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

[horseflesh]

Bill, Paramount's announcement of BD titles contained a mix of the old (Face/Off) and the new (TWBB, Bee Movie, Spiderwick)
Are we likely to see a similar mix for subsequent announcements?
Something like Transformers (old), and Sweeney Todd (new)?

* I'm not a huge fan of either of those 2 titles, so I'm genuinely not fishing for specific information, just wondering if that's the way you think (or know) it will pan out

[GarettP]

Bill,
Thanks for taking the time to post here in the very busy day or so since Paramount finally announced their Blu Plans.

No question, just wanted to say thanks for posting all that you can here, I think you owe yourself at least time to sit and drink a beer or whatever drink you like! Thanks for all the info.!

[STARSCREAM]

I'm still sitting here flaberghasted and perplexed that Transformers was NOT announced. I was for sure that Paramount's first announcement would include Transformers since people have been clamoring for it since Paramount decided to back door Blu-Ray last year. I guess I should have held onto my hd-a35 and HDDVD version so I could watch it. Hell, It may be next year before we get it. The 2 titles I had on HDDVD that I miss the most are Batman Begins (getting it July 8th on Blu-Ray) and Transformers (who the hell knows when it's coming). Anyway, just wanted to vent. Thanks for all the input you give us Bill.

[Drewza89]

Bill,

I'm sorry if I overlooked it, but how come the Mission: Impossible trilogy and Shooter aren't being re-released like the other Paramount titles? If they will be, do you have any idea on a time frame for release?

Thanks!

[WickyWoo]

There are more announcements coming, this is only the first wave

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

There are more announcements coming, this is only the first wave

Hopefully, Transformers will be included. Yes, it has been discussed 1000 times However, there are many of us that never bought into the red FUD and have been eagerly waiting for the BD version.

[WickyWoo]

Hopefully, Transformers will be included. Yes, it has been discussed 1000 times However, there are many of us that never bought into the red FUD and have been eagerly waiting for the BD version.

It's not too late to but Transformers: The Movie from the UK, and appriciate how good that robot movie from last summer could have been

[Nick Graham]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

It's not too late to but Transformers: The Movie from the UK, and appriciate how good that robot movie from last summer could have been

God bless you Wicky, I wasn't going to say it, but you did. I don't even care much for the animated movie, but I am in the minority of people who really wanted to love Transformers but just couldn't get there.

Bill, is there a typo at the Bits, or did the rumored PCM track for Face/Off never materialize?

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Nick Graham

God bless you Wicky, I wasn't going to say it, but you did. I don't even care much for the animated movie, but I am in the minority of people who really wanted to love Transformers but just couldn't get there.

Bill, is there a typo at the Bits, or did the rumored PCM track for Face/Off never materialize?

The UK version of Face Off has a PCM track.

[Captain Fryyy]

First time post-er, but i read this thread all the time and wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the information.

[Anthony P]

I'm thinking more of features on the lines of interactive games and the like. And you forget, these things aren't always logical. Keep in mind, there's a big difference between "intent to use" and "perception of value."

I think that is where you make a mistake. With internet features "intent to use" = "perception of value". A studio will know if it is one person that went 20 times or 20 people that went once. If people don't use it then why will studios maintain the infrastructure for it. so that dichotomy does not exist here where a studio asks "do you like XXX" and everyone responds yes even though they don't use it because they don't care if it is there.

[Ben]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Unbelievable !

.......definitely my most favorite........................Ben.

Sorry to spoil the fun. I guess when the subject of the greatest cinematographer of them all comes up, there's only one name in my book! There's a spectacular special feature on the 'American Beauty' DVD that goes into a great deal of detail about Mr. Hall's stellar work. I heartily recommend it to any and all students of the cinematographic arts!

of course, Penton, Great minds must think alike!

[mel2]

Originally Posted by patrick99

It's hard to see how a feature like internet interactivity could be more appealing to mainstream consumers than to early adopters, when surely mainstream consumers are much less likely to even connect their player to the internet than the presumably more technically oriented early adopters.

I believe that we, the early adopters, have been carrying the torch so far for high def media. We bought into high def because of the superior picture and sound that we were promised. does anyone think it has been the soccer moms that have purchasing high def movies...No! When we invite someone over to our house to demo the lastest blu-ray release do we say "hey, come over and check out the awesome picture and sound this movie has", or do we say "hey, come over and check out this pip feature and web game, it's soo cool". it's a no-brainer, the first one. I agree that web interactivity will be the bridge to mass adoption, but we have been responsible for getting it this far. I hope the studios never forget that.

[Crème Blu-ray]

Hey Bill: Amazon is showing Blue Man Group's How to Be a Megastar Live! with an August 26 release date instead of the original May 13th. I cannot find confirmation of this new date from any other website. Can you confirm the actual release date for this title? TIA.

[Squozen]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

The most important feature is high-quality HD video that truly represents the original theatrical experience. If it's an older title shot on film, I want it to LOOK like film, not video. That means there needs to be grain.

Yes, yes, YES!

I had to buy the UK edition of Pan's Labyrinth just to get a realistic-looking image. I'd prefer not to have to buy UK discs (especially those without lossless audio tracks), but picture quality is paramount to me.

Maybe instead of separate 'widescreen' & 'fullscreen' DVDs, the studios can release 'accurate' & 'denoised and resized' versions of Blu-rays? That way I won't have to read another post from an idiot complaining about '300' or black bars, while still getting my near-perfect reproduction of the original negative.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

Right now, I'm working to encourage the studios to embrace lossless audio and less digital noise reduction. The DNR issue is a big deal I think.

Hah, that means I better Warn-A-Bruther that big bad Bill will be knocking on their front gate rather soon.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Ben

Sorry to spoil the fun. I guess when the subject of the greatest cinematographer of them all comes up, there's only one name in my book! There's a spectacular special feature on the 'American Beauty' DVD that goes into a great deal of detail about Mr. Hall's stellar work. I heartily recommend it to any and all students of the cinematographic arts!

of course, Penton, Great minds must think alike!

I think people should sometimes be reminded that a great looking tree (Blu-ray disc) is often dependent upon how solid the roots are (primary photography).....whether they consciously recognize it or not while watching the movie.

You probably are aware but, for those that are not, I think The Professionals has been announced by some major studio – which was shot by Connie……..actually got an Academy Award nomination for it, if memory serves.

[blu-suedeshoes]

Hey Bill or other insiders,

I came across this quote from Jeffrey Katzenberg after the Paramount announcements, ``We haven't made a decision yet beyond the release on `Bee Movie,''' , Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Katzenberg said yesterday on a conference call. ``But stay tuned.''
Is he just being an ahole with sour grapes just to be one, or is he seriously basing their plans for future blu-ray releases depending on the sales of one of Dreamworks' weakest movies? One would think they'd release the 1st Shrek to see how that does on blu if they are going to base anything off sales. He can't be going off of Bee Movie after it's been released on DVD for awhile, nor the weak sales of Shrek the Turd (pathetic movie compared to the other two) on hd-dvd. What does his comment say for the future commitment to blu-ray? Thanks for any insight.

Source of the article, http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...OU&refer=japan

[TauHeel05]

Well...Warners better not screw up the future Blu-ray release of "The Dark Knight."

[hollywoodguy]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

You probably are aware but, for those that are not, I think The Professionals has been announced by some major studio – which was shot by Connie……..actually got an Academy Award nomination for it, if memory serves.

One of the ones that he actually got the Award for, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, will be out on BD May 13. A true timeless classic. Are you familiar with the cinematography of that one, Penton? Wanna bet people will complain about "soft PQ"...

Edit: If you're in the area, on May 21, Butch Cassidy plays in the Arclight in Hollywood as part of the AFI's 100 Years, 100 Movies series. Should be a lot of fun.