What Movies Are Split To Two Discs?

[larphillips]

OK, well I just learned today that GANGS OF NEW YORK (because I haven't watched my disc yet, nor did I read the box very carefully) is split across two discs.

I don't like this and in my mind, it's just as bad as a 'flipper.' I understand the limitations of size and data on a disc and such, and if there is nothing that can be done right now, so be it.

My reason for this thread is I'd like to know what other movies are out there that do the same thing? This could be valuable to me and others who might want to avoid titles like this.

PS: If there is already an existing thread on this, my apologies... I'm new and the wording is far too vague to search.

[Vonner]

Here are the movie that I have that are spread over two discs:

Pearl Harbor Directors Cut (I think the 60th Anniversary one is too)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition
Gang's Of New York

[aedavela]

I can add the SE's of Dances with Wolves and Lawrence of Arabia to the list.

[FurryHumanBeing]

Once Upon A Time In America
Goodfellas
Godfather Part II (I see a DeNero trend going on here!)
Robbin Hood Prince of Thieves (97 release)

[wahlers]

I can't think of any other off the top of my head, but thought I'd note that I prefer something split over 2 discs than a flipper.

I have a multi-disc player, so doing a "disc skip" is much easier than opening the drawer and flipping the disc.

I wish they had done titles like The Stand and Superman as separate 2-Disc versions instead of just DVD-18. I would like the option of ease of play, as well as "full color artwork on disc" (like they did with T2).

I'll look around at home tonight and see if I have any other spread-between-2-discs edition other than those mentioned on here already.

[rclark1114]

Das Boot was a flipper disc and then Sony rereleased it as a 2 disc superbit title. I would much rather have a 2 disc title than a flipper because of my disc changer.

[Donkey]

I don't like when movies are split over two discs, not at all. I mean "Gangs of New York" is one VHS tape, and it's split over 2 DVDs? What the fuck do you call that? "The Godfather Part II" is the only 2 DVD/flipper that I own (that I recall). I really, truly hate 2 DVD/flippers .

[bigking100]

the first edition of jfk was. and the anthony hopkins movie i think its called titus was too. mostly the ong movies that came out on dvd in the beginning years were too.

[Monterey Jack]

[old geezer]Back in my day, we had laserdiscs, and every...single...movie was split across two disc sides...unless the movie was over two hours, in which case it was split across three disc sides! You young whippernappers think you have it soooo good![/old geezer]



Honestly, if a movie is nearly three friggin' hours long, like Gangs Of New York or the extended, 3½ hour cut of Fellowship Of The Ring, then how many can make it through sans at least one bathroom break? Do you realize how petty you all sound? I'll take superb picture and DTS sound if it means having to haul myself off my rapidly expanding ass to switch discs once.

P.S.: The original 1997 version of The Color Purple was also a flipper, but the recent SE reissue is not.

[MrTony]

I gotta agree with Jack here. Switching discs doesn't bother me at all.

EDIT: Just to add to the list, Live From the Bonnaroo Music Festival 2002 is another split-across-two-discs movie.

[Kenshiro 26]

Originally Posted by bigking100

the anthony hopkins movie i think its called titus was too.

Titus is not split over two discs, at least the feature isn't. Only extras reside on disc 2.

As for discs that are split. Off the top of my head.

• Lawrence of Arabia - Limited Edition
• Ben-Hur - DVD-18
• Cleopatra - Five Star Collection
• Dr. Zhivago - DVD-14
• Dances With Wolves - dts

[SilentBob]

Wasn't the original Austin Powers International Man of Mystery DVD a flipper too. One half on one side and the other side for the rest of the movie? Also if that is true anyone know if the new editions of the movie (non snapper cases) have placed the entire movie on one side?

[Billiam86]

Originally Posted by SilentBob

Wasn't the original Austin Powers International Man of Mystery DVD a flipper too. One half on one side and the other side for the rest of the movie? Also if that is true anyone know if the new editions of the movie (non snapper cases) have placed the entire movie on one side?

actually, one side was WS and the other was Pan and Scan

[aedavela]

I was just going to add Gods and Generals, but I can't remember if it was a two disc job or a flipper. And my quick take on DVD movie splits. I don't mind it if it's done at a good time in the movie. Dances with Wolves and FOTR had their "intermissions" at perfect times in the flicks where you could get up and stretch and use the bathroom, then get sucked right back into the story. The break in Gods and Generals was poorly conceived; it cut right in the middle of a scene, almost cutting dialogue right in mid-sentence. And getting through that second half was a chore, I couldn't get back into it. So, splitting can be a good thing, but it has to be done right.

[tqpix]

I'm not sure, but I think The Ten Commandments is spread over two discs. I have not seen the DVD, but since it's released by Paramount--they never did SEs other than the Star Trek movies--and it's a two-disc edition, I would guess that the movie is spread over two discs.

[larphillips]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

[old geezer]Back in my day, we had laserdiscs, and every...single...movie was split across two disc sides...unless the movie was over two hours, in which case it was split across three disc sides! You young whippernappers think you have it soooo good![/old geezer]



Honestly, if a movie is nearly three friggin' hours long, like Gangs Of New York or the extended, 3½ hour cut of Fellowship Of The Ring, then how many can make it through sans at least one bathroom break? Do you realize how petty you all sound?

I'm from the old guard too... and that was my number 1 complaint with the laserdisc was the flipping. I hated the flipping. And I don't believe it's petty in the least. For me, ideally I would like to try my best to simulate a theater experience. If I had to wait for reel changes, I'd be pretty pissed at that too.
As far as your little-girl bladder, just hold it.

[larphillips]

Originally Posted by aedavela

I was just going to add Gods and Generals, but I can't remember if it was a two disc job or a flipper. And my quick take on DVD movie splits. I don't mind it if it's done at a good time in the movie. Dances with Wolves and FOTR had their "intermissions" at perfect times in the flicks where you could get up and stretch and use the bathroom, then get sucked right back into the story. The break in Gods and Generals was poorly conceived; it cut right in the middle of a scene, almost cutting dialogue right in mid-sentence. And getting through that second half was a chore, I couldn't get back into it. So, splitting can be a good thing, but it has to be done right.

I agree... if there was an intended Intermission by the filmmaker, then great. Then you are getting a simulated theater experience. But I also agree that a lot of the flip points and disc change points are totally random, and sometimes really in the wrong places. I've made the same argument with layer changes. There is no care taken in the mastering. These events should happen during a scene or reel change (and it wouldn't be TOO hard to do), but I've had layer changes happen in the middle of dialogue!

[Frank Gunn]

I don't mind movies being broken up if they're over three hours ('FOTR: EE', 'Once Upon A Time In America'), but 'Gangs' isn't nearly that long. And I can't stress enough how annoyed I was that the extras were spread over the two discs.

And 'Once Upon A Time In America' broke during a crucial segment, and sticks an intermission in halfway through the second disc!

[larphillips]

Well, here is a possible theory... that there is some sort of 'Deluxe' version of Gangs coming. Why do I think that? Because I'm pretty sure that there was no trailer for the film on that disc. If that is the case, then that is a way to see the studios telegraphing their punches. They did the same thing with Black Hawk Down. They do just enough to piss off true DVD fans so that an upgrade (even when it should have been 'right' in the first place) seems like a necessity.

Now before anyone jumps all over me, I'm the first to admit that the BHD Special Edition was awsome and well worth the price paid and the double dip.

[Frank Gunn]

As many orphans as I would step on to get a deluxe extended version of 'Gangs', I just don't think it's gonna happen. At least not for a long time. Anybody paying attention knew about the 'Black Hawk Down' Collector's Set well in advance; nobody seems to know anything about a new version of 'Gangs'.

[MrE26]

Movies such as Pearl Harbor DC & Fellowship Extended have a good excuse for being split over 2 discs. The DTS tracks & numerous commentaries mean that they won't actually fit on 1 disc. Gangs Of New York does not have that excuse. The R2 version contains the exact same extras & is only on 1 disc, with the extras on disc 2. Why they couldn't do that with the R1 version is beyond me.

[wahlers]

I especially liked the way the 'Fellowship of the Ring' discs were split (not only logically split based on the flow of the films-- not to mention the fact that each of the actual 3 parts of the book were actually 2 books apiece), but the way that the 2nd disc didn't require you to go through all the titles and warnings, etc. to continue the story.

With 2 DVD players set up, I can even start the 2nd player up when I get near the end of the 1st disc, and then just push play, and flip a switch, and continue seemlessly. I like to do this with 'Back To The Future', switching right after the car shoots towards the screen at the end of Part 1, and then have Part 2 waiting paused right as they jump into the future (after the credits), and switch to the other player...

Eventually, a single player may even be able to buffer the end of the first disc, and switch discs to start playing the 2nd disc seemlessly. It's not impossible.

There might even be a high-end player out there now that could do it, I don't know.

[larphillips]

Originally Posted by wahlers

Eventually, a single player may even be able to buffer the end of the first disc, and switch discs to start playing the 2nd disc seemlessly. It's not impossible.

There might even be a high-end player out there now that could do it, I don't know.

Now that is an idea I could easily go with! Same concept as switching reels on a projector. I like it! If they haven't already developed one, then Wahlers it is time to get your patent ready and head over to Sony.

[MEJHarrison]

Originally Posted by larphillips

For me, ideally I would like to try my best to simulate a theater experience.

Now you're talking.

Speaking for myself, before watching any movie I spill overpriced popcorn and candy on the floor. Then top it off with some soda. I take my glasses off to make the picture slightly blurry. If I can round up some neighborhood kids to come over, I'll have them start talking every 5-10 minutes so I can't hear the movie. Give 'em a few bucks each and you can even simulate that empty feeling in your wallet. And even though my wife can get up and go to the bathroom, I have her crawl over my lap for that true theater experience. Sometimes just for kicks, she'll surprise me by scheduling a friend to call her cell phone right in the middle of things. And if I'm really feeling spunky, I'll take a half-hour drive first to work up the anticipation of going to a 'movie'.

Seriously now, my home theater isn't a movie theater. There are advantages to each of course, but for the most part, I'll take my home theater over the real thing any day of the week. You're free to watch your movies however you like. But for me, swapping discs doesn't even register on my list of annoyances.

Why is it that Tivo is the greatest thing since sliced bread (Pause live TV!!!), but pausing a movie is a sin?

Anyway, back on topic. If swapping discs bothers you, avoid the new Lawrence of Arabia. Not only is the Superbit spread over two discs, it doesn't even split at the intermission.

[Frank Gunn]

Why is it that Tivo is the greatest thing since sliced bread (Pause live TV!!!), but pausing a movie is a sin?

Obviously, because with Tivo, you can pause it whenever you want. With 'Gangs of New York', the pause is imposed upon you after an hour and fifteen minutes. Freedom! Choice! We want to be able to do whatever the hell we want to do! You know how we Americans are.


Seriously, bottom line, as the Region 2 disc has proven, there was no good goddamned reason to spread 'Gangs of New York' across two discs. That's my only beef. As for 'Lawrence of Arabia', that one's pushing four hours. 'Gangs' isn't even three. So of course we'll all be a little more forgiving of 'Lawrence of Arabia'.

[larphillips]

Originally Posted by MEJHarrison

Speaking for myself, before watching any movie I spill overpriced popcorn and candy on the floor. Then top it off with some soda. I take my glasses off to make the picture slightly blurry. If I can round up some neighborhood kids to come over, I'll have them start talking every 5-10 minutes so I can't hear the movie. Give 'em a few bucks each and you can even simulate that empty feeling in your wallet. And even though my wife can get up and go to the bathroom, I have her crawl over my lap for that true theater experience. Sometimes just for kicks, she'll surprise me by scheduling a friend to call her cell phone right in the middle of things. And if I'm really feeling spunky, I'll take a half-hour drive first to work up the anticipation of going to a 'movie'.

Wow... you are either fully anti-social, or you have the shittiest movie theaters in the world. Man, who peed in your coke? Movies were made for, and meant to be seen in a theater. Every director will tell you that, and believes in that. Watching at home is basically a very pale imitation, regardless of how good your system is.

Originally Posted by MEJHarrison

Why is it that Tivo is the greatest thing since sliced bread (Pause live TV!!!), but pausing a movie is a sin?

I've got no love for Tivo. Besides, TV is meant to have frequent breaks in it. It is designed around commercials. Movies are not.