Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by spawningblue

This. I've bought some Twilight titles over other Blu-rays as I was afraid if I didn't I may not get another chance. Next time I will rethink choosing their titles for $30 over something I want to watch right away as there's no rush as anything that sells out will probably get a re-release, and it will probably be a better edition.

I'm happy Twilight Time is re-releasing titles like Fright Night that some missed out on, but hearing they will now be better versions is a little frustrating. Now I'll have to buy the movie again, and Twilight Time titles aren't cheap. The whole reason for their expensiveness was the fact you were getting a limited edition, one time low pressed title, that may not be available again. Now I know that's not something I have to really worry about. Not the end of the world, but like others have already said I think this could hurt their sales as the urgency and worry of missing out on a title is no longer there. I'll still grab my favourites, but titles that I would pick up just because I was worried I may not get another chance and they looked kind of interesting, I may hold off for a sale or something now. If they sell out, no big deal, I'll just wait for them to get re-released with 4k transfers and new extras.

Exactly. I've been willing to pay more for TT because of the limited edition, but with routine reissues after 3 years and rubbing salt by making them superior, going forward I'm just to buy with absolutely zero urgency from them, just like everyone else.

In fact, the Kino Lorber Classics series is getting to be more to my liking (TT is getting away from the classics and their more recent announcements are pretty blah), and with preorder prices at $16.99, I plan on shifting my support to them.

[popeflick]

Originally Posted by bruceames.

Exactly. I've been willing to pay more for TT because of the limited edition, but with routine reissues after 3 years and rubbing salt by making them superior, going forward I'm just to buy with absolutely zero urgency from them, just like everyone else.

In fact, the Kino Lorber Classics series is getting to be more to my liking (TT is getting away from the classics and their more recent announcements are pretty blah), and with preorder prices at $16.99, I plan on shifting my support to them.

And if they didn't relicense them and someone else published them with additional extras you'd probably blame TT as well.

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by popeflick

And if they didn't relicense them and someone else published them with additional extras you'd probably blame TT as well.

Or be happy to upgrade for significantly less than 30+ dollars?

The only thing that bugs me about any improved re-issue is the irritation that TT clearly didn't do it right the first time. If they really were the premium label they marketed themselves as, then what would there be to upgrade?

I'm just an average TT customer who buys the movies I really want, but am under no illusions as what kind of company it is. I'd rather have them than not have them, blah blah. I genuinely don't care one way or the other about TT, I just want to buy Radio Days.

TT are the kings of being damned if they do, damned if they don't, but they are always there because that is how they set themselves up.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

The only thing that bugs me about any improved re-issue is the irritation that TT clearly didn't do it right the first time. If they really were the premium label they marketed themselves as, then what would there be to upgrade?

OK, that's just being silly. If they're adding extras or using a new 4K scan that didn't exist when the previous edition was released, then how can they be expected to have done it "right" in the first place?

For their entire existence, Criterion has continued to reissue films with newer and better scans or restorations. No one has ever complained that they "didn't do it right the first time".

[Scooter1836]

Originally Posted by bruceames.

Exactly. I've been willing to pay more for TT because of the limited edition, but with routine reissues after 3 years and rubbing salt by making them superior, going forward I'm just to buy with absolutely zero urgency from them, just like everyone else.

In fact, the Kino Lorber Classics series is getting to be more to my liking (TT is getting away from the classics and their more recent announcements are pretty blah), and with preorder prices at $16.99, I plan on shifting my support to them.

Personally I do not "support" any distributor for the sake of "supporting" them. I just purchase from who has the title I want. Whether it be Kino, TT, Criterion or any other.

I do not see how it is "rubbing salt", you still own a limited edition and especially of there are changes to re re-issue your initial edition is just as limited and "Special". If you are purchasing TT titles just because they are limited and therefore "Special", you are making a mistake. Because even if TT does not re-license it, someone else might. Especially if it was a quick TT sell out.

[Scooter1836]

There is just way too much sniveling going on about the re-license news. Nothing said here will change it, it is time to accept and move on...

[kkirk25]

Looking over the titles that sold out that were released prior to 2013, we have the following release dates:

1. The Egyption 7/12/11
2. Mysterious Island 11/8/11
3. Fight Night 12/13/11
4. Journey to Center of the Earth 5/8/12
5. Big Heat 5/8/12
6. Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machine 7/10/12
7. Steel Magnolias 9/11/12
8. Enemy Mine 10/9/12
9. NOLD 10/9/12

So the Jan and March releases can only be Fright Night, Mysterious Island and Egyption.
August can only be up to #6 TMMITFM (IMO a title from #4-#6)
Oct can be anyone of them, but I would think it would be a title from #7-#9.

My guesses:
Jan15-Fright Night-start off with a bang to drive traffic to the site and release it closer to the INTL versions (the longer it is available overseas, the more that people will find out about it).

Mar15 - Mysterious Island
Aug15 - Journey (or Big Heat but think it will be Journey)
Oct15 - NOLD

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by kkirk25

Looking over the titles that sold out that were released prior to 2013, we have the following release dates
[snip]

Of course, this assumes that the reissues will only be films whose 3-year license has (or will have) expired. If the contracts specify that the license only applies to a run of 3000 copies and no more, then it's not beyond the realm of possibility that a new license for an OOP title might be for a title whose original 3-year license won't have expired at the time it's reissued.

It's not unreasonable to assume that the titles will be ones whose original license will have expired, but without more data points we can't really be sure that that's the case.

[kkirk25]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Of course, this assumes that the reissues will only be films whose 3-year license has (or will have) expired. If the contracts specify that the license only applies to a run of 3000 copies and no more, then it's not beyond the realm of possibility that a new license for an OOP title might be for a title whose original 3-year license won't have expired at the time it's reissued.

It's not unreasonable to assume that the titles will be ones whose original license will have expired, but without more data points we can't really be sure that that's the case.

They said they have always kept the possibility of reissuing a title once the 3yr license expired. There's no information to the contrary that they are going back on their word so I think it is pretty safe to assume that the original 3yr minimum is still in place. If they were going to piss off consumers by breaking the 3yr year rule, then i think they would have done it with Fright Night sooner.

[schlock]

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

I'm sure this has been mentioned here about a million times, but did anyone see NOTLD '90 in theaters when it came out, and was it that blue/dark???

Ya, I saw it in the theater opening day and it was not dark or blue. I remember thinking how odd that so much of it takes place in broad daylight. And the final half was natural colors, not blue.

Of course, now there will be a bunch of trolls who chime in and say that no one would ever be able to remember how a film looked 24 years ago. It never fails.

[evoxturbo]

I will only get pissed when TT re licenses one of the sold out titles I own. If they release a sold out title I don't own I will be happy because it will mess with scalpers and give me a chance to purchase the film. But from now on I am going to be less worried about titles selling out and less blind buy purchases because chances are it will just get re licensed. Also that one time sale didn't make me appreciate their business practices any better.

[schlock]

Originally Posted by kkirk25

Looking over the titles that sold out that were released prior to 2013, we have the following release dates:

1. The Egyption 7/12/11
2. Mysterious Island 11/8/11
3. Fight Night 12/13/11
4. Journey to Center of the Earth 5/8/12
5. Big Heat 5/8/12
6. Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machine 7/10/12
7. Steel Magnolias 9/11/12
8. Enemy Mine 10/9/12
9. NOLD 10/9/12

So the Jan and March releases can only be Fright Night, Mysterious Island and Egyption.
August can only be up to #6 TMMITFM (IMO a title from #4-#6)
Oct can be anyone of them, but I would think it would be a title from #7-#9.

My guesses:
Jan15-Fright Night-start off with a bang to drive traffic to the site and release it closer to the INTL versions (the longer it is available overseas, the more that people will find out about it).

Mar15 - Mysterious Island
Aug15 - Journey (or Big Heat but think it will be Journey)
Oct15 - NOLD

Agree completely. I seriously doubt they would relicense The Egyptian as it took a long time to sell out (yes, at a higher price), as did Enemy Mine, Magnificent Men, etc. They're not going to commit to 3,000 more units on slower sellers as that's just risky.

I also expect a lot more relicense deals later on as we've seen many more quick sellouts recently. Any title that sells out in a few months will probably be relicensed and come out again after the 3 years are up.

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by jayembee

OK, that's just being silly. If they're adding extras or using a new 4K scan that didn't exist when the previous edition was released, then how can they be expected to have done it "right" in the first place?

For their entire existence, Criterion has continued to reissue films with newer and better scans or restorations. No one has ever complained that they "didn't do it right the first time".

If CC had released The Uninvited or I Married a Witch at full price in 2011 and then announced upgraded versions this year, then you might have a point. Oh, and if those discs also didn't feature exotic extras like Scene Selection or Subtitles. Then you might have a point.

Wait, what was your point? That CC reissued Salo after losing and regaining the license? Or upgraded their release of Seven Samurai from 1998? I don't know what the shortest turnaround for a CC upgrade is, but I doubt it is three years. Maybe the upcoming Playtime? Although that does have a new restoration that comes with it and is 4 or 5 years.

People compare TT to CC for some reason I don't understand. Maybe it is alliteration.

[Pirate King]

I just received notice that my last order with SAE has shipped.

Mr Hobbs Takes a Vacation
The Man from Laramie
The Train
Two Rode Together
Heaven Knows, Mr Allison

When they arrive I will own 27 Twilight Time releases. I am not sure if I need you to congratulate me or feel sorry for me

[klauswhereareyou]

Originally Posted by Pirate King

I just received notice that my last order with SAE has shipped.

Mr Hobbs Takes a Vacation
The Man from Laramie
The Train
Two Rode Together
Heaven Knows, Mr Allison

When they arrive I will own 27 Twilight Time releases. I am not sure if I need you to congratulate me or feel sorry for me

By some strange coincidence that's exactly how many I'll have when my pending order arrives.

[Pirate King]

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

By some strange coincidence that's exactly how many I'll have when my pending order arrives.

Congrats! Now if we had the same titles... that would be too weird

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by schlock

I seriously doubt they would relicense The Egyptian as it took a long time to sell out (yes, at a higher price)
[snip]

What was the original price on The Egyptian?

[schlock]

Originally Posted by jayembee

What was the original price on The Egyptian?

I think it was $39.95.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

If CC had released The Uninvited or I Married a Witch at full price in 2011 and then announced upgraded versions this year, then you might have a point. Oh, and if those discs also didn't feature exotic extras like Scene Selection or Subtitles. Then you might have a point.

Wait, what was your point? That CC reissued Salo after losing and regaining the license? Or upgraded their release of Seven Samurai from 1998? I don't know what the shortest turnaround for a CC upgrade is, but I doubt it is three years. Maybe the upcoming Playtime? Although that does have a new restoration that comes with it and is 4 or 5 years.

People compare TT to CC for some reason I don't understand. Maybe it is alliteration.

So 3 years is too short a time, but 4-5 years is not? Where's your dividing line between when it's OK to reissue a new and improved edition, and when it's not. And by the way, since the reissue titles are coming out next year, not this year, it'll be 4 years between editions, not three. Does that make it better?

And you pick only the second half of my comment to mock, but not the first? So, do you really think it's Twilight Time's fault that a 4K scan of <whichever title they're upgrading from a 4K scan> didn't exist in 2011?

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by Scooter1836

Personally I do not "support" any distributor for the sake of "supporting" them. I just purchase from who has the title I want. Whether it be Kino, TT, Criterion or any other.

I do not see how it is "rubbing salt", you still own a limited edition and especially of there are changes to re re-issue your initial edition is just as limited and "Special". If you are purchasing TT titles just because they are limited and therefore "Special", you are making a mistake. Because even if TT does not re-license it, someone else might. Especially if it was a quick TT sell out.

I never buy a movie solely to support a label, but that desire to support can help tip the scales in favor of a purchase. Don't regret any TT purchase I've made. Most of them were on sale anyway.