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Universal Studios Celebrates Its Centennial In Style!
Nordling here.
2012 is Universal Studio's 100th birthday, and they're celebrating it just right. The studio will be restoring 13 classic films from their catalog, releasing new 100th Anniversary Editions on DVD and Blu-Ray, and redoing their logo in theatres, which will first appeal in March in front of DR> SEUSS'S THE LORAX.
The 13 films being restored are: ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, THE BIRDS, BUCK PRIVATES, DRACULA (1931), DRACULA (Spanish, 1931), FRANKENSTEIN, JAWS, SCHINDLER'S LIST, OUT OF AFRICA, PILLOW TALK, BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, THE STING, and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. I really hope that these new 4K restorations get some kind of theatrical release. I'd imagine JAWS, re-released today, would make a sizable amount of money, and the idea of seeing some of the Universal Monsters features on the big screen would be something too good to pass up.
You can check out more at Universal's Tumblr site, which has the new logo and will be posting information about events throughout the year. It's nice to see a studio treating their catalog releases with real respect, and Universal has brought so much joy and amazing cinema throughout the years that their celebration is well-deserved. I think I speak for all of us when I say... "You may have thought it was safe to go back into the water in the summer of 2012... but you'd be wrong. July 4th weekend, come see JAWS as it was meant to be seen." Am I right?
Nordling, out.
Readers Talkback
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Jan. 10, 2012, 12:18 p.m. CST
First, I would watch any of those films in the theater.
by CullenisPrime
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You know like AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS or THE DARK TOWER? No? Just more BATTESHIP garbage? Alrighty then.
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What ever.....
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I would love to see Jaws on the big screen. I was less than a year old when it was released.
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better celebrate while we can before the reset button gets pushed for this planet
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I was also going to make a Greedo-shoots-first joke regarding Frankenstein's monster tossing the little girl in the water, but she tossed the flowers first so...
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Jan. 10, 2012, 12:35 p.m. CST
A 30th Anniversary restored print of E.T The Extra Terrestrial would be nice. Original 1982 edition of course...
by ChickenStu
That would nicely whet our appetites for the blu-ray.
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Jan. 10, 2012, 12:36 p.m. CST
But will we finally get a letterboxed DVD/Blu-Ray of 'Death Becomes Her?'
by Kamaji
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Jan. 10, 2012, 12:39 p.m. CST
Nordling-Have you watched any Universal Blurays of their classic films?
by Samuel Fulmer
Many of the "restored" ones suffer from heavy doses of DNR and the wax dummy effect (see the Spartacus Bluray). Believe me if these are done right (and by right I mean not removing every ounce of grain) then this is good news.
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Jan. 10, 2012, 12:53 p.m. CST
Right on, Nordling. Promoted correctly, I think would see good profit from a Summer "Jaws" release and a Halloween Monsters event.
by The Reluctant Austinite
Promotion is key. I don't think you could just drop any of those films into multiplexes and get the cell phone crowd to show up, but if promoted as something special focused on the digital remastering and not just on historical significance but on how good the films are and encouraging a shared cinema experience, then I think a good theatrical profit is possible. It wouldn't hurt to take an example from Tim League and add a little showmanship and gimmicks to the experience. Theater giveaways and programs would help.
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..without a doubt.
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Jan. 10, 2012, 1:02 p.m. CST
I'd love to see it, but I don't see Jaws making a bunch of money if re released
by JGer
Sure people frequenting this web site would rush to see it, but true rereleases, with no bells and whistles (3d, "special editions") seem to be limited to kiddie flicks. Movie die hards alone might be enough to propel a Jaws rerelease to some sort of box office oomph but I fear it would be just the purists who would go out of their way to see it in the theater, everyone has seen it in some form (cable, dvd, etc.). I watch Jaws once a week pretty much, so I'd be there w/ bells on, but I have little faith in the masses, especially when Devil Inside makes 30plus million in one week.
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Any idea why the fuck they changed it? The old one was completely magical and one of my favorite musical pieces of all time. The one they have now is totally boring by comparison.
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Here's hoping Universal has struck a deal finally with the guys who made the "The Shark is Still Working" doc. I still never got a chance to see it the few times it popped up.
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Jan. 10, 2012, 1:09 p.m. CST
WOULD LOVE TO TAKE MY KIDS TO SEE AN E-T RE-RELEASE. DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY STUDIOS DON'T DO MORE RE-RELEASES OF BACK CATALOG.
by Buck Turgidson
You'd think it'd be a no-brainer for risk-averse studios.
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I wonder if they could reproduce the old silver screen quality of 35mm nitrate stock for Dracula and Frankenstein?
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And stop green lightning shitty movies. Nice new logo.
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In Whedon we trust!
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Jan. 10, 2012, 1:21 p.m. CST
No Creature From The Black Lagoon? Where's the love
by openthepodbaydoorshal
for the ol' gillman? Or how about The Incredible Shrinking Man? Thats one of my all time '50s sci-fi favories...
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Jan. 10, 2012, 1:41 p.m. CST
But will they bring back their classic rides in their theme parks???
by Tikidonkeypunch
A new Back to the Future but with the capabilities of Star Tours?
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Jan. 10, 2012, 1:46 p.m. CST
Great films....although I ain't so thrilled with Out of Africa
by Damned if I can login
I know, a lot of people loved it. Me...not so much. I found it long and boring. But it won the Oscar. Against The Color Purple. Make of that what you will......
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I would read it. Because every now and again, CTM comes up with fucking gold nugget idea and shows a rather deep understanding of movies....you just have to wade through his FACT!!!s and flaming.
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Jan. 10, 2012, 2:08 p.m. CST
dangerdave, I can think of 10 people here off of the top of my head I'd rather see that from first before Creepythinwords
by Talkbacker with no name
FACT!
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Maybe we'll get a DVD column on it in two weeks
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Jan. 10, 2012, 2:46 p.m. CST
and to celebrate all these films we will remake them all!
by chien_sale
bwahahaha!
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CALM and MURDER??
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And see if you get a cease and desist letter.
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Re-release Fear and Loathing, dammit! It's the only decent film besides JPark that they made in the 90's.
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Jan. 10, 2012, 3:46 p.m. CST
jger - Alien and Excoscist both did well enough in their re-releases. I bet Jaws would do even better.
by JediRob
Release that puppy round 4th of July!
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Oh dear...
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There's been conjecture as to what they're going to replace the Jaws Ride at Universal Studios Orlando with. The common rumor is that it's going to be more Harry Potter shit that they already have but Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas makes perfect sense! Jaws was a water ride but it also had a carnival sort of land around it, supposedly Amity. Convert all of that to Las Vegas and the ride could be a fucked up psychedelic trip in bat country. I realize that all the attractions at Universal aren't necessarily Universal properties but I'm betting that's preferable.
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Back To The Future Part III
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Jan. 10, 2012, 4:20 p.m. CST
Go watch TINTIN and WAR HORSE now! SUPERB FILMMAKING BY a great master
by Proman1984
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And I'd just like to see a Universal logo use a globe with f***ing clouds for a change. I'm just saying.
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Jan. 10, 2012, 4:22 p.m. CST
and yeah, I would absolutely love to see Jaws in theaters for the first time
by Proman1984
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Frankenstein, Jaws, & The Sting in theaters. Maybe a few others.
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RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
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Jan. 10, 2012, 5:07 p.m. CST
Jaws would do fine in a limited engagement like they did Wargames a few years ago.
by P
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Make it so. NO 3D!
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Girls should be aware of the originals
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I bet Anonymous want to know, Harry.
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Jan. 10, 2012, 6:05 p.m. CST
wadi77 - agreed on E.T. It's one of Universal's most iconic fucking movies - and is celebrating it's own 30th anniversary this year!
by ChickenStu
That film was a fucking GIANT on it's release. It became an instant pop icon and immediatly entered the public conciousness. Universal cannot ignore this one...
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I remember the first time I saw the new logo, it was at the BTTF 3 premiere, they showed all three films in sequence, and the new logo, with the transition from all the previous versions, was a thrill all in itself.
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One of the greatest.
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As part of the 100 years anniversary celebration. But I guess they're just not doing a 4k restoration for it and probably just use the old 2002 transfer. Which is sad if true.
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Jan. 10, 2012, 6:32 p.m. CST
Today's prices for Yesterday's produce? Save your money and go to Retro theaters that aren't a part of the studio chains monopoly. Don't be fooled by nostalgia.
by seansarto
No way I would help more mom and pop theaters be bullied out of their domain so these cash whores can stomp on their ground. Universal, you can't go back.
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Jan. 10, 2012, 7:52 p.m. CST
Holy crap, it would be so freaking awesome if they re-released Jaws in theaters.
by Yelsaeb
Man, I hope that happens.
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Jan. 10, 2012, 7:54 p.m. CST
Dude, it would be so freaking awesome if they re-released any of those in the theaters.
by Yelsaeb
Make it happen, Universal!
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I just came a little.
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A Comcast Company. Nobody deserves to have that tagged on them. Hell, even Comcast is mostly called XFinity anymore since Comcast carries such vitriol with the name.
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Because they can charge $4 more per ticket.
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why 13 in the first place? am I missing some deep significance of the number, regarding the centennial? and, like others before, I completely and wholeheartedly agree that they more than dropped the fucking ball in dissing E.T. out of the roster. Schindler, Africa, and Privates could -should - have easily been bumped out in its favor.Jurassic Park could -probably should- have been in those slots, instead. And I'm no Spielberg apologist (I really didn´t dig Tintin at all, just like most of his latter work) but the man was- and will always remain- a genius in that span between Jaws and E.T. Concerning Birds, I'm all for the Hitchcock love but if hard-pressed to pick just one out of his entire oeuvre- presumably, his most iconic- I´d´ve gone with either Psycho or, his very best in my opinion, Rear Window. They probably are not Universal releases, but, sorry, I´ve got no time to check.
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The 1990-97 logo was by far my favorite. Can still remember the feeling of seeing it at the beginning of Jurassic Park. The current logo is frankly not that great. The fanfare and look just can't match the prior version.
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just dont understand "A comcast company" WTF since when i always thought universal pictures was it's own seperate entity...?
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Jan. 10, 2012, 9:37 p.m. CST
If The Lion King reissue could do $100+ million...
by Nasty In The Pasty
...then a well-advertised reissue of Jaws, timed to the summer beach season, could be a TREMENDOUS hit for very little financial risk. That's why it baffles me why so few wide theatrical reissues happen anymore...why blow $100 million on a so-so Conan The Barbarian remake that'll be lucky to make back half of that budget when you can just reissue the original film for the cost of a few thousand new prints? Hype it up as a "two weeks only!" event, and audiences would come pouring in...both nostalgia-seeking parents and their curious teenage kids.
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Including a Rear Window pavilion with these binoculars you could look at all the different windows and a psychedelic Vertigo thing, a Psycho live show, a bio of Hitchcock by Anthony Perkins and a 3D short film with clips from his movies in 3D, ending with 3D birds flying at everyone. They replaced it with Shrek.
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Wasn't Universal's 75th anniversary in 1990? Wouldn't that make their 100th anniversary in 2015? And if that's so, should the new logo including a flying delorean?
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Jan. 10, 2012, 11:31 p.m. CST
Universal Studios should make a new branch and have it be just classics
by Xen11
Basically what the original Universal Studios is, but since they raped it, they should just make a new park for the classics. Bring the Back To The Future ride back. What the fuck were they thinking? It's the best ride that was ever there.
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Jan. 10, 2012, 11:32 p.m. CST
Did they ever have a Cafe '80s at Universal Studios theme park? Or would have been pointless since it was the '80s?
by Xen11
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This makes the decision to close the Jaws ride at Universal Orlando even more ludicrous
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I've heard some rumblings about that and apparently Spielberg is working on it. From what I can gather it's going to be bought up to scratch for the format, and will only be the 1982 version of the film. Spielberg recently disowned the 2002 20th Anniversary Edition, and has pretty much said it will NOT be on the blu-ray... I'm happy about that! :-) I don't think it's a port from the 2002 DVD. What I'm really hoping for is new extras... including ALL the deleted scenes.
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Hi. I'm a film and media archivist, please do my field and the rest of the cinefile community a favor and use the term restoration and remastering correctly. A 4K scan of a film negative is not a restoration, it's a remaster or transfer job, even if the pesky dirt and scratches are taken out. Popular titles like these were restored on film years ago at Universal. Happy to see this stuff on a digital format for new theatrical ventures, but that's all it really is - a new format.
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Hi. I'm a film and media archivist, please do my field and the rest of the cinefile community a favor and use the term restoration and remastering correctly. A 4K scan of a film negative is not a restoration, it's a remaster or transfer job, even if the pesky dirt and scratches are taken out. Popular titles like these were restored on film years ago at Universal. Happy to see this stuff on a digital format for new theatrical ventures, but that's all it really is - a new format.
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Jan. 11, 2012, 1:13 p.m. CST
The greatest version of the Universal intro was Scott Pilgrim.
by Royston Lodge
FACT!
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I've had the pleasure of seeing several of the great restorations on the big screen, including Vertigo. It was stunning.
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Yeah, I'm sure it helps to be part of the worst rated cable company in America, when it comes to customer satisfaction (per Consumer Reports). If I go pay for a ticket to a Universal movie now, will the usher kick me in the balls and rob me blind? Would fit right in with the mother-ship's corporate ethos.
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...when it comes to movies, Universal seems to have fallen completely off the map, that they seem almost irrelevant. WTH happened to them?
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Audio is being remastered and digitally cleaned up. The video is the film restoration universal competed years ago, with additional digital cleanup and restoration. I get what you're saying that it it not "film restoration", but it's additional digital restoration and (ultimately) film preservation.
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