When buying, what's more important: the movie inside, or the packaging?

[theater dreamer]

Ok (deep breath).

I need to say this. This post was written in what are, for me, the wee hours of the day. I couldn't sleep last night, so I watched some movies, as I do every night, and before trying again to go back to bed, I jumped on the forum, and wrote out this topic. Originally, it was going to have a poll. But when I got to the poll portion of the topic, I stopped, and didn't do it. Thinking that the poll would be needed before the thread would be published, I stopped, because in thinking about what I wrote, I didn't feel I'd effectively communicated what I was really trying to ask. Now logging back on tonight, I was surprised (and a little dismayed) to see this published with so many replies. Why? Because I think I'd created some false expectations about why I am here, and what my conundrum is. So, please allow me to clean up the slop I've created.

I am a movie lover. First and foremost. When I watch a film, even at home, I get my popcorn and soda, or some fruit, or whatever I'm snacking on, and I kick back for a few hours, and really immerse myself in the film. When I see something at the movie theater, if I am really liking the film, there will be that fleeting thought of "I can't wait to add this to my collection!" Then, I focus back on the film. Usually I will go with at least one friend, or a couple. And we share our notes on everything-the script, the performances, the special effects (too much cgi? Effectively used cgi?). We talk about everything, the direction, the cinematography, etc.

We get our money's worth.

So, for me, I need to clarify that the movie is always most important. I don't care how nice a movie is packaged. If the movie itself is not worth owning, if I don't like it, I won't buy it. Ever. You can take a pile of dog crap, stick it in a gold box, and it's still excrement. So, I am a movie collector.

But, the dilemma for me is the presentation. It's not a matter of the packaging or the movie being more important. Really, it's a question of "is it worth paying more to get the films packaged individually, as they were intended, or is it acceptable to buy a collection like the one I referenced, knowing that the presentation does not even remotely resemble what was envisioned by the film's creative team.

It isn't a question of the movie vs the packaging.

It is very much a question of the quality of packaging.

I have The Superman Motion Picture Anthology. The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy (Special Extended Edition). The Aliens Anthology, too. They are not individually packaged, no. But, the collection has the visual appeal collectors expect, and appreciate. They have the extra discs with the behind the scenes stuff that I so enjoy.

While this Best Picture collection I referenced has the films, which is by far and away the most important element there is, they don't have that visual appeal. It might be a nice Viva Elite 5 disc holder. But it's a generic cover with movie covers slapped together.

And that is what I was trying to find out: to a cinemaphile, how important is the packaging. How much do you weigh the wrapping when buying the movie. And fortunately, it seems that most of you figured out what I was trying to say.

I appreciate the input from everybody. I really do. I think after reading through your responses, I've decided to forego these kinds of "collections" if the individual discs are readily available, that is, unless a movie anthology comes out with a plethora of kick butt extras that makes it a no brainer. I love watching documentaries about the films I love. The other night, I watched Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars trilogy, which was included with the DVD set. The art, the very process of movie making, fascinates me, and a lot of the time, watching these documentaries helps me to better understand certain elements of the film.

So, with that being said, please continue sharing your opinions on this topic, gang. I hope that I have cleared things up sufficiently.