Ask questions to The Digital Bits team (Bill Hunt, Jeff Kleist et.al.)

[Braktastic]

Originally Posted by Balian

If the Matrix Trilogy is release this year for Blu-ray, then it will probably be during the Christmas season. This makes perfect sense. Warner was disappointed with sale numbers for the HD DVD release. They probably want to make sure the Blu-ray user base is big enough to make it worthwhile.

I agree. Besides, it would be a perfect opportunity to tie-in with the Wachowski "brothers" Speed Racer Blu-ray Disc release, and we know how these studios love their "marketing windows". Additionally, I would think the same would hold true for V for Vendetta too.

[Esox50]

It's funny, I came into this thread to suggest to Bill that he clearly delineate the BD titles from DVD titles. I see some others have done the same.

I wasn't sure if it was just me because I was rushed at work, but I had a hard time following the WB news.

So, Bill, please just take it as a suggestion. You know, at this point, there are more and more people like us who are scanning for just the BD news. Twoud help to have a clear delineation for those of us who are strapped for time, and/or people who want to scan the lists.

Thanks.

[phansson]

Great news Bill, thanks for the announcements.

P.S. hope you had a good time at the party......

[Steverhcp02]

Bill,

With WB apparently taking a few steps in bringing out some old classics and Echo Bridge releasing some of these inexpensive documentaries what are the odds of getting some modern "classics" from smaller divisions of BD studios.

I dont necessarily want this to be about release dates......but i couldnt help but watch Amelie, City of God (perhaps tied in with City of Men?) Leon (the professional) and Diving Bell and the Butterfly and just wish theyd get BD treatment, if you could be so kind as to pass the word onto Miramax folks, we want the goodies!!!!!!

[mel2]

All we are asking for is Warner to catch up with the releases that are already on hd dvd. constantine, charlie and the chocolate factory and V for vendetta should've been out already. Warner better have more because that promotional slate, other than batman and dirty harry, sucked.

[NoQuestion]

Originally Posted by mel2

All we are asking for is Warner to catch up with the releases that are already on hd dvd. constantine, charlie and the chocolate factory and V for vendetta should've been out already. Warner better have more because that promotional slate, other than batman and dirty harry, sucked.

If you read the article either on thedigitalbits or here on this site it says that the list is no where close to being complete. There are many more titles coming that werent announced at that press event

[patrick99]

Bill, many thanks for all the information on Warner's plans for this year. Have you received any word on whether the Batman Begins BD will be a new BD optimized encode? Apologies if this has already been asked. Many thanks for your participation here. It's great to have you.

[zipbags]

Bill,

Someone posted in the General Discussion thread that some retailers will stop selling HD at the end of March. Have you heard any confirmation of this?

[Seretur]

Bill, thank you for this morning's My Two Cents!

As close as a Blu-ray mission statement as we've had yet, and filled with so many tidbits that were incredibly good to hear. About 20% of my library are Warner catalog titles, and that number seems set to radically increase this year, courtesy of Mr. Feltenstein and his efforts.

Please, thank him for being so fortright and supportive of the format -- from the day-and-date releases to lossless audio.

Best format news this month!

[The Don]

great post today Bill...as much as I wish there were more confirmation in the article, it was still a great article with tons of info..

plus, you also mentioned that more info is coming...maybe cemented release dates?...because I really hope all the Batman movies don't wait for The Dark Knight's release to come out...that will likely be Q4

[desmond]

Bill,

Thanks for helping out with lossless.

[mel2]

Thanks Bill for getting our questions to Warner. Will they do specific blu-ray high bitrate encodes, like what new line cinema is doing, for the upcoming releases? and will they use the 50GB discs? I read the article as if Batman begins will be out in July because that's in the 3rd quarter, in time for the theatrical release of the Dark Knight. The Batman anthology in the 4th quarter because it still has a ways to go to get properly transferred. that's how I read it. I hope that's true. making us wait until even July for batman begins is tough enough.

[Mr. Spiffy-Pants]

Bill,

Thanks for putting up with myself and the other harpies who were upset with the lack of announcements the other day. Thanks for the update as well.

[tosvus]

Bill, thank you so much for today's post. It clarified things a lot, and it looks GREAT!

I found one section interesting, where they talk about Matrix, and how Robin Hood is more likely to be ready early because the 'disc image' is ready. I'm not sure if that means it has been authored (menus), or if you are talking about just the compression. I guess I'm kinda hoping that they are recompressing "Matrix" for Blu-Ray to take advantage of the higher bitrate. There has also been some complaints about the quality of the HDDVD version on forums on the Net. (Though reviews have generally been very positive.)

[DaViD Boulet]

I found one section interesting, where they talk about Matrix, and how Robin Hood is more likely to be ready early because the 'disc image' is ready. I'm not sure if that means it has been authored (menus), or if you are talking about just the compression. I guess I'm kinda hoping that they are recompressing "Matrix" for Blu-Ray to take advantage of the higher bitrate. There has also been some complaints about the quality of the HDDVD version on forums on the Net. (Though reviews have generally been very positive.)

The problem with the Matrix films could also be the quality of the D1. This is a limiting factor for lots of films in the last 10 years that were scanned at 2K in a less than optimal manner for final mastering in digital, and those D1's now in direct HD are pretty lacking in fine detail and naturalness.

[Tok]

Bill,

Just read your update on the bits regarding more Warner BD production.

In addition to lossless audio, I think a great number of us here would like to see Warner maximize their video encodes for the BD system. Warner titles so far while good still have not impressed me as much as some studios that make full use of the extra bandwidth available on BD. The PotC films are good examples of how good titles can look on BD. Lossless audio and great looking highly detailed video.

Please pass it on. There is no reason they have to do a video encode that can also fit on HD DVD after May.

Thanks,
CraigW

[bluseminole]

Originally Posted by Pellaeon

After Warners Blu exclusive announcment we are just chomping at the bits for something exciting

Hahahahaha....no pun intended??

[DaViD Boulet]

Fantastic news in that updated Warner BD info. Just great.

Glad to hear that they're "getting" what we're saying about lossless audio. NO HIGH DEFINITION DISC should be available without LOSSLESS audio. There's no reason. No mater how old the film, and no matter how bad the recording, it will sound better in lossless. Laserdisc collectors already know that all too well.

BTW, About Ben-Hur: I'm both excited and concerned. That last film transfer for the DVD was done in HD but was performed on equipment not properly suited to large-format film which is why the new DVD is so blurry and lacking in fine detail compared to the older DVD which was scanned from 35mm.

Warner needs to re-scan this film on the right gear to get the large-format detail we deserve in 1080p.

Will they? Have they? Bill, can you confirm for us?

thanks!

dave

[blu2]

Bill, in your latest digitalbits post, you said:

For example, those of you who have been upset about the fact that certain key classic (and newer catalog) titles were released on HD-DVD, but still haven't been released on Blu-ray, needn't worry. They're ALL coming to Blu-ray in the months ahead. Think Mutiny on the Bounty, Forbidden Planet, Casablanca, Excalibur, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Grand Prix, V for Vendetta. Yes, all of The Matrix films are coming. The first of these previously HD-DVD exclusive titles hat you're likely to see on Blu-ray very soon is The Adventures of Robin Hood, a title for which the Blu-ray "disc image" is already complete.

Can you qualify, "They're ALL coming to Blu-ray in the months ahead". I would read that as a < 6 month horizon. Otherwise, I would expect to see "year ahead". What was intended?

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by Flux88MPH

Hey Bill,

Will you be attending SXSW 2008 here in Austin next month?

P.S. Have you ever been here before to enjoy our award winning Alamo Drafthouse?

-Dave

I'd love to one of these days, but probably not this year unfortunately.