American Pie 2 - 4 releases

[marty]

Did anyone else see that American Pie 2 is being released in 4 different versions. Pan&Scam, P&S unrated, OAR, OAR unrated. That seems like at least 2 releases more than necessary to me. Make the rated version P&S and make the unrated version OAR. They could even just call them cut and uncut.

Of course in 6 months they'll release Ultimate unrated, and Ultimate rated editions, that will push it up to 6 releases, we're talking about Army of Darkness territory there.

[Louie]

Are they being released in keep cases, or cases similiar to the "Ultimate" editions?

[DVD-NUTTA]

Mine came in a keep case, actually it came in a shitty SCANAVO case that as usual was broken.Universal please go back to using AMARAY CASES.Thank god i have a stash of coloured amarays..one question why would anybody actually choose to buy a rated version of a movie when there is an un-rated version available, probably the same MUPPET who buys pan & scam yes i did spell that correctly..

[pdjennings]

Originally posted by DVD-NUTTA
why would anybody actually choose to buy a rated version of a movie when there is an un-rated version available

In a word.......... Blockbuster.

Apparently, their inbred wholesome 'values' won't allow them stock an unrated version of a movie.

[marty]

Yes - I believe the Pan&Scam Rated version is the Blockbuster/Walmart edition.

[Flash Ahhh]

We seen this with American Pie 1, so this I think was to be expected.

Personally I don't see the need for 4 editions. Other movies, (like the Poison Ivy movie I am pretty sure) you can select from rated to unrated and widescreen to P&S all from the set up menu. One disk.

Blockbuster is just tyring to be PC. The differences inbetween the rated and unrated versions of American Pie were so nil, hardly anyoen could be able to tell. Now Road Trip was another story, you seen a few more sets of boobs. Big deal. If someone is old enough to see an "R", then they are old enough to see a "UR".

Personally I don't care how many editions they put out, because I'll only buy one, the widescreen unrated. What does bother me is if they do the standard editionnow, then the Ultimate edition later. I am somewhat expecting that on Mummy 2 (around the time when The Scorpion King comes out I bet) and American Pie 2.

-Flash

[voiceontheleft]

What I find mind-boggling about the whole Walmart take on "wholesome family entertainment" is the fact tha, while they would not carry unrated versions of Road Trip or American Pie, the Walmart in my town had shelves lined with the Unrated version of The Klumps.

Hypocrisy makes me so pissed at the human race.

[pdjennings]

Originally posted by voiceontheleft
What I find mind-boggling about the whole Walmart take on "wholesome family entertainment" is the fact tha, while they would not carry unrated versions of Road Trip or American Pie, the Walmart in my town had shelves lined with the Unrated version of The Klumps.

Hypocrisy makes me so pissed at the human race.

Even more hypocritical still.... is the fact that they sell guns two aisles over.

[Beware_the_Creeper]

I find it to be highly hypocritical that we as DVD enthusiasts are asking others to respect our views on having OAR anamorphic releases yet some of those same individuals take potshots at others who might prefer the theater-rated version to an unrated version with a few more seconds of nudity or T&A.

It's no wonder we're starting to lose that battle in the retail rental/sales outlets for shelf space. Widescreen enthusiasts sometimes come off as conceited opinionated a**holes.

Why do you care if someone prefers the rated version or the pan & scan version as long as you have the OPTION to have the one that you want?!?!?!?

People need to wake up and realize that bashing the opposition over the head constantly isn't always the quickest way to getting what you want, no matter how righteous you think your arguement is. It is always better to raise everyone up to the same level logically than to lower the arguement by attacking people.

Grow up.

Originally posted by DVD-NUTTA
one question why would anybody actually choose to buy a rated version of a movie when there is an un-rated version available, probably the same MUPPET who buys pan & scam yes i did spell that correctly..

[Velvet G]

I have to agree. As long as they offer the version I want, they can offer a million different versions for all I care.

Everyone has different tastes. It's why everyone isn't wearing the same clothes or driving the same cars. There really is no reason to get upset that the studio is trying to please everyone. You have to ask yourself what will happen if the studio decided to ONLY look at sales numbers and the elite purist among us who only want unrated ws DTS versions aren't bringing in the most dollars and they go to a straight PS rated version? Then people would be complaining about that too.

If they have the version you want, just be happy with it. There are much more important things to get upset about.

[The Riddler]

Originally posted by Beware_the_Creeper
....Why do you care if someone prefers the rated version or the pan & scan version as long as you have the OPTION to have the one that you want?!?!?!?

Both versions on the same disc a la old-skool Waner DVDs were fine with me!

Even Shrek had everything bundled together! None of this DD or DTS version, Widescreen or P&S version bull....!!!

[marty]

Well Creeper the problem lies in the fact that it will be hard to get the version we want. Retailers are going to stock the P&S versions. It is tough enough to get them to stock OAR along with P&S when both are released. Now on top of that - they're already dedicating shelf space to 2 separate P&S releases, not many will bring in either of the OAR releases. The OPTION widescreen enthusiasts want will not be available.

[Louie]

Universal should have just done the Ultimate now, both P&S and WS. I hate P&S, and I have finally proved to my family "Wider is better", but you have to make everyone happy. I mean when the Ultimate Edition comes out just trade your APII in at Electronics Boutique for the Ultimate. Thats what I'll do.

So does this regular version have dts?

[molecularman]

any word if there's going to be a third movie? b/c they realeased the ultimate edition of the mummy and american pie right when their sequels came out. if there's no third movie, there might not be an ultimate edition.

[Velvet G]

Originally posted by marty
Well Creeper the problem lies in the fact that it will be hard to get the version we want. Retailers are going to stock the P&S versions. It is tough enough to get them to stock OAR along with P&S when both are released. Now on top of that - they're already dedicating shelf space to 2 separate P&S releases, not many will bring in either of the OAR releases. The OPTION widescreen enthusiasts want will not be available.

This may be true at Kmart or Target, but I buy most of my DVDs from stores that just sell DVDs (Suncoast, Digitanment, etc.) and I seriously doubt that they will stop carrying WS because big retail stores do. Circuit City sells a lot of Sony Receivers but I have never seen Sony ES products there but they are still widely available. I do think the idea of all of those different versions is silly, but I would rather have all of those than just one that I may not want. Convenience stores cater to the masses. That's what makes it convenient. Honestly, those big retail chains rarely carry most of the movies I want anyway, so I don't have any concerns about my preferences going away. I just don't see it happening.

It sounds bad, but I have too many DVD two disc sets in my collection now where the second disc I wasted my money on is the PS version. I will never use it and it was just a waste of money. I want the version I want and if they can't put both on one disc, I would rather just spend my money on the version I want.

G

[marty]

Yes, I suppose all the versions will be available at movie stores where they sell for MSRP. So Pan&Scam will be available everywhere for $15-$17, and OAR will be available for $25-$27 at limited areas.

I just don't see the need for 4 releases. The people that are looking for P&S won't tend to be the people looking for unrated.
Someone who wants 40% of the entire film cut out, won't care about missing 17 seconds of footage.

[Velvet G]

Originally posted by marty
Yes, I suppose all the versions will be available at movie stores where they sell for MSRP. So Pan&Scam will be available everywhere for $15-$17, and OAR will be available for $25-$27 at limited areas.

I just don't see the need for 4 releases. The people that are looking for P&S won't tend to be the people looking for unrated.
Someone who wants 40% of the entire film cut out, won't care about missing 17 seconds of footage.

On this you and I agree. But there is always the ULTIMATE EDITION that will be out about a month later!:p

[Avid]

The people that are looking for P&S won't tend to be the people looking for unrated. Someone who wants 40% of the entire film cut out, won't care about missing 17 seconds of footage.

I know two die-hard Pan and Scanners and I am not so sure about this. I think the appeal of a few more seconds of nudity or violence appeals to almost everyone.

Also, I am an OAR lover, but director's cuts without being able to see the original theatrical release, just drives me nuts. I hate it. Give me seemless branching or two disks with both versions.

When is everyone going to own a widescreen TV?

[Beware_the_Creeper]

Marty,

My point is simply this. Bashing and attacking what others want, be it P&S or a rated vs. unrated issue, isn't the way to reclaim that shelf space that is being lost.

The weapon is education.

It might mean sitting down with someone who may not know the benefits of watching a film in widescreen and trying to show them why YOU like it so much. I found that the OAR document at www.thedigitalbits.com is very helpful to visually demonstrate to someone what they might be missing without sitting them down in front of a digital 16:9 tv.

It might mean educating studios and retailers. Complain. Write to Best Buy! Write to Blockbuster! Write the studios making these decisions! I know it gets frustrating, but its more productive than just complaining on a board.

For example, I wanted to buy WILLY WONKA for my fiancee' for Christmas :santa: . The local Media Play and other retailers weren't carrying the widescreen edition. Can I blame them? No. The studio didn't release the widescreen edition for months after the P&S one was out. Most retailers usually only replace what they sell, so I can't blame Media Play for not putting more widescreen ones on the shelf next to the P&S ones.

So what was my recourse? Well, I complained. No, I didn't stand there and yell at the poor $5/hour employee, because they don't care and why should they? Either talk to the section manager, or compain to corporate. I told them that that since they didn't choose to stock the title, that I also had no interest in special ordering it from them. I told them that I was sorry but their decisions concerning that title cost them my business on it.

How did I get the disc? Well, I chose to take my business to www.deepdiscountdvd.com who not only stocked the widescreen edition, but shipped it to me in a professional and timely fashion for a very good price. It was the first time that I've used them, based on several recommendations I've seen on boards. In the past I've used Amazon and other online outlets to get titles that either weren't available in local stores or were significantly cheaper.

Life works very simply. Business is about money. Who makes it, who spends it, and who gets it. Yelling at the store clerks won't do any good. They are people just like you. They don't see the profit margin statements based on if you buy a disc or not. They can care less about what you want and still get the same small paycheck at the end of the week. By directing your complaints to upper-level management you can make an impact. By telling them that they lost your business because of some decisions they've made, it'll make an impact. By using alternative sources (either online or other local retailers) it'll make an impact.

If your store doesn't carry something you want Marty, may I humbly suggest that you use www.deepdiscountdvd.com to get it. If I do that, and then you have a good experience with them and ALSO recommend them to someone, who recommends them to someone else....you'll be assured that you'll ALWAYS have the option you want by supporting the retailer who gives them to you.

Just my thoughts...

The Creeper

Originally posted by marty
Well Creeper the problem lies in the fact that it will be hard to get the version we want. Retailers are going to stock the P&S versions. It is tough enough to get them to stock OAR along with P&S when both are released. Now on top of that - they're already dedicating shelf space to 2 separate P&S releases, not many will bring in either of the OAR releases. The OPTION widescreen enthusiasts want will not be available.