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

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

For you Western fans, know anything about this one?

I do not. I was offered a screener of this a few days ago but forgot to respond to the solicitation. I may go back and do that now.

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I’m hanging on for a 4K release. In fact, I’m preying for a 4K release. Failing that, a nice Blu will do just fine.

You get Star there in the UK, so it should be in ATMOS at the very least. Not sure if folks overseas are getting Dolby Vision or just 4K SDR.

Give it a go. It's dope!

[cheez avenger]

I watched Bullet Train last night in theaters and it was such a blast. Hardcore action on a bullet train. It's definitely going to get acquired on 4K disc.

[Anthony P]

[

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Anyone with a brain knew the straight to streaming film strategy was doomed.

Long live the cinema!

good luck on the catscan.

As for the discussion, I think the same way a direct to video started around 30 years ago, direct to streaming (or disk) for content that studios don't believe can make it theatrically. Th8is market has existed for quite a while. the experiment of releasing a blockbuster on streaming because Covid shut down theatres, I think its time came and went.

[bhampton]

Picked up 4 movies for $5 at the Dollar (now $1.25) store.



They all came with working digital copy codes.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

You get Star there in the UK, so it should be in ATMOS at the very least. Not sure if folks overseas are getting Dolby Vision or just 4K SDR.

Give it a go. It's dope!

Can’t do it mate. As long as there is a glimmer of hope for a 4K disc, I’m going in blind! I want to own it and put it next to Predator, Predator 2 and Predators.

[crutzulee]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

[

good luck on the catscan.

As for the discussion, I think the same way a direct to video started around 30 years ago, direct to streaming (or disk) for content that studios don't believe can make it theatrically. Th8is market has existed for quite a while. the experiment of releasing a blockbuster on streaming because Covid shut down theatres, I think its time came and went.

No doubt that the 80's experience of direct to video shovelware is analogous to the present day COVID measures... but with one important caveat...
Digital video has given more independent film makers the ability to bring their vision to market where the big studios were synically producing garbage that had an audience because it was, more often then not, the 5th installment of a horror franchise or teen comedy with a built in audience.
I feel today's direct to stream output is better than 80's direct to video... and I think that once the hangers-on outfits fall by the wayside, the remaining streamers will be able to charge a premium and thus bankroll higher quality fare...

That being said...PREY was all kinds of awesome!!!
As I said over in it's dedicated thread, I'm glad to have had the opportunity to watch it at home last night in the Dadcave, but it definitely deserved a theatrical release..

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Can’t do it mate. As long as there is a glimmer of hope for a 4K disc, I’m going in blind! I want to own it and put it next to Predator, Predator 2 and Predators.

The Predator franchise tends to sell well on physical media. I'm optimistic that it will get a physical media home release, especially since it's getting stellar word of mouth and is the best reviewed film out of the franchise.

[crutzulee]

I cannot envision a situation in which this does not get a physical release....
At the absolute worst case scenario, you'll have to wait until they use it as a promo ahead of the release of the next installment.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

I cannot envision a situation in which this does not get a physical release....
At the absolute worst case scenario, you'll have to wait until they use it as a promo ahead of the release of the next installment.

Having to wait two to three years would indeed be a bad scenario.

[unberechenbar]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

I cannot envision a situation in which this does not get a physical release....
At the absolute worst case scenario, you'll have to wait until they use it as a promo ahead of the release of the next installment.

Is there going to be another one?

[crutzulee]

Originally Posted by unberechenbar

Is there going to be another one?

With the generally positive response this one is receiving, it's a sure thing...

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

PREY rocked!

Watched this Movie last night on Hulu, and really enjoyed it. Hulu has Superb Streaming Quality, and the Ads are not bad only a few at the beginning the rest of the Movie is Ad Free. Movies are stored on a Server, so Streaming from a Server is The Future!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Watched this Movie last night on Hulu, and really enjoyed it. Hulu has Superb Streaming Quality, and the Ads are not bad only a few at the beginning the rest of the Movie is Ad Free. Movies are stored on a Server, so Streaming from a Server is The Future!

The movies are stored on a server? Get the f*** out of here!

Why didn’t anyone tell me this? That’s it, I’m giving up disc and going all in with streaming!

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

No doubt that the 80's experience of direct to video shovelware is analogous to the present day COVID measures... but with one important caveat...
Digital video has given more independent film makers the ability to bring their vision to market where the big studios were synically producing garbage that had an audience because it was, more often then not, the 5th installment of a horror franchise or teen comedy with a built in audience.
I feel today's direct to stream output is better than 80's direct to video... and I think that once the hangers-on outfits fall by the wayside, the remaining streamers will be able to charge a premium and thus bankroll higher quality fare...

That being said...PREY was all kinds of awesome!!!
As I said over in it's dedicated thread, I'm glad to have had the opportunity to watch it at home last night in the Dadcave, but it definitely deserved a theatrical release..

I did not mean it as an insult to any direct to streaming video, sometimes garbage makes it to theatres and sometimes good films make it straight to video (in any of its forms) and you even have some exceptions where theatrical was released after they were released to video because the response was so good. The powers that be don't always get it right.

The discussion started with a Batgirl article, obviously lots of cash does not necessarily mean a good film but like the article pointed out it was almost done and the studio had three choices
1) continue it on direct to HBO Max "shovelware" to use your term (but new direction said no to it.
2) almost double the budget to make it worthy of a thatrical release (the studio saw it as too expensive)
3) drop it and use it as a tax write-off (option the studio went with)

as for your comment on "and I think that once the hangers-on outfits fall by the wayside, the remaining streamers will be able to charge a premium and thus bankroll higher quality fare..." I don't see how that makes any sense at all. let me put it this way, the last time I brought my family to the movies it was almost 20$ per person *5 people to see one film once it was a lot more expensive for me (and the studio made a lot more money) then when I buy a BD at 20$ where we all sit and watch it and someone that saw it on Netflix premium (again around 20$) there are magnitudes of difference between each of them, to assume the cheapest way to watch a film (especially when many are talking about cracking down on shared passwords or adding add supported) will ever be as lucrative as the most expensive option just does not make any sense. And if (like iTunes) you do end up with less choices or a monopoly who ever is in control will line their pockets not the ones of content creators.


I will assume the irony of talking how good Prey is while "Digital video has given more independent film makers the ability to bring their vision to market where the big studios were synically producing garbage that had an audience because it was, more often then not, the 5th installment of a horror franchise or teen comedy with a built in audience. " was intended

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

The movies are stored on a server? Get the f*** out of here!

Why didn’t anyone tell me this? That’s it, I’m giving up disc and going all in with streaming!

It will free up a lot of shelf space for more important things like Funko Pops.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

It will free up a lot of shelf space for more important things like Funko Pops.

True, every cloud!

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Movies are stored on a Server, so Streaming from a Server is The Future!

My movies are stored on shelves (where they belong), so spinning discs is the future the same as it has been for over 30 years.

[crutzulee]

I just don't know...if building up then getting rid of libraries of VHS then LASERDISCS then DVDs then BLURAYS and UHDs has taught me anything, it's to never think of my purchase of any one title as my last purchase of said title...I guess I extend that to digital titles which I really don't think much of at all. I'll "buy" the title rather than rent it if the price is only a couple of bucks more.... but if the movie is any good, I'll still end up buying the physical disc. It then gets ripped to my library for playback on whatever box I have at the time... but this is limited to the longevity of hard drive tech, which I think may possibly outlive my disc player?? Maybe? Possibly?? Either way... neither is permanent.

My wife is a very zen, yogic, peace and love hippy chick.. I'm very much Greg to her Dharma. She would get an absolute kick out of me embracing the impermanence of my collection..LOL..

The last physical media I got truly excited by was Laserdiscs... the gatefold packaging was similar to playing records in my room as a kid and commentary tracks were a novelty ...now, it's all just packaging and I can't remember the last time I couldn't get all the info about how a movie was shot from an interview over the internet or discussing a title with you lot on here..

[JohnAV]

Box Office: ‘Bullet Train’ Books $30.1M Opening - Hollywood Reporter 8/7

David Leitch’s Bullet Train easily topped the North American box office chart with an estimated weekend haul of $30.1 million, including a Friday haul of $12.6 million.

Overseas, the R-rated pic earned an impressive $32.4 million for a global start of $62.4 million.

Brad Pitt leads a star-packed cast in this tale of an assassin roaming a high-speed Japanese bullet train. Other names on the marquee include Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon and Sandra Bullock.

The movie opened in line with expectations following an aggressive marketing campaign on Sony’s part. Critics haven’t exactly embraced Bullet Train, which currently holds a 53 percent critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences bestowed the film with a B+ CinemaScore.

Bullet Train is the last major studio offering of the summer, putting increased pressure on the movie’s performance. Generally, the summer box office season lasts until Labor Day, but delays due to the pandemic continue and studios are seeing some of their films delayed in postproduction.

The weekend’s other new offering is Jay Chandrasekhar’s comedy Easter Sunday, starring stand-up comedy sensation Jo Koy as a struggling actor and comedian who attends a raucous holiday meal with his Filipino family.

Easter Sunday opened to an estimated $5.2 million, likewise in line with expectations. Asian moviegoers made up more than 35 percent of ticket buyers, according to PostTrak.

Jimmy O. Yang, Tia Carrere, Brandon Wardell, Eva Noblezada, Lydia Gaston, Asif Ali, Rodney To, Tiffany Haddish and Lou Diamond Phillips star in the Universal film, which came in No. 5.

Elsewhere in the top 10, DC League of Super Pets tumbled 51 percent to an estimated $11.2 million for a 10-day domestic total of $45.1 million.