If the studios manipulate you, it could be that you're a gigantic pu... I better stop. Seriously people need to live with multiple releases and realize the studios are meeting a demand. Sadly one version of American Pie won't cut it.

Julie,

Thank you for your response. You've convinced me that The Karate Kid will sound fine in its original 2.0. After the Star Trek mono to 5.1 conversion, I have to admit I've always thought conversion was the best way to handle audio on older film/TV. Even though my setup at home is limited I do notice some differences. For example, the 5.1 mix on BTTF sounds great! The 2.0 surround on Can't Stop the Music (guilty pleasure movie) is a muffled mess. My soundtrack CD actually sounds better!

With regard to the "big head" cover art, what do you think? At first I didn't care. Now it's getting to be obnoxious - from my perspective.

My keeper is asleep... I don't have much time. The bad news is that the studios are, in fact, vigorously manipulating us. The good news is that it's with release. There, now I

I think it's JULIE who's manipulating us!! That was the first coherent and intelligent post i've read from her. Go Julie!

Wait, so Julie's a girl again? Now this thread's really got me confused.

Great post, Julie.

Your welcome and thanks everyone



...and Joe,yes 'she' is how you refer to me

It's the last thing I'm worried about since it's whats inside thats important. Unless all the dvds in your collection are faced out and thats the main reason for display...who cares? They can present every dvd in a paper bag for all I care. as long as it plays....and it has a long shelf life because of proper manufacturing....it's all good. I want the disc to last. Big heads, snapper cases, triple-dipping, lock-tabs....it's nothing but a waste of time for me to dwell on these issues. Building my library is fun, educating and full of enjoyment. I'd have nothing but a headache if all I did was focus on that other crap.

That's the only thing that really pisses me off about it.

I mean at this point, most people should be able to look at a DVD release, and, based on the specs, be able to figure out how likely it is another version will be released later.

But I find it very annoying when a movie comes out on DVD that I already know I love, saw it in the kickass THX theater, but have to settle for an inferior audio and visual experience (Spiderman was a somewhat recent example of this for me). I don't really care if they release multiple versions (it's only $15 or $20 after all), just release the better versions right away so I can at least have the quality the film deserves and the format is capable of.

Its all about greed from the studio's and they know we'll buy them

People love their favorite movie. The studios know this. They can release it over and over, each time with a little more extras than it had before, and they'll buy it again. I am guilty of this myself.

I think it sucks the way studios treat Americans. Other countries get beautiful cover art and sometimes way more extras on first time releases. Here we get insulted with huge floating heads and tons of critical praise pasted all over the covers and then they hold back extras for a potential re-release. Because studios know people will buy anything! Its sad, I wish studios would give more credit to people. They insult them with stupid movies and continue to do so with poor DVD releases.

The big-head issue you are referring to is a marketing thing, plain and simple. Big names and marketable faces sell, so obviously the studios are trying to kill two birds with one stone. I'm sure they realize other cover options look better, but it is tough to explain that to the top brass when a marketing guy is running around with some research report on how the people at Walmart are 20 times more likely to buy a movie if it has the big name actor's face plastered all over the cover than if the cover is a teaser or theatrical poster. They are going to take the option that makes them the most money every time.

To be fair, studios do this because many DVD fans demand it. Nearly every time a DVD of a new film is announced sans a commentary track someone in these forums will complain. Almost every barebones release receives the comment "the least they could've done is done a commentary track." If studios wait until a later release, they get accused of double dipping and manipulating us.

By that reasoning, studios should stop producing DVDs altogether, since High Definition releases of these films are inevitable.

Look at computers. I'm sure everyone here has bought a computer that, at the time, was top of the line. How long did it take for a newer, better computer come out? Better yet, how long did it take for your current computer to be worth "garbage"? Most of us have either bought newer PCs or have upgraded our current ones multiple times. Do any of us blame PC manufaturers for making contantly better products that render our current ones obsolete? Do any of us feel 'forced' to buy the newest, fastest one? You got what you paid for when you bought your PC, and the manufacturer isn't ripping you off by releasing a better product down the line.

This old chestnut? After all these years why this polarizing position? Shouldn't we be beyond this to expect studio releases to have the original audio and offer enhanced audio mixes if they so choose? Isn't that what we are seeing more and more in the marketplace? Then people can choose their own approach.

Btw, the new Mary Poppins has an "enhanced" mix that could only appeal to a tin gutter. In this case, thank goodness there is the "original" mix.

Back on topic, our expectations should be that marketing will try to sell you their product as many times as they can. It is our job to realize that it ain't a hug from your kids. It is just stuff. Admittedly stuff we love. So, we have to decide whether we need a new car every two years.

Standard DVD will be around for many years. I have absolutely no intention of purchasing either a HDTV or one of the High Def competing DVD formats. I'm sure I represent a rather large segment of the population - the studios know this. My guess is that HD will have a consumer penetration of about 2 million households. That's what "high-end" Laserdisc accomplished (Though it took 20 years!). HD releases will have a minimal impact on standard DVD.

Answer: Yes.

You just have to be aware of their $ games. I hold off buying when I suspect that it will get a special release at some point. How long am I willing to wait on the studio's? Well, I'm looking forward to buying 'Donnie Darko' for the first time in just a few more days.

Smurf Sex!!!

It all comes down to how you make the call and what your reasoning is. I buy DVD for the film itself. Most recently filmed movies are presented in OAR, anamorphic and look very good their first time out of the gate. There may not be scads of extras, there may not be commentaries, and the covers may not be the picture you wanted, but if you buy a DVD for the film itself then most of the time you get great sound and a very nice print to watch. If you're buying a DVD for the movie then their potential for manipulation isn't nearly as powerful as for those buyers adamant to have deleted scenes, making of documentaries, multiple commentaries and the likes. If it's a movie somewhere in my top 10-20 of all time (last years' rerelease of The Thing is a good example) then their ability to manipulate me rises tenfold because I want all those goodies, but past that I'm happy to just watch the movie and not as apt to double dip. The studios aren't dumb.....how many TV on DVD rereleases do you see? They'r pricier on the average, and studios know once the consumer has the show in his/her collection they aren't likely to buy again so they don't take the chance. Just cos something is sitting on the shelf rereleased you don't have to buy it all over again. Let that puppy sit!

I don't mind 2.0 mixes. I only have 2 very large speakers and a sub for me a 2 channel mix is adequate for me until I upgrade.

You mean, apart from the Star Trek and Twilight Zone sets? Or the sets vs. single releases of Simpsons, South Park, Highlander: The Series, Transformers, Eerie Indiana, and Friends? Or the "Family Guy: Freaking Sweet Collection"? Or the most recent rerelease of Neon Genesis: Evangelion?

I did. I thought your posts were clever.

3 different (could be considered 4) releases of Twilight Zone.

How about releasing two seasons of Mad About You and then proceed to release a best of Season 1 & 2 set.

Farscape is getting a rerelease. X-files is getting a "best of" the conspiracy episodes set this year.

Granted they[tv re-releases] are fewer, but they still do it plenty.

That just reminded me of the Married with Children "Most Outragious Episodes" DVDs that preceeded the season sets. Damn, I'm beginning to think that studios TV show rereleases may be just as common as film ones.

Oh, and Matt's posts in this thread have been very amusing.

I wouldn't be too sure about this just yet. If either of the HD formats sell as well as the new HDTVS are now they will probably ditch dvd as quickly as possible. The industry is pushing for new copyright schemes and larger files more than anything.

Here's a new one. For anyone who has postponed getting 24: Season 1 for $15, probably should get it soon. Fox is introducing "starter" DVDs. 24 is one of the first ones. A single DVD with the first 2 episodes on it for $10. The $15/season deal will be missed, but I knew that couldn't last long. So pick 'em up while you can, I'm sure once these start getting released, the first seasons will remain at full price.

FWIW, for $10, I think it should be 4 eps.