MovieChat Forums > Phantasm (1979) Discussion > I hate the blu-ray

I hate the blu-ray

posted 7 years ago by davidguy-77904
7 replies | jump to latest

The picture and sound are great but it's all a lost effort on this disc which has no atmosphere and sets no tone for someone who has never seen this movie before. Say what you will about Anchor Bay but they knew how to celebrate a film and present it to an audience. I even find it oddly tacky that the main menu says Phantasm Remastered. There's even a trailer for the bluray release on the darn bluray. There really isn't any special features aside from an old interview that's been on countless dvd releases.
I know it's one thing to just be happy that we have it on bluray, but as a consumer is that really the best attitude to have? Are we lucky? Should we be content? Is it really this or nothing?
I just think more effort could have gone into the disc. I personally feel that a movie should be celebrated from the moment you put it into your player. Instead, here we get two foreign movie trailers that will have you questioning if this is even a U.S. release. Maybe it's just me, but by the time I got to the main menu (which is a bore) I had no enthusiasm to hit play. The whole disc just sucks. Movie looks great but who's in the mood to watch it?
I think a lot of new horror fans are going to question why this film is great after getting their introduction to Phantasm from this disc.

[–] ElectricWarlock 7 years ago

A lot of Blu-Rays and DVDs in general are like that nowadays. They don't put as much effort as they used to. I think they just assume it's not worth it since streaming has become so huge and many people will never see the DVD/Blu-Ray anyways. But I still prefer "physical media" over streaming so when they do put in the effort to make it worth the purchase then it makes me very pleased.

[–] billymac72 7 years ago

I realize too that things have gone to digital streaming, but I have yet to see any streaming format that matches BluRay DVD in terms of quality. First off, there are no extras with streaming that I'm aware of. That alone makes me much more satisfied with my physical media. I mean, I know there have been things like with "downloadable digital content extras" like on the Force Awakens release, but big deal. That's more of a pain in the butt than it's actually worth.

[–] davidguy-77904 7 years ago

ElectricWarlock, I completely agree

[–] rlmartinez9-713-547259 7 years ago

What's strange is that they did say a new commentary track was being recorded at some event a year ago. 2015 I think. They had planed on having everyone there to do a live commentary track, which was being recorded for future use. They didn't mention why they were recording it but at the time it was speculated that it was probably for the blu ray release. Things didn't go according to plan though and Reggie missed out because of a flight delay due to weather. they went on without him and still recorded the commentary. Reg made the event the following night. This means there is a brand new commentary track with everyone, minus Reggie, that they're holding on to.

Also I knew there was going to be nothing special on the blu ray since this was mentioned months in advance. The interview and Graveyard Cars episode were the only new things on the disc. but i had already seen the two part episode of Graveyard Cars.. I think they only have one part on the disc.

Here's hoping they decide to actually do something for the box set. maybe an extra disc of tons of never before seen material, but I doubt it.

[–] davidguy-77904 7 years ago

Im definitely surprised that this blu-ray got the distribution that it did. I wish it had come out a month before Ravager though.
I do think there was just one of the junkyard things and I wish it had come with the soundtrack/score. I'm really expecting bare bones from a box set now.

[–] cgrill8 7 years ago

Yeah, I remember way back when DVD was new they marketed DVDs as being able to see the movie from 'different angles', having subtitles and dubs, and commentaries, and extras galore etc. And I'm a fan of the new Krampus movie...and that Blu Ray/DVD presentation of the menu is very flat too... and it's a Universal release! While the piano rendition of the music playing on the menu IS on the soundtrack... it has no depth. Everything about it seems very flat. Overall the movie looks great when played... but like you said, the menu presentation doesn't get you 'in the mood' at all. Many screen are just so...static and still.

3rd generation American from a long line of Gottscheers... it was Drandul, dude!

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

On the WellsGoUSA box set all the menus look pretty much the same except the music is different on each one. I agree, not a lot of creativity went into the menu designs.