The Matador (Missing special features?)
 

Hey guys,

I just read the DVDtalk review of The Matador, which lists a bunch of special features, such as 2 audio commentaries and deleted scenes.

I just received my advance copy, and my store received copies to sell this Tuesday. Both are completely bareboned. Only special features are previews to other movies.

Is there more then 1 version of this film available? My UPC is 687797617897.

After checking IMDB and Amazon, looks like the Full Screen is barebones but the widescreen is packed with extras.

THank GOD I always buy Widescreen.

Thanks TomOpus!

Something is weird with that.. It comes up in DVD Profiler, but as you've indicated, it's different.. There's no extras, where as if you compare the back covers of what you have, to dvdempire (for both WS and FS), there are PLENTY of extras.

I couldn't explain why there appears to be different versions, but that's very, VERY weird..DVD Profiler indicates it's a USA release..It's not the Canadian disc that somehow made it's way this side of the border..My only other guess, would be for some strange reason, they've pressed a disc without extras, for rental places like Blockbuster and Hollywood Video.. other than that..I've got no idea..

The rear covers are almost identical for the WS discs, except for the lack of extras, and the disc you have does not have the "Genius Productions, Inc." logo inbetween the Miramax and DVD Video logos..Also on the back cover on DVD Empire, there appears to be numbers, where the one you have has a First Look Pictures logo..

there is a bare bones wide version that is being made available for rental.
dont know if this will be for retail too.

Maybe they're trying to save a few pennies by going with a single layer, barebones release?

The Matador (BBV's version lacking all special features)
 

I went to my local BBV and picked up a rental copy of this movie on my way to Wal-mart. I was a bit surprised to see that this movie had no special features but thought that it might be due to it not doing so well at the theater. But later I went to Wal-Mart and checked it out by chance and it had quite a few special features as well as the bonus disc. Does anyone know whay this happened with this particular movie? I've heard of BBV getting some episode only discs for tv shows but this is a bit awkward.

I started a thread about this the other day. Seems that the rental places received barebone discs.

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=470572

It's strange because BBV has the two disc sets of RENT, KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, RETURN OF THE SITH, THE DEVIL'S REJECTS but not HARRY POTTER/GOBLET FIRE, nor CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. BBV also carries the MASTERS OF HORROR series with two episodes per disc and no special features. Maybe it's a studio thing and not BBV who makes such decisions as to what versions are carried instore.

The movie really wasn't a "hit" so who would be saving money? This is definitely a studio decision and not BBV.

I hate how this film is being advertised as a sleek savy thriller, when it reality it's a calm, held back character piece/black-comedy. We're gonna get a lot of joe-six-packs coming into best buy claiming it was the worst movie of the year and that makes me sad. :(

It looks like the studio wants you to buy the DVD over renting. I mean it makes sense, if you purchase it they make more money over renting.

I'm sure its on a studio by studio basis. I'm surprised it took movie companies this long to figure it out. LOTS of people buy their discs used meaning the movie companies get Zero $$. Give rental outlets the barebones only, giving people a reason to buy new versions instead.

I also find it funny that BBV got the 2 disc Lord of War when a 1 disc widescreen version is available.

That could definitely cut down on the "I'll buy it when it's used at ________" mentality.

BAH!

I live (and apparently, die) by that mentality. I rarely buy new anymore. I guess I will with this one, though - great flick.

cheers,

-the Jesus

Is that a serious question? The studio (who pays to manufacture the disc) would be saving money.

I'll post this here also:

I just went to pick this up at WalMart. I was hoping that it was on sale, but I saw it for $19.99, full price. I was just about to leave and then I saw a two-pack for $19.99 also, so I went ahead and picked it up. Here is a scan of the front and back of the "bonus" disc:

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/3546/matador0hh.jpg

http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/1171/matador28bk.jpg

That's pretty sad. I like the cover for the Bonus Disc more than I do the actual DVD. :lol:

I agree. TERRIBLE choice of cover art for the official release.

:up:

Brent, are the special features worth anything on the bonus disc?

I haven't watched all of it yet, but it seems pretty solid so far. The Toronto International Film Festival Press Conference seems really interesting, and the E! thing is everything you'd expect - scenes from the flick mixed with a few interview segments and that sort of thing.

a few of the trailers on the BBV rental copy of The Matador were forced as well - it was a great movie tho :)

The point being since this movie certainly did not burn the box-office, why would the studio spend the money to release two versions on dvd? This movie is hardly going to be a "blind buy" for consumers so why not just have one SE and be done with it (like the majority of studios)? I can understand releasing a "rental only" copy of a blockbuster like HARRY POTTER but this?

Isn't this what they've been doing in the UK for years now? A barebones rental copy, with the store version being the one with the special features.

now there is a reason why full screen is referred to as 'Fool' screen... ;)

Has anyone noticed how the covers vary?

I was at Borders and the cover was the same as the theatrical one-sheet.

But at Best Buy, it was that travesty cover.

I saw this tonight at Borders as well. This release is one of the strangest I can think of, having two separate and completely different cover artworks plus the rental version not having the special features. The cover art at Borders is much much better and doesn't look like some straight to video crapfest like the other one does.

maybe its to encourage people to buy instead of rent? oh you liked the movie, care about how it was made, go buy it biyatch!

It sure did sell like hotcakes.

Stores ordered quite a few copies and most were sold out by Thursday. Well, sold out of the WS version, FF were still available.

I went to 3 store and finally got the very last WS edition at Walmart.

i picked this up the other day and i usually buy fullscreen or "foolscreen" as my people on this refer to it and now I am looking at the back with the special features and it reads that it has, "deleted scenes; feature commentary with director, richard shepard; commentary with pierce brosnan, greg kinnear, and richard shepard; making the matador featurette; the business and the threatment: feature radio programs discuss the matador; tv commerical; theatrical trailer"

does the widescreen verison have other material also, outside of the bonus disc that was pictured before from walmart?

What a shame there is so much confusion over the release of such a wonderful film!

Agreed, one of the years best.

i was at best buy today and compared the widescreen and fullscreen side by side and they had the same special features. glad i don't have to return the fullscreen version now.

Some additional weirdness: my local Hollywood Video carries a widescreen version of the film with (according to the case, anyway) all the special features of the sell-through release. Did they really make a featureless version of this film just for Blockbuster? I know BBV is a big fish, but still...

Sadly, yes. I had the version.