Movie or Menu on Startup?

[LBPound23]

This isn't that important, but what do you guys prefer when you put a DVD into your player? Do you prefer the movie to start playing automatically? Or would you rather have the disc go straight to the main menu, and you choose where you'd like to go and set up options?

Personally, I prefer the second, where the disc goes to the main menu first. How about you?

Movie startup and if availible DD 5.1

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Istagi *Feather Head*
Moderator of the Now Playing Forum
DDS-351

[Chromy]

Funny that you should mention this. Lately I've had an itch to watch all of my old movies. I really like the earlier warner ones that don't make me wait for a fancy animated menu to play out. 5.1 sound is selected by default, just pop the movie it, it plays, heaven on earth

Of course, movies that don't default to 5.1 are a pain anyway that you look at them :P

Chromy

Either way is okay so long as it doesn't make me sit through the FBI warnings. Blech!

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Oh Dear God! It's Growing BIGGER!!!

[Blade]

I like the movie to start up first. You can always hit the menu button.

What I wish they would do is to put all the FBI warnings at the END of the movie, or, failing that, let you skip them (some do this) or at least let the menu button be allowed.

And 5.1 soundtracks would be nice as a default setting too, but you should be able to change to any soundtrack using the audio button on the remote (some discs don't so just because you can't change the audio track doesn't mean there aren't more). This is especially vexing when there's a commentary that can only be accessed via the menu.

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-David

Agreed, movie with DD5.1 audio track selected. This makes it as idiot-proof as possible, usable by children, and means I don't have to go searching for the remote simply to watch the movie.

And not just the FBI/Interpol warnings, but scrap the trailers and other advertising. (I always find it funny/sad when I see this "Coming Soon" on a movie that is 5 years old.) Though the THX & DD intros are neat & noisy.

[Taxi]

Hmmm. I hate to be contrary, but I like it when the menu comes up. That gives me time to go make popcorn and get a soda while the disc is spinning up. Then it's all ready for me when I get back to the couch.

I like it when the movie just starts, too, but I like the menu better. And death to FBI warnings at the beginning! Put them at the end!

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Taxi
DVDFile.Com Moderator

[brian]

I also like it when the menu immediately pops up. It gives me time to pop in the dvd, and set up my receiver, speaker volume, and amount of base depending if anyone may be sleeping. I have had many times where the volume is on full blast with the base juiced up when the THX or DTS trailer plays, and it is LOUD! I just one a moment to sit down and start the movie as soon as im ready.

[Wesly Moore]

I prefer to have the disc default to the main menu with the Play option selected. This gives me the opportunity to select other options (commentary, etc.) without having to stop a movie that started playing automatically.

However, I can live with discs that do automatically begin playback of the movie. What I can't stand is having to suffer through unskippable warnings and previews before I can get to either the main menu or the movie itself. Grrr!

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Wesly Moore
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weslymoore@aol.com

[clortho]

I too prefer the menu coming up. I tend to watch a trailer or something before the movie to get me in the mood for it even more.

Clortho

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I am the Keymaster
clortho@hotmail.com

[Hendrik]

Actually I vastly prefer the nicely designed, clearly lettered FBI warnings that come up immediately on Disney DVDs ("Tarzan", "Hercules", et al.) - they give me sufficient time to fluff up the pillows on my sofa, find a comfortable sitting position, and relax in delighted anticipation of what's to come!...

! !

[RoboDad]

The menu. No "previews of coming attractions." No ads for Disney World. No FBI warnings (I'm a big boy, and can read the copyright notice on the back of the case, if I am concerned about my "rights"). Just bring up the menu and let me take it from there. Is that so difficult?

Ideally, all discs should be coded to allow the player to "do the right thing," so that people who like to go straight to the movie can do so, with their preferred sound format selected, while those of us who prefer the menus can program our players to go there first. Come on, this is not exactly rocket science here.

Robo

It depends on the Menu I think.
For instance The Texas Chainsaw Massacre's main menu is creepy & putts me in the mood for it or Spinal Tap's menu with the music clips & photos.BUT on the other hand on a disc like Something about Mary where the music is SO DAMNED ANOYING I could like having my fingernail's pulled better then go through that hell or on ALIEN (which is a very good menu mind you)where you can't by-pass it no matter what you do until it is fully loaded.
So it depends on how well it is done & implemented.

-Dougpirana

[RegniL]

i love when movies just start up right away.. sometimes i just pop in the disc, and i can't find taht darned remote control! so, i just end up trying to find that thing, to start the movie!

[Dominik Pfleghaar]

I prefer to see the menu screen first.
I'm never sure if a disc automatically defaults to DD5.1 and widescreen, so I always check the menu options before starting the film anyway.
And if there's a trailer on the disc I usually watch that one before the actual movie.
And yes, if there have to be any FBI warnings on the disc, put them @ the ent of the movie, if you must.

Taxi spoketh:

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I like it when the menu comes up. That gives me time to go make popcorn and get a soda while the disc is spinning up.[/quote]You're either incredibly fast in making popcorn, or your player is incredibly slow in spinning up the disc. Which one is it?


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Unca Dom, DDS-088
dvdfile.com administrator
dominikpfleghaar@netscape.net

[Taxi]

Dom, I don't do anything quickly.

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Taxi
DVDFile.Com Moderator

[indiephantom]

I love creative menus. Maybe it sounds nerdy but I don't like the movie to start right away...the menus on DVD are unique and make all my still stuck in VHS friends, sit up and take notice...

some of my absolute favorite menus are

ALIEN...that is so so cool
The JAMES BOND flicks...talk about setting the mood.
PINK FLOYD: THE WALL...very ambient and stylish
EYES WIDE SHUT...nice opening, great music
the NIGHTMARE films and all the best NEW LINE stuff.

Menus are a fun part of DVD

I prefer menu first, particularly if it's a movie that I've seen before, because then I can watch all the special features before I watch the movie...

And I don't mind animated menus... The ones from Piranha are particularly amusing...

Piranha's Menus are cool aren't they?

Hmm.......I wonder if the Piranha menus cost more than the original film did?

P.S. No I didn't misspell my screen name.A(s)OL wouldn't give it to me so......I wonder where Spiney Norman is?




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-Dougpirana
"all right you primitive screw heads Listen up! "

[Greg Solo]

I like menus. I like to start it when I'm ready. I also like to see if there's special features before I launch into it. Trailors do get me in the mood.

I dont care one way or the other,what really bugs me is when they dont allow you to skip anything.
I should be able to skip over any material I desire.
If I was using VHS tape they wouldnt/couldnt prevent me from scanning so why should they with DVD.
Why must I be forced to watch a movie companies logo,or the FBI warning?

[LtlPhysics]

I like the menu and would like control over the warning area, just chapter pass it.

Mom, she would want it to play, she is terrified of all things a/v, among others. It required three separate trips to get her to use the tv/vcr button without guidance. I even wrote down the instructions and taped it to the vcr, "bad picture? push me" with arrows.

My sisters would probably prefer immediate play also, although they would be more likely to take command. They have hifi vcrs connected to air, and are a lot like Joe.

[Damian]

***MENU***
I'm usually getting drinks or making popcorn or something before the movie starts. If it's a really cool disk with cool menus (Like the Halloween Collectors Edition) Then the menus help you get pumped up for the movie.



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-Damian

[TheMovieKid]

The main menu and Dolby Digital 5.1 (if available) on startup instead of movie.

Ill take the movie on start-up.Sometimes I want to surprise people By what I put on and dont want the menu popping up.
And another example,look at the lists in space menu.it takes too long to get the movie underway.

[RegniL]

again... play the movie on startup.. if you guys wanna do other things.. then press the dvd menu... i just wanna put the disc in and watch it..
oh yeah.. i just bought sixth sense.. oh my god.. they wouldn't let me skip the previews.. only scan it... it took forever to play it.. and when i press dvd menu after all the previews, they end up playing the movie... so they got it all wrong on that disc!!

[RegniL]

oh yeah and plus.. dvd menu takes forever to finish.. i'm just waiting and waiting.. at first it's cool.. but after multiple viewings you just wanna get to the movie right away.. it's a hassle i tells ya

[LBPound23]

What's the big rush to see a movie you've seen many times before? Take a few seconds to let the menu popup and get yourself in the mood to enjoy the film.

Menus are cool, as long as they don't take forever to load. Since I figured out that not all DD 5.1 tracks are set as the default, I click into the audio/languages section to make sure it is on (even though my Kenwood shows a cute little diagram of which speakers are getting input). My Mom just got a DD receiver, and I am hoping for her sake, that she remembers to check the audio setting. I even showed her an exaple of this (The Addams Family).
I like The Pink Floyd menu, and the way it "goes" where you clik, without having to push the OK button.

I prefer the menu because I have a bad habit of throwing the disc in well before I'm actually ready to start viewing. What I do hate with menus is that, cool though really good animated menus like those on the Abyss are, they get very irratating, very quickly. If you leave the menu running for a little while the pleasent audio background begins to drive you insane. Now I know this is not a major problem and is easily solved by either playing the disc, muting the sound or turning the bloody thing off - but it is a problem that shouldn't exist. I think the menus should be set up so the music plays once or twice then the menu switches to video only (or in the case of the Abyss maybe some quiet ambient moon pool sounds). A pretty inane point - but it is something that irks me.

[LBPound23]

I know what you mean about those menus which repeat music, "The Shining" certainly got annoying after a while. In any event, the absolute worst menus are those on the issues of Inside DVD magazine. Every time you change a section, in less than a second the video pops up saying "You have just enterered the incredibly spooky Horror Issue of InsideDVD." I want to just break the disc after searching around for a while and hearing the same line over and over and trying (unsuccessfully) to click somewhere before it starts. Oh well, it's free what do you expect (other than receiving the issue 4 months after they claim it is finished)?

[RegniL]

the rush is in the movie.
why are people so into the menus?
menus are cool.. but movie on start up only makes more sense..
why do most people purchasea discs?
to watch the movie
not because of the menu
if you don't mind on waiting and such, then press the menu button
otherwise just let the movie continue
cuz patience is not my virtue

[Damian]

Well it can be argued that if you only want the movie to come up first, you can always just hit STOP, then PLAY right after you put the disk in. From my experiance that usually stops the menu from loading, then immediatly starts the movie.


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-Damian

[This message has been edited by Damian (edited 04-05-2000).]

[RegniL]

damian.. well, you could do taht.. but let's look at it this way
people who want menu.. are going to press more buttons trying to start the film..
people who want the movie on startup.. don't want to press any buttons!!
so it only makes more sense if it goes start up.. and make a person who wants menu to press just one more button anyway!

[Dominik Pfleghaar]

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Unca Dom, DDS-088
dvdfile.com administrator
pfleghaar@dvdfile.com