Has Paramount given up?

[Bk_Tan]

I made an older thread, probably deleted for its incendiary title, so something more subtle then.

With the release of 48 Hours, Paramount has gone and released a total of 2 movies this year. Both, unfortunately have sub-par transfers.

In 2009 they released 46 movies, in 2010, 14. They have 29 releases OOP by far the most of any studio.

So, given that they don't release anything, how on Earth is it that when they do, they flop miserably?

I heard a rumour that they were in trouble over money, though that seems unlikely.

[Switchblade9]

I'm getting really tired of studios just slapping a blu-ray sticker on a marginally hi-def title and palming it off on us. No effort has been put into many of these titles and yet they expect us to double and in some cases triple dip so they can fatten their coffers with a minimum of effort. "Time Bandits" comes to mind. I read the reviews and thought "how bad can it be." Well, its bad. "Predator" is another especially when they put out their super duper "Ultimate Hunter Edition." I've owned this movie in about a dozen formats now; how many more will I be buying before I get a decent hi-def transfer that doesn't look as though it was shot through a Vaseline filter? Unless its a movie I've been waiting for for years and don't have an SD copy, I will refrain from buying these half baked catalog titles. If we all hold off, maybe, just MAYBE, the studios will get the message.

[ramzy1]

They have released far more than 14 in 2010. I counted about that many just in the the fourth quarter of 2010. Remember, Dreamworks is also under the Paramount banner.

They have 8 more scheduled to be released in the first quarter of this year.

I'm not surprised about the sub-standard quality of the 2011 releases though. Unless its a very popular classic with a fanbase, I don't expect catolog releases to be treated well.

[octagon]

Yeah, they need to either get their act together or work out a distribution deal with somebody who will.

As much as I want Chinatown and Rosemary's Baby and The Apartment and so forth and so on half-assed releases would be even more infuriating than more waiting.

[bkbluray]

This is ridiculous. Even Criterion is now releasing more Blu-rays than Paramount! And you KNOW all of those will be the highest quality possible. I think the motto should be, "You need to spend money to make money"

[Cevolution]

Not only that, but Paramount and Dreamworks titles are the most expensive too (well they are here in Australia anyway). Every other studio has their blu-ray range priced between $10-$30, but not Paramount, their titles are ALWAYS between $30-$40, and they hardly ever have special promotions where they reduce the prices either. Even though Paramount have released some much wanted titles to the blu-ray format, some of them have been very poor efforts, and out all the major studio's imo they are dead last when it comes to embracing blu-ray properly.

[Bk_Tan]

Sorry, I should have clarified, 14 catalogue titles. We all expect the new releases to come to Blu-Ray so they should not be counted.

Anyone remember the 'Sapphire Series'? What a farce.

[Rinzler]

White Christmas, and The Peacemaker were decent efforts from Paramount, Peacemaker left a little to be desired, but White Christmas had fantastic PQ being a 70mm title and all...

[Brad1963]

I have heard that Paramount does not think catalog titles are worth the effort. There are the rarities like Ten Commandments, White Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life, but for the most part they have abandoned releasing catalog titles on Blu ray and pretty much most of the DVD titles are OOP.

The Dreamworks titles they control seem to be the exception. I guess they need to try top get some of the money they paid for them and there are many Spielberg titles in that mix.

So complain about Universal, MGM, Lionsgate etc all you want. At least they are releasing catalog titles.

[Clark Kent]

Paramount is basically pulling out of the catalog market on home video, including DVD and Blu-ray. A handful of titles will sneak out on the market, but do not expect a wave of Blu-rays from Paramount. This policy is not likely to change, so pray another entity licenses your favorite older movies from Paramount for release.

[Bk_Tan]

Why though? Is there an article I can read on it? How do we know it is fact they are pulling out besides their actions?

[Atreyu]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

Paramount is basically pulling out of the catalog market on home video, including DVD and Blu-ray. A handful of titles will sneak out on the market, but do not expect a wave of Blu-rays from Paramount. This policy is not likely to change, so pray another entity licenses your favorite older movies from Paramount for release.

Why are they doing this???? If it is true that is sad news for all of us blu ray owners who love older titles, like me.

[Rob71]

Six catalog titles in the 1Q, while maybe slow, is not what I would classify as "pulling out".

[Bk_Tan]

But unlike Warner, who could be forgiven for some of their transfers, given the quantity and quality of their overall output, Paramount lack in both departments.

Even Disney who release nothing, when they do, it is often, if not always, stellar.

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by Bk_Tan

But unlike Warner, who could be forgiven for some of their transfers, given the quantity and quality of their overall output, Paramount lack in both departments.

Even Disney who release nothing, when they do, it is often, if not always, stellar.

I'm not disagreeing with you, but some of last years releases were very good. At least to my eyes. Gladiator(the new one), African Queen, and Minority Report were great. But yeah when they lack the volume of Warner it does make the flubs stand out.

[BluPix]

I too would like to see an article or some other reference to this supposed policy of Paramount's to sharply reduce or pull out of releasing older catalog titles onto blu-ray.

Paramount has provided some good catalog releases on blu in terms of a.v. quality (and, occasionally, extras). My main gripe with Paramount is the incredibly low number of classic films from their catalog and the very low frequency with which such titles are released. There are many titles that currently are available only el-cheapo SDVD releases (cheap in terms of retail price and also a.v. qualitty). Get it together, Paramount.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

Paramount is basically pulling out of the catalog market on home video, including DVD and Blu-ray. A handful of titles will sneak out on the market, but do not expect a wave of Blu-rays from Paramount. This policy is not likely to change, so pray another entity licenses your favorite older movies from Paramount for release.

You know, I rarely disagree with your opinion(s), but I must point out that there is no such "policy". Paramount's output started decreasing way back in 2006, and has absolutely nothing to do with the state of the home video market. Furthermore, Paramount's investments in major productions have also been reduced, and in more than a few cases they have teamed up with third parties to finance them. With other words, there is no need to pray as their current output does not reflect their attitude towards the catalog market.

On a side note, I am unsure whether you remember, but Paramount were also one of the very last studios to release (quality) catalog product even when DVD was set to implode -- between 1997/98, they released a number of terrible DVDs (the likes of Event Horizon, Hard Rain, Private Parts, etc), and were one of the very last studios to offer anamorphic enhancement for their catalog titles. They were also the last studio to adjust the pricing of their catalog DVDs, which is why Columbia House's DVD Club was such a big deal amongst collectors.

So, the same attitude, different format, different cycle.

Pro-B

[BluBonnet]

I suppose a lot of it has to do with whomever happens to own Paramount at this time (right now it's Viacom, I think). Right now the corporate line is what it is because... somebody high up decided it wasn't worth the effort. My guess is that someone doesn't care much about the studio's film library, or doesn't think there's enough money to be made from it.

[Jimmyjo]

Originally Posted by Switchblade9

I'm getting really tired of studios just slapping a blu-ray sticker on a marginally hi-def title and palming it off on us. No effort has been put into many of these titles and yet they expect us to double and in some cases triple dip so they can fatten their coffers with a minimum of effort. "Time Bandits" comes to mind. I read the reviews and thought "how bad can it be." Well, its bad. "Predator" is another especially when they put out their super duper "Ultimate Hunter Edition." I've owned this movie in about a dozen formats now; how many more will I be buying before I get a decent hi-def transfer that doesn't look as though it was shot through a Vaseline filter? Unless its a movie I've been waiting for for years and don't have an SD copy, I will refrain from buying these half baked catalog titles. If we all hold off, maybe, just MAYBE, the studios will get the message.

Competition; blu-ray has none. I've never understood how having one format would be better for me the customer. It's like let's get rid of all the automoble companys except one and that will make better car's. I know this is a tender subject for many but for me it was just politics at it's worst. I have both formats and enjoy both but feel that I lost something by not having any choice. I also have "Predator" and think it could and should be much better but with no other HD choice there it is. I just upgraded "First Knight" to blue and guess what my DVD looked better than the blu-ray. I'm going to have look at reviews from now on before buying.

[DavePS3]

Trading Places looks great on BD. Many scenes pop like crazy but the film itself was not very consistant from scene to scene to begin with. That said, the BD is most definitely the best it has ever looked. Same with Blazing Saddles. I think HD displays and BD show off more flaws than ever before, that's for sure.