Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[u_uu6]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

The point of things like eco cases is they use less plastic to make and subsequently weight less, which uses less fuel to ship. Which costs less money. Basically what you might call "Conservation" of resources.

I'm not sure where your disconnect between words and their meanings is rooted, but I'll assume if they were called "Conservative Cases" you would love them.

And just to throw this out there, in my statistically insignificant personal experience, I have had more broken Criterion cases than broken eco cases. Just sayin'.

you have to a polotician because that was a load of false facts and pure lies.

they do not use less platsic to make, they use the same amount as regular cases, then the cut out the swiss cheese area by a press.

they cost the exact same to ship, cause after the wight is figures, does not make them light enough to qualify for cheaper shipping.

they cause more cover art damage the eco cases do - and crterions break more often, cause there is more surface area !! just sayin.... FACTS

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by u_uu6

you have to a polotician because that was a load of false facts and pure lies.

they do not use less platsic to make, they use the same amount as regular cases, then the cut out the swiss cheese area by a press.

they cost the exact same to ship, cause after the wight is figures, does not make them light enough to qualify for cheaper shipping.

they cause more cover art damage the eco cases do - and crterions break more often, cause there is more surface area !! just sayin.... FACTS

Well said.

[Roy_Batty]

I just hope after spending 42 bucks Canadian on Zulu, I'm not going to get stuck with a ****ing Eco-Case!

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I emailed Screen Archives Entertainment when my copy of The Driver arrived all beaten and torn up to the extent that I could not overlook the damage. They quickly mailed me a replacement Blu-ray case and sleeve.

Since then, I've included instructions in my order for them to ship my discs in a box to minimize damage.

I emailed SAE about my damaged Titus Blu-ray and this was the response I received. Apparently they want me to wait until I place another order. It's not like they aren't making money off of the S&H charges and even if they didn't it's the principal of the matter.

Originally Posted by SAE

Just request a replacement in your next order with us and the shipping department will include it

SAE used the USPS First-class Package Service at the Commercial Base pricing according to the shipping label and the packaged weighed 3 oz. ($1.25). The item was shipped in a U-Line S-1285 #0 bubble envelope ($0.20) plus shipping label ($0.15). Before labor, supplies would have cost no more than $1.60 which leaves $2.75 for labor and any other costs based on their $4.35 shipping fee for one item.

[danmovie]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

I think people would be surprised how many people switch out all eco cases; I know I do. I bought a large supply of "real" original Vortex and Elite cases when it became clear the direction the studios were going, and I still have not run out. Discmakers could make a fortune if they would just keep making a supply of thick, original Elite cases to sell to collectors, but they are too stupid to realize it. The "real" Elite cases have slowly gotten thinner and thinner to the point that it's pointless to even order the ones without holes in them anymore, as they are barely any better. The cases Olive uses--that I used to hate--are now actually better than the elite current Elite cases. the whole saga has just been a pathetic joke on the consumer imo, and still pisses me off beyond belief.

Yes, I know what you mean about replacement cases getting thinner. I ordered some 3 disc cases from Discmakers about 9 months ago and they definitely felt lighter than older 3 disc cases that I had. I put them on a mailing scale and the grams were significantly less (I can't find the exact numbers right now).

Does anyone know if the thicker Elite cases are available anywhere?

[oildude]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

I emailed SAE about my damaged Titus Blu-ray and this was the response I received. Apparently they want me to wait until I place another order. It's not like they aren't making money off of the S&H charges and even if they didn't it's the principal of the matter.

This is how they deal with small stuff.....broken or cracked cases, torn cover art, missing magnets, etc. They will replace it on your next order; I have complied with this request several times myself. They included the item in my next order without a problem, I just reminded them in the "request" box on the order page. It's really not a big deal. And it is a request....if you want it now, then call or email them that "next order" won't be for a long time and to please send a replacement.

I accept some of their quirks because I realize they are not amazon. They have always come through on any special requests I have made, and I give them "high fives" for doing so.

[The Great Owl]

Hard Times and Man in the Dark both arrived in the mail today, and I'm impressed at the new shipping speed. As per my special request in my order, Screen Archives Entertainment shipped these Blu-rays in a box, and both of them are in immaculate condition. Hard Times is housed in the old sturdy Blu-ray case, while Man in the Dark is housed in an eco-case that I will soon be replacing.

I have a few errands tomorrow, but I'm going to try to watch both of these if I can either tomorrow or during my day off on Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day).

[neoz]

Originally Posted by danmovie

Yes, I know what you mean about replacement cases getting thinner. I ordered some 3 disc cases from Discmakers about 9 months ago and they definitely felt lighter than older 3 disc cases that I had. I put them on a mailing scale and the grams were significantly less (I can't find the exact numbers right now).

Does anyone know if the thicker Elite cases are available anywhere?

Nope, I don't think they make them anymore. All the new stuff granted while not eco is in fact thinner. I ordered a bunch when Christie came out and they were thin. Getting the old ones is next to impossible as the molds at the factory have been change to the thinner style.

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by oildude

This is how they deal with small stuff.....broken or cracked cases, torn cover art, missing magnets, etc. They will replace it on your next order; I have complied with this request several times myself. They included the item in my next order without a problem, I just reminded them in the "request" box on the order page. It's really not a big deal. And it is a request....if you want it now, then call or email them that "next order" won't be for a long time and to please send a replacement.

I accept some of their quirks because I realize they are not amazon. They have always come through on any special requests I have made, and I give them "high fives" for doing so.

Strange, when I reported that my copy of Sexy Beast was defective, they just sent a replacement disc right away, none of this waiting until the next order business. Still, I have had a few reasons to e-mail SAE now and then and I've always found Ed to be responsive and helpful. I dunno, people are always calling him grumpy but I've had no problem with him and SAE's efforts, especially seeing as they're a fairly small-man operation.

Anyhoo, I finally got around to watching my copy of Golden Voyage of Sinbad. I was getting paranoid with it getting close to sell out that if it turned out to be defective I'd be SOL in getting a replacement. But disc was perfect and the film looked great. Obviously there was a bit of varying degree of quality with all those effects shots but overall the picture looked fantastic! You could even see at the end where the "missed a spot or two" on the green makeup on the Kali worshippers. It's a shame they don't make films like this anymore, aimed at the Saturday afternoon matinee kids crowd, but man the effort that Harryhausen put into his effects work was unreal. I know sometimes those stop motion effects can have a herky-jerky motion, but the scene with Kali doing her little dance was smooth and seamless. Unreal! What a fun film, can't wait to watch Tiger now.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by baheidstu

Strange, when I reported that my copy of Sexy Beast was defective, they just sent a replacement disc right away, none of this waiting until the next order business.

A defective disc is probably something they jump right on when notified. I think the "wait until next order" applies to the little stuff...torn cover art, etc., which are the only type of issues I have had (*knocks on wood*)

[fdm]

Originally Posted by u_uu6

they cause more cover art damage the eco cases do - and crterions break more often, cause there is more surface area !! just sayin.... FACTS

Thought once upon a time I read that clear plastic is more brittle than colored plastic. Fwiw, Criterion cases do seem to be more brittle, so might be something to it.

[seagal]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Hard Times and Man in the Dark both arrived in the mail today, and I'm impressed at the new shipping speed. As per my special request in my order, Screen Archives Entertainment shipped these Blu-rays in a box, and both of them are in immaculate condition. Hard Times is housed in the old sturdy Blu-ray case, while Man in the Dark is housed in an eco-case that I will soon be replacing.

I have a few errands tomorrow, but I'm going to try to watch both of these if I can either tomorrow or during my day off on Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day).

But you can only be impressed because you´re a US citizen. I´m German and I had to wait 1 month till my "Hard Times" Blu-ray arrived

Next week I´m gonna pre-order Eastwoods "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" and I know that I have to wait very Long till I ´ll get it.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by seagal

But you can only be impressed because you´re a US citizen. I´m German and I had to wait 1 month till my "Hard Times" Blu-ray arrived

Next week I´m gonna pre-order Eastwoods "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" and I know that I have to wait very Long till I ´ll get it.

The pendulum swings both ways, my friend. Since I live in America, I had to wait a month to receive my Australian Blu-ray of Journey to the Centre of the Earth, and I'm having to wait a month to receive my Australian Blu-ray of Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat.

"It's a bittersweet symphony, this life..."
- The Verve

"Well hard times here baby, hard times everywhere I go
Lord hard times, baby, hard times everywhere I go
Now people keep cryin' 'bout hard times,
They comin' more and more."
- Eric Clapton

"Now don't it feel like you're a rider on a downbound train."
- Bruce Springsteen

"Seems so unfair
And I want to cry"
- The Smiths

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

The pendulum swings both ways, my friend. Since I live in America, I had to wait a month to receive my Australian Blu-ray of Journey to the Centre of the Earth, and I'm having to wait a month to receive my Australian Blu-ray of Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat.

It's been a long time since I've ordered DVDs from EzyDVD in Australia, but I don't recall it ever taking more than a couple of weeks. At any rate, there were at least a couple of times I ordered DVDs from cdjapan, and the package arrived within 3-4 days. I one instance, it arrived in two days. Two days from Japan to Boston! Now that really was a fluke.

I recently ordered a Blu-ray from Amazon UK (and actually sent, according to the package, by Amazon FR) and it took 10 days. It was a Region A/B release of Richard Lester's The Three Musketeers and The Four Musketeers.

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by oildude

This is how they deal with small stuff.....broken or cracked cases, torn cover art, missing magnets, etc. They will replace it on your next order; I have complied with this request several times myself. They included the item in my next order without a problem, I just reminded them in the "request" box on the order page. It's really not a big deal. And it is a request....if you want it now, then call or email them that "next order" won't be for a long time and to please send a replacement.

I accept some of their quirks because I realize they are not amazon. They have always come through on any special requests I have made, and I give them "high fives" for doing so.

Thanks for the feedback. I guess I found it strange that they would send that response in the first place since an assumption is being made that the customer would be placing another order. Even if another order were to be placed who's to say it would be sometime soon. The limited edition model compounds the matter as you'd hope that they won't run out before the next order. In my case, I don't think it will be an issue with Titus but it could potentially be an issue with other titles.

I don't bother with requesting replacements for cracked cases as it's just easier to replace them with the stash of replacement cases I have on hand. The bubble mailers that they use generally aren't an issue either considering the product fits snuggly within the mailer. It tends to become a problem when eco cases are used. I might try putting in a special request that they use a box for the next order.

I haven't had any issues with Ed either and he always seems responsive and is short and to the point with his communication. I'm not sure who responded to my last email but I was thankful they atleast responded right away. I figured I might not receive a response until after the holiday weekend.

[AUS1969]

My only complaint is the policy, or lack thereof, that led to the Christine fiasco.

[JoeDeM]

Originally Posted by AUS1969

My only complaint is the policy, or lack thereof, that led to the Christine fiasco.

Since then they have put limits in place to help slow down the feeding frenzy, the real test will be with the upcoming Blob 1988, that is set to be released in October, with a September pre-order.

[iamnoone]

What exactly was the Christine fiasco? Because it sold out in 7 or 8 hours? The only thing I think someone could complain about is that their limit per-customer was a bit high for the first 1,000 or so sold. But this has all been a learning curve for TT and SAE. They didn't have limits before, but actually started implementing them for CHRISTINE. 10 per customer at the start, and then reduced to 2 or 3 per customer after about 1 hour on sale when they saw how fast they were going. That's a pretty decent reaction by them, as although I'm sure they expected fast sales, they probably had no idea it would move THAT insanely. And even when they moved it down to 2 per customer, they still flew out the door and were gone in several more hours. I doubt they will ever do a 10-per customer limit again as it was obviously too high, and they learned that then, and every other restricted title has started at a 3-per limit since then. And even if CHRISTINE had started out at 3 or 2 per customer, it still would have sold out very fast, maybe in 12 or 13 hours instead of 7. And remember, then they had some canceled orders available again a week or so after it had sold out for those who missed it, and then the signed one after that if you missed the canceled order sale. I don't really see any fiasco, unless it's simply because you missed out.

[The Great Owl]

I just finished watching the Blu-ray of Hard Times. What a great film!

I love the low-key vibe of Hard Times, and it's a reminder that one of the true joys of cinema is "meeting" good people. This movie does not reinvent the wheel, and, instead, it's just one of those endlessly-rewatchable films that always compels you to stop whatever you're doing if you stumble across it on television.

Although the two films are quite different plotwise, Hard Times reminded me a lot of the 1973 movie, Emperor of the North, starring Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine. These two would make for a nice double feature of simple, yet terrific Depression-era stories with memorable and likeable characters.

I'm in a chilled-out frame of mind, and I don't want to write a full-blown User Review, but Hard Times looks great and sounds great on the Blu-ray. If you are on the fence about buying this one, then get off the fence and buy it soon.

[The Great Owl]

I just finished watching the Blu-ray of Man in the Dark, and I am immensely pleased.

I'm under-qualified to write an actual User Review in this instance, since I do not have a 3D Blu-ray player and was only able to watch the disc in 2D, but I am happy that the disc gave me no problems and that it played normally in the same way that all of my other Blu-rays do. The transfer looks great to my eyes, and the level of detail in this 1953 film is impressive.

Edmond O'Brien (White Heat, D.O.A., The Hitch-Hiker) is a great noir protagonist, and his talent for playing vulnerably discombobulated characters shines here. The late great Audrey Totter (The Set-Up, The Postman Always Rings Twice) is lovely as always. Ted de Corsia (The Enforcer, Hoodlum Empire, The Killing, Naked City) is one of my favorite noir legends, and this is one of his best turns that I've seen.

Man in the Dark is a simple, but fun movie, and I am sure that those with 3D capability will enjoy it all the more. The cigar will probably freak you out, though. That cigar scene unsettled me even without the benefit of 3D.

Highly recommended. This is a great addition to my extensive film noir collection on Blu-ray.