Giles

Since Pixar and Dolby first introduced 7.1 sound to theater exhibition/presentation, two other studios followed suit, Dreamworks and Fox. Recently though it's been revealed that Fox has encoded the bluray's of 'Gulliver's Travel' and 'Voyage of the Dawn Treader' not in 7.1 sound (as they both had been released to theaters as such) but 5.1. It really surprises me that with the trend of releasing 7.1 on bluray Fox does this - is it me or does this seem totally boneheaded on Fox's part?

RocShemp

Has anyone pllayed the actual discs and knows for a fact they're 5.1 only? Or were they merely announced as 5.1 in the press materials? If the latter, that could simply be an error.

Spottedfeather

Maybe because not everyone has a 7.1 system.

whotony

Not totally boneheaded move by Fox, It's not that big a deal really.

Giles

and not everyone has 3D tvs - but that doesn't stop the studios in releasing 3D blurays to the market. Their are other studios than the one's I've listed who have released 7.1 blurays so yes, while it's a niche market, 7.1 can downfold to 5.1 systems - to completely ignore and not release these films with their original 7.1 soundmixes seems counterintuitive and foolish.

islandclaws

I'm outraged these modern classics weren't given the rich treatment they so rightfully deserve.

Giles

^ you missed the sarcasm smiley there Killer ...

Mr. Cinema

I just got a 7.1 system, so I'm looking forward to more 7.1 releases. But I have no interest in either of these titles. However, it also doesn't make sense that Fox would skip on these two, especially since they had true 7.1 mixes. LionsGate would have probably given us 7.1.

Giles

all in all though it sounds like Fox is totally shafting 'Voyage of the Dawn Treader' - someone over at Blu-ray.com notes that the aspect ratio has also been changed from it's 2.35 AR to 1.78, so not only do we have an altered screen image, no 7.1 sound or even released in 3D (someone over at Fox decided 'Gulliver's was worthy - but not 'Dawn Treader') - to represent what folks saw and heard in a 7.1 3D digital projection theater, isn't blu-ray worthy. That's downright sad and unfortunate. If Disney had released this, they wouldn't have given this shit treatmenet that Fox is doing to the third Narnia movie - 'Mars Needs Moms' may have been a bona-fide bomb for Disney, but you know that the bluray will be released in 3D and have the true 7.1 soundmix

Gizmo

3D Discs come with a higher MSRP.

7.1 Discs don.t

So that's one reason.

But mainly, the fact is that these were 3D Discs so they might not have been able to squeeze a 2D/3D and 7.1 audio on the same disc. Or, they know people with 5.1 systems is low and people with 7.1 is even lower.

Gizmo

Narnia 3 is apparently getting a retail-only exclusive 3D release. At least that's what I currently heard....still waiting for confirmation since these things can switch pretty quickly.

Matthew Chmiel

A 3D-edition of Toy Story 3 doesn't exist. Both two-disc and four-disc sets include the 7.1 mix.

Both the two-disc and three-disc sets of Step Up 3D include its 7.1 mix.

Just saying.

Giles

while I'm digressing (ever so slight) and specifically addressing the changed aspect ratio on 'Voyage of Dawn Treader' a member of bluray.com notes that on the commentary track, director Apted notes that he has approved the 1.78 new framing of the film.

getting back to the dropping of the 7.1 audio mixes, I find it bewildering that considering Fox has released three of their own movies:
- Rocky Horror Picture Show
- The Sound of Music
- Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaur

and MGM's films:
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
- Fiddler on the Roof
- Dances with Wolves

all with 7.1 sound, to NOT do the same with 'Dawn Treader' and 'Gullivers Travels', is just outright confusing and rude of them.

Matthew Chmiel

Well, the 7.1 audio mix of Rocky Horror has some flaws.

Giles

at least Fox put it onto the bluray in the first place, here though Fox acts like it's an afterthought - "oh well, 7.1 for our new titles, phhht, who needs them?"

mzupeman2

Just wanted to clarify that although the aspect ratio of that title may seem like you're getting shafted, it was, in fact, the director's choice to have it presented this way at home.

RocShemp

Isn't always a good choice, even if the director's. Was the DP consulted? Because it'd screw with his shot compositions if the director arbitrarily changed it.

Kory

Wait, so "Dawn Treader" went from 2.35 to 1.78? Was it cropped on the sides, or opened up on the top and bottom? If was opened up, I'm cool with that, but if it was cropped, that's terrible.

Giles

it's opened top and bottom, although from what I've read from folks over at bluray.com some special effect shots reveal flaws.

Giles

STRIKE THREE!! Fox does it again, this time for the upcoming release of Rio - the bluray's spec just state DTS HD MA 5.1 - ugh.... Fox just disgust me.