Savant's new reviews today are
Greetings from gloomy skies in Los Angeles ... not much to say that's really relevant, so I'll try to be short. I've been noticing new developments in major studio trends in regard to library product, the "old movies" that Savant loves to review. Paramount's typical release will have a good transfer but no extras. Universal is trying out a Studio Selections line of no-interactivity discs that simply play and re-play until they're turned off: No menus, or selections of any kind. And now Sony has a few discs out that have dropped all subtitles. Universal and Sony are still flirting with pan-scan only discs that drive fans crazy.
I've read speculation that DVD company executives may have decided that the library market has maxed out and have turned their interest toward seeing how the product cost can be trimmed without harming the bottom line. I was once present at a Home Video meeting where a giant contract for VHS boxes was taken from one vendor and awarded to another on the basis of a 1/4 cent saving per unit, so I can see where the incentive comes for suggesting any and all cost-cutting measures, whether they affect the quality of the product or not.
Also, I'm curious to see what happens to MGM product when (or if, as the deal isn't 100% final) Sony takes over in a month or two. One online report I read said that MGM product will all be repackaged under Sony's logo. Already some fans are upset that MGM's often bargain-priced discs may be sold at Sony's high-end price point. And I also wonder if new UA and MGM titles from the 1950s will continue to come out in non-enhanced letterboxed-flat versions, or will be retransferred in 16:9 as Sony normally does. I guess we'll have to wait and find out. Thanks for reading, Glenn Erickson
Posted by DVD Savant at March 22, 2005 01:14 PM