Annoyed at some Blu marketing.......

[almy]

Obviously, movie studios need to make a profit, but sometimes they go a bit too far and take advantage of the consumer - sentiments I heard from other shoppers last week at Best Buy:

One guy was (rightfully) *****ing about THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILLL. The original 1951 version was released singly about two months before the 2008 remake. He had shelled out for the original and when he later bought the remake on Blu, the original was included in the package - both versions in one pack - so basically he bought the 1951 version twice.

I'd love to get CASABLANCA - but all I see are overpriced "collector editions". I just want the movie - not a bunch of cheap trinkets.

Same thing for GONE WITH THE WIND. I've purchased that on VHS, LaserDisc and two editions on DVD. Even with Amazon's preorder pricing, Warners has this title way, way over-priced. Again, I want the movie, not the crappy trinkets.

Now, the HANNIBAL collection has been announced for September. If the three titles are aslo available singly, fine. But what about those of us that already bought SOTL? Will we have to buy it again thop get the other two titles?

Anyone agree?

[JJ]

Well, in this case I do agree - my examples would be the Batman Anthology and Fast and Furious packs - I just want the first two Batman movies (fortunately, the first one is available, albeit in that horrid digibook packaging) and only the first Fast and Furious. They'll come around eventually, I hope. I'm not willing to purchase the entire pack just for one movie I like.

And I also agree with your assessment on the gift sets. Then again, there are those who care about the extra gimmicks, so far be it for me to impose my viewpoints on those who do.

[mpstjohn]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

Well, in this case I do agree - my examples would be the Batman Anthology and Fast and Furious packs - I just want the first two Batman movies (fortunately, the first one is available, albeit in that horrid digibook packaging)

Have you considered purchasing the UK blu-rays of Batman and Batman Returns? They're region free and not digibooks.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by mpstjohn

Have you considered purchasing the UK blu-rays of Batman and Batman Returns? They're region free and not digibooks.

I forgot to mention that, yes, - good catch, John.

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by mpstjohn

Have you considered purchasing the UK blu-rays of Batman and Batman Returns? They're region free and not digibooks.

Yeah, I snagged the digibook here and imported Returns myself.

[DetroitSportsFan]

This has been going on with DVD as well. It's probably not going to change.

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

Well, in this case I do agree - my examples would be the Batman Anthology and Fast and Furious packs - I just want the first two Batman movies (fortunately, the first one is available, albeit in that horrid digibook packaging) and only the first Fast and Furious. They'll come around eventually, I hope. I'm not willing to purchase the entire pack just for one movie I like.

The individual Batman and Fast and the Furious movies are available in the UK, and will work just fine on your U.S. player.

[andyman1970]

I agree with you OP. I picked up Silence when it first came out and have been waiting for Hannibal and Manhunter both. I hope they are available as singles, but if not I will pick up the box and sell my first Silence copy.

[Adam.C]

Same thing with The Notebook. I just want the movie, not all that other crap

[FRAK]

Originally Posted by aramis109

Yeah, I snagged the digibook here and imported Returns myself.

That's EXACTLY what I did! I imported Returns (along with the "The Island" - the ONLY Michael Bay movie I've ever liked) from Amazon UK. $40 + or -, and they arrived only 4 business days later! Just finished watching Returns last night - looks amazing! Can't believe I waited this long to get it.

Sorry for the tangent there. I now return you to your regularly scheduled subject.

[JRS03]

Yeah they need to do a smaller number of "Collectors Editions" and release the films disc only ( Blue Case) not crappy Digi Book or steel book either! So far I bought The Notebook and Casablanca just to get the movie. Those lousy boxes and trinkets made their way to my storage closet.

[cosomotion]

I agree with everybody here.

I don't mind them releasing collectors editions, but they should give the option of just purchasing the movie itself. This is the main reason I still have not purchased Casablanca or the Notebook.

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

This has been going on with DVD as well. It's probably not going to change.

I agree. We were constantly taken advantage of with DVD. They're (the studios) not going to change the way they do it either. Come December, I'll have all the seasons of Lost on blu-ray. The final season will air in January and there are rumors that there will be a box set. I'll have them individually but I'm sure I won't be able to resist and splurge on the box set. They know that the collectors are suckers and can't resist the temptation(s) to get the goodies and up to date releases. I'm not sure what WB is planning with their digi-books and mega sets that take up your living room. You'd figure they would have stopped it by now if they got enough complaints. It looks like they're not changing their attitude anytime soon.

[aggienader08]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

And I also agree with your assessment on the gift sets. Then again, there are those who care about the extra gimmicks, so far be it for me to impose my viewpoints on those who do.

I don't know of a single consumer that cares to have stamps, photos albums, luggage tags, bookmarks, picture holders, and all that other mothering gimmick crap with their movie! The Notebook is me and my wife's favorite movie to watch together, but I couldn't buy it until I found it used in the video store. And you know what!? Everything was still in there! You see, nobody!, and I mean nobody!!, takes that stuff out and says, "oh hey look an official "The Notebook" photo album of all the tender moments... awwww...." I'm just going to go create or print out a custom cover and stick the disc in that, and take that huge bulky mess they call a "Collector's Gift Set" and bury it in my closet until I just throw it away someday.

[jchand67]

As long as we're complaining about studios, Let's all kick Disney while we're at it lso. I am Sure Bolt is a decent enough movie, but I refuse to pay $35 for it. If Pixar can sell their movies cheaper, and since they are generay better movies on the whole, then Disney can stop trying to be king of the world, and make their profit in volume rather than price people out in a bad economy... Ok.. I'm done

[Valkyr47]

Originally Posted by jchand67

As long as we're complaining about studios, Let's all kick Disney while we're at it lso. I am Sure Bolt is a decent enough movie, but I refuse to pay $35 for it. If Pixar can sell their movies cheaper, and since they are generay better movies on the whole, then Disney can stop trying to be king of the world, and make their profit in volume rather than price people out in a bad economy... Ok.. I'm done

if you dont want to pay $35 for Bolt, then buy the DVD version

you want it in HD? then you gotta pay what they ask

the joy of a free market is the consumer gets to say what the cost is in the long run... obviously enough people are buying it at $35 that disney sees no reason (and why should they) to lower the cost

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by jchand67

As long as we're complaining about studios, Let's all kick Disney while we're at it lso. I am Sure Bolt is a decent enough movie, but I refuse to pay $35 for it. If Pixar can sell their movies cheaper, and since they are generay better movies on the whole, then Disney can stop trying to be king of the world, and make their profit in volume rather than price people out in a bad economy... Ok.. I'm done

$35 for Bolt? Amazon still has it for $26.99 which is right around what all the new releases go for. Heck, I've seen people selling they're copy on here for around $19. Now....as far as Disney and catalog titles I agree with you there. A Bug's Life should have been $19.99 instead of actually higher than Bolt. It's nothing new with Disney. Sleeping Beauty and Pinocchio were just as expensive. I figured they were worth it because of their "rareness" and Platinum statuses

[Joe Cain]

Originally Posted by jchand67

As long as we're complaining about studios, Let's all kick Disney while we're at it lso. I am Sure Bolt is a decent enough movie, but I refuse to pay $35 for it. If Pixar can sell their movies cheaper, and since they are generay better movies on the whole, then Disney can stop trying to be king of the world, and make their profit in volume rather than price people out in a bad economy... Ok.. I'm done

Disney's always charged a premium.

Besides the digital copy, Bolt is available with a DVD of the feature included---unlike any Pixar BD, and added value whether you care of it or not. Bolt is also available---at least on Amazon---for $26.99 (which is actually a dollar cheaper than their current asking price for A Bug's Life).

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by jchand67

As long as we're complaining about studios, Let's all kick Disney while we're at it lso. I am Sure Bolt is a decent enough movie, but I refuse to pay $35 for it. If Pixar can sell their movies cheaper, and since they are generay better movies on the whole, then Disney can stop trying to be king of the world, and make their profit in volume rather than price people out in a bad economy... Ok.. I'm done

Time to do some comparative shopping. It's been months since I've paid over $25 for a single film on Blu-ray. My suggestion is to try Amazon Marketplace. I've found some very good bargains there.

edit: Just checked, $22 with shipping and a 98% positive rating.

[aggienader08]

Originally Posted by jchand67

As long as we're complaining about studios, Let's all kick Disney while we're at it lso. I am Sure Bolt is a decent enough movie, but I refuse to pay $35 for it. If Pixar can sell their movies cheaper, and since they are generay better movies on the whole, then Disney can stop trying to be king of the world, and make their profit in volume rather than price people out in a bad economy... Ok.. I'm done

Originally Posted by Valkyr47

if you dont want to pay $35 for Bolt, then buy the DVD version

you want it in HD? then you gotta pay what they ask

the joy of a free market is the consumer gets to say what the cost is in the long run... obviously enough people are buying it at $35 that disney sees no reason (and why should they) to lower the cost

You must be kickin yourself in the head for not buying it the first week when it was on sale for 24.99.

[brettallica]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

I agree. We were constantly taken advantage of with DVD. They're (the studios) not going to change the way they do it either. Come December, I'll have all the seasons of Lost on blu-ray. The final season will air in January and there are rumors that there will be a box set. I'll have them individually but I'm sure I won't be able to resist and splurge on the box set. They know that the collectors are suckers and can't resist the temptation(s) to get the goodies and up to date releases. I'm not sure what WB is planning with their digi-books and mega sets that take up your living room. You'd figure they would have stopped it by now if they got enough complaints. It looks like they're not changing their attitude anytime soon.

I have been fortunate enough to hold off on buying individual seasons of Lost so far, because I know it'll come out in some monster box set. I'll definitely buy that.

To the OP: yes, the movies that come out only in some sort of collector's edition only are pretty lame. Not everyone wants all the extra crap, myself included most of the time. I really don't want the extra stuff that'll come with Wizard of Oz, but on the other hand, I wouldn't mind some cheap Star Wars trinkets when that series comes to Blu. As a generality, though, there should always be a standard release, at a lower price.