Disappointed with Echo Bridge? Let them know!!

[Crimson King]

Looks like Mill Creek is doing a better job w/ thier reissues!

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by supercutz

It's not too late. They could reissue the current batch that looks to have gotten a limited early release at BBs. Major release isn't for another month. Other studios fixed movies like Fifth Element, Gladiator, and Gangs of New York post release.

More than likely Echo Bridge/Miramax didn't just do a limited pressing for the early BB release instead it's more likely these discs already had a full production run. I doubt Miramax has the available cash to reauthor and repress these discs. Not to mention Filmyard Holdings paid for a third of the acquisition cost in cash but the other two thirds was paid with liabilities.

Although I don't agree with the current releases unfortunately that's the reality of the situation.

[rdodolak]

Here's an interesting post (includes EB response to an email message) from the Halloween H20 thread ...

https://forum.blu-ray.com/blu-ray-mo...ml#post4584777

[The Theory]

Originally Posted by shinseiRomeo

My opinion, from what I've heard from forum members since I joined here:

alliance releases are junk and are to be avoided. I wouldn't accept an alliance BD if it was free.

Not always true. As mentioned in this thread, From Dusk Till Dawn looks pretty excellent, as does the non-cited The Cell. An Alliance release might not be my first choice if there is a good US release, however, if they've released a movie that you want that isn't available (or, as with FDTD, is actually worse than the Alliance edition), it is worth doing some research to see how they handled the release.

[goodstuff]

^Yes, Alliance does make some good BD's like The Faculty and Mimic which look and sound great and are OAR. I'm also very happy with the Final Destination 2 & 3 sequels. There are some stinkers out there like their Seven BD, but as mentioned you just need to do some research to weed out the bad.

[Rhoq]

I sent an email to their East Coast President, Michael Rosenblatt, yesterday afternoon. I was professional and courteous about my complaints with their first wave of Miramax Blu-rays.

[bboisvert]

Originally Posted by shinseiRomeo

My opinion, from what I've heard from forum members since I joined here:

alliance releases are junk and are to be avoided. I wouldn't accept an alliance BD if it was free.

I don't think that's an absolute statement that can be made...

Amelie and A Hard Day's Night are solid releases. From Dusk Till Dawn and the Halloween Triple Feature are also good (san extras). I'm sure there are other good ones out there... it's just a matter of making sure you've read reviews before purchasing so you know what's what going in.

[BankytheHack]

Originally Posted by bboisvert

I don't think that's an absolute statement that can be made...

Amelie and A Hard Day's Night are solid releases. From Dusk Till Dawn and the Halloween Triple Feature are also good (san extras). I'm sure there are other good ones out there... it's just a matter of making sure you've read reviews before purchasing so you know what's what going in.

I was also pleased with their release of The Faculty.

[IndefinentBlu]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

Here's an interesting post (includes EB response to an email message) from the Halloween H20 thread ...

https://forum.blu-ray.com/blu-ray-mo...ml#post4584777

That means that we will have to bite the bullet and order H2O so that later we can get a better release.

[PRO-630HD]

That is absolute bull$h!+ for a company to expect a double dip like that. I think the best thing consumers can do as a whole is don't buy anything unless it is released right the 1st time.

[neo_reloaded]

There are plenty of decent Alliance releases. Ones I can think of off the top of my head:

From Dusk till Dawn
The Cell
Fanboys (was out years before the US one, which was DVD only at the time)
Dead or Alive (also out years earlier)
The Faculty
Mimic
Blade 2 and 3 (not Blade 1 however, that is not OAR)

I know there are a few others I have that I can't remember, and there are others where I don't like the movie but the discs were done well. So not all Alliance releases are terrible - you just unfortunately have to do a little bit of research before buying to avoid the bad ones.

Echo Bridge may unfortunately be the same way, another "buyer beware" situation - hopefully they get SOMETHING right as time goes on.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by PRO-630HD

That is absolute bull$h!+ for a company to expect a double dip like that. I think the best thing consumers can do as a whole is don't buy anything unless it is released right the 1st time.

I don't think they have any intention to re-release this. If they do go through with it, it will probably be the current disc with some extras added. I can't see them investing in a new transfer, not for an "unimportant" film like H2O.

[1blufan]

Originally Posted by goodstuff

^Yes, Alliance does make some good BD's like The Faculty and Mimic which look and sound great and are OAR. I'm also very happy with the Final Destination 2 & 3 sequels. There are some stinkers out there like their Seven BD, but as mentioned you just need to do some research to weed out the bad.

Isn't that Alliance title not the correct OAR ?

[dickdarlington]

This is the e-mail I sent over this morning:

To whom it may concern,

I’m writing this e-mail to the alarming concern I’ve noticed, witnessed and personally engaged in online based upon your first batch of Miramax titles released on Blu-ray. Despite their release date of May, retailers are already putting out the titles early. I know some companies are against retailers breaking street date, but what’s more alarming is the quality of these releases that are being put out. Members on Blu-ray.com, an online message board with more than 145,000 members, are all being extremely vocal about their level of disappointment. The same goes for DVD Talk, an online message board with more than 80,000 members. Both communities that I’m apart of, but both with its own, respective members... and both are extremely upset with your company right now. Some genre specific blogs are already picking up to the lack of quality assurance on these titles and it looks like the news will spread.

For example, with your first batch of Blu-ray releases:

Your release of The Yards is presented in its R-rated theatrical cut, but compromised with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio and a DTS-HD MA 2.0 soundtrack. For starters, the original aspect ratio is 2.39:1 and the film was originally sent to theaters with a 5.1 soundtrack and is present on the original Miramax Unrated DVD from years ago.

Halloween: H20 is bare bones despite Miramax promising a special edition for years, but now is compromised with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio and a DTS-HD MA 2.0 soundtrack. There’s a Blu-ray release of this film in Canada, and while it only contains a 1080i transfer, it at least retains the film’s original aspect ratio of 2.39:1 and throws in a DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack.

From Dusk Til Dawn is bare bones despite existing as a two-disc special edition on DVD for nearly a decade, but was released by your company in an ultimately inferior Blu-ray edition that pales in comparison to the release from Canada. That release contains a gorgeous 1080p transfer and an aggressive DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack. Yours contains a muddy 1080p transfer and a lackluster DTS-HD MA 2.0 soundtrack.

What’s more alarming are the latter two titles I mentioned are cult releases that a lot of people would’ve purchased if they were done correctly or hell, possibly just the Canadian releases ported over for those who didn’t want to pay for the import fees. If you would’ve properly released those titles, I know I would’ve repurchased them. Especially if From Dusk Til Dawn retained all of its bonus material.

There are other titles you’ve acquired that could potentially see a Blu-ray release. Robert Rodriguez has personally mentioned he’d love to participate in a special edition of The Faculty. Kevin Smith has wanted to release his director’s cut of Jersey Girl out there into the world. That’s just the beginning. Yet, based upon your first batch of titles, I don’t think we will see these releases ever come into existence. I already own The Faculty from Canada and based upon your first wave, why would I want to downgrade to what may be an inferior version?

It’s 2011 and Blu-ray consumers are much smarter than previously when it came to DVD. We don’t take kind to double-dips, but we’re also in a recession where our dollars are more sacred. Some of us spent a few hundred dollars on our setups, other spent a few thousand dollars. We want to make sure the films we’re purchasing look and sound the best they can be on Blu-ray. If they don’t, we won’t purchase. Some of us, like myself, already own what seems to be the superior Canadian releases from up north and won’t need to purchase yours.

Lionsgate has the rights to the premiere titles of the Miramax library. Yet, what have they done? They’ve started to commission new Blu-ray transfers and at least port over the bonus material from past releases. Despite all of that, they’re still budget releases with the exact, same SRPs as your discs. Mill Creek Entertainment has now began releasing catalog titles out of the Buena Vista catalog onto Blu-ray that look and sound highly superior to your releases despite being older titles and have a significant less SRP ($9.99) meaning most retail establishments will sell the titles for five dollars or less. There's ways to have budget, catalog releases stand out.

Look, I want to own a lot of the Miramax and Dimension titles on Blu-ray that you’ve acquired. I have the money to spend, let’s do this. However, I will not spend my money on inferior audio and picture quality and zero bonus material.

Please reconsider the errors of your past releases and knock it out of the park for your future releases.

[Truewitt]

Originally Posted by dickdarlington

This is the e-mail I sent over this morning:

All of the complaints here are better served to Miramax. 99.9% of these complaints are of the elements. Elements that were provided by Miramax. Echo Bridge has no hand in creating these assets.

[dickdarlington]

Originally Posted by Truewitt

All of the complaints here are better served to Miramax. 99.9% of these complaints are of the elements. Elements that were provided by Miramax. Echo Bridge has no hand in creating these assets.

Disagree.

Echo Bridge has just as much of an eye for quality assurance on these titles as Miramax. Miramax might've just handed them the keys to the vault and said, "Go." Shout! Factory would've never put out releases like this (and its too bad they didn't have the money to acquire the library). Echo Bridge might because, well, they don't care. However, they could make Miramax care if they see and notice all of the hate mail they'll soon be getting.

How was Alliance able to create a 1080p transfer for The Faculty? From Dusk Til Dawn? Halloween: Resurrection?

They used the already existing materials provided to them by Miramax/Dimension.

The materials exist. It's up to Echo Bridge to use them or not.

[PrivatePixel]

From what I've read and seen thus far, I have no other choice but to avoid all of Echo Bridge's offerings. The notion that they would offer a substandard release now with the possibility of a re-release* 12-24 months down the line (*which is contingent on sales of the first release) is chutzpah at its worst (or best, depending on your perspective). This is audacious, absurd, unfathomable and unacceptable behaviour for a company, treating customers as a test bed for their half-baked offerings.

[frogmort]

Originally Posted by dickdarlington

This is the e-mail I sent over this morning:

Nice! I'm too lazy to do that, I'll let them know how I feel by not buying any of their crap, but I'm glad some people like you let them know that they suck.
I did notice that you said it has "a lackluster DTS-HD MA 2.0 soundtrack."
I think it may be listed as such, but it does have DTS-MA 5.1, albeit a crappy one.
Check out this review- http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1727...sktildawn.html

I just wanted to let you know about that, but thanks for letting them know!

[Exist2Inspire]

Much like any company, you just have to do you research with Alliance. I'm not going to lie, some of their releases are crap (Spawn is a perfect example), but there are many releases that look (and sound) fantastic!

The ones that were mentioned, plus:

Good Will Hunting (DVD Beaver says 1080i, but I can confirm 1080p/24)
Defendor

[frogmort]

Originally Posted by PrivatePixel

From what I've read and seen thus far, I have no other choice but to avoid all of Echo Bridge's offerings. The notion that they would offer a substandard release now with the possibility of a re-release* 12-24 months down the line (*which is contingent on sales of the first release) is chutzpah at its worst (or best, depending on your perspective). This is audacious, absurd, unfathomable and unacceptable behaviour for a company, treating customers as a test bed for their half-baked offerings.

Me too! I'll never buy anything from them. This is a list of all their blu-rays available, and it's garbage! They are the guys who come up with movie names that sound like other "real" movies to dupe idiots into buying their junk.
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/searc...rtby=relevance