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article last updated on
3.16.2003
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What is
Superbit Deluxe™?  If
you are already familiar with Columbia TriStar Home
Entertainment's (CTHE) line of Superbit DVD releases, then you know that
they are a
series of DVD releases that optimizes picture and sound quality by
using all of the available disc capacity to increase the average
video bit rate to about 6-7 Mbps, and to include a DTS
soundtrack and a 448 Kbits/sec Dolby
Digital soundtrack. If not, be sure to
read our original Superbit DVD feature first. This is a follow-up feature
article on the Superbit DVD series.
Since
all of the disc capacity is devoted to presenting the best possible
picture and sound, there is no room for bonus features in the
Superbit single-disc releases. This puts DVD enthusiasts in a
quandary. They have to choose between the standard DVD release
(with bonus features but lower bit rates for picture and no DTS
soundtrack option) or
a Superbit release. Or shell out double the money and buy both versions. Well
now there's a better solution. Columbia TriStar listened to
the needs of DVD enthusiasts and collectors and decided to begin
releasing a new
Superbit Deluxe DVD series, as two-disc sets. Yes, Superbit DVD fans can
now have their high
performance DVD transfers and their bonus features!
Columbia TriStar announced the first of the new Superbit Deluxe DVD
releases for May 28,
2002. More on the titles in just a
second. As
you probably guessed, the Superbit Deluxe 2-disc series will devote the first disc
to just
the feature film, keeping
with
the mantra of the original Superbit series. The second disc will
contain the bonus features that are previously released on the standard
or Special Edition DVD. Generally, don't expect any new bonus
features above and beyond those provided with the standard or Special Edition DVD.
In fact, if the standard or Special Edition contained a
feature-length
audio commentary, it would omitted from the Superbit Deluxe release
to conserve disc capacity to maximize the bit rate for improved video and audio performance. (Remember that
feature-length
audio commentaries are usually encoded along with the feature film
as a soundtrack option.)
It's a good move on Columbia TriStar's part. Wouldn't you say?
Superbit Deluxe Releases
OK,
now for the Superbit Deluxe titles. The
first set of releases include The Patriot and Hollow Man,
and were released on May 28, 2002. Both were previously released as
Special Editions. As we discussed above,
these Superbit Deluxe DVD versions will include two discs.
The first disc contains the Superbit feature film, with the higher video bit rate, DTS and Dolby Digital
soundtracks. The second disc contains the
bonus materials previously included with those Special Edition releases.
Superbit Deluxe DVD releases
include The
Patriot and Hollow
Man
Follow on (9/17/02) Superbit Deluxe DVD
releases
include The
Mask of Zorro and Snatch
The second set of Superbit Deluxe
releases were released on September 17,
2002, and includes The
Mask of Zorro and Snatch.
Come May 27,
2003, Charlie's Angels will be released.
Like the Superbit DVD series, the
Superbit Deluxe series will primarily focus on action and science fiction
movies, targeting those titles that serious DVD enthusiasts are more
likely to collect. Stay
peeled on this space for future announcements of more Columbia
TriStar Superbit Deluxe DVD
titles. Or subscribe to
our free e-Newsletter to receive announcement by e-mail when new
Superbit Deluxe DVD titles are announced. Will
Columbia TriStar still release Superbit DVDs without bonus
materials? Depending on whether
there is enough bonus features in the previously released standard or Special
Edition DVD to warrant a second disc for a Superbit Deluxe version,
Columbia TriStar may still release the single-disc
Superbit titles. Will
Columbia TriStar release Superbit Deluxe DVDs as original releases? For
the time being, it looks like Columbia TriStar will only release
Superbit and Superbit Deluxe DVD titles that have already been
released to DVD. What would be nice is if they would release
new titles, like Black Hawk Down, in both Special Edition and
Superbit Deluxe versions on the same date. This would allow
DVD enthusiasts to have a super bit of a choice. (Sorry,
couldn't help myself.) This would be our
last suggestion for Columbia TriStar.
What movies
would you like to see released as Superbit Deluxe DVDs?  Drop
us a note and tell us what movies you would like to see released
as Superbit Deluxe DVDs from Columbia TriStar. To jog your memory,
here are some past Columbia TriStar DVD releases: In the Line of
Fire, The 6th Day,
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, The
One, Starship Troopers, The Net and
Black Hawk Down. Who knows, if certain titles are popular
among our readers, we will pass your requests
to Columbia TriStar and they may add your favorite movies to their
slate for future Superbit Deluxe releases. As we noted
above, Columbia TriStar is focusing on action and science
fiction movies for its Superbit releases. And remember, it has
to be a Columbia TriStar release, not another studios'. So let
us know.
For additional information, visit the Columbia TriStar
Superbit
DVD official web site.
Want to be notified of future Superbit
& Superbit Deluxe DVD releases? Subscribe to
our free e-Newsletter.
What do you think of the Superbit
& Superbit Deluxe DVD series? Let us know your
thoughts, send an e-mail to us at Feedback@TimeForDVD.com.
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