Alliance Titles Without Extras/menu?

[keyzone72]

As a resident of the USA, I was thrilled to find out that two of my favorite movies are available on blu-ray from Canada. I recently ordered and received The Butterfly Effect and Good Will Hunting through Amazon Canada. The picture quality is good and they have good lossless sound tracks. But I noticed something that is really lame about these Canadian Alliance releases:

These 2 titles (and I presume there are others) do not have any extras or subtitles. My regular DVD version of The Butterfly Effect contained alternative endings, but this bluray only had one. Although I was dissapponted, here's what I really don't like about these blu-rays:

There is no master menu!

When you load the disk and press play, you are never greeted with any master screen. Now here's where it starts to suck even more. When you're watching an American Bluray, you can bring up the pop-up menu to show things like "MAIN MENU", "SCENES" or "SETUP/LANGUAGE " etc. Well the only thing that appears on the screeen when you're watching The Butterfly Effect or Good Will Hunting is the option to select the audio soundtrack. That is it! Nothing else!

There's absolutely no option to directly select specific chapters or scenes! You have to use the FF or RW buttons on your remote to skip forwards or backwards throughout the movie! I mean c'mon! Even regular DVD's allow you to see a list of chapters. Have any of you bought any of these Canadian Alliance releases? I must say this is a very poor way to release a blu-ray movie. For such big Hollywood productions, I would have expected these blu-ray movies to have decent menu navigation and at least some extras.

[Mike53421]

Did it occur to you why exactly those movies were dirt cheap? I bought Sin City for $12.99, these releases appeal to those who don't care for extras and just want the movie at a discounted rate. I like it, the American releases (like Sin City) will eventually be out in "proper" form.

And while on the issue of having to figure out fast forwarding...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk7nKjr9Keo

[F-Man]

Alliance is releasing these titles on the only profit basis of exclusivity. They don't need the extras because the exclusivity alone will reward them the quick buck they want. I understand caring for the extras and actual menu, but you're supposed to wait for a different release for that.

Basically, this is a useful topic to warn new Alliance Blu-ray buyers of what they're getting. But trying to teach Alliance they're doing something wrong will fall on deaf ears.

[cartman781]

I have 5 Alliance titles and am happy to have them

[Batman1980]

Not HUGE on special features but definitely glad now that I haven't bought Se7en or Good Will Hunting this way.

[Monolithium]

Kinda? More like totally!

[Batman1980]

Bit extreme, some people don't mind getting just the movie and nothing else. Even bare bones releases have more than these do...will only wait so long for Se7en though since I don't really have enough NL blu-rays yet.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by keyzone72

Although I was dissapponted, here's what I really don't like about these blu-rays:

There is no master menu!

When you load the disk and press play, you are never greeted with any master screen.

If that's your biggest disappointment, then you must hate all titles released by Warner Bros. NONE of their Blu-rays have a menu. They all go straight into the feature presentation too. I don't hear you flapping your ignorant gab about them!

I have a feeling that this person is just a little too patriotic for his/her own good. What are you going to do when the North American Union is formed? We will all be citizens of the first step towards a one world government (Big Brother IS watching).

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

If that's your biggest disappointment, then you must hate all titles released by Warner Bros. NONE of their Blu-rays have a menu. They all go straight into the feature presentation too. I don't hear you flapping your ignorant gab about them!

I have a feeling that this person is just a little too patriotic for his/her own good. What are you going to do when the North American Union is formed? We will all be citizens of the first step towards a one world government (Big Brother IS watching).

Well since Canada and Mexico will be absorbed into America, it will just be "same s***, different day" for me.

[keyzone72]

Petra_Kalbrain,

What is your problem?

Your profile says you are in Vancouver BC, so for some reason, you've taken my comments as if I am bashing Canadians or something. I don't understand why you've chosen to engage in petty name calling and digging up international politics, but get a grip!

I simply purchased 2 movies from amazon.com in Canada, did not get the standard bluray multi-menu's like I've experienced with other movies and wanted to inform other potential buyers. I am most dissatisfied with Alliance's lack of chapter indexing more than I am with the lack of a main screen.

Unless I'm knocking your favorite hockey team or talking smack about French-Canadian culture, get a grip and lay off the antogonistic remarks. Sheesh! Just 'cause I stated the fact that these movies shipped from Canada doesn't mean I'm bagging on your country.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by keyzone72

Petra_Kalbrain,

What is your problem?

Your profile says you are in Vancouver BC, so for some reason, you've taken my comments as if I am bashing Canadians or something. I don't understand why you've chosen to engage in petty name calling and digging up international politics, but get a grip!

I simply purchased 2 movies from amazon.com in Canada, did not get the standard bluray multi-menu's like I've experienced with other movies and wanted to inform other potential buyers. I am most dissatisfied with Alliance's lack of chapter indexing more than I am with the lack of a main screen.

Unless I'm knocking your favorite hockey team or talking smack about French-Canadian culture, get a grip and lay off the antogonistic remarks. Sheesh! Just 'cause I stated the fact that these movies shipped from Canada doesn't mean I'm bagging on your country.

The only remark I made which could be construed as antagonistic is the "ignorant gab" comment. And, that isn't very antagonistic since the definition of ignorant is a) lacking knowledge, b) uninformed, c) unaware. And, that statement was made strictly in regards to you specifically making such a big deal about these Canadian releases not having a main menu when it is clearly being done throughout ALL distribution territories by one of the biggest studios in the United States. Thus, you were flapping an ignorant gab.

And so, there was no official name calling in my post. And, as for the international politics? All I did was point out a simple fact which most people tend to ignore about the future of both our countries becoming one. I'd hardly call that international politics as much as would call it stating a fact.

As for the part of your statement which I bolded in my quoting of it? Firstly, you can say whatever you want about my favourite hockey team and I would care very little. It's not like I'm part of the small minority of Canadians who see hockey as their religion. And, with regards to talking smack about French-Canadian culture? THAT is always welcome in my books! I love a good roast against those folks! I'm allowed to though. My mother's side of the family is severely French-Canadian.

Bottom line is that the Alliance Atlantis releases are of high quality. They are very reasonably priced, despite their lack of extra content. And they are especially well priced for people who get an automatic 20% discount based on the value of the U.S. dollar! So, just pipe down and enjoy your High Definition entertainment for the incredibly low price that you received it for. And thank the Canadian distribution company for giving you such an awesome deal.

Perspective is a wonderful thing!!!

[Geezer00003]

Originally Posted by keyzone72

Petra_Kalbrain,

What is your problem?

Your profile says you are in Vancouver BC, so for some reason, you've taken my comments as if I am bashing Canadians or something. I don't understand why you've chosen to engage in petty name calling and digging up international politics, but get a grip!

I simply purchased 2 movies from amazon.com in Canada, did not get the standard bluray multi-menu's like I've experienced with other movies and wanted to inform other potential buyers. I am most dissatisfied with Alliance's lack of chapter indexing more than I am with the lack of a main screen.

Unless I'm knocking your favorite hockey team or talking smack about French-Canadian culture, get a grip and lay off the antogonistic remarks. Sheesh! Just 'cause I stated the fact that these movies shipped from Canada doesn't mean I'm bagging on your country.

Lets all relax and be friends........

Being a Canuk I didn't take offense from the OP. I don't think he meant any harm.
As for what Keyzone had to say........I agree and will not be buying any other Alliance releases.
Sin City was much anticipated for me and many others I'm sure. I really enjoy it's picture and audio quality.
I bought it thinking it was my only choice but see it now as a mistake. I assumed an Alliance release would be the same as an American studio release, WRONG!
Sin City will be released in it's extended form which is what I really want and hate to be double dipping on BR already. It's bad enough to be replacing old DVD's let alone new BR's!
I'm chomping at the bit to own Seven but I'll just have to wait abit longer.
I'd like to own a finished product with a proper menu and any and all extras that may have been on the DVD.

$.02

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by Geezer00003

Lets all relax and be friends........

Being a Canuk I didn't take offense from the OP. I don't think he meant any harm.
As for what Keyzone had to say........I agree and will not be buying any other Alliance releases.
Sin City was much anticipated for me and many others I'm sure. I really enjoy it's picture and audio quality.
I bought it thinking it was my only choice but see it now as a mistake. I assumed an Alliance release would be the same as an American studio release, WRONG!
Sin City will be released in it's extended form which is what I really want and hate to be double dipping on BR already. It's bad enough to be replacing old DVD's let alone new BR's!
I'm chomping at the bit to own Seven but I'll just have to wait abit longer.
I'd like to own a finished product with a proper menu and any and all extras that may have been on the DVD.

$.02

If you call 4 short films and 90% of the extended runtime being credits an "extended edition," than yes... it will be released in that fashion for triple the price of the Alliance Atlantis release. Not worth it in my books. I was excited for the DVD release of this version only to be pissed off when I found out that they chopped the movie up and ripped me off with the additional 3 minutes of storyline footage.

Once again... perspective is a wonderful thing!

[Seretur]

Warner releases all have the main menu screen -- it's just that their discs default to Autoplay, and you physically have to bring it up. I don't like this system, but many people do. This is a very different situation to the one described by the OP, which does indeed point to a level of sloppiness on these releases.

Also, DVDBeaver has reviewed quite few of these titles -- take Se7en for example -- and has noted this:

Se7en on Blu-ray isn't yet available on Amazon.com and this is a typical bare-bones release from Alliance in Canada (available at Amazon.ca that does deliver to the US). It is interlaced (1080i not 1080p). As with the other Canuck Blu-ray (From Dusk Till Dawn, Good Will Hunting, Cold Mountain etc.) this is single-layered and doesn't appear to be digitally manipulated (no edge-enhancement or DNR visible). Unfortunately it is the incorrect aspect ratio - it should be 2.35:1 as per the theatrical presentation, Criterion LaserDisc, and New Line Platinum DVD (the latter of which even devoted a featurette to the film's transfer to home video). Alliance "opened up" the Super35 image to full gate, clearly sourcing their master from something prepared for HD broadcast but definitely not going by Fincher's or Khondji's preferred AR.

So there. Nice enough encodes, but all done on BD-25, interlaced, and in incorrect aspect ratio (in this case) to boot. These things aren't what anyone would call definitive editions of a particular title, but they are cheaper and for that price some could very well be satisfied.

I'm just sorry that the nationality of the company has entered this discussion, as it's completely irrelevant to the matter at hand.

[Geezer00003]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

If you call 4 short films and 90% of the extended runtime being credits an "extended edition," than yes... it will be released in that fashion for triple the price of the Alliance Atlantis release. Not worth it in my books. I was excited for the DVD release of this version only to be pissed off when I found out that they chopped the movie up and ripped me off with the additional 3 minutes of storyline footage.

Once again... perspective is a wonderful thing!

If that's the case I might rethink the purchase.
I would have assumed the theatrical cut would also be included?

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by Geezer00003

If that's the case I might rethink the purchase.
I would have assumed the theatrical cut would also be included?

It will be in the release, but the price will also be near $30 if not more. Whereas, Americans can get the theatrical Blu-ray for less than $15 because of the exchange rate.

[Beta Man]

You can say what you want about the titles..... or the presentation, etc. But leave the name calling, and personal attacks out of it.

Let's not assume nationalism has anything to do with the OP's viewpoints on the menu/features


As far as "main menus" goes.... I like that Warner doesn't use them because I think pop-up menus are great...... I just wish more disks defaulted to the best possible audio track.... as It is now, I check the "Setup/language/audio" selection of every movie I play, and my wife always gives me a hard time about "why can't you just play the movie" even though it only takes a few seconds

[Minimejer05]

I recently bought Butterfly Effect but never watched my copy yet. My Death Sentence copy is kinda like that...but it does have a main menu for audio and subtitles. But the popup is just sound.

[VHS4Ever]

I'm happy with my Sin City purchase from them. I got to see it 3 months earlier, got it for a cheap price, and I don't care for the extra.

[jw]

inet video is a canadian company, they have office in the US but are based out of canada.

Here is what the US release looks like