For as long as there has been a demand for movies as home-entertainment, there have always been many different methods of obtaining it. This is an on-going debate which I refer to as “The Format Wars.” From the early days of projecting 16mm film prints onto a matte screen to watching a 4K disk on a 60-inch television, and everything else in-between. These days, we are fortunate to have many options for watching our favorite movies and television shows at home or on the go. Even so, there is still a debate as to the superior means of enjoying them. The latest iteration of this format war is between physical discs vs. downloaded digital files. What is the advantage (or disadvantage) of either format? Well, let’s take a closer look.
First, a quick explanation.
One of the many advancements made in recent years concerning movies at home is the digital copy. This is the ability to download and save a feature-film as a digital file onto your computer or device for private viewing. It has become a convenient option for movie lovers, especially those who travel a lot for a living. Having the freedom to whip out your tablet or laptop and enjoy a film in your library, rather than forcing yourself to sit through whatever lackluster schlock offered by the airline, is a pretty damn good idea.
There’s also the over-abundance of streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu offering tons of content, provided you have a capable device and a decent internet service.
However, like any other kind of format alternative, it’s not quite as foolproof as you might expect. As convenient as digital copies and streaming services can be, they fail compared to the practicality of physical discs such as DVD, BluRay, or even 4K UHD.
Let’s go over a few essential advantages.
Ownership.
One of the most significant downsides to digital copies of movies, which is not discussed as much as it should be, is that you don’t actually “own” it. When you buy and download a movie from iTunes, Google, or what have you, you’re not purchasing a copy of the movie. What you’re buying is a license agreement, a permission slip allowing you the privilege to watch your chosen flick on your device within your account. The license agreement's specifics vary based on your content provider, but the general idea remains the same throughout all digital stores.
The reason this is a bit of an issue is, while it has rarely happened, the people in charge of managing these license agreements could potentially decide, out of the blue, they don’t want customers to keep their license anymore and deny you access to the digital copy of the film or television show you purchased. Again, it is rare, and I have been fortunate enough to not experience it myself, but it is a potential problem nevertheless.
A similar situation can happen with the content on streaming services and their rights agreements. Most, if not all, of the streaming platforms, are easily susceptible to public scrutiny and censorship. Meaning any aspect of any given movie or television series can be altered or even removed for the most illogical reasons. Not to mention the constant juggling of content bouncing from one platform to another. Your favorite show might be on Netflix now, but it could very easily leave and end up on HBO Max the next day.
On the other hand, this is not a problem with physical discs. Unlike digital license agreements, when you buy a DVD, BluRay, or 4K UHD, it is yours with no exceptions. As long as you have a media device capable of reading that disc and a screen to watch it on, you have the utmost freedom to enjoy that movie at your leisure. That copy belongs to you, with no questions or exceptions. The only way it can be taken away from you is if you break it, give it away, or it is stolen. Apart from that, it is your property to do with as you please.
Now, it should be noted that, while you do own the physical disc, you technically still don’t own the video file contained on it. The license agreement that applies to digital copies of movies also technically applies to the video file on your DVD, BluRay, or 4K UHD disc.
However, the chances of a representative from any given studio or distributor knocking on your door demanding that you hand over your disc because you don’t have the license for it anymore are slim to none. Not only would that prove too costly for the former license holders, but there would also be lawsuits up the yin-yang. So, if tomorrow, Warner Brothers lost their license for all of their Superman content, they’re not going to send the police to your house for piracy because they can’t. And even if they could, it would not be worth the bother.
Quality.
When considering the technical aspects of home entertainment, such as picture and audio quality, there is one word that you must always be on the lookout for. Compression.
For those of you who don’t know, compression is a common aspect of all digital media. Essentially, it is the act of taking a digital file and squeezing it into a smaller and easier to manage version of itself. The smaller the file, the easier it is to share. You may recall, my wonderful readers, a few of my past blog entries discussing compression about video capture for cinematic projects. You may also remember my advocation for its quality and charm. While I stand by my convictions regarding image capture, compression can become a problem for image delivery.
Most streaming services like Netflix and Hulu present their content in an extremely compressed format. Even their highest available 4K quality content is streamed at bit rates far lower than the standard requirement for maximum optimization. This often results in the lackluster picture and sound quality, with images that are too soft and occasionally pixelated and sound that is either lost or poorly transmitted. While these issues can be mitigated with a decent internet connection and quality streaming device, even the most powerful connection can have unforeseeable issues.
Digital copies of movies don’t favor any better. Most of the time, if you have a digital copy of a film, it’s most likely there for viewing on a small device like a tablet for travel convenience, which are the best places to enjoy such content. However, many people try to maintain the convenience of their digital copies for all of their viewing platforms. They will often use their digital copies for watching on a large screen or even a high-quality projector. This is a terrible idea.
Not only are digital copies of movies highly compressed, but they also are not optimized for large screen presentations. Watching a digital copy of a film on a large screen is like going to the movie theaters wearing 3D glasses for a non-3D presentation; you are hindering your enjoyment unnecessarily.
This is why physical media is better for home entertainment. While the video and audio data on the disc are typically compressed, it has maximum optimization freedom. They can be stored and played back at the highest bit rate possible for the highest quality in picture and sound. Also, no internet connection is required. As long as your media player is fully functional and well maintained, the playback of your favorite discs should be a breeze.
Collectors Pride
People like to collect things. Some collect special rocks while others collect old books. Part of the enjoyment of collecting things is the ability to display your collection in your home. It is not just a means of acquiring high status but also as a show of passion and love for something special. It is a way of communicating a part of ourselves to others in the hopes of finding friends who share the same interests as you. Having someone over to your house and showing them your collection of things you love is all part of the human condition. It’s about teaching others and finding common ground with different people.
None of that is possible with digital copies. Sure, you could pull up your digital library and showcase your wide variety of movies on your computer screen. Still, it doesn’t have the same tangible feeling as taking a limited edition of something off the shelf and handing it to your friend. Digital copies are not an alternative to building a collection; they are convenient when all other options are unavailable. Nothing more.
Conclusion.
While streaming services and digital copies are convenient in some ways, they will never be a suitable substitute for physical media. DVD, BluRay, and 4K UHD will always reign supreme as the dominant format for maximum entertainment value. Take pride in your collection and keep on building it to your heart's content.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.
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