...does it seem like they're putting little to no effort into menu design on their DVDs these days?

It seems like they just use the first template that the authoring software came up with. Annoying if you enjoy the DVD experience and aren't interested in going blu-ray yet.

Yeah I've noticed this on a few recent TV sets of theirs. A shame

Add to that we have cheap eco-cases and disc artwork that consists of black text on a silver disc.

Maybe we're moving into an era of substance over style. I'd still take the original Star Wars movies on 16x9 DVD in a paper bag and that sort of thing.

Honestly, I find overly animated menus obnoxious and loud. I don't need the main characters of the movie dancing around the menu options and possibly spoiling the movie, I just want an easy interface.

I always disliked the overly animated menu screens that show spoilers like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.

But considering the format I expect something nice, either something like the Blade Runner menu screen, or something a little simpler like Donnie Brasco/Enemy at the Gates.

I hate animated menus too...it makes me feel that I'm about to play a video game and not a movie.

Not just Warner stuff. Prometheus has joined them.

The Bluray menu screen is pretty cool and my idea of how a SE DVD menu screen should look.

I guess they're just cutting costs for a format they don't feel is making that much a profit.

I'll take a static, non-animated, menu system any day and couldn't care less about how it looks as long as it has what's needed. Who needs all that time wasting crap. It's *maybe* cool *once* and after that it's a pain. When I put any title in the player I want to start the film as soon as possible.

I noticed it on the series set for Logan's Run, but figured that was because the release was originally intended to be from the burn-on-demand Warner Archive. Perhaps some of WB's more 'static' menus of late are titles that were originally being considered for the Archive?

Anyway, I think I actually prefer a static, silent menu, especially if the music/sound is a very short clip on a continuous loop (and if it re-starts every time you go to the next level of the menu system). It's much less annoying.

I also have a hatred of menus that take a long time to load (i.e. you're forced to 'play' the animated opening before you can select "play movie", etc).

Sometimes simpler is simply better.

I first noticed it on Archive titles, but Suburgatory S1, which I imagine was always going to be a pressed title, has rather generic menus. So I dunno!

I do prefer static menus myself, but I like them to be pretty too.

Um, have you seen Warner Blu-ray menus of late? They're just as 'lazy' as you say.

Exactly. It isnt a DVD vs Blu-Ray thing. WB is just lazy right now in menu design. Static image with generic buttons on the bottom.

Their earlier titles used to play the movie right away too.

This.