapter in the story. A far more carefree and innocent time. 
This set includes the original five and the visually impressive latest trilogy, but also includes the Tim Burton/“Marky Mark” Wahlberg abomination that came in between.
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Upgrade from DVD to blu-ray:
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I have this edition myself, love the cover art. In a complete case of irony, The Criterion Collection just announced they’re doing a 4K UHD and standard Blu Ray release of this classic over the summer, but I don’t think I’ll be double-dipping.
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Indeed. In fact I was looking on Amazon at the upcoming Criterion blu-ray - pre-order price £26 atm - when I thought to myself, hang on, didn’t Eureka release Double Indemnity already? And there it was, for £11. A no-brainer for me, really. I mean I’ve no doubt the Criterion version will be outstanding but I love Eureka’s work - film for film they might be my favourite label, even though I’ve got four times as many Arrow titles - and I’m sure there’s not going to be £15-worth of difference between the two.
Tbh, for the prices they charge I think Criterion are ever-so-slightly overrated. They’re fantastic obviously, but so are most of the other boutique labels who all routinely manage to bring their releases in £5-£10 cheaper than Criterion (and who often offer promotions with a lot more variety and regularity). Just imo, like.
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I concur with you entirely. I think it stems from the fact that they developed a reputation early on for releasing top quality editions of “important” films and, because they were “important”, they were able to charge more. They were the Rolex or Rolls-Royce of video, to give a couple of overblown examples, and to have a shelf lined with their releases immediately showed how “cultured” one was with their viewing tastes. They have continued to thrive on that reputation, despite other companies attaining their level of quality and, in many cases, surpassing it. Still, because they have that Criterion name, they are able to charge what they wish, and people will still purchase because they have that reputation. It is almost a level of snobbery for some. “Why buy this release when for a few dollars more, I can have a Criterion release?”
That’s my opinion anyway, for whatever that is worth. 
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It’s undeniable that Criterion has been a cornerstone of film preservation and the work they’ve done is amazing, but when Eureka and other labels like 88 Films, Arrow and Indicator are doing releases with stellar transfers, slipcovers, new original artwork, extras galore, posters, lobby cards etc for as low as £15 in some cases, it does make you feel like Criterions can be a bit overly steep in price.
That being said, I don’t think there’s many ‘bad’ Criterion releases right? Apart from the occasional disc error their transfers are almost always amazing.
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Oh, I agree! Their releases are still top notch. When I referred to the “level of quality”, I was talking about the things you mentioned.
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I’ll always have a soft spot for Criterion as they introduced me to Foreign Language Cinema when I was a senior in High School, and to the greats like Akira Kurosawa and Jean-Pierre Melville, but sometimes their prices do boggle the mind. At first I only got a Criterion or two for Christmas and my Birthday, but as I got older and I figured out where my tastes in films were, I was able to spend a little more here and there, and really build up my film library without going nuts.
And I gotta admit too that Arrow and 88 Films especially really delve out the goodies when it comes to extras and and swag.
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