I'm not into collecting everything when it comes to movies, just a select few, so reviews like yours come in handy when assessing what in my small collection is needing of an upgrade
I bought the blu ray a few years ago when I first got into movies. I decided to get this to support criterion and what they do, along with all the special features (like I want to know what makes this movie standout as being greatest movie ever). I even kind of liked the packaging, it’s unique. I understand the frustration but hopefully I’ll enjoy it :). Thank you for your honest review!
The cinematography and technical aspects of the film stood out for over 40 years to make it on of the best film presentations. Oh and of coarse Orson himself.
Mine arrived tonight from Barnes and Noble. It’s one of my 4 favorite films of all time so it was a must buy for me. In addition, I have a 150” screen and along with a 4K projector, it’s revealing . This cost me $30 and when I used to pay $100 for Criterion box Laserdisc sets. Packaging is very weird. Great review Jeff. Thanks.
@@peakoil-ko5oq it arrived yesterday and I have not opened it yet. Based upon Jeff's comments I would not pay $60 for this (I paid $30 in the B&N sale). I'll let you know when I look at it and compare to the Warner collectors edition, which is outstanding.
Thanks for your extremely comprehensive review. Really good screen captures and comparisons between 4K and Blu-ray. Great to hear that the mono sound track has been improved. Hopefully Bernard Herrmann's score will sound better than it did on the Warner Bros 70th Anniversary Blu-ray. Kane's sound recording was a revolution in its day, thanks to Welles' collaboration with recordist and mixer, James G Stewart, a collaboration as significant as the the one Welles made with cinematographer Gregg Toland. If you listen to the sound track without picture, Citizen Kane emerges as the best radio play ever recorded. It represents Welles' greatest achievement in sound up to that time. Home theatre enthusiasts might wish to send the audio track to 2-channel stereo, using larger left and right speaker units than the (usually) smaller centre channel unit. Better bass response might be possible doing that too. If your amplifier has a built-in graphic equalizer, don't hesitate to lift bass levels and trim any built-in high-frequency shrillness to better approximate the "Academy Curve" of films from the 1940s where almost everything was attenuated after the 7 KiloHertz range. Of greater concern is the fact the image transfer to 4K was done with reference to the earlier Warner Bros Blu-ray release. In the early projection room scenes after News On The March, Joseph Cotten is clearly visible at the back of the preview theatre. In the original he was obscured in shadowy blackness. In original nitrate prints, this blackness wold have been "velvety" and totally atmospheric. But the Warners team decided to lighten the image, revealing Cotten's face, unaware that Welles was shooting this scene way ahead of schedule as a "test" to confound the Front Office of RKO, and Cotten was a handy extra. No way would Welles want Cotten to be identifiable since he plays such a crucial leading part in the rest of the picture. He was deliberately under-lit. I fear this error will be repeated in this new edition, both in 4K and Blu-ray.
sad we dont have a barnes and noble where we cant get criterions other than amazon. if jb hi fi sold criterions it would be amazing, but that'll never happen
I have a different idea where it’s a similar design, but it’s got that classic disc holder instead of the cardboard sleeve, you could still have the KANE design but repurposed to the classic disc holder design, and the disc packaging is held inside by a hard cardboard slipcover, think the same hardness as the Halloween 4K release from Scream Factory, and honestly, I think that Hard Cardboard Slipcovers should be adopted more often, considering how well it usually works out.
@@sothatsdevintart2562 100% Agree about Scream Factory's hard slipcover. Their release of Elvira's Haunted Hills had the same thing, so I'm kind of hoping that's the default slipcover for them going forward. And yeah, wouldn't mind seeing other boutique distributors adopt the same concept.
For $30, this is absolutely worth it. The sound and picture of the last Blu-ray are within a notch of each other, but if you have no other copies, $30 is a good deal for this. And even if you have the old box set from 2011, $30 for tons of awesome special features is still a damn good deal. At $30, go for it. At $60 though, it’s a hard pass. And that package is ass. It looks like a preschool art project. 🤦♂️
Balanced and honest review. I really like this film but will wait until Criterion sort out disc issues, also it does not appear to be out in Europe yet. I agree with the poor quality of packaging. I am a big Osborn Welles fan and am really looking forward to future 4K release of The Third Man which I feel is a better film. I accept that there are limitations on what Criterion could do - maybe they should look at what BFI did in its first 4K release of the seventh seal.
I could be mistaken but I think WB is doing distribution for EU and it comes out 12/13/21. Not entirely sure if the Criterion version is getting an EU release or not.
I LOVE this movie, but I own the 75th anniversary edition with a commentary track by Roger Ebert, which I picked up for $10. TBH, I think that's enough for me. What I am really looking forward to is THE RED SHOES. I saw a 35mm print of that last year, and it blew my mind.
Great film for this time of year. One of the best classic films ever made! I agree with you, it isn’t the best film ever made. But it is definitely one of the top ones. A shame they didn’t have the original 35MM or even a complete 2nd level print. But they did a good job for the limited resources they had to do this release! This packaging looks really lame. And yeah, the discs will get scratched to hell in this thing.
A Criterion Collection film is generally if not always a higher grade that what else may be available. The extras are excellent and worth it as I enjoy the additional documentaries and other information added with the Criterion Collection films available. I like the large K on the front cover as this film stands out above all other films.
Thanks as always great reviews ….. the greatest thing of being a new dad , you get an unbelievable sense of energy to do things when your back is against the wall. Keep up the great work and charge on .
Never owned the blu ray. Saw this film on streaming a year ago and it completely blew me away. Truly a masterpiece. Can't wait to add this 4k to my collection.
Although the UK Warner Brothers 4K release does not have Dolby Vision, according to trusted sources, the picture quality is 99.9 identical. It does not have the abundance of Special Features the US Criterion does but I just got it in a Zavvi '3 for 30' euro sale...so for less than $10 it's a bargain! (comes in regular plastic case (there is also a Limited Edition w/tat in a cool looking slipbox).
Looks great packaging-wise but, considering the restoration of the film itself doesn't yield a very big step up in image quality, the biggest reason to buy it would be special-features but there's very few of them on the UK release & the ones that they do have are the same as on the previous 75th Anniversary BluRay release which I do have so if I personally were to upgrade this film then I'd opt for the Criterion edition for their special features tbh.
The packaging is an absolute joke, the only discs you can get out easily are the special features discs. I've already moved the 4k and the two special features discs to my 2010 Citizen Kane set and put those discs in a standard plastic case and now the Criterion packaging can just stand there as piece of art, useless at holding discs. At least this way my discs are safe from damage.
@@holleringsmith3837 Nah, it has been discussed many times that 4k discs are much more susceptible to skipping due to scratches or fingerprints, due to the amount of data stored on the discs vs how much data blu ray stores. You're right that blu ray discs are very resistant to any scratches or fingerprints and I have almost never had skipping problems with blu rays. I can't say the same about 4k, fingerprints will cause skipping, sometimes it skips and it takes me forever to find the tiny mark on the 4k. A tiny mark or fingerprint on a blu ray is unlikely to effect playback, but on a 4k the tiniest mark can mess up an entire scene. Films at Home literally did a video on this exact subject 5 days ago. ua-cam.com/video/gC0XGrygA4w/v-deo.html
I compared it to the 75th anniversary edition and I agree. I don't see much improvement in sharpness if any. The 4K is a lot darker on my projector. Probably because it can't handle the HDR that well. Most of my 4k's are darker then their blu ray counterparts. Although with some tweaking I mostly prefer the 4K disc. But for Citizen Kane I prefer watching the blu ray on my projector. Also with the blu ray issues on the Criterion I will check out the UK version. Although I don't think it will make any difference...
Very insightful review Jeff. I'll stick with my Warner 70th Anniversary Blu-ray Book packaged 2-disc set that I picked-up at Best Buy for a mere $10 a few years back. Talk about nightmarish packaging for this Criterion 4K release. I hate those types of packages; your best bet to get your discs all scratched-up. Considering the very high cost of the release, it's really a bone-headed decision from Criterion.
@@adriannn3720 Been doing just that when needed for all my physical media types since the days when I started buying CDs in the late 80s. Actually, just about the time you were writing your suggestion, I had just finished taking care of the problematic booklet case for Hitchcock's 4K + Blu-ray 4-title collection; talk about synchronicity. In this case I got creative and used DVD plastic/microfiber disc sleeves I already had to contain the discs that are by design kept in double-sided cardboard slots that are way too tight. When I carefully and slowly took out the Psycho 4K disc some days ago, it got scratched a little by the cardboard slot edge because it was so tight.
I don't mind the way it folds (I actually like it a little bit), but you are right about how horrible it is trying to take the discs out with that bump in the center - seems like a huge oversight.
I knew when I opened the package up that you would also be extremely annoyed with the way it was put together. Once again another fine review that covers all the bases.
Thanks for the objective review! I guess I'll be waiting to see if Criterion releases a standard blu-ray edition down the line. The minimal upgrade to the picture, the annoying packaging/sleeves, and the faulty blu-ray disc have all made up my mind. Money is limited, and I'm not super picky about audio, so basically I'd only be buying it for the special features.
Criterion doesn’t do standard editions. We’ve rarely seen them change packaging except for things like a release losing a book like Short Cuts and Picnic at Hanging Rock.
@@myfasmarine I think what he means is not getting the version with the 4K blu-ray disc and only getting the set with the 3 normal blu-ray discs, which is an option for people who don’t want to spend the extra money. Though, it would be nice to have an idea as to when the first blu-ray disc issue will be fixed so people who didn’t pre-order the film can plan on ordering or picking up Citizen Kane at a Barnes and Noble or online somewhere.
Great Review, glad you were able to give some positives to Criterion while still acknowledging the release’s flaws. One question I’d like to ask (this isn’t related to the video at all) is whether or not you got The Invasion of The Body Snatchers 4K release, that seems like a major release we got this year and I was wondering what you thought about it.
Citizen Kane was voted Nr.1 movie of the 20th century by Time magazine. the moral of this movie is, that you can't buy real love with money. by the way, Nr.1 music album was Exodus by Bob Marley. And I can live with both choices. Both absolute classics.
It is objectively one of the greatest movies ever made. Opinion has nothing to do with it. My opinion is that it is maybe boring for non filmmakers and even myself if I am not watching just to amaze myself at the groundbreaking cinematography. Definitely can see how people might not like it that much. But the enjoyment level one obtains from viewing a film has nothing to do with the objective truth of the quality of the filmmaking. I do not like some good movies and I love some terrible ones.
German 4K release of Citizen Kane in December: - Normal price - Normal case - Normal artwork - Less features but I bet the main feature audio and video will be identical to the Criterion disc.
Hello- though its from the Criterion Collection I have my doubts about a 4K disc of Citizen Kane. the reason is simple. like the original 1933 King Kong no camera negative for CK has existed for decades. so like CK's vhs, dvd and blu-ray issues the 4K would have to be mastered from a copy of a copy.
Yeah, I would just take the discs out of that packaging and store them in individual protective sleeves that will do a much better job at, ya know, *protecting* them (though it would be nice if I didn't have to do that...)
Right, so what I'm really getting from this is that Criterion did a fantastic job in producing a feature rich release, as expected, but then did virtually zero QC for any of it.
Warner Brothers UK is releasing its on version of this on 13th December 2021. The packaging is different as are some of the extras. I do wonder if it's going to be the same transfer? Like you, I do not like the puzzle piece packing. Seems to me to be too clever by half. Great video!
Thanks for the video. In the UK, Warners themselves are handling the 4K release and I notice that only HDR10 is available, do you know if this will be another restoration? Anyhow after watching this video, I have no desire to upgrade and I’ll be sticking to the blu ray. Mulholland Drive is also getting a 4K release in December for the UK, courtesy of Studiocanal, and I am on the fence about that since I already have the Criterion blu ray of that.
I am still a bit confused about the screen size for noticing detail. Shouldn’t the perceived pixel density be the same a “proper” viewing mg distances. To me it doesn’t make sense to be 7 feet from a 100” screen. You would be so close you would have to turn your head to view different parts of the screen.
I just scratched my 4K disc whilst trying to get it out. The disc ended up rubbing against the center of the package (apparently I didn't pull back the disc's flap far enough, and I was trying to keep my fingers off of it) and when I checked the disc, sure enough, it has a big ass scratch on it. Currently watching the film to see if it effects the movie's playback. Really disappointed with this packaging.
Can anyone please tell me how is the picture quality of UK release as compared to this US Criterion release? I am very tempted to buy UK set but not sure how if the picture quality is superior or inferior or same as Criterion 4k release!
This is at the top of my list but with the disc issues and Christmas right around the corner I'll probably wait until Criterion's flash sale in February. If I desire to watch Citizen Kane in the next three months I have my bluray already.
You have to break your disc in two to get its replacement? What's the point of that? Would be a better look for them to just take people's word. It tells the customer that they can't be trusted. Accept that you messed up, and freely give out the disc. No need to make someone 'prove' their disc is faulty by breaking it, or to prevent a customer from having two functional discs, if they "lied" about it being faulty. Just looks worse for the company without providing any true protection from abuse. It's not like there will be widespread attempts at fraudulently trying to get a Citizen Kane replacement disc lol.
They want to prevent people from selling on the faulty discs on eBay and the like. Buyers then would be cross at the studio when they got a faulty disc and did not know about the recall.
This is one of those movies where while it would be *nice* to see an ultrasharp image, the softness of a standard bluray presentation sorta adds to the "classicness" of it Btw, I actually like the coverart
just curious as i'm new to the 4k market. if i have a 4k player with hdr10+ but buy a 4k tv which supports dolby vision would i be able to enjoy dolby vision or would the hdr10+ 4k player have to synch up with a tv that supports the hdr10+ and miss out on dolby vision. thanks in advance hopfully this question is not too confusing.
Just some info... When film is digitized it is "scanned". When an "interpositive" is made from a negative, that is not a "SCAN" in any way. It is a "print", usually on low contrast film, so release prints can be made from it. None of those processes are called "scanning". The "scanning" process is when you electronically scan each frame to make a digital file. Also... Black & White films are not "color graded". Ever. That one should be obvious.
There will be a limited edition studio canal release that will have better packaging, similar to their total recall limited edition release. But not sure if it will include the same restoration or bonus features as the criterion release. I think I’ll be getting that instead.
I hate the packaging. The cover should have been his feet on the papers or all black with just the broken globe. I despise the cardboard disc placement. I have to risk damaging the disc and/or the package. All said, this is still my favorite film and the features alone make it worth it. Fans only purchase.
With the packaging being as bad as it is and the error on the first disc, I would not be surprised if we got a 2.0 version with better and simpler packaging and the corrected disc.
Received mine in the mail a day or so ago. Instantly submitted a return request because the 4K disc had a massive scratch all the way down the disc. Smh. I’m starting to think I should’ve requested a refund to purchase the blu
So I guess its no then. I would like to see Citizen Kane, but that packaging sounds like a hassle to go through. It feels like I might accidentally scratch the disc by trying to remove them. I look forward to seeing your thoughts on Mulholland Dr and Uncut Gems!
It’s still worth owning even though the packaging is shit. I’m planning on transferring the discs to a 4 disc case and putting the slip over that. Won’t be as pretty but will keep the discs from getting scratched up.
If you buy physical media for the wholistic experience of a film, then there isn't really a set that will beat this one. Though the jump in quality from other editions isn't amazing, its still the best the film has looked, and It has the most special features I've seen in a blu-ray set, all of which are very educational and provide a lot of great perspective.
Opened my set, and the 4K disc was absolutely stuck way back in the sleeve and just would not come out. I had to grab it and tug with all of my might to get it out. I take it out and it has some sort of glue residue from the packaging all over it. Jesus Christ, Criterion.
eeeh wish i didn’t shell out the $$$ now for this release. I was just so hyped after seeing what Criterion did with Mulholland Dr. that I felt like Citizen Kane was a mandatory purchase, even though to be honest it’s not my favorite film. Should have just stopped while I was ahead, and resisted, or even just got Uncut Gems or M2S. Oh well, live and learn.
A very nice effort on the part of Criterion...but that price, tbh, ouch! Its outta my price range. All these $40+ 4Ks lately...I hope they're release some kind of basic version. This seems like a minimal effort "collector" edition.
I like that Criterion wants to make their releases stand out and be special but they really do overdo it at times to the point where they kind of ruin it. The most annoying one for me was the Del Toro set, it was set up similarly on the inside with sleeves and flaps, but to make matters worse, the outer box was an odd size that was shorter AND wider than a standard release so it never looked right on the shelf. A total clusterfuck inside and out. I wish this release was a digipack and slip box like their other 4K releases.
Pass. No excuse for the terrible packaging. Im sure theres thumbprints all over the 4k disc feom me trying to dig it out. And the collectible booklet goes flying out onto the floor as i open the packaging. Dumb af.
I have the nice 70th anniversary Blu ray set but I think I'll double dip into this Criterion 4k set. Agree that the packaging and artwork suck though. I'm not a fan of what you've shown there either. Definitely a bit too pretentious for my liking.
Lame packaging, a minor upgrade and a disc i need to destroy before they will replace makes this a easy pass. Ill wait till they correct the discs and maybe then just get the bluray version. I still only have the DVD so maybe i should just buy the old blu. I do want the criterion features though.
I never owned this in my collection, so I had no problem buying this. The 4K image and audio were fine for me. I agree, overhyped as "best movie ever". Now the packaging is CRAP! Extremely disappointed. I am mad at Criterion for this. I thank you for calling out Craperion for it. The studio has really not been good as of late.
Could you give some examples for how they’ve haven’t been good lately (aside from this release). I keep hearing people saying it but I haven’t heard any specific examples
@@nationalcoasternews5798 First I will say lots of obscure titles many have never heard of. I kind of thank them for that to save my pocket book. Second, the popular titles they were not doing in 4k, yet the movie would be available a year later in 4K from somewhere else or you could import from Europe. Packaging has been average at best to terrible. One would be a fool to buy any time other than July or November. There was a time when the premium pricing made sense because it was the best possible way you can get it. Now the other studios have taken the challenge and producing better for cheaper with more desirable titles. Their quality no longer stands out in selection, presentation or packaging like they once did. Now they are just another studio with really really niche titles and high price tags.
The packaging is a wretched mess, and you still have to keep the old WB blu-ray for all the goodies. Sad for a CC release (not to mention the contrast botch)
Thank you for bringing up the horrible packaging! It legit almost ruins this release for me, the disc recall was a nice move at least but I fear even taking the discs out. This really stuns me because usually Criterion's physical releases are top quality - but this case was just not thought out properly.
Wow. I’m glad I waited for your review before buying it. What disappointing news regarding the picture quality. I’ll stick with that 2010 blu-ray. Obviously CK is a big title to have as their first 4k release, but in hindsight perhaps they should have picked a film in which 4k would actually make a difference.
@@JeffRauseo They packaging, yeah, yikes. I actually quite like the minimalist cover art - just the big K - but the fold-out nonsense and the cardboard disc sleeves - no, no, no…
Cardboard sleeves? Never had a prob with them, be they from video or music. I simply remove all the discs at the get go, and keep them in clear window white paper sleeves, layed under - but never into - the covers. You can get a stack of a jillion for super cheap online. Best dough I ever spent. And the results after many years? Not a scratch in a (cardboard) carload!
I didn't see a big difference between this and my two-disc DVD copy. I bought it, though, because I knew I would always wonder what it would look like.
The Blu-ray in this set is being recalled. The others got pulled from shelves to be fixed but I ordered a copy early. The 4K disc is perfectly fine as is
Hate the packaging on this thing. It is stupid. Kinda wished ida saved the $30 and stuck with my 2010 blu ray which im sure is 99.9% as good picture-wise.
I absolutely hate the packaging. I'm agnostic on the artwork but the cardboard sleeves are terrible. I can't believe Criterion created this unnecessary risk of scratching, particularly for its expensive marquee release of the year. My copy arrived on Friday and I have already transferred the discs to alternate packaging. I put my discs in a four-disc plastic case and I'm using Citizen Kane cover art from a previous Blu-ray edition from the U.K. (I'm in Canada).
Heads up on the new T2 so call 4K just released I hate to burst u bubble but we all got stabbed in the back by James Cameron once again the 4K is not the extended 152 mins version 137 min is the one on the 4K disc 🤬
The packaging of this set is hot freeking garbage. Criterion fumbled like hell. Everyone knows that this style of disc holder is infuriating. I don't want to spend time praying I can get the disc out without scraping it, then spend time buffing out the inevitable fingerprints....I literally flipped it the double bird when I opened it. Add in the shoddy QC with the defective Blu and this project is cursed.
Why would they choose this movie for there first 4k... It's not a very popular film and they didn't even have the original film negative. No one's buying this
I'm not into collecting everything when it comes to movies, just a select few, so reviews like yours come in handy when assessing what in my small collection is needing of an upgrade
I bought the blu ray a few years ago when I first got into movies. I decided to get this to support criterion and what they do, along with all the special features (like I want to know what makes this movie standout as being greatest movie ever). I even kind of liked the packaging, it’s unique. I understand the frustration but hopefully I’ll enjoy it :). Thank you for your honest review!
The cinematography and technical aspects of the film stood out for over 40 years to make it on of the best film presentations. Oh and of coarse Orson himself.
@@paulglover6525 that’s true, I’m excited to dive into the movie and the commentary tracks to learn more too. Thanks for the info! (:
@@theskascsak6877 Roger Ebert really did some great commentaries. I look forward to listening to his again for this re-release.
@@Welles009 I really should start listening to commentaries on movies. I’d love to hear ebert on citizen Kane.
Mine arrived tonight from Barnes and Noble. It’s one of my 4 favorite films of all time so it was a must buy for me. In addition, I have a 150” screen and along with a 4K projector, it’s revealing . This cost me $30 and when I used to pay $100 for Criterion box Laserdisc sets. Packaging is very weird. Great review Jeff. Thanks.
I also own a 4k projector and would like to know if you recommend this 4k transfer.
@@peakoil-ko5oq it arrived yesterday and I have not opened it yet. Based upon Jeff's comments I would not pay $60 for this (I paid $30 in the B&N sale). I'll let you know when I look at it and compare to the Warner collectors edition, which is outstanding.
Thanks for your extremely comprehensive review. Really good screen captures and comparisons between 4K and Blu-ray. Great to hear that the mono sound track has been improved. Hopefully Bernard Herrmann's score will sound better than it did on the Warner Bros 70th Anniversary Blu-ray. Kane's sound recording was a revolution in its day, thanks to Welles' collaboration with recordist and mixer, James G Stewart, a collaboration as significant as the the one Welles made with cinematographer Gregg Toland. If you listen to the sound track without picture, Citizen Kane emerges as the best radio play ever recorded. It represents Welles' greatest achievement in sound up to that time. Home theatre enthusiasts might wish to send the audio track to 2-channel stereo, using larger left and right speaker units than the (usually) smaller centre channel unit. Better bass response might be possible doing that too. If your amplifier has a built-in graphic equalizer, don't hesitate to lift bass levels and trim any built-in high-frequency shrillness to better approximate the "Academy Curve" of films from the 1940s where almost everything was attenuated after the 7 KiloHertz range.
Of greater concern is the fact the image transfer to 4K was done with reference to the earlier Warner Bros Blu-ray release. In the early projection room scenes after News On The March, Joseph Cotten is clearly visible at the back of the preview theatre. In the original he was obscured in shadowy blackness. In original nitrate prints, this blackness wold have been "velvety" and totally atmospheric. But the Warners team decided to lighten the image, revealing Cotten's face, unaware that Welles was shooting this scene way ahead of schedule as a "test" to confound the Front Office of RKO, and Cotten was a handy extra. No way would Welles want Cotten to be identifiable since he plays such a crucial leading part in the rest of the picture. He was deliberately under-lit. I fear this error will be repeated in this new edition, both in 4K and Blu-ray.
just saw a release of it in 4K coming out here soon in Australia early next year will be ordering it soon and great review as always Jeff
sad we dont have a barnes and noble where we cant get criterions other than amazon.
if jb hi fi sold criterions it would be amazing, but that'll never happen
Agreed on the packaging. It's horrible. What the hell was Criterion thinking?! Unfortunately, this one will get an alternate package on my shelf.
I have a different idea where it’s a similar design, but it’s got that classic disc holder instead of the cardboard sleeve, you could still have the KANE design but repurposed to the classic disc holder design, and the disc packaging is held inside by a hard cardboard slipcover, think the same hardness as the Halloween 4K release from Scream Factory, and honestly, I think that Hard Cardboard Slipcovers should be adopted more often, considering how well it usually works out.
@@sothatsdevintart2562 100% Agree about Scream Factory's hard slipcover. Their release of Elvira's Haunted Hills had the same thing, so I'm kind of hoping that's the default slipcover for them going forward. And yeah, wouldn't mind seeing other boutique distributors adopt the same concept.
For $30, this is absolutely worth it. The sound and picture of the last Blu-ray are within a notch of each other, but if you have no other copies, $30 is a good deal for this. And even if you have the old box set from 2011, $30 for tons of awesome special features is still a damn good deal. At $30, go for it. At $60 though, it’s a hard pass.
And that package is ass. It looks like a preschool art project. 🤦♂️
Balanced and honest review. I really like this film but will wait until Criterion sort out disc issues, also it does not appear to be out in Europe yet. I agree with the poor quality of packaging. I am a big Osborn Welles fan and am really looking forward to future 4K release of The Third Man which I feel is a better film.
I accept that there are limitations on what Criterion could do - maybe they should look at what BFI did in its first 4K release of the seventh seal.
I could be mistaken but I think WB is doing distribution for EU and it comes out 12/13/21. Not entirely sure if the Criterion version is getting an EU release or not.
I LOVE this movie, but I own the 75th anniversary edition with a commentary track by Roger Ebert, which I picked up for $10. TBH, I think that's enough for me. What I am really looking forward to is THE RED SHOES. I saw a 35mm print of that last year, and it blew my mind.
Great film for this time of year. One of the best classic films ever made! I agree with you, it isn’t the best film ever made. But it is definitely one of the top ones. A shame they didn’t have the original 35MM or even a complete 2nd level print. But they did a good job for the limited resources they had to do this release!
This packaging looks really lame. And yeah, the discs will get scratched to hell in this thing.
Seeing this made me happy I went with the WB's UK Collector's Edition. Thanks for another great video!
A Criterion Collection film is generally if not always a higher grade that what else may be available. The extras are excellent and worth it as I enjoy the additional documentaries and other information added with the Criterion Collection films available. I like the large K on the front cover as this film stands out above all other films.
Thanks as always great reviews ….. the greatest thing of being a new dad , you get an unbelievable sense of energy to do things when your back is against the wall. Keep up the great work and charge on .
Never owned the blu ray. Saw this film on streaming a year ago and it completely blew me away. Truly a masterpiece. Can't wait to add this 4k to my collection.
Although the UK Warner Brothers 4K release does not have Dolby Vision, according to trusted sources, the picture quality is 99.9 identical. It does not have the abundance of Special Features the US Criterion does but I just got it in a Zavvi '3 for 30' euro sale...so for less than $10 it's a bargain! (comes in regular plastic case (there is also a Limited Edition w/tat in a cool looking slipbox).
Have you seen the Warner special edition 4k being released in the UK 🇬🇧 it looks pretty sweet, already pre ordered it from Warner Bros own site.
Looks great packaging-wise but, considering the restoration of the film itself doesn't yield a very big step up in image quality, the biggest reason to buy it would be special-features but there's very few of them on the UK release & the ones that they do have are the same as on the previous 75th Anniversary BluRay release which I do have so if I personally were to upgrade this film then I'd opt for the Criterion edition for their special features tbh.
"I don't want to have to do a puzzle every time I want to access the disc"......that made me lol
The packaging is an absolute joke, the only discs you can get out easily are the special features discs. I've already moved the 4k and the two special features discs to my 2010 Citizen Kane set and put those discs in a standard plastic case and now the Criterion packaging can just stand there as piece of art, useless at holding discs. At least this way my discs are safe from damage.
You are correct Adam the package is a god damm joke the idiots that run video companies are a joke heros of the stupid.
@@holleringsmith3837 Nah, it has been discussed many times that 4k discs are much more susceptible to skipping due to scratches or fingerprints, due to the amount of data stored on the discs vs how much data blu ray stores. You're right that blu ray discs are very resistant to any scratches or fingerprints and I have almost never had skipping problems with blu rays. I can't say the same about 4k, fingerprints will cause skipping, sometimes it skips and it takes me forever to find the tiny mark on the 4k. A tiny mark or fingerprint on a blu ray is unlikely to effect playback, but on a 4k the tiniest mark can mess up an entire scene.
Films at Home literally did a video on this exact subject 5 days ago.
ua-cam.com/video/gC0XGrygA4w/v-deo.html
I compared it to the 75th anniversary edition and I agree. I don't see much improvement in sharpness if any. The 4K is a lot darker on my projector. Probably because it can't handle the HDR that well. Most of my 4k's are darker then their blu ray counterparts. Although with some tweaking I mostly prefer the 4K disc. But for Citizen Kane I prefer watching the blu ray on my projector. Also with the blu ray issues on the Criterion I will check out the UK version. Although I don't think it will make any difference...
Very insightful review Jeff. I'll stick with my Warner 70th Anniversary Blu-ray Book packaged 2-disc set that I picked-up at Best Buy for a mere $10 a few years back. Talk about nightmarish packaging for this Criterion 4K release. I hate those types of packages; your best bet to get your discs all scratched-up. Considering the very high cost of the release, it's really a bone-headed decision from Criterion.
You can get empty 4K cases and put the discs in there
@@adriannn3720 Been doing just that when needed for all my physical media types since the days when I started buying CDs in the late 80s. Actually, just about the time you were writing your suggestion, I had just finished taking care of the problematic booklet case for Hitchcock's 4K + Blu-ray 4-title collection; talk about synchronicity. In this case I got creative and used DVD plastic/microfiber disc sleeves I already had to contain the discs that are by design kept in double-sided cardboard slots that are way too tight. When I carefully and slowly took out the Psycho 4K disc some days ago, it got scratched a little by the cardboard slot edge because it was so tight.
In the UK we have a 80th Collectors set ...but it is lacking all the special features of the Criterion set ..so I have ordered the USA set on import.
I don't mind the way it folds (I actually like it a little bit), but you are right about how horrible it is trying to take the discs out with that bump in the center - seems like a huge oversight.
Anything new like the improved Audio makes this a must have for a title of this magnitude!!!
I knew when I opened the package up that you would also be extremely annoyed with the way it was put together. Once again another fine review that covers all the bases.
Thanks for the objective review! I guess I'll be waiting to see if Criterion releases a standard blu-ray edition down the line. The minimal upgrade to the picture, the annoying packaging/sleeves, and the faulty blu-ray disc have all made up my mind. Money is limited, and I'm not super picky about audio, so basically I'd only be buying it for the special features.
Criterion doesn’t do standard editions. We’ve rarely seen them change packaging except for things like a release losing a book like Short Cuts and Picnic at Hanging Rock.
@@myfasmarine I think what he means is not getting the version with the 4K blu-ray disc and only getting the set with the 3 normal blu-ray discs, which is an option for people who don’t want to spend the extra money. Though, it would be nice to have an idea as to when the first blu-ray disc issue will be fixed so people who didn’t pre-order the film can plan on ordering or picking up Citizen Kane at a Barnes and Noble or online somewhere.
Great Review, glad you were able to give some positives to Criterion while still acknowledging the release’s flaws. One question I’d like to ask (this isn’t related to the video at all) is whether or not you got The Invasion of The Body Snatchers 4K release, that seems like a major release we got this year and I was wondering what you thought about it.
Fair review, 100% agree with you about the crazy packaging... I have already transferred the 4K plus 2 & 3 into another box
Citizen Kane was voted Nr.1 movie of the 20th century by Time magazine. the moral of this movie is, that you can't buy real love with money.
by the way, Nr.1 music album was Exodus by Bob Marley.
And I can live with both choices. Both absolute classics.
It is objectively one of the greatest movies ever made. Opinion has nothing to do with it. My opinion is that it is maybe boring for non filmmakers and even myself if I am not watching just to amaze myself at the groundbreaking cinematography. Definitely can see how people might not like it that much. But the enjoyment level one obtains from viewing a film has nothing to do with the objective truth of the quality of the filmmaking. I do not like some good movies and I love some terrible ones.
German 4K release of Citizen Kane in December:
- Normal price
- Normal case
- Normal artwork
- Less features but I bet the main feature audio and video will be identical to the Criterion disc.
Hello-
though its from the Criterion Collection I have my doubts about a 4K disc of Citizen Kane. the reason is simple. like the
original 1933 King Kong no camera negative for CK has existed for decades. so like CK's vhs, dvd and blu-ray issues the
4K would have to be mastered from a copy of a copy.
Hey Jeff if you haven’t already cut it up, can we see some pics from the standard Blu-ray? There’s no pictures anywhere else on the internet.
Great review Jeff.👍 That packaging though!😫 BTW How do you get your 4K screen captures?🤔
Yeah, I would just take the discs out of that packaging and store them in individual protective sleeves that will do a much better job at, ya know, *protecting* them (though it would be nice if I didn't have to do that...)
Narramore was one of my profs in grad school. Funny to hear his name pop up as one of the people on the commentary track!
Do you have to read the newspaper reports or does it read it out load
Waiting for the summer B&N sale to get this, once they’ve fixed the Blu-ray issue. But very much looking forward to seeing it in 4K.
Right, so what I'm really getting from this is that Criterion did a fantastic job in producing a feature rich release, as expected, but then did virtually zero QC for any of it.
Feels that way. From packaging to discs.
Warner Brothers UK is releasing its on version of this on 13th December 2021. The packaging is different as are some of the extras. I do wonder if it's going to be the same transfer? Like you, I do not like the puzzle piece packing. Seems to me to be too clever by half. Great video!
Thanks for the video. In the UK, Warners themselves are handling the 4K release and I notice that only HDR10 is available, do you know if this will be another restoration? Anyhow after watching this video, I have no desire to upgrade and I’ll be sticking to the blu ray. Mulholland Drive is also getting a 4K release in December for the UK, courtesy of Studiocanal, and I am on the fence about that since I already have the Criterion blu ray of that.
I am still a bit confused about the screen size for noticing detail. Shouldn’t the perceived pixel density be the same a “proper” viewing mg distances. To me it doesn’t make sense to be 7 feet from a 100” screen. You would be so close you would have to turn your head to view different parts of the screen.
I just scratched my 4K disc whilst trying to get it out. The disc ended up rubbing against the center of the package (apparently I didn't pull back the disc's flap far enough, and I was trying to keep my fingers off of it) and when I checked the disc, sure enough, it has a big ass scratch on it. Currently watching the film to see if it effects the movie's playback. Really disappointed with this packaging.
Can anyone please tell me how is the picture quality of UK release as compared to this US Criterion release? I am very tempted to buy UK set but not sure how if the picture quality is superior or inferior or same as Criterion 4k release!
This is at the top of my list but with the disc issues and Christmas right around the corner I'll probably wait until Criterion's flash sale in February. If I desire to watch Citizen Kane in the next three months I have my bluray already.
You have to break your disc in two to get its replacement? What's the point of that? Would be a better look for them to just take people's word. It tells the customer that they can't be trusted. Accept that you messed up, and freely give out the disc. No need to make someone 'prove' their disc is faulty by breaking it, or to prevent a customer from having two functional discs, if they "lied" about it being faulty. Just looks worse for the company without providing any true protection from abuse. It's not like there will be widespread attempts at fraudulently trying to get a Citizen Kane replacement disc lol.
They want to prevent people from selling on the faulty discs on eBay and the like. Buyers then would be cross at the studio when they got a faulty disc and did not know about the recall.
This is one of those movies where while it would be *nice* to see an ultrasharp image, the softness of a standard bluray presentation sorta adds to the "classicness" of it
Btw, I actually like the coverart
I... I like the packaging.
just curious as i'm new to the 4k market. if i have a 4k player with hdr10+ but buy a 4k tv which supports dolby vision would i be able to enjoy dolby vision or would the hdr10+ 4k player have to synch up with a tv that supports the hdr10+ and miss out on dolby vision. thanks in advance hopfully this question is not too confusing.
I will wait for the uk release
Did anyone get there replacement disk already?
Why do they always just scan at 4K? They need to be scanning at higher resolutions.
Just some info... When film is digitized it is "scanned". When an "interpositive" is made from a negative, that is not a "SCAN" in any way. It is a "print", usually on low contrast film, so release prints can be made from it. None of those processes are called "scanning". The "scanning" process is when you electronically scan each frame to make a digital file. Also... Black & White films are not "color graded". Ever. That one should be obvious.
4K stream or 1080 Blu-ray. I’ve just bought a lg oiled
I’m in the same exact boat. Gonna fire up the Blu-ray and see how it upscales on the Oled and go from there.
I watched it yesterday, looks great, and the extras are worth it alone!! lots to take in.
There will be a limited edition studio canal release that will have better packaging, similar to their total recall limited edition release. But not sure if it will include the same restoration or bonus features as the criterion release. I think I’ll be getting that instead.
Great video Jeff !
Great video man.
I hate the packaging. The cover should have been his feet on the papers or all black with just the broken globe. I despise the cardboard disc placement. I have to risk damaging the disc and/or the package. All said, this is still my favorite film and the features alone make it worth it. Fans only purchase.
With the packaging being as bad as it is and the error on the first disc, I would not be surprised if we got a 2.0 version with better and simpler packaging and the corrected disc.
Physical Media Collector's (For the last 10 years): "Stop making cases like this."
Physical Media Companies: "No problem." *makes them anyway*
Received mine in the mail a day or so ago. Instantly submitted a return request because the 4K disc had a massive scratch all the way down the disc. Smh. I’m starting to think I should’ve requested a refund to purchase the blu
So I guess its no then. I would like to see Citizen Kane, but that packaging sounds like a hassle to go through. It feels like I might accidentally scratch the disc by trying to remove them. I look forward to seeing your thoughts on Mulholland Dr and Uncut Gems!
It’s still worth owning even though the packaging is shit. I’m planning on transferring the discs to a 4 disc case and putting the slip over that. Won’t be as pretty but will keep the discs from getting scratched up.
If you buy physical media for the wholistic experience of a film, then there isn't really a set that will beat this one. Though the jump in quality from other editions isn't amazing, its still the best the film has looked, and It has the most special features I've seen in a blu-ray set, all of which are very educational and provide a lot of great perspective.
Thanks for the video
Opened my set, and the 4K disc was absolutely stuck way back in the sleeve and just would not come out. I had to grab it and tug with all of my might to get it out. I take it out and it has some sort of glue residue from the packaging all over it.
Jesus Christ, Criterion.
The bad discs need to stop, it could be the final straw for some people to go all digital.
eeeh wish i didn’t shell out the $$$ now for this release. I was just so hyped after seeing what Criterion did with Mulholland Dr. that I felt like Citizen Kane was a mandatory purchase, even though to be honest it’s not my favorite film. Should have just stopped while I was ahead, and resisted, or even just got Uncut Gems or M2S. Oh well, live and learn.
Gotta grab this one...
A very nice effort on the part of Criterion...but that price, tbh, ouch! Its outta my price range. All these $40+ 4Ks lately...I hope they're release some kind of basic version. This seems like a minimal effort "collector" edition.
I like that Criterion wants to make their releases stand out and be special but they really do overdo it at times to the point where they kind of ruin it. The most annoying one for me was the Del Toro set, it was set up similarly on the inside with sleeves and flaps, but to make matters worse, the outer box was an odd size that was shorter AND wider than a standard release so it never looked right on the shelf. A total clusterfuck inside and out. I wish this release was a digipack and slip box like their other 4K releases.
The packaging is really making me question wether or not I should pick this one up.
It's very garbage, if you already own the Blu ray I wouldn't bother
Pass. No excuse for the terrible packaging. Im sure theres thumbprints all over the 4k disc feom me trying to dig it out. And the collectible booklet goes flying out onto the floor as i open the packaging. Dumb af.
I have the nice 70th anniversary Blu ray set but I think I'll double dip into this Criterion 4k set. Agree that the packaging and artwork suck though. I'm not a fan of what you've shown there either. Definitely a bit too pretentious for my liking.
That packaging is so bad I feel like I have to have it now😂
The cardboard packaging where the discs rub against it.. It makes me grit my teeth. I want to see the movie but I can't do it.
Lame packaging, a minor upgrade and a disc i need to destroy before they will replace makes this a easy pass. Ill wait till they correct the discs and maybe then just get the bluray version. I still only have the DVD so maybe i should just buy the old blu. I do want the criterion features though.
Please do Godfather trilogy
That doesn't come to 4K until 2022.
I never owned this in my collection, so I had no problem buying this. The 4K image and audio were fine for me. I agree, overhyped as "best movie ever". Now the packaging is CRAP! Extremely disappointed. I am mad at Criterion for this. I thank you for calling out Craperion for it. The studio has really not been good as of late.
Could you give some examples for how they’ve haven’t been good lately (aside from this release). I keep hearing people saying it but I haven’t heard any specific examples
@@nationalcoasternews5798 First I will say lots of obscure titles many have never heard of. I kind of thank them for that to save my pocket book. Second, the popular titles they were not doing in 4k, yet the movie would be available a year later in 4K from somewhere else or you could import from Europe. Packaging has been average at best to terrible. One would be a fool to buy any time other than July or November. There was a time when the premium pricing made sense because it was the best possible way you can get it. Now the other studios have taken the challenge and producing better for cheaper with more desirable titles. Their quality no longer stands out in selection, presentation or packaging like they once did. Now they are just another studio with really really niche titles and high price tags.
Gracias por la información! 🙏🇨🇱
The packaging is terrible. The sleeves might scratch the surface, rendering the UHD 4K disk possibly unplayable.
The packaging is a wretched mess, and you still have to keep the old WB blu-ray for all the goodies. Sad for a CC release (not to mention the contrast botch)
Thank you for bringing up the horrible packaging! It legit almost ruins this release for me, the disc recall was a nice move at least but I fear even taking the discs out. This really stuns me because usually Criterion's physical releases are top quality - but this case was just not thought out properly.
I might skip this 4K. I play 4K onto a 2K 55-inch plasma.
Criterion fumbled the ball..
Once again I think the Blu Ray looks better than the 4K....I'm starting to lose my faith in 4K
Wow. I’m glad I waited for your review before buying it. What disappointing news regarding the picture quality. I’ll stick with that 2010 blu-ray.
Obviously CK is a big title to have as their first 4k release, but in hindsight perhaps they should have picked a film in which 4k would actually make a difference.
Exactly my thoughts. It’s a tough movie to improve on much and the packaging stinks.
@@JeffRauseo They packaging, yeah, yikes. I actually quite like the minimalist cover art - just the big K - but the fold-out nonsense and the cardboard disc sleeves - no, no, no…
Yeah, I can't stand that case. I had to bend the package to get the disc out.
"K" cover is a marvelleous but this packaging is a disaster.
Cardboard sleeves? Never had a prob with them, be they from video or music. I simply remove all the discs at the get go, and keep them in clear window white paper sleeves, layed under - but never into - the covers. You can get a stack of a jillion for super cheap online. Best dough I ever spent. And the results after many years? Not a scratch in a (cardboard) carload!
I didn't see a big difference between this and my two-disc DVD copy. I bought it, though, because I knew I would always wonder what it would look like.
I thought I saw this review already with mad mad beyond thunderdome. The film guy said they were being recalled. This Is awful confusing. 😖
The Blu-ray in this set is being recalled. The others got pulled from shelves to be fixed but I ordered a copy early. The 4K disc is perfectly fine as is
Hate the packaging on this thing. It is stupid. Kinda wished ida saved the $30 and stuck with my 2010 blu ray which im sure is 99.9% as good picture-wise.
I absolutely hate the packaging. I'm agnostic on the artwork but the cardboard sleeves are terrible. I can't believe Criterion created this unnecessary risk of scratching, particularly for its expensive marquee release of the year.
My copy arrived on Friday and I have already transferred the discs to alternate packaging. I put my discs in a four-disc plastic case and I'm using Citizen Kane cover art from a previous Blu-ray edition from the U.K. (I'm in Canada).
Wow Criterion really shit the bed on this release
Hate the packaging. Should not be tolerated.
Heads up on the new T2 so call 4K just released
I hate to burst u bubble but we all got stabbed in the back by James Cameron once again the 4K is not the extended 152 mins version 137 min is the one on the 4K disc 🤬
Also it is not a remaster, just a cash grab.
I would call the packaging....gimmicky.
The packaging makes me not want this movie and sounds like the Blu-ray has similar picture quality.
Omg the packaging….. wtf….
😎👌
The packaging of this set is hot freeking garbage. Criterion fumbled like hell. Everyone knows that this style of disc holder is infuriating. I don't want to spend time praying I can get the disc out without scraping it, then spend time buffing out the inevitable fingerprints....I literally flipped it the double bird when I opened it. Add in the shoddy QC with the defective Blu and this project is cursed.
Why would they choose this movie for there first 4k... It's not a very popular film and they didn't even have the original film negative. No one's buying this
Tbh most of the movies they restore aren't that popular.
Nostalgia/history perhaps?
Criterion's very first release ever was (spine #1) Citizen Kane