I didn't win, unless they change their mind and offer an exchange program. I really doubt that will happen, however.

I'd be happy to pay shipping or whatever for it, but no exchange at all really sucks. If the new versions do get into stores I guess I'll have to unload mine online to some poor, unsuspecting soul and rebuy it.

Maybe they could throw on some good special features while they are at it..

That's horrible....

Rented this bad version and found it the best movie of 2008. Afraid how much I would have liked it if I had seen it in the theater.

Almost bought it a couple times, but will wait for the fix now.

Eh, to be honest I found the film totally great before I knew about the subtitle issue, and I'm sure for the cheap price someone would pay on ebay for it they'll get their money's worth. I'd much, much rather get it replaced by the studio though.

Great. Fuck over the people who bought the discs the first two weeks they were out.

Just sent over the following e-mail to Magnolia:
Also sent an update e-mail to The Consumerist that Magnolia will not be exchanging the discs with the link to Bill Hunt's comments at The Digital Bits.

For those of you who bought the disc on DVD or Blu-ray, I plead for you to e-mail them. If they don't do an exchange for the titles, fine by me. They just lost a customer for life.

Good shit Chimmel

I'm pretty annoyed by the refusal of an Exchange Program as well. I remember purchasing The Blind Dead Collection from Amazon, which I read had audio issues. Even though the exchange program was long over a Customer Service Rep over at Blue Underground still offered to replace my defectives discs for me.

Magnolia pretty much is saying if you bought it, screw you. Next time (if you buy the disc again), we'll be sure to mark them so you can give us more of your money

Feeling sort of pissed that the Subtitles were a "decision" and not an "accident", so they don't warrant exchanges.

I wonder, how long will it take before the "fixed" discs show up in stores?

Thanks.

EDIT: Got a reply back from the folks at Consumerist. Hopefully they'll update the article within the next 24 hours.

You know whats funny....Universal will still exchange the Battlestar Galactica HD DVD set if you call them and ask. They don't have the HD DVD obviously but they are more than willing to provide a replacement title (last I heard, they were offering Seasons 1 AND 2 on DVD for the defective discs). Heck, Universal still replaces Jurassic Park. Lost World, and Back To The Future Part 2 & 3 discs.

Sony even honors exchanging the PCM only BD disc of The Fifth Element.

And Paramount, who has gotten an internet whipping over music replacement for TV shows on DVD, even offers a complete replacement for The Fugitive: Season 2, Volume 1. You know who totally awesome Paramount and CBS Video are? So totally awesome that all they ask for are the two UPC tabs from the INSERT as proof of purchase along with a form. They will mail you replacement discs and a REPLACMENT INSERT since you had to cut it. You can keep your old discs!

I followed your lead. I hope more people do.
[email protected]

Seriously, I am more irate over this than I have been over anything in a long time. It doesn't help that this was essentially my most anticipated film of the year.

What's the correct procedure for doing this? Just copy-and-paste Matthew's e-mail as my own, or is it better to give some indication that someone else is essentially "speaking" for me and I'm just adding my support for his opinion?

They'll be hearing from me either way... I certainly hope they put my $20 to good use, because until they do decide to offer an exchange, I won't be buying another Magnolia release.

As an aside, their strategy of noting the version of subtitles on the back of the case won't be of much use to someone who orders the movie on, say, Amazon. Anyone wanting the second pressing is now likely to be limited for some time to buying it at the brick-and-mortar level. Since they aren't actually recalling the existing discs, the stock online shops currently have won't be going anywhere, so it just becomes a crap-shoot to buy it online.

I would imagine that putting your own spin on this would be more effective, so it doesn't look as if one person is the source of all the complaints.

I've already written to them, and urge everyone who bought this on release to let Magnolia hear their voice!

That address again!

[email protected]

I don't get why they would go with an alternate version for the DVD when they had access to the theatrical version.

What the hell would be the point in that besides pissing people off.

Doesn't make much sense and shows what kind of operation Magnolia is running.

Apparently they didn't want to pay for the original subtitling and figured a lot of people would probably use the horrid dub (which is of course set as the default track on the BD & DVD). But it's become pretty popular and it came back to bite them in the ass.


Good question. I guess I'll have to keep checking periodically at Best Buy for the new version. This is probably not a title they will keep 20 copies of on the shelf, so they may go through reorders fairly quickly and maybe they'll get the new pressing if they're starting with them today. I really had no problem with the current disc or subtitles so I'm in no huge hurry.

I agree

My email to them was short and too the point, and included a link to the IconsOfFright article.

Still haven't heard a response, though...

Yeah, please don't just copy and paste my e-mail.

Like I'm flattered, but once this whole thing is said and done, Mark Cuban might think I'm a son of a bitch.

Just sent off an email. This is ridiculous. Here's what I wrote:

I am one of the customers that bought your Let the Right One In Blu-Ray upon first release. I am aware that the subtitles used on this BD are not the same as the ones used in the theatrical version, which is how I originally saw the movie. Kudos to you for offering to put another version out that will contain these original theatrical subtitles. But, I am SEVERELY disappointed that you opt to not offer an exchange program to those who already gave you their money. Do you understand that the source of these complaints are coming from people who already bought the discs? By saying that you don't intend to do an exchange for them is outright admitting to exploiting them for their money. You will shamelessly double your profits on this movie by making them buy it twice, when they should have had the theatrical (and correct, I might add) experience in the first place. I won't accept an excuse that the subtitles are a matter of choice because most of the translation on these pressed discs is flat out incorrect or completely ignored in some places. I was of the impression that Magnolia/Magnet was a company that cared about artistic intent and wanted to share that with the world by bringing people international film that begged attention. By blatantly snubbing your customers this way, you are falling way short of your goals.

I'm not trying to defend them at all but comparing Magnolia to Warner Brothers, Universal, Sony, & Paramount is a joke. They are a much smaller company & they really don't release alot of stuff to be honest. I agree they should replace the discs for you guys but don't expect them to have the same resources/funding as all those other big studios.

No, I totally understand that. Though...customer service goes a long way.

Here's what I wrote to them. Bastards.

To Whom It May Concern,

I rarely ever write to DVD studios because, on the rare occasion that a major technical error arises, most are quick to remedy the problem and offer a replacement disc for consumers who have already purchased the title. I am one of your customers who purchased a Blu-ray copy of Let the Right One In the day it came out, March 6th. I immediately watched it and, before having even read the infamous Icons of Fright atricle, noticed that the film's subtitles seemed very "dumbed down". I had even more reason to suspect this might be the case because the film defaults to the English dub track, rather than the original Swedish audio. So, it appears the assumption was made that you think the home viewing audience doesn't like to deal with things like "reading their movies" and "listening to weird foreign languages".

But I digress. You have chosen to make amends and henceforth manufacture all future copies of this fantastic film with the proper theatrical subtitles, as it should be. But, then I noticed you said that an exchange program would not be offered for current owners. This is completely unacceptable. As a consumer in this toilet bowl economy, I cherrypick the Blu-ray titles I buy each month because I can't afford to buy every single thing I want. I have already spent my money on an inferior copy of this movie, and I REFUSE to spend another cent to get the correct version you should have released to begin with. I can promise you that, should my needs not be met, I will never buy another product from your company again. I would rather import a multi-region DVD or BD of a film you have rleased here than waste any more of my hard-earned money on product you can't do right in the first place.

You have my e-mail address at this point. You know that the right thing to do is to allow existing owners to mail in their discs via an exchange program. This problem would have gone unchecked had the early buyers not discovered this egregious error and lambasted you with frustrated emails. I don't expect a reply, but I do expect to see an announcement made on one of any of the top DVD sites confirming your intentions to do right by your customers.

Thank you for your time,

Anthony Arrigo

Same here. I (unknowingly) watched the english dub for the first couple minutes, as soon as the Oskar's bully spoke his first words I knew the dubs weren't for me. What truly horrible voice work!

From the link in the OP, the author speculates that Magnolia would have had to pay the theatrical translator AGAIN for putting her subtitles on the DVD/Blu so instead they paid another cheaper translator to do it for the home video releases. Sounds like they just took the cheap way out not thinking anyone would notice.

Good companies do it. Anchor Bay did it, we always sent out replacements at BCI if we screwed up. Its not that expensive, most of the people who buy it never even know something is wrong, so you aren't sending out that many, and it builds ton of good will with consumers.

I sent off an email as well. it probably won't do me any good though. It pisses me off that I bought it the day before seeing this news.