DVD Talk Forum - When did you really become an addict?

Always been a movie buff of some sorts. Before getting my first VCR in 1986, I would browse the VHS wall at the local Kroger and always thought, "Wow, imagine being able to own movies." So when I got my first VCR, my first movie was Star Trek III. I quickly went in search for Star Trek II and TMP. Hated waiting for IV to come out.

Well, we had cable TV w/ HBO. Started recording every movie off HBO that had a title that I was vaguely familiar with. I recorded stuff from every genre that you could think of. Built up a sizable collection of T-120/160 VHS tapes with 3-4 movies each recorded in EP. Also slowly bought pre-recorded commercially produced tapes. I remember when Last of the Mohicans came out, it was in WS. I hated it. Couldn't get used to the black bars. Thought that some picture was missing.

Then for some reason, I started seeing the Pros in WS. So when WS VHS started coming out in the mid-'90s, I started replacing most of my favorite select titles to WS VHS. Then in '98, I noticed that WS VHS was starting to get scarce. When there wasn't a WS version of Tomorrow Never Dies I knew WS VHS and VHS itself was starting to be phased out.

Had an tragic auto accident in late '98. Spent the next couple years in rehab, but in Dec. 2001, I had the folks buy me and my sister a DVD player (Pioneer DV-434) each. Since I wanted the best picture quality possible, and since my old '95 Magnavox TV didn't have enough video jacks (not to mention component jacks) we bought a 32" Sony flatscreen.

First DVD purchases was Star Wars Ep. I, Enemy at the Gates, Jurassic Park Trilogy, The Mummy (I & II), and Star Trek: TMP - DE.

Since then, I have built a nearly 300 strong collection, with about a third or more in TV shows. See my collection in my sig.

I tend to spend about $200 a month on DVDs. Give or take $75 or so.