Comments on: Batman Movies Coming on Blu-Ray, Re-Released on DVD

By: Another Example of Pushing Customers to Blu-Ray: Bolt Release Staggered » Comics Worth Reading

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:32:42 +0000

[...] knew studios were pushing the Blu-Ray format hard in their product announcements, but I was surprised to see them stacking the deck when it comes to release dates. [...]

By: Johanna

Johanna — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:04:24 +0000

Oh, I agree that the prices are coming closer — but in some cases we’ve noticed that that’s because the list prices on regular DVDs are being raised, a trend I do not like. I would hope you’re right about both formats sticking around, but I don’t think that’s likely to remain the case for long, because they’re too similar in the bigger picture.

By: Thom

Thom — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:07:18 +0000

Understandable. I was more just noting that the Blu-Ray option is coming closer to general DVD prices (heck, the average new DVD still ranges from $15-$25) much more quickly. It took over five years for DVD’s to settle at the $15-25 for new releases. And for a long time, a double disc set was double the price of a single edition DVD…Blu-Ray and HD-DVDs did not charge extra for 2 disc sets right out of the gate.

Plus, for me, it’s not just the better picture (although, that is really nice for super-hero films and shows like Lost)…but extras such as picture in picture commentaries. Obviously, to people less interested in extras that is kind of a “whatever” scenario. :)

As far as taking away the choice? I think DVD will be around a long time. The big push is because Sony and other manufacturers are very nervous that Blu-Ray would become the next Laser Disc. Right now they want it to succeed enough to not be a failure-which is why they are pushing it in people’s faces and advertising “the Blu-Ray release (and oh yeah, the DVD comes out on Tuesday as well)”. :) But I don’t see DVD going anywhere for many years to come.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:47:04 +0000

I buy DVDs when they’re $5-10, so that’s still not the same range for me. I don’t mind companies pushing the product that makes them more money – I just fear the day when they try to take away my choice entirely.

By: Thom

Thom — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:36:00 +0000

Considering Blu-Rays in general are already getting down to DVD prices (they range from $15-30), it is not a tremendous amount more. I like Blu-Ray, and one nice aspect of the the newer format is that the players are back compatible. It’s not like you have to replace all your DVDs. There are films that benefit from the enhancements and films that don’t. While I think some of the pro-BR camp is absurdly over zealous, I actually find the nay-sayers similarly over-zealous. I mean, why are we faulting companies for pushing their product? Imagine claiming someone was going to ignore Marvel as long as they continued to push comic books.

By: Charles RB

Charles RB — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:33:09 +0000

My favourite comment on Blu-Ray was Stephen Grant at CBR noticing that the format’s pushers are calling 2000 the Year of the Blu-Ray – to which Grant says “won’t this be the third Year of the Blu-Ray?”.

By: Rob Spencer

Rob Spencer — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:50:37 +0000

These discs are probably just re-sleeved from the release a couple of years ago. They put out all 4 as 2-disc sets, or in an ‘Anthology’ pack. I think that was a cardboard box. But like Star Wars, there’s always a new audience and a continuing brand to sell.

As for Blu-Ray, it’s kind of an artificial standard; they can already produce higher-def images and higher capacity discs, but the electronics companies all settled on 1080p a couple of years ago. They’re like the Iraqis in ‘Three Kings’ “newest and best!” but it really isn’t.

I’m holding out for holograms.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:29:50 +0000

I like the Catwoman bits of Batman Returns a lot. I stumbled across that on TV the other week and found it still striking. Three and four have increasingly diminishing returns. Although I’d like to see B&R again, just for nostalgia — I only ever saw it in a preview show when I worked at DC, and I thought it was silly fun action.

Tpiro: I know having the lead actors change is a bit distracting, but I didn’t think there were any huge contradictions.

Blu-Ray does strike me as a product that suits the producers better than the customers. And that’s not a recipe for success.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:46:12 +0000

Wonder how well Blu-Ray is selling these days anyway, given the state of the economy. Either way, count me in on the “ignoring Blu-Ray” camp as well (besides not owning an HDTV set, spending lots of money just for a sharper picture as the sole benefit/something that I can’t easily rip to my own computer? No thanks…).

By: Charles RB

Charles RB — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:58:07 +0000

The studios are definately pushed Blu-Ray – and I’m ignoring them until they stop.

By: Timo Raittila

Timo Raittila — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:17:35 +0000

So now we have these on VHS, DVD and Blu-Ray.

When are we getting the 60′s TV-show ???
New material please.

By: tpiro

tpiro — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:53:39 +0000

Are we really supposed to pretend all 4 of these movies are from the same timeline?

By: Ask Your PC

Ask Your PC — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:20:54 +0000

It seems like the DVD came out a little late and the Blu-Ray too early. Anyhow, Batman was an obvious pick for the next video to be made in Blu-ray format because of the Dark Knight’s success.

By: matthew

matthew — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:37:19 +0000

I wouldn’t mind seeing the first Batman again, but I wouldn’t spend any “real” money it. In other words, it’s Netflix-worthy but nothing more.

I can honestly say that every sequel looked so sub-par that I never saw them in the theater and have only seen bits and pieces of them on TV. My feeling (from others who have seen the movies) is that they were overwhelmingly bad.

So ignoring the Blu-Ray vs. DVD issue for a moment, is there really a consumer audience for these movies at all?