A little rant on DVD's and movies...

[silverbullet99]

Hi everyone, im sorry as im sure this has been posted at one time or another but i just have to say it....


Why is it that when a new movie is released on DVD for the first time, a lot of them (actually most of the big movies) say "SPECIAL EDITION" on the cover. I mean, it's not like that movie had been released on DVD before and then later on, a new DVD with tons of extra stuff was released. Only then do i think it should be called a "SPECIAL EDITION." Im sure there are some new movie DVD's that can be called SPECIAL EDITIONs, if they have tons of stuff on it, which brings me to my next point...

I just bought the movie "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," which I thought was a great movie, ( its ok, you dont have to like it) only to find out that a 2-disc Collector's Edition is being released. I saw that coming too, but i wanted the movie.

This seems to be the case for so many movies these days...you will have the first DVD release..then they hit you with the 2-disc "Collector's Edition," which has stuff you probably will never watch unless you're a big fan. And then on occasion, they will hit you with the Extended-Limited-Super-Platinum-Bullet-Proof-Case Edition which sometimes is pretty much the same thing, except it has "newly-discovered deleted scenes." (There are exceptions to this though--some movies like the Lord of the Rings Trilogy at least let you know that another version of the movie is coming out.)

While I think this affects mainly the fans of those movies, who want to get as much as they can out of it, the people releasing these different DVDs try to milk consumers for every penny. You spend $9 for the movie ticket, $20 for the DVD, then you JUST HAVE to get the Collector's edition for $25. So if you're a big fan, you'll have invested over $50 on a movie.

I know this isnt 100% concrete. I guess its my own fault if i have to get every bit and piece of a movie, but can you please just release all that in one shot, so i dont have to wait for the extra stuff. The only movie that comes to mind which was released on DVD first in its "Collector's Edition" version was FIGHT CLUB. It had a great packaging (im a sucker for clever, and cool looking DVD cases) and it had tons of stuff. And then later on, they had the one disc version which i think was a barebones DVD. I know, I know people who just want to buy the movie might just skip it because it has all that extra stuff that they dont care for--and that will affect the sales.

Then there are some cases that are just unbeliavable. I dont know if anyone has seen the packaging of the latest release of Pirates of the Caribbean DVD. As far as i know, its the same exact DVD that was first released and it has a 3rd disc on a holder packaged right next to the regular DVD case. I dont even think you can put it inside the case. That is just over the line. Where am i going to put a loose DVD disc. Talk about trying to make as much profit as possible. There are some more examples that i can think of but i think you're tired of hearing me complain.


This rant has gone on for too long, i apologize and thank you if you made it this far... and this is just my opinion of course and im in no way attacking any of your feelings toward this dilemma.


Thanks you and goodnight.

[Cobra]

That's just too true. I wonder how many people bought the first Lord of the Rings for £15-£18, then a few months later found there was the full version available (with a substantial amount of extra footage that did make a difference) for £25? They'd fork out about £40-£45 for one film.

It's yet another way the industry will try to squeeze as much money out of their customers as the possibly can.

I think it is this website that my mate uses to "look ahead" for special editions:

http://www.darkhorizons.com/

...so that might help you out a little.

Happy new year, anyway!

Cobra

[Ironballs]

Lord of the Rings.......

[housepig]

then don't buy 'em, baby....

my wife is a big LOTR fan, so she waited the extra six months for the extended editions, rather than buy the first releases.

I'm a Hellboy fan, but the first release has enough on it - I'm not rabid enough to buy the 3 disc Special Edition.

it goes that way with most movies - if you're a big enough fan that you *have* to have every single deleted scene, trinket, and bonus feature, be prepared to be bled dry.

[lordsmurf]

I'd like to get the:

Super Duper Superbit Ultra Director's Cut Extended Edition Longer Version Commentary Extras...

with a side of fries, but hold the onions.

[bazooka]

I'd like to get the:

Super Duper Superbit Ultra Director's Cut Extended Edition Longer Version Commentary Extras...

with a side of fries, but hold the onions.

[yoda313]

Hello,

then don't buy 'em, baby....

my wife is a big LOTR fan, so she waited the extra six months for the extended editions, rather than buy the first releases.

That's what I did. I knew about the Extended cuts before the dvds came out at all so I just rented the theatrical and waited to buy the Extended.

And as far as other movies I usually rent first to see what I want. Then I'll know if it's good enough to buy the current edition or wait for a "SPECIAL EDITION"

Though movies like Spiderman come out initially in a socalled "SPECIAL EDITION" even though it's still the original movie version....

Kevin

[bazooka]

I just rented the theatrical and waited to buy the Extended.

You already knew you wanted it so why not just skip the rental?

[yoda313]

I just rented the theatrical and waited to buy the Extended.

You already knew you wanted it so why not just skip the rental?

Hello,

How can I wait that long between the last theatrical playing and the extended release??? I still want to watch it once just not buy it until the full release. (NO I DON'T copy them I watch the theatrical and buy the full extended :P :P).

Kevin

[bazooka]

NO I DON'T copy them

None of my business

If you did though, please keep it to yourself.

[yoda313]

NO I DON'T copy them

None of my business

If you did though, please keep it to yourself.

Hello,

Of course just pointing out that I want to rent the original once to watch it all the way through before buying the full bonus packed edition

NO WAREZ - ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT COPYING

Kevin

[ViRaL1]

I'd like to get the:

Super Duper Superbit Ultra Director's Cut Extended Edition Longer Version Commentary Extras...

with a side of fries, but hold the onions.

You'll have to wait for next-gen optical (HD-DVD / Blu-Ray) for that one. :P

Anybody here going to buy THE Star Wars 6-episode DISC or LOTR ext ed DISC when they put those out?

[freestyler]

I'd like to get the:

Super Duper Superbit Ultra Director's Cut Extended Edition Longer Version Commentary Extras...

with a side of fries, but hold the onions.

you left out mega-deluxe ultimate

[adam]

I am one of those people who didn't see the EE of LORT coming and had to buy it twice. The only other movies I've broken down and rebought have been Goodfellas and Predator.

I have no problem with older movies being re-released in SE. Mastering quality and equipment has come a long way and the new releases do look much better then the old slim-lined releases. But I too hate the "multiple bites at the apple" mentality. There was an interview posted somewhere with the marketing executive for Miramax. He said what a great marketing tool the multiple releases of Kill Bill was (that it was released in two parts.) He said, now we can release a regular and special edition for each half and then a regular and special edition for the boxed set.