Paramount delays, recalls Jack Ryan HD DVD set
By Richard Lawler 
posted October 18th 2007 2:07PM
posted October 18th 2007 2:07PM
Paramount has reacted quickly, delaying and recalling its not-so-special Jack Ryan Special Collectors Edition HD DVD boxed set that shipped without any of the special features listed on the box. While some may appreciate a minimalist style, presenting only the movies without the interruption of minor elements like, a menu, this was taking it a bit far. No word yet if the discs will be reissued with the missing features, or if those boxes will be returning with certain lines conveniently blanked out.
I guess asking for one ping and one ping only please, was a wee bit much for Paramount.
Dude seriously, the fact that they didn't include a traditional top menu structure is NOT a mistake. You didn't get slighted. Many Warner next-gen titles don't have a top menu. The disc goes directly to the film and when you hit the MENU button the menu comes up as an overlay usually from the bottom of the screen. You can still access scene selections, language/audio setup and special features (assuming of course that the company has actually remembered to include them). It's making you guys sound pretty ignorant about next-gen discs if you keep referring to that like it's a huge oversight. No special features = someone getting fired. No top menu = not that big a deal, and certainly nothing confined to this release.
Ignorant? Oversight? Are you kidding me? The issue isn't about a "lack of "menus"...it's about a "lack of content". Paramount chose to exclude any bonus features for the HD DVD version. This "Special Collector's Edition" excludes audio commentaries, featurettes, and any bonus content. That's the reason behind "no menus"...there isn't any bonus content on the disc. The recall is due to the fact the HD DVD packaging listed all the bonus material by mistake (or typo as Paramount called it.) Paramount's solution...recall it and add the bonus material? No, they're recalling it to change the packaging! The new packaging will not list the bonus content.
Paying extra for bare-bones HD DVD without bonus features & content isn't a big deal? The Look & Sound of...Rip-off (The DVD has all the bonus content).
That 150 million is coming in handy.
If it at least had PiP I doubt anyone in the HD-DVD camp would complain.Seeing as this is a major factor in the reasoning as to why Blu < HD-DVD.
Just like the authoring of the Pirates of the Carribean months ago this is most likely a mistake.
To say either is a sign of things to come is simply fanboy talk.
How much you wanna bet if they decide to add those special features in they will have to dump the TrueHD track?
How much do you want to bet 90% of the people that have HD-DVD or Blu-Ray don't care at all?
How much you wanna bet my $39 Durabrand 5.1 pseudo surround sound system can't play True HD and sounds great with DD+ audio?
You should if you care about getting the best possible video/audio from your movies. I know that doesn't matter much to the hd-dvd'rs, you only care about your green-screen pip.
No Bonus Features? Zero, Zip Nada! Just new Packaging (that doesn't list any extra features). The Look & Sound of Paramount.
When dropping Blu-ray this summer, Paramount's rationale to become HD DVD exclusive was in an effort lower manufacturing costs and deliver the "quality and bonus features" that appeal to our audience. And yet this "Special Collector's Edition" excludes audio commentaries, featurettes, and any bonus content?? What gives? I guess "lower costs" philosophy is to just exclude bonus features entirely. How does a product recall figure into Paramounts "high quality & lower costs" philosophy?
Disc capacity of HD DVD shouldn't be an issue, because according to Paramount, most titles don't require a capacity more than 30gb... and 50gb disc capacity of Blu-ray is “overrated”. So there's no excuse for not including them. However, when capacity was an issue, Paramount said they would issue a "second disc" if needed. I guess a second disc wouldn't be "cost effective." Nice commitment to HD DVD. The only thing overrated is Paramounts credibility.
Paramount wants consumers to pay more for HD DVD and get less? Sounds like an excuse to double dip in the future...how is that an affordable high quality choice for consumers? This BS & spin makes the DVD version look pretty good, it's cheaper & has more features. And Paramounts soution to "fix" the issue...is to offer new packaging? Are you kidding me? Is that what hi-def consumers want...new packaging? What are they going to call it... the "Not So Special Collectors Edition?"
John, before you go off on your tirade any more than you already have, take a look at Transformers. Packed to the gills with features. Shrek 3 is supposed to be as well.
It REALLY looks like someone screwed up the authoring of the disks and, instead of toss them all in the dump and make all new disks (delaying the release for months), they're just going to issue these movies without special features. Kinda sucks, but from a business point of view it makes sense. Someone dropped the ball on this one, plain and simple. BD fanboys will say it's space related, but it clearly isn't considering Tranformers still has 5G free on the disk and has amazing AV quality.
Someone's head will roll (maybe Sony paid off the people in charge of authroing? ;) ), but I don't think this has anything to do with Paramount's vision in general.
It has nothing to do with The Transformers or Shrek 3, both Dreamworks titles. It's about Paramount. And the hypocrisy of Paramount (quote) ..."Paramount Home Entertainment said that the decision to distribute exclusively in the HD DVD format resulted from an extensive evaluation of current market offerings, which confirmed the clear benefits of HD DVD. Part of our vision is to aggressively extend our movies beyond the theater, and deliver the quality and features that appeal to our audience." And then they offer no features? This is a slam against Paramount, not HD DVD (I have a Toshiba XA2). Bottom line a "Special Collector's Edition" without any bonus material or content is lame.
It also, has nothing to do with a "screw up" with authoring. By their own press release, Paramount chose not to include any bonus features for the collection. (quote) "Please be advised that there are typographical errors on the packaging for the Jack Ryan Special Collector's Edition HD-DVD. The packaging inadvertently notes special features that are not on the HD-DVD." —Paramount
The screw up was a typo on the packaging. They are recalling due to packaging...not authoring. Egg on their face, Paramount deserves it.
@gas
Frankly, I don't. Though I would like to have DD+ from my receiver I don't feel inclined to upgrade to include all other audio codecs as well. I'm not busting down the door to get the highest end 1080p TV either because mine is good enough for me.
I'm not an audio/video elitist that has to have the best of everything to enjoy what I do have.
I turn on my blu-ray or HD-DVD, pop in my movie and enjoy the experience more than standard DVD.
If you can tell the difference in the sound and that makes you happier with your purchase, great. If you just want to pick on what you see as deficiencies then join the rest of the blind fanboys on both sides.
So basically, the discs will be re-authored with the missing content. To speculate otherwise is pitifully biased. Apart from the desperation inherent in such a conviction, I also detect a wee bit of sour grapes aimed at a traitorous studio. Tsk.
Not so. It appears they have been recalled to correct the PACKAGING in order to remove the listing of the extras. From the recall notice sent to retailers:
"Please be advised that there are typographical errors on the packaging for the Jack Ryan Special Collector's Edition HD-DVD. The packaging inadvertently notes special features that are not on the HD-DVD.
As a result, this product is being recalled and street date is being delayed. We ask that you do not sell or rent this product to consumers and that you stop shipments to additional destinations. A Paramount Home Entertainment Representative will contact you with an RA number to facilitate sending the product back to Paramount Home Entertainment's manufacturing facility. Returned product should include any unit previously shipped to retailers or other destinations as well as your on-hand inventory. We will provide further information on the availability of new product shortly."
I'm sure they're not re-authoring because it'd be cost prohibitive. Someone dropped the ball :(
Oh well, life goes on. And according to Blu-Ray fanboys, nobody cares about special features anyway (which is why it's hilarious to read them now poking fun at Paramount for not including something that none of them want anyway *laugh* )
Not so. It appears they have been recalled to correct the PACKAGING in order to remove the listing of the extras. From the recall notice sent to retailers:
"Please be advised that there are typographical errors on the packaging for the Jack Ryan Special Collector's Edition HD-DVD. The packaging inadvertently notes special features that are not on the HD-DVD.
As a result, this product is being recalled and street date is being delayed. We ask that you do not sell or rent this product to consumers and that you stop shipments to additional destinations. A Paramount Home Entertainment Representative will contact you with an RA number to facilitate sending the product back to Paramount Home Entertainment's manufacturing facility. Returned product should include any unit previously shipped to retailers or other destinations as well as your on-hand inventory. We will provide further information on the availability of new product shortly."
@Xyzzy
Please stop playing ignorant...I really hope you are playing.
'Blu-Ray fanboys' are poking fun at Paramount not because they care about special features, but because Paramount said they care about special features and chose to include absolutely none on a recent release. They're poking fun at the hypocrisy of Paramount. You seem to be misreading this (hopefully unintentionally) as hypocrisy on the part of the Blu-ray camp.
Its like if WB went Blu because they said they needed 50GB discs and then all their titles used only 25GB discs. What do you honestly think the HD-DVD camp would say about that? When they called WB on their hypocrisy would it be because the HD-DVD camp loves and wants 50GB discs?
Sometimes I really think a lot of people here only read what they want to see with a little bit of projection mixed in.