View Full Version : Why exactly did Fox not release The Illusionist on BD?


Taha24
01-11-07, 09:49 PM
With how heavily they have been supporting BD, I find it really weird that Fox did not do a day and date launch with the DVD version that came out this week.

I wanted to get this movie on BD :mad:

Dave Mack
01-11-07, 09:53 PM
yep, we netflixed it on DVD too...

DaveFi
01-11-07, 09:56 PM
Write them a letter.

I'm serious. They must do market research on this stuff.

theforce8686
01-11-07, 10:01 PM
Write them a letter.

I'm serious. They must do market research on this stuff.

They did do market research. It was called mediocre reviews and mediocre grosses. I didnt help as I didnt see it either. Im not bad mouthing it, just saying what they were probably thinking. I also think were gonna get screwed out of Borat as the Sd date was just announced and no word on BD. That is really upsetting.

Julian Lalor
01-11-07, 10:14 PM
With how heavily they have been supporting BD, I find it really weird that Fox did not do a day and date launch with the DVD version that came out this week.

I wanted to get this movie on BD :mad:

Fox don't own this film, they licensed it from a company controlled by Bob Yari (whose name appears about 25 times in the opening credits). I suspect they saw no real benefit in bringing the title to BD and sharing the spoils with a third party.

chirpie
01-11-07, 10:23 PM
They did do market research. It was called mediocre reviews and mediocre grosses. I didnt help as I didnt see it either. Im not bad mouthing it, just saying what they were probably thinking. I also think were gonna get screwed out of Borat as the Sd date was just announced and no word on BD. That is really upsetting.

If I was going off critical mass, it was reviewed slightly better than The Prestige and made over double it's budget, so I wouldn't say it was all that bad.

I did see it, and found it nice, subtle, not bombastic in any way, and completely rewarding. Modest entertainment at it's best. :-)

predator4325
01-11-07, 10:51 PM
Prestige is much better, thank god that is coming to blu ray.

dpags
01-11-07, 11:20 PM
I'm still pissed we didn't get a BD of Bandidas :(

Robert George
01-11-07, 11:31 PM
Fox's support of Blu-ray is actually only lip service right now. All they are willing to release, for the most part, are rehashes of catalog titles that are mostly selling on DVD for $10 on the bargain racks at Walmart. One or two decent releases is not what I call "support".

For all their bluster about how great Blu-ray is and how much they support it exclusively, they are noticeably light on new releases, or even high profile catalog.

darinp2
01-11-07, 11:42 PM
I also think were gonna get screwed out of Borat as the Sd date was just announced and no word on BD. That is really upsetting.While I'm not sure that one would benefit from HD as much as some other films, it seems like Borat is a natural fit for a format where the #1 player is the PS3. I would expect a lot of gamers to like that one. But then, I could be out of touch with that group. I'm still laughing about some stuff in that movie though and would definitely watch it again on BD.

--Darin

Taha24
01-11-07, 11:44 PM
If theres one thing they need to do, its to release all their new movies day and date with DVD.

While I like watching movies in HD, I'm not gonna be rebuying too many movies I already own on DVD at prices between $20-30.

Esox50
01-11-07, 11:47 PM
Fox's support of Blu-ray is actually only lip service right now. All they are willing to release, for the most part, are rehashes of catalog titles that are mostly selling on DVD for $10 on the bargain racks at Walmart. One or two decent releases is not what I call "support".

For all their bluster about how great Blu-ray is and how much they support it exclusively, they are noticeably light on new releases, or even high profile catalog.
Are you serious with this stuff?

They've done a fine job and mix of new with old. Butch Cassidy (a classic), Pedator (a fan favorite catalog title), Master and Commander (which seems to be more popular on video than it ever was in the theater), Independence Day (another catalog fan favorite), Cast Away, Edward Scissorhands (basically a cult favorite).

More? What about other catalog favorites like Speed & Commando, cult classic in The Fly, recent hits like Xmen3, superior director's cut of Kingdom of Heaven.

Wow Obi. I think you're way off base here. I realize film taste is subjective for everyone, but it seems like they've got something in there for everyone. Sure, I'd like to see True Lies, Last of the Mohicans, the other two Xmen movies, and many others. But they cannot burn through their whole catalog in 6 months in order to prove their support to you.

Let's be realistic here.

phansson
01-11-07, 11:48 PM
Saw the illusionist at the theater. Very good flick. I would have purchased this the other day. But I refuse to taint my 1080 palate with a mere 480 lines of resolution.

Steve S
01-12-07, 12:02 AM
My take is a bit different.

Illusionist is stylistically shot--much of the movie tries for a decidedly antique look with soft focus away from the center of the screen etc. While this is very atmospheric and adds to the dramatic intent of the movie, it's far from being HD demo material, and those who think all HD should look like the Discovery Channel would be screaming bloody murder over this look on a BluRay release.

bfdtv
01-12-07, 12:29 AM
Illusionist is stylistically shot--much of the movie tries for a decidedly antique look with soft focus away from the center of the screen etc. While this is very atmospheric and adds to the dramatic intent of the movie, it's far from being HD demo material, and those who think all HD should look like the Discovery Channel would be screaming bloody murder over this look on a BluRay release.Agreed.

I saw both Prestige and The Illusionist in the theater. I thought the latter was a better film, but Prestige is clearly the better release for Blu-ray, in terms of video and sound effects.

Dave Mack
01-12-07, 12:44 AM
Speaking of Fox, any Donnie Darko rumors? I know the DP purposefully chose a very fast low light stock and it's a very, interesting looking film photgraphy-wise. The Dvd looked mediocre (even though alot of it was the style...) and I'm sure the BD would look alot better if not amazing.

:) d

tlreddragon
01-12-07, 12:59 AM
I hated The Illusionist. The twist was, for lack of a better word, retarded. The plot was tedious and the accents were a killer too.

Wendell R. Breland
01-12-07, 02:33 AM
Fox's support of Blu-ray is actually only lip service right now.Gee Obi, did CES go bad for you or what? :mad: As a longtime cyberspace acquaintance I will tell you that you are not doing yourself any favors by posting such drivel here. You are above that. Suck it up, I know you can do better!

wolfyncsu7
01-12-07, 08:10 AM
While I'm not sure that one would benefit from HD as much as some other films, it seems like Borat is a natural fit for a format where the #1 player is the PS3. I would expect a lot of gamers to like that one. But then, I could be out of touch with that group. I'm still laughing about some stuff in that movie though and would definitely watch it again on BD.

--Darin

It's like Fox is wiggling the Blu-ray disc saying "You will never get this, you will never get this." :D

wolfyncsu7
01-12-07, 08:13 AM
Speaking of Fox, any Donnie Darko rumors? I know the DP purposefully chose a very fast low light stock and it's a very, interesting looking film photgraphy-wise. The Dvd looked mediocre (even though alot of it was the style...) and I'm sure the BD would look alot better if not amazing.

:) d

Donnie Darko is definitely near the top of my Blu-ray want list. I think I'm more pumped about hearing the soundtrack/ Frank creepy bunny scenes in high resolution surround sound than the picture upgrade (although that should be a big plus too).

Robert George
01-12-07, 12:44 PM
Gee Obi, did CES go bad for you or what? As a longtime cyberspace acquaintance I will tell you that you are not doing yourself any favors by posting such drivel here. You are above that. Suck it up, I know you can do better!

"Drivel", is it now? Hmm, okay.

Yeah, I can make a better case for my position, as if it isn't really obvious to anyone willing to look at what Fox is doing right now on HD DVD and compare it to what they did on DVD in the beginning and what they did on D-Theater. If I get the time and inclination when I'm not time constrained at work, maybe I will.

fa8362
01-12-07, 12:51 PM
"Drivel", is it now? Hmm, okay.

Yeah, I can make a better case for my position, as if it isn't really obvious to anyone willing to look at what Fox is doing right now on HD DVD and compare it to what they did on DVD in the beginning and what they did on D-Theater. If I get the time and inclination when I'm not time constrained at work, maybe I will.

I'll save you some trouble. Fox didn't do anything on DVD in the beginning. Fox supported DIVX.

WickyWoo
01-12-07, 03:39 PM
Fox don't own this film, they licensed it from a company controlled by Bob Yari (whose name appears about 25 times in the opening credits). I suspect they saw no real benefit in bringing the title to BD and sharing the spoils with a third party.

Bob Yari is responsible for the disc. Fox distributes only

Dave Mack
01-12-07, 06:01 PM
Frank the bunny... :)

The soundtrack alone to DD is better than most entire films!

:)

whotony
01-13-07, 12:24 AM
I'll save you some trouble. Fox didn't do anything on DVD in the beginning. Fox supported DIVX.


who told you that?

nharmon91
01-13-07, 12:55 AM
I hated The Illusionist. The twist was, for lack of a better word, retarded. The plot was tedious and the accents were a killer too.
I agreed completly,everything you said is true. Except I didnt hate it, I thought it was just OK.

SirDrexl
01-13-07, 01:20 AM
I did see it, and found it nice, subtle, not bombastic in any way, and completely rewarding. Modest entertainment at it's best. :-)

Well, there's your answer as to why they're not releasing it. :)

fitprod
01-13-07, 04:19 PM
I'll save you some trouble. Fox didn't do anything on DVD in the beginning. Fox supported DIVX.
who told you that?

Relative common knowlege to anyone who's followed DVD from the start...

Fox didn't release a standard DVD until the fall of 2000, 3 years after the nationwide launch of DVD.

fitprod

fa8362
01-13-07, 04:44 PM
who told you that?

No one. I was there.

Jonathan Hickey
01-13-07, 05:35 PM
who told you that?

DVD came out in March '97. Fox didn't release it's first DVD until Nov '98. The majority of Fox titles were only available on Divx for along time.

milit
01-13-07, 09:53 PM
With how heavily they have been supporting BD, I find it really weird that Fox did not do a day and date launch with the DVD version that came out this week.

I wanted to get this movie on BD :mad:

I agree Taha, this one should have been on BR. Illusionist was much better than expected and infinitely better than the Prestige anyway. The prestige was trying to be so "intellectual" that they forgot to be entertaining.

wreckshop
01-13-07, 10:08 PM
Fox's support of Blu-ray is actually only lip service right now. All they are willing to release, for the most part, are rehashes of catalog titles that are mostly selling on DVD for $10 on the bargain racks at Walmart. One or two decent releases is not what I call "support".

For all their bluster about how great Blu-ray is and how much they support it exclusively, they are noticeably light on new releases, or even high profile catalog.

A little bit of something (BD) is a better than a whole lotta nothing (hd dvd)

milit
01-13-07, 10:52 PM
A little bit of something (BD) is a better than a whole lotta nothing (hd dvd)


Huh??? What did you just say?

BrandonJF
01-13-07, 11:20 PM
A little bit of something (BD) is a better than a whole lotta nothing (hd dvd)

That has to be the biggest stretch to introduce format advocacy into a thread yet. At least it didn't make any sense... :cool:

theforce8686
01-14-07, 01:06 AM
That has to be the biggest stretch to introduce format advocacy into a thread yet. At least it didn't make any sense... :cool:

What didnt make sense? Its better to have a few Fox movies as a BD owner than no Fox movies as an HD owner. Pretty Self explanatory comment.

joerod
01-14-07, 01:11 AM
Someone must have fell asleep on this one! :mad:

polyh3dron
01-14-07, 03:49 AM
It's like Fox is wiggling the Blu-ray disc saying "You will never get this, you will never get this." :D

The we must break out of our cage and get this.. HIGH FIVE!

BrandonJF
01-14-07, 12:32 PM
What didnt make sense? Its better to have a few Fox movies as a BD owner than no Fox movies as an HD owner. Pretty Self explanatory comment.

It's just another silly format advocacy comment that came out of nowhere and has nothing to do with the thread.... which is par for the course, I know. It's impossible for a thread in either the HD-DVD or Blu-Ray forums to not disintegrate into format advocacy at some point. Does the fact that Fox doesn't release on HD-DVD (which I assume we all know) have anything to do with a discussion on why they didn't release the Illusionist on Blu-Ray?

And here's why your interpretation of that comment doesn't help much - I'm an HD-DVD owner. Guess what? I have Fox Blu-Ray movies. :eek: How did that happen? Oh, that's right - it's possible to own both formats. So, that comment has no relevance or hold much logic for people like me who have decided not to draw a line in the sand and take sides.