Am I the only one around here who is sick and tired of Ster-Kinkekor's crappy blu-rays and DVDs?
At the beginning of the year I bought the blu-ray for "The Fighter". When I got home and put it in, I realised that the aspect ratio of the blu-ray was 1.78:1 instead of the 2.40:1 like the rest of the world. To top it all of, there are no subtitles at all. When "Blue Jasmine" came out this year on DVD and Blu-ray, I realised that the aspect ratio here was also pan-and-scanned like with "The Fighter". It's really pissing me off. "Moonrise Kingdom" was shot in a aspect ration of 1.85:1 but Ster-Kinekor's blu-ray and DVD have a ratio of 1.78:1. Also, it has a resolution of 1080i instead of 1080p. On top of that, the audio mix is downgraded from a 5.1 track to a 2.0. Unacceptable! The other I find appalling is that there are still new films being given DVD-only releases. On that I was realy looking forward to getting on Blu-ray was Richard Linklater's "Before Midnight". I contacted Ster-Kinekor about it and they said they were not putting out a blu-ray, just a DVD. Once again, it's pan-and-scanned from 1.85:1 to 1.78:1 and the sound mix downgraded. There are dozens of other titles that have been tampered with like this and it makes me sick because we're basically required to import some of these titles if we want to see them in the best way possible. When I made that call to Ster-Kinekor earlier this year, the nice lady told me the reason why we get these altered versions of the movies is because it's too expensive for them to manufacture these discs themselves so they get an overseas company to do it for them. While I appreciate the honesty, it's not fair that the consumer is expected to pay for these weak goods when Ster-Kinekor isn't willing to pay extra to give us the very best. Their Disney titles are the only ones that are perfect.
Next Entertainment puts out Fox, MGM, Universal and now Sony Pictures titles. The only complaint I have with them is that their new Fox and MGM blu-ray releases have a "Region A" symbol on the back. I called them up to and the guy told me that they don't print their own covers, that is done overseas. Well, they should get a European company to do it instead so there can be "Region B" symbol on back (or preferably all the compatible Region Codes A, B, and/or C specifically for that disc). I've noticed that "The Monuments Men" and "The Book Thief" are pan-and-scanned. At least according to the packaging but those are the only ones I've noticed. OVerall though Next Entertainment does a wonderful job.
Is there anyone else who has issues with Ster-Kinekor's home video releases?
At the beginning of the year I bought the blu-ray for "The Fighter". When I got home and put it in, I realised that the aspect ratio of the blu-ray was 1.78:1 instead of the 2.40:1 like the rest of the world. To top it all of, there are no subtitles at all. When "Blue Jasmine" came out this year on DVD and Blu-ray, I realised that the aspect ratio here was also pan-and-scanned like with "The Fighter". It's really pissing me off. "Moonrise Kingdom" was shot in a aspect ration of 1.85:1 but Ster-Kinekor's blu-ray and DVD have a ratio of 1.78:1. Also, it has a resolution of 1080i instead of 1080p. On top of that, the audio mix is downgraded from a 5.1 track to a 2.0. Unacceptable! The other I find appalling is that there are still new films being given DVD-only releases. On that I was realy looking forward to getting on Blu-ray was Richard Linklater's "Before Midnight". I contacted Ster-Kinekor about it and they said they were not putting out a blu-ray, just a DVD. Once again, it's pan-and-scanned from 1.85:1 to 1.78:1 and the sound mix downgraded. There are dozens of other titles that have been tampered with like this and it makes me sick because we're basically required to import some of these titles if we want to see them in the best way possible. When I made that call to Ster-Kinekor earlier this year, the nice lady told me the reason why we get these altered versions of the movies is because it's too expensive for them to manufacture these discs themselves so they get an overseas company to do it for them. While I appreciate the honesty, it's not fair that the consumer is expected to pay for these weak goods when Ster-Kinekor isn't willing to pay extra to give us the very best. Their Disney titles are the only ones that are perfect.
Next Entertainment puts out Fox, MGM, Universal and now Sony Pictures titles. The only complaint I have with them is that their new Fox and MGM blu-ray releases have a "Region A" symbol on the back. I called them up to and the guy told me that they don't print their own covers, that is done overseas. Well, they should get a European company to do it instead so there can be "Region B" symbol on back (or preferably all the compatible Region Codes A, B, and/or C specifically for that disc). I've noticed that "The Monuments Men" and "The Book Thief" are pan-and-scanned. At least according to the packaging but those are the only ones I've noticed. OVerall though Next Entertainment does a wonderful job.
Is there anyone else who has issues with Ster-Kinekor's home video releases?
