WhoaitsZ

first I will say that no one puts a gun to our and says 'buy or die!', yet it stills seems a bit unfair.



http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0808/p13s02-algn.html

Arts & Leisure: "Short Takes" Column
from the August 08, 2003 edition

Pay it again, Sam
By Yvonne Zipp
A sigh is still a sigh, as I discovered the other day while paying for the new two-disc edition of "Casablanca."
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I already own a DVD (and a worn-out VHS tape) and had sworn that I wasn't going to succumb to the marketing ploy. I wasn't moved by promises of "newly discovered" deleted scenes (with no sound, as it turns out), Lauren Bacall reminiscing about Bogart, or two commentary tracks. But it had "Carrotblanca!" (I comfort myself that listening to Daffy Duck sing "Knock on Wood" was alone worth $19.96.)

So I now have spent $60 on this one movie, and am obviously in need of financial counseling.

Last year, I barely caught my brother before he made the blunder of buying the first "Lord of the Rings" DVD, instead of waiting eight weeks for the four-disc extravaganza loaded with so many goodies no one who is gainfully employed can ever hope to plow through it all. Fair warning: New Line is pulling the same trick this summer. The sort-of special version of "The Two Towers" hits stores Aug. 26. The one you really want comes out in November. Not to pick on New Line too much. At least they understand the meaning of "special edition." And it's now common for studios to issue three or four versions of a DVD, adding one more featurette in an effort to sucker fans. "Casablanca" is one thing. "There's Something a Little Bit More Special About Mary" is another.

One of my friends is wise to the ways of Hollywood (and possesses more willpower than yours truly). She's waiting until "Return of the King" comes out, figuring New Line will offer a special package of the entire trilogy, with even more extras. (Although what's left? The keys to Peter Jackson's house?)

In the meantime, is there anyone out there interested in a slightly used DVD of one of the best movies ever made? Going once....

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once again, we are not required to buy. i myself knowingly did the lord if the rings: tFotR myself. i bought the first one knowing a better package was to follow.

anyhow, i've seen this happen a lot for a few years and it kind of angers me.

if you have a product worth selling then drop the tricks and gimmicks and be honest and SELL it,


and the industry wonders why there are so many pirated movies! maybe cuz seeing a one minute deleted sceene is something I want to see but not pay $20-50 for??

johnnymysto

I agree with you. The industry doesn't want anybody pirating their stuff, but at the same time their Marketing department is constantly looking for ways to make more money. This is a great example. Of course, from a Marketing standpoint, this is a fantastic idea. Release many versions of the same movie and charge different prices for them. But, you and me feel the pain in our wallets, so we're going to look for a way to ease the pain, i.e. Kazaa. This will never go away. The companies are making so much money in the current mode of operations. What incentive do they have to look at the little people (their CUSTOMERS) and cut them a break?

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remiel

it does annoy me that you get the special edition, the extra special edition, the special edition with deleted scenes, the director's cut, the gold edition with three different commentaries, the ten year anniversary edition, the limited edition boxed set with large fries and a coke and so forth.

If all these features are so fucking fantastic, why didn't they put them in the movie in the first place?

Although I will admit that the FULL version of LOTR:FOTR is worth shelling out for as it's a completely different feel to the movie (and makes the cinema release seem like a hatchet job). Same could be said for Blade Runner: The Director's Cut.

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tj2001cobra

It is the same concept of the greatest hits records that are produced. Sometimes, a greatest hits album is nice when you dont have any of the other CD's. But look at a person like George Strait. He probably has 10 different greatest hits CD's with almost the same stuff on them. It gets annoying.

WhoaitsZ

right... and there is the collectors, too who are are willing to buy thee or more copies.

from a short time money making point of view: This is an excellent idea. keep thinking of more ways to sell it!

from a hindsight (say 8-12 years) POV: people get annoyed after a movie has been released 3 thousand time ever two weeks. unhappy customers = terrible business.

this is to me what the RIAA has done. if they would had listened to people they could had sold lps/audiocassetes/cds/dvds cheaper but they kept the prices, if not letting them become higher, thus making loyal customers realize how badly they're being screwed.

making $$ is great. financial rape is wrong.

TwistedFate

I don't have a problem with multiple versions of the same movie coming out, per se. I hate seeing them released weeks apart. Just release them all on the same day and let me decide how much extra stuff I want to pay for. Not only do I hate paying for the same movie more than once, I don't want multiple copies on my shelf.

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denim

Last year, the LotR 4 disk set came with a voucher for seeing Two Towers. That brought the effective price of the set down $10, max, $9 for me. That made it worth the wait. I've still not bothered with the second two disks.

G_Whiz

The LOTR DVDs raised an interesting issue for me that I haven't seen quite covered so far.

My wife has some association with the movie industry. So we buy and watch a lot of material. We are not above buying multiple versions when we feel there may be a reason to, such a buying the theatrical release and the director's cuts.

What was problematic for me was that New Line announced from the beginning that there would 2 multiple disk sets. The theatrical release first (2 disks) followed 3 months later by the director's cut (4 disks). Since this was done at the same time, why not release both in one set?

Our concern is that frequently we want to compare the theatrical release to the director's cut. If they are issued year's apart, no big deal. But when they are issued within 3 months of each other, I'm not a happy camper.

The other one who is good for multiple releases is George Lucas. You don't want to know how many different copies of the original 3 Star Wars that I own. I have them on VHS, at least 3 sets on Laser Disk, and we are waiting for the DVDs.

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sbscout

patience people...

don't bite when that first edition comes out...

rent it.

Then when the "super-extravaganza-best ever" edition comes out you can buy that one.

I still remember buying new video games when I was younger and being disappointed. Now my kids rent them when they first come out and buy them if they're worth the bucks.

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