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So, if Warners does occassionally issue less-than-stellar DVDs we shouldn't complain (haven't watched Heat yet, so don't know about that one), but it's perfectly fine to endlessly lambast Columbia and Universal, despite the many fine DVDs they've issued. Have I got that right?
I do find it amusing that people do tend to forgive Warners their occasional sin but not others. Just look at The Broadway Melody or Little Caeser - both of which have transfers that are no better than the Universal early Marx Bros. transfers. Guess which studio gets lambasted and guess which studio gets "they did the best they could - bravo Warners".
So, it's funny that when there's a thread where someone actually says something negative or is nitpicky about a Warners transfer, someone shows up and says we shouldn't criticize. |
Arthur, that's a silly comparison...
Little Caeser is a 75 year old film, who knows what shape the original negs were in and the transfer is far from terrible. In fact, I think it looks pretty damn good compared to just about every other print I've ever come accross in the past 22 years I've been around. It also features a well informed commentary track by film historian Richard Jewell, a featurette documentary on the film, a classic Spencer Tracy short, a rare early Warner Bros. Bosko cartoon which hadn't seen prior release and a 1930 newsreel to top it off. It was also packaged with 5 other great films, all of which recieved beautiful pristine remastered transfers and at an incredible bargain price to top it off. The Marx Bros. Collection from Universal was poorly managed. Little effort went into the set at all. The transfers were simply ported over from an earlier release and the only extras offered were of little interest... some 20 minutes of interviews from The Today Show from the 60's. These were some of the greatest comedies of all-time. That shows little thought. I wouldn't go so far as to say that The Marx Bros. Silver Screen Collection is an out and out
bad set. But you cannot compare any one disc from that collection to Little Caesar or any of the recent Warner classic releases. I don't see how anyone can justifiably mention Warner Bros. (or any studio for that matter) in the same sentence as Columbia. They are consistently the worst studio around. What little they find viable for release gets horrible treatment, many films STILL being issued in incorrect aspect ratios and they just make it obvious that they have no understanding or appreciation for the films that they are putting. Heat is far from a substandard release. In fact, I find it hyppocritical of anyone who'd think otherwise. The film received a terrific transfer the first time around and we asked for the Special Edition treatment. Well, we got it. Commentary tracks, featurettes, interviews, an entire discs worth of extras along with brand new packaging to replace the old cheap snapper case which we all professed so much disdain towards and the pq was upped slightly to boot. What more can you ask for? You might not be into extra features or commentaries and that's fine... but than that doesn't reflect on the quality of the new set, that's your own personal gripe. Just because you might not justify an upgrade for what's being offered here does not make the DVD any less of a great production. I'm sure there are many people that would have picked it up it had just been reissued a la Universal, FOX or New Line with a slight price reduction and/or new packaging (sans-snapper). We have a full-blown 2-disc Special Edition here. Nobodies forgiving Warner Bros. for anything... I don't see what we'd have to forgive them for? Delivering us the DVD that we've been asking for years now? I'll be the first to criticize
any company when a substandard product is released. I just don't see hwo this qualifies, and I find it even more amusing that the only reason we're bickering here is because of the screen captions above. If the old release were in shittier condition, we'd all be sitting here praising Warner Bros. for a terrific transfer. The captions posted look excellent and despite what conclusions you've happened upon without even viewing the new set, to my eyes there is an obvious enhancement in resolution and detail. This can be seen plain as day if you look at the railing bar in the last shot. If you don't think that's significant, perhaps it's due to the fact that it is shown in a tiny frame on a messageboard. That's not how most of us watch our movies. I imagine it would look way more significant on a largte projection screen and if you are simply viewing your discs on an old 4x3 television screen that it shouldn't impact you either way. It's ridiculous how we're sitting here scrutinizing these screen grabs as if it will determine whether or not Warner have in fact delivered us a quality DVD. How's about looking at those above captions and showing me where YOU find fault in them instead? I think you'd be hard pressed to come with any reasonable distinction. The fact of the matter is, that we all love to complain and will go out of our way to look for reasons to do so. This is why we're considered messageboard nerds and the like and not taken seriously when issues like this arise. Any customer who walks into a video retailer and comes upon the current DVD of Heat and this new Special Edition and weighs them in considering the price, etc. will think this is a great deal! Here we are, condeming one of the most efficient studios around right now who is doing absolutely everything in their power to cater to us... the buying public who appreciate and understand films... and all because the transfer looks great but a little to similair to the similarly great previous transfer. Excuse me if I think that sounds ridiculous.
