The Blob (1988) (Limited Edition to 3,000) - SOLD OUT

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by madmojo

I hope that eventually, if TT ends up having people scalping their product with every popular title, they'll change the way they sell them and limit people to 2 copies per address. I know this is gonna annoy some here who like to scalp them, but I hate the practice, so I'm gonna advocate to get rid of it. I know The Blob is gonna sell out pretty darn quick. I'll be ready to pre-order the day it goes on sale, for sure. For Christine too if they include the commentary by John Carpenter. If not, I'll just buy the special edition DVD by Sony.

It may eventually sell out but even NOTLD took a week to sell out which was largely due to people buying to resell. I'd imagine with the recent discussion on the NOTLD color timing change that resellers will be a little more cautious when it comes to buying extra copies.

[madmojo]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

It may eventually sell out but even NOTLD took a week to sell out which was largely due to people buying to resell. I'd imagine with the recent discussion on the NOTLD color timing change that resellers will be a little more cautious when it comes to buying extra copies.

I hope so. I'm a fan of NOTLD, but even I couldn't go for that one. Stuck with the DVD which had better color timing and more special features.

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by madmojo

I hope so. I'm a fan of NOTLD, but even I couldn't go for that one. Stuck with the DVD which had better color timing and more special features.

TT's Sony releases are largely without features due to Sony not making them available or allowing a third-party to create their own. However, I've noticed several recent Sony releases from TT came with quite a few features so maybe, hopefully, that stance has changed.

[bigdaddyhorse]

Maybe they dug up some features for The Blob reduex? That would be most welcome. I really hope Christine gets all it's dvd features at least, seems like a good chance with all these other new releases being feature filled!

I'm 50/50 with TT. Love Fright Night, can't stand to watch NOTLD. I'm hoping NOTLD was a one-time **** up and the rest will be high quality like Fright Night is.

[LG416]

so is there a link to where you can pre-order this when it becomes available? I missed out on Fright Night and I definately want to pre-order The Blob

[bigdaddyhorse]

Originally Posted by LG416

so is there a link to where you can pre-order this when it becomes available? I missed out on Fright Night and I definately want to pre-order The Blob

There will be a link, but not until pre-orders begin. Stay tuned here, it will be posted as soon as it exists I would think.

I'm gonna give the dvd a spin right now as I haven't seen this up-converted yet, but will probably get the blu either way.

Some parts of the dvd look great up-converted. That being said, some parts look like complete crap as well. This certainly needs an HD upgrade, so much fun.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by LG416

so is there a link to where you can pre-order this when it becomes available? I missed out on Fright Night and I definately want to pre-order The Blob

Pre-order links only come up and become active a month before release for the Twilight Times titles. And since no release date has even been announced for this, you will definitely have to wait several months.

[PuppetMasterBlu]

Originally Posted by Lorenzol

As much as I don't like their pricing and the "limited" numbers, I have to agree with the above. Most of their transfers have been great so far and is kind of preposterous to say that one cannot trust them based on one release. We are not talking about Echo Bridge or Mill Creek here...

While you are right that all of their other transfers have been pretty good understand that they aren't that different than Echo or Mill. Echo, Mill and Twilight are all third party companies that receive the transfer and the soundtrack from the studio and then put it on a disc. They don't produce any extras and simply print what they are given. The only real difference is that if Twilight Time received a crappy transfer from the studio they might not move forward with the disc because they don't want to hurt their brand, Echo wouldn't. I am sure the NOTLD fiasco taught them something. However they wouldn't be able to do anything with the transfer to make it better like Criterion or Shout Factory.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by PuppetMasterBlu

The only real difference is that if Twilight Time received a crappy transfer from the studio they might not move forward with the disc because they don't want to hurt their brand, Echo wouldn't. I am sure the NOTLD fiasco taught them something. However they wouldn't be able to do anything with the transfer to make it better like Criterion or Shout Factory.

I agree. I would definitely prefer Shout! Factory to release The Blob instead. However, I think comparing TT to Echo and Mills is a bit hard. If for nothing else then for the fact that you wouldn't see TT cram 3 movies onto the same discs messing up the encodes.

[PuppetMasterBlu]

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

I agree. I would definitely prefer Shout! Factory to release The Blob instead. However, I think comparing TT to Echo and Mills is a bit hard. If for nothing else then for the fact that you wouldn't see TT cram 3 movies onto the same discs messing up the encodes.

Well yes that is what I said. But they all have the same "powers". They take what they are given and slap it on a disc. The only difference being Twilight cares a bit more about quality control, they have to at those prices. They would rather not release a film than release it with a horrible transfer. However also understand that if after the license is up, if Sony were to release the title again through Echo or Mills it would look and sound EXACTLY the same, with no Special Features because Twilight doesn't have anything to do with the actual quality of the picture or sound.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by PuppetMasterBlu

Well yes that is what I said. But they all have the same "powers". They take what they are given and slap it on a disc. The only difference being Twilight cares a bit more about quality control, they have to at those prices. They would rather not release a film than release it with a horrible transfer. However also understand that if after the license is up, if Sony were to release the title again through Echo or Mills it would look and sound EXACTLY the same, with no Special Features because Twilight doesn't have anything to do with the actual quality of the picture or sound.

Ohhh, I think there are a couple of other key differences which do affect picture and sound PuppetMasterBlu:

1. TT encodes to the latest authoring standards, using 50GB discs whenever warranted (for 1 movie, not 2 or 3).
2. TT encodes with lossless Master Audio instead of grinding everything down to lossy Dolby 2.0 tracks.

And bonus for collectors:

1. TT includes original vault recording Isolated Score Tracks (ISTs).
2. TT includes historically knowlegable and well-written background essay booklets with reproductions of original poster art.

Just check out the alternate Blu-ray editions of The Egyptian which have been released in 3 other countries overseas. By your logic, they should be "EXACTLY the same", and yet none are even close. Only TT got the 2010 rescan with feature-length Commentary and Herrmann-Newman IST. But hey...don't stop there...what about that recent German release of The Rains of Ranchipur transferred at 1.77 with Mono sound instead of TT's 2.55:1 OAR with 4.0 Master Audio?

If TT was merely "slapping" this stuff on a disc and offering "EXACTLY the same" level of content, presentation, and quality control as the shovelware houses, they would have been out of business long ago. Serious media collectors - including vintage soundtrack enthusiasts - already know better.

[PuppetMasterBlu]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

Ohhh, I think there are a couple of other key differences which do affect picture and sound PuppetMasterBlu:

1. TT encodes to the latest authoring standards, using 50GB discs whenever warranted (for 1 movie, not 2 or 3).
2. TT encodes with lossless Master Audio instead of grinding everything down to lossy Dolby 2.0 tracks.

And bonus for collectors:

1. TT includes original vault recording Isolated Score Tracks (ISTs).
2. TT includes historically knowlegable and well-written background essay booklets with reproductions of original poster art.

Just check out the alternate Blu-ray editions of The Egyptian which have been released in 3 other countries overseas. By your logic, they should be "EXACTLY the same", and yet none are even close. Only TT got the 2010 rescan with feature-length Commentary and Herrmann-Newman IST. But hey...don't stop there...what about that recent German release of The Rains of Ranchipur transferred at 1.77 with Mono sound instead of TT's 2.55:1 OAR with 4.0 Master Audio?

If TT was merely "slapping" this stuff on a disc and offering "EXACTLY the same" level of content, presentation, and quality control as the shovelware houses, they would have been out of business long ago. Serious media collectors - including vintage soundtrack enthusiasts - already know better.

They are using what the studio gives them. If they don't think what the studio gives them is up to standards then the disc doesn't get produced. The other releases you mentioned? They weren't licensed directly from the studio right? They had to work with what they had. Possibly part of Twilight Time's deal is that they get the best materials the studio has. However Twilight isn't back there remixing soundtracks and remastering, making sure things are in their proper aspect ratios. The materials are given to them and they pay to print them onto a disc. Those materials still exist and if they ever decide to reprint them after the 3 year window is up they will use the same transfer and sound mix which will look just like these Limited Editions.

Look im not putting down Twilight, I have bought several of their releases but lets stop pretending they are doing amazing work here and lets stop pretending that Shout Factory or Criterion couldn't do the same for a lower price but without the limited edition model and with some special features. Although I am talking about their bigger horror titles. For their older films I think there model is about right. But of course most of those still haven't sold out so they have to take bigger name titles like this one. I understand it but I still wish Shout Factory got hold of these.

[sxerunner]

So now that makes two titles I'll be grabbing from TT. Being a fan of horror has its positives and negatives I guess.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by PuppetMasterBlu

They are using what the studio gives them. If they don't think what the studio gives them is up to standards then the disc doesn't get produced. The other releases you mentioned? They weren't licensed directly from the studio right? They had to work with what they had.

At least two of those overseas releases of The Egyptian were from Fox, possibly all of them. No idea where Hansesound got their master for The Rains of Ranchipur. Presented that far off at 1.77:1 and in Mono, I doubt any serious collector will ultimately care anyway. TT got it right, and by comparison, there is no comparison...plus their packaging rocks.

Originally Posted by PuppetMasterBlu

Possibly part of Twilight Time's deal is that they get the best materials the studio has. However Twilight isn't back there remixing soundtracks and remastering, making sure things are in their proper aspect ratios. The materials are given to them and they pay to print them onto a disc. Those materials still exist and if they ever decide to reprint them after the 3 year window is up they will use the same transfer and sound mix which will look just like these Limited Editions.

Why on earth would any licensee be doing that with a signed-off master supervised by Grover Crisp or Shawn Belston's crackerjack mastering teams anyway? Do you truly believe Criterion 'twiddled' and 'tweaked' Sony's HD master for Anatomy of a Murder? Or Fox' Bigger Than Life? No way. And if they did, they must have had some nerve! Those are two of the routinely savviest transfer teams working in home video.

You imply TT doesn't "intervene". I say they don't "meddle". In the best spirit of licensing they replicate with complete "faithfulness" the studio assets entrusted to them for 3 years. That's Job #1 and TT does it exceedingly well. Which is why at least these two major studios trust them enough to make sure they have the best elements to work from.

Originally Posted by PuppetMasterBlu

Look im not putting down Twilight, I have bought several of their releases but lets stop pretending they are doing amazing work here and lets stop pretending that Shout Factory or Criterion couldn't do the same for a lower price but without the limited edition model and with some special features. Although I am talking about their bigger horror titles. For their older films I think there model is about right. But of course most of those still haven't sold out so they have to take bigger name titles like this one. I understand it but I still wish Shout Factory got hold of these.

It's just your continuing "damning with faint praise" tone PuppetMasterBlu...phrases like "pretty good", and "a bit better", or "not doing amazing work", when, in fact, this label has shepherded at least three damn near perfect Blu-ray releases to market in '12 alone (The Big Heat, Bye-Bye Birdie, and now, apparently The Blue Lagoon too). At or near that level, I would also include Swamp Water, Bite the Bullet, Picnic, Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, and even The Wayward Bus, although too few have seen the latter. It's just been one bell-ringer after another all year. Perhaps your specific movie interests haven't exposed you to the range of their Blu-ray output, but in aggregate it's mighty impressive work for such a still young company.

For whatever combination of film history savvy, business moxy, and proven trustworthiness in terms of delivery, the simple fact is this: TT is getting titles from these studios that no one else is, and they are delivering the goods...month...after month...after month. That's all the collector in me really cares about. As for future releases by other hypothetical licensees, we simply don't know what will happen in 3 years...but doesn't the possibility occur to you that no other licensee will get these titles either, because the dribbles of remaining hard media demand won't justify the legal and accounting expense? After TT's 3 year window closes, I can easily envision a lot of this stuff going straight into Fox and Sony's yet-to-be-launched MOD BDR programs...just the movie...no features...no ISTs...direct to those remaining consumers who missed the boat on TT's limited run professionally authored and stamped Blu-rays.

My choice between a well-groomed bird in hand right now vs. a potentially clipped and mangy one in the bush...well...maybe...someday...is just so clear. I think a lot of people are in for a shock waiting for this imagined 'flood' of cheaper SE Blu-rays when these TT licensing windows close in 3 years. Nothing stops the overseas labels from doing that right now, but where are all those comparable or better quality retail Blu-rays of Fright Night, or Christine, or The Blob '88 at half the cost? Maybe I'm not looking in the right places, but I don't see them.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

Just check out the alternate Blu-ray editions of The Egyptian which have been released in 3 other countries overseas. By your logic, they should be "EXACTLY the same", and yet none are even close.

Actually, your "logic" is flawed.

Image Entertainment did exactly what TT are doing now - minus, of course, the $35+ price tag, and their releases did not look any different. In fact, they looked very good. And the 'isolated score' isn't something that the overwhelming majority of customers would be happy to consider as a bonus to pay $35+ for an otherwise typically barebones release.

Now, this title for example:



If it was released by TT, it would have cost 35$+. It came out through Image Entertainment, using a recent Sony transfer, with a decent price tag. (I believe it was 14.99$ when it was announced).

O, it even has quite a few extras!

So, at the end of the day, the reality is that not only these titles would have looked exactly the same if they were released by Image Entertainment, but they would have been priced right and quite possibly included some very good extras.

p.s.
And by the way, there were still plenty of discs this year where TT could not be bothered to include even optional subtitles!

[rdodolak]

Hmm, wonder if TT will take the opportunity to piggyback off of the 1958 Criterion release coming 12 March 2013.

[Blwn2bts]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I'm in. I sure wish the original would get a release too.

Looks like you're in luck. Criterion just announced the original for March.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

[Show spoiler]Actually, your "logic" is flawed.

Image Entertainment did exactly what TT are doing now - minus, of course, the $35+ price tag, and their releases did not look any different. In fact, they looked very good. And the 'isolated score' isn't something that the overwhelming majority of customers would be happy to consider as a bonus to pay $35+ for an otherwise typically barebones release.

Now, this title for example:



If it was released by TT, it would have cost 35$+. It came out through Image Entertainment, using a recent Sony transfer, with a decent price tag. (I believe it was 14.99$ when it was announced).

O, it even has quite a few extras!

So, at the end of the day, the reality is that not only these titles would have looked exactly the same if they were released by Image Entertainment, but they would have been priced right and quite possibly included some very good extras.

Yikes...who mentioned Image???

But that you have...Against All Odds was released almost a year ago! And yes Image did do a very fine job with it...as they did with The Odessa File...as they also did with The Collector (a title that under other circumstances might have easily fit TT's profile). But what has Image done from Sony's catalogue lately? Oh right...zip, zero, zilch. So once again it's "if"..."if"..."if"...but there's no "if" with TT's output...they are actually delivering this stuff and doing so with an impressive level of quality...and considerable style...plus good old fashioned fan enthusiasm!

And TT's success is clearly being plowed right back into even more and better product, with more and better features. Just like Shout. Just like Olive. Just like even Criterion back in their laserdisc days when almost every one of your increasingly febrile criticisms of TT were leveled at their overpriced, under featured, cheeky upstart label too...

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

p.s.
And by the way, there were still plenty of discs this year where TT could not be bothered to include even optional subtitles!

Oh, like maybe...uhm...err...ahh...Olive? Or like many of those other licensees whose studio agreements do not include the captioning option? TT has been entirely candid and empathetic on this point, and they've gladly included subs whenever the studio has allowed them to...or for that matter, any other special features that were available. It's a tough industry pro-b; you win some; you lose some; you do your best...

So in terms of "logic flaws"? Pot...kettle...black.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

Hmm, wonder if TT will take the opportunity to piggyback off of the 1958 Criterion release coming 12 March 2013.

That was my thought too rdodolak...posted somewhere back in the pack here or elsewhere. Somebody was discussing when we might see The Blob '88, and it just seemed common sense that TT would be watching for Criterion's upgrade announcement.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

Yikes...who mentioned Image???

But that you have...Against All Odds was released almost a year ago! And yes Image did do a very fine job with it...as they did with The Odessa File...as they also did with The Collector (a title that under other circumstances might have easily fit TT's profile). But what has Image done from Sony's catalogue lately? Oh right...zip, zero, zilch. So once again it's "if"..."if"..."if"...but there's no "if" with TT's output...they are actually delivering this stuff and doing so with an impressive level of quality...and considerable style...plus good old fashioned fan enthusiasm!

I mentioned Image. And the reason I did is not to argue with you but to make a point that there is nothing special TT are doing. There is nothing special Image did. They both used ready transfers prepared by a different party. Yet the prices the two companies charged were quite different. Like it or not, people will compare them because...one of the two "models" actually had the same prepared transfers with extras for substantially less.

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

And TT's success is clearly being plowed right back into even more and better product, with more and better features.

This is the reason I responded in the first place. On one hand instead of film discussions in these threads we keep seeing statements that such and such titles barely sell. Numbers updates that supposedly aren't that good. On the other hand, when beneficial, success is mentioned.

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

Just like Shout. Just like Olive. Just like even Criterion back in their laserdisc days when almost every one of your increasingly febrile criticisms of TT were leveled at their overpriced, under featured, cheeky upstart label too...

I know Criteiron's LD catalog very well. And even then, and during the DVD days, they offered plenty of supplemental content. That type of content and quality is most definitely not matched with this label. I am unsure why you think that when people state the obvious this must be "criticism". And I am unsure what Shout or Olive have to do with the point I made -- they don't charge 35$+ for their releases.

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

Oh, like maybe...uhm...err...ahh...Olive? Or like many of those other licensees whose studio agreements do not include the captioning option? TT has been entirely candid and empathetic on this point, and they've gladly included subs whenever the studio has allowed them to...

You can't make comparisons with Olive because they don't charge the prices TT does. And placing optional subtitles on a disc has absolutely nothing to do with the studio allowing the distributor to create them. It has to do with being willing to spend to create subtitles.

Either way, I really do not wish to enter yet another debate about quality vs. pricing. The 'logic' is beyond obvious.

Pro-B