Analysis of 3 different DVD Menus.

The Matrix DVD menu

This is the first DVD menu I will be analysing and it is an interesting one due to the time/technology in which it was made. As soon as the introduction begins and before we are even presented with our setup selections we are plunged straight away into audio and visual transmissions. We are shown straight away thrilling and exciting action clips taken from the film with effects accompanied by ‘robot-like’ music which is in keeping with the overall theme of the film. These clips are put together in a very fast paced sequence; one straight after the other, almost in a flashing transition, which creates a dramatic atmosphere when watching. Once this series of clips comes to it’s end (it also takes a fair amount of time for this to happen, in my opinion perhaps a little too long when you have put the DVD into the player because you want to watch the actual film itself…) we are then shown a clip and spoken quote from the film – “welcome to the real world”. This is quite a quirky feature as it is suggesting to the audience that they are about to be shown something very different to what they have already experienced, so in that sense the choice of quotation is quite relevant. By using visual and audio sequences taken from the film itself this creates a commonality in all three of the DVD menus I will be analysing for this assignment, because in doing this in each one, they are appealing to the fans of the film and satisfying them in their fandom, a very effective decision.
Moving past the initial introduction to the DVD menu, we are then finally shown our choice of selections and set up options. When these appear on the screen, there is a change music track, a slightly more subdued choice but still very dramatic in pace and tone. The selections themselves appear one by one while video transmissions (with no accompanying audio) once again from the film are playing in the background. Everything in this menu is in keeping with the action genre of the film, right down to the font used on the lettering which is green in colour and in a ‘binary code’ style. The options we are giving in the set up menu are:

• Scene Selections
• Special Features
• Languages
• Play Movie

The ‘Matrix’ movie logo is also positioned at the top of the DVD menu home screen. The pointer that is used to make your selection is a simple green square, but also reflects a binary code style. The video transmissions that are running in the background of the menu do run for a considerable amount of time, but once they do eventually end they are looped back to the beginning again, so there is always a visual and action happening, this helps set the mood for the film in some ways.

In terms of overall effectiveness, I think this DVD menu is a little pretentious in the sense there are non stop action clips playing with strange music playing, but I am not really a fan of action films so therefore I think people who ARE action genre fans and fans of the actual film would be quite excited by this pumped menu, and I fully appreciate how unique this set up was at the time it was released.

Shrek DVD menu

I will be analysing and comparing the DVD menu of the film ‘Shrek’ as the second example in this assignment. I have to start off by commenting on the huge amount of content we are given in this menu! This set up is bursting with an extensive list of features, a variety of video/audio transmissions created and animated specifically for the DVD menu, (which contrasts with The Matrix DVD menu which has transmissions simply taken from the film itself) and multiple selections to choose from.
To begin delving into this plethora of features, I will start with how the DVD menu is introduced. Much like the menu for The Matrix, we are introduced with a quotation from the actual film – Shrek exclaiming “What are you doing in my swamp?!” this also largely appeals to fans of the franchise who are mainly a young, comedy loving audience, and very appealing to those who believe Shrek is love and is life. This sequence happens before we are produced with our menu selections which are:

• Play
• Scene Index
• Special Features (of which there are far too many to list)
• Subtitles
• Audio

What is interesting and asphetically pleasing about the selection menu is the use of video transmissions in the background. Coincidentally all of the DVD menus I am looking at for this assignment feature moving video transmissions, but in different ways. This use stands out as it hasn’t been given sequences taken from the actual movie; they have been created separately for this purpose. Here at the main menu we have a massive group of the film’s characters standing in the background, moving around of their own accord and if I remember the film correctly are given audio output in the form of quotations from the film. This sequence theme also carries over into one of the selections backgrounds as well, specifically in the choice for ‘bonus features’. Here we also have a running video/audio transmission featuring some characters, but this time it is narrowed down to only two of those.

When actually making a selection on the main menu of this DVD, our ‘pointer’ is merely a line formed underneath the set up choice. This simple design was probably chosen to balance out all of the other ‘busy’ moving features that are happening at the same time, which in my opinion was a good idea. It is also interesting how after every different selection you make another relevant sequence plays, which interests the audience and pleases them.
In terms of overall effectiveness when analysing this DVD menu, I have to say I think it is more than satisfying to fans and although there is a lot of content happening all at once and at different stages of the set up, I think it all comes together very well and keeps the young audience entertained while probably at times making them laugh. Looking at the amount of content, I believe ‘Shrek’ conveys these transmissions more effectively than The Matrix DVD menu because there is a different kind of atmosphere and more to look at than just explosions and people falling over, which gets very boring after the first few clips.

Peep Show series 2 DVD menu
I have chosen to analyse this menu because as well as enjoying how simple and clear it is, it is also different to any DVD menu I have experienced so far (Which is saying a lot as I have an extensive DVD collection!). What makes this menu so clear comes down to the use of colour used for the selection option. Primary colours such as green, blue and red are used, making them easy on the eye. There is also a fairly large arrow used to guide you as to what selection you are making, and this arrow does not flash or change colour once you have made your choice. A lot of menus feature pointers that flash/change colour and even make a sound, but because there is no delay in time from moving to one selection to another, this is not necessary here. The transitions are fluid and fast. Another point to mention on the main menu is the background. It has been made to look like a cartoon version of the office building in which one of the main characters, Mark, works in. The simple cartoon effect reflects the easy going design of the DVD set up, and also appeals to fans of the show.
The features/selections we are given from the main menu are:

• Episode selection
• ‘Play all’
• Extras
• subtitles

What makes this menu different for me is the way that V.Ts taken from the show itself are displayed and integrated into the start up selection. Our list of choices are listed neatly down the right hand side of the main menu, and placed next to them on the left we have the show’s clips presented in a bubble. There is no sound to these short, looping transmissions, but there is an upbeat music track playing. This makes this menu similar to both ‘The Matrix’ and ‘Shrek’ menus because they also have clips playing in the background of the selections. However Peep Show series 2 has this feature to make it easier in selecting which episode/clip you want, whereas ‘The Matrix’ uses it to add dramatic effect to reflect the action genre of the film and Shrek uses it purely for entertainment value. The initial menu is different to the menu of the selection you make. For example, when choosing which episode you would like to watch, there is no music, and the sound from the clips themselves accompany the visuals. This gives a better indication as to what the episodes are about and can be particularly useful if you can’t remember which episode you left off from. What is also a well thought out feature of the episode selections is once you are looking at an episode option, underneath there is also a list of different scenes you can choose from. Although this set up is simpler than the other two menus, I think it is more effective overall because it has similar features but in a more practical and useful way, and does not over complicate a menu as I feel the others do.

Screen shots of this DVD menu: