true, new member. problem is...many people just dont get it. I just happen to be a fan of most of the films released so far, as well as the company itself. I charge 100 dollars an hour in my biz.....and much of my buisiness is repeat customers and word of mouth. BU is kinda the same....people, like us, just keep coming back. besides myself, you are the only other person who buys them all. right on brother....right on.

Well, I am really excited about the September release of The Christopher Lee Collection. I am a fan of both Christopher Lee and Jess Franco. Franco directed three of the four films in this set. I am also a Fu Manchu fan. I have actually read all the novels by Sax Rohmer. I only wish that Blue Underground could get the rights to the first three Fu Manchu films. I have seen Circus Of Fear many years ago, but barely remember it. I have never seen The Bloody Judge, so that will be a treat.
Blue Underground is certainly starting out its second year with a bang.

BU kicks ass.

No, it's not really, because Blue Underground is not a creative entity. They are just a DVD label, so collecting all their releases is not like collecting all films from a certain actor or director. It's like collecting all films from a certain film distribution company.

I completely understand the thinking behind buying DVDs made by a company that you know invests a lot into the quality of their product. We all want to put our money towards the highest quality product out there. The only thing that puzzles me is the fanatical devotion to a company. I understand word-of-mouth advertising and fanboy evangelizing, but in the film world those processes traditionally occur around a specific movie or disc, not a studio or label. Look at it this way: Does anyone ever recall thinking, "Boy, I can't wait for that next Sony Pictures Classics movie to come to my local theater. I don't know much about the movie, but coming from them it's got to be awesome and the print will look great, so I'm going to be first in line"?

That seems kind of irrational and a little bit silly, doesn't it? The way I see it, the same thing is happening with some DVD labels. It's cool to find a label that puts out stuff that jibes with your own personal tastes, but unless your name is Bill Lustig, there's got to be a point where you have to shift your allegiance away from the company and toward specific films. Like I said before, otherwise you're only serving the company.

blah. blah. blah. BU rules.

agreed. just watched Bone last night. saw a cut version back around '78, but this was a totally different experience. I thought the transfer was outstanding and was very pleased with the performance of Yaphet Kotto.

fanboy. God I hate that freakin' word. sounds too much like gayboy. I'd like to find out who invented that lame term and slap them silly.

Ah, but BU has something most film distribution companies don't have...a philosophy! And that is why the company is attracting so many die hard fans.

Saying that you want to see a Warner Bros. film could mean anything -- MATRIX RELOADED, ANALYZE THAT, ALEX & EMMA -- but saying that you like Blue Underground's DVDs is saying that you are a fan of a very specific type of cult film.

Actually, in the hands of filmmakers like Bill Lustig and David Gregory, Blue Underground is very much a creative entity. They're not simply the post office dropping off a package that someone else put together.

DJ

Bill Lustig is a filmmaker, but he has not made any of the films that Blue Underground has issued so far. David Gregory puts together very nice featurettes, but I am not sold on extras alone. Blue Underground is not in the business of making movies and it's the movies that matter most to me. I will not buy a disc simply because it's put out by a certain label. I buy a disc because I love the movie. But that's just me.

He has not directed any of the features they have released, but the possibility of creativity does not begin and end with the feature film. Just because the features are what's most important to you, it doesn't mean that BU is not often engaged in a creative enterprise.

Quote:

David Gregory puts together very nice featurettes, but I am not sold on extras alone. Blue Underground is not in the business of making movies and it's the movies that matter most to me. I will not buy a disc simply because it's put out by a certain label. I buy a disc because I love the movie. But that's just me.

So enjoy what you enjoy, and let others do the same.

DJ

My 1961, 1977, 1978, 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000 World Series DVDs (all the available ones where the Yankees won) are like that. It's rather annoying. And they have forced commercials before the main program begins. They are around $20 each and are only available from shop.mlb.com or qvc.com (i.e. no discounts from other etailers), making them relatively expensive for such a stripped down DVD.

Oh, and back on topic: I own one Blue Underground flick, Dead & Buried, with no plans to buy any of the others that have been released so far except maybe Q - The Winged Serpent. I will definitely buy The Final Countdown though.

I don' have any of their DVDs but will be getting Final Countdown when it comes out. Finally someone is giving this film the proper treatment.

So simply by attempting to discuss label worship, I'm somehow ruining other people's enjoyment of these DVDs? Jeez, sorry for hijacking the thread.

BLUE UNDERGROUND ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

atta boy!!

you dont ruin my enjoyment....you increase my passion. I'm not just one of BU's fanboys, I'm the fan-overlord.

Spinner, you miss the point. Blue Underground is creative in the sense that the company is selective about the types of films it chooses to release. The company is creating a persona for itself. Blue Underground puts out genre films which represent my primary collection focus. Because they do such a great job, I reward them with my patronage.

Then we could say that Sony Pictures Classics is a creative entity because of the way they select and promote their titles. In fact every film company, distribution company and video label could be seen as a creative entity if that is your criteria. Personally, I just don't see it that way. There's the creative side (the films) and the business side (manufacturing, promotion and distribution).

Anyway, has anyone peo-ordered the Mondo collection? If so, did you experience sticker shock when you did? I know it has a ton of discs, but it looks like $90 is the cheapest I've seen (DDD).

I would love to get it, but I don't have that kind of scratch. I'll have to wait for a used copy I guess.

Oh, and has anyone seen the Chris Lee collection yet - I've heard some people got advance copies somehow. If so, how is it?

$90 is pretty much the cheapest i've seen it for pre-order as well (~$87 exc. shipping @ DVDPacific) although i doubt i'll be picking this up due to the subject matter, which tbh i'm not totally familiar with but understand it does polarize a lot of peoples views as to the film-makers intents/motives etc.

I pre-ordered the Christopher Lee collection some time ago and as DVD Pacific very often ship before street date i'm hoping that will be the case in this instance.

have not pre-ordered any BU titles of late. I'll just order this and get it in 24 hours on the day of its release....unless BB gets some copies in. I put $ back just for this set.....very pumped. same for the Lee box.

just a reminder...the Christopher Lee Collection is very limited. 7,500 copies I believe. might want to pre-order if you have not already.

Hopefully mine should ship in the next few days in time to be received on or before 'street date'.

Review of the 'Bloody Judge' disc which is an exclusive to this set here:-

http://www.eccentric-cinema.com/cult...oody_judge.htm

with reviews of the other discs in the set to follow.

On a side note, have decided to give 'The Mondo Cane Collection' a miss...with so many!! excellent releases (inc R2's) in October i just can't justify spending the money on something i'm not entirely familiar with and whilst i know BU's presentation will be excellent it's a bit immaterial if it's not going to appeal to me.

I'd pass on the Mondo Cane collection too if Farewell Uncle Tom was not included, but since it is, take my money Mr. Lustig.... and add a DEATHDREAM disc with that order too.

does anyone know what the mondo box is limited to?

Possibly, though I don't know as I am unfamiliar with the Sony Classics line. Blue Underground stands for certain standards and qualities. This makes the company unique. It is also a small company without the resources of Sony. This makes a big difference in the level of support I am willing to give to keep this company going. I don't need to buy every MGM release to insure that I will continue to get quality releses from MGM. I do need to do that to make sure that Blue Underground remains profitable. I am supporting my own interests.