DVD Menu Screens

[retzev]

The intro and menu for the first 10 or so DVD collections were beautiful, in my opinion; very well done and in keeping with the tone of the show.

I cannot fathom why MPI decided to switch to the ridiculous CG menus they've been using ever since. It looks like a video game for crying out loud! Computer graphics?! For a circa 1960s soap opera?!  Even the audio loop is annoying! I'm trying not to fly off the handle here, but it really burns me up. They had it so right the first time. What kind of blockhead decided to change it?! 

Anyway, I'm hoping that they come up with something better when they release the first 200+ episodes.

Does anyone agree with me here? And do you have any ideas about what we can do to convince MPI of this?

[Barnabas'sBride]

I actually like the original menu better too, though I didn't like it when they started listing the episodes vertically instead of horizontally, which I think was around set #5. The audio is less annoying to me as well.

I don't really mind the new ones though. I do like the mausoleum and the candles.

[Satan]

I kind of agree with you on the menus. The one thing I'm glad they changed was the cases. Not only were they bulky for sets 1 - 10, but the discs were hard to get out. With sets 11 - 20, you just push in the middle and the disc pops up. I hope they don't change it for sets 21 - 26.

[Barnabas'sBride]

Oh, I really detest the bulky cases. I wish I could replace my cases from sets 1-10 with the new ones without buying them again. The slim cases are so much better, in looks and for storage space. They're also more durable.

[Willie]

I really like the smaller cases as well.  I had a lot of problems with the DVDs falling out of the large cases and getting all scratched up during shipment.  No problem at all with the new ones.

Personally, I like the new intro going down into the basement of the mausoleum.  I just think it's cool.  I usually hate CGI. but it's kind of neat and atmospheric in this case.

[Barnabas'sBride]

I remember buying a couple of my sets and opening the case only to find that a disc or two had gotten loose inside. I took one set back and exchanged it because one of the discs had too many scratches on it.

[Charles_Ellis]

Retzev, I don't understand how you can complain about the effects- laden menus on the DVDs while your own post is full of visual effects itself!  If that isn't hypocrisy, I don't know what is!  Besides, it's very much in keeping with the series, with the feeling of being lost in the woods and finding shelter in the old Collins Mausoleum.  On the other hand, we've had the current menu for over a year, and I think we're due for a new menu for the concluding months of DS.  Hopefully with the release of the pre-Barnabas episodes (the "Collector's Series"), there will be a different menu as well, something in keeping with visual style of those early episodes. 

[Midnite]

Retzev, I don't understand how you can complain about the effects- laden menus on the DVDs while your own post is full of visual effects itself!  If that isn't hypocrisy, I don't know what is!

Debate and discussion are what we're here for, but if I may post an excerpt from one of the Forum guidelines:

3. Debate should be kept on a non-personal basis. Flaming and name-calling will not be allowed. It is never appropriate to attack, criticize, or condemn another poster. Retaliation, sharp reproof and cynicism are to be avoided. Disagreement is a natural occurrence, but as stated above, should be done in a respectful manner.

[BuzzH]

I kind of agree with you on the menus. The one thing I'm glad they changed was the cases. Not only were they bulky for sets 1 - 10, but the discs were hard to get out. With sets 11 - 20, you just push in the middle and the disc pops up. I hope they don't change it for sets 21 - 26.

The new cases are SO much nicer, take up less space too.  The first 10 BROKE apart w/repeated opening/closing.  At least they did for me.     So MPI was kind enough to replace any (all really) that broke.

[BuzzH]

Oh, I really detest the bulky cases. I wish I could replace my cases from sets 1-10 with the new ones without buying them again. The slim cases are so much better, in looks and for storage space. They're also more durable.

Call MPI and tell them you bought 1-10 at Best Buy or something, and all the old cases broke.  They should replace them at no cost.  However, if they didn't break, like mine all did, and you don't want to fib, you could ask them to send you 10 of the new boxes anyway, and just pay for the boxes.  Can't imagine it would cost that much.  You wouldn't have to replace the actual disks, just the blank boxes.  However, be aware that they won't send you any replacement artwork, which means you'll have to cut it down to fit the new boxes.  Not as hard as it sounds, I did it and you can't tell it's cut down.  

[Satan]

The new cases are SO much nicer, take up less space too.  The first 10 BROKE apart w/repeated opening/closing.  At least they did for me.     So MPI was kind enough to replace any (all really) that broke.

My DVD set 8 case fell apart when I opened it to get discs 2 and 3 out. I was able to snap it back in the slots though. Maybe this is why MPI changed the cases then. If your cases fell apart like my set 8 case, then I'm sure other fans probably had the same thing happen to them and told MPI about it.

Unless they offered new artwork for 1 - 10 in the cases they are using now, I wouldn't ask for them. I like the different color borders they had for sets 1 -3. I wish they would have done that for all the covers.

[Roland]

I must say I prefer the new menu for one reason:  the old one takes FOREVER to get through!  Like any good addict, when I want to watch an episode of DS, I want to watch it NOW!

 

[BuzzH]

I must say I prefer the new menu for one reason:  the old one takes FOREVER to get through!  Like any good addict, when I want to watch an episode of DS, I want to watch it NOW!

 

I put in Disc 1 of boxset 11, just to see what you guys were talking about (I'm still on boxset 10) and I LOVE the new menu!!  True, the "purist" in me *kinda* wishes they'd stayed w/the old, just for that "everything being the same" factor, but I have no prob w/the new menu's, I think they're pretty cool.  And like Roland said, they get you to the eps MUCH faster which is always a good thing. 

[retzev]

True, the "purist" in me *kinda* wishes they'd stayed w/the old, just for that "everything being the same" factor...

That's another point I forgot to mention - a collection should be uniform! 

I gotta get over this...

[BuzzH]

That's another point I forgot to mention - a collection should be uniform! 

My deal w/"sameness" is, so long as the BOX is the same throughout the series, I can forgive any other differences.  Case in point, I'm absolutely FURIOUS that Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is in a plain old, borig ass DVD box, while the first two movies are in a cardboard, flip box.  It's looks like crap on my DVD rack that this one is different!  They did the same thing w/the Spiderman movies & the Osbournes!  Why do the marketing departments at studios do this??!    Don't they realize that ppl COLLECT these damn things and want them to LOOK the same on their DVD racks!?

Okay, I feel better....