Who Listens To Us Anymore? (1 Viewer)

[atfree]

Olive doesn't do EE, DNR, or botched AR on their pre-1953 discs.

As far as what is acceptable to me depends upon the film.

I can't really give an exact definition of what that is, but let's just say I don't expect The Red Menace (1949) to look like Casablanca (1942). Nor do I expect The Red Menace (1949) to come with commentary from Roger Ebert and Leonard Maltin explaining to me how important the movie is.

EXACTLY! I've stated in other threads that "extras" don't make any difference to me. My expectations are the same as yours. I'll be getting "Armored Attack" (aka "The North Star") in the mail today. I have ZERO expectation that this will look like "Patton" but I do expect it will be an acceptable transfer from the best elements available. Would I love ALL of my favorite films to get the "LOA" or "Ben-Hur" treatment? Of course, but I'd also love to win the Powerball Wednesday night (maybe I'd volunteer a couple of mil to restore "The Alamo"!) but I don't EXPECT it to happen.

Over the course of the next 5 years, I'd imagine most of the studios will have scanned the majority of their libraries into HD digital format for preservation purposes, if nothing else. I fully understand that 95% of these won't get any major "restoration" work but if they are in HD digital format I'd hope that putting out a blu-ray (either from the studio itself or via licensees like TT, Olive, Kino, etc) isn't too much to hope for.

What ultimately bugs me is when I see dreck like "Killer Fish", "Avalanche", or some other obscure horror title get BD releases but we're still waiting on films that are consensus, if not unanimous, classics like "They Were Expendable", "Captain Blood", "The Greatest Show on Earth", etc to get a BD release. It also saddens me when I see TT quickly sell out "Fright Night" or "Christine" (both films that I believe the consensus would say are "OK"), but true classic titles take years to sell out, if they ever do. Something's not right in the world.....

 

[cineMANIAC]

At the present time, would the decision makers be listening to us (ie. forum posters) about a possible future 4K optical disc system? (Or lack of discussion, and/or too much negative discussion).

The introduction of a new format (4K) is sort of contradictory to the studios current way of thinking, which is, why bother remastering anything since people aren't buying Blu-ray in big enough numbers. Most of the major studios have given up on selling physical media themselves and are farming everything out to independent labels - which many feel to be the precursor to ceasing the distribution of all physical media in favor of streaming. So the question is, what, exactly, will the studios be releasing on this new format? If people aren't buying BDs, it stands to reason NO ONE will buy into 4K, at least not ordinary people who are happy with DVD and have no plan of upgrading even from that. Like it or not, Blu-ray was and remains a NICHE format. Where does that leave 4K?

 

[Robert Crawford]

The introduction of a new format (4K) is sort of contradictory to the studios current way of thinking, which is, why bother remastering anything since people aren't buying Blu-ray in big enough numbers. Most of the major studios have given up on selling physical media themselves and are farming everything out to independent labels - which many feel to be the precursor to ceasing the distribution of all physical media in favor of streaming. So the question is, what, exactly, will the studios be releasing on this new format? If people aren't buying BDs, it stands to reason NO ONE will buy into 4K, at least not ordinary people who are happy with DVD and have no plan of upgrading even from that. Like it or not, Blu-ray was and remains a NICHE format. Where does that leave 4K?

I don't buy that as the BD sales are too great in numbers to be a niche market. This isn't a small market like LD. Granted, certain classic titles might be niche especially with these licensed out titles, but overall, the BD market is mass market.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Also, in my opinion, I think as consumers we're fragmented as to the BD quality expected of certain classic films. Some of us are fine with how Olive is releasing their titles with minimal work done to them. However, there is a segment of us that want higher PQ standards as they pertain to BD presentations such as what we thought each title should look and sound like when this BD format was first released back in 2006. However, it appears some of us have relaxed those PQ expectations while others haven't done so and still expect the best for each classic title.

Furthermore, there is even a segment of us that accepts the Olive standard as well as the Sony/Warner higher presentation standard.

I guess what it comes down to, is we want our classics on BD and in greater quantities than what's been released to us. And, as individuals, we will judge each BD's presentation on a basis depending on our individual expectations and which company is releasing the BD. Of course, this means we will have some passionate PQ debates regarding many of these BD releases.

 

[Persianimmortal]

The introduction of a new format (4K) is sort of contradictory to the studios current way of thinking, which is, why bother remastering anything since people aren't buying Blu-ray in big enough numbers. Most of the major studios have given up on selling physical media themselves and are farming everything out to independent labels - which many feel to be the precursor to ceasing the distribution of all physical media in favor of streaming. So the question is, what, exactly, will the studios be releasing on this new format? If people aren't buying BDs, it stands to reason NO ONE will buy into 4K, at least not ordinary people who are happy with DVD and have no plan of upgrading even from that. Like it or not, Blu-ray was and remains a NICHE format. Where does that leave 4K?

My guess is that 4K will be primarily for new releases, as well as for selected high profile catalog titles. I'm also guessing that 4K will primarily come to be released via streaming/digital download, as is already starting to occur. No great mystery there. In fact, in many ways 4K will be the real successor to DVD, as it will combine convenience and the quality necessary for larger screens.

 

[Dr Griffin]

My guess is that 4K will be primarily for new releases, as well as for selected high profile catalog titles. I'm also guessing that 4K will primarily come to be released via streaming/digital download, as is already starting to occur. No great mystery there. In fact, in many ways 4K will be the real successor to DVD, as it will combine convenience and the quality necessary for larger screens.

This is, probably, exactly it. I am OK with it. At least we will not have to endure the DVD/Blu-ray/4K combo packs!

 

[FoxyMulder]

This is, probably, exactly it. I am OK with it. At least we will not have to endure the DVD/Blu-ray/4K combo packs!

My feeling is they will have blu ray/blu ray 4K combo packs at inflated prices like they do with blu ray/3D packs at the moment.

 

[jcroy]

This is, probably, exactly it. I am OK with it. At least we will not have to endure the DVD/Blu-ray/4K combo packs!

My feeling is they will have blu ray/blu ray 4K combo packs at inflated prices like they do with blu ray/3D packs at the moment.

Is the 4K part in the form of a digital download, or an actual 4K optical disc?

 

[FoxyMulder]

Is the 4K part in the form of a digital download, or an actual 4K optical disc?

It's a disc i talk about, an extension of the current blu ray format, you will need a new player as it will use the H.265 codec.

 

[jcroy]

It's a disc an extension of the current blu ray format, you will need a new player as it will use the H.265 codec.

If this is not "vaporware", then who is manufacturing the first "4K bluray" player and what is the model number?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaporware

 

[FoxyMulder]

If this is not "vaporware", then who is manufacturing the first "4K bluray" player and what is the model number?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaporware

It's not vaporware, the players will come, the software will come, the members of the BDA include all the major Hollywood studio's and the major hardware manufacturers, take one hardware manufacter in Sony who is heavily promoting 4K televisions and also owns Columbia and has for years been making 4K masters of their film library.

Just Google it, they have been working on this for a long time, they say they hope to make a final announcement on everything by the end of 2014 and after that the manufacturers can start making the players and the replication facilities can start pressing some discs, don't expect lots of content to begin with, it'll probably be a niche market for several years unless they really push the format and bring it in cheap enough, the codec chosen will be VP9 or H.265 or likely both codecs, it will be 100 gigabyte discs.

I'm not saying every studio will release 4K disc content, i'm saying some will and i'm saying 4K streaming isn't viable for large sections of the population and it won't be viable for many years so it will be disc AND 4K streaming, not one or the other.

 

[jcroy]

I'm not saying every studio will release 4K disc content, i'm saying some will and i'm saying 4K streaming isn't viable for large sections of the population and it won't be viable for many years so it will be disc AND 4K streaming, not one or the other.

Hopefully the rumored 4K version of Breaking Bad, will be one of the first releases on "4K bluray".

Perhaps also the 4K version of season 2 of Netflix's "House of Cards".


(Sony released the previous bluray versions).

 

[cineMANIAC]

Just Google it, they have been working on this for a long time, they say they hope to make a final announcement on everything by the end of 2014 and after that the manufacturers can start making the players and the replication facilities can start pressing some discs, don't expect lots of content to begin with, it'll probably be a niche market for several years unless they really push the format and bring it in cheap enough, the codec chosen will be VP9 or H.265 or likely both codecs, it will be 100 gigabyte discs.

They'll probably start remastering all the Adam Sandler and Jonah Hill masterpieces and work their way backwards. These are the same people who were infatuated with fullscreen transfers when DVD was in full swing and who are now mostly out of the game.

 

[jcroy]

They'll probably start remastering all the Adam Sandler and Jonah Hill masterpieces and work their way backwards. These are the same people who were infatuated with fullscreen transfers when DVD was in full swing and who are now mostly out of the game.

Even more amusing is if the first "4K bluray" titles is stuff like Sharknado 3 and/or porno movies filmed in 4K resolution.

 

[FoxyMulder]

porno movies filmed in 4K resolution.

They will still have poor cinematography, there is such a thing as TOO close up.

 

[Worth]

Hopefully the rumored 4K version of Breaking Bad, will be one of the first releases on "4K bluray".

There's no way a cable series from 2008 was mastered in 4K. The vast majority of new $200 million blockbusters are still finished at 2K.

 

[FoxyMulder]

There's no way a cable series from 2008 was mastered in 4K. The vast majority of new $200 million blockbusters are still finished at 2K.

You might want to read this article.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/breaking-bad-hits-netflix-in-4k-ultra-hd/

House Of Cards was shot in 4K.

Okay i have edited this post, after Googling for some info, if Breaking Bad was shot on 35mm film, some websites say it was, then that means they could release it in 4K, it doesn't mean it will be as sharp as a tack but it will have more detail than the 1080p version, that article above that i link to is a little confusing as it states House Of Cards was shot 4K, presumably digital, it fails to mention how Breaking Bad was filmed, it's 35mm film and it will be just fine for a 4K blu ray release.

Interview here.

http://www.rogerebert.com/balder-and-dash/gliding-over-all-the-cinematography-of-breaking-bad-season-2

Shot on 35mm info here. Be careful reading the link below, it contains Breaking Bad spoilers.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/allenstjohn/2013/09/26/working-bad-cinematographer-michael-slovis-on-35mm-film-hdtv-and-how-breaking-bad-stuck-the-landing/

From the above article.

Breaking Bad is one of the very few shows still shot on 35mm film instead of video. Why?

When we started the name of the station was American Movie Classics. They considered themselves filmmakers. So they insisted that everything be shot on film.

I think that was a wise choice for Breaking Bad. There are certain advantages that film has for certain kind of storytelling, the cameras are autonomous, they don’t have any cables, and the cameras are robust and sturdy, when you’re shooting out in the desert.

But most important reason has nothing to do with the technical side: It’s expensive.

And you’re on a budget. And we were allotted 11,000 feet of film a day. If you went over that, somebody came from the office and spoke to you.

Which is meant that you had to think through, with intent, what it was that you wanted to shoot for the day. There was nothing arbitrary about Breaking Bad. It’s formal.

We did not go shoot a whole bunch of stuff and they go edit into something. The show was shot with loving concern for every single frame.

That’s fortuitous, because as televisions switch from 2K to 4K, Sony is going back and re-transferring all of Breaking Bad into 4K which is something you can’t do with shows that are shot digitally. Film is upscaleable. It’s archiveable, as the formats change. I assume that eventually there’ll be a box set for real enthusiasts with their 4K televisions.

 

[MatthewA]

They'll probably start remastering all the Adam Sandler and Jonah Hill masterpieces and work their way backwards. These are the same people who were infatuated with fullscreen transfers when DVD was in full swing and who are now mostly out of the game.

I thought a lot of those releases were because Wal-Mart and their ilk asked for them.

 

[cineMANIAC]

I thought a lot of those releases were because Wal-Mart and their ilk asked for them.

It's scary when you think about it but Walmart does seem to dictate what gets released and what doesn't. I made a comment about this subject on another thread but it's worth repeating here: Walmart sales numbers seem to be the gauge that studios use to determine the success of particular titles. I've been to enough Walmarts to know that the people you see browsing the movie shelves are folks who stopped there on their way to or from the restrooms. THIS is the demographic the studios are catering to. Are we in trouble or what

 

[Worth]

I stand corrected. Looks like Breaking Bad has indeed been remastered to 4K. It just seems kind of odd that a relatively modestly budgeted series would be completed in 4K when massive films like The Hobbit, Skyfall, Edge of Tomorrow and the new X-Men only exist at 2K.