From Thedigitalbits.com


We've gotten another update from our studio and industry sources on great titles that are in the planning or production stages (or both) for release on Blu-ray Disc in 2009. You can reasonably expect to see most of the Star Trek feature films on the format, as well as Chinatown, Deep Impact, The Ten Commandments, Sunset Boulevard, Apocalypse Now, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Saturday Night Fever, Flashdance and The Elephant Man. According to our sources, there's also an outside chance that you MIGHT see Titanic on Blu-ray before the end of 2009. Keep your fingers crossed.

I've also learned, directly from Paramount while visiting the studio with our friends at The Home Theater Forum last week, that the studios is FINALLY working on new HD transfers of Wings (1927) and The African Queen, hopefully for release in 2009 on both DVD and Blu-ray.

As always, keep in mind that these titles ARE unofficial and are subject to change until they're actually officially announced by the studios in press releases and retail solicitations.

Yay if we see 'The African Queen', 'Chinatown', 'Sunset Blvd.' & 'Apocalypse Now'. Great classic titles!

From Thedigitalbits.com


We've gotten another update from our studio and industry sources on great titles that are in the planning or production stages (or both) for release on Blu-ray Disc in 2009. You can reasonably expect to see most of the Star Trek feature films on the format, as well as Chinatown, Deep Impact, The Ten Commandments, Sunset Boulevard, Apocalypse Now, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Saturday Night Fever, Flashdance and The Elephant Man. According to our sources, there's also an outside chance that you MIGHT see Titanic on Blu-ray before the end of 2009. Keep your fingers crossed.

I've also learned, directly from Paramount while visiting the studio with our friends at The Home Theater Forum last week, that the studios is FINALLY working on new HD transfers of Wings (1927) and The African Queen, hopefully for release in 2009 on both DVD and Blu-ray.

As always, keep in mind that these titles ARE unofficial and are subject to change until they're actually officially announced by the studios in press releases and retail solicitations.

African Queen !!!! I just need a smiley face with hearts floating out now!

Wow, The Elephant Man, fantastic news! The DVD version is actually out of print, so I've been wondering if they were working on a new special edition - a special blu-ray edition is more than I'd hoped for!

Nice, Star Trek films at long last. Now if they'd just do up TOS on BD like they did on HD DVD all would be right with the world.

Hopefully, the Apocalypse Now blu-ray will include both versions, perhaps either via branching or just two discs. I'm really looking forward to simply *hearing* the soundtrack in lossless surround.

T.B.

I just hope they present Apocalypse Now at 2.35:1, as Storaro's argument that NTSC doesn't have the resolution to properly render enough detail at the scope ratio REALLY doesn't carry over to HD.

I just hope they present Apocalypse Now at 2.35:1, as Storaro's argument that NTSC doesn't have the resolution to properly render enough detail at the scope ratio REALLY doesn't carry over to HD.

noob response: huh? Is it not 1.85? The latest DVD release is beautiful.

Titanic with a 6.1 DTS-MA track would be awesome.

noob response: huh? Is it not 1.85? The latest DVD release is beautiful.

Apocalypse Now was shot with anamorphic lenses for 2.35:1 theatrical ratio. For the DVD transfers, Coppola deferred to his cinematographer, and Storaro decided it should be cropped to 2:1 to retain more resolution. This shouldn't be an issue with HD.

What troubles me is that Storaro seems to have become obsessed as of late with the 2:1 aspect ratio. He's written essays extolling its virtues, has developed a system for shooting films natively at 2:1, and seems to enjoy retroactively cropping his films as a means to promote it.

I just hope they present Apocalypse Now at 2.35:1, as Storaro's argument that NTSC doesn't have the resolution to properly render enough detail at the scope ratio REALLY doesn't carry over to HD.
Agreed. If it's the same silly 2.00:1 AR version as the DVD I won't be buying.

Looking forward to Chinatown, and will probably get Sunset Boulevard as well.

Hopefully Titanic gets released and Deep impact will be a buy for me.

Apocalypse Now....hell yes.

Apocalypse Now was shot with anamorphic lenses for 2.35:1 theatrical ratio. For the DVD transfers, Coppola deferred to his cinematographer, and Storaro decided it should be cropped to 2:1 to retain more resolution. This shouldn't be an issue with HD.

I'm not defending the practice of cropping nor in favor of it... but it would in fact still be true for Blu ray.

Why, you ask?

Because the 1920x1080 resolution applies to 16x9 ratio... a 2.35:1 ratio movie ends up being roughly 1920x817 or somewhere thereabouts... which means a couple hundred pixels of vertical resolution on the display go unused.

The zoom/crop results in greater detail preserved, but of course information completely lost off the sides.

Again, I prefer original aspect and wouldn't want a crop job either... BUT if the argument of the "decider" was he didn't want to lose that resolution, then it would still be true with a Blu ray release just like it was for a DVD release since as yet I have not heard of any form of anamorphic Blu ray techniques.

I really hope paramount restores the Star Trek films properly. I caught TWOK on one of the HD movie channels the other day and that master didn't look to be in such great shape, it was barely better than the DVD upconverted. They are some of the few films that I will replace my DVD versions for.

I really hope paramount restores the Star Trek films properly. I caught TWOK on one of the HD movie channels the other day and that master didn't look to be in such great shape, it was barely better than the DVD upconverted. They are some of the few films that I will replace my DVD versions for.

+1

If not, I'll wait for an eventual special edition remaster. Also need to have special features the first time around this time... not buying for movie only (though I know many people don't care about this).

Star Trek TMP and TWOK better be the original theatrical versions, or there will be no buy from me.

Hopefully, the Apocalypse Now blu-ray will include both versions, perhaps either via branching or just two discs. I'm really looking forward to simply *hearing* the soundtrack in lossless surround.

T.B.

I love to see the fabled, 5 Plus Hour BETA MAX edit, on there.

Next to Once Upon A Time in the West, there's no finer movie distributed by Paramount than Chinatown. Apocalypse Now will be greatly appreciated, as I have yet to own what I consider to be a visually acceptable version devoid of horrendous compression artifacts.

Star Trek TMP and TWOK better be the original theatrical versions, or there will be no buy from me.

The director Robert Wise didn't have enough time to complete Star Trek - The Motion Picture in 1979 and the sound mix was also not completed properly so they redid that for the last special edition DVD with Wise's involvement....Thats the version i want.

The director Robert Wise didn't have enough time to complete Star Trek - The Motion Picture in 1979 and the sound mix was also not completed properly so they redid that for the last special edition DVD with Wise's involvement....Thats the version i want.

Exactly. Robert Wise said on many occasions that his Director's Edition is the theatrical version that he would have released originally if he had had the time. Its also a much better film, more well paced and with some really nice character moments. Likewise, I'm pretty sure Nicholas Meyer was consulted and involved in reinstating those few scenes (which again are nice character moments that harken back to the old show) into STII:TWOK and wanted them there all along.

I only hope that Paramount cleans up the prints and thinks about redoing some of the special effects, especially on the first few films. I was watching ST:TMP thru my Sony BDP-S350 a few days ago and while the compositions are fine many of the original effects haven't held up all that well; those opening shots of the Klingons approaching the V'Ger cloud looked particularly weak.

I was watching ST:TMP thru my Sony BDP-S350 a few days ago and while the compositions are fine many of the original effects haven't held up all that well; those opening shots of the Klingons approaching the V'Ger cloud looked particularly weak.

Yeah, those shot looks a lot worse than most of the other SFX movies from the same era. The matte lines are horribly thick and nasty and will look even WORSE in HD if they don´t go back and DIGITALLY insert those miniature shots again erasing those lines.
Hopefully the team behind the new FX in ST:TMP get the chance to do the job, since those new FX shots in the Director´s Cut don´t look digitally added at all, but instead looks lite FX done back in 79.
Too bad Lucas didn´t do the same seamless additions in StarWars 4-6 instead of going CGI creature crazy ;)

Again, I prefer original aspect and wouldn't want a crop job either... BUT if the argument of the "decider" was he didn't want to lose that resolution, then it would still be true with a Blu ray release just like it was for a DVD release since as yet I have not heard of any form of anamorphic Blu ray techniques.
That wasn't the issue though. IIRC he specifically said he did not think NTSC had a high enough resolution to support a 2.35:1 presentation (and he said this when the majority of people probably still had 4:3 sets). Since a 2.35:1 image in HD has many times the resolution of a 2.0:1 image in SD, which he apparently was fine with, then it should not be a problem on Blu-ray. Anything else is just hypocrisy and arbitrary revisionism.

You know, I'm trying not to be greedy, but those are THE LEAST amount of "big ticket" titles we should be seeing in the next year from Paramount.

The director Robert Wise didn't have enough time to complete Star Trek - The Motion Picture in 1979 and the sound mix was also not completed properly so they redid that for the last special edition DVD with Wise's involvement....Thats the version i want.

I'm aware of that, I have the DVD. I can't stand it. I grew up watching the theatrical version, first in the theater when I was 4 years old, then repeatedly on HBO, over and over again. I want what I grew up on.

At the very least, give us both.

Hopefully the team behind the new FX in ST:TMP get the chance to do the job, since those new FX shots in the Director´s Cut don´t look digitally added at all, but instead looks lite FX done back in 79.


Not in a bad way either. The new inserted FX in TMP are incredible. They actually follow the original direction and composition of the movie so they blend seamlessly. They weren't all wizz-bang for the heck of it.

You know, I'm trying not to be greedy, but those are THE LEAST amount of "big ticket" titles we should be seeing in the next year from Paramount.

I'm with ya, its not a greedy thought when you keep hearing about '09 being the year the "flood gates open" for Blu Ray. I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I see one title in that Paramount list I'd buy (Apoc Now), otherwise, well, oh well, maybe the other studios working the gates will bring it...

I grew up watching the theatrical version, first in the theater when I was 4 years old, then repeatedly on HBO, over and over again. I want what I grew up on.

At the very least, give us both.

I second that. Funny how the things you're used to sit better with you than any newer versions, however better they may be.

There are actually 3 versions of ST:TMP, as you all know. The Theatrical cut, the expanded (network?) cut and the 2001 director's cut. Give us all three, eh?

Paramount said Vanilla sky was releasing beginning of HDDVD couple years ago, still no word.

You can keep the expanded network cut. I have it on VHS and have no desire to see it again.

They pulled out every single frame of footage and shoved it into that cut. One of the most glaring problems is when kirk is leaving the enterprise to go after spock. The FX shots aren't even finished and you see him suspended in an open set with only a framework of the airlock around him. Not to mention that the style of his spacesuit changes during the scene.

Nice, Star Trek films at long last. Now if they'd just do up TOS on BD like they did on HD DVD all would be right with the world.

That would be nice. I'd love to see some more Star Trek in HD.

Nice to see some Star Trek: The Motion Picture fans; I've always felt that movie (regardless of which version we're talking about) got a bad rap with fans and critics. It is for my money the most cinematic of all the Trek films to date and it had some fantastic production design.

Nice to see some Star Trek: The Motion Picture fans; I've always felt that movie (regardless of which version we're talking about) got a bad rap with fans and critics. It is for my money the most cinematic of all the Trek films to date and it had some fantastic production design.

It's one of my top 5 favorite films of all time. In fact, I just purchased a used laserdisc player so that I can pick up a laserdisc copy of the theatrical cut, ROFL.

You can keep the expanded network cut. I have it on VHS and have no desire to see it again.

They pulled out every single frame of footage and shoved it into that cut. One of the most glaring problems is when kirk is leaving the enterprise to go after spock. The FX shots aren't even finished and you see him suspended in an open set with only a framework of the airlock around him. Not to mention that the style of his spacesuit changes during the scene.

Agreed, I will pass on the network cut, as well. I don't know what they were thinking with that, LOL.

That wasn't the issue though. IIRC he specifically said he did not think NTSC had a high enough resolution to support a 2.35:1 presentation (and he said this when the majority of people probably still had 4:3 sets). Since a 2.35:1 image in HD has many times the resolution of a 2.0:1 image in SD, which he apparently was fine with, then it should not be a problem on Blu-ray. Anything else is just hypocrisy and arbitrary revisionism.
I saw Redux on HDNET a while back and that transfer was 2.0:1, so unless theres a different master I wouldn't count on the OAR. Also Criterion's The Last Emperor Blu-ray is going to be 2.0:1 if that's any indication of how Storaro's movies will be released in HD. Does anyone know what aspect ratio Redux was shown during the theatrical re-release?

Can't wait for Sunset Boulevard! That's my #1 wanted title from Paramount :D

I know I've mentioned Deep Impact more than once here as a curious omission from the "things we can double-dip in HDM because they didn't sell well the first time" list. :D Took 'em long enough...

Does anyone know what aspect ratio Redux was shown during the theatrical re-release?
I'm almost certain it was 2.35:1, that's what's so annoying about it. It's like Storaro has some kind of vendetta against home video formats and viewers.

For Star Trek I would hope we would get the Theatrical and the new Director's Cut. Honestly, I think I preferred the Director's Cut as it had some better editing as well as some additional/clean special effects... but I'd like to see both make the Blu ray release.

Bill H. mentioned some months back that all the trek films were in restoration process for a proper BD release.

not sure on TMP though. All of those F/X were rendered at SD resolution only.

But one of the key players (Darren Doughterman) in that work said they backed up every single thing related to it and that HD versions could be rendered from those.

Bill H. mentioned some months back that all the trek films were in restoration process for a proper BD release.

not sure on TMP though. All of those F/X were rendered at SD resolution only.

But one of the key players (Darren Doughterman) in that work said they backed up every single thing related to it and that HD versions could be rendered from those.

indeed. They better not go cheap and simply uprez the new FX or they will stand out like a sore thumb to the excellent original model photography.

(sigh) was hoping to see word on first 3 Indiana Jones movies (sigh).:(

I'd LOVE to see a Lowery restoration on all the older Trek films up to and including ST4(they can forget 5 ever existed if they want)and then skip to 6.I know it'll never happen but i can't help thinking how gorgeous ST:The Motion Picture and 'The Wrath of Khan would be if they were restored by Lowery or at least by CBS/Paramount using Lowery estoration techniques.

I'd LOVE to see a Lowery restoration on all the older Trek films up to and including ST4(they can forget 5 ever existed if they want)and then skip to 6.I know it'll never happen but i can't help thinking how gorgeous ST:The Motion Picture and 'The Wrath of Khan would be if they were restored by Lowery or at least by CBS/Paramount using Lowery estoration techniques.

Yah i mean Lowry are simply the best....First elimate all that natural grain and put some fake grain in it's place as no one will ever notice the difference and hey presto 10 out of 10 reviews....Yes let Lowry restore them.

Lol.

I'm almost certain it was 2.35:1, that's what's so annoying about it. It's like Storaro has some kind of vendetta against home video formats and viewers.

I recorded it, saw it was 2.0:1 and erased it. Reframing Apocolypse Now and Tucker for home video is their prerogative. However, I won't encourage it by buying them. If Mr. Storaro is concerned about a scope movie's appearance in home theater, he's more than welcome to come to my house and watch the BD of Thunderball.

Wow, The Elephant Man, fantastic news! The DVD version is actually out of print, so I've been wondering if they were working on a new special edition - a special blu-ray edition is more than I'd hoped for!

The Euro HD-DVD I obtained looks very nice. I think that bodes well for your desire.

I'm very encouraged by this thread....the Starship Enterprise crashing to Earth, sliding down Hollywood Boulevard all the way to Chinatown and Titanic coming back to port....;) Say Hay!