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

[CV19]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

I think this was his last post on the subject

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...6#post21691956

Thank you for the link Anthony.

Originally Posted by Vilya

It is so nice to hear from you and thank you for the well wishes! I am in a challenging situation and I am doing all that I can to manage it.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, too, and I sure hope that you will post more often. I think that everyone that knows you has missed you and welcomes your return with open arms.

Thank you very much for your kind words.

Having read your post from Anthony's link, I totally understand how exhausted you must be and I can't begin to imagine what it must be like to go through what you're doing. You mentioned about having another four appointments coming up, so I genuinely wish you all the very best with those and any other future treatment.

Carl.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by Boccaccio

Now that it's finally coming out, my most anticipated is The Abyss.

I think I haven't seen that movie in over 2 decades.

I couldn't agree more. The Abyss is a must-have for me too.

However even though it's being released, I can't help feeling I'll only be completely satisfied when I finally have a copy firmly in my hands.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I saw the case that you picked out for your computer. It's nice to find one that still has 5 1/4 inch bays for optical drives; that's becoming a bit of a rarity anymore as newer cases are more focused on maximum ventilation with increased fan placements to contend with ever hotter running CPUs and video cards.

The good part is very nice 5-¼" external cases are readily available, I really like my Vantec NexStar DX2 (here), also have a OWC Mercury Pro (here) that I no longer use.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by CV19

I couldn't agree more. The Abyss is a must-have for me too.

May have to do an import. From the Digital Bits:

Finally, we’ve learned from industry sources that the 4K Ultra HD release of James Cameron’s The Abyss (1989) in the UK has been cancelled, and for exactly the reason you think—the scene in which the rat is made to breath underwater. UK censors asked for the scene to be cut, Disney apparently wanted to comply, but Lightstorm vetoed it. So if you want this title in 4K and you live in the UK, you’ll have to import it from elsewhere.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

May have to do an import. From the Digital Bits:

Thank you for that, I appreciate the info. Looks like I'll import it then.

I'm assuming the regular Blu-ray release will have also been cancelled for the same reason. Incredible really how UK censors can still feel squeamish about a rat in a film that was made over 30 years ago!

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

May have to do an import. From the Digital Bits:

I think Steel will be importing.

[HDTV1080P]

In the latest November/December 2023 Widescreen Review magazine there is an interesting long article about physical optical media and its future. Article is on page 10, 12, 13, 14, and 15.

Select quotes from article below

“Realistically, though, even though DVD sells more copies to the masses, the collector market wants Blu-ray or higher quality. Quality is a big reason to buy discs, so without top quality, the value proposition isn't as strong.” Even though the 4K Ultra HD disc, with HDR, is the top home viewing product in terms of quality, besting that of streaming, disc releases increasingly disappoint as studios don’t offer a top-tier product, critics say."

"“4K should be the superior product, and [in some cases] it’s not,” Hunt says."

“As for extras, “die-hard collectors absolutely treasure special features,” Epstein says. “This includes commentaries, behind-the scenes making of featurettes and trailers. If these things were included in a prior Blu-ray, they want to see that material ported over to the new 4K UHD release.””

https://www.widescreenreview.com/wsr....php?recid=273

[HDTV1080P]

In the latest November/December 2023 Widescreen Review magazine on page 6 there is interesting information on why for some movies audio engineers need to improve the lossless audio mix for Dolby Atmos, DTS X, and Auro 3D.

Select quotes below.

"Yet, the reality is that upward of 80 percent of the movie viewing experience is sound."

“But in reality, well over 90 percent of the credited Dolby Atmos soundtracks offer no more that sporadic pop-ins of sounds in the height layer, whether music, dialogue effect, atmospherics or sound effects. There is no coherent Immersive Sound height layer nor directionality or aggressive ear-level surround directionality.”

“I believe that most home theatre enthusiasts that have invested in the necessary additional height layer channels are far too often disappointed in the filmmakers and studios 4K Ultra HD releases in terms of sound quality. This includes the various SteelBook releases prized by collectors.”

https://www.widescreenreview.com/wsr....php?recid=273

[Vilya]

It is time for my always fascinating year-end purchase report where I share just how many titles I added to my collection by format!

Despite a difficult year for me, I still managed to add 227 titles on disc in 2023.

I bought 52 titles on 4K UHD.

I purchased 160 titles on blu-ray.

I acquired just 15 titles on the venerable DVD format.

I also "bought", more like "leased", 34 titles on digital. I did not include them in the total above as I don't actually own anything with digital.

A little personal note:

[Show spoiler]I am heading to St. Louis this morning in about 45 minutes for my last clinical trial infusion treatment of the year. Everything is up in the air as to whether or not the trial will continue past January. This treatment is really the most important part of my pharmaceutical regimen as I await meeting the qualifications to be put on the list for a heart and liver transplant. Without this treatment my disease will progress faster.

I am also being referred to a pain management program to begin sometime next month.

[russweiss1]

I don't normally pay attention to my movie buying but this year I did.

For 2023 so far I've added an incredible (for me) 619 discs. 132 on UHD and 487 on Blu-ray. I didn't bother tracking DVDs as the number would have been quite small. I don't spend any money to buy digital but I do redeem digital copies when they come with discs.

The number of discs I purchased actually shocked me a bit. I think it's about double what I typically buy but since I haven't really paid attention to this before I am just making an educated guess.

On a side note, I've watched 195 discs this year. My "to view" pile constantly increases even when I watch a decent amount of them. My theatrical viewings were also very high. 153 different films with 171 trips to the theater overall.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Remember all the hoopla about Ingram exiting the disc business, well it looks like Alliance filled that void.

Alliance Doubles Down on Disc Business to Fill Void Left by Ingram Exit

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

I think Steel will be importing.

I am indeed. German version most likely matey.

[Steedeel]

Hope you all had a great Christmas. Doing my 7 films in 7 days as usual. Just watched Saw X, tomorrow is Creed 3 and finish with Infinity Pool.

Stuffed my face all holiday, mostly Brazil Nuts, Rasberry Ruffles, steak pie, pizza, salmon sandwiches, sausage rolls, cheesecake and cream cake.


Also enjoyed our yearly viewing of The Sound Of Music, I love it and I’m not shy of telling everyone!

Vilya, keep on being you. Thanks for the update and as always, all the very best.

Will be back on New Year’s Eve probably. See you all then.

[cheez avenger]

Been on a sci-fi binge the last few days. Binged the first season of Beacon 23 on MGM+. It's from the author of the Silo novels and it was pretty good. Finally started on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds S1 on 4K disc since I had been waiting on S2 4K disc to finally arrive. I watched the first 5 episodes yesterday of S1.

Been grubbing on tamales since Sunday. My family made chicken, pork, and cheese variations. Then yesterday a neighbor brought over some beef tamales, so have my bases covered for the next few days.

I know NYE is this weekend, but I will most likely be asleep before or soon after the ball drops. Haven't done anything on NYE in a few years. I don't miss it at all, though.

[HDTV1080P]

Select QUOTES from article.

"Prices for Best Buy Steelbooks are skyrocketing on eBay and other auction sites, spurred by word that the mighty consumer electronics chain, which helped birth the DVD sellthrough business in the late 1990s, is ditching the disc for good."

"A sealed copy of Best Buy’s exclusive 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Steelbook of The Wizard of Oz, released in October 2019, has an asking price of $999 on eBay, despite a “minor tiny dent,” according to the listing."

"The same seller, who goes by the name Matineemagic, has sealed Best Buy Steelbooks of half a dozen other films, including Aladdin, Ratatouille, Blade and the first three Toy Story films, listed at the same price."

"Other exclusive Best Buy Steelbooks offered for sale on eBay as of Dec. 28 include The Goonies, $800; the Spider-Man Legacy Collection (described as “ultra rare A+++”), $699.99; the Planet Of The Apes Trilogy (“rare OOP mint”), $700 or best offer; and Lord of the Rings: Motion Picture Trilogy, $699.99."

https://www.mediaplaynews.com/as-dis...ilite=BEST+BUY

[t-mel]

It’s “shakeout” time as losses of Netflix rivals top $5 billion

https://arstechnica.com/culture/2023...omments-page=1

Really feels like all these studios just killed their business by licencing out their titles for cheap. The declining theatrical revenue is inextricably linked with the pivot to streaming.

[bhampton]

In trying to make content easier to access, they diluted content value.

Mistakes were made but I think in the long term things will work out.

[t-mel]

Speaking of TV settings, I visited my cousin the other day and the default settings on her TV were horrendous. It was a Samsung. I was compelled to change it by reducing the sharpening to zero, getting rid of the smoothing, and other changes. People actually looked human afterwards. It's crazy most don't notice how odd it all looks.

[crutzulee]

Originally Posted by t-mel

Speaking of TV settings, I visited my cousin the other day and the default settings on her TV were horrendous. It was a Samsung. I was compelled to change it by reducing the sharpening to zero, getting rid of the smoothing, and other changes. People actually looked human afterwards. It's crazy most don't notice how odd it all looks.

Were they actually the default settings or what she had fiddled with?

The last TV I setup was an OLED at my brother in laws house. I was actually surprised that one of the presets was pretty bang on right out of the box... after using my "go to" test discs and files to dial it in to perfection, I was thinking that I may some day consider using a "TV"in my HT before coming to my senses..LOL..

I can't remember how long it was that I visited their home to see that they had completely mangled my work by turning on every type of processing, VIVID, SOAP OPERA dial available... it truly was horrendous....AND THEY LOVED IT! ..as my eyes bled...

[t-mel]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

Were they actually the default settings or what she had fiddled with?

The last TV I setup was an OLED at my brother in laws house. I was actually surprised that one of the presets was pretty bang on right out of the box... after using my "go to" test discs and files to dial it in to perfection, I was thinking that I may some day consider using a "TV"in my HT before coming to my senses..LOL..

I can't remember how long it was that I visited their home to see that they had completely mangled my work by turning on every type of processing, VIVID, SOAP OPERA dial available... it truly was horrendous....AND THEY LOVED IT! ..as my eyes bled...

The OLED was wasted on them. I don't know what's worse, not being able to tell the two options apart or thinking the horrible looking one was better.

I'm fairly sure it was the default because, when I informed her about, she asked me to show how to change it back if she wanted to. I showed that as well as changing to the default. It indicates she didn't touch the settings. Plus, I don't don't think she would have been messing around with it.

I know my mum and her partner bought an OLED and she was asking me why they only found the "cinema" mode pleasing, so I immediately informed them about the motion smoothing. They have since switched that off as far as I'm aware. At least some people still have some sense.