Yes absolutely! Almost any DVD loaded with extras could be used as a text in a film class. Director commentaries, making ofs, interviews with writers, and behind the scene technicians all provide more information than was ever available to the general public before. How many future film makers are getting started by analyzing the LOTR trilogy on DVD?

The Internet also deserves a lot of credit. I've often wondered how many people first came to DVDTalk looking for a bargain on a Police Academy movie and after reading our discussions ended up discovering the films of Hitchcock, Kurosawa, Bergman, Fellini and others.

I've personally come a lot more interested in film since the DVD format was introduced.

I'm always excited for one of my favorite classics to come out on DVD - even if it is already 'widely' available on VHS. For the reason that many old VHS copies can be very worn out and hard to see, greatly decreasing my enjoyment of the film. I don't know how many times I've only mildly enjoyed a film on VHS and fallen in love with the same film on DVD, due to restoration and much better clarity.

I do think it is always better to see a film on the big screen, but for many people like myself it's just not very likely that there's going to be a showing of a film such as "The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp" anytime soon (locally.) Even the one local art house theater and university only show older films occasionally, and then the quality of the print can be mediocre. I do try to watch all my DVDs on as large a screen as possible and without ever pausing - for any reason. (In fact I'm quite obsessive about the latter point.)

I do also think that online rental services and other such services have helped introduced some people to films they would not have otherwise seen.

You obviously haven't been to my local theater....it sucks...I don't care how those "choatic fields of grain" fly onto the screen from the back of the room, the experience of going to my theater is NOT a "magical experience". More like teen-ager or screaming baby hell.

Also, I think you're being a bit too anal here with your interpretation of the OP intention with the thread.

The question as I see it is he's asking if DVD has "opened up" your appreciation of the art of film (not the actual medium), but the act of putting moving pictures together to form a cohesive story or at the very least a good mindless popcorn action flick.

While you do not, I could care less. With the relatively smaller screen at home, I don't feel like I'm watching a tennis match from half court when I watch a movie at home. I have never understood the desire for some people to sit on the very front row of a movie theater. Whassup wit dat?

OK, now you're being really anal. Yes, a 480p DVD is no where near as detailed as a theatrical film or digital projection, but I'd argue that a 1080i and certainly a 1080p HD-DVD would be better than film. Besides, aren't 35mm or even 70mm cameras not HD? In fact, directors who are now starting to use digital HD movie cameras are actually having to have perfection in their props, sets, make-up, etc, because the HD cameras pick up so much more detail than regular cameras.

While I agree to a point, I have found that some strangers at the theater could also ruin the experience as well. Like those who laugh at serious points, or vice versa.

I disagree with that last point. I find that I can concentrate on a film better at home than I can at the theater. Why? Less distraction from other viewers. I'll never forget the time where this was this one couple who was kissing through-out the film. How could we tell? Their glasses kept clanging together. The usher had to eventually ask them to leave...or get a room. Don't remember which.

That is true, but cinema is a public medium, and generally intended as such.

I prefer watching porn at home.
See above.
Blow the image up to 90 feet and I'd bet you'd disagree.
The subject is DVD, I believe, not some theoretical hi-def format.
Yes, yes. Stop steering the thread off course. I have.

Gerry P. addressed the 1080p verus film comment which isn't accurate.

Re: the 35/70mm not being HD comment.. both are superior to either Blu-ray or HD-DVD.

Well, I was under the assumption that the film is being viewed with a mature and well intending audience. Yes, certain people may ruin the movie. But watching a great film with the right audience is the true way these films were meant to be seen.

Also, in a theater as a film controls US, we can't pause it, rewind it, fast forward it, as we watch it the way it meant to be seen. And at home we are prone to the flow of the film being ruined by external influences (i.e phone call, dog barking, etc.)

yes, dvd has widened my appreciation for film (especially foreign offerings). coupled with the internet (um, DVDTalk), it has really expanded my appreciation of movies in general. besides, i had nothing else to collect.


while i am sure they are meant to be seen in one viewing as a composition, dvd and home viewing actually improve the viewing experience for me because i am at risk for being interrupted and called away from the theater. sitting in the theater waiting for the pager to go off is much more stressful and interrupting than watching something at home, at my pace, with the ability to pause and step away when necessary.

kms

I have found that over the past few years, sad is this may be, my home theater provides a much better experience. maybe times have changed....maybe it's my pathetic location and choice of theaters...but trying to enjoy a flick at the local mega-plex is nothing but a nightmare. at home....I have complete control. I turn off all phones, lock all doors...and I throw the dog a bone. I have no "serious" theater here, one that shows classics to a "serious" film crowd who will show proper respect to the film and it's fans.

maybe it's just me....but being totally alone is 100% perfect and I enjoy my films as much as anybody.

Summers...

When I started my DVD collection back in 1998, I was only able to pick and choose from the small pool available. Now that the pool (and my collection) have grown, I am now able to get into film much more deeply due to the accessability the DVD market has created. I agree with some of the posters that the medium itself isn't the true reason why it happened, but it is the medium of choice now and so much is available at a relatively cheap price point.

I look at AFI lists and research directors more than I ued to, if ever. That's why I have La Dolce Vita, Wings Of Desire, In The Mood For Love, and many other obscure films that I would have never even thought about wer it not for DVD. I can slice and dice my collection by director, actor, genre, year/decade/era, and come up with something new. I constantly ask a friend who went to NYC film school about DVD choices and she comes up with stuff that I truly enjoy.

As far as the movie theater experience goes, I really only like going to "art houses" because the films shown and the audiences tend to be more mature. I truly despise the multiplexes and will not go if I have the choice. I know the communal experience is great, especially with popcorn movies, and when I was younger I got into that. Being older and having less patience with noise and annoyances I tend to wait until the DVD release and watch in my HT. My wife hates me for that sometimes, but I ask her to respect my wishes.