Ask questions to The Digital Bits team (Bill Hunt, Jeff Kleist et.al.)

[Jeff Kleist]

Previews stuff is put in months ahead of time, the information in there is hardly current, especially when it comes to videos, and they're the last people who would find out about a change like this

I guess everyone in this industry likes to play "shoot the messenger"!

Welcome to Hollywood

[MerrickG]

Hey Jeff,

Can you get a hold of some of the studios and tell them to look at Paramount as an example of a studio that is really opening the floodgates with catalog titles. Right now the other studios seem lackluster compared to them.

Of course it *could* have to do with that many of my favorite Paramount films are coming out in May and maybe Im just biased.

Coming from Paramount:
Star Trek (1-6)
Mean Girls
Black Sheep
Waynes World 1 and 2
Major League
CSI- First Season (this is MUCH appreciated, I never bought the first season on dvd cuz it was fullframe, now Im getting it in HD!!)
Enemy at the Gates.

I mean really, it just seems like Paramount went to me and asked me straight up what I wanted on blu and then is putting it out!

Maybe its Dreamworks SKG (not animation) that I need to be *****ing to.

Sony has also done a good job, but I would like to see Bad Boys 2 on blu. Ive been under the impression that would come out long ago.

[Jeff Kleist]

I'll tell you, as the guy that does a lot of Paramount titles for the Bits that it puts a big load on me

I'm definately looking forward to May, when the vast majority of titles are my favorites too

Paramount is very aggressive, the way I see it is that they want to secure Universal in the Blu basement, and are making a play to move ahead a few spaces this year. I'd be suprised if they don't beat out Lionsgate this year, and they definately have a shot at climbing over Fox as well, simply on the strength of their new release lineup

Either way, in my mind Paramount has done an excellent job saying "sorry about thtat guys" and put their money where their mouth is. I've been really suprised at the quality of almost all of their discs since their comeback, even stuff I had low expectations for like Primal Fear or Top Gun (gorgeous!)

[Doctorossi]

Now, if we can just get them to hurry it up with Chinatown!

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I'll tell you, as the guy that does a lot of Paramount titles for the Bits that it puts a big load on me

I'm definately looking forward to May, when the vast majority of titles are my favorites too

Paramount is very aggressive, the way I see it is that they want to secure Universal in the Blu basement, and are making a play to move ahead a few spaces this year. I'd be suprised if they don't beat out Lionsgate this year, and they definately have a shot at climbing over Fox as well, simply on the strength of their new release lineup

Either way, in my mind Paramount has done an excellent job saying "sorry about thtat guys" and put their money where their mouth is. I've been really suprised at the quality of almost all of their discs since their comeback, even stuff I had low expectations for like Primal Fear or Top Gun (gorgeous!)

Yeah, I mean many of those comedies I did not think we would see on blu any time soon. If ever. CSI Season One is a real treat, though. I really hope it sells well so they can be convinced to add later seasons on blu.

Id say Universal has done a solid job so far with what theyve put out. Warner should talk to them if they want a lesson on how to make movies that use a BD-25 look good. Even they can DNR in a way thats not near as offensive as Pentons favorite forum of screenshot scientists make it out to be.

Of course what they have put out hasnt thus far amounted to much. But Im pleased with what they HAVE put out.

[juanell]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Paramount is very aggressive, the way I see it is that they want to secure Universal in the Blu basement, and are making a play to move ahead a few spaces this year. I'd be suprised if they don't beat out Lionsgate this year, and they definately have a shot at climbing over Fox as well, simply on the strength of their new release lineup

Why is Universal avoiding their catalog like the plague? No Back to the Future trilogy, no Jaws ,no Jurassic Park, and no Hitchcock. You would think they would have announced at least one of those by now.

[Mr. Cinema]

Disney gets praise for their releases, and rightly so, but to me, they could be releasing alot more live action catalog titles. Paramount, Universal, Sony, and Fox are doing a good job on catalog titles. I think Disney needs to pick up the pace a little. This is the breakout year for BD, the year it moves towards mainstream. Early adoption days are OVER.

[Holographic]

Is there any chance we are going to see any of these titles this year?

AS GOOD AS IT GETS
DANCES WITH WOLVES
HEARTBREAKERS (likely never, but one can still hope)
TREMORS

[Mr. Cinema]

Originally Posted by juanell

Why is Universal avoiding their catalog like the plague? No Back to the Future trilogy, no Jaws ,no Jurassic Park, and no Hitchcock. You would think they would have announced at least one of those by now.

I doubt Jaws will come out until its 35 year anniversay, which is next year. I don't see Universal releasing Jurassic Park until the new film hits theaters. BTTF has been rumored for this year.

And as far as Hitchcock goes, there is nothing to tie it in with right now. I'm sure we'll get some of those when The Birds remake hits theaters, which I don't think will happen until 2011.

Psycho's 50th anniversary is next year. I could see a big deluxe edition for that.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema

And as far as Hitchcock goes, there is nothing to tie it in with right now.

They could tie it in with the fact that I want it reeeeeeaaaally bad.

[NoQuestion]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I'll tell you, as the guy that does a lot of Paramount titles for the Bits that it puts a big load on me

I'm definately looking forward to May, when the vast majority of titles are my favorites too

Paramount is very aggressive, the way I see it is that they want to secure Universal in the Blu basement, and are making a play to move ahead a few spaces this year. I'd be suprised if they don't beat out Lionsgate this year, and they definately have a shot at climbing over Fox as well, simply on the strength of their new release lineup

Either way, in my mind Paramount has done an excellent job saying "sorry about thtat guys" and put their money where their mouth is. I've been really suprised at the quality of almost all of their discs since their comeback, even stuff I had low expectations for like Primal Fear or Top Gun (gorgeous!)

Jeff,

Do you see the other studios picking up the pace come late summer or fall with the catalog releases? Do you see Paramount keeping up the pace through the rest of the year or is this just a brief splurge by them?

also, about Universal, I know they are working on re-doing some if not all the hd-dvd titles for bluray. Just the other week we got 2 nice announcements regarding 5 catalog titles. Will we see their effort pick up shortly in regards to the many other hd-dvd titles? Can we expect to see most if not all of them released by end of year?

[NoQuestion]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema

Disney gets praise for their releases, and rightly so, but to me, they could be releasing alot more live action catalog titles. Paramount, Universal, Sony, and Fox are doing a good job on catalog titles. I think Disney needs to pick up the pace a little. This is the breakout year for BD, the year it moves towards mainstream. Early adoption days are OVER.

Disney is a little slow on the catalog side. We just had that announcement about a bunch of titles coming this year and already two got delayed (monsters inc until november, and rounders TBD) I am mad about both of those but there are others to get around that time. Disney does need to step it up because I would love to see a bunch of their catalogs released soon.

[MerrickG]

Hey Jeff,

I have a serious question and I really hope Bill and Penton also chime in.

Anyway, I read from a certain site that a certain workprint of a film has leaked online WELL before its theatrical release date and this site complains about how wrong it is to download movies and I agree with that statement 100%.

Do NOT ask me to comment on the site OR the movie, I will NOT bring it up, because I do NOT condone such things.

But I do have this one comment:
Isnt it VERY foolish to bring UP the fact that the movie has leaked online on at a public website, because it seems to me that you instantly make MANY readers aware that they could get to see the film early for free. I mean to me it seems like you if you want to contain a leak and prevent it from spreading you dont go around telling people about it.

I take myself as an example, I would not have known that the film had leaked had I not read an editorial so to speak that says "Yes, this film has leaked online, but downloading it is bad" and many people are going to see that article and now be tempted to check it out for free.

I dunno, it just seems counterproductive.

Share, please.

Yes, Im aware that Im already being counterproductive in a sense, too. But I had to get some thoughts.

[Slec]

Being that today is the 1st... it'd be great if the studio were hosting the download and it would only be up long enough for them to figure out who is downloading.... kind of a new way to defend themselves.

[BluDomain]

Originally Posted by merrick97

..Do NOT ask me to comment on the site OR the movie, I will NOT bring it up, because I do NOT condone such things.

Ok, I won't ask. Associated Press answers anyway.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090401/...wolverine_leak

[Jeff Kleist]

It can go either way, anyone who's into such things will find out about it inside a week anyway

If it's the site I'm thinking of, I'm glad they took the high road for once

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by merrick97

I have a serious question and I really hope Bill and Penton also chime in....

Even though it apparently was only a work print, law enforcement will eventually find the perpetrators, who will face prosecution, just like they did with Richard Young, Victor Ochoa and Frank Pelayo……………

http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cyberc...oungCharge.htm

Not to mention the fact that the scoundrels will lose their jobs and jeopardize their careers.

[Jeff Kleist]

That's the real problem they have, anything at that stage is going to be marked up in many ways, a bunch of them invisible to the naked eye

There will be very public fallout as Penton said.

Bottom line, they will catch them, the kind of people with the right access is very limited, and all these things leave a trail.

[Jeff Kleist]

Universal output- Can't say, thingss are shuffling all over

I seriously doubt we'll see the HD DVD titles in that quantity this year. They were shovelwaring those discs out, and the majority of them like Tremors were crap. There's a few I really want that need re-doing that might come this year.

Universal is still finding their feet, remember Paramount was already on the Blu train once, and Uni was starting not only from scratch, but pissed-off scratch. I'd much rather see them get it right than fast, no matter how long Tremors or Last Starfighter take to come out.

[horseflesh]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Universal output- Can't say, thingss are shuffling all over

I seriously doubt we'll see the HD DVD titles in that quantity this year. They were shovelwaring those discs out, and the majority of them like Tremors were crap. There's a few I really want that need re-doing that might come this year.

Universal is still finding their feet, remember Paramount was already on the Blu train once, and Uni was starting not only from scratch, but pissed-off scratch. I'd much rather see them get it right than fast, no matter how long Tremors or Last Starfighter take to come out.

I generally don't like "When is xxxx coming on Blu-ray??" (ok, I know I did ask about Lolita & Barry Lyndon recently ), but I can't help asking about the one Universal "catch-up" title that interests me the most; Midnight Run.