Is Disney Done with DVD? (The Never Ending Blu-Ray Debate)

[tlc38tlc38]

Well, that particular movie has a ton of detail and depth in it.

Try a movie like Snow White on DVD... it probably will look as good as it ever will from the 2001 DVD.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see on Snow White!

Personally, I see more of a difference with SD and HD with animated titles than I do with live titles.

[drfsupercenter]

Well, I'd imagine on the Pixar titles, etc. there would be a large difference.

But I mean shows like Family Guy, traditional 2D animation that isn't that detailed to begin with. Which is why I think Cartoon Network HD is a joke... 90% of the stuff on there is just upscaled SD! (And no one ever complains because it's not even noticeable)

[The_Iceflash]

Some of it may be mind over matter as well. If you have it drilled into your head that one way looks way better you may think it does even though it may not look as much better as you think.


Also like I said previously, I don't notice much of a difference unless you put the two side to side.

It's just Disney started releasing titles on Blu-ray and some titles that should be released on Blu are not when the DVDs are being re-released (Oliver & Company, Mary Poppins, & Lilo & Stitch...to name a few).

Who says they should be released on Blu? Just because Disney is releasing some things on it don't mean they should put every release/re-release on Blu-Ray.

The Blu-Ray obsession here is a bit excessive. There should be a thread set aside just for it so every thread don't become a Blu-Ray argument/fanboy rant.

I don't think people are really complaining about titles not coming to Blu-ray

Check the Lilo and Stitch re-release and the Oliver & Company re-release threads. Those two threads are full of complaints. It comprises a good percentage of the discussion there.

[Goliath]

@ Flewduur:

I never said any of those things you said, or denied the numbers you mention. I only said it's tiresome to read of self-proclaimed 'experts' that you can only see this-and-that in BluRay. No. That's not true. You don't need BluRay to see how detailed Earle's backgrounds are in Sleeping Beauty, or how beautiful the queen's dress is etc.

This is the last time I will react to you, as I find you very condescending, hostile and demeaning toward not ust me, but other members of this forum as well, and I don't care for it at all.

[drfsupercenter]

Also like I said previously, I don't notice much of a difference unless you put the two side to side.

Exactly my point. It's like walking into a movie after reading negative reviews, convincing yourself you'll hate it. And you leave hating it.
Which is why I usually don't read reviews, and just go see the movies. And if I like them, I can then say I disagreed with the critics.

I, too, do not notice a visible difference between upscaled DVD and HD-DVD/Blu-Ray without standing a foot from the TV or putting them side by side. DVD still is very detailed, though some aren't done very well.
As I said with Hot Rod, apart from maybe not being able to read every letter of every sign on the windows of various buildings, it looks pretty much the same. I can see the characters, what they say and do... etc. I'm not denying that Blu-Ray has an improvement, but it's not really that drastic unless you beat "This is going to be 9x the quality of DVD" in to your head a few times prior to watching.

Now, I just found out that Blockbuster: Total Access let me add HD-DVD and Blu-Ray without paying extra. So I did. I added a couple HD-DVD movies to my queue (as I can currently play those), and as soon as we get a PS3 or other Blu-Ray player I can add some as well. And I'll compare more than just one movie.

And I really need to take a picture of what Cartoon Network looks like on my TV. I walked a foot from the screen... apart from a little grain due to the nature of analog TV, it looked simply amazing. I'd even be willing to say watching Family Guy on upscaled Adult Swim looks better than watching it on MyTV HD. (That's the one "HD" station that still looks like standard TV, regardless of the name. Not sure why... maybe the Detroit area one is just cheap)

[ZOOMBOOM0688]

And honestly, for cartoons and animation, high definition makes the least difference.

ONE MORE TIME....

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Who's behind are you taking all of your statements out of??

First, about the SD vs HD TV channels now this...

Blu-ray works EVEN better on animation and the difference is much clearer...

Okay, now I'm really done, HAHA

[drfsupercenter]

What kind of animation are you referring to?

If it's something like Pixar, than sure. Or even Sleeping Beauty, because it was animated with such a high amount of detail.

I'm talking about older animated TV shows, as well as current ones not made in HD. Have you tried watching Family Guy, The Simpsons, etc. upscaled? I think you'll find it looks just like an HD broadcast.

[ZOOMBOOM0688]

What kind of animation are you referring to?

If it's something like Pixar, than sure. Or even Sleeping Beauty, because it was animated with such a high amount of detail.

I'm talking about older animated TV shows, as well as current ones not made in HD. Have you tried watching Family Guy, The Simpsons, etc. upscaled? I think you'll find it looks just like an HD broadcast.

your statement wasn't clear I thought you were talking about animated Movies...not TVshow like Family guy and Simpsons (Which I never watch, so I don't know how they are made)

I almost had a heart attack! LOL I thought you were like those people who say "Comedies and Dramas don't need a BLU release as it is a waste" They get on my nerves...

[drfsupercenter]

No, that's not what I was saying.

But nothing "needs" a release on Blu-Ray, it's just a luxury.

And really, if you have nothing to compare it against, upscaled DVD done right looks pretty amazing. The Blu-Ray may look better for certain movies, but if there's no Blu-Ray release, it's not exactly a bad thing.

I'm sure there are animated movies that would look the same in SD and HD as well. Being a Pokémon fan myself, I'd believe that the first few Pokémon movies (before they started going 3D) would look the same upscaled as in native HD. Like that one I upscaled FROM a DVD and combined with an actual HDTV rip... it works seamlessly.

And I was actually listening to the audio commentary of Family Guy's Star Wars parody episode, and the director/writer (I think it was him) said something like "We've thought about doing the show in widescreen... or in HD... but it just seems like it's not that beneficial. Comedy is about the dialog, and it seems like one of the few genres left that still works fine in fullscreen." So even if you do watch it on FOX HD or something... it's just upscaled normal resolution. (So are many TV shows, it's interesting if you look them up and see... your favorite show could be non-native HD and you wouldn't even know it!)

[tlc38tlc38]

But nothing "needs" a release on Blu-Ray, it's just a luxury.

But it's a good luxury and a fun thing to want!

[drfsupercenter]

Well... like I've been saying... I'm fine with people liking Blu-Ray, I just think many people are complaining too much.

If a movie is coming out on DVD, and not Blu-Ray, just get the DVD. Seriously, your Blu-Ray player will play it, and it's not like you're playing a VHS...

So I'm fine with wanting a certain title on Blu-Ray too, but I think it's going over the top with all of this ranting about how Disney should release all their titles on Blu-Ray.

[Rudy Matt]

Well... like I've been saying... I'm fine with people liking Blu-Ray, I just think many people are complaining too much.

If a movie is coming out on DVD, and not Blu-Ray, just get the DVD. Seriously, your Blu-Ray player will play it, and it's not like you're playing a VHS...

So I'm fine with wanting a certain title on Blu-Ray too, but I think it's going over the top with all of this ranting about how Disney should release all their titles on Blu-Ray.

Get used to it. DVD killed laserdisc and VHS. HDTV and Blu-Ray will kill DVD. There's no stopping it. DVD is 20th century tech in a 21st century world. It's obsolete, it's done. The sooner you accept it, the less "over the top" you'll find people hoping for HD Disney releases.

[The_Iceflash]

But nothing "needs" a release on Blu-Ray, it's just a luxury.

But it's a good luxury and a fun thing to want!

That's debatable.

Your avatar and signature = obsession..

Well... like I've been saying... I'm fine with people liking Blu-Ray, I just think many people are complaining too much.

If a movie is coming out on DVD, and not Blu-Ray, just get the DVD. Seriously, your Blu-Ray player will play it, and it's not like you're playing a VHS...

So I'm fine with wanting a certain title on Blu-Ray too, but I think it's going over the top with all of this ranting about how Disney should release all their titles on Blu-Ray.

Get used to it. DVD killed laserdisc and VHS. HDTV and Blu-Ray will kill DVD. There's no stopping it. DVD is 20th century tech in a 21st century world. It's obsolete, it's done. The sooner you accept it, the less "over the top" you'll find people hoping for HD Disney releases.

No...

[tlc38tlc38]

Get used to it. DVD killed laserdisc and VHS. HDTV and Blu-Ray will kill DVD. There's no stopping it. DVD is 20th century tech in a 21st century world. It's obsolete, it's done. The sooner you accept it, the less "over the top" you'll find people hoping for HD Disney releases.

No...

I'll bet money you were one of those people who had to be forced to update from VHS to DVD when DVD first came out.

[kbehm29]

That's a good point in general. I think it says a lot about our outlook for BD. Let's take a mini-poll and answer the following question:

What year did you convert from VHS to DVD?

As for myself, I bought my first DVD player in late 1998 and never looked back. Once I bought my player, I never bought another VHS again. Therefore, I feel like I've had my DVDs FOREVER. It's time for technology to upgrade. I bought my first BD player (a PS3) in November/December of 2006. I bought my first stand-alone BD player in November of 2008. Again, I am swearing off buying DVDs unless it is a pristine release that has no window for release on BD yet (and only because I can still play it on my BD player, I'm so glad DVD is not obsolete completely - backwards comptability is wonderful).

[The_Iceflash]

I'll bet money you were one of those people who had to be forced to update from VHS to DVD when DVD first came out.

First of all I was only 10 when DVD's first came out. Second of all, a new format this soon is completely unnecessary, backwards convertible or not. I roll my eyes whenever I see or hear anyone say that they already consider DVDs obsolete and already see them as yesterday's news. Plus I don't care what anyone says, going from VHS to DVD is nothing like going from DVD to Blu-Ray.

I'm also not the type to jump on every new technology that comes into existence the second it comes out and then act like it's the best thing since sliced bread.

*This post has been edited by a moderator to remove excess quoting.*

[Escapay]

I'm also not the type to jump on every new technology that comes into existence the second it comes out and then act like it's the best thing since sliced bread.

That's because nothing tops sliced bread. I mean...bread that's already sliced when you buy it? What could be better than that?

Anyway, I haven't really been keeping up with this whole Blu-Ray vs. DVD argument because after the first couple posts, it gets tiresome reading one camp versus the other trying to find a weak spot while spouting why they're right and the other's wrong.

After all...books have been around for centuries. So long that it's gone through its own evolution. From stone tablets to scrolls and parchment to handwritten papers bound together to machine-produced with metal type. It's even gone as far as electronic books that you could read on a computer, download and print on your own, read on special little pads or PDAs or whatnot. And yet even with that kind of evolution, I have yet to see a place where the e-book has completed replaced the conventional book.

The same argument can be made for all these DVD/Blu-Ray arguments, even if it's on a much smaller time scale (the past 13 years as opposed to the past hundred centuries). Blu-Ray is superior, obviously. But DVD is still the more mainstream and preferred choice by consumers because they're already familiar with it. It won't go away just because Blu-Ray is gaining momentum and the HD path seems clearer and becoming the only option. Hell, there are people who still collect LPs and laserdiscs! There are people who'll collect first edition copies of a book printed 50 years ago rather than just buy a reprint. There are people who collect old cars even though newer ones are faster and more fuel efficient. So why all the hate or all the "geez, you need to catch up on the times!" attitudes towards anyone who's not looking to getting Blu-Ray so soon? And why all the hate and all the "geez, you guys are all tech freaks who just want the new tech asap!" towards anyone who's willing to get into a new technology and will embrace its rewards?

Seriously, the battles about old vs. new is just...old.

50 years from now, when Blu-Ray will be old and obsolete, kids will stumble upon shelves of them in their grandparents' closet and say "Wow, look at these! Blu-Rays! I don't know why they still have them, they're so old and out of date! And the quality on them is so plain! Hey, what's in that box tucked over there? DVD! Oh wow, I knew Gramps was old, but I didn't think he'd be THAT old!"

albert

[drfsupercenter]

Yeah... as far as upgrading from VHS to DVD, I was WAY behind in the game.

I think it was 2002 before we got a DVD player... I was actually really eager to start watching DVDs, because that DID have a hugely noticeable quality difference. To the point that I had to pester my parents for weeks to buy one.

With Blu-Ray it's not the same. I see Blu-Ray, I see DVD, I'm not blown off my feet. It looks a bit clearer, but not so much that I'm going to go spend $300 a TV and $30 a movie to upgrade anything.

And hey, I still do collect vintage VHS tapes!
One of those reasons is because Disney keeps modifying their films... why would I watch The Lion King on DVD if I have the original VHS? (Or laserdisc for that matter... I don't have an actual laserdisc player but I have recordings made by a friend) Same with movies like Star Wars, etc. And hey, let's not forget all the stuff my dad recorded with his camcorder! We still use a Hi-8 camcorder, for that matter... maybe one of these days I'll get him a MiniDV camera for his birthday.

And the main reason I prefer DVD is, as I said, compatibility. Blu-Rays are great for watching on your HDTV with an attached Blu-Ray player, but most people only have one or two in their whole house. We have three other non-HDTVs that work perfectly with a DVD player and VCR attached. I also have an 8" portable DVD player I take in the car when we travel. (Not to mention the portable DVD player/screen in my mom's minivan).
So the only real use of Blu-Ray is to watch on an HDTV. And since I have far more places to watch standard definition than HD, I'm not investing in Blu-Ray. And it's not as if DVD looks horrible on an HDTV... I've said many times that when done right, it can look great. (The Xbox 360 is doing a great job so far)

When they start making $50 Blu-Ray players, and portable ones you can take in the car, etc. then maybe I'll start buying Blu-Ray movies instead of DVDs.

[DarthPrime]

Some of it may be mind over matter as well. If you have it drilled into your head that one way looks way better you may think it does even though it may not look as much better as you think.


Also like I said previously, I don't notice much of a difference unless you put the two side to side.

It's just Disney started releasing titles on Blu-ray and some titles that should be released on Blu are not when the DVDs are being re-released (Oliver & Company, Mary Poppins, & Lilo & Stitch...to name a few).

Who says they should be released on Blu? Just because Disney is releasing some things on it don't mean they should put every release/re-release on Blu-Ray.

The Blu-Ray obsession here is a bit excessive. There should be a thread set aside just for it so every thread don't become a Blu-Ray argument/fanboy rant.

I don't think people are really complaining about titles not coming to Blu-ray

Check the Lilo and Stitch re-release and the Oliver & Company re-release threads. Those two threads are full of complaints. It comprises a good percentage of the discussion there.

I think titles like Lilo and Stitch and Oliver & Company are a long way off for Blu-ray. I don't think the titles would do well enough in sales and that's why they are being held off. Blu-ray is still very new, and costs more to manufacture than DVD. Sure it came out in 2006, but HD DVD was around until 2008. Its only had 1 year on the market as the only HD format.

Not every VHS title was released on DVD. I don't think every DVD release will be on Blu-ray. Your main Blu-ray sales right now are from new releases, and not catalog titles. Unless its a huge catalog release I don't see catalog titles doing big numbers right now. Eventually? sure... When Lord of Rings is available this year I'm sure that will have huge sales. However I've talked to a few of my friends and they refuse to buy the Blu-ray versions if they are the theatrical ones. So I guess you can't please everyone.

Anyway Blu-ray is big on this forum and other movie forums. This is understandable. However outside of these forums its not generating the buzz people here think it is... Its selling, and doing well I won't argue with that. However there are tons of people that think its too expensive, and just not worth it compared to a upconverted DVD.

It all comes down to price. When we see portable Blu-ray players, $50 stand alones, and cheaper discs then things will change and DVD will be on its way out. Its also not fair to constantly bring up online prices for Blu-rays either. In store prices need to fall since that's where most of the general consumers buy their movies, or look at prices. Sure you can get them cheaper online, but in store matters a lot as well.

I agree with the mind over matter comment as well... sometimes. There is a difference in DVD and Blu-ray, but it depends on the transfers. I've seen Blu-rays that looked no better than a upconverted DVD, while others have had a huge jump in image quality. So not every Blu-ray title looks a lot better. This was the same with DVD though. Bad DVD transfers could look like a old VHS, or Laserdisc transfer.

This is the same with every new technology in my opinion.

[Goliath]

Get used to it. DVD killed laserdisc and VHS. HDTV and Blu-Ray will kill DVD. There's no stopping it. DVD is 20th century tech in a 21st century world. It's obsolete, it's done. The sooner you accept it, the less "over the top" you'll find people hoping for HD Disney releases.

Er... no.