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

[RiseDarthVader]

Will it ever be possible to download subtitle tracks off BD-Live? I hate it when they don't release chinese subtitles for Australian releases considering how large the chinese population over here in Sydney is. I don't need them but my dad does.

[Paul.R.S]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema

I don't think it's because of the CD. WB also includes the digital copy on first run pressings now. The Matrix digibook originally included the DC. I've seen it restocked in a digibook sans DC. I just think they made a small number for Amadeus.

Generally speaking, the studio owns or at least shares the rights to the movie and therefore can do DCs of their films to their hearts' content. Per the fine print, those DCs are only valid for a limited time.

Warner does not own the rights to the Amadeus soundtrack. That means they have to pay the party who does a license fee, which typically goes up the longer the media on which it appears is in print. Another interesting data point that arguably puts another thumb on the scale in favor of the decision being rights-related is that WHV conspicuously chose not to bring over the isolated score track on the BD from the DVD. This is in contrast to several other Warner titles on which they did do so (The Matrix, Superman, L.A. Confidential).

Re "small number": the BD itself hasn't changed--the packaging has. It was likely cheaper to just take the same single disc and put it in a standard BD case once the CD was no longer being pressed than to switch from a double to a single Digi. I'd speculate that the title underperformed like so many other catalog BD releases and those low sales may have played a role, too.

(Very interesting re your having seen a Matrix BD without DC. I think those DCs are good for 12 months (??) and that BD was just released in March. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled--is it cheaper? I don't need DC and if it's cheaper w/o it that's def the version I'll get. DVD Empire still only shows one with it.)

[Jeff Kleist]

Will it ever be possible to download subtitle tracks off BD-Live? I hate it when they don't release chinese subtitles for Australian releases considering how large the chinese population over here in Sydney is. I don't need them but my dad does.

It's possible now, but distributors are unlikely to include languages that aren't part of their territory. Since Australia is its own licensing zone, the only time you'd see Chinese subs would be disc co-productions (I'm assuming it's an uncommon feature in Australia). If you want them, you're better off buying a region A deck and importing from mainland Asia.

[Mr. Cinema]

Originally Posted by Paul.R.S

(Very interesting re your having seen a Matrix BD without DC. I think those DCs are good for 12 months (??) and that BD was just released in March. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled--is it cheaper? I don't need DC and if it's cheaper w/o it that's def the version I'll get. DVD Empire still only shows one with it.)

Pricing is the same. This is a Warner thing so far. They are treating digital copies as a limited time thing. If you've noticed, they provide slipcovers on new titles with "Digital Copy Special Edition" printed at the top. However, the artwork underneath doesn't have that printed. Body of Lies, Gran Torino, Green Lantern, Watchmen and others have all been restocked without the slipcover and no digital copy provided. Other studios may start treating the digital copy as a limited/first-run item as well.

[Paul.R.S]

My understanding is that time-limited DC availability is not Warner-specific. I think Fox is doing that also. I can't check a title in my collection as I've thankfully been able to avoid (Fox) DC so far.

Jeff, I assume you have no information either way re Bad Boys II?

[Jeff Kleist]

WB is the only one I've heard of expiring digital copies.

Fox told me when they first started doing them that it's more of a "best if used by" date. guaranteed support until then.

I have said before, and I'll say it again. Stop nagging me about Bad boys. They have another movie in the works for it, nothing's been signed only that sony wants to do it.

[Paul.R.S]

Sorry about "nagging"; I missed any past admonitions about that. My understanding is that Will and Michael didn't finish the second pic on the best of terms and that odds were a third was/is unlikely. Of course Sony wants to do it--they make money. It's whether Will wants to tolerate doing dozens of takes for Michael. That, and the studio's own marketing, are the reason(s) I asked.

LOL re "guaranteed." Yeah, it's "guaranteed" to be available. Until it's not!

[REPLAY]

Bill or Jeff:
Any word on" Raintree Country" MGM , Warner ownes the rights or "The Snows Of Kilimanjaro" Fox coming to DVD or Blu-Ray.
Thanks , REPLAY

[Jeff Kleist]

Unlikely on both anytime in the near future

No need to apologize, but it helps to seach the thread before asking, especially when it's a pretty mainstream title like that

[Dark Side]

Jeff any word on when Public Enemies is going to hit Blu? And when the other Lethal Weapon movies are coming out also? Thanks

[Jeff Kleist]

December I believe, but it may get pushed a bit later

They're talking Lethal Weapon 5 right now, Gibson keeps saying no, but they hold out hope and as long as that happens I don't expect any reissues until 2012 for the 25th Anniv.

[Dark Side]

Jeff are the other two Friday movies going to get a release sometime down the road and is Rush Hour 1&2 and The Green Mile still coming this year? Thanks

[Q?]

Hi Jeff.
The release date for LOTR on blu-ray is listed for 11/3/09
http://www.wbshop.com/The-Lord-of-th...efault,pd.html
And a member here on blu-ray.com claims to have contacted the wbshop,
in which they confirm the 11/3/09 release date.
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...postcount=2246


Either they're (wbshop) not organized, or the member is pulling our legs.
So march is still the likely date?
thanks.

[Q?]

Originally Posted by Dark Side

I think Jeff does not want to till us anything a Lord of The Rings

Yeah... I'm just tired of all the speculations and what not...
It couldn't hurt to try

[wallendo]

Originally Posted by Q!

Hi Jeff.
The release date for LOTR on blu-ray is listed for 11/3/09
http://www.wbshop.com/The-Lord-of-th...efault,pd.html
And a member here on blu-ray.com claims to have contacted the wbshop,
in which they confirm the 11/3/09 release date.
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...postcount=2246


Either they're (wbshop) not organized, or the member is pulling our legs.
So march is still the likely date?
thanks.

"Accuracy" and "wbshop" should rarely be used in the same sentence. Most likely the person at wbshop.com the member contacted just pulled up the web page and read it off. Of course, with all the recent WB "exclusives" coming out, it wouldn't surprise me a bit if this was released with very little notice.

[Jeff Kleist]

WBShop.com is run by an outside contractor

The disc has been delayed till at least March, 100% direct from WB

[Q?]

Thank you.
Cool to know, I wonder what kind of debates there will be when they finally are released...

[Dark Side]

Hi Jeff, I was wanting to know if you have any idea when Universal is going to bring Mobsters to Blu? Thanks

[Digitalspice]

Can anyone share any info on what happened to Dido Live from Brixton on blu ray?

[MCT]

any Carlito's Way and Scarface info would be appreciated.