The Taxi DRIVER 4K Steelbook Announcement And Why It SUCKS For Collectors!

Hello what's up? Welcome everyone back to the mid-level media channel. I'm Ken and today guys we're going to talk about the 4K

steelbook

for

taxi

driver

s that Sony just announced and look, I'm glad that

taxi

driver

s are getting a standalone 4K, but no. There are some issues here that I want to delve into specifically among the community of

collectors

and

collectors

, fans of physical media, and also regular people who just buy, you know, a couple of releases a year. I'm sure this could affect you too. Yeah, I really want to dig into this release and give you the details and then talk about some of my issues that I have with Sony and just Steelbooks in general and the release of Steelbooks and how some of these studios are handling that.

I know last week I went all out on Lion's Gate and their Steelbooks and some people didn't like it, so I'm not going to go into Lion's Gate as much in this video, this will be specifically about Sony and their Steelbook in particular. implement, but watch before you start, hit the Subscribe button if you're new here, we talk about physical media like a lot of 4k Blu-rays, we own the movies you love, all that stuff behind me every day, so if you want that kind of things, that type of content, hit the subscribe button, also like this video and let me know what you think below in the comments section, that's the only reason I make these types of videos, well, one so you can see them, but also. because I want that engagement, I want those comments down in the comments section so definitely comment so let's get into it guys the taxi driver is coming to 4K not for the first time because it was released on this Sony Columbia Classics Edition Volume 2 in 2021 uh with five other movies in the set this was a six movie set but not everyone wanted to see all these movies to get the taxi driver in 4K although I highly recommend stripes in 4K as it was such a good release and such a movie funny Ivan wman Bill Murray John Candy great movie but a lot of people didn't want to get five movies that they weren't necessarily interested in or maybe were okay with on Blu-ray just to get Taxi Driver um in 4K so we've waited some people have waited three years to get a taxi driver in 4K now you're finally getting that chance three years guys we've been waiting for this they didn't make us wait that long for Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Strange Love and I definitely want to get into that too because Sony only releases and how They're releasing some of these movies and how they choose which ones will be independent later and which ones won't is very strange.

For me and I love Sony, I think they do a great job, their transfers are second to none and they are honestly the best studio when it comes to the actual quality of the transfer so I can't say much negative about Sony. Honestly, I've praised them a lot on this channel, but this video I'm going to be a little negative, but yes, Taxi Driver is coming to 4k on June 25th. Steelbook 4K, you just won't get a standard version which is here. I have it in this classic Columbia set, so that just shows you that it exists, it exists and they could easily release it, but they're not with this particular release, it's just going to be the

steelbook

on January 25th.

It will have the same special features. I was looking at this website right here trying to get some of the details and it looks like it will also have the same special features that are present in this version and I'm pretty sure. I don't think any new special features have been added to this. I could be wrong, I didn't go into it much, but I'm pretty sure it's going to be all the same features that were on the Blu-ray Edition, uh, when they released that, so there are no new special features with this release, which is a bit of a bummer, since they could at least include an audio commentary in there, maybe like an intro was scorsi, like it's back for Criterion to do some stuff. after hours and you already know some of his other films and the criteria collection so I don't see why he wouldn't want to do a five minute intro for a taxi driver so I think it's no it's not it's not really celebrated . an anniversary, it's the 48th anniversary this year so it's not a major anniversary, but I think maybe that's what they'll do in two years, they'll do another edition of the taxi driver course while doing an introduction, but they should have added at least something new in this release in terms of image quality, this release right here, this 4K and the classic Columbia equipment already had Dolby Vision, so usually with the Sony steelbooks they will re-release them, some of their movies that they already have 4k. and they will add Dobby Vision to it, that won't be the case here because it already had Doby Vision, so the steel book will have Doby Vision and HDR as well and as for the sound, I'm pretty sure it's a 5.1 it wasn't Dolby Atmos or anything like that, so yeah, that's out of the way guys, that's the

announcement

for Taxi Driver 4K, a steelbook that's coming.

I know a lot of people were very excited about this and will be very happy about it, but I want to address some of the problems here and my main problem is that the Steelbook is the only option and I am getting tired of this behavior from some of the studios and not It's in all studios, but from time to time you will do it. get a release like Paramount, which is also starting to do it a bit more. They did it with uh or no, not in the big leagues, but they did it with Naked Gun last year.

Naked Gun just got a 4K steelbook and didn't get a 4K Sliding Cover Edition, now Major League, which I was getting ready to talk about. The major league got a Steelbook, but they also got a sliding cover edition, so it seems like they're just choosing at random, like what you get only a Steelbook and what you get. a sleeve and it's very strange to me and it's almost like they just assume that all the studios that everyone knows have sort of transitioned into a collectors market, that's what everyone talks about, it's not your average Joe Schmo the who goes to Walmart, uh, to buy these new titles or any new titles, it's more for Centric Focus collectors, the boutique market is in full swing and that's what collectors gravitate towards those boutique releases, those Premier package releases, those steelbook releases, but there are still people who just like it. collecting regular releases of slipcovers, especially when it's going to be cheaper, um and the Taxi Driver steelbook.

I can say one good thing about Sony: they don't overprice their steelbooks, like I do. I feel like they're priced pretty fairly, as I think. That cab driver will come out and it'll probably be 30 bucks, maybe $31. I could be wrong, maybe it'll be 40, who knows, but I feel like it'll be $29.99 or maybe $30.99 or something, so the price is . It's not out of control, but I feel like if they made a version with a slip case and charged, you know, 24 or 25 for that, it would increase sales because I think there will be people who will be put off by the steelbook because there are people there are collectors, so Believe it or not, and this is what I was talking about with the studios.

They think all collectors just like Steelbooks. Some collectors don't like Steelbooks, aren't interested in getting them, and don't want to get them. they just feel like they have to do it if that's the only option um so I don't love this trend of just releasing the steelbook and then maybe getting a standard edition later and then some people will wait and then that. never comes. I'll show some examples and share some examples of that here in a second. I just want options. People want options, whether they're a collector who buys multiple releases a week or just the average Joe Schmo who buys Maybe One Blu-Ray. every couple of months people want options and I think when it comes to physical media right now guys I can see the argument that everyone is going to make to me and I can already hear the backlash in the comments section.

Ken, shut up, you complain too much. um just be happy that we're going to have it in 4K to start with Standalone and be happy that physical media is still alive and well and these studios are still supporting it and I can see those comments and I understand those comments. I'm very grateful that there are still studios and boutique labels that are releasing things on physical media. I'm very grateful for that, but that doesn't mean I can't mention things when I see them and have my opinion about other people. you have your opinions this is my channel I talk about what I want to talk about if I think something is a little shady if it's a little off and I want to point it out I'm going to point it out guys that's the direction um that's I'm coming into this channel, some things They just frustrate me and I'll be completely honest.

I'm falling out of love with Steelbooks. I'm sick of Steelbooks right now because they're more expensive and it just keeps going up and up. I said I wasn't going to mention Lion Gate, but I loved collecting Lionsgate steelbooks and right before they became super popular in 2021, I was done with the steelbooks and didn't want to collect them. Because I went through the Marvel phase of collecting all of those. I thought they are too expensive and there is just no reason for it and I just don't like collecting them. I just don't think it's cool. picking up a steelbook and holding it I don't know, it just doesn't appeal to me.

I prefer to grab a cover from the shelf. I'd rather have a premium packaged edition like Aero Video or Steelbooks from the second site. They're just not my thing anymore, but Lions Gate appealed to me again because it had cool packaging with sleeves and stuff, and they were cheap and affordable, so I didn't have to worry about that now that those prices are going up. above, you're looking at steelbooks for $40 $45 in some cases and I just don't, it's not worth it to me, you know, you make a steelbook like this like from the big leagues where I really like the art and I think it's super cre and They have magnets and cool stuff and gimmicks to go with it, so I'm definitely going to buy it and Paramount also prices their steelbooks affordably, $25 um for the steelbook versus $23 for the cover, but at the end of the day, guys. we want our options and not everyone is a steelbook collector and what worries me yes, it's good that we are still getting physical media, that's good, we are getting physical media, but what worries me is if this is the only one. option I worry that people will get frustrated like me and just stop meeting Al because that's the danger of going down this path where you don't offer people options, you make people feel left out of the liberation because they say, well , I want to get the taxi work or 4K but it's a steelbook.

I don't really collect steelbooks. I have a Blu-ray, it looks good maybe they will make a 4K at some point maybe not. I'm just not going to choose This I won't support if you made a normal version then people would probably throw that money away, pick it up and update it on day one. Don't you think Taxi Driver deserves two additions? This is something for all time. uh, great classic American film directed by Morton Coresi, everyone loves Taxi Driver, at least all film fans and probably most physical media collectors will want to pick it up on day one.

I don't understand why you wouldn't do two editions. Steelbook 4K Protective Case 4K is simple, it seems so simple, simple, but they are so attached to that 4K steelbook, so that's my concern, that's my frustration that at the end of the day you put people off. and you're going to lead to more people stopping collecting and stopping collecting and that's what we don't want, that goes in the complete opposite direction of what we're looking for as a collecting community and I just look at I love Sony, I said that, guys, I love Sony, I think they do a great job, I really don't want to knock them, but they have to start giving people more options with these 4K releases because this is nothing new.

Sony does this. all the time and they've been doing this probably since about 2021. I feel like, um, and I can show you the first example that comes to mind, maybe they did this before, but they did it with Last Action Hero in 2021 and I think in March of 2021 they released this 4K only steelbook and you know it is a good steelbook. Again I like the original poster art on the steelbook. I think it looks great, but this was our only option. I think it was over $30 when it came out you know some people maybe didn't want this Steelbook so maybe they didn't buy it and that's the other thing guys sometimes these Steelbooks become very limited and you either buy them the first day or not.

I don't have the option to get them anymore, it's not like they come out in a couple of months like a normal standard edition, they just completely sell out and then it's up to the studios if they want to bring it back or not, sometimes they do. Fortunately, Sony isn't quite good at bringing back Steelbooks and putting them back in stock, so you don't have to worry too much about that with Sony with Paramount, but Warner Brothers Disney and some of the other studios like you. I have to worry about picking them up the first day or they'll never come back, but what irritated me about this one with Last Action Heroy only Sony ingeneral with their inconsistency in the 4K steelbook releases is that 3 months later they made a standalone version of Last Action Hero a 4K version without a sliding cover, it was just the case um and I think I also think that gataka gataka came out on steelbook 4K on the same day or maybe the same month as Last Action Hero and then in June it also got a standard 4K release without a sliding cover, so we got standard 4k of these three months later, but what irritates me is that it somehow set this precedent which Sony didn't follow through so we flashed to October 2022 and we have the Fright Nights uh 4K steelbook that came out so this is a really awesome steelbook like I said.

I probably would have gotten this if this was the option, if I could get the steelbook or the regular cover. I probably would have gotten this edition. I'm going to be honest because this poster looks great on a steelbook, but I think there were some people who didn't pick this up because they assumed that at some point Fright Night would get a standalone case and they'd go the cheaper route and get it, um, but never It was like that, there was no standard edition for Fright. Night and Fright Night, as one of the most iconic '80s horror movies ever made, didn't get a standard slipcover edition for Sony, but the precedent that Last Action Hero set was that we were going to do standalone versions in 4K and then it came out this. and he said we're not going to do standalone 4K versions and on top of that, you have Columbia Classics volume one, you have Lawrence of Arabia who they made a 4K steelbook for and then they made a standard 4K edition of Doctor Strange Love. no steelbook for that one, but they never made a standard 4K edition of Lawrence of Arabia even though they had one on Columbia Classics volume one, so it's all very inconsistent and it just doesn't make sense the way they're implemented.

Steelbooks and like I said at the end of the day although these Steelbooks are beautiful they really are and by the way this is not the original poster art but it is a great piece of art for these people some people just don't want Steelbooks I just don't want the Steelbooks, so I know a lot of people are probably thinking okay, maybe they'll make a standalone version at some point and they never did, and if you want to get the Lawrence of Arabia 4K Steelbook, I think it's available . They actually put it back in stock, but it sold out very quickly and was out of stock for quite some time and you can't get that volume one of Columbia Classics for less.

I think people are charging like $1,500 for that on eBay. Right now it's ridiculous that it sells out very quickly and that's another problem I have and a lot of people have with Sony: these Columbia Classics, you know, the 4K boxed editions are nice and I love them, but Sony has got to start releasing these movies independently, whether it's a year after their release or two years after their release, that's fine, but eventually these movies need to stop being exclusive, we need our options, some people want maybe just streaks in 4K, maybe some people want that. Some people want these independent films that you're putting in these boxes.

A lot of people would have wanted to kill to have Star Man in 4K and they didn't want all the other movies that were on that set. I'm interested that there's a John Carpenter movie in 4K inside that box and I feel like at some point they'll make a steelbook of that movie. I feel like they'll make a Star Man steelbook, but it could be a year. It could be two years before we see that, so I understand it being exclusive to the box set. I really understand that it makes it more premium and more valuable.

I get it, but at some point you need to make it standalone for your consumers because maybe some people want Kramer versus Kramer in 4K, just that one, you know who knows. I am in favor of options. I'm all for consumer choice. That's what it's about, we need our options, that's what keeps it going. All this in motion, that is what keeps physical media and the people who participate in them alive. We want our options when it comes to all this and I don't think 4K scans are going to cost that much money. it's done, it's done, that's just the packaging, if anything, it's going to be cheaper because you're producing it in cheaper packaging, just standard 4K, uh, you know, slide sleeve editions and also guys, something else The one I want to talk about is a man, I just bought this. 4K Steelbook, this is not a movie I needed a steelbook for, you know, Fright Night is a great 80's horror movie and that poster looks amazing.

I'm not saying this poster doesn't look great, but Amal is a movie that I don't need a steelbook because it could have had a standard Blu-ray edition because this is a Blu-ray steelbook and we got this, you know, a good steelbook, but I did not do it. I didn't have to pay $32. to get the male steelbook I would have used a standard 22 person Blu-ray edition, but there you have it guys, those are my complaints about Sony today. I want to know what you think in the comments section below and I know I've been all over it. place as I usually am, but I hope some of my thoughts and what I had to say resonated with some of you.

I'm pretty sure it will be, and like I said, I totally get the argument, guys, physical media is alive and we should be. I'm happy the studios are making these releases. I understand that I really do and I'm very grateful, but I think if you're going to do it, give people options and I think you'll sell more. It's silly not to do it that way, but what do you guys think? Let me know in the comments section below. Don't forget to subscribe to the channel. I would definitely appreciate it if you like this video and comment below like I said so many times on this one. video turn on those Bell notifications for all future videos and follow me on all my social media accounts guys I ended up on Instagram I ended up on X letter box Tik Tok all the places all those links are below in the description and we .

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