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

[Squozen]

Penton, thanks for your long and considered response (truly!). As I am in a different timezone, I tend to read several pages of your thread in one go, and I guess the pressure just built up!

As far as TDK is concerned, I have decided to just accept that my opinion obviously differs from professionals who know what they're talking about; perhaps Nolan was going for an image that (to my eyes) looks unfilmlike. I did not see the film theatrically, waiting instead for the BD. For all I know the disc is very representative of the cinema experience, and I likely would not have enjoyed that either. My fault for trying to save some money, I suppose. As I didn't enjoy the film, I have found a buyer for my BD copy, and will say no more on the subject.

Regarding Sling Blade, do you have any idea if the colour timing for the Criterion LD (which I remember as looking terrific at the time) was correct?

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Which is a door that has recently been opened. No one has stepped through yet, but it's become a real possibility now.

Would you guess that they are going to see how well the game does?

If they cant get all the original cast including Ernie Hudson, then I would hope that they dont even bother.

I will say that video game is looking might pretty so far and Im getting more and more anxious to play it.

[FourToedStatue]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Which is a door that has recently been opened. No one has stepped through yet, but it's become a real possibility now.

Hey Jeff do you think this is legit: http://www.amazon.fr/SOS-fant%C3%B4mes-Coffret-Blu-Ray-Blu-ray/dp/B001CTUIDC/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1225622598&sr=8-12.

If so I hope they're region free.

[Jeff Kleist]

Probably won't come out, it's the same set they solicited last year, and everything is centered around the 25th anniv push

Bill Murray has been the only holdout for years.

[JAGUAR1977]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Which is a door that has recently been opened. No one has stepped through yet, but it's become a real possibility now.

I thought Judd Apatow was producing it for a 2010 release?

[Jeff Kleist]

I thought Judd Apatow was producing it for a 2010 release?

Hypothetically yes. Until they're actually rolling I'm going to remain skeptical

[Penton-Man]

In December, there were 15 movies in consideration for the Visual Effects Oscar, as follows (alphabetical order)……………..
Australia
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Cloverfield
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Hancock
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
The Incredible Hulk
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Iron Man
Journey to the Center of the Earth
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Quantum of Solace
The Spiderwick Chronicles

Last Tuesday, the list was narrowed to 7, as follows………
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Iron Man
Journey to the Center of the Earth
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

Next Thursday all members of the Academy’s Visual Effects Branch will be invited to view 15-minute excerpts from each of the seven shortlisted films. Following the screenings, the members will vote to nominate three films for final Oscar consideration.

I posted this short YouTube clip awhile back for background on the nomination process with Caleb Deschanel, ASC speaking………………
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwYOUMwbC34

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Squozen

Regarding Sling Blade, do you have any idea if the colour timing for the Criterion LD (which I remember as looking terrific at the time) was correct?

I only saw the theatrical presentation and I never viewed any home media versions of Sling Blade so, I can’t make a definitive statement about the accuracy of the color timing for the Criterion LD but, it would make sense that it is closer to the Director’s intent than the theatrical version ever was because the HD master was undoubtedly struck from a Kodak film master rather than a Fuji release print.

A quick way to verify would be to watch your Criterion LD again and if the imagery demonstrates a warm golden hue, then it is “correct”.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Squozen

Penton,

As far as TDK is concerned, I have decided to just accept that my opinion obviously differs from professionals who know what they're talking about; perhaps Nolan was going for an image that (to my eyes) looks unfilmlike. I did not see the film theatrically, waiting instead for the BD. For all I know the disc is very representative of the cinema experience, and I likely would not have enjoyed that either. My fault for trying to save some money, I suppose. As I didn't enjoy the film, I have found a buyer for my BD copy, and will say no more on the subject.

Well, I guess that’s far more economical than purchasing a calibrated Pioneer Kuro plasma……..read the 2nd paragraph of Ben’s CES piece here……………..

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=2268

P.S.
Oh, and how could I forget , from one of the societies ……………
http://www.ascmag.com/news/News_Articles/News_200.php

[aygie]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

In December, there were 15 movies in consideration for the Visual Effects Oscar, as follows (alphabetical order)……………..
Australia
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Cloverfield
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Hancock
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
The Incredible Hulk
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Iron Man
Journey to the Center of the Earth
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Quantum of Solace
The Spiderwick Chronicles

Last Tuesday, the list was narrowed to 7, as follows………
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Iron Man
Journey to the Center of the Earth
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

Next Thursday all members of the Academy’s Visual Effects Branch will be invited to view 15-minute excerpts from each of the seven shortlisted films. Following the screenings, the members will vote to nominate three films for final Oscar consideration.

I posted this short YouTube clip awhile back for background on the nomination process with Caleb Deschanel, ASC speaking………………
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwYOUMwbC34

Benjamin Button without a doubt. Not just the effects but the acting that goes with it is apparently flawless from Pitt.

[coolmilo]

I am surprised that Speed Racer was not mentioned. The entire film was one big visual effect.

[jangofett]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

So then.....why are Blu-ray discs still over $10.00? Really dropping the ball here Penton.

The disks are $10.00 more the same reason that players are $250 more, b/c they really can't be sold at dvd prices profitably right now..... so give the brand time to grow, and for the engineers to put in smaller chips and devise new ways to trim costs. Also, when more units are produced the lower ( to an extent ) BD movie prices will be since the manufacturers will get to spread the fixed costs over more units. So, give it time and have some faith my padawan.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by jangofett

The disks are $10.00 more the same reason that players are $250 more, b/c they really can't be sold at dvd prices profitably right now..... so give the brand time to grow, and for the engineers to put in smaller chips and devise new ways to trim costs. Also, when more units are produced the lower ( to an extent ) BD movie prices will be since the manufacturers will get to spread the fixed costs over more units. So, give it time and have some faith my padawan.

I guess my sarcasm was lost on you....and I even used 2 razz smilies

[Squozen]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Well, I guess that’s far more economical than purchasing a calibrated Pioneer Kuro plasma……..read the 2nd paragraph of Ben’s CES piece here……………..

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=2268

P.S.
Oh, and how could I forget , from one of the societies ……………
http://www.ascmag.com/news/News_Articles/News_200.php

Indeed, although I'll stick with my calibrated front projector - plasmas are just too small for me.

And regarding your second link, I loved the look of Slumdog Millionaire. Who would release this on BD in the US?

[Squozen]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

A quick way to verify would be to watch your Criterion LD again and if the imagery demonstrates a warm golden hue, then it is “correct”.

I have not watched it for some time but definitely remember it being golden-hued. It's good to hear that the BD will match this look.

[Kris Deering]

Originally Posted by Squozen

Indeed, although I'll stick with my calibrated front projector - plasmas are just too small for me.

And regarding your second link, I loved the look of Slumdog Millionaire. Who would release this on BD in the US?

Fox I imagine, under the Fox Searchlight branding. Now if we could only get Boyle's Millions on Blu-ray, that is a another brilliant film and one that just seems to be unheard of.

[Squozen]

Originally Posted by Kris Deering

Fox I imagine, under the Fox Searchlight branding. Now if we could only get Boyle's Millions on Blu-ray, that is a another brilliant film and one that just seems to be unheard of.

It seems to be a love-it-or-hate-it film. Thanks for reminding me to put it on my queue.

[Squozen]

Hey Penton,

I've been reading some threads on various forums about William Friedkin digitally re-colouring his 70s films and making them look completely different from the original theatrical releases. While I accept that a director is within their rights to change their films (and I am within my rights to refuse to buy the modified versions), is there anything in a studio's contract to stop this kind of thing? Say, if a director went completely off the deep end and decided that what they really wanted was to dub their entire film in Czech?

[NoQuestion]

Penton,

Any vague timeline for when we might see the sony blu mega changer hit retail? I would love to pick up one of those.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Squozen

Hey Penton,

I've been reading some threads on various forums about William Friedkin digitally re-colouring his 70s films and making them look completely different from the original theatrical releases. While I accept that a director is within their rights to change their films (and I am within my rights to refuse to buy the modified versions), is there anything in a studio's contract to stop this kind of thing? Say, if a director went completely off the deep end and decided that what they really wanted was to dub their entire film in Czech?

lol, well, past history has usually revolved around the opposite circumstance, i.e. content providers changing things *after the fact*, i.e. Ted Turner and his colorization.

I’m not an intellectual property attorney and I’m certainly not an expert in the significance of “moral rights” or how they are applicable to motion pictures after U.S. law got more in line with the Berne Convention in terms of copyright but, to simplify the situation down to the very basics……….

In general, the copyright holder essentially owns all “rights” to the asset and can do whatever he/she/that entity sees fit to do with it. The only exception that comes to my mind off the top of my head is that with Congress having passed a law some years back establishing a National Film Preservation Board with authorization to designate up to 25 films a year for registration as “classical” films. This label denoted that these films should not be materially altered in any way ---at least that’s how I think it works.

In real world working situations, where the Director is still living and is invited to participate in the restoration or mastering of a film, it is a collaborative effort in respecting the film’s original look. In the hypothetical case that you are presenting, I would say that most film preservationists at most studios would try to nudge the Director back to respecting the film’s original look.

If the Director’s aesthetic approach to his work has evolved over the years and the original film sources are not available because they're lost or destroyed and there are multiple versions of the film floating around all over the world, then I have no problem with the Director ‘refining’ his work as long as the essence of the original work is maintained and marketing folks put a “Redux” at the end of the title like with this, which I suspect most people will enjoy , whenever it appears on Blu-ray………………

http://www.sonyclassics.com/ashesoftimeredux/