Blu-ray Only to release classics on BD for under $12

by Darren Murph posted Jun 16th 2008 at 5:04PM

Back in the day, Toshiba was actually looking to spark up some sort of price war by snipping a couple dollars from the MSRP of HD DVDs. Now that Blu-ray is standing alone, however, it looks as if a startup distributor will be the one to finally shake some low-cost Blu-ray titles out. Reportedly, Blu-ray Only is gearing up to launch a line of BD flicks this August which will sell for around $11.98 apiece, and the first two titles will be The Last Time I Saw Paris and Beat The Devil. Granted, we aren't certain that each release will be under $12, and we aren't sure if each title will be a classic, but we are told that the firm won't be busting out any high-dollar discs. We'll be keeping an ear to the ground for future developments, as we certainly like the sound of things thus far.

[Thanks, xdragon]

Filed under: Industry, Blu-ray

Tags: blu-ray, blu-ray only, Blu-rayOnly, discount, price, pricing, sale

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Low Ranked

iLikeHD @ Jun 16th 2008 5:37PM

Stupid.

Low Ranked

retro77 @ Jun 16th 2008 7:06PM

I don't think anyone is going to buy these old films. The only people that watch them are old people reliving their younger years. Chances are they don't own a Blu-Ray player.

Highest Ranked

mntwister @ Jun 16th 2008 11:39PM

Retero77: There are many people under 40 that love classic movies, and I think you are way off, people are going to buy them, I am 46 and depending on the quality I will buy them, these are good movies...but then maybe 46 is what you consider "old people." Don't forget you will be 46 one day and won't appreciate your own statement lol. I have a few friends under 25 who love classic films that will be very interested. Not everyone is after Kill Bill or Blades of Glory.

Plus, I think that this is important to blu-ray's success, the more titles we get of all types of films and all different price ranges, it helps mainstream adoption of blu-ray.

Highest Ranked

Alareth @ Jun 16th 2008 7:15PM

You sound like my son did when he announced that all black and white movies and televison shows should be destroyed because it was stupid to show them on color televisions.

The irony of someone using the name "retro77" making a comment like your's is astounding.

Neutral

retro77 @ Jun 16th 2008 7:18PM

Ya I'm only 30 and yes I like retro things, just not that far back! But hey, more power to those that do get them!

When I was referring to old people, I was thinking of like the 60-80 year old group.

Highest Ranked

Jeff N. @ Jun 17th 2008 12:25AM

retro77, 20 years from now you'll look back and see how really ignorant your post was. Youth is temporary. If you are lucky you will get older. And you'll be shocked how fast time really does pass.
Many great movies were produced before you were born. I see nothing wrong with someone making great Blu-ray transfers of some of these old classics.

Neutral

retro77 @ Jun 17th 2008 1:50AM

Thanks Jeff, much appreciated.

Neutral

Jeff N. @ Jun 17th 2008 1:26PM

To be fair with you retro77, when I was 30 years old I thought of people in the late 40's and 50's as being really old and clueless. Now that I hit 50 I realize I was prejudice towards middle aged people when I was 30.
Funny thing is someone 18 who just graduated from High School looks at at 30 year old as over the hill.
I just wish I hadn't felt that way when I was younger.

Neutral

retro77 @ Jun 17th 2008 1:32PM

Jeff, in 20 years I'll be 50, that's not that old. I was talking 60-80 people, like a referenced before. Sorry for the math lesson, leave me the fuck alone now.

Neutral

Mitch @ Jun 16th 2008 7:27PM

Chill out my friends... there's room for all types of movies on blu-ray. The more the better. Who knows, watching these old films cleaned up and in hi-def could make them rather appealing.
Variety is the spice of life!

Neutral

coindudvd.com @ Jun 16th 2008 7:27PM

I'm 36 and I love 40's and 50's. I'm discovering fantastic cinema from thoses years!

Neutral

Mr. E @ Jun 16th 2008 7:30PM

Boy, I sure hope iLikeHD and retro77 don't represent the typical attitude of today's home video consumers. You guys remind me of someone I saw on avsforum who actually said something like "Anything released on Blu-ray should be in widescreen, since that's what HD is." My jaw about hit the floor when I thought of the implications of chopping a movie like Citizen Kane or Gone With the Wind just so someone didn't have to endure the horror of a 4:3 presentation. Take a look at the AFI top 100 list, and you'll see a lot of "old films" on there. There's a reason for that: They are excellent movies that have stood the test of time, unlike most of the dreck released each year.

There is room for all kinds of titles in the home media market. I for one welcome classics on Blu-ray, since what I used to dislike about classic movies wasn't the fact that they were old, but that they were such poor quality, generally, that I just didn't enjoy watching them. Warner, above just about anyone else, has been releasing excellent transfers of their classic catalog, and I'm buying and enjoying them, despite the fact that they were created before I was born.

Now I'm certainly not going to jump at some schlocky, crappy film that's being sold cheap just because it accidentally fell into the public domain. But if it's a quality film, with a quality presentation, I'll be all over it regardless of when it was originally released.

As for the movies mentioned here, Beat the Devil has a rottentomatoes T-meter critic score of 78, and The Last Time I Saw Paris scored 83%. To me, if they are quality transfers (I'll watch for reviews), then that's enough critical acclaim to check them out, especially for $12 or under.

Highly Ranked

mntwister @ Jun 16th 2008 11:42PM

Truthteller-always a negative from you....how about a few times just agreeing with...hmmmm....anyone?

Anyway, I am very excited to see more classics come out on blu-ray. This is when I will really start buying the titles. When we get titles like Ben Hur, Sound of Music, Exodus, Ten Commandments, King and I, and all those glorious productions, I'll be very content.

Neutral

Mark @ Jun 17th 2008 4:52AM

Most of the major studios have restoration projects on the go. Looking forward to Lawrence of Arabia myself.

Neutral

SimbaDogg @ Jun 17th 2008 1:36PM

This last summer i just saw lawrence of arabia, ben hur for the first time...though patton isn't nearly as old, i still consider that a classic too. LOVE the movies, just wish they weren't so damn long.

Highly Ranked

Mark @ Jun 17th 2008 4:51AM

Your cynicism is very odd. There are plenty of classic movies on blu ray and plenty more coming. A whole raft of independent and small distributors have made announcements that will ensure plenty of classic / arthouse / cult releases appearing. People are looking forward to Criterion's entry especially. Yet on the basis that a few old titles don't appeal to a few blog members you entirely dismiss the entire format. You do realise that it is things like this that demonstrate blu ray's growing maturity don't you? Of course you do though you can't admit it. I think you have a deep seated hatred of the format and raging on every single piece of news is your very peculiar way of dealing with it.

Highly Ranked

XDragon @ Jun 17th 2008 7:03AM

Everthing is always bad to you. How about that it is possible to release movies on Blu-Ray for cheap and that the variety is increasing? 1 guy slams the movies for being old and a few actually are interested. Theres a lot more grey area then you're willing to admit. This isn't a big turning point or a slam in your face, its just news continuing to move in the right direction even is its not fast enough for you. If you want to be taken seriously, you have to be a bit more reasonable and constructive. I'm not saying you have to start praising or being a big supporter, but you need to chose your battles a bit better. You're negative with good, nutral and bad news and no one respects that. I remember 1 time where you were actually constructive, rational and probably telling the truth of how you feel and people respected that post. Don't become one of those guys that always has to say something bad when theres any relation to a perticular topic because thats the same as being a troll. It would really help you if you stopped making the last line of you posts a comment like gritting teeth, reaping wha you sow, you're getting what you suppoted...blah blah because it makes you look foolish even if its how you feel. There's better ways to make a point where you can actually exist without people automatically writing anything you say off.
I'm not trying to argue with you or pick a fight, I'm just telling you some ways to stay on the same side of the fence you're already on while allowing yourself to be taken seriously. I don't think Blu-Ray is perfect and you do raise some good points from time to time but for the most part, they get lost because you start ranting and hating even when its not called for.

Highly Ranked

DVD4ME @ Jun 17th 2008 7:46AM

There are classic movies and then there is this dish up of gabage. It doesn't matter what format you support, if this lot pulls your chain, then you lot need to get out more!

Neutral

James @ Jun 17th 2008 8:41AM

The best movies ever made were made during the 40's and 50's.

If I had to rank my favourite movies of all-time, 80% of them would be in B&W.

Neutral

Achilles @ Jun 17th 2008 9:01AM

I guess that's something...... Not sure how these old movies will look in Blu-Ray and how such older titles were encoded for Blu. Whatever works, I guess. It can't hurt. You don't like them, don't buy them. It's that simple.

Neutral

DEEZNUTZ @ Jun 17th 2008 10:01AM

@ TT

"The 'PS3 demographic', looked deeply puzzled, scoffed, lifted a leg, farted and nonchalantly scratched it's danglies and then went off to find an 'exciting' new action movie like Spiderman 4, 5, 6, 7 etc etc etc."

Yup, while you sit in your parents basement watching a gimped version of AMERICAN GANGSTER on HD DVD for the 486th time cause theres nothing else being released on your dead format of choice. Grow up.

Neutral

Truth Teller @ Jun 17th 2008 10:57AM

@ DEEZNUTZ

Deny it all you like but iLikeHD and retro77 summed it up perfectly without any prompting from me.

It's the catch 22 of the mess the Blu-ray CEs have created
(tho it's mostly down to Sony through the PS3).

The PS3 demographic largely 'demands' a certain kind of movie, cue the endless Spiderman cr@p etc etc.

The real quality stuff will therefore be at a premium and be unlikely to do especially well.

Sorry you guys think an honest appraisal of the situation is 'negative' but if you can't abide the truth of the situation then that's your problem.

Plenty of us have warned since day 1 what was likely to happen.

It could only end up a total horrific mess
(to any genuine movie lovers)
it was always a stupid idea to try to establish a movie format on a game console & by extension giving so much influence to the game console kiddies.

Reap what you sow.

Neutral

DrXym @ Jun 17th 2008 5:29PM

Sorry baby, but there a plenty of films in all genres and the very story you chose to bawl about demonstrates that. Yet again you have launched into some pathetic rant against Blu Ray because your own precious format died. Grow up baby.

Neutral

Truth Teller @ Jun 17th 2008 8:01PM

Another pathetically weak attempt at trolling.

Howls of derisive laughter.

Neutral

DrXym @ Jun 18th 2008 5:24AM

No baby it's not trolling. That's what you do when you jump onto any blu ray topic and start bawling your eyes out. It's funny how you piss and moan that blu ray is for "ps3 kiddies" only and yet you piss and moan on every single thread that shows a burgeoning market for classic / cult movies. Grow up little baby your precious format lost.

Highly Ranked

newguy @ Jun 17th 2008 11:02AM

The only way this will get viewed with blu-ray’s current fan base will be to bundle them with GTA IV or another hot PS3 game. Then you will be able to find copies at every GameStop, EB Games, and used movie trading store for about $5.00.
If you look at the movies that actually sell on blu these would not make the top 50. This is Stupid because the MAJORITY does not care about these titles. They could be $9.99 and they still would not appeal to blu-ray’s market. The BDA or whomever needs to lower prices across the board and CE manufactures need to create a stand alone player that everyone can enjoy, for now and 30 days from now.

Neutral

SimbaDogg @ Jun 17th 2008 1:31PM

you obviously aren't not a fan of cinema

Neutral

DrXym @ Jun 17th 2008 3:12PM

The point, newguy is that the rights to these old B grade movies can be had for peanuts. Give them a no-frills transfer and flog them cheap. Same thing happened on DVD too - Carlton (a UK firm) made a range of no-frills classic movies for about half the price of regular DVDs. Doesn't say anything about their quality but presumably it's profitable or there wouldn't be firms doing it.

Neutral

tifosiotaku @ Jun 17th 2008 11:15AM

For the bazillionth time, I ask: Yoo-hoo, mods, where are you guys?

Neutral

Frankenstein Black @ Jun 17th 2008 12:04PM

Movies that are too old? Man are you missing out. Gangsta is Richard Widmark throwing a wheel chair bound old lady down a flight of stairs! And you thought today’s flicks were hardcore. Meh! So now that I got your attention, beg me for the title of this 50s suspense thriller gem ;^)...

Neutral

SimbaDogg @ Jun 17th 2008 1:25PM

give me the king and i, the treasure of sierra madre...

i can't believe i want these films, since i'm part of Truth Tellers ps3 kiddie console demographic

Neutral

Truth Teller @ Jun 17th 2008 3:07PM

@ tifosiotaku

"For the bazillionth time"..... your tedious little vendetta is laughable and getting you nowhere.

Clearly you just can't stand it when someone points out the awkward facts.

You (or anyone else) can sanctimoniously stand & claim that 'the PS3 demographic' means nothing to you personally.

That's nice, really great, very interesting and all of that.

Sadly tho it does matter to marketing types and those making decisions on where the format is headed.

Shame you find that such shocking (if obvious) comment that you want it banned.

Maybe that ludicrous blu-ray.com site and its devout one-eyed perspective is more your style?

Minesweeper adventure game in the works for OneBigGame 2009 Gran Turismo Awards choose 1970 Ford Mustang 'Trans-Cammer' for inclusion in GT5 Criterion-developed Need for Speed coming 'next year'	Droid Does... only have 256MB of storage for apps With AdMob purchase, there's really no escaping Google advertising now Windows 7 security defeated by 8 out of 10 malware applications
Shacking up: iPhone sales plan at RadioShack sparks rally British carrier O2 to unlock out-of-contract iPhones Shazam offers paid app, downscales free version	Ray of light: U.S. temp worker hiring increased by 34k in October Cameron International: Pull-back is an opportunity Twenty years ago today, economic freedom returned to Eastern Europe
Xbox 360 Fancast 142 -- ODSB XBLM Deal of the Week: Saints Row 2 DLC Crackdown HDD installation now available	VIDEO: BMW M3 GTS takes to the track CR&S DUU Concept is a mototerminator for the rest of us Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 11.9.09
New Left 4 Dead patch adds 4 on 4 competitive matchmaking Atari confirms February 2 launch date for Star Trek Online Even more hints on a Medal of Honor "revitalization"	Fed-Up K.C. Ownership Pushed to Act FanHouse Preview: Steelers at Broncos Larry Johnson Released, Redskins Already Expressing Interest