Disney/Pixar's Up DVD and Blu-ray Discussion

[Escapay]

I am not here to start trouble but if anyone takes cheap shots at DVD and those of us sticking with it, I'll be here to defend the format and it's customers.

Yes, but referring to some of the Blu customers as "Blu freaks" doesn't exactly help either. You can always take the high road and not have to resort cheap shots at Blu's customers (even if you used quotations) when defending DVD.

I'm just tired of the constant DVD vs. Blu battles that UD's had since the format started, I hope you don't think I'm taking it out on you, David. After all, you like "Merlin"!

albert

[David S.]

I am not here to start trouble but if anyone takes cheap shots at DVD and those of us sticking with it, I'll be here to defend the format and it's customers.

Yes, but referring to some of the Blu customers as "Blu freaks" doesn't exactly help either. You can always take the high road and not have to resort cheap shots at Blu's customers (even if you used quotations) when defending DVD.

You're exactly right. I put it in quotes to emphasize that they were his words, ("freak"), not mine. I don't believe that people who enjoy BD are "freaks". In fact, I have a great deal of repect for Aaron, Disneykid, Darth Prime, and others on the board who enjoy the format but don't have a superiority attitude about it, making them feel it's necessary to belittle the DVD format and it's supporters everytime it comes up.

I guess I didn't have time to go into all of this in the first post - that I have nothing against the BD format or those who support it in and of itself.

This a reminder that whenever I try to make a "short" post, I always end up having to come back later and clarify things in my usual more long-winded way

I'm just tired of the constant DVD vs. Blu battles that UD's had since the format started, I hope you don't think I'm taking it out on you, David. After all, you like "Merlin"!

Thanks for understanding, Albert. I'm tired of it too! There is nothing I would like more than for it to be the NORM for Disney to still be putting out 2-disc DVDs for their animated titles in which the second disc actually consists of bonus features rather than a repetitive digital copy. Then the BD fans and DVD fans could all get their 2-disc sets loaded with bonus features, and the only things missing from the DVD would be things that DVD can't support (like certain games, Cine-Explorer, BD-live, etc.).

Like you, I am a bonus feature fan, and I would like Disney to be more consistant with offering quality 2-disc sets. Believe me, there is nothing I would have liked better than to log on to UD today and see Up was going to be a "true" 2-disc DVD set (which I guess would have to be a 3 disc set because of the digital copy). Then there would be no BD/DVD bickering, because we'd all be happy with the release, and some of the more zealous BD fans wouldn't have anything to gloat about!

And then there is the issue on how they are marketing the upcoming Snow White in a very deceptive way, which will undoubtedly lead many people who don't have BD players to buy the "combo pack" labeled "DVD", and they'll get screwed out of a second disc worth of bonus features (because if they don't read UD, they likely won't know a true 2-disc DVD is coming in 7 weeks).

So to sum it all up in one longish sentence: I am NOT against BD or it's fans; I'm against the fact that the only way Disney seems to feel comfortable promoting BD is by having very negative consequences for Disney DVD and it's supporters - particularly in the realm of bonus features.

[Escapay]

Yes, but referring to some of the Blu customers as "Blu freaks" doesn't exactly help either. You can always take the high road and not have to resort cheap shots at Blu's customers (even if you used quotations) when defending DVD.

You're exactly right. I put it in quotes to emphasize that they were his words, ("freak"), not mine. I don't believe that people who enjoy BD are "freaks"
<snip>
I guess I didn't have time to go into all of this in the first post - that I have nothing against the BD format or those who support it in and of itself.

This a reminder that whenever I try to make a "short" post, I always end up having to come back later and clarify things in my usual more long-winded way

Ah, I had a feeling that's what you meant. But I just wanted you to clarify it via long-winded posts. Long-winded posts are more fun to read anyway!

. In fact, I have a great deal of respect for Aaron, Disneykid, Darth Prime, and others on the board who enjoy the format but don't have a superiority attitude about it, making them feel it's necessary to belittle the DVD format and it's supporters everytime it comes up.

Ditto. Plus, they've also said that they continue to buy some titles on DVD because they're a fan of the title, not the format. I'm fairly certain Aaron and Disneykid are getting the DVD version of Pete's Dragon when it comes out, and will likely get it when it goes Blu later on.

I'm just tired of the constant DVD vs. Blu battles that UD's had since the format started, I hope you don't think I'm taking it out on you, David. After all, you like "Merlin"!

Thanks for understanding, Albert. I'm tired of it too! There is nothing I would like more than for it to be the NORM for Disney to still be putting out 2-disc DVDs for their animated titles in which the second disc actually consists of bonus features rather than a repetitive digital copy. Then the BD fans and DVD fans could all get their 2-disc sets loaded with bonus features, and the only things missing from the DVD would be things that DVD can't support (like certain games, Cine-Explorer, BD-live, etc.).

Like you, I am a bonus feature fan, and I would like Disney to be more consistant with offering quality 2-disc sets. Believe me, there is nothing I would have liked better than to log on to UD today and see Up was going to be a "true" 2-disc DVD set (which I guess would have to be a 3 disc set because of the digital copy). Then there would be no BD/DVD bickering, because we'd all be happy with the release, and some of the more zealous BD fans wouldn't have anything to gloat about!

Agreed.

For me, while the a/v quality is definitely an improvement in Blu-Ray, the selling point for me (as it has been for DVD) is in the special features. I mean, I still hang on to my Criterion DVD for The Silence of the Lambs because it's got excellent supplements that aren't on the MGM DVDs.

albert

[zackisthewalrus]

It looks like the Blu will have a lot of exclusives. It makes me want to shove it in a DVD freak's face and say "SUCK IT!" Ahaha.

Real classy. We'll remember that next time the "Blu freaks" whine because a title like Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Pete's Dragon, Oliver and Company, Lilo and Stitch, etc., etc., etc., only gets reissued on DVD with no precious BD in sight!

I'd just like to point out that I've NEVER complained (here) when a title was announced DVD only.

[disneyboy20022]

Plus, they've also said that they continue to buy some titles on DVD because they're a fan of the title, not the format. I'm fairly certain Aaron and Disneykid are getting the DVD version of Pete's Dragon when it comes out,

I just recieved Pete's Dragon in the mail today....via the Disney Movie Club...and I haven't watched it yet to see what the transfer looks like....but it has a lot more special features than you would think...given their track record latley on special features on classics....

Also Not a whole lot of new trailers....not any new ones except Bob Iger explaining about D23 for a few seconds


Also this dvd has the 2 theatrical trailers of Pete's Dragon....one international trailer and the regualr theatrical one.....

and the art galleries are still there.....I'd say this is one of their better re-releases on DVD as far as bonus material goes....and not just a bunch of games...though there is one game..but one can look past it

[Jake Lipson]

Okay, really, this is INSANE. $45.99 SRP for the Blu-ray version is highway robbery, even if it includes the DVD and digital copy. (For that matter, why are the DVD and digital copy on seperate discs? They could easily be put on the same disc and the digital copy download option appear when the DVD is inserted into a DVD-ROM drive.) If this is the only Blu-ray version available -- which it looks like it is at this point -- the Disney is missing a tremendous oppertunity. If this release were priced competatively, Up is in the position to be very likely to tempt standard-def customers to make the switch to Blu-ray. But that won't happen when the SRP is that high...I imagine that at the lowest sale pricepoint it *may* end up at $30, but is more likely to go higher. And why would Average Joe upgrade to the Blu-ray when the regular single-disc DVD will be available for, say, $15.99 or so? This is both a missed oppertunity and unfair to the customers. They had it right last year releasing WALL-E both with and without the digital copy, and I wish they had done that again. Further, the standard-def copies of Sleeping Beauty, Pinocchio and Bolt included in their Blu-ray releases did not increase the pricepoint too much over what it would have been anyway without the SD version included, so I find it really wierd that Disney is jacking up the SRP so much on Up.

I will probably get it anyway because I don't have it any other way -- unlike A Bug's Life, where I passed on the Blu due to its priciness because I had the old DVD -- but I'm not happy about it. All of the Pixar titles are surefire tempters for new people to go Blu and I wish Disney would understand that and try to take advantage of it more by pricing them at a reasonable rate.

[Kyle]

that Luxo Jr replica combo pack will be mine.



200 bucks is really steep thpough for what looks to be a plastic lamp instead of metal.

unless...I dunno, does it look plastic to you guys? the base seems metal to me, but the upper parts look plastic. is it at all possible its metal?

but Im a sucker for these things and Ive been searching forever for a lamp that looks like it with no luck. so this is the only way I'll be able to get one.

[DarthPrime]

Okay, really, this is INSANE. $45.99 SRP for the Blu-ray version is highway robbery, even if it includes the DVD and digital copy. (For that matter, why are the DVD and digital copy on seperate discs? They could easily be put on the same disc and the digital copy download option appear when the DVD is inserted into a DVD-ROM drive.) If this is the only Blu-ray version available -- which it looks like it is at this point -- the Disney is missing a tremendous oppertunity. If this release were priced competatively, Up is in the position to be very likely to tempt standard-def customers to make the switch to Blu-ray. But that won't happen when the SRP is that high...I imagine that at the lowest sale pricepoint it *may* end up at $30, but is more likely to go higher. And why would Average Joe upgrade to the Blu-ray when the regular single-disc DVD will be available for, say, $15.99 or so? This is both a missed oppertunity and unfair to the customers. They had it right last year releasing WALL-E both with and without the digital copy, and I wish they had done that again. Further, the standard-def copies of Sleeping Beauty, Pinocchio and Bolt included in their Blu-ray releases did not increase the pricepoint too much over what it would have been anyway without the SD version included, so I find it really wierd that Disney is jacking up the SRP so much on Up.

I will probably get it anyway because I don't have it any other way -- unlike A Bug's Life, where I passed on the Blu due to its priciness because I had the old DVD -- but I'm not happy about it. All of the Pixar titles are surefire tempters for new people to go Blu and I wish Disney would understand that and try to take advantage of it more by pricing them at a reasonable rate.

It is a high SRP, but it should be under $30 the first week. The reason the DVD and digital copy are on separate discs is because they are the same DVD and digital copy discs that are used for the other Up releases. Its probably cheaper for them to just manufacture some extras and include them in the Blu-ray than make a completely different DVD disc just for the Blu-ray release. Like some I wished they would give you an option to buy the movie without a digital copy. To me personally they are a waste of a disc. However I do like having a DVD copy of the movie included with the Blu-ray to use on the other players I have around the house.

Anyway sadly I missed seeing Up in the theater, but I will pick this up on Blu-ray.

[Arielle]

200 bucks is really steep thpough for what looks to be a plastic lamp instead of metal.

$200??? Seriously? In this economy? That is a $160 lamp. Not okay, Pixar, not okay!

[goofystitch]

The lamp is a neat set, but I'll be getting the standalone Blu-Ray instead. The way I understand it, Luxo Jr. is a glorified DVD case like the Jack Skellington bust that came out with the new DVD of Nightmare Before Christmas. It holds all of the Pixar films currently available on Blu-Ray at the time of release (A Bug's Life, Monster's Inc., Cars, Ratatouille, WALL-E, and Up) and might also include the Pixar Short Films Collection. If you don't own any of the Pixar films on Blu-Ray, it's actually a decent deal. It comes out to slightly less than suggested retail price per Blu-Ray and includes a free lamp. However, I own all of the Pixar Blu-Rays and I doubt that this will be the last time Pixar makes a Luxo Jr. lamp for sale. I would rather wait and get a really nice one than double dip for one that looks plastic.

[ajmrowland]

I have all of them so far except the Pixar Shorts. Unless this includes only the lamp and Up and not all of the other movies, I'm not getting it. Not until it ends up gold boxed on Amazon for under $100.

[magicalwands]

I think all you get in the Lamp set is the lamp and Up on blu-ray. The description only mentions it to be designed to hold your collection when you buy them. Though this makes the price of 200 even more ridiculous!

[Arielle]

To my understanding I thought the set just came with a storage unit for the Blu rays, not the actual blu rays themselves.

This is from Pixar's blog:

"For a limited time, a special collectors set featuring the Up 4-Disc Blu-ray/DVD will also be sold. The Luxo Jr. Premium Combo Pack will include Up plus a working collectable replica Luxo, Jr. desklamp, with a stand that doubles as storage for all your Pixar Blu-ray discs."

[ajmrowland]

So it's a working lamp? That justifies the price a little more, but not much.

[ToyStoryFan]

That lamp set is very nice, but yeah.... $200 is beyond highway robbery. Like others have said, that's a $160 desk lamp. I think even a $100 price tag is ridicilious, I don't know what Pixar is thinking.

The only way they can justify this is if the lamp really does contain all the Blu-Ray releases, which it doesn't seem like it does just based on the packaging.

[ajmrowland]

That lamp set is very nice, but yeah.... $200 is beyond highway robbery. Like others have said, that's a $160 desk lamp. I think even a $100 price tag is ridicilious, I don't know what Pixar is thinking.

The only way they can justify this is if the lamp really does contain all the Blu-Ray releases, which it doesn't seem like it does just based on the packaging.

I don't know what Pixar's thinking, but Disney's probably thinking that they control it and will charge overprice just like they do with metal pins from their theme parks, and tons of other things for that matter.

[CampbellzSoup]

If they added in SOME sort of insentive besides the standard Up on Blu Ray I would def consider it perhaps Monstesr Inc Up Bugs Life (No one really likes it ;p) and free Ticket to Toy Story Id consider it.

[Sky Syndrome]

If they added in SOME sort of insentive besides the standard Up on Blu Ray I would def consider it perhaps Monstesr Inc Up Bugs Life (No one really likes it ;p) and free Ticket to Toy Story Id consider it.

A box of dog biscuits, a bag of exotic bird feathers, old man dentures, a bottle of dirt labeled "South America", a package of balloons, and a flight helmet.

[magicalwands]

If they added in SOME sort of insentive besides the standard Up on Blu Ray I would def consider it perhaps Monstesr Inc Up Bugs Life (No one really likes it ;p) and free Ticket to Toy Story Id consider it.

A box of dog biscuits, a bag of exotic bird feathers, old man dentures, a bottle of dirt labeled "South America", a package of balloons, and a flight helmet.

And goggles too! Carl wearing them in the movie makes me want to buy a pair of my own.

[The Little Merboy]

What were they smoking, for them to think anyone would pay $200 for that sh*t? I would easily fork over $200 for a Little Mermaid Blu with limited edition Ariel model bust/maquette. Eh, such a dreamer.