I'll not be buying the Dorado blu, too expensive and it's not even a real remaster as far as I know? Just a HD scan of a cinema print, which isn't that much of a step up from the DVD we already have. I've ordered The Climber blu though.
i've tried questioning a couple of companies trying the direct sales route on BD's they're producing, and am not having a lot of luck getting a matter-of-fact response that's detailed and satisfactory with what are being touted (sometimes packaged as) special editions with lavish packaging or simply numbered sleeves and coloured cases. seems to me audio and picture quality are very much lost issues, all too often.
it instinctively makes me unhappy, given that it's apparently anti-competitive and offers cover for poorer work that won't be subjecting itself to such a large audience off the bat. unfortunately, i can see enough people willing to accept sub-par discs at high prices (or little extra beyond a later standard edition) if they're sold initially in expensive limited editions - many presentations look poor in retrospect, but accepting or not arguing for better prior to release of a disc that can still be worked on and is asking a price that would be more than enough for other companies to get surprising spot-on with their restorations.
not following a widely-held model that allows buyers to vote with their wallet and spread their budget amongst various possible releases will surely narrow the range and distort the appreciation or viability of many projects for the sake of foregoing the concern or nervousness of a few who don't mind risking pulling up the ladder behind themselves.
it feeds into attitudes far more negatively than pointing out great examples of very obscure films with superb discs (often made by non-USA companies) that were done with little fanfare and no great issue made of the price or limitation in it's outlets (except in overall numbers maybe) often go relatively under-the-radar with the bigger USA audience for producing, selling and consuming discs.
dorado, for those of us who weren't their output until now, have apparently been around for decades. so far, their discs aren't impressing me. their knowledge of what's achieved and aimed for with very similar films (with arguably very much the same fanbase) being released elsewhere seems patchy at best. the reactions to the BD releases they've so far done make me wish that the films they've managed to license could have been picked up one or more other labels that i think would approach things differently.
