MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Physical media, DVDs and Blu-Rays. Its g...

Physical media, DVDs and Blu-Rays. Its gotten worse.

posted a year ago by AndyAce83 (70)
22 replies | jump to latest

TL;DR: Blu rays may have better picture and audio quality, but are much more vanilla, and simplistic than DVDs. Also both types of media are very difficult to get now. Like on amazon they often just offer the streaming/ cloud library version.

Sooo...

I dont know how many of you are collectors of physical media. I would guess many are, as who would be on a moviechat forum if they were just streaming movies from the last decade (arent most streaming services like that? Just offering us mostly movies from 2010+?).

Anyways, I have a DVD collection of a 150+ movies and TV shows. I am sure many of you have a much larger collection, but I bought only movies I love, or cared about it some way. Yes, there may have been the occasional bargain bin one too (like Doom (2005).) but mostly I bought selectively.

Then for a while I stopped buying DVDs. I think it was around the time Blu-Ray came. I didnt want to jump on a new medium, but also felt that I didnt want to invest in an obsolete one.

So for some year I just streamed, "sailed the high seas", and watched my old movies. I then bought an Xbox One and with that came a blu-ray player, so I finally decided to buy some blu-rays and I was amazed how little effort was put into each disc. DVDs came (usually) with lots of content. Audio commentary, behind the scenes, games, while the blu-rays was often extremely vanilla. They didnt even come with animated menus at times. And I am not that impressed with the picture/ audio quality either.

I was also amazed that blu-rays came with region/zones. How regressiv and non consumer friendly (I made a rant about it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnWrBHiM8B4).

And worst of all, Blu-ray players did not come with REGION/ ZONE free players, as was the norm with DVD players towards the end of their run. So special editions just released in the USA I could not play in Norway. I have bought 2 blu-rays region locked to A by accident. I the pain to watch them is amazing.

And finally now that Blu-ray (much because sony has done some really shade practices) is dying out it really difficult to get any movie it seems. So in the future I guess we all have to watch the same movies from the last decade or so, and maybe a few highly edited "classics" with smoking removed from the scenes and that slur or un-PC portrayal removed.

Anyone else agree? Or disagree? Or have any thoughts on this?

[–] PaladinNJ (21510) a year ago

I know Best Buy has officially announced it will no longer carry physical media. I’m guessing only place to get it now is online.

[–] parkerbot (9082) a year ago

Personally I don't see much new stuff out there that is great so, I have no problem watching old stuff.

I know what you mean about the blu-rays and it even extends to the packaging - I just bought Bullet Train and the case was broken inside - the plastic was thinner than Boeing's recent apology.

You will own no movies, stream everything and be happy.

[–] mtxmind (3296) a year ago

You will own no movies, stream everything and be happy.

.......while you're eating bugs?😂

[–] BKB (9912) a year ago

I swear by DVD's and Blu Ray's and purchase them on a regular basis at a place called V-STOCK here in Missouri.. I probably own close to 300 DVD's and Blu Ray's and TV Box sets like BREAKING BAD and SEINFELD.. I simply prefer this to Streaming and feel like Streaming will be the death of the movie theatres. The thing of it is, is that the so called "Original Content" they hype on NETFLIX really isn't that good and I feel like sites like that appeal to a certain demographic and liberals

[–] Skavau (15993) a year ago

Netflix has global subscribers that dwarf anyone else. They make content across the board.

[–] Kowalski (75537) a year ago

THIS IS GENERAL DISCUSSION...QUIT SLIPPING THE POLITICAL TIPS.

[–] BKB (9912) a year ago

[–] Kowalski (75537) a year ago

LITERALLY THE LAST WORD...AND IF I WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE...I WOULD FEEL COMPELLED TO RETORT...SNEAKY BAIT JOB.

[–] BKB (9912) a year ago

I call it like I see it and based on my day to day observations, NETFLIX appeals heavily to a younger demographic and yes liberals, politics or not and it's true

[–] Kowalski (75537) a year ago

AND IT DOES NOT BELONG HERE.

[–] BKB (9912) a year ago

Cry yourself to sleep then

[–] blue1981 (7755) a year ago

I love my movie collection and will continue to support physical media. Im not bothered that Best Buy will no longer be carrying movies as the only time I went there was as a last resort. For me Walmart and Target are still in the game for right now. I have one chain in my town that still sells all forms of physical media and I also regularly buy movies online. Im glad physical media is headed towards a resurgence just like Vinyl records. As far as Im concerned Best Buy is likely going to go the way of Circuit City and I don't think anyone will miss them.

[–] LennyNero (498) a year ago

[deleted]

[–] LennyNero (498) a year ago

There are some really attractive physical releases for blu rays and 4Ks out there, but you typically have to jump online to even be aware of most of it.

With the limited selection that’s even available in stores like Target, Walmart, FYE, and previously Best Buy, I stopped bothering to look for physical movies in those places; and have long gone online to buy what I wanted.

IMO, it’s actually a great time to be a movie collector, since so many new and classic movies are still consistently getting great releases on blu ray/4K. It’s just that it’s a ton easier to purchase those releases online.

I’d suggest checking out Blu-Ray.com. There’s practically daily news there on new releases (and where and how to get them); a vast database of what’s available on physical platforms; awareness when certain releases go on sale; and a huge forum of tens of thousands of members just shooting the shit informatively and fanatically about movies of all eras.

[–] Kowalski (75537) a year ago

PHYSICAL MEDIA FOREVER!@!@!@!

MY DAUGHTER AND I'S COLLECTION OF VHS/DVD/BLUR=RAY/LASERDISC/BETA/ETC IS OVER 30,000 TITLES NOW...UNFORTUNATELY...THE BEST PLACE TO BUY YOUR MEDIA BECAME ONLINE...MANY YEARS AGO...EBAY IS THE BEST...USED AND CHEAP...HUNTING IN THE WILD IS THE MOST FUN THOUGH....YARD SALES...THRIFT STORES...SWAP MEETS...CONVENTIONS.

ALSO...THE BOUTIQUE MARKET IS BOOMING...MONSTER SPECIAL FETURE DRIPPING BLU -RAY RELEASES FROM COMPANIES LIKE SCREAM FACTORY...VINEGAR SYNDROME...ARROW...ETC ARE AMAZING AND IGNOTING A WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF COLLECTING.

AND HIGH END BOOTLEGS FILL THE GAPS IN STUDIO RELEASES.

[–] Keelai (34864) a year ago

You can still buy DVDs from Walmart, Target, local and online retailers. They're not going anywhere soon because libraries buy a ton of them so the studio is making a profit from taxpayers. Some streaming services like Netflix won't release DVDs because they want you to subscribe.

Buying streaming movies is a bad idea. If the service goes out of business, you lose your collection. Furthermore, the service can't be passed on to your heirs after you die so your collection dies with you.

I agree with the laziness about DVD content. Lord of the Rings and Lucas" Star Wars DVDs had great content and set the bar.

I only buy "standard" DVD instead of Blu-rays since its technology can easily be replaced with the next newer thing. Libraries only carry DVDs, never Blu-rays or 4ks or whatever the flavor of the month is.