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General DVD Talk

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i figured we needed a thread dedicated to anything on DVD...
just so we dont have to create a new thread for every release...

first i want to point out this...
"Around the net this afternoon, there's word that 321 Studios is closing its doors. Makers of the DVD X Copy DVD copying software, the company apparently couldn't continue operating under the threat of numerous lawsuits from the studios. All this comes even as the HD-DVD camp says it might be willing to allow limited fair use copying of its future high-def movie software. Go figure."

im glad i already got my copy...
funny thing is they think that by 321 closing its doors no one is going to have access to this product...
well i guess they dont use the internet very much do they...
looks like its time to actually use those things inside your head and figure out a way to protect DVDs from being copied...

what do you guys think about this?
"Never. I'll never turn to the darkside. You've failed your highness. I am a jedi, like my father before me."
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I never really understood why people would go out and pay for that software anyway. There is a freeware program called DVD Shrink that works better and does more and it doesn't cost a dime. I was suprised that they were around as long as they were to be honest with you.

As far as DVD protection there will never be new DVD protection otherwise you would need all new DVD players to decode the new protection. So what there is it what there is. I just hope that you can back up your HD-DVD's easily. I know my backups have saved me a few times. You know how kids like to just throw stuff around. Well I would be out quite a few movies if it weren't for DVD Shrink backing up my DVD's. Of course there are people out there who just copy all the movies they rent and never pay for a DVD in there life. And that is really sad.

Just my two cents

“You know, when you think about it, the Ewoks probably just crap over the sides of their tree-huts.”

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DVD Shrink is a FAR better program that XCopy could ever hope to be, especially the new 3.2 release. While not quite as good as a real reencoding suite, for a freeware transcoder it is the best ever. The best thing is, Shrink cannot be pulled off the market because the creator doesn't even accept donations, let alone charge money for it. HD DVD will probably take a while to reverse engineer, but it will happen. If a lock can be made, a lockpick can be made for it. The encryption scheme will not be nearly as simple as CSS, but someone will crack it nonetheless.
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anyone gonna be picking up this set?



lol
i know i am!!!!
"Never. I'll never turn to the darkside. You've failed your highness. I am a jedi, like my father before me."
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Just the four disc set. Not the whole gift pack thing. They did that with the first two movies and I never bought them. Just more crap to collect dust. I just want the blue fold out set.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
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Kevin A
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i only bought the first big set because i wanted the two polystone book ends to hold my LOTR dvds...
lol

the second one i didnt buy cuz Gollum looked kinda cheesy... but i may just get this one...
depending on how that stone sculpture looks...

i just hope they take it easy with the damn glue which holds that piece of paper to the back of the dvd..
did anyone else have a heart attack taking that damn thing off?
"Never. I'll never turn to the darkside. You've failed your highness. I am a jedi, like my father before me."
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The extended sets are really nice, but I've got the theatrical cuts and can live with them. The extended versions are good to see once or twice, though, but mostly if you're a fan of the books. I don't know...as much as I like the Extended Editions, I don't feel much like going out and spending $90 for a second set of all three films, if you know what I mean.
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Originally posted by: Hal 9000
DVD = awesome.

VHS = not awesome.


Nah...really, Hal? Just kidding with you.
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Originally posted by: Luke Skywalker
did anyone else have a heart attack taking that damn thing off?


That and popping the DVDs off the trays for the first time. I swore I was gonna break the discs.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
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Kevin A
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I've made up my mind that I'm no longer buying new versions of dvds I already have, unless it's a radical upgrade from the previous release. Like the upcoming releases of Goodfellas and Bladerunner I'll buy, because the previous versions were ultra-crappy. But I was almost tempted to buy that new Predator today, but I just couldn't do it. Then you have the blu-ray/HD-DVD stuff on the horizon, which means we'll probably have to buy the same dvds all over again. Hrrmpph!
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I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a 10-year Special Edition of Braveheart. Two discs, with deleted scenes, new bonus features, all of that. I already have the current DVD version, not to mention the VHS tapes, but I love that movie so much that I'll buy a new DVD edition if they release it.

Has anyone heard about the upcoming 10-disc Matrix set? It's kind of overkill, since a large portion of what they're packaging is already commercially available. It's got a 190-minute version of Reloaded, incorporating all of the movie clips from the Enter the Matrix game into the movie itself. I already have all three films, and am already planning on getting The Animatrix and Enter the Matrix, so I have no desire for this new set.
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The only reason to get the new Predator disc is for the bonus stuff. The movie is the same transfer that the old disc had. I was hoping for a new HD master. Oh well.

If you haven't see The Devil's Backbone now is the time to get it. It was just rereleased with a HD transfer and it looks great compaired to the old one.

The movie is just wicked sweet.

“You know, when you think about it, the Ewoks probably just crap over the sides of their tree-huts.”

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Devil's Backbone... is that Guillermo Del Toro?

Princess Leia: I happen to like nice men.
Han Solo: I'm a nice man.

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That and popping the DVDs off the trays for the first time. I swore I was gonna break the discs.

I KNOW!!
i still get a bit worried now and then... mine set isnt really worked in yet i guess...
hehe

i've got the first matrix and am happy with that...
i feel they totally killed the trilogy with both the second and third.. but thats just me...

im definatly looking forward to goodfellas...
thats the only dvd i feel would be worth it to re purchase..
i hate the fact that they re-release so many titles when they really dont need to...
"Never. I'll never turn to the darkside. You've failed your highness. I am a jedi, like my father before me."
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I don't buy new versions of old discs either. But the difference for me with LOTR is that I never purchased any of the two-disc sets that came out. I just hold off for the four-disc sets. I like knowing that a new version is coming out. I never bought the original Rounders because I know a new set is coming out later this year. And some of my old DVDs are not being replaced with new versions that have since come out. I never bought the special edition of A League of Their Own because there was nothing much to it. Just a few bonus thingies that I never wind up watching anyway. I like deleted scenes, alternate endings, and blooper reels. But sometimes those aren't even enough to make me buy a new version.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
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Kevin A
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Glad to hear you were able to hold off for the Extended Editions of LOTR. It took them long enough to release the theatricals, in my opinion, and I loved the movies so much that I simply couldn't wait any longer. I'm not much of a Special Features person anyway. I would've been content if they had simply released a three-disc set for each movie that contained both theatrical and extended cuts, along with the theatrical trailers and previews for TTT and ROTK. As much as I think commentary tracks are a great thing, I can't bring myself to sit down and listen to them for some reason. Anyone else have the same problem?

Now, I know I just said I'm not big on Special Features, but the DVD release of Last of the Mohicans really pissed me off. It's one of my all-time favorites, and to see it shoddily produced with no extras (except a single-page cast listing and a double-sided chapter insert), a 'Director's Expanded Edition' of the film that removed most of the best one-liners from the movie ('Someday, I think you and I are going to have a serious disagreement') and made the movie seem rough and disjointed, and to mention overpriced...well, it's the most frustrating DVD release I've ever seen (not even the DTS audio track could make it worth the $35.00 retail price it had when it first came out--and no, it wasn't Criterion, either). Michael Mann's a talented director, but I think he needs to stay away from the DVD format.
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I would've been happy with a three-disc for each LOTR as well. I can't say I've watched any of the bonus features on the first two EE sets. But I love the extended versions of the movies. The EE footage in Two Towers made that movie my fave of the bunch.

As for Mohicans, that is one of my fave films, too. I don't have it on DVD yet, though. I'll hold off. I've held off this long. Another one I'm waiting for an SE of is the original Batman. Burton's gotta have something up his sleeve. And hopefully Warner will push for it come time for the theatrical release of Batman Begins.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
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Kevin A
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I read somewhere a while back that Michael Mann is rather against adding special features to dvds of his films. I don't remember what the reason was though.


Does anyone have any superbit dvds? Are they noticeably better, or is it just a gimmick?
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Yeah, I loved the extended footage in TTT as well, especially the Boromir/Faramir/Denthor scenes. It added all new depth to Boromir, and greatly added to the understanding of the particular plot thread that it focused on, though I'm sure many would've complained at its inclusion in theatres (unfortunately).

As for Mohicans...I picked up my copy last summer for $15. I'm glad to have it on DVD, but I find myself quoting the missing lines every time I watch it. The added scenes are nice, but the already existing material was chopped up enough that the extended edition just doesn't work very well. If they release the theatrical version, I'll be going out to buy it, and they should release a special edition of it, because if Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves can get a two-disc release, Last of the Mohicans definitely should get it.
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I don't own any SuperBits. But I have watched the Panic Room SuperBits since it was the only one available. And, to be honest, it didn't strike me as being too much better than many other DVDs I had. I'd rather have some deleted scenes than SuperBits designation. Maybe on a better system it's more noticeable. But I got nothing out of it.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
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It also depends on the Superbit.

I have the Lawrence of Arabia and Das Boot Superbits.

LOA has a new transfer and has a lot more detail. Das Boot is the same transfer but looks much better. Reason being that the old release was two DVDs and both were single layer. The new one is also two DVDs, but it is duel-layer.

Some Superbits, like Leon, are actually worse than their non-SB counterparts.

I've also heard that The Fifth Element SB is one of the greatest looking titles on DVD, right behind Criterion's The Rock, which IMO has never been surpassed yet.

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Yeah Devil's Backbone is Guillermo Del Toro's movie.

As for Mohicans the version shown in theatres was completely different than anything ever put onto video or DVD. I'm not sure about laserdisc.

“You know, when you think about it, the Ewoks probably just crap over the sides of their tree-huts.”

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Originally posted by: Mackey256
As for Mohicans the version shown in theatres was completely different than anything ever put onto video or DVD. I'm not sure about laserdisc.


That's what I've heard, and it's a shame because the movie is so damned good. The fact that we're currently stuck with the 'Director's Expanded Edition' of the movie makes it a 'mini Star Wars.' Who knows if we'll ever see another version on DVD, especially since it's not a film with a massive fanbase.
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There's quite a few movies that have never been released in their original theatrical format on DVD. Das Boot, for example, has never been released on DVD in it's original theatrical cut (though the VHS version is readily available). There's actually a large amount of them.

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