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

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

One of these days (not too soon!) you should consider letting people here know who you write for.
I think it would be a hoot.
Until then, we'll keep 'em guessing.

Owl Monthly?
Nascar Monthly?
Chicken Wing Afficianado?
Playboy?

Sorry... My Penton-Man decoder ring may be on the fritz with the rest of me...

~Alan

[DenonCI]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Thank you.
Grover will be pleased.

One of these days (not too soon!) you should consider letting people here know who you write for.
I think it would be a hoot.
Until then, we'll keep 'em guessing.

Let's let 'em stew in it for a while

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by DenonCI

Let's let 'em stew in it for a while

I’ll place that decision totally within in your hands.

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Dude, you haven’t dove the Caymans !
That’s nearly sacrilegious for someone who has made other trips down to the Caribbean in the past !

I haven’t been on this vessel but, try this outfit………..
http://www.worlddive.com/destin/live...t/cay_main.htm

And while you’re down there, hop a flight over to St. Croix and dive RMS Rhone off Salt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Rhone

where some of the underwater footage from this upcoming Blu-ray was captured……..
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?id=5047

And also because St. Croix’s got the beautifully colored seahorses off Frederiksted Pier - http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...44435858476275 which you can literally spend hours with if you are an underwater photog.

Lord knows many were anxiously awaiting my response to this post, so here you go...

- I actually went to the Caymans as part of a family cruise (don't ask...). Amusingly, as they were ferrying us from the big boat, the harbour master closed the harbour to incoming guests. So, despite the fact that I've -been- there to dive, I've, alas, never been underwater.

- The agressor is a good suggestion, was actually leaning so far to this: http://www.bvidiving.com/ From Toronto, the flights are actually a lot easier, even with the island hopping. Plus, the trimaran idea is pretty amusing.

- Vancouver for Location Scout? Are we getting closer to finding out what the hell you actually -do- for Sony? Despite the fact that my mom and sister/neices live in North Van, I've yet to dive out there. If you've got time, and a Drysuit, there's some great stuff there (Squamish in particular aparently has some fun stuff)

- FYI, I dove this: http://www.kingstonunderwater.com/ma...antic.jpg.html and this: http://www.saveontarioshipwrecks.on....s/dguide5.html the other day.... 45 degree water temp was as cold as it got... Big, big lake, gets cold.

I did see a Musky underwater for the first time, so that was pretty groovy...
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muskellunge)

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

I'd have "How The West Was One", "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest", and "The Shawshank Redemption" by now if it weren't for the digibook packaging.

I actually imported the Japanese "Shawshank" and the UK "Falling Down" to avoid the U.S. digibooks.

[sharkshark]

Hey, who am I to judge, but, frankly, if you hate the packaging so much, buy a scanner and a colour laser printer.

Count me as someone that -loves- digipacks, and even doesn't mind the old Criterion cardboard packs (the clear cases look even weirder). That said, I find it completely insane that somebody would avoid purchasing a film that they love because that it's in a well designed book rather than a blue plastic case (easily available should you wish to store your discs that way).

Only offering classics in mega-editions with tchotchkes? Sure, that's annoying/expensive, and limits to those interested in mega editions. But for the same price, to get a decent booklet and (most importantly!) a very good movie seems like a no brainer.

I guess that focussing on the packaging as being unlike the others instead of the film is, in my opinion, kinda missing the point of this hobby... Then again, there are indeed lots out there that only get into this to show off certain scenes, rate films based on subwoofer or surround activity instead of, well, plot, character, cinemetography, etc.

So, respectfully, for those on the fence about these classic films, suck it up, buy the damn movie, visit this thread (https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=80758) and choose your weapon, and support classics on BD, else we really will see studios become more and more reluctant to release truly classic films.

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Vincent Pereira

Yes, Kram is a complete tool.

As you know, I'm pretty set against normal ad hominem stuff that's littered throughout these fora. I figure I'll give the benefit of the doubt to even the most dogmatic user, and am wary of trashing certain users in totality over one post or another.

However (and I've had no encounters with him otherwise), you're a guy I respect, so I, while bored, did a bit of digging.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/searc...rchid=13320918

Pages, and pages, and pages of hyperbole about terrible looking transfers. The only effusive comment in the positive column was for Bug's Life (duh...CGI direct from digital looks purdy on BD, who knew?)

So, Vincent, while I don't think buggering off from one forum will necessarily help things, and I don't think such one sided, reppetitive posts are unique to this forum or this individual, I hereby grant entirely your point regarding this individual's clearly misguided crusade.

NOW, that being said, there -are- some elements of the Dracula transfer that, despite being director approved, should raise some questions... In particular, scenes where the writing is overlayed do, on a pro calibrated setup, appear to be pretty damn dark, losing the detail in the writing. It's as if 99% of the film looks the way intended, but a couple scenes may have been not tweaked quite as well as they should have been.

Cause for uproar? Well, no, obviously. Points for discussion? I'd absolutely say it's critical that people can talk about these issues in a calm way, and that they should not be explained away by "director's intent" (see Kubrick's arguments for aspect ratio preference for HT use for how sometimes those intentions slip in time). It may be the way FFC like it, but it's distracting and not indicative of the rest of the flick.

That said, chastising RAH without regard for his decades of tireless work in the restoration field? Utterly shameless and inexcuseable. Frankly, if I'm going to disagree with anything he writes (and it has happened from time to time) I'll do so with incredible humility, and recognition of his work

I didn't see the post that got deleted in time, alas, but I noted in other posts you had made a patience and respect that I've come to expect from your regular posts. If, indeed, he knocked you over the edge, it must have been something spectacularly idiotic indeed.

[Jeff Kleist]

I’ll place that decision totally within in your hands.

After all, we do detect a tad of journalistic bias toward a certain manufacturer :P :P

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

NOW, that being said, there -are- some elements of the Dracula transfer that, despite being director approved, should raise some questions... In particular, scenes where the writing is overlayed do, on a pro calibrated setup, appear to be pretty damn dark, losing the detail in the writing. It's as if 99% of the film looks the way intended, but a couple scenes may have been not tweaked quite as well as they should have been.

Cause for uproar? Well, no, obviously. Points for discussion? I'd absolutely say it's critical that people can talk about these issues in a calm way, and that they should not be explained away by "director's intent" (see Kubrick's arguments for aspect ratio preference for HT use for how sometimes those intentions slip in time). It may be the way FFC like it, but it's distracting and not indicative of the rest of the flick.

Is Kram still disparaging the Dracula Blu-ray to this day?
I thought Vincent was referring to posts from long ago where Kram was belittling RAH’s judgment as a reviewer.

Sheesh, that’s almost like some Frenchmen being p.o.-ed about the U.S. getting the Louisiana Purchase from France. I thought we were all done with all that Dracula *scientific* bashfest ?

Fact is, short and sweet. The HD master was produced from an Answer print that F.F.C. personally approved and desired as the source for the Blu-ray. This professional sat in on the transfer and approved the work…………
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0041447/

All naysayers should check out the top 4 or 5 titles in his Producers and Directors categories pertinent to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. If anyone still has any complaints about the BSD Blu-ray or the source, I suggest that they write a letter to Kim or Francis and stop whining on the internet or belittling Robert Harris.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

I actually imported the Japanese "Shawshank" and the UK "Falling Down" to avoid the U.S. digibooks.

Sorry, but I find refusing to buy something based on packaging kind of...odd.

DVD has this problem in spades, especially in the TV series releases.

When you boil down to it, the discs all play properly in the player. The box has no outcome on that whatsoever (unless it's come loose and gotten scratched).

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Is Kram still
All naysayers should check out the top 4 or 5 titles in his Producers and Directors categories pertinent to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. If anyone still has any complaints about the BSD Blu-ray or the source, I suggest that they write a letter to Kim or Francis and stop whining on the internet or belittling Robert Harris.

Weird isn't it? Thoush sometimes filmmakers can make mistakes (for the record I find the BD transfer of Dracula to be fine).

Though I can sympathize with those with a bone to pick over Friedkin's re-do of The French Connection.

I hope FFC can override Storaro and get Apocalypse Now in it's proper 2.39 ratio. This year is the 30th Anniversary btw.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Dogdvr

Penton,
Time for a pic of the ladies!

no reposting old pics!
Get on your mountain bike and give us new pics

Brent

Well, I got a pic this morning of one of Maya’s (pronounced My-Yuh, like in the Disney movie, Eight Below) pups. The quality is suboptimal as I had to use a pocket-sized digital camera. I worked my arse off to get this shot having to crawl thru thistle around a patch a poison oak.

I had previously placed some dog food (beige colored) in a black cardboard container for enticement….. which you can see at the pups feet.



For some perspective, the black container with the dog food measures 14” in length showing how small the little fella really is. If they have the time and opportunity, Deci, Ice, Jeff, Jason ? or one of our other industrious mods/members may be able to re-post the pic for non-members also to see, as it seems that yesterday for some reason, our non-membership here jumped to almost about 3x (~6,000) to what it normally has been running.

I wonder what caused that.
Anything new happen around here recently ?

[Jeff Kleist]

I hope FFC can override Storaro and get Apocalypse Now in it's proper 2.39 ratio. This year is the 30th Anniversary btw.

I seriously doubt that FFC has any desire to override him on anything. They're super tight

[DenonCI]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

After all, we do detect a tad of journalistic bias toward a certain manufacturer :P :P

The funny thing is I don't even own any Denon equipment anymore (although I once did).

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Sorry, but I find refusing to buy something based on packaging kind of...odd.

I guess there's a lot of "odd" people here, because I know I'm not alone.

[cjamescook]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

I'd have "How The West Was One", "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest", and "The Shawshank Redemption" by now if it weren't for the digibook packaging. The sad thing is, I'm scared that if we're lucky enough to get "North By Northwest" and "Forbidden Planet" outside of WB's expensive box sets, it will be a digibook (I'm scared for "Heat" as well). I may pick up HTWWW this week while it's on sale anyway, because the eventual re-packaging might not contain the second disc...

Re: HTTWW
Go for it, Alan. I picked it up this week at Amazon because of the attractive sale price having no idea that it was a digibook or even what they were. This is probably just as well, as the strong negative opinions would have made me hesitate had I known. Silly me - always form your own opinions.

Anyway, the digibook form, as represented by HTTWW, is compatible with regular Blu-ray cases on your shelf. So, judge them by the content and their prices, not their reputation.

I don't regret it, and I have not watched it yet.

[Knight-Errant]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Is Kram still disparaging the Dracula Blu-ray to this day?
I thought Vincent was referring to posts from long ago where Kram was belittling RAH’s judgment as a reviewer.

Sheesh, that’s almost like some Frenchmen being p.o.-ed about the U.S. getting the Louisiana Purchase from France. I thought we were all done with all that Dracula *scientific* bashfest ?

Fact is, short and sweet. The HD master was produced from an Answer print that F.F.C. personally approved and desired as the source for the Blu-ray. This professional sat in on the transfer and approved the work…………
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0041447/

All naysayers should check out the top 4 or 5 titles in his Producers and Directors categories pertinent to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. If anyone still has any complaints about the BSD Blu-ray or the source, I suggest that they write a letter to Kim or Francis and stop whining on the internet or belittling Robert Harris.

I watched it again the other day and it really does look the best I've ever seen it.

[HeavyHitter]

I think Bram Stroker's Dracula looks beautiful on BD and extremely film like. I bought it the first week it came out and have watched it 3-4 times since then and on two different ISF'd display technologies (57" CRT RPTV & 60" LCOS). It's been explained a million times over now while it doesn't look like the Superbit DVD, yet it doesn't matter to those people. I also think some of these people complaining have mis-calbrated or non-calibrated displays which can really have a particularly negative effect on this type of movie.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

That said, chastising RAH without regard for his decades of tireless work in the restoration field? Utterly shameless and inexcuseable. Frankly, if I'm going to disagree with anything he writes (and it has happened from time to time) I'll do so with incredible humility, and recognition of his work.....

Well shark, after reading what somebody PM’ed me today (3 links from *science*), it seems that “eNoize” is going for the “shameless and inexcusable” award as exemplified by…………

Outright arrogance based upon unproved expertise, in which he dismisses Robert Harris……………
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...&postcount=106

and here, on the same page, where he is basically calling Bill Hunt a liar in regards to all the filmmakers’ involvement………………
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...&postcount=102

Honest to goodness, there is so much bullsh*t posted as implied fact in the above two posts on so many different levels (i.e. technical as well as non-technical), I wouldn’t even know where to begin to refute the nonsense.

Plus, this “eNoize” guy has the technical naivety to favorably quote “steel_breeze” who claims this nonsense………….
“In my opinion, what we're seeing on GHOSTBUSTERS is glorious, swirling, organic film grain PLUS a fair bit of "new" digital noise.”
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...4&postcount=60

This is ludicrous, I mean, what the hell does “steel_breeze” think…… that SPHE used an archaic C-Reality flying spot telecine on the film source (which in this case was an archival 35mm IP)?
It’s either that, or he’s implying with his speculation that the mastering technician added grain to the HD master.

Folks, the best available film element for this source (an archival quality IP) was used, which demonstrates both a variable ‘grainyness’ as well as sharpness throughout the film due to the principal 35 mm photography, the film also included, for that matter, all the vfx scenes being captured at radically different scales by a 65 mm camera and then composited together into a 35mm anamorphic composite. In fact, not only was some of the vfx shot in 65mm and reduced down to 35mm but aditionally, it was optically degraded back in the day, in order to help the sequences match the live-action footage as well as the technology allowed during those olden days.

And as far as the accusations of “boosted contrast” on the Blu-ray edition, since the *scientists* can’t write a letter (as he has passed) to one of the filmmakers who not only approved the video master but also had direct input into its production and was of the most respected cinematographers of all time by fellow colleagues and critics alike.....

I suggest they contact the other filmmaker (the Director) who approved the Blu-ray edition, and loved it and see how much sympathy they get with their ‘expert’ complaints/critiquing ---from him……..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8IGfkSeRv4

P.S.
I would post the above on *faux science* but I’m sure my post would be deleted just as quickly as Vincent P’s previously discussed post did.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

- Vancouver for Location Scout? Are we getting closer to finding out what the hell you actually -do- for Sony? Despite the fact that my mom and sister/neices live in North Van, I've yet to dive out there......

It’s actually kind of creepy as I was watching Harper’s Island last night (in which the villain finally showed himself and went on a rampage) and one of the stops we’ll be doing is at that same island off Vancouver for which the exteriors for that particular TV series was shot.