I posted my old Wallace and Gromit: First 3 Adventured DVD on Half.com for $50, just to see if someone would bite, and someone did yesterday. It's out of print, but with the new movie coming out, I figured a rerelease was inevitable as part of the promotion campaign. I figured I could deprive myself for a few months for a $30+ profit.
But now I'm beginning to wonder whether I made the right move. I can't find an announcement for rerelease at all. Anybody know anything about this?
speedyray
02-26-05, 10:14 AM
I have been doing the same thing with some of my OOP DVD. I only do it though if I know I am not going to regret it if it does not come back. In particular I have been doing it for a lot of 2 disk SE that have 1 disck version. If you are a huge fan, you might want to keep it. If you can live without for some time (maybe years) go for it. Worst case scenerio you buy it back later for $50-$60.
joshualane
02-26-05, 10:48 AM
I think you'll be okay. There's nothing studios love more than a good theatrical tie-in release, so a new Wallace & Gromit DVD seems like a given.
I sold off my Aeon Flux DVD a couple months ago because I figured a release would come out when the live-action movie hits theatres. As it turns out, a release is coming, so I made the right move.
RichardW
02-26-05, 01:41 PM
I thought I'd read somewhere that a re-release would come when the movie did. Trust me, companies just love doing this so I can't see how this would be any different.
Ive held off buying an expensive oop copy cause I am sure they will double dip this year for the movie... cant wait to see it!! I miss W&G, long overdue for something new.
Feathers McGraw
02-26-05, 07:06 PM
Which version did you sell? The old one, or the new one with intact music?
The Valeyard
02-26-05, 11:44 PM
Which version did you sell? The old one, or the new one with intact music?
The OOP Fox Version was the one with the original music (Happy Birthday). The Warner release replaced the music with something else.
From DVD Verdict (http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/gromit.php)
[Note: After publication of this review, it came to my attention that I missed a couple details. First, there are subtle differences in the video quality between the new Warner disc and the old Fox disc. Based on A-B screenshot comparisons, the Warner version is fuzzier and less distinct; my guess is that the bitrate is lower. I've adjusted my video score down five points since this review was first posted. Also, in The Wrong Trousers, one of the music cues has been altered. The Fox DVD, as well as previous VHS and laserdisc releases, had Gromit's birthday card play the famous "Happy Birthday" song. Apparently, Warner Bros. didn't want to cough up the licensing fees for it (yes, believe it or not, it's copyrighted), so there is a generic music piece in its place. Do these new facts change my verdict? The slightly lower quality video is worrisome, but the disc is still recommended for its content. However, those with the Fox DVD have even more reasons to think twice about replacing it. Yes, I'm aware that "even more reasons to think twice" doesn't make a whole lot of sense.]
Andrew
Randy Miller III
02-26-05, 11:47 PM
The OOP Fox Version was the one with the original music (Happy Birthday). The Warner release replaced the music with something else.
"For He's A Jolly Good Fellow." Damn you and your royalty fees, Mildred J. Hall! ;)
mndtrp
02-27-05, 02:20 AM
Wallace and Gromit rock. I've been using their portrait as my messenger icon for a while now. The movie should be fun.
Fielding Mellish
02-27-05, 10:55 AM
Hate to say it, but ya might've screwed up.
Beyong the music licensing issues, I find the image in the WB release to be noticibly inferior to the Fox version. The brightness is definitely overcranked, and I recall seeing jaggies galore.
That said, the newer version has superior supplements to the original.
chess
02-27-05, 09:01 PM
Hmmm....well it was the original Fox version, and I had no idea that they changed the song from the original. Who knew that the birthday song was copywritten? Anyway, that's a quibble as far as I'm concerned. I was just counting on being out of this set for a few months since the movie is out this summer...plus I figured it would be a seller's market with the preview on the Shark Tale DVD.
I do LOVE the show, and it also has some sentimental value as my little guy used to ask to watch it every day, when most kids were watching teletubbies and such. So hopefully a new "jaggie-free" release is in the works to tie in with the movie...or even better a post movie gift set with both!
slowcloud
02-28-05, 08:08 AM
You can always sell your Region 1 version and get a U.K. Region 2 and pocket the profit, if you have a region free DVD player or DVD ROM drive.
Cosmic Bus
02-28-05, 08:35 AM
On a W&G-related note, are there any plans to release the Cracking Contraptions shorts in the US, or at the very least, reissue the DVD in R2? I only found out that it even existed after the limited run went OOP. :(
chess
02-28-05, 08:45 AM
Hate to say it, but ya might've screwed up.
Beyong the music licensing issues, I find the image in the WB release to be noticibly inferior to the Fox version. The brightness is definitely overcranked, and I recall seeing jaggies galore.
That said, the newer version has superior supplements to the original.
Both versions are OOP as far as I know, so the differences between the current versions is a nonfactor. My hope is just that they release an ultimate/extreme/whatever edition as part of the promo campaign for the movie this summer. Alternatively, having the shorts on the eventual movie DVD would also be acceptable.
Fielding Mellish
02-28-05, 09:24 AM
On a W&G-related note, are there any plans to release the Cracking Contraptions shorts in the US...?
A damn, DAMN good question, my friend. I'd kill to get my hands on them.
eXcentris
02-28-05, 09:41 AM
I bought Cracking Contraptions as soon as it came out. :p
taronga
03-02-05, 03:04 PM
For anyone who must have the original Fox versions, I saw a huge pile of videos (VHS) at my local Dollar Discount store. I am a DVD snob, but $3 for all 3 W&G shorts was too good to pass up.
Isaac: Someone holds the copyright to 'Happy Birthday?'
Dan: The representatives of Patty and Mildred Hill.
Isaac: It took two people to write that song?
- "Sports Night"
digidoh
03-05-05, 04:51 PM
"For He's A Jolly Good Fellow."
Yes, and even the closed captions identify it as such, BUT if you listen with the director's commentary, you can hear the card playing "Happy Birthday".
Buy: