Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: THE SOCIAL NETWORK 2010 Blu-Ray

This is topic THE SOCIAL NETWORK 2010 Blu-Ray in forum The Afterlife at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=12;t=000926

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 01-13-2011, 03:56 PM:

I was not aware of THE SOCIAL NETWORK when it played in theatres last October but heard how great it was only during the past couple of weeks. I had planned to rent it from Blockbuster last Tuesday but saw the Blu-Ray on sale at Walmart for $16.00 and bought it because I was very impressed with the very nice packaging listing an extensive amount of bonus features about the making of the film. It was not only the packaging but something told me I would enjoy the movie because Aaron Sorkin wrote the screenplay and I have always enjoyed his work such as the TV series THE WEST WING.

My hunch was correct because I totally enjoyed the film especially when it featured fantastic acting skills by Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg, Andrew Garfield as Edrado Saverin and Justin Timberlake as Sean Parker. As a Facebook participant, I also enjoyed the historical aspect about the founding of the site and the legal problems Zuckerberg faced when he was sued by his partner Edardo Severin and two brothers at Harvard who had asked him to create a social Harvard website.

I watched The movie last night and will check out the bonus features tonight including the 145 minute documentary about the making of the film and the various short clips about other aspect of the production of the movie. As far as the video quality of the movie is concerned, there were many scenes that appeared dark and I have to assume that is the way it was photographed and presented in theatres. I was very impressed with the sound despite the fact that the film was dialogue driven.

-Claude

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 01-13-2011, 04:21 PM:

I thought the movie was a snorefest and the majority of the characters uninteresting (except for the hot asian chick and only because she was hot). However the cover of the DVD/Blu-ray packaging really peeves me off. Why? Because it is comprised mainly of quotes from critics. Wow, what an original idea for cover art, guys! What is this, a magazine ad?

And why is the Andy Samberg guy smiling? I don't think he smiled even once n the movie.

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 01-13-2011, 04:35 PM:

quote: Claude S. Ayakawa
Walmart for $16.00

Wow! That is cheap for a new movie.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 01-13-2011, 04:47 PM:

Joe,

I am afraid I will have to differ with you about the cover. As I had mentioned in my thread, I chose to buy the BD instead of renting the movie from Blockbuster because of the packaging and how attractive it was in addition to the hunch that I would enjoy the movie very much which I did. A good part of the reason I was impressed with the cover was the beautiful graphic design listing very favorable comments by four well known film critics. As a photographic artist with a eye for graphic design I thought the cover was gorgeous as well as the digipac containing the two discs.

I read how you disliked the movie at the Film Review forum and I was hoping I would not have to agree with you before I saw the movie and was very relived I did not share your opinion after I watched it.

-Claude

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 01-13-2011, 06:20 PM:

Well at least that cover has the title of the movie at the top in large letters and facing right-side up. The one-sheet for the movie (which was acclaimed as being one of the best onesheets of the year) had the title approximately 3/4" tall, sideways, in a dark blue box, in the top righthand corner with the movie's "tag line" in huge lettering across a bland photo of what's-his-name's face.

What is this obsession poster designers have with the movie title being verboten on the poster advertising the movie?? They either leave it off altogeter or make it small and insignificant. Hey clowns, doesn't BRAND AWARENESS mean anything to you??

Claude -- is that BR you bought at walmart a single-disk edition?

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 01-13-2011, 07:16 PM:

Mike,

THE SOCIAL NETWORK Blu-Ray at Walmart is the regular double disc set. I was just at Sam's Club this afternoon and the price was about #23.00. I believe Costco is also selling it for about the same price. I had assumed a person can get the best deal buying DVDs and BDs at stores like Costco and Sam's Club because one will have to pay a annual fee to belong. They do have great prices for catalogue titles but all of new titles are in the mid $20.00 range at those two stores.

-Claude

Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 01-13-2011, 07:40 PM:

I'd like to see someone have the guts to plaster negative reviews over the cover of a critically-hated movie. The closest I've seen was the inside of the "Freddy Got Fingered" insert, which has its one good review on the front and quotes from other reviews on the inside.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 01-13-2011, 09:57 PM:

The poster is even worse. It's just a close-up of Samburg's face. Who said it was supposed to be one of the best posters of the year? I want to make sure they don't ever reproduce.

Good graphic design or not, any movie that uses multiple quotes on the front of the box is just sad. That tells me that they think most people don't know about the movie and need to "sell" it to them with reviews. It makes me feel as if the studio has no confidence in it without the quotes. Only a moron would be influenced by review quotes on a box.

Posted by Sam Graham (Member # 2889) on 01-13-2011, 11:05 PM:

The packaging is HORRIBLE.

The critic piece Joe refers to is actually a U-shaped cardboard overhang. Once you're rid of that, you have a rubbery feeling black sleeve you have to shake to get the actual case out. The case has a rubbery feeling cardboard with two plastic disc holders glued in.

The package probably costs more to manufacture than the two discs.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 01-13-2011, 11:24 PM:

Post pics! That sounds weird. Why can't studios just use normal boxes?

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 01-14-2011, 02:47 AM:

I do not appreciate being reffered to as a moron, Joe [Mad]

-Claude

Posted by Sam Graham (Member # 2889) on 01-14-2011, 07:34 AM:

Bundled (with front side of box):

Unbundled (with back side of box):

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 01-14-2011, 09:55 AM:

Ewww, that is horrible packaging! I am glad I don't feel the need to own this movie. But then again if I did, I'd just make my own normal, sane box like I did with Back to the Future and all of my Digibook movies.

Claude, you honestly admit to being influenced by review quotes on a box? If that is the case, you must own nearly every movie ever made that had an ad that featured review quotes. If you are going to be influenced by reviews, look them up yourself instead of relying on what the studio shows you because obviously they'll only ever show you the good ones since they want your $$$. The very idea of review quotes pander to those who are too lazy to do research on the movie themselves (which is very easy to do these days). I guess the studios still think it is 1985.

The Academy Award season is coming up and that means TONS of review quotes on just about everything. Screw the reviewers, I'll make up my own damn mind. But the more review quotes, the less I want to see any given movie.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 01-14-2011, 10:33 AM:

Joe,

I did not buy SOCIAL NETWORK because of the reviews on the cover. I bought it because of Walmart's generous pricing and I was very impressed with the packaging. It was not what was printed on the cover but the graphic design of the package that made me decide to buy it at such a very low price for a new movie title because I had a feeling I would enjoy it. I do not buy movies from reviews in fact many movies I had bought and enjoyed received very critical reviews when they were first released to theatres. Also most critics hate 3-D but I love it. If I was influenced by reviews, I would have been all over INCEPTION and bought it the day it came out but when I heard it had a very complicated plot, I decided to rent it first. As it turned out, I did not like the movie at all and only watched almost an hour of it before turning it off. I am happy the movie did well and a lot of people like it but it was not for me. If I do not like a movie and any thing about it because of my personal taste, I have never gone online and write negative comments about it and insult people who did. Just because you do not like a film and packaginG, you must not carry on insisting your opinion is correct and others are wrong and a moron.

-Claude

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 01-14-2011, 04:09 PM:

I never referred to you as a moron, only those who base their purchasing decisions on reviews provided by the studio. I agree that as a graphic design it looks good, but it works better as an ad in Variety or whatnot than a case for the actual movie.

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 01-25-2011, 08:56 AM:

quote:
Because it is comprised mainly of quotes from critics. Wow, what an original idea for cover art, guys!

Not sure if you use facebook but it looks like they are trying to reflect the status bar.

Also, I will be honest, the movie did well because of word-of-mouth. I saw it because of the word of mouth and excellent reviews. I saw it first at the drive in then again last night.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 01-25-2011, 03:34 PM:

quote: Tom Petrov
Not sure if you use facebook but it looks like they are trying to reflect the status bar.

Surely you and Joe are 'friends' Tom. [Wink]

Posted by Justin B. Martin (Member # 5817) on 01-25-2011, 04:53 PM:

I despise this packaging so much I just stuck the discs in a blank Blu-ray case and will print out fresh inserts using the original packaging as a reference.

I loved the film in that it's probably the only way in which a "good" Facebook film could ever be made.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 01-25-2011, 11:09 PM:

I've been on the fence about buying the Blu-ray Audio version of The Social Network original soundtrack. This afternoon I scored a standard CD of it for only $5. The fye store in Central Mall had its last day of business today and had much of the remaining inventory marked down 50% or more.

I might still get the BD version for the 5.1 mix and all. But it's nice to have a CD on the cheap rather than having to settle for the lossy MP3 download. Don't have to mess around with converting the Apple Lossless or FLAC lossless versions either.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 01-25-2011, 11:53 PM:

The music in the movie was fairly good but not tremendously memorable. I don't think a Blu-ray audio version would be worth it. The BD version would probably submit you to a thousand unskippable FBI warnings, ads and animated menus. Stick with the CD.