Is there a good magazine to replace Total Movie yet? - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

NotEd · 06-20-2001, 04:28 PM

Welll, the topic kinda says it all. I know some people didn't like Total Movie, but I was a fan. It was fun to read, had a column by Kevin Murphy of MST3K fame and, most importantly of all, had that DVD full of trailers and short films.
I admit that I can find another magazine or two that fills some of the gaps left by TM, but I have yet to find any publication that comes with a DVD like it did. I tried that Leonard Maltin hosted Magazine on DVD when it was bundled with Schwann's DVD Advance. While it came closest I really didn't enjoy the thing (something about not being a huge Maltin fan I guess. Plus the clips they used in the reviews seemed poor choices to showcase the films in question).
So, the question falls down to this, is there any alternative that any of you former TM readers have come up with? I really want to know.
NotEd

------------------
"Bad movie? You're soaking in it!"
-Crow T. Robot, MST3K

NotEd · 06-21-2001, 06:07 PM

No Total Movie fans here, huh? Oh well.

Eye · 06-21-2001, 06:09 PM

Sorry.

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..:: Eye | Moderator | ICQ: 44594001

"Be yourself and other people will use you."

***Chromy*** · 06-21-2001, 06:21 PM

Well, there are fans out here... the answer to your question is "No"

TM was a unique magazine and to find a replacement ... well I just haven't seen anything else out there that is quite the same.

Chromy

SolidSnakeASS · 06-21-2001, 06:36 PM

Total Movie was great, and I wish they would still make it.

manigrasso · 06-22-2001, 01:01 AM

TM reminded me so much of a movie-lovers edition of Maxim, I almost wish they'd pick up the format of the mag and run with it.

To my knowledge, TM itself wasn't deemed a "failure." The publisher tries to start way too many new mags too soon, and then had to shutter tham all. So I hope it doens't have a stigma in the publishing industry. In fact, TM was supposed to go from bi-monthly to monthly.

NotEd · 06-22-2001, 12:26 PM

Manigrasso, is right. I actually subscribe to 5 different magazines from Imagine Publishing. Two of them (TM and DigitalFoto) were both dumped when they decided to "streamline" operations.
Wonder if Maxim would be interested in taking some of the ex-Imagine employees on..... Wait, there'd still be no DVD. Damn, there goes that plan.

Shambler · 06-22-2001, 06:07 PM

I read Widescreen Review, no dvd included though

deepfry · 06-22-2001, 07:01 PM

speaking of dvdpreview (maltin's mag), has anyone seen a new version lately? Their site changed to "members only" and I haven't seen the mag in stores anywhere. I actually like the one issue I have (I also like the Total Movie issues I have), a dvd magazine is a cool idea indeed.

Dominik Pfleghaar · 06-23-2001, 10:53 AM

Speaking of TM, anyone knows where and how I can get a refund for the missed issues?
Those bastards didn't even let you know officially that the magazine went the way of the Dodo. I still wouldn't know if I didn't read it on the net.
The last issue even contained sign up cards.

Anyway, anyone know of an address or a link or something to get in touch for a refund?

Thanx!

------------------
Unca Dom
dvdfile.com Administrator
pfleghaar@dvdfile.com
My HT My dvd collection

NotEd · 06-25-2001, 03:52 PM

I don't have it here, but I called the number in the magazine for customer service twice. The first time they said that they were thinking of shifting the subscription to another, similar magazine (like they did with my DigitalFoto subscription). The second call they took my name and address and sent me a check.
I'd recommend you call soon, as I have no idea how much longer Imagine will keep the line active. frankly I am a little angry at them for not sending the money as soon as they decided to discontinue the magazine. I assume that someone decided it would be cheaper not to have to cut all the subscribers checks. Either that or someone is trying to keep all the unclaimed refunds for themselves. Curious, ain't it?

Dominik Pfleghaar · 06-25-2001, 04:09 PM

OK, I'll try that. Thank you!

------------------
Unca Dom
dvdfile.com Administrator
pfleghaar@dvdfile.com
My HT My dvd collection

manigrasso · 06-25-2001, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NotEd:
I don't have it here, but I called the number in the magazine for customer service twice. The first time they said that they were thinking of shifting the subscription to another, similar magazine (like they did with my DigitalFoto subscription). The second call they took my name and address and sent me a check.
I'd recommend you call soon, as I have no idea how much longer Imagine will keep the line active. frankly I am a little angry at them for not sending the money as soon as they decided to discontinue the magazine. I assume that someone decided it would be cheaper not to have to cut all the subscribers checks. Either that or someone is trying to keep all the unclaimed refunds for themselves. Curious, ain't it?

Although Imagine should have been more forthcoming with refunding subscribers their money, magazines traditionally run in the red for years before showing a profit, even thought TM was getting popular, quick. I'd bet that there was no money left to embezzle when they shuttered TM.

NotEd · 06-26-2001, 02:37 PM

Don't get me wrong, manigrasso, I understand that any magazine that comes out is going to loose money at first, especially if you have an extra like a bundled DVD. Still, I think it shows a distinct lack of forward planning to kill it after only three issues are released (I know that four came out, but the cancelation was announced while #4 was still in production, so I don't know if it counts). I could understand it if Imagine themselves were going out of business, but killing a magazine that was obviously gaining a fairly large audience is a bit short sighted, in my opinion. Not that I'm bitter or anything.....

06-20-2001, 04:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
NotEd NotActor Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Spittin' distance from Washington, DC	Is there a good magazine to replace Total Movie yet? Welll, the topic kinda says it all. I know some people didn't like Total Movie, but I was a fan. It was fun to read, had a column by Kevin Murphy of MST3K fame and, most importantly of all, had that DVD full of trailers and short films. I admit that I can find another magazine or two that fills some of the gaps left by TM, but I have yet to find any publication that comes with a DVD like it did. I tried that Leonard Maltin hosted Magazine on DVD when it was bundled with Schwann's DVD Advance. While it came closest I really didn't enjoy the thing (something about not being a huge Maltin fan I guess. Plus the clips they used in the reviews seemed poor choices to showcase the films in question). So, the question falls down to this, is there any alternative that any of you former TM readers have come up with? I really want to know. NotEd ------------------ "Bad movie? You're soaking in it!" -Crow T. Robot, MST3K

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06-21-2001, 06:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
NotEd NotActor Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Spittin' distance from Washington, DC	No Total Movie fans here, huh? Oh well.

06-21-2001, 06:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
Eye Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Usa	Sorry. ------------------ ..:: Eye \| Moderator \| ICQ: 44594001 "Be yourself and other people will use you."

06-21-2001, 06:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
*Chromy* Producer/Admin Coffee Boy Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Greater Seattle Area, WA	Well, there are fans out here... the answer to your question is "No" TM was a unique magazine and to find a replacement ... well I just haven't seen anything else out there that is quite the same. Chromy

06-21-2001, 06:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
SolidSnakeASS Actor Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Winterpeg, Manitobaugh, Canada	Total Movie was great, and I wish they would still make it.

06-22-2001, 01:01 AM	#6 (permalink)
manigrasso Forum Sage Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: NJ	TM reminded me so much of a movie-lovers edition of Maxim, I almost wish they'd pick up the format of the mag and run with it. To my knowledge, TM itself wasn't deemed a "failure." The publisher tries to start way too many new mags too soon, and then had to shutter tham all. So I hope it doens't have a stigma in the publishing industry. In fact, TM was supposed to go from bi-monthly to monthly.

06-22-2001, 12:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
NotEd NotActor Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Spittin' distance from Washington, DC	Manigrasso, is right. I actually subscribe to 5 different magazines from Imagine Publishing. Two of them (TM and DigitalFoto) were both dumped when they decided to "streamline" operations. Wonder if Maxim would be interested in taking some of the ex-Imagine employees on..... Wait, there'd still be no DVD. Damn, there goes that plan.

06-22-2001, 06:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
Shambler Supporting Actor Join Date: Jun 2001	I read Widescreen Review, no dvd included though

06-22-2001, 07:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
deepfry Unnecessarily Loquacious Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Pickering, Ontario	speaking of dvdpreview (maltin's mag), has anyone seen a new version lately? Their site changed to "members only" and I haven't seen the mag in stores anywhere. I actually like the one issue I have (I also like the Total Movie issues I have), a dvd magazine is a cool idea indeed.

06-23-2001, 10:53 AM	#10 (permalink)
Dominik Pfleghaar Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Elm Street 123	Speaking of TM, anyone knows where and how I can get a refund for the missed issues? Those bastards didn't even let you know officially that the magazine went the way of the Dodo. I still wouldn't know if I didn't read it on the net. The last issue even contained sign up cards. Anyway, anyone know of an address or a link or something to get in touch for a refund? Thanx! ------------------ Unca Dom dvdfile.com Administrator pfleghaar@dvdfile.com My HT My dvd collection

06-25-2001, 03:52 PM	#11 (permalink)
NotEd NotActor Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Spittin' distance from Washington, DC	I don't have it here, but I called the number in the magazine for customer service twice. The first time they said that they were thinking of shifting the subscription to another, similar magazine (like they did with my DigitalFoto subscription). The second call they took my name and address and sent me a check. I'd recommend you call soon, as I have no idea how much longer Imagine will keep the line active. frankly I am a little angry at them for not sending the money as soon as they decided to discontinue the magazine. I assume that someone decided it would be cheaper not to have to cut all the subscribers checks. Either that or someone is trying to keep all the unclaimed refunds for themselves. Curious, ain't it?

06-25-2001, 04:09 PM	#12 (permalink)
Dominik Pfleghaar Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Elm Street 123	OK, I'll try that. Thank you! ------------------ Unca Dom dvdfile.com Administrator pfleghaar@dvdfile.com My HT My dvd collection

06-26-2001, 02:37 PM	#14 (permalink)
NotEd NotActor Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Spittin' distance from Washington, DC	Don't get me wrong, manigrasso, I understand that any magazine that comes out is going to loose money at first, especially if you have an extra like a bundled DVD. Still, I think it shows a distinct lack of forward planning to kill it after only three issues are released (I know that four came out, but the cancelation was announced while #4 was still in production, so I don't know if it counts). I could understand it if Imagine themselves were going out of business, but killing a magazine that was obviously gaining a fairly large audience is a bit short sighted, in my opinion. Not that I'm bitter or anything.....