"Club Penton" - Ask questions to Hollywood insider "Penton-Man"

[doctorD]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

lol,
I received this in a PM this morning………….
“Penton, Amir LIVES!”…….. http://www.ultrahighendforum.com/vie...php?f=140&t=71

^ I see he has modified his Signature since the days of AVS.

So you shouldn't be surprised that this info is out today:

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1429442

which links this article: http://www.harrisinteractive.com/har...2009_06_18.pdf

Why don't these people just give up?

[Dennis M]

Penton, I thought you said you were the Stig.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8111588.stm

[coolmilo]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Since there’s a golf tournament currently going on, I just want to bring peoples’ attention to this recently released Blu-ray title which is flying under the radar on this forum……….

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movie...ow=userreviews

Great story……..and you don't have to be a golfer or even know much of anything about golf to appreciate it as one of the subplots is the relationship of a father with his son.

Hello Penton,

I think most people are waiting for this title to drop under $20 before making the purchase. This is an excellent movie and a terrific Blu-ray. Unfortunately Blu-ray fans have no incentive to make day 1 purchases when two or three weeks after a title is released the price often drops to $20 or less.

It would be terrific if BD's were priced to sell on release day (similar to release day sales for DVD's). It might help the weekly numbers too if anyone is keeping track of it.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by bt12483

Still spreading FUD though:

http://www.ultrahighendforum.com/vie...hp?f=140&t=287

Rust never sleeps.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Rust never sleeps.

So that's why HD DVDs are red!

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

So happy you enjoyed it Penton, did they bring you any other goodies, or did your loved, but inexperienced ones not know what other treasures lay within?

Actually, they just brought me home a cheesesteak and fries because they knew I was already celebrating at home with a Cadillac Margarita.

The day ended in a fine fashion for me and as I did a late evening ride just before dusk and was happy to see for the first time this year Maya standing side by side with two pups (probably no more than a couple months old) proudly showing off her *new* children with a smile.

I’ll try to get a pic for folks. It will be difficult, and probably end up being of poor quality as I'll have to hand-hold a zoom, as the little fellas are quite shy and spook easily.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Constitution 101

Perhaps Penton could give an insider's view regarding the future(streaming/digital downloads, etc.) in regards to the length of blu-ray's existence as a format. It would seem the bandwidth we now have isn't near enough to replace all the Blockbuster video's and/or blu-ray as a medium.

As usual, Bobby H. is right on with his reply to you as above.
All I’ll add is that content providers aren’t too enthused with the internet as a source of revenue to exploit their libraries to begin with…….as compared to packaged media, be it DVD, Blu-ray or the next great thing.

You see, data has shown that consumers often buy or even rent movies that they just never get around to actually watching, whereas, with the internet, consumers tend to buy only what they watch. So, there will always be a continued incentive by studios/content providers to discover and provide a newer and better technology for packaged home media.

You get more ‘bang for the buck’.

[Doctorossi]

Man, I could go for a cheesesteak and fries right now. Any ordering tips from the Philly experts?

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

You get more ‘bang for the buck’.

Wouldn't that be 'more bucks for the (same) bang'?

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Dennis M

Penton, I thought you said you were the Stig.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8111588.stm

The True identity of the Stig(s) will never be revealed.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

(s)

That's the operative term, if you ask me.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by coolmilo

Hello Penton,

I think most people are waiting for this title to drop under $20 before making the purchase. This is an excellent movie and a terrific Blu-ray. Unfortunately Blu-ray fans have no incentive to make day 1 purchases when two or three weeks after a title is released the price often drops to $20 or less.

It would be terrific if BD's were priced to sell on release day (similar to release day sales for DVD's). It might help the weekly numbers too if anyone is keeping track of it.

Cool,
Folks should realize that one of the reasons why high definition home media came about was because it was hoped that Blu-ray would compensate for dwindling DVD sales, because…………………

many studios are dependent upon optical disc revenue in order to finance future feature films. So, there is a push and pull here in regards to price-point. Studio (proper, not the home entertainment division) people believe that there has already been a faster price erosion on high definition packaged home media than they like or would have expected.

In regards to the movie, I, myself, enjoyed it a lot.

Any potential buyers/renters should beware though, as there aint no flying saucers, nothing from outer space, no robots, nobody gets shot, no explosions and no wild sex…….it’s just a human interest story on film…….someone else with heart (like Seabiscuit) just beating the odds with a bit of a history lesson thrown in.

[Dennis M]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

The True identity of the Stig(s) will never be revealed.

Ah, so you hired Michael to pose as yourself.

I don't believe it's him either. But it was a great stunt.

Now let's see what happens with F1. The insanity continues.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Dennis M

I don't believe it's him either. But it was a great stunt.

The Schumacher stunt points up the problem that any actual Stig identity reveal would only be anti-climactic at this point. If it's not someone like Schumacher (and it's not), it can only be someone(s) we are either completely unfamiliar with or someone peripherally known to us. Either way, there is, almost by definition, not a lot of intrigue in it. Really, at this point (except maybe to some close to the production who have theories involving people they personally know), there is more excitement in the mystery itself than in any possible explanation.


/wet_blanket

[Doctorossi]

Penton, I just finished watching my Dr. Strangelove BD and I have to tell you I was floored. Considering this film's history, I really can't imagine it looking any better. What a marvelous definitive disc and one I will return to many times and treasure. Please pass on my gratitude to anyone you know (or happen across) who was in any way involved in its production.

And to everyone else, GO GET THIS DISC! IT'S... THE BOMB. *ahem*

[kefrank]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

Penton, I just finished watching my Dr. Strangelove BD and I have to tell you I was floored. Considering this film's history, I really can't imagine it looking any better. What a marvelous definitive disc and one I will return to many times and treasure. Please pass on my gratitude to anyone you know (or happen across) who was in any way involved in its production.

And to everyone else, GO GET THIS DISC! IT'S... THE BOMB. *ahem*

Agreed. I received mine yesterday and though I didn't have time to watch it, I did scan through it just to get a sense of the presentation. This is the way classic catalog titles should be treated by the studios! Particular props for:
-- the digibook packaging (I know they're somewhat controversial around here, but I really like how it sets a great film like this apart)
-- including the original mono soundtrack
-- faithful transfer of a gorgeous restoration
-- interactive features that take advantage of Blu-ray's unique capabilities (seemingly rare on many classic catalogs)

My only complaint, and it's a very minor one, is the inclusion of trailers for other movies that have absolutely no connection to Strangelove whatsoever (well, aside from the obvious studio connection). This seems to be a SPHE policy that I continue to find puzzling.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

Penton, I just finished watching my Dr. Strangelove BD and I have to tell you I was floored. Considering this film's history, I really can't imagine it looking any better. What a marvelous definitive disc and one I will return to many times and treasure. Please pass on my gratitude to anyone you know (or happen across) who was in any way involved in its production.

And to everyone else, GO GET THIS DISC! IT'S... THE BOMB. *ahem*

Well, Grover Crisp (who is the main man behind the film restoration), already reads this thread (and is an actual member of this forum), and I’ll pass on your compliments to others at SPE involved in some way in the production to Blu.

Since you’re currently from the N.Y. area, if you ever happen to be around 630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 508, New York, New York, you can always drop in a give them a tip of the hat, since those folks were the outside contractor hired to do the restoration work.

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

The Schumacher stunt points up the problem that any actual Stig identity reveal would only be anti-climactic at this point. If it's not someone like Schumacher (and it's not), it can only be someone(s) we are either completely unfamiliar with or someone peripherally known to us.

well, they're now all Schumacher's "cousins", I guess.

Spectacular episode I thought, I purposely avoided this thread cuz I didn't want any spoilers. Count on Dennis to be the one to spill the beans!

BTW, that's a hell of a Ferrari... 30 of them, only raced on tracks... Guess some coked-up nutbar ain't going to shatter his on the streets of California like a certain Gizmondo dude, huh?

1:10!!! Insane.

[Tok]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Cool,
Folks should realize that one of the reasons why high definition home media came about was because it was hoped that Blu-ray would compensate for dwindling DVD sales, because…………………

many studios are dependent upon optical disc revenue in order to finance future feature films. So, there is a push and pull here in regards to price-point. Studio (proper, not the home entertainment division) people believe that there has already been a faster price erosion on high definition packaged home media than they like or would have expected.

While I can understand the POV, there is another side of the argument. If prices dropped customers who lost interest in DVD due to the coming of HD may again be excited to buy HD content. I think some of the studios overestimated what consumers were willing to pay for HD content. A $5 increase is about the most I can tolerate on a new release. But as others have pointed out, it is becoming apparent the best deals are now found several weeks after release most of the time.

Here is an example for the studios... I bought a PS3 in December of 2006 and over roughly the first ten months I bought about 7 or 8 titles (less than one per month). With the deals that were going on towards the holiday season of 2007, my collection went from those few to well over 50. I probably averaged a little less than $20 per title. The point is if the studios price the product accordingly they might find that sales will increase exponentially. I have a hard time paying over $20 except on extremely high demand titles and even then I look for the best deals. I have been extremely disappointed with where B&M stores have been pricing new releases. Blu has a significant upswing potential but I have a feeling there are a lot of consumers who are scared off by what some perceive as gouging. Blu is no longer a fledgeling format, but in this tough economy price is scaring people off.

Now I can't complain, I tend to be a savvy buyer searching for the best deals and combination offers. In the last month I have bought over ten BDs with average price of about $13 to $14 and these are titles that were high on my want list and some that weren't due to aggressive pricing: Searchers, Adv of Robin Hood, Ghostbusters, Dr. Strangelove, The Da Vinci Code, etc.

[Dennis M]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

Spectacular episode I thought, I purposely avoided this thread cuz I didn't want any spoilers. Count on Dennis to be the one to spill the beans!

Shark, everyone has to have a purpose in life.

Plus I thought the thread could use a little 4 wheel drama.
The 2 wheelers have gone unchallenged in here for some time.

As for the Schumacher stunt making the Stig identity a bit anti climatic, I guess you can look at it that way. But I have a feeling the boys at Top Gear have something in mind. Here's one spin for you. Say the real Stig shows up and calls Schumacher out, challenges him on the track to prove it. You could string that along for quite a few eps.

Personally, I'll still put money on the Stig being Louis Hamilton.

PS. Still waiting for my copy of Dr. Strangelove.