By now the news is all over the place. For those who haven't heard, in an unprecedented move, Warner Home Video, have launched a new DVD line called Warner Archive. Sold exclusively through the WHV website, the series will make available thousands of titles (eventually) that have otherwise not appeared on DVD and, in some cases, even home video. Amazing! The downside is that the discs will be burned as DVD-Rs rather than pressed as commercial DVDs normally are. This has many consumers concerned about the overall quality and longevity of the discs. WHV head honcho George Feltenstein assures the fanbase that these discs will be up to the standard we have come to expect from Warner--the process being used will yield better results than one could get making home DVD recordings off of TCM. Feltenstein and WHV's reputation being what it is, I, for one, believe him. Additionally, the films will be presented in their original aspect ratios, but extra features are slim to none and the artwork leaves something to be desired. However, all films will come with full packaging. Still, the $20 price tag seems high. Check out tonight's WHV/Home Theater Forum chat transcript. The Warner folks always have their eyes on the goings on at HTF so I have to believe they've read my pleas for Dusty and Sweets McGee there!
The archive site is being regularly updated, with more titles added, it seems, by the hour. They are up to 155 at latest count. The goal, WHV says, is to eventually make the entire Warner catalog available. The company will not abandon its regular releases, thankfully, and some Archives titles may eventually be upgraded to standard release status (you've been warned!).
There are so many titles I would like to pick up, but with the prices being what they are, and the overall quality still unknown, I'm proceeding cautiously. Still, it's hard not to get a bit giddy. I never thought I'd see Dusty and Sweets McGee released!
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