Are you more likely to purchase a blu-ray if it is a Special/Limited Edition?

[stigdu]

I've noticed over the past few months (maybe it's always existed and I've only just noticed) that people are ooh-ing and aah-ing over things like slipcovers, booklets, and Limited Edition releases of blu-rays.

Are you more likely to buy a film if it's a Limited edition, even if it's a film you're not particularly interested in?

Personally, I couldn't give a toss about 3D, booklets or slipcovers, but I do like a well produced steelbook.

I don't think I've ever bought a film just because it's a Limited edition, but I used to go for the steelbook version of a film if it comes in both steelbook and standard amaray. Not any more though, as a) Zavvi have over-saturated the market and it would be impossible to keep up, b) a lot of them look crap anyway, and c) they tend to be about £5-£10 more than their amaray counterpart.

The only thing I've bought the entire collection of (so far) are Zavvi's steelbooks of animated Disney movies, as many of them look beautiful, and my 5-year-old daughter loves them.

So - are there any series that you're collecting, and will carry on collecting, regardless of the quality of the films that are part of that collection?

Do tell!

[Blu MacReady]

No not more likely, I'll only buy movies I want. I have chosen preferred artwork, if two or more are released of the same film. I chose Avengers steelbook over the amaray, just because I prefer the SB. I have on the other hand rejected special editions, like Hellraiser Scarlett cox set. Had this one in Amazon basket around the £10 of £50 offer and after a tiny self debate cancelled it. I prefer the single amarays, no interest in the book and other faff, also shelf space. Having had the cube DVD Ive no need to house this trilogy again in something that takes up over double what it should.

I don't collect anything numbered. I have only the 88films I want, Sony collectors, criterion, etc I want. Same with the new WB premium series from HMV and the Indicator series. I'll also only be ordering one of the Vestron Video series.

I have chosen slips over not having slips, if bought on eBay or in a store. A few months ago, the only WB anniversary slip series I missed (that I wanted) was Clockwork Orange. Turned down buying the standard black art amaray and paid £2 more to have the white slipcover, again I preferred this as it reminded me of the bootleg video cover I had.

[Ste7en]

If I'm buying something already I'd rather get it with a slipcase or booklet.

I have double-dipped because a steelbook came out at a later date though

[Sky_Captain]

No, I can't stand 'shite' and that's what the majority of limited editions are... shite.

Needless to say, I won't be buying Donnie Darko.

[sheldo]

I used to try and get all of Arrow's limited stuff but they release pretty much everything as amaray editions so have stopped (shelf space has thanked me for it).

There's stuff like Gremlins where I didn't buy it initially as I've seen it to death on VHS but then the diamond luxe edition was 5.99 so I couldn't resist.

I'm not a fan of steelbooks and find slipcases pointless, more of a space is a premium for me. I have two big shelving units for blu rays and dvds (and games) and by pure numbers in my collection (mostly recorded on here) isn't that many compared to others' - I really dont know how some people on here store all of their million titles! Especially those big limited editions that are the thickness of three of four amarays for one film. I tend to consume a lot through streaming these days because of this space so maybe not the best to answer this one

[rapta]

First of all, I'm only really interested in Limited Edition versions of films I actually want. If there's an exclusive disc to that release, I'm likely to pre-order it ASAP. If there's an exclusive booklet, I'm still quite likely but might not buy it straight away (depends what film it is and whether I care enough about getting the booklet or not). If it's just a slipcover, I won't bother unless it's something I care about or want to support the label (e.g. Third Window Films' Kitano releases).

As for steelbooks, unless it's something I love and it's not much more, I won't bother. An example being the Audition steelbook from Arrow (although weirdly the steelbook was actually cheaper to pre-order than the standard edition for some reason, and had an exclusive booklet too). Other packaging? Digipacks are generally frustrating and I tend to avoid them, as is any other flimsy packaging (including slipcovers, which I care less and less about unless it's a film/filmmaker I love).

[Sky_Captain]

As someone that collected DVD steelbooks with grit and determination, the wholesale bending over of BD collectors by the like of Zavvi, etc, ("Look, it's the same shit disc for three times the price, in a tin! BARGAIN!"), can do one.

[CinemaScope]

No, I'm buying the film & am not really interested in all the other stuff, & limited editions tend to be more expensive.

[Sifox211]

I will usually buy an LE or a steelbook, or buy before the sales if there's a slip cover, but I only ever buy stuff for films that I actually want. I don't mind paying a few quid more for a steelbook - after all, if I decide to get rid of it, the steelbook is the one that will lose me the least.

I never got into DVD steelbooks (I have two) but at one point was quite keen on collecting Blu-ray ones, but now I'm thinking of dialing back and even selling some (like I have the first four Ghibli ones, but don't intend to carry on with the others, so will probably sell them on).

As for spine numbers - I like to see them, but apart from the SC Ghiblis, don't collect based on them. I have plenty of gaps in my Criterion and MoC collections and that's how its going to stay!

Admission: I did buy one steelbook for a film I don't really like, Divergent, but then it was only £5.99

[Indiana Jonezzz...]

Not really interested in fancy packaging, I prefer the durability of plastic cases. Cardboard gets worn after a while and often arrives damaged anyway. I only buy Steelbooks or Digibooks now if that's the only way to buy the disc currently, but I'd prefer a standard case. I got fed up of dents, dings and scratches with them both.

I'm not very interested in slipcovers either (some are really nice though) but if I'm buying a new release at full price that's meant to come with a limited one then I'd like to have it as they can help retain some value to the item down the line if I want to sell it on. If I was to buy the same item 6 months after release at half the price and it didn't come with one anymore, I wouldn't care. I do like booklets though, they can have really some interesting and informative content that can add to the enjoyment or understanding of a film.

[tenia]

It depends of the added content and the oncost. However, if it appeals to me, then yes, I would usually prefer the LE/SE, up to the point I might priorize a movie over another because of that (providing of course the movie appeals to me in the first place !).

It always felt to me that there was more value for money to pay this extra oncost and get a lavish custom-made product than pay less but simply have a BD with a few extras (or sometimes a bare-bones disc) slapped in a standard Amaray case.

And I love special packagings as long as they're not oversized. But I love a digipack or a digibook. I never had durability issues with them, and almost never receive badly crushed ones (and the few times I did, I was able to get a replacement). I would almost everytime prefer them over the standard case (except if the special packaging is not practical or if the artwork is bad looking).

[Cinematt]

I'm always interested in the version with the most content - be it on disc or booklets etc. - but packaging will incredibly rarely have an impact on my buying. I have found myself in the habit of getting the Third Window slipcases now I have all the current ones but that's as much about pre-ordering and supporting the labels anything else. I've bought things like the store exclusives for Pixar releases when they come with extra discs, but generally if things are limited edition it does get my attention simply because there are always so many things on my wishlist that something has to drive the priority of buying because I really can't have them all. Its a solid tactic by labels, there are plenty of non-limited things that I've been thinking of picking up for years and never got around to it, but I'll make the choice on an LE straight away.

[Ste7en]

I was addicted to boxed sets when I used to buy LDs. With DVD it was those bloody Korean LEs, I have hundreds and they take up so much room.

Now I like steelbooks, but having said that, I'd rather have a coloured Amaray and slip (like Sicario and Under the Skin, which I chose instead of a steelbook).

Disney titles though, you just have to get a slip for those. I didn't bother with the steelbooks, but I do have the odd one(s).

[Troy Perkins]

I'm not sure how many people are into sports as well as movies but I'm a massive football fan so my viewing time is probably split 50 / 50. Most of my films I've seen at the cinema already or had the VHS and probably the DVD too so have watched them a few times already. Therefore they just get bought on blu, watched once and put on the shelf to maybe watch again a few years down the line.

So really I've come to the conclusion that special and limited edition stuff isn't really worth it personally because as long as it has the disc with a proper box and printed cover that's enough.

So basically I can appreciate Arrow release good stuff but saying that, I'll still only buy it if I really want the film in my collection so I've only got BTILC plus a few of the De Palma titles.

Same for 88 Films and 101 Films - again they do some great stuff but I collect films I love rather than just anything they put out on the market,so only have Creepshow 2 and AWOL.

I have in the past bought films with a steelbook or slipcase for more than the standard amaray blu Ray but wouldn't bother anymore.

I've actually started buying US one sheet posters for most of my favourite films so when I upgrade from my flat to a bigger house I'll get a few framed and hung on display.

[DavidGallow]

Depends, if the special and limited aspect is on disc or a book(let) then yes, I'll probably be on bard price and title depending. If the only limited aspect is something like a slip, which adds only asthetic value and nothing informative, then no.

[revgen]

I sometimes do blind buys, but I rarely do it for "limited editions" that cost $30 USD or more. I have to be somewhat familiar with what I'm buying.

[Arch Stanton]

Nope, I'm not one of those people who's drawn to the whole idea of having limited ed. collectables just for the sake of it. Lots of people on this site who buy movies they don't even like just so they can have another LE Blu Ray in their collection or some kind of general status thing.

If it's a film I like, I'll probably end up overpaying for the limited version just out of fear of not getting it in time though.

[StephenFS]

I've bought a few special editions in the past (Videodrome, Deep Red, Hellraisers) purely because I didn't have those films; and I like them, but I wouldn't want to splash out on too many of them.

I have a few steelbooks as well but they're nearly all second hand from CeX or sold off cheaply by Zavvi.

Actually finding the time to watch what I've bought is my problem. I always seem to be around 30 discs behind!

[UpsetSmiley]

Generally no, but a limited edition produced by the likes of Arrow is likely to win me over. Their limited edition boxsets are fine pieces of art and breath fresh life into my collection.

Seeing as how the Donnie Darko LE not only contains a great film but features a new and improved transfer which I expect will be high class. It's more than just a pretty box and art cards. Besides it's not as if collecting cinematic art is a new concept, just look at film posters from the 70's/80's and the following they have amassed.

[IanSchultz23]

If it's something like the Videodrome or Darko box I will but if it's a steelbook or anything crap like that nope.