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

[AKORIS]

thanks Bill-- I check your site without fail everyday so I'll be lookin'

CANNOT wait to see these!!

[Jeff Kleist]

You can be sure that the extended Khan and VI will come out eventually, along with the director's cut of TMP

However, the price is great, the box art gorgeous, and there's no reason to doubt that the movies will be looking their best with lossless audio. I plan on simply swapping out the eventual new versions into the existing box myself

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

You can be sure that the extended Khan and VI will come out eventually, along with the director's cut of TMP

However, the price is great, the box art gorgeous, and there's no reason to doubt that the movies will be looking their best with lossless audio. I plan on simply swapping out the eventual new versions into the existing box myself

The price will be even better if amazon can price match the online walmart price of $80.

[coolmilo]

Hello Jeff/Bill,

Why are new Blu-ray release titles so expensive on release day. I mean, $25 to $29 seems really expensive for new releases (even though this is a discounted price). I remember back in the DVD days, new releases were deeply discounted on release day ($15 to $17 average at Fry's). They were repriced a few dollars higher a day or two after release day. It seemed that they wanted to sell as many discs as possible on release day.

I would think that studios would want to sell as many BD's as possible on release day too. It seems the BD market is following an opposite marketing/business plan to the DVD plan. I do appreciate the price drop for catalog titles and I have been buying many of them. $15 for a catalog title seems about right.

In my case, I have stopped buying/pre-ordering new releases and wait for a sell. As a rule, I am no longer willing to pay more than $22 for any new release. I think new releases should be priced at $19.95 on release day. If they were priced around $20, they might eat into DVD market share more than they do now at 10% average per week.

I bring this up because I am listening to a radio program (Howard Stern) and they are talking about movies. The cast is complaining that Blu-ray movies are too expensive. IMO, this is the wrong message to be sending to their audience, but they have a valid point.

What do you guys think?

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by NoQuestion

How is FOX not good in the transfer department? They are putting out some amazing transfers. I am not sure where you are coming from. I, Robot, the bond movies, ID4, many of the best looking titles on bluray have come from the FOX library.

He's probably holding Patton and Longest Day against them.

Fox seems to be getting their act together with bluray. When Fox hits the mark they release some of the best special editions of any studio.

When Fox is good they are the best in the game.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by merrick97

The price will be even better if amazon can price match the online walmart price of $80.

they already have and I've already pre-ordered!

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

I am debating if I should get the x-men trilogy or just the two missing movies, what is the difference between the new release of the third one and the original?

I'm in the same situation. From what I've heard, they have re-encoded X3, so there might be some small PQ improvements...but I'm waiting for confirmation.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

People I trust who were involved in the new HD transfers and remastering of the films tell me that they look and sound terrific. I should have the proof in hand in the next couple weeks, so watch The Bits for our review.

Good to hear and you did a great job on TOS review!

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I never understand the hate for Fox's discs. They're almost universally excellent, the movies that tend to be on many of their catalog stuff is what doesn't look that great on the negative. Lionsgate has more than their fair share of mediocre, heavily DNR'd discs for instance.

I agree.

By the way, I know they are only screenshots, but I'm not liking what I've been seeing on the new T2 Skynet release from a couple of sites. Strong DNR looks like Liongate's answer to "cleaning up" this release....even more than what's on the original release.

[Jeff Kleist]

Well, if you don't like the Lionsgate release, the Geneon Japanese disc has not been smoothied. I haven't seen the new T2 disc to comment yet

Why are new Blu-ray release titles so expensive on release day. I mean, $25 to $29 seems really expensive for new releases (even though this is a discounted price). I remember back in the DVD days, new releases were deeply discounted on release day ($15 to $17 average at Fry's). They were repriced a few dollars higher a day or two after release day. It seemed that they wanted to sell as many discs as possible on release day.

Well, first off, DVDs weren't $16.99 in 1999 either, not unless you were having fun with Reel.com that is (40% off, $30 off of $150 order, free shipping pay once for the upgrade to overnight shipping, enjoy the benefits for weeks on end!)

Retail usually ends up in the 25-30% off on release day.

Stores simply won't loss leader Blu-rays as a rule until they're a signifigant draw, which means that they need to be eating at bare miinimum in the 30-40% of sales week to week, instead of the 10-15% we're averaging now.

I don't know why Howard is being hurt by disc prices any way :P At the very least he probably doesn't know how to shop around and gives his assistant his credit card or something

[neo_reloaded]

Not announcement questions per se, as both of these have already been announced - it's just that the details are starting to seem iffy as the release dates approach:

1) Army of Darkness - no cover art yet for this May 19th release, and Amazon looks to have it as a 'TBA' release date, though their pre-order is still active. Has this been pulled / delayed?

2) Paycheck from Paramount. This was originally announced for May 19th as well, but now some sites are showing an additional pre-order for May 5th including "movie cash." Has this been bumped forward and had movie cash added to it?

[Jack Torrance]

Bill or Jeff:

I was wondering if either of you have heard about an updated DVD / BD release of Michael Mann's THIEF.

As you know, this was an early MGM DVD title and has not been remastered. The original release (which is a 4x3 letterboxed transfer) was sourced from an older PAL video master. I have seen in the past year a new HD transfer (on the MGM HD channel I believe) which of course looks light years better. This is a popular catalogue title, so surprised they haven't revisted it yet.

Also.. the other question I have is for Mann's THE KEEP. I understand that most people here probably don't give a damn, and it is Mann's lesser work... but as failures go, I find it a fascinating one with some beautiful stuff within it. This has popped up and disappeared a few times on Paramount's release schedule with numerous excuses being offered... do you think we're ever going to see it even on DVD?

Thanks for any light you can shed on these two titles

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Well, if you don't like the Lionsgate release, the Geneon Japanese disc has not been smoothied. I haven't seen the new T2 disc to comment yet

I've heard the UK/Opt. disc is also quite good and quite cheap - did you get to view this one?

[Jeff Kleist]

I've seent the Geneon disc and the original Lionsgate release

[frank_t]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

And now it's time for a special Saturday episode of...

TWO THINGS THAT MAKE BILL VERY HAPPY TODAY!

1. Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series is now available for pre-order on Blu-ray at Amazon.com.

http://thedigitalbits.com/#bsgpre

2. Microsoft has name-dropped Blu-ray in a PC commercial:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qui43...layer_embedded

Life is good.

Indeed! I've not watched any Galactica since end of Season 2 as I pretty much only watch DVD/Blu now-a-days, and since I knew Blu versions were not too far off, seemed I could stand to wait.

Absolutely loved the 1st 2 seasons and will gladly purchase this set

[thebluemax]

Originally Posted by Holographic

Rumor tells that Apollo 13 is due early next year, probably January.

Finally something from Universal to consider buying.

I totally disagree, Universal is releasing some wonderful titles, and the quality of their BD'S are first rate.

[mark antony]

Originally Posted by Jack Torrance

Bill or Jeff:

I was wondering if either of you have heard about an updated DVD / BD release of Michael Mann's THIEF.

As you know, this was an early MGM DVD title and has not been remastered. The original release (which is a 4x3 letterboxed transfer) was sourced from an older PAL video master. I have seen in the past year a new HD transfer (on the MGM HD channel I believe) which of course looks light years better. This is a popular catalogue title, so surprised they haven't revisted it yet.

Thief is an amazing film, even more so when you consider it's Mann's first feature, would love it on BD

[Anthony P]

I think there might be a few added special features. I know there is a digital copy for it.

Yeah, I believe there are more special features.

thanks guys, the DC, I knew, but I never use them. I was more interested if the encode is the same or not. But I think I will just get the trilogy anyways.

PS (missed this the first time)

I'm in the same situation. From what I've heard, they have re-encoded X3, so there might be some small PQ improvements...but I'm waiting for confirmation.

sold.

[Knight-Errant]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

You can be sure that the extended Khan and VI will come out eventually, along with the director's cut of TMP

However, the price is great, the box art gorgeous, and there's no reason to doubt that the movies will be looking their best with lossless audio. I plan on simply swapping out the eventual new versions into the existing box myself

Yeah I'm buying the box and will buy the director's cuts when they come out as I love them.

[Holographic]

Originally Posted by thebluemax

I totally disagree, Universal is releasing some wonderful titles, and the quality of their BD'S are first rate.

Quality indeed good, but most of the released movies just plainly suck. Except Bourne 1 and 3.