Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[Pirate King]

about cover art... again... I said "I don't care". well, that is not exactly true. What I was trying to say is that I will purchase a movie that I want reguardless of what the packaging looks like. Of course I want it to look good, and as I said, I am very happy with what TT is doing with their packaging. TT is a God-send for those of us who love classic movies. I appreciate their time and effort to bring us the best product that they can. I really enjoy the eight page booklets that are inclosed. Very nice. I just do not want to get so wrapped up with the packaging that I begin to place less value on the movie.

I am patiently waiting for Bell Book and Candle and will place my order for Journey to the Center of the Earth on day one. I am quite sure that SAE reads every post on Blu-ray.com... soooooo... Thank you for giving us movies that we love!

[rkolinski]

Today I received an email saying that Desiree and Bell, Book and Candle had shipped. Can't wait to watch these on Monday or Tuesday.

[Yankees0222]

Originally Posted by Persianimmortal

I know I spent the last couple of pages of this thread heaping scorn on slipcovers and the like, but I actually do care about the presentation of a BD movie to a reasonable extent. If you're going to pay $35 for a BD, there's no reason for it to have a tacky cover. TT covers are a very nice part of the package, without going to the lengths of adding superfluous gimmickry like slipcovers which I usually bin. As ROclockCK says, they are indicative of the pride TT has in what they are selling. The covers show that a lot of thought and effort has gone into the presentation of the movie to fans of classic cinema. It would be so much easier for TT (and much more disappointing) if they simply whacked on the stock promo poster as a cover.

Anyway looking forward to my Bell Book and Candle and Desiree arriving later this month

I don't know how you could call a slip cover gimmicky. Sure, the slip covers that just replicate the art cover without adding anything to the presentation is pretty useless. But if they were to put thought into a slip cover, I think it could be a nice addition to the overall package.

I think a slipcover like the 'Grindhouse' release had was actually quite nice and added to the overall package since it was so vastly different from the cover art.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by Yankees0222

I don't know how you could call a slip cover gimmicky. Sure, the slip covers that just replicate the art cover without adding anything to the presentation is pretty useless. But if they were to put thought into a slip cover, I think it could be a nice addition to the overall package.

I think a slipcover like the 'Grindhouse' release had was actually quite nice and added to the overall package since it was so vastly different from the cover art.

All things being equal, if I have a choice between a Blu-ray with a slip, and one without, I'll grab the one with. But I won't pay more for it, even if it's been embossed, or metalized, or fanfolded with a pop-out. Actually, this is a subject I shy away from in these forums because I've discovered some folks here are quite nuts about them...personally, I have no feeling either way.

However, in terms of Twilight Time's releases, I think slipcovers would be the worst packaging mistake they could possibly make. For one thing, their 3000 unit runs are so low that the added cost would be ridiculous, but also because of the limited nature of this series, suddenly the slipcover fanatics would be buying TT Blu-rays too...thus siphoning off stock that would otherwise go to 'core fans and collectors of the film. And woe be if there was even the tiniest abrasion or nick in the slip...SAE would be hounded with trifling requests for return/replacement.

IMO, just a really, really baaaaaad idea...

[Zot!]

I don't know, I think packaging would be something they could spend very little on and get people to think they were getting a better value. Despite limited runs, a CD label like Rhino Handmade really goes all out with their artwork and packaging. It feels more "expensive".

[Yankees0222]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

All things being equal, if I have a choice between a Blu-ray with a slip, and one without, I'll grab the one with. But I won't pay more for it, even if it's been embossed, or metalized, or fanfolded with a pop-out. Actually, this is a subject I shy away from in these forums because I've discovered some folks here are quite nuts about them...personally, I have no feeling either way.

However, in terms of Twilight Time's releases, I think slipcovers would be the worst packaging mistake they could possibly make. For one thing, their 3000 unit runs are so low that the added cost would be ridiculous, but also because of the limited nature of this series, suddenly the slipcover fanatics would be buying TT Blu-rays too...thus siphoning off stock that would otherwise go to 'core fans and collectors of the film. And woe be if there was even the tiniest abrasion or nick in the slip...SAE would be hounded with trifling requests for return/replacement.

IMO, just a really, really baaaaaad idea...

I'm not a slipcase nut either.... I just think they can be a nice addition if done correctly. I really don't think it would be that much of a headache. I think it would attract some of those slip cover collectors (as you stated) and help sell out plenty of releases that might not ever sell out normally.... Making TT more money in the end. Of course its all speculation since it will never happen but I don't think it would be such a bad idea.

[Pirate King]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

IMO, just a really, really baaaaaad idea...

I have to agree with you on this one.... It's a limited release. 3,000 Blu-rays..and another 3,000 slip covers?.... It is not 50,000.. they just can't go and print some more copies... it would be nothing but trouble for TT.

I am very happy with the way TT is handling their business. Please keep it that way.

[Persianimmortal]

Originally Posted by Yankees0222

I don't know how you could call a slip cover gimmicky. Sure, the slip covers that just replicate the art cover without adding anything to the presentation is pretty useless. But if they were to put thought into a slip cover, I think it could be a nice addition to the overall package.

I detailed an answer in this post, but basically a slipcover is of no practical use at all (and I would argue of little aesthetic benefit as well), yet adds to the overall cost of the BD, which is poison for a limited release.

A Blu-ray case is already a very compact, elegant and sturdy platform for both protecting and presenting your BD movie, especially if it has nice sleeve art (which TT release do). Why you would then want to put a cardboard wrapper around the case, which only hinders easy access to its contents and also gives your BD collection a "mix and match" look is beyond me. I have around 150 blu-rays, and I have thrown - without exception - every single slipcover I have into the bin the moment I laid hands on it. It is such a sad waste of resources to me.

As ROclockCK said, I know this is a touchy subject here and people will go off their heads about it. I would love to have a "live and let live" attitude about them, but if you stop and think about it for a minute and do the math, slipcovers are a marketing gimmick which many people do not want, yet add to the overall cost of BDs for all of us. The ideal solution would be if studios provided a movie in several different packaging formats at various price points to suit all of our tastes and budgets, but unfortunately they usually don't and hence some of us get stuck paying for something of no value to us.

For my money nothing beats a quality movie, just presented in a nice blue BD case with stylish cover art. Cheap, clean, convenient, well-protected, and gives your collection a nice uniform look on the shelf. No steelbooks, digibooks, slipcovers, digipacks, briefcases, statue cases or assorted toys and add-ons or other gimmicks to grab attention.

[JoeDeM]

Originally Posted by Persianimmortal

For my money nothing beats a quality movie, just presented in a nice blue BD case with stylish cover art. Cheap, clean, convenient, well-protected, and gives your collection a nice uniform look on the shelf. No steelbooks, digibooks, slipcovers, digipacks, briefcases, statue cases or assorted toys and add-ons or other gimmicks to grab attention.

One thing I hate is digibooks, they are worse than the old WB snapper cases.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by JoeDeM

One thing I hate is digibooks, they are worse than the old WB snapper cases.

You're comparing a piece of thin flimsy cardboard to a nice sturdy embossed digibook? That's definitely an apple to oranges comparison.

[SolidBlu]

Originally Posted by rkolinski

Today I received an email saying that Desiree and Bell, Book and Candle had shipped. Can't wait to watch these on Monday or Tuesday.

still waiting for SAE to ship my orders

[SolidBlu]

when will SAE post the May titles for pre-order?

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by SolidBlu

when will SAE post the May titles for pre-order?

Within the next week. The 13th for Journey to the Center of the Earth.

[SolidBlu]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Within the next week. The 13th for Journey to the Center of the Earth.

thanks buddy have to secure my copies

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by SolidBlu

thanks buddy gotta to secure my copies

No problem.

[Yankees0222]

Originally Posted by Persianimmortal

I detailed an answer in this post, but basically a slipcover is of no practical use at all (and I would argue of little aesthetic benefit as well), yet adds to the overall cost of the BD, which is poison for a limited release.

A Blu-ray case is already a very compact, elegant and sturdy platform for both protecting and presenting your BD movie, especially if it has nice sleeve art (which TT release do). Why you would then want to put a cardboard wrapper around the case, which only hinders easy access to its contents and also gives your BD collection a "mix and match" look is beyond me. I have around 150 blu-rays, and I have thrown - without exception - every single slipcover I have into the bin the moment I laid hands on it. It is such a sad waste of resources to me.

As ROclockCK said, I know this is a touchy subject here and people will go off their heads about it. I would love to have a "live and let live" attitude about them, but if you stop and think about it for a minute and do the math, slipcovers are a marketing gimmick which many people do not want, yet add to the overall cost of BDs for all of us. The ideal solution would be if studios provided a movie in several different packaging formats at various price points to suit all of our tastes and budgets, but unfortunately they usually don't and hence some of us get stuck paying for something of no value to us.

For my money nothing beats a quality movie, just presented in a nice blue BD case with stylish cover art. Cheap, clean, convenient, well-protected, and gives your collection a nice uniform look on the shelf. No steelbooks, digibooks, slipcovers, digipacks, briefcases, statue cases or assorted toys and add-ons or other gimmicks to grab attention.

I highly doubt slipcovers add anything to the cost of the movie on the part of the consumer. I've bought plenty of movies with a slipcover for $19.99 on release date as well as movies without a slipcover for $19.99 on release date.

If you want to say usless combo packs (DVD and Digital copy) add to the cost then i'd agree but they are not charging for the slipcover. It just might seem that way because its usually the combo packs that come with a slip, not the individual releases.

I just think it would be nice to have the choice. If you want dont want a slipcover then you could just get rid of it....

[Persianimmortal]

Originally Posted by Yankees0222

I highly doubt slipcovers add anything to the cost of the movie on the part of the consumer.

And I highly doubt that any business would just absorb the additional costs of something like a slipcover, when they can easily spread it across the entire product line and hence pass it on to the consumer.

So if you're paying $19.99 for a movie with a slipcover, and $19.99 for one without it, I would suggest we could all be paying $18.99 (or even less) for that movie if it never had a slipcover to begin with.

In any case we're talking about Twilight Time here, a company which has openly stated they have a very delicately-balanced cost structure, and I for one don't want to see their costs padded out and in turn either affect their viability or the prices we face, just to pander to people who like collecting cardboard jackets for BD cases. The movies are the main focus here.

ROclockCK also has a valid point in that the last thing you want to see happen is a portion of a 3,000 limited release run being taken up by people who are purely collectors of slipcovers. These TT releases should go to fans of the movies first and foremost, I don't think we need gimmicks which attract speculators and collectors just for the sake of it.

Let's leave the slipcovers, digibooks, steelbooks etc. to the big-budget mainstream releases where the per-unit markup due to the extra packaging isn't huge, and the studio can print more copies at any time so fans always have a chance to grab a copy.

[Hellboy]

Originally Posted by seymour

so far, fright night is the only must have for me. Hopefully, they'll be releasing some other stuff from the '80s or newer.

+1

[Persianimmortal]

Speaking of 80's movies and newer, call me tragic but I wouldn't mind Van Damme's Double Impact on BD. It's a Columbia release which TT has access to, and it would tie in well if the TT release coincided with Van Damme's upcoming Expendables 2 release.

[dlevine]

Just got my copies of Bell, Book & Candle and Picnic in the mail. Wow, that was fast. I can confirm that BB&C does have a magnet. I actually got magnets for both of them.