Putting my collection on hold

[Jar Jar Stinks]

Not sure what the average age is here, but, at some point, you'll figure out you have more movies than time. (or at least more "Special Features" to watch than time.) I've seen quite few episodes of Hoarders, and the one theme I've noticed is that hoarders always save stuff for some future moment. There's always some imagined moment when they'll read all 30,000 newspapers piled up in 6 foot stacks. I think it gets like that with collecting as well. People become obsessive. I know that I do. I say buy and keep what you truly love. But be honest with yourself.

[Dickieduvet]

Easily purchased and swapped in excess of 2000 titles since 2007. My collection on here is not up to date, I need to add a few and subtract a fair few too.

Can't see it slowing any time soon either!

[DaveSimonH]

1. Only buy films that you like.

Should be obvious, but I constantly read about people buying films to complete some arbitrary collection. Don't like "Chicken Little", don't buy it. You don't get a medal for collecting the Sony classics series. Quentin Tarantino doesn't care that you own all of his films, including the ones you hate.

2. It's your money, if you are staying within your means, then don't let others make you feel guilty about buying 50 or 800 blu-rays.

If I have seen a film, liked it and want to own it on blu-ray, great. I don't buy films I hate.

3. Blind buying is often a good way of finding new, interesting films. But if you don't like it, get rid. Not point hanging onto something you'll never want to watch again.

I have no qualms getting rid of a film I don't like, hanging onto them to boost a collection total would be mad. I blind buy a lot of films, and I have a fair few on the "to watch" list, but I really don't see a problem in doing that as I stay within my means.

4. "The DVD looks better, but I'm getting the blu-ray anyway."

Talk about a waste of money, blu-ray is just a storage medium. If a film has been DNR'd, being a blu-ray disc doesn't somehow make it better than the untouched DVD. But it's none of my business (see point #2).

5. "Your wasting your money on all these blu-rays because *insert streaming, pirating, DVDs, other general busybody-ness*."

Again my money, and I like the audio and video quality that blu-ray can provide.
I rarely go to the cinema now because the prices have steadily become ludicrous. So films that some people will go to see with family, girlfriend etc. for £8 per ticket (along with parking costs etc), I'll get it delivered for £15 or under when it's released on blu. If I enjoy the film great, it can stay in my collection. If its rubbish I can just take it into CeX and get some money back on it, or another film etc to replace it.
I don't drink, smoke or do drugs, so have disposable income that I can spend on a few blu-rays a month.

6. "There are only so many hours in the day."

Thanks father time, but while the clock ticks away on my free time, I'd rather have a wide choice available to me.


EDIT: It's fun to go off on a rant every once in a while

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[iank]

Perfectly reasonable points there to me, Dave, and I agree with all of them.

[Andy2992]

Originally Posted by DaveSimonH

1. Only buy films that you like.

Should be obvious, but I constantly read about people buying films to complete some arbitrary collection. Don't like "Chicken Little", don't buy it. You don't get a medal for collecting the Sony classics series. Quentin Tarantino doesn't care that you own all of his films, including the ones you hate.

2. It's your money, if you are staying within your means, then don't let others make you feel guilty about buying 50 or 800 blu-rays.

If I have seen a film, liked it and want to own it on blu-ray, great. I don't buy films I hate.

3. Blind buying is often a good way of finding new, interesting films. But if you don't like it, get rid. Not point hanging onto something you'll never want to watch again.

I have no qualms getting rid of a film I don't like, hanging onto them to boost a collection total would be mad. I blind buy a lot of films, and I have a fair few on the "to watch" list, but I really don't see a problem in doing that as I stay within my means.

4. "The DVD looks better, but I'm getting the blu-ray anyway."

Talk about a waste of money, blu-ray is just a storage medium. If a film has been DNR'd, being a blu-ray disc doesn't somehow make it better than the untouched DVD. But it's none of my business (see point #2).

5. "Your wasting your money on all these blu-rays because *insert streaming, pirating, DVDs, other general busybody-ness*."

Again my money, and I like the audio and video quality that blu-ray can provide.
I rarely go to the cinema now because the prices have steadily become ludicrous. So films that some people will go to see with family, girlfriend etc. for £8 per ticket (along with parking costs etc), I'll get it delivered for £15 or under when it's released on blu. If I enjoy the film great, it can stay in my collection. If its rubbish I can just take it into CeX and get some money back on it, or another film etc to replace it.
I don't drink, smoke or do drugs, so have disposable income that I can spend on a few blu-rays a month.

6. "There are only so many hours in the day."

Thanks father time, but while the clock ticks away on my free time, I'd rather have a wide choice available to me.


EDIT: It's fun to go off on a rant every once in a while

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A rant? No, this is all common sense.

[huntauk]

Had a day off and watched 2 yesterday including Katyn from the 'to watch' pile. Which I'm pleased is down to 9 now (but 6 of those after over 3 hours long). Didn't think it was a patch on Ashes And Diamonds and really can't see myself watching it again, so will probably trade in during the summer with the other 7-8 in the get rid pile to buy titles like Get Carter and Eyes Without A Face which I know I love.

Personally I don't go nuts on titles and buy films I have either already seen which I enjoy; want to see; or if there's a title which I feel like taking a risk on I'll get it. Violent Saturday is one of these for example. It will either go like Wake In Fright and be a favourite; or Import Export and go onto the CEX recycle list. As you can tell, I like lists and piles

[Skog]

Originally Posted by DaveSimonH

[Show spoiler]1. Only buy films that you like.

Should be obvious, but I constantly read about people buying films to complete some arbitrary collection. Don't like "Chicken Little", don't buy it. You don't get a medal for collecting the Sony classics series. Quentin Tarantino doesn't care that you own all of his films, including the ones you hate.

2. It's your money, if you are staying within your means, then don't let others make you feel guilty about buying 50 or 800 blu-rays.

If I have seen a film, liked it and want to own it on blu-ray, great. I don't buy films I hate.

3. Blind buying is often a good way of finding new, interesting films. But if you don't like it, get rid. Not point hanging onto something you'll never want to watch again.

I have no qualms getting rid of a film I don't like, hanging onto them to boost a collection total would be mad. I blind buy a lot of films, and I have a fair few on the "to watch" list, but I really don't see a problem in doing that as I stay within my means.

4. "The DVD looks better, but I'm getting the blu-ray anyway."

Talk about a waste of money, blu-ray is just a storage medium. If a film has been DNR'd, being a blu-ray disc doesn't somehow make it better than the untouched DVD. But it's none of my business (see point #2).

5. "Your wasting your money on all these blu-rays because *insert streaming, pirating, DVDs, other general busybody-ness*."

Again my money, and I like the audio and video quality that blu-ray can provide.
I rarely go to the cinema now because the prices have steadily become ludicrous. So films that some people will go to see with family, girlfriend etc. for £8 per ticket (along with parking costs etc), I'll get it delivered for £15 or under when it's released on blu. If I enjoy the film great, it can stay in my collection. If its rubbish I can just take it into CeX and get some money back on it, or another film etc to replace it.
I don't drink, smoke or do drugs, so have disposable income that I can spend on a few blu-rays a month.

6. "There are only so many hours in the day."

Thanks father time, but while the clock ticks away on my free time, I'd rather have a wide choice available to me.


EDIT: It's fun to go off on a rant every once in a while

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Spot on, Dave! Thanks for lightening the mood. Reading through this thread was starting to bum me out.

[FilmFanSam]

I feel the exact same Phil.

I have around 800 BDs and 100 DVDs. I only started collecting teo years ago.

I have only watched about half my collection.

I've promised myself no more buying until I've watched all my collection so we'll see how that goes.

[JimDiGriz]

Originally Posted by DaveSimonH

1. Only buy films that you like.

Should be obvious, but I constantly read about people buying films to complete some arbitrary collection. Don't like "Chicken Little", don't buy it. You don't get a medal for collecting the Sony classics series. Quentin Tarantino doesn't care that you own all of his films, including the ones you hate.

2. It's your money, if you are staying within your means, then don't let others make you feel guilty about buying 50 or 800 blu-rays.

If I have seen a film, liked it and want to own it on blu-ray, great. I don't buy films I hate.

3. Blind buying is often a good way of finding new, interesting films. But if you don't like it, get rid. Not point hanging onto something you'll never want to watch again.

I have no qualms getting rid of a film I don't like, hanging onto them to boost a collection total would be mad. I blind buy a lot of films, and I have a fair few on the "to watch" list, but I really don't see a problem in doing that as I stay within my means.

4. "The DVD looks better, but I'm getting the blu-ray anyway."

Talk about a waste of money, blu-ray is just a storage medium. If a film has been DNR'd, being a blu-ray disc doesn't somehow make it better than the untouched DVD. But it's none of my business (see point #2).

5. "Your wasting your money on all these blu-rays because *insert streaming, pirating, DVDs, other general busybody-ness*."

Again my money, and I like the audio and video quality that blu-ray can provide.
I rarely go to the cinema now because the prices have steadily become ludicrous. So films that some people will go to see with family, girlfriend etc. for £8 per ticket (along with parking costs etc), I'll get it delivered for £15 or under when it's released on blu. If I enjoy the film great, it can stay in my collection. If its rubbish I can just take it into CeX and get some money back on it, or another film etc to replace it.
I don't drink, smoke or do drugs, so have disposable income that I can spend on a few blu-rays a month.

6. "There are only so many hours in the day."

Thanks father time, but while the clock ticks away on my free time, I'd rather have a wide choice available to me.


EDIT: It's fun to go off on a rant every once in a while

.

Pretty much agree with all that! The collecting thing is strange to me though. For instance, there is no way Id buy Robocop 3 separately - I only have it because it was part of the trilogy set. There is no way Im buying From Dusk Till Dawn 2 etc or Starship Troopers 2 either for the obvious reasons! And as for collecting all the films a la Criterion or the Sony Classics range for instance - I find it hard to believe that people that collect all these really like every film in that collection etc

[thewerepuppygrr]

Originally Posted by JimDiGriz

They're worse if anything!

Getting excited over a slipcover of a film that is diabolically awful just confuses me.

I frequent the UK slipcover thread and I know of perhaps a couple of people who will buy anything with a slip. Most of us buy only the films we like. It's a bit like buying the hardback version of a book, I suppose.

[Chad Plainview]

There came a point where I realised it makes no sense keeping hold of a film I'll never watch again. So I decided to go through my collection and sell what I didn't need.

So I now only buy films that I truly love and can see myself watching for many years.

[CinemaScope]

I hardly ever (in fact never these days) blind buy. All the unwatched (apart from a couple) Blu-rays I have are films I've seen many times & like very much, & like owning. I've loved films since the mid-fifties, so I like a LOT of films, luckily they don't release Blu's at the rate they released DVD's, & Blu's are cheaper if you wait 'till the price comes down. I might go a month or two without buying any, & then buy two or three.

[franzsanchez]

I also went on a bit of a splurge (to say the least) when i first bought my bluray player which was at the beginning of 2012

Two years later and i've amassed a collection of 500 films on blu which is the equivalent of buying 5 a week having said that, i've only bought about 20 this year

my excuse is that a lot of these were upgrades from dvds which i subsequently sold. I own far more films on bluray from pre-2000 than i do post-2000 so i'm not buying huge amounts of new releases (and wait until the price drops significantly on them anyway, e.g. star trek into darkness for £6)

I also set myself a limit of £6 per film, thinking this would mean i would upgrade more slowly than i did. I did occasionally break this but not by much. i then tended to break it more when i got into collecting steelbooks but even then i picked up most of my steels as part of offers

so overall i've managed to spend just over £5 per film (i've got a little spreadsheet where i keep track of it). if you include the money from selling the dvd versions and a bit of wheeler dealing (mainly involving the disney rewards scheme), the cost is only £3 per film

basically i've bought 488 films on bluray for just over £1433 which i think is great going. now all i have to do is watch them all! I knew there was a reason i bought them

[Buddy Ackerman]

Originally Posted by JimDiGriz

And as for collecting all the films a la Criterion or the Sony Classics range for instance - I find it hard to believe that people that collect all these really like every film in that collection etc

This is something I agree with - I'm guilty of buying films I don't particularly love to complete a collection, but it's few and far between - there are a couple of Spielberg films I don't think much of but he's my favourite director and I find it interesting to view his entire filmography, including the failures. Mind you, I don't think he's released the couple of ones I don't like on blu-ray yet (I have a few of other director collections - Coens, Fincher, Nolan, Tarantino - but I do genuinely enjoy every film in their sets).

Same with the Disney Classics - for me they're a piece of cinema history, including the occasional dud. Luckily the BOGOF offers and the Disney Movie Reward points means I've been able to fill these gaps for free (so no paying for Chicken Little or Meet the Robinsons for me). I know that in a few years time when I'll hopefully have a family that I'll have the complete collection to share with them and I look forward to that

However, for me those two sets are different than buying a range set out by a distributor. Same with the people who buy all the Arrow Films or MoC range (and complain when they release one they don't like). Those are all individual films just released under one banner - there's no connecting tissue between the majority apart from the label releasing them or, in the case of the Sony Classics brand, a marketing label they've slapped on. I'm not saying that Arrow, MoC or Crieterion don't put out excellent releases - they absolutely do - so I can see the excitement in their releases but basing a collection around who releases them? A bit odd for me.

However, there are people sitting with their complete Criterion and MoC collections, looking at a range of great films put together with care are released in high quality, not regretting a thing and wondering why I'd buy 1941 or Always when they're released, so each to their own I guess

[huntauk]

'Buy what you like', it's a no-brainer really, but that changes with examples such as WB's James Dean Collection. I'm fairly keen on getting Rebel Without A Cause but have no desire to watch the other 2 films in the set. If the boxset becomes available close to the £10 mark in the future I'll bite, but Rebel is a title I can wait patiently for. I did the same with the WB Hitchcock set when it was on sale for £8-9 to own Strangers On A Train.

Just to touch on the 'I'm not interested' rant, and I'm far from generalising all people in question but these crude comments such as, 'that movie sucks' or 'this movie is better' seem to come more frequently from US&Canadian members/threads, with stubbornness no matter how attentively you discuss or argue a point they just dismiss the opinion and can get personal with insults if they don't like or agree with what they read.

[JimDiGriz]

Wow, sensible discussion!

The spine numbers thing is funny too. I mean, who actually cares if you have all the releases lined up in order except you? Probably noone right?

I look at Criterion releases and more often than not I think, "wouldnt want that film" or "never seen it but wouldnt take the chance at that price" (even if I could do region-locked which I cant! - I dont need to though, got far too many to watch and buy anyway).

The Arrow releases are a good example, they release some films I really want and some I really dont want or can barely remember. They also release some films I see people getting excited about and I think "why?! have you actually seen this film?! ). However, now and then they introduce me to a film Ive never heard of and its great to discover a film you really like - a good example with Arrow for me would be Spider Baby - I knew nothing about this film and noone else I know did either. That's changed!

[JimDiGriz]

Originally Posted by huntauk

'Buy what you like', it's a no-brainer really, but that changes with examples such as WB's James Dean Collection. I'm fairly keen on getting Rebel Without A Cause but have no desire to watch the other 2 films in the set. If the boxset becomes available close to the £10 mark in the future I'll bite, but Rebel is a title I can wait patiently for. I did the same with the WB Hitchcock set when it was on sale for £8-9 to own Strangers On A Train.

Just to touch on the 'I'm not interested' rant, and I'm far from generalising all people in question but these crude comments such as, 'that movie sucks' or 'this movie is better' seem to come more frequently from US&Canadian members/threads, with stubbornness no matter how attentively you discuss or argue a point they just dismiss the opinion and can get personal with insults if they don't like or agree with what they read.

Or the steelbook thread...

[samdvd1]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Even their compilation of National Coal Board titles, Portrait of a Miner, shifted a pretty healthy number of units, and sales of Tales from the Shipyard apparently did unusually well in central Scotland - i.e. Clydeside.)

I think with some of these titles, location has a lot to do with everything. I know many people who don't care about films that have the BFI release of The Edge of the World locally. Where do I live? The Outer Hebrides - and I'm often on St Kilda for work! It's also for sale in all the local touristy outlets.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by JimDiGriz

Wow, sensible discussion!

The spine numbers thing is funny too. I mean, who actually cares if you have all the releases lined up in order except you? Probably noone right?

To be fair, isn't that kind of the point? That one is happy with their own collection?

Originally Posted by JimDiGriz

I look at Criterion releases and more often than not I think, "wouldnt want that film" or "never seen it but wouldnt take the chance at that price" (even if I could do region-locked which I cant! - I dont need to though, got far too many to watch and buy anyway).

I've bought Criterion discs for over 13 years now, and actually approach the collection in that way too. I don't think that the idea is that a person buys every single release, and I certainly don't know anyone that owns anywhere near a full set. I myself have around 175 (most of which DVDs), which is a relatively small annual average over 13 years.

This said, and contrasting with what seems to be a common thought in this thread, I do think that labels like Arrow, Second Run, MoC and Criterion and the compulsion that they inspire is a generally good thing. They've certainly played an important role in the development of my own cinephilia, having introduced me to a great number of filmmakers and films that ordinarily would no doubt have passed me by, had I not been made aware of them due to their association with certain labels. While this was more notable, and I guess by extension more important to me when I was first truly discovering cinema, it still happens to this day. Would I have bothered with Wake In Fright had MoC not released it? What of the films of Jack Hill were it not for their association with Arrow?

I guess this is an extension of the whole blind buy debate, though one might see a level of authority in a label who've done you well in the past and you're therefore be more willing to give them the benefit of the doubt when a title you've never heard of comes along.

[Buddy Ackerman]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

I guess this is an extension of the whole blind buy debate, though one might see a level of authority in a label who've done you well in the past and you're therefore be more willing to give them the benefit of the doubt when a title you've never heard of comes along.

You're absolutely right - for those who blind buy then having confidence in a distributor for cherry-picking their titles is a good way to do it. I know I discovered Lifeboat (along with a couple of others) through MoC and don't regret it for a second.

I think my point (and that of others) is to those people who are just buying for the sake of having a 'complete' collection by a certain distributor or marketing brand. Which, as I noted in my post, means that I'm sure a lot of them end up with very fine collections - certainly it's better for them to, say, collect MoC than the Sony Classics Range and end up with M as a completist blind buy than The Da Vinci Code.

But some people take such ownership over a brand that they get angry when they release something they don't like because it interferes with their collection - they have to either skip one and 'ruin' it or buy something they don't like. That's a step beyond for me - having to complete a 'set' of disconnected films simply because of the logo on the spine is an odd motivation and a bizarre thing to become obsessive about. (Going further with the ownership people take over a brand, you only have to look at what happens when someone feels Arrow should release a film they like - and what happens when they have no plans to but instead release films that don't appeal to that person - to see how petulant people can be)