Topic: Some DVD Pet Peeves

[addicted2dvd]

You know... as much as I absolutely love my DVD Collection... there is some things that studios come up with that I just do not like. Some of these would be...

- Overlapping Discs Packaging... used to make packaging smaller but if they would just go to double slimline cases... you couldn't get much smaller packaging then this.
- No Play All Option On TV Shows... I hate having to go back to the menu after each episode.
- Having Unneeded Extra Menus... Also mainly for TV Shows... An extras menu on every disc... just to tell us to go to the last disc for the extras? What sense does that make? Just save the work and the space on the DVD and leave it out if it isn't needed!
- Hidden Commentary... well not exactly hidden as it is the second place I would look... but I hate when the Commentary track is mentioned in the extra features but instead of putting it in the extras menu they put it only in the Audio Selection menu. I am fine with it there... but I think it should also be in the extras menu.

And of course a few of the obvious...
- Non-OAR
- Edits
- Replaced music/TV Themes

Well... that is all I can think of off the top of my head... what about you?

[Touti]

The thing I hate the most is those DVD that have sneak peeks that can't be skipped.  That makes me very angry every time.  I have paid for the DVD, I should not be forced to watch these things, I really really hate studios for this.

Double discs cases with a "flap" in the middle.  They almost always and your discs fall off when you open the case.

The seals on keep cases.  They will almost always leave residual glue on the case, have they ever heard of "Peal off" labels ?

[DJ Doena]

I don't like double-sided DVDs because you have to be extra carful to touch neither sides.

If it comes along with an overlapped packaging it's going to be messy (german Emergency Room discs are packed like this - I always have difficulty to get the upper disc out without touching the lower two-sided disc.

Clamps: They are either to week to hold the disc or that strong that you have to bend the disc to an unhealthy level to get them out and you have no pressure point to loosen the clamp.

[addicted2dvd]

yeah... I have to agree with all so far!

[DJ Doena]

What I also hate are these "You're are such a bad guy and we forbid you to copy this disc or the punishment will be severe" "ads" on a disc I just bought.

[RossRoy]

What I also hate are these "You're are such a bad guy and we forbid you to copy this disc or the punishment will be severe" "ads" on a disc I just bought.

Yeah, especially considering that any "decent" bootlegger will remove it very easily.

The thing that annoys me the most are the PUOs (Prohibited User Operations). Especially when they decide that I should absolutely go to the audio menu to change language, or, even "better", disable the stop button during the company logos and FBI warnings 

[Najemikon]

What I also hate are these "You're are such a bad guy and we forbid you to copy this disc or the punishment will be severe" "ads" on a disc I just bought.

I was just going to say something similar. I don't know about elsewhere, but on R2 UK we often get this horrendous advert that cannot be skipped. It's like a bad directors music video trying to show off. Extreme angles, grainy, crash zooms, booming, horrible soundtrack, flashing titles slamming into the screen: "YOU WOULDN'T STEAL A CAR!", etc.

The irony cannot be ignored. I paid money for a genuine DVD on which they try to scare me into buying genuine DVDs.  

EDIT: Just saw Rossroys comment as well. You're absolutely right. Bootleggers probably find it so funny, I bet they leave them on sometimes!

[addicted2dvd]

Them being there is not really the problem for me... I don't think they are necessary (After all... not like they really do any good.)... but don't really care they are there... but when you make it so you can't skip them one way or another then yes... they get very aggravating. For that matter I hate anything before the menu that you can't skip... including trailers... and I am one that loves trailers... but I don't love being forced to see them when I put the disc in.... every time I put the disc in.

[SailorRipley]

I have to say the same about those horrid, badly designed and executed ILLEGAL DOWNLOADING ads. It's like, easy there, I just bought the frigging DVD, why are you threatening me? Other than that, I can live with the FBI warnings.

The other day I rented a DVD from a local Blockbuster here in Mexico. Discs here also have a bootlegger warning but the funny thing is that it is an ad that lasts for about 5 minutes, and it's a like a really bad soap opera. It goes like this: Mom comes to breakfast and shows her kids her newly bought bootleg DVD that cost her like 2 cents. She seems very happy about it. Kid No. 1 says: "Ok mom, I'm going to school". Mom has this concerned look on her face and tells him: "Wait, you didn't study at all for today's exam". Kid answers: "Oh, I don't have to study, I bought the exam. Yeah, it's a pirated exam." Kid leaves. Cue corny, bad synth music score. Mom looks as if she's about to jump off the 15th floor. Kid No. 2 says: You see, mom, just like your pirated movie". Then comes in huge lettering: WHAT ARE YOU TEACHING YOUR KIDS? True story. While I appreciate the educational value behind it, it's just terribly bad filmed & acted and lasts for an eternity.

Another pet peeve: All those R1 'widescreen collection' Paramount DVDs that start playing the movie right away without accessing the menu. Drives me nuts. I want my frigging menu!

I agree with Touti about the seals on keep cases. They're a nightmare.

Nitpicking: I wish the Criterion Collection DVDs wouldn't come in that horrid clam shell packaging. How about a digipak?

[Achim]

Another pet peeve: All those R1 'widescreen collection' Paramount DVDs that start playing the movie right away without accessing the menu. Drives me nuts. I want my frigging menu!

Couldn't think of something fresh at first, but this reminded me:

Going directly to the movie is bad, agreed. But there are also those discs, where you get the menu, but the film will start after the first (or maybe third) cycle, meaning the menu doesn't cycle indefinitely. Always bugs me when I put in the disc, then, when the menu is loaded, go to the kitchen to get some snacks and then hear the opening music start playing while still in the kitchen.

[DJ Doena]

In germany there are some awful anti-piracy ads, too:

In one you see two prisoners (big bad guys) watching the "newcomers" and discussing about who will take who. "His ass looks cute" is expressed by one of them. Then you will be informed that pirating is punished with 5 years of imprisonment.

In the second one you see a middle-aged woman leaving her car with her 2 young children. Then they sing "Happy Birthday to you" in direction of a prison building. Then the young one (about 4 years old) asks "How often again?" and the mother says "four times". Then you will be informed that pirating is punished with 5 years of imprisonment.


Of course neither ad doesn't say that 5 years is only in extreme cases of commercial pirating.

[addicted2dvd]

Yes! I agree Achim... That has happened to me a few times!

And yes I want the menu too... hate when it goes straight to the movie!

Another one for me... and I know there is a lot of people who disagree... but not having the Theatrical Trailer for the movie you bought on the disc. I like to watch the trailer to sort of get me in the mood for the movie I am about to watch. That plus when I show a movie to family or friends I like to show them the trailer first.... to be sure that is what they want to watch.

[goodguy]

I have to say the same about those horrid, badly designed and executed ILLEGAL DOWNLOADING ads. It's like, easy there, I just bought the frigging DVD, why are you threatening me?

While I generally agree (and DJ Doena is right, too: the German ones are especially aweful), I saw a few pretty good ones on some US Indie DVDs. I believe they were even skippable, but I'm not sure.

[Sanuye]

I have a couple, but I'll never buy another DVD without original language.
And I hate it when original language (if the movie is in english) or italian subtitles are not available.

[ Yesterday I bought Murder, she wrote, season 1-4... no subtitles ]   

[Najemikon]

Murder She Wrote doesn't need subtitles. You should have got a booklet with it containing one set of generic subtitles, a kind of template, mapped by time-codes.

You see, every episode was essentially the same. One set of dialogue fits them all. Just read the insert at the times indicated and you'll be fine. After two, maybe three episodes, you won't need it at all!

This same method is used in place of subtitles for Columbo, The A-Team and even Scooby Doo.