Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[Brad1963]

I would not rule out a "archive collection" type of sales in the future. It is an easier way to distribute titles without being stuck with a large inventory of titles that aren't moving. It seems like a logical way for studios to keep collectors who want physical product happy.

[Deathdrone]

The line about having access to the Cannon Films library really caught my attention.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by madmojo

Actually, I was just saying it was sad because studios don't really care about their titles anymore. I know it's a money thing, but I'm a consumer. I could care less about the business end of things. I'm glad we have Twilight Time, Criterion, Shout/Scream Factory. I hope more labels spring up like them, and I hope over time the ones not allowed/don't do special features start to do them. The studios obviously don't like special features, as stated in the interview. I love them. I like learning how a film was put together and its troubles. I'm sad consumers don't think older movies are worth owning (most of my friends just use Netflix for older titles now) or preserving. I hope one day Twilight Time grows enough to do special features. Criterion and Shout already do that quite well. I kind of hope Olive goes away though, as they charge about as much as TT, but don't offer any special features usually, and I'm not a fan of their transfers either.

I should just let this go, but I can't.....Where to begin!

Not a fan of the transfers? Olive takes the transfers they are given, same as TT. And the vast majority of them are wonderful, depending on how much restoration and archival care was put into them by the studios. The Quiet Man, High Noon, just to name two. Think TT could have done better? They would have released the same thing had they gotten them instead of Olive.

Olive has also kicked the door open on the Republic catalog. Holy mother of the video gods, after years of neglect on DVD, we are being treated to some of the best classic treasures to ever enter our homes and players. Olive continues to kick the door in with some deep catalog Paramount and foreign titles, too, some of which never saw a release on DVD.

Yes, they deserve criticism for a lack of subtitles. But so does TT, which has released many Fox films without subtitles. They came that way from the studio, unlike Sony titles, which have them. Both companies deserve the ire of the hard of hearing.

In my opinion, Olive is the best thing to happen to home video since Criterion. But you know what I like best about Olive? Not limited to 3000 for 3 years. You can get The Quiet Man right now. Or a year from now. Those Sinbad movies coming in December? Had they gone to Olive (or Shout, or Cohen, or anyone else) you would get the same transfer and you would not have to worry about them all being gone in a few days and unavailable except for ebay scalpers or a nice long three year wait for a hopeful rerelease after the rights revert back to Sony.

So to hope Olive goes away, because you don't like their transfers, or you like special features and they don't create their own for their releases, is just a head scratcher of a statement to me. I like special features too, if they are available, but I will gladly take a catalog title I want without them, and not wish doom to the company releasing it in a very fine presentation.

[madmojo]

^Twas my opinion. Nothing more, nothing less. You won't change it, and I stick by it. Sorry, but that's how things are.


The only reason I wish Olive to be gone is so another company could get those films and release them at least with friggin' theatrical trailers, if not, as is the case with a few of these, put the supplements that were on the DVD on the blu-rays (I'm thinking of Monster Squad and Invasion of the Bodysnatchers specifically). At least Twilight Time does do that.

[madmojo]

I should also add that Twilight Time at least has a collectable quality to it. I can say I own a limited edition with an isolated score on the blu-ray if I ever want background music while working on my computer or something.

I know you're a fan of Olive, but I just can't bring myself to buy much of their stuff. To date I only own 1900, and I bought that used. It did come with a career retrospective on a dvd, which is what made me buy it. Olive has released a few films that I would like such as Invasion of the Bodysnatchers, Tales That Witness Madness, Macbeth, The Magic Christian, some of their noirs... But their price point is too high for it not being a collectable and having zero special features (I know some have new commentary tracks, though). Is there a reason they don't get even the trailers from these studios? Even a trailer would push me towards supporting them a bit more. I'm sure I'd love the company if I were into 1940s westerns, but besides a few of them I'm not, sadly. I've tried, but they're just too... clean for me I guess. I'd buy The Gunfighter starring Gregory Peck even if Olive released it barebones, though. Sadly, I don't think any company would release it.

[Dex Robinson]

Originally Posted by madmojo

The only reason I wish Olive to be gone is so another company could get those films and release them at least with friggin' theatrical trailers...

Seriously?

You honestly believe that if Olive went away, another company would release films like CHINA GATE, INNOCENT BYSTANDERS, MY SON JOHN, SHANKS, TAXI FOR TOBRUK, THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, THE MAGIC CHRISTIAN, THE RED MENACE, THE SPIRIT IS WILLING, WHERE LOVE HAS GONE...or dozens of other titles?

I can't understand how, after all these years, people still believe that companies are lining up to release these small titles and that if "Company X" doesn't do it then "Company Y" will jump at the chance. Have we learned nothing?

If Olive goes away so do their Blu-rays. Probably not one title in ten would be attractive to another company.

We need every independent releasing company.

[Hartley]

So "The Lady From Shanghai" got a 4K restoration!

http://www.wellesnet.com/?p=7494

Would make a great candidate for Twilight Time it seems. I can't imagine Sony releasing it themselves, they seem to be pretty much done with catalog titles.

[klauswhereareyou]

Originally Posted by Hartley

So "The Lady From Shanghai" got a 4K restoration!

http://www.wellesnet.com/?p=7494

Would make a great candidate for Twilight Time it seems. I can't imagine Sony releasing it themselves, they seem to be pretty much done with catalog titles.

And the funny thing would be if there were any new features for a TT disc of The Lady From Shanghai, it would be an isolated score, which Welles hated the score thrown on the film by Columbia.

I'd much rather see a Criterion for that one personally.

[Akijama]

Originally Posted by Hartley

So "The Lady From Shanghai" got a 4K restoration!

http://www.wellesnet.com/?p=7494

Would make a great candidate for Twilight Time it seems. I can't imagine Sony releasing it themselves, they seem to be pretty much done with catalog titles.

Nuh. It has Criterion written all over it

[klauswhereareyou]

Originally Posted by Akijama

Nuh. It has Criterion written all over it

Let's hope so. I'd like some new features since what's on the DVD was produced in the late 90's. And if the only new feature was an isolated score that Welles' despised, well that's just like crapping on his grave and charging 29.99 for it, limited to 3,000 copies.

[Hartley]

Ooo, fantastic! You certainly won't hear any complaints from me if it ends up with Criterion! Agree, the isolated score would be an odd feature for this release. I'm sure Criterion could come up with much more appropriate bonus features. Definitely have my fingers crossed for that now!

[JoeDeM]

Originally Posted by Dex Robinson

Seriously?

You honestly believe that if Olive went away, another company would release films like CHINA GATE, INNOCENT BYSTANDERS, MY SON JOHN, SHANKS, TAXI FOR TOBRUK, THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, THE MAGIC CHRISTIAN, THE RED MENACE, THE SPIRIT IS WILLING, WHERE LOVE HAS GONE...or dozens of other titles?

I can't understand how, after all these years, people still believe that companies are lining up to release these small titles and that if "Company X" doesn't do it then "Company Y" will jump at the chance. Have we learned nothing?

If Olive goes away so do their Blu-rays. Probably not one title in ten would be attractive to another company.

We need every independent releasing company.

I agree, I just love that Olive pumps out all these titles, some of which have never been released before on any format, and as has been stated they cost much less than TT releases. Don't get me wrong I own quite a few TT releases, I don't care who releases what as long as it's being released.

[klauswhereareyou]

Originally Posted by JoeDeM

I agree, I just love that Olive pumps out all these titles, some of which have never been released before on any format, and as has been stated they cost much less than TT releases. Don't get me wrong I own quite a few TT releases, I don't care who releases what as long as it's being released.

I agree. I think sometimes we get too many label sycophants and fanboys on here that I think it's more a, "hey I'm on team blah blah blah" instead of thank goodness Johnny Guitar is finally making it out thanks to Olive even though there are zero extras, or hey if I don't preorder the Twilight Time Body Double I won't get a copy but at least if I do I'll get to own it in HD...etc...

[spawningblue]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Olive Film titles can be purchased for $16, Criterion's can be had for $20 during certain times of the year ($15 for Criterion titles with limited extra features), Shout Collector Editions can also be purchased for around $16. However, TT's go for $35 after shipping for a barebones release. Not sure how they cost the same? T.T. does nothing to their titles as far as working on the transfers. There's a lot of Kool Aid and fluff that gets spread around like cold butter on warm bread. For example, "special teams" work on transfers that somehow only TT will have access to but "overseas labels would get other inferior masters".

The 3,000 limited edition model is not the optimal way to proceed...which includes imposing this on customers even when there's no reason to. They even admitted that The Disappearance was obtained from some company in the UK, but still they have it as a 3,000 limited edition title?! There are many who would want to purchase Fright Night but can't. I'll the approach used by Olive, Shout and Criterion over what TT does.

If they release something I want, I'll buy it...that's all. I like the rest of you gents are customers and as such we should be able to post our honest opinion. It just seems that some of TT's hardcore advocates (I am not referring to you ) will take objection to anything that is remotely negative.

Right now Arrow is slating for release The Fury which will be a Collector's Edition stacked with extras and will have a new transfer. $22 shipped from Amazon and none of that its "selling out quick" nonsense.

This. Where has this nonsense that Olive prices are the same as Twilight come from? They are at the most $10 less than Twilight titles, and if you buy them from companies like ImportCDs you can get them for like $14. Twilight time you can only buy from two sites, and no matter where you buy them from they are $30 + $5 Shipping US, $8 in Canada (Which if you choose this option they won't replace your discs if you never receive them, you have to pay $35 Shipping for that, for one disc!).

As for extras, Twilight Time only started to include extras, before they just use to include Isolated Score and a Trailer. Even now they still leave off extras from the DVDs. Olive does as well, but Olive has also created a lot of new extras for discs that never had them on DVD. Twilight doesn't create any new extras.

The worst thing about Twilight though isn't the price or lack of extras, it's the fact that they are limited, and they force you to buy their discs right away if you want to guarantee a copy, even before reviews start coming out (Which screwed a lot of people on Night '90). If you don't, then look on eBay and be willing to pay triple the costs. I know, this isn't the case with all of their titles, but it's still a huge annoyance, and happens with all of their horror titles. They said in the interview that the 3000 number has nothing to do with licensing fees, it's just a number they feel comfortable with. If that's the case, then why not release 6000 for their horror titles which have all sold out, some in less then a day or two? If I don't have the money at the time, or would rather put my money towards another title at the time, guess what, it's too bad, I have to buy their title now or risk not getting it for another three years, if ever. That to me is a dick movie however you want to look at it. Especially because they don't put limits on their titles until they are down to under 500. They say not that many copies are bought by scalpers, but before the movie is even released there are hundreds of sold copies on eBay for double and triple the cost.

And yes, they seem sincere in this interview, but they have made many comments on Facebook that were rude and insulting to their fans.

Anyways, rant over. I will continue to purchase their titles because I have no choice if I want to see titles like Fright Night, Christine, Driver, ect. on Blu-ray, but it doesn't mean I have to happy about it, or praise them for that matter. If Twilight didn't release them, someone else would, whether it be Olive, Shout, Criterion, Scorpion, Synapse, ect., at least for the titles I'm interested in. For the niche/ obscure titles that don't sell out for years, then releasing them barebones limited to 3000 is a little easier to stomach, though it would still be nice if they were sold through Amazon.com and .ca, so I could at least get free Shipping, not to mention not have to worry about the discs not showing up (Without paying their ridiculous $35 insurance fee!).

[madmojo]

Love how everyone seems to think I'm a Twilight Time fanboy. I own like 5 of their releases. I only buy what I know I'll like from them. With Olive, they just don't have films that I want as much as Twilight Time does. I've found two titles out of all of their releases that I 'must' have, and I already own one. (1900) And I don't think the other title is worth more that 13 bucks. (Tales That Witness Madness) Jeez. Talk about fanboys.

All this over an offhand comment about wishing Olive would go away. Look. I said that because I wish some other company that would charge less (like Legend Films does) would release it.

[jetthead]

Originally Posted by Dex Robinson

Seriously?

You honestly believe that if Olive went away, another company would release films like CHINA GATE, INNOCENT BYSTANDERS, MY SON JOHN, SHANKS, TAXI FOR TOBRUK, THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, THE MAGIC CHRISTIAN, THE RED MENACE, THE SPIRIT IS WILLING, WHERE LOVE HAS GONE...or dozens of other titles?

I can't understand how, after all these years, people still believe that companies are lining up to release these small titles and that if "Company X" doesn't do it then "Company Y" will jump at the chance. Have we learned nothing?

If Olive goes away so do their Blu-rays. Probably not one title in ten would be attractive to another company.

We need every independent releasing company.

QFT!

[baheidstu]

I like the Twilight Time releases that I have, they've put out a few "must-haves" for me such as Driver and the Flints and there are so many aspects of their company that I like, but the beefs that people have with them are legit.

The 3000 limit is a frustration and if I'm reading the Redman interview correctly is entirely self-imposed (the 3000 number that is). They're pretty coy about whether or not the more popular titles will be re-released once the 3 years is up or even if they'll make the effort to re-negotiate with the studios. And while I accept the fact that if it wasn't for TT, I probably wouldn't have blus of those titles I mentioned above, I can also sympathize with how really annoyed fans of films such as Fright Night or Christine must be knowing that people who don't appreciate those films snapped up copies just to jack up the price on the secondary market and prey upon the desire of someone who really wants to own it.

Also, who's to say that if TT hadn't released a film like the Big Heat that Criterion wouldn't have come along by now and licenced it themselves? That was one title I would have like to have had but by the time I realized that TT even existed and how their business model worked, I just missed out on getting it. Now I know for certain that come hell or high water the Big Heat will NOT be released in any way shape or form on blu ray in any reasonably priced form for at least two years.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by madmojo

^Twas my opinion. Nothing more, nothing less. You won't change it, and I stick by it. Sorry, but that's how things are.


The only reason I wish Olive to be gone is so another company could get those films and release them at least with friggin' theatrical trailers, if not, as is the case with a few of these, put the supplements that were on the DVD on the blu-rays (I'm thinking of Monster Squad and Invasion of the Bodysnatchers specifically). At least Twilight Time does do that.

This is not how things are.

You are entitled to your opinion, but you are not entitled to have your own facts.

Here are some of them:

1. Olive Films do no charge "about as much as TT". One company's titles I could get on any given day for about as low as 15-16$, the other chargers 35+$.

2. Olive Films have brought films to Blu-ray that were never released on DVD in the U.S. This is appreciated by consumers - like me.

3. Consumers do care about catalog titles. You are fed PR BS to believe otherwise, but if the opposite was true, you would not be seeing this massive explosion of catalog releases on the market. And another fact: Olive Films is a major part of it.

4. Subtitles. Yes, I've said it many times - they should be a standard feature on all Blu-rays. But I personally do not mind paying 15-16$ for a title without them. I do have a huge problem paying 35$+ for a title that does not have them and uses a recycled transfer.

5. Limited Edition. Locking titles in a monopolistic deal does not mean that you have a Limited Edition. I don't mind paying top dollar for such a release - but only when the quality, care, and attention is there.

This is a Limited Edition, with a stamped and numbered certificate (!!), and I was happy to pay a lot more than 35$...for a DVD release. In fact, I've done it many times.






Pro-B

[UFOX]

Funny to see and hear the magic words "limited to 3000".
Ok,3000 is not much for a classic movie like Fright Night or Body Double and they are known to sell out in a couple of hours or day's.

What if they only put on the cover "limited edition",will it sell as fast?
Don't think so.
Somehow limited to 3000 or 4000 is like magic words,get them now or they are go forever.
I buy what I like because I am a collector,and sometimes it cost a little more than the average blu-ray.

[Brad1963]

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