Universal To Celebrate 100 Years in 2012 - Page 11

Flower Drum Song was not an MOD; it was a full DVD release.

From the sound of what's being said on this thread, I suspect it will just be the DVD with a fancy banner and logo on the packaging. It looks like, for the most part, Universal is doing this on the cheap with mainly repackagings and a few Blus that would have been released anyway. I guess this is where we quote Capt. Renault: "I'm shocked! I tell you, shocked!"

Thanks!++

I'm surprised nothing has been said about the original audio elements for Universal's films and TV shows. Anyone know where they reside in?

Both "Flower Drum Song" and "Jesus Christ Superstar" have been re-released on DVD under the 100th anniversary banner.

 

If you read the titles listed on the 100th anniversary DVD boxes from the 50 - 70's timeline you'll notice after "Flower Drum Song" (1961) the next film from the 60's listed is "Airport" (1969/70).  Some how Universal forgot they released any films during the 60's - a whole decade, well the sixties aren't important 

 

 

Just got my first two 100th-bannered Blu-rays in the mail, To Kill a Mockingbird and All Quiet on the Western Front.

 

Two immediate and positive impressions:  First, I think the cover art is very nice, utilizing elements of the original poster art. Second, the digibook contents look to be excellent, with actual information, graphics and document reproductions -- you know, the good shit, far removed from the more typical flip-through-it-and-forget-it collection of photos.

 

And I can't begin to say how much I appreciate the absence of that stupid digital disc.  The download code is there for those who want it.  Amen to that.

 

I've already read and digested the opinions of those I trust regarding the transfers of the films and additional content.

 

Now, that's a nice checklist of things to be happy about when all I've done is open a package.  I hope the other anniversary titles live up to what I'm seeing here.  Further still, I'd like to believe that this level of care just might represent the turning of a new leaf by Universal in the realm of catalog titles and home video.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Spotlight-Collection-Frankenstein-Universals-Anniversary/dp/B006TTC5J0/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1331095494&sr=8-6

This 100th Anniversary repackage release of Universal Monsters on dvd does not bode well for their getting remastered for blu this year...

Or has anyone seen the discs yet? Have they been discreetly remastered?

Of course they are getting remastered on blu. Dracula, the Spanish Dracula, Frankenstein, and Bride of Frankenstein are all on the list of restored films Universal announced.

I find many odd things about the whole Universal 100th promotion.

First is the pricing.

Some Blu-Rays are MSRP'd at about $27. Others are closer to $40. There doesn't seem any rhyme or reason to why some titles are one price point, and some are a different price point.

And then there is the incomplete information on what is actually being released in what format.

We know about a dozen titles are coming out on Blu-Ray. There is speculation that more than the original 'Remastered' list will come out, but that is not certain (such as the Monsters Collection - three plus one for sure - the other five, who knows). And then, to muddy the waters further, many titles are being re-released under the 100th banner, but on DVD.

Its very confusing, and frankly, confusion isn't a good marketing strategy.



David

The "Spotlight Collection" is a bunch of multi-pack films similar to the TCM Greatest Classic Films sets or the 20th Century Fox Classic Quad packs from last year. I've seen the releases in stores and it carries forward all of the bonus features from the original releases. It just seems very odd to release a four pack of movies that they plan to restore and rerelease in 6 months. It dilutes the market for their own product.

What's really confusing is that the covers for the BR and DVD look the same online. You have to be careful and make sure you know which you are ordering.

I think Dracula, Frankenstein and BoF are certain for blu this year. The 4 pack is strange in that it uses the original 1990s DVD release covers. Those DVDs were discontinued last year. Maybe it will contain 4 leftover disks from those releases. Universal has sold some its westerns and war movies in similar packaging, which have retailed at Walmart for $5.

All of the Universal classic monster movies have been showing on Sky Movies in HD, does anyone know what they look like? I don't have Sky Movies or Sky HD.

Well, the classic monster films on Blu-ray are something to look forward to from Universal.

Thus far their 100th Anniversary Celebration has been an overwhelming disappointment.
If I were the studio execs I would feel embarrassed at the ineptitude of their celebration.

From what I've seen so far, Universal's entire investment in the 100th Anniversary is some package redesigns on films they've already released or were already on the calendar. Doing it on the cheap.

But . . .

I salute the BIG con!

love those posters,

 

by the way wasnt Harvey supposed to be released by now, or did he date get shifted?

The release date has moved to the Fall.

 

I still don't get it though, the 1979 Prisoner of Zenda was finally recently released as a MOD DVD yet I can watch it in hi-def on cable - why can't films like these be made available as blu ray MOD's ?

Because BD-R's are far less reliable than BDs for a few different reasons, the most significant being: 1) They don't have the protective hard-layer of pressed blu-ray discs and therefore scratch VERY easily, far more easily than DVD-Rs, 2) about 20% of Blu-ray players - including the PS3 - cannot play them if they put the AACS protection on them, 3) the media is still relatively expensive compared to DVD-Rs.

As a follow up question, why is there a pressed blu ray of Evil Roy Slade but not Prisoner of Zenda - is that a popular enough film ?

You're serious?There's a blu of Evil Roy Slade? I bought a DVD of it a while back for less than $5. I had fond memories of it but found it to no longer be funny at all. It's in my yard sale pile now. It was a tv movie, how much could it benefit from HD?

It was shot on 35mm film, same as theatrical movies.

Ok, I stand corrected. It can benefit from HD, however, IMHO, it is will still be a bad, unfunny film in HD.