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

[MerrickG]

According to Bill:

He does expect that it will contain all the previous documentaries and will be a 9 disc set.

I VERY MUCH hope that the set will have each film split on two blurays with the documentaries on the 3rd.

I hope the set is all bluray's too.

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Ill take the redundant dvds since its quite possible someone else may not have the original EE dvd sets.

Not only that it will give me the opportunity to get rid of my dvd sets.

The point is 1) the cost increase is probably greater than just buying the ee DVDs again - and the target market for this release largely already owns it. Instead of "getting rid" of the old sets, why not blend them into the new set (sans appendice redundancy). Since the secondary market for DVD has largely evaporated, wb is just creating trash for profit.

[Jeff Kleist]

Because creating new Blu-rays with that length and breadth of material is much more expensive than just packaging in the existing DVDs

[jag2007]

Any idea when we get to see reviews on The Ten Commandments?

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

The point is 1) the cost increase is probably greater than just buying the ee DVDs again - and the target market for this release largely already owns it. Instead of "getting rid" of the old sets, why not blend them into the new set (sans appendice redundancy). Since the secondary market for DVD has largely evaporated, wb is just creating trash for profit.

It will cost the same with or without the extras. Warner was never going to sell the EEs for real cheap. Thats what the theatrical discs are for. The EE's were always made with diehard fans in mind.

But if you really don't want the extras then you can just give that disc to someone who wants it.

Not wanting as many extras as possible still makes no sense to me, but its your opinion.

Again, what really could they add to the special editions from the dvd set to make it better?

The ONLY thing they could really do at this point is add in Tom Bombadil scenes, which is what Ive heard mentioned in this thread as a possibility. But those scenes would actually have to be filmed while the Hobbit is filming.

Nevertheless, I am VERY happy to finally be getting these (instead of having to wait until the Hobbit films are finished) and I am hoping they will have all of the previously produced extras on a single bluray in HD quality, but SD quality is more likely.

[MerrickG]

As good as the news of the EE's of Lord of the Rings being made is, we were also given some very bad news on the At the Mountains of Madness adaption.

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/197...o-s-mountains-

Apparently Universal felt the price tag was too high for an R-rated film and Del Toro basically said the film was dead.

I'd hate to say it, but I would rather him film an R-rated film, edit it down to PG-13 for theatrical release and then release an uncut dvd.

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by merrick97

It will cost the same with or without the extras. Warner was never going to sell the EEs for real cheap. Thats what the theatrical discs are for. The EE's were always made with diehard fans in mind.

But if you really don't want the extras then you can just give that disc to someone who wants it.

Not wanting as many extras as possible still makes no sense to me, but its your opinion.

Again, what really could they add to the special editions from the dvd set to make it better?

The ONLY thing they could really do at this point is add in Tom Bombadil scenes, which is what Ive heard mentioned in this thread as a possibility. But those scenes would actually have to be filmed while the Hobbit is filming.

Nevertheless, I am VERY happy to finally be getting these (instead of having to wait until the Hobbit films are finished) and I am hoping they will have all of the previously produced extras on a single bluray in HD quality, but SD quality is more likely.

Sure - that would be reasonable. However, they are providing the prior DVDs. The exact DVDs you already own. That is my point. There is no "added value" there is perceived value for MSRP increase. They are selling the target demographic discs they already own.

Who do you think I'm going to gift with the appendices?

The point is not that extras should not be included or that the release should be bare bones - but if all they are going to do is replicate more discs that I already have, I can converge my own DVD sets thank you very much.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

Sure - that would be reasonable. However, they are providing the prior DVDs. The exact DVDs you already own. That is my point. There is no "added value" there is perceived value for MSRP increase. They are selling the target demographic discs they already own.

You are assuming this. Nowhere has this been explicitly stated. Bill did make the comment that he expects both contents from the Appendices to be included in the set. Whether 2 of those 3 discs are dvds copies of the previous 4 disc set, he doesn't explicitly say.

What I would like to see is this:
Each film spread out over 2 discs and the third disc be a bluray have all the appendices from the EE set.

I would be a little less happy however if we end up with 1 bluray with all the film and 2 dvds from the 2nd set. That would make me less happy about the set.

Bill made it perfectly clear that there are still details not known.


Jeff can you please provide further clarification.

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by merrick97

You are assuming this.

Reportedly, this limited deluxe set will include nine special features DVDs with "over 26 hours of spellbinding behind-the-moviemaking material including the rare Costa Botes documentaries."


https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=5974

Originally Posted by merrick97

I would be a little less happy however if we end up with 1 bluray with all the film and 2 dvds from the 2nd set. That would make me less happy about the set.
Jeff can you please provide further clarification.

So we're agreed that if they are providing duplicate DVDs that that would be a pretty lame waste of time then?

Originally Posted by TheDigitalBits

Then, each film in the Blu-ray set will also include both of The Appendices DVD discs for each film that were included in the previous Extended Edition DVD sets. That adds up to 9 discs total, and it appears to mean that if you buy the Blu-ray, nearly every single extra feature from the previous DVDs carries over.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

Reportedly, this limited deluxe set will include nine special features DVDs with "over 26 hours of spellbinding behind-the-moviemaking material including the rare Costa Botes documentaries."


https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=5974


So we're agreed that if they are providing duplicate DVDs that that would be a pretty lame waste of time then?

100% disagree.

Not everyone has the original 4-disc dvd set and those who waited to buy the EEs on bluray deserve to have those special features and I see a bigger backlash from fans to not include those features. Yes, putting the dvds from the previous set comes across as a cheap throw in, but its FAR better than nothing.

And no, it would NOT be cheaper to buy the blurays without the special features and try and hunt down the 4 disc sets since they are LONG out of print and would have to resort to ebay to get them. To me that is a far bigger waste of time.

That wouldn't be a problem for you since you have the 4-disc sets, but not everyone does and I feel that those purchasing it for the first time on bluray should have access to those special features.

The real disappointment for me would be that the movies would be crammed onto one disc. Re-reading the Bits post Bill just uses math and assumes there will be 9 discs. Its still possible the films could be spread onto two blurays.

Again, we dont know and wont know until an official announcement.

Jeff is welcome to chime in at any time

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Not everyone has the original 4-disc dvd set and those who waited to buy the EEs on bluray deserve to have those special features and I see a bigger backlash from fans to not include those features. Yes, putting the dvds from the previous set comes across as a cheap throw in, but its FAR better than nothing.

And no, it would NOT be cheaper to buy the blurays without the special features and try and hunt down the 4 disc sets since they are LONG out of print and would have to resort to ebay to get them. To me that is a far bigger waste of time.

I think you are far overestimating the number of people who want to buy this set who have not purchased the extended editions on DVD. I think the few who might have held out would be better tempted by the lower price of a set without the duplication.

For those who are completists buy didn't buy the DVD sets for the years they were in print at ridiculously low prices ($9/ea at one point, that I saw) Amazon sellers will have it to you for $27.

Providing these discs is a monumental waste for the 95% of people who will be double dipping (or quadruple dipping) on this release. We all know a super deluxe with a cherry on top edition is coming after the Hobbit films. Replicating the DVDs for this set is creating coasters for the majority of people who already own the same discs.

You are welcome to disagree with me, but my point is not invalid.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

I think you are far overestimating the number of people who want to buy this set who have not purchased the extended editions on DVD. I think the few who might have held out would be better tempted by the lower price of a set without the duplication.

For those who are completists buy didn't buy the DVD sets for the years they were in print at ridiculously low prices ($9/ea at one point, that I saw) Amazon sellers will have it to you for $27.

Providing these discs is a monumental waste for the 95% of people who will be double dipping (or quadruple dipping) on this release. We all know a super deluxe with a cherry on top edition is coming after the Hobbit films. Replicating the DVDs for this set is creating coasters for the majority of people who already own the same discs.

You are welcome to disagree with me, but my point is not invalid.

Two things:

You assume everyone is going to double dip when the new Hobbit editions come out. Many people are going to buy the EEs so they can have the films on bluray and not worry about what comes later. Its quite possible that the new post-Hobbit editions wont offer enough to entice new buyers and most casual buyers wont care at all. You cant assume that most people buying these are aware that there will be new editions in the future. You just cant.

Right now I have absolutely no intention of double dipping, but I will wait and see when the uber editions come out, but I have a hard time seeing what all they could add to make it worth the double dip (ex. Tom Bombadil). I reserve the right to change my mind when the actual discs come out, but the current content being provided is MORE than enough to satisfy me.

You're also assuming that they are replicating these discs fresh when they could just as likely be using unsold stock. I know that is what Disney did for many of their old Pixar blurays that contained dvd versions of their old film. MGM also did this on many of their DVD+Bluray titles.

Anyway, I suggest we politely put this argument aside until we get more facts about the disc. I do get your argument, but IMO if its between upsetting someone for doing a simple copy and paste of previous existing materials or dealing with upset customers who assume their getting screwed by not having all avail content, Im gonna side with the one who wants everything previously available.

[Slim Jim]

Originally Posted by merrick97

According to Bill:

He does expect that it will contain all the previous documentaries and will be a 9 disc set.

I VERY MUCH hope that the set will have each film split on two blurays with the documentaries on the 3rd.

I hope the set is all bluray's too.

Why would they use two blurays for each movie? If bluray has more space than dvd than there should be no problem puting each movie on one bluray disc. If they put each movie on two blu's than whats the point of buying it on bluray? Well if they use two disc of the movies than they will not get my money cause I hate changing the dvds.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Slim Jim

Why would they use two blurays for each movie? If bluray has more space than dvd than there should be no problem puting each movie on one bluray disc. If they put each movie on two blu's than whats the point of buying it on bluray? Well if they use two disc of the movies than they will not get my money cause I hate changing the dvds.

This has been discussed many times before. Yes, bluray offers a lot more space than dvds but HD video also uses up a lot more space and even bluray has space limits in which video quality would start to suffer.

Yes, all of these films CAN be compressed to the point in which they could fit on a single bluray but many of the experts say that the video quality would suffer for it and because of that I would MUCH rather these films get as much room to breathe so they can a presentation of the highest quality.

Jeff, if I remember correctly has said this as well.

As for you hating to get up off your butt and change the discs I am going to just shake my head and refrain from making any further comments.

[Jeff Kleist]

Why would they use two blurays for each movie? If bluray has more space than dvd than there should be no problem puting each movie on one bluray disc. If they put each movie on two blu's than whats the point of buying it on bluray? Well if they use two disc of the movies than they will not get my money cause I hate changing the dvds.

If you can't get up after 2.5 hours of movie and change discs, you have bigger problems in life than 10 seconds of inconvenience

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

If you can't get up after 2.5 hours of movie and change discs, you have bigger problems in life than 10 seconds of inconvenience

To be fair, he never said that he can't (in fact, he said that he does own the two-disc DVD releases), just that he would prefer not to, and I'm sure he's not at all alone.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

To be fair, he never said that he can't (in fact, he said that he does own the two-disc DVD releases), just that he would prefer not to, and I'm sure he's not at all alone.

Im sorry, but it paints a pretty pathetic picture of people that are so damn lazy that they have to complain about getting up off their ass to change a damn disc and that they wont purchase because of it.

I wake up at 4:30 am 5 days a week to do a 2 hour workout every morning because for the first 27 years of my life I spent time doing nothing but sitting on my ass and was an obese slug. I woke up one day and got tired of it so I worked hard and lost over 150 lbs. these past two years. So I have NO sympathy and am quite bullish towards anyone who complains about doing minor things that cause them to move their butts from the couch.

Also, you had your facts wrong, the TWO disc dvd releases didnt require any changing of the discs, the 4 discs did.

[Slim Jim]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Im sorry, but it paints a pretty pathetic picture of people that are so damn lazy that they have to complain about getting up off their ass to change a damn disc and that they wont purchase because of it.

I wake up at 4:30 am 5 days a week to do a 2 hour workout every morning because for the first 27 years of my life I spent time doing nothing but sitting on my ass and was an obese slug. I woke up one day and got tired of it so I worked hard and lost over 150 lbs. these past two years. So I have NO sympathy and am quite bullish towards anyone who complains about doing minor things that cause them to move their butts from the couch.

Also, you had your facts wrong, the TWO disc dvd releases didnt require any changing of the discs, the 4 discs did.

First off I am not fat or am I lazy I work 13-15 hour days most of the time. And its about the fact of whats the point if we have to do the samething with a Blu-ray that we do with a DVD and the only difference is its in HD.

[Jeff Kleist]

There's no question that stuffing the EEs onto a single disc will cause quality to suffer. They're simply too long and have too many dense action scenes not to

We don't know whether the movies will be on one or two discs yet before anyone asks.

[Uxi]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

If you can't get up after 2.5 hours of movie and change discs, you have bigger problems in life than 10 seconds of inconvenience

It's not about can't, it's about not wanting to. My top priority after getting a BD burner was to put my standard def EE's on a single disc. SW trilogies (OT and PT) each on their own disc, as well.

Anyone know the specs/size on the theatrical BD release? Generally I'm a fan of LPCM , but cases like the EE's are precisely those where I appreciate some good audio compression, if it must be done. It would be interesting if 3x or improvement in layer density would minimize putting them on a single disc as an issue. Still, could be a great opportunity to try a store exclusive or "Superbit" style release without any of the extras but with compression done on one disc, leaving out additional audio tracks and, if necessary, modification of the video bitrates