PSN Store movies?

[EricJ]

Not sure whether this will be on the Blu-ray or PS3 forum, but:

What's the verdict so far on Hi-Def movies on PSN?
I know they're just getting started, still have as yet only a fraction of Apple iTunes's random video-rentals and cable reruns, and yes, it takes longer to download a Blu rental than to get one overnight from Netflix...

But even though I'm a loyal Download-Hater, I've gotten to like the "backup" of having just a few "no-commitment" rentals and reruns on the machine to "channel-surf" onto just in case I run out of Netflix early, so I've experimented with springing for a few titles to keep in reserve--
Yes, like the On-Demand channels, the only Blu titles offered are those already on disk (although we get a few early Sony/MGM hints...), how is the 1080 quality compared to the effort?
Is it the mere "Not Blu, even though they say so" of the satellite channels, or is it as horrendous as AppleTV's size-compressed downloads?

[AranhaHunter]

The reason I haven't tried the service yet are:

1) TOO SLOW. It takes forever to download a file, I only get 1 MB every 5-8 seconds or so. I have a 6 Mb/s download connection, I should get 1MB every second.

2) Not enough content, they are updating the store quite often, if I remember right, Disney only had 6 or 7 movies to start and now they have 15....still a lot more to add there, the store is not even a month old so I'll cut them some slack on that.

3) Monthly subscription fee for unlimited rental downloads. The rental price is steep right now.

And while I'm at it, I'd like to have more movies with previews and more options (some movies you can only buy, some you can only rent, etc..)

I also wouldn't mind buying a whole TV series season (single episodes are 2 bucks it can easily cost 50 to get a whole season), a lot of TV seasons series are missing episodes though.

[u_nick]

Awesome.

I downloaded and HD movie (about 5 and a half gigs) in just about an hour. Quality, not Blu-ray, of course, but nicer than expected.

[Minimejer05]

I was going to try this but I figured I would just buy the Blu version of the movie.

[EricJ]

Like the iTunes Store, it's not going to singlehandedly replace getting my movies on hard-Blu overnight from Netflix any time soon.
But, I've been known to buy a few movies just to keep on my iPod, and keep portable in case of long plane trips. (Which was the whole point of digital-copy files in the first place, back before Microsoft started dangling the gold watch of "Downloads...Downloads.." in front of the industry's eyes )

And in the same sense, I'm not going to throw out my Blu collection overnight just because I can download "10,000 BC" in two days to watch for 24 hours...
But it's nice to have a couple SD permanent-purchase backups of "Dumbo", "X-Files" or "Lost in Space" reruns, just to sneak around with late at night when all the regular channels are showing infomercials.
What they lack in rentals, they make up for in pack-rat storage.

[bykes]

Dont forget to mention the audio. 2 Channel Stereo. WOW!

[u_nick]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Like the iTunes Store, it's not going to singlehandedly replace getting my movies on hard-Blu overnight from Netflix any time soon.

Oh yeah definitely.

I use it as a rental place only. When I am too impatient to wait for netflix, and definitely a replacement for driving to blockbuster.

A good way to see if I like a movie enough to buy the Blu, and the best part is, you can always expect the Blu to deliver even better audio and video, so it makes me even more excited to buy!

*I'm looking at YOU, Princess Bride!*

[cydetrakd]

i'd rather have it on blu for the superior video and sound. I guess its not a bad idea for anyone that is skeptical about picking up a title so there is no blind buy but in my case out of over 60 something blus i own i only regret buying one movie and i enjoy them all and there are a few that are only enjoyed by my fiancee but hey i guess i can dl a movie for her in hi-def nah i might end up with another habit so i personally will pass on psn vids unless they are game previews.

[u_nick]

^^ Yeah, me personally, I'm too paranoid for blind buys, and this helps ease my fears BIG time. It's definitely helps me buy Blu's easier.

[c00lbeans]

I rented Beuwolf in HD for 5.99 to check it out. Took 12 hours to download. The picture was a little dark and not nearly as nice as BD. The sound was only 2.1 i think. You can only watch it for 24 hours. and you have 14 days to watch it for the first time i think.

It was a waist of money. Its slower, more expensive and lower quality then blockbuster online.

18 bucks a month and blockbuster mails me unlimited blurays 2 at a time and i can return in store in about 10 minutes if i want something new right away.

[ECWaenigma]

I'd be happy with a bunch more HD movie trailers. Seriously, where the hell is the "Watchmen" trailer on PSN? They have to remember, a trailer is just a commercial that makes us see the movie in the theatres. Which makes us want to buy the Blu-ray, the game, the t-shirt, etc. It's win/win for everybody.

\m/

[Beta-guy]

nonexistant in Canada... come on Sony, why doesn't Canada get this service?

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by ECWaenigma

I'd be happy with a bunch more HD movie trailers. Seriously, where the hell is the "Watchmen" trailer on PSN? They have to remember, a trailer is just a commercial that makes us see the movie in the theatres. Which makes us want to buy the Blu-ray, the game, the t-shirt, etc. It's win/win for everybody./

When was the last time we even SAW a movie traier on PSN HD that wasn't a demographic-pandering Sony action/horror loser..."Prince Caspian"?

(At this point, I'd even be grateful for a Sony Blu-ray trailer that hasn't already been out for two months!)

[ThePhantomOak]

1. PSN is ridiculously slow. I have a 2 Megabyte per second DL speed, it takes me that 5-10 seconds per MB also. It is not the connection that limits our DL, it is their Upload that is limiting...

2. There is NO reason to have movies for sale and not for rental (I have been waiting for 21 to be my first rent, and I can only buy it SD for $15? why?)

3. Subsription would be nice, but would be a PITA for PSN. Their upload is already suspect without the bandwidth issue that unlimited downloads would cause... Fix #1 before they do #2.

While I am at it, there is no reason that PSN does not host servers for games (gamespy does?) and there is no reason that PSN does not provide faster downloads... No wonder Home is perpetually delayed.


My 1, 2, 3...

1. Provide real sound with the download. At LEAST 2.1. Compressed 5.1 would be acceptable.

2. Provide trailers on PSN that have not been out for months. How is it Sony does not have the latest Movie trailers for Sony movies on PSN!?

3. Make every movie available for rental. What is the deal with having SOME movies not available for renting?

my #3 gets under my skin because I would have rented 21 and Drillbit Taylor on PSN last week (in SD of HD, just to try it) if they had it... But they did not! So I gave Blockbuster my money. $12 bucks might not seem like a lot, but I am sure that I am not the only one who has taken my business someplace else because of these easy to fix issues. I would hop that things get much better with time... This seems like a public Beta.

Originally Posted by AranhaHunter

The reason I haven't tried the service yet are:

1) TOO SLOW. It takes forever to download a file, I only get 1 MB every 5-8 seconds or so. I have a 6 Mb/s download connection, I should get 1MB every second.

2) Not enough content, they are updating the store quite often, if I remember right, Disney only had 6 or 7 movies to start and now they have 15....still a lot more to add there, the store is not even a month old so I'll cut them some slack on that.

3) Monthly subscription fee for unlimited rental downloads. The rental price is steep right now.

And while I'm at it, I'd like to have more movies with previews and more options (some movies you can only buy, some you can only rent, etc..)

I also wouldn't mind buying a whole TV series season (single episodes are 2 bucks it can easily cost 50 to get a whole season), a lot of TV seasons series are missing episodes though.

[Cordre69]

At work on limited connection so I can't check the name but...the exclusive Anime on the PSN? It looks amazing. For serious. However, I didn't notice any method of BUYING it. Is this true or did I miss something?