Daiei Gothic: Japanese Ghost Stories (Radiance)

[the13thman]

Originally Posted by filmlover22

Whoa. I have some discs like that. Never impacted playback so kept them. Did it affect playback?

I buy so many discs that I don't have time to watch them all, it's years before I get to some so I can't be letting scratches dictate my viewing schedule. On top of that, it might work in one player but not another so a single viewing is no guarantee.

But my fundamental principle is that if I am buying discs new they must look like new. I do buy some used discs that don't look like new but not for anywhere near the retail price. That's the key for me. I simply do not value used-looking scratched discs the same way I value them new.

Originally Posted by JoePo

Opened mine. Pristine.

I am glad to hear that there are pristine editions of this set out there, maybe I will try again when I have less returns ongoing.

[filmlover22]

Understand

[Eibon]

Originally Posted by the13thman

I buy so many discs that I don't have time to watch them all, it's years before I get to some so I can't be letting scratches dictate my viewing schedule. On top of that, it might work in one player but not another so a single viewing is no guarantee.

But my fundamental principle is that if I am buying discs new they must look like new. I do buy some used discs that don't look like new but not for anywhere near the retail price. That's the key for me. I simply do not value used-looking scratched discs the same way I value them new.



I am glad to hear that there are pristine editions of this set out there, maybe I will try again when I have less returns ongoing.

I must confess I was sceptical of your persistent complaints about scratches. Knowing your distaste for even shiny card resting against discs (e.g. Shawscope sets), I assumed you were referring to the glint of light refracting off data pits and oil smears, but those my friend; those are proper scratches from some serious mishandling. I don't think I could even make such scratches happen, short of dragging the disc across the floor. I've never had a disc like that but then again I don't check unless there's a playback issue.

I know the US threads are rife with complaints about Mexican plants but I expect that's partly xenophobic rhetoric.

As a vinyl collector all my life, I have certainly seen a huge drop in quality lately. Probably as a result of increased volumes, limited resources and bring down of costs. Buying records in the 80s and 90s I never saw the kind of scuffs, bumps and groove tear that's commonplace now.

The excitement of receiving a new record is now tainted by the frequent fact that I have to immediately test it for problems and then waste time and money resolving them.

I pretty much stopped buying new records because all the fun was gone. Im pretty much done with buying discs now it's moved to a collector's market. Used to be you could drop £5 on b-movies, now they're adding tat and charging 10 times as much. I'll still consider new stuff but every time there's a new release with covetable packaging and extras, I try to watch my current dvd or blu if I have it. That usually kills my interest because mostly it's perfectly adequate if I just focus on the overarching point of movie collecting - to see the movie and make of it what I will. It doesn't always work; I bought The Hitcher after rewatching the dvd but the extras were too compelling. Mostly though, the movie is remembered better than it is.

If I had to return discs regularly, I'd have to think I'm not using my time efficiently. And it's stopping me from doing useful stuff. As for reselling value, that's a waste of time. The few items that rise in value aren't going to realise any significant return on investment when you consider the time spent advertising, correspondence, packing, inflation etc. certainly you'll make a few quid here and there, but that's for kids.

[logboy]

Originally Posted by Eibon

Im pretty much done with buying discs now it's moved to a collector's market.

you'll not escape it being a collector's market now it's transformed into one, but i wonder if it's possible to stop being a collector by making purchases long after release.

i'm thinking that the habit of planning ahead causes people to resolve that investment in time by matching it with spending, leading to picking up stuff that's generally in the ballpark of your interests all too often.

if you wait, you can push things in and out of contention, look over your options and get a lower price.

the only things that combat that approach would be very good quality release at decent prices - and that's what a collector's market takes us away from.

they're encouraged to not just be interested in watching films first and foremost, but to invest in what's on their shelves to look at and stuggle to pick from.

[Ben_C]

Originally Posted by Eibon

I pretty much stopped buying new records because all the fun was gone. Im pretty much done with buying discs now it's moved to a collector's market. Used to be you could drop £5 on b-movies, now they're adding tat and charging 10 times as much. I'll still consider new stuff but every time there's a new release with covetable packaging and extras, I try to watch my current dvd or blu if I have it. That usually kills my interest because mostly it's perfectly adequate if I just focus on the overarching point of movie collecting - to see the movie and make of it what I will. It doesn't always work; I bought The Hitcher after rewatching the dvd but the extras were too compelling. Mostly though, the movie is remembered better than it is.

But, if you ignore the silly tat angle (difficult now I know), we’re currently being treated to many wonderful releases, be they catalogue titles or obscure stuff we never thought would ever get released on disc. Boutiques like Arrow, Eureka, Radiance, 88 Films, BFI, Indicator, etc are generally knocking it out of the park now with the amount and quality of the stuff they’re releasing. Most limited edition releases get cheaper, regular editions down the line too as well don’t forget.

I’m not generally a fan of the silly collectors editions - the studio ones that come in steelbooks and or oversized boxes complete with mostly silly paper extras like stickers, replica maps/signs or other such bollocks, but, I do see and understand the reasons they’re trying to appeal to collectors who are willing to lay done the greenbacks on that kind of stuff. It’s the battle against streaming, and the fight for survival of physical media.

I don’t understand the desire for something like Funko Pops, but some people love ‘em, so I guess it’s all down to what people choose to collect.

[Terminator3001]

All 3 of my discs are scratched as well.

[Eibon]

Originally Posted by logboy

you'll not escape it being a collector's market now it's transformed into one, but i wonder if it's possible to stop being a collector by making purchases long after release.

i'm thinking that the habit of planning ahead causes people to resolve that investment in time by matching it with spending, leading to picking up stuff that's generally in the ballpark of your interests all too often.

if you wait, you can push things in and out of contention, look over your options and get a lower price.

the only things that combat that approach would be very good quality release at decent prices - and that's what a collector's market takes us away from.

they're encouraged to not just be interested in watching films first and foremost, but to invest in what's on their shelves to look at and stuggle to pick from.

All true but I have been collecting home video "product" since the pre-cert days. I've got tons of tapes; vhs; dvds; even vcds. I'd be the first to say the hunt to own and discover something new is gratifying but when I started out, it was very much about importing rarities and discovering new sights and sounds not easily bought on the high street. Tat editions have existed long before now (facehugger box of Alien VHS tapes; snow globe Fargo tapes etc) but now it's finessed into a kind of folio edition of key movies - a kind of film school in a box. These are wonderful but I realise I put so much energy into curating a perfect collection; that I don't pause to truly enjoy the actual movies. I've bought lots of le's of classic titles and watched them once, if at all. I can't have everything but one used to just get special editions of absolute favourites. There are tons of movies from pre cert days I wouldn't have touched with a barge pole back then because they paled against their contemporaries, but those mediocre, nostalgia-tinged oldies are now getting premier movie treatment. I don't mind upgrading loved discs but not at £25-50 each.

Simply put, I can't justify upgrading every disc I have. It's become a never-ending chase for the next release at the expense of enjoying the movies I have. My office looks like a video store; my attic is full of VHS tapes and my crawl spaces are lined with boxes of second-tier USA action and exploitation movies. As you've said, it can be hard to pick from what I have so it's easier to consider what's coming. Sometimes I can't enjoy a movie I already watched before, because I'm think about another I've yet to watch. I'll never feel the need to get every release of a given label but I do enjoy the recommendations from the likes of Radiance and Criterion. I will support those labels of quality among others. At the least I will stop buying mainstream movies as they are easily streamed.

[Eidolon]

Originally Posted by Terminator3001

All 3 of my discs are scratched as well.

What's with all the reports of so many scratched discs of late? Is all this stuff coming from the same pressing plant?

[the13thman]

Originally Posted by Eidolon

What's with all the reports of so many scratched discs of late? Is all this stuff coming from the same pressing plant?

Unfortunately it seems like it yes but it curiously affects some labels more than others. It's very rare to get a mark on a Eureka disc for example. Of the major labels discs from Warners are generally the best while Universal, Paramount and Fox/Disney are the worst.

[Terminator3001]

Originally Posted by Eidolon

What's with all the reports of so many scratched discs of late? Is all this stuff coming from the same pressing plant?

This is the reply I got from Radiance.

"They are manufactured at Vantiva in Poland, the same manufacturer used by Paramount, Sony, Disney, Powerhouse, MUBI, 88 Films etc. Fingerprints are unusual as I believe the handpacking team are supposed to be careful on that. The discs we've raised with Vantiva and I shall do so again. They shouldn't cause playback issues but I understand they are frustrating to see. If you are having playback issues do let me know as I can include that in my note to them.

Best

Fran"

[Yurakucho]

Strange, I thought the IFP code, or whatever it is (I haven't got any discs at hand) was different to 88's.
As for Fran's contact with the plant, I hope he boxes their bloody ears.

[Eibon]

Originally Posted by the13thman

I haven't photographed all of them and both box sets have now been sent back but here's a picture of one disc. There were similar scratches on another edge too so it wasn't just these on the picture, there were more. The replacement disc I got was WORSE.

My copy of the Daiei set arrived at my workplace yesterday so I will pick it up tomorrow. I will let you know if there are any scratches on my discs. Ive commented otherwise on how I've not seen issues with any discs before so I'll be curious to check the discs tomorrow.

[the13thman]

Originally Posted by Eibon

My copy of the Daiei set arrived at my workplace yesterday so I will pick it up tomorrow. I will let you know if there are any scratches on my discs. Ive commented otherwise on how I've not seen issues with any discs before so I'll be curious to check the discs tomorrow.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Terminator3001

This is the reply I got from Radiance.

"They are manufactured at Vantiva in Poland, the same manufacturer used by Paramount, Sony, Disney, Powerhouse, MUBI, 88 Films etc. Fingerprints are unusual as I believe the handpacking team are supposed to be careful on that. The discs we've raised with Vantiva and I shall do so again. They shouldn't cause playback issues but I understand they are frustrating to see. If you are having playback issues do let me know as I can include that in my note to them.

Best

Fran"

There definitely has been a MASSIVE issue at that plant for over a year now and that response tells me nobody is really doing anything about it, not that I blame Fran - what can he do after all except pass on complaints and hope the plant takes action? Many people buying the discs don't care and most of them still play fine so the plant doesn't care. Same thing happened in the Mexican plant. Nobody cares any more, quality standards are slipping worldwide, old man shouts at cloud.

[Eidolon]

Originally Posted by Terminator3001

This is the reply I got from Radiance.

"They are manufactured at Vantiva in Poland, the same manufacturer used by Paramount, Sony, Disney, Powerhouse, MUBI, 88 Films etc. Fingerprints are unusual as I believe the handpacking team are supposed to be careful on that. The discs we've raised with Vantiva and I shall do so again. They shouldn't cause playback issues but I understand they are frustrating to see. If you are having playback issues do let me know as I can include that in my note to them.

Best

Fran"

Are there no more disc replicators in the UK anymore? I know SonyDADC closed down a little while ago, but surely there must be someone else here in the UK to use?

[filmlover22]

FWIW- this is what I found via Google. "The Mexico plant is the last blu ray pressing plants in north America. There are also several plants in Germany (the same company), which you may sometimes see here and there. Their quality control is much better than the Mexico plant." I would assume UK discs are pressed in Germany.

[Yurakucho]

As Fran says above, the discs are made in Poland.
This is easily determined from the IFPI code on the underside of the disc.

[Eidolon]

Originally Posted by filmlover22

FWIW- this is what I found via Google. "The Mexico plant is the last blu ray pressing plants in north America. There are also several plants in Germany (the same company), which you may sometimes see here and there. Their quality control is much better than the Mexico plant." I would assume UK discs are pressed in Germany.

Well Google is a bit off on that one, as Mexico isn't in North America after all.

[Eibon]

Originally Posted by Eidolon

Well Google is a bit off on that one, as Mexico isn't in North America after all.

Mexico is in North America.

[Cinematt]

Originally Posted by Eidolon

Well Google is a bit off on that one, as Mexico isn't in North America after all.

The continent of North America includes everything down to Panama and everything in the Caribbean.

[Keoma]

For what it's worth, all 3 discs in my DAIEI set are mint.