WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

I would buy Wizard Of Oz in a heartbeat on Blu-ray if I could get the discs without all of the extra packaging and toys. I've tried getting some of the deluxe-style releases before (the Blade Runner briefcase comes to mind) and I just never end up looking at that stuff. Heck, I have the three disc Wizard Of Oz from 2005, and I don't think I've ever looked at the postcards and whatnot that come with it.

As much as I want Wizard Of Oz on Blu-ray, as much as I want Casablanca and Woodstock and a bunch of other titles, unfortunately I just don't have the money or the storage space to justify what will undoubtedly be a beautifully packaged set. Like many others here, I hope Warner will reconsider this recent trend and start putting these out with an option to buy just the discs.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

While having this coffee table set is nice and will be attractive to a certain segment of Blu-Ray purchasers, I think Warners is going to find out just what a mistake this is - these are perilous times and the fact is we all know that down the line, when they realize their error, they will make a two-disc set available without all the additional and unnecessary (for most) items. I'm sure it will sell decently but I don't think it will sell anywhere near what they'll need it to sell in order to justify having spent this kind of money in the first place. No matter how you slice it, with anger, without anger, it is a slap in the face to consumers who have tried to be loyal to this particular studio on this particular forum - and it's losing them the unconditional support they had, and it will lose them sales. The bottom line will, in the end, win out. But at a cost.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

I do too. I think a lot of people still have the old Warner's on the brain and the apparently the good will that went along with it. The new Warner's seem far more concerned with increasing their margins than please their customers (e.g. the Matrix Revolutions BD issue still remains unresolved).

I can live with their Digibook releases. Even though I don't particularly care for them, the form factor isn't terrible, and I realize there is a desire to increase margins. But these Ultimate Editions seem crass by comparison and take it too far in my opinion.

If there were some exclusivity window, I wouldn't mind as much, but as it stands right now if Casablanca isn't announced as a single-disc release by the end of the year then over a year will have gone by with the Ultimate Edition being the only option. That's far too long; and it isn't good to be pricing so many people out of A-list titles that could sell players and expand the format.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

Good point. I think in this economy it is a huge mistake to limit
consumers to expensive boxed set purchases.

I think this release of "The Wizard of Oz" will send a strong message
to the studio with the lackluster amount of sales it garners. With the
exception of "Gone With The Wind" which is probably in the same
pipeline, this hopefully will be the last titles we see subjected to this
kind of release profile.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

btw, if anyone's still uppity about Casablanca, just order it from Australia. Warners have released it, disc only, regular case, and (as is my previous experience with Aus Warner blu-rays) it's actually just the US disc (with the relevant MPAA rating on it around the edge of the disc).

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

Certainly not an oversight on Warners part. We can be quite sure that this is a calculated strategy on their part. Many die-hard fans of these classic films are earlier adopters of new technologies like Blu-ray. So first offer only an expensive frills version to capture as many high-profit sales as possible. They can then come back eventually a year or two later with a no-frills package to scoop up the rest of the market who isn't interested in or can't afford the frills version. Maybe even throw in some other new extra to squeeze a few more sales out of the absolute completists. It makes sense economically, as long as you don't think the negative PR it generates will affect the bottom line.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

In the past, such a packaging was released concurrent with the standard release, and often, after the initial release, as a collector interest only packaging. They're never going to sell mass quantities of such a packaging, and that includes people for whom the price itself is not the main barrier. Very few people want all that stuff.

Of all the people I know, only one actively pursues collector oriented material...just ONE. They leave the original packing intact and often unopened. Such a collector will pursue this packaging in spite of standard packaging being available. In fact, the harder it is to find, the more aggressively they'll pursue it. Consumers other than those simply have no use for it.

I'm willing to pay a certain premium over the more standard price for a two disc (or even three disc) set, just to have this great title, and to acknowledge the time and expense that went into producing it. But I don't want this packaging at any price. It's not going to happen, not even on sale.

I wonder how much extra profit is actually made from this kind of production. The investment of time and effort by the marketing and art departments; having the separate parts and pieces assembled from multiple sources, then physically packaging them; the shipping cost for thousands of these bulky things, as opposed to the simple standard issue. And I wonder how many of these kinds of sets retailers eventually send back.

The entire motivation seems as much wrong-headed and misguided, as profit hungry. From the above mentioned angles and others not touched upon...why bother? Consider the thousands more that would fly off the shelf during release week, if it weren't for this bulky, needless, expensive packaging that's of interest to only a relative handful.

But these kinds of decisions are made from on high, during meetings with department heads and semi-elaborate presentations. It's difficult to imagine them backing off. The best we're likely to see, is some kind of low profile announcement that a disc only packaging will follow, with the insinuation that the wait will be shorter than is customary (but still much longer than any of us want to wait, or indeed should).

That's my assessment and prediction, and that's all that I have to say about this issue. Over and out.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

I don't like this all or nothing approach at all. The number of people who want no part of this but will end up giving in and buying it has to be miniscule. On the other hand they could do a typical 2-disc release alongside it and probably have a huge hit on their hands. Mind-boggling.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

From the Woodstock review thread:

Can anyone else confirm this? If they did this with Woodstock, they might do the same thing with The Wizard of Oz.

I certainly will not be buying this release otherwise.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

I'll admit that The Wizard Of Oz isn't at the top of my list to buy yet again but increasing the price for extra stuff that I have no interest in absolutely guarantees that I'll never buy this release.

Why not release the super set for hardcore fans and a discs-only set for the casual fan or person that can't afford to spend that much money?

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

I have no desire for a WOZ box-o-junk. I already have a standard def WOZ box-o-junk. I don't need a watch either. I haven't worn a watch since about 1996 and the introduction of the cellphone. And I certainly wouldn't wear a WOZ watch and risk ridicule! HAHAHA!

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

Well, I guess I'm the only interested in buying this set.
George, if you are reading, tell production to only make one Wizard of Oz set. There's only one interested buyer. PM me for my mailing address.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

Why can't they simply do what they did with the $39.95 Blade Runner set?

Heck, they can even up the msrp to $49.95 as long as they include all of the video content on the discs which are included in the bloated "collector's" box.

I can't imagine this being the best of ideas in this or ANY economic climate. There is also the issue of shelf-space for retailers. I simply can't imagine they're enthusiastic that WHV want's to only issue a collector's edition in an oversized box. Retailers like Wal Mart and Best Buy would probably rather reserve their shelf-space for regular priced items that'll actually sell.

I am so HAPPY I kept my HD-DVD of Casablanca.

This IS a bad idea Warner.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

I was tempted to buy this at first, but after reading all of your comments I have to agree about the extra junk. This a no-sale for me.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

Add me to the group who has no desite to spend $60 on this box o' stuff and air which I have NO shelf space for.

A watch?? Seriously?? Is Warner's market research really showing a huge demand for a WoO watch??

The last SD WoO set was pretty stellar. I'm sure the new hi-res transfer blows it away, but it will suffice until I can buy the 2 BD-disks in a standard case (or even the book format) sans landfill material.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

I'll buy this on blu-ray in a heartbeat ONLY if they release a lesser version without the extra stuff I don't really need.
Just give me the movie with the extras on the second disc.
I don't need anything else.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

so the extra on the BD When the Lion Roars Doc. This was the same DOc that was released on standard DVD a while back as a two disc DVD set right? I wonder if it will be the full doc ?

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

Tell him to make two. I am drooling at the thought the transfer will be twice as good as the SDVD is now. I had never seen this picture look so good as during the last release. It was a different picture than what I grew up with on TV.

I will put up with the extras if the transfer is as good as they say it will be.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

I would imagine that it is just a segment, like the one on Frank Sinatra was for On The Town DVD. I am interested in the John Ritter MFTV movie on Frank Baum's life.

Also - Besides GONE WITH THE WIND getting this same type of release, I expect them to do it with BEN-HUR and perhaps DOCTOR ZHIVAGO.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

I sure hope not for Zhivago, which is one of my favorites. I wouldn't expect that since it hasn't had any big 3 or 4 disc SE on DVD before.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

I'm a fan of THE WIZARD OF OZ, and so far I've had the very first single DVD (when it was by MGM, I think) and also the "second" SE DVD, which was WB. I never bought the most recent incarnation (was it 2005??).

Bottom line - I DO want a Blu-ray version, but I have to join the loud chorus of many others here in this thread and say that I do NOT need all the extra toys and junk. What I want is just the movie itself, along with the deleted sequences, extra documentaries, newsreels, interviews, on-camera bonus material, maybe the audio extras. Just the discs.

I can wait... this is not something I am going to rush out and buy right on release. I won't pay that kind of money for this. However, WOZ is a very big classic cult item as well, and I'm sure there are those big diehard OZ collectors who are excited about getting this "kitchen sink" version, too. I think we should have two options.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

I'm not trying to be contrary, but I am thrilled with the plans for the blu-ray release.
That being said, it is made for a fan like me, who triple and quadruple dips,
watches all extras, and has collected every incarnation of this, my favorite film. I'm not denying other people's heart's desire, but this one actually fulfills mine.
I'm excited.
When I used to wait each year for the CBS showing, I couldn't ever imagine that I'd see a release of it like I will see in September.
I wouldn't be true to myself if I didn't shout out how completely happy I am about this.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

I'm hoping they get the message sooner than that. they should look at BD sales of Casablanca, The Notebook and Woodstock, all of which I would guess have been rather lackluster, if what I've seen on store shelves is any indication.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

Yeah? Well, if you ever go looking for your heart's desire again--you'll probably get it!!

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

This is what I can't understand. A watch?? Luggage tags and a passport cover? (in the Casablanca box)? REALLY??

I love the material related to the FILM and it's history, although I realize not everyone else does. Give me all the old memos, lobby cards, press books, etc. I get a kick out of those. But NOT trinkets. I'm not 9 years old.

And if you're doing a 2 disc DVD in addition to the Ultimate Edition, you should do a 1-disc blu-ray as well. Just common sense. And common courtesy.

I still love Warners, but they do have me shaking my head over Casablanca and now this one.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

I'm still wondering what Warners will send out for Casablanca in their BD trade in program.

-R

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

FYI, both Oz and GWTW were marked down to $45 for a few hours on Amazon, but now back to $60. Good time to pre-order in case it drops again.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

Patrick - Are you sure that the $45 price was for the Blu-Ray versions?
The $45 price is what they're charging for the SD versions.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

Yes, this is true. I saw it myself at Walmart yesterday. I remember being surprised as I thought the only version available was the fancy box set. Hopefully they do this with both The Wizard of Oz and GWTW, that's the only way I'm buying either one.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)

I thought Warner was trying to be the leader of lower priced, Blu-ray content? I don't see why this title or GWTW should be exceptions. I can see them being priced more than other catalogs because of the restoration work, but stay within reason for crying out loud. No way in hell I would spend $60 on this box. This just seems like poor marketing strategy especially in such a poor economy.