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

[Akibiyori]

Originally Posted by Vilya

The "aspect ratio thing" regarding The Simpsons is really a major screw-up on Disney's part as they completely removed countless sight gags across 19 years of content. Disney may fix this, but if they do it will only be as a result of the outcry that they caused by messing it up in the first place.

The fact that they were dumb enough to do this at all shows that they place little value on original aspect ratios and artistic intent. The next TV show or film that they mangle in this manner may not receive the publicity and outcry necessary to motivate them to correct their hatchet job.

It was Fox that messed The Simpsons up - that’s what they’ve been showing on TV for the past few years.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Akibiyori

It was Fox that messed The Simpsons up - that’s what they’ve been showing on TV for the past few years.

The now defunct FXX app Simpsons World allowed viewers to watch the episodes in their original aspect ratios. The disc sets still being sold present the episodes in their correct original aspect ratios also.

Disney owns Fox and Disney chose which version to offer on Disney+ and they chose to offer these cropped and stretched abominations when they could have just as easily offered them in their correct aspect ratios, or they could have even offered both versions, as the FXX app did. The fault remains with Disney as they are both the content and the streaming service owner. Disney had two versions to choose from, OAR or widescreen, and they chose to offer the widescreen version that ruined innumerable sight gags across 19 years worth of The Simpsons.

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

You're a StarWars?

Bahahahah! I dunno why the word “fan” doesn’t show up.

[TheLibrarian]

I don't know how many times over the past 10 years I've heard people try to predict the death of physical media. If Disney+ doesn't kill it I don't think anything will.

[bhampton]

It won't die before I do.

And one of my kids is looking forward to inheriting the collection so factor in another generation.

I only recently started collecting the best physical media format UltraHD Blu Ray.
My 100 or so 3DBD aren't going to die ... I take care of my stuff. I own my home. I have plenty of space in my house.

Not only that but I have a system where the quality difference is easy to notice.

Some people have lost the ability to enjoy movies. This is true. Such is life. Also a big percentage would rather rent than buy which is a fairly sensible position just not something I identify with.

-Brian

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by bhampton

It won't die before I do.

And one of my kids is looking forward to inheriting the collection so factor in another generation.

I only recently started collecting the best physical media format UltraHD Blu Ray.
My 100 or so 3DBD aren't going to die ... I take care of my stuff. I own my home. I have plenty of space in my house.

Not only that but I have a system where the quality difference is easy to notice.

Some people have lost the ability to enjoy movies. This is true. Such is life. Also a big percentage would rather rent than buy which is a fairly sensible position just not something I identify with.

-Brian

Another aspect I hear from digital fans is that discs are next to worthless price wise when selling up. I doubt many collectors see Blu-ray as a financial investment. At least for me, it’s about the quality. I don’t think anyone is that naive to think they can make good money back on Blu-ray.

[bhampton]

For now they are worth more than they are worth.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by bhampton

For now they are worth more than they are worth.

Yeah, that’s my take also. My Twin Peaks collection, Alien boxset, House Of Wax 3D, The Wicker Man (with three cuts), Lord Of The Rings boxset etc.. many hundreds of discs that are priceless to me.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by TheLibrarian

I don't know how many times over the past 10 years I've heard people try to predict the death of physical media. If Disney+ doesn't kill it I don't think anything will.

I guess now that e-readers have eliminated all existing physical books there is a chance.



I know some schools stopped teaching cursive I wonder about the future as laziness grows like in Wall-E but I think it will be ok for a while.

[Steedeel]

Been reading about Disney+ and apparently, some titles will expire in 2020/2021

In other words, even if you subscribe for life, you will lose many big titles over a couple of years. WTF?

[sapiendut]

Of course! Welcome to the world of streaming!

[bhampton]

Deals are made with content. The things leaving Disney+ were already contracted to go to Netfux.

Even the studios don't have full control of the content. It's a mess.

I tried to get into it and get iTunes to be my main library. This was a mistake... I see now. At least the ATV4K is still good for lots of stuff.

UltraHD Blu Ray is now my favorite ever way to watch movies.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by TheLibrarian

I don't know how many times over the past 10 years I've heard people try to predict the death of physical media. If Disney+ doesn't kill it I don't think anything will.

I don't think Disc is dying, but it is fading fast. What Disney+, and the other big Streaming Providers will expose are the Internet Access and bottlenecks. What is at stake now is Distribution, it was by Disc but I think it has changed to Streaming. Can the Internet Handle It?

https://variety.com/2019/digital/new...et-1203399137/

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Been reading about Disney+ and apparently, some titles will expire in 2020/2021

In other words, even if you subscribe for life, you will lose many big titles over a couple of years. WTF?

And some titles Netflix has will expire and move to Disney+. I saw an advert for Solo (the SW film) saying that it would be on Disney+ July 9, 2020. Well, I can just fire up Netflix and watch it there until it move over. Everything will eventually crosspollinate via different platforms.

EDIT - I enjoyed the Solo movie and own the BD, which I paid $3.99 from my local Redbox kiosk.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I don't think Disc is dying, but it is fading fast. What Disney+, and the other big Streaming Providers will expose are the Internet Access and bottlenecks. What is at stake now is Distribution, it was by Disc but I think it has changed to Streaming. Can the Internet Handle It?

https://variety.com/2019/digital/new...et-1203399137/

I never thought I'd live to see you concede this much, so I'll give you a pass on the "fading fast" part.

While my evil ISP did raise my rates again, I was able to get much more for it. I now get 250 Mbps down with a data cap of 4999 GB per month. I am not currently subscribed to any subscription streaming service other than Amazon Prime, so the gain here is kind of academic. I will never come close to using that much data in a month, so my internet can certainly "handle it" even here in Hooterville. Now if I could find a streaming provider worth being "handled."

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Been reading about Disney+ and apparently, some titles will expire in 2020/2021

In other words, even if you subscribe for life, you will lose many big titles over a couple of years. WTF?

I never expected any subscription service to provide uninterrupted lifetime access.

Disney has vaulted many of their classic titles on disc only to re-release them later and then put them back in the vault again, rinse repeat. They might just be using the same marketing tactic with their new streaming service that they have always used with their classic titles on disc.

[Vilya]

In another thread, a forum member tested and posted the average and peak 4K video bitrates from the major streaming providers along with their audio bitrates. They also indicate which services offer HDR, Dolby Vision, ATMOS, etc. Each provider is then ranked from best to worst. See here:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...6&postcount=12

I thought some of you might find this to be interesting.

[Steedeel]

I think it’s important to remember that streaming is a shitfest. Remember this and you can’t be too disappointed when you go all digital.

[Wendell R. Breland]

It appears Disney continues their lackluster soundtracks with The Mandalorian. Some quotes by AVS members.

Same on a Shield TV. I was pretty bummed with the audio quality overall. Sounded compressed and lifeless, weak LFE.

I'm glad it's not just me. I was thinking the LFE sucked too but thought it may have been that I was streaming through a PS4. My wife watched the original Muppet Movie and it had more LFE than the Mandalorian did, so I guess that wasn't it.

For me, I have passed on several Disney (+ MCU) titles because of wimpy Atmos tracks and the use of so much handheld camera. Some of these did have really good surround sound but little or no LFE and/or overhead use.

[cheez avenger]

^ What's funny about that is that in order to get the full experience, you can only do so via Apple TV 4K. I have the PS4 and it does not do 5.1, so those saying it's lackluster are correct, but not because the material was not encoded in surround. It's a software/hardware update that needs to be pushed through.

The Mandalorian looked and sounded great via my Apple TV 4K device into my HT.

EDIT - If you're watching it via the PS4 it will only be in 2.0.