Boilersteel

On 12/31/2023 at 7:46 PM, R1s1ngs0n said:

@Boilersteel

 

I feel like you are missing 90% of the picture.  What in the world is that a shoe?  Not even sure where to start.  Goldfinger?

Nice one @R1s1ngs0n! Apparently, that one was too easy.

Next one ...

Octopussy?

French Blue Beetle is full gloss and colors are stunning.  I would even consider it one of the best looking WWA steelbooks of the year (due to the gloss and colors) behind my favorite of the year Hannibal and Prey.

Think I heard Best Buy is matte and seems supply was so limited that it sold out rapidly.  Wouldn't even waste my time with it when French is available.

Also just watched the movie last night for first time.  Mixed feelings with it on first viewing.  Entertaining, humorous, not super original, annoying at times, but felt like it had some good actors.  Still think it was worth the watch.

For $10 each I bought this and 2 others as don't yet have them in 4K. This is one of the few times I really don't care what kind of shape the steelbooks are in on pick up, as these are beyond ugly.  But $10 for a physical copy 4K and digital code is well worth it.

Funny how the only way they were able to sell these was to drop them all down to $10 such a missed opportunity for Disney. 

Full gloss and colors are spectacular!  Now I just have to watch the movie to see if it measures up to the steelbook, as this was a blind buy.

Here are some pics, definitely difficult to capture all the words on the back (as they only show up at certain angles and light).  Pic 5 is the top (also difficult to capture the words).  What is not shown on pic 3 and 4 is the gladiator face that also only shows up at different angles and light.

So this just arrived from FNAC.  The Titans of Cult new box is a huge improvement.  Also the wording on the back and on the rop of the slip that only shows up at different lights and angles is a nice touch.  Also looks like some spot gloss on the front of the slip is a welcome addition. 

There is nice artwork on the backside of the front when it is opened.  Also there is no French on the slip or steelbook.  The only French is on the J card.  

The steelbook is once again not wrapped, but at least they separated the pin and acrylic steelbook stand from the steelbook with the photo cards, which prevents pin dents on the steelbook.

The sad thing is the slip is great, but the steelbook art is pretty lame, especially the back.  Still, very impressed with TOCs new box, and hopefully they can come up with some better steelbook designs.

Just arrived today.  Another very nice release.  Has glossy finish and great artwork front and back.  Happy to add this steelbook to the Star Wars collection and looking forward to the Season 2 arriving in next few days.

Wow that is a dark picture and looks like it could be from any movie. Skyfall?

Finally able to submit my answers.  Guessed on all of them.  Don't know the characters well enough to remember all the names so that part was extremely difficult.  Super impressed with @extantsrevenge for your perfect score 👏!!!  Just hoping I get at least 1 correct. 🙏 😅

Steelbook is really nice, DL is alright, SL is meh, FS is nice, and box is nice.  However, the motherboxes are phenomenal and absolutely enormous!

7 minutes ago, PsychoBlu said:

I wonder why factory defects are more commonplace this year opposed to others. You would think these retailers would try their best to prevent widespread defects.

It's weird.  When Zavvi sent out the Empire Strikes Back there was a huge outcry from the steelbook community, which was responded to by replacements being sent.

Now retailers don't even need to worry about factory defects or minor damage, as nearly everyone just accepts it for multiple reasons.

1) Some steelbooks are so scarce (at least initially).  Perfect example is Prey.  I can guarantee factory-defected sealed copies were still selling on Ebay for over $100 before Best Buy "miraculously" restocked

2) It is such a chore to return a Best Buy dinged up or dented steelbook each time it arrives damaged.  I used to try to exchange for a better version and still do for my most desired ones, but my standards have dropped significantly as just not worth the time. 

3) Sometimes they all have the factory defect, so trying to replace it with a nonflawed copy is not even possible 

It is pretty sad that we have gotten to this point, but supply and demand really has allowed retailers and steelbook manufactures to not even care about the quality control of the steelbooks.

Yes.  Prey Best Buy (horizontal scratches on many per pics), Exorcist Best Buy (horizontal scratch on multiple pics), my FNAC Oppenheimer (vertical scratch thankfully for others sake havent seen this except on mine) 😔, Barbie blue FNAC (seen on multiple pics).  I am sure there have been others.  

This year seems to be some of the worst in that the factory defects are present on multiple copies, even in unboxing videos, and many times the editions are sold out when the factory defected one arrives.

The most popular factory defect I can recall was the Zavvi Empire Strikes Back from a few years ago that seemed to impact everyone, so much that Zavvi sent replacements.

Bingo!  It is from TSWLM. Pardon my volume on the pic 😆 

Not from Goldeneye.

Not from Octopussy.

Not from Quantum of Solace.

Not from Die Another Day.

Ok since you twisted my arm 😆.  Here is the next one ...

Box looks like someone sat on it, but somehow the deluxe edition inside survived.  Plastic wrapping was ripped, and there are  few small marks/miniscule tears on the front and side of the case.  I am probably one of the lucky ones.  Zavvi sent this with 1 bubble on top of it wrapped in thin tan paper.  Crazy how packages from China have looked better than the last 2 I got from the UK.

Best that EverythingBlu split from Zavvi as this packing just doesn't cut it for a premium.  Heard the collector's edition packaging was even worse. Happy that it finally came.  Wish everyone good luck who ordered it ( You are gonna need it).

Disappointing quality control with this steelbook looks worldwide.  

Still shocked this has not come back in stock yet.  Still seems like it should at some time, unless print run was really that low.  Available overseas if it never gets restocked.

Looking at the reviews Best Buy really frustrated everyone with this release.  One of the biggest movies of the year and steelbook sells out in few hours on preorder and pops in stock for less than a minute on the day of release.

I think like Prey this will probably get restocked in next few weeks, but that's just a guess and I have been wrong before.  For now scalpers are eating it up.