What is your final format ? (1 Viewer)

[Dave Moritz]

We have reached 4K UHD resolution and many people have there good enough point. Have you reached that point where video is good enough or better than you need it to be? What is your last supported format or will you continue on past physical media?

 

[Mark-P]

The order of choices is a bit problematic for me. While 1080p Blu-ray (inclusive of 3D) is my final PHYSICAL format, I will continue to support digital download/streaming purchases.

 

[3D Projectionist]

3D Blu-Ray for me.
Not really my thing streaming as I have always enjoyed owning the physical film in some form rather than paying for air.

 

[Keith Cobby]

The final disc format whatever that is.

 

[Thomas T]

Blu Ray is it. After starting out with laser discs and then replacing all my laser discs with DVDs, I'm selectively replacing DVDs with blu ray upgrades. I'm totally down with some films on DVD without upgrading to blu ray. For example, if they ever do blu rays of the Charlie Chan movies, I'm sticking to DVD. I mean after all, people, these are Charlie Chan movies not La Dolce Vita, Vertigo or Taxi Driver. I don't have the apparent deep pockets of some HTF members . I can't replace everything so I have to pick and choose. At my age, I'm not about to start collecting on a "new" format and upgrading blu rays. As for UHD, I'm not a DC or Marvel kind of guy so stuff like that doesn't interest me and I hated Gladiator and Braveheart.

 

[Ross Gowland]

At present, my good enough is Blu-ray. I’d be happy to have everything in that format.

My second choice is 1080p on iTunes. I’d rather have physical copies in HD, but if it’s HD downloads versus SD DVD, then I’ll go with the former. This I use for stuff that is either too difficult or expensive for me as a region-locked UK resident to get on Blu-ray (Disney’s Freaky Friday, for example, or any Region A disc) or that doesn’t exist on BD (I’ve a penchant for Elvis films and Seventies tat such as Viva Knievel and Beyond the Poseidon Adventure).

Third choice is DVD and I still think a good DVD can be more than acceptable.

I’ve not upgraded to 4K yet, but I’m not ruling it out for the future (discs or iTunes). I’d be very interesting in big format films such as Dunkirk, 2001, and Infinity War in 4K as well as seeing what it could do for 35mm material.

But for now I’m happy with Blu-ray. I’m currently working through the BFI’s Werner Herzog and Derek Jarman box sets, as well as the individual Wim Wenders upgrades from AX1 and I’m wondering just how much better these could look.

Maybe if I had a projector I’d think differently.

 

[moviepas]

I ticked 4K UHD but I have not set it up yet. It takes 3-D as does the unused 4k Player. Just got to get someone to attach the screen for me.

 

[MatthewA]

As for UHD, I'm not a DC or Marvel kind of guy so stuff like that doesn't interest me and I hated Gladiator and Braveheart.

Now that you mentioned it, how did Braveheart get off the hook for its historical liberties from the same people who gave Pocahontas heat for its historical liberties? But I get your overall point and agree with it. I've played this game twice before over the past 20+ years, and I'm in no great hurry to play it a third time without a serious raising of the stakes. It's not just money. I'm not poor. The things I can't afford are the things only rich people can afford. It's a question of desire. Heck, I've gotten back into laserdisc lately, and it reminded me that those days (the mid-1990s) were the last times I genuinely enjoyed going to new movies, independent or mainstream, American or non-American, animated, live-action, or a combination of the two, on a regular basis in addition to discovering old ones for the first time.

UHD could be the perfect opportunity to get right what was gotten wrong on Blu-ray (including but not limited to a certain mouse-centric studio and its delusion that making animated ink lines smudgy and smeary while removing high-frequency visual details constitutes a "restoration"), but the reviews for Forrest Gump left me disillusioned and made me think the same bad habits of the worst DVDs and BDs are just going to get extrapolated onto the new format.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

I currently buy both 4K UHD discs and digital copies, and I see that continuing. The quality of streaming keeps getting better, and can be more affordable -- I have been spending $10 for UHD 4K streaming films, but have yet to see hardly any UHD discs hit that price point. Digital streaming with Movies Anywhere has some nice advantages, but there are also several issues that still need to be worked out in the system, as well.

I have my doubts that we will see another physical disc format beyond 4K UHD, so that will probably be my last physical format. The future beyond 4K will be with digital copies and streaming, IMO.

 

[Angelo Colombus]

Blu-ray is it and 4K for selected movies. I have laserdisc, dvd, blu-ray and now a few 4K so that will be it plus i have not alot spare room on my shelves.

 

[RichMurphy]

I suspect that 4K will be the last tangible media format during my lifetime. I buy selected items in 4K/1080p combo packs, but to date have only upgraded one 1080p to 4K (THE FIFTH ELEMENT). I prefer older films, so the bulk of my purchases are still 1080p. My LG OLED TV upscales the 1080p discs wonderfully.

 

[jcroy]

Undecided.

This may change once 4Kbluray starts showing up in local $5 dump bins. When this happens, it will be highly dependent on other issues for me.

 

[smithbrad]

I'm content with what I have, which is about 40%/60% blu-ray/DVD for movies and 5%/95% for blu-ray/DVD for TV. My focus is primarily older films and TV that are less likely to get the 4K/HDR treatment. I have a projection system and no doubt over time hardware replacements will move my capabilities up, but I have no interest in pushing a replacement any quicker than needed, or paying a higher amount for discs with capabilities I may never use. I'm also in my 50's with enough content to last many many years of enjoyment, so I can easily live with what I have if for example, physical media ended in the near future. I'm not saying it will, but just that I'm fine either way.

 

[skylark68]

I haven't made it there yet, but 4K will probably be my last physical media format. The offerings that exist right now typically aren't my cup of tea although I did buy Blade Runner 2049 and Dunkirk in 4k for future use. I doubt most of the films being released on bluray currently by TT, Kino, Olive, etc. will make it to 4K anytime soon (if ever). I'm not a superhero fan so most of the current 4k offerings don't do much for me. Eventually I imagine Lawrence, Vertigo, etc. may perhaps hit that format in which case I'll upgrade. But it'll be slim pickings I'm sure. I will lament the eventual demise of physical media though. Streaming is okay if you doubt you'll ever see the film again via Amazon or Netflix, etc. but I am leery of buying a film online.

 

[Malcolm R]

Blu-ray and 3D blu for me. Not really interested in 4K (though I do have a 4K player, I don't have a display). I'd be interested in a future 3D format, possibly, but 1080P blu is fine for me for displaying flat films.

 

[Sam Posten]

If it's got pixels I'm all for it.

 

[The Obsolete Man]

A combination of DVD and Blu, because I don't see there being a major selection of classic 4K titles to choose from, and TV on disc is already rare on Blu and will probably be next to nonexistent in 4K.

 

[Thomas T]

Now that you mentioned it, how did Braveheart get off the hook for its historical liberties from the same people who gave Pocahontas heat for its historical liberties?

Well, I don't go to the movies for history lessons and I hope others don't either Has there ever been a film with a historical background that hasn't taken liberties with history for "dramatic license". Even a highly praised film like Spielberg's Lincoln has scenes that are pure speculation rather than fact. The idea that someone would go to see Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds and come out believing Hitler was assassinated in a theater gives me the shivers.

 

[Richard V]

I suspect that 4K UHD, will be my final format, unless of course the industry agrees to a 3D set of standards for UHD, AND the TV manufacturers give 3D another shot. Not holding my breath.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

The idea that someone would go to see Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds and come out believing Hitler was assassinated in a theater gives me the shivers.