Why there will always be a place on my shelf for DVD's...

[Popcorn_Bliss]

Just recently picked up some late 60's - early 70's B films/sexploitation films on DVD. Simply put, it's the only way to get them! Sure, they are low budget, plot-less, exploitive and are polar opposite of the Oscars crowd but, what can I say, I've always been drawn to more obscure, no-name films. Without DVD's I'd be at a loss in getting to see them.

Just ordered one of those ridiculous "Drive In Cult Classics" boxes that contain 16 films for $10. I don't know what the hell I'll be getting but the fun is in the collecting!

Also picked up a 1973 sexploitation film with pretty German girls spending a good part of the running time nude. It's called "Frauleins In Uniform" but they don't stay in uniform... Needless to say, this plot-less gem is nowhere to be found at your local Best Buy.

In short, despite my obvious lack in taste, I will always have a place for DVD's in my collection. Blu Rays are great but sometimes the "good" stuff just isn't available on the format.

[JasonHensley]

Ok

[DaBargainHunta]

A man after my own heart.

While I don't particularly go for the sexploitation genre myself, I love going into thrift shops or even FYE and seeing what mysterious hidden gems I can find and interesting little movies I've never heard of.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Popcorn_Bliss

Just ordered one of those ridiculous "Drive In Cult Classics" boxes that contain 16 films for $10. I don't know what the hell I'll be getting but the fun is in the collecting!

Saw those sets at the store and had half a mind to buy them. Maybe next time - had too many blind-buys to go through at the moment.

I'm consistently surprised as to how many bizarre titles are getting Blu-Ray releases (like Ice Pirates, The Brain That Wouldn't Die, etc). But there are definitely always the odd ones that will never see the HD treatment. Just recently picked up a DVD for 1953's Invaders From Mars to complete my own sci-fi collection. Who knows if we'll ever see Blu-Rays for others like Spacehunter, Battlefield Earth, The Black Hole, Primer, Timecrimes, or of all the bloodiest things, The Abyss!

I think every film collector will have at least one gem on DVD (or even LD and VHS) that can't be found anywhere else. The fact that these things will become rare someday just makes me want to invest in some way to rip and store my collection digitally.

[Batmon77]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

I think every film collector will have at least one gem on DVD (or even LD and VHS) that can't be found anywhere else.

A film collector shouldn't be hampered by one format.

[bigshot]

I recently got some Region B DVDs of early BBC documentaries put out by BFI. I screened them on my ten foot screen in HD projection last night and they looked as good as they could possibly look. The bitrate was sufficient to give it a film like grain. The contrast levels were perfect. The films were sharp and clear with good sound.

If I was going to watch a multi-track widescreen 70mm film like 2001 or Lawrence of Arabia, a blu-ray would definitely offer better image and sound. But for many films without all those bells and whistles, it can be overkill. The quality of the transfer matters more than the format of the disk in a lot of cases.

[ZoetMB]

There's a difference between a well-made independent film that isn't well known and an exploitation film, primarily made for grindhouses and drive-ins.

I simply don't have the patience to watch a bunch of bad films that were made for the exploitation market. (I barely have the patience to watch today's big-budget films). Although occasionally involving some good talents who were just getting started on their film careers, for the most part, these films were made without any regard for any kind of artistic merit and were made for one purpose only - to make money. So generally bad stories, scripts, directors, actors, production values, etc. Most of these were made with all the quality of a porn movie, except with inferior production values.

While the better known studios also want to make money, they at least give a pretense to making films of 'quality', even if that's defined primarily by commercial success.

There's more available than one could ever watch - why waste time on the bad stuff? Having said that, I have no problem with DVD if no BD exists. I've saved a number of DVDs for that reason.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Batmon77

A film collector shouldn't be hampered by one format.

Um, sorry, I meant it as a good thing and I didn't want to insinuate that collectors are hampered by anything. I think diverse mediums is kinda cool.

For my own collection, I only fear that the discs themselves may rot or become unplayable.

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

Yeah, despite being obvious HD fans first & foremost, we all know that many titles simply have not - and probably will not - make it to Blu.

Hell, there is some material out there that still hasn't even made it past VHS...

[Thomas Irwin]

Originally Posted by Popcorn_Bliss

Also picked up a 1973 sexploitation film with pretty German girls spending a good part of the running time nude. It's called "Frauleins In Uniform" but they don't stay in uniform... Needless to say, this plot-less gem is nowhere to be found at your local Best Buy.

Here you go. :

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Fraul...Blu-ray/94409/

It's a great Blu-ray, I own it. Unfortunately, it is region locked unlike all or most of the other Dietrich and Franco titles Ascot released.

[happydood]

To OP: for sure. I don't know that at this point some old classics like His Girl Friday or Ball of Fire or Bringing Up Baby or any of those TCM sets like the early Capra or Forbidden Hollywood or Universal's James Stewart Westerns are going to get blu releases- even with the Warner Archive or boutique labels. I'm hopeful, but I'll be okay if I have to live with what I have.

[Abby is Q]

There are too many movies out there that aren't (and probably never will be) on blu-ray. And it took too long to accumulate the DVDs I have, so I'm never giving them up. I would have kept all my VHS tapes too if it wasn't so inconvenient and 90% of my collection found its way to DVD anyway.

But you have to be into trashy/bad cinema to really care about keeping out-of-date formats. They're the kinds of movies that get lost as technology advances.

[MechaGodzilla]

So many movies and shows (maybe especially shows) are only available on DVD and will probably remain exclusive to that format, so yeah, there's always going to be some place for DVDs in my collection.

[Batmon77]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Um, sorry, I meant it as a good thing and I didn't want to insinuate that collectors are hampered by anything. I think diverse mediums is kinda cool.

For my own collection, I only fear that the discs themselves may rot or become unplayable.

I agree w/ you.

But i read plenty of threads here where folks are allergic to VHS, DVD, Reel to Reel, Black & White TV, etc.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by Batmon77

A film collector shouldn't be hampered by one format.

Or one region code, for that matter.

[ApocalypsePirate]

I still buy DVD all the time. Used obscure stuff... even good Hollywood movies if the price is right. Saw The Untouchables on DVD for $3 at walmart last night dunno why I didn't pick that up. I also see a lot of new B indi movies that must not be able to afford Bluray production and only come out on DVD.

[StephenFS]

A lot of my BBC tv stuff and some of my favourite films (The Fearless Vampire Killers, anybody?) might never make it to Blu. I'm keeping my DVDs, all right!

[HD Goofnut]

For some reason the below popped in my head when I read the OP. Indiana Jones fans will get it.

"You came back for the DVD?!"

"My father didn't want it incinerated."

"Is that what you think of me? I believe in film, not formats."

"You stood up to be counted with the enemies of everything film stands for! Who gives a damn what you believe?"

"You do!"

[murphywmm]

Originally Posted by Abby is Q

But you have to be into trashy/bad cinema to really care about keeping out-of-date formats. They're the kinds of movies that get lost as technology advances.

Sadly, there are plenty of award-winning productions that seem unlikely to advance in technology. One such film is Happiness, directed by Todd Solondz, a Golden Globe nominee and Cannes award winner which only has a non-anamorphic DVD. It's not a film with wide appeal and the rights are held by Lionsgate (who don't release or license out catalog titles on BD) so its chances of getting anything better are very slim unless it happens in another region.

[Batmon77]

I hope this doesn't become another Wish List thread.