GOG 3D Blu-ray (1954) [Region Locked]

[Interdimensional]

Originally Posted by the13thman

I'm getting scared that this will be cruelly region locked...

I hope not. Region locking serves no one's interest.

According to MisterLime on HTF, Tom Weaver has been asked and has agreed to provide an audio commentary for this release.

[Robert Furmanek]

The 3-D Blu-ray releases of films that we own (Dragonfly Squadron, The Bubble, 3-D Rarities, etc.) will always be region free.

With Gog, we are a work for hire and have no say in that decision. It all depends on Kino and their license arrangement with MGM.

[the13thman]

Originally Posted by Robert Furmanek

With Gog, we are a work for hire and have no say in that decision. It all depends on Kino and their license arrangement with MGM.

This is why I'm scared they'll lock it, Kino have a track record of locking titles even if there's no hope of them ever being released anywhere else in the world, it's completely perverse...

[Robert Furmanek]

For the first time in over 60 years, the 1954 science-fiction classic GOG will be available in 3-D, color and 1.66:1 widescreen!

This special restored edition from the 3-D Film Archive will be released on 3-D Blu-ray by Kino Lorber Studio Classics on March 1, 2016.

Working from master left/right 35mm materials, this 3-D rarity has been beautifully restored shot-by-shot by Archive Technical Director Greg Kintz for optimum stereoscopic presentation.

Every shot in the film required up to six levels of correction. We have done extensive color restoration as the only surviving 35mm left side element is totally faded, image stabilization, flicker reduction, stereoscopic vertical alignment and left/right panel matching. With additional dirt/damage clean-up by Thad Komorowski, we are proud to present GOG looking better than ever before.

PLEASE NOTE - This original trailer has not been restored.

GOG in 3-D - Restored and Coming Soon to 3-D Blu-ray! - YouTube

[Hardkore]

Any idea when it will be available for pre-order?

[the13thman]

It will be region locked. I emailed Kino who replied that:

"Our Kino Lorber Studio Classics releases are all region-protected."

I'm disgusted that Kino are ignorantly locking this, as it's unlikely to see a Region B release anywhere. Region locking is economic madness in an era of declining sales of physical media and just encourages piracy.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

[Taygan315]

Originally Posted by the13thman

It will be region locked. I emailed Kino who replied that:

"Our Kino Lorber Studio Classics releases are all region-protected."

I'm disgusted that Kino are ignorantly locking this, as it's unlikely to see a Region B release anywhere. Region locking is economic madness in an era of declining sales of physical media and just encourages piracy.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

I agree. SO STUPID to region lock this!!! Let ALL 3D supporters/loyalists/fans be able to own and watch this!!!

[bavanut]

In all fairness, the studio licensing this title to Kino Lorber—MGM, I think—may have felt a keen legal need to insist on this particular restriction.

I understand the strong feelings of disappointment one might feel when a beloved title appears in a region-locked edition from elsewhere in the world. I have experienced that disappointment many a time myself. But I must say, I think praise is due Kino Lorber for going through the trouble to make Gog available on Blu-Ray at all-- and this after thorough, painstaking, and not inexpensive restoration by Bob Furmanek, Greg Kintz, and Thad Komorowski.

If circumstances permit, some of you may wish to do what I wound up doing, and that is find a reasonably priced, region-free Blu-Ray player as an adjunct to your primary Blu-Ray player. I obtained one from Amazon for a very modest sum maybe a year ago. It's not a top brand, but it works fine, and I can tell you it has opened up new vistas in collecting for me. Something to consider, anyway.

[jono3000]

Kino also released The Bubble 3D and that is Region Free

[Hardkore]

Originally Posted by jono3000

Kino also released The Bubble 3D and that is Region Free

As mentioned by Robert Furmanek earlier...

Originally Posted by Robert Furmanek

but we licensed THE BUBBLE to Kino and specified region free in the contract. I don't know what MGM has done with their licensed titles.

[the13thman]

Originally Posted by bavanut

In all fairness, the studio licensing this title to Kino Lorber—MGM, I think—may have felt a keen legal need to insist on this particular restriction.

If circumstances permit, some of you may wish to do what I wound up doing, and that is find a reasonably priced, region-free Blu-Ray player as an adjunct to your primary Blu-Ray player. I obtained one from Amazon for a very modest sum maybe a year ago. It's not a top brand, but it works fine, and I can tell you it has opened up new vistas in collecting for me. Something to consider, anyway.

I have five blu ray players already and no space for any more, I have been tempted to buy a region free one but HATE the idea that if something happens to that then a massive part of my collection becomes instantly unplayable. At least DVD players are easier to make multi-region.

MGM aren't going to release this in 3D anywhere else, so why insist on region locking? What's their legal need? There's no sense in it at all. Internet pirates rip all 3D releases and release them for FREE. In all fairness, why would you not want to sell as many legitimate copies as you can?

Some companies like Vinegar Syndrome, Synapse and even the hated Twilight Time release discs region free by default so I just don't buy the arguments that Kino, Sh*te Factory etc pull out to justify region locking by default.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by the13thman

I have five blu ray players already and no space for any more, I have been tempted to buy a region free one but HATE the idea that if something happens to that then a massive part of my collection becomes instantly unplayable. At least DVD players are easier to make multi-region.

MGM aren't going to release this in 3D anywhere else, so why insist on region locking? What's their legal need? There's no sense in it at all. Internet pirates rip all 3D releases and release them for FREE. In all fairness, why would you not want to sell as many legitimate copies as you can?

Some companies like Vinegar Syndrome, Synapse and even the hated Twilight Time release discs region free by default so I just don't buy the arguments that Kino, Sh*te Factory etc pull out to justify region locking by default.

I agree that these days region-locking is madness. They complain about "piracy" but then do everything they can to drive people to it, or at least make it seem like a viable option in some cases.

Regarding a region-free player, I own a cheap one from Seiki, and it does make me a bit nervous to think if it dies, a portion of my collection will not play. I might suggest buying a standard Panasonic player - they are great players, reliable, and have the nice bonus of being able to play some region-locked discs with a basic trick that is well-known here in the forums. That reduces the problem of what to do if my region-free player dies. Of course it doesn't work for all titles. But it works for many of mine.

[bavanut]

Ivan Tors was an independent producer who released Gog through United Artists. It seems obvious to me that MGM has inherited the rights to the film through its connection with United Artists, but these rights may obtain only in North America or the Western Hemisphere.

If Tors or his legal representatives granted rights in Gog to parties in Europe or elsewhere, and if those parties still hold such rights, then MGM's hands are tied. Releasing a film for sale in territories where they do not hold clear ownership would make them legally culpable. I cheerfully admit that all this is speculation, but it's also a perfectly reasonable possible explanation as to why the disc would be region-locked.

None of what I am saying is meant to indicate indifference to anyone's feelings of frustration or disappointment. I promise you, I empathize. But don't let's be angry with Kino Lorber for making a good faith effort to get this long-neglected 3-D film into the hands of collectors, and let's reserve judgment against MGM until more facts come to light.

[the13thman]

Originally Posted by bavanut

If Tors or his legal representatives granted rights in Gog to parties in Europe or elsewhere, and if those parties still hold such rights, then MGM's hands are tied. Releasing a film for sale in territories where they do not hold clear ownership would make them legally culpable. I cheerfully admit that all this is speculation, but it's also a perfectly reasonable possible explanation as to why the disc would be region-locked.

Releasing a region free disc in America is not releasing a film for sale in other territories. Warners release all their discs region free whether they have the rights in other territories or not.

In the days before blu ray and DVD there was VHS, and you had PAL and NTSC but there was no region locking of VHS. It's not something required by any law, it's just that some greedy individuals have abused the availability of the technology. I'm about done ranting about it now but there's just no excuse for region locking, ever.

[Paul H]

Originally Posted by the13thman

there's just no excuse for region locking, ever.

As a consumer I agree. As a small business owner, who would have to bite the hand that feeds, agreement wise, would I want to be on that U.S. Hollywood studio black list?

[bavanut]

I respect what you are saying, 13thman. I hope you are able to find some way to see Gog in 3-D, as I'm already convinced it's going to be an eye-opener.

That being said, and with utmost respect, I don't see that region-locking a disc, and thereby restricting the sale of more copies throughout the world, can be seen as an example of greed.

Secondly, in an age of Internet sales and inexpensive international shipping, releasing a region-free disc in America is in fact tantamount to releasing a film for sale in other territories.

I am sympathetic to both sides here. I want you and everyone else to be able to enjoy Gog on 3-D Blu-Ray, but I am not prepared to express outrage when those who own property make use of it as they see fit. And I want to be clear that I do not fault Kino Lorber whatsoever. I am thankful they are doing what they are doing.

[Interdimensional]

Originally Posted by bavanut

Secondly, in an age of Internet sales and inexpensive international shipping, releasing a region-free disc in America is in fact tantamount to releasing a film for sale in other territories.

it shouldn't be treated any different than books and cds. When I import from other regions I'm subject to import taxes and higher shipping, so even with that option, I'm still incentivized to favour localised releases.

Originally Posted by the13thman

I have five blu ray players already and no space for any more, I have been tempted to buy a region free one but HATE the idea that if something happens to that then a massive part of my collection becomes instantly unplayable. At least DVD players are easier to make multi-region.

MGM aren't going to release this in 3D anywhere else, so why insist on region locking? What's their legal need? There's no sense in it at all. Internet pirates rip all 3D releases and release them for FREE. In all fairness, why would you not want to sell as many legitimate copies as you can?

Some companies like Vinegar Syndrome, Synapse and even the hated Twilight Time release discs region free by default so I just don't buy the arguments that Kino, Sh*te Factory etc pull out to justify region locking by default.

It's infuriating. Here we are in the 21st century living in a global world and people still want to be putting up iron curtains. And with physical media in decline, they're carving up slices of a shrinking pie and turning away paying customers. It'd be nice if I could send discs as gifts to friends overseas, but one might as well forget about it. It really doesn't help the situation.

I'm so glad this nonsense never happened with CDs.

Of the 1950s 3-D movies currently available, Gog will be the only one to date to be exclusively region-locked(after Panamint made Inferno region-free). I have to assume Kino save money licensing the films for region A only. If funds are limited, I hope it's the right choice in terms of enabling them to finance future releases.

Even with the imposed restriction, it will at least be significantly more available than it ever was before. The digital master being produced specifically for this disc will enable the film to live on well beyond the disc itself.

[Paul H]

Originally Posted by Interdimensional

It's infuriating. Here we are in the 21st century living in a global world and people still want to be putting up iron curtains. And with physical media in decline, they're carving up slices of a shrinking pie and turning away paying customers.

Region coding = Business leverage =$$$$, and/or control issues.

Executives pull strings and consequences are given.
IMO, one example of a "control issue" using region coding, was & is not allowing to date, the American Blu-ray 3D release of "The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet 3D" via the region A distributor Harvey Weinstien.
Source

[MercurySeven]

Originally Posted by the13thman

It will be region locked. I emailed Kino who replied that:

"Our Kino Lorber Studio Classics releases are all region-protected."

I'm disgusted that Kino are ignorantly locking this, as it's unlikely to see a Region B release anywhere. Region locking is economic madness in an era of declining sales of physical media and just encourages piracy.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Totally agree. And they've just lost another slam-dunk sale here. GOG was top of my list of upcoming 3D BD releases to buy. I freaking love 50s sci-fi, and it's not every day we get to own one in 3D.

Gutted.

[micnic]

I feel the same way about region locking as most here - it only bothers the honest buyer and the people downloading their movies don't care.
But as someone who likes having very special titles/editions in his collection, buying a region free player is not optional. I have my third region free Blu-ray player at the moment and therefore don't worry about availability of players for my discs. GOG will find its way to me.