Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by EddieLarkin

Makes sense, thanks for the clarification.

Can't say I'm not disappointed the mono isn't included though, when TT had already set a track record of always including original audio before. Always difficult to tell how ****ed with a new mix is without the mono to compare, and I never did like having a surround element shoved in where there never was one before.

Do you think this is more to do with Sony not wanting to exhibit an "inferior" track or just an oversight on TT's part? I'd like to think the former but they had no problem with Mysterious Island's 5.1 competing for space with the original mono.

A Sony choice would be my guess Eddie. Specifically by Grover Crisp and his crackerjack asset management team.

What's been lost in many of the discussions here decrying Sony's choice to license its catalogue rather than running with those titles themselves, is that this was a business descision regarding 'hard' media, specifically for the Blu-ray market. I think it would be a mistake to interpret Sony's fiscal disinterest in traditional retail as a lack of corporate pride regarding quality. They just see their future profit in 'soft' media products (e.g. Cable, Streaming, VOD); however, those delivery platforms will still require premium input.

[panamablu]

Besides Fright Night, is there any other title already out of print?

[whitesheik]

Originally Posted by panamablu

Besides Fright Night, is there any other title already put of print?

No.

[ROclockCK]

Looks like both Those Magnificent Men... and Cover Girl will be getting magnets next month:

[Brad1107]

Originally Posted by panamablu

Besides Fright Night, is there any other title already out of print?

No, but both Journey to the Center of the Earth and Mysterious Island have both been given warnings of 500 or less in stock. That was a week or more ago I think so not sure how many left now. If you want either, i'd do it now.

[VeZius]

Was there a magnet for The Big Heat? I didn't get one with mine that I received today. Not a big deal for me, but just wondering.

[rkolinski]

Originally Posted by VeZius

Was there a magnet for The Big Heat? I didn't get one with mine that I received today. Not a big deal for me, but just wondering.

Yes there was.

[VeZius]

Originally Posted by rkolinski

Yes there was.

Thanks, it must be selling well then.

[panamablu]

Originally Posted by Brad1107

No, but both Journey to the Center of the Earth and Mysterious Island have both been given warnings of 500 or less in stock. That was a week or more ago I think so not sure how many left now. If you want either, i'd do it now.

Thanks.
Already placed my order

[zeze]

Originally Posted by panamablu

Thanks.
Already placed my order

I placed my order for both over the weekend. When Journey to the Centre of the Earth was intially up for pre-order I was not going to get it, but after hearing that it is low in stock I decided to get it or else I would probably regret it later (like how I regret not getting Fright Night).

[NoirFan]

Mysterious Island has 409 copies in-stock, and Journey has 514 - in this case we can assume the "cart game" is accurate.

[BarnDoor]

Odd that I got a magnet with my Journey..., which arrived today.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

A Sony choice would be my guess Eddie. Specifically by Grover Crisp and his crackerjack asset management team.

What's been lost in many of the discussions here decrying Sony's choice to license its catalogue rather than running with those titles themselves, is that this was a business descision regarding 'hard' media, specifically for the Blu-ray market. I think it would be a mistake to interpret Sony's fiscal disinterest in traditional retail as a lack of corporate pride regarding quality. They just see their future profit in 'soft' media products (e.g. Cable, Streaming, VOD); however, those delivery platforms will still require premium input.

The problem I have with that is its Sony's format. Seems to me after Bluray won the HDDVD fight Sony just threw in the towel.

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

A Sony choice would be my guess Eddie. Specifically by Grover Crisp and his crackerjack asset management team.

What's been lost in many of the discussions here decrying Sony's choice to license its catalogue rather than running with those titles themselves, is that this was a business descision regarding 'hard' media, specifically for the Blu-ray market. I think it would be a mistake to interpret Sony's fiscal disinterest in traditional retail as a lack of corporate pride regarding quality. They just see their future profit in 'soft' media products (e.g. Cable, Streaming, VOD); however, those delivery platforms will still require premium input.

Sony isn't seeing profit in much of anything these days.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by AgentOrange

Sony isn't seeing profit in much of anything these days.

Yes, but it's all relative AgentOrange. If you're bleeding head to foot, you close the deepest cuts first.

Sony isn't alone regarding catalogue licensing though, just the most extreme example. Fox, Paramount, MGM, and Universal are all following that same route. They still hang onto the bigger titles worth the expense of remastering, but all of their 2nd and 3rd tier stuff is going to licensees with minimal rework.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by Banned User

The problem I have with that is its Sony's format. Seems to me after Bluray won the HDDVD fight Sony just threw in the towel.

In retrospect, a phyrric victory Banned User.

Even during the early days of Blu-ray Sony was already shying away from catalogue titles, instead concentrating on new and recent hits more likely to showcase the quality benefits of the Blu-ray format. One early exception was their big splash for Close Encounters, and yet you can still find that 2-Disc ultimate box set for under $15.00. Ditto for the 2-Disc Gandhi, now under $10.

Blu-ray was the right idea, just ahead of the home video market and economy*.

* ...also diluted by the increasing shift to 'soft' forms of media delivery.

[pro-bassoonist]

NOTE:

The purpose of this thread is not to discuss the format war, Sony's business plans, or other distributors' business plans.

Please stay on topic. If you wish to discuss other subjects, please visit the appropriate sections of the site.

Thanks.

[ROclockCK]

...up way too LATE last night with a triple bill of The Wayward Bus and As Good As It Gets on Blu-ray, plus Fate is the Hunter on DVD.

John Steinbeck's The Wayward Bus was indeed as much of a curiosity as I remembered from my last viewing in the late 60s crudely panned and scanned for TV. And it's even more interesting in its original widescreen, which until now, I'd never seen. Very good movie though in an oddball sort of way; I can't wait to watch it again with the Commentary on. Not Rapture, but still a creditable addition to the collection, and a top notch disc.

As Good As It Gets actually played better for me than it did theatrically. I still think it's overwritten in a sitcom-ish kind of way, but a good movie overall, including some great work by the more than capable cast. With all the critical and awards attention Nicholson and Hunt received though, I'd forgotten how good Greg Kinnear was in a difficult role. Again, production on this disc was superb.

All of this was expected from the now predictably first class Twilight Time label. My biggest surprise of the night though was actually Fate is the Hunter on DVD. I grabbed that one more out of curiosity after watching Brian Jamieson's fascinating biography of Nancy Kwan, To Whom It May Concern: Ka Shen's Journey. Apart from being a very good movie with an unusual construction, it looked terrific even in DVD. TT could - and probably should - take this one to Blu-ray.

I don't do triple bill marathons like this very often anymore, but it was worth the yawns today...all of these movies grabbed me and held my attention in different ways.

[arcadeforest]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

...up way too LATE last night with a triple bill of The Wayward Bus and As Good As It Gets on Blu-ray, plus Fate is the Hunter on DVD.

John Steinbeck's The Wayward Bus was indeed as much of a curiosity as I remembered from my last viewing in the late 60s crudely panned and scanned for TV. And it's even more interesting in its original widescreen, which until now, I'd never seen. Very good movie though in an oddball sort of way; I can't wait to watch it again with the Commentary on. Not Rapture, but still a creditable addition to the collection, and a top notch disc.

As Good As It Gets actually played better for me than it did theatrically. I still think it's overwritten in a sitcom-ish kind of way, but a good movie overall, including some great work by the more than capable cast. With all the critical and awards attention Nicholson and Hunt received though, I'd forgotten how good Greg Kinnear was in a difficult role. Again, production on this disc was superb.

All of this was expected from the now predictably first class Twilight Time label. My biggest surprise of the night though was actually Fate is the Hunter on DVD. I grabbed that one more out of curiosity after watching Brian Jamieson's fascinating biography of Nancy Kwan, To Whom It May Concern: Ka Shen's Journey. Apart from being a very good movie with an unusual construction, it looked terrific even in DVD. TT could - and probably should - take this one to Blu-ray.

I don't do triple bill marathons like this very often anymore, but it was worth the yawns today...all of these movies grabbed me and held my attention in different ways.

Wow, triple bill - I've done two films back to back many times but I do not think I could do three. Glad you liked the films, that makes it easier.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by arcadeforest

Wow, triple bill - I've done two films back to back many times but I do not think I could do three. Glad you liked the films, that makes it easier.

It's been awhile for me too arcadeforest; I meant to watch only The Wayward Bus. But hey, when you're having such a good time...the hours breezed by.

BTW, I can't underestimate how good Fate of the Hunter looked on DVD! Recently I saw TT's DVD of My Cousin Rachel, and it was also a surprising beauty even upscaled from standard def. In both cases, TT clearly had solid masters to work from, so I wouldn't rule out either of them as eventual Blu-ray releases.