Mean Streets Criterion Collection 4K Review - Worth the Upgrade?

I share my thoughts on the Criterion Collection 4K edition of Martin Scorsese's 1973 film Mean Streets starring Harvey Keitel and Robert De Niro. Let me know in the comments section what you think of this early film from Scorsese and your favorites from this legendary director. Enjoy!
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James Merritt
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[@madhousestudios5214]

With the recent attention to Scorsese from Criterion, hopefully we get Bringing out the Dead, Silence, and King of Comedy this year. A release of Taxi Driver would also be welcome, as a way to get the film on 4K without having to get the Columbia set.

[@lutalomoore]

Yeah I’m still surprised Taxi Driver doesn’t have a stand alone 4K release.

[@dudemcmann6936]

I'm also hoping Criterion gets Taxi Driver back for 4K since they released it many years ago on Laserdisc.

[@20thand21stMovies]

The more Scorsese on Criterion the better!

[@carlosc2155]

I really, really hope that we get a 4K or at least Blu-Ray of Kundun

[@excelsiormoviereviews]

Happy Thanksgiving, James! I purchased Mean Streets last night.

[@20thand21stMovies]

Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 , Steve! Enjoy the holiday and your copy of Mean Streets!

[@pete49327]

Thanks James, excellent review and once again you've gotten me intrigued about possible purchase for a movie that I've never seen. How in the world I have not seen this, and I'm a movie buff going back 60 years.

[@20thand21stMovies]

Hello, Pete. Glad you enjoyed the review! I hope you enjoy Mean Streets if you decide to pick it up. Happy Thanksgiving 🦃!

[@Jesuslovesfilm2121]

You’ve never fully seen the color RED pop so beautifully before until you’ve seen Mean Streets! Lol. It also Inspired the bar lighting in early Tarantino up until maybe Jackie Brown. Amazing lighting in this picture.

[@20thand21stMovies]

I agree, Jesus. I was very pleased with the picture overall and, yes, RED really shines through on this one.

[@AnInternetUser1]

I've rewatched this recently and it's still great!

[@20thand21stMovies]

Yes, it is really good. Glad you enjoyed it as well. Happy Thanksgiving!

[@JohnnyFriendly]

Fun fact: although Mean Streets has often been described as the "quintessential New York" film, the interiors were actually shot in LA. For example when De Niro is shooting the gun on the roof top, he's in New York but the window he hits is LA. Furthermore, many of the other scenes were shot in Belmont in the Bronx not Manhattan's Little Italy which by the early '70s barely existed, much of it subsumed by the surrounding Chinatown.

[@20thand21stMovies]

Thank you for sharing that fun fact, Johnny! Happy Thanksgiving 🦃!

[@danielpisani4619]

Been waiting for years for this film to hit criterion, can’t wait to purchase it next week

[@20thand21stMovies]

Nice. I hope you enjoy it, Daniel!

[@PrimeMover93]

Picked up my copy last night! Can’t wait to watch it

[@20thand21stMovies]

Cool. Hope you enjoy it. Happy Thanksgiving 🦃!

[@mrey06]

Thanks, James. I enjoy your reviews very much. I've subscribed to your channel and look forward to more 4K physical media reviews. I intend to start my own channel as well. Wish me luck.

[@20thand21stMovies]

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[@dudemcmann6936]

Definitely picked it up yesterday. Can't wait to find time to watch it. Honestly this is my favorite of all his mafioso type crime films. I never really dug Goodfellas (which I know is an unpopular opinion) and I can't stand Casino.

[@20thand21stMovies]

Cool. You raise a good point on how different people rank and view Scorsese’s films. I enjoyed revisiting Mean Streets in this new 4K edition.

[@grodietroy]

your my new favorite youtube channel

[@20thand21stMovies]

So kind of you to say! I appreciate it and glad to hear you enjoy the channel.

[@epenson76]

Happy Thanksgiving James. I will add this movie to my collection. I am just trying to decide do I pick up the Criterion or Second Sight version

[@20thand21stMovies]

Happy Thanksgiving 🦃! The Second Sight edition will probably be pretty rad, so you can’t go wrong whichever edition you decide to pick up.

[@nate3928]

Really glad I was able to pick this one up. Have never heard of this film before. It was fantastic! The scene that led up to the fight with the heavy-set man in the bar was hilarious. "You Callin me a m00k?!"😂

[@20thand21stMovies]

Hello, Nate! Mean Streets is a good one and a nice early film from Marty.

[@matthewcooper1782]

Checked this one out recently and I enjoyed it! Solid breakthrough for Scorsese. I watched it on the regular Criterion BR and it looks amazing - definitely worthy for the collection.

[@20thand21stMovies]

Matthew, I agree. Another solid Scorsese film edition for the collection. Mean Streets is a nice film that showed viewers a glimpse of what was to come from this great filmmaker.

[@letstalkcriterion]

This restoration is a jointly funded project between Criterion and UK Second Sight. They release in the Uk in Jan they will have hardback book and art cards they use the original artwork. I plan to get both.

[@20thand21stMovies]

That Second Sight release sounds like it’s going to be a good one! Happy Thanksgiving 🦃!

[@juancmorenor]

I ordered the Criterion Blu Ray one! Also Criterion After Hours! I hope I will not be disappointed with the Criterion Blu ray editions of both films.

[@20thand21stMovies]

Fingers crossed you enjoy them both, Juan. Happy Thanksgiving 🦃!

[@bachtuna]

The definitive release of Mean Streets will be put out by Second Sight in January I believe. They are the best boutique company going today only one that compares is Arrow. James really needs to start looking into Second Sight they are top of the line. Maybe he hasn’t yet because they do have a lot of horror. Their limited edition 4k releases of Dawn of the Dead (1978), Drive, It Follows, Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Witch and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre are 10/10 releases.

[@20thand21stMovies]

That Second Sight release sounds like it will be a good one. Hope you enjoy it! Happy Thanksgiving 🦃!

[@mvhtriple]

I have the old DVD of this movie and blu-ray I skipped, but I saw Criterion and then Second Sight with this movie. Second Sight has insane releases so I 'm a bit going to the Second Sight version too. Though I also want to check comparisons between Criterion and Second Sight.

[@ethanedwards7557]

He also borrowed money from Francis Ford Coppola. I saw Mean Streets in the theater when they rereleased it in 1998 for the 25th anniversary in some art house theaters.

[@20thand21stMovies]

Nice. I bet that was a cool experience watching the 1998 theater rerelease.

[@ethanedwards7557]

Sure beat the pan and scan VHS copy on a 27” tube tv which was the only way I had seen it previously.

[@808physicalmedia9]

Did Martin Scorsese payback Francis Ford Coppola 🤔

[@jimreplicant]

Ya’ll is 4k really worth it? I have a decent selection of blu rays and a few dvds, not really convinced I need a 4k rig as blu rays and even criterion dvds look really good. Hope everyone is well

[@20thand21stMovies]

Great question, Jim. Worth it? Really depends on the individual. 4K discs often provide a nice step up in picture quality over blu-ray but sometimes the difference is barely perceptible especially on smaller screens and if you’re sitting far away from the screen. If you’re happy with the picture you’re seeing on your tv with the blu-rays and DVDs you have, you’re probably good to go 😀. In the end, it’s really about the quality of the films more than anything else.

[@jimreplicant]

@@20thand21stMovies I guess I wont worry about it anymore until 4k gets cheaper. I dont have a huge screen and you’re sayin that makes the difference even less noticeable? It makes sense higher resolution. Probably upgrade the whole rig when I go to 4k. I agree its all about the quality of the films. Thanks for helping with my fomo🤣

[@rlh1984]

Has anyone noticed newer 4K releases freezing near the later half of the movie? It happened for me with Wings of Desire and Mean Streets.

[@20thand21stMovies]

Hello, Reginald! Yes, I have experienced that in some cases. I’ve heard that the setting on the player can minimize that but I need to look into that.