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Official HTF reviews - rhyme or reason?

post #1 of 9
2/13/06 at 4:04am
Thread Starter 
Perhaps I've just not been here long enough to have detected the pattern - perhaps there is no pattern? - but I wanted to find out what the methodology is for determining which DVD disc releases get official HTF reviews and which don't.

Is it a question of too many discs and not enough reviewers or time? Are some releases deemed more important than others? Is it a question of which releases are given out promotionally by the studios?

Mind you, I'm not being critical of the powers that be here, but the reviews that ARE presented are done so well and with so much effort, that it's disappointing to NOT find a review for a particular title.

My question comes about because I never saw or read an official HTF review of the recent release of the TV series I waited an entire lifetime for, THE TIME TUNNEL. Yet, I've seen reviews for many other TV shows, including sister series LOST IN SPACE.

Is it possible that I'm just not looking in the right place? I see an archive forum for reviews, but the term "archive" implies "old", yet I see current replies in there. Are official reviews placed in their natural forums first and then moved to archives after a particular period of time?

Pardon me if all of this is covered in some kind of FAQ, but I really respect the members and reviewers opinions here and would hate to be missing anything.

Thanks in advance for any information you might provide.

Harry
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post #2 of 9
2/13/06 at 9:03am
Speaking as a former HTF reviewer...

Quote:
Is it a question of too many discs and not enough reviewers or time? Are some releases deemed more important than others? Is it a question of which releases are given out promotionally by the studios?

It's a combination of all of those.
Many studios are releasing screener product for fewer releases than they used to - and often they don't send screeners to the reviewers until the street date (making early reviews often impossible).

As a former reviewer for Paramount releases, there is no way I could review all of their product in a given month - even though they are one studio who would probably provide all of the releases before street date. In fact, if you put all of the HTF reviewers on Paramount exclusively, I doubt they could review every Paramount release. So there are some "editorial decisions" made by reviewers who are able to get releases in a timely fashion from the studios. When I wrote reviews, I chose as wide a selection of genres as possible from my assigned studio, obviously making a point to hit the major releases each month. There are some tough choices to make, at times - and it is impossible to make everyone happy. Is it more important to review the third season of "Taxi", or review a respected foreign film like "Schultze Gets the Blues"? There is little overlap in the audiences for the two releases.

As for the archives... new reviews are placed in the appropriate forum (film or TV). After 30 days or so, they are moved to the Archive, where people can still read and comment on them.

Hope that helps.

-Scott
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post #3 of 9
2/13/06 at 9:04am
Harry, the reviewers are each assigned to specific studios, and they receive screeners of recent product or at their own request. For television shows on DVD, the releases are not prioritized by box-office draw; they are more at the request of the individual reviewer. As much as you and some others may love that old ABC series, it is not exactly of the highest priority.
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post #4 of 9
2/13/06 at 9:22am
Just to echo what Jack and Scott have
stated above....

The studios send out a limited selection
of DVD product based on what they wish to
be promoted at the time.

We designate one reviewer to a studio.
That reviewer is asked to pick amongst
the titles that he feels would be of most
interest to the membership.

Sometimes a reviewer will pick a particular
title simply because he is very familiar with
its history and has much to comment about.

We attempt to get reviews posted prior to
street date, but with more studios getting
overly cautious about piracy, reviewers are
not getting product as early as they once were.

I generally keep the reviews in the SOFTWARE
and TV areas for a period of 30 days. After
that time I move them to the DVD REVIEWS
ARCHIVE AREA.

Hope this answers your questions. Thanks for
the kudos on the reviews! I am certain our
reviewers will appreciate the kind words.

Regards!
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post #5 of 9
2/13/06 at 10:08am
Thread Starter 
Thanks guys. I appreciate the feedback (and I'm sorry I put it in the wrong forum - I should have known better!). I figured that this was the case, but I wanted to hear it officially, so I'll know what to expect in the future.

Believe me, I fully understand that this favorite of mine is likely a low priority on most lists. Still, with the great job you guys do with reviews, I was hoping...

Thanks again.

Harry
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post #6 of 9
2/13/06 at 4:55pm
Scott,

I didn't realize you stopped reviewing Paramount DVDs! Sorry to hear it. I guess you wanted to get some semblance of a life back? Hey, at least you got thru the remaining Trek releases! So, who took up the Paramount reviews?
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post #7 of 9
2/14/06 at 3:39am
Pat Wahlquist has. He is doing a great job! You can
read his latest review HERE

...and Scott, we miss your reviews!
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post #8 of 9
2/14/06 at 5:55am
Thanks, Ron!
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post #9 of 9
2/14/06 at 9:28am
Quote:
I didn't realize you stopped reviewing Paramount DVDs! Sorry to hear it. I guess you wanted to get some semblance of a life back? Hey, at least you got thru the remaining Trek releases!

Yeah... thanks... it was a very rewarding experience, but also very demanding. After 2.5 years, I decided to give it up in November and kept on until Pat joined the staff - I wrote my last review in December. My job and Real Life have become more demanding of my precious time, and I couldn't keep the pace I set for myself (reviewing about 8 titles a month on average takes more time than I can afford at the moment).

And, being a Trekkie, being assigned Paramount was certainly a bonus...
There is still one more Trek title waiting for a first release on DVD - the animated series.

Quote:
...and Scott, we miss your reviews!

Thanks Ron. I miss writing them.

-Scott
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