Warner Random Speculation

[Cinesimilitude]

the kubrick SE's will be mine.

Clockwork Orange especially.

[devlinnn]

Don't people think this is one of those last big gasps of classic material before the dead zone of BluRay?

Indeed. At least Warner are releasing new classic titles before the curtains are drawn, but the majority of studio resources in the near and distant future will be concentrated on the re-releasing and re-packaging of the same old for BluRay.

"..if that's all there is, then let's keep dancing"

[ben d banana]

It does say many will be released day and date w/ HD-DVD versions, and if you read the whole article on the Digital Bits it says they'll also be releasing them on Blu-ray once the format is launced. Other notable absences from what's been quoted is that when it's referring to the SE's that means double discs (so hopefully there will be nice versions of Lolita, Barry Lyndon, and Full Metal Jacket as well), the HD-DVD list price for catalog titles will by $29.98, and that the HD formats will have additional extras not available on DVD (and no, there will be nothing exclusive to the DVDs). To my mind, rather than a last gasp, it's a decisive move to get film buffs, and not just techies, to jump into the early adopter sweepstakes. Obviously, that would be a lot easier without a format war.

[Lino]

When will they release Ken Russell already!! ](*,)

Yeah, I noticed that too. It's strange that they don't even mention The Devils that was touched upon on last year's chat. I don't know - right now, I'm guessing a Fall release for those Russell titles. Hopefully.

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

No on both counts. That would require you to make a 650 nanometer red laser read data designed for a 405 nanometer violet/blue laser, which would probably earn you a Nobel Prize. DVD/Blu-ray and DVD/HD DVD hybrid discs are possible but I doubt they'll be widely used (probably a good thing in light of the experience with DualDisc).

[justeleblanc]

When will they release Ken Russell already!! ](*,)

Yeah, I noticed that too. It's strange that they don't even mention The Devils that was touched upon on last year's chat. I don't know - right now, I'm guessing a Fall release for those Russell titles. Hopefully.

Do they own the rights to Mahler?

[Ashirg]

Too bad. They will miss a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to release The Devils on June 6th.

[Lino]

Ashirg, no June Warner title has been announced yet so there's still chance of that to happen.

As for Mahler, justeleblanc: I do hope that they too own it since it's now OOP and the recently released UK version is a mess. There is a strong possibility that they do as Mahler is a Goodtimes title much like Warner's owned Lisztomania. One hopes, at least.

[stroszeck]

Since we will apparently be getting "Reflections in a GOlden Eye," does anybody know if we could look forward to Huston's "The Dead?" it was, after all his last film, I'm just not sure whether Warner owns the rights.
Great movie, not available on DVD. See Roger Ebert's review -- he added teh film recently to his great movies site.

[tryavna]

Since we will apparently be getting "Reflections in a GOlden Eye," does anybody know if we could look forward to Huston's "The Dead?" it was, after all his last film, I'm just not sure whether Warner owns the rights.
Great movie, not available on DVD. See Roger Ebert's review -- he added teh film recently to his great movies site.

And don't forget Huston's other late-career literary adaptation, the masterful Under the Volcano. That's a film that sorely needs wider appreciation.

[Greathinker]

Anyone think there's a chance of a Rio Bravo SE anytime in the future? I was disappointed to see its a barebones release when there's so much that could be done.

[justeleblanc]

Anyone think there's a chance of a Rio Bravo SE anytime in the future? I was disappointed to see its a barebones release when there's so much that could be done.

I thought a SE was already announced. I swear a read it somewhere that <b>Rio Bravo</b> was getting a new release. Wasn't it on this forum?

[Godot]

I haven't heard of a Rio Bravo SE, though I would certainly welcome it with open wallet. Perchance with Robin Wood commentary? =P~

But what we have been awaiting is release date news on the promised The Searchers 2-disc SE.

[Derek Estes]

I too have been hoping for a Rio Bravo SE. I'm sure this is a shoe-in for a 2 disc, but it might not happen until it's 50th anniversary in 2008 or 2009.

[Faux Hulot]

Personally, I'm most eagerly awaiting O Lucky Man! Great news in another thread recently that Malcolm McDowell seems willing to go to bat for it (i.e. trading a Clockwork Orange commentary for its release) but still it's disappointing not to see it on such an ambitious slate.

[Lino]

This is interesting - from Video Business:

On a more serious note, (Jeff Baker) explained that Warner is coming to retailers' aid by encasing boxed set discs in thinner Amaray cases beginning this May.

I wonder if the upcoming Tennessee Williams set will be like this.

[Derek Estes]

I hope so. When I read that I has hoping that this would be the case for the Busby Berkeley Set considering most of the films will not be available separetly anyhow.

[Lino]

That probably won't happen because the Busby set will come out in March.

[Schkura]

That would require you to make a 650 nanometer red laser read data designed for a 405 nanometer violet/blue laser, which would probably earn you a Nobel Prize.

And my first-born child.

[manicsounds]

Almost all of the US Warner catalog titles are coded Regions 1,2,3,4,
for some odd reason, even though they are clearly marked 1 on the box.

Are they leaving out Region 5 and 6 for some odd reason?
WHy even have them coded at all in the first place?

[Schkura]

"The spread of theft of America's creative works flows like a swiftly running river in every nook and cranny of this planet," Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, told the panel.

Valenti cited China and Russia, "where the problems are large and growing at an alarming rate" and where "organized criminal groups play a large role in the replication and distribution of pirated DVDs."

In both countries, "the piracy problems are spilling out beyond their borders to infect markets all around the world," Valenti told the panel.

Maybe Warner figures China and Russia already have copies.

( http://www.boycott-riaa.com/article/12465 )

[Jeff]

This is interesting - from Video Business:

On a more serious note, (Jeff Baker) explained that Warner is coming to retailers' aid by encasing boxed set discs in thinner Amaray cases beginning this May.

It looks to me like the Lucy & Desi box will be the first ones in slim cases.

[bjeggert82]

This is really annoying and frustrating. First Universal releases Gary Cooper/W.C. Fields (and the like) boxed sets sans individual cases--which I expect from Universal, since they're cheap-skates. Now Warner is going to the cheap route.

I really hope that future sets (John Wayne/Ford, John Ford, etc) have the normal keep cases that we're all used to. Perhaps this Lucy and Desi set is Warner's one cheap exception...

[ben d banana]

First, I seriously doubt thinpaks (or whatever option Warner chooses) are that much less expensive than a regular amaray case. Second, just how blessed with unlimited space are some of you people?

[dx23]

This is really annoying and frustrating. First Universal releases Gary Cooper/W.C. Fields (and the like) boxed sets sans individual cases--which I expect from Universal, since they're cheap-skates. Now Warner is going to the cheap route.

I really hope that future sets (John Wayne/Ford, John Ford, etc) have the normal keep cases that we're all used to. Perhaps this Lucy and Desi set is Warner's one cheap exception...

Although they are cheaper, I doubt that was the only or major reason for Warner doing it. Space issues for both retailers and consumers has to be the main factor. Retailers like Wal-Mart and Best Buy have both been vocal about spacing issues in their store, specially with box sets, so Warner, being one of the leaders in the DVD industry, is helping to fix that issue. Consumers like myself, aren't going to cry about it since after 500 DVDs, you begin to have space issues for your collection.