DVD's

[Broken Heart]

I read an article in the paper today whic suggested that DVD's are over priced. They only cost £3 more to make than a video cassette. But what about all the added extra's you get with a DVD and the quality?

I recently bought Gladiator for £22 which was on 2 CD's. Tonnes and tonnes of extras. I think £22 for such a great film is a bargain!



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Shyness has a strange element of narcissism, a belief that how we look, how we perform, is truly important to other people

[JB]

I disagree BH. 99% of the stuff they put on as extras they shoot anyway... either directly for the film, for promotional footage, etc. That's why you can get all the extras on old films like Ghostbusters. It costs them nothing to put the extras together compared with making the film or compared with the money they make from DVD sales. Similarly, the quality is no harder for them to achieve than to achieve VHS quality, once a supplier has all the equipment in place. Films are shot generally at 35mm and higher, which are higher quality than DVD by a fair bit I think. Just think of the resolution needed to display on a cinema screen (diagonal measured in feet never mind inches), compared with a widescreen TV.

DVD's are well overpriced because they're new technology and you can't get the quality or the extras any other way, and the industry's milking it for all it's worth. This kind of system (like music CDs) lends itself to monopolisation and price fixing really well. There is no direct competition - only one supplier can ever make a DVD of a particular film, so if you want that film you can't go elsewhere, you have to pay what they charge.

[This message has been edited by JB (edited 19-12-2000).]

[j9j9]

I always get DVDs on UK auction sites or swap sites.

Works out so much cheaper.

<IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/smile.gif"> j9

[JB]

I don't actually own a DVD player, but most people I know who do have had their's chipped, which also works wonders <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/wink.gif">.

[Carriage Return]

2 disks? yuck I'm annoyed enough by Starship troopers which you have to turn over half way through <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/frown.gif">

I'm not too sure on the production costs - DVDs should be cheaper to produce because you don't need to do the duplication stage

And with DVDs you have to run through the trailers they put on <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/frown.gif">

[Broken Heart]

Originally posted by Carriage Return:
2 disks? yuck I'm annoyed enough by Starship troopers which you have to turn over half way through <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/frown.gif">



I have starship troopers on DVD and it is annoying that you have to turn the disk over half way through! Gladiator is on one disk and the extra's are on the second disk.



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Don't take life seriously because you can't come out of it alive

[Daze]

well if u dont like ur DVD players give them to me... I wont complain

[Monkey_Boy]

i have a DVD player so i ain't being biased against em

DVD's are overpriced for what they are, most of the added features are crap and pointless and i'll never take a glimpse at most of them (tho some of the un-seen footage is quite cool)

but they are way better than VHS in terms of quality and longevity, they don't lose clarity unless u scratch em, but the sound and picture is waaaaay better.

they're still a rip off tho

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LIFE: Quite interesting in parts, but no substitute for the real thing

[Broken Heart]

Originally posted by Monkey_Boy:
i have a DVD player so i ain't being biased against em

DVD's are overpriced for what they are, most of the added features are crap and pointless and i'll never take a glimpse at most of them (tho some of the un-seen footage is quite cool)

but they are way better than VHS in terms of quality and longevity, they don't lose clarity unless u scratch em, but the sound and picture is waaaaay better.

they're still a rip off tho



I disagree! I think the added features are brilliant! Behind the scenes, making of, deleted scene, cast bio, trailors, pictures, documtaries, other angles etc etc.

I bought my mums bf the metallica S&M DVD for xmas (for me too <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/biggrin.gif">). About 6 of the songs you can change who the camera is pointing at. You can choose the drummer, lead singer etc The quality is excellent!

I wouldn't complain if the prices were brought down. Anyway in places like woolies they do buy one get one half price so it works out the same price as a new release on VHS



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Don't take life seriously because you can't come out of it alive

[Monkey_Boy]

don't get me wrong, some of the extra stuff is fun (which some dvd's don't bother with anyway) but it just aint worth 22 squid or whatever

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LIFE: Quite interesting in parts, but no substitute for the real thing

[Broken Heart]

Originally posted by Monkey_Boy:
don't get me wrong, some of the extra stuff is fun (which some dvd's don't bother with anyway) but it just aint worth 22 squid or whatever



I only think its worth it if you really like the film! I thought Gladiator was a superb film and £22 was great!

Also in WH Smiths today there was a sale any 3 DVD's for £40. I got 3 titles for £19.99 and got one free <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/biggrin.gif">



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Don't take life seriously because you can't come out of it alive