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

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

I'm sure you guys will enjoy this

Someone talking out their ass. Only watched about half and most of what he said is undiluted BS, totally clueless about facts. An example:

News Release 2002/2/19
Tokyo Japan, February 19, 2002: Nine leading companies today announced that they have jointly established the basic specifications for a next generation large capacity optical disc video recording format called “Blu–ray Disc”.

Hitachi, Ltd.
LG Electronics Inc.
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Pioneer Corporation
Royal Philips Electronics
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Sharp Corporation
Sony Corporation
Thomson Multimedia

Even a DA should know how BD's are packaged and what is contained on the disc is the TOTAL responsibility of the folks doing the publishing, the format had nothing to do with it.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

[Show spoiler]

Little new, everything old (like me).

How you been? Anything new with you?

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

[Show spoiler]

It's great to hear from you! I was beginning to worry.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

[Show spoiler]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tetX...ature=youtu.be

I'm sure you guys will enjoy this

No thanks; I get my fill of stupidity right here on these forums without watching some narcissistic asshat spout BS on youtube.

The only thing that sucks about blu-rays are the flimsy eco-cases that far too many of them are packaged in and that is in no way the fault of the format itself, but rather that of the cheapskate studios.

[SillyG]

This guy's full of it, and most of his grievances boil down to bad decisions from the studios than any problem attributable to the format itself.

I love Blu-ray and offer them by default to clients (on the rare occasion that someone asks me to film an event for them; in fact I just filmed one over the weekend), and I have also burned most of our VHSes to Blu-ray discs 5 years ago (SD of course). 46 tapes down to 4 BD-50s, covering 1985-2002. I produced two copies, one for my fam (coinciding with my parents' 30th wedding anniversary), the other for my uncle's fam (whose 30th anniversary took place the following year). I also included a bonus BD-50 containing a bunch of other tapes that were not dated or could not otherwise be itemised chronologically along with the other footage. Basically, an entire cupboard of tapes were whittled down to a little Blu-ray case.

While I would like to do a revised version at some point, knowing things now that I hadn't known then, but I'm quite happy with what I would consider among my best work. It's amazing that almost nobody but the extreme minority of hardcore enthusiasts would have ever produced something like this.

I also produced an abridged version (on four DVD-9s) for relatives overseas, most of whom don't even have DVD players, let alone Blu-ray, which contained approximately 14 hours of footage (compared to the 80+ hour Blu-ray set).

I still have another 30 or so tapes that are yet to be burned to disc, and I had come across some Hi8 tapes that are leaps and bounds ahead of the VHS equivalents. It's amazing just how much quality is lost in the transition from the originals to VHS. People are crazy for ever having reused them! Even as a child I knew better to preserve my 35mm negatives than the prints.

[cheez avenger]

I am finally 4K/Atmos compliant! Now it's time to watch some 4K/Atmos titles.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

I am finally 4K/Atmos compliant! Now it's time to watch some 4K/Atmos titles.

Congratulations! I hope you mean that you'll be watching some 4K discs for the best in both video and lossless Atmos audio.

Have fun!

[CV19]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

I'm sure you guys will enjoy this

Many of the issues he describes are purely down to the way the discs are put together by the studios, rather than a fault of the blu-ray format itself, for example the menus or the lack of extras. I agree that some of the old DVD menus were quite inventive, but for me to be honest, it isn't an issue.

As for extras, well I can recall the very early years of DVD where many releases had little more than a trailer - the UK releases by Paramount spring to mind. These same titles would get re-released a few years later as "special editions" which would include more bonus material.

The same with the packaging. I like the Amaray-type cases, and have never been fond of digi-packs - but the vast majority of my blu-ray collection are in hard cases anyway. And again this is an issue with the studio and not the blu-ray format.

One thing I have noticed, as the guy points out, is that on some discs once the stop button is pressed, it reverts back to the loading-up sequence.
However a few discs do offer the option to 'resume play'. Failing that, I just hit the 'pause' button instead if I want to go in the kitchen to get some refreshments.

[Member-496106]

Originally Posted by CV19

Many of the issues he describes are purely down to the way the discs are put together by the studios, rather than a fault of the blu-ray format itself, for example the menus or the lack of extras. I agree that some of the old DVD menus were quite inventive, but for me to be honest, it isn't an issue.

As for extras, well I can recall the very early years of DVD where many releases had little more than a trailer - the UK releases by Paramount spring to mind. These same titles would get re-released a few years later as "special editions" which would include more bonus material.

I've seen a lot of drab DVD menus as well. It's not like every DVD had an amazing menu screen. Some of them didn't have a menu at all, and I have even seen some list them as a "special feature". The ones that had those fancy menus he is talking about took time to load and usually just annoyed me. I like the fact that you can access the menu without needing to stop the movie when watching a Blu-ray. It's more convenient and you don't waste time waiting for some silly graphic to load. If he wants to talk about the lost art of menus that Blu-ray is responsible for, he should also acknowledge the loss of decent cover art on DVDs. There are countless examples of DVDs sporting some of the most uninspired covers possible. It seemed to me that great cover art was revived in the Blu-ray era.

He is definitely speaking in past tense and about the early days of Blu-ray when comparing DVDs to them. Nowadays, you are not going to find new releases on DVD coming out with more extras than their Blu-ray counterparts. DVDs got better with time and so have Blu-rays. His failure to see that means he probably didn't get in too deep with his Blu-ray collecting.

He even complained about the name and how the discs are not even blue. It comes across like he doesn't know why they are called Blu-rays and that goes to show how little he knows about the format.

Its disappointing to see someone who clearly loves film and has a large following not understand the Blu-ray format.

[sapiendut]

To put it simply, the guy is an idiot who creates clickbait video.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by PhysicalMediaNut

I've seen a lot of drab DVD menus as well. It's not like every DVD had an amazing menu screen. Some of them didn't have a menu at all, and I have even seen some list them as a "special feature". The ones that had those fancy menus he is talking about took time to load and usually just annoyed me.

I agree. I can recall The Abyss DVD having a fairly elaborate menu as the disc offered both the theatrical and extended version. Frankly, I just want to start the film as quickly as possible once I insert the disc into the player.

As for so-called "special features", some DVD's even listed 'chapter selection' as a special feature. I even still have some discs which have "bonus material" listed on the menu options, and when you click on it, disappointingly all you find is a trailer. Why they couldn't just say "trailer" on the menu instead, I don't know.

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Congratulations! I hope you mean that you'll be watching some 4K discs for the best in both video and lossless Atmos audio.

Have fun!

A bit of everything since I'm calibrating systems across the board. I will have to now use the Apple TV 4K as my main hub for 4K streaming, because my PS4 (and main hub) does not support 4K -- not until the PS5 arrives later this year. The Sony 4K UBP-X8002 player is a tank. Spun Bumblebee 4K disc last night and it was amazing.

I was gonna start watching The Doors and Gods of Egypt 4K discs today, but saw that Narcos: Mexico Season 2 is live on Netflix. It has Dobly Vision and Atmos, so looks like my Thursday is booked!

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

A bit of everything since I'm calibrating systems across the board. I will have to now use the Apple TV 4K as my main hub for 4K, because my PS4 (and main hub) does not support 4K -- not until the PS5 arrives later this year.

Well, if you have to stream 4K content for now, at least you are using one of the best devices and providers for it.

Getting new home theater gear is so much fun; I bet you are having a blast.

[Ender14]

I really, really shouldn't post this link. I know this. I know posting this is irresponsible and will only lead to suffering. But I saw it and immediately thought of Steedeel. So here you go:

https://www.darkhorizons.com/escape-...l-blockbuster/

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Well, if you have to stream 4K content for now, at least you are using one of the best devices and providers for it.

Getting new home theater gear is so much fun; I bet you are having a blast.

Yeah, it's a blast. It's also the first time since 2007 - 2008 that I've done a full overhaul of gear. I still have my Panasonic plasma and Onkyo 705 that all work perfectly. Adding the new height speakers, new AVR, 4K player, and 4K tv was a bit overwhelming.

What was funny in retrospect was that I set 2020 as my resolution for going 4K, but timeframe-wise, I thought I'd gradually upgrade - being done by summer. I think it only took me 1 month since I started snagging the components -- taking budget and budgeting into the equation.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Ender14

I really, really shouldn't post this link. I know this. I know posting this is irresponsible and will only lead to suffering. But I saw it and immediately thought of Steedeel. So here you go:

https://www.darkhorizons.com/escape-...l-blockbuster/

Now you done done it!

If it has not even been made yet, how exactly is this "movie" a "blockbuster?"

"Filming begins next week...targeting an early 2021 release."

I certainly won't be watching it. I didn't buy a jumbo widescreen TV to instead watch vertically framed content on a 5" phone screen.

[cheez avenger]

I think Timur is a great visualist filmmaker, but I think he's just pivoting to this because his version of Ben-Hur was an astronomical failure. This experiment is only costing 10 million and I'm sure it's all foreign investment for the most part. It'll generate buzz for sure.

[Ender14]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Now you done done it!

If this title is such a "blockbuster", vertical or otherwise, how come this is the first that I, and apparently everyone else on this forum, have heard about it?

I certainly won't be watching it. I didn't buy a jumbo widescreen TV to instead watch vertically framed content on a 5" phone screen.

Yeah, I just hope the poor fellow's head doesn't explode when he reads it. But I couldn't not share it. I guess I'm a little evil that way .

But I agree, it is a ridiculous concept. We just have to hope it fails spectacularly.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Ender14

Yeah, I just hope the poor fellow's head doesn't explode when he reads it. But I couldn't not share it. I guess I'm a little evil that way. .

But I agree, it is a ridiculous concept. We just have to hope it fails spectacularly.

They haven't even started to film it, but it is already magically a huge success simply because they say so.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

I think Timur is a great visualist filmmaker, but I think he's just pivoting to this because his version of Ben-Hur was an astronomical failure. This experiment is only costing 10 million and I'm sure it's all foreign investment for the most part. It'll generate buzz for sure.

Certainly, a filmmaker with a resume that includes a recent "astronomical failure" is bound to create excitement now that he is bringing his successful track record to capitalize on the vast demand for vertically framed movies ; I better start shopping for a 6" phone now!