Leonard Maltin article on the quality of dvd releases
11-22-05 | 12:13 PM
#26
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Originally Posted by boe
The studios set absurd time lines to release DVDs. Fans want the DVDs as soon as possible.
Do what they did for LOTR and others.
1 Let fans know when the first release is coming out.
2 Let fans know when the uncut release with good audio and video will be out.
3 Let fans know when the uncut release with the interviews, the making of, and all that other stuff - will be out.
Make three copies to fit everyones desire but if we know the dates we won't have to double dip and we'll get the movie as soon as possible if we can't wait and then it is our own issue if we double dip - no complaining.
I'll get option 2 EVERY SINGLE TIME. Option 3 gives the DVD makers time to get all the people they want to interview ready etc.
PS I'm not sure how the information was released about the LOTR EE release dates but I REALLY REALLY appreciated knowing that the good one was in the works and when it was coming out so I wasn't as tempted to get the first one and then just be pissed that I had the crappy release. I understand why the uncut version took longer to make so I wasn't pissed that it was being released a few months after the first at least I knew it was coming out. A lot of times a movie comes out poorly done and I think, are they coming out with a DTS version or a WS version or a DTS version.
Do what they did for LOTR and others.
1 Let fans know when the first release is coming out.
2 Let fans know when the uncut release with good audio and video will be out.
3 Let fans know when the uncut release with the interviews, the making of, and all that other stuff - will be out.
Make three copies to fit everyones desire but if we know the dates we won't have to double dip and we'll get the movie as soon as possible if we can't wait and then it is our own issue if we double dip - no complaining.
I'll get option 2 EVERY SINGLE TIME. Option 3 gives the DVD makers time to get all the people they want to interview ready etc.
PS I'm not sure how the information was released about the LOTR EE release dates but I REALLY REALLY appreciated knowing that the good one was in the works and when it was coming out so I wasn't as tempted to get the first one and then just be pissed that I had the crappy release. I understand why the uncut version took longer to make so I wasn't pissed that it was being released a few months after the first at least I knew it was coming out. A lot of times a movie comes out poorly done and I think, are they coming out with a DTS version or a WS version or a DTS version.
11-22-05 | 12:22 PM
#27
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Originally Posted by Jericho
I think the article is more applicable to catalogue releases. New movies, like LOTR are easy to plan for. The studio knows the video release is coming out and the DVD could conceivably been finished before the movie even hits theaters, let alone the months after theatrical release. Its when studios decides to release a movie from their vault and don't give enough time to plan/produce where the quailty really suffers.
11-26-05 | 05:29 AM
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The film industry is a business. DVD producers have to make judgements on which films will be profitable enough to justify the cost of expensive restorations and in depth documentaries. So they have to make choices. Sometimes they are right: Nice editions of Citizen Kane and King Kong are sure to make a lot of money. Windtalkers might not. Is Alfred Hitchckock Presents worthy of a resstoration? Sure. Will it increase profitability? Probably not.
As a consumer I'd love to see every DVD released made from perfect materials, but as a realist I can understand why they are not.
As a consumer I'd love to see every DVD released made from perfect materials, but as a realist I can understand why they are not.
11-26-05 | 09:19 AM
#30
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Right now, doing restoration work is a lot more viable and a better investment for the studios than five years ago. Many films are being restored and mastered with the idea of being able to release at least two (SDVD and HD) maybe more generations of disc using the same mastering. There wasn't this type of forward thinking in the days of LD or the early days of DVD.
11-26-05 | 03:14 PM
#31
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Originally Posted by mike7162
...this top 40 mentality was destined to filter into the DVD format; if HD fails to fly, I wouldn't be surprised to see Hollywood begin to abandon older films entirely, and merely limiting us to the "all time favorites" like Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, etc. The glory days of classic film on dvd may have already passed.
If HD-DVD & Blu-Ray bite the dust (which is very possible), then I think you'll see MORE classic releases, not less. Actually, I think you'll continue to see a lot of classic movies - and not just the well known ones - released over the next 10-15 years regardless of which format is dominant.
11-27-05 | 02:02 AM
#32
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From: Minneapolis, MN
Originally Posted by robsul82
It's Leonard Maltin, I mean, c'mon. His only claim to fame is giving The Shawshank Redemption a horrible review and standing firm to it regardless of how the film's grown in the past ten years.
If it weren't for Leonard Maltin, we wouldn't have nicely packaged discs such as the Walt Disney Treasures series, the recent Batjac John Wayne titles and more. Many people know him as a film critic, but he is foremost a film historian as well as a DVD producer. He also has been vocal about urging Disney to release The Song of the South on DVD, regardless of his work for the company.
He also is a huge fan of movies, and it shows in his work and writing. You'd be surprised at how many reviewers and people in the industry are not fans of films.
11-28-05 | 03:06 PM
#33
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Originally Posted by B5Erik
I couldn't disagree more. The studios need to release product to generate revenue. Their catalog titles are cheap to release and generate a good amount of revenue (profits) for the studios. Look at how much classic stuff Paramount releases! Tons of stuff - all with very nice transfers. Sure, they are barebones, but with transfers that nice I sure won't argue!
If HD-DVD & Blu-Ray bite the dust (which is very possible), then I think you'll see MORE classic releases, not less. Actually, I think you'll continue to see a lot of classic movies - and not just the well known ones - released over the next 10-15 years regardless of which format is dominant.
If HD-DVD & Blu-Ray bite the dust (which is very possible), then I think you'll see MORE classic releases, not less. Actually, I think you'll continue to see a lot of classic movies - and not just the well known ones - released over the next 10-15 years regardless of which format is dominant.
My friend, I hope you are right.
11-29-05 | 07:53 PM
#34
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Originally Posted by robsul82
It's Leonard Maltin, I mean, c'mon. His only claim to fame is giving The Shawshank Redemption a horrible review and standing firm to it regardless of how the film's grown in the past ten years.
In any case, The Shawshank Redemption sucks, so more power to him.
11-29-05 | 10:44 PM
#35
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I've got to say this for Leonard Maltin - beyond the fact that I generally agree with most of his reviews - he did the single greatest TV move review ever back in the 80's on Entertainment Tonight.
His review of Transylvania 6-5000 was brilliant! He's just sitting there in the "pseudo" movie theater set, in his seat - bouncing up and down to the song "Pennsylvania 6-5000," where the key words were changed to "Transylvania 6-5000." When the song ends with a chant of "Transylvania 6-5000," Maltin follows it up with his one word review. It went something like this... "[music]Transylvania 6-5000[/music]... Stinks. I'm Leonard Maltin, Entertainment Tonight."
BRILLIANT!!!
BEST...REVIEW...EVER!!!
His review of Transylvania 6-5000 was brilliant! He's just sitting there in the "pseudo" movie theater set, in his seat - bouncing up and down to the song "Pennsylvania 6-5000," where the key words were changed to "Transylvania 6-5000." When the song ends with a chant of "Transylvania 6-5000," Maltin follows it up with his one word review. It went something like this... "[music]Transylvania 6-5000[/music]... Stinks. I'm Leonard Maltin, Entertainment Tonight."
BRILLIANT!!!
BEST...REVIEW...EVER!!!
11-29-05 | 10:57 PM
#36
Originally Posted by B5Erik
I've got to say this for Leonard Maltin - beyond the fact that I generally agree with most of his reviews - he did the single greatest TV move review ever back in the 80's on Entertainment Tonight.
His review of Transylvania 6-5000 was brilliant! He's just sitting there in the "pseudo" movie theater set, in his seat - bouncing up and down to the song "Pennsylvania 6-5000," where the key words were changed to "Transylvania 6-5000." When the song ends with a chant of "Transylvania 6-5000," Maltin follows it up with his one word review. It went something like this... "[music]Transylvania 6-5000[/music]... Stinks. I'm Leonard Maltin, Entertainment Tonight."
BRILLIANT!!!
BEST...REVIEW...EVER!!!
His review of Transylvania 6-5000 was brilliant! He's just sitting there in the "pseudo" movie theater set, in his seat - bouncing up and down to the song "Pennsylvania 6-5000," where the key words were changed to "Transylvania 6-5000." When the song ends with a chant of "Transylvania 6-5000," Maltin follows it up with his one word review. It went something like this... "[music]Transylvania 6-5000[/music]... Stinks. I'm Leonard Maltin, Entertainment Tonight."
BRILLIANT!!!
BEST...REVIEW...EVER!!!
11-29-05 | 11:03 PM
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Originally Posted by unclehulot
THAT'S his only claim to fame? Clearly you've been under a rock for the past 20 years, and/or just don't follow films made before 1970, because the man is one of the FEW people to gain fame from visible and effective championship of "classic" film.
In any case, The Shawshank Redemption sucks, so more power to him.
In any case, The Shawshank Redemption sucks, so more power to him.
11-29-05 | 11:19 PM
#38
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Cameron
Originally Posted by B5Erik
I've got to say this for Leonard Maltin - beyond the fact that I generally agree with most of his reviews - he did the single greatest TV move review ever back in the 80's on Entertainment Tonight.
His review of Transylvania 6-5000 was brilliant! He's just sitting there in the "pseudo" movie theater set, in his seat - bouncing up and down to the song "Pennsylvania 6-5000," where the key words were changed to "Transylvania 6-5000." When the song ends with a chant of "Transylvania 6-5000," Maltin follows it up with his one word review. It went something like this... "[music]Transylvania 6-5000[/music]... Stinks. I'm Leonard Maltin, Entertainment Tonight."
BRILLIANT!!!
BEST...REVIEW...EVER!!!
I've got to say this for Leonard Maltin - beyond the fact that I generally agree with most of his reviews - he did the single greatest TV move review ever back in the 80's on Entertainment Tonight.
His review of Transylvania 6-5000 was brilliant! He's just sitting there in the "pseudo" movie theater set, in his seat - bouncing up and down to the song "Pennsylvania 6-5000," where the key words were changed to "Transylvania 6-5000." When the song ends with a chant of "Transylvania 6-5000," Maltin follows it up with his one word review. It went something like this... "[music]Transylvania 6-5000[/music]... Stinks. I'm Leonard Maltin, Entertainment Tonight."
BRILLIANT!!!
BEST...REVIEW...EVER!!!
we must have video of this now....someone find it and post it.
I've been dying to see it again for 20 years now. It was BRILLIANT!!!
(I just checked his movie guide, and looked up Transylvania 6-5000. He should have stuck with the one word review there, too. It says everything that needs to be said about that movie.)
11-30-05 | 11:29 AM
#39
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Leonard Maltin, and his book, are essential for one main reason. He knows more about film, and film history, than pretty much any critic out there. While you may disagree with his thoughts on a particular film, he knows about who made it, when it was made, the background for the cast, if they worked together before, etc.
That is all I care about when I read a review, learning about the backstory of a film. And that is why I pick up his book almost daily to find out something about a film.
He doesn't write long reviews about a film, just a basic background and his opinion. And, he will often note in his reviews if others disagree with his opinion.
I thought the essay was right on the mark.
That is all I care about when I read a review, learning about the backstory of a film. And that is why I pick up his book almost daily to find out something about a film.
He doesn't write long reviews about a film, just a basic background and his opinion. And, he will often note in his reviews if others disagree with his opinion.
I thought the essay was right on the mark.
12-03-05 | 08:12 AM
#41
DVD Talk Legend
I just looked up his review of The Shawshank Redemption in his movie guide, and it's hardly a horrible review - he gave it 2 1/2 stars out of 4. He said he thought it was well crafted, but overlong, and he thought it was predictable (which for some people it may be).
So the idea that he "hated" The Shawshank Redemption, or that he thought it was "horrible" is incorrect.
So the idea that he "hated" The Shawshank Redemption, or that he thought it was "horrible" is incorrect.
12-03-05 | 10:00 AM
#42
Originally Posted by B5Erik
I couldn't disagree more. The studios need to release product to generate revenue. Their catalog titles are cheap to release and generate a good amount of revenue (profits) for the studios. Look at how much classic stuff Paramount releases! Tons of stuff - all with very nice transfers. Sure, they are barebones, but with transfers that nice I sure won't argue!
If HD-DVD & Blu-Ray bite the dust (which is very possible), then I think you'll see MORE classic releases, not less. Actually, I think you'll continue to see a lot of classic movies - and not just the well known ones - released over the next 10-15 years regardless of which format is dominant.
If HD-DVD & Blu-Ray bite the dust (which is very possible), then I think you'll see MORE classic releases, not less. Actually, I think you'll continue to see a lot of classic movies - and not just the well known ones - released over the next 10-15 years regardless of which format is dominant.
12-03-05 | 12:21 PM
#43
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I'm not a big fan of Maltin's reviews, but I have a lot of respect for his knowledge and his crusade for proper film presentation. I think this essay was right on the mark, especially in regards to DVD reviews.
12-03-05 | 03:20 PM
#45
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Originally Posted by B5Erik
I just looked up his review of The Shawshank Redemption in his movie guide, and it's hardly a horrible review - he gave it 2 1/2 stars out of 4. He said he thought it was well crafted, but overlong, and he thought it was predictable (which for some people it may be).
So the idea that he "hated" The Shawshank Redemption, or that he thought it was "horrible" is incorrect.
So the idea that he "hated" The Shawshank Redemption, or that he thought it was "horrible" is incorrect.
12-04-05 | 09:49 AM
#46
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Originally Posted by robsul82
It's not just the review. As Shawshank has grown in the past decade, he's been interviewed and asked about his middling original review. It's been there that he's called it "horrible" and "atrocious," to use two of his own words. Think he called it "dreadful" once too.
12-04-05 | 12:14 PM
#47
DVD Talk Godfather
Using the LotR as reference for bad/good DVDs is extremely bad. For those of you that did not get both versions, you won't have the theatrical cut with different footage, nor do you have the other extras.