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

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by lgans316

Jeff / Bill,

Any idea on whether MGM will release the greatest ever cartoon series made, Tom and Jerry ?

Maybe, but not right away. Watch for Classic Warner and Disney toons first.

Do you think Blu-ray has really satisfied the Studios in terms of mass penetration and sales ? What are the titles on Blu-ray, you think have reaped solid revenue to the Studios ?

Yes. Mostly new releases, though I hear Blade Runner did VERY well.

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by thebluemax

I would like to see some of the big epic films released on BD.

El Cid
Khartoum
Wind and the Lion
Ben-Hur
Ten Commandments

Any of these or other epics in the pipeline?

Ben-Hur and Ten Commandments are both in the pipeline. No word on the others yet...

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by bluskies

Bill, I appreciate that you will check on the question of the documentary "MGM: When the Lion Roars" on the Wizard of Oz Blu-set. And, yes, it was recently released on its own as a 3 DVD set, running just over 6 hours. That's why I find it hard to believe they are going to include the full documentary here. I mean, I would love it if they did, but I can't imagine them doing it. I truly believe it will be just a few minutes clip about Oz from the documentary.

Okay, MGM: When the Lion Roars WILL be in the Blu-ray box set as an exclusive - all 6 hours on 3 DVDs. They're basically just including the original DVD release in the box. That's confirmed directly with Ronnee Sass at WHV.

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by Esox50

I get your point, but Gladiator and Titanic have a few differences to Bond:
1.)Gladiator and Titanic were both Best Picture winners
2.)for some reason the perception online is among the HD demographic (young to middle aged males) is that older movies (like many of the Bond movies) don't benefit much from HD.

The other issue is, it was only a few years ago that these new "ultimate" edition DVDs were released, so it's a tough sell to ask Bond fans to re-buy them all again on Blu-ray, great though they are.

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

Bill,

I'd like to thank you for talking about the Smart Strips on your website around Earth Day a couple of months ago, as I've already gotten two of them, plan on getting more, and have already told others about them who intend on giving them a try as well.

A fantastic product which I might never have known existed if you haven't brought it up.

Thanks!

~Alan

Glad you like them, Alan. They're amazing, aren't they? They work well, and the saved energy really adds up. I understand Ed Begley, Jr. pretty well now - I've gotten to be a major energy miser. Speaking of which, I'm driving my Ford Escape Hybrid, smiling like crazy every time I get 45 MPG in an SUV. Which is almost every trip.

[Eternal_Sunshine]

Originally Posted by thebluemax

I would like to see some of the big epic films released on BD.

El Cid
Khartoum
Wind and the Lion
Ben-Hur
Ten Commandments

Any of these or other epics in the pipeline?

http://www.amazon.de/El-Cid-Deluxe-D...5050608&sr=8-1

[almy]

If this has already neem asked, please forfive me for repeating.......Like many here, I am anxious for the ALIEN titles to be released on BLU, although I was never big on the last one (RESURRECTION). In the last set I bought on Regular DVD, they has added many cut scenes to ALIEN 3 but didn't even attempt to do decent audio to match. Any idea how they are going to handle that on the Blu release?

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

I hear Blade Runner did VERY well.

That is the most musical, musicy, musicesque, musicish, bemusiced music of any musicaliciously musicated music ever, to my ears.*








* not that it surprises me

[bluskies]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

Okay, MGM: When the Lion Roars WILL be in the Blu-ray box set as an exclusive - all 6 hours on 3 DVDs. They're basically just including the original DVD release in the box. That's confirmed directly with Ronnee Sass at WHV.

Hi, Bill,

Thanks for the great news! I will sell my DVD set, then. (So the 3 DVDs will be in there -actual DVDs - and not on a Blu-ray disc, correct?)

[Jeff Kleist]

If this has already neem asked, please forfive me for repeating.......Like many here, I am anxious for the ALIEN titles to be released on BLU, although I was never big on the last one (RESURRECTION). In the last set I bought on Regular DVD, they has added many cut scenes to ALIEN 3 but didn't even attempt to do decent audio to match. Any idea how they are going to handle that on the Blu release?

In many cases the audio doesn't exist except as on-set raw takes. I don't think anyone wants to even think about doing ADR unless David Fincher is involved, which I know everyone hopes he eventually will be. Not to mention the huge expense

http://www.amazon.de/El-Cid-Deluxe-D...5050608&sr=8-1

Wwell, I hope for everyone's sake that's region free, because Weinstein won't be doing it. They barely have the capital to get their theatrical films out right now among other things

[Tok]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Too true, but Goldfinger is hardly a dreg. When I say "not as well", I mean in general, across the entire franchise, even the good ones At this point I'd even wager that they'll hold Goldeneye till Craig3. Such a shame because I'm pretty sure the disc is done.

I completely agree that the SRPs on them is too high, that's why you've been seeing so many sales in the $10-15 range. MGM did spend a small fortune restoring the films, and thus far the sales have not justified a reduction in what they're charging.

Frankly I think more of the problem is that the younger demo isn't interested in older movies as much, and that combined with the fact that the DVDs are running as low as $4-5 each isn't helping. You're absolutely right that the "old movies can't be HD" myth is alive and well, and the whole industry needs to work better on getting that message across. Having some a/b demos at the start of must-have films will certainly help

Gladiator is only 10 years old, and Titancic has giant cross appeal, especially on the Wife Acceptance Factor

The other thing hurting Bond I think are too many SKUs and the lack of consistency in the retail world. Standard Blu case/steelbook/Volumes/Unofficial Best Buy volume.

I have already purchased the first three official volumes, but the last two releases, TMWTGG and LTK, were only available in the unofficial volume with QOS which I already purchased. I know other people upset that the last two I mentioned were not released as steelbooks to my knowledge. I am starting to regret my purchase of the volumes due to the fact MGM might change packaging to something like the unofficial BB volume or they might do away with the volumes completely. MGM should realize that these titles currently appeal to a collectors market and that is probably going to be the case for many of the older Bonds anymore. Collectors like consistency in related items in their collections.

It would be nice if MGM inform the Bond BD buyers what their plans are from this point going forward. Are the volumes/steelbooks going to continue? Are the Daniel Craig films going to be part of the volumes or will they just cover Connery through Brosnan?

[Jeff Kleist]

Steelbooks are retail premiums and not official MGM product

It's up to the retailers if they are to continue

The Quantum 3pack is the same deal, a retail exclusive.

I've always been an advocate of not changing packaging in mid-stream, or offering previous purchasers a way to order the new version. Unfortunately it often falls on deaf ears, or the person you're dealing with leaves the company and the whole thing goes to pot (that happened with stargate sg-1)

[Holographic]

Originally Posted by merrick97

I want those films more than anyone. They would be at the top of my list.

I get the feeling that they might get pushed back to allow Cameron more time to be involved with Aliens.

Well that wait could take forever.

They may release ALIEN (30th this year if I'm not mistaken) and ALIENS (this year AVATAR will be released, another Cameron directed film with Sigourney Weaver starring) this year. Boxset will surface if the talked prequel sees the daylight or some other time.

I'm only guessing.

[horseflesh]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

Okay, MGM: When the Lion Roars WILL be in the Blu-ray box set as an exclusive - all 6 hours on 3 DVDs. They're basically just including the original DVD release in the box. That's confirmed directly with Ronnee Sass at WHV.

That is good news.
But......I still won't bite when only the Ultimate Edition is available.
Was Ronnee able to tell you anything about the packaging? If the discs are going to be packaged in keep cases housed within the big box I actually would purchase it and just throw the other crap out.
Is there any way you can find out?

[Nemesis_Enforcer]

Does anyone know if other companies will be following in WB's footsteps with their own Red2Blu type deal or should I just go ahead and replace the remainder of my HD-DVDs?

[FourToedStatue]

I think the Bond films should have been released as a complete set then released individually.

[Nick Graham]

With the Weinstein's being in so much financial trouble, why in the world have they not released Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair on DVD and Blu yet? I was watching Volume 2 on TV the other night, and it tempted me greatly to purchase the BDs, but since TWC keeps teasing this megacut, I have always held off.

Any chance the uncut docs Charlie put together for Alien3 will be included on the Quadrilogy set for Blu, instead of the sanitized versions we got on the standard def set?

[Nemesis_Enforcer]

I agree. I hate the mixed up boxsets too. Have them in order.

[Jeff Kleist]

With the Weinstein's being in so much financial trouble, why in the world have they not released Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair on DVD and Blu yet? I was watching Volume 2 on TV the other night, and it tempted me greatly to purchase the BDs, but since TWC keeps teasing this megacut, I have always held off.

Because it's not going to generate the kind of revenue they would need. I'm sure the plan, at least orginally was to release it with QT's next film, in this case Basterds

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Myself I await final judgement until I see the 30 minutes that are missing, which I suspect is where all the character development went to get the running time down.

Do you know yet if those 30 minutes will only be avaiable as bonus material, or if they will be incorporated as a directors/extended cut? I would love to see a directors/extended cut.

Thank you.