Is "Zack/Miri Make a Porno" releases a blatant example of abusing the consumers?

[Groo The Perverted]

Okay that title may have been a bit over the top, but this has really irritated me.

So I ordered the Zack and Miri Make a Porno and it'll get here tomorrow. So I was looking through the internet for reviews of the extras, and found out that there's an extra called "Seth vs. Justin" and it's a 13 minute improv fest between the two in that hilarious scene in the movie @ the High School Reunion.

However, and this is what's got me angry, is that they split up the 13 minute improv clip into TWO SEPARATE ONES, on two different releases.

So the regular editions get half of it (seth vs. justin pt. 1) and the only way you can see the second half is to rent the Blockbuster release?????

ARE YOU KIDDING ME????

This is about as shameless as I've ever seen. Double dipping is one thing, but having a major extra like that split up over two different editions of the movie (identical in every other way) is just insane.

In fact I don't think I've ever heard of a studio doing this, and can't believe that Kevin Smith would go for that. He's always been someone that's been a "fan first" kinda guy.

Throw in the fact that there is no commentary on here, and that's two strikes against a Kevin Smith release that normally gets ZERO complaints from me.

What is everyone else's take on this? Am I over reacting? I realize some people don't give a damn about the extras and all, and on most releases I'd agree, but Smith's releases have always been jam packed with really entertaining things, including documentaries on every aspect of making the movie that tends to run even longer than the actual movie.

[bajor27]

Originally Posted by Dreaming in Blu

Okay that title may have been a bit over the top, but this has really irritated me.

So I ordered the Zack and Miri Make a Porno and it'll get here tomorrow. So I was looking through the internet for reviews of the extras, and found out that there's an extra called "Seth vs. Justin" and it's a 13 minute improv fest between the two in that hilarious scene in the movie @ the High School Reunion.

However, and this is what's got me angry, is that they split up the 13 minute improv clip into TWO SEPARATE ONES, on two different releases.

So the regular editions get half of it (seth vs. justin pt. 1) and the only way you can see the second half is to rent the Blockbuster release?????

ARE YOU KIDDING ME????

This is about as shameless as I've ever seen. Double dipping is one thing, but having a major extra like that split up over two different editions of the movie (identical in every other way) is just insane.

In fact I don't think I've ever heard of a studio doing this, and can't believe that Kevin Smith would go for that. He's always been someone that's been a "fan first" kinda guy.

Throw in the fact that there is no commentary on here, and that's two strikes against a Kevin Smith release that normally gets ZERO complaints from me.

What is everyone else's take on this? Am I over reacting? I realize some people don't give a damn about the extras and all, and on most releases I'd agree, but Smith's releases have always been jam packed with really entertaining things, including documentaries on every aspect of making the movie that tends to run even longer than the actual movie.

I watched that extra. It's not bad. I didn't realize I was only watching half of it though (unless the Canadian Blu got all of it). I know Weinstein has some exclusivity deal with Blockbuster and it's released by Alliance up here, but it's still unlikely.

I agree that the situation does suck though.

[#Darren]

That is bad shit. Maybe they are trying to mimick the no morals standards of the porn industry?

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

The Weinstein Company has had to cut all sorts of "creative" deals here and there to get as much money as they think they can to stay afloat. One of these deals is an exclusive-rental arrangement with Blockbuster, so only Blockbuster can get rental copies directly from The Weinstein Company. (Of course, mom-and-pop shops can go to Wal-Mart and buy a few copies to rent, though most of Blockbuster's major competitors will never carry Weinstein titles.)

Still...when you take a look at the movies that The Weinstein Company has released, you wonder how lucrative this deal is for either company. What's the market for these titles? Regardless of what you think of their artistic merits, from a financial standpoint, they're not very profitable.

[Groo The Perverted]

I swear if they didn't have some foreign titles that I was interested in, and the deal with Tarantino and Smith, I'd never buy another Weinstein title after this.

They've got a long history of stupid crap.

They've butchered unknown numbers of brilliant foreign films, trying to dumb them down for America, hacking twenty minutes or so off, and throwing lame soundtracks on them that just make it look stupid (RE: Shaolin Soccer).

That was strike one.


This is strike two.


One more, and I may have to just search for specific titles in the pawn shops or second hand stores so Weinstein doesn't get a dime from me.

*hoping they don't screw up before Jackie Brown drops* lol

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Well, "Jackie Brown" remains in Disney's hands (most Miramax titles stayed with Disney).

I've seen "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" being sold as part of the "2 for $25" promotion at Blockbuster. Of course, you could always buy used Weinstein Blu-rays for low prices at Amazon.

[master_8ball]

This isn't really such a big deal and happens all the time... If I wanted a Batpod with my Dark Knight I would have bought it at Amazon. If I wanted a Ironman face mask case I would have bought Ironman at HMV... If I wanted the extra 13 min of improv I would have bought Zack & Miri at Blockbuster. The list goes on and on, exclusives have been around since dvd and I would imagine even before that.

[Uncle Leo]

Honestly I could care less about 13 minutes of improv on a Blu-ray. I buy them for the MOVIES story PQ and AQ and thats it. Anything extra is just that. An extra. Thats why they call them Extras. Extra extra. Sorry got carried away.....extra

[danman227460]

There is a difference in offering an incentive that is based on a toy and offering half of an extra on something else. Imagine if there was one ending on the regular release but to get the alternate ending, you have to rent or buy the movie at blockbuster. This is pretty much the same thing.

It is like getting a crippled BD and to truly get the full experience you have to double dip. It's ok if it is at blockbuster because you can just rent the BD to watch it but imagine having Wal-Mart on it and you have to buy it from them to get the other half.

Which is also how Watchment is being done. The DC doesn't have everything but the Ultimate does but the Ultimate doesn't have everything. You have to own both the DC and Ultimate to get the full experience.

Originally Posted by master_8ball

This isn't really such a big deal and happens all the time... If I wanted a Batpod with my Dark Knight I would have bought it at Amazon. If I wanted a Ironman face mask case I would have bought Ironman at HMV... If I wanted the extra 13 min of improv I would have bought Zack & Miri at Blockbuster. The list goes on and on, exclusives have been around since dvd and I would imagine even before that.

You don't but some people enjoy the extras. They offer some entertainment and gives BD their replay value beyond the movie. Some of them are funny especially ones done by Apatow for his comedies. I would like know sometimes how some scenes are done and that is where the extras come in.

Originally Posted by Uncle Leo

Honestly I could care less about 13 minutes of improv on a Blu-ray. I buy them for the MOVIES story PQ and AQ and thats it. Anything extra is just that. An extra. Thats why they call them Extras. Extra extra. Sorry got carried away.....extra

[OARmaster]

Originally Posted by Dreaming in Blu

ARE YOU KIDDING ME????

This is about as shameless as I've ever seen. Double dipping is one thing, but having a major extra like that split up over two different editions of the movie (identical in every other way) is just insane.

My opinion has always been, and will always be, that the only folks at fault fo double-dipping are the ones who are repurchasing. I'm not going to fault the studios for making money off of these suckers. If someone will go out and purchase a second copy of a film they already own simply because additional bonus features were included...well...they fell for it.

All of this hoopla over cover art, cases, and bonus features is ridiculous in my opinion. As long as a I get a disc with top notch PQ and AQ...I could care less if it comes in a case with a plain label only displaying the film title and no bonus features.

Studios will continue to double-dip for as long as consumers keep falling for it. Making money off of the foolish...a solid business practice.

[Teabaggins]

the companies are not going to change their ways so you can only control one thing; yourself.

don't be a slave to your "wants".

[P@t_Mtl]

It's their way of selling and making a buck. If you don't like it, don;t buy into it and don't buy another one of their movies.

[benricci]

Is "Zack/Miri Make a Porno" releases a blatant example of abusing the consumers?

Yeah, you've really been abused here...

[Ator the Invincible]

Originally Posted by Dreaming in Blu

In fact I don't think I've ever heard of a studio doing this, and can't believe that Kevin Smith would go for that. He's always been someone that's been a "fan first" kinda guy.

Smith had no control over this. He posted an explanation and apology for it somewhere (it's been awhile...). It's a Weinstein deal all the way. An added incentive to get people to rent it from Blockbuster. Weinstein desperately needs any extra money they can get.

[BluBrown]

While I understand where the OP is coming from I must say that mediocre transfers and lossy audio are far worse crimes that have occured on the BD format. Why a studio would make half of a bonus feature an exclusive is beyond me, it just seems silly considering 99.9% of people out there either wouldn't even notice or really care.

[SpaceDog]

I want my blu-ray releases as complete as possible. I don't want to have to go to multiple retail outlets to manage exclusivities.
I do not care who has a batpod or a facemask or a steelbook. I just want the disc(s) itself to be complete.
It is for this reason that I haven't picked up any version of WOODSTOCK.

[jasonicus]

This is probably one of the oddest ploys I have heard of, but expected. Like some people said, most people won't care or notice, but I do like extras, especially on comedies. I can live without the 2nd half, but they really messed up here.

[DetroitSportsFan]

"Brought to you by your friends at the Weinstein Company".

[SonOfArathorn]

Really? We're complaining that we didn't get MORE Seth Rogen?

It was a throwaway feature anyway and repeated a ton of the same dialogue.

[jasonicus]

Originally Posted by SonOfArathorn

Really? We're complaining that we didn't get MORE Seth Rogen?

It was a throwaway feature anyway and repeated a ton of the same dialogue.

Thats funny. I have a feeling Seth Rogen will be the next Will Ferrell.