Carl David
Supporting Actor
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2020
- Messages
- 539
- Real Name
- Carl
It may seem archaic by most here I think but I am going to remain a physical media only purchaser of films at the moment.
My reasons for this are numerous.
Firstly, this may seem quirky but I like the privilege of being able to physically view my films when deciding on which film to watch. The process of looking at the cover and the plot sypnosis on the back etc. This helps me to visualize/remember the film from when I last watched it and enable me to make a decision more clearly on whether I want to watch the film again or not in that particular moment.
I don't know how other people's viewing habits are but I have to be in a particular type of mood to watch a certain type/genre of film depening on how I am feeling. Looking through my collection helps me to do this. Digitally, this option does not appeal to me as I feel I will probably spend longer looking through the titles before I make a decision. This could become problematic with hundreds to choose from. Physically, it is more effiicent as you can skim through your hundreds of titles very quickly and visually take in each movie etc. For someone like me I reckon I would probably take at least an hour to make a decision if I was looking online.
Does this make sense?
Secondly, I like to do things like have an 80's movie binge and watch 80s only films all week etc. I don't think this is practical through streaming as I have tried looking for some lately to see if I could do it with some titles I was interested to watch and a lot of them were not even available to stream, rent or download.
However, I do have to also admit there was some titles online that I did not think were available and I was really surprised. Shy People being an example and this title is only on VHS. It has never been released on DVD or Blu Ray. I was impressed by that.
Lastly, for any film in my collection I know I can watch at any time I want. Choose a title and play the disc. Online not so much.
I may have watched a particular film through streaming one year and then decide a year later that I want to watch it again. No such luck. It has been removed so now I do not have an option to watch it. True, it may come back again only a month later and I can watch it then.
My problem is I want to watch that film now. I am in the mood now to watch that film but I can't.
This is a problem for me and in fact it would probably annoy me now that I know I do not have the option/privilege to watch it.
I understand it is cheaper to stream and I applaud that but I am happy to spend more money building my own physical collection and having the freedom to watch any of them any time I want to suit my mood.
However, having had a look at a few titles online I have noticed that there are some films that are not available to stream. Only for rental and download. These options are nearly the same as purchasing a Blu-Ray itself and in a way could be more expensive.
For example, the films I saw were £3.50 for rental or £7.99 download (UK). Maybe someone can explain otherwise but if I rent the film for £3.50 (not sure the expiry time of it) and then decide to wach it a year later I am going to have to pay £3.50 again am I not? I don't like the idea of downloading digital films due to unreliability/flaws in hardware technology.
I don't know about anyone else but with some films I might want to watch them 3,4, 5 or more times in a year. If I do that I am better off buying the disc. Many Blu Ray films can be purchased from new for less than £9.99 now excluding Criterion and a few others.
I know many here will think I am trying to justify prolonging my collection of physical media but I think my reasons are more than justified in my stubbornness to succumb to the utopian lost horizon of what is streaming/digital movie watching.
My reasons for this are numerous.
Firstly, this may seem quirky but I like the privilege of being able to physically view my films when deciding on which film to watch. The process of looking at the cover and the plot sypnosis on the back etc. This helps me to visualize/remember the film from when I last watched it and enable me to make a decision more clearly on whether I want to watch the film again or not in that particular moment.
I don't know how other people's viewing habits are but I have to be in a particular type of mood to watch a certain type/genre of film depening on how I am feeling. Looking through my collection helps me to do this. Digitally, this option does not appeal to me as I feel I will probably spend longer looking through the titles before I make a decision. This could become problematic with hundreds to choose from. Physically, it is more effiicent as you can skim through your hundreds of titles very quickly and visually take in each movie etc. For someone like me I reckon I would probably take at least an hour to make a decision if I was looking online.
Does this make sense?
Secondly, I like to do things like have an 80's movie binge and watch 80s only films all week etc. I don't think this is practical through streaming as I have tried looking for some lately to see if I could do it with some titles I was interested to watch and a lot of them were not even available to stream, rent or download.
However, I do have to also admit there was some titles online that I did not think were available and I was really surprised. Shy People being an example and this title is only on VHS. It has never been released on DVD or Blu Ray. I was impressed by that.
Lastly, for any film in my collection I know I can watch at any time I want. Choose a title and play the disc. Online not so much.
I may have watched a particular film through streaming one year and then decide a year later that I want to watch it again. No such luck. It has been removed so now I do not have an option to watch it. True, it may come back again only a month later and I can watch it then.
My problem is I want to watch that film now. I am in the mood now to watch that film but I can't.
This is a problem for me and in fact it would probably annoy me now that I know I do not have the option/privilege to watch it.
I understand it is cheaper to stream and I applaud that but I am happy to spend more money building my own physical collection and having the freedom to watch any of them any time I want to suit my mood.
However, having had a look at a few titles online I have noticed that there are some films that are not available to stream. Only for rental and download. These options are nearly the same as purchasing a Blu-Ray itself and in a way could be more expensive.
For example, the films I saw were £3.50 for rental or £7.99 download (UK). Maybe someone can explain otherwise but if I rent the film for £3.50 (not sure the expiry time of it) and then decide to wach it a year later I am going to have to pay £3.50 again am I not? I don't like the idea of downloading digital films due to unreliability/flaws in hardware technology.
I don't know about anyone else but with some films I might want to watch them 3,4, 5 or more times in a year. If I do that I am better off buying the disc. Many Blu Ray films can be purchased from new for less than £9.99 now excluding Criterion and a few others.
I know many here will think I am trying to justify prolonging my collection of physical media but I think my reasons are more than justified in my stubbornness to succumb to the utopian lost horizon of what is streaming/digital movie watching.
Last edited: