Non-negotiable Specs & Features for a Blu-Ray Release

Mark Butler · 10-10-2008, 10:38 AM

While reading through this forum it is interesting to hear the opinions of the members regarding each new release that comes out. Members talk about the quality of the picture, the audio, commentaries, internet features, behind the scenes documentaries and so forth. However, certain releases leave members feeling that they got short changed on certain specs/features that they expected should be present, while others feel that those spec/features are not necessary to the release and should not be worried about. Others feel that some specs/features should not even have been included at all. For you as an home theater expert/nut what specs/features do you feel are non-negotiable and must be included on every release? For the purpose of this discussion (just so we don't bring any biases in) DO NOT use an existing movie people already have opinions about, be it either the movie or its existing (or soon to be released) Blu-ray disc for which we already know its specs/features as an example. Let's just say its a new or old movie that you loved and its coming out on Blu-ray as a two (2 BD50) disc set. Sorry No expansive 12 disc set. And the other rule is no talk of pricing (all this and a bag of chips for 12.99) The average I have found for current prices has been between $24 and $30. So that will be the price range. So once more what specs/features do you feel are non-negotiable and must be included on every release?

For me:
1. 1080p (ALL)
1a. Lossless Audio (PCM/True-HD/DTS Master HD) (Film in Original Language)
2. A commentary (Director/Main Actors/Writer/Producer/Film Historian)
3. 2 hour plus Making of Documentary that covers pre through post
4. An Art/Sketch Gallery
5. Screen Tests
6. Trailers/TV Spots
7. Deleted Scenes
8. (If Needed) seamless branching
9. Blu-ray Live
10. Subtitles (multiple languages)

Thank you in advance for your responses.

Clinton McClure · 10-10-2008, 11:56 AM

I only have two requirements: Well mastered 1080p OAR video and well mastered lossless audio. The rest is nonsense which does not make or break a sale for me. If every release were barebones with the exception of my two requirements, I would not lose any sleep.

Mike Frezon · 10-10-2008, 12:14 PM

Mark: Do you REALLY feel an art/sketch gallery is "non-negotiable?" Or, BD Live, for that matter?

I'm with Clinton on this one. The only "non-negotiables" are the best PQ & SQ possible. I will leave inclusion of bonus features to the whims of the producers and subject to availability.

Commentaries and all are nice...but since I barely have time to watch the movies in my collection I still consider them an optional bonus. The only bonus features I watch without fail are various shorts and features that ran theatrically with the feature film.

And, frankly, if they went bare-bones and prices could come down, I'd be an even stronger advocate for the change.

Nicholas Martin · 10-10-2008, 12:14 PM

1080p video is pretty much a given, but the quality comes from the transfer. Doesn't matter what resolution is presented if the transfer sucks.

My one requirement would be that the Blu-ray version offer everything the original DVD had, so there's no requirement to keep that original DVD just to have everything. For all the complaints I've read about Warner, I'm glad that the few titles I have of theirs are the same as their DVD counterparts in terms of extras, so I was able to give those DVDs away.

Scott Merryfield · 10-10-2008, 12:44 PM

The film is what matters to me, not the extras. So, a quality video transfer and audio soundtrack is all that is important.

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Travis Brashear · 10-10-2008, 12:47 PM

I'll make a slight increase to the list others are providing:

Well- and newly-mastered 1080p OAR video
Well-mastered lossless audio
The original theatrical trailer(s)

The rest is gravy, but these are the essentials for me. Don't get me started on the death of trailers as the fundamental home video bonus feature...

David Deeb · 10-10-2008, 01:14 PM

Superior video & audio are what I base my purchase decision on.

However, I think it's in the best interest of packaged media to finally drop the parade of BS that shows up before a main menu. I have skipped purchasing certain TV series on DVD for this reason, and will do the same for TV on BD.

I only watch one episode of a series at a time, so do I need to see:

26 FBI Warnings
26 Disclaimers
26 "We might not agree with silly director's commentary"
26 "We might not agree with the silly director's commentary" in Spanish
26 Preview # 1
26 Preview # 2
26 Logos

and then, whew, the main menu.

Paul Arnette · 10-10-2008, 01:39 PM

For me:

1. 1080p (ALL)
1a. Lossless Audio (PCM/True-HD/DTS Master HD) (Film in Original Language)
8. (If Needed) seamless branching
10. Subtitles (multiple languages)

-These ought to be mandatory in my opinion.

7. Deleted Scenes
6. Trailers/TV Spots (of the film itself, not other films)
5. Screen Tests

- These are the special features that interest me the most, and, since they deal with the film 'proper', I feel they really ought to be on every release where possible.

3. 2 hour plus Making of Documentary that covers pre through post
4. An Art/Sketch Gallery
2. A commentary (Director/Main Actors/Writer/Producer/Film Historian)

- These are 'nice-to-haves'.

9. Blu-ray Live

- Don't have much use for this currently.

Stephen_J_H · 10-10-2008, 02:02 PM

Mandatory:
1080p transfer
Quality audio (whether lossless is essential or not depends on the source--I don't need lossless on a 1.0 track from the 30s and 40s, for example)

Anything else is gravy and depends on my love of the film and/or its history; the more troubled the better.

Roger_R · 10-10-2008, 02:27 PM

What about the original soundtrack mix? I dislike newly mixed 5.1 pap with new sound effects.

I also want the theatrical cut on the disc. I'm probably the only one on this forum who are not interested in trailers if they don't show cut scenes. They're just as interesting as commercials to me...