Bigger news than Apple TV?

The Apple debut of Apple TV a few weeks ago was a long awaited rollout. In the film world, today's debut of Final Cut Studio 2 had a much larger impact. Can I safely compare this to a rock band releasing a new cd? Yes, because Apple is taking this baby on tour across the U.S. to introduce it. Currently only eight cities are scheduled for the tour, but we can hope more will be added.

This much anticipated version of the Final Cut Production Suite comes with new versions of all the previous applications, but also includes a new application called "Color." This new software now gives editors a better tool to improve the color finishing and grading on their own. This is a great improvement from the previous methods for color correction, an effect in Final Cut. I can't wait to see what this new version has to offer.

Remake blasphemy

Well, I've been trying to convince myself that news of the latest in a long string of Hollywood remakes was merely speculation. However, after reading on cinematical.com, that production on The Birds remake aims to begin by the end of the year. I'm distraught knowing this because Hitchcock is one of my favorite filmmakers, and The Birds is a classic. One of the best things about watching the film is the use of real and stuffed birds. I can see already the use of cgi birds in the remake and cringe, this is one instance where new filmmaking techniques don't need to be applied.

Sure, in many films computer generation can create environments, stunts, and action that couldn't normally take place and the film is better for it. However, in classics, such at The Birds, the authenticity and attraction of the original can never be achieved by new techniques. I sincerely hope that if they must remake this film, that they use as little cgi as possible, just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Even more options

On the heels of my discovery of the Redbox dvd rental stations at McDonald's I recieved my new issue of PC Magazine. What timing for this issue to come as it has a good article on using broadband movie download sites. So, with the ever expanding arena of digital cinema what better time to discuss movie downloads.

While movies and television shows have been available for download for a while, linking that file on your computer to playing on your TV hasn't been an option; until now. Now with Microsoft Media Center, XBOX 360, Apple TV, and others I know I'm not even aware of ,playing that movie you downloaded on your computer on your TV is fairly simple.

Still with all the services to download movies, either by "renting" them or buying them, it's a pain in the butt to find what you want, when you want, in the quality you want. Not all studios work with certain sites and some titles expire after a few weeks, so the consumer is left having to hop between a few services to find what they desire. Facing these issues it's no wonder piracy is still the most popular, yet illegal, option. And, as was so well put in PC Mag, it would only take the combination of Hollywood and a service to offer the greatest selection and best usability to conquer this market. So, until these issues are worked out, all the gadgets to take content from the computer to the TV are just novelty.

A drive-thru McMovie?

Okay, maybe I'm behind the curve as my television watching has been cut back dramatically, but have you heard McDonald's now rents movies? I know, I thought I was seeing tings too, but believe it. This new system called the "Redbox" is appropriately a big red box vending machine where you pay $1 for one night of movie bliss. You can return the dvd to any other Redbox location you please.

I haven't actually seen a Redbox yet, but it seems like a novel idea. One dollar for one night, seems a fair price and since the box uses McDonald's locations it has endless possibilities for growth. However, since the system relies on physical disks you might be out of luck more than not. Also, with limited space it would seem the number of titles available would be minimal. Still, anything that chips away at the high prices charged by typical brick and mortar rental stores makes me happy.

Blu-Ray taking the lead

Last time I posted about the battle between HD DVD and Blu-Ray DVD it seemed the war would be a long and ardous one. However, upon a recent trip to the local video rental gallery it is fairly clear Blu-Ray has taken a huge lead in the format battle. Of the approximately 30 High Definition DVDs only six were HD DVD, and the rest Blu-Ray. As an owner of a HD DVD player it is frustrating to see a movie come out in HD only to find it is only in Blu-Ray. So, if you are looking to take the next step up in a dvd player you should probably give most of your consideration to a Blu-Ray player, or better yet wait for the price to drop on the combo player and have the best of both.

Didn't I mention this a month ago?

Well, well, it seems sometimes I do know what I'm talking about. Starting in 2008 all AMC, Cinemark, and Regal cinemas will begin the transformation to digital cinema projectors. This marks a major shift to digital projection for major theaters, while mostly indepedent theaters had been making the change until now. "The idea is to drive costs down and push delivery toward a commodity price," said Warner Bros. exec VP of distribution and technology operations Darcy Antonellis while speaking to Variety. As consumers we can hope these price savings will be passed on to us. Now if we could only stay away from the concession stand.

Media pirates gone legit.

Variety has announced that after a year of negotiations with Hollywood, the well-known piracy site BitTorrent is going legal. Having gained the support and content for television shows, movies and video games the site is set to compete with the likes of Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon among others. The popularity of the website already gives the service a headstart in competition though.

The parent company Netco is hoping that current and former users of this service will help spread support for the new legal downloading. Even with this change, pirates will still be pirates. It seems strange that with all the sites and communities for illegal downloads that creating new and transforming established sites will change the mindset. If someone wants to get an illegal copy, they're gonna get it. But, the hope is that with more and more legal download sites the prices will be driven down and the cost will be less a deterent for piracy.