Warner Catalog Titles on BD/UHD

[knives]

Is that like a real thing? You're joking, correct?

[vsski]

I'm (reasonably) reliably informed that Warner are prepping BD-Rs as their next step in Archive releases, so God knows that they'll expect you to pay for them...

While I have no reliable information that this is correct, it is a move that I am certain will happen and the only question is when and not if in my mind.
I have no sales info on the Archive collection, but considering how large it has become, how many titles, which I would assume have even a modest following and in the old days would have easily been released on pressed discs, are now coming out as DVD-Rs, and how many of the studios have jumped on the band wagon, it appears to be quite successful and more importantly profitable for the studios.
BR-Rs is a logical next step for those titles where better quality elements exist but pressed versions aren't deemed to sell enough or only seen as making the same profit that can be achieved with on demand discs.
Already when BR first came out many titles that had great supplements on DVD appeared as bare bones releases and not that many of them have been revisited.

The only way for studios to stop the on demand band wagon is if consumers vote with their money and stop buying them, however, one can argue that many studios will then stop releasing certain titles all together. The only hope for me in such a scenario would be that more companies like Olive step up and license the titles (provided the studios are willing to let them have it). And I'm not yet sure how successful Olive really is, as I presume they need more customers that the folks on this forum to survive.

[Jeff]

Watch, this new BD-R business is where Badlands will end up.

In much happier news, Little Shop of Horrors is coming to Blu-ray and will include both theatrical and director's cuts. It will be in a digibook, and the director's cut will include the original ending that Geffen yanked from the original DVD.

[The Narrator Returns]

Watch, this new BD-R business is where Badlands will end up.

Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!!!!

[domino harvey]

I can't wait for Warners to bring back Divx

[captveg]

I'm (reasonably) reliably informed that Warner are prepping BD-Rs as their next step in Archive releases, so God knows that they'll expect you to pay for them...

From what I understand, they won't be BD-Rs (far too unreliable, worse scratch resistance than DVD-Rs, and won't play on PS3 with AACS copy protection), but they will be Archive exclusive.

[mfunk9786]

In other words: We're still pressing these in a factory, but fuck y'all anyway

[JMULL222]

Whatever, I'd pay $50 for a BREWSTER McCLOUD blu-ray so who am I to complain

[Props55]

So we've come full circle back to niche laserdisc circa 1985?

[John Hodson]

Is that like a real thing? You're joking, correct?

Comment from VCI on their FB page (following their comment that the uptake on their BD releases has been 'disappointing' to date):

"...I know that WB and a couple of the other studios are playing with [BD MOD] and so far so good. I'm still not a real MOD fan simply because being a collector I just want the real deal DVD. I'm following the BD MOD and hope to learn enough to report back soon. Personally....I would just rather produce the BD. Just have to find a way, as a small independent, to justify the investment..."

[kingofthejungle]

I'm (reasonably) reliably informed that Warner are prepping BD-Rs as their next step in Archive releases, so God knows that they'll expect you to pay for them...

From what I understand, they won't be BD-Rs (far too unreliable, worse scratch resistance than DVD-Rs, and won't play on PS3 with AACS copy protection), but they will be Archive exclusive.

I certainly hope you're right. If the Archive were to start releasing BDs it would get me interested in buying from them again. With the HD riches we've been getting from Olive (and to a lesser extent, Twilight Time) it's hard to justify $15-20 for a single layered DVD-R. I'd certainly be interested in seeing some of the titles they presently offer get 1080p releases (particularly Party Girl, Stars In My Crown, and The Strawberry Blonde), but I assume that if they do move to BD they'll probably be releasing the kind of thing that would have been retail 5 years ago.

In any event, Warner needs to step up it's game in terms of catalog Blu releases. Baby Jane and Dead Ringer are a welcome interruptions from their normal stream of 80's garbage action movies and overpriced junk sets.

[captveg]

In other words: We're still pressing these in a factory, but fuck y'all anyway

I suspect they'll be doing very small runs that could not be ordered if they were going through normal retail channels. Think Twilight's 3000 model, but probably even less to begin with, with the ability to order another batch if close to selling out.

[Graham]

The most irritating thing about the MOD situation is how much it costs to import them overseas. Of course, Warners et al refuse to ship to the UK.

[Jeff]

As part of their continuing effort to confound their customer base, Warner will be issuing Ice Station Zebra on Blu-ray on October 9th.

[captveg]

As part of their continuing effort to confound their customer base, Warner will be issuing Ice Station Zebra on Blu-ray on October 9th.

70mm Super Panavision film. Not terribly surprising that it's getting the HD treatment, IMO.

[Adam X]

The most irritating thing about the MOD situation is how much it costs to import them overseas. Of course, Warners et al refuse to ship to the UK.

I hate to plug them, but why don't you use Amazon to get around this? Or are the studios making MODs only selectively available from there?

[zedz]

Amazon - and some other etailers - carry what seems to be the full line of Archive discs, but the retail price is even more inflated (by about $10, as I recall), and the titles are seldom discounted. This is why I leapt at the chance to pick up several titles in the last Deep Discount sale, when they were eligible for the 25% discount, as this brought them a little more in line with common sense. (Though still not as low as they would be directly from Warners in one of their sales.)

[Graham]

The most irritating thing about the MOD situation is how much it costs to import them overseas. Of course, Warners et al refuse to ship to the UK.

I hate to plug them, but why don't you use Amazon to get around this? Or are the studios making MODs only selectively available from there?

I use Amazon UK Marketplace sellers as much as possible and normally have to pay around £11-13 + £1.26 postage but not everything is listed.

I did score Wild Rovers for £10.12 including postage yesterday though.

[eerik]

Dial M for Murder and Strangers on a Train coming on October 9th

[domino harvey]

How can one cover be so great and the other so terrible

[TMDaines]

Well, Dial M for Murder will be my first my 3D Blu-ray... not that I'll probably get a chance to play it for quite a while.

[The Narrator Returns]

Strangers on a Train's cover looks like it belongs to a video on sexual harassment.

[eerik]

Lenticular 3D slipcase:


The press release sounds like Warner has plans to release more classic 3D titles on 3D Blu-ray and not only Dial M and House of Wax (that were confirmed by TheDigitalBits.com a long time ago).

[Fierias]

I always thought Dial M was an anaglyph 3D film, which would be viewable on any display. This looks like I'd need a 3D tv to watch it, which would be really disappointing.

[felipe]

They are releasing three 3D Blu Rays in the first tranche I thought. Alas Kiss me Kate is not one of them.

3? Dial M, House of Wax, and what's the third one?