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Kingsman: The Secret Service (Blu-ray SteelBook) (HMV Exclusive) [UK]
- Thread starter Norwichlad
- Start date
Well, if I designed it I couldn't have chosen better front artwork based on the original poster design:-
The back could be improved upon (no, not really LOL) as too reminiscent of FOR YOUR EYES ONLY . . . the poster of which most likely to be found on teenage boys bedrooms in the 1970's/1980's alongside posters of the Athena "Tennis Girl", Bo Derek from "10", Kelly LeBrock from WOMAN IN RED and WEIRD SCIENCE, the late lamented Farrah Fawcett (just because . . . ) and last but not least the Hai Karate aftershave girl Valerie Leon-
Nope, I had Iron Maiden and Samantha Fox posters!
All the Arrow and Eureka steelbooks have booklets.
Some have artcards including GLADIATOR, FAST AND FURIOUS 6, SCARFACE, MINORITY REPORT, AVATAR.
Others have posters - recent examples being GHOULIES 1&2, THREE AMIGOS and GANG RELATED.
. . . but as you say rarely all together.
There's one scene in it which is just batshit crazy, everyone who's seen it knows which one...
That particular fight scene is one of my favourites ever. The choreography is insane
It is the same art cards that came with mantas. you can see they match up in the image
Most recent was la la land with art cards but there have been some more like clown etc. iron sky had a book and arrows steelbooks feature books too
It's like some standard releases have been numbered too like city of God, world war Z, clown etc
Caved and ordered a copy, now I won't be tempted to open my Manta copy. Really hope this doesn't become a regular thing though, and I hope that being screwed over so badly by the studio doesn't put Manta off releasing the sequel.
But, but, it's not the same thing at all as the whole point and main attraction for most people (I'm assuming) of the majority of premium releases are the bits 'n' bobs, slips, lenticulars etc. that are included in the package.
A perfect recent example would be NEON DEMON where a cheap-as-chips steelbook is given a slipcase/artcards/booklet makeover and is sold (sold out) for over 3x the price of the steelbook by itself.
The other point to consider is that the Asian steelbooks are manufactured at a different Scanavo facility (in Hong Kong) so there will be major, or minor, differences in the steelbook colouring and finish compared to our editions manufactured by Scanavo, Europe.. . . and even though the artwork may be almost exactly the same one could have slightly more zoomed in artwork than the other.
Same differences of course apply to steelbooks manufactured by Scanavo, N. America compared to those manufactured for us in the U.K.by Scanavo, Europe.
A selling point for the Manta version and alot of premium edition's is a WEA steelbook, bells and whistle's are nice but a new shiny never seen before WEA Steelbook is king and a massive reason these edition's generate so much buzz...
Adding a different finish doesn't make it any better at all IMO. If any company is told they have WEA then it should be completely off limits for other retailers, whether either company is a premium or regular retailer, or the image has minimal changes made is irrelevant. I have no idea how much funding companies put into finalising artwork etc with studios, but the fact the studio has handed a supposed WEA steelbook and the 'exclusive' goodies to another retailer less than six months later, I feel is a piss take.
Neon Demon is a completely different situation, we're all aware that some retailers tart up WWA releases, and we know that we can get the same thing cheaper elsewhere without the extra bits. I don't buy these editions, and I wouldn't have bought the Manta Kingsman if we were told it wasn't exclusive, or a timed exclusive.
I'm still kind of torn over whether I should cancel, as I really don't want this to become a regular thing. What's the point in having premium editions if you can end up getting 50% of the contents for less than half the price?
To be fair, no one bought just the steelbook. Everybody who bought at Manta got a beautiful slip box on top.
However there were people who wanted to solely get the steelbook. They probably aren't very happy with this announcement, if they went for one of the Manta editions for the sole reason of getting their hands on that steel.
But we still don't know whether the HMV steel will really be the same as Manta's, even though I'm pretty sure it's going to be a Gladiator 2.0 situation.
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The key question - is it going to be nice and glossy, or just some dull quick make cash cow for the sequel?
Someone was talking about this release on Instagram, Manta Lab responded with this:
I have a feeling this might cause a rift between manta and fox. Wouldn't be surprised if Manta contact fox about this.
But I also have a feeling this will be flat and matte. - maybe a bit of spot gloss
When have fox released a steel with a finish as good as mantas kingsman in a non premium way? I can't think of any which makes me think this wont have the same finish.
Only time will tell but I'll be very surprised if you get full gloss, embossing, art cards and a book from fox for £14.99
(I'm not saying it won't come with the cards and book because that's been confirmed)
Edit: to answer my own question I thought of some fox titles with gloss and debossing (instead of embossing) which are the Star Wars films but they were priced at £19.99 (more from some places) so who knows what finish this will defo have lol
But I also have a feeling this will be flat and matte. - maybe a bit of spot gloss
When have fox released a steel with a finish as good as mantas kingsman in a non premium way? I can't think of any which makes me think this wont have the same finish.
Only time will tell but I'll be very surprised if you get full gloss, embossing, art cards and a book from fox for £14.99
(I'm not saying it won't come with the cards and book because that's been confirmed)
Edit: to answer my own question I thought of some fox titles with gloss and debossing (instead of embossing) which are the Star Wars films but they were priced at £19.99 (more from some places) so who knows what finish this will defo have lol
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Sure but a its a WEA premium package at a premium price, it's basically £25 for a slip box, if indeed the steelbook is the same.
You would think an exclusive art would mean just that even if it has a different "finish".
Lol at you going back and forths. Something tells me this maybe the works. They've even given goodies. I think we will get a nice glossy finish. That's my gut feeling. Bit of a slap on the face to Manta if you ask me.
Yeah I'm very surprised by the same goodies. It is a slap in the face to manta and they are obviously p*ssed about it from that Insta message.
Like I said I'll be very surprised if it has the same finish but anythings possible.
It's not putting me off future manta releases though but like I say if manta do contact them about this it could potentially cause a rift and even possibly affect their Logan & fight club exclusives and anything else they have planned with them after the 6 we know about. Just saying
I think it'll be flat, white matte with the image and title glossed to just slightly differ from Manta's...
That's the safer choice to go for. But I'm going to gamble on the glossy finish mainly because goodies were given which is unusual. And sometimes when we keep making assumptions we were totally wrong! Expect the unexpected for once!
How much do you want to bet? Let's make it interesting lol
Well, IMO, the finish can make a massive difference and although the artwork is the first thing that attracts or repels me the finish is almost as important.
Naturally, steelbooks with "extra" touches such as 'bossing have a quality tactile feel totally missing on flat steels and that effect give the impression you're getting more bang for your bucks.
Same applies to a full gloss finish - they've gone the extra mile to make the steelbook "glow" making it look more luxurious and de luxe.
On the other hand many of my favourite steels are matte and flat . . . some with spot-gloss, others not . . . so I'd never say for example that all steelbooks should be in a full gloss finish or even that all steelbooks should have 'bossing either with or without a framing border.
As for this KINGSMAN steelbook I'd be pleasantly surprised if it looks as nice as the one that went before BUT if it is the same steelbook for 15 quid it's got to be a contender for best value steelbook of the year.
Finally, if WEA is an important deciding factor when buying premium releases then it might be wise to consider that WEA is only WEA until the studio decides there's life in the old dog and nothing's to stop them releasing the same artwork again this time as WWA for those people either uninterested in slipcases etc. or unwilling to commit to 50 quid or more for the premium package.
Maybe an agreement needs to put in place with every studio/distributor when WEA is concerned . . . maybe along the lines of a retailer exclusive agreement for no less than 500 days..
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