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post #31 of 49
3/13/09 at 4:27pm

Re: Warner: Thank you for the classics on Blu-ray, but.......

Add me to the agreement list. It's not the money, it's the principle: the extras are fine for those who want them, but I'm not one of them. I'm really only interested in a top-notch presentation of the feature film, which I would buy whether it comes in a nice box or a paper bag. The other factor is that I simply don't want these bulky things eating so much shelf space.

As one who buys almost exclusively pre-1960 films (and mostly pre-1950 at that), I am eager to add them to my collection when they are given a "normal" release. But not until...my standard DVDs will do very well till then. As others have said, please don't interpret non-purchase as non-interest...there is plenty of interest in a product presented without all the geegaws!
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post #32 of 49
3/13/09 at 4:43pm

Re: Warner: Thank you for the classics on Blu-ray, but.......

I couldnt say it any better, than all the rest of you.

Give me the movie in a plastic case, with the best AV experience possible. I dont need a book, toys, or pictures that i cant put on the shelf with the disc. Extras have rarely been the same since the days of LD, with exceptions, of course!

The 5 disc Blade Runner is the perfect SE, even if only a dozen movies ever made would need 5 discs, its still the SE to beat.

And i didnt buy the briefcase version.
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post #33 of 49
3/13/09 at 5:22pm

Re: Warner: Thank you for the classics on Blu-ray, but.......

Hopefully Warner reads more than just this one thread because if you look around there are many sites with message boards lighting up with people saying they're not going to buy them.

It has been mentioned on these other sites but I hope classic sales aren't so low that studios need these ultra-high prices just to make some of their money back or try to get more money out of the fans.
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post #34 of 49
3/13/09 at 6:19pm

Re: Warner: Thank you for the classics on Blu-ray, but.......

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Elliott

... I hope classic sales aren't so low that studios need these ultra-high prices just to make some of their money back or try to get more money out of the fans.
They are, and they do. That's exactly why we are getting oft reprinted/remastered/re-released titles in high msrp 'deluxe' editions. The classic movie buyer is a small lot...the classic movie buyer who will double or triple dip after already getting the uber deluxe set is a still smaller sub set, and the classic movie (re)buyer on Bd is smaller still. The only way you make money in this situation is to put out a package loaded up with cheap to produce paper and plastic crap and then inflate the msrp 3 times. Yes you will sell less than if you had a regularly priced version...but if they sell 1/3 the amount they still come out ahead because of things like lower inventory to stock/deal with, lower production cost, etc etc.

I'm quite disappointed I won't be owning any of these this year either...but then again Blu-ray is being awful kind on my budget as there are so many releases I'm coming to realize I don't need to immediately own. In fact, for the first time since I started buying DVDs (2000), I'm not buying one piece of media, DVD or Bd, until June...unless there is a killer sale that makes the net cost at least 40% off. So far there hasn't been anything I've seen worth jumping on, and if DD doesn't have another good sale this summer it may be even longer before I snap out of this stupor.
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post #35 of 49
3/13/09 at 8:45pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Warner: Thank you for the classics on Blu-ray, but.......

Again, as this recession deepens, you have to wonder about Warner's strategy here because even if that was their goal, their forecasted sales could be more negatively affected by discretionary income becoming less for most people now a days.

Here is an interesting article about falling Blu-ray prices at retailers because people are just not buying enough titles at those previous pricepoints.

Blu-ray prices drop at retail - 3/13/2009 - Video Business
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post #36 of 49
3/13/09 at 8:53pm

Re: Warner: Thank you for the classics on Blu-ray, but.......

Please don't discourage Warner Bros from dropping ALL the extras, like the feature-length docs and the commentaries and trailers. What I think the (nearly unanimous) consensus of this thread is trying to say is, "Most of us do not need the fancy packaging and lobby cards and souvenir programs and talking heads documentaries that are only peripherally about the movie they come with (disc three of CASABLANCA, for example)". Your BLADE RUNNER set established your studio as one which can do a spectacular job presenting a classic with tons of related extras and still keep the price very reasonable. May we see that side of your home video division for future classic releases, please?
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post #37 of 49
3/13/09 at 9:27pm

Re: Warner: Thank you for the classics on Blu-ray, but.......

This here was posted over at IMDB but I'm not sure what the real source is or if it's real or not:

Warner Brothers is repricing the following Blu-Ray titles @ $16.99 SRP on 04/07/09. So look for them to be on sale at the usual places (Amazon, Tower, Best Buy) in the $10 range.

Lethal Weapon
Scooby Doo: The Movie
The Searchers
Battle of the Bulge
Out for Justice
Purple Rain
Otis
Omega Man
Eyes Wide Shut
Body Heat
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post #38 of 49
3/13/09 at 9:32pm

Re: Warner: Thank you for the classics on Blu-ray, but.......

It's confusing why Blade Runner would get both "just the discs" and "loaded" releases, yet Casablanca costs as much as three of the Kubrick BluRays.

I'd have it in my collection if it were sensibly priced like Robin Hood and 2001, with the option of just a regular disc-only release.
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post #39 of 49
3/13/09 at 10:32pm

Re: Warner: Thank you for the classics on Blu-ray, but.......

Blade Runner was a catalog title that had never had a loaded release. And being a prominent sci-fi title, it had realistically wider appeal than 40's era classics (that have had multiple loaded DVD releases already). Blade Runner could more likely justify a lower margin release thru higher volume, the others can't- hence the shorter run higher margin releases.
Funny that I considered it a privilege to be able to get Casablanca on a Criterion LD for $100 (in 1991 dollars, during arecession) yet I balk at owning a 'deluxe' HD version of other favorite titles for $60.
I guess the real difference is that the LD at the time was extraordinarily special (both in content and form) and here the Bd is merely a nicer version of something I already own.
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post #40 of 49
3/13/09 at 10:43pm

Re: Warner: Thank you for the classics on Blu-ray, but.......

My biggest problem with the collector sets is that I can't set them on the shelf with my other titles. It wouldn't be so bad if the movie came in a regular case that was in the big box. Having said that ideally there would be the deluxe set with all the physical extras (book, lobby cards, poster, etc) and then a disc only set that had the movie and extras on the disc.
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post #41 of 49
3/13/09 at 11:13pm

Re: Warner: Thank you for the classics on Blu-ray, but.......

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dick
Please don't discourage Warner Bros from dropping ALL the extras, like the feature-length docs and the commentaries and trailers. What I think the (nearly unanimous) consensus of this thread is trying to say is, "Most of us do not need the fancy packaging and lobby cards and souvenir programs and talking heads documentaries that are only peripherally about the movie they come with (disc three of CASABLANCA, for example)". Your BLADE RUNNER set established your studio as one which can do a spectacular job presenting a classic with tons of related extras and still keep the price very reasonable. May we see that side of your home video division for future classic releases, please?

Agreed on this.

I also have little-to-no desire to spend big $$$ on all the space-wasting, "fancy" extra stuff that don't reside on the discs themselves. I'm fine w/ paying a small premium for on-disc extras of real substance -- though not the kind of fluff that often passes for extras.

I will continue to pass on these super-duper, gift box releases and wait for the (hopefully) eventual disc-only releases.

I'm not a fan of the Digibook format either, but even that would be fine w/ me (as long as it doesn't come w/ a big premium on price) -- I've even gone about preparing for such purchases by buying some BD blank cases now.

_Man_
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post #42 of 49
3/14/09 at 7:00am

Re: Warner: Thank you for the classics on Blu-ray, but.......

I'd love to purchase Casablanca, Oz and GWTW and several hundred other classic films on Blu-ray but not at $60-$80 a pop. I don't appreciate the gouging tactic of exclusive pricey boxed sets full of junk I have no desire or use for. There's no valid reason that I'm aware of to not offer disc-only releases of these films.

As much as I'd like to own and enjoy these in High def I'll continue to stick to my principles like I did for Casablanca and will be passing on Oz and GWTW which is unfortunate.
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post #43 of 49
3/14/09 at 7:36am

Re: Warner: Thank you for the classics on Blu-ray, but.......

I would love to own Wizard of Oz, Woodstock and Gone With the Wind, but when I saw those prices, I thought otherwise. The sets look nice (I have Casablanca, which is really nice), but consumers should really have the option of buying the title as a disc-only edition. If I can find these titles for half price, I'll nab them. Otherwise, no thanks.
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post #44 of 49
3/14/09 at 11:36am

Re: Warner: Thank you for the classics on Blu-ray, but.......

I too agree about the pricing. I will never spend $50+ on any movie - regardless of the "extras." I really hope Warner releases these titles as "movie-only" versions at their typically pricing.
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post #45 of 49
3/14/09 at 7:06pm

Re: Warner: Thank you for the classics on Blu-ray, but.......

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dick
Please don't discourage Warner Bros from dropping ALL the extras, like the feature-length docs and the commentaries and trailers. What I think the (nearly unanimous) consensus of this thread is trying to say is, "Most of us do not need the fancy packaging and lobby cards and souvenir programs and talking heads documentaries that are only peripherally about the movie they come with (disc three of CASABLANCA, for example)". Your BLADE RUNNER set established your studio as one which can do a spectacular job presenting a classic with tons of related extras and still keep the price very reasonable. May we see that side of your home video division for future classic releases, please?

I agree with that.

My big problem with the proposed packages of GWTW and Oz is that they are horizontal and therefore will not fit with the rest of my DVDs and BDs. They're like that Planet of the Apes horizontal box that I can't put with the other "P" titles. The Casablanca box may be bloated, but at least I can put it among the "C" titles.
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post #46 of 49
3/15/09 at 4:05pm

Re: Warner: Thank you for the classics on Blu-ray, but.......

It breaks my heart, but I don't own CASABLANCA on Blu-ray, and won't until Warner releases it without all the bling. Same goes for the Apes set, which similarly breaks my heart. And the same will go for OZ, which equally breaks my heart. It's a space issue, since my shelves are pretty much filled, but it's moreso a MONEY issue. I'm skipping regularly-priced titles left and right, for God's sake, so I certainly can't afford these over-the-top boxed sets.
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post #47 of 49
3/16/09 at 2:36am
Thread Starter 

Re: Warner: Thank you for the classics on Blu-ray, but.......

I noticed that both, The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were among Amazon's "Best Seller on Blu-ray" earlier this weekend and both titles still don't have a release date yet. Of course, those that preordered them could also cancel them in the future.





Crawdaddy
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post #48 of 49
3/16/09 at 10:21am

Re: Warner: Thank you for the classics on Blu-ray, but.......

I really just want a normal release of these 2 films and Casablanca. All this crap included means nothing to me.
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post #49 of 49
3/16/09 at 8:24pm

Re: Warner: Thank you for the classics on Blu-ray, but.......

I don't mind a multi-disc set, and I don't mind paying $5-$10 more for a special edition that's really special, but I don't need/want a fancy box that won't fit on my shelf with the rest of my discs. And if that's the only way to buy my film, the disc better have it's own "real" blu-ray case inside (ie, Harry Potter Box set royally pissed me off when I opened it up and discovered that none of the contained discs had proper cases). Cards and other gimmicks don't appeal to me even if included for free.

I don't like "movie happy meals"... just give me lossless audio, an unfiltered picture, and some reasonable bonus material (in HD).

Higher than $40 and I'm waiting for a regular edition.
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