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

[Jeff Kleist]

Studios have a promotional cycle they follow. South Pacific was up, so it got done, just like SOM is up this year. Spartacus is a major safe movie for Uni because it's one of those timeless guy movies that has broad appeal. There was some "leapfrog" action going on some major catalog titles toward the end of the format war, but they didn't happen

I just watched about half an hour of zhivago (waiitng for tomorrow when I can do the whole thing). The opening overture alone gets the little tear going, the sound is exquistie and powerful

[Robert Siegel]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Studios have a promotional cycle they follow. South Pacific was up, so it got done, just like SOM is up this year. Spartacus is a major safe movie for Uni because it's one of those timeless guy movies that has broad appeal. There was some "leapfrog" action going on some major catalog titles toward the end of the format war, but they didn't happen

I just watched about half an hour of zhivago (waiitng for tomorrow when I can do the whole thing). The opening overture alone gets the little tear going, the sound is exquistie and powerful

Excellent, I am so happy to hear that Jeff....I didn't have time to watch mine tonight but looking forward to Zhivago tomorrow (going to replace my projector bulb first). I guess with so long in between pre-1970 releases, it makes for a real event. I guess next up is A Star is Born!

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Zee real Bigie will eventually come.

I will say that fewer catalog titles are being released by most studios now because people are not buying enough of them for the studios to make a profit. It's unfortunate because there are some classics that have not been released yet and we can't justify putting them out if no one is buying them.

Good evening Penton,

It is something of a vicious circle that we have here. Some of the studios are reluctant to dig deeper into their catalog libraries as they fear that sales may not be as strong as they should be, but as far as some consumers are concerned - or at least this is my impression - a few of the majors are not doing enough to promote their catalogs. A good example would be your excellent Noir Collection, which, in my opinion, should have been brought to Blu-ray. I could well be wrong here, but my feeling is that the catalog market would expand if there is greater variety. The Frank Capra Collection, The Stanley Kramer Collection, The Budd Boetticher Collection -- these are the type of releases that could move the market in the right direction and, really, convince the concerned consumers that there is a serious shift from DVD to Blu-ray. Obvoiusly, I understand that some of these titles probably require a lot of serious work, and investments, but some consumers are looking for the same, or at least similar, variety of catalog/classic titles the studios offered when we transitioned from VHS to DVD.

Sony Pictures Classics also control the rights for the overwhelming majority of Pedro Almodovar's films. I would assume that with the Blu-ray release of Broken Embraces it would have been great if the Viva Pedro set was offered as well.

With other words, there is plenty of room for expansion, and if done right, I am fairly certain that both the studios and the consumers would be pleased with it.

Pro-B

[KubrickFan]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Kubrick actually had ongoing conversations with the senior VFX supervisors at ILM. He wanted to create David via CGI: perfect but unreal.

Apparently he had all kinds of crazy ideas. That's probably why he never would've finished it even if he hadn't passed away in 1999.

[Mr. Cinema]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

For your consideration…
https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=4506

^ The film source was scanned at 4k and the quality of the master looked very good, actually better than I expected. In short, I was impressed with the outcome which is why I’m bringing this title to people’s attention. Might I humbly recommend everyone purchase Jason and the Argonauts because this Blu-ray movie represents quality work on an important film that should find its way into every cinephile's collection.

Just saw the spiffy new artwork. Looks terrific. I will be adding this to my collection. Once Amazon drops their current price of $22.49.

[Avond]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Good evening Penton,

It is something of a vicious circle that we have here. Some of the studios are reluctant to dig deeper into their catalog libraries as they fear that sales may not be as strong as they should be, but as far as some consumers are concerned - or at least this is my impression - a few of the majors are not doing enough to promote their catalogs. A good example would be your excellent Noir Collection, which, in my opinion, should have been brought to Blu-ray. I could well be wrong here, but my feeling is that the catalog market would expand if there is greater variety. The Frank Capra Collection, The Stanley Kramer Collection, The Budd Boetticher Collection -- these are the type of releases that could move the market in the right direction and, really, convince the concerned consumers that there is a serious shift from DVD to Blu-ray. Obvoiusly, I understand that some of these titles probably require a lot of serious work, and investments, but some consumers are looking for the same, or at least similar, variety of catalog/classic titles the studios offered when we transitioned from VHS to DVD.

Sony Pictures Classics also control the rights for the overwhelming majority of Pedro Almodovar's films. I would assume that with the Blu-ray release of Broken Embraces it would have been great if the Viva Pedro set was offered as well.

With other words, there is plenty of room for expansion, and if done right, I am fairly certain that both the studios and the consumers would be pleased with it.

Pro-B

I, for one, would buy any Almodovar film day one without a second thought. But I agree with your sentiments above. Seems like a rock and a hard place situation right now for both sides.

[PaulGo]

PM - Could you find out from Sony if the PS3 will support the checkerboard format of 3D? If appears that Mitsubishi may be shafting the samsung DLP owners with their new 3D DLP adapter by make it only work with their DLP sets.

If that is the case and Sony does not support the checkerboard format on the PS3 my only alternative would be to purchase a Blu-ray player that supports checkerboard such as the Panasonic.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Penton, there's actually been research into that very phenomenon that was published just the other day, but I'm afraid their area of focus was a little too far into politics/religion. I PM'd you the link

You and ‘brainsturgeon’ are probably now safe to post a completely benign tidbit about either politics or religion that only the most neurotic of biased supporters would feel threatened by as I heard…or at least rumor has it, that Rob Tomlin went to work for the “How can we get a Republican back in the White House?” campaign, as he takes his “home theater” very seriously.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

WB has their own playbook that other people don't follow. A lot of the classics haven't done well, some of them ahve done well, but they have a good lobbyist

A few words about...™ Lord of the Rings and specifically Fellowship of the Ring - #50 on the AFI all-time Best Movies List -

Dead silence with crickets chirping.

Open question to all home theater enthusiasts – Aren’t reviewers supposed to review?....especially a film of such cinematic importance.

C'mon RAH!

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by PaulGo

PM - Could you find out from Sony if the PS3 will support the checkerboard format of 3D?

I don't work for SCEA but, I'll try to find out for you.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Torsten Kaiser TLE

SCANITY or NORTHLIGHT ??

Are you in the market for good German engineering or just curious?

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by mntwister

Excellent, I am so happy to hear that Jeff....I didn't have time to watch mine tonight but looking forward to Zhivago tomorrow (going to replace my projector bulb first). I guess with so long in between pre-1970 releases, it makes for a real event. I guess next up is A Star is Born!

Let’s see what the screenshot scientists say. One moment.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Let’s see what the screenshot scientists say. One moment.

^

Apparently, it's early as the 'fun' has just begun but 'Twister', I think you’re pretty much screwed....

Originally Posted by xylon

The restoration work is pretty good. Made the best of what they have. After watching this HD transfer how much better the movie would have looked if they used 70mm format instead. Having said that this HD transfer overall is just too soft and filtered. This is one of the most anticipated "A" catalog titles and it shouldn't hurt if they put more bits in the encode. The Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia hopefully gets all the bases covered.

[Penton-Man]

Now, let’s span the globe for news. One moment.

[Penton-Man]

Ah, the good ol’ days of bruised testicles in 2D, brings tears to my eyes…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi69utdvDcA

However, I don’t do no ski jumping but, I do watch the Yanks. Flash forward to the modern era baby…
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/spor...irectv-3d.html

I’m just wondering what it would look like seeing an attention seeking fan breaking the law and subsequently getting tazered in 3D rather than flat 2D…
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/..._news#36975082

Jeff, you guys in Philly don’t mess around!

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

C'mon RAH!

He's busy reviewing the real stuff, like Walkabout, and I, for one, don't mind.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Now, let’s span the globe for news. One moment.

Jeff, tell Bill Hunt to stop using that old college photo and that I will not vote for him for Sheriff of Orange County…
http://www.billhuntforsheriff2010.co...umper-stickers

unless he publically makes a campaign promise to go after those motorcyclists that ride on the shoulders of the road ….
http://www.digitalbits.com/monkeyonamotorcycle.html

I’m sick and tired of dealing with this baloney on a daily basis and it’s time for some enforcement of California law which essentially states that motorcyclists may drive between cars, but not on shoulders! Come to think of it, no tail dragging on the highway either!

j/k Jeff. I’m testing to see if you’re awake or sleeping on the job.
Folks, I’ll be here all week.

[Torsten Kaiser TLE]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Are you in the market for good German engineering or just curious?

Well, NORTHLIGHT being British (and very good while awfully slow - just like their vote count ) and only SCANITY (a next of kin to SPIRIT) being (a brilliant piece of) German engineering, I always like viewing precision "at work". And both deliver. But re: JATA 4K scan I am actually curious, since the 2 Scanitys haven't been "in action" that long at SONY... Would be interesting to know.

[Elvis Is Alive]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I don't work for SCEA but, I'll try to find out for you.

Much appreciated PM. There is alot of discussion about this with regards to 3D ready DLP's. As I am an owner of one, I'd like to have this answered as well.

[DenonCI]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I’m just wondering what it would look like seeing an attention seeking fan breaking the law and subsequently getting tazered in 3D rather than flat 2D…
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/..._news#36975082

Jeff, you guys in Philly don’t mess around!

That guy got what he deserved. Maybe the next idiot will think twice about running onto the field of play.