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

[NoQuestion]

Kind of an off ball question here, back when Universal was releasing hd-dvd I believe they had definately, maybe ready to go on that format, and then we all knew what happened next.

Is this movie on the radar? My girlfriend loves this movie and would love it if i got it for her. She also wants attonement, but i figure that will get a release in the future.

[leo0787sx]

Hello,

Was wondering if someone could me. I have checked the last few pages and search the forum but could not find an answer.

I have a list of Blu Rays I really want but was wondering if they will ever arrive (in Europe) and if you know a release date? Thank you.

Futurama: Beast will a billion backs
Futurama: Benders big score

The Life Collection (David Attenbrough)
Walking with Cavemen (BBC)
Walking with Beasts (BBC)
Walking with Dinosaurs (BBC)

Dawn of the dead.

Jurrassic Park 1, 2 and 3

[MerrickG]

Hey Jeff or Bill,

I know Bill said that New Line is holding off on Lord of the Rings Extended Editions until Peter Jackson can be involved, but is it REALLY I mean REALLY too much to ask to just throw the extended editions in this box set that is coming this year?

No one is a bigger sucker for double dipping than me, but LotR is one exception. I absolutely refuse to buy anything less than the extended editions.

Perhaps one good thing that can come from waiting is that maybe the next editions will be released DNR free.

We can only hope.

[NutsAboutPS3]

Originally Posted by Esox50

Jeff,

What odds would you put on Universal "breaking up" The Fast and the Furious Trilogy into individual releases later this year when the 4th movie hits Blu-Ray? The original is the only one that holds value for a lot of people, including myself.

Originally Posted by Grubert

Esox50,

Just order it from the UK. Problem solved.

Question for Jeff - when we get differences like this with movie releases in different countries is it simply a case of different parts of the company working independently and deciding on different approaches, or is there something deeper going on, e.g. a way for the studios to gather data on how willing people are to import titles?

[Jeff Kleist]

Definately Maybe- Nothing
Futurama- yes, but not soon
Dinosaurs- nothing
Jurassic Park- when 4 comes out

LOTR- PJ specifically wanted to wait. He's got big BIG plans, especially if scuttlebutt plays out. You WILL be a merry fellow!. I agree that I can't watch the theatricals anymore either

Question for Jeff - when we get differences like this with movie releases in different countries is it simply a case of different parts of the company working independently and deciding on different approaches, or is there something deeper going on, e.g. a way for the studios to gather data on how willing people are to import titles?

How closely the parts of a company work together internationally varies between studios. I can tell you that my experience is that Universal is very independant. Back in 2002, Universal Australia commissioned a set of the real Battlestar Galactica, even was doing their own extras. Naturally I was extactic, and i called Uni and said "so when are we getting it?" they stared at me blankly and told me they'd have to get back to me. 2 weeks later the Aussie set was canned (cause they were doing the big push the following fall, which turned out to be the uber-remastered set with piles of bonus material)

The only factor importing ever plays is stopping people from getting US discs due to theatrical windows or pricing. So few people in America care about it, that's why none of our TVs support PAL/50hz

[racerx1965]

Likewise, is there any word that the Spider-mans will be sold individually?

Thanks!

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

You WILL be a merry fellow!

... come 2015 or so...

[Bullseye]

I am happy enough to double dip on the LoTR collection. Jeff any word on New Line releases such as Blade and remake of Texas Chainsaw??

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Jurassic Park- when 4 comes out

That's coming out this year, right? There's nothing about it on IMDb.com...

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

I am happy enough to double dip on the LoTR collection.

Contrary to my frowny-face, I'm fine to wait. The reason I'm frustrated is that, despite Jeff's sincere cheerleading, I can't, for the life of me, imagine any extras I could possibly prefer to wait three years for rather than to have the EEs this year, even if it meant no extras at all.

[neo_reloaded]

I have the EEs on DVD, but I'll actually be glad to have an excuse to pick up the theatrical editions since I've as-of-yet been unable to listen to the LOTR Rifftraxs.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

I have the EEs on DVD, but I'll actually be glad to have an excuse to pick up the theatrical editions since I've as-of-yet been unable to listen to the LOTR Rifftraxs.

Also, perhaps they'll see a better encode (relative to the format) this time. I never bothered with the theatricals on DVD, but I understand that none of their releases (especially the first) ever looked as good as the first EE release and that's a shame.

[Jeff Kleist]

2015? No, much sooner. Hobbit comes out in 2011. All I will say is that it WILL be worth the wait, if everything plays out.

Also, perhaps they'll see a better encode (relative to the format) this time. I never bothered with the theatricals on DVD, but I understand that none of their releases (especially the first) ever looked as good as the first EE release and that's a shame.

That's what happens when you squish 3 hours of high action on a dvd-9. The EEs were high bitrate spread across 2 discs

Not this year on JP4

[NoQuestion]

Jeff,

Is PJ even involved with the transfer for this release or is this just NL/WB putting together a transfer and shipping it out the door. The way it sounds, PJ won't be involved until the EE editions are worked on.

I am affraid we are going to get this release loaded with DNR

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

2015? No, much sooner. Hobbit comes out in 2011.

I know. I was exaggerating for dramatic effect.

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

All I will say is that it WILL be worth the wait, if everything plays out.

Again, short of a video offer from Peter Jackson to produce my next original project, I can't imagine an "extra" that would beat

*New and Improved: Now with three more years of your life to enjoy it!*

For me, the best extra of all is always the movie I want to watch in the format I want to watch it in.

[scrumptious]

Originally Posted by leo0787sx

Hello,

Was wondering if someone could me. I have checked the last few pages and search the forum but could not find an answer.

I have a list of Blu Rays I really want but was wondering if they will ever arrive (in Europe) and if you know a release date? Thank you.

Futurama: Beast will a billion backs
Futurama: Benders big score

The Life Collection (David Attenbrough)
Walking with Cavemen (BBC)
Walking with Beasts (BBC)
Walking with Dinosaurs (BBC)

Dawn of the dead.

Jurrassic Park 1, 2 and 3

I love dinos too. Check out Nat. Geo. Prehistoric Sea Monsters on blu-ray. The dinos there are just amazing, very realistic. I hope the Sky Monsters one comes to blu too (haven't seen it but I assume it'd be just as good as the Sea Monsters one)

[neo_reloaded]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Not this year on JP4

I was under the impression that JP4 was as good as canceled since the passing of Michael Crichton. Even before that, it seemed like a non-starter - there was all kinds of crazy concept art with dinosaurs with guns and the like, and it just seemed like it was never going to actually happen.

[Jeff Kleist]

Is PJ even involved with the transfer for this release or is this just NL/WB putting together a transfer and shipping it out the door. The way it sounds, PJ won't be involved until the EE editions are worked on.

I am affraid we are going to get this release loaded with DNR

I don't know what the current masters look like . I do know that New Line's previous masters were a smoothie fest, but that WB has since done them again. Given 2010 and American History X, I have a semblence of hope now.

Hypothetically PJ would approve any new transfer, but since LOTR was not a DGA production, he doesn't have the absolute legal right. They would be stupid not to obey that tradition, as Disney does for Rodriguez and Tarantino

I was under the impression that JP4 was as good as canceled since the passing of Michael Crichton. Even before that, it seemed like a non-starter - there was all kinds of crazy concept art with dinosaurs with guns and the like, and it just seemed like it was never going to actually happen.

Still moving forward

[scrumptious]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

That's what happens when you squish 3 hours of high action on a dvd-9. The EEs were high bitrate spread across 2 discs

Maybe the blu-ray EEs will be on two BD-50's, with maybe a third BD-50 for the deluxe edition for special features. It might be good that they didn't use seamless branching (and now hopefully won't for the EEs) since using seamless branching will tempt them to fit it all on one BD-50.

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by iwanttobeabmoviestar

any watchmen news and any more news on that bsg complete series thing you had a pic on the bits ? thanks

Watchmen will be announced soon for late July. I suspect Battlestar will be announced in the next month or so also.