Movies on TV vs. home video (VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray, etc.)

[Big Disney Fan]

Have you ever noticed how some movies are often unscrupulously edited to fit within a fixed range and for content, instead of just going 100%? Why do they do that? And more importantly, what can one do to see the movie in question in its entirety with almost no unscrupulous edits whatsoever?

Common sense would say to watch the movie in question on DVD (or VHS or anything else) instead, but what does home video have that TV doesn't?

I ask this not only because it's something in general that bugs me, but I just saw "She's Having a Baby", but they cut out the very last scene of the movie: around the end credits, there is a rapid succession of suggestions for the name of the baby, but it was cut, as most TV airings of movies are.

So what would be the solution here? If the answer is home video (I use this as an umbrella term), what would that have/do that TV hasn't/doesn't?

P.S., I know I had created a similar thread some years ago (http://www.dvdizzy.com/forum/viewtopic. ... sc&start=0), but I decided to just create a new one to avoid confusion.

[dvdjunkie]

If you are still using a DVD player, then the solution is easy. Don't watch movies on television, because along with everything else, they change the dialogue and the music at times, and of course they cut out the foul language. Television even edits Disney films to fit in a certain time slot.

Just start buying the DVD's, and I am sure you can find them at a used DVD store or in the $5 bin at Wal-Mart.

Why would anyone want to watch a theatrical movie on television is beyond me. I rarely watch any movies on television except for TCM, which is the only non-premium channel that shows movies unedited and uncensored.

[Big Disney Fan]

If you are still using a DVD player, then the solution is easy. Don't watch movies on television, because along with everything else, they change the dialogue and the music at times, and of course they cut out the foul language. Television even edits Disney films to fit in a certain time slot.

Just start buying the DVD's, and I am sure you can find them at a used DVD store or in the $5 bin at Wal-Mart.

Why would anyone want to watch a theatrical movie on television is beyond me. I rarely watch any movies on television except for TCM, which is the only non-premium channel that shows movies unedited and uncensored.

Doesn't movies on both home video and television have to play by the same rules, though?

[SpringHeelJack]

Doesn't movies on both home video and television have to play by the same rules, though?

No.

[dvdjunkie]

Television is for those that we call Mass Media, so they have to allow commercials to be inserted into their showing of all movies. Thus, if the movie runs 110 minutes, they will figure a way to chop another five or six minutes to fit it into the schedule.

That's why they show that "This film has modified to fit into this time slot" when they show films.

Now the premium channels like HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Starz, etc., show the movies as they were shown in the theater except most of the time they are shown pan & scan and not in original aspect ratio.

Don't forget the television stations also have to censor movies for sexuality and swear words, and anything that might be found to be offensive for family viewing.

As I suggested before, make a list of the movies you want and then cruise your local used DVD stores or Pawn shops and see what you can find. If you have a Wal-Mart close by, then cruise their $5 bin once every couple of weeks.

[Big Disney Fan]

Television is for those that we call Mass Media, so they have to allow commercials to be inserted into their showing of all movies.

But isn't home video technically for the masses, too?

[dvdjunkie]

Home video isn't censored or edited for time. I think you need to upgrade your thoughts about watching movies on television, and either get with the movie collection library, or just enjoy the commercials.

Do some homework, and compare for yourself, find a movie you like to watch and watch it on DVD and then watch it on television and see all the differences that occur.

There are times when a network will air an altered version of the film, and add scenes not seen in the theater, but it will still be an edited version of what is on DVD or Blu-ray.

[DarthPrime]

Yes home video is for the masses. Very few TV channels will show a movie unedited. Even on channels like HBO where the content isn't edited the aspect ratio is probably edited.

Most channels take any widescreen movie wider than 1.85:1, and crop/pan and scan it to fit a widescreen TV. Some HD channels like TBS will even take an already pan and scan version of a movie meant to fill a normal tube TV, and then stretch it to fill a widescreen TV. Channels like TCM (mentioned by dvdjunkie) don't do this stuff.

The main reason movies are cut in length is to give them room for commercials. If a movie runs 2 hours on DVD, and then 2 hours on TV, they have to remove a lot of it to fit in commercials every so often. Also they will edit out material that isn't "family friendly". Some films it doesn't effect much, but others can completely change the movie.

[ajmrowland]

It's all about money.

only a little over 2/3 of the runtime is devoted to the actual program.

Foul language/sexuality/nudity/violence/religions other than Christianity/science/racial portrayals/etc. on television offends people. People get offended, and the network loses ratings, which means they lose money.

[Big Disney Fan]

Just start buying the DVD's, and I am sure you can find them at a used DVD store or in the $5 bin at Wal-Mart.

But there are no used DVD stores in my area. And what if the used DVD in question is defective?

[DarthPrime]

Just start buying the DVD's, and I am sure you can find them at a used DVD store or in the $5 bin at Wal-Mart.

But there are no used DVD stores in my area. And what if the used DVD in question is defective?

The stores in my area all have a return policy for used DVDs/Blu-rays. Just check them for scratches, etc... before you leave the store.

You can always buy used online, but it might be harder if you get a defective/scratched disc to exchange it.

[dvdjunkie]

I'm wondering who Big Disney Fan really is. The questions and answers given are the best solutions to your problem.

Unless you are just a child at home, you can get out and buy used movies in a lot of different places. Look in your phone book for places that sell used DVD's, or look up your nearest pawn shop. I have found Pawn shops to be one of the best places to find good condition DVD's. And always check them before you leave, and then you don't have to worry about whether they are defective or not.

As said before, most Used DVD stores have a return policy for defectives, and always check the product out before you take it home. Blu-ray discs are coated to keep from scratches, but if you are just getting DVD's, then you have the right to check them before taking them out the door.

All of your questions have been answered. If you want a place to shop for used dvd's on line then here is a place that most of us have started using in the past few months:

www.cdtradepost.com

They have a wide selection of regular DVD's and Blu-rays at very low prices. They currently have a buy two get one free sale going on and their shipping charges are very nominal. Good luck!!!

[milojthatch]

Family friendly options SHOULD exist for people that want it on DVD's and Blu-rays. I'm not interested in fighting this point and know very well that many film purist see this as the ultimate sin. I say to them the same thing they would say to me, just don't watch it then. There is a huge market for such things, and I think it is about time more studios wake up to how much money could be made.

As it is, Fox has already started going in this direction. I'm aware of the 3 disc "Avatar" DVD and Blu-ray as well as the DVD/ Blu-ray release for "We Bought a Zoo" which both offers a "Family Friendly Audio track." It is a great idea and I think it is about time we start seeing more of this. When one pays attention to how much money ClearPlay makes or how much money the now broken up CleanFliks or other now invalidated companies were making, it does not take a rocket scientist to realize there is a huge market here. The smart studio, like Fox is starting to become, will take notice and get off their high horse and start offering better options to this customer base. The not as smart ones will stick to the way things used to be and loose out on a lot of money.

Again, I realize there are many who see "altering a film" worse then changing the Bible. But folks like this need to realize (finally) that no one is forcing them to play the film with the "Family Friendly Audio" on. It's about as simple as people not buying a movie, and being as Hollywood at the end of the day is a business dependent on people buying movies, like all smart businesses, they will start catering to the needs of their customers or loose out to other businesses, like ClearPlay.

Yes, my watching a film with "Family Friendly Audio" will in fact somehow bring about the destruction of the world, all because I didn't hear that "F-bomb" Spielberg put in his movie. I just feel sad however for those that complain about this that my watching a film altered to my specifications in the privacy of my own home will somehow ruin their day. But you can't please everyone I guess? Peace out.

[dvdjunkie]

Note to milojthatch:

Very well said. I could not have done any better! Everyone should be required to read that and live by it! Thanks for taking the time to post that.

[Lazario]

Don't they already have this sort of thing for airplanes?? It was a stupid idea then and it's a stupid idea now.

If you can't deal with the fact that films are made to appeal to people's intelligences rather than their hang-ups, it's you who need to be given the Don't Watch It speech. Pretty soon, you'll be arguing technology should be invented to allow parents to read their childrens' minds.

[Big Disney Fan]

Look in your phone book for places that sell used DVD's, or look up your nearest pawn shop. I have found Pawn shops to be one of the best places to find good condition DVD's. And always check them before you leave, and then you don't have to worry about whether they are defective or not.

Blu-ray discs are coated to keep from scratches, but if you are just getting DVD's, then you have the right to check them before taking them out the door.

But if I had to test the DVD in question at the store, wouldn't I have to take the thing out of the wrapping? I'm asking because I thought it was illegal to do.

[Tae]

Look in your phone book for places that sell used DVD's, or look up your nearest pawn shop. I have found Pawn shops to be one of the best places to find good condition DVD's. And always check them before you leave, and then you don't have to worry about whether they are defective or not.

Blu-ray discs are coated to keep from scratches, but if you are just getting DVD's, then you have the right to check them before taking them out the door.

But if I had to test the DVD in question at the store, wouldn't I have to take the thing out of the wrapping? I'm asking because I thought it was illegal to do.

Brand new DVD's work 99% of the time. If they don't, keep the receipt and exchange them (I have dozens of DVD's and I only have had issues with one or two brand new discs and I had no problems exchanging them for working sets).
Used DVD's are exactly that: used. They will not be in any kind of wrapping, it will be a case you can open in order to take the disc out and inspect it for scratches, missing bits of plastic, etc. Taking a DVD out of it's wrapping in a store is illegal, opening a case and checking the DVD for scratches in a thrift store is 100% okay.

[ajmrowland]

Don't they already have this sort of thing for airplanes?? It was a stupid idea then and it's a stupid idea now.

If you can't deal with the fact that films are made to appeal to people's intelligences rather than their hang-ups, it's you who need to be given the Don't Watch It speech. Pretty soon, you'll be arguing technology should be invented to allow parents to read their childrens' minds.

Well said. I never watch a movie in the "PG-rated" cut. Not even the PG-13 cut of the King's Speech made money.

[Lazario]

Thank you.

Not even the PG-13 cut of the King's Speech made money.

[Big Disney Fan]

Thank you.

Not even the PG-13 cut of the King's Speech made money.

"The King's Speech" was rated PG? I thought it was rated PG-13. I know because I had once rented the film from Netflix.