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

[Jeff Kleist]

I should add, that if you want to do something romantic with the wife in Kyoto, I can send you some suggestions via PM

[SpaceDog]

I'm impressed with the price point of the Star Wars blu-ray release. A lot of people will be complaining about this or that, but I imagine it's going to have phenomenal video and sound - and an incredible array of special features. I think Lucas/Fox could have easily SRP'ed thing thing well above $140.

I guess they want to leave money in our pockets so we can upgrade our TVs and sound systems.

[gettodamoofies]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

I'm impressed with the price point of the Star Wars blu-ray release. A lot of people will be complaining about this or that, but I imagine it's going to have phenomenal video and sound - and an incredible array of special features. I think Lucas/Fox could have easily SRP'ed thing thing well above $140.

I guess they want to leave money in our pockets so we can upgrade our TVs and sound systems.

I agree. With Amazon at $90 for the pre-order currently that's $15 per film with all the bonus features as well. That is not only extremely reasonable but it's a very competitive price so early on.

I recall paying almost $70 Australian dollars for just the OT when it came out in '04 on DVD. $96 for all six films and three discs of features seems like a major bargain in comparison so I am extremely impressed. I was expecting it to be much more.

[cjamescook]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

...The only reason I mentioned the CC is that you'd be ordering to your hotel instead of a usual address, you don't want your card red flagged while you're in-country

Suggestion: Call your CC company before you go to tell them you will be out-of-country (even supplying dates and country). If they say they don't need to do anything, request they add a note to your account anyway. My GF did this for her trip to Spain this week to avoid the possibility of her card being flagged, and that was without her intending to make any Amazon orders.

It can avoid problems in general and perhaps enable what you want to do.

[Jeff Kleist]

Suggestion: Call your CC company before you go to tell them you will be out-of-country (even supplying dates and country). If they say they don't need to do anything, request they add a note to your account anyway. My GF did this for her trip to Spain this week to avoid the possibility of her card being flagged, and that was without her intending to make any Amazon orders.

This does not always work. I had my card flagged not once, but TWICE buying tickets and booking rooms when I took my mom with me in 2007, despite the note being in the account. We have also had our hotel room charges refused the last 3 years when goign on business with 2 different credit card companies, again, despite them being informed several times taht these would be happening.

My suggestion to go pay at the convienience store stands

[Azyiu]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Getting on the bullet train and going any distance is expensive

My personal recommendation is leaving early in the morning and going to Kyoto, which is also the home of my favorite media store in Japan (Beaver Records). It's about 2 hours, but I suggest you buy a Japan Rail pass. Not only is all your JR rides free on it, but it costs about the same as going to Kyoto and gives you unlimited rides for the duration on all JR trains. The train ride is really beautiful because you get the full monty of mount fuji for about 5 straight minutes.




Yeah, they don't even carry games or more than a handful of DVDs anymore.

Now that you put it that way... hmm, maybe we really SHOULD take the bullet train and spend a day (perhaps stay one night) in Kyoto... slightly off topic, Kyoto is a love-hate kind of place for me personally... one of my ex's from there.

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I should add, that if you want to do something romantic with the wife in Kyoto, I can send you some suggestions via PM

You are super! Do that please!

Originally Posted by cjamescook

Suggestion: Call your CC company before you go to tell them you will be out-of-country (even supplying dates and country). If they say they don't need to do anything, request they add a note to your account anyway. My GF did this for her trip to Spain this week to avoid the possibility of her card being flagged, and that was without her intending to make any Amazon orders.

It can avoid problems in general and perhaps enable what you want to do.

Thanks for the suggestion there. I might do that just in case... but then at this point I don't foresee myself ordering anything from Amazon JP at the moment...

[MerrickG]

Hey Jeff,

Many people were disappointed by the lack of info available for extras for the Star Wars Saga set.

Is there anything you can tell us beyond what was announced?
New audio commentaries?
etc.


And no, I am not asking about whether these are the original versions of the first trilogy. I already know the answer and I am one of the few who prefers the SEs over the originals (minus greedo shooting first AND the new Jabba musical number)

[Jeff Kleist]

9 months out is way too soon to get into specifics.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

9 months out is way too soon to get into specifics.

fair enough.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

9 months out is way too soon to get into specifics.

However, 2 months ain't so bad, right? Any word on the Nausicaa lossless Japanese question yet?

[Jeff Kleist]

However, 2 months ain't so bad, right? Any word on the Nausicaa lossless Japanese question yet?

Christmas doesn't end until at least Wednesday, because everyone pushes right through CES. Maybe after that.

I know the message was heard loud and clear by multiple parties

It shouldn't have even hit authoring till mid-Februaryish, so there's plenty of time

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I know the message was heard loud and clear by multiple parties

Thanks, Jeff!

You can certainly count on those Disney folks preferring to make sales.

[Batman1980]

Jeff, any sign that we're going to be able to buy non-blue cases soon? Some of us like me want green cases for the Turtles and Shrek movies. Wouldn't be bad to get different colors for the LoTR releases either.

[Jeff Kleist]

The only alternative you're likely to see is clear, virtually all of the odd-color cases that have been run have been for special orders like Incredible Hulk. While I'm sure they'll come eventually, there has to be a consistant manufacturing demand before they'll just make them, and the usual vendors can buy them

[Batman1980]

Guess we'll just have to wait till a movie that comes in a green case gets cheap, switch out the cases and then sell back the movies in blue cases instead, oh well.

[MerrickG]

I am just curious what you think of the next Batman film using the graphic novel Prey as the supposed basis for the story with Hugo Strange as the villian?

For those of you who havent read Prey, I suggest you do. It is one the better and underappreciated Batman stories.

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by merrick97

I am just curious what you think of the next Batman film using the graphic novel Prey as the supposed basis for the story with Hugo Strange as the villian?

For those of you who havent read Prey, I suggest you do. It is one the better and underappreciated Batman stories.

I understand Prey is inspiring the new video game. There isn't any real information yet about the film, and I'd take any rumors with a rock of salt.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

I understand Prey is inspiring the new video game. There isn't any real information yet about the film, and I'd take any rumors with a rock of salt.

Well I do wonder if it is a coincidence that Hugo Strange is featured in Arkham City AND is rumored to be involved in the upcoming film.

I mean lets face it Hugo Strange, eventhough he is actually Batmans oldest villian (came a few months before the Joker in 1940), is not well known and the game I wonder could be used as a way to expose audiences to him.

Hugo Strange IS however the most filmable villian that fits in Nolans Batman universe.

[jaaguir]

Jeff, I've read about "The ten commandments"(1956) on March, and I assume the silent version included in the 6-disc Gift-set is on dvd, and not a blu-ray disc with the movie in high-def, right? That's really a half-hearted way of doing things, if you ask me.

Thanks,

EDIT: I just found the exact specs here http://www.hometheaterforum.com/foru...dments-blu-ray and I see it's a blu-ray disc. Maybe Bill should clarify that at the Bits, since it's not clear there (hence my initial doubts).

Now it's just a matter of knowing whether it'll be true 1080p or an upconvert.

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by jaaguir

Jeff, I've read about "The ten commandments"(1956) on March, and I assume the silent version included in the 6-disc Gift-set is on dvd, and not a blu-ray disc with the movie in high-def, right? That's really a half-hearted way of doing things, if you ask me.

Thanks,

EDIT: I just found the exact specs here http://www.hometheaterforum.com/foru...dments-blu-ray and I see it's a blu-ray disc. Maybe Bill should clarify that at the Bits, since it's not clear there (hence my initial doubts).

Now it's just a matter of knowing whether it'll be true 1080p or an upconvert.

Although this isn't a title that particularly excites me, it does excite me that perhaps studios are smart enough to piggyback funding for restorations and HD transfers of films that might not otherwise have a market - by bundling them with related titles that do.
Brilliant.