Physical & Digital EST: The Future of Home Video Discussion Thread

[CV19]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

Got another email from AMC theaters that they will start reopening on August 20th. That's fine, but my particular theater, in a Blue state, is not governed by whether or not AMC decides to open. I'm under state and county orders and there is no set date for my particular theater to open. Also AMC will only charge 15 cents a ticket on the first day of reopening.

My local Odeon cinema here in the UK reopens on August 25th, although I understand other theaters are opening a day or two earlier. The usual social distancing rules will apply, but it's certainly good to see them back in business again.

[Wendell R. Breland]

For the Sony voting I entered the following in the comments box:

Please provide new Dolby Atmos audio mixes for titles that warrant new audio tracks. New mixes should include discrete sound effects to match screen action. Please do not take the cheap way out and use the Dolby upmixer to create new Dolby Atmos sound tracks.

[JohnAV]

AMC is reopening its theaters next week with 15-cent tickets - CNN 8/13/20

New York (CNN Business)AMC is finally reopening its theaters, and guests will need to spend just 15 cents to get in.

The world's largest movie theater chain will reopen more than 100 US theaters on August 20, the company said on Thursday. In order to commemorate its centennial, AMC is offering "movies in 2020 at 1920 prices" on opening day. That's 15 cents a ticket.

AMC closed all of its theaters in the US in March as the pandemic took hold, and the reopening has been delayed several times. (Track how box-office sales have been hit on our recovery dashboard.)

AMC (AMC) added that it expects to open two-thirds of its more than 600 US theater locations by the time Christopher Nolan's thriller "Tenet" hits theaters on September 3. AMC's other US theaters will open "only after authorized to do so by state and local officials," according to the company.

AMC said that it's implementing new safety and health measures to help keep moviegoers safe and curb the spread of coronavirus. That includes requiring all guests to wear masks, lowering theater capacity and upgrading ventilation systems.

After opening day, tickets will still be available for cheaper than usual. Tickets for films like "Inception," "Black Panther," "Back to the Future" and "The Empire Strikes Back" will cost $5. AMC is bringing back old films since the North American box office has been essentially at a standstill with so many new movies have been delayed this year because of the outbreak.

The company, which was founded in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1920, is also offering discounts on concessions like popcorn for $5 through the end of October. "We are thrilled to once again open our doors to American moviegoers who are looking for an opportunity to get out of their houses and apartments and escape into the magic of the movies," Adam Aron, AMC's CEO, said in a statement on Thursday.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

For the Sony voting I entered the following in the comments box:

I think to do it right there is a good price tag. So is the ROI going to be there to make that UHD Disc? You have to be realistic and follow the money, Studios are cutting out all the Fat!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I think to do it right there is a good price tag. So is the ROI going to be there to make that UHD Disc? You have to be realistic and follow the money, Studios are cutting out all the Fat!

Some call it a lowering of standards. We are in a HT enthusiast forum after all. I know you don’t care but I do.

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I think to do it right there is a good price tag. So is the ROI going to be there to make that UHD Disc? You have to be realistic and follow the money, Studios are cutting out all the Fat!

Please enlighten us then with exactly how much it costs for a studio to create a new mix like Wendell is talking about. What’s that? You don’t know?

[Ender14]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I think to do it right there is a good price tag. So is the ROI going to be there to make that UHD Disc? You have to be realistic and follow the money, Studios are cutting out all the Fat!

[JohnAV]

Why respond just ignore? He just trolling you guys to prove he can play the fool better then you.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Why respond just ignore? He just trolling you guys to prove he can play the fool better then you.

Agreed, that poster is probably unaware of the new sound tracks for catalog titles Apocalypse Now, Black Hawk Down, Blade Runner, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Braveheart, The Bridge On The River Kwai, Charlie's Angels, Cliffhanger.... and that is just A to C in my collection.

[cminer72]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Bad. All bets are off with the current situation. Blu-ray is a hit based format. We need the Marvels, Pixar’s, Bonds, MI, Godzilla’s, FATF etc.. it’s that simple for me.

Stores will ALL be closed on Thanksgiving for a change. Physical Black Friday sales will be non-existent. No new movies to clamor for. Some online sales will be available. Personally, I think digital sales have a shot at overtaking physical this holiday season. Depends on how they price the stuff.

[cminer72]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

For the Sony voting I entered the following in the comments box:

Only really interested in Fright Night in 4K. Also told them no more digibooks.

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Agreed, that poster is probably unaware of the new sound tracks for catalog titles Apocalypse Now, Black Hawk Down, Blade Runner, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Braveheart, The Bridge On The River Kwai, Charlie's Angels, Cliffhanger.... and that is just A to C in my collection.

Nor Air Force One, Angels & Demons, Batman, Batman Returns, or any of the Bourne series.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by cminer72

Stores will ALL be closed on Thanksgiving for a change. Physical Black Friday sales will be non-existent. No new movies to clamor for. Some online sales will be available. Personally, I think digital sales have a shot at overtaking physical this holiday season. Depends on how they price the stuff.

Related

It feels as if Black Friday 2020 is going to be different as the date, November 27, gets closer – online deals are going to dominate more than they have in past years.

First, Walmart, Best Buy and Target are all giving their staff Thanksgiving off this year, with the stores not opening amid the backdrop of the global pandemic. Best Buy confirmed it will be spreading out the deals this year, rather than just forcing them into a single weekend period, and it's expected other retailers will follow suit.

Black Friday for BB like a lot of other stores, has been open a few hours on last Thanksgiving then opens with normal hours on Friday/Saturday, same discounts. So what if BB looses the few hours on Thanksgiving day its not that big a deal. Last BF most consumers ordered online then came in to pickup it up anytime and it been way more efficient then going to the stores like older Black Fridays and just look for bargains.

Its nice for the employees that they will be are getting Thanksgiving day during this pandemic.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by cminer72

Stores will ALL be closed on Thanksgiving for a change. Physical Black Friday sales will be non-existent. No new movies to clamor for. Some online sales will be available. Personally, I think digital sales have a shot at overtaking physical this holiday season. Depends on how they price the stuff.

Black Friday sales of physical media and other items online will be business as usual apart from the curbside pickup option which is new.

(I don’t consider Thanksgiving to be Black Friday, though many of the sales shifted onto Thanksgiving in the past.)

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

Regardless of what devices the sped-up options are on they will always be exactly that: options. No one is ever going to be forced to watch anything sped-up so none of us should care that those options exist.

Originally Posted by Vilya

I think that variable speed playback is mostly used when watching/ listening to lectures, how-to videos, unboxing videos, and other instructional fare. I can't imagine many people using it to watch creative content, especially with a first time viewing, but maybe with a repeat viewing. Even with a repeat, I doubt many would choose to use it with movies and TV shows.

Regardless, it is just an option and options are not mandatory by definition.

Originally Posted by Steedeel

The point is, members were arguing that this is a ultra niche chrome extension for Youtube bingers. Four year later, it’s a locked down feature on the biggest streaming service on the planet.

Originally Posted by Vilya

It doesn't keep me, or anyone else, from watching content at normal speed, so I have no reason to care. It's just another option among many; we're not losing anything here.

I meant to reply in depth to this the other day but got sidelined. My major concern would be that the more people use this function, the more will struggle to go back to normal speed. This is a very real phenomena that listeners of podcasts at 1.5 have noted. They feel normal speed is too slow and get anxious because they want to get through stuff quicker. I don’t see how that wouldn’t translate to video content, it’s the same principle.

This is just a very bad thing for film lovers. It’s bastardisation of content and Netflix (imo) should not have allowed it. It’s one thing serving customers, quite another destroying a art form. A line should have been drawn.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

It has zero effect on film lovers because it is optional. It's no different than zoom functions, motion smoothing, or all the other options on TVs and players. They are all popular but none of us are forced to use any of them.

Film lovers may fall into the trap though. Look at all the members who said they would never go digital and years later they have MA/Itunes collections in the thousands. With social media these days, trends accelerate quickly. Especially when people don’t want to be left out of conversations about a film or show.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

And you're worried you're going to succumb to peer pressure?

Me? No, not a chance.

[bhampton]

Kids have bragged to me about being unable to sit through a movie.

ADD is seen as a good thing by some children I know personally. It can give them advantages and preferential treatment in school and access to prescription drugs they resell.

Sadly I know kids willing to “fake it” for the perks.

It’s possible civilization has taken a few wrong turns already.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

Then what's the problem? How will other people using optional features affect you?

It would make me feel uneasy knowing film has ended up that way. Where most of the population can’t sit through a film.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Kids have bragged to me about being unable to sit through a movie.

ADD is seen as a good thing by some children I know personally. It can give them advantages in school and access to prescription drugs they resell.

Sadly I know kids willing to “fake it” for the perks.

It’s possible civilization has taken a few wrong turns already.

Oh for sure. Attention spans are decreasing by the year. Dual screen phones and tablets are only going to accelerate it further.