Fox Re-Issuing 2-Disc Sets Into 1

[Marty McFly]

From the DVDFile main page:

So, is this the start of a new trend? On 3/5, Fox will reprice three of its most popular catalog titles - Cast Away, The Abyss, and Independence Day - to only $19.95, which seems like great news, right? Well, there is one little catch...these reissues will be single-disc versions only, i.e., the second disc of supplementary material on all three titles will be dropped. Why bother, you might ask? Well, common sense would say that it is obviously cheaper to replicate a one-disc set rather than two, hence the lower cost. Personally, I think this is a REALLY bad idea...it is confusing to consumers (how will these discs be marketed and packaged, as "Single Disc Special Editions?") and why create double inventory? And how long will the two-disc versions currently on the market last? Who knows...but get those two-disc wonders while you can...

Personally, I couldn't agree more. So now you save $5 without extras. Big deal. It's still the same video and sound quality as the 2-Disc.

Man, what a studio will do for money these days.

[LBPound23]

Weren't Cast Away and some of the others recently reduced to $22.99 for the 2-disc versions? So it's even less than $5. What an absolutely stupid idea. Especially if it means the 2-disc sets are going out-of-print.

[UserNameUndecided]

What is the friggin point of this? I certainly hope that they aren't discontinuing the 2 disc editions.
I honestly don't see any marketing strategy in this. Why???

[AnonomusBob15]

I own the 2 disc versions of Abyss, ID4, and Cast Away. That is a stupid idea except for the ID4 disc because it sucks anyway. The Cast Away and Abyss discs are great.

How much does it cost to make a dvd anyway? Like 10 damn cents, lazy cheap ass bastards. Even though this really doesn't bother me.

[LBPound23]

Originally posted by UserNameUndecided
What is the friggin point of this? I certainly hope that they aren't discontinuing the 2 disc editions.
I honestly don't see any marketing strategy in this. Why???

They did that very thing for Patton. If the 2-disc editions of Cast Away, Independence Day and The Abyss go away, then so does my high opinion of Fox's product.

[run1]

Lame idea. Can't see the huge possibility of a substantial profit either. Do they predict these to be big sellers? Is it really that hard to find the 2-disc versions of these titles?
And just how pissed will a guy who's paid $19.95 for his one-disc version of Cast Away be when he finds out you can get the 2-disc version for $13.46 online(absound.com)?
Bad bad idea.......

[pdjennings]

Normally..... (u know me) I'm all for reissues, etc.... but this just seems.... pointless.

[Mr. McMinn]

pdjennings is right people. I own the Cast Away 2-disc set. Why go out and buy it again? Of course I got the 2-disc set of Cast Away at Wal-mart for 19. 98+tax. the price went up after that, though. Still, Fox does some pointless things.

[Indyphantom]

Originally posted by AnonomusBob15
. That is a stupid idea except for the ID4 disc because it sucks anyway.

Do you mean the 2nd disc sucks or ID4 sucks in general. Personally, it's one of my favorite Fox releases. Only way it could be improved is with DTS.

I agree though, this is a terrible idea from Fox. Glad I finally picked up Cast Away a month ago. These discs are cherished by so many...Fox is seemingly compromising their own product. My early guess was these particular Fox titles would be classics, and in print for quite some time.

I don't think this is a good idea at all. 3 of the best DVD's now not as good.

[AnonomusBob15]

Originally posted by Indyphantom


Do you mean the 2nd disc sucks or ID4 sucks in general. Personally, it's one of my favorite Fox releases. Only way it could be improved is with DTS.

I agree though, this is a terrible idea from Fox. Glad I finally picked up Cast Away a month ago. These discs are cherished by so many...Fox is seemingly compromising their own product. My early guess was these particular Fox titles would be classics, and in print for quite some time.

I don't think this is a good idea at all. 3 of the best DVD's now not as good.

Yes, In fact, I wasn't pleased with the whole ID4 dvd. A crappy commentary. A stupid HBO-fluff documentary, a stupid boring mockumentary, some other equally boring documentary, a lame alternate ending that is the same thing just a different plane, some trailers, and umm, that's it. No DTS track, where the hell was that, but the picture was pretty nice. I got it because I like the movie, but I believe this is one of fox's worst SEs.....

[IKEA_boy]

That really sucks for people like me who have no money. Now I feel pressured to run out and pick up the double sets.

[MrTony]

Sounds like I should pick up ID4 and The Abyss ASAFP.

[bchase2500]

I didn't realize that the Patton 2 disc set was out of print. Is that true? I thought both were available. I guess I better by the 2 disc. Now or never.

[Wurms]

When they say one disc, that could mean it will be a flipper. Special features on the other side. Just no cool logos anymore.

They spent all that money to pay for the special features, I don't think they are just gonna do away with them.

Look at T2: Ultimate Edition. Went from 2-disc to one disc and still has all the special features.

[SeanL]

This is not new territory for Fox or any of the other studios. They've been doing this for a while on VHS. Reissue a movie under some new fangled product line(studio classics, Western Classics, etc), and a new price point....and voila!, a new way to keep rehashing the same movie. Just like what Universal does with their UE DVD's....Fox is just being a little more slick about it.

[Avid]

I agree with AnonomusBob15 about ID4. I liked the flick and read great reviews of the DVD when I bought my player. Thank God I rented it instead of rushing out and buying it! This was the first film in my DVD player, and I learned right off the bat not to buy anything because of special features. But hey, go figure, I talked with a friend the other day that loves the extras on it...

I heard they are not making the type of disks (DVD-18?) that the T2 one disk was on. If that is the case, they will truly get rid of the second disk. That is real shame.

I really don't think people will think, "Hey it is not a two disk SE anymore, so great, I can run off and buy one disk now. Just what I always wanted." Not! Doesn't sound like a great money making idea.

[flix]

Hmmm, the real question here is whether Fox is losing a physical disc or losing supplements. Anyone confirm one way or another? Could this be a stepping stone to cutting out supplements altogether, as has been rumored?

[SilentFace]

bah...I couldn't care less about those titles.....but all-in-all it does sound like a stupid ploy.

[gafferboy]

Here in Australia Fox has been doing this for a while now: releasing the 2 disc set and then months later re-releasing a single disc with no extras. I saw Fight Club really cheap and was about to buy it for a friend when I realized it was just a movie only version - it even had different artwork. I guess if all you care about is the movie then it's cheaper alternative but personally I can't see the point: everyone I know wants extras.

[Raptor]

Fox is discontinuing the Planet of the Apes 2-disc set now that the single-disc version is being released tomorrow. Is this happening with the other re-releases to, like ID4 and Cast Away? Looks like I better go pick up some of these soon. Which other titles are being re-released like this by Fox?

[Triple HHH]

Originally posted by Raptor
Fox is discontinuing the Planet of the Apes 2-disc set now that the single-disc version is being released tomorrow. Is this happening with the other re-releases to, like ID4 and Cast Away? Looks like I better go pick up some of these soon. Which other titles are being re-released like this by Fox?

I'm not aware of a 2-disc version of Planet of the Apes. I'm assuming you're talking about the orignal version, not the Burton one right? I thought the original was a single disc. I have it, but it was part of the Evolution Box Set.

Sorry, I don't have any word on the Cast Away/ID4 dvds.

[tycho282]

In even worse news, haven't I read the single-disc sets will be full-screen p&s transfers?
If somebody remembers otherwise, please chime in.

--Chris

[bmac_007]

the new releases are just the first disc of the previous special editions. the extras are not included. they are releasing both wide screen and p/s versions with the widescreen ones released first.

the list price for these discs is 19.99 i think but they are all on sale for 11.99-12.99 this week and will be 14.99 thereafter. thats a 8 dollar difference between the 22.99 i usually see the double discs at.

i borrowed id4 five star from a friend a while back and watched the extras. they were decent but i dont see myself wanting to watch them again. now i can go to cc and get just the movie with two commentaries and extended footage for 11.99. whats wrong with that? there are some movies that i like but just dont give a rats a$$ about watching behind the scenes, making of, etc.

[Raptor]

Originally posted by Triple HHH


I'm not aware of a 2-disc version of Planet of the Apes. I'm assuming you're talking about the orignal version, not the Burton one right? I thought the original was a single disc. I have it, but it was part of the Evolution Box Set.

No, I was talking about the Burton one. Sorry I wasn't clear.

[Newagegunn]

You know, some movies I like, but don't want to pay 24.99 for (ID4). If I could get ID4 for like 12.99 I'd pick it up in a second, just for the movie....it's not the type of movie that I would care about the extras (kinda like when I picked up the cheaper MIB disc because I didn't care for the extra stuff on the other disc). But it would suck for others who wanted the extras if the original 2 disc sets went out of print.

[disclover]

Well, I was at Best Buy last weekend to redeem a gift card and picked up the two-disc Cast Away. The one-disc versions were right next to it on the rack. I find it disappointing that Fox is doing this. If they must release pan and scam versions, make THEM one disc and leave the two-disc widescreen version in print with all the features! A single-disc, bare bones version released after a loaded special edition makes little sense...

[Raptor]

I completely agree, disclover. Rack this one up as yet another stupid decision by Fox.

[Eddie2u]

I went to Best Buy today and found Cast Away for just $12.99.
It was the single disc version with no 2 disc dvd in stock at all.
The case was so flimsy and cheap.
I went to another store and seen ID4 for $12.99.
It was so cheap looking as well.
I noticed two dvd's had that rattle when shooked.
You know that sound when the disk fell out of its holder.
The sounds of a loose disc scratching away when shooked.
The dvd's are junk.

[Velvet G]

IIRC, these new releases won't have anything to do with the enthusiasts here. I heard that the single disc versions were the pan and scan versions of the movies.

We should probably wait and see before we start burning Fox at the stake. We buy DVDs because it is a passion for a lot of us. Studios put out movies to make money. If Fox knows that there are some people who won't buy the original release of a movie because they don't want widescreen, they have two options, sell only the one that this group wants and make x dollars or sell two versions and make x+y dollars.

Fox hasn't actually done anything YET, so let's wait and see what happens.

[tycho282]

After some thought, I actually think this is a good idea, or at least half-a good idea. Before flaming, hear me out:

Putting out both OAR and pan/scan editions of a movie is guarenteed to satisfy 100% of the movie-buying consumer base. Cinemaphiles such as ourselves as well as those who don't know any better or don't care for black bars on their TVs get to eat their cake too.

My problem is not in the studios doing this, but in the retailers/rental outlets policies in stocking pan/scan exclusively when OAR releases exist.

I do feel bad for the people who are going to buy these films in their new single-disc/non-special edition format since they will not get the second disc's worth of features.

It makes sense economically for the studios to do this. This does not mean we should accept either their releasing pan/scan versions exclusively or retailers stocking p/s only. Pressure should be kept on both when they slip in this regard. I'm only saying everyone should have the opportunity to own a version of a movie they like in a format they prefer.

--Chris

[Raptor]

Okay, I have no problem with Fox releasing P&S editions. But I do have a problem with them pulling the original 2-disc sets. Maybe they're doing it so people who buy P&S won't feel left out about not getting the second set of extras. Since they're re-releasing both P&S and widescreen in single-disc fashion, a consumer who goes to the store and doesn't know there was ever a 2-disc set will simply have to decide if they want P&S or widescreen. But it still seems pretty stupid. Why not just leave the 2-disc sets out there and forget about releasing a widescreen single-disc. Ideally, it would be nice if there was only one, definitive edition of every title: widescreen, P&S, DD, DTS, all in one box. DVD shopping is confusing enough as it is; they're just making matters worse.

[Velvet G]

Originally posted by Raptor
Okay, I have no problem with Fox releasing P&S editions. But I do have a problem with them pulling the original 2-disc sets. Maybe they're doing it so people who buy P&S won't feel left out about not getting the second set of extras. Since they're re-releasing both P&S and widescreen in single-disc fashion, a consumer who goes to the store and doesn't know there was ever a 2-disc set will simply have to decide if they want P&S or widescreen. But it still seems pretty stupid. Why not just leave the 2-disc sets out there and forget about releasing a widescreen single-disc. Ideally, it would be nice if there was only one, definitive edition of every title: widescreen, P&S, DD, DTS, all in one box. DVD shopping is confusing enough as it is; they're just making matters worse.

Suncoast and actual stores that specialize in DVDs are a better place to go. I will never allow Target, BB or Kmart be my primary source for DVDs. They still sell the 2 disc versions there and I'm not sure why everyone expects a retail chain to sell every version of every DVD ever made. It's not what they specialize in and it makes up a very small percent of their business.

Best Buy is the best by far. I found The Seven Samurai at the one in DE, but it will never be my primary source for movies. It's not what they specialize in.

I DO NOT want a 2 disc set that has WS on one disc and PS on the other. My new Mask of Zorro is that way and I'm pissed I had to pay for a disc I will never watch.

[disclover]

Basically, Raptor's point is the one I was trying to make above. If they want to release P&S, okay, I won't buy it, but leave the two-disc widescreen version in print so that enthusiasts who enjoy widescreen can also enjoy the added features. Suppose someone down the line, who has never seen these movies before, discovers one of them, really likes it, and wants to buy it on DVD. They then discover that their only options are bare bones discs, when a feature-loaded one was previously available. I know I would say...that sucks!