sanndevil

How on earth did you know? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rotfl.gif[/img] I've been trying to get her to ditch that fascist rag for the last 30 years! Unfortunately, not worth the 500 mile round trip to the Lake District to pick up the disc! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img]

Harold Pelham

There's not much I like about HMV but I do have to agree with their spokesman that free newspaper DVDs do devalue the industry and there should be, and I think will be, a declaration between the majors to put a stop to it.

I know that everyone likes to moan about the retail cost of DVDs versus the manufacturing cost but, unless you're selling Harry Potter, sales just aren't that great. If you are an independent label it is almost impossible to make an honest living. There's the master rights license, authoring, extras, design and artwork, mcps (on quantity manufactured NOT quantity sold), distribution fee, discounts (if you want HMV to sell it) and on and on and on. And of course, there's the pirates to contend with and I'm not just talking about the counterfeit rogues. Vistit any large company in England on a friday afternoon, or East end cafe come to that, and some joker, who considers themselves Robin Hood, will sell you Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (before its even released) for a fiver!!!

Well, its easy to steal, isn't it!

HP

sanndevil

I understand your concerns, but I veer the other way I'm afraid. The industry has systematically tried to rob the consumer for years and now the consumer is in a position to redress the balance, all of a sudden the industry cries foul. DVDs have been overpriced, particularly in this country, and only now are dropping to a price where they belong. Secondly, the industry has consistently ripped off consumers when a new technology comes along - they sell the same title on a new format, and we have to pay top dollar for the privilege. Thirdly, they botched the ridiculous region coding technology and rushed DVDs to market due to sheer greed before they had an industrial-strength encryption methodology in place which would have prevented pirating. In short, they have made their own bed - now they must lie in it.

Just a contrary opinion for the sake of balance! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

Harold Pelham

Well, that's told me! This is a great web site, can't believe I didn't find out about it earlier. It's good to hear your views and you make some very valid points which I have a sneaking regard for. Its the piracy that I have a real problem with and you can't really blame the industry too much for that - just because you forget to lock your front door doesn't give someone the right to make off with your telly.

HP

sanndevil

Yep, it's good fun to lock horns providing no-one takes it too personally!!!
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

Piracy is a big issue and I don't have the answers. If I should duplicate a DVD-R of a personal recording for a mate who stuffed up his own recording means that I am involved in piracy. I suspect most people have thresholds they won't cross - e.g. won't buy a DVD from a trader in a pub, or won't donwload from a peer-to-peer network, whatever. But ultimately, we are all indulging in double standards! I only stopped illegal downloading when I got a nasty letter from Paramount's bully boy solicitors - that did it for me!

red squirrel

I've resisted the temptation to buy a paper for the DVD gratis, as I usually read the Independent on the web.

All this does raise the question, that with DVDs being so easy to produce, why are we paying so much for the packaging? As with CDs the standard price could be less than a fiver.

wxmred

Hi has anyone had their copy of " Whistle down the wind" A freebie DVD, in todays Daily Telegraph. A truly wonderful film, starring Hayley Mills, and Alan Bates? 1961

Malcolm

The promised free DVD of "The Wild Geese" turns out to be "On Golden Pond" in The Mail On Sunday today 16th October. Inside the newspaper is a notice saying the promised DVD of "The Wild Geese" will be coming soon.

David Brent

My nearest UK newsagent is 12,000 miles away. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif[/img]
Would anyone be willing to share the newspaper codes needed to purchase the films from Play.com?

With Wolfgang's help I was able to gain a free copy of "The Long Good Friday" from Play.com earlier this year.The good news was that they sent it to me POST FREE. A great plus when you live in Australia.

Not all the DVD's on offer may be free but they seem a bargain price.
So please guys, for your colonial neighbours, can you share the on-line offers and the codes?

Thanks Guv [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

Dave.

Steve Crook

12,000 miles from any UK newspaper? You are lucky! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

According to a message on alt.consumers.uk-freebies once you have one of the codes, you can get all the other DVDs as well.
They say that the code for A Matter of Life and Death was Matter665
Another newsgroup says the code for Bugsy Malone is Bugsy466

I don't know if any of that is correct.

But all the links on the play.com site I can find to the "Telegraph must have movies" say "We are sorry this promotion is now closed" [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbdown.gif[/img]

Steve

Harbottle

Yes indeed got my copy, the usual basic offering not even chapters on the DVD, but can't really complain at the price.

Shadwell

Excellent. It's been a while since I've seen "The Wild Geese." I've just finished watching "The Last Emperor" on DVD curtesy of the Saturday Times. Good film. Looks like everyone is keeping their eyes peeled on the weekend papers now. Potter about the flat, make a pot of tea and some bacon rolls, then watch the freebie DVD. It all helps to shake off the hangover from last night... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

Time to keep your appointment with the Wicker Man...

David Brent

Cheers Steve,

You're a toff [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]
You're right though, there appears to be no current link on the Play.com website regarding any newspaper offers.
Thanks for your efforts though. Much appreciated.

Dave.

Malcolm

I have copied and pasted this from another Web forum, so many thanks to PMR
Comparison of the quality of several recent Free Newspaper DVDs
posted by pmr12 on Saturday, 15th October 2005, 17:18 I have made a comparison of a number of the recent Free DVDs which have come with various newspapers. Some are of very good quality while others are probably best thrown in the bin and certainly not worth buying a newspaper for. Ratings are given based on the quality of the disc produced rather than the actual film – opinions on films vary anyway.

The Independent :

Wings of Desire (Anchor Bay, 122mins, Widescreen 16:9)
Has a menu which includes scene index (chapters); no adverts on this disc Rating 5/5

Indochine (Arrow films, 151mins, Widescreen 16:9)
Has moving menus with scene index (chapters); no adverts on this disc. Rating 5/5

My Life as a Dog (Arrow films, 97mins, Widescreen 16:9)
Has moving menus with scene index (chapters); no adverts on this disc. Rating 5/5


The Times and Sunday Times

The Last Emperor (Optimum Releasing & The Practice, 156 mins, Widescreen 2.35:1)
No menu, no chapters (can only navigate with forward and reverse buttons) Rating 3/5
Note it is possible to buy the 2 disc Special Edition of this film with theatrical and directors cut at Play.com as part of their 2 for £12 deal at present (might have given 3.5 otherwise)

Moby Dick (Studio Canal & The Practice, 110 mins, 4:3 ratio)
No menu, no chapters, no adverts. The original film was in widescreen unlike this disc and the quality of the print used was poor. Rating: 2/5

Where Angels Fear to Tread (Prism & The Practice, 108 mins, Widescreen 16:9)
No menu, no chapters (can only navigate with forward and reverse buttons)
Includes a 1 min advert for the Sunday Times (can forward) Rating: 3/5

The Guardian
The Madness of King George (Film 4, 104 mins, Widescreen 16:9)
No menu, no chapters, forced 1m advert for Film 4. Rating: 2/5

The Daily Mail

Bob the Builder (Hit Entertainment & The Practice, 30 mins, 4:3 Ratio)
No menu, no chapters, forced adverts lasting 8 minutes before you can see any of the three ten minute episodes. There is no way to avoid these adverts every time you watch the disc even on a computer. This is the worst disc I have ever seen.
Rating: 0/5

Sunday Express

Charade (ca 110 mins, 4:3 Ratio rather than the original widescreen of the film)
Basic Menu, but no chapters. This is the worst quality print of a film I have ever seen. It is surprising that such poor quality was ever transferred onto a DVD. Rating 0/5

It is clear from all this that the quality of DVDs from newspapers varies a great deal. Recently the best have been from 'The Independent' and are worth trying even if you don't normally go for subtitled films. The main problems with discs from other newspapers are the lack of chapters and in some cases forced adverts. Companies like 'The Practice' appear to author the DVDs for many newspapers, limiting the features and may add forced adverts. At a time when the cost of set top box DVD recorders is dropping all the time, newspaper DVDs have to offer something more than home recordings. Bear in mind it is possible to have basic menus and chapters on any disc you record off the television!

Marky B

Some of the free films you get are not worth the price of the newspaper,but I was delighted in yesterday's Daily Mail to get a free copy of Bill Travers/Virginia McKenna's quaint little film Ring Of Bright Water. Sumptious photography,oft funny but with a tragic ending.
Ta Ta
Marky B [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

I once shot an elephant in my pyjamas - how he got in my pyjamas,I'll never know