Way back when DVD’s were first announced, one of the things there were supposed to offer was movies with multiple ratings. For example, 10 had scenes shot for both ‘R’ and ‘PG’ ratings so that when the movie went to network TV, no overdubbing would be needed. The DVD of this movie doesn’t offer this feature.
Have any DVD’s with this feature been offered?
I can’t answer your question exactly as asked, because I think you are asking about a feature called “branching,” and the DVD I’m about to mention doesn’t (to my knowledge) use that. However, the DVD release of Hopscotch that is coming out this month includes the TV (naught-words dubbed out) audio as a separate track.
Talk about desperate for special features!
Well, in part to make up for the crappy answer I gave you earlier, here’s a thread at another message board that addresses the very same question: http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15579
Hope this helps.
Crash had both the NC-17 and R rated versions on the same disc, using the seamless junction feature. That is the only movie I know of to use the feature to include different ratings on one disc, but many discs use the feature for other things. Disney uses it to switch to foreign language credits when you listen to the foreign language audio track, The Rocky Horror Picture Show used the feature to include three different versions on one disc- US, UK, and black and white/color.
Crash had both the NC-17 and R rated versions on the same disc, using the seamless branching feature. That is the only movie I know of to use the feature to include different ratings on one disc, but many discs use the feature for other things. Disney uses it to switch to foreign language credits when you listen to the foreign language audio track, The Rocky Horror Picture Show used the feature to include three different versions on one disc- US, UK, and black and white/color.
Yep, that’s what I mean. At the menu, you would have the option of which rated version to see and the disc would go back and forth from the original version to the different scenes.
Is it just me, or did DVD seem like a much greater technology than it is? I mean, I love it and it’s a big improvement, but I remember reading an article in a magazine shortly before they came out and they discussed some things, like the OP, that frankly never happened.
The other thing that bugged me was capacity. I was given the impression that DVDs would hold much more material than they do. Are companies gouging us? I’m talking mostly about those large-disc box sets. Are the discs filled to the brim or only mostly so they can charge more?
So far, the box sets I have collected (X-Files, ST:TNG, Monty Python) have been worth the money. In the case of X-Files & ST:TNG, you get the original, uncut episodes. When these shows (or any shows) go into syndication, they get pretty hacked up. Unless you recorded them when they were originally broadcast, you have no idea what’s been cut out. I enjoy the director’s commentary and deleted scenes. Some of the bigger blockbusters (T2, for example) have great behind-the-scenes stuff.
One release that ticks me off is Star Trek (original series). Instead of box sets, they release 2 eps per disc at $14-17 each! I have the full length versions shown on Sci-Fi a couple of years ago and that suits me just fine unless Paramount wants to cough up season sets WITH extra stuff.
Another thing is the release of a movie (An American Werewolf in London, comes to mind) in a plain jane version only to have the “deluxe” version come out a few months later.
I have no problem with bare bones releases followed by special editions.
I see it as a way to please both the budget-conscious or casual viewer and the enthusiast. I do, however, think that studios should announce up front that a special edition will be coming later. Some studios have been doing this lately, and it generates a tremendous amount of goodwill among the enthusiasts, who are saved from “double dipping.”
Part of this is due to the non-production of double-sided, double-layered DVD’s. They have double the capacity of a normal one, but you have to flip it halfway through. For instance, my copy of The Stand has all 6 hours on 1 DVD. Since they cost more to produce, and have less room for artwork/labelling, I don’t think the studios particularly like them.
As far as the OP, the DVD version of The Abyss has both the director’s cut and the released version, done using branching instead of two complete copies.