JackBurton

I blame Wiseman for this trend

theWitcher

So all these titles feature their original soundtracks? Is there something inherent in this method of distribution that allows Warner to treat these titles like broadcast versions? Or did they have to clear all the music for titles like 'Dusty and Sweets McGee' or 'One Trick Pony' -- or do some titles feature music replacements like some of the cult-y Par stuff put out by Legend Films? Are all films uncut and more-or-less identical to their theatrical versions?

Flicker

Download and burn your own disc? With me having only dial-up internet service (no thanks to AT&T) it would take me the rest of this year.

rw2516

The something inherent about these titles is they don't warrant the expense of a retail dvd release, so I'd doubt any would warrant the expense of any clearances, replacements or alternate version. The HTF chat mentions the site will be shipping worldwide and only titles WB owns worldwide rights to will be available. WB probably owns these lock, stock and barrell and can do whatever they want with them.

indy81

I read it's like a 1GB WMV download for watching on your computer, a la iTunes. You're not able to burn them to a disc.

Flicker

I looked at the archive collection. The only title I would be interested in is The Big Circus but not for 19.98!

I thought Sony was going to offer some of their titles on a request-only-basis? I wanted/want Drive-In and read last year that they would start their program on Jan. 25, 2008

MooMooMooMoo

Price is an issue or me here also.

Trevor

I guess I'm for it. I'd rather have some access to films than no access. I don't think that boycotting these will force Warner to spend even more money for retail releases.

But price is a factor. I average less than $5 a film, so $20 is out of the question unless it's an all-time favorite.

Steve Phillips

If you buy 5 titles, you can save 25% off your order by using promo code XB392; shipping is also free.

jmj713

What I don't see addressed anywhere is whether being part of the Archives will preclude a title from being released in retail now.

Jaymole

They mentioned that titles may wind up for retail at a later date. I'm sure the titles that sell well will be the ones they consider for retail release. I also think films starring icons like Clark Gable, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford may wind up in boxsets one day too which is why I am avoiding buying those titles.

jmj713

And I mentioned Cary Grant before in this thread, too. It's just that twenty bucks for an unrestored and barebones disc is way too expensive, when similar films sell on Amazon et al for cheaper.

Carcosa

I've ordered ABE LINCOLN IN ILLINOIS to check out the whole thing but I suspect I will be buying quite a few titles here. $19.99 is fine with me under the circumstances. If some of these show up as retail DVDs, fine....I'll considering replacing the Warner Archive edition. But if people honestly think that most of these up for offer are really going to show up on retail DVD after 10 plus years of waiting and in a rapidly shrinking retail marketplace...well, you are in for a very long, hell-freezing-over kind of wait.

riotinmyskull

whenever someone finally gets ahold of one of these please take pictures and screenshots of the menus would also be nice.

NoirFan

Heh. I figured someone would call me on that one.

Silverscreenvid

If they released these titles as catalogue titles, they'd be retailing at about $10 apiece (less if they were packaged in a box set), which means that Warner might be getting about $5 apiece for them after you take out what the wholesaler and retailer get.

Here Warner is getting every penny (minus very minimal credit card charges) of that $20 and they don't have to worry about unsold inventory sitting around. So there's plenty of room for them to discount if they have to. Look for a lot more specials, coupons and promos on these titles in the future if the sales aren't great.

My Other Self

I'd rather have this than have these just fade in to oblivion. I'm waiting for the Joe McDoakes shorts.

Paul1957

Don May Jr. from Synaspe Films just reported this at AV Maniacs:



So, I JUST got my package of titles I bought...

They all look OK, but the cover arts (front/back) are kinda ugly, with only one pic on each side. The printing of the covers looks OK, but the quality (of the slipcover printing) DOES look like a bit of a step down from a normal DVD. Small text looks a bit rough and pixelated on the back. Honestly, to me, it looks like they were printed very cheaply... almost like with a higher-end laser printing instead of, say, a professional 4-color offset process.
The discs themselves were nice, clean and devoid of any fingerprints that I could see, but they are indeed a "manfactured DVD-R". There is a blue/black design with the title, Warner logo, film copyright and "warnerarchive.com" on the top side of each DVD-R.
There is a notice on the back of each DVD case that says:

THIS DISC IS EXPECTED TO PLAY BACK IN DVD VIDEO "PLAY ONLY" DEVICES, AND MAY NOT PLAY BACK IN OTHER DVD DEVICES, INCLUDING RECORDERS AND PC DRIVES.

Well, my discs play in my iMac office computer, at least, so far.

I popped in DOC SAVAGE and, while it looks a step up from the old laserdisc release, it's certainly not perfect. I'm watching it on the Mac in our office here, and I'm noticing constant, very lite (but, still noticeable) vertical lines through the picture. It's a bit soft, and DOESN'T look like any sort of new HD restoration, if you ask me. The discs I looked at briefly start with a promo for the Warner Archive collection (in 4x3), then go straight to a bland 16x9 still menu screen with a highlight for PLAY MOVIE and PLAY TRAILER, with no separate chapter stop screens (but it says you can skip forward/backward on the remove for chapters every 10 minutes or so). The trailer for DOC SAVAGE is 4x3, interlaced, and looks like dog dookie.

After looking at DOC SAVAGE, I put CAPTAIN NEMO AND THE UNDERWATER CITY in and it faired MUCH better to my eyes. The picture was colorful, clean, and quite beautiful.

NOTES ABOUT CRESCENDO
In tiny lettering on the back of the CRESCENDO box, it says: THIS UNRATED VERSION CONTAINS MATERIAL DIFFERENT FROM THE PG-RATED VERSION.
Also, the back of the box mistakenly says that CRESCENDO is in B&W.
__________________
Don May, Jr. - President, Synapse Films

riotinmyskull

^wish he would've taken a picture of the top of the disc...

also, does anyone know how often warner will be adding titles?

Paul1957

Someone ask Don about the covers here's what he said:

There is a blue/black design with the title, Warner logo, film copyright and "warnerarchive.com" on the top side of each DVD-R.

John Sinnott

According to their press release:

zyzzle

How is the average bitrate on these? Is all of the disc space used? Are they CBR or VBR? How was the compression job, and did you notice any compression artifacts?

I agree, $20 each is way too steep. I would pay $10 each and that's IF the shipping was free.

Wish more post-1960s films were going to be offered! Where's the Sci-Fi and Horror selections?

Matthew Chmiel

Safe assumption, if it's a DVD-R, you're only looking about a 4.7GB DVD. Most likely, these titles will only be taking up 3-4GB tops.

To be honest, I'm curious to see how they release the television programs. There's quite a few television shows I'd buy in a heartbeat (Off Centre, ahem) from Warner if made available.

My Other Self

I'd love the rest of The Drew Carey Show and Perfect Strangers from WB as well.

Jaymole

Someone posted at HTF that all 5 DVDs he ordered were interlaced, which is disappointing news