I would like to hear other peoples views about the extras that come with our DVD's. I have not to this day watched anything other than the movie. I could care less about the extras (deleted scenes, how the movie was made, talking with the stars, etc.). I bought the DVD for the movie and not for any extras that come with it. I would prefer that if they have room for these extras that they take them out and make the sound and/or the picture better. I presume thats what Suberbit is all about. I know not everyone will think the same as myself but that is what this discussion is all about. Thanks for letting me vent my frustration about the state of DVD's.

I agree. I'm not one that watchs the extra's packed in on a DVD. If the extra's hinder sound and video quality do to space limitations then take them out.

You are definitely in the minority of those who actually talk about DVDs on the internet. I'm sure there are many more who agree with you elsewhere, though.

As to space on DVDs, Superbit is a brand name that does do exactly that. It uses the most space possible to get higher bandwidth video and both DD and DTS soundtracks on one disc. But that only applies to one studio. Other companies also use this method, but don't have a marketing name describing the discs. See discs like Star Wars, LOTR, Monsters Inc., etc. for movies with extras on separate discs in order to give the best possible audio and video to the movie itself.

I should also mention...

Just because some movies don't have extras doesn't mean they have high quality video/audio. Many of these are just crap spewed out from studios that don't think we care about quality or extras. This is esp true of older movies, ie: those filmed before DVD existed. Very annoying.

A waste of space, I'd prefer they make all DVDs like the superbits. And if they want to add the other stuff, put it on a second disc.

Just read an article today:

[Link: nandotimes.com]

That said if the studios find the majority of people don't want extras, they will begin catering to that majority. They cited that Disney maybe going down this track.

Just read an article today:

[Link: nandotimes.com]

That said if the studios find the majority of people don't want extras, they will begin catering to that majority. They cited that Disney may be going down this track.

Gentlemen;

I agree with doing away with extras. The only extras I think have merit are the THX setup (although I don't use it) & I did enjoy the demo on SE7EN showing the audio & video remastering for home viewing.

Dougofthenorth

Yeah well Disney is also the one that says people want P&S over widescreen DVDs. So I'm not in favor of who Disney listens to for their advice on such things.

Well, we've all heard/read the same kind of differing opinions on everything from 'abortion' to 'zippers'. There's a difference between having the option you want and having your opinion be the only one available for everybody.

JJ did ask for our opinions, however, so I'll put mine in. I usually don't watch extras, but some are entertainment in and of themselves. Monsters, Inc. is a good example. "Mike's New Car" and "Birds on a Wire" are both great shorts, and a lot of the 'how we did it' is interesting.

Ideally, there could be two versions of every film, or have disc #2 be an option. Those who like the extras want them available, and those who don't like them want them gone. How does the studio satisfy everyone? Two discs cost more, and SuperBits cost more. Everyone wants their money to go towards what they want.

I guess that a SuperBit disc #1, and a standard disc #2 could be a good compromise, but a lot of people I know have DVDs that they watch on a 19"er through the TV's speakers. They have no use for higher bit-rates or multi-channel. To them, it's a wasted extravagance.

Who's right? Everybody. How do we satisfy Mr. SuperBit, Mr. Extras, and Mr. Cheaper with one product? The trick is how to please everyone without displeasing anyone. I wish I had the answer to that one!

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

Very interesting comments from everybody. Maybe I opened up a can worms here. I like everyones input.

Superbit is downward compatible, it still plays and looks good on a cheap TV. Crap DVDs look like garbage on a cheap TV, and look so bad you want to hurl when you watch them on a high end TV. So tell me which would serve all the people better. Superbit, or .......?
They should just make the best output they can for the movie part, and if they have no room for the extraa on the same disc, add another disc to the box. A second disc does not coast tyhem that much. Just look at blank DVD recordables now, you can get them for 70 cents each in bulk. So you know the "cost" to them for another disc may anly be about 30 to 40 cents, if that much, even with the printing on the disc.

I WANT the extras, but I do want them on a second disc to make as much room as possible for the movie.

Doug,
The THX setup is pretty much crap from what I hear. I believe there are errors in some of its screens. You may want to just get a good setup disc instead.

I like the Superbit Deluxe solution. One disc with the movie, and another with the extras.

The Superbit release of 'The Patriot" is simply amazing. Also just bought the Superbit of 'A Knight's Tale', great sound and colors! Great movie too!

Originally, I wasn't interested in even buying DVDs. I had an extensive (over 400) VHS library, and the discs cost too much! Until mid 2001, I was still buying new releases on VHS...

Then I learned about the extra materials that were often incorporated on disc and frequently only available there. That was the factor which sold me! I have replaced as much of the VHS library as practical*, and I love the extra materials included on most of the DVD versions of my old favorites.

That said, I will state that you normally must be a movie fan (history, etc.) to enjoy a lot of the extras. For those who just want to watch the main event, the extras are probably a waste of space.

-Bruce

*Everything except those which have never been released on DVD, or which are out of production and cost more than $35 from "collector" vendors. I'm down to less than 80 tapes, and only about ten of those have ever been released on DVD.