How often do you watch any particular DVD?
 

I was reading through the Sin City poll thread, and was surprised by the number of people stating that they would watch the regular edition multiple times before the SE came out, given that the SE is expected by the end of this year.

Even with favorite movies I rarely, if ever, like to rewatch them if I've seen them in the past few months. I usually go for more than a year, or at least most of a year, before I like to watch something again. Maybe I like to forget it a little bit so it seems fresh. I'm not sure why, but I do know that with me, too much repetition can cause a movie to lose its charm.

I Netflix a lot, so I'm always seeing new stuff. From my collection, so far this month I've only watched three DVDs. In July I watched more - Six titles, two of which were Buffy seasons. In June I watched eight - two were Buffy. At that rate it probably takes me a couple of years to cycle through my own DVDs, which is how I like it.

Although it makes no difference to my own or anyone else's enjoyment I must say I'm curious about those who watch the same DVD four or more times a year. Do you do it with all your DVDs, or just certain ones? Does it change the way you respond to a film? Any other comments?

For me, it's not about watching a certain dvd over and over from begining to end, but about going back to scenes and segments I like best.

Sure I'm up for seeing an entire movie all over again, especially with people that have never seen it before, but I like looking at my dvd collection as more of a reference library, as that's more like how I tend use it.

Movies often go multiple years between viewings around my place. If I just can't ever see myself wating something again I will get rid of it, or if I have a movie not OAR that I think may get a reissued I will get rid of it, otherwise, many just collect dust until I feel the need to watch again. For example, Castaway is a great movie, but not for me but every two or three years same for a movie like Lawerence of Arabia or Ben Hur.

Other movies that are fun and fun to watch with a group will get more play. Orgasmo has been played twice since I got it and Matrix used to be watched at least every few months. This type situation is not the norm though.

That's interesting, slop101. Given that 99% of the DVDs in my collection are films I really like, I imagine I'd get sucked into watching the whole movie if I tried to only watch a scene [not to imply that you or anyone else doesn't like the films in their collection!]. Actually, come to think of it, I have tried doing that once or twice and I did get sucked in.

Speedyray, you sound a lot like me. Run Lola Run gets a lot of play at my place, but still only a couple of times a year.

It's fun to hear about how others use their DVDs.

I tend to force myself to watch a film that I've recently purchased. I figure, every time I watch the DVD (extras don't really count in my mind, I'm talking about the film from beginning to end) it's equivalent to a rental. And since a rental is about $3 everywhere around me, I figure I just need to watch the film enough times so that it's 'worth the purchase'. Granted, I know it's flawed, but that's just how I operate.

Take the recent release 'Sin City' for example. I paid $18 for it (I know, it was priced the same amount everywhere though, $18 was the best deal). If I watch it six times within a month or so, then it was worth the purchase. Some titles are easier to do this with ('Sin City' for example, I've knocked out four of the six showings in roughly 36 hours) while others are very hard for me ('Million Dollar Baby' I had to force myself to watch more than once.... I still don't think I've watched it enough to be worth it, I better get on that).

I'm only doing this because about a year ago I kept buying titles that I watched once and then they started collecting dust. It got to be quite a pain knowing I had wasted a lot of money on films that I'll never watch again. Now I'm being a little more selective on what I'm buying.

With my movies I also tend to watch a few scenes out of each movie over and over again. Sure I'll watch the entire film on occasion but there are always scenes that I can't get enough of and will watch numerous time by themselves.

As for TV shows, which I collect more of than movies these days, I tend to watch very few of them over again. I'm very happy to own The X-Files seasons since it is my favorite show of all time but I barely touch a season after I've finished it. Some of this is due to not enough hours in the day but mostly I just enjoy having the sets. I'm sure I'll watch these shows years from now but I'm happy right now just to own so many shows I grew up with.

if i really like something i'll watch it twice. once by myself and again with people i want to share it with -- i have a 9ft screen and hold living room screenings every now and then for friends. if there's commentary, that's a third viewing. tends to end there.

I watch all of my TV season sets at least once a year. I only own a few TV season sets, and I only buy TV seasons that I am obsessed with.

I watch my favorite movies several times each year.

Other movies I watch maybe once a year, or once every two years.

I did have a few movie blind buys that I didn't like, so I sold them. I don't want to waste space by keeping something that I'll never watch again.

In my opinion, wasting your time watching a movie that you have already seen and you already know you don't like, is a bigger waste than wasting your money.

Of course it's your time and your money, but I just wanted to expose you to the idea that wasting time is a bad idea.

Once you've already wasted your money on the DVD, wasting your time by watching the DVD again and again and again is not going to get you that money back. All it does is waste your time.

If you watch the DVD once, and you decide that you don't like it, watching it 5 more times will waste 10 more hours (or whatever) of your time, and it won't get you your $18 (or whatever) back.

Your time is valuable. Don't ever forget that.

Dont waste your time watching stuff that you know you don't like.

I try to watch at least two new movies every weekend. Unfortunately, I can't keep up with my purchases, so I never find the time for the old stuff. During the week, I watch TV on DVD. With two little kids, I just don't have the time usually for a full movie.

I didn't say I didn't like it, it's just depressing and hard to watch often.

If I went by the formula that you don't break even on a DVD purchase until

cost of DVD = times watched*average rental price (say $4)

then I don't think any of my DVDs qualify. But I like owning them and seeing them on my shelf. I like discussing movies with friends, and when someone says, "Yeah, I'd really like to have a chance to see that movie" I like coming back with "Well, I own it. Just say the word." Of course, there are some blind buys that I end up hating and never watch again. If I was smart, I'd sell them but I can't bring myself to reduce my "collection". So they stay on my shelves mocking me :)

I used to try to watch my favorite DVDs on a regular basis back in the day, but now that my collection has become what it is, it's harder to go back to those repeat favorites when I have so many new ones unwatched! I guess my most watched DVD is Crumb. I've probably watched that about ten times.

Not counting TV sets, I watch Lost In Translation more than any other DVD I own.

It's a film that I can put in and watch all the way through over and over again, and it's one that I can put in the DVD player and have going in the background, and whenever I happen to look over at it I'll enjoy what I see.

My second most watched DVD is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, especially the first thirty minutes or so (the entire part before the opening credits).

Out of the 316 DVDs I own it would probably take me a few years to cycle all the way through. I usually only watch about 3 movies a week now but sometimes I could go crazy and watch one a day for a few weeks. I might watch a few movies 2-4 times a year and others I might go years without watching. Just depends on my mood at the time. Even then I still like to look at my collection and see the movies even if I rarely watch them.

My system, and why I only have about 40 movies total, is that I only buy a movie if I think i'll watch it about 3 times a year. Most of them I watch 2-3 times a year, but there are some that I regret buying since I never watch them anymore (fight club).

Of the 350 or so movies that I own, there's probably at least 200 that I've yet to see more than once. There's probably only about 50 that I've seen more than twice and it's usually a year or so between viewings.



Stew

With a few exceptions,I don't watch anything more than once or twice a year at most.


*Only exception i can think of offhand is Kill Bill.

There are a handful of movies that I watch about once every 2-3 months. Those are my all-time personal favorites. With the rest, it's more like once or twice a year, although with over 600 titles in my collection, and a steady flow of Netflix titles always arriving, plus new purchases, there are plenty that I end up only watching every few years. And there are still a few I haven't watched at all despite owning them for several years. My collection is a personal library. Even though I don't always watch everything regularly, or can't justify the cost vs. usage, I like having a big selection at my fingertips since I never know what I'll be in the mood for any given night. I do regularly purge titles from my collection that I decide I no longer like, though.

Depends on the DVD's... My Buffy DVDs get watched on a regular basis, while my Friends or Party of Five DVDs havn't been out of the box since the first time I watched them.

Depends on the film. Sometimes never, sometimes occassionally, sometimes a lot. I hope that answers your question.

There are a handful of DVDs in my collection (1%) that I watch several times a year. But for the rest of my collections (99%), I only watch them once every few years.

With my collection of around 400 dvd's, I seem to fall into watching personal favourites A LOT! like every couple of weeks or so. At present I seem to be moving between:

Goodfellas
Casino
Schindler's List
The Aviator

and even...

wait for it...

Alexander!

Yes, I know the concensus of opinion on the last, but I actually find it not that bad a movie. Okay, it's too talky, and way too long and some of the lines are real howlers, but all that aside, I still don't think it was the complete pile of C*** that everyone and his brother thought it was.

Just as I tell all of my friends... as often as I can.

I don't even watch my favorite movies a lot. This is why it's bad to have a huge collection. The more I buy, the less I watch. I have a collection of about 300 DVDs, but I wish it was about 30 DVDs now.

The movies that I watch over and over throughout the year are:
1. The Fawlty Towers series - constantly throughout the year
2. Office Space - 4 times a year
3. Napolean Dynamite - 4 times a year
4. Point Break - 3 times a year
5. Fastforwarding through the Matrix Trilogy - 3 times a year
6. Fastforwarding through Hero/House of Flying Daggers - 3 times a year
7. Living in Oblivion - 2 times a year
8. Schindler's List - once a year since it came out in theaters (starting form the widescreen VHS to the DVD)
9. Gladiator - 2 times a year
10. Return of the Jedi - 1 time a year