Am I the only one that hates the DVD menus? by DirtyBrowncoat

FIREFLY EPISODE DISCUSSIONS

Am I the only one that hates the DVD menus?

POSTED BY: DIRTYBROWNCOAT
UPDATED: Monday, August 15, 2005 19:57
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VIEWED: 8017
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Thursday, January 6, 2005 5:44 AM

Is it just me? I can't stand the menus for the DVD. They totally do NOT fit the show or it's feel.

What do you guys think?

Simon: You...you came for us.
Mal: You're on my crew.
Simon: Right. I guess I just didn't...you don't even like me.
Mal: You're on my crew. Why we still talking about this?
-Safe

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Thursday, January 6, 2005 6:42 AM

FLUGUFRELSARINN

In what way do they not fit with the show? They use images and music from the show, and they're kind of a reddish-brown in colour which I think fits with the show perfectly.

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Thursday, January 6, 2005 8:41 AM

CHRONICTHEHEDGEHOG

It's not so much the menus, but the menu introduction annoyed me, tho now I'm kinda used to it. Once you're able to navigate I don't mind them. Still think they could have done a better job on them though.

check out my WIP firefly roleplay system at www.estador.co.uk/firefly

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Thursday, January 6, 2005 8:47 AM

ZEEK

Yeah they never did fit just right to me but they aren't horrible either. Just a bit off.

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Thursday, January 6, 2005 11:14 AM

LEXIBLOCK

I agree, they are really bad. It looks like something anyone could whip up in 30 minuttes and the "music" is so much noise.

They also lack the "Play all" feature that sensible discks have (ie it plays all the episodes on the disc in one go)

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Thursday, January 6, 2005 1:07 PM

DIRTYBROWNCOAT

It's not so much the menu itself, it's the introduction as the music. The show has that 'western' style music, and the DVD music is just not that. I hate the music.

Simon: You...you came for us.
Mal: You're on my crew.
Simon: Right. I guess I just didn't...you don't even like me.
Mal: You're on my crew. Why we still talking about this?
-Safe

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Thursday, January 6, 2005 5:27 PM

TERRYO

The menus aren't the greatest - the transition sound totally gets on my nerves - but what I really miss is the Firefly graphic ending each episode. Trust me, I -know- who the producers are. ;-) But that graphic gave me the shivers every time an episode ended and I miss the feeling.

Just another reason that I am still watching my tapes until they completely give out... although I could live without the ancient political ads.

Maybe it's just me but I believe that all dvds should come with an "as originally seen" option - okay minus commercials, and yes, I'm lumping FF in with SW here.

terry (well, except for the Serenity history scene - that should have been put back in)

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Saturday, January 8, 2005 7:11 AM

SHINYSEVEN

It doesn't seem outstandingly bright to me to hide the Commentaries under the language choices for the subtitles.

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Saturday, January 8, 2005 10:43 AM

DIRTYBROWNCOAT

I'm pretty sure a lot of DVD's do it.

Don't agree with it much either, though.

Simon: You...you came for us.
Mal: You're on my crew.
Simon: Right. I guess I just didn't...you don't even like me.
Mal: You're on my crew. Why we still talking about this?
-Safe

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Saturday, January 8, 2005 11:06 AM

EMBERS

Quote:
Originally posted by DirtyBrowncoat:
Is it just me?

what I hate is the loud insistant music,
you can be talking to your friends
'shall we watch another one? It is still early'
and you can barely hear each other over this obnoxious sound over the menu....

whose I idea was that?

oh, right....Fox

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Saturday, January 8, 2005 3:39 PM

DIRTYBROWNCOAT

I just wish they would've used different music.

I mean, I know it's fromt he show, it's from War Stories, but it's from the massive battle/rescue scene, and that was just not what the show was about.

Since the show's music is most usually "western" genere stuff, fiddles and all that, I would've preferred some of that...hell, maybe the instrumental version of the theme song that they play for the credits. But ANYTHING other than that "Mal vs. Torturers/Crew vs. Soldiers" music...just doesn't fit!

Simon: You...you came for us.
Mal: You're on my crew.
Simon: Right. I guess I just didn't...you don't even like me.
Mal: You're on my crew. Why we still talking about this?
-Safe

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Saturday, January 8, 2005 4:57 PM

EBONEZER

Oh man! I DISPISE the music! I saw firefly when it was on Fox, so I had a fair idea of what I was gonna get and the music did not fit that image. I found myself thinking, "Wait a sec, this might not be what i think that this is."

I don't like anything about it really. Also, is it just me and my player or does it seem like there is a really long delay between when you make a selection and when it actually goes? First few times I thought that my computer had frozen or something.

Doesn't really have anything to do with format, but it bothers me all the same.

And while were on it, the Buffy season two DVD menus suck.

-----------------------------------

Four out of five gynecologists recommend calling Ebo a girl.

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Saturday, January 8, 2005 5:35 PM

DIRTYBROWNCOAT

Yeah, it seems like it takes a little while for the selection to actually go through, to "load".

And yeah, the BtVS season 2 DVDs sucked...I don't know what they were thinking there.

Simon: You...you came for us.
Mal: You're on my crew.
Simon: Right. I guess I just didn't...you don't even like me.
Mal: You're on my crew. Why we still talking about this?
-Safe

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Monday, January 24, 2005 9:09 AM

ARAMINA

Ack! Glad I'm not the only one who doesn't think the intro music from the DVDs fits the feel of the show.

I don't even think the design is all that sharp. It looks a little more sci-fi and a little less western-in-space.

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Monday, January 24, 2005 1:25 PM

MALICIOUS

The class, professionalism, refinement and polish evident in each episode's production style was definitely NOT applied to the DVD package. I'm quite sure it was a money-saving practice, but it doesn't stop me from lovin' my show.

Mal-licious

Co-Holder of the Red Bell from Hell

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Tuesday, January 25, 2005 9:52 PM

the movie is not the Series. Only the facts have been changed, to irritate the innocent; the names of the actors and characters remain the same

Quote:
Originally posted by ebonezer:
is it just me and my player or does it seem like there is a really long delay between when you make a selection and when it actually goes? First few times I thought that my computer had frozen or something.

It ain't just you. The ergonomics suck; Way too many clicks to start an ep. One thing they got flat WRONG is that language (including commentary) & subtitles should be a disc level selection -- not episode level. And, as someone else said, there should be a Play All. @least one can chapter forward past the warning labels.

Keep the Shiny Side Up

Wutzon: Space Station Integration, "Khazana", from "Live from Nowhere"

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Tuesday, January 25, 2005 10:14 PM

the movie is not the Series. Only the facts have been changed, to irritate the innocent; the names of the actors and characters remain the same

Quote:
Originally posted by Malicious:
The class, professionalism, refinement and polish evident in each episode's production style was definitely NOT applied to the DVD package. I'm quite sure it was a money-saving practice, but it doesn't stop me from lovin' my show.

All true, but let's keep in mind that, when the DVD was financed, nobody knew it was gonna be #189 on Amazon two years after the show was cancelled, with an average customer rating of five stars (out of five) based on over 1200 reviews. The slick & beautiful documentaries on Making Of, TenthCrewMember, & Touring the Set were all made while the show was in production. The commentaries sound like they were done in Joss's living room, by whoever could come over. Yes, those who came over commented on an episode appropriate for them, but what about the missing ones. No way can I believe that Adam wouldn't have done a commentary if he'd been available in time -- they couldn't have had much time.

Keep the Shiny Side Up

Wutzon: Widespread Panic, "Big Wooly Mammoth/Tears of a Woman", from "Don't Tell the Band"

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Sunday, January 30, 2005 7:27 PM

DIRTYBROWNCOAT

Quote:
Originally posted by YT:
Quote:
Originally posted by ebonezer:
is it just me and my player or does it seem like there is a really long delay between when you make a selection and when it actually goes? First few times I thought that my computer had frozen or something.

It ain't just you. The ergonomics suck; Way too many clicks to start an ep. One thing they got flat WRONG is that language (including commentary) & subtitles should be a disc level selection -- not episode level. And, as someone else said, there should be a Play All. @least one can chapter forward past the warning labels.

Keep the Shiny Side Up

Wutzon: Space Station Integration, "Khazana", from "Live from Nowhere"

I think a lot of DVDs do that...

...well, at least I think that the FOX DVDs do that, anyway. I know they did it for the Buffy and Angel sets, with which they quite obviously took much more care in creating.

So it's not just them throwing it wherever for the Firefly DVDs in this instance, it's just the way FOX does their TV DVD's, I guess.

Simon: You...you came for us.
Mal: You're on my crew.
Simon: Right. I guess I just didn't...you don't even like me.
Mal: You're on my crew. Why we still talking about this?
-Safe

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 10:29 AM

WORKEROFEVIL

Personally, the music doesn't bother me too much. The obly things I don't like is how long it takes to load and the lack of a 'play all' features, as someone mentioned earlier. I also don't like that there were so few episodes, but that's more a problem with FOX being a bunch of **deleted for profane language, blasphemy, and violations of the Geneva convention**. Ah well, such is life.

Now we have to be married. I'm in the family way.

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Tuesday, July 5, 2005 6:06 PM

MER

I love the opening, but once you get to the menu, it's fine. Now when you go individually for the episode, I can find it unsatisfying. I find it kind of bland and plain. I sometimes wonder if it was a budget issue. But hell, Greg the Bunnies's menu's a bit more annoying...I don't like how it's set up. It's one of those shows that could have a "Play All" feature.

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Tuesday, July 26, 2005 2:40 PM

HOPS

Yeah,

I am going to have to go back and carefully look at the language menues to find all the commentaries. It's kind of like an Easter Egg hunt!

I agree the menue music sucks. But I do like the images.

-Hop

"Problems are challenges that have yet to be resolved"- Inara

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Tuesday, July 26, 2005 2:52 PM

TYLERMAYHEM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hops:
Yeah,

I am going to have to go back and carefully look at the language menues to find all the commentaries. It's kind of like an Easter Egg hunt!

I agree the menue music sucks. But I do like the images.

-Hop

"Problems are challenges that have yet to be resolved"- Inara

I think the music is what turned me off most. If the "twangy" guitar sound had been there perhaps with a few voice overs from what ever epi you happened to be viewing also playing in the back ground, it would have been perfect. but i think the dvd was kinda a thrown together endevour lol
still shiny though

"What does that makes us? Big damn heroes sir. Aint we just? "

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Monday, August 1, 2005 3:00 AM

PURPLEPENGUIN91

The menus don't bother me, I kinda like them, but I don't like the music it's just annoying for some reason, and its louder than the episodes on my dvd player atleast. But my menu screen is a little messed up, sometimes it doesntt load the episode menu screen properly or something I don't know...its strange...

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Thursday, August 4, 2005 10:34 AM

the movie is not the Series. Only the facts have been changed, to irritate the innocent; the names of the actors and characters remain the same

Quote:
Originally posted by purplepenguin91:
and its louder than the episodes on my dvd player atleast.

Oh yah, quite a lot from PowerDVD to my computer sound system, & annoyingly so from the jukebox through my audio system. Fortunately, one can chapter-forward past the loudest section -- the Firefly clips sequence after the 20th Century Fox screen. Unfortunately, it takes a second or two for that sequence to load. To reduce my irritation, I always cue up the next ep before leaving Firefly. Of course, this only avoids a noisy part if the next ep is on the same disc.

Keep the Shiny Side Up . . .

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Thursday, August 4, 2005 3:53 PM

CHRISISALL

Yes, it's just you.

Don't mind 'em a bit Chrisisall

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Thursday, August 4, 2005 6:01 PM

CALHOUN

Initially I thought my DVDs were broke, they seem so laggy through transitions and such. Both my DVD sets are the same though.

I dont mind the music or look of the menus at all though.

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Friday, August 5, 2005 11:30 AM

CHRISISALL

My Buffy dvd's lag in a similar manner, just not nearly for as LONG.

Captain of the Brutis Chrisisall

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Friday, August 5, 2005 3:56 PM

BLINKER

I like the "War Stories" music just fine, but the font on those menus is ugly and out of place. The glowing stencil that ended each episode is also missed.

_________
Sliders: Gate Haven - http://slidersweb.net/blinker

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Sunday, August 14, 2005 8:11 PM

VISITINGMYINTENTIONS

The music doesn't bother me (and I appreciate that on the individual episode level there is none--it's rare), but the technical crappiness does. That lag always make me think the disc is sticking (and one time it did), and the selection feature (you can't click on the item, you have to find the circle that never on the same side) annoys me mightily.

But all this pales to second season Buffy. I had a scratchy disc once that I wanted to just get through an episode of, and it would go okay if I just ff'ed through any sticking points, but there is absolutely nothing you can do if it sticks during menu transition. Ends up "What's my line pt. 2" was the final Buffy episode I ever saw, after I'd seen the rest of all seven seasons. Argh.

---------------------------------------------------
Early: Where'd she go?

Simon: I can't keep track of her when she's NOT incorporeally possessing a spaceship, don't look at me --

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Monday, August 15, 2005 12:10 PM

LULU

re the dvd problems re is it just me - Crush and only Crush will not play on my DVD player - while all other episodes of Buffy 5-disc4 do. Crush will play on my laptop and on the HMV player where I purcahsed it. By not play - it would constantly stick and it had no sound...and the image was all smeary.

L

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Monday, August 15, 2005 7:43 PM

DRROB

I thought the DVD features and navigation left a lot to be desired 'tour the set with Joss' please... it was what 30 seconds long?

Let's hope the film version has an 'extras' section that was designed from the get go. many of the 'extras' seemed thrown together.

Overall though, can't fault the show.

"Guess you broke into the wrong rec room."

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Monday, August 15, 2005 7:57 PM

PERIDIDDLE

I don't have much of an issue with the menu, though I agree the music is kind of blech. It's especially bad when you're somehow distracted or somesuch and you're forced to hear the music over....and over...and over....

I was ALSO very annoyed by being unable to find the commentaries. The first night I had the DVDs I drove myself mad looking for them, because I was used to the Buffy setup of them being on the episode screen. Bah. But it's not too bad now, just a lot of clicks to get it (though, now I usually start the episode and just switch audio via my remote until I find the commentary track.)

RE: Buffy season two - I HATE THOSE DVDS. There's not much of an issue until you get to the transfer from the episode list to the individual episodes. Before that, everything can be fastforwarded through or chapter skipped, but then you're FORCED through that all too long scan through the cemetary. It's sooo irritating.

"Bwaa...it's kind of a warrior...strikes fear into the hearts of..."

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