Sony streaming Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs free to new customers, expensively to existing ones

It wasn't long ago that Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs was packing theaters, but given how quickly things hit DVD and Blu-ray these days we're surprised to learn this one won't be flinging vermicelli to disc until just after the holidays. Fear not carb-lovers: similar to the Hancock deal last year, new purchasers of internet-capable Sony TVs and Blu-ray players will be receiving one free stream of the film starting on December 8; that's nearly a full month ahead of the retail release. The stream will be in 720p and will allow full control during 24 hours. What if you've already purchased your Sony setup? The company is happy to extend the streaming offer to you as well -- so long as you don't mind paying a mere $24.95. Yes, a one-time 720p rental that costs as much as a Blu-ray. That's value.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 7:36AM]

That is crazy ... if you wanted to see it so bad you would have paid 1/2 that and see it in 3D in a huge theater .. Now $30 to keep for good is still not a great deal as Amazon will have the 1080p BD version for less then that but at least i could kinda see that deal

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 11:50AM]

That is obviously way too much.

On the other hand I freakin loved this movie. It is more geared toward kids but I thought it was hilarious...seriously.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 11:53AM]

And these companies wonder why Netflix is kicking their asses...

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 12:46PM]

What kind of sap pays $24.95 for a movie which they don't even own a copy of and which Sony could pull the plug on any time they felt like?

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 1:31PM]

That is insane. If they were going to set that high of a price at least do it for a more popular and critically acclaimed movie. If anyone is dying to see it that badly they'd be much better off going to their local dollar theater.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 3:06PM]

If someone is stupid enough to pay that much...they deserve it.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 5:07PM]

First off, you could not see this in the theater for less than $24.95 unless you went by yourself. Anyone with a family, and it was a lot more than that.

However, that doesn't justify this price. You'd really have to be impatient to not wait the month for the 1080p high bitrate, lossless audio Blu-ray... at probably $20 to $22 from Amazon.

I'm glad to see the article recognizing that 720p is sub-par compared to 1080p. Keep fightin' the good fight! :-)

-Pie

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 5:17PM]

Actually, the Hancock deal was the same price, but they sent you a copy of the blu-ray when it came out. So I'm wondering if the same deal will happen here.

[nrb Posted Nov 9th 2009 6:38PM]

If that's the case, then the price isn't out of line.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 8:22PM]

720p is fine and dandy, but what is the bitrate?

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 11:45PM]

Every time I'm tempted to buy a blu-ray player or PS3, I'm reminded why Sony does not deserve my money.

[IseWise Posted Nov 10th 2009 1:35AM]

You know what that sad part is, people will pay for it. I think alot of companies just price things at absurd prices to get all the suckers, then possibly lower the price to target more cash conscious consumers.