Explain to me the fascination of "blind buy" DVD threads
More and more lately, I'm seeing threads such as:
"Is (movie title) a good blind buy?" What is the fascination with polling others about buying a DVD of a movie you haven't seen & needing others' approval to do so? My 2 main points of view: 1) You're arguing over $15 or so. Isn't seeing a movie in the theater the same darn thing as a 'blind buy'???? Yet people have no problem dropping $25-30 (2 tics, popcorn) on a so-called 'blind buy' that way. Tell me the difference. 2) I think many of you are asking this question and looking for nothing more than a movie review (Is the film good?) that bottom line have nothing to do with the DVD product (Reviews Forum for that anyway). I have some new ideas: read Ebert or another critic you like, post your query in Movie or Reviews Forums here, or check out other movie review sites. |
exactly. dvd's are cheap for a reason.
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(applause) 'nuff said
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Preachin' to the choir. Most of my dvd purchases a "blind buys". Doesn't bother me any. I just can't get to the theatre as much anymore (11 month old now occupies most of my free time).
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Well I think people want a movie review. The diffrence however is that the review is not coming from these putzes that do it for a living and have no clue what a good movie is. They want to hear what normal people have to say and go from that.
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Originally posted by siberianhusky Well I think people want a movie review. Next counterpoint? |
And wouldn't "what are your best blind buys?" be the same as:
"What are movies you saw in the theater and liked that you didn't see in the theater already beforehand?" Silly, right? Buying a theater ticket is a blind buy, yet most make that blind buy without hesitation from a commercial/trailer, and not intense online research. "I'm buying a LOTR:TTT theater ticket tonight, is it a good blind buy?" Gimme a break. I'm still looking for the difference. |
Yeah some people are just lazy to research or read the DVDTalk Reviews
good sites to check out imdb.com and mrqe.com |
I've asked the Mods to either move those threads into the "Reviews" category or Make an entire "Blind Buy" topic area.
http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...79#post3208479 Since blind buys are really asking for a review of the DVD, I never understood why they ended up in "DVD Talk" when there's a "DVD review" category underneath it. |
How about this - the dvd encompasses more than just the movie. How is the transfer. How is the sound - how are the extras and that sort of thing. That's an important consideration in my purchases at least.
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I used to mention this in "blind buy" threads about a year ago and people didn't see my point, so I gave up.
It appears that most people wanted to know what "fellow DVDTalkers" thought about the film. Personally, I still don't understand. For 99% of the films that are being asked about, you can go to the IMDb and read 100+ online reviews, in addition to dozens of user comments. If that can't give you a sense of how much you'll probably enjoy the movie, I don't know how a thread in DVDTalk is going to help you... But, different strokes, I guess... |
Originally posted by El-Kabong How about this - the dvd encompasses more than just the movie. How is the transfer. How is the sound - how are the extras and that sort of thing. That's an important consideration in my purchases at least. |
Originally posted by DarthMarklar Hence the "DVD Review" category. I doesn't say "Movie review of DVDs". I would think it would be appropriate to discuss all aspects of the DVD process, in addition to the movie itself. My point? These review threads are taking attention away from the genuine news & information threads -- the "meat" of DVDTalk (just because people either can't remember a film's commercials from its theatrical release just months ago -or- they need our permission to buy something) |
Buy the damn blind buy, and if you didn't like it, throw it in the garbage.
You heard me, throw it in the garbage... and just pretend you saw it in the theater. You wouldn't have had anything sitting on your shelf after a theater trip anyway. |
Even though I've never initiated a "blind buy" thread, I think I can understand why people start them. I often find myself trying to figure out whether I want to buy or rent. I'll look through many online reviews, but sometimes it's just not that easy.
When someone asks if a disc is good as a blind buy, I think they're asking for a very specialized review. A lot of people will love a movie, but they can still recognize that it wouldn't be for everyone. There are a lot of movies I would recommend to rent, but not to buy it blind. When I read through one of these threads, I think I can get a pretty good idea of the general consensus. As far as "it's only $15," if I blind bought everything I thought I might want, my wife would leave me. (And take all the DVDs!) |
Originally posted by Brian McHale As far as "it's only $15," if I blind bought everything I thought I might want, my wife would leave me. (And take all the DVDs!) |
Originally posted by GuessWho Buy the damn blind buy, and if you didn't like it, throw it in the garbage. You heard me, throw it in the garbage... and just pretend you saw it in the theater. You wouldn't have had anything sitting on your shelf after a theater trip anyway. |
Originally posted by GuessWho (they need our permission to buy something) |
Originally posted by El-Kabong That reminds me - can I stop at the video store on the way home and get a disc? |
For once I agree with GuessWho! -ptth-
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Originally posted by El-Kabong That reminds me - can I stop at the video store on the way home and get a disc? |
Originally posted by GuessWho What is the fascination with polling others about buying a DVD of a movie you haven't seen & needing others' approval to do so? Originally posted by GuessWho You're arguing over $15 or so. Isn't seeing a movie in the theater the same darn thing as a 'blind buy'???? Yet people have no problem dropping $25-30 (2 tics, popcorn) on a so-called 'blind buy' that way. Tell me the difference Furthermore, I bought over 100 DVDs in the past year. However, I only saw 25 movies in the theatre. My investment in DVDs was somewhere north of $2000 (I bought box sets and Criterion OOPs). My investment in the movies was around $200. So, yes, I am a bit more careful about how I spend $2000 as opposed to $200. Woudln't you be? Originally posted by GuessWho 2) I think many of you are asking this question and looking for nothing more than a movie review (Is the film good?) that bottom line have nothing to do with the DVD product (Reviews Forum for that anyway). I have some new ideas: read Ebert or another critic you like, post your query in Movie or Reviews Forums here, or check out other movie review sites. Originally posted by siberianhusky Well I think people want a movie review. The diffrence however is that the review is not coming from these putzes that do it for a living and have no clue what a good movie is. They want to hear what normal people have to say and go from that. It's asking for opinions from many different voices, and an ensuing discussion of the film and/or DVD will ensue. I can't discuss a DVD with Ebert. It's a one-sided conversation. So, while I value his input, I don't rely only on him (or anyone else for that matter) exclusively. Originally posted by GuessWho And wouldn't "what are your best blind buys?" be the same as: "What are movies you saw in the theater and liked that you didn't see in the theater already beforehand?" Originally posted by GuessWho Silly, right? Buying a theater ticket is a blind buy, yet most make that blind buy without hesitation from a commercial/trailer, and not intense online research. I'm still looking for the difference. DVD: as low as $5-7, as high as $200. DVDs are investments. The person that asked whether or not they should spend $15 on Signs might not have the budget to simply spend $15 at will. They might not even go to the theatre. One can't assume that everyone drops $30 "without hesitation" in the theatres. I know I don't. The people that don't are also more likely to research DVDs. Find me someone who brags that they see two movies a week in the theatre at $20 a pop, and then later is hesitant at buying a $12.99 DVD. Even if you do find them, I will find more people that don't go to the theatre a lot and wait for the DVD. Originally posted by DarthMarklar Since blind buys are really asking for a review of the DVD, I never understood why they ended up in "DVD Talk" when there's a "DVD review" category underneath it. Originally posted by bboisvert For 99% of the films that are being asked about, you can go to the IMDb and read 100+ online reviews, in addition to dozens of user comments. If that can't give you a sense of how much you'll probably enjoy the movie, I don't know how a thread in DVDTalk is going to help you... Originally posted by GuessWho they need our permission to buy something Originally posted by GuessWho Buy the damn blind buy, and if you didn't like it, throw it in the garbage. You heard me, throw it in the garbage... and just pretend you saw it in the theater. You wouldn't have had anything sitting on your shelf after a theater trip anyway. Cheapest: Theatre trip, second-run theatre, no snacks: $2 DVD, pre-viewed, old movie: $6 Most expensive (for a regular person): Theatre trip, at night: $10 DVD, special limited edition / Criterion, at retail store: $30 DVDs are still more expensive than going to the theatre. A DVD (for me) is like two or three theatre trips. So, I'll troll you in return: "Saw a movie you didn't like? See it twice more, same price as a DVD!" :rolleyes: Originally posted by DumDum :lol: I would have to agree with the majority. These threads definitely belong in the reviews forum. DVD Talk: Talk about DVD's and Movies on DVD. DVD Reviews: Read, Post and Request DVD Reviews. Since when are blind buy threads full reviews of movies? Most people will post a few comments but rarely is there a full review, which is what the DVD Reviews section is for, as it states on this site. So, CLIFF NOTES: - People asking about blind buys do not necessarily spend $50/week on movies in the theatre. They may spend more on DVDs than on movies in the theatre, so are more careful about this. You would be more careful with relatively bigger ticket items, right? - People can say their thoughts in DVD Talk. If they have a full-blown review, they can go to DVD Reviews. |
Originally posted by The Bus So you're saying that we're looking for "a movie review that, bottom line, [has] nothing to do with the DVD product" -- I'm confused. |
Originally posted by The Bus That's like me going into sports and saying "Why do you guys talk about sports and ask for advice on who to bet on?" Everyone will have thier own opinion as to what is good. Just because I LOVED "Lord of the Rings" doesn't mean that everyone else will, so I don't see how my opinion would matter to everyone else. That's A lot of people simply post 3rd-party reviews or their extensive reviews on a DVD in the Review forum. If you only have a thought or two ("I'll buy Red Dragon, I want all Edward Norton's performances on DVD") and they can't/won't/don't want to write a full review, it would look silly to have that be a thread right? Since when are blind buy threads full reviews of movies? Most people will post a few comments but rarely is there a full review, which is what the DVD Reviews section is for, as it states on this site. Originally posted by Static Cling It does seem like there are a lot of these threads. If it keeps up... and it probably will... I'll probably start moving them to DVD Reviews. Because if you're asking if a disc is a good blind buy, you're basically asking how good the disc is. |
Originally posted by GuessWho ie: Discussing the film and giving you my opinion of story, plot development , characters, direction, and quality of acting has NOTHING to do with the DVD disc. I could've seen it in the theater, on TV, on a plane. The film is the film. |
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