Rental copies - Are they different? - Blu-ray Forum

MasterKaga · 08-29-2013, 04:11 AM

I bought a used rental copy of "The Rite" (2011) on Blu-ray and watched it last night. I was floored by how good the copy looked. The blacks were deep and detail was incredible. The audio was impressive too.

But, I went to the menu screen and realized that there are absolutely no extras on the disc. Nothing. Not even a proper chapter select screen.

My question that brings me here is this: Are rental copies different in quality that retail copies? I have no way to compare a retail copy with this one, but I was wondering if anyone here has ever heard of a rental copy being of superior quality to a retail one? I could definitely say that the artwork on the back of the case is way better that the colorful retail one.

Oh, and I could report that my computer reads that "The Rite" disc is 28.1 GB of data.

Danchez · 08-29-2013, 04:11 AM

You know, I've often wondered if there was a list somewhere of which rental copies are the same as the retail versions and which aren't.

YodasFootPowder · 08-29-2013, 04:12 AM

I don't remember which movie studio, but I remember some people saying some Red Box movies were not including HD audio and instead, had crappy downmixes.

blu-ray_girl_fan · 08-29-2013, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterKaga

I bought a used rental copy of "The Rite" (2011) on Blu-ray and watched it last night. I was floored by how good the copy looked. The blacks were deep and detail was incredible. The audio was impressive too.

But, I went to the menu screen and realized that there are absolutely no extras on the disc. Nothing. Not even a proper chapter select screen.

My question that brings me here is this: Are rental copies different in quality that retail copies? I have no way to compare a retail copy with this one, but I was wondering if anyone here has ever heard of a rental copy being of superior quality to a retail one? I could definitely say that the artwork on the back of the case is way better that the colorful retail one.

Oh, and I could report that my computer reads that "The Rite" disc is 28.1 GB of data.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=196515

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=195473

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=205502

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=182836

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=137318

Clark Kent · 08-29-2013, 04:21 AM

Yes, certain studios issue rental versions that are different from the retail edition. Often this means the loss of extra features, multiple cuts and lossless audio.

MasterKaga · 08-29-2013, 04:32 AM

Hmmm, I just read the review on this site for "The Rite" and they do give high marks for the picture and sound. Looks like it could be the same version I got but I can't be sure. It also looks like I missed out on the "Chilling Alternate Ending" I guess.

blu-ray_girl_fan · 08-29-2013, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterKaga

Hmmm, I just read the review on this site for "The Rite" and they do give high marks for the picture and sound. Looks like it could be the same version I got but I can't be sure. It also looks like I missed out on the "Chilling Alternate Ending" I guess.

That's not all that you're missing.

MasterKaga · 08-29-2013, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blu-ray_girl_fan

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=196515

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=195473

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=205502

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=182836

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=137318

Thanks Blu-ray_Girl for the links. That is a lot to take in. But they don't actually touch on my question: Has anyone ever heard of a rental being better than a store bought disc?

blu-ray_girl_fan · 08-29-2013, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterKaga

Thanks Blu-ray_Girl for the links. That is a lot to take in. But they don't actually touch on my question: Has anyone ever heard of a rental being better than a store bought disc?

Yes.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=106864

MasterKaga · 08-29-2013, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blu-ray_girl_fan

Yes.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=106864

You have got to be kidding me.

blu-ray_girl_fan · 08-29-2013, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterKaga

You have got to be kidding me.

MasterKaga · 08-29-2013, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blu-ray_girl_fan

Danchez · 08-29-2013, 05:02 AM

I seriously think that blu-ray_girl_fan deserves an award of some sort for her quick-draw links and memes.

blu-ray_girl_fan · 08-29-2013, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danchez

I seriously think that blu-ray_girl_fan deserves an award of some sort for her quick-draw links and memes.

Well, his username is MasterKaga...how could I resist?

MasterKaga · 08-29-2013, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danchez

I seriously think that blu-ray_girl_fan deserves an award of some sort for her quick-draw links and memes.

Here, here!

Dragun · 08-29-2013, 05:19 AM

My rental edition of "Beginners" (Universal) has the same extras and tech specs as the retail release. Which makes me wonder why they labeled it "rental." Is it so they can track which copies were sold to rental stores vs. those sold to retailers?

MasterKaga · 08-29-2013, 05:42 AM

Thanks to Blu-Ray_Girl_Fan for my new avatar!

blu-ray_girl_fan · 08-29-2013, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterKaga

Thanks to Blu-Ray_Girl_Fan for my new avatar!

bigdaddyhorse · 08-29-2013, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragun

My rental edition of "Beginners" (Universal) has the same extras and tech specs as the retail release. Which makes me wonder why they labeled it "rental." Is it so they can track which copies were sold to rental stores vs. those sold to retailers?

Maybe, although I noticed when buying lots of cheap used dvds as rental places closed locally, almost all had a slightly different UPC number but same disc ID (via dvdprofiler) as retail discs. This probably continues, although having "rental" plastered on the front cover is enough to make me pass unless stupid cheap or free. Just ugly IMO, even ones with a nice border.

EricJ · 08-29-2013, 09:42 AM

One of the reasons Warner started their six-week delay of Netflix titles was to create rental-only barebones versions. (As this was back when, like other studios, they were scapegoating mail-disk Netflix as the "reason" why DVD sales were slipping.)
Started noticing this when the bonus episodes started disappearing off the rental versions of DC Animation titles.

08-29-2013, 04:11 AM	#1
MasterKaga Member Member since:May 2009	Rental copies - Are they different? I bought a used rental copy of "The Rite" (2011) on Blu-ray and watched it last night. I was floored by how good the copy looked. The blacks were deep and detail was incredible. The audio was impressive too. But, I went to the menu screen and realized that there are absolutely no extras on the disc. Nothing. Not even a proper chapter select screen. My question that brings me here is this: Are rental copies different in quality that retail copies? I have no way to compare a retail copy with this one, but I was wondering if anyone here has ever heard of a rental copy being of superior quality to a retail one? I could definitely say that the artwork on the back of the case is way better that the colorful retail one. Oh, and I could report that my computer reads that "The Rite" disc is 28.1 GB of data.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

08-29-2013, 04:11 AM	#2
Danchez Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jul 2011 Location:Austin, TX 4K collection:27 Blu-ray collection:1106 DVD collection:52 Trading Score:13	You know, I've often wondered if there was a list somewhere of which rental copies are the same as the retail versions and which aren't.

08-29-2013, 04:12 AM	#3
YodasFootPowder Blu-ray Guru Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Twin Cities, MN Home Theater Gallery:40 4K collection:154 Blu-ray collection:565 Blu-ray reviews: 4 Trading Score:3	I don't remember which movie studio, but I remember some people saying some Red Box movies were not including HD audio and instead, had crappy downmixes.

08-29-2013, 04:21 AM	#5
Clark Kent Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Metropolis Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:184	Yes, certain studios issue rental versions that are different from the retail edition. Often this means the loss of extra features, multiple cuts and lossless audio.

08-29-2013, 04:32 AM	#6
MasterKaga Member Member since:May 2009	Hmmm, I just read the review on this site for "The Rite" and they do give high marks for the picture and sound. Looks like it could be the same version I got but I can't be sure. It also looks like I missed out on the "Chilling Alternate Ending" I guess.

08-29-2013, 05:02 AM	#13
Danchez Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jul 2011 Location:Austin, TX 4K collection:27 Blu-ray collection:1106 DVD collection:52 Trading Score:13	I seriously think that blu-ray_girl_fan deserves an award of some sort for her quick-draw links and memes.

08-29-2013, 05:19 AM	#16
Dragun Blu-ray Guru Member since:May 2010 Location:Los Angeles, CA 4K collection:115 Blu-ray collection:890 Trading Score:1	My rental edition of "Beginners" (Universal) has the same extras and tech specs as the retail release. Which makes me wonder why they labeled it "rental." Is it so they can track which copies were sold to rental stores vs. those sold to retailers?

08-29-2013, 05:42 AM	#17
MasterKaga Member Member since:May 2009	Thanks to Blu-Ray_Girl_Fan for my new avatar!

08-29-2013, 09:42 AM	#20
EricJ Banned Member since:Jul 2007 Location:The Paradise of New England Blu-ray collection:6	One of the reasons Warner started their six-week delay of Netflix titles was to create rental-only barebones versions. (As this was back when, like other studios, they were scapegoating mail-disk Netflix as the "reason" why DVD sales were slipping.) Started noticing this when the bonus episodes started disappearing off the rental versions of DC Animation titles.

Best Blu-ray Movie Deals