Dark Force Entertainment Discussion Thread

[indravayu]

Originally Posted by Ruined

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=284

"Gary A. Smith, a contributing writer for Little Shoppe of Horrors since 1980, has also written for Films in Review, Filmfax, Superstar Cine, and Cult Movies. Mr. Smith recently assisted in the video restoration of the complete version of Hammer's The Lost Continent. He is also the author of Epic Films: Casts, Credits and Commentary on Over 300 Historical Spectacle Movies, 2d ed. (2003) and lives in Los Angeles."

Yeah, and has already been debated endlessly (here and on FB), the guy simply got the length wrong - likely because he repeated a typo found on an old VHS case (confirmed as a typo by a guy who OWNS THE VHS!). This has already been pointed out to Ruined, but the idiot ignores it.

Ruined needs to just SFTU already about this nonsense!!

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by indravayu

Yeah, and has already been debated endlessly (here and on FB), the guy simply got the length wrong - likely because he repeated a typo found on an old VHS case (confirmed as a typo by a guy who OWNS THE VHS!). This has already been pointed out to Ruined, but the idiot ignores it.

Ruined needs to just SFTU already about this nonsense!!

Show me the link where Gary A. Smith states he got the length wrong, please. I already provided link to the text of the book where he states there is an 84min US cut. If you don't have a link or evidence where Gary A. Smith stated he got the length wrong, then you are just speculating and my point stands. Thank you.

[cloudnine]

Originally Posted by Ruined

Show me the link where Gary A. Smith states he got the length wrong, please. I already provided link to the text of the book where he states there is an 84min US cut. If you don't have a link or evidence where Gary A. Smith stated he got the length wrong, then you are just speculating and my point stands. Thank you.

Ruined, shill or no shill, you defintely have way too much time on your hands with these constant posts.

[Damonstein]

Defalco is a scumbag dbag who says stupid shit often. Threatening to beat up customers and rival labels along with blaming sage stallones death on his crummy last house on the left rip off is indefensible. There's no reason why people should be jumping to defend him.

[indravayu]

Originally Posted by Ruined

Show me the link where Gary A. Smith states he got the length wrong, please. I already provided link to the text of the book where he states there is an 84min US cut. If you don't have a link or evidence where Gary A. Smith stated he got the length wrong, then you are just speculating and my point stands. Thank you.

IT WAS PROVED BY A GUY WHO OWNS AND HAS WATCHED THE VHS, DUMMY!!

The VHS box art has the wrong time listed - a simple typo - and this reviewer clearly pulled the length from the VHS cover.

[nitin]

Love how Ruined is now not even pretending to post differently to “miribeau”

[Marsupial Werewolf]

#BanRuined

[Damonstein]

He's not breaking rules, don't give him more ammo.

[Marsupial Werewolf]

What more ammo could someone who's filled more than 50% of this thread with relentless shilling and poorly constructed arguments possibly need?

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by indravayu

IT WAS PROVED BY A GUY WHO OWNS AND HAS WATCHED THE VHS, DUMMY!!

The VHS box art has the wrong time listed - a simple typo - and this reviewer clearly pulled the length from the VHS cover.

Ah more personal attacks. The norm for this thread, sadly, when unable to successfully counter a valid point.

So to summarize and put this one to bed, it appears the horror film expert Gary A. Smith never actually did recant his claim that there was an 84min US cut, therefore my point stands that there is a possibility that an 84min US cut did indeed exist.

Making assumptions based on some guy on Facebook who owns a VHS tape that says 84min on the back does not invalidate nor disprove what the film expert wrote in the book about the various versions of this film. That's pure speculation, plain and simple. If you actually had evidence that the film expert stated he made an error in his book, then I would concede my point - but this did not happen to my knowledge.

Originally Posted by Marsupial Werewolf

What more ammo could someone who's filled more than 50% of this thread with relentless shilling and poorly constructed arguments possibly need?

"Relentless shilling" on this thread is apparently defined as not participarting in, but instead criticizing the toxic group namecalling, bashing, and nonstop derision of both Code Red and Dark Force that we see many of the usual suspects engaging in - both in the Dark Force and Code Red threads. Why do people even bother posting if all they are going to do is trash the labels half the time? Its not right in whats essentially a label "fan" thread to continually crap on the labels and refer to said label owners as "scumbag," "dbag," "heroin" user, "slimy," "pathetic," "mean-spirited" - and this was merely in the past 48 hours! The amount of negativity is unbelievable. Oh yeah, and anyone who isn't negative is a shill - nice.

Someone mentioned Stockholm Syndrome and said that they believed I had it. I'm not the one who feels compelled on a near daily basis to air grievances and beliefs that CR/DF victimizes its customers, yet it seems a lot of these same people claiming how badly CR/DF victimizes them continue to be customers despite feeling that they are a victim... That's a form of Stockholm Syndrome right there as you are voluntarily handing your money over to the label you incessantly claim is predatory. And if these folks aren't customers and still complaining this much, then that's just plain threadcrapping for a label "fan" thread.

How about actually discussing the label's films and Blu-rays in a positive or even neutral light instead of spending the entire thread obsessed with personalities you dislike, namecalling, silencing people, groupthink conformity, and unrelenting negativity about the label and its owners? This thread isn't the "bash Dark Force thread", its supposed to be a thread for fans of the label.

[Antemasque]

From the outside looking in ... y'all egg ruined on and when ruined explains y'all egg ruined some more for explanations

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by Ruined

Its not right in whats essentially a label "fan" thread...

And if these folks aren't customers and still complaining this much, then that's just plain threadcrapping for a label "fan" thread.

I have to disagree with you on that point Ruined and you're viewing it from the wrong perspective. These studio/label threads aren't meant to be "fan" threads or to cater to one specific view. Instead they're meant to discuss studio/label releases whether that be good or bad and to hear the opinions on both sides. If the intent is to only have a "fan" thread with one-sided opinions then there is no reason for the thread to exist at all.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

I have to disagree with you on that point Ruined and you're viewing it from the wrong perspective. These studio/label threads aren't meant to be "fan" threads or to cater to one specific view.

I dunno about that. I don't think folks in the Arrow thread would appreciate it if I went in there on a near daily basis and unloaded on Arrow nonstop because I have a poor opinion of Arrow. I got in an argument once a long time ago in that thread actually with a former label exec, but since then I have not posted in it out of courtesy for those that are Arrow fans.

Instead they're meant to discuss studio/label releases whether that be good or bad and to hear the opinions on both sides.

Yeah but here the releases rarely even get discussed, its mostly negativity about CR/DF and its owners. When the releases do get discussed, that too is often negative. I have added some positive feedback about some of the releases and it gets buried in all the negative posts. As far as I can see, I am basically the only one in the thread who has the fortitude to maintain a positive opinion and give positive feedback about these labels and their output, as otherwise you get called a shill and other names. I could see why no one wants to openly support Dark Force on this forum when its just going to get you grief.

If the intent is to only have a "fan" thread with one-sided opinions then there is no reason for the thread to exist at all.

Right now the thread is one-sided, and its the negative side. Constructive criticism is fine, but thats not what happens here. I am sure people are frustrated that their vision of Code Red's ideal business model is not being executed, but sometimes you just have to suck it up and deal with the fact that there are certain business aspects about the way the label is run and always has been run. No amount of feedback changed that in the past and no amount of feedback will likely change that in the future; again that could be frustrating, but does not warrant a lot of what is said here on a daily basis about the labels.

Even if the thread was only positive or neutral (which it surely isnt), it would serve as a resource to get info about the actual releases and their pluses and minuses. Barely any of that happens here anymore, its just badmouthing and complaining. Anything good that is attempted (such as DF lowering prices on popular new releases just recently and beating Ronin/Diabolik on all release pricing) is reflected as bad (because they didn't beat Hamilton Book on some old unpopular releases no one bought ). Anything atypical that other labels don't do (such as pricing more rare releases higher) is reflected as a metaphorical war crime. It needs to be more balanced for this thread to be an enjoyable place to visit for people that actually like what Dark Force is attempting to do with Code Red.

[JasonMichael]

Originally Posted by Dark Force

We are restocking a bunch of the titles we got the other night. And when it reopens everyone will see that our prices are better than any place else that happens to be carrying the exact same title.

Originally Posted by rdodolak

Hmm... looks like you're batting 0 for 11.

Acapulco Gold (DF: $15.99; HB: $7.95)
Alice Goodbody / Those Mad Mad Movie Makers (DF: $10.99; HB: $7.95)
Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes (DF: $12.99; HB: $9.95)
Caged Men (DF: $17.99; HB: $12.95)
Death Journey (DF: $19.99; HB: $7.95)
Electric Chair (DF: $16.99; HB: $7.95)
Foxbat (DF: $16.99; HB: $6.95)
Lord Shango (DF: $17.99; HB: $9.95)
Sasquatch / Encounter with the Unknown (DF: $13.99; HB: $7.95)
Spontaneous Combustion (DF: $15.99; HB: $12.95)
This is a Hijack (DF: $10.99; HB: $5.95)

Originally Posted by Ruined

All of your Hamilton prices are wrong because they don't include the shipping cost and Dark Force does. With shipping included Dark Force beats Hamilton or comes close on many of those items. But hey lets drink the haterade.

How come you didn't mention SLAVE OF THE CANNIBAL GOD which is $6 cheaper at Dark Force than Ronin, and $11 cheaper at Dark Force than Diabolik?

He didn't have to mention any other titles because by finding even one title that was cheaper than Dark Force's price, he had already disproven Dark Force's claim "that our prices are better than any place else that happens to be carrying the exact same title." As you are fond of saying, that is a fact. You're just moving the goal posts.
I have no problem with Dark Force or Code Red, but just want to point out that DF's claim of lower prices is wrong in this instance.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by JasonMichael

He didn't have to mention any other titles because by finding even one title that was cheaper than Dark Force's price, he had already disproven Dark Force's claim "that our prices are better than any place else that happens to be carrying the exact same title." As you are fond of saying, that is a fact. You're just moving the goal posts.
I have no problem with Dark Force or Code Red, but just want to point out that DF's claim of lower prices is wrong in this instance.

DF beat Ronin & Diabolik on everything as far as I could see, and that was good enough for me to support their claim. They even beat or came close to Hamilton on most of those old releases once you include Hamilton's shipping charges.

But, I don't think Dark Force is going to scour every clearance outlet on the internet and every eBay auction. So maybe you felt they overstated their claim, but they did beat their 2 biggest competitors (Ronin & Diabolik) on everything including new releases - and that was the point of the sale and statement that they'd be the lowest price IMO. I highly doubt people were hitting refresh on their browsers desperately hoping for a 50 cent better deal on Alice Goodbody and Sasquatch than Hamilton Book was offering.

Edit: and for gods sake why are people still talking about miribeau? Whether a LARP or whatever they are gone, yet miribeau still stuck in ppls heads! Need to move on with it, they are gone and probably laughing u r all still talking about them.

[cloudnine]

Originally Posted by Ruined

DF beat Ronin & Diabolik on everything as far as I could see, and that was good enough for me to support their claim. They even beat or came close to Hamilton on most of those old releases once you include Hamilton's shipping charges.

But, I don't think Dark Force is going to scour every clearance outlet on the internet and every eBay auction. So maybe you felt they overstated their claim, but they did beat their 2 biggest competitors (Ronin & Diabolik) on everything including new releases - and that was the point of the sale and statement that they'd be the lowest price IMO. I highly doubt people were hitting refresh on their browsers desperately hoping for a 50 cent better deal on Alice Goodbody and Sasquatch than Hamilton Book was offering.

Again, even if you're right, you must talk an awful lot, maybe you like hearing your own voice like miribeau did.

[cakefactory]

This pile on is so pathetic it’s ALMOST putting me on Ruined’s side. Seriously, accusations of him being Miribeau and the pile on of utterly worthless posts like “lol” are ten times more forum cancer than he is.

Miribeau was far, far worse than him and if you saw “her” first appearances on this forum there’s no way they were the same person. They both make long posts, don’t know when to disengage from stupid arguments, like Code Red, and go against the circle jerk of complaining in these two threads. That’s about it. Miribeau was really bad news, while he just doesn’t know when to let you guys all collapse into a big pile of rage and tears like you clearly want to with the hysterical calls to ban him for going against groupthink.

This all said, I still haven’t given Dark Force a dime and never will. I’m glad my initial response on the first page or two here has proven true. In fact, it’s far worse now. Reprehensible. Here’s hoping Bill survives this parasite.

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by Ruined

DF beat Ronin & Diabolik on everything as far as I could see, and that was good enough for me to support their claim. They even beat or came close to Hamilton on most of those old releases once you include Hamilton's shipping charges.

But you fail to acknowledge that DeFalco's marketing hype claimed "any place" of which HB fits into.

Originally Posted by Ruined

But, I don't think Dark Force is going to scour every clearance outlet on the internet and every eBay auction. So maybe you felt they overstated their claim, but they did beat their 2 biggest competitors (Ronin & Diabolik) on everything including new releases - and that was the point of the sale and statement that they'd be the lowest price IMO. I highly doubt people were hitting refresh on their browsers desperately hoping for a 50 cent better deal on Alice Goodbody and Sasquatch than Hamilton Book was offering.

HB may have originally started out with bargain books decades ago, but they've quickly added new releases to their recent Blu-ray section.

Would you consider Arrow's Waterworld, Scream Factory's Critters, Candyman, House on Haunted Hill, Sleepwalkers, Urban Legend, and Starman, or Shout's Get Shorty, Man in the Iron Mask, or The Jerk, to name a few, as being clearanced by HB?

As I previously mentioned, I can only compare titles that both places carry.

Regardless as to whether the Code Red releases are older releases or not, Bill still sold copies to HB and Dark Force.

[noirjunkie]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

But you fail to acknowledge that DeFalco's marketing hype claimed "any place" of which HB fits into.

That's because a shill only considers the pieces of information that support his argument instead of engaging with all the facts. It's also why he has to come up with nonsense such as "all doesn't mean all; it just means DF's biggest competitors" instead of just swallowing his pride, admitting he was wrong, and moving on.

Originally Posted by Ruined

They even beat or came close to Hamilton on most of those old releases once you include Hamilton's shipping charges.

"Coming close" only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. And that argument goes from deeply flawed to completely wrong if someone buys just two titles from HB.

[Profondo]

Originally Posted by Ruined

...says the guy complaining about prices

Says the guy who only last week, was whining that a 50% off sale of Arrow blu's wasn't fair because they could be bought cheaper in the UK!

Originally Posted by Ruined

Not because of a cardboard box, not because of some film historian essay included in a bonus hardbound book.

Wow, just wow. You just had to get in a wee completely unrelated dig at Arrow didn't you? Damn them to hell for releasing beautiful collectors editions! Because you prefer prints shorn of it's sex and violence (the selling point), and you prefer a transfer that looks like it was baked in Vasolene!