UltimateDisney.com and Blu-Ray

[thatartguy]

These messages were pulled from another message board:

In earlier reviews on their website, the good folks at UltimateDisney.com referred to Disney's Blu-Ray trailers as "Blu-Ray propaganda". Propaganda? They were promoting a format.

And now comes this, from the site's main page:

"In a move displaying the studio's desperation for indifferent audiences to warm to Blu-ray, Disney has changed plans for the concurrent high-def debut of October 8th Platinum Edition Sleeping Beauty."

Disney is displaying desperation -- suggesting they are in a panic -- over the adoption of Blu-Ray? Audiences are indifferent to Blu-Ray? Is reality a stranger to "Ultimate Disney"?

They continue:

"The Blu-ray edition will now carry 3 discs, two the previously announced Blu-ray presentation and a third disc a bonus standard DVD (presumably Disc 1 of the 2-disc set). Despite the addition, the Blu-ray's list price of $34.95 hasn't changed, prompting a modest sales rank rise at Amazon.com."

So Disney continues to be Blu-Ray's biggest studio advocate and includes the standard def DVD of the film as a carrot. Yet the tone is so negative.

From the review for 101 Dalmatians:

http://www.ultimatedisney.com/101dal...meditionb.html

"The final booklet contains semi-random ads and coupons, Blu-ray propaganda, information on dalmatians from the American Kennel Club, and a number of Disney DVD ads..."

The ads for Blu-Ray are propaganda?

I, too, notice these statements in reviews. I'm glad that I wasn't the only one to pick up on it. What is everyone else's thought on this?

[Pasta67]

I don't think the UD staff hates Blu-Ray; they just hate how Disney's handling it.

I think that the UD staff's potential animosity towards Disney Blu-Ray is probably because Disney is making many bonus features for their films (in some cases, the best extras) Blu-Ray exclusives. I agree, to an extent. I mean, yeah, to get people excited about that format, something new must be offered that won't just appeal to techo-geeks, but making interesting bonus features (Chicken Little's commentary comes to mind.) Blu-Ray exclusive isn't the way to do it. DVD owners shouldn't be deprived of good extras just because Blu-Ray is their favorite. It's like a child not getting dinner because his/her parents like the other child better.

When you think about it that way, the way Disney's handling Blu-Ray can be seen as "desperate." I don't think anyone who doesn't normally read the reviews (and, in a way, the forums) will understand the things about Disney Blu-Ray that the staff puts into their critiques.

[PeterPanfan]

I fully agree with UD's reviewers. It's stupid that the loyal customers of Disney would have to spend $5,000 for a few extra bonus features Disney could easily put on their regular DVDs.

[2099net]

I fully agree with UD's reviewers. It's stupid that the loyal customers of Disney would have to spend $5,000 for a few extra bonus features Disney could easily put on their regular DVDs.

$5,000? What. I would assume that this was a typo from $500, but you've included the comma seperating the thousands so it appears you do believe this is the true cost of blu-ray.

Let me say right now, there's some cracking offers on Blu-ray discs available in the US, including Disney discs, which frequently have retailers supporting massive price reductions (for limited periods) or various BOGO or "Buy 2 Get 3" offers running (again for limited periods). You just have to browse various Blu-ray forums and get in quick to get some amazing offers and value.

Yes, you have to pay for a Blu-ray player, but you can get one with Bonus View (Profile 1.1) for about $400 recommended retail (so probably less than $350 if you shop around).

If you're just complaining about missing out on special features, you will still be able to view these (as well as your existing DVDs) on a Blu-ray player without having to upgrade your television to being HD.

While I agree that missing out commentary tracks or extra deleted scenes on DVD is lame and unfair and feel Disney really should treat DVD better, there are still a wide number of special features that can only be done on Blu-ray coming from Disney. Given what Disney is doing now, I can only imagine what will be on future releases like Wall-E or Prince Caspian. Disney is probably the studio that supports the potential of Blu-ray more than any other studio and it deserves some credit for doing this.

That's how I started out on the Hi-Def media path. First I got a player (in my case a HD DVD add-on for my Xbox) and later when I had the money upgraded my TV. I now have a PS3 and a proper stand-alone HD DVD player, and I don't regret a single penny spent on them (yes, even my HD DVD player).

It's true you won't get the full benefit of Blu-ray doing it this way, but you will be able to experience the movies, the special features and the BD exclusive stuff perfectly well. (Which is specifically what you are complaining about).

As a bonus, when you do finally get your new TV, as well as seeing your BD movies in Hi-Def, all your DVDs will look better when played on your BD player and upscaled. You don't have to repurchase any movie you have on DVD unless you really want to (because you really want it in true HD, or it has bonus features you really want). Considering how many people upgrade their ordinary Disney DVDs when a better DVD comes out already, I don't consider this to be any more unfair than a DVD double-dip.

[PeterPanfan]

I did type $5,000, because I was including the cost of an HD-TV, the Blu-Ray player, and the Blu-Ray disc. I did not know you could play Blu-Rays without an HD-TV. Thanks for letting me know.

[Flanger-Hanger]

Blu-ray bashing is not cool, plain and simple. Hell, at least Disney is once again putting effort into their video releases.

[Disney Duster]

Right. Well, I just wanted to say I also knew UltimateDisney was against Blu-ray, or something about Blu-ray, from an E-mail I recieved saying something negative about it.

I thought it was because they felt DVD's just came out, and now Disney wants us to spend more money and switch to Blu-ray and buy the same things over again.

So...can we have Luke or Aaron or Pinkrenata come in here and tell us what they really think?

And I agree Flam-Ham, look at how well Disney's treating Sleeping Beauty PE, it's even better than the amazing SE DVD, and I think even the PE standard DVD is better than the old DVD. The whole release, no matter what format, is expected to be awesome and collector-pleasing.