Weekend Fluff: DVD Gripe

Bendrr

I love DVD's. I've got a pretty good surround sound system built for it, full size speakers, subwoofer (soon to be upgraded), decent-sized tv. And I rarely rent, I prefer to buy. The rentals are generally scratched and unplayable. Apparently other customers seem to think they're frisbees, drink coasters, notepads, toys, nail files, dental floss, tool sharpeners, or can openers. Or maybe they're just incredibly rude.

But one thing that annoys the hell out of me, and I hope I'm not the only one here to notice this, is the incredible amount of security surrounding DVD's. First, no matter how much the cashier at Media Play swipes the thing over the security pad it invariably sets off the alarm at the door. Then when I get it home I have to fight with the shrink wrap and then three sides of the case are sealed with "security tape" which is a truly daunting task to remove.

Well I finally managed to open the three I bought just before posting this. For what I spend, I should start making the Media Play cashier unwrap the DVD's for me. Nah, that would be rude to the people standing behind me in the ONE AND ONLY CHECKOUT LANE OPEN ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON. Don't even get me started on that one!

Mike.

p.s. before you ask, the DVD's are Jason X, Insomnia, and The Sopranos--Complete Second Season.

Simon

I hate Disney DVD's that force you to watch 5 minutes of adverts for up and coming movies before you can get to the main film.

A nightmare when a 3 and 5 years old want to watch something right now.

I hate the tapes too (reminds me of toys being screwed and wired to the packaging)

Jesus Christ

I've found its always a good idea to open the DVD's in the store. On an outing to Best Buy to pick up a Pearl Jam concert DVD I opened it as I was walking out to see if there were any inserts or anything like that. Apparently during shipping it had gotten shaked out of its case and scratched beyond belief. I went to the service counter and they let me just do a quick exchange. After going through every single copy of that DVD they had all been scratched beyond use. At least I was able to get my money back from the ordeal.

Oh yeah, I couldn't agree more with you Simon. Whoever put all those previews at the beginning of Disney DVD's needs to be shot. Nickelodean (or at least Bob the Builder) DVD's are just as bad.

freedom96

Great selection with the Soprano's. I do think I must go get it myself.

riz

Nah, that would be rude to the people standing behind me in the ONE AND ONLY CHECKOUT LANE OPEN ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

mike, many times i have read your posts and meant to tell you how much you crack me up. however, i don't recall ever actually following through. until now! you've got a great sense of humor and i just wanted to tell you that i like your work.

keep on rockin'

riz

BeautifulGarbage

I hate Disney DVD's that force you to watch 5 minutes of adverts for up and coming movies before you can get to the main film.

Amen!

Andee

Bendrr

Riz, you made my night! Thank you!

Freedom, Sopranos is all that and a ba-da-boom-ba-da-bing bag o' chips! Go buy it tomorrow!

Simon, the ads on DVD's, don't get me started. The DVD won't let you fast-forward to the flick until you've sat through the copyright warning in every language from French to Swahili and then you have to watch previews and commercials for cryin' out loud! Commercials! If I wanted commercials with my movie, I'd watch it on cable. For all the money advertisers pay to get their commercials that we must watch on DVD's I should get a break on the price.

Jason X was pretty good by the way. I'm about to watch Insomnia. Robin Williams is really starting to show a dark side and I love it.

Mike.

p.s. will post a review of Jason X.

riz

hey mike! i couldn't let another of your posts slip by without saying that.

Robin Williams is really starting to show a dark side and I love it.

yeah- have you seen 'one hour photo' yet? it's pretty damn creepy. i knew he had it in him!

jws

I've had the same experience as posted with the Pearl Jam DVD. Luckily, it's been an isolated case and another DVD off the shelf fixes the problem.

Wierd that they'd all be messed up. Maybe Pearl Jam decided not to use the "establishment"'s DVD-case maker and do it with their own "non-establishment" manufacturer, like their TicketMaster fiasco a few years back.

-j.w.s.

Weekend Fluff: DVD Gripe

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