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

[Bobby Henderson]

I bought Close Encounters of the Third Kind on Blu-ray probably not even a month after buying my first PS3 (the 80GB one with flash card slots and SACD compatibility that got stolen). That was February of 2008. I paid a little over $30 for it at Wal-Mart, and I thought that was a bargain considering some of the retail prices for single disc movies on Blu-ray.

Now the 2-disc set is available at our local Wal-Mart stores for $15. That's an extreme bargain, even for anyone who already has the movie on DVD. I had the previous 2-disc DVD with the odd-ball L-shaped fold out packaging. The 2-disc BD was a great upgrade. CETK is one of my favorite movies of the 1970s. Even thought the movie is criticized for its grain, the lighting, composition and ground-breaking visuals were first rate and helped the movie win the Best Cinematography Oscar for 1977.

It's one thing if someone just doesn't like this 1977 classic all that much. They're justified in passing on the disc. But anyone who likes the movie enough to watch it more than once needs to shell out $15 and stop being such a cheapskate!

[JamesN]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

I bought Close Encounters of the Third Kind on Blu-ray probably not even a month after buying my first PS3...I had the previous 2-disc DVD with the odd-ball L-shaped fold out packaging. The 2-disc BD was a great upgrade. CETK is one of my favorite movies of the 1970s. Even thought the movie is criticized for its grain, the lighting, composition and ground-breaking visuals were first rate and helped the movie win the Best Cinematography Oscar for 1977...

+1

I still have my Criterion LD copy that featured not-so-seamless branching. It had both the theatrical and director's cut editions on the same disc (with extra scenes at the end of each side). You could (painstakingly) program your LD player to play one version or the other. The player would then chug along, seeking to the appropriate content in what today would seem like eons. At the time it was really cool!

[DenonCI]

Penton,

Did you see how the Sharks lost last night? They've scored 3 goals on themselves in 3 freaking games! I've never seen anything like it. If they lose in round one again my wife better remove any sharp objects from the house, that's for sure!

Best,

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema

My mind is fuzzy on the details, but I thought originally, Sony's then current master for Lawrence, that they were going to go with, was not up to par, so they decided to re-do the whole thing. I thought Penton mentioned that work was being done on it as far back as 2008. The P-Man will know the details better, of course.

Well, it was up to “par” during the infancy of the format but, due to a variety of factors it was decided and allowed (more funding for the project) to head on back to thee ole clubhouse and get you guys an iron that would give you a hole-in-one, so to speak, on a par 3 hole or, at least, a chance for Eagle given your source…errr, skill set.

This is the latest on LoA which I posted recently…
https://forum.blu-ray.com/insider-di...ml#post3125775

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

Speak for yourself, Craig. I don't want them now; I want them best.

I do agree with you, though, that Sony's use of the Lawrence vapor promotional tool has been a little disingenuous. It really shouldn't be in the promo materials until it's ready to go.

See my post above ^.
The promotional materials were done with the original assumption and intent that LoA would be shortly forthcoming at the time. Are any new promotions running as previews on current day SPHE Blu-ray movies which show a clip of LoA, implying an imminent release?

If so, perhaps we should remove them in order not to appear disingenuous.

P.S.
In fact, come to think of it, for quite a while on the ground floor at 550 Madison Avenue in Manhattan we had a clip running on a 70” TV with some Arabs riding 4-legged creatures (which I’m personally not that fond of to begin with, even being an ‘animal lover’) running fuzzy across the desert on the left side of the screen and as they crossed over into the right side, they became exceedingly more detailed. You see, it was a split-screen with the left side of the screen being feed by the DVD source of LoA and the right side being fed by the Blu-ray source of LoA.


B.T.W. - 33 floors above, Sir Howard has his executive suite, so I guess you could claim we were also “disingenuous” to the boss too!.......and he’s a Knight!

[iceman]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

It sure as heck won’t if it interferes with a good ole screenshot scientist stoning of a particular title.

It looks like there are very recently going out international directives from (some?) studios to sites and forums posting screenshots, about how to handle screenshots. This is potentially very good news to stop abuse, I just hope the studios can tell the good sites (using good screenshots trying to enhance content, implicitly helping sales) from bad sites (using bad/tampered with screenshots trying to degrade content, implicitly harm sales).

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by CraigW

But the real question is when Penton.

When it's ready.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

How's this - how much does it need to sell to get its money back (re: the mastering/production for HD home release)? Or is it a "loss leader", like network news used to be...?

That is a bit beyond the limit of information I should be disclosing.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by iceman

It looks like there are very recently going out international directives from (some?) studios to sites and forums posting screenshots, about how to handle screenshots. This is potentially very good news to stop abuse, I just hope the studios can tell the good sites (using good screenshots trying to enhance content, implicitly helping sales) from bad sites (using bad/tampered with screenshots trying to degrade content, implicitly harm sales).

I've never gotten one stinkin check from you.
What is it, the volcanic ash over Europe hindering the mail?

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by DenonCI

Penton,

Did you see how the Sharks lost last night? They've scored 3 goals on themselves in 3 freaking games! I've never seen anything like it. If they lose in round one again my wife better remove any sharp objects from the house, that's for sure!

No, instead I watched a soccer match on my DVR in which I think probably thousands and thousands of fans in Manchester suffered anything thing from incontinence to a mind stroke or coronary all at the same time….in Extra time….AGAIN.

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Shark you need to add some parameters to your question. Are there new Blu-specific bonus features? Are you just talking authoring and compression for the basic feature set? How much restoration is involved and what kind?

That can literally change the numbers by tens of thousands of copies.

By "it" I meant the Natural, but, you're right, the question in general for BD requires more than my post may have suggested.

Whatever it is, my bet is still that the Natural won't sell enough to pay for itself, but I'm jaded and don't run a studio.

Luckily, the Bond movies from a few years back and Meatball fests may make everything work out in the wash, no?

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

That is a bit beyond the limit of information I should be disclosing.

And that's stopped you before?

No, point taken, assumed we wouldn't get an answer. But, as wily readers of your many posts will know, often your silence on a given subject speaks volumes.

And, yes, that's a pun.

[Jeff Kleist]

Sega had a 3D LCD shutterglass system many years ago that did not require new display equipment. Sure it was only 15 frames/sec and low resolution, but it did work rather well for the 3D. I am just not convinced that 3D BD really needed to require a new display to work. It would not have been difficult for the player to have the syncing hardware and software algorithm.

CRT television performance when it comes to refresh rates and other timing issues are so close it's virtually identical. The Sega system worked great hooked up to the player because of this. Modern panels are so divergant that this simply isn't practical as you can't set it manually

[Cliff]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Kram, for the record, we don’t think you’re an “idiot” or a “tool” despite the fact that Vincent may have said so in the past. The consensus is that you’re a bitter bugger that needs to go out and get a real job…like RAH.

Oh no, I'll say it, I think Kram's a total tool. He's an expert at everything and an authority on nothing. In fact, I'm convinced that he doesn't even own a Blu-ray player and probably doesn't even have an HDTV. Every opinion (which is 96% of the time totally negative) is based off of screen shots and other people's comments. I've never once (to my recollection) heard him say, "I looked at ANY TITLE last night and I thought it was poor (or good)."

Here's my Kram impression...
>Screenshot posted<

Kram: "Wow, looks terrible. Warner clearly botched it even worse than I thought they would. They can't seem to get anything right."

Other member: "I don't know. I think I'll wait until it comes out and look at it for myself."

Kram: " whatever. How any reviewer (who has actually seen the disc) had an opinion of this disc that was different than mine (which is based off NOT seeing the disc) should find a new hobby. "

AND... scene.

I agree with the bitter bugger thing though. I don't think I've run across another person who was clearly so miserable about every little thing.

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

P.S.
Cliff, thanks for the post. I realize that it is not always possible for Blu-ray reviewers to watch the theatrical presentations of modern day motion pictures which they later may review as Blu-rays but, I think that if more did (and publically posted their impressions months prior to the actual Blu-ray review) it would dispel a lot of the myths regarding some of the eventual Blu-ray incarnations...kinda like if screenshot scientists actually truthfully watched a movie in real time and posted their impressions prior to *microscopic* examination.

It was something that jumped out at me and the first thing I thought of was what a field day they were all going to have when the disc came out. Having worked with Lionsgate many, many times, I know they are putting a lot of effort into the Kick-Ass Blu-ray and the disc will be exceptional. The idea of a bunch of know-nothings jumping to all the wrong conclusions (yet again) makes me crazy. I just wanted to point it out as it was still fresh so that when the inevidable complaints start to surface, someone can point to that post and point out that it was a characteristic of the theatrical presentation as well. I also saw a shot (after Mark Strong tosses the cigarette off the balcony and returns inside) that had some pretty good ringing.

Glad to see you caught it too, Jeff.

[Vincent Pereira]

Regarding Kram Sacul A.K.A. the Biggest Tool on the Internet, I'm not sure whether his obsession with Robert Harris is sad or scary. What's funny is that when Robert popped up over there not so long ago to post in the GANGS OF NEW YORK thread, Kram made an about-face and wrote a kiss-ass "welcome back" post to Robert, and then he goes right back into attacking Robert mode in that WATERWORLD thread. The guy really is pathetic.

Vincent

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Well, I admit that things like this are visual “hyperbole” and could harm potential buyers by needlessly inflating their expectations…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B38PVNV4Gk

I like this one though ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SRxL...layer_embedded

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Vincent Pereira

Regarding Kram Sacul A.K.A. the Biggest Tool on the Internet, I'm not sure whether his obsession with Robert Harris is sad or scary. What's funny is that when Robert popped up over there...

The most amusing thing that I find is that they are so reluctant in their postings to link to this thread (or not allowed to, for all I know) because they realize how much membership they have already lost to Blu-ray.com and they want to stop the bleeding.

[iceman]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I've never gotten one stinkin check from you.
What is it, the volcanic ash over Europe hindering the mail?

You have ash-covered mail

[Penton-Man]

Oliver K -
Can you please translate the new updated forum policies from today about the utilization of screenshots...

http://www.bluray-disc.de/
You know that my German is somewhat *specialized* for choice encounters.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Shark and fits are riling me up!
Expect it no later than sometime in June.

^
To be perfectly clear, I'm referring to the firmware update for 3D gaming (expected in June).

Another update is expected in the Fall for the PS3 that provides 3D movie playback capability. I can’t be more specific than that because the dates are subject to change.