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

[DaViD Boulet]

Originally Posted by Taffy

It's purpose is to entertain. I submit that Blu-ray doesn't need to be perfect to accomplish THAT.

RAH's definition is the primary working definition for HT enthusiasts and cinephiles.

Casual film fans who don't require hi-fidelity to the film-source already have a medium to enjoy: DVD.

My own suggestion for RAH is that rather than phrase the imperitive as though the blu-ray format is somehow able to attain perfection on its own, that responsibility be placed squarely on the shoulders of the studios reponsbible for sub-par product.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

My *guess* is there is no reason to release it this year. There is no major tie-in and next year is the 30th Ann. of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

On the other hand, if the rumors of Star Wars coming out next year are true and given it's the 35th ann. of the original film, I cannot see them releasing the original Indy films in the same year. Maybe it won't be until Indy 4.

So, maybe Indy will be released after Star Wars (unlike the DVD releases).

I can live with Indiana Jones pushed back. If Alien Anthology gets pushed back (and I have no reason to believe it will be) Rupert Murdoch is going to get non stop hate mail.

[Taffy]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

My *guess* is there is no reason to release it this year. There is no major tie-in and next year is the 30th Ann. of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

On the other hand, if the rumors of Star Wars coming out next year are true and given it's the 35th ann. of the original film, I cannot see them releasing the original Indy films in the same year. Maybe it won't be until Indy 4.

So, maybe Indy will be released after Star Wars (unlike the DVD releases).

Ahhhhhhhh...STAR WARS. When and if JC releases Titanic in 3D to the theater in 2012, I would love to see STAR WARS in 3D as a follow up. We can only dream.

[DaViD Boulet]

Originally Posted by Taffy

Ahhhhhhhh...STAR WARS. When and if JC releases Titanic in 3D to the theater in 2012, I would love to see STAR WARS in 3D as a follow up. We can only dream.

You really want to see a fake/processed 3D of the original star-wars films? Then again... there's very little "original" about them at this point.

[MerrickG]

It was nice to see the 3rd and 4th Harry Potter films get Ultimate Edition treatments, but I was disappointed that they didn't get extended versions of each film, especially considering that these two films supposedly had a lot of deleted scenes.

At least they will look good on my shelf.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

You really want to see a fake/processed 3D of the original star-wars films? Then again... there's very little "original" about them at this point.

Alec Guinness is going to be replaced by Ewan McGregor in the originals.

Lucas has been trying for years to get Star Wars into 3D and has been dissatisfied with the results. Probably for the better.

[JimmyO]

Do you have any information regarding Young Guns 2 on Blu-ray? Also interested if there are going to be a new release of Young Guns from a new master on Blu-ray?

[chris0]

Originally Posted by Taffy

It's purpose is to entertain. I submit that Blu-ray doesn't need to be perfect to accomplish THAT.

The movie is supposed to entertain. As the delivery mechanism, Blu-ray is supposed to offer a perfect copy of the movie.

[Taffy]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

You really want to see a fake/processed 3D of the original star-wars films? Then again... there's very little "original" about them at this point.

Let's just say that I have the utmost confidence in Cameron not wanting to embarrass himself by rolling out a pseudo 3D version of his "Titanic". That's why I added "if" to my original post. If he does release his creation to IMAX 3D theaters, I think it's going to knock some socks off and let's hope the same 2D to 3D conversion technology will be used in "Star Wars" and other A type catalog releases. Those guys got the bucks, expertise and influence to maybe just pull this off. We can only hope..

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by merrick97

It was nice to see the 3rd and 4th Harry Potter films get Ultimate Edition treatments, but I was disappointed that they didn't get extended versions of each film, especially considering that these two films supposedly had a lot of deleted scenes.

At least they will look good on my shelf.

Do these Ultimate editions have better PQ than the original versions? I still have never been able to verify this.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

You really want to see a fake/processed 3D of the original star-wars films? Then again... there's very little "original" about them at this point.

I hear ya, but I would love to just see the (semi) original Star Wars films on the big screen again. I mean that was such a treat back when the SE versions came out in the 90s. I went to see each film twice.

[Taffy]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

RAH's definition is the primary working definition for HT enthusiasts and cinephiles.

Lets take a closer look at these terms "HT enthusiasts" and "cinephiles" if for no other reason than just to see if I qualify.

Well...I'm sure as hell enthusiastic about my HT...so I'm OK there.

Cinephile is defined as just a devoted moviegoer. Honestly...I checked the dictionary. No where did I see any reference to Blu-ray perfection as being a requirement.

I wish to make it clear that no disrespect is intended by this writer toward Mr Harris. It's just that I see gray where he sees black and white.

[DaViD Boulet]

Originally Posted by Taffy

Lets take a closer look at these terms "HT enthusiasts" and "cinephiles" if for no other reason than just to see if I qualify.

Well...I'm sure as hell enthusiastic about my HT...so I'm OK there.

Cinephile is defined as just a devoted moviegoer. Honestly...I checked the dictionary. No where did I see any reference to Blu-ray perfection as being a requirement.

I wish to make it clear that no disrespect is intended by this writer toward Mr Harris. It's just that I see gray where he sees black and white.

The purpose of our AV media is to be as transparent as possible to the source. That's true for all media given the potential of each media type and this has been the guiding philosphy behind recording technology since before the 1960s. Given BD's 1080p video and lossless audio capability, "perfection" is a label that can arguably be applied to its potential for transparency to the source.

As for being "entertained", that's the job of the movie. But the movie isn't the blu-ray.

Chris explained it best:

The movie is supposed to entertain. As the delivery mechanism, Blu-ray is supposed to offer a perfect copy of the movie.

[Buddy Christ]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
Blu-ray releases should be perfect representations of their cinema counterparts. No ifs, ands or buts. If not, I suggest we shut down Blu-ray production, as it serves no purpose.

RAH
It's purpose is to entertain. I submit that Blu-ray doesn't need to be perfect to accomplish THAT.

I want this to be my sig but it is too long and oh so very very very true!!

[petmic10]

Originally Posted by Taffy

It's purpose is to entertain. I submit that Blu-ray doesn't need to be perfect to accomplish THAT.

So is DVD, by your logic shouldn't DVD be good enough?

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Taffy

Lets take a closer look at these terms "HT enthusiasts" and "cinephiles" if for no other reason than just to see if I qualify.

Well...I'm sure as hell enthusiastic about my HT...so I'm OK there.

Cinephile is defined as just a devoted moviegoer. Honestly...I checked the dictionary. No where did I see any reference to Blu-ray perfection as being a requirement.

I wish to make it clear that no disrespect is intended by this writer toward Mr Harris. It's just that I see gray where he sees black and white.

Or where you have lower standards and he/we have higher standards?

[MerrickG]

Bill/Jeff,

I am pleased that you guys will have a presence at Comic-Con this year. Try and get Sir Charles to shed some light on the Alien Anthology.

[Nick Graham]

Originally Posted by Buddy Christ

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
Blu-ray releases should be perfect representations of their cinema counterparts. No ifs, ands or buts. If not, I suggest we shut down Blu-ray production, as it serves no purpose.

RAH
It's purpose is to entertain. I submit that Blu-ray doesn't need to be perfect to accomplish THAT.

I want this to be my sig but it is too long and oh so very very very true!!

If your goal is simply entertainment, there are far cheaper ways to be entertained than Blu-Ray. 720p streams/downloads, VOD, DVD, etc.

[garyrc]

Originally Posted by Taffy

It's purpose is to entertain. I submit that Blu-ray doesn't need to be perfect to accomplish THAT.

No, DVDs can merely entertain, and they fulfill that need nicely. We have the right to expect distinctly higher quality (i.e., higher fidelity to the original) from Blu-ray, and we don't always get it.

It would be tolerable for some manufacturers to make crappy players, and whatever is left of the Adam Smith market check might eliminate them soon enough. But it is not tolerable to make lousy Blu-ray versions of films some of us have seen in all their glory, particularly when we really don't know they are so bad until we play them, and when the bad ones displace the possibility of getting a good version of that particular film anytime soon.

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by Robert Harris

I would not go to 90. Possibly 70-75.

The problem is that the bad ones make Blu-ray appear to be technological joke.

For those of us who appreciate what home theater can do, that's not a good thing.

For the consumer, purchasing a Blu-ray disc should be mindless... a no-brainer.

And it isn't.

RAH

I would argue that it's less about making BD to appear to be a technological joke... and more that it simply hurts sales to enthusiasts, who right now are driving the format. Yes, some select new release titles have Blu-ray as high as 30 or 40% of sales, but the weekly sales chart over at Home Media shows Blu-ray to be about 10-15% of all weekly home video sales on average. And let me tell you, at 10-15% there is no doubt it's enthusiasts driving sales. Every time an enthusiasts buys a disappointing Blu-ray, that's going to impact his or her next purchase. And if you string 2 or 3 disspointments in a row, the result will be a negative change in purchasing behavior.

I know there's a whole industry in Hollywood that's grown around interactive Blu-ray features, just as there was a strong DVD-Rom push back in the DVD days. But I'd bet less than 5% of DVD sales were closed because of a DVD-Rom feature, and I'd bet it's about the same with Blu-ray. Hollywood needs to remember that the overwhelming reason people buy movies on disc is to watch a great movie in great quality. Period. And if you don't give them great quality, when you're already into the 3rd, 4th or 5th trip to the well on some of these catalog titles, then what's the point?