IGN Reviews Snow Dogs....The Question Is, Why? (1 Viewer)

[Nick Graham]

I have been a loyal reader to IGN since back when it was just daily updates at Next Generation magazine's website.

I know some of their staff are members here, and I mean no disrespect towards them with this post, as I think they do a bang-up job (aside from content-light Insider...but I doubt that was their decision). That being said, I have to question why they have chosen to post a review of Snow Dogs.

They make it clear that they are unhappy with it being full screen only, but I have to wonder, why give it any publicity in the first place? Rip the movie all you want, but that won't stop people who liked the movie to skip that part of the review and find this...

"FULLSCREEN. FULLSCREEN. It looks alright with not too many problems, but it's FULLSCREEN damnit."

The majority of the J6P IGN readers will simply ignore

the cries of "FULLSCREEN" and just see "It looks alright with not too many problems".

Whether or not it's a good transfer is a moot point, you've just made a J6P sale. Like I said, I have nothing but praise for Jeremy Conrad and the other IGN DVD staff, but nothing good can come out of this. You will make more J6P sales of the disc than you will stop uninformed OAR supporters from buying it.

 

[Rob T]

I read IGN everyday and I enjoy the DVD reviews, but I couldn't figure why they would review it either.

It should be shunned.

 

[Matthew Chmiel]

Hey, DVD Angle reviewed the full frame edition of Ocean's Eleven and gave the video on that DVD *** out of *****. :rolleyes

 

[David Lambert]

I'm not sure why IGN and DVD Angle would do these things.
I'm not sure why DVDFile would go so blithely along with announcements of MAR titles without A) noting that they are MARred, B) Advocating OAR more, and/or C) Mentioning the OAR drives and petitions.
The latter site's attitude lately is especially hilarious considering that their are mentioned as a Pro-OAR site at Widescreen Advocate, here!

 

[Jeremy Conrad]

There's only one version of Snow Dogs being released. If there was a widescreen one, I wouldn't have reviewed the FS.

If you read the text of the review, I make a huge point about the video. It's a decent full screen transfer (not quite as good as the Farscape ones though), but I find it very funny that they put 1.85:1 film clips in the extras and that the menus are anamorphic.

I've also had a lot of fun sparking WS/P&S debates on the site with the readers in the letters section and although that's a small portion of the people who read IGN DVD, a good 95% or so know that OAR is always the way to go.

 

[Matthew Chmiel]

There's only one version of Snow Dogs being released. If there was a widescreen one, I wouldn't have reviewed the FS.

I don't mind it if you review the full screen edition, just give the video quality a lower rating than it deserves.

 

[Jeremy Conrad]

I don't mind it if you review the full screen edition, just give the video quality a lower rating than it deserves.

Oh, I did. There really aren't many problems with the transfer aside from the MAR, but still the transfer isn't as bad as Highlander and the EE isn't as bad as Tombstone Vista (at least that last one has other good things going for it).

 

[CharlesD]

my suggestion for situations like this is not to actually review the movie or the DVD, but turn the review into an explanation of why widescreen is better, and to finish the "review" with the advice not to buy the disc, but to wait until the widescreen version is made available.

 

[Jeremy Conrad]

but to wait until the widescreen version is made available.

Judging by Disney right now, that isn't going to happen.
Hell, I'm still waiting for an anamorphic Time Cop from Universal

 

[Matthew Chmiel]

Hell, I'm still waiting for an anamorphic Time Cop from Universal

Sorry to say, but you might be the only one.

 

[Jeremy Conrad]

It's all about the Mia Sara...and I won't fork out the cash for the Pan and Scan one!

 

[Nick Graham]

I did read the full review, and like I said, I have no beef with you guys, but I still have to think there are a lot of people who could care less about OAR and read IGN. I mean, we are in a minority overall, so why would it be any different on a website, especially one that tends to cater to a young demographic? Overall, you're still just ringing up sales of a MAR DVD, IMO. Even if it's just one OAR ignorant Snow Dogs fan who happens upon the review and buys the DVD, that's one too many.

 

[Matthew Chmiel]

It's all about the Mia Sara

You can either:
A) Get a laserdisc player and the LD.
or
B) Download the video clips and screen captures online.

 

[Nick Graham]

Hey Matt, there are some Timecop fans out there! I own exactly one Region 2 disc in my collection, and it is the

anamorphic UK release of Timecop. $30 well spent, IMO.

 

[Jeremy Conrad]

I have a LD player, but I only really use that for SW, Indy, and some of the Disneys that aren't on DVD yet.

 

[GlennH]

Regarding DVDFile's virtual silence on all the P&S nonsense going on these days, I find it interesting that lately when I go to the site there is often a banner ad on top of the page for DisneyStore.com.

Now, don't get me wrong, I appreciate DVDFile and am a regular visitor. I'm sure Peter and the gang are all OAR supporters. But one has to wonder if they're soft-pedaling just a bit so as not to upset the advertisers.

 

[Jeff Kleist]

Timecop is out all over the place anamorphic except here

I'll be buying an R2. I love TimeCop. That and Bloodsport are the only VanDamme films I'll buy

 

[LukeB]

Wow, what's the point of reviewing the "Full Screen" Ocean's 11 DVD? And commending it?!

Quote:

My opinion of DVD Angle just went down a few notches.

 

[Nick Graham]

Ouch. What is up with DVD Angle. We will definitely lose

this war if we have some of our own jumping ship. Whoever is in charge over there needs to axe that guy. I mean, there is no excuse to promote a MAR DVD when an OAR disc of the same flick is available. Jeff, go clean some house over there.

 

[Mark Cappelletty]

It's dispiriting to have some of the sites turn their backs on the OAR bandwagon. I don't see anything wrong with DVDFile announcing P&S titles, because they always tend to editorialize on how awful it is— and alert us (the consumers) to that. DVDAngle, however, is way out of line, and DVDReview — which has responded to letters complaining about them promoting P&S titles with condescension — is close behind. I've since removed both from my "favorites."