The Bela Lugosi Collection and related dvd problems (1 Viewer)

[Joe Karlosi]

Exactly. And we won't have to wait much longer now!

 

[ChrisPearson]

It's easy find fault with people's comments when you don't quote them fully. My objection in this case is to FIVE films plus trailers on one disc from a company with a history of manufacturing problems concerning this sort of presentation, as has been noted above by Mario Gauci and others.

I hope the Universal boosters will be just as happy with their Lugosi set when the disc doesn't play.

 

[Eric Peterson]

My thoughts exactly. If you haven't had any problems, more power to you. I just don't understand, why posts need to be made that pretend the problem is non-existent. Do you do the same thing with other more important issues? My family isn't starving, so hunger isn't a problem?????

 

[Joe Karlosi]

Judging by my past experiences, this new set will play fine, too. All of my discs have played through - the 3 ABBOTT & COSTELLO collections, all of the previous Monster Legacy Collections, the MA AND PA KETTLE films, FRANCIS THE MULE, and the AIRPORT FRANCHISE.

I have no doubt that people are having these troubles; they're not telling us just to get exercise in their typing fingers. But the problems are in the minority, because Universal would have had to fix this trouble if it was so widespread. Maybe it's that these discs are all just compatible with my own two SONY players...

 

[Robert Crawford]

Nobody has stated anything about those problems being non-existent except to say they haven't experienced that problem. Furthermore, any decision to purchase or not purchase this dvd is strictly a personal decision. Also, I don't understand why people have to make this issue a "us versus them" argument among the HTF members, so please, let's not go there by calling other members "Universal Boosters". Thank you.




Crawdaddy

 

[Eric Peterson]

I disagree with this. I have personally had several problem laden sets, and until this problem is rectified will buy no more. It's not a personal decision to avoid faulty product. I would love nothing more than to give Universal my money, but under current conditions, I cannot justify doing that.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, so I apoligize if anybody is taking my statements in that manner. However, I'm am deeply frustrated by these releases, because there are many of them that I would absolutely love to have on my shelf, and cannot do that as of now. I have most of these titles on VHS, and would love to replace them and see them in an improved version. For now, I'll have to satisfy my Lugosi cravings with these VHS editions.

I have stated in other threads, that I'm not demanding Universal stop using DVD-18. I don't like the format, but I would deal with it if they fix the recurring problems that they have. Other studios are using this format with relative success. All that I want is for somebody to admit that there's a problem and try to get to the root of it. I rarely watch purchased titles within the 30 day return window, especially when there are multiple titles in a set. I can't feasibly return faulty sets, and that is my biggest complaint.

 

[Joe Karlosi]

Eric, I'm not saying it's the most satisfactory or ideal alternative, but why not buy a relatively cheap DVD player that responds well to the DVD-18's?

 

[Eric Peterson]

If I were convinced that this was the soultion, I might try it. I already have 3 DVD players on my primary system though (Yamaha Stand Alone, Toshiba DVD-Recorder, & Pioneer LD/DVD combo). I also have a Toshiba Multi-Disc & cheap-portable, and PC player. Just to be fair, I will break out one of these problem discs in the next week, and try it in all 3 players, since at least one of these is new since I my last faulty purchase. If it doesn't work in one of those, I see no reason to buy another player though.

 

[Joe Karlosi]

I agree it's crazy buying many players to get the discs to work. I used to have a Toshiba myself, but it gave me all sorts of problems with various discs (not even Universal's), so I went with SONY afterward. I now have 2 SONY macines, and for whatever reasons, the Universal discs play fine in both.

 

[Robert Crawford]

I understand your frustration, but I don't like members classifying other members as "Universal Boosters". To me, such a label doesn't belong on this forum.

 

[Joe Karlosi]

Robert, although I'm with you here on not experiencing any problems personally, I don't really see the "personal decision to buy or not to buy" response as being very fair (to play Devil's Advocate). Why? Because it's a shame in that fans have a right to be able to buy and enjoy the films they'd like to own on DVD. It's not their fault if the discs won't play for them, and thus force them to make a decision NOT to buy, when they really WANT those movies.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Who am I to tell somebody else not to buy their favorite films on dvd because I'm unable to play them on my dvd player? IMO, it's not my call to insist on others purchasing decisions. As far as fairness, few things are so in life.





Crawdaddy

 

[Eric Peterson]

Guys,

Thanks for making this a rational conversation. I appreciate it.

I don't believe that I have tried to force my opinion on anybody though, and don't remember telling people not to buy these releases because of my problems. If people are taking it that way, it is completely unintentional. My entire intention is to obtain a product that I want very much to add to my collection and nothing more.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Eric,
My previous post was in response to Joe's post about some of us having a personal decision to buy this dvd.






Crawdaddy

 

[Joe Karlosi]

I hope I conveyed my feelings properly on it...

All I was trying to get at was, people want to own certain films they love. If a studio puts out a faulty DVD release that won't play in their players, then saying "well, it's your decision to buy it or not" isn't a satisfactory alternative in that case - IMO.

 

[Ruz-El]

I'm now totally jealouse Joe!! I've had problems with each of these titles (except for Airport and Francis, which I didn't buy.) I've had issues on every DVD-18 that Universal put out (all the legacy monster discs, Shindlers list, A&C, Ma & PA and Casino), on 3 different machines. I wouldn't mind so much except 5- 6 movies are alot to check when you have to exchange the discs, and I have not had problems with DVD-18's from other companies on any of my other players.

But I'm willing to give Universal the benefit of the doubt with each new release. The quality of these, other than the manufacturing defects on PREVIOUS releases (there has been no rumors of problems with this set as of yet, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!) have been fantastic, and the price is right. Warners does a great job on their boxsets, but I really don't mind if other companies want to do budget releases like these. And frankly, I probably wouldn't pay the $40 - $60 price that Warner would charge for this and the "Hammer" set, well, maybe I would for Lugosi. Did I mention I'm cheap and can't raise my nose at $4 a movie?

 

[Robert Crawford]

I already conceded that point of contention.






Crawdaddy

 

[ChrisPearson]

Robert, that term originated with me and not with Eric. It wasn't aimed at anyone in particular on this forum or elsewhere and wasn't intended to cause offense. If anyone was offended, then I regret it.

 

[Michael Elliott]

I've got countless "packs" from Universal and haven't had a single frame freeze, go bad or anything else that people are talking about here.

To me, the problem is the hardware people are using. Perhaps someone could start a thread (or use this one) to mention the player you own, the title that freezes and where it freezes.

Has anyone contacted Universal? Aren't they sending out replacements for those who have problems?

I've had a Sony, Toshiba, Cyberhome and another cheap player that has played these things fine. If a certain model is a big issue then those people should be warned or at least aware of the problem. To me, since so many people are playing these things fine then it isn't a faulty disc problem. Again, it would be hardware. Anchor Bay had this issue with various titles but that was a bad batch of discs that no one could play (or VERY few). Here, it seems like something else.

Either way, I'd personally recommend people getting hardware that CAN play these, if they can spend the cash of course. I feel bad for those who can't play these but it doesn't look like Universal is going to stop releasing them like this. Speaking personally, I'd change the hardware to keep buying them instead of having to miss out on some of my favorite films.

 

[Eric Peterson]

Michael,

All of your points have been argued previously in the thread. Here is a brief summary from me.

1. People are using different brands, and I have used three different brands, all without a cure.
2. In nearly every case, people were able to exchange discs, and eventually get a functioning disc (Myself included) If this is true, I don't see how it could be a hardware issue.
3. Other studios don't have near the problem with DVD-18 that Universal has. If this is a hardware problem, then why are DVD-18s from other studios not near as problematic.[/list=1]