Physical & Digital EST: The Future of Home Video Discussion Thread

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

Yeah...I get the idea...I just can't get on board with what I perceive as a certain level of paranoia (?) that seems to permeate this thread

I am not paranoid but I have read many of the TOS/EULA. With EST, the owner has 100% control of that content, if not 100% they can change those TOS at any time and you agreed to that condition and furthermore, you agreed not to litigate against them for what ever reason.

Some of us well remember the lawsuit against Sony (Betamax) by Universal and Disney. We also remember the studios that tried their best to make watching a disc a PPV affair.

In the US we have protection via The First Sale Doctrine for disc, there is none for EST.

[crutzulee]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

I am not paranoid but I have read many of the TOS/EULA. With EST, the owner has 100% control of that content, if not 100% they can change those TOS at any time and you agreed to that condition and furthermore, you agreed not to litigate against them for what ever reason.

Some of us well remember the lawsuit against Sony (Betamax) by Universal and Disney. We also remember the studios that tried their best to make watching a disc a PPV affair.

In the US we have protection via The First Sale Doctrine for disc, there is none for EST.

I put a question mark after the word paranoia because it had more of a negative connotation than I was meaning. I truly meant no offense.

I remember DIVX (not the codec) dieing on the vine because there was a competing product that offered the consumer a better alternative. Streaming apps are kind of the evolution of that model. It has survived alongside physical media because it has appealed to a different market.

I think we'll eventually see 8K lossless streaming but I don't see the death of physical media. I just think it'll have similar ebbs and flows to what we see in things like vinyl....and it will be the gatekeeper of the obscure title.

[bhampton]

I read some of the terms of service also. Makes sense to know what I’m agreeing to. And typically they are easy to read.

From Apples TOS - Purchased Content will generally remain available for you to download, redownload, or otherwise access from Apple. Though it is unlikely, subsequent to your purchase, Content may be removed from the Services (for instance, because the provider removed it) and become unavailable for further download or access from Apple. To ensure your ability to continue enjoying Content, we encourage you to download all purchased Content to a device in your possession and to back it up.

I get tempted to do this. I’ve determined a single 6TB hard drive would get it done. Backing up all that hd though, is easy to procrastinate..I should do it though. I could start with the few things I don’t have in any other format.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

I think we'll eventually see 8K lossless streaming

Hollywood will not allow us lossy 4:2:2 much less 4:4:4 video. 2 hours of 16 bit log 4K is ≈ 2TB worth, not likely available anytime soon in any form.

One must realize the majority of streaming viewers are content with low bit rate A/V they have now. Proof here. IIRC the average was around 3 Mbps 7 years ago. Netflix used to have a way to download previous years data but that has been removed.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Read that but never looked into the details. I would assume movies are locked down with DRM and would require a i device for playback.

[JohnAV]

Box Office: ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ Booms With $72M Bow, ‘Ambulance’ DOA - Hollywood Reporter 4/10

’Sonic 2' is opening well ahead of the first film in a big win for the family market.

Boom!

Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog 2 opened to a huge $72.1 million in a major boost for the domestic box office revival, and particularly for the family market.

The PG-rated pic came in well ahead of expectations, starting off when earning $26.5 million from 4,234 theaters Friday. Paramount’s initial weekend estimate was $71 million for the weekend, but traffic was better than expected on Sunday.

Nearly 60 percent of the audience were families. Until now, titles largely depending upon kids and parents have struggled to break out because of the pandemic.

Sonic 2 is also one of the few films of the COVID-19 era to open ahead of its predecessor. Other bragging rights: it is now the biggest launch of all time for a video game adaptation, beating the first Sonic, and is also Paramount’s biggest three-day opening since 2014.

In February 2020 — a month before cinemas across the country shut down because of the growing COVID-19 crisis — the first Sonic opened to $58 million for the three-day Presidents’ Day weekend on its way to becoming the top-grossing video game movie of all time domestically ($148 million).

Overseas — where it opened in select markets ahead of its domestic launch — Sonic 2 grossed another $37 million from 53 markets for a foreign total of $70 million and $141 million globally.

James Marsden, Jim Carrey and Tika Sumpter return for this sequel about the otherworldly, bright blue hedgehog (voiced by Ben Schwartz) based on Sega’s hugely successful video game and media franchise. The story continues Sonic’s adventures on Earth following his arrival from a distant planet and his fumbling attempts to befriend a couple living in Montana.

The outlook isn’t so good for Michael Bay’s new film, Ambulance, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.

The Universal action pic opened to $8.7 million from 3,412 theaters to place fourth despite a big push in Imax and premium large-format screens. Ambulance, which opened early overseas, earned another $2.8 million from 68 markets this weekend for a global total of $31 million.

Ambulance debuted in fourth place domestically behind Sonic 2, Sony’s Morbius and Paramount’s The Lost City.

Morbius, coming in No. 2, fell a steep 74 percent in its sophomore outing to $10.2 million for a domestic total of $57.1 million. It is also struggling overseas, where it has grossed $69.3 million for a worldwide total of $126.3 million.

Paramount’s The Lost City came in third domestically with $9.2 million for a domestic total of $68.9 million and $78.6 million overseas.

Warner Bros. and DC’s The Batman rounded out the top five with $6.2 million, pushing its domestic tally to $359 million and global cume to $735.1 million.

A24’s critically acclaimed specialty darling Everything Everywhere All at Once is expanding wide in its third weekend to stellar results. The film placed No. 6 with a projected $6 million from 1,250 theaters.

The biggest headline overseas was Warner Bros.’ Fantastic Beast: The Secrets of Dumbledore, which launched to $58 million from its first 22 markets, including China ($10 million), Germany ($9.4 million) and the U.K. ($8 million). The movie opens next weekend in North America. Imax turned in a hefty $4.3 million.

April 10, 8:15 a.m.: Updated with revised weekend estimates.
April 11, 8:50 a.m.: Updated with revised weekend estimates

[JohnAV]

China Box Office: ‘Fantastic Beasts 3’ Opens to $10M Amid Mass Cinema Shutdowns - Hollywood Reporter 4/10

Approximately 54 percent of Chinese movie theaters are currently closed as the country battles local COVID outbreaks.

Warner Bros.’ Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore cruised to an easy win during its opening weekend in China, but the prize was smaller than usual.

The Harry Potter spinoff sequel earned just $9.7 million, according to data from Artisan Gateway. Thanks to ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks, an estimated 54 percent of China’s cinemas are currently closed.

The first Fantastic Beasts film opened to $40.4 million in China in 2016, and the sequel, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, debuted to $36.6 million in 2018.

Social scores for the Secrets of Dumbledore were solid, if unexceptional: 8.7 on Maoyan, 8.7 from Alibaba’s Taopiaopiao and 6.7 on Douban.

The film performed somewhat better on Imax, earning $1.5 million in the giant screen format, or 15 percent of its nationwide total. Dumbledore played on 360 Imax screens, roughly half of Imax’s usual outlay.

In recent months and years, Hollywood titles have been earning conspicuously less than they once did in China, but the current COVID closures make it difficult to assess whether the general trend of waning local enthusiasm for U.S. movies was also a factor in Dumbledore‘s lackluster opening.

Sony’s animated sequel Hotel Transylvania 4 earned just $1.4 million in its second weekend for a running total of $6.2 million. Hotel Transylvania 3 (2018) earned $32.2 million in China.

Other U.S.-made titles added similarly tiny sums. Escape Room 2, in cinemas for its second weekend, added $940,000, taking its total to $5.2 million. Roland Emmerich’s Moonfall, which was co-financed by Chinese studio Huayi Brothers Media, added $900,000. The film has earned $19.4 million since its local release late last month — slightly better than its $19.1 million North American total.

[NeonStreetMelt]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

I'm interested in everything to an extent. The more obscure , unpopular, offensive titles are generally the ones I've bought...but even in the case of the latter, I've been able to upgrade titles like Cannibal Holocaust to UHD and will eventually be able to upgrade THRILLER - A CRUEL PICTURE, PIECES etc...

There's a market for these and they'll always be available.

Where is there a UHD of Cannibal Holocaust? Streaming?

[crutzulee]

Originally Posted by NeonStreetMelt

Where is there a UHD of Cannibal Holocaust? Streaming?

My bad...I have it on DVD and bluray...

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Box Office: ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ Booms With $72M Bow, ‘Ambulance’ DOA - Hollywood Reporter 4/10

IMO, there is no medical help for Michael “Shaky Cam” Bay. Not surprised Ambulance is DOA.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by bhampton

I read some of the terms of service also. Makes sense to know what I’m agreeing to. And typically they are easy to read.

From Apples TOS - Purchased Content will generally remain available for you to download, redownload, or otherwise access from Apple. Though it is unlikely, subsequent to your purchase, Content may be removed from the Services (for instance, because the provider removed it) and become unavailable for further download or access from Apple. To ensure your ability to continue enjoying Content, we encourage you to download all purchased Content to a device in your possession and to back it up.

I get tempted to do this. I’ve determined a single 6TB hard drive would get it done. Backing up all that hd though, is easy to procrastinate..I should do it though. I could start with the few things I don’t have in any other format.

Hard drives are not ideal for archiving data.

Even if they were, I shudder at the thought of how much time, money, and hard drive space it would require to rip 1:1 copies of my disc collection or to download a collection of comparable size and compression.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Read that but never looked into the details. I would assume movies are locked down with DRM and would require a i device for playback.

Exactly. Downloads infected with DRM are not worth the effort as they lock you into using a specific manufacturer's hardware or software to play them.

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

IMO, there is no medical help for Michael “Shaky Cam” Bay. Not surprised Ambulance is DOA.

I loved 13 Hours. It definitely had it's Bayisms at times, but it still grabbed me.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by gotmule

I loved 13 Hours. It definitely had it's Bayisms at times, but it still grabbed me.

Up to this point the only Bay title I have is Transformers: Dark Of The Moon - 3D. IIRC Bay was told to steady the action and stay on shots for a period because the eyes need more time to adjust when watching in 3D.

IMHO, some film makers try to create excitement by shaking the camera and/or cut cost by using handheld cameras. I have ridden Jeeps up and down mountain sides, driven boats over rough ocean waters, etc. and never experienced visions like some movies portray. There was a scene in the new Death On The Nile where the camera (probably on a Jimmy Jib) circled seated actors several times. No purpose other than being “cute, cool”.

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Up to this point the only Bay title I have is Transformers: Dark Of The Moon - 3D. IIRC Bay was told to steady the action and stay on shots for a period because the eyes need more time to adjust when watching in 3D.

IMHO, some film makers try to create excitement by shaking the camera and/or cut cost by using handheld cameras. I have ridden Jeeps up and down mountain sides, driven boats over rough ocean waters, etc. and never experienced visions like some movies portray. There was a scene in the new Death On The Nile where the camera (probably on a Jimmy Jib) circled seated actors several times. No purpose other than being “cute, cool”.

13 Hours is a very different Bay movie in my mind. It is a helluva true story, and he tells it very well. Killer 4K disc and Atmos mix. My 3 favorite modern day war movies are this, Blackhawk Down, and The Outpost. Hurt Locker is a close 4th.

The review on this site is pretty accurate.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/13-Ho...238779/#Review

[cheez avenger]

Just binged first season of Chapelwaite on Epix. Peculiar thing - I subscribe to it via Apple TV Channels and it's in 4K SDR / 5.1, while the native app plays it back in standard HD / 2.0. It was a stellar show and acts as the prequel to Salem's Lot, which was a short story also written by Stephen King called "Jerusalem's Lot." The good news is that it got renewed for a second season.

[Ender14]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

IMO, there is no medical help for Michael “Shaky Cam” Bay. Not surprised Ambulance is DOA.

I actually enjoyed Ambulance. One of Bay's better movies. There is still the usual Bay cheesiness, but the actors are great in their roles and there are some truly tense moments. Definitely worth a watch.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Ender14

I actually enjoyed Ambulance. One of Bay's better movies. There is still the usual Bay cheesiness, but the actors are great in their roles and there are some truly tense moments. Definitely worth a watch.

Might give it a blind buy in 4K.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by gotmule

13 Hours is a very different Bay movie in my mind.

13 Hours and the others just not my/our cup of tea from a production value/style point of view. I do have Blackhawk on UHD BD. Also have American Sniper.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Even if they were, I shudder at the thought of how much time, money, and hard drive space it would require to rip 1:1 copies of my disc collection or to download a collection of comparable size and compression.

For your BD and UHD BD collection it would take 212TB of storage based on an average of 43GB for BD and 60GB for UHD BD ripped to ISO. Could save a fair amount of space if just the movie and soundtrack ripped to ISO or MKV.