DVD Menu Analysis and Comparison

The 1999 film "The Matrix" starring Keanu Reeves and Lawrence Fishburne gained huge success at the box office and when released on DVD it was the first movie in the US to sell more than three million copies.Its approach to DVD authoring was groundbreaking at the time and nobody had seen anything of the like before.Instead of the discs menu being purely functional it was a work of art in itself,up until then DVD menus only featured a grainy still picture in the background and the basic functional buttons in dull text fonts.In terms of conventions the disc is standard definition and is a duel layer -R which means it is right protected and can't be copied.As there is a lot of information and content on the DVD it will have a very large file size.The average DVD file size is around 4.9 GB.The DVDs released in the UK and Ireland are region 2 and Region 1 in USA.The region code means that the DVD can only be played in a DVD player with a corresponding region code.

Initial Blade Runner DVD menu.Released in 1997

But when the release of The Matrix DVD came along it completely raised the bar and paved the way for all its successors and its inspiration is still being used today on new DVDs and even on HD Blu Ray releases.

This innovative main menu is introduced with intense music from the films score and an effects sequence including the iconic matrix graphics which overlays into the famous tracking shot of Lawrence Fishburne, a very impressive transition shot that brings us into an exciting montage sequence featuring various action scenes from the film then begins.The text for all the buttons then flies onto the right hand side of the screen while the montage continues to loop in the background with music from the soundtrack composed by Don Davis.As the user scrolls along the different buttons using their remote control a green square indicates which feature they are selecting.

A screen shot from the main menu which shows how the green square allows the user to see what they are selecting.

It wasn't just the main menu that included all the flashy effects and music even the subsequent menus remained in touch with the films intense and edgy tone.

I believe this menu still holds up even with today's standards.

There was so much content and information just on the main menu that the majority of the DVD players of the time couldn't handle it and the manufactures received many complainants regarding this issue.    

The first Shrek movie was released into cinemas in 2001 and released on SD DVD and VHS on 2nd November of the same year.It soon sold over 5.5 million copies making it the biggest selling DVD at the time.

The DVD menus for Shrek are considerably different and even more innovative in comparison to "The Matrix" DVD which was released two years previous to "Shrek".Unlike "The Matrix" which included existing footage from the film in their menu DreamWorks went the extra mile and created new content specifically for the menu.It includes many characters from the film interacting and talking to the viewer along with fun upbeat music and SFX   

Main Menu for Shrek

When a selection is being made an orange line appears under each button to show which feature is being activated,"The Matrix" used a similar idea but with a green square instead, this is a technique all DVDs still remain to use.After the user has made their choice one of  characters will interact by talking and by walking of screen.The text then disappears with a transition and a sound effect.The feature then begins.

When the Scene Index(usually listed as "Scene Selection") is chosen there is the usage of a very fast wipe transition and quick sound effect which brings us to the next menu.As with the Main Menu the Scene Index keeps in with the style of the film by using pieces of wood nailed to a tree as the basis for different chapters.Like before there's a use of orange lines to highlight the selection points and yet again a variety of music from Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell's score is used. 

Scene Index Menu

Ridely Scott's 1982 award winning film Blade Runner was initially released on SD DVD in the 1997.Unlike the majority of modern DVDs the Blade Runner disc doesn't bring you to the Main Menu straight away,in this case the film plays itself as soon as the disc as been inserted and the Main Menu actually appears after the film has finished(The Main Menu can still be accessed at any time via the remote control). Like most DVDs of the time its menu design is very basic in comparison to what we are used to seeing today.It consisted of a low resolution picture of the Warner Bros logo and the words "Main Menu" in bold orange capital letters complete with a  tacky looking drop shadow.A translucent white box sits behind the words to make them more apparent. Being one one the first DVD releases this disc itself has a very small file size, which meant the disc had to be two sided.In this case the film would stop halfway through and you would have to turn the disc over to the B side to resume the remainder of the film.Like the others the disc is -R and cant be duplictaed.

Blade Runner Main Menu.

Although this menu is considerably basic and not very appealing to the eye it still fulfills it's purpose and it works efficiently.Perhaps this blast from the past shows us that looks aren't everything and in comparison of functionality is the Blade Runner DVD menu really that bad? On the contrary Blade Runner doesn't come with many bonus features but then neither did any other film of this era.     

 

The three DVDs where released within a two year period of one another and I believe all show so an advancement in technology and creativity. My personal favorite has to be Shrek because I feel that it has stood the test of time and still holds up very well today but the other hand I have to take my hat off to Warner Bros and Blade Runner because although it isn't visually impressive the basic format and functionality has been left pretty much unchanged since.

DVD Authoring Blog 2

As the Thornham project progressed we were joined by Colin the client who came to discuss the DVD for the Thornham Documentary, We showed him our concepts and ideas which he really liked.He also suggested that we filmed some upcoming events that are happening in Thornham within the next few weeks that could be used within the bonus features section of the DVD.

Colin was very willing to help us out by filming a short opening introduction and interview for the disc.I was camera operator, so we went into the studio and filmed the short VT, afterwards  I edited the video on Final Cut Pro 7.Two variants of the introduction were filmed, one in a mid and the other in a close up.Although he said slightly different things each take I was able to use both takes in the edit and cut between the two and the result is seamless I am extremely happy with the outcome.

After Colin had left we discussed the filming on the 28th January that he had suggested, we decided that it would be a two camera shoot which means two groups.I was very keen to direct one half of the shoot so I put myself forward for directing.  

DVD Authoring

The new year at college has begun which means the start of a new project.In this unit we have been required to design and produce a DVD for the client of last terms Thornham project.The DVD will include all the usual codes and conventions that we all have come to know and expect from DVDs for example; copyright information and the main menu with scene selection and bonus features.

 As a class we discussed the common codes and conventions,everything from the moment you insert the DVD until the very end.We then assigned job roles for everybody in the class.I decided to edit the interviews of the Thornham residents which will be in the bonus features section of the DVD.