DVD Collecting as a Hobby

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franco
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 7:32 pm
Location: Vancouver

#1 Post by franco » Wed Jun 14, 2006 1:02 pm

This is just insane. Are you people going to watch all these DVDs you buy? I guess it really takes a lot to quench the desire for possession.
criterionsnob wrote:THE THIRD GENERATION $ 12.09
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT-3RD SEASON $ 21.96
SLINGS & ARROWS-1ST SEASON $ 19.50
ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS (CRITERION) $ 23.96
RED BEARD (CRITERION) $ 23.99
UMBERTO D (CRITERION) $17.99
THE PORNOGRAPHERS (CRITERION) $ 17.99
THE PASSENGER $ 15.60
ZURLINI VALERIO SET-EARLY MASTERPI $ 15.93
DEVIL IN THE FLESH $ 10.61
ALMANAC OF FALL $ 18.13
THE WHITE DIAMOND $ 13.28
WILD SIDE $ 12.08
THE GIRL FROM MONDAY $ 9.57
SPIRITUAL VOICES $ 19.18
SECOND CIRCLE $ 13.97
BEULAH-GOOD BAND IS EASY TO KILL, $ 7.88
ALL ABOUT LILY CHOU CHOU $ 14.98
BADLANDS $ 11.60
BJORK-MEDULLA VIDEOS $ 7.98
THE ROSS MCELWEE COLLECTION $57.56
THE OFFICE-COMPLETE COLLECTION $ 35.86
THE YAKUZA PAPERS $ 49.98
NASHVILLE $ 4.82

Promotional Discount applied above
Tax: $0.00
Shipping: $5.95
Your Total: $462.44
Gregory wrote:LONG GOOD FRIDAY, THE $ 9.59
KIDS IN THE HALL-4TH SEASON $ 28.77
FERNANDO ARRABAL COLLECTION $ 42.53
BUNNY LAKE IS MISSING $ 7.53
EL COMPADRE MENDOZA $ 12.08
LET'S GO WITH PANCHO VILLA $ 14.38
COFFIN JOE TRILOGY (LE) $ 30.77
WOMEN IN REVOLT $ 10.64
CHARLEY BOWERS $ 14.61
SIR ARNE'S TREASURE $ 16.77
EROTIKON $ 16.77
WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH H $ 12.93
HATARI $ 4.79
MAN'S FAVORITE SPORT $ 7.58
COME & GET IT $ 7.53
BETTE DAVIS COLLECTION V.01 $ 30.20
JOAN CRAWFORD COLLECTION, T $ 30.20
SCUM (2D/LE) $ 10.61
MADE IN BRITAIN $ 10.61
FIRM/ELEPHANT $ 10.61
PASSENGER, THE $ 15.60
TWIST & SHOUT/ZAPPA (SE) (2 $ 14.98
SPANKING THE MONKEY $ 7.98
INTIMACY (UR) $ 11.17
SUN RA-EAST & WEST BERLIN $ 10.52
MEDIUM COOL $ 10.93
JOHN FORD FILM COLLECTION $ 34.81
TWIN FALLS IDAHO $ 4.78
SECRET OF ROAN INISH, THE $ 15.31
PASSION FISH $ 15.31
VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED/CHILD $ 7.26
gigimonagas wrote:Quantity Item # Description Price Status
-------- ------------ ----------------------------------- ---------- ---------
1 ABD014146 DVD : QUIET EARTH $ 11.99 In-stock
1 ANE071907 DVD : UNKNOWN CHAPLIN $ 11.97 In-stock
1 BVD023118 DVD : TOMBSTONE (VISTA SERIES) $ 17.27 In-stock
1 BVD038448 DVD : TARZAN (SE) $ 17.27 In-stock
1 BVD049623 DVD : DUMBO-BIG TOP EDITION $ 16.23 In-stock
1 COL000349 DVD : LAST DETAIL, THE $ 15.31 Backorder
1 COL000373 DVD : SPIDER $ 4.78 In-stock
1 COL000975 DVD : BURNT BY THE SUN $ 17.64 In-stock
1 COL005176 DVD : MORE THE MERRIER, THE $ 15.60 Backorder
1 COL006018 DVD : SAFE $ 4.78 In-stock
1 COL006201 DVD : GARDEN OF THE FINZICONTINIS $ 17.64 Backorder
1 COL007319 DVD : BOYZ N THE HOOD (AE)(2D) $ 16.60 Backorder
1 COL008557 DVD : CHARACTER $ 17.64 In-stock
1 COL009447 DVD : RAY HARRYHAUSEN SCI FI PACK $ 34.32 In-stock
1 COL009449 DVD : RAY HARRYHAUSEN LEGENDARY M $ 34.32 In-stock
1 COL060530 DVD : SHAMPOO $ 7.53 In-stock
1 COL079379 DVD : BELLE EPOQUE $ 17.64 In-stock
1 FLA005257 DVD : TERRORIST, THE $ 7.96 New-Price
1 FRF911214 DVD : UP SERIES, THE $ 57.56 Backorder
1 HVD001614 DVD : BLACK & WHITE IN COLOR $ 14.98 In-stock
1 HVD006122 DVD : SPIRITS OF THE DEAD $ 9.98 In-stock
1 IMA000592 DVD : UNSEEN CINEMA-EARLY AMERICA $ 58.51 In-stock
1 IMA001173 DVD : OSSESSIONE $ 14.63 In-stock
1 IMA008424 DVD : ROCCO & HIS BROTHERS $ 17.56 In-stock
1 KOV003382 DVD : MOSCOW DOES NOT BELIEVE IN $ 16.77 In-stock
1 KOV022228 DVD : BLUE KITE, THE $ 16.77 In-stock
1 KOV027629 DVD : ICEMAN COMETH, THE $ 16.77 In-stock
1 KOV035129 DVD : RETURN, THE $ 16.77 In-stock
1 KOV038229 DVD : WONG KAR-WAI COLLECTION (5D $ 55.97 In-stock
1 LGE018438 DVD : BORN INTO BROTHELS $ 9.85 In-stock
1 LVD012526 DVD : AFTER DARK MY SWEET $ 7.42 In-stock
1 LVD060487 DVD : SOPHIE'S CHOICE $ 7.42 In-stock
1 MCA020330 DVD : WINCHESTER '73 $ 7.58 In-stock
1 MGD001270 DVD : ALAMO, THE $ 7.53 In-stock
1 MGD002061 DVD : KISS ME DEADLY $ 7.53 In-stock
1 MGD002743 DVD : TOPKAPI $ 7.60 Pre-order
1 MGD003337 DVD : LENNY $ 7.60 Pre-order
1 MGD003900 DVD : RUSSIANS ARE COMING THE RUS $ 7.60 Pre-order
1 MGD003950 DVD : DECAMERON, THE $ 7.53 In-stock
1 MGD004046 DVD : THIEF OF BAGDAD, THE $ 7.60 Pre-order
1 MGD004337 DVD : EUROPA EUROPA $ 7.59 In-stock
1 MGD005209 DVD : SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY $ 7.53 In-stock
1 MGD907999 DVD : BOUND FOR GLORY $ 7.59 In-stock
1 MGD908371 DVD : HEAVEN'S GATE $ 7.60 Pre-order
1 NLD004668 DVD : DAMAGE $ 15.23 In-stock
1 PRD066042 DVD : ALFIE $ 4.79 In-stock
1 WBD027527 DVD : WAIT UNTIL DARK $ 11.60 In-stock
1 WBD027645 DVD : ROGER & ME $ 11.60 In-stock
1 WBD038934 DVD : WILLY WONKA (WS) $ 9.58 In-stock
1 WBD065070 DVD : ANCHORS AWEIGH $ 11.60 In-stock
1 WBD065858 DVD : POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE, $ 10.69 In-stock
1 WBD067822 DVD : LOVED ONE, THE $ 13.37 Pre-order
1 WBD067921 DVD : DIRTY DOZEN (2D/SE), THE $ 16.45 In-stock
1 WBD073477 DVD : RAT PACK COLLECTION, THE $ 23.21 In-stock
1 WBD075016 DVD : FINE MADNESS, A $ 13.37 Pre-order
1 WBD075018 DVD : PETULIA $ 13.37 Pre-order
Last edited by franco on Wed Jun 14, 2006 6:59 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Cinesimilitude
Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:43 am

#2 Post by Cinesimilitude » Wed Jun 14, 2006 1:06 pm

a few of them are a little over the top... but I'm not one to talk.

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jguitar
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2006 2:46 pm

#3 Post by jguitar » Wed Jun 14, 2006 2:38 pm

franco wrote:This is just insane. Are you people going to watch all these DVDs you buy? I guess it really takes a lot to quench the desire for possession.
Walter Benjamin, "Unpacking My Library":

"Naturally [the collector's] existence is tied to many things as well: to a very mysterious relationship to ownership..; also, to a relationship to objects which does not emphasize their functional, utilitarian value - that is, their usefulness - but studies and loves them as the scene, the stage, of their fate. The most profound enchantment for the collector is the locking of individual items within a magic circle in which they are frozen as the final thrill, the thrill of acquisition, passes over them."

Though as SncDthMnky says, I'm not one to talk.

Ishmael
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 2:56 pm

#4 Post by Ishmael » Wed Jun 14, 2006 2:46 pm

franco wrote:Are you people going to watch all these DVDs you buy?
The real question is "Are you people going to watch all these DVDs you buy more than once?" I just dropped $287 on this damn sale, and although I look forward to holding these precious items in my hand and enjoying them with deep satisfaction, I'm sure it will be years before I spin most of them a second time. The real reward is having them sit in my living room like trophies, proof of what great taste I have. True, if I had the time I'd watch them all once every six months, but, you know, the whole socioeconomic burden thing being what it is I'm sure I won't get back to these things anytime soon. But when I do have the time: baby, I won't have to wait a full business day to get them from Netflix! I'll be able to pop them in at the spur of the moment! Unless, of course, DVDs are replaced by another format.

Cinesimilitude
Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:43 am

#5 Post by Cinesimilitude » Wed Jun 14, 2006 3:00 pm

the reason I keep buying more and more is that I hate the Idea that there is something fantastic out there that I don't know about. so when i buy something, and a special feature makes reference to another talented person or another film, I buy it too. its a vicious and exciting cycle.

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skuhn8
Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 4:46 pm
Location: Chico, CA

#6 Post by skuhn8 » Wed Jun 14, 2006 3:18 pm

Ishmael wrote:
franco wrote:Are you people going to watch all these DVDs you buy?
The real question is "Are you people going to watch all these DVDs you buy more than once?" I just dropped $287 on this damn sale, and although I look forward to holding these precious items in my hand and enjoying them with deep satisfaction, I'm sure it will be years before I spin most of them a second time. The real reward is having them sit in my living room like trophies, proof of what great taste I have. True, if I had the time I'd watch them all once every six months, but, you know, the whole socioeconomic burden thing being what it is I'm sure I won't get back to these things anytime soon. But when I do have the time: baby, I won't have to wait a full business day to get them from Netflix! I'll be able to pop them in at the spur of the moment! Unless, of course, DVDs are replaced by another format.
ahhh....the sound...THE SOUND...of hammer hitting nail on the head. I have to admit when I order stuff now--especially due to the limitations of my US origin credit card--I have to ask myself "when oh when--or better yet--will I oh will I spin this disc again in the foreseeable futre. And since coming to this sad impasse of self interrogation I have come to realise that true luxury or success or whatever you call it--is the ability to order shit on sale from DDD or elsewhere without having to stress over that. There was a time...how I miss it.

As much as I love De Sica I had to forego ordering Brief Vacation because I heard from fairly reliable sources that it is worth viewing once and perhaps not more. When you miss that 'once' opportunity because of the above...well...it stinks.

Ishmael
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 2:56 pm

#7 Post by Ishmael » Wed Jun 14, 2006 3:21 pm

SncDthMnky wrote:its a vicious and exciting cycle.
Absolutely, although I'm fortunate in that I can at least rent from Netflix first (perhaps the only major benefit to living in the US). Also I think we shouldn't discount the thrill of expecting something to appear in your mailbox or on your doorstep. I'm not sure why that's exciting, but it is. Vicious, too.

Cinesimilitude
Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:43 am

#8 Post by Cinesimilitude » Wed Jun 14, 2006 3:28 pm

I completely agree, its like christmas all the time.

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Gregory
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 4:07 pm

#9 Post by Gregory » Wed Jun 14, 2006 3:35 pm

I intend to re-watch most DVDs I buy at least 3-4 times. It's hard to do that right now because I'm still in the building phase, which won't and can't last indefinitely. I did the same the same thing with music -- I went through a period of several years of buying large amounts of CDs and LPs at the best prices I could and now I've stopped and am spending a lot of my time enjoying it, adding or getting rid of a few pieces here and there, without increasing the overall amount.

Another issue is that a sizable portion of the films I like (and some of the more important special features) are liable to become unavailable for years at a time. It's bad enough waiting for the films that are most important to me to be released on DVD; I'm not about to go through that again waiting for some of them to be re-issued during those lapses. I simply don't trust Netflix's (and other rental sources') ability to guarantee the longterm availability of some of these titles. Besides, I own so many now that I can't justify a subscription to Netflix on top of it.

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skuhn8
Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 4:46 pm
Location: Chico, CA

#10 Post by skuhn8 » Wed Jun 14, 2006 3:49 pm

Gregory wrote:Besides, I own so many now that I can't justify a subscription to Netflix on top of it.
What is netflix? like $12 now? That is easily the best investment for any cinema lover...even if to just pop in a questionable dvd for a quick scan and toss. In building a collection in any serious sense I suspect you are spending twice that per month on dvds that prove to be shit and are tossed. Ok, my vehemence is the result of frustration. I absolutely loved my netflix subscription when I was in the states. And yes it was part of having something waiting in my mailbox nearly ever day. ahhh........exhale

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Cobalt60
Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 8:39 pm

#11 Post by Cobalt60 » Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:00 pm

Ishmael wrote:The real reward is having them sit in my living room like trophies, proof of what great taste I have.
Please excuse me if this was obvious to everyone else but; That comment was made tongue-in-cheek. I mean you can't possibly actually buy dvds as a symbol to others of what you perceive as "good taste"

Cinesimilitude
Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:43 am

#12 Post by Cinesimilitude » Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:08 pm

not that exactly, but the idea of owning a massive film collection for reasons other than actually watching the films rings true for me.

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kieslowski_67
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2005 5:39 pm
Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland

#13 Post by kieslowski_67 » Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:45 pm

franco wrote:This is just insane. Are you people going to watch all these DVDs you buy? I guess it really takes a lot to quench the desire for possession.
Not really. I guess that it's just a hobby. There are people on this and beaver board that own 5-7k films on DVD (I know at least 3, hehehe). And there is this gentleman who has a collection of over 20k DVDs. Again, this is just personal hobby (and a tasteful hobby, I should add). Some people just love movies and they can afford to spend $10-30k/year on their collections.

Cinesimilitude
Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:43 am

#14 Post by Cinesimilitude » Wed Jun 14, 2006 5:31 pm

I'm going to keep it around 1000. I've got just over 800 right now.

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Cobalt60
Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 8:39 pm

#15 Post by Cobalt60 » Wed Jun 14, 2006 5:46 pm

I'm shooting for around 500-700, but then I only buy stuff that I love or can't rent. I simply cannot justify spending money on films that I don't really like. I'd rather use the extra cash on one of my other collections (vintage monster masks, vintage star wars figures, books, monster action figures, comic books) or better still making a movie.

rwaits
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2004 12:24 pm

#16 Post by rwaits » Wed Jun 14, 2006 5:59 pm

Can we open a new thread about this? Not trying to be rude--I really do find this collection addiction thing rather interesting.

Ishmael
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 2:56 pm

#17 Post by Ishmael » Wed Jun 14, 2006 5:59 pm

Cobalt60 wrote:
Ishmael wrote:The real reward is having them sit in my living room like trophies, proof of what great taste I have.
Please excuse me if this was obvious to everyone else but; That comment was made tongue-in-cheek. I mean you can't possibly actually buy dvds as a symbol to others of what you perceive as "good taste"
Yes, it was tongue-in-cheek, but truthfully there's some bitterness in there as well. I'd love to watch most of the films I own on a regular basis. The fact that I don't have time to annoys me. It also makes me wonder why I bother collecting them. Part of it is what Gregory said: I'm afraid they suddenly won't be available next time I want to watch them. But as far as the "good taste" thing goes, there is a certain satisfaction in owning things which I think represent quality cinema. Objectivity isn't my goal. I'm master of my own living room, and I'm all impressed with myself when I see how cool I think my possessions are.

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Oedipax
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 8:48 am
Location: Atlanta

#18 Post by Oedipax » Wed Jun 14, 2006 7:20 pm

This thread is reminding me a lot of Alan Zweig's documentary, Vinyl, about obsessive record collectors, and what the hobby's real roots are for each person. Incidentally, word is it should be on DVD later this year!

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Gregory
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 4:07 pm

#19 Post by Gregory » Wed Jun 14, 2006 9:52 pm

skuhn8 wrote:What is netflix? like $12 now? That is easily the best investment for any cinema lover...even if to just pop in a questionable dvd for a quick scan and toss. In building a collection in any serious sense I suspect you are spending twice that per month on dvds that prove to be shit and are tossed.
The regular plan is $18 per month, but the main thing is that I wouldn't have enough time to watch enough movies to make the subscription fee worthwhile, unless I started watching a lot fewer of the discs I already own or feel so strongly about that I definitely want to have them permanently.
I have been fortunate enough to live in a city with a public library with many thousands of DVDs, a free service that has also made Netflix unnecessary for me.
I don't do lots of blind buying and I almost always look for reviews first, so I have kept almost all of what I buy. When I have bought what ended up being stopgaps I've almost always been able to sell them on Amazon.com or Half.com for the same amount I paid.

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Gigi M.
Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:09 pm
Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Rep

#20 Post by Gigi M. » Wed Jun 14, 2006 10:32 pm

SncDthMnky wrote:the reason I keep buying more and more is that I hate the Idea that there is something fantastic out there that I don't know about. so when i buy something, and a special feature makes reference to another talented person or another film, I buy it too. its a vicious and exciting cycle.
Now you're talking like a true man. Keep it up!!!

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Gregory
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 4:07 pm

#21 Post by Gregory » Wed Jun 14, 2006 10:37 pm

franco wrote:This is just insane. Are you people going to watch all these DVDs you buy? I guess it really takes a lot to quench the desire for possession.
Not much for tact, are you? To answer the questions you've asked, yes I watch them all, and several times sooner or later. And unlike nearly everyone else in the U.S. I've been generally successful in avoiding being on a lifelong treadmill of buying, consuming, and disposing of an endless series of the latest consumer goods. I don't think of myself as a "collector," which I'm afraid could connote placing more importance on the goods themselves than on the more meaningful things they contain or represent. The only reason I spend time reading about DVDs (as opposed to the films they contain) is because I'm keen to see the films I love made available with the kind of quality that they deserve to the utmost. As my life becomes busier I expect I will have less time to devote to these things.

The majority of my belongings are books, music, and movies because these are resources for the things I'm passionate about. And although I like to be able to refer to these things easily in my home, I do use libraries quite a bit, but unfortunately I can't completely rely on them (nor video rental places) to predictably supply most of the things I want -- let alone when I want them. They have to order what most people want. The libraries have tons of great items but if they don't get checked out often enough they're withdrawn. Sometimes the discs are scratched beyond playability before that point anyway.

I hope these explanations don't sound defensive -- I understand where you're coming from. I don't think buying lots of DVDs only to watch them once (or not at all, as some people on DVDTalk have admitted to doing) makes no sense.

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kieslowski_67
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2005 5:39 pm
Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland

#22 Post by kieslowski_67 » Wed Jun 14, 2006 10:41 pm

I will stop at 10k. The good thing is that my wife fully supports it as long as it does not eat into our budget for investment, home improvement and vocation plan. The bad thing is although she loves the likes of Kieslowski and Bergman, she also likes sitcom, TV series, chick flick which I normally find turned off. We are keeping our own collection although mine is much much bigger than hers.

It also does not hurt to go through my 'proud collection' (MK2, Studio Canal, Criterion, etc) on a Sunday afternoon and pick one from Tarkovsky or Ozu, and enjoy the pleasure that only pure cinema brings. It makes you feel good.

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Gigi M.
Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:09 pm
Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Rep

#23 Post by Gigi M. » Wed Jun 14, 2006 10:45 pm

kieslowski_67 wrote:It also does not hurt to go through my 'proud collection' (MK2, Studio Canal, Criterion, etc) on a Sunday afternoon and pick one from Tarkovsky or Ozu, and enjoy the pleasure that only pure cinema brings. It makes you feel good.
That's exactly how I feel. Last night I was on a silent mood, so I watched Keaton's Seven Chances for the fifth time in my life and didn't need anything else.

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pianocrash
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 11:02 am
Location: Over & Out

#24 Post by pianocrash » Wed Jun 14, 2006 10:46 pm

I thank god every day that I do not own any dvds.

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Cobalt60
Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 8:39 pm

#25 Post by Cobalt60 » Wed Jun 14, 2006 10:52 pm

Ishmael wrote: Objectivity isn't my goal. I'm master of my own living room, and I'm all impressed with myself when I see how cool I think my possessions are.
Understood, and I can relate. I have bought (almost) all of the Sideshow 12" monster figures since they started the series, and looking at them all (its like 27 or something) fills me with joy and pride. Hardly anyone else (except me wife and son) een know about them so its not a "heah look at me thing" its the unspoken and bizarre mystery of collecting.

BTW, if anyone has Karloff as the Mummy its the one that I need. open is fine

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