Blu Ray + DVD combo packs - Do you care?

[pagefrance]

There's a trend in offering the so-called "Combo pack" in which you get the Blu Ray plus a DVD copy and in some cases a digital download or something called an "Ultraviolet" edition of a given movie. My question to all of us who buy movies on a regular basis is - Does it really make a difference to you? Do you say "I'd rather have the combo pack instead of a simple Blu Ray-only edition?" Or are you like me and don't see the point (other than making the product more expensive)?
The DVD copy is, I suppose if you're going to see the movie in your car (!) or your computer that doesn't have a Blu Ray drive, and the digital copy for your handheld device. But why would anyone want to see a movie on an iPod when you have the Blu Ray and obviously have a Blu Ray player that will give you better quality? But I digress.
The problem comes when a Blu Ray movie is ONLY available in "combo pack". Case in point, the recently released The Thing (2011 version). I've yet to find online just a simple Blu Ray disc edition of the film. There is, however, a simple one disc DVD version, so why can't there be a simple one disc Blu ray? The mind boggles.

[Eddie W]

For kids movies, it's definitely a plus because they watch movies over & over in various places. As well as misplace them.

But for normal grown up movies I don't see much point. I'm going to watch The Thing one time only on the best setup I have. Not on an ipad while waiting for my car to be washed.

However, if it doesn't add to the cost I really don't care.

[Mr. Salty]

But why would anyone want to see a movie on an iPod when you have the Blu Ray and obviously have a Blu Ray player that will give you better quality?

There are multiple threads on this subject, but to address this specific point: there are also these devices called iPads, as well as laptops, that are much better than iPods for watching movies when you're traveling. Laptops may or may not have Blu-ray drives, but regardless, it's nice to load digital copies of a few movies when you're going to be away from home and not have to bring the discs along.

[wishbone]

For kids movies, it's definitely a plus because they watch movies over & over in various places. As well as misplace them.My sister wanted Pixar Shorts on DVD for Christmas. Even though she has a blu-ray player she was probably thinking of playing it in her minivan. I got her the combo pack so now she has the blu for home use and the DVD can be used on the run. Seems like a win-win-win to me.

[gp1086]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I heard that if you want to UltraViolet copy you need to provide your personal information online in order to view. Not for me.

The DVD copy is not bad, in case I'm going to someone's place who doesn't own a blu ray player, and want to bring over the movie.

I'm fine with having the combo pack, as long as I don't have to pay more for it.

[Mister Peepers]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I heard that if you want to UltraViolet copy you need to provide your personal information online in order to view. Not for me.

Yeah, like your typical information when you register for a forum account.

[flansered]

I'm going to watch The Thing one time only on the best setup I have.

If you're only planning on watching it once, then why not just rent it?

[banthafett]

I hate it. Dont need the dvd version if you are buying the blu. Ive taught my kids to treat stuff nice, so I dont have to worry about such things. The thing I really hate, is them putting extras on the combo set and not the regular blu release.

[MScottM]

I prefer the combo packs. I have a Blu Ray player but some of the people I let borrow movies don't so it is convenient for me.

[kd5]

I don't care about Blu-Ray/DVD combo packs. I'd rather have 2-Disc SE DVDs, whoever wants Blu-Rays can have their own 2-Disc SE Blu-Rays, and whoever needs both can buy both. -kd5-

[asianxcore]

I don't care. Most of the posters around here get great bargains on the packs, so price isn't an issue.

Also with companies like Synapse Films, it makes releasing a Blu-Ray version of one of their films more affordable for them as a whole. That pretty much benefits everyone.

[Disc-Flipper]

I love combo packs and wish that every Blu-ray had a DVD copy included with it - I think Digital Copies are useless however.
As Blu players become common in each room of my house, vehicles and computer drives, there will be less of a need for the DVDs.
I've freed up tons of shelf space by putting my old DVD discs in a paper envelope inside each Blu case for the titles I've upgraded.

[Mondo Kane]

I'm only interested in the Disney ones....Extra movie-reward points. :)

[movie diva]

I like the combo-packs, my mom refuses to get an HD tv and a Blu-ray player, so when I loan her a movie she can use the DVD.

[mike07]

I prefer combo packs. There are only two Blu-ray players in the house and six TVs, plus we travel frequently and use portable DVD players (haven't seen a portable Blu-ray player and don't think I would buy into one of them if I did) so it's convenient to have the DVD as well as BD.

I agree with "Disc-Flipper", that digital copies (and especially "UltraViolet") are useless.

[JohnnyMovie]

I like combo pack and I can watch Blu-ray and DVD disc whatever I want to watch it plus minus never watch/don't like digital copies neither.

[Josh-da-man]

Hate'em.

I don't think I've ever watched a DVD I've gotten in a blu-ray combo pack; the only exceptions were when I put in the Avatar DVD to compare it to the blu-ray (and, holy shit does the picture on the blu-ray blow away the DVD!) and Kick-Ass to see if the DVD had any special features (it didn't; it was like a rental disc). But even then I only watched a few minutes of Avatar for comparison and didn't even play any of the Kick-Ass DVD outside of the main menu.

I suspect that the primary motivation for these combo packs (Blu-ray, DVD, and digital copy) is to artificially inflate the disc count, to make it look like a better deal after they've jacked up the price.

[davidh777]

I like the combos. I like having the DVD to watch in the basement or take to a friend's house or on a trip, and I like the digital copies. I don't watch them that often, but I knew I was going to be stuck somewhere today so I threw The Two Towers on my ipod and watched part of it. Sure, it's an extremely substandard experience, but I like having the option.

That said, I haven't tried Ultraviolet yet and am wary that it might significantly degrade the combo experience for me.

[Ginwen]

I don't care about the DVDs at all. I do stick the digital copies on my IPad but hardly ever watch them, and it's just about full with the last couple I put on it, so I guess I'll have to start picking which ones I keep on there.

[bmasters1981]

Hate'em.

I don't think I've ever watched a DVD I've gotten in a blu-ray combo pack; the only exceptions were when I put in the Avatar DVD to compare it to the blu-ray (and, holy shit does the picture on the blu-ray blow away the DVD!) and Kick-Ass to see if the DVD had any special features (it didn't; it was like a rental disc). But even then I only watched a few minutes of Avatar for comparison and didn't even play any of the Kick-Ass DVD outside of the main menu.

I suspect that the primary motivation for these combo packs (Blu-ray, DVD, and digital copy) is to artificially inflate the disc count, to make it look like a better deal after they've jacked up the price.

I have the "Ramona" Blu/DVD/DC combo, and I looked at the film on Blu, and you're absolutely right WRT picture quality-- it's almost like I was in an actual movie theater (albeit without all the annoyances that come with the same).

[Michael Corvin]

For kids movies: :up:
For everything else: :|

[walletboyniac]

I hate it. Dont need the dvd version if you are buying the blu. Ive taught my kids to treat stuff nice, so I dont have to worry about such things. The thing I really hate, is them putting extras on the combo set and not the regular blu release.

At first blush, I thought this was a great idea -- Release a separate Blu-ray version. Simple enough, right? Only they never have all the extras that the combo packs do.

My biggest issue is cost on new releases. The combo packs tend to be in the $23-25 range. I never use the bonus DVD or digital copy. If they did the single BD with the normal extras, I would bite. Now I just have to wait until the price comes down.

[Indy24LA]

I like the option, it's not that important, but if I can get a good price, I'll go for the combo pack.

I can't help but read Ultraviolet as Ultraviolent and then do a double take at the "Ultraviolent" edition of Happy Feet Two.

[gp1086]

I can't help but read Ultraviolet as Ultraviolent and then do a double take at the "Ultraviolent" edition of Happy Feet Two.
I thought I was the only one - haha

[Xiroteus]

If it is close to the same cost I like it for films others want as well, I keep the blu-ray and they can have the DVD, cheaper then buying two films. Even worth it for a few dollars more, then again I rarely purchase movies when they are first released, far too costly.

[milo bloom]

I like having the DVD edition for playing on a laptop or on the alternate TV. It's also nice right now because our Bluray player is broken and I haven't gotten a new one yet.

[GoldenWheels]

As a buyer for personal use: I enjoy them so long as I am still comfortable with what I paid for the movie. That has been the case with all the recent superhero movies....Capn A and Thor at least. 15.99 for a blu is perfectly OK by me and in no case did I feel like I was paying EXTRA fro the DVD as I just don't look at it like that...there's really no reason to assume it would have been cheaper sans the DVD as the price is up to Amazon and their mystical formula.

I also happily pass along the DVDs to friends who have not seen the flicks with much less trepidation than if it was my only copy!

As a buyer for a store: I appreciate it as it lets me sell blus as a DVD that I couldn't if they only issued a blus, as I have no blu market. Vampire Circus for example. I believe the vendors themselves also save time, money, and headaches by doing the combo packages.

[thetao]

I bought my first Blu Ray player just before Christmas, which has altered my logic. Prior to that, I would not purposely buy any DVD with fewer features than the Blu Ray, even if the combo pack would eventually let me "trade up". (The logic being that it could be years before I'd see the extra content.) As studios are generally nudging us to Blu Ray by dropping DVD extras, this made many DVD's with a corresponding Blu Ray unappealing. I also don't tend to buy new releases, so the "combo pack" idea has rarely crossed my radar.

The only Blu Ray disk I do own is the region 2 "Metropolis" combo pack from last year, because the extras are the same (or so I recall), and because the packaging is killer. :)

Today, I have zero use for the DVD...but then I don't tend to loan out disks or take video with me when I travel (in-car player, laptop computer, etc.). I put off buying Tron Legacy and the re-released Tron Classic because of the extras issue, and noticed that it's impossible to buy Tron Legacy and Classic on Blu-Ray only (i.e. 2 disks). There are only combo packs, which jack up the price. There may be better prices, but I just did the math and buying the two combo packs from Amazon Marketplace would cost me $43.45 today, or the "Five-Disc Combo" for over $50. Compare that to Amazon UK, which will sell me exactly what I want (see: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004IEBRSI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE ) for just $27.91 (at current exchange rates, including shipping). Maybe this is an isolated occurrence, but I'm not impressed. The studios can keep their combo packs...and their region coding.

[LJG765]

For me it's money. If it's as cheap or cheaper to buy the combo pack, I'll buy it, otherwise, I still buy DVD only. I don't have a blu-ray player yet, and though I plan to get one in the future, I don't know when. So, DVD is my format of choice. I do wish they'd put the extra content on the single DVD rather than just the Blu as even if I do buy the combo, I have no way of seeing the extras at the moment.

Digital means nothing to me and if the only 'bonus' disc is digital but the studio is charging extra, that drives me nuts as I don't use it at all. I get it's all about money, but honestly, haven't they figured out that if you sell more at a lesser price you make more money than selling a few at a higher price?

Disney is about the only type of movie I go out of my way to get the combo. It's nice that with their coupons, the combo is usually cheaper than buying the single DVD for the same title, though, which makes it easier to go that route.

[drmar35mm]

I've finally entered the Blu Ray world, with the purchase of the most basic Panasonic player ($60 at Amazon). The Panasonic's upscaling of well shot DVDs is impressive; but the Blu Rays are even better. Still, I like to have a DVD copy just in case. So, if the price of the Blu/DVD package is only a few bucks more than the DVD alone--and it's a title I really, really want--that's what I'll get. I'll also pick up cheap solo Blu Rays if their cost is close to the DVD's.

[Flicker]

I like combo packs. I have a TV/DVD player in the bedroom and in my RV. Neither are Blu Ray. I do have a Blu Ray in my den.

If they would make more TV/Blu Ray combos, that would be better.

[adrenaline78]

My local library started carrying blu rays. These are former combo back which they are breaking up and loaning out as individuals. Pretty cool as they are essentially doubling their inventory for a fraction of the cost.



I like them, as we don't have multiple blu ray players, yet have multiple dvd players. So we can take our movies anywhere.

[MoviePhanatic00]

I prefer the combo packs, but this Ultraviolet crap is just BS. It is wrong that they advertise that you get a digital copy, when in fact you don't. You get access to a digital copy from a service, but the digital copy is not yours to own. While I don't watch digital copy very often, it is nice being able to throw a movie on your phone or iPad in case you get stuck somewhere.

[Struckworld]

I like it because, if someone is using the TV that has Blu-Ray Player, I can just go downstairs and watch it on the DVD Player.

Digital Copy has never been a thing I've cared for.

[tommyp007]

For kids movies: :up:
For everything else: :|

this

[Nickofdoom]

I usually just give the DVD to my dad, so I think he likes the combo packs.

[Living Deadpan]

I think this topic's worth resurrecting, as I'm seeing more distributors like Scream Factory going the combo-only route. Any updated thoughts now that this distributing trend is more prevalent?

Severin's another company that seems to be going this route, with their recent combo pack for Zulu Dawn.

[EdTheRipper]

I like the combos so that my son can watch the dvds. They've come in handy so far.

[Spottedfeather]

I like them, as we don't have multiple blu ray players, yet have multiple dvd players.

We have 2 dvd players, 3 blu-ray players, and 2 computers with blu-ray drives.

[hasslein]

I just wish there were more combo packs in dvd packaging.

[SterlingBen]

I would prefer a BR+DVD+UV pack over a single disc any day of the week if it wasn't more expensive.

UV doesn't take up any room on your computer it is all cloud based, I redeem my copies on their but I have yet to really utilize them. Perhaps if I go to a friends house with lame movies we could log into my Vudu account and watch something.

For the DVD copy; sometimes they have more special features than the blu-ray so there is quite a few instances where it would be foolish to get the single release over the combo pack.

[kd5]

Now that I've finally bought a blu-ray player, I find myself buying new movies on BD, if I can get the combo packs for a decent price (Black Friday prices) I prefer to own the combos, I feel like I'm buying the deluxe package which fits into my mindset of owning as many SE/CE's as possible. But only if the price is right.

Still buy SE/CE DVDs if the overall package is better than its BD counterpart (or if there is no BD counterpart).

[JOE29]

I like the combo packages because I can take them to my parents house for them to watch or anyone else's house as they only have standard DVD. But I can accept both formulas. I made the switch to blu a few years ago but I still buy Standard DVD's too. Sometimes if I really like the DVD movie that I already own I'll buy the bluray when the price goes down and stick it in the DVD case with the standard DVD and make my own combo packs. Of course it's a lot easier to do that with 2-disc DVD sets. But I only do that with movies that I really, really like. Patton was one Spaceballs was another, which turned out really nice.

[walletboyniac]

Nope.

[Spottedfeather]

I like the combo packages because I can take them to my parents house for them to watch or anyone else's house as they only have standard DVD. But I can accept both formulas. I made the switch to blu a few years ago but I still buy Standard DVD's too. Sometimes if I really like the DVD movie that I already own I'll buy the bluray when the price goes down and stick it in the DVD case with the standard DVD and make my own combo packs. Of course it's a lot easier to do that with 2-disc DVD sets. But I only do that with movies that I really, really like. Patton was one Spaceballs was another, which turned out really nice.

You bought Patton on blu-ray...on purpose ?

[JOE29]

You bought Patton on blu-ray...on purpose ?

Yes, the last release. I stuck it in with the Patton special edition DVD set that I have. Kingdom of Heaven was another one that I did. All of those Special Features on that 4 disc set that I never watched and just took up space for years. I bought the Bluray when it went down in price got rid of the blu- case and stuck it in the DVD 4- disc set.

[BobO'Link]

For me it's money. If it's as cheap or cheaper to buy the combo pack, I'll buy it, otherwise, I still buy DVD only. I don't have a blu-ray player yet, and though I plan to get one in the future, I don't know when. So, DVD is my format of choice. I do wish they'd put the extra content on the single DVD rather than just the Blu as even if I do buy the combo, I have no way of seeing the extras at the moment.

Digital means nothing to me and if the only 'bonus' disc is digital but the studio is charging extra, that drives me nuts as I don't use it at all. I get it's all about money, but honestly, haven't they figured out that if you sell more at a lesser price you make more money than selling a few at a higher price?

Disney is about the only type of movie I go out of my way to get the combo. It's nice that with their coupons, the combo is usually cheaper than buying the single DVD for the same title, though, which makes it easier to go that route.
Pretty much agree other than Disney - they get the same price treatment as everyone else. I've not yet purchased a BR player so don't really care about a disk I can't yet use *but* if a "combo pack" is less expensive or the same price as the DVD only release I'll get it. I don't care about "bonus/extra" content at all and very rarely watch it. I prefer the DVD case style simply because it matches everything else on my shelves but if the BR case is less expensive (which it typical) I'll get it. They can keep their digital copies. I have no use for them at all and do not anticipate *ever* having a use for them.

[Spottedfeather]

It's been 6 years, Bob. I think you can get one now.

[LJG765]

Pretty much agree other than Disney - they get the same price treatment as everyone else. I've not yet purchased a BR player so don't really care about a disk I can't yet use *but* if a "combo pack" is less expensive or the same price as the DVD only release I'll get it. I don't care about "bonus/extra" content at all and very rarely watch it. I prefer the DVD case style simply because it matches everything else on my shelves but if the BR case is less expensive (which it typical) I'll get it. They can keep their digital copies. I have no use for them at all and do not anticipate *ever* having a use for them.

I bought an expensive BR player after Christmas. I find that I'm buying more single BRs and fewer DVDs but still aim for the combo packs. A big reason for me is where I watch a movie. I put the BR player on the HD TV, of course, but that's in the living room and I tend to do much of my watching in my bedroom which is still HD free. So, it makes it easier for me to buy the combos and have access to everything.

Bonus features...well, I'm more likely to spend more to get more, but like the pretty cases and fun stuff that they occasionally add now-a-days over featurettes and bonus trailers. I'll still go for the bargain price for the majority, though.

As for digital copies-well, a friend convinced me to sign up and add my Ultraviolet ones. I just got a tablet so it seemed smart to me. Of course, the past 3 weeks, I haven't been able to sync any of the sites up so I can actually watch any of the movies. Plus, my tablet, even though it's an Android, isn't considered capable of viewing movies (which it is) by Ultraviolet and Flixster. So I give up on that. I wish they'd have a digital free option and have it be 5 bucks cheaper and I'd buy those every time!