Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[WinterLand]

I have never purchased a TT release before, but I browsed through their site and saw quite a few titles that looked interesting.

However being based in Europe and having to pay a premium since I see that the TT titles are on the more expensive side and in addition possibly pay VAT on top of that and a handling fee I just have to ask if it is usual that many of the TT releases eventually end up being released by other labels, like Criterion?

(I do know that Criterion is not cheap either but there are at least sales with good discounts from time to time on amazon and ebay for me).

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by atfree

Can't speak to the reliability....but DVD NewsFlash is reporting the Fright Night re-release will be January 21st, 2015

http://dvdnewsflash.wordpress.com/

"Twilight Time’s Fright Night (1985) 30th Anniversary Special Edition Blu-Ray Streets on January 21, 2015! (New Transfer, Extras, Commentary, Etc)"

The "problem" I see with this announcement is that January 21st would not be a typical release day for TT. First, their street dates are usually the second week of the month. Second, their street dates are Tuesdays, and Jan 21 is a Wednesday. It would be more likely that Wednesday, January 21st will be the pre-order date for a February release.

On the other hand, they may well be doing the reissues apart from their normal monthly releases, so...

On edit: OK, I saw the ad that does say it's coming January 21st.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by itsaboutHD

And this is why I think TT is so great; Zardoz will sell maybe 50 copies in the first year (one of which will be to me ), maybe another 50 copies the second year, then they'll be stuck with the other 2900 copies in their warehouse until their 100 year shelf life is up! I mean, who in their right mind thinks that movie is worth watching, let alone spend (gasp) $3x.xx on?

That's what I think about a few of the movies they've released that were quick sell-outs. One of the things I like about TT is that there's a little something for everyone. Sure, not everyone is going to want to spend $30 on Zardoz, but not everyone wants to spend $30 on Fright Night, either.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by wormraper

It should TELL you something when so many disagree with it. Its NOT a popular or common business model. Deal with it.

But the point is...if you don't like Twilight Time or their business model, why hang out in the TT thread just to piss and moan?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by schlock

Kino with their out-of-sync issues?

I haven't found any out-of-synch issues. I have the three Studio Classics titles that people have complained about. With Cast a Giant Shadow and On the Beach, there are absolutely no synch problems on my copies. None. Zip. Nada. On The Young Savages, there's a very brief section of the film where it looks like the synch is off, but it's so slight, I wouldn't have noticed it if I wasn't looking for it.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by jayembee

But the point is...if you don't like Twilight Time or their business model, why hang out in the TT thread just to piss and moan?

just because I don't like everything they do doesn't mean I don't take advantage of them when it benefits me....we'll leave it at that

I'm not even complaining about them...haven't for quite some time. But I do back up the right for anyone to disagree with them. that's all

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by WinterLand

I have never purchased a TT release before, but I browsed through their site and saw quite a few titles that looked interesting.

However being based in Europe and having to pay a premium since I see that the TT titles are on the more expensive side and in addition possibly pay VAT on top of that and a handling fee I just have to ask if it is usual that many of the TT releases eventually end up being released by other labels, like Criterion?

(I do know that Criterion is not cheap either but there are at least sales with good discounts from time to time on amazon and ebay for me).

Impossible to say. Twilight Time's licenses give them exclusive North American rights for three years. Right now, we're at the point where the 3-year period is up or nearly up on some of their earliest titles. So far, none of those titles have been announced as forthcoming from other labels.

On the other hand, some of the Twilight Time titles have been released in other markets (Europe, Australia, whatever). Non-US releases would be more likely for alternatives to TT.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by jayembee

But the point is...if you don't like Twilight Time or their business model, why hang out in the TT thread just to piss and moan?

You're putting words in my mouth and others'. What I said was I would guess most would prefer Shout or Kino for an obscure cult classic because they tend to be much cheaper, offer much more supplemental material and are available for a lengthy amount of time.

I never said "hur hur Twilight Time sucks."

[schlock]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

You're putting words in my mouth and others'. What I said was I would guess most would prefer Shout or Kino for an obscure cult classic because they tend to be much cheaper, offer much more supplemental material and are available for a lengthy amount of time.

Maybe you should just "guess" for yourself instead of "putting words" in everyone else's mouth, and stop bringing in the comparisons to other labels. If you bring in the comparisons, you're going to get others saying why they don't agree about the other companies (Kino has much more supplemental material? - ha!!!). You want another? Personally, I don't give a crap about how much of a huge load of extras that I'll never watch that Shout piles on their releases, their over-compressed transfers of the films themselves are crap. And that's what counts to me. However, you will not see me in the Kino or Shout threads negatively comparing them to other labels.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

You're putting words in my mouth and others'. What I said was I would guess most would prefer Shout or Kino for an obscure cult classic because they tend to be much cheaper, offer much more supplemental material and are available for a lengthy amount of time.

I never said "hur hur Twilight Time sucks."

I can't believe that you feel surprised that when you say the following...

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Not to be a jerk but why would anyone recommend Twilight Time get titles? I'd rather any other company put titles out, so they get more special features, a lower price, or both.

Twilight Time should be a last resort.

...that people would infer that you dislike Twilight Time. And if that's the case, my point isn't irrelevant.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by WinterLand

I have never purchased a TT release before, but I browsed through their site and saw quite a few titles that looked interesting.

However being based in Europe and having to pay a premium since I see that the TT titles are on the more expensive side and in addition possibly pay VAT on top of that and a handling fee I just have to ask if it is usual that many of the TT releases eventually end up being released by other labels, like Criterion?

(I do know that Criterion is not cheap either but there are at least sales with good discounts from time to time on amazon and ebay for me).

Some of their films are released in European editions, but from some comparisons, it seems the TT ones are better.

I live in Greece and have purchased many TT titles.
I haven't paid any VAT or fees, just the shipping.
(purchasing from SAE)

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I can't believe that you feel surprised that when you say the following...



...that people would infer that you dislike Twilight Time. And if that's the case, my point isn't irrelevant.

Saying they're a last resort doesn't imply dislike. I just bought The Blob and will buy Fright Night and Christine when they re-release them. I'm fine with buying them for the right title. My point is simple and to the point: I'd rather almost anyone else release the movie, since it will be cheaper, not limited in number and probably have more special features.

You and the rest can get super defensive about this comment if you want. Personally I think it's common sense. I don't dislike TT, I don't avoid TT, but I would prefer other companies for the reasons stated.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Saying they're a last resort doesn't imply dislike.

I didn't say it did. But it shouldn't surprise you if others infer it. At any rate, it wasn't just the "last resort" part that I was responding to; it was the tenor of the whole posting.

You and the rest can get super defensive about this comment if you want.

I'm not being defensive. I was simply making an observation, and I still think it's a valid one.

On the other hand, when you started your original posting with "Not to be a jerk" doesn't that suggest defensiveness on your part? Or at least a belief that others might have a negative reaction to your statement?

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by jayembee

On the other hand, when you started your original posting with "Not to be a jerk" doesn't that suggest defensiveness on your part? Or at least a belief that others might have a negative reaction to your statement?

Yes, I thought others might take it as they have taken it, which is why I tried to soften it with that line. I know how people get loyal to certain companies around here for whatever reason, so I was trying to avoid annoying them. Obviously it didn't work, so now I am repeating three times now: preferring other distributors doesn't mean hate or dislike.

I mean, you (or they) can either believe me or not. In the end it matters little. I'm stating an opinion on an internet forum. It is what it is.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by schlock

Kino with their out-of-sync issues? Shout with their constant poor compression issues? Hey, give me Twilight Time any day. They haven't screwed up any title themselves. And before someone says NOTLD90, they didn't screw up the transfer on that one, Sony did. Kino and Shout are directly responsible for the poor QC on their discs. Sure, TT just slaps whatever master the studio gives them, but at least they don't tinker with it more and slather it in noise-reduction, poor compression, or poor mastering where the audio goes out of sync. Give me Twilight Time any day, thank you.

well, Demetrius and the Gladiators has its issues too (audio sync issues mostly), although i'm not sure if it's due to TT's encoding or it was like this from the start.
But yes, generally all the TT titles that I have are great!!

[itsaboutHD]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Not to be a jerk but why would anyone recommend Twilight Time get titles? I'd rather any other company put titles out, so they get more special features, a lower price, or both.

Twilight Time should be a last resort.

Originally Posted by schlock

Kino with their out-of-sync issues? Shout with their constant poor compression issues? Hey, give me Twilight Time any day. They haven't screwed up any title themselves. And before someone says NOTLD90, they didn't screw up the transfer on that one, Sony did. Kino and Shout are directly responsible for the poor QC on their discs. Sure, TT just slaps whatever master the studio gives them, but at least they don't tinker with it more and slather it in noise-reduction, poor compression, or poor mastering where the audio goes out of sync. Give me Twilight Time any day, thank you.

Uhmm, sorry StingingVelvet, but I'm going to have to go with Schlock on this one

(He forgot to mention that TT includes subtitles)

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Yes, I thought others might take it as they have taken it, which is why I tried to soften it with that line. I know how people get loyal to certain companies around here for whatever reason, so I was trying to avoid annoying them. Obviously it didn't work, so now I am repeating three times now: preferring other distributors doesn't mean hate or dislike.

I mean, you (or they) can either believe me or not. In the end it matters little. I'm stating an opinion on an internet forum. It is what it is.

What I took from your original statement is that having a title released on Twilight Time can cause headaches. Nobody disputes they put out a great product, but it's the same old argument with their business model. The 3000 limit thing means either stress for people hoping to get all the popular titles they want before they sell out and/or before the scalpers snap them all up, OR having to pay a premium price for some of the crappier titles that would otherwise be found in a Wal-Mart discount bin for $5 if released by their parent studios. I'm really curious about the movie Che! and will likely snap it up eventually but, man, $30 for a film that is by all accounts terrible sure stings a bit.

However, if the option is Twilight Time or someone else, then someone else is preferable. I mean The Great Train Robbery which I bought for $15 from Kino Lorber could so easily have been a TT sellout at twice the price.

[Blu MacReady]

Are we expecting title announcements this weekend?

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by Blu MacReady

Are we expecting title announcements this weekend?

Yes, as they said in their facebook.
Hopefully today!!

[oildude]

I am leaving later today on a hiking trip. If the announcements arrive before I head to the airport, I will update the schedule in the OP. Otherwise, it will have to wait until I get back in five days. Just an FYI in case the OP goes a bit without the usual prompt update.

EDIT: Never mind. They were announced an hour before I need to hit the door. OP updated.