brayzie

I had some DVDs over the years, movies I either bought 'cause they were on sale, or because I thought they looked good but I eventually lost or sold them.

Now I want to start a new DVD collection, and start it right. I've already bought a display shelf.

Now, what are the essential DVD must haves for a serious collector? I plan on buying up to 50 but don't know what kind of films to get.

I'm hesitant to buy "Scarface," but after reading many posts, I definitely need John Carpenter's 1982 Remake of "The Thing for my collection to be taken seriously. Any suggestions? Should I have an even amount of films from each genre? Are TV show DVDs okay? If there is a bare bones edition available for cheap, should I forget it and instead spring for the OOP Criterion/Special Edition?


Thanks!

Cardsfan111

You're thinking about it too much. Purchase what you enjoy watching.

movie diva

I agree with cardsfan111, buy what you like. I don't have John Carpenter's The Thing, and I think I have a serious collection, I buy what I like and want to watch not what others think I should have. I know I have some movies that people would wonder why, like my Uwe Boll movies, but I also have Citizen Kane, and my favorite Criterions, so to each his own.
Good Luck with your collection.

EdTheRipper

Agreed with the others. Buy what you like...who cares what others think about it?

TomOpus

50 movies is a pretty small collection. Buy movies you know you'll watch multiple times. Don't mess with any blind buys. Make a list of movies and bounce it against Amazon or other websites to see what's available.

And for god's sake, stop losing DVDs. How does that even happen?

smurr05

Absolutely agree!

Pizza

Depends on who you're trying to impress: the religious right, the general public, movie critics, movie snobs, the French, TV fanatics, the horror crowd, Twilight fans or the DVDTalk crowd (and good luck with that). What ever you do, don't try and please yourself.

Indy24LA

Like everyone's said, it's a pretty simple equation, if you like a movie enough to want to own it, then you have a winner.

Although I do agree, unless you own John Carpenter's The Thing, you don't truly have a film collection, just a buncha movies

Ash Ketchum

You asked for 50, I'll recommend 50 (off the top of my head):

8 Diagram Pole Fighter
Kung Fu Chefs
Yo Yo Girl Cop
My Neighbor Totoro
Kiki's Delivery Service
Tenchi Muyo in Love
Swordsman III: The East is Red
Casablanca
Portrait of Jennie
The Scarlet Empress
Myra Breckenridge (with Raquel Welch commentary)
The Longest Yard (1974, with Burt Reynolds commentary)
Zatoichi's Vengeance
Shogun Assassin
Gamera: Guardian of the Universe
Gamera III: Revenge of Iris
Gojira
Destroy All Monsters
Godzilla: Final Wars
From Russia with Love
You Only Live Twice
Danger: Diabolik
Pokemon: Jirachi Wishmaker
Akira
Ghost in the Shell

Battle Royale
Buddha’s Palm
Super Inframan
Ultraman: the Complete Series
One-Armed Swordsman
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
Police Story III: Supercop
The Seven Samurai
Yojimbo
Tokyo Story
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
Cutie Honey
Taxi Driver
Kill Bill, Vol. 1
Flight to Mars
War of the Gargantuas
Atom Man vs. Superman (serial)
Hard-Boiled
Red Cliff
Iron Monkey
Peking Opera Blues
Dream of the Red Chamber
The Wild Bunch
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Jason and the Argonauts

clckworang

This.

mike07

I agree with most everyone else in this thread, it's your collection don't worry about what others think. Unless you can get something for really cheap, don't bother with titles you've never seen or know you won't re-watch very often, that's what video rental outlets are for.

The Man with the Golden Doujinshi

Start with blu-rays and buy the things you like. Not sure if you'll like something? Rent it first and see. Then decide if you'll like it enough to watch more than once. Don't care about the special features on a movie? Get the bare bones edition if it's significantly cheaper.

rbrown498

I understand that when you're just starting a collection of something, all the choices available can be daunting. There are a LOT of movies out there, just like there are a lot of 78 RPM records and a lot of comic books.

If you're really floundering, I would suggest getting a book like "1001 Movies to See Before You Die" and trying to watch as many of those as you can. Buy only the ones that you really enjoy, those that knock the breath out of you and make you think "That film was made just for me." Don't buy a film you've never seen, even if it's Citizen Kane or The Seven Samurai, unless you can make an educated guess about whether you'd like it based on other films the director/writer/actor has made.

That's my take on it.

Alan Smithee

No collection is complete without "Backdoor Sluts 9".

davidh777

That basic collection will be the envy of all your friends!

Pizza

I totally agree. 10 is really great too. Almost as good as John Carpenter's The Thing.

Ish Kabbible

Rarely does a franchise still up hold up by the time it gets to the 9th sequel. I'd stick with Backdoor Sluts 1 thru 3-a time honered classic trilogy.
I'd also get the Criterion edition of Good Burger-the most discussed movie at DVDTalk.

brayzie

Thanks for all the replies.

Actually I don't lose my dvd's. I let people borrow them and they never bring them back.

Anyways, I don't want to get anything that's just critically acclaimed but boring. But mostly, I want to impress people with the selection of my films, and secondly I want to impress my fellow DVD talkers, and lastly.

From Ash's list, HARD BOILED is on my newly created list, below THE THING. However, I think I will stay away from the Dragon Dynasty version, and try to nab the Criterion, if not, the Fox Lorber edition. GHOST IN THE SHELL is a good choice but most of my friends have that in their collection. Maybe if I can get the Region 2 version but then I'll have to get a all-region dvd player.

I would start with Blu-ray's but I never liked the name "Blu-ray." If HDDVD had won the battle it would be a different story.

Do you think I should add some trilogies to my collection? Would 2 be too much? Star Wars, OT?

If BACK DOOR SLUTS 9 is a real film, I don't think it will make my collection unless it's incredibly artistic. If it's a foreign film then I might have an excuse.

I know it's kind of a silly thread topic, but again, I appreciate all the input and suggestions. Hopefully when I finish amassing my collection I'll be able to post some pics of them for the POST YOUR COLLECTION thread.

Fist of Doom

Why? Collect what you enjoy, whether it's the films of Ingmar Bergman or silly 1980s action flicks.

Life is short - have fun, dude!

TomOpus

Did you not read what most of us were saying? Do not buy to impress other people. You want to be stuck with what other people like? I sure don't. What if the internet blew up? You'll be stuck with movies OTHER people like and you're now stuck with them. No one to impress anymore.

If you want to get a trilogy or such, there's lots to choose from. Just be sure you like ALL of the movies. Is there a specific genre you like? Start with those type of movies. Or if you like 2 or 3 genres... evenly split the 50 up.

kd5

Buying DVDs to impress people is not a good reason to buy DVDs. I care what people think about mine, but not enough that I would buy DVDs just to please or impress them. I buy DVDs that I want to own and watch multiple times, movies that I like, not movies that others think I should have.

Buy what YOU like, not what others think you should like. -kd5-

coyoteblue

You can find a trailer for almost any movie you can think of on youtube. Of course you have to know the movie exists and its name. Try to find a movie guide at a book store (you don't have to buy it, just browse and make notes) or the library or use the imdb by typing in a name you know and check out their filmography and then start following links (other actors/directors) and if you find a film that looks interesting find the trailer on youtube. If the trailer piques you're fancy buy it.

Xiroteus

Should never be about impressing anyone, if I did that I would end up with a bunch of films I would find completely boring.

I have to agree, how do people lose anything really? And yes, I NEVER lose anything, ever.

Alan Smithee

I bought "From Justin to Kelly" just because I knew doing so would upset some people. And I ended up enjoying it too.

Xiroteus

I have yet to run into anyone that says they own Catwoman.