Advertisment

My Recent Entries

My Recent Discussions

Start a New Discussion

View All Discussions

My Recent Reviews

View All My Reviews

Related Discussions

I think I just passed my first DVD Ten Year Anniversary ...
Saturday, 10th January 2009, 13:22

ChangesPosted by Stuart McLean on 10-1-2009 13:22

I was just thinking. I bought a 'Space Precinct' DVD in 1998 / 1999. That means I've been a slave to the silver platter for somewhere around the ten year mark. I guess that made me a relatively early adopter. I certainly stopped buying VHS's almost immediately after that first DVD.

Curiously I've been slow to move to BLU-Ray. Is that a result of being 10 years older and therefore less likely to be an 'early adopter'? I hope not. Most of what I buy these days is vintage TV sets so the upgrade to Blu-Ray is rarely an option and even when it is they've generally fiddled with the aspect ratios to 'modernise it'. Grrrr.

Having said that, I know the cross over will be inevitable eventually. (Sigh)

So - time to dust off some of those early discs and give them a second spin!

Comments on this Item

ChangesPosted by Mark Oates on 12-1-2009 01:08

Funnily enough when I read this article, I thought to myself "I haven't been a DVD junkie quite that long", but then I started reckoning up when I bought my first DVD. It was Austin Powers 2 and I think I bought it the week it came out. So I checked when that was and yep - 1999.

I stopped buying VHSs pretty much immediately, and set forth buying all my new releases on DVD and replacing select titles from my VHS collection.

Almost ten years on (I bought the machine I think just before Xmas 1999), I don't have a single pre-recorded VHS in the house. I have a few home recordings of tv shows I keep meaning to transfer to DVD+R, but I keep putting transferring them off.

I bought into Blu-ray the week after HD-DVD rolled over on its back - a PS3 . Although I have yet to upgrade my 720p LG tv to a 1080p, the difference in quality to DVD is still a source of amazement. I think I'm lucky in that the LG set I chose does a bang up job of displaying upscaled SD material from my DVD player. SD material off the cable or Freeview can look totally cack, frankly.

I'm still buying DVDs, mind. Mostly tv shows which are of course in SD, but I push the boat out for new movie releases and pick them up in glorious HD. Over Christmas I treated myself to WALL-E, The Dark Knight, Hellboy II, Indiana Jones 4, and The Mummy 3, and the region-free Region A of the Get Smart movie which doesn't hit UK screens until the end of February. All would look great on DVD, but on BD look absolutely stonking.

Here's to the next ten years, and when that comes around trying to persuade a certain Mr McLean to invest in a new plasma holograph display.

ChangesPosted by Robert John Shepherd on 12-1-2009 12:41

I remember buying a Pioneer for £350, which at that time was considered a budget unit. It was certainly the cheapest you could get, and I invalidated the warranty within 5 minutes of getting it home by opening it up and putting a blob of solder on a point to make it multi-region.

I can't remember if that was 98 or 99, but it was definitely a few years after I'd completely given up on the rip off format that VHS was.

ChangesPosted by Jitendar Canth on 12-1-2009 18:50

Sony DVP S336 I think, which cost me £270 no tell a lie it was £320 as I got it chipped. I only ever bought one Region 3 disc while I owned it though. I made the mistake of being Green with it, aka switching it off at the plug every night. Damn thing only lasted me a year and a bit, and that included a £70 repair just after the guarantee ran out.

I'm trying to remember if it was this millennium or last... I think it might have been 2000 that I jumped aboard the bandwagon. First discs, the Matrix, Blade Runner, and another Warners title before I even bought the machine. I got Deep Blue Sea, Analyse This and City Of Angels free with it. It was back when thety were still trying to establish DVD as a market standard, and gave software away with it.

Mistakes I made included buying the original (non-anamorphic) Seven, and then part exchanging it a few months later for the Special Edition (I will review it one day, I swear), as well as buying the non-anamorphic Bad Boys two days before the anamorphic collectors edition was released. Fortunately I got my money back on that one.

Ooh, found the receipt. 7.10. 2000 was the day my DVD world was hatched.

Actually I still have some pre-recorded tapes. I just haven't gotten round to upgrading my TOS, DS9 and VOY collection, especially the latter two which look just like VHS anyway, regardless of format. I doubt I'll find Captain Caveman on DVD, and I just can't be asked to go rebuy the Higlander sequels or those films I sort of don't hate enough to throw away, but don't like enough to spend any more money on.

I also have some anime which has never seen the light of DVD in the UK. Stuff like Junk Boy and Genocyber, as well as Angel Cop.

ChangesPosted by David Beckett on 12-1-2009 22:11

I got into DVDs before I even bought a DVD player, watching them on my laptop (a laptop with a DVD drive in '98 - how advanced was that!?) - receiving Armageddon and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels for my birthday in '99. Those were the days when flippers were acceptable and turning the disc over halfway through the film didn't seem like a big deal - they often, if not always, came in jewel cases that cracked and broke very easily. I spent £350 on my first DVD player which came with Lost in Space, Much Ado About Nothing and The Mask - I sold the first two - and the player broke after 13 months.

I didn't think anything of spending £19.99 for a disc back then and though I was getting a bargain in WHSmiths when it was buy one get one half price when I bought The Opposite of Sex (still the best film that a member of the Friends crew has made)and Psycho.

I don't have any VHS, nor do I own a VCR - I remember replacing many of my VHS tapes with DVDs in the months after buying the player and giving them to charity. Luckily I haven't been so hasty with the DVD to Blu-ray conversion and have only replaced about half a dozen, mostly because they have brand new cuts (like Dark City) or just fantastic AV quality (like the Pixar discs and A Nightmare Before Christmas).

ChangesPosted by Si Wooldridge on 12-1-2009 23:43

Don't remember being an early early adopter but came to it relatively early compared to the majority of the wider public I guess - was probably as long ago as 2000 I suppose. Had that great budget player (bought second hand for £100) that refused to play The Matrix, so replaced that with my first Sony DVD player which has now been superceded by another and will almost certainly be upgraded to a Sony BD player if I ever get the urge to upgrade again.

I know that Chris G is a massive BD fan but I can't just yet see the justification of upgrading for a picture quality that doesn't seem as big a leap as DVD over BD. I know those who already have it will point out the flaws in my arguement but I'm not convinced due to both equipment and disc pricing, not to mention that the BD's seem to have skimped on the extras on most of the big releases - I think of those reviewed so far on Standard Operating Procedure actually has more extras than the DVD release.

I'm more than happy with DVD picture quality and the format itself, so it may be a while before I jump in myself.

ChangesPosted by David Beckett on 13-1-2009 10:20

There are plenty of BDs which have more extra material than the DVD, as the format allows interactive content and vastly more storage capability. The Pixar and Disney discs have something called 'CineExplore', so you can watch the film with a commentary and loads of picture in picture, storyboards, photographs and see the people behind the microphones, for example. The Godfather: The Coppola Restoration, for illustration, is another huge improvement over DVD, plus there are hours of exclusive HD extra features.

If you're happy with DVD then you haven't seen it side by side with a High-definition disc - I thought the recent DVD release of Blade Runner: The Final Cut looked outstanding until I flicked between that and the HD DVD and was amazed at how bad the DVD looked in comparison!

Add to that uncompressed 5.1 and even 7.1 sound at massively higher bitrates and it is an upgrade not to be dismissed out of hand. I can understand you not being an early adopter and waiting for the price to come down, but once you get into it you won't look back.

ChangesPosted by Jitendar Canth on 13-1-2009 11:54

I just realised that I had a DVD player since 1996, or at least a DVD-ROM in my PC, which amounts to the same thing. I never once played a DVD in it until I bought the Sony. And I remember now that the first disc I killed was The Matrix (DVDs were nowhere near as robust as the sales pitch made out), when I wanted to see what the DVD ROM extras were all about, and I scratched the edge of the disc on my PC case.

The DVD ROM was the one reason that I initially didn't want to upgrade from VHS to DVD, as watching a DVD played back on those early software players, on PC monitors with dodgy refresh rates in PC storefronts, just made the picture look horrible.

ChangesPosted by Brian Elliott on 27-1-2009 12:55

Great discussion!

I got my first DVD player in 2001, an LG 4710 for £150. It didn't play anything but regular DVDs (no CDs of any kind, no home-burned DVDs), but I was easily able to make it multiregion thanks to DVD Reviewer!

I haven't made the move to Blu-Ray yet and can't see me doing so for a while. I've only just picked up an HD TV, and I find regular DVDs perfectly acceptable at the moment.

I still have some VHS tapes around the house - mostly old wrestling stuff that you can't buy anymore. I'd love to convert it to DVD but don't fancy spending £30 on a Macrovision cable.

ChangesPosted by David Simpson on 29-6-2009 16:22

Do DVDs on your PC count. I got my first proper one in 2000 and my first DVD bought was The Exorcist.
Funny how you remember silly things like that.

ChangesPosted by Woodie on 11-3-2010 11:03

My first DVDs were The Negotiator, the (post-Watchdog) non-flipper vanilla release of Armageddon and the Mary Poppins flipper. This was in 1998 at roughly the same time as the Samsung DVD-709 player (which is still in use, I'm pleased to say). My VHS collection is all but gone, but there are still a few hanging around, and even in today's pristine digital world, they're pretty good. At least Thunderbirds hasn't had it's soundtrack fiddled with on the original Channel5 VHS releases.

DVDs allowed me to see movies as they were always intended to be seen - not cropped for 4:3 screens. The advances in sound I had to wait for until a few years ago when  I was given a proper AV decoder and could then utilise my rear speakers properly, not that they'd been ignored with Pro-Logic still managing to kick up the dust properly. But DTS - oh WOW!!!

I've watched DVDs expand from the jokes that were Armageddon and Mary Poppins (as described above - although why have Warners never released a non-flipper version of A Time To Kill?),to the mind-boggling releases of the Lord Of The Rings Extended Editions trilogy, the Alien Quadrilogy and the Ultimate Matrix ans Superman collections.

I won't be going HD for some time yet, but do look forward to the leap when it comes. The quality of picture is undeniable with HD, but only if one has the 40"+ TV reqired to really appreciate it! I'm with Si Wooldridge, above on this one, and will stick where I am for the moment.
I am slightly saddened however by 2 things that seem to have cropped up since the appearance of Blu-Ray:

1 - That many sites, and I include this one despite the fact I am a long-term user and occasional contributor, seem to have forgotten that DVDs are still being released and require reviews just as much as their HD counterparts. I believe the 2 formats will co-exist for a good while yet, and the interest garnered for them both needs to be fed by reviewers in print and on sites such as this.

and

2 - There appears to be a growing trend for distributors to be ignoring their DVD releases in favour of their HD siblings. I understand that the new format needs to be made as attractive as possibe to the consumer, but big scale releases, (Australia, Wolverine, UP! to name a few that spring to mind) that only include paltry extras on DVD whilst lavishing wads of additional material on Blu-ray are, I believe selling the public short. Particularly when I note that many of the Blu-ray extras are in standard-def only and therefore are not even HD-only compatible, making even less of an argumant for their exclusion from DVD.

I love home cinema. I am proud of the collection I have gathered. Long may the joy of cinema reign. I hope you all agree.

ChangesPosted by David Beckett on 11-3-2010 12:28

There's an interesting development at Eureka where they will look at the quality of their Masters Of Cinema titles and release them on DVD or Blu-ray depending on AV quality. City Girl was the first and is a Blu-ray only title.

ChangesPosted by Si Wooldridge on 11-3-2010 19:49

Sorry Woodie, but I moved to BD last summer and not regretted it since. I was wrong about the quality of picture, I can't quite believe sometimes just how big an improvement it is. I should be honest though and state that the change was inevitable once my old 32" TV blew up and I invested in a 40" LCD, it was only a matter of time after that...

I think we're still doing ok with DVD coverage but we can only cover what's sent to us. A lot of my BD reviews have been bought discs rather than review discs and there's still a steady stream of DVD review discs, just maybe not the ones you might be looking for as we can only cover what we're offered.

I also agree that BD is not an overutilised format when it comes to extras, although there are some great HD extras out there. Certainly the justification for moving to BD is better than it ever was previously in my opinion.

ChangesPosted by Stuart McLean on 11-3-2010 21:45

Well, a year or so from that first post and I have to confess that I've also succumbed to Blu-Ray. It's great when it's great, but there's also some crap out there. The format is no guarantee of quality. But the potential for great leaps of quality is certainly there. One or two discs have been simply breath-taking. But I will avoid double/treble dipping I think...though the Network 'The Prisoner' Blu-Ray set is sorely tempting!

ChangesPosted by Si Wooldridge on 12-3-2010 17:49

Sadly some companies will churn out crap whatever the format.

I think upgrading depends really on the quality of the source material. I've not watched my Prisoner DVD set yet, but I'm so impressed with the picture and sound improvement on the Star Trek TOS sets (and this was the HD double flippers rather than the re-releases) that I see no reason to pick up the BD versions.

ChangesPosted by Stuart McLean on 31-7-2010 20:57

So a few Blu-Ray's in (maybe half a dozen) and guess what? In common with many folk, the premium involved just doesn't do it for me. Add to that the fact that most of what I like isn't available on Blu-Ray. I noticed that in HMV today that maybe 10% (if that) of the retail space dedicated to film and tv was given over to Blu-Ray. The other 90%+ was SD. I think that will just continue until there is no premium on the higher quality. Like Mark O said, for some movies it's worth the jump but generally, for a lover of old movies and ancient TV like myself, it's just not happening!

ChangesPosted by Mark Oates on 1-8-2010 04:12

My current pre-order list (an excellent indicator of my mood, bank account and interests) is pretty anaemic - and not just Blu-rays but DVDs as well. I've got the remaining seasons of Monk on order (SD), the final series of Are You Being Served?, ditto Chance In A Million. Here Come The Double Deckers, the R1 release of Starcrash (on DVD because the Blu will be Region A only) and the Blu-ray of Sweeney Todd after watching the Stephen Sondheim Prom this evening. And that's it.

I don't know whether there's nothing out there I fancy, nothing decent's being released, or I've just got fed up of the whole movie/TV game.

I reckon there's maybe five of the summer blockbusters I fancy picking up later in the year, and I'll probably pick them up in HD, but at the moment, there's little to tempt me down from my cave.

ChangesPosted by Stuart McLean on 1-8-2010 10:37

One Blu-Ray out of seven orders. I guess that supports the point. What would be interesting to me is ...would you buy a Blu-Ray of 'Here come the Double-Deckers'? Can't wait for the official release, and hope it puts my temporary off-air versions to shame, but as it was filmed on 16mm I wonder if a Blu-Ray would do much for it? 35mm stuff like 'The Prisoner' and later Avengers I can totally understand. I still await decent BR versions of Thunderbirds (with aspect ratio intact!!) and Stingray, though don't hold my breath!!

ChangesPosted by David Beckett on 1-8-2010 12:25

I currently only have one item pre-ordered for the near future, and that's Kick-Ass on BD. Other forthcoming releases but I'm extremely keen about are all Blu-ray releases: Inferno, Tenebrae, Phenomena, Bay of Blood and Vamp. All of these are coming out on DVD as well but I just don't see the point in buying them on SD but they are available in HD.

ChangesPosted by Si Wooldridge on 1-8-2010 12:59

I also have Kick Ass preordered on BD and also The Pacific for around Nov/Dec, don't see the point now of ordering on SD if there is a corresponding BD release.

In fact I've also just replaced Predator with the new BD release and also awaiting the BD of Eraser being shipped from the US before I look at the likes of The Running Man, Commando and Red Heat...

ChangesPosted by David Beckett on 1-8-2010 15:01

There are a series of terrific Roger Corman titles that have been and are being released in the US so I am seriously looking at buying a multi-region Blu-ray player in order to play these discs which are (sadly) Region A.

Something else I have on pre-order for the beginning of October is the long-awaited Blu-ray release of The Exorcist -- I can't wait for that as it looks to be one of the best releases of the year.

So, in terms of my viewing habits, I'm quite happy with Blu-ray as both brand-new and older films are being released in high definition so I don't mind 'upgrading' to a HD disc with numerous exclusive new extra features that more than justify the expenditure.

ChangesPosted by Mark Oates on 1-8-2010 19:56

To be honest, I think I'd put my OAR obsessive hat on and say I wouldn't buy a BD edition of any archive television show - least of all anything made in the 1960s. These shows weren't made to be seen in HD, and I don't think the higher definition does them any favours. Stuff on 16mm and videotape, of course, wouldn't have the additional picture information to make an HD transfer beneficial.

If I was to buy into archive tv Blu-ray, I would look at Star Trek (Original), Space 1999, The Avengers or The Persuaders possibly, but I think I'd rather see top-line SD restorations on DVD.

ChangesPosted by Si Wooldridge on 1-8-2010 20:01

Agree with you there, Mark. Personally find that the SD version of Star Trek that I have of the 2 seasons of TOS are impressive enough that I'm unsure if BD can top them. Obviously the versions I have include the newer SFX but they look fantastic with this new addition which I think enhances the series...

ChangesPosted by David Beckett on 2-8-2010 14:44

Blimey! I just received a dispatch notification e-mail for the Psycho Blu-ray that I pre-ordered months ago and has completely forgotten about! I'm dying to see what that looks like in HD and whether the 5.1 track is a touch of genius or an absolute travesty.

ChangesPosted by Jitendar Canth on 6-3-2011 20:07

It took me one extra year compared to Stuart, but I too have caught up to the Blu-ray bandwagon. Or I will have once the kit is delivered. But just as I did with the DVD back in 2000, I'm doing with the Blu-ray... that is getting the software before the hardware so I have something at hand to check it out. With DVD it was Blade Runner and The Matrix, with Blu-ray, I have a shiny copy of Inception to try out.

I would have bought the DVD, but Warners mucked it up so badly with edge enhancement and the like, that they actually have issued a replacement disc. The Blu-ray is a triple play, and sure enough, the DVD is so bad that the Warner's logo looks like it's built out of lego. It won't be a fair comparison to the Blu-ray, unless Warners send me that replacement disc.

ChangesPosted by Stuart McLean on 6-3-2011 20:28

I imagine 'Inception' will make an impressive start point. With more and more anime getting the Blu-Ray treatment, I guess the swapover was inevitable. The good news is my player seems to make my DVD's look better than they did previously, though that might be wisful thinking!

ChangesPosted by Jitendar Canth on 7-3-2011 11:46

That was the tipping point for me. For most of 2010, of all the titles that I reviewed, 9 out of 10 were DVD only. The first 2 months of 2011 has already seen that proportion shift to 3 out of 10, and looking ahead, half of what Manga Entertainment will release this year will be Blu. When niche titles catering to 4 figure audiences go hi-def, you know it's time.

ChangesPosted by Si Wooldridge on 7-3-2011 18:07

So once upon a time, Mark said "To be honest, I think I'd put my OAR obsessive hat on and say I wouldn't buy a BD edition of any archive television show - least of all anything made in the 1960s. These shows weren't made to be seen in HD, and I don't think the higher definition does them any favours."

What say ye now, Sir?

ChangesPosted by David Beckett on 7-3-2011 19:50

I'm eagerly awaiting the Blu-ray releases of the original Twilight Zone seasons as the monochrome photography apparently looks absolutely stunning.

ChangesPosted by Stuart McLean on 7-3-2011 21:47

Ooooh. Now you mention it - these were all 35mm masters and all that lovely detail never been seen before! I always loved the high contrast look of that show. Could be a dear do though. The individual DVD sets stayed quite a price for a while.

Add Your Own Comment

I think I just passed my first DVD Ten Year Anniversary ...Saturday, 10th January 2009, 13:22