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Does anyone else feel stripped rental discs are a low blow from studios?
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DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorTheMadMartian
Alien with an attitude
Registered: March 13, 2007
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Quoting Grendell:
Quote:
I would be willing to bet that if policy were gradually changed to make movie only retail discs that cost $20 and separate retail discs that contain extras and unrated/extended versions cost $50, that would be just fine with you.

Can't stand the fact that people don't agree with you so you throw out veiled insults.
Quote:
The other thing that's interesting is "rental movie only" discs are a more recent invention. They only started showing up in the past few years. So this was actually something that was taken away from consumers. Yet, here you are as usual, meticulously picking apart posts via quotes and making all sorts of indirect insinuations and assumptions mixed with your opinions as the cold hard matter of fact truth.

What posts have I meticulously picked apart via quotes?  I simply answered your questions, then defended my opinion, when you decided that anybody who didn't support your point of view deserved to be insulted and belittled...as was the case with your post above.  The cold hard matter of fact truth is that I, and most of the people who have responded, simply don't agree with you on this issue.  You can either accept that cold hard matter of fact truth, like an adult, or you can continue with this little tantrum.  Either way, I am done responding as it is pointless because it is quite clear that you didn't want opinions, you wanted affirmation.
No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever.
There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom.
Against this power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand.
The Centauri learned this lesson once.
We will teach it to them again.
Though it take a thousand years, we will be free.
- Citizen G'Kar
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantGrendell
One disc at a time...
Registered: May 8, 2007
United States Posts: 823
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Quoting TheMadMartian:
Quote:
Either way, I am done responding as it is pointless because it is quite clear that you didn't want opinions, you wanted affirmation.


I "vented" on an internet forum. I don't want anything.

What dumbfounds me is this is, in my mind, like posting something like saying I went into a bar and ordered a beer, and a bunch of people came up to me and said I was a stranger and they didn't like me, so they broke my arm, and I am really upset about that and just want to vent. Then people reply saying "So, what's the problem? I would have no problem if that happened to me. It was their right to break your arm. You shouldn't expect to be able to go to a bar where you aren't known and not get your arm broken."

It's just so bizarre and unbelievable to me.
99.9% of all cat plans consist only of "Step 1."
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantGrendell
One disc at a time...
Registered: May 8, 2007
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Quoting Silence_of_Lambs:
Quote:
Quoting Grendell:
(which isn't supposed to be sold to consumers in the first place)


???

They are sold to consumers everywhere. In the stores that rent them, all over eBay, Amazon, etc. That's a problem. If it's not "supposed" to be sold to consumers, why is it that millions of them are?


Quoting Silence_of_Lambs:
Quote:
I really hope that you'll never find out about "Blade Runner" which currently is available in at least 4 versions (Pre-Theatrical, Theatrical, Director's and  (so-called) Final Cut).
And under all circumstances avoid to turn on your TV! You'll probably get a heart-attack when you find out that not only there are absolutely no extras (not even original audio), but that movies even get cut to be able to air them at prime-time.


This shows that you have no understanding of any of my points. TV shows and physical discs are totally different animals. Discs typically come with extras, TV shows don't. Why would you think I would expect a TV broadcast to look and behave like a disc?

I guess that's part of the problem. Most people's concept of renting discs is equating the rental with watching it as a TV broadcast, or watching a streaming version of it, which is now Netflix's main business.

To me, being able to have a physical disc is a different experience, and you are supposed to have a choice to either rent or buy it. If you rent it, you should get the correct experience of the physical disc. As I mentioned in my original post, you have to take extra steps to get the physical disc. It's not "instant," and requires a physical trip if you go to a rental store. If I wanted the experience to be a TV broadcast (on demand or otherwise) or instant streaming, I would use that option!

But I guess I am weird for thinking like this. I live in a strange world.
99.9% of all cat plans consist only of "Step 1."
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorLewis_Prothero
Strength Through Unity
Registered: May 19, 2007
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Quoting Grendell:
Quote:
Quoting Silence_of_Lambs:
Quote:
Quoting Grendell:
(which isn't supposed to be sold to consumers in the first place)


???

They are sold to consumers everywhere. In the stores that rent them, all over eBay, Amazon, etc. That's a problem. If it's not "supposed" to be sold to consumers, why is it that millions of them are?


They are sold, yes, but that's not their primary purpose. The Studios produce them solely for Rental. The rest is simply secondary market, not a single Cent of those sales goes back to the studios.

Quote:
TV shows and physical discs are totally different animals. Discs typically come with extras,

They do?
I own several retail discs that don't have any extras (Latest example: Definitely, Maybe (Blu)).
But probably it's all my fault, because I inform myself on what I actually buy and therefore am not disappointed when I find out that what I get was exactly what I ordered ...

Quote:
I live in a strange world.


Me too,
I just found out that there are people that neither want nor need a certain product and buy it anyhow 
Can you guess how surprised I am?

EDIT: Most likely the main difference between your POV and mine is that I rent DVDs for the movies that are on them, and I do so to find out if the rented feature fits into my collection (means: if I like it). So for rental purposes the extras are in my eyes redundant. In this regard for me renting a DVD or watching the movie on TV is almost identical, that's why I came up with the TV comparison.

Buying a DVD for me is something completely different. When I buy a DVD I'm checking for the best possible equipment at a given price (as low as possible). But even then, if I get the same movie with better extras at a better price I buy the better offer.
Means: if there are two releases of the same movie, one stripped to the bones, the other with all the classy features and both cost nearly the same, guess which one I'd buy?

Anyhow for me there's no need to blame the studios for my consuming behaviour.
It all seems so stupid, it makes me want to give up!
But why should I give up, when it all seems so stupid?


Registrant since 05/22/2003
 Last edited: by Lewis_Prothero
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantGrendell
One disc at a time...
Registered: May 8, 2007
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More and more of our rights are being slowly stripped away from us... more and more games can't be played unless you are online and authenticated... more and more "tablet" devices are being sold with proprietary software that does not allow for users to choose how to use their hardware, unless it is approved by the company... within the next 50 - 100 years, I predict that ALL computers will be proprietary that can't be modified by consumers, and ALL media and content will have to be purchased, authenticated, delivered over the internet, and can only be played on the device for which it is authenticated, and only by the person who bought it. It will be a crime to try to modify any of it. And not only will people be accepting of it... they will demand it.

Sometimes it's really hard for me to see myself alive at the end of the decade.
99.9% of all cat plans consist only of "Step 1."
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorTheMadMartian
Alien with an attitude
Registered: March 13, 2007
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Quoting Grendell:
Quote:
Quoting TheMadMartian:
Quote:
Either way, I am done responding as it is pointless because it is quite clear that you didn't want opinions, you wanted affirmation.


I "vented" on an internet forum. I don't want anything.

While it is true that you did say, "Sorry, had to publicly vent.," the title of the topic was a question..."Does anyone else feel stripped rental discs are a low blow from studios?"  That being the case, I, and I am sure everybody else, assumed you wanted an answer to that question.  Clearly we were mistaken.
No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever.
There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom.
Against this power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand.
The Centauri learned this lesson once.
We will teach it to them again.
Though it take a thousand years, we will be free.
- Citizen G'Kar
 Last edited: by TheMadMartian
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorTheMadMartian
Alien with an attitude
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 13,202
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Quoting Silence_of_Lambs:
Quote:
They do?
I own several retail discs that don't have any extras (Latest example: Definitely, Maybe (Blu)).
But probably it's all my fault, because I inform myself on what I actually buy and therefore am not disappointed when I find out that what I get was exactly what I ordered ...

I own several retail discs that don't have any extras as well.  When I go to the store, as I often do every Tuesday, I look at the various versions being sold and buy the one that satisfies my needs.  Oddly enough, on release day, the verson without all the extras is always cheaper than the version with the extras.  If I don't care about the extras, and I don't want to wait the few monts it will take for the price to drop, I will buy the version without the extras.
No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever.
There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom.
Against this power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand.
The Centauri learned this lesson once.
We will teach it to them again.
Though it take a thousand years, we will be free.
- Citizen G'Kar
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorGSyren
Profiling since 2001
Registered: March 14, 2007
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Quoting Grendell:
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More and more of our rights are being slowly stripped away from us...

So are you saying that your rights are being violated when a $1 rental doesn't give you the same extras that others pay more than 10 times as much for when they buy the retail version?
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorJimmy S
Registered: March 15, 2007
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Quoting Grendell:
Quote:
More and more of our rights are being slowly stripped away from us...

I hope you realize how incredibly stupid this line sound...

A company isn't the governement. They don't give you any right and they owe you nothing.

But you have a freedom of choice. You are not happy about something don't buy it no one will break your legs if you decide to do so.

Posting thing like that make you look like a spoiled kid more than anything else...
 Last edited: by Jimmy S
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorThe Movieman
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Registered: March 18, 2007
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Quoting TheMadMartian:
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If I don't care about the extras, and I don't want to wait the few monts it will take for the price to drop, I will buy the version without the extras.


One caution to that, although it's only happened once (for the movie Red or RED to appease both sides to that debate    ), the feature-less version also carried a standard Dolby Digital 5.1 track while the "Special Edition" version had a DTS-HD MA 5.1 track.
 Last edited: by The Movieman
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorCharlieM
Registered Sept 5 2005
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Quoting Grendell:
Quote:
More and more of our rights are being slowly stripped away from us...


What "rights" are being stripped away.  As a business, I have the right to offer my product or service to the consumer, in any fashion that I choose (as long as I don't violate a law).  This choice also means that I will accept the profits or losses of those decisions.

As a consumer, I have the to choose whether or not to purchase (or rent) a product.  If I choose to pruchase or rent, then I will pay what the producer is charging, for the product that I choose.

We as a consumer can make our feeling heard via only the pocketbook.  If enough consumers show their displeasure with the decisions of the producer, then the producer will change, or lose money.


I do not feel duped or taken advantage of by the studios/rental outlets for a stripped down version.  When I go to the rental outlet, and decide to rent (or even purchase used) dvd's, I understand that they may very well may be stripped versions, and I make my decision accordingly (depending on what I feel about the movie in the first place)  I also typically do not buy used from 3rd party retailers.

In all realism, there are many consumers that are interested in the movie itself, and really don't care about the extended versions or special features (probably more so than those that do care).

In the end, consumers must make informed decisions of their purchase.  If they do not care to do the research, then they get what they get.

Caveat emptor


Charlie
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorLewis_Prothero
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Thanks.
Couldn't have said it better.


...


In fact I couldn't have said it half as good.
It all seems so stupid, it makes me want to give up!
But why should I give up, when it all seems so stupid?


Registrant since 05/22/2003
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantGrendell
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So there is a "rental version" of Twilight: Breaking Dawn that not only strips extra features, but also strips the HD audio from the feature film as well.

Is the general consensus here still that that makes people happy?
99.9% of all cat plans consist only of "Step 1."
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorKathy
Registered: May 29, 2007
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I don't rent DVDs or buy rental versions.

Rarely someone will give me one and after I watch it I give it away. If I really liked the film I will buy a special or limited edition of the DVD.

I thought people bought Super Bit editions because they didn't contain all the extra stuff - are they the same or similar to rental versions?
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributortweeter
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With rental discs you get what you don't pay for.  If you don't like it then don't rent it.

The target audience for rentals probably won't notice the missing audio tracks playing through there TV speakers anyway.
Bad movie?  You're soaking in it!
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorCharlieM
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Quoting Grendell:
Quote:
So there is a "rental version" of Twilight: Breaking Dawn that not only strips extra features, but also strips the HD audio from the feature film as well.

Is the general consensus here still that that makes people happy?


In the whole grand scheme of all the "renters", how many, as a percentage, does this make a difference?

I was upset when they eliminated vinyl  as an audio medium, in favor of the CD.  A lot of people praised the durability and capacity of the CD, but in the end it is a terrible medium for an audiophile.  CD have a cap at 22k, while vinyl will go beyond 60k (true analog medium).  There is a distinct difference to the depth of music when listening to the different mediums. 

If the listening public were more geared to the audiophile end of things, we would still be listening to vinyl, or a better CD with an increased dynamic range.  Guess what?  The general population did not care, nor did the recording industry.  So in the end, we got a worse content medium.

With the BD (or DVD) market, I am really surprised that the industry has kept with the advanced sound in their general discs (you know, the ones that most people would by), without charging a premium for the 7.1 or even 5.1 sound, that most people watching the movie would never get, nor understand, without a costly system set up.

The people that  actually have the equipment, or the proper placement, or the proper room to achieve the proper results, is a small percentage, compared to the people that actually view the movie.

So are people happy with what the rental companies are putting out?  My answer is, most of the viewing public doesn't care...

Charlie
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