Movie Box set Uk!! screwed again?

[cornholio1980]

Originally posted by I love Lyta
I bought my TV in '89. And it was a pretty cheap one too.

Well, ok, now I understand it... I don't think that NTSC-compatibility was very popular or common back then.

[Liberator]

Hi All, New boy here so hope you don't mind me jumping in.

I too live in the U.K and I can understand why my fellow brits feel cheated. Yes, we have The Gatrhering/ITB on DVD already but without commentaries or 5.1 sound .

I opted to go R1 even though I've bought the series in R2 (still waiting for season 5) for the above reasons. It was only ú29.99 from Loaded247.com with free postage AND they pay the import tax themselves, so you never get charged! That works out approx ú6 per movie - Hardly expensive!

On the JMS front, WRTWORTHY do you really think he has that much clout at WB? Remember, even when the series was on and he was writing/EP-ing it he was still getting notes "from the suits" that he had to comply with. And you've only got to look at the state of Crusade to see there was little he could do when TNT came in and F***ed with it - except bend over, grit his teeth and take it like a man .

[Capt.Montoya]

Welcome Liberator, keep jumping in on any thread you like.

Just a factual correction that doesn't deny your argument, only displaces it:
JMS didn't get many studio notes from WB after the first few seasons...

There's often a perception -- I saw it again at Wolf 359 -- that
lots and lots of people have input into the writing of the script. Not
so. I write it alone. Nobody sees nothin' until the first draft is
finished. I then show it only to WB (which hasn't given me a single
script note since episode 4, year 2), producer John Copeland (who looks
at it for any possible production headaches, too many extras or sets,
other physical elements), my partner Doug Netter (who doesn't generally
give creative notes, as per our tradition), and if necessary, Ron at
Foundation, Optic Nerve, and the director. A couple of cast members
like to look at first drafts, just out of curiosity to know what's
coming next, but don't give notes or suggestions.

(emphasis added, excerpted from post at http://jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-13450 )

>How would you characterize network interaction (notes, suggestions,
>requests, demands, etc.) that occurred in Season 1 of Babylon 5 vs. Season 1
>of Crusade?

Our scripts were reviewed at WB by our liaison, Gregg Maday, who from time to
time would call with what was basically a question. "I'm wondering if we may
need to clarify X for the audience," or "Is there some way to strengthen this
element?" In each case, the conversation was left with, "I'll leave the
disposition of this to your discretion."

The thing about Gregg's notes or suggestions were that they were generally
well-considered, thoughtful, and totally aimed at making the story work. So we
always got along great.

And by the time season 2 rolled around, we got a couple of notes on the first
couple of episodes, then that was literally that...we were on our own after
that. He trusted us to do the right thing by the story, and we never violated
that trust.

http://jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-587

The Crusade notes came from TNT, not WB, but WB did tell him to "bend over, grit his teeth and take it like a man" (ouch!!) on some of those.
It is my understanding that JMS may have been the first and only series creator given that deference.

But that is with respect to the creative process, having clout for such aspect does not mean that he has clout for the business aspect, much less having influence on the overseas division of WB.

[Liberator]

JMS didn't get many studio notes from WB after the first few seasons...

Whoops! Guess I should get my facts straight before sounding off eh?

What I was trying to say was that the fact he did get notes - first few seasons or not - show that he didn't have the clout with WB that WRTWORTHY seems to think he had/has.

The Crusade notes came from TNT, not WB

Never said the Crusade notes came from WB. Quoting myself:

...there was little he could do when TNT came in and F***ed with it

[Bonehead]

Well, as another Brit, I can totally understand the frustration. I guess for me I just learn to live with it. Sadly it is not just Dvd releases, but pretty much everything else too.

From cinema releases to computer game releases, Europe usually gets it last, or a crappier version, or both. Heck, even as a kid I remember the European toys were always marketed and packaged different from the American ones. Almost as though we were not quite so intelligent and needed simpler versions.

But life goes on. It seams to have always been that way, and shows no sign of changing. But we should remember its seems to be a general thing, not just specific to B5 or Jms.

It reminds me of the new Alien box set I saw a while back, in a fancy Alien head shaped collectors case. After a few minutes of drueling over the picture, I realised it was only available in Japan.

Btw, welcome Liberator.
I asume from your name you are a Blake's 7 fan like myself.
(And that was another dvd set that was different in the states, although if I remember correctly, we did better out of that one. I guess its swings and roundabouts.)

[Liberator]

Btw, welcome Liberator. I asume from your name you are a Blake's 7 fan like myself.

My updated Avatar should provide the answer to that

Thank's for the welcome aboard!

[circularREASON]

I can't understand what all the fuss is about really.

We already have DVD releases of TG and ITB.

Personally I can do without 2 copies of these.

Alright the 2 I have don't have the commentaries but I will get the 3 disc release anyway to finish my collection.

[grumbler]

Originally posted by Bonehead
From cinema releases to computer game releases, Europe usually gets it last, or a crappier version, or both. Heck, even as a kid I remember the European toys were always marketed and packaged different from the American ones. Almost as though we were not quite so intelligent and needed simpler versions.

But the exact opposite is true of European film and game releases, so i would argue it is in the nature of the business(es) and not in the nature of the "Americans."

I always keep this discussion in mind when being reminded on other boards of how "tunnel-visioned" Yanks are.

[Bonehead]

But the exact opposite is true of European film and game releases, so i would argue it is in the nature of the business(es) and not in the nature of the "Americans."

Yeah, as I said, I guess its swings and roundabouts.

There is, however, a priority for other countries to release to the American market first, in many things. The obvious examples are computer games, that I mentioned before. A lot of the big ones come from Japan, and America is usually playing the new releases while the Europeans are just reading about them.

Technology in general is always readily available in America before we've even heard of it. (A prime example would be broadband thats only just finally bcoming available across the uk)

But at the end of the day I put it down to the simplist common denominator. America is a gazillion times bigger than Britain, or a lot of Europe. If I was going to sell my product, I would hit the places where I could make the most money first.

And your right, its the nature of business sadly.

[WRTWORTHY]

Ok all, Im back, ok, I am angry, I perfectly in my right to be, However I think we are going to have to disagree about the fact Jms is not involved in this problem, Just seems mad that he announces DVD's but only for US.

The Whole R1 and R2 argument, I THINK your missing the Entire Point, this about the PrincipleÆs of the whole thing, not if I can do it not, Yes I can get R1 but thatÆs not the point, we should have in R2. if you people cant see that well...your watching the wrong show (as B5 is all about Principals, and not going to argue this point either)

Oh and to add salt to the wound, I pop into HMV and you never guess what, they have SEASON 1 in the season 4 box style, Season 1 in now in separate boxes.....I would not mind but ive not long brought the dame thing and now they have changed it!! for goodness shake, how much more can they screw up releasing the DVD!!

[Doktor]

Zzzzzzzz.......zzzzzzzzzz.........zzzzzzzzz....... ...zzzzzzzzz.......

[colonyearth]

Originally posted by WRTWORTHY
Ok all, Im back, ok, I am angry, I perfectly in my right to be, However I think we are going to have to disagree about the fact Jms is not involved in this problem, Just seems mad that he announces DVD's but only for US.

The Whole R1 and R2 argument, I THINK your missing the Entire Point, this about the PrincipleÆs of the whole thing, not if I can do it not, Yes I can get R1 but thatÆs not the point, we should have in R2. if you people cant see that well...your watching the wrong show (as B5 is all about Principals, and not going to argue this point either)

Oh and to add salt to the wound, I pop into HMV and you never guess what, they have SEASON 1 in the season 4 box style, Season 1 in now in separate boxes.....I would not mind but ive not long brought the dame thing and now they have changed it!! for goodness shake, how much more can they screw up releasing the DVD!!

Wrtwrothy,

Once more allow someone with knowledge of the entertainment industry and how it works to finally and without reservation let you know:

JMS has not one ounce of control over the DVD's...he doesn't and never will...he has no control over WHV or WB in general...he can state publicly his displeasure over such things, but given that he probably doesn't want to bite, nibble or gnarl on the hand that's feeding him millions of dollars to produce a B5 film right now...don't expect him to jump up and down and pitch a hissy fit over this. But even if he DID, IT WOULD MAKE NO DIFFERENCE! JMS has not the tiniest bit of power over this situation. So STOP BLAMING HIM!!!!!!

So...did I make that pretty clear? Yeah...that was...um...pretty...um...plain spoken. He should understand that one....right?

Right?

Guys...?


*CE looks around to find no one in sight*

Hello?



CE

[Joseph DeMartino]

And the reason JMS is able to post information about US DVD releases is that those are the first one produced (by Warner Home Video in Burbank) and they're the ones that he records the commentaries for and approves the artwork for. WHV in the U.S. actually keeps him in the loop, and he's able to pass along information to fans. (Although even then he doe NOT announce information while it is still under embargo. He didn't tell us the first season DVDs were coming until a third party broke the embargo. He didn't give us the R1 release date until Amazon.com accidentally posted it. He told us that the movie set and Crusade were coming, but not the dates.

So this statement:

Just seems mad that he announces DVD's but only for US.

Is simply, factually, WRONG. This is not a matter of degree or opinion or something we can "agree to disagee on". JMS never did what you assert he did, and doesn't have the power (as CE repeated above) that you claim he does. You keep asserting things ("it is JMS's show", "JMS announces the R1 DVD releases") that are untrue, unsupported by anything except your own idiosyncratic belief and then you build an argument on these unthruths. And your response when your mistakes are pointed out is to repeat your (emotional) argument. This is simply not rational behvior.

Regards,

Joe

[WRTWORTHY]

I suspose I should of expected you guys to nit pick, I dont care if you think JSM is not inloved, but he should come out and state his displeasure, but hey why should he care about his EU fans huh? probley dont b ring much money in for him anyway!

[Capt.Montoya]

WRT pointlessness

My best wishes for you to find happiness in the things that matter and for any future B5 related releases to be up to your standards WRTWORTHY...
I'd still look for your opinions on any other topic, just not when you complain.
Just remember that silence doesn't mean acquiescence...

------------

With Respect To pointlessness...

I said it in a different thread: I can't sympathize with WRTWORTHY anymore, because he only comes in to complain.
(Note: this comment is not true for anyone else, I think some got the wrong impression I also referred to them with that, I didn't and I'm not. I sympathize with the problems the EU fans are going through, I don't sympathize with the way one fan expresses on those issues)

I could comment on more of WRTWORTHY's points, but it's pointless.

The facts are there, for anyone willing to learn them, but some people won't let any fact stand on the way of their opinions...

Sometimes replying may be necessary WRT representing the truth, but it certainly is not a WORTHY endeavour when replying to people that refuse to acknowledge any point of view differing from theirs...