Sympathy For Mr Vengeance / Lady Vengeance (HMV Exclusives)

[Hugh K. David]

Hey guys,

Sorry I haven't logged in all week, been working on exactly what you guys are seeing now. So, here's the thing:

a) I'm spending most of my time on production coordination, so I'm as personally involved as I can be in making these Blus happen;
b) We've now hired a well-known PR firm to handle announcements, press releases, and Web 2.0 including social networks and forums, so I'll be in here a lot less;
c) HMV were a leetle early with the pre-orders; actual press releases about the titles will be out early next week. I'll pop back in then and answer any questions not answered by those.

Just thought I'd say, it's been amazing learning about Blu-rays from the inside of the process - but it's also been challenging and very exhausting. I have a lot more respect for all the people who work on releases in this format - it's definitely more complex than DVD manufacture, and the degree of skill used in authoring, particularly as it relates to compression, is something we should all respect a lot more. Like great athletes, one has to be impressed by those who can do, especially when not one of them.

[demoni]

Originally Posted by Hugh K. David

Hey guys,

Sorry I haven't logged in all week, been working on exactly what you guys are seeing now. So, here's the thing:

a) I'm spending most of my time on production coordination, so I'm as personally involved as I can be in making these Blus happen;
b) We've now hired a well-known PR firm to handle announcements, press releases, and Web 2.0 including social networks and forums, so I'll be in here a lot less;
c) HMV were a leetle early with the pre-orders; actual press releases about the titles will be out early next week. I'll pop back in then and answer any questions not answered by those.

Just thought I'd say, it's been amazing learning about Blu-rays from the inside of the process - but it's also been challenging and very exhausting. I have a lot more respect for all the people who work on releases in this format - it's definitely more complex than DVD manufacture, and the degree of skill used in authoring, particularly as it relates to compression, is something we should all respect a lot more. Like great athletes, one has to be impressed by those who can do, especially when not one of them.

+1 Thanks for bringing us great movies on Blu-ray!!

[Eureka Entertainment]

Originally Posted by Hugh K. David

Just thought I'd say, it's been amazing learning about Blu-rays from the inside of the process - but it's also been challenging and very exhausting. I have a lot more respect for all the people who work on releases in this format - it's definitely more complex than DVD manufacture, and the degree of skill used in authoring, particularly as it relates to compression, is something we should all respect a lot more. Like great athletes, one has to be impressed by those who can do, especially when not one of them.

I'll totally second what Hugh said here. Producing a Blu-ray is a lot more hard work than it sounds, and the guys that actually author it need a massive pat on the back.

[Braktastic]

Any word of the region coding of these titles. HMV shipped out my pre-order of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance today, and I realized I forgot to verify this beforehand. I was just so excited about its release I forgot myself.

[Hugh K. David]

Hi Paul,

Already replied to you in the Tale of Two Sisters thread - sorry, but all region B-locked.

[The Driver]

Originally Posted by Eureka Entertainment

I'll totally second what Hugh said here. Producing a Blu-ray is a lot more hard work than it sounds, and the guys that actually author it need a massive pat on the back.

Perhaps, but it's all about vision and funding. I bought your excellent Bad Boy Bubby and it's a joy to see such care and attention in bringing that to the market. It's down to a lot of people but I reckon the biggest claim for applause goes to the person who has the vision to sell the film to the most people possible (ie buyers who want special care and time taken). Criterion have gotten it right for over a decade. I wish every small distributor would have that vision (and financing of course).

Small distributors/rights owners have bought and own for a short period an asset which people will want so make it as attractive as possible. I will pay for the vision. If you realese crap it'll end up in a petrol station £3.99 bucket next to CDs by Boy George. I don't see Criterion discs like that.

I don't think Tartan ever made much money but I did like their film (cinema) distribution. Every Tartan DVD I ever owned was rather poor and usually dire. Hopefully things will change with the new owners and the advent of Bluray. If you don't provide good product we'll shop somewhere else.

Good luck with these releases and I'll be first in the queue to buy them if you do a good job.And please -a great annoyance of Bluray fans- let people review your product ie send out review discs or we'll not know = no sale.

[The Driver]

Originally Posted by The Driver

2 definite buys for me but not at £18. £10 will do me fine.

I'll just add to that, I happily paid £17 for my 6 -so far- Criterion Blurays and should Tartan cough up similarly high product I shall be happy to pay more than £10. I need to be impressed however.

[maynard]

Originally Posted by The Driver

I'll just add to that, I happily paid £17 for my 6 -so far- Criterion Blurays and should Tartan cough up similarly high product I shall be happy to pay more than £10. I need to be impressed however.

I thought all criterion were US locked. Am I wrong?

[The Driver]

Originally Posted by maynard

I thought all criterion were US locked. Am I wrong?

Yes. Region A doesn't just cover the USA.

And any PC Bluray/DVDROM can be set to any Region (Bluray or DVD). That's limited to 5 times usually but I have 2 and one is set to A and the other is B. Or simply reset the registry.

You can't 'lock' someone out of a movie.

[RainyDog]

Received my A Tale of Two Sisters, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Lady Vengeance blu's today and can confirm that all 3 are definitely locked to Region B.

Will follow up with some comments on quality shortly, but can report for now that all 3 have 16bit DTS-MA tracks with A Tale of Two Sisters also sporting a TrueHD track. The video of the latter also seems to be flagged as 1080i@29.97fps where as the other two are 1080p@23.976fps. Hopefully it's only incorrectly flagged and actually 1080p@23.976fps with pulldown, but I'll have a proper look at it later and confirm.

[Q?]

How the hell did I miss this?
I'll definitely get Sympathy and Lady ASAP.
Complete the revenge trilogy!

[styl3s]

What is so exclusive about? special editions? steelbooks? you can import these from asian sites

[Blodskur]

Originally Posted by styl3s

What is so exclusive about? special editions? steelbooks? you can import these from asian sites

Exclusive, as in, you can't buy them from other British retailers.

[styl3s]

Originally Posted by Blodskur

Exclusive, as in, you can't buy them from other British retailers.

i came in thinking it would be some awesome steelbook or case or something

awesome for brits tho