Friday, August 21, 1998
Timing is everything. Congrats to Bill Hunt of The Digital Bits for a very flattering article written about him on cmp/net. The article pays homage to Bill for using his network of studio contacts for placing him in the right place at the right time -- the now infamous conference call by Richard Sharp announcing the advent of Divx. Bill's pointed questions during this conference call began fanning the flames of discontent that soon erupted into a huge fireball of anti-Divx rage that's still burning brightly among early DVD adopters. There's even a nice photo of the affable gent, suitable for framing. Nice stroke, Bill.
Unless you've already done so, don't forget to enter our random drawing for a free copy of PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED this week from The BIG Picture!
A BIG Picture Exclusive: You can look forward to seeing the RAMBO trilogy from Artisan on October 20th. All titles will be 16X9 (though no word yet on whether they'll be enhanced). The three films are all being digitally remastered and will feature Dolby Digital 2.0 Prologic surround sound. All will contain a featurette, trivia game, scene access, theatrical trailer and an audio interactive menu, in which the director tells you to go to certain chapters on the disc. RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD will contain a running commentary with David Morrell, whose book inspired the trilogy. RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PT II will contain a commentary track from Director George Cosmatos and contain a 25 minute documentary called American Hero's Journal. RAMBO III will feature a commentary by Director Peter MacDonald. The BIG Picture will be providing detailed reviews on each of the three RAMBO films as soon as they become available to us.
Laserviews has updated their new DVD release and street date info. Title announcements from Warner, Polygram, Columbia Tri-Star and many others.
Whoops! Gateway "corrects" an earlier DVD-computer related story in which it was reported that a DVD equipped notebook computer could be leased for $89/mo pending certain qualifications. the corrected lease price is now $104/mo. Someone in the marketing department at Gateway must be hiding under their desks -- that is, if they're still employed.
IMAGE BUYS KEN CRANE'S DVD & LASERDISC OPERATIONS. Today Image Entertainment announced that it is buying substantially all of the assets of Ken Crane's DVD and laserdisc Internet/direct-to-consumer operationsfor approximately $6.5 million in a combination of cash, stock, and the assumption of certain liabilities, subject to adjustment.
Thursday, August 20, 1998
The BIG Picture reviews SOMEWHERE IN TIME. We'd like to make a couple of new alternate title suggestions for this solemn, romantic tale of love and loss: LOST IN THE HAZE... TEARS OF MISTY GRAIN... or BREAKING UP AIN'T HARD TO DO -- JUST LOOK AT THE SKY. These satirical title suggestions are strictly aimed at the transfer quality and in no way reflect our high regard and sentimental attachments to the actors involved -- in particular, the radiant and lovely Jane Seymour.
Now that Fox and Paramount are in, the rumors and speculation about Dreamworks are heating up. What on earth are the rumormongers going to do with themselves once Dreamworks commits? We've heard nothing official, and won't speculate until we do, but it seems like a foregone conclusion that eventually, and soon, we should see SKG step up to the plate to cash in on the DVD craze. They'd be crazy not to.
We received a letter this morning from Ron Epstein over at Home Theater Forum wanting to enlist our support in a letter-writing campaign to MGM to protest the studio's decision to release "Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang" in pan & scan only. It should be noted that The BIG Picture categorically rejects the notion of P&S-only discs as we approach the dawn of the 16:9 HDTV revolution. Full-Frame open matte? Sure, if push comes to shove. But we will not purchase any pan and scan-only discs. To better understand MGM's seemingly precipitous decision behind this matter, you should read this story in the Hollywood Reporter. Widescreen anamorphic prints cost money to produce, folks... and given the studio's beleagured financial news, the recent decisions made by MGM concerning DVD quality issues may now become less of a mystery. If there's one thing we've learned in the past year -- you can't produce high quality DVD's on a shoestring budget. Personally, we'd like to see MGM re-invest the funds received from Divx into open DVD production. Here's where to submit your own, personal feedback to MGM.
Wednesday, August 19, 1998
Jon over at DVD Digital Bayou says that Buena Vista is going to release 4 new titles in November: THE HORSE WHISPERER, HE GOT GAME, DEAD POETS SOCIETY
and GOOD MORNING VIETNAM. All will be priced at $29.99. He also states that Warner Brothers will be releasing THE MUSIC MAN for $24.95 with lots of extras on January 26, 1999.
One of our readers spotted this interesting story from the business section of Monday's Washington Post regarding Circuit City's recent stock and rating devaluation. As you might surmise, Divx figures prominently in the story. (Thanks, Duane!)
NetTV announces the arrival of ExtremeDVD systems claiming up to 5 times the resolution of standard DVD players. Whoo-chee-mama!
Today's Orlando Sentinel features an in-depth informational piece on DVD and Divx. This is a fairly well-researched, balanced and rational article that doesn't mince words. It's not a Divx slam per se', but it isn't an endorsement, either. Meanwhile, why in the hell isn't Blockbuster renting open DVD in more than 100 outlets? Especially now with Paramount and Fox off the blocks, there are no more excuses for Blockbuster's embarassing corporate ass-dragging.Viva NetFlix!
Curious about what kind of image and sound quality I could expect for $9.95 retail today, I picked up a copy of Madacy's PENNY SERENADE starring Irene Dunne and Cary Grant. Madacy had several vintage '40's movies on the rack at Suncoast for this price, packaged in keep cases. A review is forthcoming, but until it arrives, remember this: DVD's like these are priced low for a reason, folks.
Tuesday, August 18, 1998
ANOTHER FREE DVD GIVEAWAY! Had a chance to read our in-depth review of PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED, yet? Kathleen Turner was cute as a button, Nicolas Cage received his big acting break in this film, Jim Carrey was an unknown getting a bit part in a cool period piece and even the great John Carradine got to don a hood and cloak and do a brief cameo. Wow! What a fun movie! Want a FREE copy of this DVD to add to your collection? Sure you do! Simply register your e-mail address on our contest page to win! A random drawing will determine the winner this time. Only one entry, per person, please...
As part of our quest to continually refine and improve the site, The BIG Picture has added a new search engine for your convenience. Check it out and let us know how you like it and where it should be placed for easy access.
Laserviews has updated their site with title announcements from Disney, Universal, Fox Lorber, Pioneer (can you say 'karaoke'?), Leo, Simitar, Trimark and others. Plus, the usual street date changes. This is an extensive update.
Another chip in the stone... The San Jose Mercury News calls Divx the "brain-damaged cousin of DVD". Ha ha. Thanks Wayne Bundrick for the heads up on this must not miss story! Remind me to put columnist Dan Gillmor on my Christmas card list.
More reviews have been added to The BIG Picture: Clint Eastwood's Joe Kidd and Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie.
I'll be back... The BIG Picture offers up another full-blown in-depth review of the sci-fi action thriller co-written by Stephen King under the pseudonym of Richard Bachman. Buckle up and enjoy your rocket-sled ride down the tubes in the Arnold Schwartzenegger flick THE RUNNING MAN.
Monday, August 17, 1998
Victims of their own success? Perhaps not... So far, it appears as though the DVD Resource page and Home Theater Forum are still chugging along nicely, despite earlier warnings to the contrary. Both are purportedly having trouble from their common ISP, who has apparently threatened to shut both sites down due to concerns over excessive bandwidth load. We found both sites to be fully operational the last time we checked -- great news for all DVD enthusiasts -- including us. Hang in there guys!
One of our most prolific DVD sPy's (thank you) has ferreted out a real interesting article from the NY Times. Will interactive films catch on, now that DVD technology has caught up with the concept? One filmmaker intends to find out.
Here's an in-depth view at what we can expect to see from the forthcoming release of GONE WITH THE WIND.
Yes, but will my T-Square be jealous? Billed as the ultimate home improvement tool, Multimedia 2000 announces the shipment of the Home Depot Home Improvement 1-2-3 DVD, featuring step-by-step instruction on more than 250 home improvement projects!
In a company press release rife with excitement and hype, Red Orb proudly proclaims to the world: the game Riven on DVD ROM is here!!
Stereophile Guide to Home Theater provides their take on the Paramount and Fox announcements from a week ago, and offer their own mild conjecture regarding Divx.
WEEKEND UPDATE
Yes, but she's clearing her throat... The fat lady hasn't officially begun singing the funeral durge for Divx, but with reports of further massive inside trading (another officer of Circuit City sold off a big chunk worth $4.6 mil last month) and stock prices slipping, we have to wonder how much longer the stuffed shirts at Circuit City are going to be willing to prop up the answer to the question that nobody asked.
Be prepared to see many more reviews in The BIG Picture. Thanks to the extraordinary quality of our ratings and reviews, and your readership (thanks!) we've been enjoying increasing support from various studios and suppliers, which in turn, means more DVD content for us to review on your behalf. In addition to TBP's world-famous full-tilt boogie review treatment that we've given to mainstream titles, we're going to try and provide limited reviews for all the titles that we can get our eager little clubs on. In Jeff & Bob's Short Takes, we'll cut right to the bone, providing our respective comments, along with the kind of succinct image and sound quality information that you've come to depend upon from The BIG Picture. Short Take reviews will be distinguished from our full-blown in-depth reviews by an asterisk * following the film title. We've just added eight new reviews: FALLEN, MONKEY BUSINESS, SANDS OF IWO JIMA, THE SAMURAI TRILOGY, RIO GRANDE, ROAD TO MOROCCO, THE WAR WAGON and JOURNEY TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE SUN. Check our main ratings and review page daily for new review links!