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

[Grubert]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

I have a new philosophy concerning re-makes, if they help bring the originals/franchises to BD, it is all good Would we have gotten the day the earth stood still if it was not for the remake? Would we have gotten all the ST stuff if not for the new movie? Terminator came out fast, could a TV series and a movie based on the franchise have helped the cause?

Good point.

Here's hoping for a new adaptation of Hamlet starring Shia LaBeouf as the Prince of Denmark

...if that is what it takes to get Kenneth Branagh's version, I'm all for it.

[JonBidinger]

Jeff, do you know what this new Genius products deal means for the Weinstein Company movies? We know that Inglourious Basterds is at Universal for home video, but does this deal mean we will see BD releases of Halloween 2 and the new edition of Grindhouse Robert Rodriguez was working on by the end of the year? Or indeed other Weinstein catalog titles.

[jaaguir]

Originally Posted by captveg

Well, Dumbo is being released on Blu-ray this February, which will be the first non-Platinum/Diamond Blu-ray release of a catalog animated feature. So it's a start in the right direction.

Thanks for letting us know that. It's certainly a good start.

[Jeff Kleist]

eff, do you know what this new Genius products deal means for the Weinstein Company movies? We know that Inglourious Basterds is at Universal for home video, but does this deal mean we will see BD releases of Halloween 2 and the new edition of Grindhouse Robert Rodriguez was working on by the end of the year? Or indeed other Weinstein catalog titles.

I'm honestly not sure. It all depends on whether they have deals in place that goes along with the sale (Weinstein needed to raise capital) that the distributor will finance those discs. I wouldn't be suprised if they end up selling the rest of the company to Universal down the line. Especially since they missed out on Dreamworks

[Robert Siegel]

Originally Posted by captveg

Well, Dumbo is being released on Blu-ray this February, which will be the first non-Platinum/Diamond Blu-ray release of a catalog animated feature. So it's a start in the right direction.

It is a good start, but I am put off that Disney is not releasing their other films. Mary Poppins received a 45th Anniversary edition this year on DVD, no Blu-ray. Bedknobs and Broomsticks received a special edition released this last Tuesday (though most content was the same as the last anniversary edition DVD), no Blu-ray. I would love to have these 2 films on Blu!

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I'm honestly not sure. It all depends on whether they have deals in place that goes along with the sale (Weinstein needed to raise capital) that the distributor will finance those discs. I wouldn't be suprised if they end up selling the rest of the company to Universal down the line. Especially since they missed out on Dreamworks

Im still amazed how that happened. I just would have given anything to see the look on Katzenburg's* face when that happened. How upset is Universal at Spielberg for how that went down?


*Yes, I am aware that Disney does NOT own Dreamworks Animation.

[Beast]

Originally Posted by mntwister

It is a good start, but I am put off that Disney is not releasing their other films. Mary Poppins received a 45th Anniversary edition this year on DVD, no Blu-ray. Bedknobs and Broomsticks received a special edition released this last Tuesday (though most content was the same as the last anniversary edition DVD), no Blu-ray. I would love to have these 2 films on Blu!

I feel the same way. It's kinda sad that they haven't been putting these releases out on Blu-Ray. I've been torn on a lot of releases, whether I want to wait and hope they'll eventually release 'em.... or get them now on DVD. I'm still waiting right now, we'll see how I hold out when I see some good sales on some of those releases. Hopefully next year will be bigger for Disney Blu. The only things I'm still getting on DVD are TV Shows.

[NoQuestion]

Is there really any reason why Disney skipped on the 45th anniversary of Marry Poppins?

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by Beast

I feel the same way. It's kinda sad that they haven't been putting these releases out on Blu-Ray. I've been torn on a lot of releases, whether I want to wait and hope they'll eventually release 'em.... or get them now on DVD. I'm still waiting right now, we'll see how I hold out when I see some good sales on some of those releases. Hopefully next year will be bigger for Disney Blu. The only things I'm still getting on DVD are TV Shows.

I still have my ancient non-anamorphic Mary Poppins DVD. Much as it pains me, I won't buy again unless there is a blu-ray edition. The recent DVD-only release frustrated me to no end.

[jaaguir]

Originally Posted by NoQuestion

Is there really any reason why Disney skipped on the 45th anniversary of Marry Poppins?

Apparently classics are not selling, and maybe old Disney movies are suffering that fate too. Although one would think they should be more popular. I share the frustration with all you guys. I guess it's considered too early on the format's life.

Jeff, the coming release of the Clone Wars TV-series reminded me that when I was a child in the 80's, I used to watch a Star Wars related cartoon on TV, and looking up the Imdb, I guess it's "Droids".

How come this isn't available, not even on dvd? I mean, nowadays it feels like there's no TV show ever produced that's not on dvd.

[Robert Siegel]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

I still have my ancient non-anamorphic Mary Poppins DVD. Much as it pains me, I won't buy again unless there is a blu-ray edition. The recent DVD-only release frustrated me to no end.

I hear you there. I picked up the 40th anniversary edition, it's a great restoration and I saw the 45th and some improvements were made, plus I heard (and it's obvious from listening to the film) that the original music stems were re-mixed into the film, so there's no reason I can think of to skip a high-def release.

All I can say is to call and write, I've been doing it monthly:

Walt Disney Home Entertainment
500 S. Buena Vista St.
Burbank, CA 91521
CA Tel. 818-560-1000

Funny, I did get one response that said Disney does not accept outside suggestions and ideas. I was quite surprised, because you would think a studio would like to know what their customers want, but alas that isn't how it works.

[Robert Siegel]

Originally Posted by jaaguir

Apparently classics are not selling, and maybe old Disney movies are suffering that fate too. Although one would think they should be more popular. I share the frustration with all you guys. I guess it's considered too early on the format's life.

I too have heard classics are not selling all that well, but Mary Poppins is a huge Disney title. Plus, I have always argued and feel very strongly about this: how do these studios expect people to buy into the Blu-ray format that are fans of classics and in the older demos (older than teens and 20's) if there isn't a sufficient supply of titles for them to choose from? It has to start somewhere! Releasing Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind in $80.00 editions is not helping any, especially since if you look at Amazon UK and Germany, they are releasing 2 disc Blu-ray sets there of both titles for under $30 each (converted to US dollars). Treating the top classics like the laserdisc format did with boxes at high prices as the only option is lethal to Blu-ray acceptance of classics in my opinion. Many people already own sets of these on DVD and may just want the film in high-def and many simply cannot afford to pay $60-80 yet again. Then, they will go and say classics aren't selling. Makes no sense to me. I understand that these transfers are very expensive, I know that..and I am sure the studios will make more on the $60-80 range than a $30 release, but there's also the possibility of more profit from selling higher quantities of a lower-priced edition.

[captveg]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

That would be de-interlaced, not upscaled

Yes. Got my terminology swapped.

[AnimeOnBlu]

Jeff I have to ask. Bill is saying Leon will include the theatrical cut only. The news release from a week ago said both cuts. What is going on with Leon? Did Sony suddenly change their mind?

[Jeff Kleist]

probably two different people writing things. Penton could most easily confirm it probably. Studio PR divisions are incredibly overloaded this time of year. Answer windows are typically measured in weeks

BTW Defying Gravity isn't cancelled, they're holding back the final installments, probably until something else bombs.

I doubt ABC will continue at the current level of financing for a second season, but who knows, if it does well in Canada and Europe it may be enough to save it. The good thing about US network co-production/less financing is that more complex shows have a much better chance of surviving because more people have a say from more diverse backgrounds. Angel would not have been cancelled if WB didn't hold its fate solely in its hands for example.

I do hope the filmmakers had the brains to assume from the getgo they'd be cancelled too. Noone with a genre show, unless they have in-hand renewel contracts should ever do a cliffhanger ending. In fact they should skip them in general because they're simply annoying

[FourToedStatue]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

It's Warner Bros now, and not any time soon, though theyve talked about the possibility of some Looney Toons happening

Of course they'd like sales to be bigger, but everyone in general is happy

The only people who seem to be unhappy with Blus performance are those shoving them on the shelves at SRP with poor sale discounts and wondering why they're not doing so well

I'd love to see The Golden Collection in HD or unreleased additional shorts in SD.

[MerrickG]

Jeff,

Why no early reviews on the TNG boxset?

Let me guess....they've been delayed, too...

[phansson]

Jeff,

Has the BDA made Paramount mad? The ads for "monsters vs. aliens" doesn't mention Blu Ray at all (at least the ads I have seen) and it looks like they are going to release Transformers 2 on SD DVD two weeks before the Blu Ray release.

What gives?

[Jeff Kleist]

Jeff,

Why no early reviews on the TNG boxset?

Let me guess....they've been delayed, too...

No one has received a copy from Paramount yet. Early reports from those who have gotten them through retail channels is that they're pretty much the same, but better due to newer vintage.

Has the BDA made Paramount mad? The ads for "monsters vs. aliens" doesn't mention Blu Ray at all (at least the ads I have seen) and it looks like they are going to release Transformers 2 on SD DVD two weeks before the Blu Ray release.

Well, we all know it took Katzenberg a $100 million bribe to get interested in HD, but I couldn't tell you why they're not advertising the Blu. Where are you reading about Transformers? I'm bettting whatever it is is a typo, it makes zero sense, I'd even go with anti-sense, to launch DVD before Blu.

[jd213]

The Best Buy ad says they both come out 10/20: http://www.allspark.com/forums/index...howtopic=62418