It's Official, Universal SUCKS (American Wedding & Seabiscuit over-priced)
 

I can't believe Universal, they use to be one of the Greatest studios for releasing DVDs with tons of extras & a great price, but sadly they have stuped to doing over-priced "Special Releases" I thought Red Dragon was bad enough, but now comes American Wedding at $40 & Seabiscuit at $48. These prices are outrageous for 2-Disc sets in the DVD Market today. I know they are releasing single disc versions also, but true lovers (& collectors) of those movies will want all the extras. I hope they will not make this a regular thing, but with 2 new "Blockbusters" coming out this way I am expecting alot more crap like this in the future from Universal. I just hope other studios don't follow :(

Oh well, I guess they'll be used as enrollments on Columbia House!

I think this price is for gift sets in silly packaging with a few more extra features. BTW, you can get Red Dragon: DE for about $15 now...

If they are going to do this, it will only hurt their sales. While I wanted the 2-disc set of Red Dragon, I was not going to pay thier initial asking price. I decided to not buy either. Only when I found the two-disc Red Dragon just recently for under $14 did I buy it.

The first few weeks of DVD sales are the most important. My decision to wait (and I'm sure others) WILL affect those numbers. They will eventually figure it out - it'll just cost them in the mean time.

Actually, I'm also concerned about the lack of DTS and trailers on a lot of their big titles. American Wedding, Seabiscuit, Hulk, and 2 Fast 2 Furious each have DD 5.1 audio only, and according to the specs, the last 3 don't include any trailers(no word yet on AW)

Yet their recent release of the almost entirely dialogue driven Breakfast Club does feature DTS. Go figure.

Where was that news released? Davisdvd.com lists the MSRP of Seabiscuit at $26.98

I see, the original poster must be referring to the gift set things. DVD prices are NOT going up.

Waiting for a while with Universal (until you can find used/price dropped titles) seems to be a great idea in general, given the incredible number of high-profile titles they have released with obvious defects.

Re: It's Official, Universal SUCKS (American Wedding & Seabiscuit over-priced)
 

Official, huh?

What would <i>really</i> suck is if they <i>didn't</i> give us a choice.

Your telling me, just got off the phone with Universal Video, about the Python Meaning of life dvd problem we've all been having. I can't talk to a real person, I have to talk to a Anwering Machine and leave my Name and Number bit. Pray to god they get all my info right. Tried Emailing them and get the bit about how they blame my dvd player being defective. Funny it plays hundreds of other titles just fine.

40 dollars seems a little high to me, amazon is selling that dvd for 19.95. I am sure it would be lower in price if I logged out, as we all know they price fix everything.

Both of these DVDs will be 14.99 or 15.99 on release day, so you can clean the foam from around your mouth, everything is going to be ok.

What's so special to make it $40? Is the second disc full of Seabiscuit porn or something?

I am referring to the "Gift Sets" but all they really are is 2-Disc sets with "Jacked-Up" prices. I know the single disc versions will be under $20 but the true collectors (which is what I thought alot of people here were) will want the version with the most "Bells & Whistles" I just don't understand Universals thinking on some of these releases. There upcoming Hulk DVD is the perfect example of what the price for a 2-Disc set should be & it has alot of extras also. If universal would have released the American Pie Revealed disc as a stand alone Disc (like the Matrix Revisted) I wouldn't be as upset.

here is the page for Seabiscuit
http://www.dvdempire.com/Exec/v4_ite...item_id=550775

Well now, if you're going to say Universal sucks because of the pricing on those gift sets, it's only fair to include New Line as well. The MSRP for the gift set of LOTR: TTT EE is almost $80. Then again, I suppose that one is actually worth it.

Yes that is expensive, but you don't have to buy it to get the Bonus Disc, where as with the Universal ones you do.

(I guess LOTR could be kinda counted since you can only get the 20min disc about making the Golem Statue in the Gift Set)

I gurantee you, that if you go to Wal-mart or Sam Goody's on the first week or so of release on either one of these movie's, you'll be able to pick them up for at least $20 bucks. Then if you go online, I would imagine you could hit the $15 mark.

I don't know if this is that BIG a deal... I mean, with the Red Dragon Director's Edition the hardcore fans could choose to get the double disc, while the casual fan could get the lesser version... Here in Canada, there was only about a $3 dollar difference in cost during the first two weeks... if you ask me, that's no problem... gives those who want more the option for more ... I'm sure Seabiscuit and American Wedding double discs will probably only be a few more dollars each when actually in stores...

MATT

Doesn't really matter to me. It's a business.

I'm confused. DVDFile http://www.dvdfile.com/software/dvd-...003/09_17.html had this to say:

"...presented in separate anamorphic widescreen and full screen versions, each with a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track, audio commentary with director Gary Ross and filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, the "Bringing the Legend to Life: The Making of Seabiscuit;" "Anatomy of a Movie Moment" and "Seabiscuit: Racing Through History" featurettes, a special "Photo Finish: Jeff Bridges' On Set Photographs" still gallery and trailers. Retail is $27.95.

Warner will also release a special gift box containing the above plus The Story of Seabiscuit: The American Experience DVD, a behind-the-scenes making-of book, a card set, bookmark and senitype. Retail is $59.95. "

I tend to believe DVDFile and it looks like they're offering quite a lot extra in the "gift set".

I'm glad I don't care about extras, or I'd be pissed.

You know what is really officail in all this? DVD collectors are one of the most whinest folks around. If it's not over priced special edition sets then it's dvd inserts, if it's not that then it's how Lucas is screwing them out.. If it's not that then it's how Joe six pack loves his full screen and ruin it for the business.. and so on and so on. You have a choice. make it wise. These studio's are in it for a profit. they are selling these at the prices folks are willing to pay. again, you have the choice to buy them or settle for something less. Also note that MSRP is seldomly seen at stores unless you are at a mall. most best buy and other B&M's will use these as loss leaders to get you in the door by making them dirt cheaper then MSRP.. and if you pre-order you can get it for at the very least 25% off retail.

It is indeed Official.. Dvd collectors like to complain about everything.

The thread is so misleading. This situation is nothing like Red Dragon. Its more like buying the Matrix or buying the Matrix Gift Set.

Guys,

I don't think JJE-187 understood that a regular 2-disc version would be available in addition to the gift set. Give him some slack. He was just trying to help out and no harm done. --Edward

So do I...except for some reason, they posted that WARNER would be handling this...which ain't true in the slightest... Seasbiscuit was a Universal/Dreamworks flick....

I'm easily picking up that gift set...I don't care about the cost, it sounds hella sweet.

MATT

Yeah, I noticed. ;)
I sent them a short mail pointing that out.

As for the Bonus Disc - I think JJE-187 is correct and you have to buy the "gift set". On the bonus disc:
Bonus Disc:
Winner's Circle: The Heroes Behind The Legend
HBO First Look
The True Story of Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit vs. War Admiral: The 1938 Match Race
I agree with him - that kinda blows. I would like to have the second disc but don't care about the other gift set junk.

It appears to me that the listed extras for the normal release are really all jammed onto one disk. I guess they sound like a lot but they don't amount to much. In any case, I see no mention of a second disc in the listings.

That's why I shop online. I can always easily find any disc at a very reasonable price somewhere.

So they offer a stand alone DVD with some extras for $20, and a multi disc for $40. You should feel LUCKY that whoever is handling the movie is A. Deciding to release a deluxe edition. B. Deciding the release a regular version for a cheaper price. C. That come release day, both will be pretty damn cheap.