5. Improper Home Video Transfers
Terrible home video transfers aren't just doing customers out of their hard-earned cash for inferior wares, they're also disrespecting the very film that the distributor is trying to sell in the first place. There are countless tales of home video releases that just don't quite cut the mustard; some versions of the Jaws DVD infamously have the original mono track remixed with some more contemporary foley work (which makes the various shark attacks sound far more mild and unassuming), before Universal accepted the flak from fanatics and restored the mono track as an alternate channel. Then there's Blu-rays being released in the wrong aspect ratio - Warner Bros. have a history of "accidentally" releasing movies in the wrong ratio, often resulting in a delay, product recall or re-issue - and some dodgy digital "restorations", like the first Predator Blu-ray, which simply makes every character resemble a Madame Tussaud's waxwork. Some more casual viewers might not care all that much, but is it really a lot to ask that distributors consult with the filmmakers on these releases (where possible), and get their blessing?