Fright Night (1985) (30th Anniversary Edition) (Limited Edition) - SOLD OUT

[PuppetMasterBlu]

Originally Posted by BrandonJF

It's only a matter of time before someone takes screen captures that they should have a more difficult time ignoring. I had been working on it tonight thinking it was as easy as hitting PrtScrn, but I found out it's not.

Then again, given their current attitude, I suppose they can just say any screenshots are doctored.

No keep on them this is so much fun watching this.

[starman15317]

Can't this company just go under already?

[PuppetMasterBlu]

Originally Posted by starman15317

Can't this company just go under already?

But then we would NEVER see any copies of popular 80's horror titles.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by brasil

I agree the Sony release has best PQ because of the marcoblocking on 30th. Explanations that 30th used "high frequency filters" may or may not be accurate

Detail and grain in video are high frequencies.

Regardless of whether if the video is lowpass filtered (which means some high frequencies are filtered out) prior to starting the encode or by the encoding software automatically the end result is the same: high frequencies will be filtered out to make compression easier when you are targeting lower bitrate. If high frequencies are not filtered out on a low bitrate encode by the compressionist or the encoder itself then you get macroblocking. Filtering out high frequencies is proper technique when compressing at a lower bitrate; the thought is that slightly less detail will be less noticeable than macroblocking. But, that is why you see more grain on higher bitrate encodes, because the compressionist decided or encoder automatically decided that based on the bitrate the encode could handle the high frequencies contained in the video.

Lossy audio encoders do the same thing, btw. MP3 encoders, for instance, usually by default employ a 16khz lowpass filter (meaning 16khz-22khz is rolled off) at 128kbps to avoid audible artifacting on the high frequencies.

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by starman15317

Can't this company just go under already?

I sure hope not. I'm not wild about their price point or their attitude(s), but that doesn't stop me from enjoying the hell out of Leave Her to Heaven, Swamp Water, Drums Along the Mohawk, and a couple dozen other titles they've released. Plus, they have made a concerted effort to commission and/or include extras regularly now, which takes a bit of the sting out of their prices (especially when UK equivalents are unavailable).

[steve_dave]

Originally Posted by starman15317

Can't this company just go under already?

Not with healthy support from Sony and MGM, sorry but those companies are getting product moved by TT.

Even if you might disagree with the business model or the title choices, the only real negative thing against them is their customer service. You either want their product or you don't. They really don't want to deal with "fixing" things or getting better materials if it will affect their profit.

The sad truth is, they sold a lot of product without issues and these sell outs just tell the studios to continue to work with them.

And in regards to Screen Archive Entertainment, if this person is to be believed then SAE also needs to work on their etiquette:

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/12352980-post160.html

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/12353220-post168.html

A highlight:

I work with SAE and I can tell you all that we have researched our system and can assure you that this JOKER is only just that a JOKER and scum trying to cause problems.

[VanDamme]

Originally Posted by PuppetMasterBlu

Good news for anyone wanting a copy the prices are dropping. All the recent Ebay prices are going for around 70. I can see this going for around 50 eventually.

Ahhh, but of course - my luck strikes again

[luis figo]

Originally Posted by bruceames.

Where can I see those replies?

Conan Dillon :Many are noticing a few instances of large marcoblocking, compression errors, on this 30th Anniversary release not present on the original or Sony release, due to your new authoring facility Ambient Media using a defect encoder. Will be using this defective encoder an future blu ray releases?
Like · Reply · 3 hrs
Twilight Time DVD Label Conan, we would suggest you don't believe every crazy piece of misinformation you read on the Internet.
Like · Reply · 2 hrs
Conan Dillon I have seen the macroblocking myself on my disc as have many others. It is severe and produces a judder in the image. Are you going to continue to the defect encoding service on future releases?
Like · Reply · 2 hrs · Edited
Twilight Time DVD Label We will continue to do what we do, which thankfully the vast majority of the aficionados here enjoy - if you don't like what we do then that is entirely up to you. Your opinion is your own.
Like · Reply · 2 hrs
Conan Dillon Thanks for confirming you don't care about defective encoding. It is listed here post #2810. I was hoping for a good encode on Journey to the Center of the Earth. Now that is in doubt. https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...49401&page=141
Fright Night: 30th Anniversary Edition (1/21/2015) - SOLD OUT - Page 141 - Blu-ray Forum
Page 141- Fright Night: 30th Anniversary Edition (1/21/2015) - SOLD OUT Blu-ray Movies - North America
forum.blu-ray.com
Like · Reply · 2 hrs · Edited
Twilight Time DVD Label We care about reality, not misguided opinions on the Internet.
Like · Reply · 2 hrs
Conan Dillon Look at the blu ray yourself and tell my it's "misguided." It's there. You just again dismissed a fact anyone can see,and said you don't care about it. That is the opposite caring about quality. Your previous releases have to my knowledge been flawless with compression and other studios can do this, too.
Like · Reply · 1 hr
Twilight Time DVD Label Conan, this is the last we have to say on the subject - we try enormously hard to do the best we can on every release, which takes into account a dizzying number of variables - some so complex it would make your head spin. It is bad enough dealing with actual problems, let alone made up ones like "defective encoders" - stuff like that exists only in Star Trek - most people who know us and our work know we strive for the highest quality whenever possible. If you or others think we fall short occasionally - which - newsflash - everyone does - then so be it - we will continue to try hard and you have the choice of supporting the label or not. Here endeth the sermon.


Honestly baffled at how unprofessional those Twilight Time replies are.

Does not reflect well on the company at all.

[Ruined]

Personally I don't see the macroblocking as a major issue. It happens, it is IMO not that noticeable and overall the new image with more detail is preferable to the old with less. We are talking a handful of frames here (which is why it appears to judder), not something that runs throughout the movie. Stuff like that happens occasionally, even with Criterion discs for that matter.

I am curious about the brightness/color differences, though, and I find that more interesting since you can guess at the answer but probably can't prove it 100%.
Was it an intentional tweak?
Was it a colorspace conversion error by the encoder or compressionist as another poster postulated?

Given the answers you got, though, I guess we probably will never hear a reasonable answer from Twilight Time.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by Ruined

Personally I don't see the macroblocking as a major issue. It happens, it is IMO not that noticeable and overall the new image with more detail is preferable to the old with less. We are talking a handful of frames here (which is why it appears to judder), not something that runs throughout the movie. Stuff like that happens occasionally, even with Criterion discs for that matter.

I am curious about the brightness/color differences, though, and I find that more interesting since you can guess at the answer but probably can't prove it 100%.
Was it an intentional tweak?
Was it a colorspace conversion error by the encoder or compressionist as another poster postulated?

Given the answers you got, though, I guess we probably will never hear a reasonable answer from Twilight Time.

That's what I'm curious about as well. Why is this version brighter, and was it intentional? From what the BD authoring insider said, it was likely a total accident.

[luis figo]

Originally Posted by Ruined

Personally I don't see the macroblocking as a major issue. It happens, it is IMO not that noticeable and overall the new image with more detail is preferable to the old with less. We are talking a handful of frames here (which is why it appears to judder), not something that runs throughout the movie. Stuff like that happens occasionally, even with Criterion discs for that matter.

I am curious about the brightness/color differences, though, and I find that more interesting since you can guess at the answer but probably can't prove it 100%.
Was it an intentional tweak?
Was it a colorspace conversion error by the encoder or compressionist as another poster postulated?

Given the answers you got, though, I guess we probably will never hear a reasonable answer from Twilight Time.

That's not me by the way, It's a conversation I copy and pasted from Facebook.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by bruceames.

That's what I'm curious about as well. Why is this version brighter, and was it intentional? From what the BD authoring insider said, it was likely a total accident.

It could definitely have been an accidental error when converting colorspace.

The funny thing is, regardless of my own opinion many places and forum posts I've seen review the disc like the brighter version better.

Odds are it probably was a mistake though. TT's old authoring house was a lot more well known than their new one.

[ryanmj1993]

I did not purchase this movie (despite the fact that I want it) nor will I probably ever purchase a TT title but those FB responses are way out of line. You DO NOT talk to a paying customer like that. You respond with professionalism and if that person continues to go on you simply do not reply. Makes their company look really bad.

[WJWS Channel 13:Amity]

Originally Posted by notsoboo

I forget where I heard this (possibly one of the commentaries), but Roddy McDowall was constantly video taping and taking pictures on the set of most of his films, including Fright Night. When he died, his partner donated all of the footage to a college (I think it was a college in Boston, but I'm really not sure).

When I asked Johnathan Stark about it durring the Fright Night panel I hosted for MadMonster Shadow over seattle back in October of last year.

His response was the college didn't have anything aside from the vampire kit and some of the costume pieces. So that footage and photos is still lost unfortunately

[StingingVelvet]

Twilight Time's responses are very common from smaller companies dealing with the stresses of making a profit. They work hard (at least from their point of view) to put something out with little reward and then get super angry at every criticism, because they feel defensive and stressed. It's always someone else's fault! "I'm working hard it's not my fault!!!"

I see this ALL the time. It's sad, but it's human nature.

Doesn't help that like Scream Factory they have oddly die-hard fans that will back them up.

At the end of the day though I do think the newer transfer looks better 99.9% of the time, so I'm trying not to be angry about a few frames. TT isn't Warner, they can't do a reissue for a minor problem just for PR reasons.

[Wernski]

I think we can all agree, both blus (Twilight Time 2011 and the 30th ann) are excellent releases. Just because people are legitimately debating the pros and cons of the transfers' details doesn't mean people are attacking either release or "bent out of shape" as one user put it

Originally Posted by Ruined

the skin tones look to have a red push in many scenes with the old version.

I recently compared the new (30th) blu to the DVD, and the DVD definitely has the red push you describe. So if the 2011 blu is like the DVD, I would say the new version kinda looked "too pale" at first glance, but on closer inspection was more natural.

It is bad enough dealing with actual problems, let alone made up ones like "defective encoders" - stuff like that exists only in Star Trek

It doesn't exactly inspire confidence to read that a high end blu-ray company thinks encoders are things that only exist in Star Trek.

[tama]

I've noticed no release from Januarys batch of new titles have been reviewed here yet.

[Ctzalman]

Would anyone who is dissatisfied with their copy be willing to sell or trade for a reasonable price? I've got a few oop titles is be willing to trade.

[thephantomcat]

Originally Posted by starman15317

Can't this company just go under already?

This is why TT doesn't pay attention to the people who harass them on their Facebook page. They only get this negative feedback from horror releases, at least in any significant amount, and these titles sell out in days. I've worked almost my entire adult life in customer service and the fact is people who complain can never be reasonably handled. You can politely respond to a customer complaint, but unless your response is "here's your replacement copy overnighted plus a bag full of money and coupons for free TT titles for life" they won't drop it. People like that will never understand because they think "the customer is always right" because they "pay your salary" and without them "you wouldn't have a job". TT is not going out of business. They're growing. Even when NOTLD'90 had customers returning their copies for refunds, other customer were lining up for the chance to buy those returned copies with full knowledge of the "defects".

[lgon]

Just checked my tracking, it's scheduled to arrive here around Feb 12, almost 1 month after the release. I receive a steelbook from Zavvi from the UK faster than this. I'm in Canada BTW. I bought the first release and don't remember having to wait soooo long... Oh well, at least is closer to my birthday....