The much anticipated release of the VERONICA MARS film last Friday came with a hint of joy and quite a bit of disappointment. The crowd-funded film left many of its original Kickstarter backers dissatisfied with the delivery of their digital downloads, leading to a mass of complaints and the eventual decision by Warner Bros. to issue refunds to many of their unhappy customers.
Originally promised “a digital version of the movie within a few days of the movie’s theatrical debut“, the MARS’ enthusiastic backers were disappointed to find out that this meant getting the movie via website Flixster and Ultraviolet. Many complained that the studio’s choice of delivery meant that those who had decided to back the movie with their money and support were actually unable to own a copy of the film to keep. Other issues included very slow downloads or the inability to stream in some foreign countries, which meant that many chose to buy the film on iTunes or Amazon – surely a disappointment for those that had pledged $35 or more in the VERONICA MARS Kickstarter campaign (which ended up raising $5 million from 91, 585 supporters).
VERONICA MARS creator Rob Thomas responded to angry fans by stating:
“We know that some of you have strong opinions about the decision to provide digital versions of the movie through Flixster. As you will see in the original FAQ on our Kickstarter page, we’ve always planned to include Flixster as a digital distribution platform. But I also know that many of you use iTunes, Amazon or other platforms, and would prefer to claim your digital copies on your favourite service, so we hoped we’d also be able to arrange for more options. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t possible. In the end, Flixster was the best option for getting the digital movie reward out to all of you, worldwide, at the same time.”
Thomas also added that he wanted the day to be perfect for all the fans and that they should be able to watch it on any platform, he added:
“If you paid for a copy of the movie a year ago, we don’t want you to have less choice and freedom than people who decide to buy it today. And we definitely don’t want you to end up paying twice just to see the movie on your preferred service.”
According to reports, Warner Bros. will also be repaying $10 or a full refund to those who have contacted Customer Support and stated that they had to purchase the movie through a different platform.
VERONICA MARS stars Kristen Bell and Jason Dohring, and sees our favorite teenage private eye returning back to her hometown in time for her high-school reunion in order to help an old flame entangled in a murder mystery. Click here for our 4-Star review!
Source: THR
