Pros and Cons of Blu-ray

My main concern about getting a blu-ray player is that as it enhances the definition of DVDs, it will surely enhance the flaws in cheaper releases. Has anyone found this to be a problem and what are people's experiences with Blu-ray?

Pros: Action and sci-FI films usually look and sound AMAZING, especially newer releases.

Cons: Every other genre looks the same as it would on DVD. I honestly could not see a discernible difference in a few comedies I own on Bluray and have see on DVD.

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Cons = Only one I can think of is for people who are still on DVD only, as some companies unfairly put most of the extras onto the blu-ray editions of films only, and also some film companies have started putting the director's cut/extended editions on blu-ray only too. Apart from that, there are no cons.

The only con about Blu-ray movies -- for me, at least -- is I HATE the Blu-ray cases. They are cheap and, to me, flimsy, and break easily. Shame on the people who decided to use those blue plastic things for Blu-rays. They don't seem very protective and long lasting to me. Shame on them for using those cases.

Besides that, they are far superior to DVD. And there absolutely is a difference with every kind of movie genre, not just action and sci-fi movies. Blu-ray -- in 99% of cases looks better than the DVD version. Some are given much better treatment while some unfortunately are given less, but Blu-ray is definitely an improvement.

I just hate those ****ing cases.

my first bluray, not even yet owning a player, needed the disc though; the clear plastic in which the front art is displayed, the plastic completely and permanently rippled beyond all, it was upsetting, I mean wtf!

the cases very. many dvd cases are plastic free under where the disc sits and also often creating a recycling sign with the lack of plastic. I wonder if it has nothing to do with recycling, but everything to do with it being a small fraction of a cent less per disc case to make?

bluray, maybe not yet, will follow the dvd, case quality will vary, from good to crap; what the future holds is a mystery, just being the cynic.

Oh, yes, the majority of Blu-rays now come with that ****ing recycle sign cut out into the case and even behind the Blu-ray itself, there's a circle cut out.

It's horrendous -- and I'm suspicious of a conspiracy, too. Hadn't thought about the money issue, but you're probably right. Also, I feel like the entertainment industry just doesn't give a **** about craftsmanship and beauty. And I think a large reason for this whole thing being the way it is -- is simply because the entertainment industry feels we're all moving towards a "digital" world. Where nobody will actually buy DVDs and Blu-rays anymore. Where it will all be on your computer, TV or cell phone. So, to them, I think they're thinking -- "Who gives a s**t if the case sucks? They'll all be throwing these things away in 5 years."

And un-f***ing-fortunately, I think we are heading towards this. Sad because I like having physical copies of something. I'm EXTREMELY irritated by how cheaply put together Blu-rays are. For such a magnificent picture, I'd really like to have an awesome case with it. Even the paper itself -- the thing advertising the movie on the case -- is thinner and flimsier than DVD paper. DVD cases are doing that recycling sign thing, too, but that wasn't always the case in the past. It's been a very recent thing -- actually, since the dawn of Blu-ray, really.

You guys might laugh at how serious I treat movie cases, but I think these movies deserve proper containers. I was watching a video on Youtube not long ago of a collector of Laserdiscs -- those things are BEAUTIFUL. Why can't Blu-rays be the same? Some classic films get "book" treatment on Blu-ray -- and even those are sort of deserving of criticism, I think -- or they go steelbook -- but the majority just get the crap cases. It's evil. They should all be given sturdy, strong, beautiful things to contain them, so they can be handled for years and years. Blu-ray cases are unbelievably fragile. It's like handling dying anorexic women. So upsetting.

The only company that puts out good Blu-ray cases is Criterion, really -- a company that actually CARES about movies. But even they could be improved.

CON: They are more expensive. There are some cheap blurays out there, but some cost more than $50 for just one movie because of all the discs that come with it. Bluray, 3D bluray, DVD, Digital Copy, that's 4 discs for one movie. Shop around for the version you want because there will be plenty. I guess more than one version can be a pro too. Those digital downloads are pretty useless unless you travel a lot and like to watch movies on laptops or iPods. They also expire.

It takes a few moments for the disc to download upon first viewing. So in today's "give me content now" generation, there is a few minutes to set it up first. No insert and play immediately.


Pros: High storage capacity, a single layer can hold 25 GB. More storage capacity means better Picture quality and superior audio. DVD is roughly 5GB of space, so with blu ray it is less compressed.

Blu ray players can play DVDS and are upgradeable.

Scratch resistant. Now, I'm not saying you will never be able to scratch your bluray, because this is false. It is just easier to scratch a DVD than it is a bluray.

Cases are smaller, sleeker, fit more room on shelf. Some are cheap, others are not.

Most blurays come with a DVD now anyway.


As for your question re: movies.

Early Black and White films and animated films look amazing, with the animated films looking the best. Dark blacks really jump out, so a film like Citizen Kane is sharp. Animated films are beautiful and colourful, it takes advantage of the 1080p. Of course, anything with great special effects will look great, even if the movie stinks Speed Racer, 2012.

There are some websites out there that rate the bluray HD transfer cause some titles out there are just as bland as the DVD transfer. Some cheap titles like Terminator, Stargate, Total Recall, etc look almost exactly like the DVD. So the best thing for you to do is research for older titles that are like $10.

Action, sci/fi look great. Comedies and what not are noticeably better than DVD. Everything is clearer, stands out more, pops, just doesn't have the visual flare of movies with something visually appealing happening on the screen. Again, read reviews of films to see if you should plop money down on these titles.

Does the bluray player enhance dvds? A Little, but it's barely noticeable that I don't think you should have that big a problem. I would suggest in getting a bluray player since that and digital download are the two possible futures, DVDS are already starting to fade away. Believe it or not, and this is coming from a guy who still buys DVDs occasionally instead of the bluray.

Cheers.

Here are some examples:

High-Def Digest

Picture Quality Tier List

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Suspect's Reviews

$50 for a 4 disc Blu-ray?? You're in Canada, though. Does that make a difference? They're, like, $20-30 here.

And that's only if they're new. Or, being sold at Barnes & Noble....

Yeah, what the hell is the point in getting a disc that EXPIRES?

I find those discs so irritating. Another sign of the Entertainment Apocalypse.

Oh, don't you even dare act like those cases are a good thing. THEY'RE NOT!

Also, they really don't fit much more than DVDs.

When Tangled first came out, it retailed for around $44 here, plus tax, for the 4 disc bluray. Tax in Canada, at least where I live is expensive, GST + PST...well, now it's HST...I think....so add another $10 at least to that price.

You can get it for $30 now, still on the high end of your prices apparently.

I actually saw that Blu-ray in stores when it first came out. It was only $24.99, on sale, at Target, during its release week. So... unless there's a money conversion issue with Canada (I forget how it goes, but I believe there's one) or it's just insanity up there.

I haven't had any problems yet. The RECYCLED thing is on DVD cases too. They are thinner I agree, which makes it feel weird when opened, but none of mine have broken.

*knock on wood*

Oh, but you mean the 4 disc one... yes, that can be around $35 here. I don't get those, though, because I don't have a Blu-ray 3D player.

You must have small hands.

Prices in Canada are always more expensive than the States. Check the back of any book, if you guys print both prices, ours is always higher.

Oh, of course. I forgot about that. Yes, you're right. Ha ha ha.

Yeah, I was mentioning the more "expensive" side of bluray. Not the general pricing, hahaha.


I do have big hands, standing 6"2. But I guess I don't man handle things!!!!

I see now... I'm looking at the book Crackpot: The Obsessions of John Waters. $13 in the United States, $21 in Canada. Jesus.

Tell me about it.