Warner Blu-ray "Books"

[Pirate]

Adding a collectible spin to high-def packaging, Warner has revealed plans to release ten Blu-ray titles in "book"-like editions in the coming year.

Home Media Magazine is reporting that with Warner's March 25 Blu-ray debut of Bonnie & Clyde, the studio will kick off a new line of deluxe next-gen releases geared towards the collector's market. Sure to please film buffs, the slate of ten releases will wrap the high-def picture and sound in a handsomely bound volume containing rare and never-before-seen archival material.

As previously reported details for 'Bonnie & Clyde' illustrate, the "book" houses the Blu-ray disc, and opens up to a full-color booklet with additional photographs, production notes, and vintage press kit excerpts.

Future titles earmarked by the studio to receive the "book" treatment include Dirty Harry (due June 3), as well as the as-yet-unscheduled Woodstock, Gone with the Wind, and North by Northwest.

Warner says it's also planning to re-issue some previously-released Blu-rays in "book" editions, including 'Blade Runner' and selections from the 'Harry Potter' series (dates TBA).

Note that as 'Bonnie & Clyde' is due before Warner's May HD DVD transition cut-off, the studio will release an HD DVD version of the title in the same book-style configuration on April 15, three weeks after the Blu-ray. However, all subsequent "book"-style releases from the studio will be Blu-ray only.

Warner Plans Ten Blu-ray "Book" Releases for 2008 | High-Def Digest

[ganthc]

I don't know if I like the book idea. If it fits nicely on my shelves, then I might be inclined to get them. Otherwise, if it is bulky like the HP set was, then I will say no way.

[Iguana Man]

I like the idea of this but what about cost? Isn't it a bit early to be pushing this kinda thing assuming it's more costly? Wouldn't it be better to get some prices down first?

[powerknowledge]

I'm glad to see BRD moving into other forms of packaging -- with DVD, there's something "classy" about non-clamshell packaging, like the Platinum Edition of Se7en and the LOTR EEs -- but I also worry here about the HP thing: I'm anal-retentive enough to want some kind of continuity for franchise packaging; I hope the last two installments at least offer the option of the "conventional" BRD clamshell (but if they do, I'm sure it will be at a loss of other "exclusive content": boo!).

If nothing else, though, I'll welcome a change from the marketing-driven "blue vs. red" differentiation in packaging. Right now, apart from case size, it's a nice differentiation from my SDDVDs. But in coming years, lines of blue-bordered cases is going to look pretty lame. At least more new releases aren't marring the cover art with big shiny whorls trumpeting "Beyond High Definition!" (I'm loooking at you, BVHE), and are moving away from bright blue spines as well.

[powerknowledge]

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

I like the idea of this but what about cost? Isn't it a bit early to be pushing this kinda thing assuming it's more costly? Wouldn't it be better to get some prices down first?

Yeah, that too. Unless BRD WANTS to position itself another laserdisc-esque boutique market...

[Monrozombi]

Originally Posted by powerknowledge

I'm glad to see BRD moving into other forms of packaging -- with DVD, there's something "classy" about non-clamshell packaging, like the Platinum Edition of Se7en and the LOTR EEs -- but I also worry here about the HP thing: I'm anal-retentive enough to want some kind of continuity for franchise packaging; I hope the last two installments at least offer the option of the "conventional" BRD clamshell (but if they do, I'm sure it will be at a loss of other "exclusive content": boo!).

I agree with you on this. I like the flow of BDs on my self but I really enjoy looking at the different package styles as well. The Evil Dead BOD, LOTR, Superman Tins etc are nice additions to the blandness that is most dvd releases.

The one thing that bothers me right now is the Harry Potter film box set. I haven't seen the films at all but want to get them at some point because they come recommended, but i'm not buying a box set when there are still films to be released theatrically and on BD. I refuse to buy box sets of a series of films that is not yet done being released, I wished they wouldn't put multiple box sets out

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

I like the idea of this but what about cost? Isn't it a bit early to be pushing this kinda thing assuming it's more costly? Wouldn't it be better to get some prices down first?

At least on Amazon, the discs ran about the same if you bought them all separately versus in a set. I think that any set that has additional movies coming out should have extra sleeves for them. So for the HP box, they should have included extra sleeves for the movies.

[SilentBob]

I kind of like the book look they have but i sometimes worry about the discs falling out of them. With so many movie sin my collectioni have had a few avalanches onto the floor. Thankfully with them being closed in the plastic case the disc went no where except out of the tray. So th ebook thing has me a bit worried on them issues. Although i will say i do love my RAY dvd book edition that i have.

[Derb]

That HP box set is a pos imho.

Everytime I open the set up, everything flys out. Also putting the set back together "correctly" is a challenge. Should of got them individually.

Don't like the book idea either...

[DVDdetective]

Does the disc snap into a tray or slip into a paper/plastic sleeve?

[Wirehed]

Wow, I like these a lot.

[SilentBob]

Originally Posted by DVDdetective

Does the disc snap into a tray or slip into a paper/plastic sleeve?

If they are like the Ray dvd i was talking about they snap into a tray behind the Hard cover on the front or the back

[ganthc]

I will say that if they do this thin style for TV series, I'll be a fan. I hate how my TV series have fat cases of useless plastic that takes up a lot of space.

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by DVDdetective

Does the disc snap into a tray or slip into a paper/plastic sleeve?

I just got the Bonnie and Clyde blu-ray book. The disc does rest on a normal hub. The case itself is actually very nice. The book is built right into the cover and opens over the disc. I don’t have another BD in front of me, but this case looks a bit taller than a normal BD case, but it’s not prohibitively large.

The book isn't Criterion level but still quite nice.

[ganthc]

Just don't let it be cheap packaging like with BSG: Season 1 on hd-dvd.

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by ganthc

Just don't let it be cheap packaging like with BSG: Season 1 on hd-dvd.

No, it's nice packaging. It feels like a . . . um . . . book.