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

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

It's not one that's visible. I can't go into detail, but it's not like blurring out a station bug.

If you're paying $30 to view it early it damn well better not be visible.

I still think this makes it wayyy too easy for hackers.

[nathan_393]

Originally Posted by merrick97

If you're paying $30 to view it early it damn well better not be visible.

I still think this makes it wayyy too easy for hackers.

I still think this makes it way too easy for fat people to stay fat instead of getting out of the house

I'm joking. Sort of.

I'm not sure the problem is the Premium VOD so much as it is the fact that Premium VOD will affect theater sales. There's nothing like seeing a movie in the theater. I think a lot of people are just turned down by high costs, d**chebags in the audience, and lack of security at the theaters these days. Want somebody to stfu? Tell them to do it yourselves or suffer their wrath.

Every time I go see a kid-friendly movie these days, some kid behind me is kicking me in the back the whole time. When I was younger (and I'm only 20, so we're not going back too far), my friends and I were very controlled in the theater. Our parents made us sit still and watch the bloody movie instead of dance in our seats like we had to pee.

These days, it's all you can do to keep people from using your shoulders as a footrest. I don't plan on using this Premium VOD, but I can see why it's attractive.

It'll be a shame if theaters end up going down because of this.

[PeterTHX]

Well, Jeff's been hinting at this but this seems to confirm that it isn't if we'll see the TV series Friends on Blu-ray, but when.


16x9 ready too. Minor cropping on the top & bottom but a lot more side information. The top grab is from the series pilot.

[nathan_393]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Well, Jeff's been hinting at this but this seems to confirm that it isn't if we'll see the TV series Friends on Blu-ray, but when.

16x9 ready too. Minor cropping on the top & bottom but a lot more side information. The top grab is from the series pilot.

I am certainly intrigued - not because I love Friends, but because if this does well, it only bodes well for other things. Like Seinfeld!

[horseflesh]

Originally Posted by nathan_393

I am certainly intrigued - not because I love Friends, but because if this does well, it only bodes well for other things. Like Seinfeld!

No it doesn't.

[Jeff Kleist]

MacGyver, Quantum Leap, A-Team and a bunch of others have had their film re-run for HD

See any Blu-rays?

So HD masters being available are not automatic Bluness

Just saying

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

MacGyver, Quantum Leap, A-Team and a bunch of others have had their film re-run for HD

See any Blu-rays?

So HD masters being available are not automatic Bluness

Just saying

But didn't you say Friends had the best chance?

[Jeff Kleist]

I'm strictly addressing the conception that HD master=Blu. Nothing more

[nathan_393]

Originally Posted by horseflesh

No it doesn't.

Why doesn't it? I didn't say it would happen, just that it meant good things. If Friends does well on Blu-ray, who's to say Sony (who apparently has the HD Masters ready to go for the show) wouldn't consider releasing Seinfeld on Blu? It's the biggest sitcom of all time - yes, bigger than Friends.

I just don't understand your logic.

[radagast]

I have seen this in some BD releases and I thought it was odd. Now that I have seen it again in a review of An Innocent Man. So now I am really curious. An Innocent Man is in 1080i. Why? What does that mean? The lines are stored in an interlaced fashion? Wouldn't it be easier to store the data in a linear, or progressive format? What does a 1080p display, or a 1080p Blu-ray player, do with a 1080i BD? Uninterlace the lines? I just don't understand the point of making a BD in 1080i instead of 1080p. Especially since I don't think there are any 1080i TVs being sold anymore.

[KubrickFan]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

MacGyver, Quantum Leap, A-Team and a bunch of others have had their film re-run for HD

See any Blu-rays?

So HD masters being available are not automatic Bluness

Just saying

Jeff, do you have any information on whether/if The West Wing might be released on Blu-ray? I read somewhere that Warner considered both Friends and TWW for BD releases, and hopefully they'll both get a release sooner or later.

[MerrickG]

Jeff,

How good has Hollywoods deaging process gotten that we can believe that Arnold can play the Terminator again?

Just thought I'd ask.

[Doctorossi]

Jeff, I know he's just the messenger (though he's putting effort into confirmation), but please run up to Bill and kiss him for me for the glimmer of hope he's giving me about the new Patton disc!

As I've said before, I'd pay full Commemorative Kitchen Sink Giftset MSRP for that puppy with a giant silly grin plastered across my face, as long as it has a new transfer on it. Otherwise, not a cent.

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by KubrickFan

Jeff, do you have any information on whether/if The West Wing might be released on Blu-ray? I read somewhere that Warner considered both Friends and TWW for BD releases, and hopefully they'll both get a release sooner or later.

I'm going to guess that any blu-ray release for a series that has ended it's run will take a backseat to current series releases. I think you are much more likely to see "classic" series after you see close to 100% of current season releases having a blu-ray counterpart.
I also think it's more likely you'll see current series backfill seasons that were previously DVD only before you see a legacy series begin.

[KubrickFan]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

I'm going to guess that any blu-ray release for a series that has ended it's run will take a backseat to current series releases. I think you are much more likely to see "classic" series after you see close to 100% of current season releases having a blu-ray counterpart.
I also think it's more likely you'll see current series backfill seasons that were previously blu-ray only before you see a legacy series begin.

If that's the case, I want The Big C on Blu-ray .

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by KubrickFan

If that's the case, I want The Big C on Blu-ray .

Hell yeah. I was just watching the new Big C/Weeds Promo after this week's NURSE JACKIE. I wish these would appear on a blu-ray set for either (or both) shows. I adore both actresses - and it's amazing to see Mary Louise Parker and Laura Linney working together - even if it's for 30 seconds.

[tobytobe2002]

Hi Jeff: I watched the BD of Zhang Yimou's latest "A Woman, A Gun and A Noodle Shop" last night; while the film itself was just ok, as with most of Zhang Yimou's films, the cinematography (and the use of colors) was gorgeous.

It reminded me how great some of his earlier films would look on BD - for instance the deep rich colors used in Ju Dou and Raise the Red Lantern (not to mention that I would kill to have To Live, one of my favorite movies of all time, on BD)

Are you aware of any plans by Sony (I assume Sony owns the rights to most of his catalog) to release any of his older classics?

Is there any chance that Criterion may release any of them?

Thanks so much for any information you may have!

[AnimeOnBlu]

"Ju Dou" is Miramax, "Raise the Red Lantern" and "To Live" are MGM.

I think Hong Kong releases might be more likely in the future than Miramax or MGM releasing them.

[MerrickG]

Jeff,

Is Ghostbusters 3 still happening? Penton couldnt comment sadly.

[Jeff Kleist]

Mostly. Bill Murray still hasnt said yes or no