I’ve been waiting nearly a year for Criterion to reveal a date for their 4K Bluray of Stanley Kubrick’s Lolita (‘62).
The digitally upgraded 64-year-old film played at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, and now, finally, Criterion has announced that their bumped-up Lolita (overseen by Warner Bros.) will be included in a big fat 4K Kubrick box set (costing $479.96), streeting on 10.20.26.
Alas, Criterion has added that their Lolita will be presented in a 1.66:1 aspect ratio, which is how Warner Home Video’s Lolita Bluray was presented in 2011. This seems to confirm that their 4K version will not be offered in the mostly boxy a.r. (1.37:1 with occasional 1.66:1 croppings) that purchasers of Criterion’s 1992 CAV laser disc saw.
I’ve never once seen the 1992 boxy version; I was hoping with all my heart that Criterion’s 4K disc would present it….nope.
When I saw this 1.66 admission on the Criterion website, my spirit sank.
“Boxy Jacket Is Back!,” posted on 11.16.21:
The rarely-shown 1.37:1 version of Full Metal Jacket is back on HBO Max. Please understand there is only one way to re-experience this 1987 war classic, and that’s via the HD boxy version. It is absolutely the most visually pleasing version anyone will ever see. Perfectly framed. The head room is transporting. Nothing is cleavered or trimmed. Exactly the way Kubrick wanted it.
