You lose so much in these torrents it isn't even funny. Even in a situation where you can put it on your teevee you lose, from DVD, the academic materials that help to fully understand these films. I can't even remember just how many dozens of films I have grown an appreciation for films I initially hated. Hell, one of my favorite directors (Bresson) is only such because of DVD. As David Hare already mentioned downloads really kill off the chance to project films and at least fake the theatrical experience. DVDs aren't perfect in comparison with that experience, but it really opens up things much more than this crap could ever do.
Another problem with the lack of the physical is the question of ownership. How do you own a download. With DVD you actually get a copy to view whenever, but it's easier to get rid of downloads and even have to constantly pay for it via an insane rental system.
If this bizarre train of thought really gathers than we might have to go back to searching for 16mm copies again and I really don't want to have that be the only option.

Bingo. And of course the possibility of censorship or other alteration (or deletion) is increased manyfold; it's a statist's wet dream, frankly.

Haha,
I'm not "rich" by any means, and there probably are a few here and there I never bought, but it doesn't really matter to me that I didn't...

Some people hate how Disney takes their titles out of print for a long time and bring them back eventually. I actually think this is great in their marketing that I think others can benefit by following. Reissues create re-interest and awareness, as opposed to getting crammed in the bottom of the bargain bin.

Paramount on the most part have been stingy on their discs' special features, and that is why there were many good titles I never bought, as I thought a rental would suffice. Sorry, being a special features fan.

As I said, I'd like to know what their plans for the future are. I'm just very surprised at the speed these things went unavailable...

But the real issue isn't the idea of pulling these out of print and then bringing them back. The issue is, that with 4K and 3DBlu formats looming, and attention already starting to be pulled in many different directions by home theater geeks, Blu-Ray isn't going to have as comfy a shelf life as DVD. These studios are not going to get around to a lot of niche titles on Blu-Ray as they did on DVD before they have to switch gears again and focus on another format(s). The potential for Blu-Ray technology is already being bemoaned by major studios as they try to avoid things like quadruple-layer discs becoming the norm because it'd alienate a lot of recent purchasers of Blu-Ray players as too sharp an upgrade in the technology would immediately render their shiny new players obsolete before they even got a chance to get started.

And the really obnoxious part of all this is that the studios, taking their good ol' time getting titles out on Blu-Ray, are putting out 'no one asked for this!' garbage like Freddy vs. Jason and Assault on Precinct 13 and Stardust and Timecop before taking a look at what films will actually sell well long-term on the format. My theory is that studios are taking advantage of the paltry selection out there and hoping that a title like that, along with a nice price point, will get a lot of 'well, nothing else is out this week, so...' sales for titles that'd otherwise be largely ignored, and judging by the usual top sellers represented on blu-ray.com, this strategy seems to be working.

I hope you're referring to the remake on Assault and not the Carpenter version.
I'm actually perfectly fine with the way Disney does things because: A. they're honest about it. B. They always put the stuff back out again in improved editions even if it takes forever C. they give massively advanced warning each time. D. they only do a limited number of OOPs at a time. Paramount, and in a more forgivable case MGM, haven't done any of these things which is just hateful and harmful to the consumer.

SOB: AKA, I didn't know this one was OOP and wish I would have bought it when I had it in my hands a few months ago at Target or somewhere and thought "nah, I don't need it right this minute and it's not like it's going anywhere...I'll bet I find it cheaper later".

Son of a Bitch.

and then substitute "taking dvds out of print" for product placementin this one.

Yup. We might remember that "recall of 1984 from Kindles about a year or so back. That movie you had stored on your computer suddenly disappears...
Short of arriving at your door with a warrant, the studios can't take back a DVD you bought.

I wonder how the studios will region code legal downloads?

Disney's mission statement, not even Leonard Martin couldn't put it better

They won't, they'll go much much further in their restrictions.

Can't stress this enough: Check your Barnes and Nobles! I found all three Paramount Jerry Lewis sets, Pretty Baby, the Country Girl (might need it for teaching, ie certainly not grabbing this one for my own enjoyment), Murder on the Orient Express, the Ten Commandments 50th Anniv (which turned out to not be OOP, of course), Harold and Maude (which I thought I owned but according to DVDAf I sold it-- thank God I got one now since they're going for $33 new) and the Naked Gun trilogy (Jesus, going for $46 new?!) to gouge online.

They're dupes for me, so I'll sell the Legendary Jerry Collection and second Martin and Lewis set (the good one with the Tashlins) to anyone here for list price plus shipping, if anyone can't find them

Is the first Martin & Lewis set even worth tracking down? I have Vol. 2 and the Legendary Jerry box, but not the first.

I was never interested, but it's going for over $100 now

what was it at B&N?

[/quote]

No, they won't.

As a Canadian we barely get half (if that) of what the United States does for streaming/downlaod via iTunes. We don't have Amazon streaming at all and nothing resembling Netflix steaming. Hulu and similar sites are blocked. Even streaming programs from major networks like NBC is geoblocked. The lack of physical formats of an entire studio catalog basically pulls those films out of circulation for good for a lot of people. If it comes back online, it will be for very select countries thanks to byzantine licensing issues.

You think studios that don't want to spend money pressing DVD/Blu for their back catalog are going to make it a priority to stream them? The future is all HD 3D and they will pour their money down that well before making sure their catalog remains available and well represented.

The best era for home video was and still is the VHS years.

Oddly enough, this kind of action makes a great case for piracy.

$49.99 before discounts and B2G1

Something to keep in mind. Paramount did license out a shitload of titles to Olive Films earlier this year. This may be their model for their back catalog for the future.......on the way........

* Rope of Sand (1949)
* Union Station (1950)
* Dark City (1950)
* Appointment with Danger (1951)
* My Favorite Spy (1951)
* Off Limits (1953)
* Knock on Wood (1954)
* The Mountain (1956)
* The Savage Innocents (1960)
* On the Double (1961)
* Summer and Smoke (1961)
* Escape from Zahrain (1962)
* Where Love Has Gone (1964)
* Crack in the World (1965)
* Harlow (1965)
* Sands of the Kalahari (1965)
* Promise Her Anything (1965)
* Hurry Sundown (1967)
* Skidoo (1968)
* Riot (1969)
* Tropic of Cancer (1970)
* WUSA (1970)
* Hannie Caulder (1971)
* Such Good Friends (1971)
* Fear Is the Key (1972)
* Jacqueline Susann's Once Is Not Enough (1975)
* Face to Face (Ansikte mot ansikte) (1976)

first titles were supposed to be out in June, but I don't think that happened

http://theplaylist.blogspot.com/2010/03 ... -lets.html

The first Olive/Paramount titles are due this month on the 27th. In case you forgot which ones, here they are again:

Union Station (1950)
Appointment With Danger (19510
Dark City (1950)
Crack in the World (1965)
and
Hannie Caulder (1972)

My Favorite Spy and Knock on Wood are due in October - I just found out via www.classicflix.com.

Yes, since the costs and time required to manufacture DVDs and Blus (and interface with retailers, manage inventory, etc.) are not comparable to supplying a file to Apple, Netflix, et al. to stream.

However, I'll concede my argument only applies to the US for now. I understand why the decline of physical media is a scary proposition for other countries.

Not odd at all. The more studios fail to meet consumer demand, the more active the piracy. Doesn't look like the studios have really figured this out yet, have they?


What likely will be the future model is not one thing or the other but a whole bunch of things simultaneously. Streaming, VOD, downloads, DVD-Rs and licensing in as many different venues as possible. Just like with music these days. Maybe we'll see a whole bunch more companies like Olive Films start up.


Netflix is supposed to be setting up a streaming service in Canada and parts of Europe, but they sure seem to be taking their time about it.

Perhaps I'm a bit more optimistic than others, but it seems to me that Paramount and Warner are suspending the production of a bulk of their DVDs only temporarily as a means to save money until their home video divisions can a) continue through the recession, b) reconfigure for blu-ray, and c) perhaps adequately pursue downloads and MOD services. I suspect once these are no longer issues then these titles will come back into print.

well that's at least one piece of good news...this is one MOC title that's bugged me isn't available here and I've really wanted. Hopefully they do these right. It would be nice to see a few more niche companies pick up the slack and offer affordable editions of stuff like this.

Looks like they are all $24.95 MSRP...not too bad, but I was hoping for $20. Certainly nothing to complain about though...considering the trend of charging $20-25 for DVD-Rs...which I just can't bring myself to pay.

Interestingly enough, they also picked up Milk of Sorrow, one of the Foreign Film Oscar nominees.

Just ordered Wenders' Hammett from a 3rd party on Amazon before it got too high...