Paranoid Thought: Anyone think Warner Bros will cash in on a variety of DVD releases?

[toddly6666]

For example, does anyone think Warner Bros will pull a marketing ploy by releasing a watered-down version of WATCHMEN in theaters for the purpose of multiple DVD releases? For example:

1. Have Veidt die in the theatrical release/DVD. Then release a "director's cut" with Veidt not dying.
2. No massive NYC deaths in the theatrical release/DVD. Then release a "director's cut" with massive NYC deaths.
3. A laser in the theatrical release/DVD. Then release a "director's cut" with the squid.
4. Less back story to each of the main characters on theatrical/DVD. Then release a director's cut with more back story.

Warner Bros seems to be pretty good (as well as New Line) in which they don't sucker people into buying tons of multiple DVD releases - Unrated, Extended, Special Edition, Ultimate Edition, Anniversary Edition, etc - as is the usual procedure with Fox and Universal DVD releases.

If I was a marketing executive, it is fact that ALL the DVD releases will be bought by the comic book fans. Even with fans complaining, the fans will buy all the versions released. WATCHMEN is the type of movie in which fans will eat up DVDs for a couple more minutes of scenes, or some new edits, etc. If Warner Brothers and Zach Snyder do the film the way it's supposed to be, then I only imagine one DVD disc of Watchmen (or 2-disc for Extras sake.)

 

[Overman27pj]

Nope.

If anything they will have one DVD with mutiple endings, but I get the feeling they will remain true to the book, no matter what rough draft scripts written 4 years ago say.

 

[Comic Book Boy]

There is likely to be a directors cut. But probably no multiple endings.

 

[Shifty]

I see it similiar to TDK and 300. There will be a single disc release with just the movie and commentary (HD,Blu-ray,DVD - widescreen/full) then the special 2 disc that most people will buy which will include the Tales of the Black Freighter with Gerry Butler, deleted scenes, documentaries, commentaries and perhaps alternate endings. Then collector's which will be the 2 disc with some Rorschach figurine.

 

[tzarinna]

Is that really cost effective?
I think they'll keep it simple and then screw us later on down the road in about 10 years.

 

[Shifty]

Is that really cost effective?
I think they'll keep it simple and then screw us later on down the road in about 10 years.

Well depends how the box office does. TDK, SR and 300 all had 2 or 3 simultaneous releases.

 

[tzarinna]

Those were more mainstream though.
But you're right, it really does depend on the box office results.

 

[Shifty]

Those were more mainstream though.
But you're right, it really does depend on the box office results.

Watchmen already has a bigger built in audience than 300 (which grossed more than TDK & SR in North America and was Rated R). If they're investing $100 million in the budget and will market it as the next film from the director of 300 and actually if the box office isn't spectacular they're going to want to make money on the DVDs. Don't worry you'll have your 2 disc DVD of Watchmen in July 2009.

 

[toddly6666]

hasn't the percentage of recent superhero/graphic novels turned to movies become multiple DVD releases? Here the ones I can think of:

1. Spiderman 2/2.1
2. Sin City/Extended
3. Daredevil/Director's cut
4. FF4/Extended
5. Elektra/Director's Cut
6. Superman 2/Director's Cut
7. Ghost Rider/Extended

Can anyone think of others?

 

[Joker]

hasn't the percentage of recent superhero/graphic novels turned to movies become multiple DVD releases? Here the ones I can think of:

1. Spiderman 2/2.1
2. Sin City/Extended
3. Daredevil/Director's cut
4. FF4/Extended
5. Elektra/Director's Cut
6. Superman 2/Director's Cut
7. Ghost Rider/Extended

Can anyone think of others?

Punisher/Director's Cut...X-Men/1.5...Superman/Director's Cut...

 

[Luchastyle]

Well depends how the box office does. TDK, SR and 300 all had 2 or 3 simultaneous releases.

you do mean begins don't you? because...the dark knight has not yet been released. i'm sure you know that.

 

[Luchastyle]

i don't think they will change it for theatres. it'll either be true, or it won't be true. they may cut out some scenes then add them to the dvd, but i couldn't imagine multiple endings. well, they might do the death of veidt ending, and then the real ending, to see what test audiences think. their way of compromising with snyder.

 

[StorminNorman]

hasn't the percentage of recent superhero/graphic novels turned to movies become multiple DVD releases? Here the ones I can think of:

1. Spiderman 2/2.1
2. Sin City/Extended
3. Daredevil/Director's cut
4. FF4/Extended
5. Elektra/Director's Cut
6. Superman 2/Director's Cut
7. Ghost Rider/Extended

Can anyone think of others?

Only one of those films is a DC Property -most of that is Fox's stupidity.

The Superman 2 Release is a bit different also, considering that was almost all based on fan demand and WB politics.

 

[toddly6666]

Can anyone think of any other Warner Bros DVD releases in which people would definitely buy the DVD. I mean a DVD that everyone would buy, almost a DVD that would get people to buy a DVD player. Here are the ones I can think of:

1. Matrixs
2. Batman Begins
3. 300

And considering those movies, they really made flawless DVDs the first time round.

I like Warner Bros - they tend to produce quality action films and have reliable DVDs in which one doesn't have to keep on updating. The only guarantee is that the WATCHMEN DVD will not have DTS audio.

So, has Warner Bros. ever recently screwed up a highly anticipated film?

 

[Katsuro]

If anything we'll get two versions released simulatenously. A basic version with just one disc containing the movie and only the most basic of special features, and a 2-disc edition with tons of extra features.

I doubt they'll go as far as your suggesting in regards to basically having a different movie on DVD. Alternated endings seem unlikely, it'll probably be no more than the Black Freighter stuff and some basic deleted scenes.

There's no way they'd leave out the NYC deaths like you suggest, and I really think/hope Snyder will convince the studio to let Veidt live. The squid will be changed, and that's okay. Too much backstory to explain it, a laser or something like that is simpler and serves the purpose.

 

[Roughneck]

Tdk?

 

[sad lieutenant]

For example, does anyone think Warner Bros will pull a marketing ploy by releasing a watered-down version of WATCHMEN in theaters for the purpose of multiple DVD releases? For example:

1. Have Veidt die in the theatrical release/DVD. Then release a "director's cut" with Veidt not dying.
2. No massive NYC deaths in the theatrical release/DVD. Then release a "director's cut" with massive NYC deaths.
3. A laser in the theatrical release/DVD. Then release a "director's cut" with the squid.
4. Less back story to each of the main characters on theatrical/DVD. Then release a director's cut with more back story.

Don't think anyone has to be "paranoid" about choose-your-own-adventure DVDs anymore. Not since Snyder has gone on record saying that the end of the film is going to be the same as the comic.

 

[matrix_ghost]

My guess is that WB will probably release the standard one disc & 2 disc special edition sets with a directors cut dvd containing the black freighter sequences.

However , just like many of pointed out WB is a studio that typically tends to double ( or triple..quadruple) dip. And when releasing special edition dvd's they have more extras. For the ultimate matrix collection , they had an awful lot of extras including all the Enter The Matrix scenes.

 

[Sun_Down]

For example, does anyone think Warner Bros will pull a marketing ploy by releasing a watered-down version of WATCHMEN in theaters for the purpose of multiple DVD releases? For example:

1. Have Veidt die in the theatrical release/DVD. Then release a "director's cut" with Veidt not dying.
2. No massive NYC deaths in the theatrical release/DVD. Then release a "director's cut" with massive NYC deaths.
3. A laser in the theatrical release/DVD. Then release a "director's cut" with the squid.
4. Less back story to each of the main characters on theatrical/DVD. Then release a director's cut with more back story.

Warner Bros seems to be pretty good (as well as New Line) in which they don't sucker people into buying tons of multiple DVD releases - Unrated, Extended, Special Edition, Ultimate Edition, Anniversary Edition, etc - as is the usual procedure with Fox and Universal DVD releases.

If I was a marketing executive, it is fact that ALL the DVD releases will be bought by the comic book fans. Even with fans complaining, the fans will buy all the versions released. WATCHMEN is the type of movie in which fans will eat up DVDs for a couple more minutes of scenes, or some new edits, etc. If Warner Brothers and Zach Snyder do the film the way it's supposed to be, then I only imagine one DVD disc of Watchmen (or 2-disc for Extras sake.)

So way dude, that's WAY to much to film and not include. And Snyder just came out and said he was sticking to the ending.