eXcentris

Why does that happen? As an anal retentive film lover I have my habits when I watch a film. A ritual so to speak although I have yet to include animal or human sacrifice to the DVD God to said ritual. I like to turn all my HT gear on, put the DVD in the player, and then go about getting ready to watch the movie, which includes things like taking a leak, cleaning my glasses (no, I don't pee in my glasses to clean them ), making a cup of tea, etc... Even better if there's music accompanying the main menu that puts me in the proper mood. The other thing is that I figure that by the time I'm ready, all those annoying adds/trailers will be over and the DVD will be at the main menu. So, when I'm ready, I turn all the lights off, sit down comfortably in my movie throne, and start the film. Now it pisses me off when I'm all set, go back to the living room only to find out that the movie has already started! Arghhh!

McHawkson

I noticed most Warner Bro. DVD do that.

xage

Two words: Press Pause

OldBoy

usually you can't right off the bat. goes into warnings and you can't pause or ff those. i don't think i have experienced movies that start auto from the movie menu only ones that surpass the main menu and then go straight into movie. that annoys me as i like to see the menu and if any audio options.

cisman

I've noticed that as well....I personally think it's screen saver type feature. A lot are jumping on these new plasma's etc which have higher chances of burn in. That way if you leave it on the static menu for to long the movie will start so you don't have a DVD menu burned into your TV.

If that's the case cool...otherwise I have no clue why they would do it.

It is a little annoying.

Drexl

I think they do it for people who don't know how to work a DVD player and/or those who lost the remote.

kitkat

I do the same thing and it annoys me too. I wish instead that it were an option people could set in their DVD player preferences so those who want autostart could have it, and those of us who don't needn't be bothered.

spartanstew

I just experienced this for the first time a couple of weeks ago and I don't remember what movie it was.
I turned everything on and inserted the DVD in my HT.
Went downstairs to get a soda, lock up the house, etc. My wife got her drink, we went and checked on the kids and then entered the theater.
When we walked in it was 10 minutes into the movie. Very annoying.

eedoon

I kinda like the auto-play thingie, because it can prevent burn-ins whenever I fell asleep when listening to commentaries.

cisman

LOL Commentaries are that bad huh

I really think it's the burn in or those who don't know how to operate them.

My grandmother is a movie nut...She has a huge collection. But they are all VHS. She got a DVD/VHS combo unit and tried one DVD and said she didn't like it LOL.

Hasn't bought one since.

DeeKay

I LOVE THE "AUTO-PLAY" FEATURE!!!

When my husband is out of town on business, I pop one in, usually "The Maltese Falcon", and fall asleep on the couch. It's the only way I can get some sleep when I'm alone in the house.

THANK GOD FOR "AUTO-PLAY"!

McHawkson

Autoplay probably good for some of people, some of us found it annoying. What we really need is: Autoplay: Yes/No feature on DVD player.

Giles

Josh Z

My mother's VCR died so she bought a DVD/VHS combo. She called me up from Florida the next day to say it has "too many wires everywhere" and she couldn't figure out how to plug it in. I tried to explain it to her patiently (really, the combo players are no different than her regular VCR, which she somehow managed to connect), but she got utterly flustered and gave up. She hasn't tried it since. She's waiting for me to visit her later this year.

How I could possibly be the product of this woman often astounds me.

Josh H

I like the auto start ones myself. I'm usually all set to watch the movie when I put it in,and I hate waiting through fbi warnings, long animated menus etc.

TheKing

Warner titles have always done this...in fact their early titles didn't go to the menu at all, they went directly to the movie when you put it in the player.

It was done to make the transision from VHS easier, since that what VHS movies did. I'm just glad universal doesn't do this, because it would be bad on titles that lock out their menu options (Like Universal does on ALL their DTS titles). Now THAT is annoying!

eXcentris

The thing is if I'm at the menu, I want to be in control of it, not have the disc or player decide for me that "well, you've been at this menu long enough, you must be ready to watch the movie so I'll go ahead and start it for you".

EdTheRipper

If I'm going to watch a movie, I dislike it. But if I'm putting a movie on for my son, I'd rather not have to skip through all of the menus and whatnot. Some of the Disney movies require 10-12 skips before you can actually start the movie.

visitor Q

.... and DAMN IT, why can't I get an insert if I pay all that money!!!!!!???

... oh, sorry, wrong thread ...

gryffinmaster

I like putting in the film, letting it play on the menu for a few while I grab a soda and popcorn, and then sitting down and watching. I HATE when I get back from preparing my movie goodies and the movie is already a few minutes in.

newcomb being

Here's what I hate even more at the beginning of dvds:

"You wouldn't steal a dvd... DON'T BUY PIRATED DVDS!"

ugh.

Alan Smithee

I HATE menus- they were kinda cool when I first got my DVD player, but now I just want to watch the damn movie. I don't want to see any clips from the movie I'm about to see, and I don't want to hear Donkey keep saying "Pick me! Pick me!" I noticed some Disney titles indicate "Easy-Play" on the cover, saying that the movie will start automatically without having to use the remote. ALL DVDs should work like that, unless they're specifically interactive (which would exclude all theatrical movie titles.)

DVDMagic

I F&$%ING hate that Illegal DVD's POS that blares out as soon as you put the DVD in. It always plays about 10 nothces louder than the movie.

And why the hell can't you FWD thru the Copyright crap too! (I know they can't, but still....)

Me personally, I think they just jump straight to the menu.

Drexl

With the copyright screens, I would prefer they show those right when you put the disc in to get them over with. What I don't like is the approach Sony takes, where they go straight to the menu, but when you start the movie or show, that's when they show the copyright screens (sometimes in more than one language).

Nick Danger

It's like the theater. Some people like the car ads, the 'no talking' PSA messages, and ten minutes of previews. It gives them time to finish their conversations. I want the damn movie to start.

to Warner Brothers.