The Official WB Digibook--> Regular Packaging Thread
 

For those of us who dislike Digibooks, I thought it might be useful to compile a list of WB Digibooks that have received or will receive non-Digibook packaging. I believe this is what has been re-released so far, please feel free to correct me or post announcements on future re-releases, and I will update the original post as necessary.

Se7en (Walmart exclusive)
Amadeus (no soundtrack sampler or digital copy) - 9/15/09
The Matrix - 1/12/10
Bonnie and Clyde - 2/2/10
Batman - 5/4/10
Clash of the Titans - 5/25/10
Poltergeist - 9/7/10
JFK
Falling Down - 11/16/10
The Shawshank Redemption - 11/16/10
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory - 11/16/10
How the West Was Won (without Smilebox version) - 1/4/11
The Outlaw Josey Wales (Wal-mart exclusive) - 6/7/11
The Exorcist (without original theatrical cut) - 10/11/11

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

The Matrix is available in a regular case.

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

Also, Natural Born Killers director's cut was released in a regular case (the digibook contains the theatrical cut).

And Dirty Harry is available as part of a double feature in a regular case.

This thread makes me sad though since I think digibooks are the best form of packaging for a Blu-Ray.

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

Makes me VERY happy studios give the option of regular cases.

EDIT: There's also 300, but since the digibook came out AFTER as the SE, I suppose it doesn't really fall into the same category. But it is one with both digipak and standard case available.

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

Thanks, updated original post.

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

300 is like NBK, though, where the digibook version and the regular case version are completely different discs, more akin to a "double-dip"....

I think his thread is only supposed to be ones where the exact same disc is originally released in a digibook, and then re-released later on in a standard case....

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

I love digibooks. They just look so much better than the plain blu-ray cases.

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

Correct, I'm just looking for releases that are identical other than packaging.

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

Great idea for a thread, thanks for posting. Hope to see it kept up as it will be a helpful resource.

I'm also glad WB is making more Digibook releases available in standard packaging, with standard MSRP. I'm indifferent to Digibooks themselves, but I take issue with paying a premium for what amounts to a picture book - with no day & date alternative.

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

I checked the back covers of the Poltergeist Digibook and the regular release and they are slightly different. The regular edition has fewer subtitle tracks. Does this make any difference to the PQ or AQ?

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

I'd be willing to bet the farm that they are the exact same discs, but for whatever reason WB just didn't list all the subtitle tracks on the back cover.....

Honestly, what is the more believable scenario: That they made a typo/omission on the packaging, or they went through the trouble to re-author and press new discs just to remove a few subtitle tracks?

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

German(?) DigiBook. They released an entire series of them. I see "The Dark Knight," "Batman Begins," and "Blade Runner" also in those pictures, and I think a couple others.

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

I rented Falling Down and it looks the best I've ever seen it, so I can't wait until the regular case is released in November.

Been picking up a few UK versions just to avoid the crappy "books", but I wish they'd just release them concurrently here in the US to please everyone.

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

It's funny how WB now seems like they're trying to disincentivize people from buying non-digibook versions by excluding key components of the full release (e.g. with The Exorcist and How the West Was Won).

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

If the non-digibook comes in with a lower list price than the book, then I think one can understand why they would make some features exclusive to the book version. Not really different from say the two different Iron Man 2 releases. Some people won't care to have fancy packaging or extra features, so they go for the cheaper one.

EDIT: Just happened to notice the forthcoming standard release of Falling Down is $10 cheaper in list price. Now Amazon is selling the book at a deep discount off the 34.99 list so it's only going to be $2 more than the standard. I don't know if the standard drops features. But if that book price goes up at Amazon after the standard comes out, it's pretty much a guarantee only collectors will be shelling out for the book at the higher price.

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

They're not just excluding extra features though - they're removing entire versions of the film. The biggest draw to the two respective releases are being able to watch them as they were originally seen in theaters (the theatrical cut of The Exorcist and the Cinerama version of How the West Was Won), yet these are what WB is excising from the standard releases.

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

Well HTWWW was a 2-disc set with one version per disc, so if the standard has to be a single disc, nothing to do there.

I don't see why WB would leave the theatrical off the standard Exorcist though - that means they have to press a different disc whereas with HTWWW they likely just use the same disc from the 2-disc book.

They may just know their customer base that well - those who love the books are likely the ones who will care more about having both versions. The casual buyer probably won't care if they get both versions. So they extract more money from the collector.

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

No, the theatrical cut of The Exorcist is on a separate disc from the extended version....they are not on the same disc/seemlessly branched (as is the case with the recently released Apocalypse Now/Redux release).....

The regular case Walmart exclusive edition is just what disc 1 of the 2-disc digibook regular release is....they did not press a different disc...

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

OK thanks for the correction - I have the digibook and already forgot! That makes even more sense then that one is being left out for that standard version too.

So the question is, are there any non-digibook releases which dropped content other than these two?

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

Like last year, Warner's will have Academy Award-themed slipcovers on some repacked releases on January 4th (The Blind Side, Gone With The Wind, L.A. Confidential, The Wizard of Oz).

But three previous Digibook-only releases -- the already mentioned How The West Was Won, along with JFK and The Matrix -- will now be available in BD keepcases as part of this promotion.

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

The Matrix has already been re-released in a regular case, back on January 12th, 2010....

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

The Poltergeist I finally received from the DD BOGO sale that I thought would be a digibook turned out to be the non-digibook packaging. If anyone in this thread wants to trade for it still sealed, I would accept an open/mint copy.

Re: The Official WB Digibook-->Regular Packaging Thread
 

Got JFK in a regular BD case at Best Buy.