One DVD To Rule Them All

Obiwan Kenobi writes "In a gala event last night New Line Cinema revealed their Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring DVD Plans. This includes a 2-disc version on August 6th (in both Pan & Scan and Widescreen, click here for box art), and a special 4-hour, R-rated cut of the film debuting in a 4-disc set on November 12th. While the August release includes some nifty features, it's the four disc version, with the longer cut and three audio commentaries, that really gets the drool flowing." Now that's what I'm talkin about!

Comments

Slashdot should stop testing during the day

[segmond]

Slashdot should stop testing during the day, or learn to test on offline database. :

Re:Love the sinner, hate the sin.

[aozilla]

How is this off topic?

What disappoints me...

[cr0sh]

Ok, I know I may be modded down for saying this, but it has to be said. Seeing all the "rah-rah! yea!" posts, from everybody about "yea, the DVD! the DVD!" in a small way makes me sick...

Alright, I understand that you have the right to make your own choices, and I support that.

I understand that you liked the movie (hell, even I went to see it on the opening night, and I liked it), and want to watch it again and again.

But all of this - ALL OF IT - saddens and sickens me to no end...

I went and saw the movie - because I have always been a fan of Tolkien's work. I have multiple copies and editions of the book, boxed sets, paperbacks - plus spinoff books and such (such as the solo adventuring "Middle Earth Quest" novels, the "Atlas of Middle Earth" book, and even a funky "divine the future" set). I also have a few copies of Tolkien's lesser known books and works. So, I simply had to see the movie.

I didn't feel good about this. I just know - KNOW - that some of my money went to the MPAA. I try to counteract this by donating to the EFF when and where I can, but I still feel like I have "given to the enemy". And yes, I consider the MPAA, and their members - enemies. I have written many times that I even "agonize" over my purchase of a 19" monitor that has a Trinitron tube, because I know that I have given in some small part to Sony, member of both the MPAA and RIAA!!!

But this is as close as I have gotten to "giving" to these beasts, who seek to enslave us and our rights regarding IP. I will not buy a DVD player. I will not buy DVDs.

Until this gets sorted out, and hopefully the people's rights are restored to their proper place (I constantly hope for a world where copyright goes back to a more sane level as originally envisioned, where works that should be public domain today are, were it not for law. Where the DMCA, and the SSSCA, or whatever they are calling it now - is no more. I won't ramble any more, you know what I mean), I simply refuse.

But the rate at which this is going it seems like a couple more "new" formats will crop up, each with more draconian controls than the last, will pop up, and YOU, YES YOU PEOPLE - will BUY INTO THEM, furthering their control over yourselves.

It seems like a lot of /. is simply paying lip service to the "DMCA is bad" meme - while secretly purchasing DVDs as fast as they can. Maybe you have one of those "grey-market" players (not sure what to call them, but you know what I mean, like the APEX ones that allow you to bypass a lot of the controls) - but as long as you are buying DVDs, you are still supporting them...

I tend to wonder if I ever will buy a DVD player, the rate things are going - how long have DVDs and players been out now? Two years? Three years? Longer? It seems longer - but I am not sure off-hand... Still, despite the protests of good people, the laws continue to erode are rights...

I sometimes feel I am destined to become a "crotchety old man" raving in his old age about the people's "right to read" (and damn, I just reread that essay last night), while trying to watch an old videotaped show or something on a duct taped and patched together VCR (or worse, read one of my books), sitting in a darkened, soundproofed and locked basement to keep the neighbors from calling the IP police should they know I have non-subscription IP for viewing...

Seem impossible? Seem like something that could never happen?

OPEN UP YOUR FUCKING EYES PEOPLE - IT IS HAPPENNING...RIGHT...NOW...TODAY!!!