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

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I can’t wait to see if I dislike it as much as you guys.

I don't know if I will dislike it until I see it, but considering the near universal criticism it has drawn, I can wait for it to become a cheap rental or to arrive on SVOD. It sounds like this is one of those movies that you should watch before buying.

[JohnAV]

AMC's CEO believes his movie theaters will survive through 2021 - CNN 1/25/2021

Adam Aron is in a surprisingly good mood for a CEO of a struggling theater chain that recently said it might not make it through the winter.

But the AMC Theatres CEO was jovial because his fortunes recently changed. The world's largest movie theater company announced Monday it had raised $917 million of new equity and debt capital since mid-December. That number would be enough to "make it through this dark coronavirus-impacted winter," the company said.
Following the news, Aron told CNN Business he believes the new funding — and more vaccinations on the horizon — will help AMC (AMC) avoid financial catastrophe this winter and possibly for the rest of 2021 as well.
"This is a great day for AMC," Aron said.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I don't know if I will dislike it until I see it, but considering the near universal criticism it has drawn, I can wait for it to become a cheap rental or to arrive on SVOD. It sounds like this is one of those movies that you should watch before buying.

It’s only money. I don’t drink or smoke.

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

Skull Island is the only one of these that I have liked. I thought Godzilla was mediocre and KotM was atrocious.

I want K vs G to be good because I'm team Kong. At least with HBO Max, I get to test the waters first. I thought WW84 was also garbage, so I'm saving money left and right.

Godzilla is one of the all time bass champions and the overall mix is one of those that makes it one of those fun to revisit discs, especially when a new sub or subs get added to the system.....Vilya take note. I kinda liked the movie too. King of the Monsters was not as good, but every now and then, you want to leave your brain at the door, and it definitely gives you that opportunity.

I am thinking Kong vs Godzilla is going to be something similar, but I will definitely blind buy it day 1.

[Dollar Colonel]

I've been collecting lenticular cover releases of the DC movies for awhile now, so I'll end up with WW84 eventually if they continue the trend. In the meantime, based on the universal criticism, I'll wait to watch it.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Ignorant people seem to get caught up in the word “digital” but they have no concept of what binary data really means. That poster is the only one I have been associated with that had zero learning ability.

Yes Wendell and you think you are so smart, a true legend in your own mind. People that start name calling are the ignorant ones, they just don't know any better. I know the different file formats qualities and bitrates, but you match that digital information and the quality is the same. If Sony ups their bitrates to 80Mbps on their Streaming Video, then that proves there is no stopping the quality to match and surpass Disc except for Bandwidth and Cost!

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by gotmule

Godzilla is one of the all time bass champions and the overall mix is one of those that makes it one of those fun to revisit discs, especially when a new sub or subs get added to the system.....Vilya take note. I kinda liked the movie too. King of the Monsters was not as good, but every now and then, you want to leave your brain at the door, and it definitely gives you that opportunity.

I am thinking Kong vs Godzilla is going to be something similar, but I will definitely blind buy it day 1.

I leave my brain at the door all the time. With Godzilla and KotM, it could not be done. Skull Island rocks, though.

Fingers crossed that K vs G rocks, because I will buy it on 4K disc in a second. Glad I'll have HBO Max to watch it in acceptable 4K HDR / Atmos.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by alchav21

[Show spoiler]Yes Wendell and you think you are so smart, a true legend in your own mind. People that start name calling are the ignorant ones, they just don't know any better. I know the different file formats qualities and bitrates, but you match that digital information and the quality is the same.

If Sony ups their bitrates to 80Mbps on their Streaming Video, then that proves there is no stopping the quality to match and surpass Disc except for Bandwidth and Cost!

Your current internet service speed of 75 mbps download is not even enough to fully take advantage of Sony's new service and it would require that you buy a new Sony TV.

Sony's new high bitrate streaming service is only available to those who own the latest Sony TVs, model year 2020 and beyond, and it still falls short compared to what 4K disc offers. It only offers Sony's movies, too, making for a very limited selection. Sony only has a 3% share of the TV market, thus very few people will ever even experience their new service. You have to remember that all of Sony's previous attempts to operate a streaming service have failed.

If you think that other streaming services are going to match the streaming bitrates of Sony's latest attempt then you are delusional. It would explode bandwidth costs for streaming services and it could cause people with data caps on their internet service to exceed them.

Streaming services have no need to incur this expense because their easily satisfied customers, people like you who can't even appreciate the difference between a HD and a 4K stream, are not demanding any improvements. Most streaming customers, and certainly those like you who won't even pay the extra $3 per month for Netflix's 4K streaming, will not want to pay for higher bandwidth usage. If a streaming junkie like you is too cheap to pay $3 more for 4K streaming now, then you also won't pay extra for a premium high bitrate streaming service.

Even if streaming services do adopt higher bitrates and even if someday they were to equal, or even exceed, the quality of a 4K disc such services still would not provide any control over the content consumers watch. The only way to prevent content from being edited at the whim of the studios is for a person to own their own physical copy. No level of streaming quality will ever convey such control to the consumer.

With streaming the customer relinquishes all control to the studios and while casual viewers like you do not care if a movie gets edited, so long as you get a bargain, many of us do care. You and those like you only care about economy and convenience; you'll sacrifice quality and control every time to save a few bucks.

Wendell is undeniably more knowledgeable than you; it's not even a contest. Everybody is ignorant about something, but while most people can learn new things and overcome their ignorance you apparently can not or you simply will not. I don't know if you are genuinely incapable of learning or if you are just too obstinate to do so, but the end result is the same: you rarely learn anything from anyone.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by gotmule

Godzilla is one of the all time bass champions and the overall mix is one of those that makes it one of those fun to revisit discs, especially when a new sub or subs get added to the system.....Vilya take note. I kinda liked the movie too. King of the Monsters was not as good, but every now and then, you want to leave your brain at the door, and it definitely gives you that opportunity.

I am thinking Kong vs Godzilla is going to be something similar, but I will definitely blind buy it day 1.

Which Godzilla are you referring to exactly?

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

It’s only money. I don’t drink or smoke.

I don't, either, but my blind buys are based on a strong hunch that I will like the movie or if it is so deeply discounted that the risk is negligible. Gambling $5-$10 on a questionable movie is a lot more tolerable to me than risking $20-$30.

I am not adverse to spending three figures for a movie that I absolutely must have; I have done it many times, but this movie appears to be trading entirely upon her looks and that is just not enough to pry open my wallet.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Your current internet service speed of 75 mbps download is not even enough to fully take advantage of Sony's new service and it would require that you buy a new Sony TV.

If his AT&T dividend drops or goes away he's probably have to get rid of a another streaming service.

Zacks Rank: AT&T has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

If his AT&T dividend drops or goes away he's probably have to get rid of a another streaming service.

Zacks Rank: AT&T has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Nah, he'll just get off his high horse and share accounts with someone like so many people do already. His support of streaming isn't half as strong as he pretends as evidenced by how little he is willing to pay for it.

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

If his AT&T dividend drops or goes away he's probably have to get rid of a another streaming service.

Zacks Rank: AT&T has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

AT&T still retains it's yearly gross revenues of $180 billion a year. So their dividend, which costs the company about $15 billion a year is in no jeopardy whatsoever. The current yield is over 7% ($2.08 per share/year)

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I don't, either, but my blind buys are based on a strong hunch that I will like the movie or if it is so deeply discounted that the risk is negligible. Gambling $5-$10 on a questionable movie is a lot more tolerable to me than risking $20-$30.

I am not adverse to spending three figures for a movie that I absolutely must have; I have done it many times, but this movie appears to be trading entirely upon her looks and that is just not enough to pry open my wallet.

I’m very selective, but I’m much newer to 4K than some of you guys. Besides, I have the other DC movies and it wouldn’t feel right not having this one. I rarely listen to critics but if you have a gander at my (not updated for ages) collection, you can see I have a good track record.

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Which Godzilla are you referring to exactly?

2014 Godzilla

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Godzi.../78769/#Review

[bluskiff]

I have actually started buying iTunes movies. Two years ago I bought the Sony X8oo 4k player only to find out it was not going to have Dolby vision.If I want to get dolby I have to buy a new player. Hmmmm. I used to look at the buying of a physical disk as a future proofing purchase because it contained the digital copy. Digital copies used to be for the most part iTunes or something of equal quality. Now most digital copies are google play with no dolby vision. Sony are even starting to sell discs with no digital copies at all. Feels like I am being forced to jump through hoops and spend a bunch of money to watch films in dolby or I could just buy the iTunes version and watch them on the Apple TV app.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by bluskiff

I have actually started buying iTunes movies. Two years ago I bought the Sony X8oo 4k player only to find out it was not going to have Dolby vision.If I want to get dolby I have to buy a new player. Hmmmm. I used to look at the buying of a physical disk as a future proofing purchase because it contained the digital copy. Digital copies used to be for the most part iTunes or something of equal quality. Now most digital copies are google play with no dolby vision. Sony are even starting to sell discs with no digital copies at all. Feels like I am being forced to jump through hoops and spend a bunch of money to watch films in dolby or I could just buy the iTunes version and watch them on the Apple TV app.

You are future proofing your collection way more by buying discs. Discs will always be playable decades from now. Digital HD/UHD is already a dying format. Streaming subscription has taken over and will continue to do so. I see Digital EST as a dead format.
Ownership is dying in general but I have confidence all my collection will be enjoyable until the day I die, regardless of what future format or trends happen. They can’t tamper with my films nor can they pull access.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Not my way sir. I think I’m far less selective since 4K came out. I guess I will settle into a more selective pattern soon.

However, I do blind buy every new title.

We have the advantage of easy disc rentals in the US. It allows us to see old and new titles to see if any title is worth a purchase. We have viewed a few thousand at this point.

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by bluskiff

I have actually started buying iTunes movies. Two years ago I bought the Sony X8oo 4k player only to find out it was not going to have Dolby vision.If I want to get dolby I have to buy a new player. Hmmmm. I used to look at the buying of a physical disk as a future proofing purchase because it contained the digital copy. Digital copies used to be for the most part iTunes or something of equal quality. Now most digital copies are google play with no dolby vision. Sony are even starting to sell discs with no digital copies at all. Feels like I am being forced to jump through hoops and spend a bunch of money to watch films in dolby or I could just buy the iTunes version and watch them on the Apple TV app.

I’d rather watch pristine HDR10 movie than watch the Dolby Vision version that’s been compressed to death.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Yes Wendell and you think you are so smart, a true legend in your own mind. People that start name calling are the ignorant ones, they just don't know any better. I know the different file formats qualities and bitrates, but you match that digital information and the quality is the same. If Sony ups their bitrates to 80Mbps on their Streaming Video, then that proves there is no stopping the quality to match and surpass Disc except for Bandwidth and Cost!

Sorry, ignorant is not name calling.

ig·no·rant: lacking knowledge, information, or awareness about a particular thing.

I have provided a number of post that contained links to various technical articles to help readers become better educated. The repeated post of "digital is digital" does not help your cause here.

The fact that Sony is offering higher bit rate streaming only proves what many here already know, higher bit rates = better quality. Period!!! As of several days ago Sony makes no claims their new service = UHD BD quality. If you believe otherwise then provide links. Another viewpoint:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=P...ature=youtu.be