Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[klauswhereareyou]

Originally Posted by Akijama

I understand what you guys are saying, but the way I see it, it's an act of retaliation more than anything else. And that's kinda lame.

Just my cent, of course

Kind of like not giving out screeners because you don't like the fact that some site actually allows it's readers to give feedback that's within reason.

[tama]

I wouldn't go the non-sticky route as I believe Blu-ray.com to be above that. Why punish potential readers further? Because that's all that TT decision does is keeping review of there products from a mass audience. It surely doesn't punish it's critics. This site generates a lot of traffic. And not everyone that browses this site and it's reviews post in the forums.

They can try to channel readership to another site all they want so all its 7 viewers can read there reviews so I say let them.

[ditcin]

Originally Posted by tama

I felt The Fury received an appropriate rating especially in the PQ department. I've disagreed more times then not with JMKs reviews however I never felt he was a shill. And at least with TT titles felt he was in an area of honesty and fairness with his reviews.

I won't mention another site as I'm sure people will know which site I'm referring to but I don't take stock in reviewers who praise disc such as Sword in The Stone and Earrings of Madame De... as having top notch film like transfers. That being said I also steer clear of places that are no better then political pundits these days creating echo chambers of like minded praise while vilifying those with opposing views. I appreciate that this community here allows for open discussion of the products being released whether you agree or not.

Once again TT, its owners, and over apologetic following show there thin skinned nature towards any disagreement or criticism with there products or business practices.

I very much agree with you about reviewers. Most reviews are nothing more than a summery of the film. Quality is extremely subjective and can be slanted due to viewing in various hardware - both video and audio - and then of course monitor. I've also realized too many of the wrong people are just butting in and speaking their unfounded opinions. The inter net has ruined validly. Everyone is writer. It doesn't work that way. Their bios read what they own but not their experience. Education doesn't real fall into being a reason for reviewing either. Really, it depends on what the person knows in terms of history - product, film and studio to completely understand why and how a given release may have turned out the way is did.
I had my own site back a few years and ran it for almost 8 years. I was a consultant for all the major and as well as minor studios/companies for years through various formats (starting with beta/VHS)
I was kicked off the list of receiving product for testing by both WB and Disney simply because I didn't succumb to lying or overlooking terrible release due to bad transfers or mistakes made within the companies resulting in mix-ups, careless errors, or defects. I even contacted the companies first to alert them prior to posting my reviews to aid them in fixes so I would have to write negative reviews.
I completely understand TTs stance. They have licensed product with a very limited say in the master they receive. I would think the blame is all with the studios. First if the studio really cared about these titles they would have released them themselves. The master only needs to be good enough for cable cast. That's what's sharing the expense of the production - selling it to cable and then revenue from a limited release via TT. There is no production, distribution, or publicity cost for the studio - it's all taken care of and the responsibly of TT. So really, revenue procured is gravy probably covering the cost of the master so then selling it to cable is in essence free little or know investment.
These films are sacrifices for the studios who have given the green light to current films that are theatrical bombs and have to make it up with a last hurrah on home video; while classics, and films with true following die or are presented in half-way do to lack of funds. It a shame but that's the way things are.
- Scott B

[cavesailor]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

This is extremely childish and self-destructive behavior on their part, and will only hurt their bottom line in the long run. This (as far as I can tell) is the most popular Blu-ray review site/forum online, so they are just damaging themselves - numerous potential customers who may be considering purchases now will likely be far more reluctant to do so without access to an on-site review.

I agree with this. I too only found out about them from this web site. I have bought several of their movies and have never complained about their company. I also did not like the repeated complaints about their business model in this forum, but I understand that this is typical of all forums. This is a free speech issue. For them to take this action is more than childish. It is disrespectful of their patrons as well.

I am in favor of destickying them, and I will not buy another Blu-ray from them until they change their policy.

[lilboyblu]

Originally Posted by HyperRealist

well the sold out ones will be more expensive but it will be a better deal than ebay. All the ones that had magnets will have them.

Okay, okay...I see your point.

Really though, this whole ploy of theirs is a ridiculous thing. People have the resources to find the best and want the best. If TT were to make the best consistently, then there wouldn't be any issue for people to complain about. Take a page from the Criterion, Arrow, and Scream Factory books of better business. When you release what is essentially garbage in comparison and charge a premium price on top of it, people are going to b!tch. I own several TT releases already too because there aren't/weren't other versions available at the time, but in the instances where I can find the same with better quality and/or at a more affordable price someplace else, like most other consumers, I go someplace else.

[captveg]

And here I thought people bought blu-rays because they liked the movies. Silly me.

Sent from my VS920 4G using Tapatalk now Free

[Rory]

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

Kind of blows because I was considering getting Drums Along the Mohawk, but was waiting for a Blu-ray.com review with screen caps. I guess I can save the 29.99, plus whatever else I may have spent.

Well, I don't expect you to take my word for it, but I think DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK looks fantastic on the TT BD. I doubt it was scanned from the original camera negatives (I think Fox threw them away back in the '70s), but it almost looks as if it had. The color has a more modern look to it than I think a 1939 Technicolor print would have had, but it still looks great. I really doubt you'd be disappointed if you got this BD.

[retablo]

Good for Nick. He's a super nice guy running a blu-ray label out of essentially his garage, and all people seem to do is complain. His business model is his business model, like it or not. But constantly berating TT over and over for the same exact things that aren't going to change serves no purpose (or, more accurately, serves this purpose), and is a testament to the current society's willingness and ability to focus on the negative and beat a dead horse into oblivion. Certain people at major studios have stopped listening to forums because nothing they ever do is "right" either, so add another one to the pile. Pretty soon, fans won't have a "voice" at all.

[cavesailor]

Originally Posted by captveg

And here I thought people bought blu-rays because they liked the movies. Silly me.

Sent from my VS920 4G using Tapatalk now Free

I do buy blu-rays because I like the movies, but I will not help a vindictive person make a profit when he disrespects me so much, even if it means I may never get a copy of a movie I really like.

There is a time to speak out and say when something is wrong and this is the time. I do not twitter, Facebook, or any other socail media except this forum. If I did I certainly would express my feelings about TT's action

[klauswhereareyou]

Originally Posted by Rory

Well, I don't expect you to take my word for it, but I think DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK looks fantastic on the TT BD. I doubt it was scanned from the original camera negatives (I think Fox threw them away back in the '70s), but it almost looks as if it had. The color has a more modern look to it than I think a 1939 Technicolor print would have had, but it still looks great. I really doubt you'd be disappointed if you got this BD.

Thanks. Believe me I'm not some kind of stuck up psychotic dipstick that doesn't trust what people on here have to say. If I do decide to get another title from TT, I may include Drums Along the Mohawk with my order, but as of now the only thing I was planning on buying from SAE was a CD that's suppossed to go up next week from the label Intrada (Salem's Lot), but instead of getting a movie that I'm not quite sure about from a should I actually buy this because I may not watch it more then once or twice, I'm just going to go directly through Intrada since their shipping is less and there is another title that they have that is going to be discontinued soon (Black Sabbath by Les Baxter).

[Seymour]

Originally Posted by cavesailor

There is a time to speak out and say when something is wrong and this is the time. I do not twitter, Facebook, or any other socail media except this forum. If I did I certainly would express my feelings about TT's action

Kinda takin' it personally, no? This isn't the only site that reviews blu-rays, and JMK pointed out that they'll still review them on this site when possible.

[klauswhereareyou]

Kind of makes me wonder if the upcoming crop of Twilight Time UA/MGM stuff may have lackluster transfers...no?

[Braktastic]

This is a punk move by TT, but I'm not surprised. In the end, it doesn't affect me much because any film I am going to pay their exorbitant price to purchase is most likely one I am going to have to pre-order site unseen in order to ensure it doesn't sell out.

[bluknight1]

I'm in favor of unstickying the thread. Redman did not act professionally on this. I don't care if "it's his model" or whatever. A good business acknowleges criticism to improve it's offers to the consumer. Redman has failed to do that in this case.

[cavesailor]

Originally Posted by Seymour

Kinda takin' it personally, no? This isn't the only site that reviews blu-rays, and JMK pointed out that they'll still review them on this site when possible.

I think everyone that posts in this forum should take it pesonally. It is this one man's reson for not sending out the reveiw copy. I have not been afraid of telling a judge in court his actions were vindictive, and I will do so now. As I have posted before, I don't agree with many of the reveiws, but to say that because someone badmouthed me in a forum, I am going to treat this site different than others is the height of childish vindictivness.

[Braktastic]

If I were Blu-ray.com, I would unsticky this thread, delete all TT entries from your database, and never publish another one of their press releases again, but I'm a vindictive SOB myself.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by bluknight1

I'm in favor of unstickying the thread. Redman did not act professionally on this. I don't care if "it's his model" or whatever. A good business acknowleges criticism to improve it's offers to the consumer. Redman has failed to do that in this case.

Theres NOTHING to improve, and nothing else to offer. He can't change the fact that he produces only 3000 copies. That's the licensing contract. It's not "criticism" when people just complain about the deals that were made. NOTLD, yes. But again, TT didn't do the transfer, so that's on Sony.

[HyperRealist]

He shit on the site that made him. They wouldn't have most of their sales without Blu-ray.com. Remember that huge write up they did on The Egyptian when they first came out?

[klauswhereareyou]

Originally Posted by Braktastic

This is a punk move by TT, but I'm not surprised. In the end, it doesn't affect me much because any film I am going to pay their exorbitant price to purchase is most likely one I am going to have to pre-order site unseen in order to ensure it doesn't sell out.

The only three titles I bought this way were Christine, Body Double, and The Fury. Of course it ended up that I didn't have to buy The Fury solely as a preorder since it was still available for a while. I thought Christine and Body Double looked excellent, and The Fury not so much. Kind of wished I didn't buy The Fury TT disc since it appears the Arrow one has an improved transfer, and all the extras TT had and more. That's the only time that I've been disappointed in a TT disc though. I've also got Major Dundee, Hard Times, and The Driver and think those all look excellent too.

[HyperRealist]

Look what Blu-ray.com did for Twilight Time. One of many.
https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=6811