View Full Version : How often do you re-watch DVD's?
Tony Keats
16-12-2001, 21:04
Like most of the members of this site, I've built-up a vast collection of discs over time. For some reason though, the more I buy, the more I need.
Thing is, I'm not a big fan of repeatedly watching the same films over & over again and I'd much rather have something fresh. That's one of the reasons I tend to buy 2 or 3 new DVD's each week and I'd prefer to watch an 'agreeable' film that I haven't seen than a 'classic' that I already have.
Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to watch good films more than once obviously, but I like to let several months pass-by first. I'll usually watch a new disc twice if I enjoyed it (second time with a friend or family member), but then I won't bother with it again until my memory has faded sufficiently. In the past, I have rented/watched a film and then bought it on DVD knowing full well that I probably won't watch it for ages.
I realise I may be alone on this and I've certainly seen plenty of posts referring to films that can be endlessly re-watched. For me, comedies get less funny, thrillers get less thrilling and any films with twists and shocks are rendered ineffective. So how often do you watch films again? and are there any particular ones that you never tire of?.
cheese_mcphee
16-12-2001, 21:13
Originally posted by Tony Keats
For me, comedies get less funny, thrillers get less thrilling and any films with twists and shocks are rendered ineffective
I totally agree with this. Despite some fantastic films available on dvd (such as Seven or the Shawshank Redemption), I generally avoid them as they aren't really films which i'll watch more than once, despite how good they are.
This is why I tend to buy more brainless action films on dvd, they're far more re-watchable and therefore more value for money (especially when dvds cost £17 each).
This is a good question - as I've spent endlessy thinking about dvds that I've paid a lot of money for, and only watched once.
If you work out the price of the dvd, divided by how many times you're likely to watch it, does this make you feel any better?? I know for a fact that most of my collection probably have cost me in the region of £5 per viewing. So I don't feel any better at all... but I still go on buying films... strange eh?
One more point - do many people here actually rent dvds?? I've only ever rented 2, so maybe it's something that I should participate in more often.
What does everyone else think?
Oh, just to add (and answering the question), I sometimes watch a film in quick succession, and then leave it for a while. Mostly though, I have to have a good couple of months before I re-watch a film... sometimes longer.
Matt.
I think the only way to have a great DVD collection where you'll never be stuck for a film to look at fondly again is to vary the titles as much as possible, and be very, very discriminating as to what you'll always want to keep - that way, you'll always find something to watch, whatever the mood or company.
Example (http://www.dvdprofiler.com/mc.asp?alias=Narshty) :D
I tend to watch the no brainers more often just to give my system a workout, or to show off when friends come round, but as mentioned elsewhere in this thread, i don't get much value for money with the more 'classic films', but it's just nice to know that have them and can watch them if i feel like it.
I guess i tend to watch on average most films at least twice. But others I have watched a lot more, such as:
Stargate
Starwars I
And the Kids allways have the following on, and are robably the most watched discs:
Toy story i/2
Iron Giant
Bugs life
Ants
Tarzan
Toy Story is the most watched in the house, often watched 2-3 times a week by my 3 year old !
Vinyl-Pants
17-12-2001, 00:37
Generally speaking I would agree with Tony about prefering to watch a 'new' or 'fresh' film rather than rewatch a film ive seen before. After watching a film I think to myself would I want to watch this again next week? If the answer is 'yes' then I keep the film otherwise I trade it on - I find this is pretty good method of keeping the collection from building up. Obviously you have to be discriminating and honest!
tj_director
17-12-2001, 00:40
i'm exactly the same as you Tony, in the way i prefer to watch something new (whether it be crap etc..) than something again.
I mean out of my collection (around 80) the stuff i watch repeatedly are the TV serials, i.e. Father Ted, Simpsons, Family Guy, Larry Sanders... and Music concert Titles. Other than that i hardly ever will put in a film by myself and watch it -- eventhough they are films i really like. Not including non-brainer films, there are very few titles i replay. Actually i prefer re-watching films when they come on TV, i don't know why, but something about not being in control works for me :rolleyes:
I just keep my collection, because i love having it, in the same way people collect toy cars, or stuff like that. They may never actually use it, but it's just the knowledge you have it, and can admire it for personal satisfaction.
I like to think my collection represents my taste in movies, and one look at it will tell a person what i'm like, movies wise. Plus i have the beleif that there's at least one title in my collection for everyone. :)
And in my opinion, there are far worse things you can waste your money on collecting. DVDs will theoretically last you a lifetime, and i love the way your favourite films sit there like minature posters, ready and waiting to be played to your heart's content! if ever you wanted to off course :D
tj_director
17-12-2001, 00:44
Originally posted by matt_uk
One more point - do many people here actually rent dvds?? I've only ever rented 2, so maybe it's something that I should participate in more often.
Matt.
i rent constantly, off course with films i haven't watched, and occasionaly films wanting a 2nd watch from me. I seriously would go way into triple figures if i attempted to count the amount of DVDs i've rented over the last 2 yrs!! :nuts:
That's probably why i'm one of those rare people not overly concerned with rental windows etc... :)
Strange as it may be I usually look at my DVD collection and say, yea thats the movie I'll watch next time when i get some time. However, as soon as i get a new DVD drop through the door, I usually watch it that day. I always seem to make the time for the new releases.
Strange huh!
I've got movies in my collection in which I have not watched since I originally bought them (over 2 years for some). However, I'd never get rid of them.
Examples include:
Face/Off
Terminator
Antz
Mask of Zorro
Twister
Oh well, better to have them then not to i guess :-)
I think the key to re-watching your old movies is to not have any available cash to buy/rent new ones and slowly work your way through your old collection again. (;) Ex-Student here:D)
I've not had a new DVD for about a month and i do get bored quickly so i'll either watch an oldy (Terminator and Mystery Men most recently) or i'll rent the odd one from the library, £2 for a week.
It doesn't really bother me if i don't think i'm getting value for money with my collection at the moment because i think we buy them for prosperity, knowing that they are there and we can watch them whenever we like. Having said that i have watched most of my DVDs at least twice (whether it be with friends, commentaries etc.)
As tj_director says some people have their car, toy, comic collection, i see DVD as mine. If i smoked or drank excessively i probably wouldn't have the money to sustain a 'collection'.
I think it's a sign of guilt when we start to justify how many we buy though. I don't think i have that many (80+) and i worked out i must have bought around 13 - 15 DVDs this year. Which isn't a lot but if you've got no money then it clearly is.
In the end i look at it like this....I'd rather spend money on a DVD than waste money on fags and booze that will ultimately contribute to poor health and minimal and short lived satisfaction whereas i get a big smile every time i look at my ever growing DVD collection.:D
Tony Keats
17-12-2001, 10:34
TBH, I didn't expect anybody to agree with me at all, so these replies are very re-assuring.
I guess it's a much more common attitude than you'd think and has echoes of the 'I have nothing to wear!' mentality (even when you have a wardrobe full of clothes). Whenever I find myself with enough time to view a DVD it's usually a case of 'I have nothing to watch!'. It's nice to see that others have encountered the same problem and have come up with some formulas to address it.
The comments from tj_director/Robby that attempted to justify collecting discs despite not getting much use out of them (toy-car/non-smoker etc) are pretty insightful actually and I think I'll remember those examples for future arguments at home!.....
Ron Hill
17-12-2001, 10:35
I think the "smug" factor value of a good DVD library is probably one of the reasons a lot of us collect rather than sell on. :)
As for rewatching, it's all a matter of time with me. Films that I can readily remember watching many times are as follows.
Galaxy Quest (TOO many times. Love it.)
Shrek (Ditto)
Toy Story 1/2
Terminator 2
The Abyss
Aliens
The Iron Giant
The Time Machine
Titan AE
Jaws
There are others i've rewatched a couple of times but the above are the regular replays that I consistently enjoy.
Others what fall into the category of rewatched but not many times (yet) off the top of my head are.
Pitch Black
Microcosmos
Sleepy Hollow
Emperors New Groove
Evil Dead II (Groovy! :) )
Bladerunner (so crying out for a special edition release)
Music DVD regulars.
Rush - Chronicles (esp. the Tom Sawyer vid.)
Dream Theater - Scenes from New York (phenomenal playing)
Steve Vai - Alien Love Secrets (died and gone to guitar heaven)
tj_director
17-12-2001, 10:59
Originally posted by Robby
I don't think i have that many (80+)
if you think 80+ is much... wait till you find out the size of most people's collections here. No doubt you'll hear a few figures topping 400, and some nearing a grand!! :nuts:
Originally posted by tj_director
No doubt you'll hear a few figures topping 400, and some nearing a grand!! :nuts:
I personally can't wait until my humble bookcase looks something like this.......http://robbywood.50megs.com/images/dvd_collection.jpg
:nuts: :clap: :nuts:
http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/eek2.gif
carryonline
17-12-2001, 13:23
You've got some cheek, sneaking into my house like that!
:D
EdgeOfVictory
17-12-2001, 13:36
I have over 100 DVDs (all but 7 of which were bought in the last year) - OK so not that many, but remember I AM a student with a healthy studenty lifestyle (ie lots of booze and fags), and I only have a few of those that I watch repeatedly:
Spaced series 1 - I think this has to be my most watched for some reason
Buffy - any of these, especially from series 2
Stand By Me
Legally Blonde
Moulin Rouge
Shrek
Conversely I have some that have never been out of the case or watched;
Terminator 2
Dumbo
All the Kubrick Box set save 2001 and Clockwork Orange
All the Alien Legacy box set apart from Alien
The Dish
Annie Hall
Witnail and I
Was that some videotapes at the bottom of that blokes shelves?:mad:
There arent many i watch endlessly. Although the Linkin Park DVD has been watched from start to finish including special features about 4 times now in the last 10 days. The only other DVD that i would say that i watch loads would be MI2 :)
SOUNDSTYLE
18-12-2001, 10:59
I rarely watch a film twice which is why I don't buy any dvds and only rent them. Actually that's a lie. I do have A Bug's life and Toy Story box set, to show off to mates how sharp the picture can be with DVD, and I have a Orbital and Sade music DVD.
And that's it. What is the point of having nearly a hundered discs or more sitting on a shelf year after year gathering dust when you can rent them, and the money you save can be spent on something else.
Ofcoarse there is the odd occasion when it is worth getting a dvd but that doesn't happen with me very often.
A mate of mine has over a hundred discs, quite a few which are still wrapped:eek: I think I've seen more of his dvds than he has.:D What's the bloody point.
Cornelius
18-12-2001, 17:01
Originally posted by cheese_mcphee
This is why I tend to buy more brainless action films on dvd, they're far more re-watchable and therefore more value for money (especially when dvds cost £17 each).
A good film, well made whether it's a comedy, thriller or whatever stands repeat viewing, there's always something new, a line of dialogue missed, the acting perhaps subtle performances, plot points which may have been missed. It isn't that a particular type of film is not worth watching again, a crap comedy will become less funny, a crap thriller less thrilling. I haven't got a film in my collection I haven't watched more than once, most films i buy i've watched for years on tv, or gone to the cinema to see and know quite well.
Not often enough - I currently try to watch at least one film from my existing collection a week - in addition to any new ones that have arrived. The problem is that when your collection gets over a certain size it can take more time selecting a film that everyone wants to watch than you actually spend watching the film.
The strangest thing is when you sit down and watch a film thats on TV - but that you own on DVD. I hope Im not the only one who does this :).
Scott
Idle Child
18-12-2001, 18:27
Originally posted by Cornelius
A good film, well made whether it's a comedy, thriller or whatever stands repeat viewing, there's always something new, a line of dialogue missed, the acting perhaps subtle performances, plot points which may have been missed. It isn't that a particular type of film is not worth watching again, a crap comedy will become less funny, a crap thriller less thrilling. I haven't got a film in my collection I haven't watched more than once, most films i buy i've watched for years on tv, or gone to the cinema to see and know quite well.
i agree cornelius! you're favourite movie will pretty much stay as your favourite with repeated viewing...
and that's what i love about the ease of DVD.. so much easier to watch those blishful momments without the dreaded videotape getting dirty or snapping after repeated viewing!
there's always replay value as long as you've got extras to check out.. i've lost count of the number of times i've dipped into the Alien commentary by Ridley Scott, or the Ghostbusters commentary.
I also hear what you're saying Robby.. i have almost 100 discs.. and i've still got many more on my "to buy" list.. (i thought i had near enough 200, but had over-estimated somewhat)..
After a night out i also look into my wallet and weep over the money spent (or should i say wasted!).. and it's funny because friends cant see the point in buying DVDs.. they'd rather spend money on nights on the raz.. but i like having something to show the day after, and an ever increasing collection rather makes me feel like quite the film buff... allbeit, a selective one..
generally i buy movies i've seen before, but sometimes i "Invest" in movies i've not seen but like the sound/look of.. i'd say 5% of my collection were wasted purchases, but i figure i can always flog them over on ebay or second hand retailers.. or keep them and force myself to like them!!
thing is with buying DVDs.. it's not just the size of your collection that counts.. it's being able to say that you've got the definitive version of each movie ever commited to disc... that's why studios know they can milk us punters when it comes to special/director's cut/limited editions of a movie.. and that's not such a good thing..
also: i'm particular about having the right mood in the house to watch a movie.. the hours i've spent fathing about wondering what movie i should watch and not having the right vibe or emotion to watch it. i try to watch serious stuff at night/horror at night, and comedies/kung fu during the day.. *if i've got the time, an i usually dont.. :( and then.. to complcate matters, sometimes i've even scared to check out the extra features because the feeling has to be right and i dont want to get through them all in one sitting.
Originally posted by Idle Child
also: i'm particular about having the right mood in the house to watch a movie.. the hours i've spent fathing about wondering what movie i should watch and not having the right vibe or emotion to watch it. i try to watch serious stuff at night/horror at night, and comedies/kung fu during the day.. *if i've got the time, an i usually dont.. :( and then.. to complcate matters, sometimes i've even scared to check out the extra features because the feeling has to be right and i dont want to get through them all in one sitting.
I agree with you about being in the right mood to watch a movie. In the last week i've been bored to tears so i thought 'right time for a movie'. Although i love the Matrix and Leon to death the were both switched off within 15 mins as i just didn't feel like watching them. And that can be even worse when you have loads of DVDs to watch but nothing takes your fancy, you're just aching for a new one. However i did get round to rewatching Battle Royale and Heat.
I'm the opposite in regards to the extra's. If i've got a new DVD i'd much rather watch everything on it then i know it's 'maxed' out and i can look forward to the next purchase. I still have T2 and MIB LTD edition with tons of extra's that i haven't watched. It does drive me mad knowing there is so many on the T2 DVD that i don't know where to start and when i do start i had better watch them all or i'll forget what i have and haven't seen.
God i've just re read my post and i sound like i have some compulsive disorder.
:D
I am of sane mind honest:)
I was thinking about a topic like this after seeing some ones setup in the Hardware forum.Some people must have a "buy it cos it's out" attitude.And after seeing his "Rare" collection,I bet a lot of you don't even watch your OOP's.That is unless you buy 2 copies.
:confused:
Cornelius
18-12-2001, 22:37
Originally posted by Robby
I agree with you about being in the right mood to watch a movie. In the last week i've been bored to tears so i thought 'right time for a movie'.
I approach mood and movies from a different direction. I don't think I do anything because things are otherwise boring and certainly not film. I,m sometimes in the mood to watch a western or classic Sci-Fi, maybe the mood takes me to watch a horror film or perhaps a comedy. Sometimes I might want to spend a weekend watching a particular type of films, in fact this weekend I'm in the mood to watch a load of Frank Capra films and the Marx Bros. Just sets me in the right mood for Christmas that.
Originally posted by Thomasd
Was that some videotapes at the bottom of that blokes shelves?:mad:
Have to leave space for Star Wars and BTTF :clap:
Ron Hill
19-12-2001, 08:31
The best thing for watching extras on DVD is a portable DVD player. You know the scenario. The living room is powered down for the night, the wife is off faffing in the bathroom for 10 minutes or so. Whip out the portable DVD player and have an extras session. It's also the ideal bathroom newspaper replacement too. I only occassionally used to watch extras but ever since I got the portable i've become an extras addict! :D
Originally posted by Ron Hill
It's also the ideal bathroom newspaper replacement too. I only occassionally used to watch extras but ever since I got the portable i've become an extras addict! :D
:clap:
I thought my Dad was bad enough playing Snake on his mobile.
I want a portable DVD player now.:D
Davester
19-12-2001, 11:17
I tend to watch a couple over and over - goodfellas, ghostbusters and a few others. It is always nice to get a new one isn't it!
Panavision
19-12-2001, 12:36
I buy DVDs for repeated viewing. I watch all my discs again and again, I just love films. I like renting titles which I know I'll only watch once. DVDoptions rocks!!! Although the mail is a bit slow at this time of the year.
I hardly watch extras :( I don't have the time to devoted to such things as commentaries. I guess on a rainy day, I'll dig out some extras.
I guess I watch my absolute faves every 4 - 6 months.
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