Le Samouraï 4K UHD - Criterion Collection Review

[@ElliotCoen]

Le Samouraï 4K @ Amazon US -amzn.to/4cy8s2E Le Samouraï 4K @ Amazon UK - amzn.to/4bDXdnQ Le Samouraï 4K @ HMV - hmv.prf.hn/l/G9Xlqdo Le Samouraï 4K @ Zavvi - tidd.ly/4eYpGYo

[@joeysnumberonefan3397]

Rest in peace Alain Delon.

[@alik5895]

FYI This response from Criterion. It is a general rule: For 4K catalog upgrades where we've previously released a Blu-ray edition, the same Blu-ray is included in the 4K combo edition. It is not a new encode/Blu-ray from the new 4K restoration. For new 4K releases of titles not previously released by Criterion on Blu-ray, the 4K disc and the Blu-ray disc are from the same (new) 4K restoration.

[@ElliotCoen]

Thanks for sharing. I think this could be communicated a bit better on their packaging

[@chrisjfox8715]

This kinda makes sense to me *logistically...........kinda

[@marcus1333]

I find this rather disappointing to be honest. Well, if there's no improvement to be gained, ok, but in case there is, I'd expect to get that improvement from a relatively high-end label like Criterion.

[@lucasriello]

Rest in peace, Delon.

[@alandombrow584]

I just bought the 4K of Le Samouraï. Thanks for the review. I already own the Criterion Collection box set called "Jean-Pierre Melville: Portrait En Neuf Poses." The set includes Un Flic, Army of Shadows, and Le Cercle Rouge.

[@codyinthecinema]

I love the tie in with French New Wave. I'm still a Breathless fanboy.

[@Celestialrob]

Nice post Elliot. I love this film and have seen it several times. I will be getting the 4K here in the US this week. I will also be ordering the Kino Lorber 4Ks of Bob Le Flambeur and the magnificent Le Doulos

[@994pt4]

hmmm...now I have to buy another Criterion film!

[@ElliotCoen]

@@994pt4 it’s well worth it!

[@PrimeMover93]

Planning on picking up a copy tomorrow!

[@brunomachado7279]

Great! I have the French pathé 4k, it looks fantastic.

[@marksmoviemenu1290]

Just got home from my local Barnes & Noble after picking up my 4K copy Le Samouraï. Turned on your video review. So glad you like it since I now have it in my collection! Can hardly wait to watch it!!

[@hildamontes6146]

Just is one of my most loved films of all time look forward to having the 4K disk. Thanks for the review.

[@nickkiernanwalker]

Great review Elliot. Le Samouraï was the first Criterion I blind bought years ago (along with Inside Llewyn Davis which I'd seen) when I was getting in to more arthouse film. I'd seen some French New Wave while studying French but this completely blew me away, how expressive and spare it was, and has remained a favourite since, not to mention Melville in general. Few years ago a cinema in my city did a Melville season and I managed to fill in most of his other films, my other favs are Le Silence de la Mer and L'Armée des Ombres. Guess I'll have to pick this up!

[@sean9920]

I was able to get the french 4K last year and I’m glad that my copy has Dolby Vision.

[@davidneeds6178]

Thanks, this answered all the questions I had. A shame they didn't upgrade the Blu-Ray master too. I'll wait, and hope this comes to streaming at some point.

[@ReVision..]

I've got the 4K version from Pathe because it got Dolby Vision and was a lot cheaper than the Criterion. Might still buy the Criterion if i ever find it at a discount in Europe.

[@chrismohan]

Trying to swear off on the upgrades but new artwork is something at the very least. Appreciate the video as always Elliot. 👍

[@444chroma]

finally some good cover art.

[@endresee]

I love this movie, but IMO the old criterion blue ray had a *particularly* poor picture quality…possibly because of the source? It was perfectly watchable but…I’m glad they did a new scan. Can’t wait to check this out!

[@beyondz55]

Speaking of Samurai....any news on 4K Seven Samurai??

[@ElliotCoen]

No news yet but Janus are showing the 4K restoration theatrically, so it’ll come eventually

[@mynock250]

I recently watched it a really good movie, with lots of hidden meaning.

[@beyondz55]

Did this influence Ghost Dog?

[@ElliotCoen]

Absolutely! Another great film 🍿

[@texeast8680]

Question about Leon Morin Priest? On Amazon they have the criterion multi-format blu-ray for $65 and then they have another blu-ray copy from KL Studio Classics for $23, is the $23 version just as good as the $65? Please help me in making a buying decision here. Thanks.

[@orbtastic]

I got the Army of Shadows 4k (French with English subs) the other week and I thought the transfer was good. No idea why it only got a French/Belgian release in 4k when it got a BR everywhere. I dodged the Cercle Rouge 4k as the reviews panned it. Just need Deuxieme Souffle in 4k now. I have the original Criterion DVDs but part of me won't get rid of them. Could do with them releasing Blast of Silence, Rififi and Touchez pas au Grisbi on 4k too. Same with Le Trou.

[@beyondz55]

Army of Shadows is 👏 amazing

[@patrickthurston8811]

Unfortunately I had only the option of getting the blu- ray, but still looking forward to to see for the first time.

[@spikepsych]

hi I know this is off topic but do you have the 4k release of Christiane F (1981) by any chance and would you recommend it?

[@ElliotCoen]

@@spikepsych hi, I don’t unfortunately! Sorry about that

[@spikepsych]

@@ElliotCoen no worries I have seen some people say it's worth upgrading if you have the blu ray but I usually check your reviews so I was just wondering, thanks for all the reviews you do!

[@aliciaklass]

Great review as always Elliot. But sorry to say I'm not into the 4k game and why pay more for the same except for a small uptick in a supposed quality The human eye has it's limitation Just my opinion and to each his own. Take care

[@davidsudak5114]

It’s more than a barely noticeable uptick, especially for older films shot on 35mm.

[@roachman1412]

I like Alain in Red Sun with Charles Bronson

[@Rhiunlol]

I almost bought this in HMV yesterday, but £30 for a single film was too steep.

[@touchofdumb]

Thanks for mentioning which version the blu-ray is. I’m still blu-ray only so this is a pass for now.

[@LinouGertz]

I don't know what's up with Criterion recently, but every time they change their covers for the newer 4k editions its always for the worse. I like the blu-ray cover for this way more than the new. But it's okay and I will still get that edition but it's just a shame imho that they seem to loose their grip of perfect covers for the movies.

[@TheAlexZorba]

Thanks Elliot! I usually don't upgrade my Criterion blu rays unless a different label is doing the 4k version because they are minimalists. I do however make exceptions and this films place in my favorites coupled with your review and story about the transfer have me sold. Looking forward to watching it again this weekend.

[@tompoynton]

I’ve read the French Pathé release is far superior to the Criterion, anyone else heard this?

[@brunomachado7279]

I have the Pathé edition. In the beginning there's a cardboard saying in French: "Pathé and Criterion Collection present". So it must be the same restauration, I assume.

[@ElliotCoen]

@@tompoynton where did you read it is far superior? I’d find that highly unlikely given it’s the exact same source. The only differences I could imagine would be in the authoring/compression and the DV vs HDR, neither of which are remotely bad enough to imagine a far superior version out there

[@tompoynton]

@@ElliotCoen perhaps not far superior but it was noted… I think it was the Criterion forum.. in a thread called something like “Films not worth upgrading for”

[@tompoynton]

@@brunomachado7279 That is what I wondered too. There are a lot of corksniffers out there…

[@jakedanx]

OG cover is the best one out of the 2 in my opinion

[@brunomachado7279]

What's OG?

[@jakedanx]

@@brunomachado7279 the original criterion release

[@nodenaatti5281]

@@brunomachado7279 Original

[@ElliotCoen]

@@jakedanx I think the newer cover fits the noir aesthetic better

[@laszlosarkozi1385]

I don't know the director, but I know and love the movies of Alain Delon starting with Rocco and his brothers, up until his role in Asterix at the Olympic games. I don't speak French and hate reading subtitles during a good movie, but luckily I was able to see all his movies with hungarian dubbing where the same actor played his part in all movies. The Hungarian dubbing is one of the bests out there because very talented and experienced actors literally play the part of each character in a movie.

[@brunomachado7279]

Chico Buarque, a Brazilian worldwide known singer and composer, says Hungarian is the only language the devil respects. 😂

[@patsayjack402]

Unfortunately, it's a pretty weak film. He's supposed to be this elite assassin, but he just walks into a club with his gun out in full sight of everyone and just shoots the guy. No skill, no stealth, no planning or creativity. There are no acting performances of note either. The only thing it has going for it is vibes and tone. There are some cool shots and a great score while we're looking at very pretty people. Very forgettable film.