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

[Jeff Kleist]

Reauthoring the LOTR EE discs is a very complex, and therefore expensive process due to the sheer amount of content, the organization etc. The Superman discs are essentially straightforward asset drops of (comparably) not that many things. The whole set is probably less elements than one of the LOTR flicks.

[Mr. Cinema]

Jeff,

Gulliver's Travels and Narnia 3 were both 7.1 in theaters, yet I believe Fox is providing only 5.1 audio on the BDs. Is this a trend we're going to see? I just upgraded to 7.1, so the more, the merrier. Luckily Disney's 7.1 theatrical mixes of Toy Story 3 and Tron Legacy were translated to 7.1 for the BDs. Lionsgate has done plenty of 7.1 mixes, although those films were presented originally in 5.1.

I'm just bothered that Fox is not giving fans 7.1 audio on BD, especially when that's how those films were presented in theaters.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Reauthoring the LOTR EE discs is a very complex, and therefore expensive process due to the sheer amount of content, the organization etc. The Superman discs are essentially straightforward asset drops of (comparably) not that many things. The whole set is probably less elements than one of the LOTR flicks.

BTW, speaking of Lord of the Rings...

Is the filming of Tom Bombadil scenes an actual possibilty for the LotR uber editions, a fanboy fantasy or a little a of both?

Played The Arrival yet? Its decent and it does set up what is likely to be a major plot point in ME3 but it was disappointing in one major regard. Ill refrain from discussing it if you havent played it.

Its a very quick DLC. The shortest one aside from Kasumi.

[Jeff Kleist]

Is the filming of Tom Bombadil scenes an actual possibilty for the LotR uber editions, a fanboy fantasy or a little a of both?

Both. I think it's at best a 30% chance of happening, but there's no question the sequence should be shot and offered as a standalone item

I've had too many other things to catch up on since i got back, it's sitting on the hard drive though

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

there's no question the sequence should be shot and offered as a standalone item

Perhaps, within your rigid conception of adaptation, Jeff... which is to say, there is question within the realm that exists outside of your skull.

[Jeff Kleist]

Tom Bombadil is a key sequence of the book that would grind any film version to a halt. I never have a problem with omission, I have issues with things like Osgiliath that are invented out of whole cloth and change the nature of a character (faramir)

Shooting it separately makes everyone happy but the haters

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Tom Bombadil is a key sequence of the book that would grind any film version to a halt. I never have a problem with omission, I have issues with things like Osgiliath that are invented out of whole cloth and change the nature of a character (faramir)

Shooting it separately makes everyone happy but the haters

There are people who say they prefer film Faramir over book Faramir.

[gettodamoofies]

Originally Posted by merrick97

There are people who say they prefer film Faramir over book Faramir.

I am one of them. Although he's not exactly fleshed out I think the combination of David Wenham's performance and his arc (specifically the one depicted in the extended editions) feels very appropriate for him.

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Tom Bombadil is a key sequence of the book that would grind any film version to a halt. I never have a problem with omission, I have issues with things like Osgiliath that are invented out of whole cloth and change the nature of a character (faramir)

Shooting it separately makes everyone happy but the haters

Yet we should all be happy it was Peter Jackson adapting rather than Andrew Adamson.

[MerrickG]

Hey Jeff,

Bluray.com has a June 7th release date for the Superman Anthology, but Bill's last post on the bits said there was no release date.

Whats the truth?

[Jeff Kleist]

Yet we should all be happy it was Peter Jackson adapting rather than Andrew Adamson.

That's true, though Apted wasn't much better. They're still tacking on needless additional subplots that take up gobs of runtime and cost a fortune

They're shooting magicians nephew next, probably because along with being cool, it's probably the cheapest one of the bunch to shoot.

[MerrickG]

Jeff,

I know you and Bill have contacts in Warner. Could you please tell them making a Justice League film is a just plain bad idea.

The Avengers can work, but the Justice League? No. Hell no.

DC comics heroes work far better as individual films than being all in one screen.

That is also true with Marvel, but the Avengers is far better suited to be pulled off on screen than the Justice League.

[androvsky]

Originally Posted by jaaguir

Jeff, is there any way to know which anime tv-series were natively produced in high-def?

There is nothing on Imdb's "technical specas" for these shows, and many times blu-ray reviews don't mention it. Some data-base websites dedicated to anime that I've checked don't say a thing about his technical issues either.

My budget is limited and I don't want to buy upscaled content for the moment (especially if I already own the dvd-s). I'm guessing everything digitally produced prior to 2007 is standard-def. There are so many titles coming up on blu-ray, I'd like to find some way to know.

Thanks, and glad you're back safe and sound, and that the trip was productive.

Here's a list of most (all?) known U.S. anime blu-ray releases along with if they are upscaled or not (and sometimes, partial upscales for shows that were between 1080p and 480p), where known. There's even info on shows that are upscaled even though there's a known HD master.
http://www.mania.com/aodvb/showthread.php?t=101718

[rubystone356]

I read bill's post about the titles from overseas. conan the destroyer is from MGM/fox overseas. the first conan is fox overseas. here in the US its universal. hopefully you can ask universal about both conan movies in blu ray?
the reason is because of the conan the barbarian remake that is coming out in august.
thanks
Jacob

[wallendo]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

...

I saw the Yamato movie on the plane subtitled. My basic review is this: It's like getting falacio from someone who can't remember to keep their lips over their teeth ...

That's not a problem with West Virginia women.

[Jeff Kleist]

I know you and Bill have contacts in Warner. Could you please tell them making a Justice League film is a just plain bad idea.

Production at WB, let alone whoever is running the DC movies division this week is a completely separate area from home video

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Production at WB, let alone whoever is running the DC movies division this week is a completely separate area from home video

It was kind of a joke, but its still more people than I would know.

IGN even agrees with me.

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by merrick97

That is also true with Marvel, but the Avengers is far better suited to be pulled off on screen than the Justice League.

Because?

[Jeff Kleist]

BTW while everyone was worried about me, what about you JD? Akiba looked OK when I was there, but I'd still like to hear from you

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

Because?

Because the Avengers aren't a bunch of beings with godlike powers (Thor somewhat exception). They are all humans with some special abilities who can be killed and therefore creating a story involving peril might actually work on the big screen.

I think it is much easier to create a believable threat for the Avengers than the Justice League.

I love DC Comics, but I have always felt they work much better as individual superheroes and not as a group. In Marvel I felt it works better, but I still prefer them as individuals. Marvel is actually guilty of doing WAY too many crossovers.