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

[neo_reloaded]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

I know. He stated that if HE were doing the discs, that's what HE'D do. I personally have the same feelings you do, in that they will be upscaled, BUT it would be a shame if they only went with the DVD encodes for those episodes.

~Alan

Haha yeah I know what he was saying. I thought YOU were the one confused, since you said "shame if true" and normally one doesn't talk about opinions being true or false, they simply are. But sorry for the miscommunication.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

I'm still upset they are showing a four episode pod then going on hiatus for months.

Yeah, I don't get that reasoning either. Either way I loved the original and look forward to this.

[Jeff Kleist]

Neo's got good points. I've just never seen a lot of gains in digitally produced line animation over the DVD encodes. Diminishing returns and all.

Simpsons does this all the time. This is the first time in at least a decade that Treehouse of Horror has actually aired before Halloween

I think at this point, Simpsons is pretty much hiatus proof, but this kind of strategy has killed many a Fox show in the past. Dollhouse has virtually no chance of survival thanks to 3 episodes then interruptions for emergency baseball games. If they'd only give these shows the kind of chance they gave Fringe. If Dollhouse had launched in Prison Break's slot like it was supposed to, it probably wouldn't be on life support right now

[Mr. Cinema]

Jeff,

With "Predators" hitting theaters next Summer, is it safe to assume a new "Predator" BD re-release will happen? I know this is one of those movie's where the video quality may not be improved considering how it was sort of filmed "guerrilla" style. But it would be nice to have an updated AVC transfer and include the dvd extras.

BTW, Adrien Brody and Topher Grace are supposedly going to join the cast for the new film. I like Grace, but he's the last person I'd picture in a Predator movie. But after reading his character bio, I could see him pulling it off.

[Jeff Kleist]

I've read the treatment for Rodriguez's original Predator project, and I know his other work. Frankly I'm inclined to trust him, I think the movie is far more likely to rule than anything else.

I wouldn't be suprised to see SE reissues of the 2 Predators for it either, assuming Predator 2 is bare (I don't have it)

[Mr. Cinema]

This has been posted for Grace's character. "Grace will play a nerdy, accountant type whose very ordinariness hides the fact that he's a serial killer."

Sounds pretty cool and I can definitely see him as a nerdy, sarcastic accountant.

[Jeff Kleist]

Sounds good to me. I just want a great Predator flick that captures the heart of the first one and kicks it up a notch. I did hear Ahnuld is trying to do a cameo on a day off, hopefully he'll manage

"GET TO THE SPACE CHOPPA!"

[Jeff Kleist]

Frank Marshall just twittered Ponyo for March, I'm confirming it now, but all I will say is that it will not be alone, and it's not Totoro.

This is probably for two reasons- the first to protect the Blu-ray sales in Japan (where it SRPs at double what it'll run domestically, and the second so they can push hard on the Oscars it'll at least be nominated for. Unlike Spirited Away, Coraline will give it a run for its money, and may the best film win!

I'm going to guess that "Ponyo on a Boat" will not be included (you have to go looking, sorry, when you do EXTREMELY NSFW language )

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Neo's got good points. I've just never seen a lot of gains in digitally produced line animation over the DVD encodes. Diminishing returns and all.

Better color reproduction, and less compression shows a considerable difference (this is when the FOX network airs "The Simpsons"... not the crappy "upconverting" jobs sometimes done by affiliates) to me. It doesn't show as much difference as the HD produced episodes... not that "The Simpsons" HD episodes, but it's not like "The Simpsons" animation is very detailed to begin with compared to some animated work.

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

This is the first time in at least a decade that Treehouse of Horror has actually aired before Halloween

I was SHOCKED when I found out it would be aired before Halloween.

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I think at this point, Simpsons is pretty much hiatus proof, but this kind of strategy has killed many a Fox show in the past. Dollhouse has virtually no chance of survival thanks to 3 episodes then interruptions for emergency baseball games.

I'm just thankful that FOX has promised to air all 13 ordered episodes of "Dollhouse" this season. I missed an episode during the first season, and gave up on the show until the Blu-ray release... which has allowed the show to grow on me... not as much as Joss' other work, but still...

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

If they'd only give these shows the kind of chance they gave Fringe.

"Fringe" went on hiatus after the February 10, 2009 episode, and didn't come on again until April 7 due to "American Idol".

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

If Dollhouse had launched in Prison Break's slot like it was supposed to, it probably wouldn't be on life support right now

You mean Monday nights? I don't agree with the rest of your statement though...

~Alan<~~~~~~~~~~Who is elated to hear that Joss will be directing an upcoming episode of "Glee", and "geeked out" that Nathan Fillion will be wearing a Mal Reynold's costume in next week's episode of "Castle"... all while Echo walks across my computer screen...

[Jeff Kleist]

"Fringe" went on hiatus after the February 10, 2009 episode, and didn't come on again until April 7 due to "American Idol".

Yeah, but it went for months without interruption before that. It wasn't 3-4 episodes and then out like Lost did. Man that was a mistake.

You mean Monday nights? I don't agree with the rest of your statement though...

~Alan<~~~~~~~~~~Who is elated to hear that Joss will be directing an upcoming episode of "Glee", and "geeked out" that Nathan Fillion will be wearing a Mal Reynold's costume in next week's episode of "Castle"... all while Echo walks across my computer screen...

Yes it was supposed to be attached to 24. On Fridays there is absolutely no chance to develop any kind of audience, it's simply where shows go to die. Great to hear about the Fillion

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Frank Marshall just twittered Ponyo for March

Huh. Coulda sworn I saw an official somethin' a couple days ago listing January.

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

all I will say is that it will not be alone

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

and it's not Totoro.

I can live with that... under the right circumstances.

Can Sen live with that?

How 'bout Chihiro? Can Chihiro live with that?

[Jeff Kleist]

Huh. Coulda sworn I saw an official somethin' a couple days ago listing January.

Which was December a few weeks ago in line with the Japanese Blu street date

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Which was December a few weeks ago in line with the Japanese Blu street date

So, sounds like they're just trying to give the Japanese release a window... ?

An interesting financial bet when you have to subtract North American holiday sales from the re-importation equation.

[Jeff Kleist]

An interesting financial bet when you have to subtract North American holiday sales from the re-importation equation.

I don't think Tokuma is that worries about the US market which did less than 1/10th the box office. Since we're all one big happy region, the difference between a $25 street price and an $80 street price is signifigant, and based on prior experience even when there were region codes seperating us, the amount of region 1 anime in Japanese stores was huge. Tokuma also has an exponentially larger take from every Japanese disc sold because Disney is merely the distributor there.

Ponyo will do much better with an Oscar push than it will for Christmas, that I agree with.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Ponyo will do much better with an Oscar push than it will for Christmas, that I agree with.

Good point.

And I guess losing the coattails of the theatrical campaign is kind of moot, as there hardly was one.

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Yes it was supposed to be attached to 24. On Fridays there is absolutely no chance to develop any kind of audience, it's simply where shows go to die.

Don't get me wrong, as I like "Dollhouse", but I'm not exactly sure how much bigger of an audience it can get... for a couple of reasons:

• For one, it's "controversial" themes don't exactly lend itself to a hit. Something that can't be said for "Fringe". While the show's ("Fringe") mythology (which I won't go into detail about here for those who haven't seen the latter half of S1 or all of S1) is rather new to TV series (outside of an occasional episode of this or that Sci-Fi show), the formula is very similar to many TV shows... like "The X-Files".

• Two, while "Dollhouse" provides entertainment in every episode, as well as bringing up interesting ethical dilemmas, those who never watched "Epitaph One", or have heard about it, are most likely unaware of where the show is even heading.

I think the show would have had a much better chance of survival if it was a mixture (ala "Lost") of past & present (or in this case, present & future) scenes... showing the current events... mixed with scenes showing the beginnings of "Epitaph One". Not saying it would be better that way, just saying that I think it would stand a better chance of surviving.

~Alan

[Jeff Kleist]

* For one, it's "controversial" themes don't exactly lend itself to a hit. Something that can't be said for "Fringe". While the show's ("Fringe") mythology (which I won't go into detail about here for those who haven't seen the latter half of S1 or all of S1) is rather new to TV series (outside of an occasional episode of this or that Sci-Fi show), the formula is very similar to many TV shows... like "The X-Files".

* Two, while "Dollhouse" provides entertainment in every episode, as well as bringing up interesting ethical dilemmas, those who never watched "Epitaph One", or have heard about it, are most likely unaware of where the show is even heading

Well, it was never even given a chance to try either. By dumping it on Fridays, they pretty much sealed its doom to a self-fufilling prophecy

[rkolinski]

Jeff, this is my first question for you from the digitalbits! Any idea when "The African Queen" will be released on either DVD or preferably Blu? I own the LD but I'm amazed that this classic isn't even available on DVD!

[Jeff Kleist]

Sooner rather than later

There were all kinds of rights issues for about a decade, and it needed restoration. It should be out in the next 12 months

[Anthony P]

Jeff/Bill

I don't know if this bothers other, but I just bought Transformers2 at FS and it came with a separate Steelbook case. the case was wrapped with an unglued back cover with specs.

can you ask studios (since they are all a bit guilty) when it is not a standard case with a back cover under plastic (be it steelbooks like this, digibooks, cardboard boxes like CE3K, Batman, Matrix.....) or plastic boxes like (ST) that they make the separate (usually glued on) sheet of paper a bit smaller so that it fits inside the case, I hate it when they get ruined (since they are sometimes not glued and the rest badly glued) and would rather be able to fit it in the box where it is safer.

I am sure I am not the only slightly annoyed by it.