DVD intro sequences

[bunn]

 It really should be possible to watch a DVD without getting seasick from the dratted intro sequence whirling and whizzing around a poorly-cgi'd representation of the set, in exactly the way that the camera never actually does once the DVD proper is running. 

So far as I can see, DVD intro sequences need to do a MAXIMUM of three things 
1) play the DVD from the start
2) offer a menu of starting points that are not the start
3) MAYBE allow you to change language/subtitles. 

Stupid CGI whirling that gets in the way, slows things down and makes the viewer feel like crap : NOT REQUIRED. 

Comments

[ladyofastolat.livejournal.com]

I frequently rant about animated menus on DVDs. It was particularly annoying when I was rewatching all 120-ish episodes of Buffy recently, and the discs didn't have a "play all" feature, so I had to endure some pointless time-wasting animation in between every single episode. They don't make me feel ill, but they do drive me mad with their time-wasting uselessness. I've even seen DVDs that proudly say, "Special features: Animated menu." I bet no-one in history has ever stood there in Blockbuster dithering on what DVD to borrow, and then gone, "ooh! This one's got an animated menu. I must get it!"

I can't decide if they're even more annoying or marginally less annoying than Powerpoint presentations in which every new line of text whirls around the screen and does a jig before settling into its final position.

[foradan.livejournal.com]

The anonymous comment was me.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Oh that Buffy intro - is that the one with the CGI graveyard? Very irritating and whoever decided that there should be no 'play all' function... gah!

What prompted this was DVD1 of Stargate SG1, which, to be fair, does 'play all' by default, but does also subject you to an intro that involves whirling at speed for some time along CGI'd corridors, which is exactly the sort of thing guaranteed to make me queasy.

[sally_maria]

At one stage I couldn't watch the season 4 SG-1 DVDs at all, because their fancy animated menus were too much for my first-generation DVD player.

Obviously the fans of sci-fi shows are guys who like whizzy computer game animations...

Obviously the fans of sci-fi shows are guys who like whizzy computer game animations

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Yes, and those guys love CGI animations SO MUCH that they never get tired of them, and are happy to wait for their DVD to start playing while they watch an 8 year old cheap CGI effect for the umpteenth time. :-D

Re: Obviously the fans of sci-fi shows are guys who like whizzy computer game animations

[sally_maria]

Well, they're sci-fi fans, aren't they, obviously they don't care when things look dated. ;-D

Re: Obviously the fans of sci-fi shows are guys who like whizzy computer game animations

[chainmailmaiden]

& girls too, I'm afraid, or at least this girl.

I feel compelled to stick up for the DVD intro sequence and yes that includes the CGI graveyards to be found on Buffy DVDs. They're part of the anticipation of watching the programme or film for me :-)

[bunn.livejournal.com]

I can appreciate, say the LOTR ones on that basis, but the SG1 intros are just awful - ugly, unhelpful, and I have to close my eyes while they are running because they really make me queasy!

[(Anonymous)]

Disney DVDs (I have 2 1/2 year old daughter) have a 'Fast Play' feature, which means that if you don't press anything you get brought through 10 minutes of trailers and then the film starts. If you choose not to use 'Fast Play' you can start the film in 2 clicks.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Hmm, interesting definition of 'Fast' there...

[(Anonymous)]

Oh God, Disneys are my most-hated DVDs. maybe I'm just incompetent but I've never managed to start one without ten minutes of trailers, animation, and most of all that stupid thing with the fireworks and Tinkerbell flying round the bloody Disney logo. Brings me out in hives now just looking at it. I feel your collective pain!