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?

[CyberBob859]

I think the reason why a lot of people collect DVD's is the same reason why some people have a library with a wall of books. Are you ever going to go back and read all those books again? Probably not. But do you want the freedom, convenience and luxury to go back and re-read (or re-watch or re-listen) some media at any time you want, or experience it again with your friends? Also, the collection says a lot about you - your tastes, your likes and dislikes.

My plan is to convert all my DVD's to digital media and store them on a home server. (I've already done this with my CD's and don't buy CD's anymore - all digital downloads.) Yes it will take time to do video, but when my video collection is digitized, I won't be buying DVD's anymore too. And what I've noticed so far is when the video is more readily available, I tend to watch it more (or experience it again.)

My goal is to just go with free over-the-air HDTV broadcasts for local news, weather, and sporting events, and everything else is streamed over the Internet or comes from my personal collection at any time.

[TheStairMaster]

=/ I dont get it much either, but i think the answer lies in preferences.

I think the Video guy gets a lot more use out of his DVDs than the Audio guy, and the Audio guy gets much more use out of his cassettes, LPs, and CDs than the Video guy ever would.

[psu_jedi]

Admittedly I haven't watched about half of the 300+ DVD and Blu-Ray discs that I own since I bought them, but being an avid movie buff, the other half definitely have done multiple viewings. I've lost track of the number of times I've watched the Star Wars saga, Lord of the Rings, Futurama, The Princess Bride, A Few Good Men, etc.

[jlynn33]

I used to have one of those real expensive directvideo dual deck vhs machines with one button copying. I used to just go rent a movie when it came out and I and my roommates could watch whatever when we wanted. I got out on my own and I have a better job now and built my own home theatres in my living room and my bedroom about the same time as dvds came on the scene. I started buying all the great movies that I had seen when I was a kid on dvd. Then I got interested in Italian horror directors works. Other great films from around the world followed. Along with those came the special editions, limited editions, then the boxsets, and so on. Now I am replacing all those with blu-rays. I have amassed 1800 titles in the last 5 or so years and have seen only about 15 percent of those. I do have every satellite channel available (even in HD) and have a set schedule of primetime shows I watch every week but, there are times when nothing is on I want to watch. I then turn to my video library and go find one of those childhood favorites or something I haven't seen. I do believe in my case, it is about choices. My library allows me the opportunity to not go to the theater unless I want to. I do occasionally go see a summer blockbuster in the theater when it comes out but, I am usually disappointed with the poor sound or poor picture compared to my home setups (not to mention concession prices). The only down sides to doing this are the reduction of disposable income that you will have and your social opportunities. I can't say this would be the right thing to do for you and your family but, life is about choices right? I have made mine and am satisfied with it, what about you?

[wmclover]

I agree with your comments about DVDs, but am surprised that you purchase and play CDs, rather than rip your CDs to your computer. Is there any loss in sound quality if you rip your CD at the highest quality to your computer for play via an optical cable connection to your AV receiver system??

[ackright2001]

I pretty much dont use physical media at all anymore. ESP optical I use my Ipod to transfer or I stream and my PS3 ist he center piece as the media center. It's been way more convenient ever since it's purchase. So it's flash memory or streaming.

[jeffk08]

I wouldn't be surprised if most people only buy movies or TV shows because they like them, not because they intend to watch them multiple times. But owning DVDs does serve one important purpose: it helps solve the problem of infinite choice. Whether flipping to the movies you have On Demand or walking into a Blockbuster, there are (or soon will be) almost unlimited choices...which can be paralyzing. Who hasn't spent half an hour in a Blockbuster trying to choice the one movie that satisfies everybody? At least when you open your DVD cabinet you have a smaller group of movies that are pre-selected, so you know you like them. Netflix and other sites may have helpful suggestions, but so far nothing beats your own DVD library for ease of choice.

[artzxp]

I remember an article I read a few years back. It was about Bill Gates making the statement that all media in the coming years will be digital. We have come to see this come to fruition with great services such as Netflix (streaming service), Hulu and even microsofts own xbox 360.

After years of buying DVD's and watching them be either lost, borrowed and never returned, or scratched up I have found that digital Media is and always will be my favorite choice. With the dramatic rise in torrents in the past few years, it couldn't be simpler to build a massive digital collection. I've been downloading and streaming movies through my xbox 360 for a couple years now and it is very satisfying knowing that all my movies/tv shows are safe. Plus its even more convenient because there is no need to get up and change discs.

Although most movies you download won't be the same quality as dvd, its very hard to tell a difference. If you had the need for it, you can download most tv shows in HD anyways. So I don't purchase DVD's anymore and I have very little ambition to buy a blu-ray and start buying $25 movies that I might watch one time. Digital FTW

[satkinsn]

The previous posters cover a lot of it, but I want to expand on a couple of points.

You're right to suggest music is a much more repeatable experience; in fact, the essence of music is hearing it more than once.

That said, some movies reward repeated viewings by growing richer and deeper. Think of them as the visual equivalent to classical music. I've learned a lot about movies from the Criterion Collection, (I probably own 50 of 'em) and think of them specifically as being there for more than one play. This is the great-works-of-humanity stuff, like Ozu or Bresson, the screen's Bach or Mozart.

OTOH, there are some movies and tv that are like great three minute singles - think Motown or Stax. 'My Favorite Year' or 'Thief' may not be high art, but they've got great hooks. I watch them for the pleasure of the memorable scene or line or whatever.

Finally, you have your movies that you watch primarily for an actor, or the director. Watching Clint Eastwood do westerns and cop movies and other stuff is like watching a great jazz musician work over the same basic ideas over time, adding here, subtracting there. The pleasure is in how the story plays out over a career.

So...I'm primarily an audio guy as well, but you can watch like you listen, I think.

Scott Atkinson
Watertown NY

[emgesp]

Well, your whole blog is sorta meaningless. You said yourself your an audio guy, so this whole blog is just straight bias. A lot of people watch their DVD/Blu-rays over and over. They are called movie lovers. Sure some watch just once, but they are probably casual movie watchers, or the movie might have sucked.

You can't compare audio and video. Of course more people are listening to music, because it's way more portable and it doesn't take 2 hrs to finish a song.

[make_or_break]

I watch most of those I buy...mostly because I'm too bloody lazy (and cheap) to see many movies during their run in theaters. Invariably we'll visit the snack bar, and suddenly it's a $30 to $40 trip to see a flick (includes parking downtown). I'd rather get the film on disc at its initial release a few months down the road at $16 from Amazon than put up with the...ahem... "ambiance"...of going to a show. Some films like Iron Man I've actually seen three times from DVD so far, if only to catch things that I missed the first time around...and because I actually enjoyed the film itself and Downey, Jr.'s performance.

OTOH, some films like the recent Raiders I wish I'd never bought. Watched once, and never again. At least it convinced me that Blu-ray is NOT worth the premium.

[dhjellen]

This article seems to be a reflection of the narrow perception we can easily have regarding the lifestyles and preferences for people other than ourselves. If I love listening to music, I can appreciate the value in buying CDs and listening to them over and over again, but if I only listen to music on the way to work between news shows, then I would have little understanding as to why anyone would waste their money on those silly round disk things especially when all you have to do is turn on the radio and have a listen. If I am not a movie connoisseur, and tend to watch a movie once and then never again, or perhaps even (dare I say it) fall asleep during a movie, then I would have little understanding as to why anyone would waste money on DVDs. In these cases, I would have little appreciation of how other people live and what they like if I chose not to think about it thoroughly. If I did choose

If I did choose to think about it thoroughly, I would realize that different people simply have different lifestyles that reflect different preferences. The assumption that a lifestyle which incorporates watching movies frequently enough to justify a DVD purchase can only be related to proving one's love, getting a physical keepsakes for memories or because it simply looks good on the shelf is reflective of an underdeveloped thought process. Do you honestly think that the 16 billion dollars consumers spent on DVD purchases in the 2007 year (USA Today) is reflective of some kind of mass delusional state or a Hollywood marketing genius which has duped everyone but yourself?

Honestly, when you write an article such as this one, you come off as thoughtless and condescending. I force myself to assume that someone in your position is a thoughtful and insightful person, but reading an article such as this makes me concerned that you write these things to "prove their love" for your paycheck, so you can later reflect on this article as a "keepsake" or "memory", and maybe this article looked "good on the shelf", but it does not in print.

The answer to your question (please tell me why you buy movie or TV show DVDs or Blu-rays) is simple? not everyone enjoys spending their time doing what you do. Your personal preferences and desires are not reflective of everyone else?s. Just because your favorite color is blue does not mean that no one else likes red and if your favorite color is blue, you should be able to understand why other people might like red, even if you don?t like it. Furthermore, you should not need someone else to tell you that at this point in your life ? you should have learned that in Kindergarten. Finally, if you really don?t get it, go to your Kindergarten teacher for this information. Please refrain from using a forum such this as it should not be used for this level of education, at least not if CNET wants to retain any value, respect or viewership.

Now I have a question for you? How did this ?story? get so prominently displayed on the front page at CNET.com?

[jasctt]

I've watched THE WIRE 3 times through from first to last ep already. the show is just too good and the best thing ever out on TV. Period.

[oassaf]

Tell that to my brother who keeps his copy of Almost Heroes in the dvd player for constant viewing...although Eugene Levy stating that 'this is not my wife, not my wife. I buy her, she is my property' never gets old

[ferretboy88]

I buy 24 and watch the entire season in a few days. In a few years I will watch them again.

[lobo65]

I do have a lot that I haven't seen, but now that I've upgraded to Blu-Ray I expect I will be watching more movies than before. Especially since I can rent them from Netflix before buying.

You have to think about retirement. What in the world are you gonna do... when you have all the time in the world!!!... it sounds like a joke but is not!!!

[MrTreize]

As a sailor who is on deployments on various ships throughout each year I can say with absolute certainty that I watch dvd's nearly everyday. My hardest problem is to figure out which portion of my massive collection with me every time I go to the ship. Things like box sets are extremely valuable to me as there are ots of tv shows I never get to see (even the likes of law and order and the sopranos) even though they are on tv everyday virtually. TV is not one of those luxuries we have in the middle of the ocean so I gladly pay for dvd box sets and movies I have seen in some random theater in years and months past. I am a fan of movies and cartoons. DVD's make it possible for lots of people to be entertained who even though they own a tv, never get to really watch tv. My opinion anyway.

[badsponge]

I only buy DVDs for the kids, since they'll be watched many times. I stopped buying DVDs for myself a long time ago, after I realized I wasn't watching the ones I bought more than once or twice.

[research1st]

This one is pretty funny... As someone who goes back to the days of buying movies on the old 12" laserdiscs, I know all about buying movies I have never watched.

I still have laserdsics in their unopened shrink wrapped, that are now over 20 years old. And of those that are opened most have only been played once. Because of what I learned from my laserdisc buying days, I have avoided the whole DVD buying craze. I have maybe 30 DVD's in total, and probably 1/2 are music concerts that I also play for just the audio.

On the other hand I have been a long time member of Netflix. I think my membership goes back to 1999.... For me, renting makes much more sense than buying. It's cheaper and I don't have the storage problem....., like I do with my 2,000+ CD collection.... plus the money I save by not buying DVD's, I can spend on CD's and audio/video equipment.