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

[johndoyle123]

hey guys

quick question , just wandered if u have heard anything about the , misfits , some like it hot , and horse soldier blu-rays from mgm fox next month ,

as of yet have not seen them pop up on your site , and cant find cover art anywhere ,,

and has there been any movement regarding to kill a mockingbird blu-ray to your knowledge ?

[3Stooges]

Digital Bits,

I think the Digital Bits has lots of great info, but, the inverted text (the white text on black background) makes it nearly impossible to read.

White text on black has been clearly proven to be ineffective in print and on the web. It causes eyestrain. People don't read it very long before leaving. There's a reason companies don't use it on web sites. It's not effective.

I know its been the "look" of Digital Bits forever, but please consider updating this. It's hurting your otherwise great information.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by 3Stooges

Digital Bits,

I think the Digital Bits has lots of great info, but, the inverted text (the white text on black background) makes it nearly impossible to read.

White text on black has been clearly proven to be ineffective in print and on the web. It causes eyestrain. People don't read it very long before leaving. There's a reason companies don't use it on web sites. It's not effective.

I know its been the "look" of Digital Bits forever, but please consider updating this. It's hurting your otherwise great information.

This comment seems to come up every year or so, but I have to say I agree. I do notice myself less inclined to read some of the supplemental material (non-news items) on the Bits as it's a bit painful to read, especially with bright and bolded hyperlinks liberally sprinkled throughout.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

This comment seems to come up every year or so, but I have to say I agree. I do notice myself less inclined to read some of the supplemental material (non-news items) on the Bits as it's a bit painful to read, especially with bright and bolded hyperlinks liberally sprinkled throughout.

The opposite here.

I've always found the BITS somewhat easier to read and unique among websites.

[fgomike]

Hey Bill and Jeff,

Are there still plans to have "The Bitsey Awards" this year? I'm sure it is a time consuming endeavor, but it's what first hooked me on to your site and I hope you consider starting them up again.

[BStecke]

Jeff, I know you're a fan of Superman Returns. Per Bill's report, I'm guessing "same compression" means the same smoothie transfer we've had since 2006, yes? Any comment? It seems to me that film has a lot of potential to look pretty amazing if it were just given some more breathing room. I'm having a pretty hard time getting as excited as everyone seems to be about this set, since aside from the alternate opening of SR, this screams of WB laziness.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by BStecke

Jeff, I know you're a fan of Superman Returns. Per Bill's report, I'm guessing "same compression" means the same smoothie transfer we've had since 2006, yes? .

Where in the report does it say "same compression"?

[Jeff Kleist]

It's in the updated notes under the initial post

Yes, sadly. They blew the budget on the new transfers for the theatrical cuts and 3 and 4

Hopefully Synder's Superman will justify a redo on those for the next go. I like Costner for Pa Kent, though I still think that John Schneider is a gem in the role, and the only thing worth saving about Clark The Supervillain Slayer. The man embodies the character on-screen and off it, and I'd have him raise Superman any day

If people saw Mythbusters last night, how great. First Mission Impossible masks, and then testing one of the most underappreciated films of the last 5 years (and New Line's only Blu-ray unmolested by DNR while they were indy) Shoot Em Up. Of course, they could probably do an entire season busting that one

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by BStecke

Jeff, I know you're a fan of Superman Returns. Per Bill's report, I'm guessing "same compression" means the same smoothie transfer we've had since 2006, yes? Any comment? It seems to me that film has a lot of potential to look pretty amazing if it were just given some more breathing room. I'm having a pretty hard time getting as excited as everyone seems to be about this set, since aside from the alternate opening of SR, this screams of WB laziness.

As far as Im concerend Superman The Movie getting a new transfer is an awesome touch

Originally Posted by thedigitalbits

[Editor's Note: I've clarified with WHV that new HD masters have been done for the theatrical cuts of Superman: The Movie, Superman II, Superman III and Superman IV in the BD set. The expanded version of Superman: The Movie is a newer 1080p master than was used for the previous BD release, with extensive MTI dirt clean-up. Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut and Superman Returns are the same BD compressions as before. The Fleischer Superman animated shorts are SD only. On the audio side: All films have 5.1 DTS-HD MA soundtracks except Superman IV: The Quest for Peace which is 2.0 DTS-HD MA. Superman III's 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix is new - the DVD only had 2.0.]

For me the bolded part is the important news. Superman Returns having DTS-HD audio is a nice touch, although I was one of the few who had the lossless audio version of Superman Returns, but I sold my Superman blurays so I could get this set.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

It's in the updated notes under the initial post

Yes, sadly. They blew the budget on the new transfers for the theatrical cuts and 3 and 4

Hopefully Synder's Superman will justify a redo on those for the next go. I like Costner for Pa Kent, though I still think that John Schneider is a gem in the role, and the only thing worth saving about Clark The Supervillain Slayer. The man embodies the character on-screen and off it, and I'd have him raise Superman any day

After the piss poor performance of Sucker Punch I do wonder how much faith Warner really has in Snyder at this point. Aside from 300 what has Synder done that has been truly great? Having Chris Nolan as a producer gives me hope.

I still think Darren Aronofsky would have been an inspired choice. Since he left the directors chair for Wolverine he is now available.

However, I do like Snyder's choices for the roles. Diane Lane and Kevin Costner as ma and pa kent seem like great choices. Amy Adams as Lois Lane seems like she could be a GREAT choice (better than Bosworth). I still think Teri Hatcher was the best person in that role. I still wish they would have just kept Brandon Routh in the title role.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by merrick97

I still wish they would have just kept Brandon Routh in the title role.

And I'm still glad you're not a casting professional, since you make that statement without having read the script.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

And I'm still glad you're not a casting professional, since you make that statement without having read the script.

What the hell are you talking about?

Brandon Routh did a good job in the previous Superman film and he deserves a chance to reprise the role because he did a good job and the audience is still familiar with him for his previous performance. Personally, I think Warner overreacted by choosing to reboot Superman so soon after SR when its not like that film was a failure and that audiences didn't "like" it. But who knows? I like Henry Cavill as the choice though.

I dont know what "having read the script" has to do with me liking an actor and thinking he should be given the role for the next film in the series??

[Jeff Kleist]

The Bitsys I don't know, there's been other things that have occupied that usual time

Personally, I find white on black a lot easier on the eyes, try turning out your lights But it's something that's been mentioned by several people

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

The Bitsys I don't know, there's been other things that have occupied that usual time

Personally, I find white on black a lot easier on the eyes, try turning out your lights But it's something that's been mentioned by several people

Agree completely. Keep it how it is.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by merrick97

For me the bolded part is the important news. Superman Returns having DTS-HD audio is a nice touch, although I was one of the few who had the lossless audio version of Superman Returns, but I sold my Superman blurays so I could get this set.

If Warner's going ahead and using the same video encode, spending money on a DTS-MA encode is a waste. The original had both PCM and TrueHD.

[Jeff Kleist]

Creating uniform specs, and clearing space for the additional extras

I agree, not doing a new encode is a bad idea, especially given how badly squished it was (20GB!) Sadly too many people feel that the movie was a bomb (even thought it wasn't)

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Creating uniform specs, and clearing space for the additional extras

I agree, not doing a new encode is a bad idea, especially given how badly squished it was (20GB!) Sadly too many people feel that the movie was a bomb (even thought it wasn't)

Yeah, it has sub-DVD bitrates in some scenes. Good 'ol "optimized for HD DVD" era Warner.

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by merrick97

After the piss poor performance of Sucker Punch I do wonder how much faith Warner really has in Snyder at this point. Aside from 300 what has Synder done that has been truly great? Having Chris Nolan as a producer gives me hope.

I think Watchmen was a terrific adaptation - and it opened - but it's a story that's a tough sell (especially for the marketing department) - so it didn't hold up well on subsequent weekends. It made it's money back overseas and on video though. 300 was also an adaptation - so it also did well. Sucker Punch is an outlier. Superman is not Sucker Punch. I think you'll find that WB will be confident in Snyder with known properties - and less so with experiments.

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Brandon Routh did a good job in the previous Superman film and he deserves a chance to reprise the role because he did a good job and the audience is still familiar with him for his previous performance. Personally, I think Warner overreacted by choosing to reboot Superman so soon after SR when its not like that film was a failure and that audiences didn't "like" it. But who knows? I like Henry Cavill as the choice though.

While it also made it's budget back overseas - a film like Superman is expected to be blockbuster in the US. There were serious story and tone problems with SR, and while Brandon was perfectly cast (IMO), Kate Bosworth was a tragic misfire. As this was specifically made to avoid a reboot - I understand why WB would want to reboot when it didn't take.

Frankly I think the problem with the movie (aside from Lois) comes down to Superbaby. It was a big move that could have been epic if it worked - but it was a tremendous fail.

I enjoy the film for what it is - and I give it a lot of latitude because I really like Bryan Singer - but I think you're not coming from a particularly strong point when you say the film wasn't a failure and audiences like it.

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

The Bitsys I don't know, there's been other things that have occupied that usual time

Personally, I find white on black a lot easier on the eyes, try turning out your lights But it's something that's been mentioned by several people

This is the key. In a dark room this is an awesome choice. I also wonder how much it goes back to CRT & power conservation - which was surely a consideration back when TDB launched.