titch
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2012
- Messages
- 2,312
- Real Name
- Kevin Oppegaard
To anybody entertaining the notion that physical media is finished, now that Best Buy - or some other brick and morter store - isn't going to sell product, clearly needs to have to study Arrow Video's remarkable success. They're releasing box set after box set of lovingly curated cult movies in blu-ray and 4K UHD, which are selling like hot cakes ; their entire run of the "Chatterer" box of this 4K release sold out on pre-order, from their own website, before release date!
And using the original Hellraiser as an example of how Arrow actually outdo their previous offerings, unlike the rather hopeless repackaging of existing discs in a steelbook, as is the mainstream studios answer to "how do we shift more units to people who have already purchased this half a dozen times": I have the previous "Scarlet box" blu-ray set, released in 2016. A 2K remaster. It wasn't shabby then, but in comparison to what Arrow have just done with their 4K "Quartet Of Torment" box, it's as redundant and as uninspired, as the old cover art.
I've just spent a very entertaining six hours, watching the first three films, listening to the new commentary tracks, with cult film legend Kim Newman and unit publisist Stephen Jones. Fans, such as myself, who have seen the first two or three films in their various iterations since VHS and LaserDisc days, don't really need to see the films yet again - even with such fantastic 4K scans and mastering efforts, as are now presented! It's the incredible supplemental material and a box design to die for, which is the deal here. God - I listened to the first five minutes of Clive Barker's original commentary from the '90's, and it was unbearable: he can't say a single sentence, without going "um" and "er" and "ah", and that's just him pointing out what is happening on the screen. No - Kim Newman and Stephen Jones sound like commentators at the Newmarket horse races, breathlessly covering anecdotes, production history and anything that they suddenly think of. Now I'm going to read the incredible "Ages Of Desire" hardbound book, included with the set. The packaging and content are simply outstanding, even considering the high bar Arrow Video have previously set.
The year isn't finished yet, but I'm guessing that this box will be the physical media release of the year. And that's quite something, considering that we've had the amazing Second Sight Texas Chainsaw Massacre box, Arrow Video's Hugo box, Warner UK's Exorcist box, Criterion's Small Axe box, Arrow Video's Bruce Lee box, Criterions's Pasolini 101 box, StudioCanal's The Wicker Man box and Criterion's Three Colors 4K box!
And using the original Hellraiser as an example of how Arrow actually outdo their previous offerings, unlike the rather hopeless repackaging of existing discs in a steelbook, as is the mainstream studios answer to "how do we shift more units to people who have already purchased this half a dozen times": I have the previous "Scarlet box" blu-ray set, released in 2016. A 2K remaster. It wasn't shabby then, but in comparison to what Arrow have just done with their 4K "Quartet Of Torment" box, it's as redundant and as uninspired, as the old cover art.
I've just spent a very entertaining six hours, watching the first three films, listening to the new commentary tracks, with cult film legend Kim Newman and unit publisist Stephen Jones. Fans, such as myself, who have seen the first two or three films in their various iterations since VHS and LaserDisc days, don't really need to see the films yet again - even with such fantastic 4K scans and mastering efforts, as are now presented! It's the incredible supplemental material and a box design to die for, which is the deal here. God - I listened to the first five minutes of Clive Barker's original commentary from the '90's, and it was unbearable: he can't say a single sentence, without going "um" and "er" and "ah", and that's just him pointing out what is happening on the screen. No - Kim Newman and Stephen Jones sound like commentators at the Newmarket horse races, breathlessly covering anecdotes, production history and anything that they suddenly think of. Now I'm going to read the incredible "Ages Of Desire" hardbound book, included with the set. The packaging and content are simply outstanding, even considering the high bar Arrow Video have previously set.
The year isn't finished yet, but I'm guessing that this box will be the physical media release of the year. And that's quite something, considering that we've had the amazing Second Sight Texas Chainsaw Massacre box, Arrow Video's Hugo box, Warner UK's Exorcist box, Criterion's Small Axe box, Arrow Video's Bruce Lee box, Criterions's Pasolini 101 box, StudioCanal's The Wicker Man box and Criterion's Three Colors 4K box!