Get A Clue! Revisited. Let's see, it's been six month since I wrote my "Get A Clue!" editorial, so I think it time to revisit this subject. Not only to add more notions of who should get a clue, but to see who's actually discovered their magical clues.
Warner Brothers:
Hmm, where do I begin with my favorite and most predictable company?
I start with the good first:1. I'll give them credit, it seem that for now, the $14.98 "crap-o-rama" line may have died.
2. In place of this line it currently seems that they are re-issuing most of their back catalog title for the bargain price of $19.98. This is a nice gesture, but I trust this company as much as the next Batman sequel's chance of being a good film.
Now onto the bad:1. A plea from a new Babylon 5 fan, please finish this series on LD! (This also goes out to Image Entertainment) Everyone collecting this series on laser is halfway done, so don't screw us by stopping, and changing formats on the fly.
2. Kill DVD-Rom content. While it's makes sense for screenplay content (which should be accessible via a regular player), what the hell is up with trailers only available via DVD-Rom?
3. Gee, guess who's going to lead the charge towards rental pricing now that DIVX is dead? Wrong, not a DIVX supported but good old, customer friendly Warner. Personally I'm shocked ;-)Paramount:
Let's where do I go with Paramount? Oh yeah, where's Beverly Hills Cop, damnit? My standing request for Shogun also still stands, although an LD is no longer an option. There needs to be more than two plants pressing the disc...
Buena Vista:
Disney, Disney, Disney. When will the consumer realize you look upon DVD as a replacement for LD, without the extra contract. Personally, I fairly pleased with Disney (Halloween: H20, is questionable). Yes, you read that right. Let's see how far they've come since the April editorial.
1. While not consistent, they are beginning to support Anamorphic widescreen.
2. Disney animation has arrived, all be it at questionable price ($39.99), but none the less, it's here.
3. The elaborate SE's you have done on LD seem to be coming back to DVD. Which helps quell my one great fear about DVD. Tarzan and A Bug's Life $49.99? Bring 'em on, I know what I'm paying for!
4. Since an LD of Black Cauldron is toast, why not a widescreen DVD?Col/Tri:
No gripes, except for one title. What the hell's up with the Dark Crystal drop shipment to everyone but the wholesale distributors? Stupid.
Universal:
The statement from April stands. Go back and re-issue all the titles you've screwed up. Liar Liar is a start, Timecop and Sudden Death were 2:35 widescreen for crying out loud. Why haven't you recalled The Hard Way yet? An audio sync error is a defect, and it should have been corrected by now.
DTS:
This used to have Steven Speilberg listed side by side, but now that he's finally released a major title, I'll cut him some slack. I will also confess that I now own a DTS receiver, since I took full advantage of the DTS LD blow out sale, but I still haven't bought a DTS DVD. (Hell, I only own 13 DTS titles as it stands...) Saving Private Ryan was your shot, but the "replicators*" screwed this sale for you.
*See previous excuse of lack of studio support, distributor faults, et all. Remember, it's not DTS' fault ;-)DTS, come clean with the consumers you've suckered. Admit your mistakes, again, and get out of the home video market. That, or you could prove all of you detractors wrong, by actually getting more than 2 (revised goal, previously 6) titles out in a month.
Final notes:
About the new variable bit rate: The lower bit rate won't affect sound quality? Wasn't that one of the primary advantages of DTS?
Validity of DD 5.1 mixes: David Del Grosso, I saw in a recent interview somewhere on the web (sorry, I'll find the link) that you pointed out most of the DD 5.1 mixes were nothing but re-mixes of previously pro-logic surround tracks. DUH! Just how stupid do you thing the consumer is?Fox Home Video:
I don't know where to go with this company. I'll keep it simple, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace on some optical disc format. Also see Lucas/Lucasfilm.
Lucasfilm/Lucas:
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace... mediocre sequel, but at least release it on some optical disc format (Also see Fox). Thanks for at least announcing the Indy Trilogy re-issue on LD, but why cancel it, I'm 99% certain it had enough pre-orders? BTW, when you finally announce this trilogy for DVD, don't forget the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.
Dreamworks/Speilberg:
Keep up the good work, at least at Dreamworks, you're product always seems to be some of the best released. Although, I personally found Prince of Egypt highly over-rated. Not the supplement, just the film. Please stick a fork in the DTS issue, no one can stop laughing.
DVD-Rom:
DIE, DIE, DIE.
Consumers:
Ok, maybe there is a big conspiracy to keep Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park and the like out of your hands, but be patient, they will be released. True, some may not show up until 2005, but what are you going to do when they show up? Not buy them in protest? Yeah, right. Let's see how many people don't buy the Disney animation. Oh, by the way, as if you didn't know already, the low initial prices of DVD were to get you into the format, you were scamed.
Well, as you can see, some of the studios have come a long way, while a few have taken some major steps backwards. How many changes will be made to this editorial six months from now? Only time will tell, but I've got a sneaking suspicion that rental pricing will be one of the main issues. Until next time... (next month?)
Dan Linzmeier, FIT Production
Fitprod@aol.com
Home
Editorials
Copyright 1999-2000, FIT Productions