Comments on: Do you watch the DVDs and Blu-rays you buy?

You buy favorite films and TV shows when they come out on DVD/Blu-ray, but do you ever watch them?

[JoeD1979]

I love watching my DVD's. I watch them more then regular TV. I have a collection of a little over 200. I mostly buy movies that I've seen in the theatre AND I know will be a movie that I will repeatedly watch. For example, a movie like Schindler's List. Fantastic movie, there is no doubt about that, but do I need to own it and watch it over and over again? I don't. However, Iron Man, a fun great action flick that I could watch again and again, I buy.

I usually watch the movies I buy within a few days of buying them, THEN if I am interested I watch the commentary if available. I also use movies to go to sleep. I usually put them on when my wife is reading, and it puts me to sleep so I watch tons of movies every week.

The only TV series that I have bought is Family Guy. I usually pop those discs in every few months to get a few laughs, so I watch those as well.

I will, once in a while, go through my DVD's and see if there are any that I never watch, and if so, I sell them. These might be movies that I thought I would watch again and again, but didn't, or gifts that people bought me that they thought I would enjoy, but I didn't.

I will soon have blu-ray, and I will be even pickier with those. I will only buy blu-ray movies if I really need them to look great. These would be big action movies, or epics. I don't need "The 40-Year Old Virigin" or "Knocked Up" in blu-ray. But "The Dark Knight" or "Wall-E"? Absolutely.

So, yes, I watch my movies again and again.

[LoveStallionofDoom]

This is an interesting topic, and one I've mulled over in my head on occasion.

I also admit to owning way too many DVDs. I am a sucker for "Special Edition" two-disc version, because I like special features (at least when they are noteworthy. So many are just garbage), which I can't get just from renting a movie. I find myself buying movies when they have an extra disc to increase my knowledge of the film. Yes, I am a dork. A fine example could be my almost-complete Pixar catalogue. Pixar had released every one of its films as a two-disc set with no other version available until Cars. Cars and Ratatouille are both just single disc sets, which instantly made me less inclined to purchase them (that and Cars sucked).

I think Wall-E was one of the best Pixar films in years, but I'm also more prone to buying it because it comes with a second disc loaded with features. Interesting how this works.

There are few TV shows that are worth buying, and especially since so many of them are always on TV. I mean why on EARTH would I ever buy Everybody Loves Raymond or Friends when they are all over syndication?

Arrested Development, in my opinion, is the only sitcom worth purchasing. I've watched the entire series at least five times (it doesn't hurt that there are only three seasons) and it's more amusing every time. Other shows would get pretty old.

I just look forward to the day when bandwidths are such that we can download everything and never have to have physical discs for anything, as cool as they look on our shelf.

But fine, I admit I might own a Pauly Shore movie or two just because they were $3 at Circuit City. I'm only human!

[JoeD1979]

As long as one of those Pauly Shore movies is either BioDome or In the Army Now, you're cool with me.

I also had the same question about the Pixar movies. Why is Cars and Ratatouille the only ones that did not get the 2-disc treatment? I always found that odd. They both made a ridiculous amount of money, and they are even making an entire land at Disney's California Adventure about Cars.

Finding Nemo will always be my favorite, but Wall-E was a close second.

[mfrodsha]

I usually buy DVDs for our kids to rewatch and pacify them.

When I buy them for me or my wife, it's usually because it ends up being the same price or slightly less expensive than not returning the movie in time (we're late and always rack up late fees). Another way to look at it is the cost of time spent ordering, receiving, and repackaging a movie through netflix. Say I spend 10-15 minutes viewing and ordering the movie at my office, and then 5 or so minutes repackaging the movie and sending it back to netflix - that is already more than the $15 or so dollars in time. On the other hand, if I am already at Best Buy or some other place, I'm usually there for some other reason, and picking up a video to buy is usually no extra time or effort.

[dctech08]

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[ErikBRak1m]

I had a friend who used to buy something like at least two movies per week. And the guy would buy movies that I wouldn't even think of renting. Now, in my case, I can say that when I buy a movie, it is something that I will continue to watch over and over again--that's why I want it in my collection. Think I can't watch all the James Bond movies more than once in a year? Wrong-O. I can and do. Some more than others, but they will get more than their fair share of play, I can assure you of that.

[jander30]

I love going out to see a good sci-fi at the theatre, but if you add up the total cost of a evening vs. buy the movie and stay home, home wins. Example, 2 tickets $8x2, 2 pops and popcorn $10, babysitter for 3 hours $15, total price $41. Now home, Dvd $15 Blu-Ray $21, pop 12 pack $4, popcorn Stove or Microwave $2 total price $21 or $27. Now, I have a 60 Plasma with PS3 with a old Dolby-digital 2.0 with 5.1 sound that costed around $2000. But staying home a watching a movie anytime I want is Priceless.

As for TV series, I would rather rent them or buy them at a pawnshop (Discount Store)

[the_iceman]

Ive gotten myself into trouble buying TOO many DVDs and now Blu-Rays. I probably own 150+. There are a lot that I need to sell. Some I still haven't watched or even taken the wrapper off of. I think I'll just collect the classics and blockbusters now instead. Besides, Red Box for just 1$ is a great deal for movie lovers.

[avid320]

love watching 007 over again and Pixar movies never get old, can't wait until all their movies are on blu-ray.

[mortalmisfit]

Well I for one just rent them through the mail and then copy them. It saves a bundle.

[hturner1949]

A co-worker loaned me a copy of "Flyboys" he made using DVD X-Copy. When I played it on my HDTV I found the picture quality mediocre and the sound track was not 5.1. I tried playing it on two different DVD players and when it got to a certain point starting skipping and then stopped altogether. I then decided if I'm not willing to pay retail for a DVD, just wait until it pops up in Blockbuster's 4 for 20 bucks bargin bin. Maybe your copy program works better than his.

[mortalmisfit]

I haven't used DVD X-Copy myself so I'm not sure if it's any good. I have used for years now DVDFAB and it works great. But I dont know what they would look like in a HDTV but hopefully this Christmas I'll know. Just to give you an idea on how much one can save. I'm a star trek fan and I copied the whole series one months time using netflix. The monthly fee is $20. And each blank dvd is like 20 cents. If I were to buy the series each season would be around $40. I would suggest this method if you want to save some cash.

[mortalmisfit]

Well I for one just rent them through the mail and then copy them. It saves a bundle.

[mickey918]

I grew up in the theatre business and worked in theatres since I was about 10 years old. My stepmother managed the local theatre, so I developed a love of movies which exists to this day. Currently I own a 50" Sony LCD HD set, an HD-DVD player, an up-converting player and recently added a Sony BluRay player. Needless to say, I have very many movies and I watched them over and over. I obtain new movies every month and rent movies from the local Movie Gallery about once per week. I rarely go to the local cineplex because it's just too expensive.

[JoeD1979]

Why do you still have your upconverting player when your blu-ray player does the same thing?

[kelmon]

I think all my DVDs have been watched but relatively few of them are watched multiple times. Before DVD I did not used to buy films and the realisation that most of my collection have not been watched much means that I am much more in favour of digital rentals online rather than buying discs.

[drriver]

I have 400 DVDs --- I certainly do not watch all of them with the same frequency, but I definitely cycle through 75-80% of them yearly. Now, with blu-ray (I have about 20 now), it's akin to watching the same movie, a favorite, a classic, for the very first time. I was always frustrated by the fact that many of my favorites were in theaters before my time or when I was too young, so I really do enjoy getting as close as I can to the theater experience with a 56" TV and 1080p blu-ray. I agree with the previous commenter regarding instant gratification --- I have netflix, but the flicks I love need to be in the living room right next to the big screen so I can fire them up whenever I want.

[El_Mikee]

Recently, i´ve found myself buying DVD´s and watching part of the movie; if i get hooked on the story and see myself not having time to continue watching it, i´ll handbrake and sync it to my iPod Touch. Otherwise, it just sits there ´til i´m REALLY have some time to become the couch potato i deserve to be sometimes. :-P

[imotionsrt4]

I have a lot of DVD's, and a lot of those get heavy rotation. But along with that, I have DVD's that are still wrapped in plastic. Those are mainly old movies from when I was a kid and just haven't had the urge to watch (Beverly Hills Cop, Short Circut, etc.).

I don't think I have ever bought a DVD that I haven't rented or watched in the theater. I would be really mad if I paid $15 or so for it and it was junk.

As for blu rays, I don't have a HDTV to watch them on, nor do I have the urge to buy (or rebuy dvd's I already own) at their current price. I've had my PS3 for almost a year and I got 5 free blu rays with its purchase and the cases have never been opened.

I do have a few box sets that allow me to own all the movies I like in a series(Indiana Jones-originals, Back to the Future, LOTR, etc). They get watched more than I expected to watch them, so that makes me happy of my purchase.

As far as TV shows, I only own one box set from a show when I was in high school (Beavis & Butthead :o ). My brother on the other hand owns tons of TV shows and watches them all the time.
Family Guy, The Office, ATHF, etc.

The cool thing about TV shows is that they are easy to convert and store on my computer, and easy to put on my zune for when I'm out and about. I don't have to worry about watching a 2 hour movie, I can just get my laundry going and watch an episode of The Office.

I think in the age of portability TV shows are the way to go.

[Rick Cavaretti]

My DVD (and CD) and other collections are no different than a good book. If you like the content, you never get bored.

[hameiri]

The trick is, not to buy everything you like.

The difference between a great movie (classic) and most movies, are the way the suck you in. I used to work at a movie rental place, and would play movies on a TV. The great ones would have people watching to the end. The regular movies would have people walking by, or watching for a few minutes.

Buy only the great movies, and you'll watch them again and again.

[jeremy-brett]

Before I'll buy a DVD, it has to meet a few criteria:
1. It has to be a movie I'm sure I'll watch at least a few more times (so that's a "yes" answer to your question).
2. It has to have a decent amount of special features on the disc -- commentaries are fine, but I love making-ofs and other documentaries.
3. It has to be on sale. Release-date prices are okay, but even better are used discs from Blockbuster, most of which are in excellent condition.

[sandor_f]

Netflix. $18 a month and i have access to all of this.

[NYCgoalie]

This article is spot on.

People come to my house wondering why the TV's so big, calibrated clean, connected via HDMI to a DVR and a Blu-Ray...yet I have so few DVD's on my shelf.

That's when I tell them "now you know why my TV is so big, I have a DVR and a Blu-Ray player."