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Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

#1
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8/11/08 at 4:12am
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DVD Times - Casablanca UCE (US BD) in December
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#2
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8/11/08 at 4:52am
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

$64.99?! Hopefully there's an option for just the discs at a reasonable price. I don't need the box of junk.

If not I'll be keeping my HD DVD.
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#3
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8/11/08 at 5:29am
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

It'll be a little over $40 at Amazon, and I'll be on it. This is one UCE I'm in for.
"Would I rather be feared or loved? Um...easy, both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me."
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#4
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8/11/08 at 5:57am
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

Great news! New documentary and collectibles doesn´t sound bad at all. I guess I have to start selling these HD DVDs before it´s too late..

Rewind - DVDcompare/Site Administrator
*US PS3 (1080p) - Xbox 360 Elite (HDMI) - Nintendo Wii (Euro) - Sony PSP-2000 - Nintendo DSi
*HD DVD Toshiba XE1 (1080p) - Sony Bravia KDL-40W2000 (1080p) - Yamaha RX-V1800 (HDMI 1.3)

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#5
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8/11/08 at 7:43am
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

I'll stick to my HD DVD, thanks. The Jack Warner documentary is not sufficient inducement for me to "upgrade" and, frankly, I'm not into the "props" and so on. For those who are into that, however, this seems like a great set. If I didn't have the HD DVD, though, and wanted just the discs in BD, I'd be disappointed (if the info is accurate--no word on just a disc release rather than the "fully loaded" model).

Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes time, and it annoys the pig.

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#6
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8/11/08 at 7:52am
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulDA
I'll stick to my HD DVD, thanks. The Jack Warner documentary is not sufficient inducement for me to "upgrade" and, frankly, I'm not into the "props" and so on. For those who are into that, however, this seems like a great set. If I didn't have the HD DVD, though, and wanted just the discs in BD, I'd be disappointed (if the info is accurate--no word on just a disc release rather than the "fully loaded" model).
IIRC the other UCE ("Christmas Story") also included a 1-disc version without the geegaws, so there's at least a chance they will do the same here.
"Would I rather be feared or loved? Um...easy, both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me."
--Michael Scott, The Office

"When I get sad I just stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story."
--Barney Stinson, How I Met Your Mother
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#7
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8/11/08 at 8:16am
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim_K
$64.99?! Hopefully there's an option for just the discs at a reasonable price. I don't need the box of junk.

If not I'll be keeping my HD DVD.

You read and then 'spoke' my mind.

I'd 'upgrade' to BD if either a standalone keepcase or digibook format version is announced for sure.
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#8
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8/11/08 at 8:52am
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

Wow that is definitely a comprehensive release!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim_K
$64.99?! Hopefully there's an option for just the discs at a reasonable price. I don't need the box of junk.
I'd be very surprised if Warner didn't also release this in a non UCE version via their "book" format (ala "Bonny & Clyde").

If not... then if I can find it for around $40 (which should be doable given that time of the year) I'll be upgrading. Although I have to say this recent trend of including "props" and "collectibles" just isn't something that really interest me a great deal.

DVD & Blu-ray - It's all about the movies!
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#9
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8/11/08 at 10:28am
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

That is funny. There is a 2005 documentary about Lew Wasserman called The Last Mogul which is actually a bit more accurate.

Doug
"I'm in great shape, for the shape I'm in."
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#10
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8/11/08 at 10:34am
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

Whoa...expensive as hell! Like many here, I'll hang on to the HD-DVD which is pretty dang good.
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#11
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8/11/08 at 12:35pm
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

Hmmm. I've been awaiting this announcement, but for that price tag, I think I'll just wait either for it to come down or a blu-ray only release.

Also, is that Jack Warner documentary all that relevant here? From some of the behind the scenes accounts, I've gathered that the movie was more Hall Wallis' show and Warner wasn't very active in the production of the movie.

"Here's looking at you, kid."
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#12
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8/11/08 at 12:40pm
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

I like Casablanca but I'm not paying $40 or $45 for a bunch of junk that I don't want. I'll wait for Warners to release a movie only disc (which I think may come at the same time).
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#13
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8/11/08 at 12:48pm
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

I already have the HD-DVD too. I'll eventually get this when I can pick up just the discs without the collectibles. I'm sure the encode will be the same anyway.
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#14
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8/11/08 at 2:43pm
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

I was going to jump on you guys for calling it a box of junk then i saw the "junk"

"and will include collectibles such as reproductions of executive memos and props**, a branded passport holder, luggage tag, photo book and mail-in offer for a movie poster.

** 1) Memo from Hal Wallis that “Casablanca” is the new title 2) Memo from Wallis to Jack Warner strongly urging casting of Bogart over George Raft 3) Letter from Publicity head Charles Einfeld to publicist Marty Weiser to “sell” Bogart as a romantic lead 4) Victor Laszlo’s “letter of transit."

pretty blah.
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#15
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8/11/08 at 3:47pm
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

I actually find the idea of reproductions of production memos much more interesting than toy robots or toy flying cars, but I don't think I'll pay THAT much more for them.

A set of lobby cards would be cool.

Doug
"I'm in great shape, for the shape I'm in."
Bob Hope in The Ghostbreakers
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#16
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8/11/08 at 4:31pm
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyD
I was going to jump on you guys for calling it a box of junk then i saw the "junk"
I will say that calling it "junk" was harsh on my part because what will be there will probably be nice but it's of no interest to me. I hope they do the same thing they did with Blade Runner and have the box set for the super fan and the regular release for the fan.
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#17
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8/11/08 at 4:55pm
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

Well, you know what they say? One man's junk is another man's treasure.

I don't mind if Warner Bros. offers all this 'junk' as long as give me a choice to buy the movie without. As far as I'm concerned, they're already pushing it with their digibooks, which effectively raises the price-point $4. I appreciate the extra content in the book, but I'd appreciate the choice to forgo it and save $4 more. Offering a movie exclusively via an Ultimate Collector's Edition of some kind, even for a short period of time, has always just rubbed me the wrong way.
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#18
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8/11/08 at 6:29pm
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris S
I'd be very surprised if Warner didn't also release this in a non UCE version via their "book" format (ala "Bonny & Clyde").
So this is not a "book" release (as well as all the other junk)?
Thanks.

How's the "book" format going?
Is there a lot of titles announced in this form?
I only got 2.

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#19
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8/11/08 at 8:00pm
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed St. Clair
How's the "book" format going?
Is there a lot of titles announced in this form?
I only got 2.

Thus far these titles have been released or announced in Digibook packaging:

Bonnie and Clyde
Dirty Harry
How The West Was Won
JFK
Natural Born Killers
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Poltergeist
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#20
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8/11/08 at 9:08pm
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Arnette
Thus far these titles have been released or announced in Digibook packaging:

Bonnie and Clyde
Dirty Harry
How The West Was Won
JFK
Natural Born Killers
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Poltergeist
There are five titles in that list that will eventually be on my shelf (perhaps six). I'm especially looking forward to adding the first three.

Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes time, and it annoys the pig.

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#21
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8/12/08 at 12:57am
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

Give me the "junk". I like it. I also like the idea, that BD offers more compared to some earlier releases..

Rewind - DVDcompare/Site Administrator
*US PS3 (1080p) - Xbox 360 Elite (HDMI) - Nintendo Wii (Euro) - Sony PSP-2000 - Nintendo DSi
*HD DVD Toshiba XE1 (1080p) - Sony Bravia KDL-40W2000 (1080p) - Yamaha RX-V1800 (HDMI 1.3)

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#22
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8/12/08 at 6:56am
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jari K
Give me the "junk". I like it. I also like the idea, that BD offers more compared to some earlier releases..
IF this is the ONLY way the film is released on BD, I predict disappointing sales for the title in that format (I trust a lengthy explanation why is unnecessary). Such editions are nice for those who are interested in them, but they are a turn off for others. I'm certainly very happy that my EE of LOTR did not require me to buy the versions with the statues or whatever it was. I would have been just as happy with the later releases that did not include so many extras (though I did not know such versions were planned when I bought the EE).

It's the same with some "boxed sets" of films. In some cases, they represent a good deal--in others, they represent an attempt to get me to buy something I don't want just to get the one title I do want. When that happens, I usually don't buy.

Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes time, and it annoys the pig.

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#23
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8/12/08 at 7:02am
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulDA
Such editions are nice for those who are interested in them, but they are a turn off for others.

Sure, I understand this. And yes, why not release two versions; "vanilla" and "CE" (with additional disc, goodies, etc), like with e.g. "Batman Begins".

I guess it was the general "SRP price whining"... After all, this release won´t cost "$64.99" in the stores (meaning Amazon etc, not talking about "Best Buy" or something).

Rewind - DVDcompare/Site Administrator
*US PS3 (1080p) - Xbox 360 Elite (HDMI) - Nintendo Wii (Euro) - Sony PSP-2000 - Nintendo DSi
*HD DVD Toshiba XE1 (1080p) - Sony Bravia KDL-40W2000 (1080p) - Yamaha RX-V1800 (HDMI 1.3)

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#24
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8/12/08 at 7:04am
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

I'll be passing too on this release and wait (hopefully) for the less overblown version.
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#25
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8/12/08 at 7:20am
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed St. Clair
How's the "book" format going?
Is there a lot of titles announced in this form?
I only got 2.

Paul listed all the titles I'm aware of so far. I personally really like the Digibook packaging so I'm hoping they continue to release more catalog titles this way.

DVD & Blu-ray - It's all about the movies!
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#26
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8/12/08 at 7:27am
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

To clarify... are people generally talking about included memo reproductions when they refer to the extra "junk"? Because, IMHO, the rest of the sets features look really nice. And I don't see how the exclusion of the memos could really bring down the price of the set (they are just paper after all) which I assume is the other sticking point.

DVD & Blu-ray - It's all about the movies!
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#27
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8/12/08 at 7:32am
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris S
To clarify... are people generally talking about included memo reproductions when they refer to the extra "junk"?
I'm talking about
Quote:
Originally Posted by DVD Times
...elegantly boxed in an intricate laser-cut Moroccan design and will include collectibles such as reproductions of executive memos and props, a branded passport holder, luggage tag, photo book...
which is what drove the price from around $25 to around $45. I'm sure the memo reproductions wouldn't drive the cost up but the rest of that stuff does.
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#28
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8/12/08 at 10:07am
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

Yes, when I refer to 'junk' I am referring to what Travis is referring to. Lots of referring going on there. Anyway, I don't really think it is 'junk' for the record, the term just kinda stuck for the purposes of this thread. I do find collectible packaging, prop reproductions, and the like to be wholly unnecessary. I am aware there are people who enjoy it, but again I'd prefer to be given a choice beyond buy the 'souped up' package or nothing at all.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jari K
Give me the "junk". I like it. I also like the idea, that BD offers more compared to some earlier releases..

I'm always a fan of more content however; and even if I don't wind up watching it, I will never refer to it as 'junk'. I guess the thing I am confused about most with Warner Bros. UCEs is how will this content that is 'above and beyond' the standard release, or HD DVD release in this case, be presented? I have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of it will be taking the base BD and pairing it with some DVD disc from standard def editions. If that's the case, I'm even less interested. But I have nothing to base this on other than a hunch until I see more detailed specs.
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#29
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8/12/08 at 12:55pm
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Re: Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition December 2nd

Just the Blu-ray equivalent of the HD-DVD is all I want. Guess I'll be waiting a while....
They're round, they're shiny...
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