Any 'DVD users' ever gotten a Blu Ray/DVD Combo pack?

[The Penguin]

I ask because I haven't gotten Sherlock Holmes yet and I always get the two-disc sets because I like the extra features and there is no regular "special" DVD edition of Holmes. I've never gotten a combo pack before and while it seems pretty self-explanatory, I'd just like to know what to expect.

So do I get the movie twice on a DVD and a Blu Ray and the special features on a regular DVD? Your help on this specific title or in general is greatly appreciated.

[BonyT]

Sherlock Holmes is the first combo pack I've picked up. I've made the switch to Blu-ray, but I like the idea of the combo pack because it at least gives me the ability to lend the movie to friends who aren't Blu-ray yet.

But to your questions:
--yes, you do get the movie twice, one Blu-ray disc and one DVD of course; but
--no, the special features aren't on the DVD. The box says "SPECIAL FEATURES EXCLUSIVELY ON BLU-RAY"--and brother, they ain't kiddin'. I at first took that statement as referring to the usual highlighting of stuff you only get on Blu-ray ("Maximum Movie Mode," BD Live, etc.), but not so. It means ALL of the special features are on the Blu-ray. The DVD is truly bare bones, containing only the movie with the language options but no extras whatsoever; and then the digital copy is also on the DVD, which they actually call a "combo disc."

I don't know if that's gonna be the format for combo packs in general, or if that's just the way they did it for Holmes.

[adoptedBatpuppy]

That depends. Do you own a Blu-ray player? If not I don't think it is worth getting the Blu-ray pack in my opinion. It is more expensive too. Unless you care about special features.
Personally I don't own a Blu-ray player so my advice differs from someone who does own one. You can wait and see of there will be another edition of the DVD you like, and buy that DVD later. or follow BonyT's advice.

My question would be should I buy a complete set of Batman TAS or JL/JLU on DVD, when I already own the individual season sets?
Does that worth it because of special features? What about any other complete shows or movies re-releases, season sets or single DVDs? If I own the movie already is it worth getting it on DVD again? for ex: Toy Story 1, 2

[BonyT]

I'm pretty sure they've discontinued production of those complete BTAS sets you're talking about.

[Michael24]

--no, the special features aren't on the DVD. The box says "SPECIAL FEATURES EXCLUSIVELY ON BLU-RAY"--and brother, they ain't kiddin'. I at first took that statement as referring to the usual highlighting of stuff you only get on Blu-ray ("Maximum Movie Mode," BD Live, etc.), but not so. It means ALL of the special features are on the Blu-ray. The DVD is truly bare bones, containing only the movie with the language options but no extras whatsoever; and then the digital copy is also on the DVD, which they actually call a "combo disc."

I don't know if that's gonna be the format for combo packs in general, or if that's just the way they did it for Holmes.

Some of the Disney combo packs have included a couple bonus features with the DVD, while others haven't, so it doesn't look like there's a standard or anything. And I've seen some non-combo Blu-Rays where the second disc with the bonus features is a regular DVD, and only the movie disc is Blu-Ray.

[SpongeJosh]

Some of the Disney combo packs have included a couple bonus features with the DVD, while others haven't, so it doesn't look like there's a standard or anything. And I've seen some non-combo Blu-Rays where the second disc with the bonus features is a regular DVD, and only the movie disc is Blu-Ray.

Yeah, Disney BD/DVD combo packs include the first disc of the most recent DVD release of the movie so whether or not it has special features depends on that DVD release. And as for non combo packs including bonus DVDs for special features, it just seems to be a way to cut costs used by some studios. The upcoming blu-ray release of LOTR is an example of that.

Pertaining to combo packs in general Penguin, it varies. You get the movie on both a blu-ray disc and a DVD but the vast majority if not all the special features are on the blu-ray. Whether or not the DVD includes any bonuses all depends on the studio or the individual release. In the case of Sherlock Holmes it would seem that the DVD included in the combo pack is bare-bones. If the single DVD release has any special features and you don't have plans for getting a blu-ray player, then perhaps it is your best bet.

[defunctzombie]

I think all of WB's future releases will be the same way as Holmes: barebones dvd, and combo pack with all the goodies on the blu-ray. It sucks for people who like features but don't have blu-ray.

[Daxdiv]

I'm personally half-temped to do with the Toy Story 1 & 2, if only to build my DVD collection of Pixar movies, which I only need to get those two and everything else that isn't Monsters Inc, Up, and WALL*E. But I don't feel like having a Blu-Ray copy until I either get a Blu-Ray Player or PS3, since I'm basically paying for both a DVD and Blu-Ray copy of the movie.

Why can't I just have it on one format of my choosing, Disney?

[J. B. Warner]

I picked up the combo packs for The Princess and the Frog, Toy Story, and Toy Story 2 recently, because I'm sure I'll have a Blu-Ray player before too long, and when I do, I want to be able to enjoy all the special features I can. It also helps that I don't have to buy the movie again, though I will have to do that with a few of my DVDs (Watchmen, in particular - I really want to see that in Maximum Movie Mode).

[Peter Paltridge]

I have a Blu-Ray player now (the PS3) but I still think DVD-Blu-Ray combos are a good idea, at least for the forseeable future, because DVD players are everywhere and Blu-Ray players are not yet. I can't, for example, put a Blu-Ray into my computer.

[The Penguin]

Great response in just a few hours, thanks everyone for your assistance. I have tentative plans to get a PS3, but there is no timeline for it so I don't know if I want to start getting Blu Rays just yet. Sounds like with Holmes, I would be getting a Blu Ray and the DVD edition (though perhaps not even a digital copy) which may not be worth it right now. Special thanks to BonyT for being able to answer about this DVD directly.

[BonyT]

Sounds like with Holmes, I would be getting a Blu Ray and the DVD edition (though perhaps not even a digital copy) which may not be worth it right now. Special thanks to BonyT for being able to answer about this DVD directly.

You're welcome, Penguin--glad to be able to be some help! But to clarify, you do get a digital copy with the combo pack--it's on the DVD disc. (Sorry I wasn't very clear about that above.)

[The Penguin]

You're welcome, Penguin--glad to be able to be some help! But to clarify, you do get a digital copy with the combo pack--it's on the DVD disc. (Sorry I wasn't very clear about that above.)

Oh, I followed you. I meant that the regular DVD may not have a digital copy. I looked at the store today and it appears it does not.

[Craig Crumpton]

I don't have a Blu-Ray player yet, but plan to before summer.

I bought BR/DVD combo packs for Toy Story 1 and 2 as well as The Princess and the Frog, but only because after multiple discounts were applied (Disney's $5 off coupons for TS 1 and 2, as well as $10 off discount buying the two together, and then a $10 coupon off Princess/Frog) it was a much better value than buying the DVD only.

I already own the Toy Story Ultimate Toy Box set, but I know it's going to be worth it to see Pixar's movies upgraded for hi-def.

I'm personally half-temped to do with the Toy Story 1 & 2, if only to build my DVD collection of Pixar movies, which I only need to get those two and everything else that isn't Monsters Inc, Up, and WALL*E. But I don't feel like having a Blu-Ray copy until I either get a Blu-Ray Player or PS3, since I'm basically paying for both a DVD and Blu-Ray copy of the movie.

Why can't I just have it on one format of my choosing, Disney?

You can. The 2-disc non-BR Special Edition DVDs of Toy Story 1 and 2 release on May 11th.

[Trevor]

I remember that last year when Disney reissued Pinnochio on DVD and Blu-ray I picked the Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack up, even though I didn't have a Blu-ray player at the time, since the price difference between the 2-disc DVD Diamond Edition and the 3-disc Blu-Ray set was only $5, which I thought was a good deal for getting the DVD and then having the Hi-Def version for later on. And the DVD was Disc 1 from the 2-disc set, so while it didn't have all the special features on it, it did have the audio commentary and a few others that were on the regular DVD issue.

But I know that I've got The Pink Panther 2 where the studio included a regular DVD for the bonuses (in the case of PP2 the DVD was a re-printed version of the first disc of the Pink Panther cartoon series).

But I think Blu-Ray/DVD combo packs are the best way to get movies, since it allows you to buy a movie once, but have the movie on 2 different formats, so that even in the same house if you have a Blu-Ray in the living room, but only DVD players in the bedrooms or rec room, then you can watch the movie anywhere in the house.