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Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

post #1 of 58
2/6/08 at 5:12am
Thread Starter 
There's a sneak peek at Warner's 2008 Blu-ray slate on the bits.

The article covers Warner's 85th Anniversary plans (mostly SD) so more specific Warner Blu-Ray catalog announcements are forthcoming.

Courtesy of thedigitalbits:

The Digital Bits - Celebrating Film in the Digital Age

Confirmed for BD

Batman Anthology (all 6 films) Q4
Dirty Harry set (all 5 films) Q2
and the usual day/date new films

and lots of BD possibilities on the list such as Heat, Once Upon a Time in America, Cool Hand Luke, True Romance, etc (I'll have to keep my fingers crossed).

The Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, Woodstock and North by Northwest won't be until 2009
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post #2 of 58
2/6/08 at 5:20am

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

I'm glad to see that the SE of Risky Business is still in the works. It was first mentioned here in a Warner HTF chat back in '06. I wonder if Cruise will participate...
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post #3 of 58
2/6/08 at 6:23am

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

That article was frustratingly short on specifics, but it does sound like we may get a better picture of what's in store on BD from WB shortly:

Quote:
We'll post details about the specific Blu-ray Disc catalog releases planned as part of Warner's 2008 slate soon, so keep checking back. And watch for additional titles to be announced by Warner in the months ahead.
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post #4 of 58
2/6/08 at 6:26am

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

So far I'm not impressed with what was actually announced for 2008. North By Northwest in 2009 is something to look forward (to).

-Reagan
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post #5 of 58
2/6/08 at 6:39am

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

Nice list! Looking forward to most of those!

Doesn't look like the Sinatra films are coming to Blu which is a shame, but I'll pick them all up on standard def.

Looking forward to American in Paris, How the West was Won, Dirty Harry Series and the Batman releases
(fingers crossed they're multi-regional or else I cannot buy them) on Blu.

Oh, and all of those 2009 releases will be mine. North by Northwest in HD!? I can't wait !!!!
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post #6 of 58
2/6/08 at 6:40am

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

Eventhough I don't think Sudden Impact or The Dead Pool are that great, I'll pick up the Dirty Harry set.
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post #7 of 58
2/6/08 at 6:47am

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

I've been waiting for a descent set of Dirty Harry for a long time.
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post #8 of 58
2/6/08 at 7:43am

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

It's looking to be a good... and expensive year.
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post #9 of 58
2/6/08 at 10:26am

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

Dale - Warner does not region code their BDs, so no worries there.

I know the Bits says that the Dirty Harry films are coming in both BD and HD-DVD in Q2, but let's not forget that June is part of Q2, and by then Warner will have stopped releasing HD-DVD.
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post #10 of 58
2/6/08 at 11:04am

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

Are we getting BD double-dips of 'A Christmas Story' and 'The Searchers' already? You think we're gonna get new transfers/encodes (e.g. 'Xmas' less red and 'Searchers' more red, in addition to higher bitrates)?
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post #11 of 58
2/6/08 at 11:27am

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

How the West Was Won - awesome...
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post #12 of 58
2/6/08 at 11:28am

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to read any reports of this event and walk away with a good sense of what is and what isn't coming to Blu-ray Disc. I think the main reason for this is that the press event itself wasn't geared specifically to promote Blu-ray Disc, but Warner Bros. anniversary instead. Therefore, I am considering it to be a non-event as far as BD is concerned. I'd rather not get my hopes up or waste too much time speculating what will and won't be on BD. I'm sure it will all become clear soon anyway.
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post #13 of 58
2/6/08 at 12:04pm

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandon Conway
Dale - Warner does not region code their BDs, so no worries there.

I know the Bits says that the Dirty Harry films are coming in both BD and HD-DVD in Q2, but let's not forget that June is part of Q2, and by then Warner will have stopped releasing HD-DVD.
IF (note...IF) the Blu-ray is released earlier (as is the new Warner policy), the HD DVD set should be along three weeks later, provided the Blu-ray release is not IN June. But I have no expectations either way.
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post #14 of 58
2/6/08 at 1:09pm

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

I'm crossing my fingers that Contact will be one that will be announced.
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post #15 of 58
2/6/08 at 1:54pm

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

Now that Warner is down to only one Hi Def format maybe they will get more aggresive with Catalog Titles. Last year they were slacking with mediocore titles like Purple Rain and Out for Justice. I'd like a 25th of THE RIGHT STUFF on BD. Hopefully that will be on its way this year.
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post #16 of 58
2/6/08 at 3:06pm

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisCook
I'm crossing my fingers that Contact will be one that will be announced.

I'll second that!


HighDefDigest breaks down the releases as:

Quote:
The list of titles previewed at last night's event are as follows (note that the studio stressed that this is not a complete list of planned Blu-ray releases, simply the highlights):

Q2 2008: 'Dirty Harry: Ultimate Collection' (includes 'Dirty Harry,' 'Magnum Force,' 'The Enforcer,' 'Sudden Impact,' 'The Dead Pool' and bonus disc "Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows')

Q3 2008: 'Batman Anthology' (includes 'Batman,' 'Batman Returns,' 'Batman Forever,' 'Batman & Robin,' 'Batman Begins'), 'Batman Begins'

Q4 2008: 'Otis: Uncut'

2009: 'Gone with the Wind,' 'North By Northwest,' 'The Wizard of Oz,' 'Woodstock'

2008/2009 Theatrical Releases: '10,000 B.C.,' 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,' 'The Dark Knight,' 'Get Smart,' 'Speed Racer'' and 'Where the Wild Things Are.'

Warner has not released specific street dates or technical specs, but full announcements are expected over the coming months as the studio rolls out its complete 2008/2009 line-up.
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post #17 of 58
2/6/08 at 3:40pm

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

Quote:
Originally Posted by Reagan
So far I'm not impressed with what was actually announced for 2008. North By Northwest in 2009 is something to look forward (to).

-Reagan
I am skeptical about the release of North by Northwest in 2009. Doesn't the film need a full restoration? Remember, North by Northwest was filmed in VistaVision. Does anyone have any information about a restoration of North by Northwest by Warner?
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post #18 of 58
2/6/08 at 4:56pm

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

Bill Hunt's latest Bits update says he just had long conversations with Warner reps regarding more titles and should be updating again by early tomorrow morning.
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post #19 of 58
2/6/08 at 6:57pm

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

So far, I'm very pleased with some of the titles announced.........Batman, GoodFellas, Heat, True Romance, etc.
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post #20 of 58
2/6/08 at 7:12pm

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jarod M
I am skeptical about the release of North by Northwest in 2009. Doesn't the film need a full restoration? Remember, North by Northwest was filmed in VistaVision. Does anyone have any information about a restoration of North by Northwest by Warner?
North by Northwest was restored and released in a 16:9 remastered transfer on dvd in 2004. I own this title and it is nearly flawless. I can only hope the Bluray will knock my socks off to this degree.
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post #21 of 58
2/6/08 at 8:23pm

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

The first time I saw this movie was in 2004, can't wait for the BR!
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post #22 of 58
2/6/08 at 9:53pm

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

Quote:
Originally Posted by troy evans
North by Northwest was restored and released in a 16:9 remastered transfer on dvd in 2004. I own this title and it is nearly flawless. I can only hope the Bluray will knock my socks off to this degree.
Not true, i.e., the film elements were not "restored," as Robert Harris has elaborated on here in the past. It was a digital cleanup for SD resolution only. It does look good, but more work is required for a proper high-resolution release.*

EDIT: *Unless there was a later film restoration I'm not aware of, in which case I'll stand corrected.
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post #23 of 58
2/7/08 at 2:07am

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

Quote:
The Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, Woodstock and North by Northwest won't be until 2009

These are the titles that I am excited about. TNT showed the Wizard of Oz in HD this holiday season and it looked outstanding!
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post #24 of 58
2/7/08 at 2:38am

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

Quote:
Originally Posted by GlennH
Not true, i.e., the film elements were not "restored," as Robert Harris has elaborated on here in the past. It was a digital cleanup for SD resolution only. It does look good, but more work is required for a proper high-resolution release.*

EDIT: *Unless there was a later film restoration I'm not aware of, in which case I'll stand corrected.
You're right, even Warner has acknowledged that North by Northwest needs further work before it's release on HDM.





Crawdaddy
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post #25 of 58
2/7/08 at 2:39am

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

Personal reaction only - I fully respect that other folks like some of the specific movies mentioned a lot, but frankly, it personally leaves me cold for the most part.

I don't think this is a list that overall has a great Wow! factor to it. And this is meant to be the highlights ...
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post #26 of 58
2/7/08 at 2:40am

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

Quote:
Originally Posted by GlennH
Not true, i.e., the film elements were not "restored," as Robert Harris has elaborated on here in the past. It was a digital cleanup for SD resolution only. It does look good, but more work is required for a proper high-resolution release.*

EDIT: *Unless there was a later film restoration I'm not aware of, in which case I'll stand corrected.
Here's a link that explains the restoration of North by Northwest you may find informative.http://www.thebigpicturedvd.com/bigreport11.shtml
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post #27 of 58
2/7/08 at 2:44am

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

Here is the question and answer from last year's chat with Warner about North by Northwest.

juanell: when will you release noth by northwest in hi-def?


WARNER: We have to remaster the whole film all over again as the gorgeous SD DVD was done from a 1080i master, and we have to start all over again. Probably will be in 2009 for the 50th anniversary.
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post #28 of 58
2/7/08 at 3:00am

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

Perhaps I misunderstood. I thought the question was, has the film been restored at all? The answer to which is yes it has. It was handled by Lowrey. 1080p it may not be.
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post #29 of 58
2/7/08 at 3:45am

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

Quote:
Originally Posted by troy evans
Perhaps I misunderstood. I thought the question was, has the film been restored at all? The answer to which is yes it has. It was handled by Lowrey. 1080p it may not be.
I think the person who asked the question wonder if North by Northwest would be ready for a 2009 HDM release due to restoration work and asked for information in regard to that restoration. Warner confirmed that additional remastering work is required before that can happen.
I am skeptical about the release of North by Northwest in 2009. Doesn't the film need a full restoration? Remember, North by Northwest was filmed in VistaVision. Does anyone have any information about a restoration of North by Northwest by Warner?


juanell: when will you release noth by northwest in hi-def?


WARNER: We have to remaster the whole film all over again as the gorgeous SD DVD was done from a 1080i master, and we have to start all over again. Probably will be in 2009 for the 50th anniversary.
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post #30 of 58
2/7/08 at 9:45am

Re: Warner's 2008 Blu-Ray lineup

If they already knew back then they were aiming for a 2009 release (which could be nearly two years from now in the Fall of '09) then I'm sure it's been scheduled appropriately for restoration.
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