Arrow Video / Arrow Academy USA Discussion Thread

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by rickah88

There could be some cause for alarm, as this could potentially decrease possible releases in the UK, if Arrow can't obtain rights in the US. I'm sure to cut down on costs, Arrow would like to release in both regions, and if one region can't be had, it could wipe the release for the other region.

It's like if Scream Factory started selling in the UK, and if they could obtain titles in the UK, it could possibly negate the title being released in the US. I'm quite sure that would drive this forum into a full scale panic.

I think most of their higher profile releases are going to be stuck in the UK thanks to licensing issues. Most of their blurays have versions over here already (or versions are announced here already, ex Runaway Train), so they won't be able to release them here (ex Invasion of the Body Snatchers, all their Bava movies, all their Argento movies, all their Fulci movies, etc, the classics that Criterion has released, most of the Brian De Palma movies, Cinema Paradiso, etc). The fact their first three releases are much lower-profile than what they've been releasing in the UK recently would suggest they won't be able to get much released over here. If their first releases here were "The Burbs" and "Shivers" or something I could see big sales and a valid concern that they'd focus on the US over the UK, but with three obscure movies like this I don't think there's going to be anything for the UK people to worry about. I'm more worried that the low sales are going to scare them off from trying to release more stuff in the US, cause they're a GREAT label. I don't mind importing, but I'd definitely by more of their stuff on release date if it was released here, since the import prices are so much higher that I don't like buying them full price from the UK (though I did preorder The Burbs, Sisters, and Shivers).

[OrlandoEastwood]

I applaud their decision to make an expansion. I love Arrow and I have a few of their UK releases and I look forward to their future US releases.

[ScottDS]

And just when I decided to go region-free!

I suppose a US version of The Burbs is a future possibility (please!) but other titles like Lifeforce and Night of the Comet are obviously spoken for in this country, not to mention titles already released here by Criterion and Twilight Time.

What I wouldn't give for a licensing deal with Paramount or WB! (I know... when pigs fly.)

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by ScottDS

And just when I decided to go region-free!

I suppose a US version of The Burbs is a future possibility (please!) but other titles like Lifeforce and Night of the Comet are obviously spoken for in this country, not to mention titles already released here by Criterion and Twilight Time.

What I wouldn't give for a licensing deal with Paramount or WB! (I know... when pigs fly.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...Films_releases

It looks to me like well over 2/3 of the movies on that list are already released or announced in this country, so I doubt we'll get very much here.

[starman15317]

I do have to wonder if this will be worth it since most of their films are already out in the US by other companies.

That being said, I hope they release The Stuff and Dawn of the Dead.

[jthefrank]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

I'm definitely looking forward to saving a few bucks/days wait by purchasing domestically, being able to display new art when desired without unsightly ratings logos, and having thinner BD cases (although I usually modify the UK ones to fit US cases).

But I love the thick cases!

[the blob]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

I'm definitely looking forward to saving a few bucks/days wait by purchasing domestically, being able to display new art when desired without unsightly ratings logos, and having thinner BD cases (although I usually modify the UK ones to fit US cases).

Originally Posted by jthefrank

But I love the thick cases!

One man's meat is another man's poison.

In this case, jthefrank is the winner as their FAQ states they'll still be using the thick cases to accommodate the booklets.

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by the blob

In this case, jthefrank is the winner as their FAQ states they'll still be using the thick cases to accommodate the booklets.

I guess I'll continue to modify them then - the booklets fit just fine in US 12mm cases.

[skyofcrack]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

It's always good to bring a new studio into the fold, but I get the feeling that Arrow US will just be getting titles that studios like SF pass on (which may or may not be a good thing).

Or, Arrow will outbid the smaller companies for the titles they really want.

The real good news is that Arrow will be able to negotiate with more studios and thus have access to more titles for both regions.

[LSZ]

I would love to get a region A release of their Cinema Paradiso.

[NoirFan]

So now, whenever Scream officially announces a title, we can safely assume that it will be the only option, and that there will not be any potential superior Arrow equivalent. That was one of the things I liked most about Arrow - consumers weren't necessarily stuck with Scream editions of Motel Hell, Lifeforce, the Price films, etc. Now, Scream have even less incentive (not that they care anyway) to start properly encoding their discs, going the extra mile to create definitive extras, etc, as there won't be any direct disc-to-disc competition.

[Decepticon07]

Maybe this will now pressure Scream Factory into stepping up their game. This can be good for them or very very bad. I am looking forward to see if they up their QC processes (compression, audio, etc.) or continue to point fingers like they have done most recently to Anchor Bay.

Anyways, this announcement is the biggest news of 2014 for blu-ray in my eyes. I can't wait for some release dates.

[EddieLarkin]

Guys, the whole point of this is for future releases not past ones!

Hopefully, instead of getting ancient edge enhanced masters from Scream Factory we'll now see some of their style of titles getting brand spanking new transfers from Arrow. That is exactly why Arrow have made this move and expressed as such in the UK thread; they got sick of the equivalent US labels, Scream included, being too cheap to go in with them to do new masters, instead being happy to just peddle DVD era crap like the Halloween transfers for premium prices.

Arrow are coming over to show them how it's done!

Originally Posted by NoirFan

So now, whenever Scream officially announces a title, we can safely assume that it will be the only option, and that there will not be any potential superior Arrow equivalent. That was one of the things I liked most about Arrow - consumers weren't necessarily stuck with Scream editions of Motel Hell, Lifeforce, the Price films, etc. Now, Scream have even less incentive (not that they care anyway) to start properly encoding their discs, going the extra mile to create definitive extras, etc, as there won't be any direct disc-to-disc competition.

As above, you are completely looking at this the wrong way. Arrow will now be in direct competition with Scream, giving the latter more incentive to sort their act out.

Originally Posted by rickah88

There could be some cause for alarm, as this could potentially decrease possible releases in the UK, if Arrow can't obtain rights in the US. I'm sure to cut down on costs, Arrow would like to release in both regions, and if one region can't be had, it could wipe the release for the other region.

It's a potential, but they'll be swapping them for even higher profile titles and more riskier lower profile titles, and you'll never know about the ones they had to drop in favour of the better stuff anyway. There is literally no bad side to this!

[Ill_Be_Back]

I am not so sure now, I don't like the idea of a "special title" only getting a UK only release. How many titles will they actually be able to release both in the US and UK anyway? There is a lot more companies in the US releasing cult films.

[EddieLarkin]

Originally Posted by Ill_Be_Back

I am not so sure now, I don't like the idea of a "special title" only getting a UK only release. How many titles will they actually be able to release both in the US and UK anyway? There is a lot more companies in the US releasing cult films.

They have said they will endeavor to release every title on both sides of the pond. Though what difference does it make? If they can only release it in the UK, you weren't getting it anyway!

This is all about upping the indie label game, and actually injecting some visual quality into the releases. Instead of Arrow taking a crappy old studio master, they'll do their own transfer far more often (it sounds like the majority of the time). The only other indie label regularly doing that is Criterion. I would expect some huge profile titles and some very rare and obscure titles to form the basis of Arrow's new releases from now on. The middle ground will be left to the other indies.

[GasmaskAvenger]

First Raro Video, now Arrow Video. Its nice to see those international cult movie home video companies to be expanding their operations to the USA.

Eager to see what else they'll put out throughout next year.

[zombiepunk]

I am excited for this!

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by EddieLarkin

Arrow are coming over to show them how it's done!

On titles that they can afford to outbid Scream on, yes. Titles that Scream acquire instead of Arrow now have no possibility of an Arrow edition.

Arrow will now be in direct competition with Scream, giving the latter more incentive to sort their act out.

I suppose that is theoretically possible, but Scream haven't addressed/fixed any of their technical snafus so far, despite all of the criticisms, so why would, say, Arrow releasing a properly-encoded disc of The Sentinel have any effect upon Scream's QC on a disc of The Island of Dr. Moreau? If this plan/business model had been introduced before Arrow's restored, labor-of-love Burbs disc was released, and Scream had outbid them, then our only option as consumers would be the Scream disc, likely recycling the horrid Universal master and with no workprint (to say nothing of the potential encoding/quality control issues).

[Undeadcow]

How is the Indiegogo campaign now busting at the seams? I'm considering the 10 disc offer for $175.

Originally Posted by NoirFan

...Now, Scream have even less incentive (not that they care anyway) to start properly encoding their discs, going the extra mile to create definitive extras, etc, as there won't be any direct disc-to-disc competition.

It's argueable if Scream was ever motivated by disc comparisons with other regions to begin with. The possibility exists that with a more competitive label like Arrow in direct same market contest Scream may have to be more calculated with their releases or risk further diminishing their "genre heroes" fan buzz. Certainly Scream will need to be careful about non-exclusive title agreements or we could even end up with discs from both (similar to Darkman, Halloween II, etc now).

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by EddieLarkin

They have said they will endeavor to release every title on both sides of the pond.

But, if they can't release it in the US, they likely won't be releasing it at all, unless it is a marquee title:

Originally Posted by Arrow Films & Video

It would have to be something very special for us to release in the UK only.