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

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I saw it, it wasn't bad

Hamill is retiring from Joker after Arkham City

My #1 extra for any future Batman would be a live action short of him and Conroy doing batman and joker. His Bruce/Bats is so much better than bale. Bale's gruff borders on silly, while Conroy just modulated his tone up and down

Also, do we know if Batman Beyond will be uncut? This is the big question...

[fgomike]

Are you guys doing the Bitsy this year?

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Also, do we know if Batman Beyond will be uncut? This is the big question...

TVShowsOnDVD has the front and back cover. It's showing complete & uncut.

[al cos.]

There were reports about how the cinematographer of French Connection was very unhappy with the blu-ray, do cinematographers have any kind of approval rights or veto power over home video releases? (or clout to get a new version out there, maybe in one of those double feature re-packs with the second movie to distinguish it from Friedkin's version)

[Jeff Kleist]

That might be a good question for Robert Harris. I would say it depends on the movie or the cinematographer. I can't say with French Connection specifically

[garyrc]

Originally Posted by al cos.

There were reports about how the cinematographer of French Connection was very unhappy with the blu-ray, do cinematographers have any kind of approval rights or veto power over home video releases? (or clout to get a new version out there, maybe in one of those double feature re-packs with the second movie to distinguish it from Friedkin's version)

And we hear that Apocalypse Now on Blu-ray was not released with the Aspect Ratio that the cinematographer preferred (perhaps the 70 mm 2.20:1 ?), but the BD used either 2.35:1 or 2.40:1. I don't know what F.F.C, preferred, but isn't it usual for the cinematographer to handle the exact composition, while the director simply asks for a close-up, a long shot, or whatever? I know it probably varies with the director. In the old days the director was not allowed (by union rules?) to look through the camera, unless he also belonged to the ASC, like George Stevens. On the other hand there are many still photos of Wyler looking through a hand held viewfinder during the shooting of Ben-Hur (during the actual shots, according to Heston, Wyler usually sat in front of and just below the camera lens, presumably without a finder, and stared at the actors).

[cjamescook]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

Jeff, any sign that we're going to be able to buy non-blue cases soon? Some of us like me want green cases for the Turtles and Shrek movies. Wouldn't be bad to get different colors for the LoTR releases either.

And what color case would you use for the movie Ultraviolet pray tell?

[Jeff Kleist]

Not any time soon

[fitprod]

Originally Posted by garyrc

And we hear that Apocalypse Now on Blu-ray was not released with the Aspect Ratio that the cinematographer preferred (perhaps the 70 mm 2.20:1 ?), but the BD used either 2.35:1 or 2.40:1. I don't know what F.F.C, preferred, but isn't it usual for the cinematographer to handle the exact composition, while the director simply asks for a close-up, a long shot, or whatever? I know it probably varies with the director.

With all due respect to the Vittorio Storaro, I think he's a special level of crazy. His odd preference of 2.20:1 for the home video releases screwed up the composition of two great films, Apocalypse Now and The Last Emperor. (Maybe the man doesn't like the black bars.) - With the Blu-ray releases, at least one has been corrected.

Unfortunately, I don't know if we'll ever see The Last Emperor in it's correct and properly framed aspect ratio.

fitprod

[Jeff Kleist]

It's 2:1 that he likes If it was 2:20 it wouldn't be so bad

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by fitprod

With all due respect to the Vittorio Storaro, I think he's a special level of crazy. His odd preference of 2.20:1 for the home video releases screwed up the composition of two great films, Apocalypse Now and The Last Emperor. (Maybe the man doesn't like the black bars.) - With the Blu-ray releases, at least one has been corrected.

Unfortunately, I don't know if we'll ever see The Last Emperor in it's correct and properly framed aspect ratio.

fitprod

Wow I didn't know that, probably means I will never get the Last Emperor on blu-ray, thanks for the heads-up.

[cool hand bluke]

I was wondering about The French Connection too. Freidkin and Owen Roizman, the cinematographer, worked together on the blu-ray issue of The Exorcist.

This surprised me considering what Owen Roizman said about what Freidkin had done to The French Connection.

Now, if I was Owen Roizman and was asked to work on the blu-ray of The Exorcist, I'd certainly try to get the work I'd done on The French Connection reinstated.

The other thing is that this year is the 40th anniversary of The French Connection. Could it happen?

[Jeff Kleist]

Bitsys will have to wait until Bill's recovered.

I can recommend that everyone check out "Pioneers of Television". I just watched the second episode tonight on Westerns, and it's just as good as last week's Sci-Fi. It even features commentaries by the late, great Stephen J Cannell, sure to be the subject of an episode down the line for action TV It's on PBS, and you can probably find it on the website for streaming as well. They've had Martin Landau, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Culp, James Garner, and a bunch of other great stars on with some great, fun insights.

[Bobby Henderson]

Originally Posted by fitprod

With all due respect to the Vittorio Storaro, I think he's a special level of crazy. His odd preference of 2.20:1 for the home video releases screwed up the composition of two great films, Apocalypse Now and The Last Emperor. (Maybe the man doesn't like the black bars.) - With the Blu-ray releases, at least one has been corrected.

Gotta hair split a couple of things.

@garyrc: Apocalypse Now was originally filmed on 35mm film with Technovision anamorphic lenses. The 2.35:1 aspect ratio is the true, native aspect ratio of that movie. The 70mm blow-up prints actually shaved a little off the ends of the image to arrive at 2.20:1.

@fitprod: Vittorio Storaro favored an even more narrow 2.0:1 aspect ratio, an aspect ratio that does not look much different from the "flat" 1.85:1 aspect ratio. I don't think very many people would have been griping so loudly had he at least allowed a wider 2.20:1 aspect ratio for home video versions of movies like Apocalypse Now, The Last Emperor or Tucker: The Man and His Dream. The 2.20:1 aspect ratio is much closer to 'scope than 2:1. Incidentally, all three of those movies were filmed 35mm anamorphic with native 2.35:1 aspect ratios under the Technovision brand. All had 70mm blow-up prints as well.

[abintra]

Did 'The Music Man' go out of print? Seems most retailers haven't had it in stock this past month or so.

[Robert Harris]

Originally Posted by al cos.

There were reports about how the cinematographer of French Connection was very unhappy with the blu-ray, do cinematographers have any kind of approval rights or veto power over home video releases? (or clout to get a new version out there, maybe in one of those double feature re-packs with the second movie to distinguish it from Friedkin's version)

Doesn't matter. Their position and work should be respected. A cinematographer can be on to their next project and requested to come in to oversee or approve an HD master. They generally do this without compensation.

RAH

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by abintra

Did 'The Music Man' go out of print? Seems most retailers haven't had it in stock this past month or so.

I hope not. But I'm seeing what you're seeing. This is a title I was hoping to pick up in the $10 range.

[Azyiu]

Hey Jeff, have you heard any word on when "Space Battle Ship Yamato (live-action)" will be released internationally or in Hong Kong on BD?

[Jeff Kleist]

It doesn't even have a licensee in HK yet, or hardly any international licensees

It won't come out till at least the fall in HK, and I expect by then there will be a US shop that has it. Japanese Blu-ray should be July-ish, but almost certainly will not carry English subs.

I just just hope it hangs around another 6 weeks so I can see it

[Azyiu]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

It doesn't even have a licensee in HK yet, or hardly any international licensees

It won't come out till at least the fall in HK, and I expect by then there will be a US shop that has it. Japanese Blu-ray should be July-ish, but almost certainly will not carry English subs.

I just just hope it hangs around another 6 weeks so I can see it

I too wanted to see it so bad... I used to watch the old tv animed series as a kid! Can't wait to see the live action version... I watched the trailers a couple times, and it looks like they stick to the original story pretty well.