In defense of the basic, no frills menu

[Ruined]

Wanted to hear opinions of others on this.

Personally, I find animated menus with sound annoying, for a few reasons:

1. Looping sound. When film is over, menu usually loops which could be extremely annoying if you put the film on before you went to sleep. Sometimes the sound is louder than the feature, too, and if you have to go do something after film is over and forgot to turn off the movie it can be very annoying in the background.

2. Spoilers. I'd rather see a simple piece of art inspired by the theatrical poster for the menu (like most Kino Studio Classics menus). Instead, often there are clips and minor spoilers from the movie. I find this annoying, too.

3. Speed. Some of the more complex menus with animations take longer to navigate.

4. Functionality. A fancy menu generally offers no better functionality than a simple one.


Anyone else prefer a simple menu, or who does not care for the more complex menus with movie clips and sounds some Blu-ray Discs offer?

[samuel1976]

Originally Posted by Ruined

Wanted to hear opinions of others on this.

Personally, I find animated menus with sound annoying, for a few reasons:

1. Looping sound. When film is over, menu usually loops which could be extremely annoying if you put the film on before you went to sleep. Sometimes the sound is louder than the feature, too, and if you have to go do something after film is over it can be very annoying in the background.

2. Spoilers. I'd rather see a simple piece of art inspired by the theatrical poster for the menu (like Kino Studio Classics). Instead, often there are clips and minor spoilers from the movie. I find this annoying, too.

3. Speed. Some of the more complex menus with animations take longer to navigate.

4. Functionality. A fancy menu generally offers no better functionality than a simple one.


Anyone else prefer a simple menu, or who does not care for the more complex menus with movie clips and sounds some Blu-ray Discs offer?

I agree. The menu should be a still of the original theatrical poster with no looped music.

[Russhole]

Originally Posted by samuel1976

I agree. The menu should be a still of the original theatrical poster with no looped music.

Agree.

[octagon]

1) I love menu audio. HBO and Criterion have some of the best audio loops out there but there are a lot of really good one. In fact, if I'm getting ready for a serious movie night I'll pop in one the old MPI Sherlock Holmes DVDs and listen to menu audio while getting everything ready.

2) Generally not an issue but yeah, a little more caution could be used in this area.

3) I'm with you on this one. The Star Wars menus are the absolute worst with regard to loading time (even the DVDs took forever) but they're not the only offenders.

4) Well, that depends. Do you consider chapter menus with screencaps basic or fancy? But for the most part, no, more complex menus don't generally add anything practical/functional benefits.

[42041]

I could do without menus entirely, honestly (That is, they should only appear on demand). That's always been a minor but constant frustration with DVD/Blu-ray. I like the way CD's work - pop them in and enjoy.

[Martin_31]

I hate it when there's about six f***ing trailers till the menu. You can't hit the menu button cause it doesn't allow it. All you can do is skip manually.

[amoergosum]

Trailers and warnings before the movie...now that is something which is REALLY annoying.

[harpolini]

I'm all for a balance between no frills and something simple and classy.

Recently John Wick and Interstellar gave us simple beautiful menus with music I wouldn't mind on loop for awhile.

I second that about Criterion having nice loops, I love the music loop for Something Wild.

[Bad Sandwich]

Every release could be an MGM catalog endless play loop with only minimalist pop up menu for all I care. I'm not into BD for the schnazzy menus.

[Liquid_Swords]

I hate when they show clips from the movies in the menu. I try and get to the movie as soon as I can before they ruin the movie for me!

[Michael24]

I would prefer a simple menu. The poster art with just a few buttons to either play the movie or get to various sub-menus. And instantly, too. I was always annoyed when I'd encounter a menu that would have a big elaborate animation or other transition just going from one menu page to the next.

But I can appreciate a creative menu. One of my favorites, and I don't know if it was carried over to the Blu-ray or not, were the DVD menus for Wayne's World 1 & 2, which present the menus like Prevue Channel from the early-90s.

[MattPerdue]

I do prefer the simpler ones myself. Hell I don't even mind it when they dive right into the film. I was just re-watching the Ocean's Trilogy BDs and really appreciated not having to do anything else after putting in the disc (mainly because my remote a little worn). If there is a menu something basic like what Criterion does is the best option to me.

[Will.]

Nothing is more stressful than a looping, spoilery menu.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Will.

Nothing is more stressful than a looping, spoilery menu.

I want your life.

[Fangmacher]

I remember the DVD of Barton Fink having an especially irritating spoilery menu animation.

[baheidstu]

I like simple menus and don't understand the complaints about Warner's generic looking menus. I also find it annoying when menus include scenes with potential spoilers. I hate the blu-rays that play automatically without going to a menu because I often will pop a disc in the player and go make popcorn, go to the washroom, etc. so that the disc is finished with all the warnings and / or trailers and ready to go when I'm done and it's really irritating when I come back to find the movie already started and I have to skip back to the beginning. I think some Universal and MGM blus do this. Warner DVDs used to be bad for that.

[I KEEL YOU]

Does the blu ray laser keep running during a still menu?

If you happen to fall asleep during the movie, it sure is annoying that the fancy video menus keep running in a loop after the movie ends and drain your blu ray player's laser the whole night, which of course isn't good for the lifespan of a blu ray player.

[42041]

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

Does the blu ray laser keep running during a still menu?

If you happen to fall asleep during the movie, it sure is annoying that the fancy video menus keep running in a loop after the movie ends and drain your blu ray player's laser the whole night, which of course isn't good for the lifespan of a blu ray player.

Any background video is a video stream like any other - the player streams it out from the disc.
I don't think you need to worry about the laser though. The laser diode should endure the better part of a decade of continuous operation.

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by 42041

Any background video is a video stream like any other - the player streams it out from the disc.
I don't think you need to worry about the laser though. The laser diode should endure the better part of a decade of continuous operation.

Well, the laser on my blu ray player died (or was close to dying) after less than 4 years of use. I probably used my player more than an average blu ray player owner does, but it was still frustrating to have the laser die on me and pay a huge price to get it repaired. It was an Oppo blu ray player no less, which are supposed to be built like tanks and last forever.

[Professor Echo]

This thread should be in the form of a poll question. I think it would be really interesting to see the results.

I also vote for the silent, still picture menu, preferably with the original poster, which would give you even more of the theatrical experience, as in seeing the poster when entering the theater.