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.

(applause) 'nuff said

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).

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.

http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/forumdi...?s=&forumid=17

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.

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...

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.

And you can discuss the movie itself in our Movie Talk forum.



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!)

My "only $15" comment was in a comparison to going to the theater because unless you're a Star Wars or LOTR fanatic seeing Episode 37 for the 8th time, everything you see in the theater is a blind buy, yet people often choose what they'll see based on a commercial or simply by seeing what starts next at the multiplex (vs polling online forum members first )

:lol: I would have to agree with the majority. These threads definitely belong in the reviews forum.

That reminds me - can I stop at the video store on the way home and get a disc?

No. Go home and straight to your room, young man!

For once I agree with GuessWho! -ptth-

NO! Go home and watch all your 'unwatched' DVD's before you buy/rent anymore ;)

I don't know, DVDs are cool. Cinema is cool. Flicks are cool. This seems like a pure forum-crap. 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?"





Your logic is flawed in that you assume those who ask about blind buys also spend $30 in the theatre. I ask about blind buys. I don't spend more than $8 in the theatre, and I try to catch the $5 matinees.

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?



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. In your viewpoint, the movie itself has nothing to do with the DVD? A bad movie on a DVD is less attractive than a good movie on a DVD. Therefore, the quality of the movie ("Is it good?") is very important to a lot of people, and therefore, an integral part of the DVD (along with video, audio, and extras).



While I wouldn't call all reviewers "putzes" I do want to hear what some of the members on the board think of a movie. Opening up a thread that asks, "Should I buy Bourne Identity?" is not "needing other's approval" to buy a movie. I don't need anyone's approval to buy a movie. Otherwise, I wouldn't own Captain Ron, Tremors 3, and Freddy Got Fingered.

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.



No, you can't "blind buy" a theatre admission. That question can be rephrased as, "What movies which you had never seen before did you like the most when you bought them blind on DVD?" It's shorthand. That question does not apply to theatrical showings, which are mostly "blind showings" anyways.



Theatre: as low as $1-5, as high as $10 (or $20 with a date).
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.



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?


Reading reviews = one-sided conversation. You can't ask the reviewer anything. Thread = multiple-parties involved. You can ask, "How are the CGI effects in Signs? How's the script in xXx?" You can debate ("The Ents looked terrible!") -- you can't do that reading a review. It's like saying, "Why do you ask me my opinion about Iraq? There's people on TV talking about it."


If they do, it's a minority.


Good, nice job of trolling AND flame-baiting at the same time.

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:



From the DVD Discussion section.
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.

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.

No, that's like going into the sports forum and saying "Oakland Raiders - any good?"

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.

No. What's wrong with asking for a review of a DVD in the "DVD Review" category????

To quote an Administrator:
You can't argue with that. :D

The film is the film. The DVD is also the film. Hence, discussions about the DVD contain discussions of the film.

Re-read. I was refering to GuessWho's thread, not blind buy threads.


So if your opinion doesn't matter, why are you so opinionated on this issue, and do we care? :D ;)

In reviewing a film, you discuss story, plot development, characters, direction, and quality of acting.

When you review DVD disc, discussing veer towards the DVD-ish aspects of it in addition to the above. Additions include technical audio & video specs and special features.

To pose "Is Barbershop really that funny? I may get it as a blind buy" is asking for the former, not the latter.

Well, movie opinions are soely 'individualistic', whereas DVD Forum rules and regulations aren't.

From the DVD Talk Forum: Is Barbershop a good blind buy?

Two comments on the DVD, "Great movie and it has plenty of extras jump on it for 14.99." and "In a funny DVD bonus [scene], we find out...". Also, seven people reference the DVD ("I'm picking it up" vs. I returned it") which means they are talking about the overall value of the product, as opposed to "It's not a funny movie."

This should be, and is, a DVD Talk Thread. They are talking about the DVD.

Now, I don't mind short responses to threads. But how excited would you be if the "reviews" in DVD Reviews were like this: "Yes. Very good movie." or "Nope don't buy it. Yuck." These comments don't belong in DVD Reviews, because those aren't reviews!


From the Movie Forum: What's so great about "Barbershop"?

Comments on the DVD: 1, regarding the price. The rest was on the structure of the movie and how it was handled upon its theatrical release. This thread sprang up after the release of the DVD.

This should be, and is, a Movie Talk Thread.


Last one now. DVD Talk had a thread called: Disappointed by "Barbershop". Total posts? 4. Two were saying the DVD wasn't that good, one mentioned, "I had high hopes for it though, some pretty decent extra's on it made up for the disappointment with the movie." One just said they saw the movie in the theatre.

So would you honestly put any of these in DVD Reviews?

Here's my opinipon why these threads are pretty much worthless when deciding if something is a "good blind buy". Most of the people will not go into a movie discussion in those threads, and will simply say "I loved it", "I hated it", "it was ok". How the hell does that tell you if its a good blind buy? If you seriously want to consider buying something you haven't seen, go to the movies forum where pretty much every mainstream movie is talked about pretty extensively. Very rarely do these "good blind buy" threads have even anything regarding how good of a dvd it is. People are asking wheather the movie itself is good.

Dvd Talk forum should not be clogged with peoples opinions of movies - that should be done in the movie or a review forum!!!!

SOME PEOPLE JUST HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE 10+ OTHER FORUM ON DVDTLAK!!!

Store questions don't go into the dvdtalk forum, they should be in the Store Forum. Opinions on movies should be in the Movie Forum. etc...

REMEMBER EVERYBODY, THE "SEARCH" FEATURE IS YOUR FRIEND, NOT AN ENEMY!!!

If they were worthless, why would people start them?

That's why I keep suggesting (to the Mods) for a "Blind Buy" category. It should make everyone happy.

1) It'll keep the "Blind Buy" threads from popping up in this forum and
2) It'll offer easy access to people who want to know if they should buy a certain movie blindly.


p.s. I guess no one wants to challenge my point about the Moderator saying this thread isn't a good place for "Blind Buy" topics? :D

Why do they make Pan and Scan DVD's? ;)

I suppose people who ask this question have their reasons. As for myself, I have a pretty good gut instinct on "blind buys". I've rarely ever went wrong . . . sometimes I don't like a DVD the second way through, so I trade them, sell them - whatever - no problem.

Some DVDs are definitely worth asking the question, is it a good blind-buy and I'm specifically speaking of Criterions. If you're going to spend at the very least $20 for a DVD, you're going to want to know if your money will be well spent or not.

And what if EVERYONE says it's a "Great" blind buy? Does that mean you will think it's great? Not necessarily, I had SO many people tell me that Spiderman was a GREAT DVD, but I hated it, so how would've a blind buy topic helped me out?

And to make the argument: "You should talk with people who have the same tastes as you", well my friend and I have almost the EXACT same tastes and, when he ranted and raved over Spiderman, I bought it because I trusted him...I was WRONG!

Post them if you must, but I gotta agree with those who don't understand how they help.

p.s. If you're REALLY that concerned about $20, then should you be making "Blind Purchases" in the first place????? -ohbfrank-

I guess for the same reason people ask when is Seinfeld, etc.. coming out on semi-weekly basis. Why do the newbies refuse to read the forum rules before posting, etc, etc...

I'm waiting for someone to ask if Modern Times or Metropolis are good deaf buys.

Good lord! 5$ for a theater? Where the hell do you see your movies?!? Around here its 10 bucks - even for an early show! And that's without popcorn and parking.

Might i put forth the suggestion that we steal a page from animeondvd's forum? Change the reviews forum to "Reviews and Recommendations" - where all the "Hey is Series X any good?" threads go.

Well, I had this thread recommended to me, and thought I'd try as a blind read. It started out great, but turned into nothing special. I'm putting it up at Half.com.

I saw "The 6th Sense" & "Me, Myself & Irene" at one of those $5 theaters...To quote Comic Book Guy (The Simpsons) "WORST movie experiences EVER!"

The image on screen was washed out, the sounds was crackly, not only were the floors sticky, but so were the seats!!!! :eek: