Here's something I was wondering about, and am hoping to get some good thoughts on. How often do you think it's a good decision to blind buy a DVD?. How much does price play into this?
Case in point: recently, I blind bought Donnie Darko and The Ice Storm because Amazon.com offered this $2 off an already low price for each, and I had heard such great things about both movies. Now, Donnie Darko is one of my all-time favorite movies. I haven't had a chance to watch The Ice Storm yet, but I've heard great things about it, so I think it's worth it in that case.
I've also blind bought stuff like Sydney/Hard Eight, Boogie Nights (the pretty New Line Platinum edition), The Three Colors Trilogy, and Reservoir Dogs. I wasn't disappointed, per se, with any of these. But some I'll definitely watch more than others. Boogie Nights is just so colorful and unique, which is what I enjoy about it. I've watched it twice: once straight up, once with the commentary on. The others I've only watched once, and don't know when I'm going to watch them again, because while I enjoyed them, there are too many other movies to watch, too.
Usually it's worth it if you know what to expect. But this means reading up on the films, reading reviews, and potentially spoiling the film for yourself. With so many movied to see, it's hard to decide what to rent, and what to just take the plunge and hope it's a good investment. So how do you approach it? Any films you've been disappointed in as a result? This is all pretty much subjective, so I doubt there are any hard and fast rules, but still, I thought it'd be interesting.
ive done it many times, usually with criterions, or films by directors i allready admire. or films with that "cult status" that even if they end up not being that good, you wouldnt be ashamed of owning them.
hmm...thats too rich for my blood. if you're poor you must be selective about what you REALLY want in your collection. how about blind rents?
Quote from: themodernage02how about blind rents?
oh i never do that. i always rent movies that ive allready seen.
Quote from: cecil b. dementedQuote from: themodernage02how about blind rents?
oh i never do that. i always rent movies that ive allready seen.
yeah me too, who wants to rent something they haven't seen yet???
i bought Rififi - Criterion based on the cover alone.
I've bought quite a few blind DVDs -- mostly Criterion. The best one would have to be Last Temptation Of Christ. One of the most consistently satisfying films I've owned.
I do it all the time, best way to buy a movie.
25th Hour
Adaptation
Dancer In the Dark
Waking Life
Usually this is because I can import these films from America before they reach cinemas here...if they do.
Criterion is the most reliable for blind buys and I've done it a lot there, so much so I kinda feel like a half completist of the entire set and if the film sounds interesting, I may pick it up. Proof? I plan to buy every Criterion released in June and that is around 5 to 7 movies.
~rougerum
I also do the blind Criterion thing, unless I know I hate the movie (The Rock and Armageddon will both enjoy permanent abscences in my collection). I've seen very few Criterion editions before I've purchased them, but I've never felt bad about putting out the money.
Other blind buys have been films with indelible reputations. Nashville. Blow Out. The Conversation. Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. There has to be some sort of predetermined personal appeal before I'll buy it, though.
Renting DVDs has its own special problems and hassles. DVD is not a really rent-friendly medium, it doesn't seem to me, because:
-First and foremost, scuffing. You rent a DVD and you can't make it through the whole movie because the prior renters have scuffed and fingerprinted it. That's incredibly annoying.
-Availability. Most video stores haven't yet made the full transition to DVD. The only video store I knew of where I could count on a decent DVD selection most of the time was Movie Madness in Portland. In my Seattle neighborhood, there's nothing to compare; the "legendary" Scarecrow video has a shockingly scant DVD selection. I think they're video-holdout snobs of some sort... that's never gonna work for me.
Every once in a while I'll venture out to rent something, but if there's even a chance I'll want to buy it, I usually just make the leap.
you guys are crazy. i WISH i had the kind of money where i had bought EVERY SINGLE MOVIE that i want to own and STILL had money to take these gambles on shit id never seen. unless its the only way you can get the movie.
btw: blind rents=sarcasm. perhaps youve heard of it?
i made a blind buy of criterion's SISTERS: i wanted to kill myself after the credits began to role -- thats my only bad experience. i blind bought picnic at hanging rock -- i was happy -- i usually do it with criterion -- im thinking of a blind buy for GEORGE WASHINGTON -- do you any of you suggest this? i cant find it to to rent anywhere -- every one seems to rave about it -- im a bit skeptical -- teh story doesn't sounds liek something that i'm interested in really...any thought, comments, suggestions?
Blind buying is often the only way to see the Greats. The only time I really regretted was when I took a chance with Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Being a Cameron Crowe book, I tought it would be cool. Not half as funny as I tought it would be.
Quote from: themodernage02btw: blind rents=sarcasm. perhaps youve heard of it?
actually i skipped over the whole "s" chapter of the dictionary
nah, we were just playing along. and its true, sometimes the only way to see a movie is to buy it. sometimes i prefer buying a movie ive never seen (cause then i get to see it) rather than a barebones edition of a movie ive allready seen a dozen times and love
yeah, well i imagine it would really suck to live somewhere without a decent video store nearby. luckily Philadelphia has TLA Video which is pretty great. they have every criterion release and buy everything that gets put out on dvd (unlike blockbuster who doesnt feel the need to carry Metropolis. unless you want the anime one?!!)
Yeah... I can't really afford blind buys either... it would be wasteful really.
And as far as DVD not being a rentable medium, you must not have tried Netflix... I have never had a scratched disk and they carry most titles I've thrown at them.
In my current financial state, I have to really like a movie to buy it. If I just kind of want to own it, I'll rent it from Netflix and burn a copy.
I bought Ghost World, Hard Eight, Reefer Madness, Fearless Hyena, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, and Visions of Light sight unseen. RM and FH were about $6 each, so even if I didn't like them, no big deal. Still haven't watched FH yet. I don't regret any of the purchases, though I haven't watched RM more than once.
QuoteI've bought quite a few blind DVDs -- mostly Criterion. The best one would have to be Last Temptation Of Christ. One of the most consistently satisfying films I've owned.
I blind buy allot also, in fact if most of you guys recommend it I am first out to best buy to pick it up. I don't rent anymore, I'd rather just add to my collection. Anyways though, I picked up Last Temptation of Christ after reading the post. It's a great blind buy, I love the movie! I also blind bought The Pianist, which I will watch a lil later tonight.
Ghostboy since I took your advice and blind bought LTOC, I want YOU to go out and blind buy "The Girl on The Bridge". You won't be dissapointed.
chris
I bought Cronenberg's Crash blind....was on sale for like $9....looked interesting, so I figured "What the hell.."....needless to say...interesting is sorta an under statement.....but it was cheap, and for some reason I like James Spader.....so it still sits on my shelf....I usually only throw it in when I am dating a new girl..... where I just can't find enough balls to tell her to buzz off...
man you people are weird, crash would be the ultimate "i like you very much" movie for me.
I bought happiness blind because I really wanted to see it and the local video store wasn't carrying it.
I bought about a boy blind because I happened to have gotten paid that day, and I had really liked the book and wanted to see the movie and was just kind of in the mood to throw some money around.
Quote from: cecil b. dementedman you people are weird, crash would be the ultimate "i like you very much" movie for me.
cecil....you b. demented man.....crashing cars for sexual pleasure....hmmm, .....ok, I see your point. I shut up now.
Quote from: cecil b. dementedman you people are weird, crash would be the ultimate "i like you very much" movie for me.
If someone showed me
Crash on a date, I'd think they were much more appealing and interesting than, say, someone who wanted to watch
The First Wive's Club (a real-life final date that once happened to me). People who ponder the nature of sex are sexy.
id also like to watch "in the company of men" on a date. that would be funny
Quote from: cecil b. dementedid also like to watch "in the company of men" on a date. that would be funny
The perfect litmus test.
I've bought many DVDs blindly, and a lot I regret. I've bought movies like Wild Wild West, Deep Blue Sea, and Stigmata on whyms, basically. Big mistakes. I have made some good blind buys though. I've bought Platoon, Changing Lanes, Serpico, and Road To Perdition and I enjoyed them all. But in the long-run it's better to rent them first.
about 90% of my collection are blind buys. It is THE way to go.
Let's see... I had some money burning a hole in my pocket so I ran off to Best Buy this afternoon because I remembered I saw When Harry Met Sally... (SE) for only $9.99 (one of the best romantic comedies ever). And I ended up buying four more DVDs: Cruel Intentions (a more tolerable Dangerous Liaisons for my money, and an incredibly entertaining movie to boot), Thirteen Conversations About One Thing (blind buy), Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back (another blind buy, *ducks Smith haters*), and Contact (one of the best movies of the 90s).
Thirteen... got rave reviews, and is in the vein of Magnolia and The Ice Storm (which I have, but still haven't seen yet), so I expect great things from it. And I just had to see Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back for the in-jokes, and the special features. For some reason, Kevin Smith is always so great to hear talk.
Thirteen Conversations About One thing is nowhere near the vicinity of the wonderfulness of either Magnolia or The Ice Storm (actually my first and third favourite movies respectively [organised, eh?]), but I thought it was pretty interesting. Not great but good. I know there are many here who hated it though.
Quote from: children with angelsThirteen Conversations About One thing
I enjoyed it....it was kinda neat how it ended up back in the bar....
Quote from: children with angelsThirteen Conversations About One thing is nowhere near the vicinity of the wonderfulness of either Magnolia or The Ice Storm (actually my first and third favourite movies respectively [organised, eh?]), but I thought it was pretty interesting. Not great but good. I know there are many here who hated it though.
Thirteen Conversations works on a much smaller canvast than
Magnolia, but the picture works just as well on its own terms.
My weekend blind buy:
Waking Life. X-tra cheap at the local Fred Meyer.
Just blind bought Bottle Rocket !
Quote from: BoothJust blind bought Bottle Rocket !
Depending on the price, you won't be sorry.
Only paid 20$CAN (13$US) ... Columbia House DVD is really really cool here upnorth. I highly recommend it if DVD availability is low in your area :-)
Quote from: BoothColumbia House DVD is really really cool here upnorth. I highly recommend it if DVD availability is low in your area :-)
i disagree
Why ? It's my fourth subscription and I never had any problem. I now get 6 "free" DVDs and have only two more to buy at 20$CAN (13$US) to fulfill my contract. All in all, my last subscription got me 9 DVDs for 110$CAN (80$US).
And now with Internet, there's way more choice.
Edit : I don't work for the place :-)
well the minimum prices i had to pay was 30 bucks CAN for dvds that can be bought for 17-25$ at futureshop. plus i find their selection rather limited
Yeah, with shipping and all, it approx. amouts to 30$ ... but my 110$ total took that into account. Though the first subscription is indeed more costly since you have to buy more to fulfill agreement. As for selection, it is indeed a little limited here in Canada, even if they now have the complete canadien selection on the web.
Good deals can be found at Futureshop, I agree. I just bought last week High Fidelity and Elephant Man on DVD for 24$CAN, for BOTH! Pi and Requiem for a Dream for 34$ if I remember well too...
It cost like 4-5 dollars to rent a dvd, so why not just add 10-15 dollars and own it ;) I usually buy all my movies based on what I have read or been told.
not with NETFLIX my friend. not with NETFLIX.
also, do you always do what youre "told"? i dont care how many people like a movie, i ALWAYS have to see it for myself. who cares what other people think? if you dont like it, why do you want it up on your shelf?
Well I don't get my opinions from just anywhere, like here for example after reading many of the post here I would trust most of your judgement on wether a movie was good or not.
Lawrence of Arabia. Bought it a year ago. Can't get into it. Haven't seen more than the first hour. Yet, I still think of my collection as incomplete without it.
That's how I feel about McCabe & Mrs Miller. Glad I have it, recognize its additions to cinema... don't enjoy a second of it. And it's pissing me off.
You all do realize that you don't need to like or have all the classics to be cineasts, right?
I mean, McCabe and Mrs. Miller may have been praised as Altman's best, but that doesn't mean it is. It may just suck. And I for one don't like Westerns, so I'm not necessarily looking forward to it when I get around to viewing it, either.
You don't have to like a movie just because it's classic and all the other critics say it's amazing. ;)
Quote from: OnomatopoeiaYou all do realize that you don't need to like or have all the classics to be cineasts, right?
yes but theres something about "having" to own them... for reference purposes. i only buy the movies i want to watch over and over again, but i understand why some would want a "movie library" with all of the classics rather than just a "movie collection"
Quote from: Reed RothchildWell I don't get my opinions from just anywhere, like here for example after reading many of the post here I would trust most of your judgement on wether a movie was good or not.
yeah i didnt mean to jump down your throat. sorry about that. :lol: welcome to the boards though.
np 8)
Quote from: BoothGood deals can be found at Futureshop, I agree.
just to let you know that glengarry glen ross 2-disc set is priced at 17$CAN at futureshop
Quote from: cecil b. dementedQuote from: BoothGood deals can be found at Futureshop, I agree.
just to let you know that glengarry glen ross 2-disc set is priced at 17$CAN at futureshop
Good god, I'll have to stop by tomorrow ! Thanks for the tip !
Quote from: BoothQuote from: cecil b. dementedQuote from: BoothGood deals can be found at Futureshop, I agree.
just to let you know that glengarry glen ross 2-disc set is priced at 17$CAN at futureshop
Good god, I'll have to stop by tomorrow ! Thanks for the tip !
man i havnt seen this guy, this happy since k Y Anounced they are coming out with a new line of jelly that is strawberry flavored
I just blind bought "Gummo".
I love this movie!
I have to say, this is the most random, strange, movie I've ever seen in my life. It definately does not fit in a 3 act structure.
All of the images look so different and real. Most of the people in the movie were not even real actors and it looked absolutely great.
I recommend this to everyone.
chris
Quote from: ThecowgoooesmoooI just blind bought "Gummo".
I love this movie!
I have to say, this is the most random, strange, movie I've ever seen in my life. It definately does not fit in a 3 act structure.
All of the images look so different and real. Most of the people in the movie were not even real actors and it looked absolutely great.
I recommend this to everyone.
chris
I'm a big
Gummo fan, too. The imagery is just phenomenal.
Strange that cinematographer Jeanne-Yves Escoffier went on to do the much less striking (even anonymous)
Nurse Betty.
QuoteI'm a big Gummo fan, too. The imagery is just phenomenal.
Strange that cinematographer Jeanne-Yves Escoffier went on to do the much less striking (even anonymous) Nurse Betty.
It really is. Harmony Korine is very talented in my opinion. have you seen Julien Donkey Boy? If ya did, what did you think?
chris
Julien Donkey Boy is great too. It's very stylized -- they take advantage of DV and push it to its limits. And even if you don't like the movie, it's hard to deny the brilliance of Werner Herzog's performance.
I blind bought the following and did pretty well...
Nosferatu
Taxi Driver
Boondock Saints
Requiem For A Dream
Those are the most recent. If you haven't seen any of those movies, I highly suggest you blind buy them. :-D
Taxi Driver?....who wants to see a movie about a cabbie? thats just plain dumb
Quote from: EEz28Taxi Driver?....who wants to see a movie about a cabbie? thats just plain dumb
i want to see a movie about a UPS Grl whos butt does not fit into a regulatition uniform , but aginst all odds she delivers the mail
Quote from: Walrus, KookookajoobI blind bought the following and did pretty well...
Nosferatu
Taxi Driver
Boondock Saints
Requiem For A Dream
Those are the most recent. If you haven't seen any of those movies, I highly suggest you blind buy them. :-D
except boondock saints, which should be returned immediately. however, the UPS girl against all odds movie has my 9$.
Quote from: GhostboyJulien Donkey Boy is great too. It's very stylized -- they take advantage of DV and push it to its limits. And even if you don't like the movie, it's hard to deny the brilliance of Werner Herzog's performance.
I again have to point out the loveliness of Sevigny singing a hymn while walking through a corn (what?) field in the orange glow of the sunlight. It's really beautiful; striking the way Malick or D. Gordon Green can be.
Quote from: themodernage02
except boondock saints, which should be returned immediately. however, the UPS girl against all odds movie has my 9$.
Well, that's where our opinions, differ. Boondock Saints was a great movie, but I feel was better the second time. But ifyou don't like it, hakuna matata.
Oh, but as for the UPS girl, I totally agree with you.
Quote from: OnomatopoeiaYou all do realize that you don't need to like or have all the classics to be cineasts, right?
Are you certain?
Yep.
Funny story, though. Went to Best Buy tonight, trying to find some good cheap DVDs. Retailers are silly in their pricing schemes. It's just crazy to see something like Just Married sitting out there for $22.99 (yeah, it's a new release, so it's more expensive, I know), while I'm looking, trying to find some good deals. Four good flicks, all for $9.99: South Park, Blood Simple, Y Tu Mama Tambien, and The Big Lebowski. Blood Simple and Y Tu Mama Tambien I haven't seen, but I get the feeling they'll be worth it.
What can anyone tell me about the Jacob's Ladder, Basic Instinct, Requiem for a Dream, Say Anything..., and Bound DVDs? Any good?
my unrated Requiem DVD is really excellent. Two commentaries, both very insightful (for me anyway) and the Tappy's Third Rule hidden on it
that reminds me. When I bought Requiem, I blind bought it in a bundle with Pi. Probably the best $20 I will ever spend.
I blind bought Resevoir Dogs. I'm happy.
Quote from: Walrus, KookookajoobI blind bought Resevoir Dogs. I'm happy.
wait. you've never seen reservoir dogs? is this a joke?
Quote from: Onomatopoeia
What can anyone tell me about the Jacob's Ladder, Basic Instinct, Requiem for a Dream, Say Anything..., and Bound DVDs? Any good?
Definitely Requiem (but get that Pi double package, it is indeed the best deal ever!). Say Anything is great, with great extras. Bound is a really fun movie, but there's a commentary track from the Wachowskis that I vaguely remember as being good as well. Don't have Basic Instinct or Jacob's Ladder, but I've rented the latter and it has some deleted scenes and other extras. I don't like the movie enough to own it, though.
I too took adavantage of the 9.95 Blood Simple. I've seen the movie many times, but I never got the chance to listen to the commentary until now. It's golden. I didn't notice the Big Lebowski for the same price....I'll have to pick that up too, it's one of the only Coen movies I don't have.
Quote from: OnomatopoeiaRequiem for a Dream,
Juice by dat!
just bought Dog Day Afternoon and The Manchurian Candidate as blind buys...
You won't regret man.
i still cant believe i accidentally bought the edited version of requiem. doesnt make much difference to the actual film itself, but the fuckin commentaries arent on it. dammit..........guess ill havta rebuy it..........
blind bought both olmi criterions. amazing. i think makes top five best blind buy ever list.
Quote from: GhostboyDefinitely Requiem (but get that Pi double package, it is indeed the best deal ever!). Say Anything is great, with great extras. Bound is a really fun movie, but there's a commentary track from the Wachowskis that I vaguely remember as being good as well.
I would, except I blind-bought Pi from Amazon.com awhile back and was thoroughly disappointed with the film, though the extras were okay. Requiem, though, is something I definitely want to have. I saw it on VHS a good while back and was of course thoroughly depressed at the end. The film itself is great, but I'm more interested in Aronofsky's comments.
QuoteI too took adavantage of the 9.95 Blood Simple. I've seen the movie many times, but I never got the chance to listen to the commentary until now. It's golden. I didn't notice the Big Lebowski for the same price....I'll have to pick that up too, it's one of the only Coen movies I don't have.
Hope you get it soon. You've probably seen it I'm sure; me, I keep on thinking about how brilliantly realized it is. It's surely one of the best comedies I've ever seen. It's so sophisticated and low-brow all at once, and the fantasy sequences are just brilliant. Julianne Moore as a viking: rowr!
The Big Lebowski is great, but that and Miller's Crossing and Hudsucker Proxy are the only movies of theirs I don't have. While I love all three of them, I haven't gotten around to buying them yet.
The commentary tracks on Requiem are fantastic. The one with the DP, Matthew Libatique, is almost better than Arronofsky's.
If you can understand what he's saying..... :-D
Funny, I've had the Requiem DVD for a little more than a year now and I still haven't listened fully to that commentary.
Man, its tempting to pick up the Pi/Requiem pack, but Pi isn't 16:9 enhanced. But then again, Artisan releases quite a few open matte/pan and scan transfers, so I doubt this one will be revisited. Might as well just buy it. I saw Requiem at a friend's house late at night and thought it was a terrific film.
Blind bought Samurai Fiction.
Very enjoyable film.
I have made more 'blind buys' than 'God I love this movie' buys ... it turned out allright. Recently, The Storm Riders...nice hong kong flick