by John Sciacca
There’s been some kinda-sorta negative stuff going around on the Interwebs lately about Kaleidescape and their awesome media server. They were handed down a pretty negative judgment at the first of the month which may or may not impact them from being able to continue selling their product in its current, DVD-importing form. (Kaleidescape is hopeful that the verdict will be stayed pending their appeal, which has already been filed. You can read all about the verdict and CEO Michael Malcolm’s responses and letters to dealers here.)
As a long-time dealer/reviewer/user/lover of Kaleidescape’s movie server system, I’ve written extensively about the experience that it provides. The ability to load ALL of your movies and music into a device where they are then automatically catalogued, sorted, safely backed-up and made available for instant playback at any location in your home, is pretty stunning. And Kaleidescape makes it so easy to find and enjoy – “consume” in meta-speak – your digital collection, that the average Kaleidescape family owns 506 movies on Blu-ray and DVD. (I am woefully behind these curve, being somewhere in the low 200s…) If you had this many movies — or however many that you DO have — wouldn’t it be nice to be able to see them instantly with the push of a single button? With no more hunting around for discs or wondering if something got misplaced or scrated or having to wait through trailers and warnings?
I’ve even shared what other Kaleidescape owner’s have to say and why they love their systems.
The biggest drawback to a Kaleidescape system is the price. And you could argue that it is a system geared towards the 1 percent. But have you ever wondered what the 1 percent like to watch and listen to? Ever wonder if perhaps they perhaps hire Michael J Nelson and crew to come over and offer personalized Rifftrax commentary versions of their favorite films while they bathe in Cristal and give themselves Beluga facials? Perhaps grabbing the Vertu to phone up some other 1 percent-er to share some concern or outrage. (“They say gas is going up to $5 a gallon! And do any of these people complaining have any idea how much this is going to affect us? I mean, really! They have absolutely NO IDEA the prices I’m paying for jet fuel! I mean, my G-V doesn’t fuel itself! Harumpf! Oh, pooh! I spilled another bottle of that 50-year Livet.”)
But it turns out that the 1 percent are a lot like the rest of it when it comes to movie watching. Sure, they do it in a better house, on a better screen, with better sound and better snacks and a better car in the garage and finer horses in the stables, but, at the end of the day, people are pretty much alike all over when it comes to their entertainment.
So I thought I’d share some interesting metadata stats with you on the viewing and listening tastes/habits of Kaleidescape owners; a list that is a pretty accurate representation of movies/CDs you have probably watched/listened to or – more likely – own.
“Imported” means movies that have been loaded onto a customer’s system. “Watched” means watched. I know that one’s a bit confusing…
Most Imported Movies of All Time
Gladiator
Finding Nemo
Pirates of the Carribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
The Lord of the Rings I: The Fellowship of the Ring
The Incredibles
Shrek
The Lord of the Rings II: The Two Towers
The Godfather
The Lord of the Rings III: The Return of the King
The Bourne Identity
The Matrix
Casino Royal
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
The Godfather, Part II
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
The Bourne Supremacy
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Spider-Man
Dear, George Lucas. On behalf of Kaleidescape owners everywhere, I’d like to say thank you for your first 3 movies — aka “the original trilogy,” aka “the actual Star Wars movies” aka “the good ones” — by showing you that we have all dutifully added them to our collections. Also, I’d like to point out that none of your “prequel trilogies” — aka “those other Star Wars movies” aka “the ones where George raped my childhood” — made the list. With love and thanks, John.
Most watched movies in the last 90 days
Cars 2
Rio
Cars
Finding Nemo
Elf
Despicable Me
Tangled
The Help
Avatar
Monsters, Inc.
Most watched “kid’s” films in the last 90 days
Cars 2
Rio
Cars
Finding Nemo
Despicable Me
Tangled
Monsters, Inc.
Kung Fu Panda 2
The Lion King
The Incredibles
Most watch “grown-up” films in the last 90 days
The Help
Avatar
Bridesmaids
The Hangover Part II
Horrible Bosses
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Captain America: The First Avenger
Crazy, Stupid Love.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Friends with Benefits
Kaleidescape does this wonderful thing with TV series that makes it so terrific for people that like to collect their favorite shows. Instead of just presenting you with “Season 1, Episode 14,” which, unless you are a Trekkie or something, will probably mean absolutely zilch, they catalog each episode by name so you can easily find your favorite one. This is especially helpful for shows that have hundreds of episodes like The Twilight Zone — which is shockingly not on the top imported list.
Top 25 imported television seasons
Planet Earth (Complete Series)
Band of Brothers
The Blue Planet: Seas of Life
The Sopranos (Season 1)
Seinfeld (Season 2)
24 (Season 1)
Mad Men (Season 1)
Seinfeld (Season 1)
24 (Season 2)
Seinfeld (Season 3)
Entourage (Season 1)
Sex and the City (Season 1)
A Charlie Brown Christmas
24 (Season 3)
The Sopranos (Season 2)
The Sopranos (Season 3)
Sex and the City (Season 2)
24 (Season 4)
Seinfeld (Season 4)
Lost (Season 1) (How could you watch season 1 of Lost and then not keep up with the rest?!?! Seriously, people! The Dharma Initiative?! The hatch?! You’re gonna watch season one and NOT load up season 2?! It’s like I don’t understand you at all…)
Entourage (Season 2)
Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 1)
The Office (Series 1)
Sex and the City (Season 3)
One of the things that really impressed me from the “Unforgettable Home Theater Experience” at CES this past year was the that they selected a bit of a concert to demo. (The more impressive thing was Empire Strikes back and the snowspeeder simulation sitting so close to the huge Stewart Filmscreen and the D-Box chairs. But, I digress.) Concerts on Blu-ray are becoming a huge part of the home viewing experience, and are a way for you to enjoy your favorite artist over and over, with the best seat in the house every time.
Most Imported Blu-ray Concerts of All Time
The Last Waltz
Concert for George
Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense (My personal favorite. I used to go and watch this in Berkeley at midnight where they would dance in front of the screen. It was EPIC!)
Roy Orbison: Black & White Night
U2: Rattle & Hum
Robbie Williams: Live at the Albert
Andrea Bocelli: Vivere Live in Tuscany
Michael Buble: Caught in the Act
Chris Botti: In Boston
Cream: Royal Albert Hall
Most Watched Blu-ray Concerts last 30 days
Adele: Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Hit Man: David Foster & Friends
Andrea Bocelli: Vivere Live in Tuscany
Chris Botti: In Boston
Elton 60: Live at Madison Square Garden
Michael Buble: Caught in the Act
Shakira: Oral Fixation Tour
U2: 360
Beyonce: I Am World Tour
AC/DC: Live at River Plate
Music owners aren’t left out either, but it seems the 1% prefer a more gentle, mainstream, vanilla, white-toast selection of music for their collections. This is about the most “adult easy listening” cross-sampling of 30 albums I think that you could handpick! And, I’d have bet — and lost — a good bit that Miles Davis “Kind of Blue” would have been on this list. Come on! We all know White People like to pour a glass of Shiraz and put some jazz on the Bose…
Top 30 Imported Albums
1 Come Away with Me – Norah Jones
2 Supernatural – Santana
3 1 – The Beatles
4 Immaculate Collection – Madonna
5 Greatest Hits – James Taylor
6 Unplugged – Eric Clapton
7 Brothers in Arms – Dire Straits
8 Jagged Little Pill – Alanis Morissette
9 Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 – Eagles
10 Gold: Greatest Hits – ABBA
11 Abbey Road – The Beatles
12 Best of 1980-1990/The B-Sides – U2
13 Rush of Blood to the Head – Coldplay
14 Brand New Day – Sting
15 Feels Like Home – Norah Jones
16 Rumours – Fleetwood Mac
17 Genius Loves Company – Ray Charles
18 X&Y – Coldplay
19 Hell Freezes Over -Eagles
20 Legend – Bob Marley
21 Ten Summoner’s Tales – Sting
22 Cracked Rear View – Hootie & the Blowfish
23 Unforgettable: With Love – Natalie Cole
24 Beatles [White Album] – The Beatles
25 Ray of Light – Madonna
26 Surfacing – Sarah McLachlan
27 Songs You Know by Heart: Jimmy Buffett’s Greatest Hit(s) – Jimmy Buffett
28 Best of Van Morrison – Van Morrison
29 Greatest Hits – Bruce Springsteen
30 Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman
