Do you recommend getting DVDs and Blu-Ray movies from 3rd-Party home companies?

[Warnerbros2001]

As of yet, I have 0 films that I purchased from 3rd-party home video companies (such as Mill Creek, Kino, Shout/Scream, Olive, Criterion, Arrow, Anchor Bay, TSG, Image, and others). All of my DVDs and Blu-Rays purchases were from the big studios and/or original distributor.

I am thinking about considering purchasing my first movie from a 3rd-party company.

Should I do it? I have been hearing mixed-to-negative reception from Mill Creek and Image.

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by Warnerbros2001

As of yet, I have 0 films that I purchased from 3rd-party home video companies

I don't even know how that's possible in this day and age.

Originally Posted by Warnerbros2001

I am thinking about considering purchasing my first movie from a 3rd-party company.

Should I do it?

Yes.

Not all distributors are the same. There is a clear pecking order and Blu rays from Image and Mill creek are at the bottom.

[shinobipopcorn]

Yeah, definitely.

Criterion's Silence of the Lambs runs miles around MGMs. Shout's The Burbs is a slight improvement, but I didn't own it so I don't mind. In some cases, these 3rd party discs are the only way to get a movie. Like the big Halloween set for all the alternate cuts, or GKids' release of Ocean Waves (though I had the import DVD so I sort of cheated there).

[Al_The_Strange]

If anything, I think these boutique labels put out much better quality home videos than the actual studios (outside of those must-have flagship titles--studios will pimp out the classics that always sell, but definitely put minimum effort into their catalogue).

Can't say all of them are worth it (Mill Creek is definitely bargain bin material, and some folks do have quibbles regarding Kino Lorber, Shout Factory, Criterion), but if it wasn't for them we probably wouldn't have as many Blu-Rays released as we do now. And we certainly wouldn't have as many great remastered re-releases with all the extra goodies packaged together. To say nothing of packaging, which can also be gorgeous.

[Dailyan]

How have never own a boutique label release?

Anyways, each label has their ups and downs. Kino is a mixed bag with their video and audio presentations they've been notorious with gamma being a little too bright and/or not doing a lot of clean up work leaving films "as is" in certain cases.. Shout is not too bad but they get a bad rap for compression (I don't have too many Shout releases but never really noticed). Criterion and Arrow are some of the better though Arrow has an edge with really good compression leading to little to no compression artifacts in their presentations. Twilight Time have had some great presentations (The Seven-Ups, Doctor Dolitte, Peyton Place all look great) but people complain of charging "Criterion prices" for sometimes bare bones releases with their limited edition of 3,000 editions.

Eureka is a pretty solid UK label if you're region free. They have films that haven't received a NA release yet such as The Lost Weekend and Paper Moon.

[monwobbbo]

if you don't mind severely limiting what movies you can have in your collection then keep with what you are doing. if you want a far wider variety of titles then you will have to go to other companies.

Mil Creek get a bum rap here but really isn't bad as long as you have realistic expectations. they are cheap and won't win any awards for best transfer for sure. on the other hand they have released titles that most other companies have no interest in. titles like YOR HUNTER FROM THE FUTURE, BROTHERHOOD OF SATAN and THE CREEPING FLESH all have reasonably good transfers, are uncut and in proper aspect ratio. they can be had cheap and are worth the money. granted some of their their other releases have been less than great. this site has reviews so i suggest using them to help with decisions.

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by monwobbbo

if you don't mind severely limiting what movies you can have in your collection then keep with what you are doing. if you want a far wider variety of titles then you will have to go to other companies.

Mil Creek get a bum rap here but really isn't bad as long as you have realistic expectations. they are cheap and won't win any awards for best transfer for sure. on the other hand they have released titles that most other companies have no interest in. titles like YOR HUNTER FROM THE FUTURE, BROTHERHOOD OF SATAN and THE CREEPING FLESH all have reasonably good transfers, are uncut and in proper aspect ratio. they can be had cheap and are worth the money. granted some of their their other releases have been less than great. this site has reviews so i suggest using them to help with decisions.

Agreed. The few Mill Creek titles I have have been just short of great. They are still bottom rung as far as distributors go, but they definitely have a place and are worth looking at from time to time.

[AmishParadise]

Originally Posted by Warnerbros2001

As of yet, I have 0 films that I purchased from 3rd-party home video companies (such as Mill Creek, Kino, Shout/Scream, Criterion, Arrow, Anchor Bay, TSG, Image, and others). All of my DVDs and Blu-Rays purchases were from the big studios and/or original distributor.

I am thinking about considering purchasing my first movie from a 3rd-party company.

Should I do it? I have been hearing mixed-to-negative reception from Mill Creek and Image.

Speechless.

[willieconway]

Originally Posted by Warnerbros2001

As of yet, I have 0 films that I purchased from 3rd-party home video companies (such as Mill Creek, Kino, Shout/Scream, Criterion, Arrow, Anchor Bay, TSG, Image, and others). All of my DVDs and Blu-Rays purchases were from the big studios and/or original distributor.

I am thinking about considering purchasing my first movie from a 3rd-party company.

Should I do it? I have been hearing mixed-to-negative reception from Mill Creek and Image.

Absolutely not. You wouldn't buy sneakers that weren't Nike or eat pizza with any other topping than pepperoni, would you? Leave the risk-taking to crazy people.

[The Great Owl]

In terms of dedication to picture quality, special features, and overall excellence, I am an ardent supporter of Vinegar Syndrome. The movies themselves that are put on the Vinegar Syndrome label...well...they may not entirely have universal appeal. Fans of drive-in cinema know what they are getting into, but newcomers and young moviegoers may be inclined to tread lightly at first. If you like a movie on the Vinegar Syndrome label enough to buy it, though, then you can be assured that you're most likely owning the definitive edition of that film for many years to come.

I also highly recommend Criterion, ClassicFlix, Flicker Alley, Mondo Macabro, Twilight Time, Kino Lorber Studio Classics, Scream Factory, Arrow, Scorpion Releasing, Severin, AGFA, Massacre Video, Olive Films, Code Red, and the Region A playable stuff from Powerhouse/Indicator. Apologies to any fine labels that I neglected to mention.

[Strapped4Cash]

Yes.

Everyone has to purchase their first 3rd-Party Blu-ray sometime.

Better late then never.

[CinemaScope]

I don't understand this post at all, if you want a film, why should you care if the studio sell it themselves or license it out to a smaller company.

[ltb2.0]

Dude, you have missed out on so many fun and awesome titles. Seriously, you have deprived yourself of some of the best movies available since the dawn of the format.

Some titles you have lost out on forever, unless they suddenly get reissued, or you find a great deal at a pawn shop.

There are worlds out there waiting for you to discover them.

Kino is currently one of my favorite boutique labels, followed closely by Shout/Scream. But there are many good labels out there, something for all tastes.

Jump right in, the water is glorious.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

In terms of dedication to picture quality, special features, and overall excellence, I am an ardent supporter of Vinegar Syndrome. The movies themselves that are put on the Vinegar Syndrome label...well...they may not entirely have universal appeal. Fans of drive-in cinema know what they are getting into, but newcomers and young moviegoers may be inclined to tread lightly at first. If you like a movie on the Vinegar Syndrome label enough to buy it, though, then you can be assured that you're most likely owning the definitive edition of that film for many years to come.

I also highly recommend Criterion, ClassicFlix, Flicker Alley, Mondo Macabro, Twilight Time, Kino Lorber Studio Classics, Scream Factory, Arrow, Scorpion Releasing, Severin, AGFA, Massacre Video, Olive Films, Code Red, and the Region A playable stuff from Powerhouse/Indicator. Apologies to any fine labels that I neglected to mention.

You forgot Synapse.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Warnerbros2001

As of yet, I have 0 films that I purchased from 3rd-party home video companies (such as Mill Creek, Kino, Shout/Scream, Criterion, Arrow, Anchor Bay, TSG, Image, and others). All of my DVDs and Blu-Rays purchases were from the big studios and/or original distributor.

I am thinking about considering purchasing my first movie from a 3rd-party company

I am a little confused, in your post are you referring to a) buying blu-rays released by these companies or b) buying from their online stores?
If (a) then you should definitely invest in some of these labels (of course make sure to read available reviews and opinions on the site or the forums of specific releases to make sure they are good value for your money)
If (b) then it depends on store to store. I have had good experience on Criterion's store (which I use during their 50% off flash sales), but haven't bought anything from the other label-stores.

[Wildcat2000]

Why would you not trust 3rd party companies? I mean even the more popular ones. That just does not make sense at all.

They’re legitimate companies. The studios give them the licenses for a reason. It’s just a matter of picking out what version and features you want.

One of the strangest things I’ve come across.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by Wildcat2000

Why would you not trust 3rd party companies? I mean even the more popular ones. That just does not make sense at all.

They’re legitimate companies. The studios give them the licenses for a reason. It’s just a matter of picking out what version and features you want.

One of the strangest things I’ve come across.

Considering that in their favorite directors he lists “those 2 guys who made Moonquake Lake and Cloudy” they not only can’t remember Chris Miller and Phil Lord’s names but that “Moonquake Lake” was a fake film in the 2014 adaptation of “Annie”. I take that this poster probably hasn’t watch a lot of films or is kind of a troll.

[CrazyBlu-RayFan]

Absolutely. Even the lower level companies like Image and Mill Creek have done some decent releases. Image's Cowboy Bebop The Movie Blu-ray looks and sounds great. Mill Creek has been really giving the Benji movies surprising quality treatment. Mill Creek did a great release of Shakes the Clown. And there's probably even more. So even releases from the lesser third parties can be worth it. And that is just the start, Scream's Blu-ray of The Thing blows Universal's Blu-ray out of the water. Arrow's Hellraiser Scarlet Box set is truly an opus of box sets. And I'm only scratching the tip of the iceberg. Once you get an epic third party release of a movie you love, you'll never go back.

[willieconway]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

Considering that in their favorite directors he lists “those 2 guys who made Moonquake Lake and Cloudy” they not only can’t remember Chris Miller and Phil Lord’s names but that “Moonquake Lake” was a fake film in the 2014 adaptation of “Annie”. I take that this poster probably hasn’t watch a lot of films or is kind of a troll.

Indeed. Judd Apatow as a favorite director? That's about as obvious as trolling can possibly get.

[bsend]

This guy even writes letters to movies.

"Dear Die Hard, you rock! P.S. Do you know Mad Max?"