Shout! Factory

[Serum]

As a moderator I know that I really ought to post this sort of thing in the "Petitions for a Blu-Ray Release" thread, but given the overall silence that has fallen over the community lately, I think it's necessary to step things up a notch.

Shout! Factory is a company that has started distributing big studio obscure titles on Blu-Ray, most notably the infamous Phantasm II: The Ball is Back and now, the long coveted Blu-Ray (or proper DVD, even) release of Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie. Both of those titles are from Universal, they've released other obscure titles from the 70s, 80s and 90s on Blu-Ray and DVD such as George Romero's Day of the Dead and even films like the first three Amityville Horror movies, The Video Dead and Night of the Comet.

Many of these movies have big distribution names: Universal, Warner Brothers, Metro Goldwyn Mayer and I think there may even be a few Miramax (a subsidary of DIsney) movies that have been put on Shout! Factory's Blu-Ray discs. That said, the quality of these Blu-Ray releases are outstanding, I own several of them myself. They have a plethora of special features to behold, most notably on the Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie release which features over a half hour of deleted footage from the film that was thought (hitherto) to be lost.

I think that if we need to be writing letters to anybody about getting the Super Mario Bros. movie a proper Blu-Ray release, we need to look no further than these guys. If the Criterion Collection can get movies from the Mouse in their library, then so can Shout! Factory.

[ultimateemail5000]

This sounds like a really good idea. I agree with serum. If they did listen it wouldn't be the first time they had a Mario license, as they originall released all of Nintendo's cartoons, treated them with a good release, and they had a nice handful of bonus material.

[Serum]

Exactly, let's all think of some thoughtful things we can put in an email to Shout! Factory and see if they'll give us the Blu-Ray release we've been waiting for, for so long.

[Redstar]

I wish it were that easy. We're still hoping that Roland will be able to get together some footage. He doesn't know where it may be if it even exists.

We can still try. A remastered release is better than no release at all.

[Serum]

I wish it were that easy. We're still hoping that Roland will be able to get together some footage. He doesn't know where it may be if it even exists.

We can still try. A remastered release is better than no release at all.

Exactly, which is why I suggested these guys. They could probably even do some scouting to help people like Roland Joffe find the lost footage. It doesn't have to be in perfect condition, but as long as it's watchable, that's all that matters. And if by some miracle a master print of the original two and a quarter hour cut exists-- all the better. I really think that the greatest ray of hope shines with Shout! Factory for a proper Blu-Ray release.