Planet Earth

[headhunter]

If any of you have a Netflix membership as I do, they are available in all formats. :14:

I didn't even think about that!

I don't have Netflix, but was thinking about getting it to catch up on all of the movies that I've been missing. This would give me one more reason to do that. I can watch entire series that I've missed.

Christian

 

[CompuDude]

There are three versions available tomorrow, DVD, HD DVD and Blue-Ray.

That's good. But I'm still not buying until there's a winner in the format war, unless it comes as part of something I was buying anyway!

 

[CompuDude]

I didn't even think about that!

I don't have Netflix, but was thinking about getting it to catch up on all of the movies that I've been missing. This would give me one more reason to do that. I can watch entire series that I've missed.

I've joined and canceled three times now.

Unless you have a lot of free time to watch movies and shows, and actually do so, it ends up not being worth it.

When my wife was laid up and home after surgery, it was worth it to not have to leave the house and go to the video store. But once normal activity resumed, it became tricky to find the time to watch enough movies per month to make it worthwhile. We frequently only have time for perhaps one movie per week, and at that rate you can rent for the same money or cheaper... and if we ever DON'T have time for a video that week, you lose money. They make it hard to max out the plans, because the cycle takes a long time: Order a bunch of movies, receive, view, return, have them receive the return, ship another, receive the other. Again, if you watch a lot, you can work the system and do quite well, but if you're not dedicated to it or housebound, it's cheaper to rent.

At $20/mo, at BlockBuster prices ($5/rental) you have to rent at least four to break even, and you're not actually saving any money. At $3/rental at my local video store, you have to rent at least 6 movies to sort of be worth spending $20/mo... and more than that if you want to actually save money.

On the other hand, their library is vast, and if you like a lot of esoteric films that your local shop doesn't carry, it may be worth the extra dough for you.

Love the idea. But there's only a certain segment of the population that NetFlix is really worth it for... be sure you're among them before you sign up!

 

[airsix]

My wife and daughters have taken over Netflix just like they took over the Tivo. I ask "What did we get from Netfix this week?" and the answer is usually something like "Strawberry Shortcake for the girls, and season 3 of Mad About You." :shakehead At least I'm getting the yard-work done these days.

-Ben M.

 

[headhunter]

I've joined and canceled three times now.

Unless you have a lot of free time to watch movies and shows, and actually do so, it ends up not being worth it.

They have a plan for $9.99 per month that allows you to have one DVD in your possession and you can have an unlimited number of them per month as you return them.

If you order an average of 2 DVDs per month you'd break even compared to renting at BlockBuster. I'm guessing that in some months you might not get any, but others you may get 4 - 6. I think that most people just fall into the trap of thinking that they want to have multiple DVDs at the same time to keep the "pipeline" full, just in case. In that case, if someone has the time the option of going for the $14.99 program for 2 at a time might make sense. This might also make sense for households where people don't like the same types of movies, so that you can each have one of the kind that you like.

The convenience alone would probably have me watching more movies, since I really dislike having to make time to go to BlockBuster. I also don't like having a time limit on how long I can keep it, because my schedule changes quickly.

Of course, I still haven't signed up and don't know when I will. I probaby haven't gone to BlockBuster for over a year either.

Christian

 

[sarita75]

The convenience alone would probably have me watching more movies, since I really dislike having to make time to go to BlockBuster. I also don't like having a time limit on how long I can keep it, because my schedule changes quickly.

Of course, I still haven't signed up and don't know when I will. I probaby haven't gone to BlockBuster for over a year either.

Living in a city where parking @ Blockbuster can be atrocious, I agree with the convenience factor. As well, I have heard that Blockbuster edits some of the content in their films. I am not sure if this is true or not, but I have been asked about a particular scene in Team America that I swear is not the copy I watched from them.

 

[CompuDude]

Living in a city where parking @ Blockbuster can be atrocious, I agree with the convenience factor. As well, I have heard that Blockbuster edits some of the content in their films. I am not sure if this is true or not, but I have been asked about a particular scene in Team America that I swear is not the copy I watched from them.

I don't think they edit the content, but they will opt to carry the R rated version over the unrated version, when there is a choice. "Family-Friendly". Bah.

I'm going to cry if I ever move somewhere that I can't rent from Odyssey Video or something similar, and am forced to patronize the evil empire again...

 

[CompuDude]

They have a plan for $9.99 per month that allows you to have one DVD in your possession and you can have an unlimited number of them per month as you return them.

If you order an average of 2 DVDs per month you'd break even compared to renting at BlockBuster. I'm guessing that in some months you might not get any, but others you may get 4 - 6. I think that most people just fall into the trap of thinking that they want to have multiple DVDs at the same time to keep the "pipeline" full, just in case. In that case, if someone has the time the option of going for the $14.99 program for 2 at a time might make sense. This might also make sense for households where people don't like the same types of movies, so that you can each have one of the kind that you like.

The convenience alone would probably have me watching more movies, since I really dislike having to make time to go to BlockBuster. I also don't like having a time limit on how long I can keep it, because my schedule changes quickly.

Of course, I still haven't signed up and don't know when I will. I probaby haven't gone to BlockBuster for over a year either.

Christian

Yeah. For me, my local shop is close and convenient, and almost always has the movies I want to watch. You gotta BEAT blockbuster's price (actually, my local shop's price of $3) significantly to make it worth it for me. I especially don't want to wait for new releases... I want it when I want it, not when Netflix happens to get around to sending it to me.

 

[Empty V]

I'm pretty sure Planet Earth was shot in digital HD format.

From Cineflex wesite.
"The unique ability of Cineflex's products to track targets from great distances led to its extensive use for animal photography in the recent BBC/Discovery HD production, "Planet Earth". "

Dave

I was watching one of the behind the scenes docs and they had loads of 35mm cans and what looked like Panavision 35mm Platinum cameras. I figured most of it was shot in HD with Sony and Panasonic Varicam cameras because that is more practical then 35mm film.

Film requires a ton of work: Loading the film in the magazine in in a changing bag in total darkness, threading the film through the camera, removing the mag, removing the film from the mag in a changing bag again with just feel because you can't see the film, and repeating tons and tons of times. On average you get 5 minutes of footage per 1000ft mag. And with film it's all about the exposure. With video what you see is what you get, film you really need to know about the way film and capturing light works.

I was referring to the Blue Planet stuff that I think was all shot on 35, sorry it read incorrectly as my wording was unclear. Here's something I found on the PE series:

The entire series--spanning nearly 2,000 shoot days--was captured in 720p, 1080i and 1080p--as well as a few sequences on HD-friendly 35mm film.

Here's the link to the article, it's really interesting if you're into cinematography: http://www.tvtechnology.com/pages/s.0082/t.1997.html

Personally I try not to work in 720 because it's really difficult to integrate in post. If anyone is interested in the post production process, the 35mm film goes through a process called a DI (Digital Intermediate) which essentially scan's the 35mm negative film and spits it out as files onto a hard drive at the specified resolution, i.e. 1920x1080, usually.

Sorry for the rambling I love this stuff and I think most people would find it interesting, but that's just me.

Billy

 

[Empty V]

That's good. But I'm still not buying until there's a winner in the format war, unless it comes as part of something I was buying anyway!

I'm going to make a prediction that there will never be a winner to the format war and the consumer will be forced to choose. Neither Toshiba or Sony will back down in this market, it's time to make a choice. I'm going to get an HD DVD player after I buy me Sharp Aquos LCD Display next month, I'm excited.

Oh yeah, isn't Odyssey video the spot on Lankershim with the giant Red Light section advertised in the front? Hahaha!


Billy