Scream Factory Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[splintersan]

Originally Posted by IntelliVolume

While I'm a fan of the film, why is Scream reissuing another Thing release? Was there something wrong with Universal's Blu-ray?

This seems like a proverbial "milking of the cow" tactic; aren't there other titles Scream could put its efforts towards gaining the rights to and releasing for fans...I mean titles that never saw the light of day yet? A good example was when the studio released the little Renny Harlin thriller Prison from 1988...as a Blu-ray/DVD combo, to boot!

For the record, I never saw Universal's Thing Blu-ray; I actually still own the studio's non-anamorphic Collector's Edition DVD...

I'm not sure how much or how long you have followed Scream Factory but they have said this many times. If you want them to release small unheard of films, get the rights and create new HD transfers they need to release known big sellers, aka Carpenter. I already own the BD of The Thing and I will absolutely buy this release because it's acceptable at best right now. But really these types of release make them so much money, they are a small subsidiary of a larger corporation and if they don't profit we all lose.

[hYPE]

Originally Posted by splintersan

I'm not sure how much or how long you have followed Scream Factory but they have said this many times. If you want them to release small unheard of films, get the rights and create new HD transfers they need to release known big sellers, aka Carpenter. I already own the BD of The Thing and I will absolutely buy this release because it's acceptable at best right now. But really these types of release make them so much money, they are a small subsidiary of a larger corporation and if they don't profit we all lose.

Well said yo, it's all about the money. I truly don't mind double dipping especially if we get a better transfer and bonus content on top of that.

[jess1581]

Originally Posted by hYPE

Well said yo, it's all about the money. I truly don't mind double dipping especially if we get a better transfer and bonus content on top of that.

Right, it's not like Scream Factory doesn't make these releases worth our while. I mean, I have a collectors edition of Howling II.... Yeah THAT movie got special attention, and all thanks to them.

[willo007]

Originally Posted by Akijama

They just announced The Thing (1982) CE for September!

@CMAC

Thank you for making it happen!

[StingingVelvet]

Man I hope The Thing is a new 4k scan.

Also if Scream would release The 'Burbs, Rabid and Shivers then I might just give up my region-free concerns.

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by jess1581

I own the BD of The Thing and can tell you without a shred of doubt.... This movie needed Scream Factory. Picture Quality was only decent with a dated master... The awesome special features from the DVD are not there except for the documentary.... But it's in PiP form(bullshit)... And it has the commentary which is edited down from the original commentary.

Trust me, it needs it.

Points taken, jess; thanks. Like I said, I had never seen Universal's Blu-ray...they probably worked off the master from the DVD that came out after the Collector's Edition (actually many years later) OR they're using the master from the Collector's Edition (which doesn't look all that great to be honest; passable? Yes. Not astounding).

Universal's Collector's Edition DVD of John Carpenter's The Thing was a template with regard to how studios should PACKAGE a special edition release -- wow, was that thing LOADED. It's a shame Universal didn't include these on the high def release; it's always a head-scratcher to me why studios RESPONSIBLE for the films themselves leave fans cold with stripped-down feature sets or subpar transfers...I never will get that one.

Hopefully Scream will improve upon these negatives, then...

[jess1581]

Originally Posted by IntelliVolume

Points taken, jess; thanks. Like I said, I had never seen Universal's Blu-ray...they probably worked off the master from the DVD that came out after the Collector's Edition (actually many years later) OR they're using the master from the Collector's Edition (which doesn't look all that great to be honest; passable? Yes. Not astounding).

Universal's Collector's Edition DVD of John Carpenter's The Thing was a template with regard to how studios should PACKAGE a special edition release -- wow, was that thing LOADED. It's a shame Universal didn't include these on the high def release; it's always a head-scratcher to me why studios RESPONSIBLE for the films themselves leave fans cold with stripped-down feature sets or subpar transfers...I never will get that one.

Hopefully Scream will improve upon these negatives, then...

Well Fangoria confirmed that it'll have a new 2k master and new features along with old... I'm already sold.

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by splintersan

I'm not sure how much or how long you have followed Scream Factory but they have said this many times. If you want them to release small unheard of films, get the rights and create new HD transfers they need to release known big sellers, aka Carpenter. I already own the BD of The Thing and I will absolutely buy this release because it's acceptable at best right now. But really these types of release make them so much money, they are a small subsidiary of a larger corporation and if they don't profit we all lose.

I'm pretty up to speed on Scream Factory's operations, though not a complete fanatic about their product that many enthusiasts on sites like this are. I don't understand what releasing big tentpole titles from known directors, like Carpenter, has to do with tracking down licensing for smaller, less-known titles that maybe never made it to the light of day on DVD. And I am completely unlike the member who posted in response after you with regard to continuously buying and buying and buying copies of one film until they "get it right" -- that's ridiculous to me, but that's me. I won't triple and quadruple dip until I stumble upon the "right transfer." I'd rather wait it out and check in with reviews, etc; that being said, I made it clear I never saw the BD transfer of The Thing (from Universal), so I was curious as to why Scream wanted to rerelease it...seemed like other titles could have used their attention, that's all. Now that it's been made clear that many fans were let down -- as you mentioned as well -- by a passable, average video transfer and perceived lack of features, I understand that decision better.

I also scratched my head over the decision this studio made to rerelease Escape From New York -- unless it was for additional features not found on MGM's original BD release (which I read was a stripped-down affair, especially compared to the outstanding fully-loaded DVD Collector's Set edition that came out circa 2003, which I own and love), was this title necessary to release again on Blu? From what I read, there was an issue with Scream's Escape From New York transfer in that the screen readout of "AIR FORCE ONE" in the beginning of the film when Van Cleef and Atkins are looking at the computer screen is totally blurred and unreadable...did they ever correct that in another release?

For what it's worth, I am a diehard fan of Carpenter's Escape From New York, and the DVD Collector's Set's transfer, sourced from an HD master and equipped with a pretty effective reworked Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, looks absolutely fine to me upconverted via my Oppo BD player, so I'm not rebuying that anytime soon.

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by jess1581

Well Fangoria confirmed that it'll have a new 2k master and new features along with old... I'm already sold.

Good news for fans, then. Perhaps we'll see a 4K release someday...

Though to see the "spider head" sequence in the detail 4K can offer is a bit...terrifying...

[cmac]

Originally Posted by willo007

@CMAC

Thank you for making it happen!

you're welcome

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by cmac

you're welcome

cmac,

Is there any news regarding what kind of audio Nighthawks is going to be equipped with once it debuts on Blu from you guys? I know the Goodtimes DVD (which I own) sports a pretty lethargic Dolby Digital 2.0 mono track that could definitely use some tweaking, especially in the pivotal club shootout sequence. Do you know if this film will retain its mono audio roots for the BD release?

[cmac]

Originally Posted by IntelliVolume

cmac,

Is there any news regarding what kind of audio Nighthawks is going to be equipped with once it debuts on Blu from you guys? I know the Goodtimes DVD (which I own) sports a pretty lethargic Dolby Digital 2.0 mono track that could definitely use some tweaking, especially in the pivotal club shootout sequence. Do you know if this film will retain its mono audio roots for the BD release?

Yes, it will be in mono.

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by cmac

Yes, it will be in mono.

Ahhh too bad; I was really hoping to see some reworking of the audio stems to juice some scenes up...

There won't be a DTS-HD MA 5.1 option on the disc? I ask because I know Prison had one...

[cmac]

Originally Posted by IntelliVolume

Ahhh too bad; I was really hoping to see some reworking of the audio stems to juice some scenes up...

There won't be a DTS-HD MA 5.1 option on the disc? I ask because I know Prison had one...

It will not.

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by cmac

It will not.

Thanks for the info.

Do you have any additional input with regard to why there won't be a surround option? Were the original elements in poor shape, or was it a budgetary issue?

[DetroitSportsFan]

Hey Cliff, I hope you're watching the Jaws 2-3-4 and Burbs threads below.

[cmac]

[QUOTE=IntelliVolume;12273492]Thanks for the info.

Do you have any additional input with regard to why there won't be a surround option? Were the original elements in poor shape, or was it a budgetary issue?[/QUOTE

The film is mono. It would cost too much to re-mix the film.

[IntelliVolume]

[quote=cmac;12273495]

Originally Posted by IntelliVolume

Thanks for the info.

Do you have any additional input with regard to why there won't be a surround option? Were the original elements in poor shape, or was it a budgetary issue?[/QUOTE

The film is mono. It would cost too much to re-mix the film.

Thanks.

[Akijama]

Cliff, there are 6-7 unannounced Collector's Editions planned for later this year.

Q: Are they all coming from the ongoing deals with MGM, Uni and Morgan Creek or there will be some out of left field announcements?

[dwk]

cmac, I'm sure you've asked, but is there any chance that Focus Features has the rights to DELLAMORTE DELLAMORE (CEMETERY MAN)? Most of the October Films catalog is now at Focus Features, so, unless the rights have expired, it seems they should have it.

Anyway, exciting news re:THE THING.