Anniversary/special editions on DVD but not Blu-ray

[Grubert]

It's very disappointing when a studio releases yet another edition of a movie on DVD, but they don't release a BD at the same time. The reason given is that sales levels on BD still don't justify a simultaneous release. I'm not convinced: sales would benefit of shared advertising. On the other hand, many film lovers, even if they have a Blu-ray player, will buy the DVD and thus won't probably rebuy the Blu-ray when/if it is eventually released. Besides, how can you release the 50th Anniversary edition a year later?

Some examples of 'how to do it' are L.A. Confidential (Warner) and Nixon (Disney). Special edition DVD and BD.

However, not all movies benefit from that treatment. Here's a list of new and upcoming special editions on DVD but not BD:


Lionsgate
High Noon Ultimate Collector's Edition: June 10
Capricorn One Special Edition: October 14
Chaplin 15th Anniversary Edition: October 14

MGM
City Slickers Special Edition: June 3
Bright Lights, Big City 20th Anniversary Edition: September 2
Child's Play Anniversary Edition: September 9

New Line
The New World Extended Cut: October 14

Starz/Anchor Bay
Heathers 20th High School Reunion Edition: July 1 (BD November 18)

Universal
Brotherhood of the Wolf 2-disc Director's Cut: August 26
The Big Lebowski 10th Anniversary Edition: September 9
Sixteen Candles Flashback Edition: September 16
Weird Science Flashback Edition: September 16
Breakfast Club Flashback Edition: September 16
Touch of Evil 50th Anniversary edition: October 7
Psycho 2-disc Special Edition: Oct 7
Rear Window 2-disc Special Edition: Oct 7
Vertigo 2-disc Special Edition: Oct 7
National Lampoon's Animal House 30th Anniversary: October 28

Warner
Gigi 50th Anniversary edition: September 16 (BD in 2009)
Quo Vadis 2-disc special edition: Nov. 11 (BD for "Easter" 2009)
An American in Paris 2-disc special edition: September 16 (BD in 2009)

In the past, other studios did the same, such as Sony with Taxi Driver and Labyrinth, or Paramount with Braveheart.

[Rob71]

I guess I'll just have to import Capricorn One. But Child's Play and the Hitchcock's really pisses me off.

[Graboid]

Dont forget the recently released (June 3) special edition of City Slickers, which may not be an anniversary edition but got passed by for blu-ray.

[Grubert]

Originally Posted by Graboid

Dont forget the recently released (June 3) special edition of City Slickers, which may not be an anniversary edition but got passed by for blu-ray.

Thanks, I added that title.

By the way, the concept of 'anniversary' is pretty elastic - Chaplin is a title from 1992 and gets a 15th anniversary edition 16 years later!

Of course 'anniversary edition' rolls off the tongue better than 'we're-releasing-this-just-because-Robert-Downey-is-hot-now-cause-of-Iron-Man edition.'

[goodstuff]

I was VERY disappointed we did not get a BD of the recent 20th Anniversary Heathers release

[kefrank]

Originally Posted by Grubert

Psycho 2-disc Special Edition: Oct 7
Rear Window 2-disc Special Edition: Oct 7
Vertigo 2-disc Special Edition: Oct 7

these are the ones i'm most disappointed about. come on Universal! i need some Hitchcock on BD!

[DetroitSportsFan]

I agree, this is a very disappointing practice.

[AaronSCH]

I'm not disappointed in the least bit. There are so many terrific titles announced and yet-to-be announced for the next 6 months that I will have to pass on some I would otherwise pick up right away. The studios have to be careful not to carve up the market into miniscule pieces. They want to sell those titles by exploiting shelf space. The sale of DVDs and Blu-rays are front-loaded just like theatrical releases. The vast majority of retail venues offer limited time to reach an audience. It's not about flooding the market with titles, its about maximizing the return on their catalogs. The Blu-ray audience is growing but it is still a drop in the bucket compared to DVD.

Ever wonder why there are double, triple, quadruple dips and beyond? Steelbooks, Special Editions, Limited Editions, Directors Cuts, Extended Cuts, Anniversary Editions and Gift Sets? Shelf space—visibility. It is the only way other than drastic price cuts to milk additional revenue from back catalogs. Those of us who are suckered into a repurchase are greeted by two to four minutes of additional footage, truly lame supplemental features or spiffy new packaging. Not till Blu-ray did I realize a truly worthwhile upgrade from my previous DVDs with almost every purchase.

And don't forget, the DVD audience is more forgiving in the areas of picture and sound quality. The expectations for Blu-ray are far greater and studios may find some of these reissues on DVD need more care and consideration before heading off to Blu-ray.

It will take awhile for studios and retailers to put the squeeze on DVD to allocate more of their production and real estate to our favorite format. Be patient—it's coming.

[Mr.Sparkle]

The "15 Years" version of Reservoir Dogs BD came out on it's 16th Years, a year after the DVD of 15 years came out, but they both had the same box art.

[darkpoet25]

I just think that the market penetration isn't there yet for most studios to justify putting out anniversary/special edition versions of these on blu yet. Yes the consumer market is being more and more educated about Blu Ray, but full adoption will take some time. To the average consumer, who know little about technology, seeing a DVD for $15-$19, compared to a $25-$30 Blu Ray, they will most often stick with DVD. Until both hardware and software prices lower to that near DVD, which will take a few more years, studios will release where the most money will be made. As much as we all love Blu Ray, it is in a sense somewhat of a niche market. Only more time and consumer education will Blu Ray fully take off.

[davcole]

I thought I read somewhere that QUO VADIS is announced for a BD release?

What i'm disappointed that's not been announced for BD are the Hitchcock titles. I need them on BD, especially as my VERTIGO DVD became unplayable!

[JadedRaverLA]

Originally Posted by darkpoet25

I just think that the market penetration isn't there yet for most studios to justify putting out anniversary/special edition versions of these on blu yet.

Your argument is certainly correct as far as releasing JUST a Blu-ray release of a catalog title, but if a studio is already putting together a new DVD release, the cost vs. market penetration argument largely falls apart.

Assuming they are remastering the title, they will be doing it in HD anyway. Special features can just be ported from the DVD to the Blu-ray release... and the marketing for the DVD will cover the Blu-ray release as well. So, the normal costs of creating a catalog Blu-ray release don't really apply if they're doing all the work for a new DVD release anyway. There's going to be some incremental cost, of course, in mastering the Blu-ray... but it's comparatively small given the "sunk" costs already spent on the DVD release.

There's really no excuse for releasing a special edition DVD, but not a Blu-ray at this point. It actually will save money compared to doing a Blu-ray release down the line, when they'll have to pay for marketing just for the Blu-ray release.

[dagon01]

I am also upset about Pumpkinhead and the New World directors cut.

[Musashi]

Lions Gate needs to cough up special editions of Punisher and Terminator 2. MGM owes us Terminator 1 director's.

[Grubert]

Originally Posted by JadedRaverLA

Your argument is certainly correct as far as releasing JUST a Blu-ray release of a catalog title, but if a studio is already putting together a new DVD release, the cost vs. market penetration argument largely falls apart.

Assuming they are remastering the title, they will be doing it in HD anyway. Special features can just be ported from the DVD to the Blu-ray release... and the marketing for the DVD will cover the Blu-ray release as well. So, the normal costs of creating a catalog Blu-ray release don't really apply if they're doing all the work for a new DVD release anyway. There's going to be some incremental cost, of course, in mastering the Blu-ray... but it's comparatively small given the "sunk" costs already spent on the DVD release.

There's really no excuse for releasing a special edition DVD, but not a Blu-ray at this point. It actually will save money compared to doing a Blu-ray release down the line, when they'll have to pay for marketing just for the Blu-ray release.

Very well put, thanks.

[alexakajeff]

Originally Posted by Rob71

I guess I'll just have to import Capricorn One. But Child's Play and the Hitchcock's really pisses me off.

Join the club....

[theprophecy247]

damn so played i want the hitchcock movies to

[Gamma_Winstead]

Don't forget the Original Boris Karloff Mummy. That was July 8th.

[wallendo]

I really want "Animal House".

I own the original DVD where the picture was way too dark throughout the movie. Also, it was released on HD-DVD so there is obviously a hi-def master out there, I would like to think that Universal is now working hard on restoring this film and that a glorious blu-ray is in the works, but it doesn't make much sense to release an anniversary edition on DVD and then follow it up with a restored edition on blu-ray and DVD.

[reginaroadie]

Actually, with "Animal House' I read somewhere that Landis wasn't too happy with the cleaned up version of the film, since he felt that the grungy look of the original film suited the story and content of the film perfectly. So I think it would actually be good if Animal House was released with a crappy transfer.

But as per the stuff mentioned, the majority of the Universal stuff and THE NEW WORLD really bums me out that there's no BD release of them. Especially NEW WORLD. Terrence Malick is a filmmaker whose movies SCREAM high definition.