Ship of Fools/ Lilith Double Feature Bd

[Arkadin]

well at least a few older Columbia classics starting to trickle out.
Mill Creek gets this pair from 1965 and 1964 respectively.
casts include Warren Beatty, Peter Fonda, Vivien Leigh, Jean Seberg, Lee Marvin and Gene Hackman.
March 26th is the release date on amazon.com.
Apparently this bd came out on 12/26/12, and you can order it from Mill Creek direct.
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Ship-...Blu-ray/62905/
Ship of Fools wiki-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Fools_(film)
Lilith wiki-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilith_(film)

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[BrentLW]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

well at least a few older Columbia classics starting to trickle out.
Mill Creek gets this pair from 1965 and 1964 respectively.
casts include Warren Beatty, Peter Fonda, Vivien Leigh, Jean Seberg, Lee Marvin and Gene Hackman.
March 26th is the release date.
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Ship-...Blu-ray/62905/
Ship of Fools wiki-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Fools_(film)
Lilith wiki-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilith_(film)

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Or you might be able to pick it up for$5 at Wal Mart right now. I did on Saturday. I had to go about 60 miles away, but I was doing that anyway to trade in some phones and DVDs at Best Buy

[Blu-Velvet]

Yes, and five dollars for two classic Columbia titles on Blu-ray, coming to $2.50 per title, really helps spread out the average cost of all those Twilight Time and Criterion titles. Of course there are no bonus features, but at least there's a chapter menu and English subtitles.

I'm wondering if the classics that wind up at Mill Creek are the ones that don't have transfers quite good enough for Twilight Time or Criterion to consider. The SHIP OF FOOLS transfer looks pretty good, if not quite as sparkling as you'd expect from the typical Criterion and Twilight Time B&W Blu-rays, but the LILITH transfer is rather soft (though still better than a DVD). Still, at $2.50 per title they're an irresistible bargain.

This disc is ideal for supplying appropriate double-feature material to run with GRAND HOTEL or maybe the 1953 TITANIC, and either BONJOUR TRISTESSE or BREATHLESS.

[arcadeforest]

Need to give these a try - had this in my hand this morning yet ended up getting something else.

[Arkadin]

hmmm....guess I'll be checking Wal-Mart soon.
thanks for the tip.

[poke smot]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

hmmm....guess I'll be checking Wal-Mart soon.
thanks for the tip.

the walmart near me, and most of others have removed this display. good luck though. i bought 10 of the mill creek 2 packs.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by Blu-Velvet

[Show spoiler]Yes, and five dollars for two classic Columbia titles on Blu-ray, coming to $2.50 per title, really helps spread out the average cost of all those Twilight Time and Criterion titles. Of course there are no bonus features, but at least there's a chapter menu and English subtitles.

I'm wondering if the classics that wind up at Mill Creek are the ones that don't have transfers quite good enough for Twilight Time or Criterion to consider. The SHIP OF FOOLS transfer looks pretty good, if not quite as sparkling as you'd expect from the typical Criterion and Twilight Time B&W Blu-rays, but the LILITH transfer is rather soft (though still better than a DVD). Still, at $2.50 per title they're an irresistible bargain.

[Show spoiler]This disc is ideal for supplying appropriate double-feature material to run with GRAND HOTEL or maybe the 1953 TITANIC, and either BONJOUR TRISTESSE or BREATHLESS.

When the Mill Creek deal with Sony was announced, I speculated about this very same thing Blu-Velvet. In that long since deleted post I alluded to the "tiers" of Sony product we'd likely be seeing from their various Blu-ray licensees. So here we are 6 months later...and guess what...surprise, surprise...isn't that exactly what has happened??? Criterion and Twilight Time are getting Sony's recent 4k scans and remasters, and Mill Creek is getting their legacy HD transfers for DVD (Read: "no new workflow").

Exhibit A: this Mill Creek double-bill of Ship of Fools / Lilith. In fairness, from what I've seen so far, Mill Creek's use of its recently acquired Columbia/Sony masters has resulted in the overall best looking and sounding Blu-rays ever from that label...superior in almost every respect to any of their Touchstone-sourced titles. And some of Mill Creek's first wave of Columbia/Sony titles have had surprisingly solid AQ and PQ specs (e.g. When a Stranger Calls / Happy Birthday to Me). Unfortunately, this release wasn't one of them, landing as it did somewhere between unremarkable and acceptable (if you squint a lot). As you say, Ship of Fools did look good to very good overall - not much sizzle or snap, but nevertheless clean, as was its get-the-job-done mono sound. However, Lilith was practically DOA...without a Blu-ray logo on this package, there was hardly any aspect of its AQ or PQ indicating that it was even in HD!

So it all comes back to price and perceived value, doesn't it? For $5 bucks, I say no foul...at least Mill Creek is rescuing some deeper catalogue titles which would be even less likely to receive a Blu-ray release now that Image seems to have folded its Columbia/Sony tent. So, I will continue to support Mill Creek for stuff like The Chase, Avalon, Baby, the Rain Must Fall, The Last Detail, and Agnes of God, plus the occasional blockbuster double-bill etc. These Mill Creek/Sony double-bills are all authored on 50GB discs, so that is also a plus.

To date, not great work, but not bad either. And you certainly can't argue with the price. I just think I'm being very realistic about what to expect from Milll Creek under this agreement with Sony. In any case, what are our choices? At the rate Criterion and Twilight Time are cherry-picking from Sony's vault, neither label could hope to cover enough deep catalogue titles anyway.

[Arkadin]

what's really sad is I can't even find this bd on Wal-mart.com.
EDIT: I ordered it from Mill Creek direct.

[Phibes]

Is Wal-mart getting these early or as a timed exclusive? The BD of Ship/Lilith on Amazon has a release date of 3/26/13.

On a related note, For those mentioning Titanic (1953) and other classic BDs, check your Sams Club as I've gotten it, How Green was my Valley, Rebecca, and Spellbound for $9.88 ea. Hope when Laura comes out that it's priced the same .

Cheers.

[Arkadin]

no, apparently it is released, but for some reason amazon isn't getting it until March.
like I posted above, you can order it now direct from the Mill Creek online store.
Could Wal-Mart be the only b&m retailer that has it now?--possibly.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by Phibes

Is Wal-mart getting these early or as a timed exclusive? The BD of Ship/Lilith on Amazon has a release date of 3/26/13.

[Show spoiler]On a related note, For those mentioning Titanic (1953) and other classic BDs, check your Sams Club as I've gotten it, How Green was my Valley, Rebecca, and Spellbound for $9.88 ea. Hope when Laura comes out that it's priced the same .

Cheers.

These will be Wally World exclusives until March Phibes. When I was stateside over the holidays they were in big aisle standee displays in every store...you couldn't miss them.

Here is the Mill Creek/Sony thread discussing this first wave of releases.

[Dex Robinson]

People need to be more patient.

When these go into wide release, you'll likely be able to buy them from ImportCDs for between $4.94 and $6.94 (check their website like I just did...that's the going price range for Mill Creek double features).

Here in Canada, the Walmarts (which don't share the same window of exclusivity as American stores) will likely have them for $8.00. That's based on the price of the current crop of Mill Creek double features that they are selling.

If people can just remain calm and patient for a couple of months, there will be a cheap, plentiful supply of these BDs to go around.

[Tom Monahan]

Any edge enhancement on Ship of Fools?

Thanks,
Tom

[bluskies]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

well at least a few older Columbia classics starting to trickle out.
Mill Creek gets this pair from 1965 and 1964 respectively.
casts include Warren Beatty, Peter Fonda, Vivien Leigh, Jean Seberg, Lee Marvin and Gene Hackman.
March 26th is the release date on amazon.com.
Apparently this bd came out on 12/26/12, and you can order it from Mill Creek direct.
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Ship-...Blu-ray/62905/
Ship of Fools wiki-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Fools_(film)
Lilith wiki-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilith_(film)

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I always cringe when I hear Mill Creek has gotten ahold of something. Yes, I will pay $5 for the double bill...but I would have paid more just for a really good Blu of Ship of Fools.

[bigdaddyhorse]

I haven't watched any titles mentioned here, but the Mill Creek 2-packs I've sampled so far have looked better than expected. I've watched Happy Birthday to Me and Truth or Consequences N.M. and both looked great, far better than the up-converted dvds I also tested. I don't think they're 4K masters or anything like that, probably old HD masters used for dvds, but impressive nonetheless. Better than most Image or Echo Bridge BD's and cheaper.

[Dex Robinson]

These are now showing up for pre-order at amazon.ca as well.

They are currently showing $9.90 which is more pricey than many places in the in the U.S.. However, since I'm in Canada, I can get free-shipping and I'm not going to quibble about a couple of bucks.

The good thing is that they will be widely available to anybody who wants them.

[Arkadin]

received my copy from Mill Creek direct today.
(they did a great job with shipping and even used a box, which was quite unexpected)
hope to check it out soon, but lots of other bds at the front of the line.

[Pirate King]

I picked this up at Walmart a couple of weeks ago for 5 bucks. I thought Ship of Fools looked good to very good. Blacks are a little heavy. Otherwise, good clear picture. Great movie. I have not watched Lilith yet. As you may know, Ship of Fools was nominated for eight oscars including best picture... and won two (Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White and Best Cinematography, Black-and-White). Highly recommended .. especially for five dollars.

[Dex Robinson]

I see that amazon.ca has dropped the pre-order price on the double features to $6.99...and they've already adjusted down the invoice for my pre-order (the pre-order price guarantee). I have a few of these Mill Creek Double features on order.

[AgentOrange]

Well damn. Just found out about this one.

I was just out at Wal-Mart the other day (and I rarely head towards Wal-Mart). Too bad I wasn't aware of this set's existance.

I am not a fan of the "double features" by any means (Mill Creek... please fire your art department). But still, I think this one deserves a look. I guess I'll keep an eye out on deepdiscount in the future.

I do wish Mill Creek would do some of these as individual releases, especially the films that are "new to blu-ray". I know that generally movie "megapacks" from Mill Creek is just "what they do", but I wish they would at least do a single releases of the better films they get their hands on.