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So Ive been happy with the service for the last year and its replaced actual television by streaming through my Xbox and saved me alot of money. But an oddity that I hope to not find again came to my door the other day, Ive always thought that the theatrical movie DVDs looked generic as if Netflix was making thier own discs to save money, Im okay with that. Recently delivered was the disc for The Book of Eli, and it actually said "Netflix" on the disc and the movie had no operations aside from Play and Languages. No special features or commentaries.
The Book of Eli is a fairly recent release so Im wondering if the studio that owns the movie is simply saving the features for the bluray or is netflix minimizing the cost of thier production by reducing the product itself? Personnally, the only reason I ever request that a movie be shipped is because I really want to see it and its not streamed. For example, American Me would have been much less of an experiance if I thought they were all actors in places made up to look authentic, but the intended special features gave me a more interesting story than the movie itself.
Has anyone else experianced this? if Netflix is doing this themselves does it change how you use the service?
Posts: 2302 | Registered: Aug 2008
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Never had that happen to me. You can normally tell that the DVD is the same one sold commercially, which can be annoying when it's part of a two disk set (and all the special features you're interested in are on the second disc). Could be a new thing though.
I get DVDs specifically because I can't get them streaming. There are very few, percentage-wise, good movies on streaming based on my tastes (and I think most people's). For instance, the Book of Eli isn't available streaming.
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Netflix has been shipping movies for some time now without special features. My wife and I noticed that almost none of the movies that we received had special features -- which was odd, because we were renting the Blu-Ray editions.
Getting Date Night this weekend was the clincher. All of the reviews of the Blu-Ray noted the gag reel (and how it was funnier than the movie). On the copy we received, there were (yet again) no special features.
I assume that it's a fairly recent evolution of their business model (and a way for filmmakers to entice people to pay money for their own copies of movies). Not to say that I blame them -- I've been wanting to watch the special features on Shaun of the Dead for years, and it's almost enough to make me buy the film (admittedly, I only own two films).
I'll still continue to rent from Netflix in order to get the Blu-Rays (which really are superior) and to have kids DVD's on hand. But it would be nice to know when you aren't receiving a commercial copy -- or at least which film makers this is happening with.
Posts: 688 | Registered: Nov 2008
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The turnaround on what exactly we get from them is disconcerting, I heartily appreciate the low fees but wonder what else they may change.
Posts: 2302 | Registered: Aug 2008
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If you get a chance, watch "Let the Right One In." You can watch it instantly.
It is a Swedish romantic horror film, and in my opinion is nothing short of amazing. I'm not usually into horror films, but I loved this movie.
The two main characters are children, and they were brilliant. If you have a couple hours this week, watch it. It is worth your time. It is in the original language with English subtitles.
Posts: 1937 | Registered: Nov 2006
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Interesting. I've never had that issue of not getting the Special Features. Usually I get TV shows though, not movies.
Posts: 2827 | Registered: Jul 2005
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I'm actually surprised at how many good movies are on the Netflix instant streaming feature. Not all of them are top of the line, but some are excellent.
Geraine, I have Let the Right One in in my queue. My sister keeps bugging me to watch it.
As for the special features, if I want that, I'll usually just buy the film. I don't normally watch special features unless it's a movie I really care about.
I may be just seeing things, but I thought the Book of Eli was available for streaming?
I love the fact that they have most seasons of The Office, South Park, and Family Guy. That right there is worth the price of subscription in my opinion. And if the Droid gets a Netflix app, I'll be in heaven.
Does Redbox have the full DVDs, with the special features? Or is it the same as Netflix?
Posts: 407 | Registered: Jul 2003
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I just watched "Let the Right One In" also and it was fantastic and there is a new American remake coming out soon called "Let Me In" which looks like it could be pretty decent, but I dont have much faith in US remakes of great forgien films.
Posts: 1294 | Registered: Oct 2003
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My argument for special features is that some movies (not Book of Eli mind you) inspire curiosity as to the production and the makers of the film anticipate that and provide the desired information. I know I have used Short Bus in my arguments before, but it fits perfectly for my ramble here. If not for the special features behind Short Bus I would have walked away from it thinking I had just seen an odd and happy film about healthy sexual relationships. The fact that the inspiration for the movie was to make something the MPAA would never allow and have unsimulated sex, that the story was created by the entire cast and executive production crew only after the cast had been chosen and the entire battle over Sook-Yin Lee being in the flick. Instead of being damaged (and amused) by the only scene in a movie to make me leave the room (no time for pausing, actually left the room) I was overwhelmed by the whole film and very pleased to be the audience of a well thought out and adventagious piece of art.
So, if I hadnt seen the behind the scenes featurette for Short Bus, I would have been crying myself to sleep unable to seperate patriotic American songs from... well... if youve seen it you know.
Posts: 2302 | Registered: Aug 2008
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quote:Originally posted by beatnix19: I just watched "Let the Right One In" also and it was fantastic and there is a new American remake coming out soon called "Let Me In" which looks like it could be pretty decent, but I dont have much faith in US remakes of great forgien films.
Oh no my friend, that has Hit Girl as the vampire! this kid cant fizzle out after that performance. Im still hoping for a grown-up Hit Girl movie in ten years, maybe McLovin will actually look like a grown man by then.
Posts: 2302 | Registered: Aug 2008
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Netflix has been awesome in the years we’ve had it. Now that I can get it on my iPod Touch, even more so. Since I rarely want the special features, I’m fine with the discs I get. I’ve noticed that many of them are just a silvery gray label, kind of no frills. I’ve gotten a few discs that were cracked or broken, and Netflix has been extremely good about getting another one to me ASAP.
With Blockbuster and Hollywood Video both gone from our town now, Netflix is really the only option. Redbox is an occasional option, but it has such a limited selection. So I am very glad there is Netflix and I wish it many more years of successful operation.
Posts: 5957 | Registered: Oct 2001
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It wouldn't surprise me to find out Netflix has special licensing for rental distribution that excludes some features on retail DVDs. They can probably get thousands of copies of movies for less (and it sounds like they may even get the license to do their own duplication), but only by agreeing to get less in return.
Posts: 4287 | Registered: Mar 2005
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I'm not sure its really a Netflix only thing; it may just be a rental thing. I've bought some fairly recent used movies from Blockbuster recently and some of them have not had special features or were marked as a "rental version" of the disc.
I know its easy to assume the actual company you're dealing with is the cause, but oftentimes when they are just a distributor of a pre-existing product they don't necessarily have the control over it.
Posts: 450 | Registered: Nov 2004
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Recently, some companies have released some bare-bones, just the movie editions, reserving all the special features for more expensive ''special'' or ''deluxe'' editions. This is true regardless of whether the DVD is for sale or for rent.
Posts: 2292 | Registered: Aug 2003
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quote:Im still hoping for a grown-up Hit Girl movie in ten years
Keep in mind that Im still waiting for Luc Besson to tell Natalie Portman to be on set for a sequal to The Proffessional, because Luc Besson does not have to ask if you want to be in his film.
Posts: 2302 | Registered: Aug 2008
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