MEDIA: Vhs, DVD, Blu, etc....

[Anton Phibes]

When I first started building a movie collection, VHS was all there was.

Once DVD came to town, my brother showed me the difference in quality between the two, I was sold. I figured I would never look at a VHS tape again. I pretty much haven't.

Then along came blu ray. While I really thnk blu ray is amazing, I don't think I am going to take the stance of "how could I ever subject my eyes to dvd?" simply because I have a lot of blus.  IE, the switch from vhs to dvd seemed more impactful to me than the switch from dvd to blu.

The entire transitioning of films from varying media hasn't been all encompassing either. Some films haven't seen the light of day since VHS era.  They've never seen dvd release, they've never seen blu. A perfect example is Richard Lynch's Vampire (1979). Then there's I was a Teenage Werewolf, I was a Teenage Frankenstein, It Conquered the World, The Amazing Colossal Man, Invasion of the Saucermen, and many others.

I guess what I am saying is....I plan on keeping some of my films as dvds. Unless I have the expendable income handy at the time of release....or unless they are something special. Like Criterio's release of Night of the Living Dead, Carnival of Souls, etc.

Also, there are some folks predicting the end of physical media. I hope not.  It does boggle my mind that films like Curse of the Demon, Gargoyles, and many others aren't on blu. Maybe they never will be.

I know Mike is still keeping some dvds, and I was just curious if anyone else is ok with letting some flicks sit in their collection as dvds, and no real interest in upgrading to blu necessarily.

[Mike Scott]

I know Mike is still keeping some dvds

Not, necessarily, by choice. Though I do find some of the DVD packaging more attractive (and bulkier). And you could get series movies in nice box sets when released by the original studio. Now with the Blu-rays the individual movies are divided amongst 3-4 distributors.

[Monsters For Sale]

Some of the DVD extra features never got re-licensed for the BLU-Ray releases.

One example:  The Halloween, 1978 DVD had a very entertaining and informative commentary by both Director John Carpenter and co-writer/Producer Debra Hill.  It was great learning about locations and production problems on a shoestring budget.  Between the time the DVD and BLU-Ray was issued, the married couple divorced and Debra died.

Maybe the fact that Debra was no longer available to authorize using her voice, or her family wanting more money stood in the way of porting over the better commentary.  Who knows?

The BLU-Ray contained a newer commentary by John Carpenter and Jamie Lee Curtis, where she spent way too much time talking about how young and thin she was, about the clothes she wore, etc.

Also, some newer versions of the film had additional sound effects like thunder added (with Carpenter's approval).  Then, even later BLU's offered a choice between both soundtracks.


I keep both the DVD and BLU-Ray in a double disc case.  You couldn't get me to toss out the DVD. 

[marsattacks666]

In my case, as a collector, I collect all physical media formats. One reason is, a large amount of film has been trapped on VHS and has never seen another format release ( as Anton stated). There are at least more than forty titles that will never see a dvd, bluray or 4k release. Due to licensing or legal reasons. One example of a film trapped on VHS is, Michael Mann's The Keep(1983). Mann has expressed his disdain for the film due to many creative reasons. There are countless unoffical dvds of the film.

Collecting different formats keeps me sane, for the most part. Only because each physical media format offers different versions, ratio aspects, commentary and special features. The laserdisc version of Hellraiser (1987) has a theatrical cut that the dvd or bluray does not.

Years ago I made the mistake of selling a large amount of my dvd collection to upgrade my library of film. Recently I have repurchased on the secondary market the dvds I've sold in the past.

Physical media, dying?! There are so many YouTuber's prediction in the death of physical media.
I would say it's not going to happen anytime soon.  Yeah.....the big-box stores have reduced their physical media sections. Dvds, bluray/4k are still being purchased. Plus, with an abundance of Boutique film companies,  Cinephiles should be in their happy place. I know I am.

[Sir Masksalot]

You guys think you've got problems? I still have a number
of titles confined to betamax! I've upgraded a few of them
to modern formats but still have a functional beta player
for the rest.



Prior to beta's final curtain, cassettes were packaged in
VHS boxes with an added spacer of styrofoam.

[Rex fury]

Before the official Spider-Man movie, a film student (?) made a great version that had many elements similar to Sam Ramis. I had a vhs copy of this film for years, but it has long since disappeared. I doubt I'll ever see that again . Also, I had a vhs Looney tunes collection of WWII cartoons. I'm not sure if this was a bootleg, but it had quite a few uncensored cartoons that I've not seen rereleased on any modern media. I can still find a few on YouTube, but I'd love to have that tape again.
If physical media does go out the window I'll keep watching my dvds and Blu-ray's. I hate not actually having something to show for my money ( other than air...)

[Lunkenstein]

I haven't upgraded every single dvd I own. It would be too expensive. I also have a ton of blu-rays now. Some are upgrades and some are first time purchases. When a blu-ray is released with a new restoration, I definitely love the difference, ie: the Universal Classics. But I still enjoy my dvds as well. Most are still very good quality.

[Mike Scott]

I haven't upgraded every single dvd I own. It would be too expensive. I also have a ton of blu-rays now. Some are upgrades and some are first time purchases.

Same. 

[horrorhunter]

I haven't upgraded every single dvd I own. It would be too expensive. I also have a ton of blu-rays now. Some are upgrades and some are first time purchases. When a blu-ray is released with a new restoration, I definitely love the difference, ie: the Universal Classics. But I still enjoy my dvds as well. Most are still very good quality.

Ditto.

Some BDs aren't much of an upgrade, and some aren't an upgrade at all. There are several good reasons to keep DVDs even if you do get the BD (special features differ, longer cut on the DVD (Wicker Man), packaging and booklets/lobby cards etc., or maybe you just collect different media releases of a favorite film).

[Mike Scott]

. . or maybe you just collect different media releases of a favorite film).

I have 8mm, VHS, DVD, BD and 4K of the Creature movies. Bunch of different DVDs and BDs. I don't have anything to play the 4K on. 

[horrorhunter]

I have 8mm, VHS, DVD, BD and 4K of the Creature movies. Bunch of different DVDs and BDs. I don't have anything to play the 4K on. 

I have a stack of 8mm for the box art. Those are on YT. I know people collect VHS for box art, but I never got into that. VHS takes up too much shelf space, so I just keep the ones I have in a closet.

I can't play 4K either though I do have a couple in combo releases. I stopped at BD.

[Mike Scott]

I have a stack of 8mm for the box art..

Pretty much the only thing interesting about them, anymore.

[AndyFish]

I agree with the sentiment that some Blu Rays aren't enough of an improvement to ditch my DVDs for it.  That said, I've got about a 50/50 split of the two formats and I do embrace streaming.  I'm so lazy I don't want to have to walk down to the basement where I have them very neatly organized on shelves (thanks to the Mrs).  But she is far more into physical media, and she recently bought a very nice expensive region free BD player that really makes things look amazing, so I'm swinging back that way.

[Mike...In 3-D!]

I've upgraded most of my stuff to blu-ray. If I still have a movi on DVD it's because a blu-ray doesn't exist, the blu-ray is out of print and expensive, or the DVD is better.

I have a few 4Ks (just to get the blu-ray disc that comes with it) and VHS tapes, but the tapes are strictly for decor, basically.

[Mike Scott]

I've upgraded most of my stuff to blu-ray.

I still have way more DVDs!  Most of my blues are in the Universal, Hammer (and other Brit studios), Harryhausen, classic cartoons and Marvel collections. The rest are just scattered about.