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

[NoQuestion]

Jeff/Bill,

Have you guys come across the special features that will be on the turtle movies? I am with beast on this one, I really hope NL/WB gave these a decent set of features.

[bluskies]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

There are no Wizard of Oz 1-discs scheduled, nor any of the other super deluxe classic titles

Classic titles, as we keep saying just aren't selling that well on Blu-ray. WB is hoping that by offering a premium package they can sell at prices that make more sense economically (bigger margins) while maintaining the quality you expect

There may be foreign editions in Europe like Casablanca that are disc only. Personally I think the prices are too high for what I'm willing to pay as well, but I can't argue that it's a beautiful package

Jeff, I sent an email to Bill earlier today asking if he could check with the studio about one thing. On some sites, they list the documentary "MGM: When the Lion Roars" as being exclusive to the Blu-ray set. But it doesn't seem likely it would be the full doc, since that runs 6 hours. WB once before said the doc would be on a particular film's DVD or Blu release but all it was was a few minutes excerpt about that particular title.

Can you check on this?

Thanks.

[varmintx]

Is there any chance they'll remove the distracting, and now outdated, Bill Clinton composite from Contact?

[Michael.Schinke]

Hey Jeff, any truth to the rumor that an HD test episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation was done to assess the viability of producing a Hi Def version of that program?

[Jeff Kleist]

Sorry nothing on Turtles, they are almost certainly saving those details for Comic-Con.

Hey Jeff, any truth to the rumor that an HD test episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation was done to assess the viability of producing a Hi Def version of that program?

Yes and no. It's certainly been investigated and maybe a few materials produced and tests done. An entire episode done from scratch to HD? Not to my knowlege.

If you want TNG in HD/Blu-ray, I can't emphasize more: Buy ST:TOS on Blu and make sure that your cable box, and especially Nielsen box is tuned to ST:TOS Remastered on your broadcast stations.

The box office on JJTrek can only help the cause as well.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Sorry nothing on Turtles, they are almost certainly saving those details for Comic-Con.



Yes and no. It's certainly been investigated and maybe a few materials produced and tests done. An entire episode done from scratch to HD? Not to my knowlege.

If you want TNG in HD/Blu-ray, I can't emphasize more: Buy ST:TOS on Blu and make sure that your cable box, and especially Nielsen box is tuned to ST:TOS Remastered on your broadcast stations.

The box office on JJTrek can only help the cause as well.

It'll be here in 2 months so not too worried about it. Will definitely be grabbing Turtles day 1, SO glad I didn't get TMNT before the set was announced.

[Indyjones]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

There are no Wizard of Oz 1-discs scheduled, nor any of the other super deluxe classic titles

Classic titles, as we keep saying just aren't selling that well on Blu-ray. WB is hoping that by offering a premium package they can sell at prices that make more sense economically (bigger margins) while maintaining the quality you expect

There may be foreign editions in Europe like Casablanca that are disc only. Personally I think the prices are too high for what I'm willing to pay as well, but I can't argue that it's a beautiful package

But aren't they just making things worse by only offering up one option, and an expensive one at that? I'm sure this set will be great, along the Casablanca and GWTW sets, but these are different times financially. The economy is in the crapper, so there are going to be quite a few fans who want The Wizard of Oz on blu, but just can't simply afford the $60+ price tag. Then there are others, including myself, who just want the film itself.

I'm sure there are many factors into why the classics aren't selling on blu, but I think maybe part of the reason, at least for the three I mentioned above, is because they're only offered in the expensive sets only, which might actually be hurting sales, because fans either don't have the funds for these extensive sets, or don't want the trinckets and other goodies that come with them. Not to mention storage space. So they may be trying to gain bigger margains, but they're losing sales at the same time.

I think this is a bad move WB's part, especially with the economy the way it is today. Jeff, any other insight as to why the DVD get's a more basic release on top of the UCE and not blu-ray, besides what you've stated?

[Jeff Kleist]

But aren't they just making things worse by only offering up one option, and an expensive one at that? I'm sure this set will be great, along the Casablanca and GWTW sets, but these are different times financially. The economy is in the crapper, so there are going to be quite a few fans who want The Wizard of Oz on blu, but just can't simply afford the $60+ price tag. Then there are others, including myself, who just want the film itself.

Historically no, the hardcores who already have Blu-ray, not enough people will refuse to buy it at the current price, and most of them do enjoy the premium packaging and geegaws. I know I do

The market for classic films isn't there until you hit critical mass for those who were 35 and under when they were released. We simply aren't there for a lot of these films, and movies like Wizard of Oz get 10x the play in the nursery they do on the main TV (again, this forum is not a representative sample of the mass market when it comes to these things )

DVD has had Oz out what, 3 times now? And it's a mature market. Blu-ray isn't even mostly out of ther early adopter phase and won't be until we start hitting 30% penetration or so, that's the critical milestone in my experience that opens floodgates.

[The Big Blue]

DVDtown has posted a pr (link) which shows a 1-disc Blu.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by The Big Blue

DVDtown has posted a pr (link) which shows a 1-disc Blu.

Will North By Northwest enjoy such an option?

[Jeff Kleist]

There is no 1-disc in WB's database, I just checked

And last I checked with WB, there will be one "in the future", but not now

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

There is no 1-disc in WB's database, I just checked

And last I checked with WB, there will be one "in the future", but not now

Yeah, I've been skeptical since DVDTown is the only outlet that seems to have received this version of the press release and some of the wording on it is kind of funky (no MSRP listed, etc.). Was someone at DVDTown just making wishful "corrections" to the release, identifying a product Warner surely meant to include?

[Jeff Kleist]

Probably a typo/earlier version

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

And last I checked with WB, there will be one "in the future", but not now

So, maybe if a standard release of Casablanca ever shows up, we can judge the release time-frame to get an idea of when to expect the standard releases of these other box-victims.

All we need to do is wait for that standard Casablanca...



Tick... tick... tick... tick... tick... tick... tick... tick... tick... tick...

[cjamescook]

Originally Posted by cjamescook

There is one appropriate "shakey cam" scene (that I know of) in a Stanley Kubrick movie.
For today's trivia test, name the movie and the scene. Extra points if you can explain the director's intent.

Hmmm... Sorry that this piqued no one's interest.

Answers:

Movie: 2001: A Space Odyssey
Scene: Astronauts descend into the excavation pit of the monolith found on the moon.
Director's intent: Kubrick wanted to give the feel of "home movies" being shot by an astronaut tourist visiting the excavation site.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by cjamescook

Hmmm... Sorry that this piqued no one's interest.

Yeah, that Kubrick guy's a hack.

[captveg]

I believe he also used handheld in 2001 when Dave Bowman is walking towards the memory center to disable HAL (along with emphasized heavy breathing).

[Indyjones]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

There is no 1-disc in WB's database, I just checked

And last I checked with WB, there will be one "in the future", but not now

If the UCE has the film in a sperate keepcase, I might bite. That's my main sticking point, other than the price is a little more than I want to pay. Oddly, this will be my first time owning Oz on DVD/Blu.

[cjamescook]

Originally Posted by captveg

I believe he also used handheld in 2001 when Dave Bowman is walking towards the memory center to disable HAL...

Not sure about that.

I do know that he intentionally used odd camera angles ("Dutching", per Penton) when filming scenes shot on the bridge of the ship going to Jupiter. This is not to be confused with scenes in the "space wheel" part.

[Michael.Schinke]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Sorry nothing on Turtles, they are almost certainly saving those details for Comic-Con.



Yes and no. It's certainly been investigated and maybe a few materials produced and tests done. An entire episode done from scratch to HD? Not to my knowlege.

If you want TNG in HD/Blu-ray, I can't emphasize more: Buy ST:TOS on Blu and make sure that your cable box, and especially Nielsen box is tuned to ST:TOS Remastered on your broadcast stations.

The box office on JJTrek can only help the cause as well.

Speaking of which, any chatter coming from the suits at Paramount about how they think the Blu-ray sets are doing in the wake of the new films massively undeserved success?