Bill Hunt "CES 2019: "The beginning of the end for physical media"

[Vilya]

I have only found 3 Netflix original movies to be anything that I would care to own, but I still have more to watch. I can say that I have found far more than that that were entirely disposable and near instantly forgettable. Some were not even worth finishing and I rarely abandon anything that I start watching.

Netflix has yet to learn that quantity and quality are two different things, but I doubt that they care much. They have to create programming to make up for all the content that the studios are pulling from them. Most of what I have seen so far is mindless filler that isn't good, isn't bad, and isn't worth watching twice.

Netflix may sell their original movies on disc after some amount of time passes; they are heavily in debt and the extra money might appeal to them eventually. If not, there are other ways. Those 3 Netflix movies that I like could be had right now if I were so inclined, but as I have Netflix currently there has not been much impetus to act independently.

[StingingVelvet]

As much as I support discs for reasons already stated, switching to iTunes or whatever wouldn't kill me. I'd buy less, I'd gripe about it, and when they updated to something DNR'd or whatever I'd scream about it on forums like this one. However I'd survive, and I'd still want to "own" my favorites.

It's the subscription model that scares me. That makes me feel apoplectic. That's why I said 20 pages ago this was more a war on media ownership, in my opinion. That's where we're heading, the idea of "owning" a movie will be something we tell our grandkids about like a black and white TV.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Netflix

pay very well and have lured a good chunk of people from the major film studios, esp. Disney.

[Fendergopher]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

As much as I support discs for reasons already stated, switching to iTunes or whatever wouldn't kill me. I'd buy less, I'd gripe about it, and when they updated to something DNR'd or whatever I'd scream about it on forums like this one. However I'd survive, and I'd still want to "own" my favorites.

It's the subscription model that scares me. That makes me feel apoplectic. That's why I said 20 pages ago this was more a war on media ownership, in my opinion. That's where we're heading, the idea of "owning" a movie will be something we tell our grandkids about like a black and white TV.

It's really telling in a way that Hollywood and the film industry in general haven't changed their attitude about home video since the advent of VHS. The idea of people not being forced to go to a movie theater anymore to watch a film more than once was considered preposterous back then, and now they want to try to force consumers to use their own proprietary, locked down, always-online SVOD/TVOD services.


In a way we could consider ourselves lucky that the amount of money the industry makes from home video has allowed us to have as many great releases as we have, it's a small miracle in a sense.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

That's why I get all of my movie and TV news from sites focused on physical media (like Blu-ray.com). If it's not on Blu-ray or DVD then I'll never know anything about it.

Same here. If it's not on disc, it doesn't exist.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

pay very well and have lured a good chunk of people from the major film studios, esp. Disney.

Hopefully, that includes some better writers. A lot of their original content is really generic, derivative, and unremarkable while some is outright cringe worthy.

[nick4Knight]

The "development" turnaround on netflix is so much quicker. Big studios sometimes take 5+ years on a project from story pitch to theatrical release.

Netflix was more like nextflix the past few years ignoring that method...

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Fendergopher

In a way we could consider ourselves lucky that the amount of money the industry makes from home video has allowed us to have as many great releases as we have, it's a small miracle in a sense.

Yeah, despite the doom and gloom it's still the best time ever for physical media in a sense. We've got blu-rays of almost every big movie, we've got labels doing great niche releases, studios are still very interested in UHD. I'm sure stuff will start waning over time, but for now it's pretty solid outside of streaming subscription exclusives.

Well, TV on disc went to shit, but I'm mostly into movies so whatevs.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

As much as I support discs for reasons already stated, switching to iTunes or whatever wouldn't kill me. I'd buy less, I'd gripe about it, and when they updated to something DNR'd or whatever I'd scream about it on forums like this one. However I'd survive, and I'd still want to "own" my favorites.

It's the subscription model that scares me. That makes me feel apoplectic. That's why I said 20 pages ago this was more a war on media ownership, in my opinion. That's where we're heading, the idea of "owning" a movie will be something we tell our grandkids about like a black and white TV.

Yep.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by nick4Knight

The "development" turnaround on netflix is so much quicker. Big studios sometimes take 5+ years on a project from story pitch to theatrical release.

Netflix was more like nextflix the past few years ignoring that method...

I think we will see more movies shot on IPhones and the like in the future. I was quite surprised to see how good Unsane looked on Blu-ray. It won’t work for all films but certainly some indie films would benefit. I understand Netflix will be showing Soderbergh’s next movie. I’m pretty sure that was shot on a IPhone 8.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Yeah, despite the doom and gloom it's still the best time ever for physical media in a sense. We've got blu-rays of almost every big movie, we've got labels doing great niche releases, studios are still very interested in UHD. I'm sure stuff will start waning over time, but for now it's pretty solid outside of streaming subscription exclusives.

Well, TV on disc went to shit, but I'm mostly into movies so whatevs.

I still managed to get the cream of the crop on disc, namely Twin Peaks (including the new series), This Is England, Twilight Zone, Hannibal, Bates Motel, all the BBC nature docs and the excellent Killing Eve.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I think we will see more movies shot on IPhones and the like in the future. I was quite surprised to see how good Unsane looked on Blu-ray. It won’t work for all films but certainly some indie films would benefit. I understand Netflix will be showing Soderbergh’s next movie. I’m pretty sure that was shot on a IPhone 8.

If you are referring to Steven Soderbergh's next movie with Netflix, The Laundromat, imdb.com says it is being shot with the Red Epic camera, not an iphone, with a 4K digital intermediate.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5865326...ef_=tt_dt_spec

If you are referring to his next Netflix series, High Flying Bird, that is being shot with an iphone7 and also with a resultant 4K digital intermediate. It is being framed in a 2:35 aspect ratio as well.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8128188...ef_=tt_dt_spec

While a few things may be shot with an iphone, I can assure you that I won't be watching them on one.

Seriously, a series framed in 2:35 viewed on a phone would look like shite squared.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

If you are referring to Steven Soderbergh's next movie with Netflix, The Laundromat, imdb.com says it is being shot with the Red Epic camera, not an iphone, with a 4K digital intermediate.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5865326...ef_=tt_dt_spec

If you are referring to his next Netflix series, High Flying Bird, that is being shot with an iphone7 and also with a resultant 4K digital intermediate. It is being framed in a 2:35 aspect ratio as well.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8128188...ef_=tt_dt_spec

While a few things may be shot with an iphone, I can assure you that I won't be watching them on one.

Seriously, a series framed in 2:35 viewed on a phone would look like shite squared.

That’s it, it’s the series. I thought I saw that he was shooting it on a IPhone 8. Oh well.

[blahsi]

There will always be a market for physical releases in some capacity, it's just what direction that takes will be determined by the market. I've really liked the concept of WAC and creating items on demand. Sure they're a bit pricier but at least the item is available.

I was reading some feedback on Netflix content above and I agree regarding the quality. Netflix is all about 'how much can we get' and less about 'is this actually a good concept and worth the investment?' I realize that even with the latter approach, there will be duds.

A few thoughts while navigating the breadth of their content lately. I'm a fan of Grace and Frankie, Travelers, One Day at a Time, Sense8 (still bitter about this one), and Bird Box (it's not great, but it wasn't awful...). I know I'm forgetting others that I've watched as well.

1) I remember reading a while ago that Netflix is hands off when it comes to the production. They allow the creators full control over their content. This is good and bad, as sometimes people need to be told if something isn't working or if they should take something in a different direction, or focus on another aspect. Fine-tuning has the potential of making something better.

2) Editing. Netflix doesn't set any real requirements when it comes to editing and time per episode. Take seasons 4/5 of Arrested Development. The new ones feel like they just meander and linger, and aren't nearly as tight as years past. Part of that is the writing, and also that the episodes are just LONG.

3) Content. I know people love HBO and Showtime, etc. for being 'anything goes' for the most part. Network television gets a lot of crap for not allowing swearing, nudity, etc. but sometimes I feel that shows enveloped in those standards tend to be more creative in getting their points across while navigating the censors, which can make a moment funnier or hard hitting. The anything goes attitude at Netflix can be a detriment. I'll use Arrested again as an example. The bleeping, the censoring, the mocking of the censors and network made the show snappier, at least in my opinion.

Anyway, I'm all for physical media (my friends give me crap for still buying discs - movies, music, games). I do have a few things on digital that aren't available in HD anywhere physically, such as Everybody Loves Raymond and season 5 of Angel. Still waiting for my Panic Room and What Lies Beneath upgrades... ugh.

[StingingVelvet]

Watched two streaming movies on Amazon yesterday (You Were Never Really Here and Men at Work) and it really is the shite sound quality that stands out. The video, while lesser, isn't obviously deficient. The sound quality is. It's turned me off streaming pretty hard for the moment.

Granted I use headphones, which very few probably do. I'd bet that makes it more obvious.

[SammymeBlu]

The good thing is for me anyways,i already own 95% of present and past Movies i want to own on physical media in my collection, mostly on Blu and of course currently whatever comes out on UHD. I remain hopeful of purchasing future catalog titles on Blu than i do new releases which i choose wisely now on UHD. If a catalog title comes to UHD that i already own and it is worth the upgrade (depending on the movie) i most certainly will.I will never cave in to digital only,i have enough physical media to watch before i'm dead anyways so be it ")

[MechaGodzilla]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Watched two streaming movies on Amazon yesterday (You Were Never Really Here and Men at Work) and it really is the shite sound quality that stands out. The video, while lesser, isn't obviously deficient. The sound quality is. It's turned me off streaming pretty hard for the moment.

Granted I use headphones, which very few probably do. I'd bet that makes it more obvious.

Oh, the difference is very obvious on speakers too. Or to me it is, anyway.

[x7q3]

A good thing about streaming apps, like Netflix and Hulu, is the sheer amount of content on-demand. For a low price every month, you can watch thousands of movies on-demand.

This simply wasn't possible decades past. You didn't get thousands of movies to watch on-demand back in the 80's or 90's. You watched what cable aired at the time, and if nothing good was on, you were out of luck.

But with so many streaming apps, you basically always find something better to watch. Streaming gives you lots of content and variety. Apps like Crackle, Tubi, and Pluto TV are free. They are supported by commercials, but they are free to watch. This is great for the public. Some families simply cannot afford a streaming app like Netflix.

There is a lot to like about streaming. The main reasons include convenience and sheer amount of content.

Not everything you would want to own on Blu-ray. So streaming is great in that regard. If I really love a movie, I'll buy it on Blu-ray. But other than that, streaming apps are a great choice.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by x7q3

A good thing about streaming apps, like Netflix and Hulu, is the sheer amount of content on-demand. For a low price every month, you can watch thousands of movies on-demand.

This simply wasn't possible decades past. You didn't get thousands of movies to watch on-demand back in the 80's or 90's. You watched what cable aired at the time, and if nothing good was on, you were out of luck.

But with so many streaming apps, you basically always find something better to watch. Streaming gives you lots of content and variety. Apps like Crackle, Tubi, and Pluto TV are free. They are supported by commercials, but they are free to watch. This is great for the public. Some families simply cannot afford a streaming app like Netflix.

There is a lot to like about streaming. The main reasons include convenience and sheer amount of content.

Not everything you would want to own on Blu-ray. So streaming is great in that regard. If I really love a movie, I'll buy it on Blu-ray. But other than that, streaming apps are a great choice.

Streaming apps with ads. Yeahhhh, great! Just what I have been looking for all my life!

This used to be a enthusiasts forum before the digital section was introduced. Sad what it has become with discussions like these.

[meremortal]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Streaming apps with ads. Yeahhhh, great! Just what I have been looking for all my life!

This used to be a enthusiasts forum before the digital section was introduced. Sad what it has become with discussions like these.

To be fair, of the larger providers ads are really only a thing with Hulu tv shows under their basic plan and the free section of Vudu from what I remember. No ads would be better for convenience, of course, but I didn't think the brief ones on Vudu were that bad since they seemed to mostly be in the 12-30 second or so range. It's far less annoying than broadcast and cable tv. As someone else said, the sheer quantity of availability is pretty amazing for how little a subscription costs. It won't touch every nook and cranny of cinema and licenses only keep movies in rotation for so long. When I was growing up, a lot of folks would break out the tv guide and start highlighting shows to watch for the week and you'd have to see them live or program the vcr and hope it correctly recorded at the right time. I'd probably watch a lot more if I didn't already have such a large backlog of physical media.