My DVD rant

[neco82]

Now, I don't own a DVD. My belief is, if you don't own a home theater system, a DVD is pretty much pointless.

What makes me mad is that movies today are all about DVDs. I look at the "New Videos of the Week" and they're all DVDs.

I'm not saying they're bad, for a film lover (like me), they're awesome, but I don't like how VHS is being neglected. I own about 130 movies on tape, and there is no way in hell I'm gonna be tossing them all out to buy a DVD player.

Unless you can assure me that that player will come with 10 movies attached to it. I live in South America, and as is usually the case with Third World countries, everything technological is expensive as shit. I'd be wasting a six-month allowance on a DVD player and just a couple of discs, when I could be buying a hell of a lot of VHS tapes.

So I'll be keeping my VCR until DVD players aren't so damn expensive. And until I get a home theater system.

[CriticalBill6966]

I hear you dude.

I had about 250 movies on VHS when the DVD format came out....I thought it wouldn't stick (like the minidisc). I was wrong. I felt the same you do no way I going to get rid of these.

But there is a time where you have to go with socity. Times change and so you have to upgrade in order to keep up.

I now own 326 DVDs and love everyone of them (most of them replaced the VHS version). Better picture, sound, extras...all perks of DVD.

DVD players are now the norm...you could buy an ok player for about $200. You could also do what I did, save up and then get the whole thing...reciver, player, speakers...all for $700...not bad is it.

Just like the 8-track you are going to have to change and accept it....just fear when DVDs are going out and somthing eles replaces it....NOOOO!

[ParileseMonster]

I love my videos, but I love DVD's even more because DVD's you can play into the ground and they are still great but you do that with video the video gets some wear and tear.
Letterboxing is another great thing about DVD's. Before I met my husband, I never really cared but he is a big one for letterbox because regular video format is the kind that fits your tv and with a majority of films watching it that way, you are missing alot of information.
He did the Pepsi challenge on me. He played me Poltergeist fit to tv version and then he played me the letterboxed format on his Laserdisc, which has the same viewing and extras as the Dvd.
And I have to tell you I prefered the Laser/dvd format option a hell of alot better! DVD also can take a movie that looks and sounds like shit on a video and make it look and sound so damn beautiful it's truly amazing.
Im also glad he kept his lasers because they offer features that the same movies on dvd do not, that is one thing that pisses me off about dvd is that some movies are totally neglected feature wise (Friday the 13th for example! http://www.joblo.com/ubb/frown.gif ). But for the most part movies on dvd have extras.
That is why I dig DVD it's because of the features and the commentary you get along with it, video does not really have that!
It's hard for some people to get used to changes and technology and also having to replace a collection again but I am very glad I bought my DVD player and my dvd's.

[inglourious basterd]

Picture quality and Sound Quality in DVD are better than VHS by tenfold. Some movies come out even better than they do in the theaters! (In my experiences, anyway.)

DVD = Movie + Sound Quality + Picture Clarity + Trailers + Commentaries - Annoying, Outdated Theatrical Trailers for other films.

I think they are worth it. Once you try it, you wont go back.

[ak]

Well, i wouldn't be surprised if some DVDs are better quality than the film quality is in the cinema.
If you think about it, in the cinema, you've got the copy of a copy of a copy of a copy, which is being played over and over and over again.
DVD is a simple case of using one of the near master quality films and putting it onto disk via their magical digital stuff.....no quality decline whatsoever.

[Fergus]

I personally prefer the DVD format. Unlike some people, I like to watch movies in the anamorphic widescreen format, which is much better than full screen.

Also, since my last few visits to the movie theater, I have noticed that the quality of the picture thay project on the screen is quite bad. Therefore, I welcome the picture on a DVD when I watch it. Even if a little grain shows up, I don't mind because I can think of how much grain I see on a movie screen.

[The Heart Collector]

"My belief is, if you don't own a home theater system, a DVD is pretty much pointless."

Ah, but you see, you don't truly need a home theater system to appreciate a DVD. The image quality, the original aspect ratio, the improvement in sound, and the extra features are enjoyable even in the crappiest TV.

[Dignan777]

I really can't go back to watching videos after getting the dvd player. Easy to skip over parts, no having to fast forward through the trailers in the beginning. And the extras! My god the exras! No more VHS for me.

[Cyclonus]

Exactly, Heart.

[Tyler Durden4]

Same thing with Bluray now

[Dragula]

Same thing with Bluray now

Don't even get me started on Blu-Ray.

[vesaker]

I know it sucks now that VHS isn't really being made anymore but its a thing of the times and we have no choice but to move along with it. But that doesn't mean you shoul'd get rid of your VHS, that would just be silly.

There is not argument that DvD's are better quaility then VHS and that is probably the main reason they surviveda nd took over outside of them, and i'm assuming, cheaper to produce.

And neco heres a suggestion, keep a look out for a home theater with a DvD player built into the reciver ;) they are pretty common (though not sure about that you being where you are) and they seem to be alot less hassle then having separate.

[Trail_Blazer]

Maybe eventually you could buy a VHS/DVD combo recorder... Where you might be able to transfer many of your old VHS tapes onto recordable DVD's.... That's what I've done for several movies I've had....

[Criminal Rock]

All you need to purchase is an RGB (or component) video converter card for you PC. If your computer can Burn DVD's, this is the cheapest way to go...

[LordSimen]

This rant was posted in 2001, guys. Haha.

[vesaker]

This rant was posted in 2001, guys. Haha.

how can you tell?

[LordSimen]

Top left corner of the post, on the yellow strip. It has the date the post was made.

[Tyler Durden4]

Haha, yeah I just like looking at dead threads.

[BubbaStrangelove]

I wish someone had told that poor guy that buying a DVD player didn't mean he had to go throw his VCR into the ocean.

[vesaker]

Top left corner of the post, on the yellow strip. It has the date the post was made.

well i'll be, i've actaully never noticed that before now. Was that there in the older format too?

[mutesaint]

well i'll be, i've actaully never noticed that before now. Was that there in the older format too?

Im pretty sure it was.

[vesaker]

Im pretty sure it was.

wow, with how observant i am its a wonder i havn't been hit by a parked car yet

[bonoferox]

I found it kind of weird that someone was actually going to have a problem with DVDs and preferring VHS in 2007 / 2008...I'm hoping his view has changed by now.

[EZM22]

I found it kind of weird that someone was actually going to have a problem with DVDs and preferring VHS in 2007 / 2008...I'm hoping his view has changed by now.

It has, actually.

I don't even remember writing that post. Has it really been six/seven years?

In the end, I went with a DVD, and gave away all my tapes to some friends in college (at least the recorded ones, I kept the originals).

Nowadays my DVD collection numbers around 300+ (mostly made up of pirated copies though, since original DVDs are still expensive as hell around these parts), and frankly, I wouldn't have it any other way. DVD is so widespread nowadays that you can find any movie anywhere, and by now I'm used to it (even though I hardly watch special features, but they're still a nice bonus).

I guess I got along with the times... now I'll just have to wait and see if I ever have to deal with that format war everyone's talking about. Frankly, as long as I can keep seeing movies, I could care less.

[terrestrial]

Had then the same problem. :rolleyes:
Had ~ 500 VHS movies, was long reluctant to change to DVD.

But as I started... never looked back and never can stop myself to buy more and more DVD's since I realised, that I can learn/improve my English with watching them in English (preferable with English subtitles). For the moment I own at least 1600 original DVD's (1/2 of them not to list here or i have not figured it out), if available in the special editions, so I am also an extra-freak (even when they contain far too often/much 'all was soooo great here at the set' blabla).

English was my worst subject, my todays abilities are ~85% self-trained through DVD's and books. And the picturequaity... not to compare.