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11 July, 2001
The Rape and Pillage of Stanley Kubrick's Legend OR: How Warner Brothers Re-Issued A DVD Set That Screws Previous Consumers
By: Dr. Strangelove (A.K.A. Drew Morton.)
Back in the summer of 1999, I came across a copy of Stanley Kubrick's The Shining at an area Wal-Mart store. I had seen the movie before when I was maybe fourteen years old (I am now 17.) and I hadn't noticed that the film was directed by the great Stanley Kubrick. (In 1998 or 1999, I can't remember, I heard of Stanley Kubrick for the first time while watching the A.F.I.'s top one hundred movies of all time list.) I bought the video, which was dubbed one of the films in the Stanley Kubrick Collection. Cut to a few weeks later, I'm sitting in the doctor's office, reading a Newsweek when I came across an advertisement for the Stanley Kubrick Collection, featuring seven films, which was now available on VHS and DVD. Between watching The Shining, seeing the A.F.I. top one hundred list, and mystified by the advertisement, I went to the nearest Blockbuster and rented Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and A Clockwork Orange. I watched them all and became mystified by the influence that the films have had on our culture and the overall tone of Kubrick's work. He has since become one of my favorite directors.
By the end of summer, I had bought the three films on VHS (I had not received my DVD player yet). The school year started and I began to jonze for a DVD player and I received one for a birthday gift (Note: Drew's birthday is on December 16th for all those wishing to send him gifts) along with a few DVDs. Christmas came and went and I decided to buy the Stanley Kubrick Collection on DVD with my Christmas money. The package came a week later and then I enjoyed the films on DVD, even if they weren't the best example of picture clarity and razor sharp sound. I mean, the movies were old, who gives a damn? I enjoyed every film in that set and enjoy them to this day. However, then the infamous re-issue was announced, bending the buyers of the previous set over and giving them a good old screw. The set would feature all the films included with the original set, along with Eyes Wide Shut and an updated version of my favorite, Dr. Strangelove OR: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, which happened to come out earlier in year as a re-issued Special Edition. (Do it right the first time!) Sure, the new set would boast new transfers of picture and sound, putting the mono mix into a 5.1, but when the films are recorded in mono, putting them into a 5.1 track doesn't do too much. The biggest kick in the balls was the documentary, the moment of penetration Warner Brothers inflicted on the wallets of the consumer.
The documentary would be available ONLY in the newly released set, not separately, for the low, ass raping cost of two hundred dollars. Those who had bought the previous set were shut out, offered nothing. Not a return for the new set, which was a long shot, and not a rebate for a documentary disc. We got screwed! (Numerous people gave me an "I told you so".) I was steamed. I mean, we all know why this set was released right at the beginning of summer of this infamous year 2001, it was the coming of Warner's Brothers new summer blockbuster A.I., which just so happens to be a dated Kubrick project. Do I need to draw you a picture?
I have since e-mailed Warner Brothers and not received a response. My letter basically reiterates basically everything I have noted above. I noted that I have been a big buyer of DVDs in the past (I own about 150 titles) and was very upset about the abuse of consumers and was pondering not to buy anymore Warner titles. I advise everyone to contact Warner Brothers through their website (http://www.warnerbrothers.com) and express your concern.
I warn you all: THERE ARE OTHER RE-ISSUES COMING OUT OF BATMAN, BLADE RUNNER, AND OTHER TITLES. BEWARE!
Please see my website for other DVD stories and updates (http://www.fxfilms.cjb.net).
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