- Joined
- Jun 10, 2003
- Messages
- 26,382
- Real Name
- Josh Steinberg
I, for one, simply don't get it.
When studios issue both formats, WS copies sell better. When studios issue both formats on a single disc, "black bar haters" don't protest the disc. When studios issue a film in WS only, you don't see people protesting and refusing to buy it.
So I guess what I don't get is what made MGM think that if they released these films in WS people wouldn't buy them, and that FS/pan&scan releases will sell more copies.
I have a whole line of pan & scan titles in my home - they're called videocassettes. If MGM or any other studio is only going to offer me what I have on video, exactly the same but on a round, shiny disc instead of a plastic rectangle, I'm not going to buy it.
Releasing a product in a way it's never been avaliable for purchase before (i.e. widescreen) can be an incentive for sales.
Studios are not gods, consumers are not slaves without freedom of choice. If MGM or any other studio offers me a product I want, I'll buy it. If MGM or any other studio offers me a product I do not want, I won't buy it. I'm not going to take the position of "I should be thankful that MGM even makes DVDs and should buy whatever they put out and thank them just for putting something out." If I don't want it, I won't buy it. Releasing a film panned and scanned is something I do not want. I own zero pan and scan only releases on DVD.
MGM has demonstrated that it can make quality products; I don't need to look much further than the few 007 titles I own to see that. Hannibal is also a great special edition, as is The Last Waltz. The release of The Terminator is pretty solid as well, same goes for This Is Spinal Tap.
I would love it if MGM could explain why it produces products in a manner that alienates fans and reduces sales. I don't claim to be a business expert; perhaps there is good reason for putting out something no one wants, and if so, I would like to understand why that is.
When studios issue both formats, WS copies sell better. When studios issue both formats on a single disc, "black bar haters" don't protest the disc. When studios issue a film in WS only, you don't see people protesting and refusing to buy it.
So I guess what I don't get is what made MGM think that if they released these films in WS people wouldn't buy them, and that FS/pan&scan releases will sell more copies.
I have a whole line of pan & scan titles in my home - they're called videocassettes. If MGM or any other studio is only going to offer me what I have on video, exactly the same but on a round, shiny disc instead of a plastic rectangle, I'm not going to buy it.
Releasing a product in a way it's never been avaliable for purchase before (i.e. widescreen) can be an incentive for sales.
Studios are not gods, consumers are not slaves without freedom of choice. If MGM or any other studio offers me a product I want, I'll buy it. If MGM or any other studio offers me a product I do not want, I won't buy it. I'm not going to take the position of "I should be thankful that MGM even makes DVDs and should buy whatever they put out and thank them just for putting something out." If I don't want it, I won't buy it. Releasing a film panned and scanned is something I do not want. I own zero pan and scan only releases on DVD.
MGM has demonstrated that it can make quality products; I don't need to look much further than the few 007 titles I own to see that. Hannibal is also a great special edition, as is The Last Waltz. The release of The Terminator is pretty solid as well, same goes for This Is Spinal Tap.
I would love it if MGM could explain why it produces products in a manner that alienates fans and reduces sales. I don't claim to be a business expert; perhaps there is good reason for putting out something no one wants, and if so, I would like to understand why that is.