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WHV Announcement: Clash of the Titans -and- The Neverending Story (Blu-ray)

post #1 of 35
11/30/09 at 2:04pm
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

The Neverending Story [Blu-ray]
Clash of the Titans (Book) [Blu-ray]
post #2 of 35
11/30/09 at 5:23pm
I look forward to Warner's US release of Neverending Story (well, Clash of the Titans also).  I do hope Warner has a new/different transfer than the one used on the Dutch Blu-ray release from last year.  While the DFW release was not terrible, it is obviously from an older transfer with rather limited contrast and quite a bit of visible dirt.  I'd be willing to double dip for a new master.
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post #3 of 35
12/1/09 at 1:12am
Keeping my fingers crossed that the release will include the longer German cut.
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post #4 of 35
12/1/09 at 7:14am
I didn't expect Clash of The Titans to get the Blu-Ray book treatment.
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post #5 of 35
12/1/09 at 9:42am
Boo!  I was expecting Clash of the Titans to have much more bonus material.  Basically a bare bones release except for the book.

Oh well.
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post #6 of 35
12/1/09 at 11:30am
Awesome news regarding The Neverending Story.  I'm certainly not holding out hope that the German cut will be included, but the standard U.S. version of the movie will still be a welcome HD treat.  The film has some really outstanding visuals and I can't wait to see it in HD.  
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post #7 of 35
12/2/09 at 4:26am
what is the difference between the US and German version?
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post #8 of 35
12/2/09 at 12:42pm
IMDB has detailed info on that. The gist: the German version is longer and has no Limahl song and Gorgio Moroder music (just the excellent Doldinger score).
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post #9 of 35
1/12/10 at 5:49pm
Thread Starter 

Two Fantasy Films Make Their Blu-ray Debuts

 

 

CLASH OF THE TITANS

“Grand and glorious. Ray Harryhausen’s masterwork.”

                               -- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

 

THE NEVERENDING STORY

“A marvelously realized flight of pure fantasy.”

                                                  -- Variety

 

March 2 from Warner Home Video

 

Burbank, CA – November 30, 2009 – Warner Home Video (WHV) will delight lovers of fantasy films with the March 2 Blu-ray releases of The NeverEnding Story and Clash of the Titans,which includes a sneak peek and exclusive photo booklet of the new Clash of the Titans movie.

 

Debuting as a Blu-ray Book, Clash of the Titans is an exciting epic fantasy, filled with drama, passion and colorful stop motion animated creatures that will look more eye-popping than ever in spectacular Blu-ray. The last feature film from creative genius and special effects wizard, Ray Harryhausen, Clash of the Titans is the original motion picture adaptation of the myth of Perseus and his struggles to save the Princess Andromeda.  WHV is releasing this edition just before the new Clash of the Titans due in theaters March 2010, which stars Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes and Sam Worthington (Avatar and Terminator Salvation), to be directed by Incredible Hulk’s Louis Leterrier.  This fan boy favorite, dazzling in premium Blu-ray packaging, contains photos from the set, production notes and more.  Movie cash to see the new theatrical film is also included.  

 

Relive the flight of pure fantasy that’s The NeverEnding Story now in spectacular Blu-ray. Based on the best-selling novel by Michael Ende and directed by Wolfgang Peterson (Troy, The Perfect Storm), The NeverEnding Story is as enjoyable for adults as it is for children with its tale of a young daydreamer who, drawn into a timeless and wondrous world of fantastic beings through the pages of a mysterious book, discovers how his imagination and belief can save it from destruction.  The film’s Blu-ray debut will further intensify the visually stunning inventive special effects and the colorful characters of Fantasia like never before.  

 

Clash of the Titans Blu-ray Book will sell for $34.99 SRP. The film will also be available as a Standard DVD for $14.97 SRP. The NeverEnding Story will sell for $28.99 SRP. Orders for all are due January 26, 2010. 

 

 

About the Films

Clash of the Titans

Though special effects techniques today have been dramatically transformed by CGI, the highly-imaginative and incredibly detailed work by Ray Harryhausen in his legendary films continues to hold audiences spellbound today.  Now, even more so on Blu-ray. A disciple of stop-motion pioneer Willis O’Brien (King Kong), Harryhausen adapted the techniques O’Brien developed and created his own genre of film from the 1950s to the 1980s utilizing his own stop-motion animation process eventually identified as “Dynamation,” which makes small, well-articulated models come to life by photographing them one frame at a time and then moving them slightly between exposures.  Besides Clash of the Titans, some of his memorable special/visual effects films include The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953), It Came from Beneath the Sea (1955), The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958), Jason and the Argonauts (1963), One Million Years, B.C. (1966),The Valley of Gwangi (1969), and The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1974).

 

The machinations of the gods above and the fates of man and monsters on earth play out in a Clash of the Titans. Harry Hamlin stars as the brave Perseus, mortal son of Zeus (Laurence Olivier), who sets out to fulfill his destiny by rescuing his beloved Andromeda from the wrath of the goddess Thetis (Maggie Smith). Perils await Perseus time and again, as he faces snake-haired Medusa, fearsome Kraken, winged Pegasus, two-headed dog Dioskilos, giant scorpions and more.

 

 

Special Features:

  • Interviews: A Conversation with Ray Harryhausen
  • Myths and Monsters (in map form on DVD and gallery on Blu-ray)

 

 

 

The NeverEnding Story

A dreamy young boy discovers an extraordinary storybook and the fantastical world within its pages. Director Wolfgang Peterson’s (Outbreak, In the Line of Fire) first English language film, Roger Ebert called The NeverEnding Story “a real delight!” This $30 million family fantasy/adventure epic is based on the acclaimed best-seller about a boy who is drawn into a timeless and wondrous world of fantastic beings that only he can save from total destruction.

 

Special Features:

  • No special features

 

Clash of the Titans Blu-ray Book

Street Date: March 2, 2010

Order Due Date: January 26, 2010

Catalog #: 1000116170; Pricing: $34.99 SRP

SD Catalog #: 1000115023; Pricing $14.97 SRP

Rated PG

 

The NeverEnding Story Blu-ray

Street Date: March 2, 2010

Order Due Date: January 26, 2010

Catalog #: 1000118183

Run Time: 91 Minutes

Rated PG

28.99 SRP

  
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post #10 of 35
1/12/10 at 11:55pm
"No special features" is now a special feature. Thanks Warner.
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post #11 of 35
1/13/10 at 5:53am
NeverEnding Story is a childhood favorite of mine and I still consider it one of the best fantasy films ever made. Bring on the Blu-ray!
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post #12 of 35
1/16/10 at 2:11pm
Will buy!
Just one remark: if they bring The NeverEnding Story on BD, they should include The NeverEndingStory II. (Otherwise the sequel may never arrive on the medium, I'm afraid.)


Cees
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post #13 of 35
1/29/10 at 11:59am
I pulled the trigger on both of these today at Amazon.  Not sure how much better the price will get for either of them.
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post #14 of 35
1/29/10 at 11:36pm
While I loved these as a kid, I'm not a kid anymore and cannot stand the cheesy effects, just can't buy old films like these, too difficult to watch.

But, the new Clash, that will be a purchase for sure.
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post #15 of 35
1/29/10 at 11:42pm

I'll have to pick up Clash of the Titans. Gotta love Ray Harryhausen's brilliant animation.

 

Doug

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post #16 of 35
1/30/10 at 9:38am
Quote:
While I loved these as a kid, I'm not a kid anymore

Not even for two hours?
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post #17 of 35
1/30/10 at 9:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam Gregorich View Post



Not even for two hours?
How about 24 hours a day like me.
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post #18 of 35
1/30/10 at 10:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron-P View Post

While I loved these as a kid, I'm not a kid anymore and cannot stand the cheesy effects, just can't buy old films like these, too difficult to watch.

But, the new Clash, that will be a purchase for sure.

 

Retreads like the new "Clash of The Titans" wouldn't even be possible if it wasn't for these old films and their "cheesy" effects that showed what was possible on film, . It's a good thing that the powers-that-be at film studios don't share your attitude towards films like these, because there would be a lot of film history turning to dust right about now.
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post #19 of 35
1/30/10 at 12:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam Gregorich View Post

I pulled the trigger on both of these today at Amazon.  Not sure how much better the price will get for either of them.

Looking at the price history for Clash, I gotta believe the prices will improve after they've been released a couple of months.  It's $28 right now.
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post #20 of 35
2/26/10 at 6:01am
Picked up an early copy of the NeverEnding Story BD - I didn't mind paying the $24.99 premium for it but it kills me that there could be a longer version out there and a less than likely chance we'll ever see it. Also, what's with the total lack of extras - not even the trailer was included! PQ was great (for the most part). I'm happy this was given the hi-def treatment. Audio is awesome, too!
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post #21 of 35
2/26/10 at 2:06pm
The Neverending Story DVD included the trailer, so it's disappointing that it's been omitted from the Blu-ray.
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post #22 of 35
2/26/10 at 2:17pm
Quote:
Also, what's with the total lack of extras - not even the trailer was included! PQ was great (for the most part). I'm happy this was given the hi-def treatment. Audio is awesome, too!

I feel like a hypocrite.  I want extras on the movies I buy.  I'll buy the two disc over the one disc every time when there are two versions.  I find that I really don't watch them.  I don't know if its because I'm so busy or they are usually puff pieces, but I just don't really watch them.
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post #23 of 35
3/2/10 at 6:02am
I'm gonna have to do some soul-searching when deciding whether or not to buy the new Clash of theTitans Blu-ray today. Thirty bucks for what is esentially a slightly-better looking version of the old DVD just seems like unnecessary splurging. What is Warners thinking overpricing this release and not providing new extras?
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post #24 of 35
3/2/10 at 7:28am
I've been reluctant to pick up this or 7th Voyage of Sinbad or any Harryhausen disc I already own on DVD because it seems to me the BD image would only accentuate differences between the stop motion and live action elements, and other limitations in the process. Am I wrong in assuming the regular DVD image may be more forgiving?
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post #25 of 35
3/2/10 at 7:30am
Perhaps if they eliminated the "book" packaging, it would have been priced differently. We'll eventually see it in a standard case, though. I'm guessing at some point after the remake film has run its course.  :)

Judging by the DVDBeaver review, I'd say it is more than slightly better than the DVD since a cleaner print is used, but I agree that it is hard to justify at the price it is listed for now. I've been mostly pleased with Warner's catalog releases from the 70's and 80's so far but the continued lack of extras is a disappointment.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Luisito34 View Post

I'm gonna have to do some soul-searching when deciding whether or not to buy the new Clash of theTitans Blu-ray today. Thirty bucks for what is esentially a slightly-better looking version of the old DVD just seems like unnecessary splurging. What is Warners thinking overpricing this release and not providing new extras?
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post #26 of 35
3/2/10 at 8:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Luisito34 View Post

I'm gonna have to do some soul-searching when deciding whether or not to buy the new Clash of theTitans Blu-ray today. Thirty bucks for what is esentially a slightly-better looking version of the old DVD just seems like unnecessary splurging. What is Warners thinking overpricing this release and not providing new extras?


I think there's a chance you'll see a sale on it either the week of or week before the remake hits theaters. I'd wait because even if a sale doesn't happen, the price won't go any higher than it already is at Amazon or other online retailers.
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post #27 of 35
3/2/10 at 12:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hollywoodaholic View Post

I've been reluctant to pick up this or 7th Voyage of Sinbad or any Harryhausen disc I already own on DVD because it seems to me the BD image would only accentuate differences between the stop motion and live action elements, and other limitations in the process. Am I wrong in assuming the regular DVD image may be more forgiving?

Short answer: Yes. 

Long answer: This was all well before the days of home video, so the animators and other special effects staff were designing entirely for high-resolution (equivalent or greater than 1080p) film projected on large screens.  The worst I've seen in the Harryhausen Blu-rays is some softness to the image, but from what I've read that's from the film itself, not the transfer.
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post #28 of 35
3/2/10 at 12:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jesse Blacklow View Post

Quote:


Short answer: Yes. 

Long answer: This was all well before the days of home video, so the animators and other special effects staff were designing entirely for high-resolution (equivalent or greater than 1080p) film projected on large screens.  The worst I've seen in the Harryhausen Blu-rays is some softness to the image, but from what I've read that's from the film itself, not the transfer.
 

Actually, blu-ray typically has more detail than a 35mm release print and it's often closer to the original negative than anything you could see in the theatre.

Although film negative has far more detail than a 1080p blu-ray (somewhere between 3K-6K depending on whom you ask and how it was shot), it has to go through three generations to get to a theatrical print. Once the film is edited, an interpositive is made from the negative, then an internegative is made from that, and finally release prints are made from the interneg.

Even modern productions which use a digital intermediate go through a similar process - the negative is scanned, the digital intermediate is created, then an interneg is made from that and relase prints are made from the interneg.

Each of these steps results in a significant loss of resolution, and that's not even taking into account projector gate weave and imperfect focus.

35mm release prints typically have a resolution equivalent to about 720p, sometimes a little bit more, sometimes less:

http://www.filmschooldirect.com/sample_lessons/sample_lesson_HD_vs_35mm.htm

Film is analog so there are no real "pixels." However, based on converted measures, a 35mm frame has 3 to 12 million pixels, depending on the stock, lens, and shooting conditions. An HD frame has 2 million pixels, measured using 1920 x 1080 scan lines. With this difference, 35mm appears vastly superior to HD.


This is the argument most film purists use. The truth is, pixels are not the way to compare resolution. The human eye cannot see individual pixels beyond a short distance. What we can see are lines.


Consequently, manufacturers measure the sharpness of photographic images and components using a parameter called Modulation Transfer Function (MTF). This process uses lines (not pixels) as a basis for comparison. Notice the lines in this resolution chart:


Part of a Standard Resolution Chart


There is an international study on this issue, called Image Resolution of 35mm Film in Theatrical Presentation. It was conducted by Hank Mahler (CBS, United States), Vittorio Baroncini (Fondazione Ugo Bordoni, Italy), and Mattieu Sintas (CST, France).


In the study, MTF measurements were used to determine the typical resolution of theatrical release prints and answer prints in normal operation, utilizing existing state-of-the-art 35mm film, processing, printing, and projection.


The prints were projected in six movie theaters in various countries, and a panel of experts made the assessments of the projected images using a well defined formula. The results are as follows:

35mm RESOLUTION

Measurement

Lines
Answer Print MTF 1400
Release Print MTF 1000
Theater Highest Assessment 875
Theater Average Assessment 750

Of course, film has other advantages - greater dynamic range, colour depth, no compression etc. But strictly in terms of detail, blu-ray usually wins out.

This is from the cinematographer of Jennifer's Body:

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?showtopic=43683

This isn't accurate or even provable, but my mental checklist is that 35mm negative is 4K at best (3K on average) whether or not you want to argue for even higher scanning resolutions, and that 35mm answer print resolution is 2K at best, and a 35mm release print from an IP/IN is less than that, let's say 1K.
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post #29 of 35
3/2/10 at 1:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas Agermose View Post

Keeping my fingers crossed that the release will include the longer German cut.

How much longer than "neverending" can you get?
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post #30 of 35
3/2/10 at 4:40pm
That's some great info, Nick. Many thanks for sharing!
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

The Neverending Story [Blu-ray]
Clash of the Titans (Book) [Blu-ray]
Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming Video and Digital Downloads › Blu-ray › WHV Announcement: Clash of the Titans -and- The Neverending Story (Blu-ray)