October 3, 2001
New Editions: Bit by Bit
IWell, it appears we’ve been bit again. Columbia
is releasing a number of their early DVD releases as Super Bit DVDs, a bare bones high bit
rate treatment of titles. Are consumers once bitten still susceptible to many more bottom bites?
The answer is blowing in the wind of the bottom line, sales. How many will seek out the same title
over and over again? It’s true that many of the early titles released on DVD were marketed to a
much smaller audience and why not deliver the best of the latest technology, as long as it is not a
ploy to re-sell the same material over and over again.
During the laser disc era, it seemed like
studios were forever repressing, repackaging and reinventing the same movie over and over again.
We’ve suffered somewhat of the same fate with DVD. A fair number of early DVD pressings weren’t
16 x 9 enhanced anamorphic transfers. Some were only rehashed laser disc pressings. A number of
these have been repressed to good effect. Another scenario practiced by some studios is a primary
DVD release and then a following special edition release. This is certainly fair play if the buying
public is armed with the foreknowledge of the impending special edition. Universal has even
released special editions of a few titles followed by Ultimate Editions. At least the company is
not secretive about it and it does not appear to be a way of sucking the public into buying
multiple editions of titles.
Back to the Super Bits. My big question is why
not release unreleased titles as part of a Super Bit collection. Wouldn’t the movie loving public
reap more benefit from a new title instead of a bulked up bit version of a DVD already in release.
I know Columbia is going to sell plenty of Fifth Element Super Bit DVDs to all those techies
that have been using the original transfer as a measure of high-end system performance. Any wanting
to make a Super Bit purchase of Desperado be my guest. Air Force One is a terrific
action flick already available in a special edition director Wolfgang Peterson’s audio
commentary. What’s the story here: Super Bits for superstars? Johnny Mnemonic? It's
a title that I liked very much, but few others of the critical community happen to agree. How much
better will Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon play by piling on the bit treatment.
I’ll give the Super Bit
masters the benefit of the doubt on this one. There’s enough reason behind this new concept
beyond milking the cash cow. I certainly applaud the notion of delivering the best picture possible
on DVD. Bombard me with bits boys, but how about new bits.
Links to Rants and Raves by Date
April 21 2001
Inserts and the Pop-Up Window
June 2, 2001
FBI Warning/Logo Wars
July 22, 2001
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