Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[Rory]

I never knew NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD '90 has so many fans. I thought it was generally regarded as much inferior to the original, and I personally thought it stunk like a rotting corpse, but then I don't understand much of what's popular these days. Even the original FRIGHT NIGHT is pretty cheesy, so go figure.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Rory

I never knew NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD '90 has so many fans. I thought it was generally regarded as much inferior to the original, and I personally thought it stunk like a rotting corpse, but then I don't understand much of what's popular these days. Even the original FRIGHT NIGHT is pretty cheesy, so go figure.

I like it just as much as the original. I would gladly buy the original if it ever receives a proper release that doesn't cost a fortune.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

...way too low for some of these titles rdodolak. For example, my wish list is showing 203 remaining for The Big Heat, and 297 for Rapture, which we know can't be true, otherwise SAE would have already sent out "less than 500 remaining" e-mails days or weeks ago.

So we still have the problem whitesheik has mentioned several times here: there's just no way to know what figure these counts started at...3000?...2000?...or only 1000? Not all TT titles are currently in SAE's stock - some haven't even been produced yet.

For pre-orders the cart shows an accurate count...like we already established.

• post-80s fans - hate the price, hate the limited release model, have little or no curiosity about anything never seen, demand only original poster art for the covers and will make their own if they have to
• pre-70s fans - no feeling either way about the price, it's fair for the quality, support a limited release model if it means getting more vault titles that won't see a release any other way, willing to roll the dice on previously unseen vintage titles out of basic film history curiosity, actually still read, thus appreciate the informed liner notes, love the snappy interpretive covers and are fine with the poster being reproduced on the last page of the insert

Do you honestly believe that those assumptions are true? Where is the data/research to support that?

[popeflick]

Originally Posted by Page14

That's an interesting breakdown.

I would fit into the latter category except for one thing ... I do have a feeling about the price.

I first became aware of TT with my wanting of Mysterious Island. I never thought I would pay that much for a bare bones release, but when I came to the realization that it was either pay the price or possibly never ever see the movie on bluray, I opened my wallet. Then along came a few other all-time favorites, so again thinking that I might not ever see them on bluray, I paid the price. I have no regrets!

There are several unseen TT titles I would like to explore, but I hesitate buying them for a couple of reasons ... one is the price and the other is finding the time to watch them. (I'm reminded of the small stack of Criterion titles I recently bought [9 or 10] ... some previously seen films and some not. I've only watched 2 of them so far. I'm not sure that I want to keep buying pricey [to me] blurays if I have trouble finding the time to watch them. But yet, I love the movies and want them. Ugh! ... a conundrum). Just my story.

I feel like I've learned a lot reading this thread ... about TT as a company and how/why they operate the way they do. And also about the rare, wonderful films out there that I never had a clue about before.

I think Rock is on to something. I'm in the (barely) over 40 category and was certainly enjoying getting many blus of films I've loved for under 20 and most often around 10 bucks.

Mysterious Island was a childhood favorite of mine and when it came up it was what got me to bite on a premium price (I'd usually wait out Criterions for sales). After thrilling to it one evening, I certainly felt it was more than worth the price, in part because of some of the scratch I used to spend on laserdiscs.

So in the end, with my past buying habits, TT qualifies as a bad part of my film habit, but I'll wrap my arm up and mainline those old films anytime. Big deal on the 30 dollar price tag, it gets evened out in my mind with the Alien set being had for the same price. I see it as 5 movies for 60 bucks when it all comes down to it. And that's good lovin'.

[Dex Robinson]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Do you honestly believe that those assumptions are true? Where is the data/research to support that?

?

It's casual banter on a movie forum.

I don't believe ROclockCK was submitting it for peer review as his doctoral thesis.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by Dex Robinson

Of course, in the non-Twilight Time arena, I purchased CHESTY MORGAN'S BOSOM BUDDIES and just ordered Cocteau's 1946 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST from Criterion .

Yeah, this point gets lost here sometimes Dex. Like you, I haven't been buying only TT's catalogue Blu-rays. Other labels have been doing some very good catalogue work too, and at a noticeably accelerated pace since mid-year. They all have their areas of strength...with Olive, it's been the '40s Noirs...with Shout/Scream Factory, it's been '70s/'80s horror...with KINO, it's been those '30s Eastman archives restorations plus Redemption horror...with VCI, it's been vintage Rank titles...with Eureka it's been good for a handful of all-region Technicolor and 'Scope titles that have fallen through the cracks elsewhere*. Heck, now Fox itself has even announced an expanded catalogue line-up for '13.

How long any of this niche collector-targeted product will remain widely or (relatively) cheaply available is the big unknown at this point, but we do *seem* to have rounded a bend this year. Last month, my big box retail expenditure was less than $40 bucks...whereas online, over $300. What's changed is not only more and better catalogue product, but different avenues to it.

* I noticed you have Eureka's Paranoiac on order. That one is indeed a treat, with an outstanding '60s B&W 'Scope transfer. BTW, another Eureka title I would recommend is the Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. Also a lot of fun, and not bad Technicolor vid specs.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by popeflick

I think Rock is on to something. I'm in the (barely) over 40 category and was certainly enjoying getting many blus of films I've loved for under 20 and most often around 10 bucks.

Mysterious Island was a childhood favorite of mine and when it came up it was what got me to bite on a premium price (I'd usually wait out Criterions for sales). After thrilling to it one evening, I certainly felt it was more than worth the price, in part because of some of the scratch I used to spend on laserdiscs.

So in the end, with my past buying habits, TT qualifies as a bad part of my film habit, but I'll wrap my arm up and mainline those old films anytime. Big deal on the 30 dollar price tag, it gets evened out in my mind with the Alien set being had for the same price. I see it as 5 movies for 60 bucks when it all comes down to it. And that's good lovin'.

I can relate and agree with this ... FWIW.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by Dex Robinson

?

It's casual banter on a movie forum.

I don't believe ROclockCK was submitting it for peer review as his doctoral thesis.

Indeed Dex. Enough said.

[SpartanIre]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

[Show spoiler]When I see fascinating time capsule oddities like The Wayward Bus, or High Time, or Swamp Water, or Rapture finally coming out of the vault 30 years after the introduction of home video, it's indeed tantalizing oildude...the film arcana geek in me naturally craves more. Yet I recognize the commercial reasons why much of this stuff has remained locked away so long, and why some of it might never see the light of day. My guess is TT is performing the equivalent of battlefield 'triage', rescuing the most interesting titles, in the best shape, that still have enough life in them to justify a 3000 unit run.

Well, it's clear from the level of discourse on this very board (as well as the resulting friction at times) that there are two, very distinct Twilight Time audiences with seemingly little overlap:

• [Show spoiler]
• post-80s fans - hate the price, hate the limited release model, have little or no curiosity about anything never seen, demand only original poster art for the covers and will make their own if they have to
• pre-70s fans - no feeling either way about the price, it's fair for the quality, support a limited release model if it means getting more vault titles that won't see a release any other way, willing to roll the dice on previously unseen vintage titles out of basic film history curiosity, actually still read, thus appreciate the informed liner notes, love the snappy interpretive covers and are fine with the poster being reproduced on the last page of the insert

[Show spoiler]Regardless whether they expand their release schedule, I don't see how there can ever be any homogeneity here...TT's polar demographic range would give any marketer recurring nightmares...with or without zombies.

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

For pre-orders the cart shows an accurate count...like we already established.

Do you honestly believe that those assumptions are true? Where is the data/research to support that?

Merely observation... And while following the TT film threads I would have to agree with ROCK's assessment.

[popeflick]

Originally Posted by SpartanIre

[/SPOILER]



Merely observation... And while following the TT film threads I would have to agree with ROCK's assessment.

It WOULD be fair to say that the age thing might be explained as the amount of disposable income difference would also effect buying habits. That is to say I'd be willing to bet the average 45 year old has more to spend on stuff like this (and thus feels the impact less) than the average 25 year old.

[Torrente]

Originally Posted by CinemaScope

As I understand it Fox did two HD versions, I don't know why they did it twice, probably a mistake. The second is the best & that's what Twilight Time used. The first go is OK, I have the Spanish DVD, which I think is a down convert from the first try, & it looks like the Scandinavian Blu is also from the first try (as I say, nothing wrong with it). I don't know about the French version (very nice cover), but with French releases beware of forced subs!

EDIT. I see the French BD is being released by Sidonis, & I'm sure they have forced subs on all their other Fox releases.

The first things I read about this french release were not that good especially about PQ.
Since the US edition is great on that matter, I assume the french edition didn't use the same master or that they did a more intrusive job on the PQ.

Plus I don't trust Sidonis for doing a good job. They have a heavy history here in France about sloppy editions.
And when you compare their french editions of Boetticher movies to the US Sony releases, everything is said...

[Torrente]

And what about this category?

• All-time movie lovers - Would prefer to be richer and be able to see and buy all the movies that humans and extra-terrestrial life forms make in the Universe, for the cheapest $$$ possible. Enjoy the work of all the tiny independant editors around the globe by buying their releases. Think that they have the right to complain when they're not satisfied but still love them all the way. Trully believe that no movies are completly bad and always find at least a scene, a dialog or an idea to love in each of them. Would like to get always more from those editors and would like TT to produce more bonus materials and SDH subtitles on all their releases. Pre-order Fright Night and NOTLD but also more obscure movies such as Rapture or Swamp Water, day one they went available online.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by popeflick

It WOULD be fair to say that the age thing might be explained as the amount of disposable income difference would also effect buying habits. That is to say I'd be willing to bet the average 45 year old has more to spend on stuff like this (and thus feels the impact less) than the average 25 year old.

Valid up to a point popeflick, but I'd be the first to admit that I was always certifiably nuts about movies and home video collecting, typically spending w-a-y more than my contemporaries at any age.

Nothing has changed except I'm now buying different quantities of different stuff. These days, my Blu-ray purchases are almost exclusively catalogue titles...with very, very few recent theatrical releases. That's where the "demographic" thing comes in...to me, it's not about age, although often they do align; it's about what interests you most, hence my use of the word "fans" in those pre-70s/post-80s bullet points.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by Torrente

And what about this category?

• All-time movie lovers - Would prefer to be richer and be able to see and buy all the movies that humans and extra-terrestrial life forms make in the Universe, for the cheapest $$$ possible. Enjoy the work of all the tiny independant editors around the globe by buying their releases. Think that they have the right to complain when they're not satisfied but still love them all the way. Trully believe that no movies are completly bad and always find at least a scene, a dialog or an idea to love in each of them. Would like to get always more from those editors and would like TT to produce more bonus materials and SDH subtitles on all their releases. Pre-order Fright Night and NOTLD but also more obscure movies such as Rapture or Swamp Water, day one they went available online.

Now that's the spirit Torrente!

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by Rory

I never knew NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD '90 has so many fans. I thought it was generally regarded as much inferior to the original, and I personally thought it stunk like a rotting corpse, but then I don't understand much of what's popular these days. Even the original FRIGHT NIGHT is pretty cheesy, so go figure.

I'm genuinely curious about this one Rory because I haven't seen it since its original theatrical release. Has time been kind? Maybe...just keeping an open mind.

[Dex Robinson]

I know this isn't a "post your haul" thread but I keep a photographic database of every Blu-ray I purchase. I photograph my acquisitions in groups of 15 discs. Last week, I went over 500 Blu-rays and I have about 35 picture groupings photographed chronologically as I get the discs. This picture has a Twilight Time title (JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH) in the upper right corner. I would defy anybody to look at the other titles and define my taste in movies.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

... support a limited release model if it means getting more vault titles that won't see a release any other way,...

This is so last summer.

[CinemaScope]

Originally Posted by Torrente

The first things I read about this french release were not that good especially about PQ.
Since the US edition is great on that matter, I assume the french edition didn't use the same master or that they did a more intrusive job on the PQ.

Plus I don't trust Sidonis for doing a good job. They have a heavy history here in France about sloppy editions.
And when you compare their french editions of Boetticher movies to the US Sony releases, everything is said...

The Egyptian (Twilight Time) is the most expensive Blu I've bought (by a long way), but I'm glad I did, it looks stunning & I've loved that strange epic since I first saw it on the telly way back in the late 50's (UK).

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by octagon

This is so last summer.

So is the expression "so last <whatever>"

All teasing aside octagon, I never said that this was the only valid business model for Blu-ray...but it sure has been a lock-cracker on the Fox vault! In 30 years of home video, most of TT's deep, deep catalogue titles have not been available at all, or if so, were crudely panned and scanned on VHS-only. No one - not the studio - not another licensee - was doing this stuff. History is the only evidence I need on that point.

At the other end of the scale, you do have a point. Enemy Mine would have no doubt found another home...eventually.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by CinemaScope

The Egyptian (Twilight Time) is the most expensive Blu I've bought (by a long way), but I'm glad I did, it looks stunning & I've loved that strange epic since I first saw it on the telly way back in the late 50's (UK).

I never saw The Egyptian on film until the early '70s, and initially wasn't quite sure what to make of it (I wasn't much of an Epic or even Noir fan in those days). In the intervening years though, after its widescreen Laserdisc, and especially this Blu-ray, it's become one of my all-time faves.

You're right CinemaScope, it does have a "strange" hard-to-pinpoint allure. I find its mood mesmerizing.