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

[Doctorossi]

I'd love a Universal update, too, but I'm looking for Rear Window and Vertigo.

[NoQuestion]

Originally Posted by Stalker

I second the idea to address Universal's plans. I've been eagerly awaiting Children of Men and Hot Fuzz since HD DVD's demise. I'd love to hear if there's any new developments or announcements forthcoming.

Thanks!

I agree as well that a rumor mill article should be done.

However, Jeff has said at least once in here that Universal is keeping everything hush hush over there. I personally think it is silly and they should be showing some of the cards in their hand. Obviously they aren't sitting idol on the sideline. Hopefully they give a nice big press release about their upcoming titles, maybe even a "this is what is coming this summer....". Don't forget that in their early releases the sheet of paper showed 3 sandler comedies that still has yet to release, I hope those are close to the top of the list.

[Living Near Shamu]

Universal is playing hard to get with us.

[Slec]

Originally Posted by Living Near Shamu

Universal is playing hard to get with us.

And everyone keeps asking about them. Sounds like their plan is working!

[NoQuestion]

Originally Posted by Slec

And everyone keeps asking about them. Sounds like their plan is working!

So either they are planning something big or they are just unsure when they will get stuff out

[Eastkhan]

Hi, first time here, been enjoying the forum for quite some time though.

Excellent contributions by Digital Bits team, as well as some posters who have imho enough knowledge to be considered insiders themselves

I right now have questions about BDs from UK, since I buy most of them there, amazon.co.uk has the best deals for me.

There are some big titles missing, like
Casablanca, Day the Earth Stood Still, The Omen, Romancing the Stone, Die Hard with a Vengeance, Descent, American Psycho, Akira...

Jeff/Bill do you know why these titles although some are even released in EU (fox titles or Casablanca), are still not released in UK & if these titles will soon be coming out?

American Psycho's dvd was on EiV, though who's gonna release the BD?
same with Akira & Die Hard with...

Thank you & hope I didnt bore with my first post

[Jeff Kleist]

Whoever releases the DVD will do the Blu-ray

Die Hard with a Vengance is owned by Disney in the UK, you can get it from Australia Region B tho.

Manga UK owns Akira there, and it's up to them if/when they want to release it, and more importantly if they want to pay Bandai for their materials

I don't know specific ownership on a lot of those titles outside of the US, but Warner often delays the classics overseas

[Eastkhan]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Whoever releases the DVD will do the Blu-ray

Die Hard with a Vengance is owned by Disney in the UK, you can get it from Australia Region B tho.

Manga UK owns Akira there, and it's up to them if/when they want to release it, and more importantly if they want to pay Bandai for their materials

I don't know specific ownership on a lot of those titles outside of the US, but Warner often delays the classics overseas

Thank you very much.

one interesting thing is, some like Casablanca (warner) or Romancing (fox, actually a lot from fox) are already released in EU yet remain unreleased in UK. Guess have to get them from germany or france.

[phansson]

Hey Jeff/Bill,

I just noticed a new post in the movie section. It showed a link to a box set exclusive on the Best Buy website. Quantum of Solace/License to kill/Man with the golden gun to be released on the 24th of this month.

My local store says that it is all ready available. Is this a glitch?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....p=1&id=1956948

[Jeff Kleist]

Probably, or they already have the stock in

All I know is that mine haven't shown up yet, and neither have Bill's when I talked to him yesterday, but Fox stuff is always on the slow boat, and living on the east coast, everything takes a week to get here

[Pirate King]

Thanks to this forum, I have discovered Digitalbits. How in the world did I miss out on that outstanding website for so long? Anyway, it is a great site. I was up until the wee hours the other night reading. Thank you very much.

[4K2K]

If all Blu-ray titles were encoded so that Resume Play worked on every disc, exactly what other features, from a consumer perspective, wouldn't be achievable on the disc?

And because the quality of the picture and sound on a Blu-ray disc is much better than with digital downloads, why do the studios seem to be promoting BD-Live stuff so much these days? Why aren't they focusing more on extra features and content that can be put onto the BD disc or second BD disc which can be played at any time, instead of focusing on BD-Live internet extras?

[Jeff Kleist]

If all Blu-ray titles were encoded so that Resume Play worked on every disc, exactly what other features, from a consumer perspective, wouldn't be achievable on the disc?

Anything outside of basic menus or standard DVD style features

And because the quality of the picture and sound on a Blu-ray disc is much better than with digital downloads, why do the studios seem to be promoting BD-Live stuff so much these days? Why aren't they focusing more on extra features and content that can be put onto the BD disc or second BD disc which can be played at any time, instead of focusing on BD-Live internet extras?

Because it's something that completely can't be done with DVD, and it's a portal to their other advertising. They'll start doing stuff like games are doing in the future, throwing up new content every once in awhile to keep you engaged

[Living Near Shamu]

Originally Posted by phansson

Hey Jeff/Bill,

I was just noticed a new post in the movie section. It showed a link to a box set exclusive on the Best Buy website. Quantum of Solace/License to kill/Man with the golden gun to be released on the 24th of this month.

My local store says that it is all ready available. Is this a glitch?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....p=1&id=1956948

Mine says the same thing. Have you tried to order it and pick it up yet?

[neo_reloaded]

This might be outside your sphere of knowledge since the studio is so small, but any idea of Tokyo Shock / Media Blaster's Ichi The Killer BD is still set for release? It's been pulled from all online retailers I know of, except for Amazon.com which still seems to have it for pre-order. I'm wondering if it's been delayed, and Amazon just hasn't updated yet, or if it's going Amazon.com timed exclusive like some other smaller studio titles lately.

[Jeff Kleist]

Yeah, I know someone over at Media Blasters. When I saw them last month though, they weren't bullish on Blu-ray future for them at the moment (simply a money thing, they aren't a huge company by any means)

All those BB things mean is that they have the discs in the store

[Musashi]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Whoever releases the DVD will do the Blu-ray

Manga UK owns Akira there, and it's up to them if/when they want to release it, and more importantly if they want to pay Bandai for their materials

Hey Jeff,

On the above note, Manga distributed Perfect Blue in the US, and as I understand a blu-ray edition came out in Japan. Theoretically, could Manga get ahold of the same master discs, add a translation, and release it here?

Bill: Great dropping into you always; I myself work a full time job and study for exams about 15 hours a week, so I don't blame you for being busy.

[Jeff Kleist]

Manga US is owned by Starz, the parent company sold them several years ago

There's a chance, but I wouldn't hold my breath on anything from Manga US. The way their licenses are expiring on them, it seems that Ghost in the Shell is the only thing really keeping their doors open these days

They will be putting out GITS 2.0 later this year

[neo_reloaded]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Yeah, I know someone over at Media Blasters. When I saw them last month though, they weren't bullish on Blu-ray future for them at the moment (simply a money thing, they aren't a huge company by any means)

All those BB things mean is that they have the discs in the store

When you get a chance, could you ask them if the title they did already announce is still coming?

[JJ79]

Hey Jeff,

I spun the new Gulliver's Travels DVD this past week and found the aspect ratio 100% wrong. Doing my research, other people have seen the same thing. My blog review of it attracted some attention from North Hampton Partners and I've been corresponding with Peter Rosenberg over there. (Links to all the e-mails are included here.) I know it's a TON of reading for an obscure and ultimately forgettable release, but I was wondering if you'd chime in on it here.

Thanks!
Jason