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

[sharkshark]

Retweeted a link of this today, congrats on the interview, it's very well done! I'd love some more nerdy info sometime on the colour timing differences between the D5 and the Dye-transfer print, the difference seems pretty vast.

I'm genuinely excited about this format in a way I haven't been in a bit, there's some absolutely spectacular releases coming out, and the fact that they've included ALL this stuff from previous versions is a real sign of the right direction to take.

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

For the record, here's the interview on The Digital Bits:

Going Up River: Inside Apocalypse Now on Blu-ray

It's the result of nearly an hour-long discussion with Lionsgate's Senior VP of DVD and Blu-ray Production, Miguel Casillas, and Zoetrope film archivist James Mockoski (who supervised the new restoration of the film), along with colorist Doug Delaney and Jay Miracle, the editor of the Hearts of Darkness documentary (he also worked on the original Apocalypse Now). Lots of discussion of the aspect ratio, the new 4K transfer, mastering and color-timing, and some specific discussion of both the extras that carry over from the Dossier DVD release and also the new content exclusive to Blu-ray. Plus screenshots comparing both the 2001 master with the new 2010 presentation. Hope you all enjoy.

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema

Jaws isn't in the same league as E.T.???? Jaws invented the "Summer Blockbuster". And it hasn't aged badly at all. And I'm sure this movie kept people from getting in the ocean for a looooong time.

Adjusted for inflation, E.T. is #4 with $1.1 billion US. Jaws is at #7 with $1 billion.

They are in the same league. But I'll take Jaws over E.T. any time. E.T. is definitely not one of my favorites from Spielberg.

Your preference notwithstanding, ET is a classic more on the order of Wizard of Oz or Snow White. Jaws is a great adventure/blockbuster/thriller, but it's not nearly as perennial.

If you were to put 1000 random in a room and ask them to choose between them, ET would end up selling more.

[Jeff Kleist]

There hasn't been a boom in catalog because there haven't been a boom in people BUYING catalog. Plain and simple. Blowing piles of discs out the door when they won't pay for themselves isn't a great move

Most of the B level evergreens are already out. There's a lot of movies like Talented Mr. Ripley that certainly deserve an upgrade, but until that critical mass is reached where a title that isn't action-y or full of HD porn (which Ripley isn't) they'll continue to parcel them out.

There's always a late December catalog push and those titles aren't solicited yet, in fact November just got going. The Essentials line is Sony's big fall push, because there's a pile of people who haven't upgraded those titles yet, and you can bet they'll be a lot of $9.99 sales and/or BOGOs on them.

Paramount is not in the best of shape financially, so they're not going to take a lot of risks

MGM is probably leaving Fox, and they're saving their really good stuff for the new owner. No Bond until the next movie

Universal is doing some behind the scenes shuffling, that's all I know as to attitudes right now. They aren't off catalog titles so far as I know though.

Fox I don't have a clear picture right now, but maybe there will be something to share later on.

[GORT]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

Your preference notwithstanding, ET is a classic more on the order of Wizard of Oz or Snow White. Jaws is a great adventure/blockbuster/thriller, but it's not nearly as perennial.

If you were to put 1000 random in a room and ask them to choose between them, ET would end up selling more.

I have seen Jaws 3 times in the last month on Encore HD. I cant remember the last time E.T. was on tv. can you?

[Mr. Cinema]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

There hasn't been a boom in catalog because there haven't been a boom in people BUYING catalog. Plain and simple. Blowing piles of discs out the door when they won't pay for themselves isn't a great move

Most of the B level evergreens are already out. There's a lot of movies like Talented Mr. Ripley that certainly deserve an upgrade, but until that critical mass is reached where a title that isn't action-y or full of HD porn (which Ripley isn't) they'll continue to parcel them out.

There's always a late December catalog push and those titles aren't solicited yet, in fact November just got going. The Essentials line is Sony's big fall push, because there's a pile of people who haven't upgraded those titles yet, and you can bet they'll be a lot of $9.99 sales and/or BOGOs on them.

Paramount is not in the best of shape financially, so they're not going to take a lot of risks

MGM is probably leaving Fox, and they're saving their really good stuff for the new owner. No Bond until the next movie

Universal is doing some behind the scenes shuffling, that's all I know as to attitudes right now. They aren't off catalog titles so far as I know though.

Fox I don't have a clear picture right now, but maybe there will be something to share later on.

Basically, other than WB, everyone else is severely lacking. WB is easily the most aggressive and I applaud them for that. They get dumped on way too often around here, but they are really the only ones that are supporting BD with catalog.

Those Sony re-releases are a complete waste imo. Rather than repackaging all of those, all they have to do is send a little cardboard stand to Best Buy and promote them that way.

I'm still holding out hope that Fox comes through with The Abyss and True Lies. But with it being near October, I'm starting to get nervous that we won't see them this year.

The fact that total releases are slowing down with the user base increase is very troubling. I, like many, own BD mainly for our older favorites. But at the rate we're going, stuff like Mr. Ripley are never going to make it. And that 1998 DVD hasn't held up well.

[Mr. Cinema]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

Your preference notwithstanding, ET is a classic more on the order of Wizard of Oz or Snow White. Jaws is a great adventure/blockbuster/thriller, but it's not nearly as perennial.

If you were to put 1000 random in a room and ask them to choose between them, ET would end up selling more.

I'd take that action. Jaws is not only a great film, but it was a game changer and had such a greater impact on the film industry. I'd take Jurassic Park over E.T. in a heartbeat as well.

But with sales being so poor, I fear we won't be seeing these anytime soon. Which means my HD recorded version of Jaws will have to be good enough.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema

Basically, other than WB, everyone else is severely lacking. WB is easily the most aggressive and I applaud them for that. They get dumped on way too often around here, but they are really the only ones that are supporting BD with catalog.

Mr. Cinema,

I see you made comments about catalog releases on a couple of different places and I would like to point out something to you -- the majors are not the only parties producing catalog releases.

I understand your frustration with Paramount, for instance, but the studio's output adjustment isn't exclusive to Blu-ray. The adjustment was not initiated in 2010 either.

Catalog would be just fine. I think that most studios are beginning to realize that utilizing transfers that were prepared for SDVD are not always, if at all, suitable for Blu-ray. More work is needed to meet quality expectations, which means that adjustments need to be made.

Pro-B

[Mr. Cinema]

I know they like to release catalog to tie-in with new theatrical titles as well. I'm sure Sony wanted Big Daddy to be released to coincide with Grown Ups. If they're cancelling obvious tie-ins, that can't be a good thing, right?

Criterion is doing their part, but we can't expect them to match the output of the majors. Well, if we're talking about Disney, then maybe we can.

[pro-bassoonist]

Criterion is not the only distributor releasing catalog product. You have Image, Anchor Bay, LionsGate, Kino, Blue Underground, Shout Factory, Magnolia Pictures, etc. The list is big.

Frankly, I don't understand this sudden need to be concerned about catalog releases when this Q4 is shaping out to be the best we have seen since Blu-ray was launched. You have some all-time great classics coming out (Alien films, Apocalypse Now, Bridge on the River Kwai, Back to the Future, the Bogart films, Seven Samurai, and so on). There is more than enough timeless classics to buy in Q4.

Yes, Sony having one title isn't impressive, but there are plenty of other distributors (some new to Blu-ray, such as Cult Epic) that will be releasing great films. All things considered, I would argue that most film aficionados probably won't have enough money to afford everything that is being released. (Existing threads around the Internet suggest so ).

Pro-B

[Jeff Kleist]

Thought everyone might enjoy these pictures of Christopher Lloyd playing Doc Brown for the first time in 20 years

http://kotaku.com/5644221/back-to-back-to-the-future

Telltale Games have done a great job bringing back the graphic adventure, and they have both the BTTF and Jurassic Park licenses. Hopefully we will somehow get a Serenity game out of it too

Expect Episode 1 around the same time the Blus hit

[Batman1980]

Great Scott he sure aged but it does remind me that I want Anastasia on blu as well as the Future films, any word on that?

[Jeff Kleist]

The only Bluth film you're likely to see is Titan AE from Fox last I checked
.

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Criterion is not the only distributor releasing catalog product. You have Image, Anchor Bay, LionsGate, Kino, Blue Underground, Shout Factory, Magnolia Pictures, etc. The list is big.

Frankly, I don't understand this sudden need to be concerned about catalog releases when this Q4 is shaping out to be the best we have seen since Blu-ray was launched. You have some all-time great classics coming out (Alien films, Apocalypse Now, Bridge on the River Kwai, Back to the Future, the Bogart films, Seven Samurai, and so on). There is more than enough timeless classics to buy in Q4.

Yes, Sony having one title isn't impressive, but there are plenty of other distributors (some new to Blu-ray, such as Cult Epic) that will be releasing great films. All things considered, I would argue that most film aficionados probably won't have enough money to afford everything that is being released. (Existing threads around the Internet suggest so ).

Pro-B

I fall into this category.

It is funny that the "individual(s)" hyping this talking point(on another web site) have never had much(any) praise for Blu-ray in the past. A few have remained outright hostile to this day. I just take it for what it is.

[Mr. Cinema]

Since a 3DBD is supposed to contain a 2D version as well, why is Universal including a regular BD in their combo pack of Despicable Me? Same goes for Disney and A Christmas Carol.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema

Since a 3DBD is supposed to contain a 2D version as well, why is Universal including a regular BD in their combo pack of Despicable Me? Same goes for Disney and A Christmas Carol.

My guess would be the same reason that some sets which could easily fit inside a regular size case sometimes come, instead, in a giant cardboard monstrosity: "perceived value". In other words, you can put a sticker on the box that says, "4 discs!"

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

The only Bluth film you're likely to see is Titan AE from Fox last I checked
.

That film is very underrated.

The non Disney studios have some of the best animated classics ever.

I would love to have on bluray:
Both American Tail films
Titan AE
All Dogs Go to Heaven
Anastacia
The Secret if Nimh

I will say that I absolutely HATED the Land Before Time as a kid and still do.

Its too bad that these great classics are likely not anywhere on their respective studios radar.

[MerrickG]

Btw Jeff,

I think you answered this before, but I am curious how it helps certain studios to have another studio release a film.

I know that some TV shows have gotten released on bluray due to it getting licensed to another studio as well as some movies. It seems like Lionsgate has released a lot of other studios films on bluray.

My question is what is gained for both studios by doing this? If the studio is willing to let another studio release their film or show on bluray, why not do it themselves?

I am certainly all in favor of this practice if it gets things out on bluray that would not otherwise be released.

[neo_reloaded]

Originally Posted by merrick97

I will say that I absolutely HATED the Land Before Time as a kid and still do.

You're bad and you should feel bad.

[Doctorossi]

Don Bluth is my enemy- straight up.

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema

Since a 3DBD is supposed to contain a 2D version as well, why is Universal including a regular BD in their combo pack of Despicable Me? Same goes for Disney and A Christmas Carol.

There is a slight picture benefit to a native 2D Presentation. I've read complaints that 3D discs played in 2D don't always play in the same scope frame as their native 2D counterparts.

While more discs is always attractive to consumers, they wouldn't press an additional native one without good reason.