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DVDs don’t seem to be as packed as they used to be, notices Steven Ellis

DVDs don’t seem to be as packed as they used to be, notices Steven Ellis

I realise that it’s a tactic by the film companies; they want us buying the Blu-rays, so they put all the extra bits on them to make them a bit more enticing. The DVD format is suffering as a result; even the two-disc special editions of DVD releases are getting short shrift these days…

Another thing I’ve noticed this past month is the lack of commentaries on several new releases. DVD releases of X-Men: First Class , Captain America and Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes , amongst other, all came minus a commentary – or with very little else – while the Blu-rays are jam-packed with extra goodies. This, for m,e is a step too far. I love the commentaries. If I’m pushed I can do without the making-of documentaries, deleted scenes and the group back-patting that often count as extras. But the commentaries are something I really would miss. Again I feel like I’m being forced to make the leap to Blu-ray and I’m not happy about that at all.

I don’t see the DVD format disappearing anytime soon. Shops still have far more DVDs than Blu-rays on their shelves. Films and TV are still being released on both formats and even while Blu-ray sales are increasing and also getting cheaper, they’re still behind sales of DVDs, so whether this tactic will actually work remains to be seen. But it’s certainly got me thinking about getting a Blu-ray player sooner rather than later. But what can we do? There doesn’t seem to be anything we can do. If we really love our extras then we have to join the Blu-ray gang don’t we? As I said earlier this tactic makes me not want to move to Blu-ray because I want the choice to be mine and not something forced upon me by some cynical sales tactic dreamed up by suits.

So, what do you think about this move? Am I over reacting? Does this attempt at sidelining the DVD format bother you? Does this move by the film companies pee you off? Are you happy to stick with DVD even while losing some of the extras? Or are you willing to make the leap to Blu-Ray to keep all the bonus features? Did you get a Blu-Ray player for Christmas?