I've noticed several titles at the Walmart $5.88 dump bin from Columbia/Tri-Star, like Johnny Mnemonic, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, About Last Night, which are listed at IMDB and Video Hound's DVD Guides as being dual WS/FS, but the Walmart dump bin versions are FS only, even though they have the same catalog #/UPC listed as the versions listed as WS/FS! I haven't been looking around for other sources for these titles yet, but I was wondering if Columbia is making special versions just for Walmart, or if this is a sign that Columbia is dropping the WS version for their $10 MSRP titles in general? In either case, is there a contact for Columbia for me to complain? If nothing else, they ought to be assigning a new catalog/UPC for the FS only edition.

I noticed this mentioned in the $5.88 DVDs at Wal-Mart thread in the bargains forum, and it appears to be a Wal-Mart exclusive.

i noticed meijer has some of these as well


I saw


Last Action Hero
Idle HAnds


Fullscreen only for $6.96

Well I mean come on, 99% of wal mart shoppers don't want to deal with the good ol black bars..

I asked the guy putting these discs out at Walmart (was an intelligent looking older guy, not some pimpled airhead) who said, yes, indeed they have them specially made just for walmart. I didn't ask beyond that for specifics.

I bought Frankenstein & it's the WS/FS version. I dod notice Idle Hands was FS only though

Did it say that it was widescreen on the case?

I got stung with the Johnny Mnemonic disk as well. Sure I only paid $6 for it but the case is labeled to include both fullscreen and widescreen. I'm trying to track down my receipt and see if they will let me return it.

Excess Baggage as well

All of the CTS titles that are FS only at Walmart that I've seen either specify that they've been "Modified to fit your screen" (not MY screen - if so they'd be 16:9) or else don't specify ratio at all.

I bought a bunch of discs from the $5.88 bin that were anamorphic - but it says so on the box, either "Enhanced for widescreen televisions" or "16:9 enhanced" or "Anamorphic Widescreen".

There are few sweet deals there, but some of their Fox SEs are a true bargain - Bedazzled, Freddy Got Fingered, etc.

This is the biggest problem with these new pressings -- the UPC code is unchanged. By not changing the UPC code, Columbia TriStar is not acknowledging a content change in going from ws/fs to fs only. It's all the same to them from an production/inventory/sales point of view.

They did take the time to change the cover artwork however. For example, on the back cover of Excess Baggage it clearly states "FULL SCREEN VERSION has been re-formatted to fit your TV" and if you look down in the teeny tiny print you'll see "copyright 2003 layout and design Columbia TriStar Home Video." So in 2003 they changed the covers to show FS only copies. BUT NOT THE UPC????? What's up with that?

As far as J6P not wanting horizontal black bars: this is not a valid argument for this product change. Remember, the original fs/ws versions allowed everone to have what they wanted! This feels like an attempt to make cheaper goods to stuff the $5.88 bins. Well if you're going to make FS only copies, how about balancing the act with some WS only copies!

The studios don't care about us(the OARists). Why cater to the JSP crowd, when we are the ones that have made DVD a success.
This is of no disrespect to people who like full screen movies, as I guess we are all lucky to have choices, but it has to be an even playing field.

I think it's a shame to take WS/FS titles and turn them into FS only titles....but if that's what Columbia TriStar feels they need to do to fill $5.88 bins, then that's what they need to do. It's their choice. But to not change the UPC code when the content of the package has been changed, well that's just not right.

I just ordered Idle Hands from Deepdiscountdvd and recieved the Fullscreen only version! Now I have to return it.


Is there an email address at Columbia that I can send complaints about this to?

i was going to buy idle hands at walmart but it said fullscreen. then i saw it at target and it was the same thing. then i went to best buy because i remember seeing widescreen somewhere on the back awhile back but it only said full screen. so i went online to check if they made a widescreen and it said the dvd brought both ratios. so is the only way to find the widescreen is to hunt it down and see if any stores still have any in stock? what about what flash said, can we get a replacement from columbia?

In case anyone is interested i passed on a Full screen Idle hands at Walmart and then found a duel format one a few weeks later. So i think both versions are still floating around

It would be terrible if it was true.

"If" it was true? Have you read the other posts in this thread?

Rob

Why do you people shop at WalMart?

Why not? They have the best prices on many items and they still carry many widescreen DVDs.

For the babes!

Hmmmm... Why are you even concerned that Idle Hands is presented in its OAR?

Some movies need the directors vision preserved... but Idle Hands?

Ahhh, the discriminating tastes of people who demand OAR on their copy of Idle Hands that they bought at WalMart. Pass the Grey Poupon, Jeeves.

DVD snobs.

All movies should have their OARs preserved, not just those deemed "worthy".

Rob

I am shocked to discover that the DVDs in the $5.88 bin at Wal-Mart are sub-par. Next thing you'll be telling me that you can't get a decent glass of wine at McDonald's!