This is topic Blu-Ray Double feature & twofer in forum The Afterlife at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.


To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=12;t=000836
Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 02-18-2010, 08:50 PM:
 
I was at a Walmart store in Honolulu the other day and they had a whole bunch of Blu-Ray twofers consisting of two movies at the special price of $19.95 Although there were at least ten or more pairs of discs, the one I remember is the pairing of THE ROBE and THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. When it was first released I paid about $34.95 for THE ROBE at Borders because neither Best Buy or Target was carrying it and they were with only ones with two copies in stock. It was the same with the BD of SOUTH PACIFIC and Costco now has tons of them for sale at less than fifteen dollars. Warner Brothers will be releasing Double Feature Blu-Ray movie packages. It is not known at this time if the movies will be on two separate discs or on a single . One of the first double feature set will be GRUMPY OLD MEN and GRUMPIER OLD MEN. GRUNMPY OLD MAN by itself was already released and I have it. I also want GRUMPIER OLD MEN and I guess the only way to get it is to buy the double feature set. When it comes to double dipping, this is too much [Frown]

-Claude
 
Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 02-18-2010, 09:47 PM:
 
This trend in pricing is nothing new; we saw it when the DVD format grew from high end niche status into a mainstream product.

Only a year ago I could recall stores selling the Blu-ray box set of Close Encounters of the Third Kind in the $30 to $40 price range. That same Blu-ray package can now be purchased at Wal-Mart for just $15. It's like this for so many other titles.

I Robot, while not a great movie, has been considered "reference quality" for image/sound on Blu-ray. 2 years ago most retailers selling Blu-ray wanted $30 or more for it. Now you can buy it for $10 at Wal-Mart (and perhaps less than that at Amazon).
 
Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 02-18-2010, 11:00 PM:
 
I've been waiting for the original "Airport" to come out on DVD. Currently the only way to get it is in a cheesy package with the original + all the inferior sequels. I'd rather pay the regular price for the original by itself with some cool making-of footage or a commentary.

I realize this probably won't happen in my lifetime, since most of the people in the movie are dead or retired and thus nobody gives a crap about it much anymore, I guess. But it's a better movie than 99% of the disaster-fests they make now (Even Dean Martin manages to be decent in it).
 
Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 02-19-2010, 03:42 AM:
 
Mike,

I have the DVD set with the original AIRPORT and all of the terrible sequels. I watched the original movie about two months ago and the picture and sound quality was pretty good. If you can find the set, it is worth having just for the original. I think the only extra feature that came with AIRPORT was the theatrical trailer. Helen Hayes won a academy award for her performance in this film. The movie also features a modern musical score by one of my favorite film composer, Alfred Newman. I think AIRPORT was one of the last scores he had composed before he passed away.

-Claude
 
Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 02-19-2010, 03:45 AM:
 
Airport is available separately in the US on DVD, but it's pan&scan. There is a German DVD available too, and it is anamorphic.

I'm hoping it will not be too long a wait for a Blu-ray release.

And for Claude, yes Airport was indeed Newman's last score. As I recall he died the night after finishing the recording sessions.
 
Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 02-19-2010, 12:05 PM:
 
Paul,

The American version I have in the set is also anamorphic. It is in the original Todd AO 70mm 2.20:1 ratio and in stereo. If you can find it, it is available in a bargain basement price and like I said earlier is worth having

-Claude
 
Posted by Michael Coate (Member # 757) on 02-19-2010, 02:44 PM:
 
quote: Mike Blakesley
I've been waiting for the original "Airport" to come out on DVD. Currently the only way to get it is in a cheesy package with the original + all the inferior sequels.
quote: Paul Mayer
Airport is available separately in the US on DVD, but it's pan&scan.
While it is possible it is currently out of print, in 2001 Good Times Entertainment did issue a stand-alone Region 1 DVD of "Airport." It retailed for only $9.99 and featured a 16x9 enhanced transfer and 2.0 stereo audio. Its catalog number is 05-81138.
 
Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 02-19-2010, 03:37 PM:
 
Considering how big a hit Airport was in the 1969-1970 time frame, the movie obviously seems worthy of some sort of high res scan and clean-up procedure for release on Blu-ray. It was one of the last big American feature films shot in Todd-AO 70mm. The image quality might look pretty good.

I wonder if the post-911 environment is muting any sort of enthusiasm about marketing a classic disaster movie like Airport. Movie studios are getting pretty squeamish these days. Remember mid 1995 when Die Hard With a Vengeance was fixing to be released and then the Murrah building in Oklahoma City was bombed? Some were calling for Fox to delay the movie's release or tone down some of the bombing stuff in the show.
 
Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 02-19-2010, 04:19 PM:
 
Mike,

Come to think of it, I did have that Goodtimes 16X9 enhanced DVD of the original AIRPORT but the quality was no way as good as the one that was released with the AIRPORT Franchise Collection by Universal Home Video about two years ago.

-Claude
 
Posted by Ron Funderburg (Member # 4561) on 02-20-2010, 03:25 PM:
 
I have the terminal pack of the Airport series and I anxiously await the Blu-Ray of Airport. The sequels had less quality in a progressive manner. 75 wasn't bad not as good as Airport but after that what the heck were they thinking.

The formats are 2:35 on the terminal pack so I am hoping that they do the ToddAO in the original format.

OH man to see that on a gaint screen again.
 
Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 02-20-2010, 08:33 PM:
 
"Airport" would be a good film to remake. It would tap into people's fears way better than the improbable thrill-fests we get nowadays. Cloris Leachman could take the Helen Hayes role.
 
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 02-20-2010, 09:39 PM:
 
Give it to McG or Paul Greengrass and watch what happens. hahaha
 
Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 02-20-2010, 09:45 PM:
 
"Airport" looked great on the screen since it was an IB print..
 
Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 02-20-2010, 10:56 PM:
 
For some reason, AIRPORT did not play at any of our Waikiki Theatres It went to the Varsity and that is where I saw it in 35mm mono .The theatre was a 70mm equipped house but Consolidated Theatres never treated the movie as something special that is why it went to the Varsity instead of Waikiki where only big pictures played. Because it was so long ago, I do not remember too much about the print quality but only that I saw it at the Varsity.

-Claude
 
Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 02-21-2010, 12:32 AM:
 
IIRC, in 'Vegas it only played in 35mm mono at the Bonanza. Would have loved to see it in 70mm at the Fox or the Cinerama dome (Parkway hadn't been built yet in 1970).

I got to run it in anamorphic 16mm a couple of years later in high school.

A Blu-ray release would be nice!
 
Posted by Ron Funderburg (Member # 4561) on 02-21-2010, 09:42 AM:
 
I saw Airport the first time at the Cooper in Colorado Springs. I think it was opening weekend but not positive. I was visiting my sister and brother-in-law at the time and they treated me to the film. It was 70mm and the sound was freaking awesome for the day. In fact other than the lack of sub-woofer it was way better than today's sound. Just cant beat mag sound.

As a remake it would have to be thought how to get the bomb on the plan and still have it a nut job not a terrorist, though I guess if you want to make not Author Haley's "Airport". Haley's book went in to great detail on how airports and airlines operate far more detail than they could put in the movie. An air-traffic controller that caused a mid-air collision the year before, just back from his nervous break down guiding them in is just one of the abandon story lines.

It is quite specific to the late 60's and early 70's and think with all the changes since then it is remake that would need the same attention to detail the book and first film had. No, in my opinion it should not be remade, not at all it is as close as you can get to a perfect film for the time it was made. If remade it will be f'd up in a major way. No need to remake as there is no need for a remake of Casablanca, The Searchers or Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. Oh wait they remade Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. I rest my case with that one.
 
Posted by Jim Perry (Member # 4619) on 02-21-2010, 02:57 PM:
 
To Paul Mayer from a fellow Las Vegan (and a native one as well):
For the record, the Parkway theatre opened on Wednesday, February 11, 1970 (with "Hello Dolly").
As you pointed out, the "Airport" first-run engagement was at the Bonanza Movie Palace on the Strip - however, the opening date for that was on Friday, June 12, 1970 & it played nearly 17 weeks (until Tuesday, October 6, 1970).
And after that engagement, the film DID eventually play at both the Fox (Charleston) & L.V. Cinerama theatres (sub-runs, also in 35mm) - not sure of the dates, but the Fox doubled it with "The Andromeda Strain", and the Cinerama with "Red Sky At Morning".

Cheers,
Jim Perry
 
Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 02-21-2010, 04:12 PM:
 
Hi Jim,

Thanks for the opening date for the Parkway - I stand corrected.

Still would like to see Airport in 70mm some day. [Smile] Maybe the American Cinematheque will do a retrospective at the Egyptian or the Aero someday. In the mean time a properly done Blu-ray release would hold me over nicely. The novel and the movie both fed my childhood dreams of becoming an airline pilot.
 
Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 02-21-2010, 05:14 PM:
 
I hope I am wrong but I doubt AIRPORT will ever see the light of day on Blu-ray. I say this because Universal has never treated this film with the respect that it deserves. When it was finally released on DVd, Universal Home Video had licensed it out to Good Time Entertainment instead of releasing it themselves. When they finally released it on their own, they tacked it on with it's very dreadful sequels as part of it's 'Franchise Collection".

I wish Universal was like Fox when they released their classic disaster film THE TOWERING INFERNO on Blu-Ray. I have the disc and I am very happy with it

-Claude
 
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 03-04-2010, 03:26 PM:
 
Warner also released on Blu-ray Double Feature disc of "Funny Farm" and "Spies Like Us". It is one of those Best Buy exclusive type releases. Both films are now 16x9 1.85 ratio. The audio is labeled DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0.

The last time I saw "Airport" in a theatre was a after hours late show we did in the Mann's Chinese Theatre in the main house in the late 80's. It looked great on that giant screen in IB and 4-Track Stereo. We used a few of the large houses along Hollywood Blvd. for these shows. Those where the days.
 
Posted by Victor Liorentas (Member # 5272) on 03-04-2010, 04:51 PM:
 
I agree that Universal gives little respect to certain titles like Clint Eastwoods The Eiger Sanction!
The dvd is barely watchable but i do have a mint 16mm scope print!
It is fading but still has a lot of color left and is much better than the dvd.
I think all studios have lapses in judgment regarding older titles like Paramount telling Coppola no to restoring The Godfather until Spielberg intervened!?
 
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 03-04-2010, 05:38 PM:
 
Is that Eiger Sanction version the single disc widescreen edition?
Universal did release a newer version in the "Clint Eastwood: American Icon Collection".
That collection includes: The Eiger Sanction is 16 x 9 widescreen.
 
Posted by Victor Liorentas (Member # 5272) on 03-04-2010, 07:08 PM:
 
The Eiger Sanction i have is non anamorphic letterboxed [puke]
I would want the newer dvd except i only buy Blu-rays now.
How does this newer Eiger look?
 
Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 03-04-2010, 09:28 PM:
 
Victor,

I am like you. I prefer Blu-Ray. However, when a movie is not available in that format and likely will never be, we just have to be happy with the DVD. With most Blu-Ray player's ability to up convert DVD's , I have found the result is awesome, especially titles from Universal Home Video. In recent months, I have watched all of the TREMORS movies, Michael J Fox, John Candy and Arnold Schwarzennegger comedies as well as the original AIRPORT and the picture quality made me feel I was watching a Blu-Ray disc. The picture was that good! PLAY MISTY FOR ME is one of my favorite Clint Eastwood movie so I got to get that set.

Bill, are all the movies in the Clint Eastwood American Icon Collection enhanced for 16X9 or only THE EIGER SANCTION? I would think they all are because that is the way they are with all of the Universal movie collections I have on DVD.

-Claude
 
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 03-05-2010, 10:55 AM:
 
Victor, the picture looks much better on the new edition of "Eiger Sanction". There is nothing else new other than a new remastered picture.

Claude all 4 films are 16x9 widescreen editions. It's a three disc set. "Play Misty","Eiger" are single disc and "Coogan" and "Beguiled" are doubled up on the third disc.

The MCA dvd of "Airport" restores the Produced in Todd-AO screen credit and is in 5.1 sound. The later Goodtime release offered stereo and a letterbox presentation. Their master lacked the Todd-AO screen credit.
 
Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 03-09-2010, 09:24 PM:
 
Bill,

I picked up a copy of CLINT EASTWOOD-AMERICAN ICON COLLECTION today from Best Buy along with the Blu-Ray of HACHI-A DOG'S TALE and I am very eager to watch them. The back cover of the Clint Eastwood collection says the films has all been digitally remastered and THE EIGER SANCTION is in 2.35:1 aspect ratio and the three others are in 1.85:1 and enhanced for 16X9 widescreen. . I had PLAY MISTY FOR ME in my Blockbuster queue for over a year now and the status of it's availability has been 'Coming Soon'. It finally came but not from them [Frown]

-Claude
 
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 03-10-2010, 03:22 PM:
 
Claude

Universal has been doing remasters on some of their catalog titles in the last year or so. The group them together in a set like the Eastwood Icon set. Universal did it on the Clint Eastwood Western Icon Collection: "High Plains Drifter","Joe Kidd" & "Two Mules for Sister Sara" . "High Plains Drifter" was the new 16x9 remaster.

Netflix has been doing something interesting here with afew Warner New release titles. They have delayed the rental release dates on some by 2-3 weeks.
Other than "The Blind Side" everthing is in the stores to buy.
Don't forget that Warner has "Kelly Heroes" and "Where Eagles Dare" coming June 1st. as a Double feature release in Blu-ray. [thumbsup]
 
Posted by Geena Phillips (Member # 3726) on 03-14-2010, 11:52 AM:
 
Bill, the delay on Warner Bros. titles is part of a deal Netflix announced a couple months ago. Certain new releases are going to be delayed thirty days (I myself am waiting for Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths).
 
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 03-14-2010, 12:10 PM:
 
Thanks Geena
 
Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 03-15-2010, 04:28 PM:
 
Bill - I already have my "Kelly's Heroes/Where Eagles Dare" blu-ray twofer preordered. Also Eastwood's "The Rookie" for the same day.

Geena - Is that delay only for Netflix? Would seem strange that all rental stores get it and they don't. I think that's called "Restraint of Trade".

I still think there is eventually going to be a new pricing schedule with major new releases being premium-priced for the first 60-to-90 days. This will soak some extra bucks out of Netflix.
 
Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 03-16-2010, 05:10 AM:
 
Bill,

I finally had a chance to watch the first movie in the Clint Eastwood American Icon Collection on DVD last night and it was PLAY MISTY FOR ME. I first saw this movie at the Waikiki #2 in 1971 when the movie was released and the thing that stuck in my mind the most beside the exciting story about a psychopathic female radio fan who had the 'hots' for the Clint Eastwood character was the song THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE sung b Roberta Flack. It was played in it's entirety in the movie as the very young CLint Eastwood and Donna Mills are seen in a romantic scene on the beach and forrest at Carmel California where the movie takes place. Universal did a very marvelous job digitally restoring this movie on DVD and at times I felt like I was watching it on Blu Ray because it was that good.

-Claude
 




Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM 6.3.1.2