Rental versions getting ridiculous

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

I'm not tremendously offended by the lack of special features (though it is annoying). I'm much more annoyed by the lack of alternate cuts. A rental for me is either going to be a movie that I know I won't buy, or one that I might buy but am not yet comfortable enough with.

Should I buy Cowboys and Aliens sight unseen? No, never. Would I buy a Pixar movie sight unseen? Probably (though I've never not seen one by the time it hits home video).

My point is that removing certain features on rental version MIGHT hinder rather than encourage someone who would otherwise transition from a rental to a buy.

The way I see it though, the extended cut is just a glorified special feature of the main theatrical version of the movie. As others have pointed out, you could buy the movie, if you don't like it, sell it on eBay and make the money back. You'd be out something like $5, and that would be the $5 rental fee you would have paid. That might be your best course of action.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

I say keep gimping the rental versions even more! Take out the HD audio!

The rental industry hinders the growth of the industry more than it helps. BEFORE COMMENTING ON THIS STATEMENT, PLEASE NOTE THE USE OF THE WORDS "MORE THAN IT HELPS." I understand that some people rent and decide to buy. But, let's be honest about this. Those people rent more titles that they decide against buying than those they do decide to buy.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

I say keep gimping the rental versions even more! Take out the HD audio!

The rental industry hinders the growth of the industry more than it helps. BEFORE COMMENTING ON THIS STATEMENT, PLEASE NOTE THE USE OF THE WORDS "MORE THAN IT HELPS." I understand that some people rent and decide to buy. But, let's be honest about this. Those people rent more titles that they decide against buying than those they do decide to buy.

Okay, so what? I have saved thousands of dollars versus blind buying. The only BD I can think off hand that I rented that had gimped audio was Red. Then I found it brand new with lossless audio and a slipcover for $12. I don't regret doing that one bit and I certainly don't condemn the studios. They are out to sell their product just like any other business by enticing the consumer. I know you're not pointing fingers at renters, but I think I have certainly given the studios more than my fair share.

Next thing you know someone (or entity) will be telling me that I have to buy this or use that...oh wait. Some of you will catch this and some won't.

[TheNightWriter]

I think everyone's missing the key word here -- "RENTAL". Sure, everyone on here is a true Blu buyer, but the average Joe and Jane that walk up to a Redbox or into a video store don't usually look to purchase -- THEY RENT! That being said, these are the type of people that don't care about versions, extended versions, director's cuts. They just want to see the movie. And THAT'S what's up with the studios chugging out these rental versions. As mentioned above, it's a cheap way to get people to see the film, and then, as also mentioned, it's a good method to get those one or two to invest in buying the extended cut edition because they liked it so much and actually hold interest to see another version.

The average mindless renter is just looking for entertainment on any given night. Some will forget they even saw it within a year. No one cares about special features or extended cuts/unrated editions anymore. That craze is over.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by TheNightWriter

I think everyone's missing the key word here -- "RENTAL". Sure, everyone on here is a true Blu buyer, but the average Joe and Jane that walk up to a Redbox or into a video store don't usually look to purchase -- THEY RENT! That being said, these are the type of people that don't care about versions, extended versions, director's cuts. They just want to see the movie. And THAT'S what's up with the studios chugging out these rental versions. As mentioned above, it's a cheap way to get people to see the film, and then, as also mentioned, it's a good method to get those one or two to invest in buying the extended cut edition because they liked it so much and actually hold interest to see another version.

The average mindless renter is just looking for entertainment on any given night. Some will forget they even saw it within a year. No one cares about special features or extended cuts/unrated editions anymore. That craze is over.

That's not true. There's at least 30 of us on this forum.

[Pirate King]

Originally Posted by hd goofnut

that's not true. There's at least 30 of us on this forum.

31. :d

[Pirate King]

Originally Posted by hd goofnut

that's not true. There's at least 30 of us on this forum.

31

[ScarredLungs]

Originally Posted by TheNightWriter

No one cares about special features or extended cuts/unrated editions anymore. That craze is over.

I think you might want to add [/sarcasm] to your above statement. Many people still throughly enjoy special features. Even more people enjoy extended/unrated cuts. That is not just people on this site.

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

Originally Posted by TheNightWriter

I think everyone's missing the key word here -- "RENTAL". Sure, everyone on here is a true Blu buyer, but the average Joe and Jane that walk up to a Redbox or into a video store don't usually look to purchase -- THEY RENT! That being said, these are the type of people that don't care about versions, extended versions, director's cuts. They just want to see the movie. And THAT'S what's up with the studios chugging out these rental versions. As mentioned above, it's a cheap way to get people to see the film, and then, as also mentioned, it's a good method to get those one or two to invest in buying the extended cut edition because they liked it so much and actually hold interest to see another version.

The average mindless renter is just looking for entertainment on any given night. Some will forget they even saw it within a year. No one cares about special features or extended cuts/unrated editions anymore. That craze is over.

Congratulations and welcome to Blu-ray.com! You've just made a lot of new friends with your statement. You're right about the average mindless renter who's just looking for entertainment. They're mostly married women though who are only looking forward to watching movies with their spouse and kids. J/K.

[42041]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Those people rent more titles that they decide against buying than those they do decide to buy.

I'd say that isn't a problem with the rental industry, it's a symptom that the studios' traditional home video business model fails to meet the needs of its customers. Of course, good luck getting the studios to stop clutching desperately to the way they've always done things.

[Richard Graham]

Alot of these unwanted feature-less rental discs end up in landfills, and are bad for the environment. Studios should have just one release and call it good.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Richard Graham

Alot of these unwanted feature-less rental discs end up in landfills, and are bad for the environment. Studios should have just one release and call it good.

When billions of dollars of your revenue stream comes from sell thru BD and DVDs the studios don't care at the end of the day. It takes pennies to make a DVD and less than a couple bucks to make a BD.

[yoshi_5]

Originally Posted by Richard Graham

Alot of these unwanted feature-less rental discs end up in landfills, and are bad for the environment. Studios should have just one release and call it good.

I'm not too sure what filling landfills has to do with the rental versions of movies being different??

If the studio presses 1.2 million rental discs that are "unwanted and feature-less", if they are all discarded it would be 1.2 million rental discs in the landfill.

If the studio presses 1.2 million rental discs that are "full discs", if they are all discarded it would be 1.2 million rental discs in the landfill.

With or without features the studio is still going to press 1.2 million copies of the rental.

The result is the same. For your landfill theory to work, the rental industry would have to come to a halt and people would only be able to buy discs.

The same could be said for the film copies of the movies. Just think how many film copies are trashed after the theaters are done showing them. You don't get extra features or uncut versions in the movie theater. The original film presentation then should also come to a halt.

To me a rental can be considered a very long movie trailer... so long that you actually get the entire movie. If you want any of the extras, specials, or fancy additions then you go out and buy the disc. How many other industries give you the chance to "test" something, decide if you like it, the ability to return it if you don't, and the ability to have additional features included if you do decide to buy it at full price? Not very many.....

BD, DVD's, and CD's are amongst the least of our landfill worries IMO.

Cheers!

[42041]

Originally Posted by yoshi_5

To me a rental can be considered a very long movie trailer... so long that you actually get the entire movie. If you want any of the extras, specials, or fancy additions then you go out and buy the disc. How many other industries give you the chance to "test" something, decide if you like it, the ability to return it if you don't, and the ability to have additional features included if you do decide to buy it at full price? Not very many.....

uhh.. so I guess the theatrical screening of the movie is also a very long movie trailer
The endgame for me is not having the movie on my shelf. It's seeing the movie. I understand why the studios want to gimp the rental versions but to me it seems reactionary and shortsighted.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by 42041

uhh.. so I guess the theatrical screening of the movie is also a very long movie trailer
The endgame for me is not having the movie on my shelf. It's seeing the movie. I understand why the studios want to gimp the rental versions but to me it seems reactionary and shortsighted.

How is it short sighted? If you go the theater, you only see the theatrical cut, not an extended cut or special features. You pay to see it once, like renting a movie, and that's that. But if you want to see another cut of the movie or any features, you buy the product when it comes out. I see where they're coming from. It's extra incentive to get people to buy the products so they can see other versions of the movies and special features. It makes good business sense.

[yoshi_5]

Originally Posted by 42041

uhh.. so I guess the theatrical screening of the movie is also a very long movie trailer

That was actually my point exactly. According to the "landfill theory", the theatrical screening should be done away with. The "extra-less" rentals should be done away with. Thus we would all be forced to buy the movie, if we like it, keep it, if we don't like it try to re-sell it or throw it away (filling the landfills).

By no means am I debating people's enjoyment of special features or not. I was simply commenting on what I felt to be a rather pointless argument of filling landfills. The result will be the same if the rental discs come with or don't come with the extra features. No more or no less will be manufactured because of the features.

I too have the movies for the movie (I will admit I enjoy uncut versions of films, but sometimes the uncut versions and the cut versions are very hard to distinguish a difference).

I can do without special features, slipcovers (I know, anti-christ ), steelbooks, digi-packs, bonus doggie bowls in my Lady & The Tramp packaging, and any other "gimmick" the studios throw out there. But many people enjoy those things and if they want those things they will have to buy the disc either before or after they rent it if they want to ensure they enjoy the movie itself.

I'm sure there are people out there that wouldn't mind studios selling bare boned versions of their movies at a cheaper cost than having to invest in the extra features, etc.

In my opinion, the real reason for bare bones rental releases? Rent/Rip/Return, which I agree is very reactionary and shortsighted, because most of the extra features and other disc related material can be found online now anyways. It all comes down to the $$$$. Whatever the studio can do to get an extra buck out of anyone will be done.

Cheers!

[jpb07]

Originally Posted by yoshi_5

I'm not too sure what filling landfills has to do with the rental versions of movies being different??

If the studio presses 1.2 million rental discs that are "unwanted and feature-less", if they are all discarded it would be 1.2 million rental discs in the landfill.

If the studio presses 1.2 million rental discs that are "full discs", if they are all discarded it would be 1.2 million rental discs in the landfill.

With or without features the studio is still going to press 1.2 million copies of the rental.

The result is the same. For your landfill theory to work, the rental industry would have to come to a halt and people would only be able to buy discs.

Techincally you're right BUT...it would be interesting to see the PRP/PVP/revenue sharing terms are for these rental discs. If only a small number of them can be sold (again, the studios protecting their sellthrough channel,) than by default the majority of them go to the landfill. It's not like the old days where the rental places had full versions which could be shipped back to the studios, repackaged, and then sold through via the budget stores.

[nugent]

Can someone point me toward a list of which studios use the stripped disc for rental versions and which ones use the same versions?

Tried searching and can't find it.