Are "flippers" on the increase?
 

It was slightly disappointing that Dallas was released with flippers, but I didn't expect too much when they put two seasons on five DVDs. But it seems there is an increase in flippers, especially for season sets, and also in movies that contain the full and widescreen editions.

The most disappointing release utilizing this was Martian Chronicles. As if they couldn't get 5 hours of the mini series on two regular discs that were non flippers.

It's gotten to the point where I am starting to pass on some movies/TV shows if they are released in flippers. It's not as if there isn't enough being released to spend money on, and especially for movies, I must as well may wait to see if they re-release it as a collector's edition of some sort that is not a flipper.

It's mostly MGM that does this. A real pain the ass.

I don't know. WB seems to be doing it with more of their TV sets. Universal isn't exactly so innocent either.

I'll never understand folks who pass on great content because of the box or the manner in which that content is on a disc. Sure, I don't like flippers or cardboard, but that doesn't mean I'll pass on great discs like the Fox Studio Classics or Wizard of Oz.

Even if the movie is good and its either flipper or cardboard i'll pass. I cant stand either, noir will i have any of them added to my dvd collection. I just sold all my cardboard and flippers movies on ebay, and although they may be a good movie i just don't like it at all.

I don't collect cases; I collect content. Not my preference, but no big deal if it's a snapper case, or if it's a two-sided disc.

A little like throwing away a twenty dollar bill because it's wrinkled, even though it still fulfills its primary purpose.

They can package them in paper sleeves for all I care. Just give me good transfers and extras and a decent price.

BTW a flipper is a single movie split on two sides of a disc. Just being a double sided disc does not mean its a flipper. Nothing wrong with a double sided disc as long as you take care of it.

Yeah, I've got no problem with a double sided disc. It's not harder for me to flip something over as opposed to just switching the disc.

Now, if it's a flipper when the film could've easily fit on one side (they don't really make those anymore) then I hate it.

Fuck those flippers! ;)

http://www.palmsales.ca/dubai/images/flippers.jpg

Other than the fact that I am incapable of getting the correct side of the 2-sided disk in the DVD player on the first try, I don't mind them.

Well, for me it's because my pocket is not bottomless. I may be teetering on the edge between two DVD releases and have to decide which ones I can do without. Well, flippers is just another way of eliminating the weak kids from the ball game, in my opinion. And if it's a movie, I am not sweating it too much, because I know there will be a special edition collector's edition later on, or more than likely there will be one, and if there isn't, well, the 20.00 flipper DVD I passed on before might be 5.88 at Wal Mart one day, making it easier to justify the purchase.

Bottom line is if you are paying a premium price, you expect a premium product, no matter what it is, and there is a lot of competition in the DVD world. If I continually buy substandard DVDs at a higher price, I am voting with my pocket book that I am OK with a substandard product for a premium price.

And that's what I am talking about here with Martian Chronicles. Dallas I was half expecting it, but I would have rather had it spread out over more discs and fit on all one side each even if it meant it brought the price of the set up another ten or fifteen dollars.

And with most movies, these days it's to accomodate the full frame morons, and that's reason enough to be ticked about it, which is why I would rather wait for a special edition with just the widescreen and no flipper.

That's why I by most of them from Korea.

MGM Flippers like Thelma & Louise, Fiddler on the Roof, and Terminator are released as 2-Disc sets.

I even bought Schindler's List from Korea, because it wasn't a flipper.

I believe The Butterfly Effect was also released as a 2-disc set in Hong Kong.

Since I usually take a trip to grab a beer or take a piss after the movie, if the special features are on the other side that is fine. Also, with TV on DVD, I usually watch it when I do not have time for a movie, so it is no big deal. Flipping the middle of movies I do not like.

I don't like flippers, unless the movie has a legitimate intermission. But even then having two discs is the preferred option. Double-sided discs seem okay to me if they want to put special features or a pan and scan version on the other side.

Though I don't like 2 sided discs, it won't stop me from buying a movie I really like.

Schindler's List, though I thought would've been better as a 2 disc. Movie on 1 disc, extras on the other.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...1.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

I haven't seen it since I was a kid, but I have fond memories of it. I've got nothing against it.

I'm not a fan of double sided discs, especially when they are used for movies. But for TV series I think it is necessary. With the amount of shows coming to DVD, shelf space is limited (in stores), a multidisc set of a tv show isn't exactly space saving.

I hate flippers not because of the aesthetics, but because it is near impossible handling a flipper disc with out get fingerprints on one of the sides. I must say that my dvds that are flippers are in much worse condition than the dvds that are individual one sided discs. I take special care of all of my dvds including wearing lint free cotton gloves so I don't get fingerprints all over my discs but the flippers are prone to scratches and fingerprints.

Please tell me you are being sarcastic.

I do the same thing!

this may or not apply to the tv movie of stephen kings it's and the stand. isnt the stand on dvd a flipper or is it on one side. i know "It" is not,it contains the first half on one,and the second half on the other. ethier way,it is still a flipper. I still dont like to flip the disc over each time i watch the film. couldn't they release this movie on a dual layered disc thereby no need for side flipping!!!!!

They have meds for that now.:D

ADV used flippers for S2 of Andromeda, which sort of pissed me off considering S1 wasn't, and I purchased a DVD changer inbetween.

Me? I see if I can get my DVDs in the player from across the room...

I think The Stand was rereleased as a 2 disc set.

There is no way to get something as long as The Stand on a single side of a dual layered disc without compressing it to the point it looks like crap.

We just have to face the fact that when we watch a long movie we actually might have to get off our asses once during the film and flip a disc over. Its a hardship I know.

You would have loved CAV laserdiscs.

I'm not a fan of dual-sided discs either. I especially dislike dual-side single layer discs, where everything could be included on one side, such as The Girl Next Door. I can understand that some early discs used this format, but for new releases, it doesn't make sense. I'd rather pay an extra dollar or two to have single-sided discs.

The top of the DVD in that case is silver, so does that mean "Flipper" comes on a flipper?

My DVD player is a 400 disc Sony changer. It's designed so that you don't have to handle the discs. It does not flip a disc for you. Having a double-sided disc really sucks. I'd much rather have multiple discs than a double-sided disc. I most likely wouldn't buy a disk with a movie split on 2 sides or important content of some kind on the second side. If it was the special features on the second, I wouldn't care much because I might only watch it once anyway.

You people never cease to amaze me.

Breaking News: If you've lasted long enough around here to be a "DVD Talk Legend," you are among the "you people" you speak of.

My least favorite movie flippers, the ones with the widescreen on one side and the fool frame on the other side, and all the bonus features on the fool frame side.

DVD is a 2-sided medium- get used to it.
I HATE 2-disc sets where both discs are 1-sided; they do that just to make it look like "more". I would not have bought "Schindler's List" if the movie had been split onto 2 discs- getting up to flip it in the middle is annoying, but switching discs would have been even more so.
As for changers, they do make ones that can automatically flip discs. I would not buy a changer that couldn't.

Though it was already mentioned previously in this thread, it doesn't look like most people saw it. Most of the movies listed are NOT flippers. A flipper is when a single movie is split across both sides of a double sided disc. Schindler's List being a good example. When the entire movie fits on one side and the other side contains other content (bonus features, pan-n-scan version, etc.), then it's a Double Sided disc, not a flipper.

That said, I don't care much for flippers or double sided discs in general. I'd much rather have two discs in that case. But I'd never pass up something I want because it's on a two sided disc.

It's a case by case situation on what I might pass up. If it's a movie I am interested in, and it contains both wide and full frame versions on it and does it with a flipper (or whatever you want to call it, but I call it a flipper) and sacrifices bonus features, I might pick it up if it's 5.88 at Wal Mart but that's about all the disc is worth. Outside of that, given all the special editions coming down the pike lately, I am putting my wager on that the movie will be released as a special edition with adequate bonus features and all on one side of a DVD, and perhaps spread over two single sided DVDs.

TV shows, you're just screwed no matter what, there is no hope of a collector's edition later on there. But if it's between a show on flipper DVDs and a show that I want just as much on single sided DVDs, the single sided DVDs have the weight in my deciding factor if I can't afford to buy both sets.

Fleetwood Mac - The Dance
 

Fleetwood Mac - The Dance is an interesting disc. Same video content; however, one side is LPCM and the other side DD 5.1. I haven't figured out why they did that.
Anyone know of others that are 2-sided just for different audio tracks?

-AC

Don't forget the MGM Midnite Movies collection. With the double feature (one on each side), it makes perfect sense. This saves space and money

"But if it's between a show on flipper DVDs and a show that I want just as much on single sided DVDs, the single sided DVDs have the weight in my deciding factor if I can't afford to buy both sets."

Funny- my deciding factor is exactly the opposite.

Yes, I truly hate flippers myself...
http://boortz.com/images/funny/kerry-flipper.gif
http://www.ihatejohnkerry.net/johnkerry_mu.jpg
http://www.ihatejohnkerry.net/dirty_rotten_kerry.jpg
http://www.poorandstupid.com/images/20040827bandaid.jpg
http://www.ihatejohnkerry.net/animated-talking2.gif

http://www.ihatejohnkerry.net/Kerry_catch.jpg

When it's okay and when it's not...

It's okay when a DVD is dual sided when the film contains both widescreen and full frame versions of the movie.

It's okay when a DVD is dual sided when a studio is releasing a season set of a television show that contains lots of episodes.

It's not okay when a DVD is dual sided to split a film in half. Thus use two discs.

It's not okay when a DVD is dual sided to split a film and it's extras up. Either use one dual-layered disc if it's not a lot of extras (Fox, I'm looking right at you motherfuckers) or make it a two-disc set (New Line and MGM, looking at you).

fubonics: You need to watch more Fox News. Don't you know that Kerry is a "flip-flopper?" Get with it!

And I hate me some double-sided discs, regardless of whether they're actual flippers or not.

It's never OK to fit in a full frame version. Full frame versions of movies should not exist, and should be on the way out with VHS.