BD menus made of film scenes totally suck

[UniSol GR77]

I apologize if someone in the ancient past already opened a thread like this... I don't remember anyone rising an issue like this anyway so maybe I'm innocent and not guilty at all.

I hate menus using (moving) sequences from the movies they "serve"... I don't like to watch film sequences OUT of their general context... I wanna experience the scenes along with my film vision, not out of it......... am I crazy?

Those menus just suck.

Any feedback?

[SexySamSosa67]

Post that in my pet peeve thread.

[THS]

Originally Posted by UniSol GR77

I don't like to watch film sequences OUT of their general context... I wanna experience the scenes along with my film vision, not out of it......... am I crazy?

So, do you dislike watching movie trailers as well?

[UniSol GR77]

Originally Posted by THS

So, do you dislike watching movie trailers as well?

You can choose to see that or not. There's a choice.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by THS

So, do you dislike watching movie trailers as well?

Not the same thing. I believe that the OP is referring to the way that BD menus tend to be more aggressive in using big spoiler moments in their disc menu footage. Also the fact that you can't necessarily skip a menu scene and you can't navigate the menu with your eyes closed.

tudios assume that everyone buying home media is doing so after having already seen the film included. They don't understand how the landscape is changing regarding viewing patterns/habits. A lot of people will now wait to get the Blu-ray to SAVE money compared to having to pay for multiple tickets at the movie theatre. Thus, there are A LOT of people now who get the films spoiled by the menus.

My example is with Star Trek: The Next Generation. I was introducing my wife to the series for the first time. When we came to the best episode of the entire series, the menu clip ruined the biggest OMG moment of the entire Star Trek franchise for her.

[UniSol GR77]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Not the same thing. I believe that the OP is referring to the way that BD menus tend to be more aggressive in using big spoiler moments in their disc menu footage. Studios assume that everyone buying home media is doing so after having already seen the film included. They don't understand how the landscape is changing regarding viewing patterns/habits. A lot of people will now wait to get the Blu-ray to SAVE money compared to having to pay for multiple tickets at the movie theatre.

Thank you so much for this reply.

And I add: I don't wanna see scenes out of their context. Even if I'm gonna rewatch the movie on BD for the 11th time.

[jarrod_inf]

I just hit the play button as fast as possible.....

[Professor Echo]

I just want a still picture, preferably the original poster or ad art, no clips, no music. Keep it as simple as possible. Blu Rays are often too fancy and they wind up being cluttered with noise and spoilers galore. Even Criterion has jumped on the bandwagon and I hate it as they used to be so sensibly simple.

[nmycon]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Studios assume that everyone buying home media is doing so after having already seen the film included. They don't understand how the landscape is changing regarding viewing patterns/habits.

Now you're just pulling this out of somewhere the sun don't shine

[UniSol GR77]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

I just want a still picture, preferably the original poster or ad art, no clips, no music. Keep it as simple as possible. Blu Rays are often too fancy and they wind up being cluttered with noise and spoilers galore. Even Criterion has jumped on the bandwagon and I hate it as they used to be so sensibly simple.

You nailed it.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by jarrod_inf

I just hit the play button as fast as possible.....

Well, I like to make sure that the sound is set to the best codec before starting. Also, I need to turn the subtitles on for my wife (English is her 2nd language). And, I want to do that before hitting play in case it jumps straight into dialogue.

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

I just want a still picture, preferably the original poster or ad art, no clips, no music. Keep it as simple as possible. Blu Rays are often too fancy and they wind up being cluttered with noise and spoilers galore. Even Criterion has jumped on the bandwagon and I hate it as they used to be so sensibly simple.

I don't mind animated menus. I love animated menus. I just don't like animated menus that include actual footage from the film. You can have non-still image menus without including scenes from the film while keeping it simple.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by nmycon

Now you're just pulling this out of somewhere the sun don't shine

Well, technically, I am. But, it makes logical sense as a solid theory. They have always maintained that people see a film in theatres and then decide to buy it or not based on having seen it. With the rise in ticket prices over the last 10 years, I've heard many people say that they are just going to wait to buy the Blu-ray. Today, for 2 people to go to the theatre costs base $20 ($25 here in Canada). For 2 people to sit comfortably at home and watch a Blu-ray it costs the same thing (maybe even less)... and they don't have to pay the concession stand prices for snacks. Add children and/or friends into the equation and you can get a group to see a high quality presentation with snacks for less than $10/person EASILY!

Studios don't realize that this demographic is growing exponentially! They create their product assuming that everyone purchasing has already seen the film. Otherwise, why the hell would they include major spoiler moments in the menu design? Either they don't care and are spiting their customers, or they don't know. There isn't another explanation for it. Either way, it looks bad on the studio.

Hell, if I didn't get to go to the theatre for free (me and my wife consistently have 34 to 40 free passes via our rewards program), I would be doing the same and only ordering Blu-rays. As is, I get the best of both worlds and can watch the films, decide if I like them, then spend money on only those I deem worthy investments for my collection.

[Thomas Guycott]

Watched Mockingjay Pt. 1 recently and was annoyed that the menu loop opens with a story spoiler within seconds.

[AaronJ]

I agree with you. As I said in another thread, I prefer rather minimalist menus, and then giving away spoilers on top of that ... those people should be castrated.

[nik666uk]

Sopranos box sets are one of the worst culprits I've seen for doing this!

[Monterey Jack]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Not the same thing. I believe that the OP is referring to the way that BD menus tend to be more aggressive in using big spoiler moments in their disc menu footage. Also the fact that you can't necessarily skip a menu scene and you can't navigate the menu with your eyes closed.

I remember the DVD menu for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon totally giving away the end of the movie!

[BDrischBDemented]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

I remember the DVD menu for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon totally giving away the end of the movie!

The DVD menu for "Barton Fink" did the same, and that is VERY MUCH an ending that does not serve a menu well.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Well, technically, I am. But, it makes logical sense as a solid theory. They have always maintained that people see a film in theatres and then decide to buy it or not based on having seen it. With the rise in ticket prices over the last 10 years, I've heard many people say that they are just going to wait to buy the Blu-ray. Today, for 2 people to go to the theatre costs base $20 ($25 here in Canada). For 2 people to sit comfortably at home and watch a Blu-ray it costs the same thing (maybe even less)... and they don't have to pay the concession stand prices for snacks. Add children and/or friends into the equation and you can get a group to see a high quality presentation with snacks for less than $10/person EASILY!

Studios don't realize that this demographic is growing exponentially! They create their product assuming that everyone purchasing has already seen the film. Otherwise, why the hell would they include major spoiler moments in the menu design? Either they don't care and are spiting their customers, or they don't know. There isn't another explanation for it. Either way, it looks bad on the studio.

Hell, if I didn't get to go to the theatre for free (me and my wife consistently have 34 to 40 free passes via our rewards program), I would be doing the same and only ordering Blu-rays. As is, I get the best of both worlds and can watch the films, decide if I like them, then spend money on only those I deem worthy investments for my collection.

And I doubt those people buy the movie without first having seen the trailer(s). And trailers give a way a lot more than the movie in most cases. Not to mention, if you haven't seen it, you won't know if the menu gives away the ending anyway — just like when you see a trailer that gives away climactic moments — so it won't matter anyway.

You can argue that watching the trailer isn't the same thing, but it is. And you're not "forced" to watch a menu when you can press play at any time, but you are forced to watch some trailers BEFORE the menu.

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by UniSol GR77

I apologize if someone in the ancient past already opened a thread like this... I don't remember anyone rising an issue like this anyway so maybe I'm innocent and not guilty at all.

I hate menus using (moving) sequences from the movies they "serve"... I don't like to watch film sequences OUT of their general context... I wanna experience the scenes along with my film vision, not out of it......... am I crazy?

Those menus just suck.

Any feedback?

I completely agree.
Sometimes, I leave the HDTV off, and try to press play first, then I turn it on, but it doesn't always work, and it certainly is a hassle.

I don't like the WB menus either though.

The "Dirty Dancing" menu of the remastered edition is great IMO.

Originally Posted by jarrod_inf

I just hit the play button as fast as possible.....

Me too, but sometimes it takes a whole while until you even get the chance to.

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

And I doubt those people buy the movie without first having seen the trailer(s). And trailers give a way a lot more than the movie in most cases. Not to mention, if you haven't seen it, you won't know if the menu gives away the ending anyway — just like when you see a trailer that gives away climactic moments — so it won't matter anyway.

You can argue that watching the trailer isn't the same thing, but it is. And you're not "forced" to watch a menu when you can press play at any time, but you are forced to watch some trailers BEFORE the menu.

Yeah, NO. Not true. You can't always press play at any time. Try any regular Universal title for example. Scenes from the movies are shown before you even get the opportunity to press play.

Nor are trailers the same as menus. Trailers, at least at home, you watch at free will, but menus are much harder to avoid, due to the reasons stated above.

[Todd Tomorrow]

I totally agree with the OP and have mentioned this a few times here as my pet peeve. I hate movie scenes in menus. When you pop in the Blu of Gravity for instance, the menu consists of a montage of all the most visually spectacular moments of the film. Why would I want to see that before I watch the film ? It just ruins the impact of those scenes within the context of the film.