First, a quote from TheDigitalBits.com:

Add to all of this that DVD has GREAT features that have rarely been used such as seamless branching, multiple angles, and others have been very under-utilized. I worry that even if HD-DVD has great features that can be used, they'll just be ignored just like DVD's features have. So I am asking you to share what has frustrated you about DVD releases were more could have been done, but instead it was done in a bass-ackwards way.

Seemless branching is one feature that is definately under-used. If more "director's cuts" would use this feature, then it'd save the studio from having to produce two different versions of the same disc.

Also, it's apparently possible to do both WS and FS versions of the film on the same side of the disc. I've got a couple titles that do this. The Complete Musketeers does this, and seems like another one or two that I can't recall the titles to.

The features that I'd like to see removed are storyboards and perhaps still picture galleries. I have very little use for these. It's hard enough to focus on the live-action shot and on some rough sketched storyboard at the same time. Most of the time, I have a hard enough time just trying to make out what the story board is supposed to show.

Same thing goes with the multi-angle features. Sometimes it's interesting, but at other times, they're pointless. Kind of depends on the subject matter.

im getting more and more sick of the intros, warnings, etc that you cant pass up. There is no reason for it to be nonskippable.

I agree on the Branching, we need more of it. Fox seems to use it the most on dvd...dont they?

What was once "versatile" is now "video".

Those forced logos, trailers and copyright warnings are terrible; but I don't even mentally register them anymore. I especially hate those disclaimer messages where studios remove responsibility for commentaries - it's an annoying display of the studio covering their asses legally which could've been placed elsewhere.

I remember when early techno-hype touted DVDs as a means to contain much more than the movie itself; bonus goodies like the movie soundtrack, playable PC games and a library of information about the movie. Yes, some releases have done that, but most releases did not go the distance. Could you also imagine the additional rights which would need to be secured for such content?

The saddest releases are simply a distribution medium for the movie product itself; not much better than an chapter-indexed VHS tape or Laserdisc port.

How about a multi-angle feature, where it randomly picks the shot and change interval; so you end up watching a different movie everytime?

Surely that's just an issue of disc space? If you do it double-sided, you get more space than with a single-sided dual layer disc. The longer the movie is, the more difference this will make.

Exactly. A dual layer disc is 7.95GB whereas a dual-sided (single-layered) disc has 4.7GB a side (having a total of 9.4GB). Whereas a 90 minute film can have both WS and PS on the same side of the disc (consisting there are no extras and few audio options), I can be okay with that. If the film is longer and may contain a few extras, I'd prefer a dual-sided disc.

I prefer two seperate discs... i dont care too much for a dual sided disc, have to be extra careful not to touch either side. Plus no artwork on the disc... meh.

i don't understand why there is ever a full frame version of a widescreen ever, period. not because i don't think people shouldn't have the option if they want it but because almost every dvd player ever made after the first gen ones lets you play a widescreen dvd in full frame mode. it takes zero space!! and anyone with a first gen dvd player won't care anyway most likely, assuming they even still use it.

why not just put up a short static screen at the beginning after the fbi thing saying "go read your dvd manual for instructions to play in full frame mode." or whatever.

Nope, DVD allows for the player to turn a WS transfer into choreographed(?) PS on the fly. You'd only have one transfer on the disc and the player would crop it for you.

The center-cropping is exactly what I'm talking about. In another thread, some people were talking about the O.C. release being 4:3 when the original broadcasts were in 16x9 & 4:3 (center-cropped). The technology exists to release it BOTH ways, but Hollywood wants to double-dip when HD DVD or Blue-Ray comes out down the line.

NO way i want to lose storyboards...i love that. I would like to see more script to screen content...

I think the thought is always that they can sell it once with fluff, and again with the good stuff...think hellboy...Yah I want more...

I don't really see the point of both transfers. Except for the sake of it. I like the ones where you can choose on the single sided disc. But if having them on one side reduces picture quality, I don't want any of that. If it does, what confuses me is when they do double sided discs, they're single layer sides.

-Bottom line, give us the seamless branching and multiangles and let the fools have their foolscreen.

can anyone reccomend dvds with good indepth features? thanks.

-chile

The original Hellboy release with two audio commentaries + a 2.5 hour documentary was fluff!? I've seen double-dips that were less stacked than that.

FWIW, Pan-and-Scan is not the same as cropping.

Does anyone know if there has every been a DVD whose uses Angle feature literally to switch angles to a different angle that was filmed on the set? Are there are DVDs that showed a scene you could literally watch from different angles? WOuld love to know, seems like it would be maximum use of Angle feature, thanks in advance!

the angle feature has been used several times in concert films, but I can't think of any movies that do this in the film, some as special features but none inside the film

I believe that DETROIT ROCK CITY is one that does that... but I think it may be only the concert footage.

One of the reasons why advanced features aren't used much if at all has to do with the inability of many players to handle them properly. There were reports of problems with numerous players attempting to play seamless branching on T2. I remember people scrambling to download the latest firmware for their players.

Now that DVD players are in the mainstream (especially those cheapo models), it is very risky for a company to produce a disc that uses seamless branching.