I've bought my first ever Blu-Ray Player!!!

[Lazario]

All that I know about you is in this thread. If you want to be more clear in your ranting against Blu-ray, then do precisely that. Don't start attacking others for not reading what isn't in your arguments (at least not here). I'm contradicting your statements regarding catalog titles because that's the only thing that's in your posts.

Sorry, I am a big meanie.

But I was still right. Everyone else knew what I was talking about. And you would have too, if you'd read what I wrote above.

You said you did.

You did not.

[KubrickFan]

All that I know about you is in this thread. If you want to be more clear in your ranting against Blu-ray, then do precisely that. Don't start attacking others for not reading what isn't in your arguments (at least not here). I'm contradicting your statements regarding catalog titles because that's the only thing that's in your posts.

Sorry, I am a big meanie.

But I was still right. Everyone else knew what I was talking about. And you would have too, if you'd read what I wrote above.

You said you did.

You did not.

Uhmm, okay . Glad somebody know what you're talking about.

[Lazario]

That's classic. "Uhmm..." You should put that as a footer in every post you make.

Anyway, since you still can't be bothered to read what I wrote, I'll just tell you: my dang point was about the suppression of smaller studios and cult films on the format by dildo major studios who want to make people only like garbage so they can sell any lame New-Millennium piece of crap they peddle on the format. Which again is dominated more by new movies, even if that means funding direct-to-video projects just to have more stuff to fill their plate with!, when the format doesn't even need them. They still look better than older movies do, whether they're released on standard or Blu discs. They have the choice to put the new movies on Blu or standard and they want you to spend more money, so they go Blu and they're starting to make people believe standard is dying. And that will happen unless we stop the general consensus from believing it doesn't matter that new direct-to-video crap is given more attention on Blu than classic low budget films. And really, the only studio combating this is Criterion Collection.

[2099net]

And that will happen unless we stop the general consensus from believing it doesn't matter that new direct-to-video crap is given more attention on Blu than classic low budget films. And really, the only studio combating this is Criterion Collection.

But that's just what DVD is. Blu-ray is nothing but a microcosm of DVD. Being as this is a Disney forum primarily (although we're in off-topic) look to Disney and what it still does with DVD. Newer films get DVDs. Direct to Videos get DVDs. Older, classic Disney films and TV... not so much - especially recently. You're lucky if you get a DMC exclusive, a Walt Disney Treasure release or the first volume of a TV series release, in which the follow-ups never come.

And I will contest the lack of archival Disney releases on DVD being connected to Blu-ray - if Disney was smart, they'd realise NOW is the peak moment of DVD penetration and they'd whip out older subject DVDs to take adventage of this fact, rather than just sit and wait until Blu-ray probably/possibly catches on.

Of course, providers are more cautious on Blu-ray, because Blu-ray doesn't have the market penetration (and frankly, looking at the latest growth figures, I doubt Blu-ray will take more than 60% of DVD at its peak ever). But as pointed out Blu-ray players play DVDs and most "improve" them. Its not as if its a binary choice - DVD or Blu-ray; both co-exist next to each other. You can still buy any new classic/cult DVD release and still enjoy it.

Yes, you may feel cheated if it comes out later on Blu-ray, but if it came out now with substandard presentation on Blu-ray and you purchased it, you'd feel similar. There is not easy answer when it comes to archive content on Blu-ray because its not possible just to put out an old TV, LD or DVD master, it has to be recreated to take advantage of the format if you want it to, er, take advantage of the format.

I understand you may feel independents or even big studios may not be as willing to take a punt on more obscure DVD title releases since the advent of Blu-ray, I can accept that potential DVD re-releases have been reduced - but again look to Disney. Over the past 12 months we've had re-releases of Lilo and Stitch, Alice in Wonderland, Oliver & Company and The Great Mouse Detective with no Blu-rays in sight. While the Blu-ray format may have a little impact on DVD re-releases, its hardly breaking down barriers, demolishing everything else in its path as it seeks to become the number one global home video format.

As for Criterion being the only studio releasing classics or cult movies, I would respectfully point to Universal (who released lots of catalog titles on HD DVD and are slowly catching up on Blu-ray), Warner Bros, Anchor Bay (who are increasingly becoming active on the format) - and over in the UK I know the BFI and Eureka/Masters of Cinema are proudly releasing older titles on Blu-ray including many black and white and even silent films!

[Lazario]

See, KubrickFan, this ^ is how you serve someone!


Anyway, you know you're right 2099net. But when Blu-Ray takes over (providing they do, in anything remotely like the nightmare scenario I've envisioned), there will be some smaller studios lost in the shuffle. Standard DVD has allowed many other small studios to thrive. Or at least stick around long enough to make a name for themselves. Image / Something Weird, Elite / Synapse, Kino, Code Red, Strand, Media Blasters, Ventura. With Blu-Ray dominating in the eyes of consumers, a huge amount of movies are going to fall through the cracks and never get a Blu-Ray release. These studios may even go bankrupt altogether, leaving anybody / any distributer who doesn't care about them to buy their titles. It may end up even being as bad as when Disney bought Roger Corman's New Horizons / Concorde and then the entire catalog of readily available discs goes hopelessly out of print with discs only being available in the $100+ range. They might decide they're not worth releasing and never allow anyone else to release them.

If what I've heard about Blu-Ray discs being more reliable to play and maybe more durable to protect better from scratches affecting play... all the more reason to want studios to be more fair with Blu than they were with standard.

[rexcrk]

What I'm still trying to understand is what exactly your problem with better picture and better sound is. And your problem with new movies. New movies can be good, y'know, not just the old movies >_>

[Giygas]

(providing they do, in anything remotely like the nightmare scenario I've envisioned)

Did you imagine it being like the "Cauldron Reborn" scene? I mean, I sure as heck did.

[Lazario]

What I'm still trying to understand is what exactly your problem with better picture and better sound is. And your problem with new movies. New movies can be good, y'know, not just the old movies >_>

Because movies are getting more insulting and more dumb all the time. For over a decade now they've been getting louder. Now even the romantic comedies, dramas, chick flicks, and nearly all TV programs are getting so rancidly idiotic, I can feel my brain cells being sucked right out of my head. There isn't a genre left that I can defend as a genre anymore.

And obviously my problem with Blu-Ray has nothing to do with, as you say it, "being against better picture and better sound." That's just plain loopy.

[2099net]

Anyway, you know you're right 2099net. But when Blu-Ray takes over (providing they do, in anything remotely like the nightmare scenario I've envisioned), there will be some smaller studios lost in the shuffle. Standard DVD has allowed many other small studios to thrive. Or at least stick around long enough to make a name for themselves. Image / Something Weird, Elite / Synapse, Kino, Code Red, Strand, Media Blasters, Ventura. With Blu-Ray dominating in the eyes of consumers, a huge amount of movies are going to fall through the cracks and never get a Blu-Ray release. These studios may even go bankrupt altogether, leaving anybody / any distributer who doesn't care about them to buy their titles.

I honestly don't think that will happen. Well, yes, it may. But not because of Blu-ray, but because of the general nature of shifting consumer desire. I thought when the HD DVD/Blu-ray "war" was over, prices would go up, but they didn't. In fact, prices have fallen much faster than I expected - both for displays and Blu-ray players. I think, given new announcments of BD authoring solutions every month or so, production costs are dropping too.