Escape from New York (1981) (Collector's Edition)

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by bigdaddyhorse

It always starts all "awesome, I can't believe my favorite movie is getting a SE release", but then turns to "Shout ****ed up the transfer and everything else, it's a dnr-fest and the worst BD ever".
I guess the gate is still shut on the haters, but they will be here soon. I'm all for this and have no problem that I own the 2-disc dvd and the BD. I've watched that BD a few times already so I got my $6 out of it.

That's usually not their fault, they gotta work with what they're given (though I do still have some reservations about their 'new' transfers).

With that in mind, EFNY could look pretty darned good if they took the current MGM master (which has had a dirt clean-up pass and is generally in nice condition) and lowered the gamma a wee bit to lighten up the impenetrable blacks, and getting Cundey in to colour-correct it would be a huge bonus. In other words, it could end up being one of the most satisfying Shout! BDs in terms of PQ...

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by tylergfoster

Again, this is one that Universal ought to just fix themselves.

I look at labels like Shout! and Criterion as special. If a film goes to them, it should be a case of the studio not seeing the appeal. We're at a point in Blu-ray's lifecycle where, unfortunately, we have to concede on some level that studios may see the value in a title like The Thing, but are just too lazy or uninterested in doing it themselves. Still, this strikes me as a waste. Shout! could be centering their efforts on films that have not been released on home video in a special edition, in OAR, since VHS, or released on home video at all. Those are the films where I'm pleased to see them doing the work. A movie like The Thing has a great documentary and a great commentary and I don't need them to spend money to sit Carpenter down and have him talk about the same things. Night of the Comet was never gonna get a Blu-ray without Shout. Prince of Darkness and They Live, probably not either. Halloween II did, but there was enough room for improvement that they could really go the extra mile. EFNY and Mad Max, comparatively, come off as less exciting.

In the case of EFNY, I admit I don't remember the documentary. However, it did have one, the film's major deleted scene, and two commentaries. I want to do more than just buy the same movies over and over again, I want to see movies making their Blu-ray debut, at least, and hopefully getting a freshening up that was long overdue.

Kinda doubt it will get a new transfer at all. Best case scenario, they tweak the existing one.

I agree with you tyler, these announcements haven't made me giddy with delight because I own both on Blu already, and I wish that they'd do some more obscure stuff instead of chasing after 'easy money' with the likes of Mad Max and EFNY. (Heck, forget about new transfers and features, it seems as if some folks would buy them again with just a new slipcover! )

That said - I'm gonna totally contradict myself here - they could use their powers for good instead of evil by getting the original Dawn of the Dead and teaming up with Anchor Bay to licence their special features (the two are already collaborating on the Halloween set, after all). I'd forgive all of Shout!'s trespasses if they could actually offer up a bona fide new HD transfer for that bad boy.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

That said - I'm gonna totally contradict myself here - they could use their powers for good instead of evil by getting the original Dawn of the Dead and teaming up with Anchor Bay to licence their special features (the two are already collaborating on the Halloween set, after all). I'd forgive all of Shout!'s trespasses if they could actually offer up a bona fide new HD transfer for that bad boy.

I bet they're trying to put a "Dead" boxset together of Night, Dawn (all 3 versions), and Day.

[JohnCarpenterLives]

I own the laser disc. I own The 2-Disc Special Edition. I own the Blu combo-pack. I am going to buy this.

[JohnCarpenterLives]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

I bet they're trying to put a "Dead" boxset together of Night, Dawn (all 3 versions), and Day.

That would be great. I'd be a little annoyed though, because there's no way I'm selling my Dawn Ultimate DVD-set.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterLives

That would be great. I'd be a little annoyed though, because there's no way I'm selling my Dawn Ultimate DVD-set.

What's to get annoyed about? Would you like a definitive HD edition of Dawn or wouldn't you?

I'd keep my 4-disc DVD set of Dawn in any case, just as I'll keep the SE DVD of EFNY no matter how badass the Shout! version may be.

[Plissken Fan]

Already own a VHS copy, Laser disc, 2 DVD releases and the Blu... what's one more copy of one of the greatest movies from Carpenter?

I'm sold.

[JohnCarpenterLives]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

What's to get annoyed about? Would you like a definitive HD edition of Dawn or wouldn't you?

I'd keep my 4-disc DVD set of Dawn in any case, just as I'll keep the SE DVD of EFNY no matter how badass the Shout! version may be.

Well I guess "annoyed" is too strong. I'm just incredibly low on shelf space

[JohnCarpenterLives]

Originally Posted by Plissken Fan

Already own a VHS copy, Laser disc, 2 DVD releases and the Blu... what's one more copy of one of the greatest movies from Carpenter?

I'm sold.

Do you have both dvd editions of BTiLC, too?
Also, there's now 2 blu's. Shout brings it up to 3

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterLives

Well I guess "annoyed" is too strong. I'm just incredibly low on shelf space

Me too, but when/if it comes to Dawn done properly I'll make the space!

[UniSol GR77]

Okay...

Many weeks ago, I dropped a PM to John Carpenter via his official Facebook page with the link of my fan fiction timeline of Snake Plissken, which was an obvious work of fan fiction driven by passion.
It was a fan fiction timeline slapped on a blog page. Nothing overly-dramatic. I just forgot to write: "Snake Plissken created by..." - I mean, everyone knows who created Snake Plissken! I admit I've been a bit naive.
Carpenter just answered, telling me about copyright infringement. He seemed a bit pissed off. I replied that mine was just an innocent work of passion, not a twisted/hideous way to claim that I "created Snake Plissken" (???????).
Then I sent him a long "love letter", because I'm an huge fan of his movies. In the while, I removed the timeline.
He understood a bit. Still, I was stunned and a bit depressed over this, if you know what I mean.
Sorry, I needed to vent.

[Plissken Fan]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterLives

Do you have both dvd editions of BTiLC, too?
Also, there's now 2 blu's. Shout brings it up to 3

Just one DVD & one BD... but I do have a Russell autographed BTiLC in my theater room, lol.Also forgot I have a copy on SelectaVision VideoDisc...It's seen better days, lol.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by UniSol GR77

Okay...

Many weeks ago, I dropped a PM to John Carpenter via his official Facebook page with the link of my fan fiction timeline of Snake Plissken, which was an obvious work of fan fiction driven by passion.
It was a fan fiction timeline slapped on a blog page. Nothing overly-dramatic. I just forgot to write: "Snake Plissken created by..." - I mean, everyone knows who created Snake Plissken! I admit I've been a bit naive.
Carpenter just answered, telling me about copyright infringement. He seemed a bit pissed off. I replied that mine was just an innocent work of passion, not a twisted/hideous way to claim that I "created Snake Plissken" (???????).
Then I sent him a long "love letter", because I'm an huge fan of his movies. In the while, I removed the timeline.
He understood a bit. Still, I was stunned and a bit depressed over this, if you know what I mean.
Sorry, I needed to vent.

I think it's God's way of telling you that you need ease up with this timeline stuff.

[tylergfoster]

Originally Posted by rickah88

But I have to wonder if SF only did new-to-format releases, could they really get by? I think they need a few of these bigger films to help fill the coffers, and ultimately, help them acquire more new-to-format releases.

OK, I suppose that's fair. Still, the best case scenario is stuff like Darkman (well, okay, in principle), Prince of Darkness, They Live -- titles that are gonna be huge sellers among their target market but don't have special editions. Frankly, I would imagine EFNY and Mad Max selling slightly worse than the above three because many people already own the films on Blu-ray.

[UniSol GR77]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I think it's God's way of telling you that you need ease up with this timeline stuff.

Hahaha oh MY GOD!

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by tylergfoster

OK, I suppose that's fair. Still, the best case scenario is stuff like Darkman (well, okay, in principle), Prince of Darkness, They Live -- titles that are gonna be huge sellers among their target market but don't have special editions. Frankly, I would imagine EFNY and Mad Max selling slightly worse than the above three because many people already own the films on Blu-ray.

Exactly.

The larger studios aren't just about making a profit, they're about a large return on investment. They want to see a certain level of profit, otherwise it's not worth their time, even if the venture would make money. Smaller groups like Criterion and Shout can survive on smaller profits and serve niche markets. That's the whole point of their existence, and they're only going to get more and more important as physical media gets smaller and smaller.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by tylergfoster

OK, I suppose that's fair. Still, the best case scenario is stuff like Darkman (well, okay, in principle), Prince of Darkness, They Live -- titles that are gonna be huge sellers among their target market but don't have special editions. Frankly, I would imagine EFNY and Mad Max selling slightly worse than the above three because many people already own the films on Blu-ray.

Don't underestimate the powaaaaaah of the slipcase.

[Dickieduvet]

I ordered the Italian version just because it had the real heroes slipcover, disc was horrendous and had forced sub's and none of the features of the UK edition.

Currently have the Embassy VHS, Laserdisc, Sp Ed DVD, UK BD, Italian BD, US BD

Suppose another release ain't gonna hurt!

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by UniSol GR77

Okay...

Many weeks ago, I dropped a PM to John Carpenter via his official Facebook page with the link of my fan fiction timeline of Snake Plissken, which was an obvious work of fan fiction driven by passion.
It was a fan fiction timeline slapped on a blog page. Nothing overly-dramatic. I just forgot to write: "Snake Plissken created by..." - I mean, everyone knows who created Snake Plissken! I admit I've been a bit naive.
Carpenter just answered, telling me about copyright infringement. He seemed a bit pissed off. I replied that mine was just an innocent work of passion, not a twisted/hideous way to claim that I "created Snake Plissken" (???????).
Then I sent him a long "love letter", because I'm an huge fan of his movies. In the while, I removed the timeline.
He understood a bit. Still, I was stunned and a bit depressed over this, if you know what I mean.
Sorry, I needed to vent.

This is sad to hear. Really, a director gets worked up about a fan-fiction timeline on a character created decades ago, after the fan contacts the director himself? This is why I hate never-ending copyrights.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by bigdaddyhorse

It always starts all "awesome, I can't believe my favorite movie is getting a SE release", but then turns to "Shout ****ed up the transfer and everything else, it's a dnr-fest and the worst BD ever".
I guess the gate is still shut on the haters, but they will be here soon. I'm all for this and have no problem that I own the 2-disc dvd and the BD. I've watched that BD a few times already so I got my $6 out of it.

Personally, I love my Shout discs, but there's no question that they have compression issues.

Originally Posted by alexpeden2000

If they could brighten up the MGM transfer a little and add the extras from the SE DVD we're sorted...

Agreed.