Star Trek Into Darkness (Post-release)

[Solo4114]

Hehe. He called me a luddite.

"We believe when you build a machine to do the work for a man, you take something away from the man."
- Someone you're supposed to like and care about in "Star Trek: Insurrection"​

I don't work in the entertainment industry that focuses on the tangible medium market, nor have I purposefully destroyed streaming servers or tried swaying people away from using streaming like services. I'm just a fan who supports it by buying it. How does that fit the description of 19th century workers who protested the use of machines that were taking over their jobs? This whole argument came from the fact that Paramount is doing a really crappy job at trying to keep one of their iconic franchises relevant. Cripes, I actually feel bad for the fans who liked this movie who were hoping to get as much in-depth material just like the last release, which even despite the movie was an excellent set. And when I say that Paramount should do a better job on a movie that I don't even like, you turn the discussion into a "tangible mediums are dying! Studios know what's best for all!" which doesn't even address the real issue.

Also, we're not here to make money off of Star Trek, stocks or anything else. This discussion is about and the higher paid jerks over at Paramount who won't give us the best product they can possibly produce even though they have done so in the past.

I realize that this may come as a shock to you, but you don't get to set the terms and boundaries of the discussion. Bryan originally brought up the "future of content delivery" issue, in relation to the fact that the streaming version was (supposedly) better than the disc version. That's what led to the "new medium" discussion, which, I might remind you, you participated in willingly.

You're being pedantic about the luddite bit, and I don't feel like getting into a silly debate with you about it.



In other news, I hereby decree that this discussion is about the dangers to eye strain caused by shifting aspect ratios in films.

 

[Bryancd]

And 48fps!

 

[Jeyl]

Paramount is not engaging in some intellectually dishonest money grab nor is it abandoning support of Star Trek as a franchise or it's fan base. That's an incredibly myopic view. They are exploring new methods and models of distribution and likely recognize that the vast majority of dollars they receive from reading their films for personal consumption come from consumers who just want to see the movie and the return on investment for all the bells and whistles is becoming less compelling.

So this new release of "Star Trek Into Darkness" is not at all about the bells and whistles nor is it a money grab? Let's boil down the list and see how well that holds up.

Amazon Exclusive
- limited edition version of the 3D bluray release with a QMx phaser

Walmart Canada
- Klingon Mimobot USB stick/character

Walmart USA
- Steelbook packaging, coupled with a Hot Wheels USS Vengeance

Best Buy
- Exclusive additional disc with behind the scenes material

Target
- Exclusive Slip Cover with an additional disc of behind the scenes material

iTunes
- Enhanced Commentary Track​

Really, the only way your argument would work is if every release was like this.

Everywhere
- Just the movie, no special features​

But it's not. They took the special features that were made for the BluRay, cut it up and divided it amongst the retailers so that no matter which release you get, you will be missing something that could have all been included on this set.

 

[Bryancd]

So this new release of "Star Trek Into Darkness" is not at all about the bells and whistles nor is it a money grab? Let's boil down the list and see how well that holds up.

Amazon Exclusive
- limited edition version of the 3D bluray release with a QMx phaser

Walmart Canada
- Klingon Mimobot USB stick/character

Walmart USA
- Steelbook packaging, coupled with a Hot Wheels USS Vengeance

Best Buy
- Exclusive additional disc with behind the scenes material

Target
- Exclusive Slip Cover with an additional disc of behind the scenes material

iTunes
- Enhanced Commentary Track​

Really, the only way your argument would work is if every release was like this.

Everywhere
- Just the movie, no special features​

But it's not. They took the special features that were made for the BluRay, cut it up and divided it amongst the retailers so that no matter which release you get, you will be missing something that could have all been included on this set.

It's called targeted marketing and allowing their distribution network to offer unique products to allow the consumer to choose their own preference. I fatigue of explaining all of this to you..,

 

[Jeyl]

It's called targeted marketing and allowing their distribution network to offer unique products to allow the consumer to choose their own preference. I fatigue of explaining all of this to you..,

But I like Steelbooks, commentary tracks and loads of bonus features. As a consumer, I don't see a preference. I see Sophie's Choice.

 

[Solo4114]

So this new release of "Star Trek Into Darkness" is not at all about the bells and whistles nor is it a money grab? Let's boil down the list and see how well that holds up.

Amazon Exclusive
- limited edition version of the 3D bluray release with a QMx phaser

Walmart Canada
- Klingon Mimobot USB stick/character

Walmart USA
- Steelbook packaging, coupled with a Hot Wheels USS Vengeance

Best Buy
- Exclusive additional disc with behind the scenes material

Target
- Exclusive Slip Cover with an additional disc of behind the scenes material

iTunes
- Enhanced Commentary Track​

Really, the only way your argument would work is if every release was like this.

Everywhere
- Just the movie, no special features​

But it's not. They took the special features that were made for the BluRay, cut it up and divided it amongst the retailers so that no matter which release you get, you will be missing something that could have all been included on this set.

Of the stuff listed there, the only thing I see that's "split off" from the blu-ray is the two options for buying the behind-the-scenes disc. The rest of the stuff wouldn't normally be included in a single package unless it was something like the Blade Runner Briefcase DVD. Which I bought. And which I actually kinda regret having bought, since the additional featuers were later made available in a basic disc-only set. The case is kinda cool, but honestly, I don't really care about it. I just want the movie.

How much would a single set with the following cost, do you think?

- The movie.
- The behind-the-scenes disc.
- The enhanced commentary track.
- A steelbook cover.
- A USB stick.
- A replica phaser.
- A hotwheels car.

I'd expect an edition like that to be something like, oh, anywhere from $50-100. And it probably wouldn't sell all that well, and I'd bet you'd find plenty of fans who'd say "I really just wanted the phaser."


It seems the only thing you're bugged about is the fact that the extra disc is being treated as, well, an extra rather than a gimme.

If that's how you feel...just buy the Target one. Or the Best Buy one.


I dunno. This all just seems like much ado about nothing, really. I mean, I'll admit that I prefer to be able to buy one set that has the features I want, but do a little digging and maybe you'll find it. Or hell, maybe they'll make them available to people after the fact, for a nominal additional fee, the way video game companies do now by turning release-day store-specials into DLC that everyone can buy.

 

[Solo4114]

But I like Steelbooks, commentary tracks and loads of bonus features. As a consumer, I don't see a preference. I see Sophie's Choice.

Ok, well, it's like Mick Jagger said. You can't always get what you want.

 

[Bryancd]

But I like Steelbooks, commentary tracks and loads of bonus features. As a consumer, I don't see a preference. I see Sophie's Choice.

OK, you got me, that really made me laugh!

 

[Riceball]

I, personally, really dislike the way that Paramount has chosen to release the ST:ID blu-ray, while I could care less about the phaser, thumb drive, & Vengance toy I do feel that feel that all releases should have gotten the same bonus discs. There's no real reason for splitting up all of the extra material between retailers, the physical extras would have, in my opinion, been enough and probably would have been enough to encourage people to buy their copies from whichever retailer had the goodie that they wanted. Granted that there's only 3 physical goodies and that would have left some retailers like Best Buy & Target out of an exclusive edition but they could easily have tossed in something else like a Hot Wheels Enterprise, a different USB thumb drive, anything really and as for iTunes, I could care less about iTunes since I'm not much of an Apple fan.

 

[Mola Rob]

What the hell is so appealing about a Klilngon thumb drive? Weird I say!

 

[Bryancd]

I, personally, really dislike the way that Paramount has chosen to release the ST:ID blu-ray, while I could care less about the phaser, thumb drive, & Vengance toy I do feel that feel that all releases should have gotten the same bonus discs. There's no real reason for splitting up all of the extra material between retailers, the physical extras would have, in my opinion, been enough and probably would have been enough to encourage people to buy their copies from whichever retailer had the goodie that they wanted. Granted that there's only 3 physical goodies and that would have left some retailers like Best Buy & Target out of an exclusive edition but they could easily have tossed in something else like a Hot Wheels Enterprise, a different USB thumb drive, anything really and as for iTunes, I could care less about iTunes since I'm not much of an Apple fan.

And I just want the movie and the phaser. And I am an Apple fan.

 

[Jeyl]

Of the stuff listed there, the only thing I see that's "split off" from the blu-ray is the two options for buying the behind-the-scenes disc.

The reason I listed the exclusives that weren't limited to the split up bonus features was to address Bryancd's "bells and whistles is becoming less compelling" for the studio argument. Everything on that list, physical or digital, are bells and whistles that cost money to produce. While I don't mind a retailer exclusive version here and there when it involves different packaging, an added toy or an extra disc (which basically contain more promotional material than in-depth features), it shouldn't have to involve content that the creators themselves put some effort into making that normally would be on this set as a standard, like the commentary track. Especially when such content has shown up on their previous movie releases by the same studio.

Take a company like the Criterion Collection for example. They're pretty much the gold standard when it comes high quality BluRay and DVD titles. Their remastering work is top notch and the quality of their special features are meant to compliment the film, not over shadow or market them. However, their titles are known to be frightfully expensive and I know a couple of friends who have bought them use. But like many studios, they have released some of their licensed titles for streaming on platforms such as Hulu and Netflix. This move however does not hinder nor change their stance at how they produce or present their material on their physical disc releases. With Criterion, regardless of where you buy their titles, it's the same product right down to the packaging.

 

[Solo4114]

The reason I listed the exclusives that weren't limited to the split up bonus features was to address Bryancd's "bells and whistles is becoming less compelling" for the studio argument. Everything on that list, physical or digital, are bells and whistles that cost money to produce. While I don't mind a retailer exclusive version here and there when it involves different packaging, an added toy or an extra disc (which basically contain more promotional material than in-depth features), it shouldn't have to involve content that the creators themselves put some effort into making that normally would be on this set as a standard, like the commentary track. Especially when such content has shown up on their previous movie releases by the same studio.

Take a company like the Criterion Collection for example. They're pretty much the gold standard when it comes high quality BluRay and DVD titles. Their remastering work is top notch and the quality of their special features are meant to compliment the film, not over shadow or market them. However, their titles are known to be frightfully expensive and I know a couple of friends who have bought them use. But like many studios, they have released some of their licensed titles for streaming on platforms such as Hulu and Netflix. This move however does not hinder nor change their stance at how they produce or present their material on their physical disc releases. With Criterion, regardless of where you buy their titles, it's the same product right down to the packaging.

Ok. Basically it just sounds like you want what you want.


So go buy all the versions you want, and sell the film discs for a fraction of the price on Ebay or whatever. Or give 'em away to friends. Or if you don't want the film and don't intend to buy it, quitcherbitchin.

 

[jlee562]

Criterion films are also a different market though. I'm going to hazard a guess there's not a whole lot of crossover between someone who goes to Walmart to get USS Vengeance hotweels and someone who goes out to stock up on Eisenstein and Fellini films.

 

[Jeyl]

Criterion films are also a different market though.

They do tend to surprise you. Michael Bay got them to release "The Rock" and, I'm not kidding, "Armageddon". And if you listen to Michael Bay's commentary for Armageddon, you'll see why the "different market" had it's advantages. I'll give you a hint. He actually stops for a quick second to apologize for his language since the Criterion collection doesn't censor anything (They have after all released Salo). Paramount on the other hand will censor Leanord Nimoy's commentary track for Star Trek III.

 

[Shadow345]

Criterion films are also a different market though. I'm going to hazard a guess there's not a whole lot of crossover between someone who goes to Walmart to get USS Vengeance hotweels and someone who goes out to stock up on Eisenstein and Fellini films.

I own Fellini films and intend to pick up Star Trek Into Darkness. I just wan't the Blu-Ray itself though, i'm not going to pick up the one with the Vengeance model.

 

[kialna]

You'd almost become depressed reading this thread, even if you loved the movie.... Hot damn :lol

 

[SSgt Burton]

You'd almost become depressed reading this thread, even if you loved the movie.... Hot damn :lol

It's definitely one member's "mission" here. :rolleyes


Kevin

 

[Mola Rob]

You'd almost become depressed reading this thread, even if you loved the movie.... Hot damn :lol

I'm looking for a discount on anti-depressants in case it gets any worse.

 

[kialna]

Maybe they'll be added to the special edition for the RPF...