Making the switch (back?) to physical media offers several advantages in the age of streaming and digital downloads. Along with the guarantee that you actually own the content you’re buying, DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K discs offer superior audio and video quality, often come packed with additional features, and can even enhance your sense of personal connection to the art you enjoy.
However, if it’s been a while since you’ve been in the habit of buying discs, the experience can be a little more overwhelming than expected. Among other reasons, this may be at least partially due to the fact that there are often multiple versions of the same title available on physical formats. A common difference is the “bare-bones” DVD or Blu-ray alongside a more expensive “special edition”.
What makes a special edition “special” can vary from one title to another. So, when determining whether to buy the standard disc or the premium release, you should consider several factors.
Check out the additional features
The bonus features special editions offer are not all universally impressive
Again, no two special edition DVDs, Blu-rays or 4K discs are necessarily the same. You need to research the specific features of a disc you are considering buying to decide if it is worth your money.
For example, one of the main differences between a standard disc and a special edition is that a special edition will often come with significantly more bonus content. That doesn’t mean this content is always worth spending extra money on.
Sometimes, especially when released through boutique labels like Criterion, special editions of films come with additional content that is likely to be as appealing as the film or series itself. For the sake of argument, let’s say that this content takes the form of a documentary that offers a unique, retrospective look back at a significant work of cinematic art. This documentary can be quite long and could even stand alone as its own film.
Compare that to the kind of studio-approved behind-the-scenes featurettes that sometimes make up “documentaries” on some so-called special edition versions of physical media releases. This content is usually surface-level, functioning more as marketing content than anything else. You could understandably decide that this type of bonus feature does not justify significant added costs.
That is just one example. The point is that you should drive the special features of a premium disc that you are not sure you want to buy. Different platforms offer reviews of discs, so you can learn more about the strengths of the bonus content. Taking the time to do a little research can help you better determine if a special edition is a worthwhile investment.
Check to see if the bonus content is available elsewhere
The bonus content of some older discs may already be online
Maybe you want to save money, and thus want to avoid making wasteful purchases on special edition DVDs and Blu-rays that you don’t need. However, perhaps the bonus content of a particular disc calls to you.
Before you spend money, you better save, check if this bonus content is available online. Sometimes, as if a disc is relatively old, it’s bonus content (such as behind-the-scenes documentaries, deleted scenes, and trailers) could have made its way to YouTube or other such platforms. This could provide a cost-effective way to enjoy additional features of a special edition without paying special edition prices.
Some streaming platforms also offer bonus features. For example, the Criterion Collection’s streaming platform often includes audio commentaries with its discs. The main point to understand is that a special edition that offers several pieces of bonus content may not be the only way to access the content.
See the technical details
Some special editions offer better audio and video than standard editions
It cannot be repeated enough: the term “special edition”, at least when applied to physical media releases of films and series, is a general term that refers to several types of releases. Some special editions are released at the same time as standard editions are released. In this case, the difference between a standard edition and a special edition is probably primarily bonus features.
On the other hand, there are cases where studios and store labels can release special edition versions of discs years after the release of the standard versions. Although this is not always the case, they may do so because they have remastered the film or otherwise improved the audio and video quality. Since superior quality is one of the many reasons to spend money on physical media in the first place, this can be a good reason to choose a special edition over a standard release.
Of course, you have to consider practical details when buying physical media. You shouldn’t blow your budget just because a special edition version of a movie you love has attractive features. Remember, if you want a particular disc but don’t want to spend full price, there are several ways to build a physical media collection without breaking the bank.