Robert A. Uhl

As frequent readers know, I watch an amazing number of DVDs. In so doing, I’ve hit upon some common flaws in their presentation. These are all rooted in the hatred and disrespect which manufacturers have for their customers. Here’s a catalogue thereof.

Region coding

Region coding is the means by which a manufacturer can prevent certain DVDs from being played in the US, or the UK, or Russia, or any of the other regions of the world. This is highly annoying: there’s no technical reason why I shouldn’t be able to order an English disc and have it play on my American player.

FBI/Interpol warning

We’ve had home video equipment for several decades now; we all know that we’re not supposed to make copies. At least with VHS & Beta, we were able to fast-forward past the stupid message — with DVDs, the players are forced to obey some idiot ‘don’t skip’ command, and thus I’m stuck puttering about my home until the interminable message — with content no different than on any other DVD — scrolls by. If there simply must be a warning, make it be a simple ‘Don’t Copy!’ message which displays for about 3 seconds. Or let me skip it with the chapter-skip button.

DVD intros

These are the equivalent of those stupid Flash intros some hypoëncephalic web designers are so enamoured of: a long, long sequence of shots from the movie or series one is about to view (did I mention that it’s invariably long?). The Sharpe’s Rifles series is particularly bad about this: every episode has this stupid intro which is impossible to skip past. Fortunately, one can fast-forward past the miserable thing. Look, I have the DVD: I want to watch the product; don’t make me consider weasel-baiting a more enjoyable pastime.

Intro ads

These are an even worse idea than that above. Not only am I forced to watch some frippery: that frippery isn’t even related to the feature I want to view! The Farscape (don’t laugh — Claudia Black was quite attractive) discs are notable for this: a lengthy series of advertisements for a bunch of animated series. Ads should be in the Special Features, where I might even appreciate them.

Unskippable titles

This is more specific to TV series on disc. The viewer should always be able to cleanly skip past the opening and closing credits. Farscape is quite bad at this: trying to skip the opening credits tosses one into the middle of the episode. Why must the viewer be forced to watch the same boring credits sequence every single bloody episode?

Lack of trailers

A DVD must have the theatrical trailer for its film; it should have other theatrical trailers. Yes, ads are good — when they are ads that I can choose to view. As for the trailer for the film itself, that only stands to reason. Besides, it gives someone something to watch while sliding into movie-watching mode (or preparing popcorn, for those who like that kind of thing).

Lack of special features

Every DVD, whether for a film or a TV series, should have a Special Features section (it’s permissible, but undesirable, for a multi-disc series to have but a single such section). Part of the whole point of DVDs is the special features which are now possible: take advantage of that! Disks which consist solely of the movie itself and chapter navigation evidence a stunning lack of effort.

Anyway, these are just some simple, commonsense suggestions. Can there be any argument ’gainst them? I think not.