Commercials you can't skip through on Universal DVDs
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Commercials you can't skip through on Universal DVDs
I just plunked in Bruce Almighty and was prepared for a night of enjoyable movie watching. DVD playback is one of the few uses my TV sees since I don't watch much TV now-a-days . Almost all of it is garbage designed to be just barely interesting enough to get you to stick around long enough to see the commercials.
Therefore, imagine my surprise when the first thing that popped up was a mess of promos for other movie titles. This in itself was bad enough to spoil things for me. It's nothing new to me, but at least I'm able to skip through them with the push of a button. With a grumble, I pushed the 'Menu' button like I've done many times before. This time around though, my DVD player responded with a innocent little "Prohibited" icon, the same one you get when you try to skip through the equally annoying FBI logo.
Not willing to back down from this challenge, I was determined to find an alternate method of getting this defilement off my television. I tried pushing the button to forward to the next chapter, but was restricted as well. I tried to manually enter in another chapter number, but that too was restricted. Ultimately, I was left with my fast forward button, forced to skip through these intrusions in the same time honored manner that was once a trait of the classic VCRs.
By this time, I was ROYALLY pissed. I was ready to go down and return the DVD, except that once its opened, you can't. So, with an extremely irate mood (just the right kind of mood you want to be in to watch a comedy movie), I went ahead and played the movie, but the prospect of having unskippable commercials on something I PAID MONEY FOR lingered on my mind throughout the entirety of the film.
So I ask you now: What the HELL is up with that?!! I can understand if this was something I was renting, borrowing, leasing, pay-per-viewing, or getting for free, but I PAID for this disc. I OWN IT. Why the hell must I be forced to sit through an advertisement like a captive audience?
That's like me buying a car without being allowed to test drive it, paying for it, and when I get behind the wheel the car refuses to start until the radio blasts 5 minutes of commercials every time.
Is there anything legally questionable about this practice? I'm mega PISSED.
Therefore, imagine my surprise when the first thing that popped up was a mess of promos for other movie titles. This in itself was bad enough to spoil things for me. It's nothing new to me, but at least I'm able to skip through them with the push of a button. With a grumble, I pushed the 'Menu' button like I've done many times before. This time around though, my DVD player responded with a innocent little "Prohibited" icon, the same one you get when you try to skip through the equally annoying FBI logo.
Not willing to back down from this challenge, I was determined to find an alternate method of getting this defilement off my television. I tried pushing the button to forward to the next chapter, but was restricted as well. I tried to manually enter in another chapter number, but that too was restricted. Ultimately, I was left with my fast forward button, forced to skip through these intrusions in the same time honored manner that was once a trait of the classic VCRs.
By this time, I was ROYALLY pissed. I was ready to go down and return the DVD, except that once its opened, you can't. So, with an extremely irate mood (just the right kind of mood you want to be in to watch a comedy movie), I went ahead and played the movie, but the prospect of having unskippable commercials on something I PAID MONEY FOR lingered on my mind throughout the entirety of the film.
So I ask you now: What the HELL is up with that?!! I can understand if this was something I was renting, borrowing, leasing, pay-per-viewing, or getting for free, but I PAID for this disc. I OWN IT. Why the hell must I be forced to sit through an advertisement like a captive audience?
That's like me buying a car without being allowed to test drive it, paying for it, and when I get behind the wheel the car refuses to start until the radio blasts 5 minutes of commercials every time.
Is there anything legally questionable about this practice? I'm mega PISSED.
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Its their company, they can advertise on any of their products that they want to. They can stop the movie and stick a three-minute Universal commercial in the middle if they like.
But I totally agree with you, this practice is attrocious! In fact, I watch these movies less because I don't want to sit through ten minutes of crap to see the movie that I own forever. I mean, the companies just don't seem to get the concept of ownership; when you own something, you want to be able to enjoy it leisurely, and not be battered endlessly with commercials.
The sad thing is that I would watch their trailers if they were just a part of the special features; I'm always looking for something to watch. But it makes no sense for them to make us sit through the same ad every single time we put the disc in! At least back in the VHS days, you could set yourself up so you'd begin playback after the trailers. With digital, every time is the first time.
But I totally agree with you, this practice is attrocious! In fact, I watch these movies less because I don't want to sit through ten minutes of crap to see the movie that I own forever. I mean, the companies just don't seem to get the concept of ownership; when you own something, you want to be able to enjoy it leisurely, and not be battered endlessly with commercials.
The sad thing is that I would watch their trailers if they were just a part of the special features; I'm always looking for something to watch. But it makes no sense for them to make us sit through the same ad every single time we put the disc in! At least back in the VHS days, you could set yourself up so you'd begin playback after the trailers. With digital, every time is the first time.
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Re: Commercials you can't skip through on Universal DVDs
Originally posted by xstylus
equally annoying FBI logo.
equally annoying FBI logo.
as for the ads....of course I dont like them. but to let this upset you so...that you lose yer focus throughout the film....jesus. if you are pissed...then do something about it. that means write letters, make yerself a loud voice to those responsible. but I wouldnt let it ruin my life, man.
improper bonding on dvds...get pissed about that. it's a MUCH bigger deal.
#4
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Universal has been a topic for awhile. They pretty much suck at every aspect of DVD releases right now.
http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...ight=universal
http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...ight=universal
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What I most of the time do is, I pop the disk in the player, THEN I put the MW popcorn, wich take about 3 minutes to pop, then I prepare the drinks and other...not poping anymore???...good!
finally reach the living room and sit down and enjoy...
so all the comercials are done by the time I sit...simple!
finally reach the living room and sit down and enjoy...
so all the comercials are done by the time I sit...simple!
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While I certainly don't like the forced trailers, it isn't that big a deal. I will usually watch the trailers the first time I pop a disk in. Sometimes there are previews for things I haven't seen or known about, so I don't mind having them there. Now for future viewings, if I know the disk has the forced trailers, I just pop the disk in a few minutes before I am actually ready. Like others have said, pop the disk in, get a snack, get a drink, go to the bathroom, just let it play. I do the exact opposite for disks that don't have menus and just start up.
To let it ruin the movie for you is taking this issue way to serious.
To let it ruin the movie for you is taking this issue way to serious.
#9
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Originally posted by Tha Freak
What I most of the time do is, I pop the disk in the player, THEN I put the MW popcorn, wich take about 3 minutes to pop, then I prepare the drinks and other...not poping anymore???...good!
finally reach the living room and sit down and enjoy...
so all the comercials are done by the time I sit...simple!
What I most of the time do is, I pop the disk in the player, THEN I put the MW popcorn, wich take about 3 minutes to pop, then I prepare the drinks and other...not poping anymore???...good!
finally reach the living room and sit down and enjoy...
so all the comercials are done by the time I sit...simple!
#10
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just imagine 20 years from now when we want to watch films like Animal House, or Meaning of life, and we put it on and what do we see? Commericals for dvds that will not only have been out for years, but are probably non existant, replaced with super mega special editions.
takes me back to the dark ages of vhs.
sad
takes me back to the dark ages of vhs.
sad
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Originally posted by whynotsmile
just imagine 20 years from now when we want to watch films like Animal House,
just imagine 20 years from now when we want to watch films like Animal House,
#13
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Kudos for the elegant posting, but i doubt you were that angered about the trailers to let it hurt your enjoyment of the movie that much, let alone question the legality of it.
Regardless, like i said in the Hulk thread, its annoying but no big deal.
Regardless, like i said in the Hulk thread, its annoying but no big deal.
#14
Getting mad does nothing. Not buying the DVD will do nothing. Only contacting Universal and voicing your opinions will do anything. Bug them enough and they will change their policies (I HOPE!). It worked with the Disney DVDs.
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To skip the trailers at the beginning of Universal disks press stop during the FBI warning then play. At the end of the FBI screen the main menu will come up without playing the trailers. Still a PITA if you're not thinking about it when you put the disk in.
#16
Originally posted by dtaylor
To skip the trailers at the beginning of Universal disks press stop during the FBI warning then play. At the end of the FBI screen the main menu will come up without playing the trailers. Still a PITA if you're not thinking about it when you put the disk in.
To skip the trailers at the beginning of Universal disks press stop during the FBI warning then play. At the end of the FBI screen the main menu will come up without playing the trailers. Still a PITA if you're not thinking about it when you put the disk in.
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Re: Commercials you can't skip through on Universal DVDs
Originally posted by xstylus
That's like me buying a car without being allowed to test drive it, paying for it, and when I get behind the wheel the car refuses to start until the radio blasts 5 minutes of commercials every time.
That's like me buying a car without being allowed to test drive it, paying for it, and when I get behind the wheel the car refuses to start until the radio blasts 5 minutes of commercials every time.
#18
Originally posted by Ayo
Its their company, they can advertise on any of their products that they want to. They can stop the movie and stick a three-minute Universal commercial in the middle if they like.
Its their company, they can advertise on any of their products that they want to. They can stop the movie and stick a three-minute Universal commercial in the middle if they like.
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Originally posted by Rypro 525
then i sure hope you don't own or buy alot of the older titles that start automaticly.
then i sure hope you don't own or buy alot of the older titles that start automaticly.
I haven't had one yet that the movie started right off??
name some titles please?
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Re: Commercials you can't skip through on Universal DVDs
Originally posted by gutwrencher
if you let this bother you that much...I'm not sure what to say. everybodys in a rush now-a-days. typical for young people(not saying you are a teen). the FBI logo....
if you let this bother you that much...I'm not sure what to say. everybodys in a rush now-a-days. typical for young people(not saying you are a teen). the FBI logo....
Universal's new "control freak" activities practically force people who don't like this kind of nonsense to make a side copy of the DVD that doesn't have these user prohibition handcuffs.
#22
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Re: Re: Commercials you can't skip through on Universal DVDs
Originally posted by Rob Mason
Yeah, there's nothing that does more to put you in a pleasant mood to watch a nice comedy than being threatened with law suits and imprisonment. It's so disheartening to see people come to accept this type of customer abuse as "normal/ok". Really, do you really think it's about being in a hurry?
Yeah, there's nothing that does more to put you in a pleasant mood to watch a nice comedy than being threatened with law suits and imprisonment. It's so disheartening to see people come to accept this type of customer abuse as "normal/ok". Really, do you really think it's about being in a hurry?
Originally posted by Rob Mason
Universal's new "control freak" activities practically force people who don't like this kind of nonsense to make a side copy of the DVD that doesn't have these user prohibition handcuffs.
Universal's new "control freak" activities practically force people who don't like this kind of nonsense to make a side copy of the DVD that doesn't have these user prohibition handcuffs.
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What I find annoying are voerly drawn out long animated menus. I watched the original X-Men DVD the other day in preperatiopn for X2 (not 1.5 but THE original X-Men DVD with the silver cover) and the menu takes FOREVER! Still, NBD as far as I am concerned...
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Re: Re: Commercials you can't skip through on Universal DVDs
Originally posted by gutwrencher
if you let this bother you that much...I'm not sure what to say. everybodys in a rush now-a-days. typical for young people(not saying you are a teen). the FBI logo....BIG deal.
as for the ads....of course I dont like them. but to let this upset you so...that you lose yer focus throughout the film....jesus. if you are pissed...then do something about it. that means write letters, make yerself a loud voice to those responsible. but I wouldnt let it ruin my life, man.
improper bonding on dvds...get pissed about that. it's a MUCH bigger deal.
if you let this bother you that much...I'm not sure what to say. everybodys in a rush now-a-days. typical for young people(not saying you are a teen). the FBI logo....BIG deal.
as for the ads....of course I dont like them. but to let this upset you so...that you lose yer focus throughout the film....jesus. if you are pissed...then do something about it. that means write letters, make yerself a loud voice to those responsible. but I wouldnt let it ruin my life, man.
improper bonding on dvds...get pissed about that. it's a MUCH bigger deal.
On a side note, yes the commercials are annoying, but for the most part I don't let it bother me either... If it were like the pizza hut freebie promos all the time then yeah... that would drive me batty. I mean, most of the time the way I look at it is that I have to watch previews when I watch a movie at a theatre also (and I can't fast forward those). Now granted, if I want to watch the movie in ten years, the ads will seem dated, but that also can be nostalgic... everything is relative and it all depends on your perception.
Last edited by ScottyWH; 12-02-03 at 10:59 AM.