Warner Archive Discussion Thread (FEEDBACK) - Page 79

I have placed three separate orders with the Archive program (haven't had time to watch them all yet), and while not every title has been a home run (some of the earliest titles like PRIVATE LIVES are the roughest in video and audio quality), I have been so happy to have these releases finally in my collection that the lack of remastering and the sometimes hissy soundtracks are preferable to not having them at all.

If Warners continues sales codes and bundled discounts, I'll continue ordering.

All I want to see is Looney Tunes and Popeye continue and not get banished to the Archive. Everything else is gravy.

I would think the term "VHS quality" is more of a reference to the fact that these discs are coming from the same masters that were used to create the VHS releases of 20 years ago. Since DVD is a better technology than VHS, a DVD made from the same master would look better. But the quality is nowhere near what could be had if the DVD were coming from a new digital transfer. This new digital transfer doesn't even have to be restored; even with little to no restoration, the difference would still be night and day. That Warner didn't tie their Archive program in with new transfers for each film they release is a big mistake and a lost opportunity. You would think they would have to make new  HD masters for these films some time; the Archive program would have been the perfect opportunity to start. If the cost was prohibitive, they should have waited to launch this program until the technology was there that would make a barebones new transfer of each and every film feasible.

I've actually gotten about 66 of the Archive titles, thanks to discounts and coupons. I get them to watch the movies. The discs take up a lot of space, especially when you have a lot of them. I've never had a problem with a disc. But the picture and sound quality is just not there, especially for the older films. If the film is from the 1930s, forget it. After watching an Archive title, I usually just turn around and sell it again on ebay. These discs are not something I would want to collect and keep over time, given their DVD-R nature and their relatively poor audio and visual quality, quality that doesn't meet the standards of SD DVD circa 2001, much less the HD world of today.

That boxset will most assuredly be STAMPED/PRESSED discs and not through the Archive. At least I certainly hope so.
I agree with Thomas T, it's the prices which really irks me. Cary Grant could've had another boxset also. No not through the Archives. As I've already stated, there's no way I'm purchasing Four's a Crowd unless if it's released through a boxset or not a DVD-R and an actual DVD. Yes I've stated this goes for ANY other Errol Flynn title which should be released as a boxset.

Why should they wait if they're making money on them.  Also, if you buy these discs just to watch them then sell them, why don't you just watch these titles on TCM then and save you the time and expense of buying them?

Not all these titles play on TCM. And I never taped titles that were released before on VHS, in the expectation that Warners would eventually release them onto regualr DVD. So much for that.

Since most of the criticism involves the high price point (in addition to other concerns), why is this surprising to you?

What makes you think this surprises me?  For over ten years on the HTF, I've seen the same type of criticism beforehand in relation to other releases from people that haven't bought the actual product.

Didn't know one needed to buy a product in order to criticize a high price-point. 

Not to mention lack of features, lack of closed captions/subtitles, confirmed interlaced transfers (on the first batch) and (arguably) lessor method of manufacturing.

Go figure. 

Anybody who has a desire to see a lot of these Archive movies but not necessarily to purchase and own them may find that renting from classicflix.com is a good solution.

Meanwhile, I'm still waiting for my STORY OF MANKIND order to advance beyond "In Process" status, where it has resided for two weeks now.  July 21st was the alleged "street date," but it has never shipped out to me.

The company's party-line is that these titles are being burned on-demand.  Well, I "demanded" this title two weeks ago.  I didn't expect it to ship out before "street date," but it should have gone out by now.  I won't place anymore orders with the Archives until and unless this order is eventually filled.  I might even ask for my money back, but I bet that they would reply, "Your order is 'In Process' and can't be rescinded."

I've found calling customer service helps push them along. You do need to talk to a supervisor though. The regular customer service people  are pretty much useless in my dealings with them.

There are no "street dates' because there is no street.  THE STORY OF MANKIND was removed from-pre-order on the 21st (last Tuesday) then sent out to be "burned" or whatever.  My suspicion based on pre-order experience is that your order will be shipped this Tuesday and you'll receive it on Friday.

New to the group, but have been following the posts for quite some time. The negatives about WB Archive have gotten to me, all too many expecting too much. Perhaps not enough members remember the 'good old days of the late 1970s' when the list price of RCA VCRs was $1,000, a blank T120 tape was $25, some Warner Brothers movies listed at $89, and we'd never heard the likes of remastered or digital, let alone laser discs ($35 and up), S-VHS, DVDs or high definition.

So as a 'heavy' collector of movies in all of these formats, and Betamax also, I've said no to BluRay and invested in a DVDO Edge to upscale, in my case, to 720p,  via a Misubishi projector with hi-def at 720p-1080i.

Over the years I've had no deterioration of tape or disc quality in my collection, except some 'Hong Kong special' tapes and a few used LDs bought via ebay that already had the rot, a problem that evidently showed up only from the output from one manufacturing plant. So, naturally, I have every confidence in the WB Archive product--one has to assume these folks know what they're doing. I already own 96 titles, all up to expectations--the level to be seen when shown on TCM. 

That's not to say that the WB Archive operation can't do a better job, but they're rectified two problem titles promptly--the 'Man Who Loved Cat Dancing' title came through as a blank disc and 'Ready, Willing and Able' was actually 'The Actress.' 

So from this seat, I fully expect to keep on buying as long as the offerings enhance my already all-too-large collection, with one exception, B&W titles I already own on laser discs.  Via my system, there no noticeable difference as projected. My color LDs don't fare quite as well, but even some of them project quite well.

Huge apology in advance for this question, because I'm sure it's been discussed in this thread.  I would have run a search for the answer, but the search engine does not allow one to search for posts within a specific thread, and to be honest, I really don't feel like reading through 2300+ replies.

What are the differences between DVD and EST-MOD, and what does EST mean?  I know that MOD stands for "movie on demand" but I'm assuming that EST does not stand for "Eastern Standard Time" in this situation.

Many thanks to all!

I agree with you, and I often point out the same things, adding that we've all become somewhat spoiled when it comes to Home Video. But be prepared, as you'll often get replies saying things like "okay, but what does all that have to to with TODAY?" 

I think what Jim was getting at is that many people are complaining about the price of the Warner Archives films, and that this is something that does not require actually seeing the final result before griping about it. Kinda like me thinking that $35.00 is just too much for any Blu-ray, even in advance of seeing it, whether it's outstanding quality or not.  And I know the quality there will likely be excellent.

And some people do not trust DVD-R's... this, too, does not require actually buying the actual product to say they have concerns about the stability of DVD-Rs in general.

EDITED TO ADD: I quoted and responded to this post before seeing that JimK already responded perfectly. Sorry about that, Jim...

Yeah, go figure.

Well, if a good coupon comes along that will knock off 20 to 25%, then I may finally make my second purchase of Archive titles and order the sci-fi bundle. That would bring the price per film down to around $7 to $8 which is as much as I will spend on any of these titles. Now if Warner put a little more effort into these (such as subtitles so my wife can fully enjoy the films as well as me) I would be willing to pay more, but until then, $8 is my ceiling.

Well, in fact, CARNY, was part of one of those AOL/Amazon/WHV promotions in which the public voted on 5 movies from a list of 20 or so, to be released on DVD.  So, if more people like you and me voted for CARNY 4 or 5 years ago in that promotion, it would have been released as a standard-issue DVD.  Of course, WHV promised that all of the remaining titles in the promotion would soon be released on DVD.  Now, several years later, we get it on a no-frills, DVD-R for $19.95.  

Jon makes the perfect point here.

If not for this Archive Collection most all these titles would
never see the light of day.

The whole point of the program was to make titles available
that the studio knew would not sell well under general release.

So, make them available "on demand" where the studio would
simply replicate according to how many orders they received and
ship them in-house without having to deal with retailers.

I'll agree with you that $20 is pricey for these titles, but for me,
I am just elated that there is now an opportunity for some rare
gems to finally make it to DVD whereas they would not have under
normal release circumstances.

As for the DVD-R argument, I have no opinion on that.  Some of
my DVDs have succumbed to rot over the years so I don't expect
anything I buy to last forever.  

Quoted for truth.

One thing is for sure.  When you charge high prices, use old transfers, add zero features and limit yourself to web orders only in North America, it's pretty much guaranteed that it won't sell well.

I'm still hopeful that some of the better movers will yet be treated with more expansive editions sometime down the road.  Time will tell.

Even if they sell one copy, it's one more than they would have sold if the movie had sat unreleased in a vault.

So far, for me, the archives program has worked. The prices are high. But i've yet to pay $20 for a movie. The most i've paid was around $15 each on my first order. Since then it's been under $10 usually around 6-7 each.With free shipping each time  If i had a choice i would rather they price discs at $10 each and have sales on value paks to make them around $5 each. .As for quality, on my very average system. Actually probably well below average for this board. I've had no complaints. I think that the picture quality is far above my recordings from tcm on directv. Plus there has been many films i've never seen on tcm.I don't see any difference from standard dvds i own. Out of all the films i've purchased only one has been below par. The sound on Dream Wife was poor. As for the dvd-r longevity. I have been recording dvd-rs for years and i still watch ones i had recorded 6 + years ago with no problem.  I would think that WB has a better quality of dubbing so they would have a longer life. I remember hearing how vhs tapes would go bad in 10 years. Well i still watch many of my old vhs tapes from the 80s with no problems. I guess i just look to the positive on the dvd-rs till someone proves that they arn't any good. So now i'd like to see some other studios go into the archive type program. Are you listening Universal?

amazon e-mailed me over the weekend.  their exclusive -trail street, is available for $28.98,postpaid.

I got  an e mail from amazon for Al capone exclusive for 29 +. No thanks. With discount i paid around $6 in the crime set.

And sadly, Bob Kaylor, the director wanted to record an audio commentary for the film. He told me some great stories about the film, like who was some of the original cast before it got recasted,  (Robert Mitchum , Harvey Keitel) and  how he researched the film by hanging out with real carnivals,and I believe he had some behind the scenes stills (one with Keitel in Bozo make up)  etc. It's a pity. Wonder if I should do one of those fan commentaries?  

anyone know when Warner will be releasing the Gordon Scott Tarzans?