Where do collectors go from here?

[SWillie!]

Oh wow! Of course I'm aware of Disney Infinity but wasn't familiar enough with it to realize it used actual figures to unlock aspects until now

Really cool, right?? I'm excited for Infinity, if only for the awesome figurines. You have my mind going with all the awesome possibilities of unlockable content using figurines. I think I would totally love that. Beauty and the Beast - Beast unlocks the movie, Belle unlocks bonus features! Lots of innovative ways to do things like that.

(because to be honest, I don't think physical media is completely going away anytime soon).

Agreed, but since we seem to already be seeing a dip in quality, I just feel myself on my last legs in terms of collecting it myself. I just don't care to continue buying crappy quality releases with rehashed features and crappy artwork. But I still want to something to collect, as I just love these movies too much not to.

Moviefan, if whole point of owning a movie for you is repeated viewings of the movie itself, do you realize that through iTunes, you get an actual copy of the film that you yourself control? They couldn't take it away from you after you've paid for it. All you have to do is press play. Just fyi.

[moviefan2k4]

Moviefan, if whole point of owning a movie for you is repeated viewings of the movie itself, do you realize that through iTunes, you get an actual copy of the film that you yourself control? They couldn't take it away from you after you've paid for it. All you have to do is press play. Just fyi.

Its a lot easier in the information age to steal digitally-exclusive items, instead of breaking into someone's home. What makes you think programs like I-Tunes won't eventually be hacked, or discontinued? Physical media gives you the option of watching movies and TV shows even after the format's no longer supported, and much fewer people can take it away.

Those determined to do evil will always find a way, but digital technology is rapidly becoming an open flea market for anyone with the right skills. If I have the actual products in my hands, stealing it is much harder.

[DarthPrime]

I have serious doubts that broadband in the US will be able to make digital mainstream anytime soon.

However if physical media dies, I'll sadly move on. I doubt I will buy any movies digital, but I will stream them though Netflix, etc... I will continue to watch my DVDs/Blu-ray/whatever format is around, and probably still buy them as long as I can find a movie I want. People still buy and collect VHS, Beta, HD DVD, Laserdisc, and even CEDs... So the option is going to be there to collect for a long time. Just not with new releases.

[dvdjunkie]

Note to SWillie!:

I read your original post and have concluded that you are more of a Disney Completist than a 'collector'.

Being a collector doesn't mean you are doing it for profit, but a 'collector' wants all of his collection to be original first issues, and a "fan" just wants to collect the movies that are released no matter whether they are first issue or not.

You say you are a 'collector'. I am also a collector, but the difference is that I try to also be a completist and make sure that I have the first issue of the things I collect, whether it be comic books, regular books, or the very special "The Art of .............." books, which are very hard to find if you don't buy them the first day of release.

I don't collect for profit, as you assume. I collect because I love having the best collection that a person can possibly have. I AM a Disney Completist, as I have every VHS tape of every Disney movie, animated and live-action, that was ever released. I own the controversial "Little Mermaid" cover, the very controversial "Roger Rabbit" with the uncensored sequence still intact, and many other Disney collectibles in the VHS format. I also have the complete, as far as I wanted to go, DVD collection including all animated and live-action films.

I know the value of my collection and it is insured accordingly. I sometimes buy two copies, once for my collection and one to possibly use for trade or re-sale at my Swap Meet Collector's shows. If you see what I sell at these shows, you will understand more about the difference between a 'collector' and a 'fan'.

No matter what is going on now with the electronics, and ability to stream movies, I want the physical movie in my hand to play on my DVD or Blu-ray player when I want and not have to worry about my computer or hard-drive crashing and losing everything I own. I say, keep on collecting, and don't worry about the future.

[SWillie!]

People still buy and collect VHS, Beta, HD DVD, Laserdisc, and even CEDs... So the option is going to be there to collect for a long time. Just not with new releases.

This is a good point, you're right of course that people will be able to go back and collect already released DVDs, blu-rays, etc forever. I suppose I'm more focused on new releases, as I personally stay fairly current, and look forward to the treatment that Disney will give it's upcoming releases.

Junkie - the fact that you put so much worth in the distinction between all of your different official "terms" for 'fan', 'collector', 'completist' etc. just shows that what's important to you is not even close to what I'm looking for. I collect a copy of each movie because I love it, not because of what it's worth or what I choose to label myself as on your scale of true fandom. I don't think there is any "right way" to collect something, as you seem to think there is. What matters is that the collector enjoys doing so.

[Escapay]

What matters is that the collector enjoys doing so.

I definitely agree with this.

In fact, one of my favorite articles about why movie-collecting is so important is from the late Dr. Robert Fowkes. Although written in 1992 with laserdisc in mind, its sentiments still apply today, especially in regards to the emotional connection a collector makes with their purchases. At the heart of every media platform (VHS, Laserdisc, DVD, Blu-Ray, Digital Download, etc.) is the satisfaction of being able to use it at your convenience, and not at the whims of a scheduling or programming entity.

Why I Own So Many Movies

• In the same spirit with which Hollywood epics about ancient Egypt mingled styles of apparel or cultural rites historically separated by several hundred years, so, too, will future generations look at the 20th Century and miss the nuances. The sixty years it took to go from Kitty Hawk to the moon will seem like an instant. School children will get the order of development wrong on tests. They will grow up, go to Hollywood, and get the order wrong there, as well.
  
  Visual entertainment, during the same eons that man remained flightless, was limited to live human beings acting out fantasies for all who would pause to watch. Then, suddenly, the retention and exposition of these fantasies became possible through technology, first in silent black and white, and then with sound in color. In the home, sound was first, but in a generation it, too, was followed by black and white, and then color images.
  
  Movies offer the ability to replay a dream at will; to trust the reliability of characters who will always do the same thing in the same way; to share in the heroism, the voyeurism, the terror and the comedy; and to learn through repeated exposure. They let you participate from a safe distance, and it should not be discounted that the best movies are artistic, giving one the complex fulfillment which art instills. A well-made film can provide the discovery of patterns in existence and the interpretation of the intangible through a language involving both sight and sound.
  
  Even the wealthiest individuals cannot buy what doesn't exist. Thus it was, even a year before the advent of home video, that a movie 'fan' could only dream of owning a favorite film, or spend hundreds of dollars for a used 35mm print and suffer the efforts of cranking the thing through a bulky projection system. Technology, however, is the arch rival of inflation. Today, the same fan can own dozens of movies for what one movie used to cost. Tomorrow, the days when movies couldn't be owned by the masses and when unseen authority figures provided the only choices for entertainment on television will be as forgotten as the 15-stop cross country flight.
  
  Since the advent of home video, it is difficult to imagine how one got along without it. A disorganized committee stood between the artist and the viewer, dictating show times, commercial slots, or the company one had to keep during the viewing. By watching a movie you are consigning a certain percentage of your senses, your emotions, and your mind to a calculated set of manipulations. The more freedom you have to choose what those manipulations will be, the better you can tailor the stimuli to suit your feelings.
  
  It is the laser video disc which offers the most freedom of all, because it delivers the purest quality of picture and sound. You are not only free to choose what you wish to watch and when you wish to watch it, you are free of the barriers which impede the realism of the entertainment. A disc presentation captivates your complete attention because it offers no impurities as distractions. Laser discs are the first true step to 'virtual reality,' bringing the theatrical experience not only into your living room, but into your head.
  
  To understand what it means to own a movie, or any audio visual program, the initial thrill of ownership must be discarded. The joy in knowing that one can spend an afternoon moving through the PSYCHO shower scene frame by frame; that one can, if suffering from a bout of sleeplessness, watch RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER or AUTUMN SONATA in the dead of night; and that one can play THE ROAD WARRIOR over and over and over again if one wishes; all these joys will eventually subside. The movie will still be on your shelf, waiting to be played again.
  
  The best place to search for what it means to own a movie is in the examination of what it means to buy a movie. If you had only enough money to make a single purchase would you choose PLAN NINE FROM OUTER SPACE or OUT OF AFRICA? How closely related are value and quality? There are titles one would pay a hundred dollars for without thinking twice, and other titles for which one would hesitate to pay five dollars.
  
  One buys a movie with the intention of watching it, but how many times? Collectors with large bank accounts can afford to purchase many movies and simply wait for the mood or the impulse to watch a title. They may never watch every movie they own. Impoverished collectors face a different dilemma. They may have made a sizable investment in titles and yet still be unable to match their every mood. On certain nights they might pore over and over their collection, searching for anything they have not watched numerous times before, and end up turning to broadcast television instead.
  
  After establishing a collection, interesting situations develop. Some movies are best seen only once. Others, twice. Others, a few times, and others, many times over. The pleasure that one can elicit from each movie under each condition is an end in itself. You might buy a film you have never seen before, watch it once very late at night, and then put it away forever, but recall the night and the movie so often that snippets of dialog can become a regular part of your vocabulary.
  
  Pleasure can follow a bell curve. The way in which each movie is constructed can prevent you from fully appreciating it the first time through. After several viewings you comprehend the themes the filmmakers were intending to communicate. And after several more, the flaws in the construction or the themes become evident and your enthusiasm subsides.
  
  In films which are plotted or edited tightly enough to withstand many viewings, it is often the minor roles which, when multiplied , become the major focus of the entertainment. Eli Wallach in THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY, Michael Pare in THE WARRIORS, Edith Evans in TOM JONES, and Milo O'Shea in BARBARELLA are just a few examples of roles which are not the central focus of the plot but end up becoming the essential part of the entertainment and the primary cause for revisitation.
  
  Environmental conditions can have a lot to do with the enjoyment of a feature. THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY is only pleasurable when viewed on a Friday night in a crowded urban movie house. It is simplistic and uninvolving in a quiet room. On the other hand, SPIES LIKE US, LEGEND, and other shows which seem pretentious in a theater are whittled down to size on a small TV screen. And even the most wretched horror film can have certain appeal once the clock moves past the stroke of twelve.
  
  Mediocrity is the condition least amenable to ownership. Really bad movies can be just as enjoyable as really good ones, but movies which are neither good nor bad have nothing going for them.
  
  Unlike pinned butterflies or comic books which have never felt a human fingerprint, a decent collection of audio visual programs - - movies, concert performances, short or experimental works, documentaries -- is supposed to be used, and sometimes used again and again. This is where the other advantage of the laser disc format, durability, becomes essential.
  
  To own a movie is to obtain the potential for satisfying a complex, and sometimes even contrary, state of emotions. When collecting movies, it is best to attune yourself to the different moods you want to satisfy. It is also good, so long as your wallet can stand it, to trust your instincts. If you have an unaccountable desire to purchase a title, your subconscious is trying to tell you something. So purchase the title.

For me, this whole physical-media-versus-digital-download debate is going to be a very intriguing one in the long run. I love the various ideas that have been bandied about here, especially the book and figurines. I can see myself doing that for a future release of Beauty and the Beast, while still holding on to my other editions, simply for my own love of the film. It has nothing to do with worth or collectors' market. I just love the film, and enjoy collecting it in various forms, whether it be the movie on physical media, a book, a plush, etc.

As for where Disney will go in the long run, just looking at their home media history points to the following steps being taken:

1. Release movies as digital downloads, simply to entice the early adopters.
2. Start including exclusive supplements, as a way to entice the more committed and collector-conscious buyers.
3. Make it mainstream, with worthy supplements, to hook the general consumers.
4. Once settled in comfortably with healthy sales, there's no need for such extensive supplements, so they get scaled down.
5. Pay less attention to current platform when a new one comes along that needs to be promoted.
6. Lather, rinse, repeat.

We've seen this with the move from Laserdisc to DVD, from DVD to Blu-Ray, and are now seeing some of this in Blu-Ray to digital download.

Albert

[SWillie!]

Moviefan, if whole point of owning a movie for you is repeated viewings of the movie itself, do you realize that through iTunes, you get an actual copy of the film that you yourself control? They couldn't take it away from you after you've paid for it. All you have to do is press play. Just fyi.

Its a lot easier in the information age to steal digitally-exclusive items, instead of breaking into someone's home. What makes you think programs like I-Tunes won't eventually be hacked, or discontinued? Physical media gives you the option of watching movies and TV shows even after the format's no longer supported, and much fewer people can take it away.

Those determined to do evil will always find a way, but digital technology is rapidly becoming an open flea market for anyone with the right skills. If I have the actual products in my hands, stealing it is much harder.

This is what I'm talking about though - when you go through iTunes, you don't have to actually USE the iTunes program to watch the file that it gives you. So, after iTunes is discontinued, you'll still have an actual file to play in whatever program you want to. It's not limited to the program itself.

I also don't really understand the comparison to breaking into someone's home... if someone "hacks" your account to download movies you've purchased, you STILL have the movie yourself. It just multiplies, rather than transferring from one person's possession to another's. But I digress - I just thought since the capability of watching the film whenever and wherever you wanted was the most important thing to you, it would make sense for you to be interested in digital options. Whatever you prefer, though.

Escapay, thanks for posting that article - it does definitely still translate to today's mindset - collecting the films shouldn't be about the profit you'll make in the end or how much something is worth, it should be about the enjoyment of watching the films over and over again.

[Elladorine]

Agreed, but since we seem to already be seeing a dip in quality, I just feel myself on my last legs in terms of collecting it myself. I just don't care to continue buying crappy quality releases with rehashed features and crappy artwork.

Yeah, that's one of the big reasons why I'm a lot more choosy about what I buy these days. I was so excited during the $10 DMR coupon days in getting to upgrade my DVD's to Blu-ray, but of course the coupons eventually began falling by the wayside and the quality began dropping. I never thought I'd say this back in the day, but the lack of artwork on the discs themselves is disappointing. It's just the disc, for crying out loud, you see it for ten seconds at a time when you stick it into your player and back into your case again. And the case artwork/slipcover is usually hidden by the way it sits on the shelf, and it's not the reason you buy the movie. But it's gotten so disappointing. I haven't bought into steelbooks yet because of the cost, but I wish the classier artwork they typically come with was more readily available. For me, right now the only thing that's got me sold on the Blu-ray format is the higher picture quality. Maybe that's as it should be? It's the film itself I want more than anything else. But then we have a case like Cinderella's horrid restoration, an unfixed error in The Lion King, and not including the special edition of Pocahontas as an option in seamless branching. Oh, and don't even get me started on them including the wrong DVD in the Roger Rabbit release, and the fact that Disney actually threw out the slipcovers of the unsold sets when they opened the cases to correct them (ah, the great slipcover debate, take it or leave it). Then there's that lack of bonus features . . .

But I still want to something to collect, as I just love these movies too much not to.

Same here.

What matters is that the collector enjoys doing so.

Yup!

Escaray: Enjoyed the article, thanks for posting!

[Barbossa]

Physical media is the very foundation of home video, so if it ended, I'd be stuck.

Once dear leader Kim Jong Un starts firing off nukes and takes out the power grid, I just hook-up the gas generator and can watch physical media... from the comfort of my own lead-lined fridge.

[The_Iceflash]

I'll start off by saying that Disney memorabilia is one of the most wonderful things to collect. There is so much out there that can one can have sub-collections of Disney memorabilia. One can collect Disney Comic books, vinyl records, lithographs, Toys, etc. The choices are endless. As far as the obsoleteness of physical media, that doesn't stop its collectibility nor its worth. There are Disney VHS, Laserdisc, and 8mm collections out there. Anyone like Disney Soundtracks? Of course you do. CDs are a buyers market right now. If anyone wants a nice Disney CD collection, Amazon has them for cheap. Remember that elusive, hard to find, "Rhythm of the Pride Lands: Music Inspired by Disney's The Lion King"? You can get it used from the marketplace for $.45 before shipping! Just watch condition. New from the market place, only $9.90! Not only do you have something to collect at great prices, you get great sounding, properly mastered audio. Can't beat it!





Do I think there will ever be absolutely no physical media of any kind at some point? No. There will always be a collector's market and people who want physical media, even if it becomes no more than a niche market. I'll use music as an example, there is a thriving niche market for SACDs. It's off most people's radar but there is a small but dedicated market. Besides, we're likely not going to see better transfers than what Blu-ray will offer. Downloads and streaming are still compressed, even the "HD" of iTunes, etc. So is HDTV for that matter. Therefore 4K is out of the question for the future:

http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/w ... it.314023/

So, will we need to buy more media after we get all the Disney films on Blu-ray? The only thing will be Blu-ray re-releases with likely the same transfer (restorations don't have to really be done anymore after that). With no enticing bonus features we'd likely pass on them. We'd be moving onto other aspects of Disney collecting anyway.

[dvdjunkie]

Can someone take the time to explain why having artwork on the Blu-ray disc or DVD disc is so dang important?

You can't see the disc while you are playing it, and when you get done watching the movie, you put it back in its proper case. So why such a big deal over artwork on a disc that you can't watch spin around on your player?

I remember years ago the big "slip covers are like condoms" thread that we had. Some people just didn't care about slip covers then and I can tell you that today slip covers still don't add to the value of the disc. Slip covers, I like, but I don't buy the film because of the slip cover. I just want a good quality Blu-ray movie on the disc that I just bought, and I don't care about art work on the disc, or whether or not the slip cover is nothing more than reproduction of what the actual cover is.

As a collector, I can tell you from all the experiences I have had, keeping a disc sealed is not adding to the value, because most collectors want to know that the disc is in its proper case if they are going to shell out bucks for it!

When I was collecting records, LP's and 45's, I thought keeping them sealed was the best way to ensure that I will get lots of money for the product if I decide to sell it. I found out that collectors don't want anything sealed, they want to be able to see what is in the jacket, sleeve, or amaray case. Even VHS collector's, of which I was one, want all their tapes to be available to look at what is in the amaray case.

I just would like someone to explain to me why art work on a disc is so valuable to them.

[Elladorine]

People like pretty packaging.

[Escapay]

People like pretty packaging.

Especially if it's just a brown paper bag with the title scrawled on it, which intentionally subverts any and all complaints about "why do you care what it looks like?" by actually being pretty packaging...





Albert

[Elladorine]

Especially if it's just a brown paper bag with the title scrawled on it, which intentionally subverts any and all complaints about "why do you care what it looks like?" by actually being pretty packaging...

Ooh, pretty!

But you know what? I don't care anymore. I suggest we all create our own Anti-Pretty Slipcover Edition inserts for all our films, without an actual slipcover. Because no one really cares about the packaging.



But on a serious note . . . regardless of how anyone feels about slipcovers, regardless of the fact they don't increase the value of a set, it's kinda insane that Disney was throwing them out in their rush to correct the set. I actually prefer them because they satisfy my Blu-ray OCD, but unlike one of our former members, I've never gone out and bought something like Bambi just because I thought the slipcover would look good sitting on my shelf (ooh, shiny!).

I have seriously considered creating my own case inserts, but I'm lazy and impatient (and proud of it). And in the end, I do realize that the package doesn't really matter. But nice packages stand out. Nice packaging gets me extra excited over a movie I want to own. For example, I really think they missed the mark with Roger Rabbit's current release, not just because of the errors, but the old Vista Series set was absolutely gorgeous, despite the slipcover.



That's the DVD on the left of course, and the Blu-ray on the right.



The DVD case itself replicates through illustration a leather-bound journal, with a pocket inside containing "signed photos" of Roger and Jessica, and a Valiant & Valiant "notepad." While the Blu-ray simply has the same image as the slipcover (typical, I know).



The DVD discs themselves look like film reels, and there is artwork behind them.



And the inside of the Blu-ray set is . . . well, see for yourself.



It's hard to believe that this is the premium format. But it's one of my most favorite films ever, so it didn't stop me from buying it to have it in HD. It just kinda sucks that there are budgets and restrictions and what-not, and that a lot of fans steered clear of this release because the upgrade to HD simply wasn't worth the lack of extras and overall lousy treatment this thing got (which is why I'm holding back on certain other releases myself). Not that I'm complaining, mind you . . . it just is what it is.

* * *

I can still clearly remember the excitement of owning my very first Disney movie and holding it in my hands for the very first time (Lady and the Tramp, Christmas Day, 1987). I still get a hint of that feeling every time I wait in anticipation for the latest Disney film to hit the store shelves. It certainly does make me wonder what the future will bring but I highly doubt that the studios have any reason to "take our movies away" like some are suggesting; it's in their best interest to continue making money off these things. And in the off-chance that they do make something unavailable, the internet is forever. For example, anyone that really wants to see Song of the South can most certainly find the means. So I'm not afraid of things disappearing, even if digital becomes the norm; I'm sure there will always be ways to make your own back-up hardcopies.

[kbehm29]

Oh, the perils of being a collector--especially an OCD one.

For myself, I prefer the disc art, pretty cover art, and shiny slipcover because it makes me feel the purchase I just spent my hard earned money for has more value - more bang for the buck (bonus features are nice in that way also). I do QUITE a lot of pre-orders on Amazon.com (I have to keep a spreadsheet to track all my pre-orders of movies and books). When money gets tight, I cancel a lot of my upcoming pre-orders--with the exception of Disney releases on Blu-ray. Those never get cancelled unless the world is financially crashing down on me.

I disdain the day that Blu-ray or a different physical format won't be available for new releases anymore. I despise the thought of owning a movie digitally only, like music. I actually like the idea that someone previously posted about - having figurines activate the movie on some type of "portal" like the upcoming Disney Infinity video game. I would buy into that if that was an option because it would feel like I HAVE something. Nothing will make me accept digital version though until the quality becomes as good as you can get on Blu-ray. The stuff I stream on Netflix is almost unwatchable to me. As for storage space, I wouldn't mind having my stuff kept in the cloud as long as there was a written guarantee that it would be there forever or I would get my money back.

One more thing - I have gotten rid of all of my VHS collection and most of my DVD collection (except for the DVDs which haven't been released on BD yet, which are quite a lot) because of two reasons. A) I simply don't have the space. B) I cannot stand to watch regular DVDs anymore. The quality just doesn't cut it to me - after watching movies on Blu for so many years it really bothers me.

[DarthPrime]

Can someone take the time to explain why having artwork on the Blu-ray disc or DVD disc is so dang important?

You can't see the disc while you are playing it, and when you get done watching the movie, you put it back in its proper case. So why such a big deal over artwork on a disc that you can't watch spin around on your player?

I remember years ago the big "slip covers are like condoms" thread that we had. Some people just didn't care about slip covers then and I can tell you that today slip covers still don't add to the value of the disc. Slip covers, I like, but I don't buy the film because of the slip cover. I just want a good quality Blu-ray movie on the disc that I just bought, and I don't care about art work on the disc, or whether or not the slip cover is nothing more than reproduction of what the actual cover is.

Its not important to me. Its cheaper for the studios to not do this, and like you said you only see it when you put the disc in and out of the player/case. Most discs don't have artwork anymore, so getting one with art seems "odd" now.

I can understand the collecting aspect of slipcovers. I want buy a movie just because the slip cover is missing, but if it has a slip I make sure to get the best one (no dents, etc...). So even though I don't care if its not there, if it is there it has to be in good shape. Honestly if studios would stop using them my collecting would be easier. I can always replace the case if its cracked or broken when I get it, as long as the insert and disc are ok.

Really my only complaint right now is Disney and their new policy of stacking discs in some of their 3 and 4 disc releases.

[Disney's Divinity]

I disdain the day that Blu-ray or a different physical format won't be available for new releases anymore. I despise the thought of owning a movie digitally only, like music.

I agree. I hate that our society is moving towards that. While, on one hand, I like the idea as a benefit to the environment, because it would save materials/waste, I prefer having something in my hands.

Really my only complaint right now is Disney and their new policy of stacking discs in some of their 3 and 4 disc releases.

I haven't bought any 3-4 disc releases (besides one for the TP&TF)--what do you mean they're stacking the discs?

For myself, I stopped buying new Disney releases around the time I had got most of them on DVD. Only occasionally do I feel the need to upgrade, and that's only if the bonus features look worth it (the only examples I can think of were the Diamond Editions of B&tB and SB). I do love nice packaging--SB's steelbook is gorgeous and I still remember being in awe at the box TLK Platinum collector's edition(?) came in (and so disappointed when TLM Platinum didn't get one)--but I don't think I'd buy a release just for that. I first decided to buy Disney DVDs because of all the bonus features on the SW and B&tB Platinum Editions.

[kbehm29]

Yes, they are stacking the discs. In my Wreck-It Ralph 4-disc Blu-ray case, there are two discs stacked on top of each other on both sides. I think their intent is to avoid paying for the extra piece of plastic inside? Good for the environment, but very bad for the discs.

Ultimately, I woud rather have a physical format that is bare-bones in terms of inserts and disc art than have no physical format at all. It stinks either way, but unless something drastically changes I can see where this is headed.

[DarthPrime]

The disc stacking started with the Fox and the Hound.

So far I've seen it on the 2 movie collections of the Fox and the Hound, Mulan, Brother Bear, Hunchback, Pocahontas, and the Rescuers. I've also seen it on the Wocka Wocka Muppets pack, and the 3D version of the Avengers.

The 4 disc of Lincoln, Wreck it Ralph 3D, and Frankenweenie 3D also have the disc stacking (There may be others, I'm not sure).

Basically what they are doing is using a new case that has 2 disc hubs (one on the left, and one of the right). Each hub can hold 1 or 2 discs. So for the 3 disc sets they are stacking the DVDs on the left, and the Blu-ray is on the right by itself. On the 4 disc sets they stack 2 discs on each side of the case. I've read a lot of reports about scratched discs in the Lincoln, Wreck it Ralph, and Frankenweenie sets because of the disc stacking.

[SWillie!]

As for me, I don't care as much about things like disc art or slipcovers as I do the lack of consistency as to which releases get them which don't. If, from the beginning, they had gone slipcover-less and disc art-less, I'd be totally fine with that. But the fact that halfway through releasing their films on blu-ray they've decided to give up on things like that is especially annoying to me.

Speaking of consistency, I think that's a big part of what's making me question abandoning physical releases. For a creatively-based company, Disney Home Entertainment's attention to detail is horrendous. (Warning: I get real anal retentive here.) Things like the spines. Some are in the middle - some aren't, some say "Disney" before the title - some don't, some say the edition name (Diamond, Anniversary, etc) on the spine - some don't. None of the little character icons are the same size, or in the same position. Some of them show the main character of the film, some show a sidekick character for some random reason. And obviously it isn't just the spine. I'd be all for the sideways titles, if they were consistent about it. Either do it, or don't - and certainly don't change your mind halfway through a collection of Diamond Editions. Either put both titles included in a 2 movie collection on the cover, or don't. Either include inserts with a DVD guide, or don't. Either include disc art, or don't.

I mean, it isn't rocket science. And at the end of the day, if you put in the extra few minutes to keep a consistent template going for an entire collection of films, people are going to be more likely to buy them. It would create a stronger brand. I think that's what I'm looking for in something else to collect - something that actually feels like a collection, rather than a hodge-podge of movies that I know ought to be. They used to have this under control back in the VHS and into the DVD days. The Masterpiece Collection, the Gold Collection - all of them were very consistent. They feel like a collection.