Scream Factory Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[DaveyJoe]

I'm not ready to upgrade to UHD, but I also don't want to buy a BD copy when a separate UHD exists in case I decide to upgrade in the near future. Future-proofing is a wonderful thing and I've bought over 30 UHDs because they include the BD disk that I can enjoy now, while not having to double dip in the future.

Because of all that I'm not buying any version of Arrow's 4k releases, a combo pack would be much better for consumers, or at least for this consumer.

[jtu128]

Future proofing physical media is an illusion of safety. I’m sort of burned out on “upgrading”. I’d rather get something new than rebuying the same movie for the 3rd time. That isn’t exciting for me but sort of exhausting. That is one positive about iTunes... buy it once and it upgrades for free when available in a better resolution.

[Luke Dodge748]

Originally Posted by jtu128

Future proofing physical media is an illusion of safety. I’m sort of burned out on “upgrading”. I’d rather get something new than rebuying the same movie for the 3rd time. That isn’t exciting for me but sort of exhausting. That is one positive about iTunes... buy it once and it upgrades for free when available in a better resolution.

Somebody's grumps...

[DukeTogo84]

I'm pretty much done upgrading titles. I have a few UHD only titles because they included the Blu-rays I wanted. After upgrading titles from the VHS days, Blu-ray has pretty much hit the sweet spot for me and I'm fully content. Yes, UHD is an upgrade, but I don't see it as much of a jump compared to what DVD to Blu-ray was for me.

At this point, I'm happy for those that are getting the new releases, and I guess Scream has to do what it has to do to survive, but I do hope there is still a healthy flow of titles coming to Blu-ray for the first time in the US.

[jzbadblood]

After the They Live UHD announcement I'm very suspicious of these Pumpkinhead and Motel Hell steelbooks with the new 4K scans. I think the writing is on the wall with those.

Also, as far as upgrading, I'm okay with upgrading from Blu-Ray to UHD, but putting new 4K scans on blu-ray and upgrading from blu to blu is really getting annoying. I'm glad Shout is finally getting in to 4K so they can just put the 4K scans on UHD and we can cut out the triple dipping BS.

Also, just using the poster or whatever on the UHD of They Live is SO much better than their garbage art of a dozen characters randomly thrown together on a cover or their crappy bland steelbook art.

[Luke Dodge748]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

and I guess Scream has to do what it has to do to survive, but I do hope there is still a healthy flow of titles coming to Blu-ray for the first time in the US.

I wholeheartedly agree with this. I don't want to see Scream become Blue Underground and rerelease newer versions of the same films. I love the blind buy, the new films like these Hammer releases that I've never seen before. They Live is in my top 5 films, but I don't want to have to purchase the third variation within a couple years...

But if that helps these companies to bring us new films to bluray, then I'll make the sacrifice for the Greater Good!! I'll grab and carry on the flag like Denzel!!

[freddy=legend]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

I'm pretty much done upgrading titles. I have a few UHD only titles because they included the Blu-rays I wanted. After upgrading titles from the VHS days, Blu-ray has pretty much hit the sweet spot for me and I'm fully content. Yes, UHD is an upgrade, but I don't see it as much of a jump compared to what DVD to Blu-ray was for me.

At this point, I'm happy for those that are getting the new releases, and I guess Scream has to do what it has to do to survive, but I do hope there is still a healthy flow of titles coming to Blu-ray for the first time in the US.

This is where I'm at. Blu-Ray is more than good enough for me after my initial upgrade from VHS to DVD then to Blu-Ray. And I like film grain & ugliness to some old films, especially campy B-horror films. Highly doubtful I ever make a full jump to UHD outside of rare instances where a new release calls for it. Don't need my 80s cash-in slasher films in 4K to enjoy them. 1080 works just as good. Haha.

[TripleHBK]

I feel like it should go without saying but I'll say it anyways. 10-11 years ago folks were saying pretty much the exact same thing about Blu Ray as they were very much of the mindset that DVD was good enough. Many of those folks were then late to the party but are now pretty staunch supporters. 4K will undoubtedly see a repeat of this trend to some degree though to a lesser extent due to diminishing returns, and the option of a digital alternative.

Scream Factory is not going to suddenly turn away unreleased stuff to focus exclusively on 4k re-releases. Cost aside, there is a whole separate issue in regards to licenses. I'd wager that a very large chunk of Scream Factory's existing titles are not even within reach for a 4k release and so I wouldn't worry much about a sudden onslaught of 4k editions of previously released films. They Live is very much going to be a test release but more than that it's also likely to be a "once in a while" sort of release in the same vein as the Steelbooks are in that they are simply another way to capture more of the market without putting too much strain on the label as a whole.

Upgrade if you want... don't upgrade if you want... in the end it's likely going to make little difference but I feel it's a bit premature to say you'll NEVER buy 4k releases as with time the costs will eventually come down a bit and then these releases may become a bit more appealing. Personally... I just finally purchased the original release of They Live about 3 months ago. It's not a film I love and so I waited as long as I could to try to get to my magical sweet spot for price. It never hit that mark but as things started to go out of print I decided that now was the time to pull the trigger. Will I upgrade to this 4k edition? Maybe one day, but not anytime soon. At the moment I have my 4k player hooked up to my older 3D capable television in my prime viewing area and so I can't enjoy 4k discs at max resolution/capability but can still watch them at least. I am wanting to upgrade tv's however and am wanting to install a projection system in the future as well. When that time comes having 4k content will be a bigger deal and so right now I'm buying stuff that I know I'll like, will make a significant upgrade in picture quality (American Psycho and Mission Impossible films for example) and then other releases as they become affordable.

Nothing is ever as Black and White as some folks like to make it. Support what you love and keep buying physical media in any form you can, that's all that really matters.

[ol_Dut]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

I'm pretty much done upgrading titles. I have a few UHD only titles because they included the Blu-rays I wanted. After upgrading titles from the VHS days, Blu-ray has pretty much hit the sweet spot for me and I'm fully content. Yes, UHD is an upgrade, but I don't see it as much of a jump compared to what DVD to Blu-ray was for me.

At this point, I'm happy for those that are getting the new releases, and I guess Scream has to do what it has to do to survive, but I do hope there is still a healthy flow of titles coming to Blu-ray for the first time in the US.

Until home media turns into holographic projections that you can interact with, I am not upgrading beyond blu-ray.

[Luke Dodge748]

Up until just four or five years ago I was still buying DVD and DVD only. Batman v Superman came out, and to get the Ultimate Edition you had to buy either the bluray or 4K. I bought the bluray, my first, and haven't looked back. My girlfriend picked up a great lil Sony bluray player at Goodwill for 5 bucks. Since then I've garnered nearly 1K blurays. I'm all in.

I purchase 4K as well because it comes with the bluray unless, you know, it doesn't (looking at you Arrow). This is a long-winded way of me saying that I was never going to upgrade from bluray, but one day, I was simply never buying another DVD ever again, unless it was something like True Lies or Encino man, with no HD option. We can always upgrade when/if we're ready...

[HipsterTrash]

Originally Posted by Luke Dodge748

I wholeheartedly agree with this. I don't want to see Scream become Blue Underground and rerelease newer versions of the same films. I love the blind buy, the new films like these Hammer releases that I've never seen before. They Live is in my top 5 films, but I don't want to have to purchase the third variation within a couple years...

But if that helps these companies to bring us new films to bluray, then I'll make the sacrifice for the Greater Good!! I'll grab and carry on the flag like Denzel!!

Agreed. So seeing 4K re-releases and steelbooks is great for those who love them, they don't do a lot for me. I enjoy seeing newer titles, usually of things I've never heard of. Or maybe it's films that I thought we're awful but wanna give a second chance after a nice treatment.

Originally Posted by freddy=legend

This is where I'm at. Blu-Ray is more than good enough for me after my initial upgrade from VHS to DVD then to Blu-Ray. And I like film grain & ugliness to some old films, especially campy B-horror films. Highly doubtful I ever make a full jump to UHD outside of rare instances where a new release calls for it. Don't need my 80s cash-in slasher films in 4K to enjoy them. 1080 works just as good. Haha.

4K does look great but I've been more than pleased with blu. And I've already made the switch to the format after years and years of DVDs (which some folks still get).

[jzbadblood]

If I don't have a title and it has a 4K release that's what I'll get. I kinda wait for a sale if I'm going to upgrade. I still have a ton of DVDs I never upgraded cause I'd rather buy new stuff.

[Bradsdadg]

I have a handful of 4k but that was because the price was really cheap and they also came with the bluray version. I don't have a 4k player, and won't buy one until it is the only option left. I'm pretty firm in the bluray camp myself. Never say never, but even if I made a switch to all 4k, I wouldn't rebuy the rest that I have on blu now. Heck I still buy DVD from time to time, when that is the only option...

[HipsterTrash]

And I think if Scream does something similar in offering either 4K or blu with the bigger titles (a la Kino with Mad Max) yet still put smaller, more challenging releases only on blu, I think things will work out well for them.
So they can release more Carpenter on 4K but maybe go for something like Bruiser...

[ditcin]

Mmmm. But I wonder... is there a 4k UHD release of LIFEFORCE with Dolby Atmos somewhere?

[jzbadblood]

What sold me on 4K was the Zombie UHD. It blew my mind and really showed how much of an upgrade it is from blu-ray.

[bergman864]

I don't like to buy multiple copies of titles and that stays true with 4K. I've upgraded only a handful of titles from Blu-ray to 4K.

This will be my first time owning They Live. I don't plan on upgrading great Blu-ray releases for the sake of it.

P.S. I didn't realize the new release features the original poster art when I first saw it.

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by Luke Dodge748

Up until just four or five years ago I was still buying DVD and DVD only. Batman v Superman came out, and to get the Ultimate Edition you had to buy either the bluray or 4K. I bought the bluray, my first, and haven't looked back. My girlfriend picked up a great lil Sony bluray player at Goodwill for 5 bucks. Since then I've garnered nearly 1K blurays. I'm all in.

I purchase 4K as well because it comes with the bluray unless, you know, it doesn't (looking at you Arrow). This is a long-winded way of me saying that I was never going to upgrade from bluray, but one day, I was simply never buying another DVD ever again, unless it was something like True Lies or Encino man, with no HD option. We can always upgrade when/if we're ready...

About 10 years ago I was doing my best to rid myself of all DVD's. The writing was on the wall as far as most titles getting Blu Ray releases and so I was trying to sell what I could at 3 for $10 prices. I used those funds to in turn purchase new Blu Rays. For the next 7 years or so I never really looked back. Then as the Blu Ray collection grew and more and more obscure horror titles came onto my radar I realized that DVD's still very much belonged in my collection and I began picking up titles that were DVD only here and there... (stuff like Dee Snider's Strangeland, Sorority House Massacre II, Rock N Roll Nightmare, etc). Jump to 2020 and thanks to Dollar Tree my DVD buying is now at a level that it hasn't been since 2005/2006. At $1 a pop I'm grabbing pretty much every horror dvd that I don't own that Dollar Tree offers. Add in some generous friends over the last few years and I've once again added several hundred dvd's back into the collection.

Where as before the goal was to get rid of DVD entirely and have a collection exclusively of Blu Ray movies, now the goal is to simply obtain as many of these mostly forgotten films as I can, in the best format available, so that I have plenty to enjoy for now and forever. Even now some DVD's I purchased recently continue to be upgraded as I find deals on the Blu Ray.. (more than a few of those Dollar Tree DVD's ended up getting double dipped on when the Blu Ray turned up at a later date, but for $2 I really don't care).

People change, priorities change, and most importantly, prices change. If things hit certain price points I'm more than happy to go all in on any format including 4k and so I have no doubt that at some point my 4k collection will explode, but until we start seeing $5 - $15 4k's regularly I'm typically more than happy with the cheaper Blu Ray equivalent (unless of course the 4k offers a significant benefit as was the case for the earlier mentioned American Psycho and Mission Impossible films).

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by bergman864

I don't like to buy multiple copies of titles and that stays true with 4K. I've upgraded only a handful of titles from Blu-ray to 4K.

There was once a time where I felt this same way and told myself that just owning the film in any HD edition would be more than enough and that I'd never be someone to double/triple dip on titles where there was so much more I wanted.... then the collection ballooned and more elaborate editions with improved quality became a regular occurrence and now I own multiple films in multiple editions. As I only sell off a release if it's an exact duplicate of what I already have, that means my collection has several different films with multiple editions to choose from. If re-sell prices were better perhaps I'd part with more, but as it stands, I don't need the small bit of money most of these films would bring and so I am more than happy to keep them in the collection for as long as my space allows.

[Rayjg]

Originally Posted by jzbadblood

What sold me on 4K was the Zombie UHD. It blew my mind and really showed how much of an upgrade it is from blu-ray.

I can still remember when that first non-anamorphic DVD from Anchor Bay came out and what a big deal that was. Ancient history now.