Looney Tunes Platinum Collection on Blu-ray Reviews

[Boob-Ray]

Originally Posted by tamino

Here is some pictures of UCE.

Sweet! I'm sticking with the UCE. Thanks for posting pics. I wasn't sure if I should save $11 and just get the digibook. I was assuming that the UCE was just going to be a thin disposable paper box -- but it is clearly part of the package and looks nice. This is definitely a UCE-quality box.

[Riddler95]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

That's because as they progressed through the series, each title sold fewer copies than the previous set. By the time they had completed the sixth, I guess it wasn't worth it anymore. (Between the mastering, tweaking and assembling the extras, these sets can't be cheap to produce.) Which is why they're not attempting to do a chronological "every cartoon" series as some people on this site have indicated they would have wanted: with approx 1000 cartoons (through 1969), it would take 20 BD sets to get through them all and only the most die-hard collectors would buy them all. Would you spend $800 to get them all?

If this one sells, you'll see a second. If that sells, you'll see a third. Etc. The problem is that the BD market is still a much smaller market overall than the DVD market, even though individual titles of new films are sometimes exceeding 50% share for the BD. But my bet is that they don't get past five or six sets on this series either (my guess is they'll be three). Another factor is whether or not these do look substantially better than the DVDs, especially for people who have equipment that does quality upscaling, because the DVDs frequently go for pretty cheap these days. (Right now on Amazon, they're priced as follows: Vol. 1: $26, Vol. 2: $26, Vol. 3: $23, Vol. 4: $26, Vol. 5: $20, Vol. 6: $39 and remember that all of the DVD sets have at least 60 cartoons each.)

While these cartoons were a big part of my childhood TV watching and while I think at least some of the stories stand up to modern sensibilities, the music (largely borrowed from Raymond Scott) is incredible and I was always completely fascinated with Mel Blanc, I find I generally don't have the patience to sit through these anymore. I find that I actually like the documentaries better than the cartoons. But in the end, I think I will buy this set, especially if the price drops a bit.

Both the Looney Tunes and the Disney Shorts were a big part of my childhood as well. I didn't know that The Golden Collection DVD Sets sold fewer each Volume. I agree with you though, I don't think that they release up to six of these Platinum Collection Sets on Blu-Ray. I too haven't heard anything of these new Blu-Ray Versions looking substantially better than the DVD Versions, I already commented that the Golden Collection DVD Sets still look and sound pretty damn good. They too look great Upscaled as well.

It is pretty quick to see a Looney Tunes collection on Blu-Ray, I mean Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume Six was released on DVD only three years ago in October of 2008.

[Rhymetyme91]

Excuse my naive optimism, but I would like to think it is possible to get all of the shorts on BD. The GCs have already been mastered in HD, haven't they? So can't they just mix n' match and release the HD masters for BD? That has to save some money right there. Also, with releases of UCE and standard Digibooks, I would imagine they'll be an increase in profit as well. Plus, BD has created something of a renaissance of the home video market, so I think by virtue of the fact that these shorts will be released in HD, more excitement will be generated, and more individuals will purchase them. Same thing with the T&J GC and future WB classic BD releases. I just don't think we can count them down as being inevitably canceled just yet.

[OneWayFilms]

wll, if I had any questioons about getting the swag edition, that video just gave me my answer....NO. Maybe for die-hard fans, but I can't imagine spending THAT much more money for those very few and cheap extra's.

I'll stick to the Digi-book alone, thank you.

[Botchavelli]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Okay, show of hands, casual non-fans: Leaving aside the obvious Bugs, Daffy, Elmer, or Wile E. Coyote, etc., name a favorite minor "cult" Looney character you love to claim you remember from Saturday morning. Now, allow me to us my awesome psychic powers....mmm, let's see, you named either Marvin, Taz, Witch Hazel, Ralph Phillips, or "the big bulldog with the little kitten"--How'd I do? (Those who named the opera singer or the big hairy monster in sneakers will have to wait.)

Nope sorry, named Beaky Buzzard. Had only 4 shorts, but loved him the best. They never seem to put any of his shorts out on these collections except for the one with him and Bugs.

[Boob-Ray]

Outside of "complete" the method used in this Platinum set might be the best bet. Random...with a few off-shoots of "complete" lesser characters. Frankly there's no easy answer, but this could be a well thought out solution.

One thing's for sure -- I got tired of the character themed discs of the Golden Collection. Random is way better. Even better would be a shuffle playback option.


Soap-box
Ok, I do have two gripes though: 1) Dolby Digital? Seriously? And... 2) Bonus Shorts on Disc 3 are mostly Standard Definition. Wha?

Seriously Warner Bros. -- DD and SD are the two acronyms Blu-ray customers are looking dump. Remember: DD and SD are bad. In fact, if you do nothing else, just make sure those are the two things you focus on. It's not complicated. Here's a little cheat-sheet...

DVD is not Blu-ray. Likewise, Blu-ray is not DVD.
DVD = SD and DD.
Blu-ray = HD and Hi-Res audio.

Please. Meditate on that.

[Hatter]

Originally Posted by Boob-Ray

Outside of "complete" the method used in this Platinum set might be the best bet. Random...with a few off-shoots of "complete" lesser characters. Frankly there's no easy answer, but this could be a well thought out solution.

One thing's for sure -- I got tired of the character themed discs of the Golden Collection. Random is way better. Even better would be a shuffle playback option.


Soap-box
Ok, I do have two gripes though: 1) Dolby Digital? Seriously? And... 2) Bonus Shorts on Disc 3 are mostly Standard Definition. Wha?

Seriously Warner Bros. -- DD and SD are the two acronyms Blu-ray customers are looking dump. Remember: DD and SD are bad. In fact, if you do nothing else, just make sure those are the two things you focus on. It's not complicated. Here's a little cheat-sheet...

DVD is not Blu-ray. Likewise, Blu-ray is not DVD.
DVD = SD and DD.
Blu-ray = HD and Hi-Res audio.

Please. Meditate on that.

Complaining about DD @ 192
That was really lazy on their part

Complaining that bonus shorts that they didn't even have to include are in SD though is pushing it.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Boob-Ray

DVD is not Blu-ray. Likewise, Blu-ray is not DVD.
DVD = SD and DD.
Blu-ray = HD and Hi-Res audio.

Please. Meditate on that.

DD 1.0 mono @192 is more than enough for these vintage tracks. That's more per-channel bits than even DD @640 gets.

DD @640kbps is not DVD either.

DVD DD mono 1.0 was usually 96kbps.

[Boob-Ray]

Originally Posted by Hatter

Complaining about DD @ 192
That was really lazy on their part

Complaining that bonus shorts that they didn't even have to include are in SD though is pushing it.

...or maybe they were supposed to include the "bonus shorts" in the first place, but got lazy (again) -- and decided to call them "bonus shorts" to deflect criticism?

I mean seriously...what's a bonus short in a collection of shorts?

[Boob-Ray]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

DD 1.0 mono @192 is more than enough for these vintage tracks. That's more per-channel bits than even DD @640 gets.

DD @640kbps is not DVD either.

DVD DD mono 1.0 was usually 96kbps.

You know what's "more than enough" for a mono track of this vintage? A lossless mono track.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Any news of a Wal-Mart stripped-down version with just the discs in a standard case?

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by OneWayFilms

wll, if I had any questioons about getting the swag edition, that video just gave me my answer....NO. Maybe for die-hard fans, but I can't imagine spending THAT much more money for those very few and cheap extra's.

I'll stick to the Digi-book alone, thank you.

Although if I buy this, I'll be getting the digi-book alone as well, I disagree with you on the value of the swag edition: for an extra $11, you're getting an animation cell, a colorful metal plate and the shot glass. That's $3.67 per swag item - that's pretty cheap IMO.

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by Boob-Ray

You know what's "more than enough" for a mono track of this vintage? A lossless mono track.

Maybe, if they still had the mag-tracks for the post-war cartoons. But if they only have the optical masters (or they're making these from prints), lossless is completely unnecessary. Optical tracks played back as intended on the old Academy Curve start rolling off above 2KHz. It's amazing they sound as good as they do.

Although...having said that....I do have a CD of "The Carl Stalling Project: Music From Warner Bros. Cartoons 1936-1958" and most of these tracks sound absolutely fabulous. And although I don't own it, I think there was a second volume.

I also have a CD of Raymond Scott's music: "The Music of Raymond Scott: Reckless Nights and Turkish Twilights". Scott wrote novelty music, but not specifically for cartoons. His music was purchased by Warner Bros. and was the basis for many of Carl Stalling's scores. If you love cartoon music, this is a must-have. It's definitely bandwidth limited compared to modern recordings, but still amazing sounding for 1930s recordings.

(In fact, either of these CDs would have made for a fabulous extra for the BD set. I can't believe they sell very many of these, so maybe the labels would sell them cheap to WB for a future set.)

[Liselotte]

got mine from AMZ today. very nice packaging.

[scamander]

Does anyone know, if the Canadian Digibook the same as the US-Set or bilingual? Since amazon.ca is so much faster for European customers, I would like to order there.^^

[aherron]

Got my copy of the UCE from Amazon today and it is BEAUTIFUL! My copy is 6364 of 36000. Cannot wait to watch this over the weekend.

[little flower]

I pre-ordered the ultimate collector's edition last night

[Lnds500]

Originally Posted by aherron

Got my copy of the UCE from Amazon today and it is BEAUTIFUL! My copy is 6364 of 36000. Cannot wait to watch this over the weekend.

36000???? considering that the Lion King HMV exlusive had only 3000 copies, this doesn't sound as a collector's item at all.

[chantm]

Originally Posted by Lnds500

36000???? considering that the Lion King HMV exlusive had only 3000 copies, this doesn't sound as a collector's item at all.

precisely why i am going to wait on this. hopefully it'll go on a sale soon!

[Lnds500]

Originally Posted by chantm

precisely why i am going to wait on this. hopefully it'll go on a sale soon!

I would have waited as well if i knew there are so many copies..