Ok seriously, what are the studios thinking?

[GoodToGo]

I have been looking at the recent slew of Blu-Ray releases and have been shaking my head. In the recent state of economy, I am surprised the studios will resort to such tactics:

1) Releasing movies that target a very limited audience. I saw the other day the release of Street Fighter: Extreme Edition, Amusement and Pink Panther. If they expect to turn any kind of profit from that kind of release, then they really need to put down the pipe. Where are the movies that everyone wants? Star Wars, LOTR, Gladiator, BraveHeart, the list goes on.

2) Transformer's Extended edition was announced just recently. LOTR will not be extended edition. Do they really think people will double dip the movie just for a few extras? I for one will not and I am still decently well off.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by GoodToGo

I have been looking at the recent slew of Blu-Ray releases and have been shaking my head. In the recent state of economy, I am surprised the studios will resort to such tactics:

1) Releasing movies that target a very limited audience. I saw the other day the release of Street Fighter: Extreme Edition, Amusement and Pink Panther. If they expect to turn any kind of profit from that kind of release, then they really need to put down the pipe. Where are the movies that everyone wants? Star Wars, LOTR, Gladiator, BraveHeart, the list goes on.

2) Transformer's Extended edition was announced just recently. LOTR will not be extended edition. Do they really think people will double dip the movie just for a few extras? I for one will not and I am still decently well off.

As for point one -- you have to understand that the studios cannot survive making only youth-oriented blockbusters. The industry would collapse. You need a varied diet -- romance films, slapstic comedies, dramas, family films, etc. My wife and her parents loved The Pink Panther. It did suprisingly well at the box office after being mothballed for over a year. Audiences dug it. *shrug* Accept it and move on. As for Street Fighter --- look, I'll tell you a story Walt Disney once told a reporter. He said, [paraphraising here] "You don't need to appeal to the majority of the people. The population is so big, you only need to appeal to a small percentage of them, and you'll be successful beyond the dreams of Midas." The people who made Street Fighter knew it wasn't going to be a smash -- they just wanted it to make a profit by appealing to people to played Street Fighter. And you know what? The film did make money, and apparently will continue to do so.

As for point two -- I'm not sure what your point is, but yes, there are people who will turn out to buy a version of Transformers with more footage and extras. They will do the same for The Lord of the Rings. I imagine they would do the same for the Sesame Street film "Follow That Bird". If people like something, some of them will pay again for more of the same. That's basic economics. That's why sequels are made. An Extended Edition is much cheaper than a sequel and you maximize the profit potential of your home video property.

Hope this helps you out.

[MOONPHASE]

Street Fighter is coming out to Blu-ray for 2 reasons 1. because of the new video game and 2. because of the new movie they are coming out with. so basically its to hype up the sales on it for the loyal street fighter fans who are going to play the new game to watch the new movie and to buy this blu-ray

[FilmmakingFiasco]

I think Pink Panther is going to be tied in withe the sequel coming next year too.

[Gremlin]

Well some of it is true, but think about it: you must have your share of guilty pleasure movies that are not so popular with most crowds and you'd hope to see as BD some day, right?

So from that point of view, its good to know that studios do not only care to release a lot of "mainstream" titles.

[Verbal]

Originally Posted by MajorZero

As for people not buying the theatrical LotR, well people are dumb and they'll buy it even if it doesn't have all the footage from the extended.

Or people just think that 3 hours is more than enough for one movie and don't feel that tacking an extra 30-50 minutes on each film is necessary to enhance the experience...that it may, in fact, detract from it.

I certainly fall into the latter camp. Thanks for insinuating that I'm "dumb" though.

[alphadec]

I totaly agree with this tread starter. The releases the last months have been totaly crap.

If they want bd so sell more they have to release better movies then B-movies like street fighter, etc. Since the have stacks of films released on dvd-hd that they still have not got over to bd.

Well what are they waiting for. ?

[TenEightyP]

Originally Posted by Verbal

Or people just think that 3 hours is more than enough for one movie and don't feel that tacking an extra 30-50 minutes on each film is necessary to enhance the experience...that it may, in fact, detract from it.

I certainly fall into the latter camp. Thanks for insinuating that I'm "dumb" though.

Well said. Not every extended cut of a film will enhance the story or experience. In fact I don't see how you would want any more footage in a film like Transformers (that is my opinion - I did not rate the film highly at all).

There is a similar argument for "just the film and no extras" release option. There must be a lot of people who have little or no interest in the sometimes gargantuan collection of extras added to BD/DVD releases.

..

[KamiAmaya]

Originally Posted by Gremlin

Well some of it is true, but think about it: you must have your share of guilty pleasure movies that are not so popular with most crowds and you'd hope to see as BD some day, right?

So from that point of view, its good to know that studios do not only care to release a lot of "mainstream" titles.

+1

[Mughi]

They're forcing us early-adopters' hand in buying garbage that we wouldn't give a second glance otherwise. I know that even with the thousands of DVD titles that I have...many of which I wouldn't mind upgrading from...nearly all the BD titles I've bought so far are of films I didn't like well enough to pick up on DVD in the first place (BLADE RUNNER, 2001, the 007s, BODY HEAT, 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD). Only THE FLY, THE THING, SUPERMAN, and A CHINESE ODYSSEY are A-list titles for me.

[Blaumann]

Originally Posted by Mughi

They're forcing us early-adopters' hand in buying garbage that we wouldn't give a second glance otherwise. I know that even with the thousands of DVD titles that I have...many of which I wouldn't mind upgrading from...nearly all the BD titles I've bought so far are of films I didn't like well enough to pick up on DVD in the first place (BLADE RUNNER, 2001, the 007s, BODY HEAT, 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD). Only THE FLY, THE THING, SUPERMAN, and A CHINESE ODYSSEY are A-list titles for me.

If you are feeling forced to buy anything, you should imo take a step back, breath deeply and think about that. You don't have to buy stuff you don't want.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Mughi

They're forcing us early-adopters' hand in buying garbage that we wouldn't give a second glance otherwise. I know that even with the thousands of DVD titles that I have...many of which I wouldn't mind upgrading from...nearly all the BD titles I've bought so far are of films I didn't like well enough to pick up on DVD in the first place (BLADE RUNNER, 2001, the 007s, BODY HEAT, 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD). Only THE FLY, THE THING, SUPERMAN, and A CHINESE ODYSSEY are A-list titles for me.

How are you being force in buying anything?? I love BD but if the films they are releasing do not appeal too me, I won't be buying them, it's that simple. Good for those who love these movies and want them in their collection however, some people will want Pink Panther and Street Figther or even The Bridges Of Madison Counties in BD and they will buy them, I say good for them. But I sure do not feel force to buy them.

[4Dblu]

sometimes i read these comments and i just laugh. first, when studios were send out hit after hit people got upset at spending too much money in little time and needed a break. now the studios bring out not so popular movies people still complain cause nothing interest them. so what now. with things going the way they are now i say b lucky it is a slow down. cause studios can really get strong and send out a ton of popular movies and cause everybody to go broke with no breathing room like this pass Oct.. so, enjoy these little breaks here and there its relaxing.

we don't need hits every single week. as for extended editions. sometimes its good sometimes bad. LOTR ext was good in my book, yes, its LOOONGER but i enjoy every minute. i just HATE when they put extended cuts in "bonus features" and not in the film or u can't tell the difference from the theater version from the unrated extended dvd.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by 4Dblu

sometimes i read these comments and i just laugh. first, when studios were send out hit after hit people got upset at spending too much money in little time and needed a break. now the studios bring out not so popular movies people still complain cause nothing interest them. so what now. with things going the way they are now i say b lucky it is a slow down. cause studios can really get strong and send out a ton of popular movies and cause everybody to go broke with no breathing room like this pass Oct.. so, enjoy these little breaks here and there its relaxing.

we don't need hits every single week. as for extended editions. sometimes its good sometimes bad. LOTR ext was good in my book, yes, its LOOONGER but i enjoy every minute. i just HATE when they put extended cuts in "bonus features" and not in the film or u can't tell the difference from the theater version from the unrated extended dvd.

+A111111

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by 4Dblu

sometimes i read these comments and i just laugh. first, when studios were send out hit after hit people got upset at spending too much money in little time and needed a break. now the studios bring out not so popular movies people still complain cause nothing interest them. so what now. with things going the way they are now i say b lucky it is a slow down. cause studios can really get strong and send out a ton of popular movies and cause everybody to go broke with no breathing room like this pass Oct.. so, enjoy these little breaks here and there its relaxing.

we don't need hits every single week. as for extended editions. sometimes its good sometimes bad. LOTR ext was good in my book, yes, its LOOONGER but i enjoy every minute. i just HATE when they put extended cuts in "bonus features" and not in the film or u can't tell the difference from the theater version from the unrated extended dvd.

+A1

I am always happy for some breathing room in my purchases, it help's the bank account

[cartman781]

I thought I had a breather this week intil the 007 Gold Box deal

[octanejunkie]

Yeah, ok the films listed by the thread starter are certainly not "must haves" for the majority of us.
I might suggest you are being a little short sighted.
In the early 90's Streetfighter, and in particular, Streetfighter 2 were phenominaly popular video games, being played by kids around the globe. Not only did it have its 5 minutes of fame, but was still being played vigourously 18 months later. Everybody jumped on the franchise bandwaqon, toys, lunchboxes, stickers, clothes, cartoons, breakfasgt cereals etc, etc. All of this finally culminated with the release of Streetfighter the movie. Directed by the writer of Die Hard and 48Hrs, its hardly a masterpiece.
Parents were nonetheless dragged to see it by their children, and it was a highpoint for many young fans worldwide.
Streetfighters furious franchise died out not long after.
There will be however, a large group of people worldwide who were kids caught up in the Streetfighter craze. For these folks (now into their twenties and thirties), there may be a fair amount of nostalgia attached to this title, and i would have thought it could move a good few copies.
Its easy to forget past fads and crazes, but they create enormous revenues and interest and are often etched on the conciousness of those who got wrapped up in it, and fondly remembered.
With the case of Pink Panther, its also a cult movie, albiet from a very different era. Ask most older people about it, and they'll almost all know what you're talking about.

Takes all sorts to make the world go round. What if your favourite movie never got high def treatment because it was deemed by the studios to be "a bit rubbish" ???
I won't be buying either of the above mentioned titles, but i like to have the choice.

[atomik kinder]

Why does everyone who starts a post like this mention, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and Gladiator? The majority of the purchasing public want new releases, not something that has been around for a few years. They are going to think twice about buying something like that, but if it is a movie that has been in the theater just a few months ago, they will more likely purchase it. Yeah, those movies would probably be pretty big sellers on BD, but as for Star Wars, think about how many years DVD was around before it ever got released on DVD. When the Phantom Menace was released, it only came out on VHS, it wasn't even a day and date DVD. The DVD didn't come out for some time later. Then the original trilogy didn't come out until much later than that.

[andyman1970]

Originally Posted by alphadec

I totaly agree with this tread starter. The releases the last months have been totaly crap.

If they want bd so sell more they have to release better movies then B-movies like street fighter, etc. Since the have stacks of films released on dvd-hd that they still have not got over to bd.

Well what are they waiting for. ?

It really depends on your taste in movies. I like a lot of the releases coming out recently and I'm certainly looking forward to the release of the ORIGINAL Pink Panther movie staring Peter Sellers which is due out early next year. As far as Braveheart goes, I may or may not pick it up as IMO it was just ok. So to call all the recent releases crap is a little harsh. One mans garbage is another mans gold.

[Stubblecat]

Movies are a business. If you focus only on one type of customer (the male, action-loving ones) then you will fail as a businessman.

Not everyone will buy 'girl' films (or movies that everyone recognizes as just plain bad), but they did and will continue to make money for the studio and obviously there is a market for them.

Let's just take the good with the bad.