July 30, 2002
By Robert Meyer Burnett
ROLL OUT THE BARRELL
I've decided to save myself a bit of time this week and dip into the mail (or should I say e-mail) bag...
I've been frequenting the Amazon.uk.co site and have noticed a number of DVDs listed that are definitely not available in the states. Why would a catalog title be available there months (or years) before being available here? I would assume funky film financing would cause it for certain films, but I found it strange that there is a 2-disc PREDATOR with John McTiernan commentary. Would the extras on these foreign discs be the same as in US releases? And "what up" with all the television box sets over in the UK- they are YEARS ahead of the US on some of those sets?
--John Farrell
John brings up a number of decent questions. As I'm actually working with Fox Home Video executive Sven Davison producing the upcoming new special edition DVD of the first X-MEN , I've asked him to comment:
Sven says, "Fox releases 99% of their discs domestically before they hit the international market. In the case of PREDATOR, it went out internationally first because we've already released it twice domestically. Both the "vanilla" version and the DTS reissue. Most likely, we will release the PREDATOR special edition domestically, although I just can't say how long from now, because we're not really sure."
The studios also take into consideration the sales figures from a film's first DVD release when deciding to re-release a title. Was there sufficient interest in the original "vanilla" release to warrant a new special edition? Columbia/Tri-star released a new special edition of John Carpenter's STARMAN in Europe recently, complete with director's commentary. However, because the film's original DVD sales figures were not as high as they were in Europe, there's been no domestic release of the new DVD.
Frequently, there are tremendous differences between the domestic version and international release of a film on DVD. Even my own film FREE ENTERPRISE has two very different releases, with the UK DVD sporting a beautiful 16:9 anamorphic transfer while the domestic release come out as a standard 4:3 letterboxed edition. Unfortunately, in November of 1999, when FREE ENTERPRISE was originally released domestically on DVD, anamorphic transfers weren't yet the norm. However, the film came out almost a year later in Europe where widescreen televisions are far more common. Obviously, if there's any call for a new special edition of FREE ENTERPRISE, adding a 5.1 (and DTS) soundtracks and an anamorphic transfer are right at the top of my "to do" list.
In it's native France, there's a three-disc special edition of the recent BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF, where the film did big box-office. Because the film was only a minor hit here in America, there's really no call for a three-disc special edition in the states.
Television shows are a completely different animal. Usually, programs like BUFFY, ANGEL and THE WEST WING wind up so quickly on international DVDs because they aren't airing regularly in those markets. Also, there's usually a domestic syndication window for most programs, so there has to be a fixed number of syndicated rebroadcasts of a show before it can hit home video. FX wants to make sure it gets to run X-FILES and BUFFY a certain number of times before the show hits home video so they get the most money from advertisers. Producers, however, are beginning to realize television programs can exist both on television and video at the same time, which is why we're beginning to see programs like 24 hit video so quickly.
Hey, I just watched FREE ENTERPRISE, and it was very entertaining, fun, and hilarious. I sat there watching with my brother as we tried to pick up on all the references we could. The amazing thing is, as many as there were, it never felt like you were over-doing it. it was truly awesome! Now I can't wait for NEVER MIND NIRVANA. (Athough I'm sure that's a long way off).
P.S. Don't you think it's a little bit of a fantasy that the character with your name (and probably somewhat modeled after you) is a huge movie/comic book geek, yet he has sex with an amazingly hot super-model red head? I've never seen that before...
--Jeremy
I get this a lot. So let me state for the record, growing up, I was much more interested in women then I was in movies, television and comic books. In fact, when I was seventeen, I was, in fact, having sex with a hot redhead who actually was a member of the Seattle Model's Guild. Later, I even managed to marry an incredibly intelligent and striking woman who looks smokin' in a thong. Amazingly, she still lets me fill the family room with Action Figures, Movie Posters, DVDs, Laserdiscs and Comics. This isn't wish-fulfillment. It's a lifetime of commitment to a state of mind.
There's a simple reason for this. I took the proper lessons away from my love of Classic STAR TREK. "Boldly Going Where No Man Has Gone Before" shouldn't just be a catch-phrase for Kirk and Company. Every fan of the show must take the sentiment to heart. Learn as much as you can about as many things as you can, including one of the foreign romance languages, develop a magnetic personality with copious amounts of people and political skills, travel to distant lands and chat up the ladies. I mean c'mon...do you think Quentin Tarantino went to Amsterdam just so he could find his muse and write PULP FICTION? I don't think so. Methinks he had a few other things on his agenda. And just like Spock and McCoy, don't forget to take a few good friends with you who won't mind bailing you out of whatever foreign hellhole you may find yourself incarcerated in as a result of going too boldly.
This simple lesson can help anyone achieve their wildest dreams. Or fantasies. Even if you can tell me which issue of X-MEN was John Byrne's last as penciller.
Your column on UFO brought back sweet memories of one of my favorite shows.
Always a fan of Gerry Anderson's puppet-generated delights, I was blown away as a teenager by UFO's live action mix of mystery, conspiracy, spy sex appeal, and angst-filled action. I'm so happy you shared your memories of the show so that so many others will likewise become fans of "Straker and Co."
--Ken Barr - Ambrosia Books
Thanks, Ken. I've received countless e-mails about last week's UFO column and I'm shocked at how many folks never even heard of the program before. Hopefully, you've all ordered your DVD box sets and will report back with reviews. Remember, it's okay not to love the show as much as I do, but I'd still like to hear from you.
And anyone in the LA area should stop by Ambrosia Books on Pico Blvd. It's a great little sci-fi bookstore filled with all the same kinds of stuff you'll see in FREE ENTERPRISE. Ken specializes in bringing books, videos and toys from the UK. In fact, I'm sure if you tell Ken I sent you, he may even give you some kind of discount.
Thanks for dumping The Charm of Unmaking out for the world. I myself have had it with two-faced manipulators out for themselves and making film a horrid place to try to make a living or worse, art. F*ck them, keep kicking ass...it's unbelievable what waits around the next corner. If you have the passion, you have the curse...one cannot live without the other. Good and Evil my friend.
--David (Sharpening my Sword) Lockard
My Hollywood sob story from a few weeks back also generated tons of mail. And because I'm a "glass is always half-full" kinda' guy, I'm happy to report this story may yet have a happy ending. Stay Tuned.
I know you're probably busy so I'll make this short. I have recently been exposed to the wide world of DVD and hope to expand my collection. I was wondering if you had any info on the Star Wars trilogy DVD's release date and its content.
--(Coquijrr@aol.com)
Only Master George knows the answer to this one. Anyone out there from LucasFilm want to enlighten the masses? We're waiting patiently. If we go to war with Iraq, there's gonna' be a lot of American DVD fans who will die never knowing the joys of watching the first Death Star blow up on their favorite format. I do know however where ONE of you can get the Original Version of the Star Wars trilogy on DVD.
But, if you want to expand your collection, please, please, please get two films from my favorite director working today, Wong Kar-Wai. CHUNGKING EXPRESS and IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE belong in everybody's collection. Don't delay! Go to your favorite on-line DVD retailer and buy them now!
My name is Colin Henderson and I'm a 24 year-old film-maker from Australia. I love your column, particularly the level-headed and fact-based dissection of the expense involved in producing special edition DVDs. It was truly fascinating to read how greedy stars can scupper potentially bad-ass DVDs. Experiences like that must make working on the LORD OF THE RINGS DVD seem like heaven.
Anyway, I have a particular question regarding the DVDs you put together. Now, if you announce you are putting together a special edition of an old or obscure movie where key participants are dead or just can't be bothered have you ever had filmmakers who love the film contact you to ask to be involved in interviews or commentaries? I know Soderberg did one for CATCH 22 and Baz Luhrmann has done one for SINGIN' IN THE RAIN. I imagine you'd have no trouble getting someone like Tarantino or Robert Rodriguez to do a commentary for a great unsung film like BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA (a movie I'd dearly love to see a special edition of, complete with full restoration of the mythical 'necrophilia' scene).
--Colin Henderson
I'm a little unclear about the word SCUPPER, Colin. But I've never been contacted by another filmmaker to participate in the production of a special edition DVD of a film other then their own. I do think this is a great idea though. During the making of the TRON DVD, we did call upon Pixar's John Lasseter to say a few words about the film which so influenced his own life. Graciously, he accepted. And when he quipped, "Without TRON there would be no TOY STORY," I knew I had a great sound bite for my documentary.
During the making of THE USUAL SUSPECTS special edition, I did speak briefly with director BRYAN SINGER about the DVD of JAWS, one of his favorite films (which you can hear in the Easter Egg). I'm sure he'd do a feature-length commentary for the film if someone ever asked him.
But, I've never gone after one filmmaker to discuss another filmmaker's work. I'd like to do so in the future, however.
Thanks to everyone who wrote in and keep those e-mails coming!!!
STAR WARS - THE ORIGINAL VISION bootleg DVD CONTEST UPDATE!!!
You all remember I'm running a contest for the bootleg four-disc DVD set of the ORIGINAL VERSIONS of the Holy Trilogy don't you? NO?!?! Well, check out these past few week's columns and get in on the wacky fun. THERE'S ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT!!! The winner will be announced at Sunday's "Starship: SMACKDOWN!!!
Panel in San Diego and in NEXT WEEK'S COLUMN!!!
Robert Meyer Burnett will be attending all four days of the San Diego Comicon. He invites everyone to give him a piece of their mind and check out the very first glimpse of FREE ENTERPRISE - THE COMIC BOOK!
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