European-Nordic Blu cases (WTF!)

[stofferdk]

Hi there,

I recently started my Blu Ray collection, and I import my Blu ray movies from Amazon.co.uk and Play.com, because the Nordic versions are just _screwed_.

I wondered if someone could enligthen me about this.

While the rest of europe enjoy the normal casings, just like the in the US - we, Denmark-Sweden-Norway-Finland, get alternative casings. They are distributed by NFI btw (Nordic Film Industries).

First of all, the casing itself, is only half as thick as the standard one - while the insert paper IS STANDARD sized - which means that it looks all wrong, with the standard sized paper being moshed into the thin, thin box.
Despite the fact, that the insert is specially made for the nordic market with nordic data on it - it has not been resized to fit ?!
Furthermore, the "locking-mechanism", where you open the box, has some kind of handle instead of just the normal opening mechanism we know from DVD's!

WTF is all this?

Not only are the stupid movies MUCH, MUCH more expensive here in Nordic Europe (about 10 pounds + to each movie in comparison to Amazon), they look like some pirate copies.

Why, Sony - WHY? (or is it NFI's fault)?

[Mystique]

So it's like normal DVD cases?

[stofferdk]

uhm no

If you see a nordic casing front view - it will look similar to the UK ones (or US ones for that matter) - However, if you look at it from the side (for example when it is placed on a shelve), its ½ the size (thickness) of a normal BD case.

Again - the paper insert IS not rezised- which means you can barely see what movie it is when it stands on the shelve.

ill see if I can find a picture - cant take one myself as I am certainly not buying those versions. and they are btw 299,- Danish Kroners, which is 25 pounds/each blu ray movie.

and I hope I dont have to mention, they very, very limited range of movies available.

[slind]

hmmm i live in Norway and the cases is half the size from normal DVDs.. and i kind of like it and the paper thats in the BR case is fitted like it should be.. dont know why u danish ppl have problems with the paper inside the cases:P and the prize for the BR movies here in Norway is 299 Nok. almost the same as in denmark.. and the amount of BR are very low.. but compared to HDdud it s extremly well.. hehe i have only seen 4 HDdud movies in all the shops ive been to..

[Deciazulado]

A BD case is thinner than a DVD case, and a Nordic BD case is thinner still than a BD case? Maybe like a slim line DVD case?

Originally Posted by stofferdk

Why, Sony - WHY?

Why do you blame Sony for this?

[Blue]

In Australia the cases are much thicker, even thicker than planet earth 4 disc set. They use it for security. They shove a stake through it that locks it together - the criminals here must have effective ways of getting those sticky things off.

[TimppaK]

Originally Posted by stofferdk

While the rest of europe enjoy the normal casings, just like the in the US - we, Denmark-Sweden-Norway-Finland, get alternative casings. They are distributed by NFI btw (Nordic Film Industries).

Just to let you know... Those few BRs I've seen here in Finland have all got normal casings.

Timo

[stofferdk]

ok, about the finnish versions - I only assumed you had the same, as the Nordic versions feature a finnish text on the back of the Blu cover too!

Now, these pics are from what I consider NORMAL STANDARD UK/US Blu cases:

http://www.nightwish.dk/blu1.jpg
http://www.nightwish.dk/blu2.jpg

Try to imagine a casing only half as thick!

eeeesh

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by stofferdk

While the rest of europe enjoy the normal casings, just like the in the US - we, Denmark-Sweden-Norway-Finland, get alternative casings. They are distributed by NFI btw (Nordic Film Industries).

Is there a pic available?

One guess for why would be a green issue: Less plastic.

Gary

[jubaiweaponx]

would be harder to read what movie it is but might be damn ginchy for saving space ,a pic would be cool

[mainman]

Originally Posted by Deciazulado

A BD case is thinner than a DVD case, and a Nordic BD case is thinner still than a BD case? Maybe like a slim line DVD case?



Why do you blame Sony for this?

I like the BD cases, (especially the Sony one's).

But, last friday, I got 'Persuit of Happyness' in my mail, I ordered that one from the UK.

Well, I was shocked with what I found.
The case is normal size, but the thickness is just as fat as a normal DVD case.

I got all my BD's stacked (all 9 of them) and the 'Persuit of Happyness' BD stands out because it is thicker than all the other BD's.

The movie is from Sony, I really hope they are not planning to switch to these BD cases, because I like the thinner one's.

PS: I dont have any Nordic BD cases, I imported 6 BD's from USA, and 3 (including 'Persuit') are European.
Casino Royale is Euro BD(think its UK, got it for free from Sony), but is same case as Sony BD-case from USA.
Usual Suspects is Euro BD (Dutch), but is same case as Warner BD-case from USA.

[stofferdk]

ok, THIS is messed up!

The cases which I LIKE, the ones I in the above posts called "UK/US" versions - are the one that are thick as standard DVD's.

The ones I DISLIKE is like a slimline DVD case, which are standard in Denmark.

and Sony Blu's are ALSO "slimline DVD thickness" cased in Denmark.

I really DISLIKE those slim ones. eeww.

EDIT: Will see if I can get to store and take pic and compare them in pic and upload tommorow.

[jubaiweaponx]

yes...show us your nordic bd`s lol

[mainman]

Originally Posted by stofferdk

ok, THIS is messed up!

The cases which I LIKE, the ones I in the above posts called "UK/US" versions - are the one that are thick as standard DVD's.

The ones I DISLIKE is like a slimline DVD case, which are standard in Denmark.

and Sony Blu's are ALSO "slimline DVD thickness" cased in Denmark.

I really DISLIKE those slim ones. eeww.

EDIT: Will see if I can get to store and take pic and compare them in pic and upload tommorow.

Wha?????

All the US BD's I imported are slimline.
I imported a UK BD, that was the same thickness as DVD. And is the only BD case with this thickness (which I dont like).
1 BD is Dutch (Euro) and the other one Casino Royale I am not so sure. I got Casino Royale for freen from Sony. It might be either UK or American BD. And these 2 are slimline aslo.

BTW, the only thick BD (the Persuit of Happyness) I had ordered that one from the UK, Amazon.co.uk.
It might be that the UK is the only region to use the 'fat BD cases'.

I hope they keep the slimline, because the thick BD cases look ugly.
I think the slimline is standard for BD, but some countries (like UK and Australia) use thicker BD cases. (well I wont be ordering BD's from the UK anymore, lol)

Originally Posted by Blue

In Australia the cases are much thicker, even thicker than planet earth 4 disc set. They use it for security. They shove a stake through it that locks it together - the criminals here must have effective ways of getting those sticky things off.

I guess the UK is using those cases for the same security reasons.

[mainman]

Okay,

This Blu-ray disc case is the standard size BD case. Sony uses these cases for America and Europe (excluding UK):
http://www.sleevetown.com/Blu%20hddvd.jpg
The thickness (about 9mm) is thinner than DVD cases.

And this is the thick Blu-ray case, used in UK and Australia (I think). The persuit of Happyness, which I ordered from UK is also the same case as in this image:
http://www.amaray.com/images/cases_rt-bluray.jpg
This BD case is 14 mm in thickness, just as thick as the regular DVD cases.

Well, I like the top one, and ordered 10 of those cases (last week), to replace broken BD cases.
I would want to replace the thick BD case with the thin one as well, but the cover of 'Persuit of Happyness' is too big to fit a standard BD case (just tried).

[invictus]

I'd rather have a slimmer case. Stargate: Atlantis had a very slim case, I loved it. Thinner case means more movies on the same bookshelf. That is as long as you can still read the binding and tell what it is.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by invictus

I'd rather have a slimmer case. Stargate: Atlantis had a very slim case, I loved it. Thinner case means more movies on the same bookshelf. That is as long as you can still read the binding and tell what it is.

The TV series on DVD frequently come in the nice thin cases (e.g. Firefly). I too would prefer those, given the choice.

I suspect it's all about what the consumer expects.

Gary

[stofferdk]

Ok, I have spoken to some different user groups also buying Blu Ray discs, and it seems that the US also gets the slimline cases.

For me there is no doubt, the UK/AUS versions are the best. They are like 2 cm's lower than DVD cases, but at least just as thick. I will keep importing from the UK then.

Furthermore, as I said - the Nordic ones, and maybe then also the US ones, have this strange "lock" to open the box, whereas the UK one opens just like a DVD case.

I considered my choice for some time because it seems the UK version might die some day since its the only one manufactured in that way - but I really, really dislike the slimline (Nordic, US) ones.


Thanks for all your help identifying this!

[Deciazulado]

Oh so there are no thinner-than-a-BD-case Nordic BD cases


Instead it was normal BD cases and thick as DVD BD cases

[NutsAboutPS3]

I know what you mean by the slimmer cases because the free copies of Casino Royale from the PS3 store came in them. The size is fine with me, it's the stupid clip that holds them closed I don't like, I much prefer the way the thicker UK BD cases open. The ideal case for me would be slimmer but without the silly clip thing.