Anchor Bay/Starz goes Blu-Ray
06-19-07, 02:12 PM
#1
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Anchor Bay/Starz goes Blu-Ray
Starz to go Blu
http://www.homemediaretailing.com/ne...ticle_ID=10786
http://www.homemediaretailing.com/ne...ticle_ID=10786
New Blu-ray Disc announcements from MGM at the Sixth Annual Home Entertainment Summit: DVD & Beyond in Century City, Calif., didn’t come as a huge surprise.
A new participant in the high-definition format war was unexpected, however.
Starz Home Entertainment President Bill Clark announced during an executive session with MGM VP of Marketing Julia Simmons that his company will release the first season of the company’s “Masters of Horror” collection on Blu-ray in the fourth quarter of this year. Other Starz catalogue titles also are in line for a Blu-ray release. The news came the same day that Blockbuster announced that Blu-ray would be the only high-definition disc available in some of its stores.
“If Blu-ray wins [the format war against HD DVD], all catalogue would go [Blu-ray], we’d hope,” Clark said.
MGM’s Simmons said another 10 to 12 titles are set for Blu-ray release within the next year, including The Sergio Leone Anthology (A Fistful of Dollars/For a Few Dollars More/The Good, The Bad and The Ugly/Duck, You Sucker).
A new participant in the high-definition format war was unexpected, however.
Starz Home Entertainment President Bill Clark announced during an executive session with MGM VP of Marketing Julia Simmons that his company will release the first season of the company’s “Masters of Horror” collection on Blu-ray in the fourth quarter of this year. Other Starz catalogue titles also are in line for a Blu-ray release. The news came the same day that Blockbuster announced that Blu-ray would be the only high-definition disc available in some of its stores.
“If Blu-ray wins [the format war against HD DVD], all catalogue would go [Blu-ray], we’d hope,” Clark said.
MGM’s Simmons said another 10 to 12 titles are set for Blu-ray release within the next year, including The Sergio Leone Anthology (A Fistful of Dollars/For a Few Dollars More/The Good, The Bad and The Ugly/Duck, You Sucker).
06-19-07, 02:46 PM
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As an HD-DVD player owner with a bunch (40+) of Anchor Bay DVDs, ouch... that hurts.
Then again, I read that Weinstein now has the rights to Suspiria, and may be releasing that on HD-DVD... that's by far my most desired Anchor Bay title.
Then again, I read that Weinstein now has the rights to Suspiria, and may be releasing that on HD-DVD... that's by far my most desired Anchor Bay title.
06-19-07, 06:13 PM
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I have a bunch of AB discs that I'd love to upgrade, but I'm not sure how many of those that Starz/AB still has the licences to (I think most of the Argento and Fulci stuff is gone, right?). How about the Romero films?
06-19-07, 10:42 PM
#11
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Originally Posted by gorgo99
As an HD-DVD player owner with a bunch (40+) of Anchor Bay DVDs, ouch... that hurts
I wonder how much of their Horror catalog they'll decide to go HD with.
06-20-07, 01:29 AM
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Originally Posted by Drexl
I'll take Time Bandits and The Stunt Man, please.
Why is it that some people think that getting these older titles on 'HiDef' discs will result in some sort of 'breathtaking' remastered picture ?? (its not going to happen !!)
06-20-07, 04:44 AM
#13
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Actually, that's a common fallacy that has been proven untrue time and again. Older films can and often do look fantastic in HD. Take a look at Casablanca, The Adventures of Robin Hood, and The Searchers for some examples. Or, heck, even take a look at The Road Warrior. Film has more resolution than HD, so in theory any film can benefit greatly from an HD transfer.
06-20-07, 05:38 AM
#14
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Originally Posted by Suprmallet
Actually, that's a common fallacy that has been proven untrue time and again. Older films can and often do look fantastic in HD. Take a look at Casablanca, The Adventures of Robin Hood, and The Searchers for some examples. Or, heck, even take a look at The Road Warrior. Film has more resolution than HD, so in theory any film can benefit greatly from an HD transfer.
06-20-07, 08:59 AM
#17
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I'm not blu yet - just HD DVD. While this is on one level a disappointment, looking at all those old favourites, I was thinking about how many times Anchor Bay had trotted out endless versions of Evil Dead, etc. How many times can you buy the bloody things? Also, how much better are some of these films going to look in HD?
Maybe by the time blu-ray offers a $250 or less player I might be interested in certain old favourites like "Dawn of the Dead," but UPGRADING "Masters of Horror"? Hell, no! Most of them weren't worth buying in the first place, to be honest.
Maybe by the time blu-ray offers a $250 or less player I might be interested in certain old favourites like "Dawn of the Dead," but UPGRADING "Masters of Horror"? Hell, no! Most of them weren't worth buying in the first place, to be honest.
06-20-07, 11:34 AM
#19
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Originally Posted by Suprmallet
They haven't done any HD releases yet. We don't know how they'll look.
06-20-07, 01:18 PM
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Well for those of you looking for those MGM titles I think you're out of luck. The article has been edited and the last paragraph has been taken down.
"UPDATE: (06/19/07) We've received word directly from MGM late this afternoon that the Home Media Retailing article referenced in this story was erroneous, and that the studio has not announced any new Blu-ray titles for this year. Home Media Retailing has also since removed the text pertaining to the MGM titles from their original story.
We'll keep you posted on any further developments in this story as it progresses, as well as any future Blu-ray announcements from MGM when they are officially confirmed."
"UPDATE: (06/19/07) We've received word directly from MGM late this afternoon that the Home Media Retailing article referenced in this story was erroneous, and that the studio has not announced any new Blu-ray titles for this year. Home Media Retailing has also since removed the text pertaining to the MGM titles from their original story.
We'll keep you posted on any further developments in this story as it progresses, as well as any future Blu-ray announcements from MGM when they are officially confirmed."
06-20-07, 03:31 PM
#21
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Originally Posted by dkny75
Well for those of you looking for those MGM titles I think you're out of luck. The article has been edited and the last paragraph has been taken down.
06-20-07, 05:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Suprmallet
Actually, that's a common fallacy that has been proven untrue time and again. Older films can and often do look fantastic in HD. Take a look at Casablanca, The Adventures of Robin Hood, and The Searchers for some examples. Or, heck, even take a look at The Road Warrior. Film has more resolution than HD, so in theory any film can benefit greatly from an HD transfer.
06-20-07, 06:11 PM
#23
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Dune got an excellent high def remaster from Universal. Adam was pleasantly surprised by the image on Trading Places from Paramount. Casno from Universal looked amazing, etc. etc. It's not just Warner.
06-20-07, 06:34 PM
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I support both formats but I've always enjoyed HD-DVD better for different reasons so I'd rather have Anchorbay join HD-DVD but something is better than nothing I guess. I can't wait to have Halloween and Dawn of the Dead (1978) in high definition!
06-20-07, 07:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Suprmallet
Dune got an excellent high def remaster from Universal. Adam was pleasantly surprised by the image on Trading Places from Paramount. Casno from Universal looked amazing, etc. etc. It's not just Warner.