Physical media feels like it’s making a comeback, and that’s excellent news not only for people who are fighting for ownership, but also for people who prioritize quality over everything. I find myself somewhere in the middle of that spectrum, with a slight edge going toward quality. I have no problem with streaming services, and I find them to be an excellent way to try out a movie before committing to a physical release.
DIsney+ is another one of those streaming services that I use, and one of my favorite features is IMAX Enhanced. A bunch of movies, notably the ones in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, have expanded IMAX aspect ratios that fill out your TV screen. This is something that’s rare among streamers, and it’s only this and Sony Pictures Core that I know of that can do this. The downside is that this feels like it’s coming at the cost of 4K UHD Blu-rays. The only MCU movie with shifting aspect ratios is Guardians of the Galaxy 3, and that’s a bummer. This should be a selling point of physical media, but it’s actually a selling point of Disney+.
I feel like I’m not getting my value
Like a lot of you, I’m a big fan of the MCU, and I have a lot of those movies physically. What might surprise you is that I haven’t added a new one to my collection since Guardians 3. I enjoyed Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and Fantastic Four, but I haven’t felt compelled to grab them physically. The reason why is that I feel that Disney+ gets a better version of these movies. Yes, I have my issues with IMAX aspect ratios at home, but I’d still rather have them than not. Disney+ is also one of those streaming services where I feel like the overall quality doesn’t take a large hit like it does on others, so I don’t mind streaming something in 4K there.
I don’t see why Disney has a feature like this locked behind a streaming service’s walled garden. Meanwhile, Christopher Nolan home releases have these included on the discs, and that’s what gives them a big edge over streaming services. Part of this could simply boil down to DIsney wanting people to sign up for their streaming service. I used to be part of the Disney Movie Club, but that has since closed down, and it feels like people have been funneled by Disney into streaming.
It seems like this is a problem that’s exclusive to Disney releases as it keeps on happening across the board. What’s more baffling is that some releases, like The Mandalorian and Grogu, do have these ratios intact. I can forgive many home releases for not having their IMAX ratios because they’re also not included on streaming services, Dune as a recent example. The problem with these Disney+ releases is that the expanded ratio obviously exists, but it’s largely being held back for streaming services instead. Companies clearly do what they have to do to make money, but it’d still be nice to have these ratios included on physical media. I know I’d be more inclined to pick up these releases if I didn’t feel like they were held back when compared to streaming.
It shouldn’t be an afterthought
Physical media still matters
I buy new 4K discs quite often, but only when it feels like I’m getting the appropriate value. Lately, it’s felt difficult to justify buying an MCU movie since I can always check it out on Disney+ with the expanded aspect ratio. Admittedly, I haven’t felt compelled to revisit a Marvel movie outside of the theater, so it’s an issue that hasn’t affected me a ton as of yet. When the time comes to revisit one of these movies, and I probably will after seeing the fantastic Spider-Man: Brand New Day, I’ll probably do it on Disney+.
I wish that wasn’t the case, but it’s the very situation I find myself in. I’d like to see Disney put a little more effort into physical media releases, but with the closure of the Disney Movie Club, it feels like things are going in the opposite direction. Disney is a massive corporation, and it appears that physical media doesn’t really affect their bottom line, but it’s still a net negative for consumers. I’m still very much interested in physical media, so it’s a shame to see the discs being lesser quality than what’s offered on streaming.
With the way Disney+ has been expanding, I’m not sure things are going to be changing any time soon. For a lot of people, that probably doesn’t matter, but as somebody who’s always looking to grow their 4K collection, it’s a shame to see so many Disney movies essentially eliminated from consideration. Maybe things can change for the better, but I’ll just continue to be picky with my Disney 4K releases in the meantime.
