Who is buying DVDs for the extras?

[Squid Lips]

You know, the first Oliver Stone Disc I bought was The Doors. And I realized later, that though I enjoyed 4th Of July and JFK much more than The Doors, it was the extras on the DVD that got me to buy it over the more favored films. I also found myself buying a few Criterion discs that I never even saw because of their extras such as Carnival Of Souls and Fiend Without A Face... Anyone else doing this?

[roger thornhill]

Not me. Extras are great, but I buy for the film.

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dds #070

[Cameront9]

I just started my collection, so the main goal right now is just to get lots of DVDs... bare bones or extra-packed.

However, I think the amount of extras a film has does influence my purchase prioity. I bought the Fantasia Anthology primarily because of that third "supplementary" disk.

My next purchase will probably be T2: The Ultimate Edition; primarily for the cool extras, not the film itself.

I think extras, when done well, can really enhance your film experience; you get to know more information about films you really love. When done poorly (for example: 2001: A Space Odyssey) they can, at most waste your time and (possibly) money. However, the film is what will last for years to come, not the extras.

YMMV

Cameron Talley

[Wilson]

I think extras are a nice touch but a good transfer and decent sound are my main concern.

I'll probably get flamed for this but I wish some of the criterion stuff was licensed to others as well. I'd like to have movies like Time Bandits, The Life Of Brian and Silence Of The Lambs to name a few but I just can't justify spending $60.00 CDN for these films.

From what I understand they are all excellent quality but when you have films like "The Matrix" packed with extras for a third the price I have to wonder what makes criterion so frikin' special. Maybe someone can convince me otherwise.

Also, I usually just browse through the extra stuff the first time around then it never gets looked at again.

[Dominik Pfleghaar]

For me, the movie is also the most important part of a disc.
But if there are more (ie 2) versions of a movie available, I usually go with the one that has more extras.
Although I must confess that I'm way behind with watching all of the movies, let alone the supplemental material (see also the "Haven't Watched Yet" thread).
But I love owning dvd's just for the sake of owning them.

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Unca Dom
dvdfile.com Administrator
pfleghaar@dvdfile.com
My HT My dvd collection

[Damian]

For me, extras are the icing on the cake. I really like to see a nice transfer and good audio. I have discs where I haven't even gone through all the extras yet. But I've enjoyed the movie over and over again.

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"They're us....we're them!"
-Damian

[This message has been edited by Damian (edited 03-29-2001).]

[deepfry]

Once again I must agree with most of the statements above. Extras are nice, but a good video transfer and quality audio (usually 5.1) are of paramount importance to me.

[FiveInches]

Five steps to a perfect DVD (what I look for when buying a title).

1: Good movie. The movie content is the most important aspect of buying a DVD.

2: Widescreen version (when it applies). I don't buy "pan & scam" versions.

3: Video of "DVD Quality". I never buy non-anamorphic video (when it applies).

4: Audio of "DVD Quality". I try to find 5.1 (5.0) or atleast Dolby Surround, but I will settle for Stereo/Mono if it's obvious that this title probably won't be 5.1 in a near future (or never even.)

5: Extras. I generally pick Special/Limited/2-Disc Editions over a bare disc, it depends on the price-tag. I can consider to wait for SEs if I know one is in production, while a bare disc is available.

The fifth step is the least important of the 5. But I look for all five before I decide on a purchase. I don't like Snappers but have no problem buying them if content is satisfactory. Snapper+bare disc is a no no. I'd rather wait. I like cool cover art, which is another reason to pick a Criterion version rather than, let's say Fox Lorber...

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"We can't stop here. This is Bat Country!"

[This message has been edited by FiveInches (edited 03-29-2001).]

[Taxi]

Yup, I agree.

Extras could tip the scale on a movie I'm just so-so about, but if a flick I want to see has no extras (The Princess Bride), I'm gonna buy it anyway. And if a movie has tons of extras but I have no desire to see it (Fight Club), I'm not gonna buy it.

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Taxi
DVDFile Forum Administrator
Eleven plus two = Twelve plus one

[Wilson]

So is anyone here a big Criterion fan. Do you think there prices are out of line or do you actually get what you pay for? Can anyone justify paying double or triple for their titles?

[IRISH TENOR]

The extras are usually meaningless for me unless they come in the form of deleted scenes. Documentaries can be good (The Giant, Ben Hur, Conan) but for the most part they are just fluff or cheerful sycophancy (e.g. The Sixth Sense, The Cell).

[Sid]

I originally bought my player for the extras on the DVDs (same reason why I had an extensive collection of widescreen VHS). But when I finally got my play, that was the first time I saw the picture quality. Needless to say, it was love at first sight.

[egman]

quote:

So is anyone here a big Criterion fan. Do you think there prices are out of line or do you
actually get what you pay for? Can anyone justify paying double or triple for their titles?

This is an interesting point that has probably been covered already, but I would like to add my thoughts on it.

I have to admit it is getting damn hard to buy Criterion nowadays. The prices seeem to keep escalating. It also doesn't help that the only B&M close to me who has their titles (MediaPlay) already has high prices. So in the end the justifiaction for buying Criterion really depends on the movie.

I like extras and all, but that does not help me on a movie I not really interested in. However,I have paid extra for films with slim supplements because they are that good. I spent 30 dollars on Nick Roeg's Walkabout. Besides two standard trailers, all the DVD had was a commentary(a well done one as a matter of fact). I have develop some reservations though looking at other companies. Anchor Bay does consitently good work, has cult classic and foreign classics, but their prices compete with 20-25 dollar studio releases. If it wasn't for Criterion's catalog(though it has become much smaller after their jump into DVD), Anchor Bay would be eating them for breakfast.

The bottom line, it's about the movie. There will be an audience to buy a good film despite the DVD having 3 discs of supplements or being so bare bones that there are no menus.

[tenebrae]

I buy DVD's based on the quality of the movies - not the amount of extras.

I wouldn't buy "Battlefield Earth" just because it has many extras - actually I would never buy it. But when it comes to buying two-disc sets over single DVD's (the "infamous" Dinosaur and the great Gladiator which was available as both a single and two-disc in Denmark) I most certainly go after the one with the most extras.



[This message has been edited by tenebrae (edited 03-30-2001).]

[Soggy Bagel's Revenge!]

I think another point we're all missing is that it's the QUALITY of the extras, not the quantity!!! I prefer to buy Criterion discs over any other company becuase I know that when I see the Criterion logo...

1. The movie is excellent, and I will love it.
2. There's always good picture and sound (Not always GREAT, but oh well)
3. The supplemental section actually ENHANCES the movie. It's not there just to sell more copies.

The people at Criterion put their heart and soul into their work, and that's why you'll always find inriguing extras on their discs. And I certainly don't mind paying a measly $40 for something that truly and deeply touches me and makes me happy.

Maybe I'm overly sentimental about the movies I love, but wether that's true or not, we all should be kissing Criterion's ass for practically inventing the "special edition".

Without them, there would be no commentary track or widescreen presentations. Do you really think that Fox or Disney or (Oh my god, don't get me started) MGM really give a damn about the director's true vision, or the fans' longing for a meaningful edition? No, they don't. they just copy Criterion becuase they realizes it sells copies.

Don't buy just because of special features, I'd like to think that the DVD indusry can be a forum for artists, not just another way for Universal or Paramount executives to make more money.

Thanx,
Brook

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http://www.angelfire.com/movies/cheapthrillsormore

[Packman]

I buy for picture qaulity and sound, the extra I consider a big bonus if there any good. My most recent purchase of Once upon a time in China and America had a very good documentary on the making of the movie even thou you could only understand the America production crew it was still very interesting to see.

One of the worse I thought was the DVD Dirty Dozen, it was basically folowing some of the cast members around town for about 15 minutes back in the 60's when the movie was made, nothing of any real value.