What's with Universal dissin' consumers? - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

***SeanL*** · 07-03-2001, 07:05 AM

Lately, Universal has been less than accomodating to their consumers.
First, there's the whole JP DTS issue, then they started rereleasing titles as UE's.
It all points to a trend that is going to continue.
I was looking at the HTF and they were lamenting the press release for the Mummy Returns. You can click here.
Sounds like they're setting us up for another UE.
Friggin Universal

------------------
Sean

What if there were no hypothetical questions?

Fincher · 07-03-2001, 11:26 PM

Yeah, that does suck. Although, I didn't like this movie very much. I do have friends who'll be looking forward to this, and it sucks for them.

I'm just pissed that Memento's gonna be bare-bonzes. That stinks.

------------------
<--- A Fan Of The "View Askew Crew": Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, Scott Mosier, Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, Dwight Ewell, Matt Damon, Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, and Ethan Suplee.

DVD Picks OF The Moment:
1. O Brother, Where Art Thou? starring George Clooney, Time Blake Nelson, Holly Hunter, and John Turturro
2. The House Of Yes starring Parker Posey

Drexl · 07-06-2001, 02:03 AM

I'm not sure that there will be an Ultimate Edition so soon. The UE's that have been released and/or announced so far have been unpredictable (and unnecessary, if you ask me). Universal wants us as consumers to be surprised, and the fact that everybody expects a UE of The Mummy Returns means that there will not be one for a while, if ever.

By the way, if I ever buy one of these Ultimate Editions, I think I'll watch the supplements on disc 2 and give the disc to someone who likes pan & scan. Then, I'll write a letter to Universal explaining what I did and how they lost a sale over it. Maybe someone who works at the studio will realize how this is a bad idea.

***SeanL*** · 07-06-2001, 08:16 PM

This topic wasn't necessarily about a UE of Mummy Returns, as much as a topic about Universal's practices.
Using Mummy Returns as an example;
Stephen Sommers during an interview before MR talked about doing "alot" for the eventual dvd release. Looking at the specs from the press release, shows to me that there is more material not included on the upcoming disc.
So, whether it is 6 months or 2 yrs later, Universal is more than likely going to reissue this title.....which is uncalled for.
It's downright wrong! Except in the case of reissueing a disc that initially came out as a bare-bones disc in the early days of dvd, this practice does nothing but to take advantage of the consumer. Period.

------------------
Sean

I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, when he said, "I drank what?"

Rouge 2 · 07-07-2001, 09:43 AM

They should only Ultimate Ed a film they've never released or a film they screwed up on like Scarface. The extras are great but the transfer looked and sounded poor.

Dehrian · 07-10-2001, 07:14 AM

How about The Sting? There's a title in their library they need to revisit with a UE. I'd pay for that. The original was P&S and barebones: not the way to treat one of the best catalogue titles in their library.

DVDriven · 07-10-2001, 09:46 PM

This UE fiasco only serves in defeating the purpose of having 'Collector's' editions. I thought that a Collector's Edition should be a definitive release in all facets of production and presentation. If something is geared towards a collector, shouldn't that be the case? Shouldn't the UE be, in fact, the true Collector's Edition? Maybe the folks at (insert movie studio here) interpreted 'collector' as anyone who purchases a copy of a movie for his/her collection. True, it would meet the definition of what a collector is, but the term is so misleading (to me anyway). We now have CE, SE, UE, not to mention studio-specific banners such as Vista Series and Infinifilm. It's enough to make anyone go

Marty McFly · 07-12-2001, 05:05 AM

IMO, Universal needs to get their act together and start releasing films not yet on DVD, instead of making an Ultimate Edition of every film that is already available.

------------------
-->Marty McFly<--

We could really bust some head...in a spiritual sense of course.

My DVD Collection

Drexl · 07-12-2001, 12:22 PM

Here we go again. I see Universal has just announced an "Ultimate Edition" of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats. This will be the FOURTH time this direct-to-video film will have been released with the same old non-anamorphic transfer:

1. Polygram edition
2. Universal repackaging of Polygram disc after Universal got the rights to Polygram's music titles when Polygram went under
3. Same disc, this time labeled "Commemorative Edition"
4. Upcoming "Ultimate Edition" (new special features, but same old transfer)

Is this a new record? I believe this surpasses Born on the Fourth of July which has been released three times with the same non-anamorphic transfer.

07-03-2001, 07:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
*SeanL* Producer/Admin Got BMG? Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: NW Florida	What's with Universal dissin' consumers? Lately, Universal has been less than accomodating to their consumers. First, there's the whole JP DTS issue, then they started rereleasing titles as UE's. It all points to a trend that is going to continue. I was looking at the HTF and they were lamenting the press release for the Mummy Returns. You can click here. Sounds like they're setting us up for another UE. Friggin Universal ------------------ Sean What if there were no hypothetical questions?

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07-03-2001, 11:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
Fincher Supporting Actor Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Memphis, TN., USA	Yeah, that does suck. Although, I didn't like this movie very much. I do have friends who'll be looking forward to this, and it sucks for them. I'm just pissed that Memento's gonna be bare-bonzes. That stinks. ------------------ <--- A Fan Of The "View Askew Crew": Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, Scott Mosier, Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, Dwight Ewell, Matt Damon, Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, and Ethan Suplee. DVD Picks OF The Moment: *1. O Brother, Where Art Thou? starring George Clooney, Time Blake Nelson, Holly Hunter, and John Turturro* *2. The House Of Yes starring Parker Posey*

07-06-2001, 02:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
Drexl Actor Join Date: Jun 2000	I'm not sure that there will be an Ultimate Edition so soon. The UE's that have been released and/or announced so far have been unpredictable (and unnecessary, if you ask me). Universal wants us as consumers to be surprised, and the fact that everybody expects a UE of The Mummy Returns means that there will not be one for a while, if ever. By the way, if I ever buy one of these Ultimate Editions, I think I'll watch the supplements on disc 2 and give the disc to someone who likes pan & scan. Then, I'll write a letter to Universal explaining what I did and how they lost a sale over it. Maybe someone who works at the studio will realize how this is a bad idea.

07-06-2001, 08:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
*SeanL* Producer/Admin Got BMG? Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: NW Florida	This topic wasn't necessarily about a UE of Mummy Returns, as much as a topic about Universal's practices. Using Mummy Returns as an example; Stephen Sommers during an interview before MR talked about doing "alot" for the eventual dvd release. Looking at the specs from the press release, shows to me that there is more material not included on the upcoming disc. So, whether it is 6 months or 2 yrs later, Universal is more than likely going to reissue this title.....which is uncalled for. It's downright wrong! Except in the case of reissueing a disc that initially came out as a bare-bones disc in the early days of dvd, this practice does nothing but to take advantage of the consumer. Period. ------------------ Sean I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, when he said, "I drank what?"

07-07-2001, 09:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
Rouge 2 Actor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: staten Island, NY, U.S.	They should only Ultimate Ed a film they've never released or a film they screwed up on like Scarface. The extras are great but the transfer looked and sounded poor.

07-10-2001, 07:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
Dehrian Actor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: CA	How about The Sting? There's a title in their library they need to revisit with a UE. I'd pay for that. The original was P&S and barebones: not the way to treat one of the best catalogue titles in their library.

07-10-2001, 09:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
DVDriven Actor Join Date: May 2001 Location: 1020 Palm Drive, Cocoa Beach, FL	This UE fiasco only serves in defeating the purpose of having 'Collector's' editions. I thought that a Collector's Edition should be a definitive release in all facets of production and presentation. If something is geared towards a collector, shouldn't that be the case? Shouldn't the UE be, in fact, the true Collector's Edition? Maybe the folks at (insert movie studio here) interpreted 'collector' as anyone who purchases a copy of a movie for his/her collection. True, it would meet the definition of what a collector is, but the term is so misleading (to me anyway). We now have CE, SE, UE, not to mention studio-specific banners such as Vista Series and Infinifilm. It's enough to make anyone go

07-12-2001, 05:05 AM	#8 (permalink)
Marty McFly Moderator Emeritus Geezer Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Somewhere Between Hell and Hill Valley	IMO, Universal needs to get their act together and start releasing films not yet on DVD, instead of making an Ultimate Edition of every film that is already available. ------------------ -->Marty McFly<-- We could really bust some head...in a spiritual sense of course. My DVD Collection

07-12-2001, 12:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
Drexl Actor Join Date: Jun 2000	Here we go again. I see Universal has just announced an "Ultimate Edition" of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats. This will be the FOURTH time this direct-to-video film will have been released with the same old non-anamorphic transfer: 1. Polygram edition 2. Universal repackaging of Polygram disc after Universal got the rights to Polygram's music titles when Polygram went under 3. Same disc, this time labeled "Commemorative Edition" 4. Upcoming "Ultimate Edition" (new special features, but same old transfer) Is this a new record? I believe this surpasses Born on the Fourth of July which has been released three times with the same non-anamorphic transfer.