Has there been Blu-rays that have taught you a lesson regarding future purchases?

[bytor_one]

Yeah I blind bought Moon and Hurt Locker. Hated both movies, Moon moreso, so I will never blind buy again. I have netflix but got trigger happy with those 2 movies, watched them once, was not impressed with either, sold them, never regretted it.

I dont care what kind of reviews a movie gets either here or anywhere else, I will never blind buy again.

[Al_The_Strange]

Lesson # 24 - Avoid films directed by UWE BOLL!

I've seen most of them, and have developed some basic immunity. But trust me, they're bad.

[ozzsoad]

Originally Posted by Dragon Lee

Lesson # 23 - Avoid films directed by Troy Duffy! Trust me, I learned the hard way.

If that includes the first Boondock Saints...

A lesson I've learned is don't always believe the reviews on this site, mainly PQ scores. There are quite a few movies I've held off from buying due to the poor PQ scores on this site: The Assassination of Jesse James, Army of Darkness, The Boondock Saints (yep, I'm mentioning it again), A Clockwork Orange, The Graduate, Monty Python's Life of Brian, and True Romance are all movies I've held off on buying due to the reviews but are all more than adequate on Blu-ray, some I'd say look stunning.

[SixSpeedSamurai]

Check Blu-Ray.com first for info on releases. The technical info (encode and audio tracks specifically) is priceless, I'm holding off on many favorites until a satisfactory release.

Because of Blu-Ray.com I:
1) Held off on Gladiator until the remaster
2) Passed on the current release of Tombstone
3) Blind bought Kick Ass! Wife even liked it.

[singhcr]

Gladiator has taught me to avoid purchasing many titles unless they are from studios that have a consistent track record of quality, film-like releases.

Sony, Disney, Criterion, Blue Underground, and new Fox and Warner releases are safe, especially the first four studios that I've mentioned. Disney's Miramax division had the Gangs of New York crapfest but that was a one time thing, it seems.

Paramount, Universal, and Fox are now hit and miss when it comes to catalog titles, Gladiator being the first case where such a major title has received such a crappy release. Universal (Spartacus) and Fox (Predator: UHE) is now playing the DNR game, I can't trust them either unless I see a review with screenshots.

Let's not even start on Dragon Dynasty. I wanted 38th Temple of Shaolin and The Killer but they were horrible DNR'd and non-pitch corrected upscaled PAL garbage. The only release that I bought from them that was any good was Fist of Legend.

[Rebelwithoutacause]

And the most important rule: don't purchase a BR movie just because it's cheap or on sale.

I personally avoid doing this, unless if it's a film that I really enjoyed a lot.

[dcowboy7]

Nope.

[dallywhitty]

Yep. My copy of The Shining.

I've learned that when I see a Blu-ray in HMV in poor condition, I should ask if they have any more in stock, as opposed to buying that particular copy.

[iam1bearcat]

here are my lessons:

1. just blu-ray.com for PQ / AQ on releases before buying
2. don't buy a film just because it's the hot item being talked about in the forums
3. (this kind of bypasses #2) if it's special packaging that may not be around very long (ala: Fight Club slipcover, thank god i bought it day 1 since i rarely see the awesome slip cover anymore) BUT IT ASAP!
4. as others have mentioned, when you buy something off amazon or any other site, don't expect to always get slip covers / digital copies / special discs outside of cases (The Office, Dexter)
5. prices will drop on all releases. only about 5 films are worth spending $30 or more on
6. when buying 1 item on "new release tuesday", don't buy a bunch of other new releases "just because i can"

and i'm sure there are a bunch more. but these are my main ones.

[Blu Myers]

^@dallywhitty, huge Joy Division as well. Anyway, on topic:

1. Be Patient - There isn't a single blu-ray you can't get for under $20 if you're patient. I'm excluding box sets and TV series' of course.

2. Don't blind buy - Just don't do it, even if it's a sequel to a movie you love. Thank God a friend of mine bought Boondock Saints 2 before I did. I saved $25 dollars.

3. Read reviews first - I've been bitten by this one a few times (Gangs of NY and Gladiator). Luckily Gladiater had the remaster exchange program.

[Zen_Amako]

I've learned that catalog titles tend to go down in price quickly. If an older movie is $24.99 on release day (unless it's a Disney movie or something fancy like a digibook), there's a good chance it will be $11.99 (or less) sooner than you think.

I've learned that the best way to get your favorite movie accounced on Blu-ray is to cave in and pick up the DVD or spend tons of money on an import.

[lord_raptor]

if you buy a tv series make sure to check that all of the disks are blu rays ( i got a hd-dvd disc from a smallvile season 6 instead of a blu ray disc and a dvd instead of a blu on a lost season)

[Atreyu]

Two major things come to mind that I acquired from buying standard dvs. They are just as important now, if not more so due to the higher price tags on blus.
1) Blind buying. I did with one or two and never again.
2) If a blu is released in more than one edition, or a special edition is released sometime after the initial release, do your homework and check to see if it's really worth spending the extra money. In many cases you are better off with the less expensive version.
One last thing, just because a movie is on blu does NOT GUARANTEE better PQ and AQ.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by leem6453

3. Read reviews first - I've been bitten by this one a few times (Gangs of NY and Gladiator). Luckily Gladiater had the remaster exchange program.

while i understand the rule, i've learned that most reviews now a days completely ruin the fun of watching a film. it's like most reviewers write out everything that happens in the film! so i tend to avoid reviews because i hate even having the smallest details ruined.

[sixteenvolt420]

I've learned not to be so anxious to buy boxed sets and trilogies and such. They're almost always half as cheap about a year later.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

5. prices will drop on all releases. only about 5 films are worth spending $30 or more on.

And the corollary to this - chances are pretty good that brand-new list price blu that I just had to have on release day will sit unwatched on my shelf until well after the price has dropped anyway.

[Deviant Anomaly]

*When receiving email alerts about sales, find out if it's online only before heading to the store expecting the same discounts. Ended up returing two Blu Rays because of that one.

*Don't be afraid of Ebay. You can find really good deals if you know what to look for and shop wisely.

*I kinda have to disagree with those cautioning against blind buys. I've been practicing it for years with only one disappointment thus far (Night at The Museum 2 on Blu Ray). Just like Ebay though, you have to be savvy about it. Stick to genres, stories, directors and actors that you like. Trust your instincts first and the opinions of others second. And definitely don't pay an obscene amount of money. That way if you don't end up liking it, you won't be kicking yourself with buyer's remorse after.

[antoinedoinel]

No. I learned all of those on dvd.

[HD Goofnut]

Total Recall - Poor PQ/AQ
Young Guns - Poor PQ/AQ
Over the Top - Poor PQ/AQ

[KilloWertz]

Jennifer's Body - Don't buy a movie with Megan Fox in it unless the title has Transformers in it. I know some people liked it, but I sold it within minutes of finishing it.