DVD Extras Must Die
As soon as I saw that the era of DVD extras may disappear, I rushed out and hugged the closest motion picture executive I could wrap my arms around. Hopefully, she won't file that restraining order. I'd just as soon pay more for a DVD that I could watch countless times in the comfort of my own living room than I would pay full price for movie passes. When Gretchen and I went to see the “Lord of the Rings” the other day, we dropped about twenty bucks on the counter (no snacks). I'm certain that when the DVD is finally released, we'll pick it up for no more than $25. Do the math. Of course, they already have - and our cherished bonus features are now an endangered digital species. Now, I'm not really ready to pay more than $35 for a full-featured disc, but I'm even less ready to hit the theaters anytime soon. I don't care HOW big the screen is. I don't care HOW good the sound is. If I can wait for the DVD - nine times out of ten - I will.
Just a clarification: I do NOT want to see the end of DVD extras. Quite the opposite. My reason for embracing said individual was that I believed that through love, I could change the world - stopping those who would render our home entertainment systems obsolete. It just came out wrong. And this is what happens when doves cry. Hey, someone's down in the lobby. And what is she doing with that magazine?!
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8 Comments
Anonymous
January 10th, 2002
at 9:14am
One problem with “most” DVD extras: lack of captions. It sucks! Some do come with it, but most don't and I have to shell out extra bucks for something I can't hear.
Not saying that they should do away with them… just some of us don't get to take advantage of it. :(
At least, Shrek extras were captioned.
Anonymous
January 10th, 2002
at 10:26am
I would be devastated if they started removing extras. I have a sizable collection (420+) and most of them are special editions and such like. I think they underestimate the draw to the features. People would stop collecting and just rent them if they started killing off the extra goodies. I think they just need to start writing it into the contracts for the movies that the filmmakers and actors will be available for DVD extras and put those costs into the film budget and not into home video's. Home video department budgets are usually very low (I've worked for enough of them so I know) and would keep the quality of the DVD releases high and not burden the consumer anymore. Although it's not like the studios are really losing much money ya know? The greedy ******** need to keep giving back to the fans.
Anonymous
January 10th, 2002
at 11:47am
I have to agree. When I get a DVD that doesn't have any special features, I somehow feel robbed. What I enjoy the most are special features for movies that have existed for years but are only now being released on DVD. If I pop a movie I have loved for years in the DVD player and there is something MORE available…I am as happy as a clam.
Anonymous
January 10th, 2002
at 2:23pm
Jeez Chris how will you live!
I'm UK based and here we suffer region 2 discs. These are 1)Always late 2) Lack most of the extras.
Practically eberyone breaks the law and gets set up for multi region. Many of us import directly from the US, so as to get region 1.
When the producers hit out at users by trying to stop this I can't help wondering why.
It isn't as if we are denying them payment for their product, we just want the best version for our money, what's wrong with that?
Anonymous
January 10th, 2002
at 2:39pm
I don't always watch the extras, but there are some movies, like Moulin Rouge, where I simply drool over the fact that there are 2 discs. LOTR would be another one where I would definitely want the extras. Sigh… oh well, you know they will still have them, they will just be on special edition copies that they charge us $10-15 extra for.
Anonymous
January 10th, 2002
at 9:55pm
Hey ammortiser, UK gets the Farscape DVD's way sooner than we do in the states so I count you much luckier than us :-)
Anonymous
January 11th, 2002
at 7:55am
Ditto! I am an extras addict, it's the one thing that makes the buying of DVD's justifiable. Else I just keep buying the old VHS's. *Sigh!* I am hoping that they don't go through with this madness and actualy leave the extras alone.
Anonymous
January 15th, 2002
at 6:17pm
Quite simply, if they stop putting extras in DVDs, then I will stop buying DVDs. As a rule, I own very few DVDs that do not have, at the very least, a handful of extras and most of those I own are special editions which are simply loaded with them. So if the bigwigs who decide suich things are watching, you cut my extras from DVDs and I'll spend what I save buying your product on a DVD burner and a subscription to a P2P service!