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I confirm for the Polanski. On top of this, it's looking like it's the same source than the DVD, except much cleaner, so the upgrade is limited.

RobertAltman wrote:The Fearless Vampire Killers was just released by Warner France. I pre-ordered the BD, and paid EUR 32,57 for it(incl shipping). According to those who've received the disc it's 1080/50p and has forced French subtitles. Uncharacteristically for a Warner release, it is region locked. Will send mine back for a refund.

I bought this and "Day for Night" because I thought I had read and rechecked prior to ordering that dvdbeaver said both of these were, in fact, region free. Now, I can't find his review for either of these. I could have read it elsewhere, but think not. Does anybody remember him reviewing these? AND saying they were region free. I am either pissed at him or me!

I don't think Beaver has reviewed Vampire Killers.

boywonder wrote:

RobertAltman wrote:The Fearless Vampire Killers was just released by Warner France. I pre-ordered the BD, and paid EUR 32,57 for it(incl shipping). According to those who've received the disc it's 1080/50p and has forced French subtitles. Uncharacteristically for a Warner release, it is region locked. Will send mine back for a refund.

I bought this and "Day for Night" because I thought I had read and rechecked prior to ordering that dvdbeaver said both of these were, in fact, region free. Now, I can't find his review for either of these. I could have read it elsewhere, but think not. Does anybody remember him reviewing these? AND saying they were region free. I am either pissed at him or me!

Both releases are Region B locked, and at least the Polanski have forced French subs. The Polanski appears to use the same source than the old DVD (included with the BD), but is much cleaner, and providess a small but visible upgrade.

Friedkin's Sorcerer (digibook) officially announced for 4/22.

Finally, Jesus-- wasn't the DVD P+S even?

The copy I have wasn't, but it's the version from the big boxset.

The one Eastwood-directed title that I'm really hoping they'll upgrade is White Hunter Black Heart. Bridges is still brought down by its source material, but Streep is still excellent and Eastwood directs some wonderful scenes. (The climax in the car was very well done.)

DVDBeaver on the 1981 "The Postman Always Rings Twice", finally released after being delayed for more than a year.

Memphis Belle (1990) on 5/16/14

I'd feel a lot worse about just picking it up in that WB sale if it hadn't only cost me ~$3 to begin with. The catalog titles getting the Blu-ray treatment from WB this year are beguiling though, aren't they?

Lots of 1997-2001 era DVDs that are really poor by today's standards getting upgraded. They must have had an initiative to revisit those titles for HD mastering in the last year or so.

Also: The Big Red One (1980) on 5/13/14

But still, why those and not, say The Big Sleep or Mildred Pierce?

Matt wrote:But still, why those and not, say The Big Sleep or Mildred Pierce?

I'd imagine it's far less costly and time consuming to do new HD masters for films from the 80s-90s than those from the 40s-50s. They may very well have started 40s and 50s films at the same time but are taking longer to finish them.

And we do know that older catalog titles are in the works, like The Time Machine (1960).

I'd bet some of these oddball titles existed in HD masters for TV sales already

domino harvey wrote:I'd bet some of these oddball titles existed in HD masters for TV sales already

Sure, but they still do additional work on them. And every one has its fans.

Glass half full perspective: Every title they release I'm not interested in is one less title standing in the way of one I am interested in.

or Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf or Key Largo? I always find their selections for upgrades peculiar.

captveg wrote:

Matt wrote:But still, why those and not, say The Big Sleep or Mildred Pierce?

I'd imagine it's far less costly and time consuming to do new HD masters for films from the 80s-90s than those from the 40s-50s.

That's a canard. The age of a film alone has little to do with its condition or suitability for HD transfer.

Who knows why they release what they release? I'm sure Memphis Belle is just the usual market-researched Memorial Day/Father's Day cash grab just like Bridges is for Mother's Day.

Matt wrote:Bridges is for Mother's Day.

Because what better way to celebrate Mother's Day than to watch a movie about Mom cheating on Dad.

Nobody gives any actual thought to these things. It's just "Moms like Meryl Streep" and "This movie is romantic." 1+1=$.

Matt wrote:

captveg wrote:

Matt wrote:But still, why those and not, say The Big Sleep or Mildred Pierce?

I'd imagine it's far less costly and time consuming to do new HD masters for films from the 80s-90s than those from the 40s-50s.

That's a canard. The age of a film alone has little to do with its condition or suitability for HD transfer.

Who knows why they release what they release? I'm sure Memphis Belle is just the usual market-researched Memorial Day/Father's Day cash grab just like Bridges is for Mother's Day.

I was of course talking in generalities. Every film will have its own unique element issues.

And, yes, most of this is driven simply by what has sold well in the past.

Eastwood in particular usually comes in waves from WB, so I'd expect perhaps 1-2 more of his films to come out around the same time as Bridges of Madison County, especially with Jersey Boys coming out.

BTW, WAC Facebook also stated that Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is on tap for a WHV release in 2014.