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

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Woody

I guess I don't get it..............

There is no hidden meaning.
I was simply making an analogy.

For instance, another is that many of the same people (on other forums) that constantly enthusiastically support a complete 4K digital pipeline for film production – (which isn’t necessarily a *bad* thing)………readily emphasize or exaggerate any hiccup or hurdle that the Blu-ray format encounters whether it be in terms of individual studios (Uni, Para) beginning to publish in Blu-ray, BD50 replication, player profiles, etc.

So, it amazes me that some so called home theater “enthusiasts” can be so selective as to their patience, and enthusiastic support for one aspect of technology that has the potential to improve upon “good enough” (2K vs 4K pipelines) but, so impatient and negative in regards to another aspect of technology (Blu-ray) that intends to do the same.

[PeterTHX]

Penton & Bill:

Whether or not Batman Begins was mastered in 2K isn't the issue, it's the fact that it has been softened so much to fit within HD DVD's limitations with an extremely low bitrate. An over 2 hour film + TrueHD + IME + all the extras from the DVD version into 30GB = horribly compressed disc that loses resolution because of the low bitrate.

[Chaka]

Bill, I don't know if this question is too premature since Paramount hasn't annouced their return. I was wondering if possibly heard they plan on reworking any of the titles that were previously released on blu-ray for lossless or BD-live etc?

thanks

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Penton & Bill:

Whether or not Batman Begins was mastered in 2K isn't the issue, it's the fact that it has been softened so much to fit within HD DVD's limitations with an extremely low bitrate. An over 2 hour film + TrueHD + IME + all the extras from the DVD version into 30GB = horribly compressed disc that loses resolution because of the low bitrate.

Peter, my comment above had absolutely nothing to do with Batman Begins.
I was addressing the pseudo “enthusiasts” on some other forums that demonstrate *selective* long-term support/patience to some technological advances (4K digital pipelines) and not to others (Blu-ray). Because you do realize that they indeed read this forum…. whether they like to acknowledge it or not.

In regards to BB, it probably also would have helped a little if the master had been on HDCAM SR rather than D5 in regards to the compressionist’s time and final result on high-def optical disc for it to be as good as it possibly could be.

[PeterTHX]

Ah.
That's what I get for reading while exhausted (been working for 10 days straight).

[elwaylite]

Bill, I saw a few pages back where you stated we would be very pleased when Paramount made their plans known. I have a question for you IF you can answer it.

Cloverfield is now out and this is one I want to buy, should I buy the dvd now or just wait

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by elwaylite

Bill, I saw a few pages back where you stated we would be very pleased when Paramount made their plans known. I have a question for you IF you can answer it.

Cloverfield is now out and this is one I want to buy, should I buy the dvd now or just wait

I would also like to know this lol.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Paramount will be using the same basic guidelines they had before they went HD DVD exclusive, all discs will be optimised to the best standards of each format. So something like the Jack Ryan collection which had the extras cut because of capacity issues should get their mojo back...

We should hear from Paramount any day now.

Anyway, there are more important things at stake for all of the studios. The latest financial crisis has people like me from doing our jobs effectively, and until the credit markets loosen up a bit the actual output from Hollywood will decrease at an alarming rate, or we will see movies get more realistic budgets.

Great info as always Max!

[lgans316]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Paramount will be using the same basic guidelines they had before they went HD DVD exclusive, all discs will be optimised to the best standards of each format. So something like the Jack Ryan collection which had the extras cut because of capacity issues should get their mojo back...

We should hear from Paramount any day now.

Anyway, there are more important things at stake for all of the studios. The latest financial crisis has people like me from doing our jobs effectively, and until the credit markets loosen up a bit the actual output from Hollywood will decrease at an alarming rate, or we will see movies get more realistic budgets.

You are right Maxpower. There are many things to worry about at this stage where jobs are at stake. The sub-prime crisis is much big a problem now than Paramount releasing movies on Blu-ray.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Paramount will be using the same basic guidelines they had before they went HD DVD exclusive, all discs will be optimised to the best standards of each format. So something like the Jack Ryan collection which had the extras cut because of capacity issues should get their mojo back...

We should hear from Paramount any day now.

Anyway, there are more important things at stake for all of the studios. The latest financial crisis has people like me from doing our jobs effectively, and until the credit markets loosen up a bit the actual output from Hollywood will decrease at an alarming rate, or we will see movies get more realistic budgets.

Does the credit crisis significantly affect Blu-ray releases?

[DigitalfreakNYC]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Paramount will be using the same basic guidelines they had before they went HD DVD exclusive, all discs will be optimised to the best standards of each format. So something like the Jack Ryan collection which had the extras cut because of capacity issues should get their mojo back...

We should hear from Paramount any day now.

ok but this confuses me.

Why did Top Gun have no extras on BD or HD?

[WickyWoo]

It didn't have extras on HD DVD for the same reason Jack Ryan didn't. Space issues

[DigitalfreakNYC]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

It didn't have extras on HD DVD for the same reason Jack Ryan didn't. Space issues

You're not understanding. The BD wasn't supposed to either. Why?

[WickyWoo]

You're not understanding. The BD wasn't supposed to either. Why?

Probably because the HD DVD didn't

[WickyWoo]

I think the bottom line is to always remember the golden rule, especially on AAA catalog titles like Top Gun:

They will always want to sell it to you again

[DigitalfreakNYC]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Studio decision not to include extras, it happens all the time.

You said above that HD discs like Jack Ryan had extras cut because of space limitations but now this won't be an issue on BD.

You do realize that each disc had a featurette that totaled MUCH less than a gig of space. Are you saying that each HD DVD was that packed that it wouldn't have allowed for that?

Or is it that it's the studio decision?

I'd just like you to clarify what the reasoning is.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Paramount will be using the same basic guidelines they had before they went HD DVD exclusive, all discs will be optimised to the best standards of each format. So something like the Jack Ryan collection which had the extras cut because of capacity issues should get their mojo back...

We should hear from Paramount any day now.

Anyway, there are more important things at stake for all of the studios. The latest financial crisis has people like me from doing our jobs effectively, and until the credit markets loosen up a bit the actual output from Hollywood will decrease at an alarming rate, or we will see movies get more realistic budgets.

My question was more about the previous titles that they had offered before jumping to HD-dvd. I have noticed from time to time, some Paramount titles are surfacing and at really bargain prices. I wonder at times if they are just clearing these out because perhaps the audio will be remastered with lossless since most of these are all DD. Just a question of the likelihood of this happening.

[DigitalfreakNYC]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Space, the discs were pretty full, and including a single featureatte out of what they promised actually looks worse than none at all.

They never promised more than that. Each disc just had a featurette and a trailer. That's it.

October had a commentary in addition.

I'm not trying to be argumentative. I'm just saying that the extras listed weren't so extensive that they would have broken the bitrate budget...but I guess I'm wrong?

So you're saying that all extras for Paramount are going to be on a case by case basis?

[WickyWoo]

In the end, Paramount aren't even going to sell the HD DVDs they have got for JR, they are just going to sit in a warehouse gathering dust...

Not all of them, I know someone who has one I don't think he's actually watched them though

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by DigitalfreakNYC

They never promised more than that. Each disc just had a featurette and a trailer. That's it.

October had a commentary in addition.

I'm not trying to be argumentative. I'm just saying that the extras listed weren't so extensive that they would have broken the bitrate budget...but I guess I'm wrong?

So you're saying that all extras for Paramount are going to be on a case by case basis?

What was ususual was that up until Top Gun, Paramount was good about putting all the extras from the DVD editions on the HD versions. They even went through the trouble of pressing another disc for Face/Off. The Jack Ryan Collection had been announced as having the SE DVD extras.