I buy generally on movie quality/enjoyment. I won't buy something on Blu-ray just to up my collection and because it has good PQ and AQ. For instance, I don't enjoy animated films (never have, even as a kid) so titles including the reference ones like "Up" just aren't in my collection and never will be. Naturally having children will mean that films like that will crop up at home eventually, but they're just not my thing and won't be in the collection because I wanted them.
As for enjoyment, sure a film that's terrible can have great PQ and AQ but I won't buy it. Having said that, I have blind bought titles on the expectation that I will enjoy them more than reviews state. One example is Wolverine. I found I enjoyed it a lot more than reviewers must have. Sure it's got it's flaws, but as usual Hugh Jackman is just damn entertaining. He's one of those actors like Johnny Depp who, even though may be working within a sub-standard film, has the ability to lift the whole production. My better than expected enjoyment of Wolverine combined with the PQ and AQ meant that I got my monies worth.
Of my collection, probably about 20% have been blind buys, but I've researched them. I won't buy a disc with average PQ or AQ unless I can justify the cost of it (ie it's cheap) and it still represents a step up from the DVD.
eBay has been pretty handy for me, as has UK shopping at CDWow, 101CD and Amazon UK. It's allowed me to blind buy some great titles at awesome prices that had I had to buy in Australia I wouldn't have purchased. Some titles I've blind bought (either because I missed in theatres even though I wanted to see them or hadn't heard of them while running theatrically) are:
- 3:10 to Yuma - bought for my enjoyment of Christian Bale and James Mangold (love Identity). Great PQ and AQ.
- Alien vs. Predator/Aliens vs. Predator Requiem - saw the first on DVD and enjoyed it more than others. Blind bought the double pack as picked it up for $32 delivered new on eBay. PQ on first was better than some reviews let on, having owned the DVD it's definitely a major improvement. The second had great PQ and AQ, even though it's a dark film.
- The Bank Job - blind bought due to Jason Statham. Great PQ and AQ.
- Fast & Furious - bought because the original team was back together. Not the greatest film but still enjoyable mainly due to the actors in the film. The presentation is high quality though
- Knowing - really kicked myself for missing this at theatres, but blind bought because I enjoy Alex Proyas' work, the concept sounded good and enjoy Nicolas Cage's work even though he's not the greatest actor in the world. It's one of my most satisfying blind buys with spectacular PQ and AQ.
- Midnight Meat Train - missed at theatres. Vinnie Jones, chrome meat cleaver. What more could you want? Loved the film and the presentation is absolutely fantastic for a smaller budgeted film.
I've also blind bought The Mist, My Name is Bruce, Public Enemies, RocknRolla, The Strangers/Untraceable double pack and Transformers 2.
I don't regret any of my purchases. I also feel I have gotten my value for money. Let's face it, if my wife and I went to the theatre it costs $30 and there are distractions and uncomfortable seats. If I buy the Blu-ray I get a great image, great sound (both of which are not always guaranteed in a theatre due to print damage/average sound system) and I get the film to keep to watch as often as I want. If on the off chance it's a movie I end up not liking, well I can sell it and still be better off than if I went to the theatre.
Blu-ray has allowed me to have an as good or better movie experience than going to the theatre and allowed me to relive classics in the best way possible. Big Trouble in Little China, Blade Runner, Close Encounters, Star Trek TOS and The Thing are just some examples of favourites of mine that have been given a new lease of life on Blu-ray.