Guide
to Collecting DVDs
Why
should DVDs be collected?
Backwards
compatability is ensuring that only single layer DVD's can be played on
the very latest multi layer DVD players. Home computers will have DVD
rom drives for a very long time and with the advent of recordable DVD
media it is unlikely that the industy will switch to a non disk media
format. DVD's take up less space that the old video format - and provides
a near cinema format experience - with the right system setup. The old
laser disk video systems are still in use today as the disks are non degradable
and they offer brilliant picture quality - technically superior to the
compressed DVD format. So if DVD is ever superceded by another format
- you will still have superb quality movies in your collection to watch
that will not wear out or degrade over time. I think my video has chewed
up every one of my irreplacable original Dr Who episodes!!!! It never
chews up things that are replacable - thet is why I am switching to DVD!
What
is a collectable DVD?
It
has to be something very unusual hard to get or of a very high quality.
Like beauty collectability is very much in the eye of the beholder. To
some having every ever Sylvester Stallone DVD movie released in every
format with every different cover and collectors edition from each country
would form the basis of a collection - to others a good mix of movie genres
would form a collection to offer entertainment for your every mood. The
key then is that you enjoy your DVD collection - your DVD's are not being
collected in the hope that in 50 years time you can flog them off and
make a huge profit with them!
Importing
DVD's
Sometimes
you can beat your local release date for a blockbuster movie if you import
one from another country ie: British films are usually released in Britain
on DVD first and US movies are released in the US first. You may also
pick up something unusual - for example the movie Wing commander was never
on general release in the UK cinemas - but fans of the computer game really
enjoyed it - although no-one else seemed interested - so the only way
to obtain a DVD version was to import it from the USA! One point on importing
DVDs is to check that you are buying an english language version of the
film most countries supply movies with an english soundtrack or at least
subtitles even Malaysian (region 4) DVD's have English on them!
Different
countries often have slightly different releases - perhaps the cover design
is changed or maybe there are bonus features that did not fit on to your
local version of the film (See really exclusive stuff for more details).
Spy Kids I for example was released in the UK with a host of extra features
and even a full computer DVD Rom section with screen savers - the Canadian
version only has a trailer - but the Canadian version was about half the
price including the shipping cost. So when you want a DVD you must find
out which version you would enjoy the most a cheap low feature version
or a more expensive all singing and all dancing DVD. It also pays to shop
around - our shopping links give suggestions as to the cheapest places
on the NET to import DVD's from you may have to pay your local import
tax or duty before the import is delivered to you if it's declared value
is over a certain amount.
Exclusive
DVDs - perhaps mainstream stuff bores you.
Sometimes
a run of covers is misprinted perhaps one colour of ink runs out or there
is a spelling mistake or mis cut on the insert - these are not usually
put on display in shops or even sold from online shops so if a limited
run of misprint is your thing (it is to some people) you need to ask
the man in the shop, email the store concerned - try emailing the returns
department. With this type of exclusivity I prefer to see and inspect
what I am buying so I stick to the local shops.
Small movie companies often release limited edition 'festival releases'
of new directors work or there may be multimedia experiences available
to showcase your DVD and home cinema set up which show off the sound or
video capabilities - searching online is the way to go for this sort of
thing.
Some
DVD's particularly in the UK are often released with the extras on a separate
disk (or 3 extra disks in the case of the Lord of The Rings!)- this is
perhaps down to the way the UK rates the movies - a 120 minute movie is
rated and the disk is stamped with that rating - to add another 10 minutes
bonus footage the distibuter would I understand have to pay to have the
full 130 minutes reviewed all over again! (The cost per minute is staggering
see the BBFC website for details!) So UK editions are sometimes quite
special with separate bonus disks! Also UK disks (region 2) cover Europe
so there are often a few different language soundtracks and subtitles
which all take up space on the DVD so sometimes extra features just do
not fit on to 1 DVD! They either don't bother or release a second disk
within the set. DVD's can be compressed at different rates - higher compression
means more stuff but sometimes a slightly inferior movie experience.
Import
DVD's with Extras.
Simple
point - don't pay extra to import a version that has a directors commentry
if you don't like or can't use the extras you're paying for! DTS sound
is a good example - this takes up loads of space and sometimes means no
extra features or spanning 2 disks - if you don't have a DTS sound system
then it's pointless getting the DTS version - the same also goes for high
bitstream super bit encoded DVD's for High Definition TV's (HDTV) just
a waste unless you have the equipment to realise the potential. Why buy
a more expensive box set - paying extra to get a T-Shirt, mug or coaster
that you will never use! Collecting is supposed to be fun - it's not about
boasting to your mates over a pint.
Buying
used DVD's
Check
the quality of the Disk - some people try to pass of scratched and damaged
DVD's or they take out the 'Free Booklet' that came with it a genuine
seller will not mind you making that a condition of the sale!
Legal
notice:
Check
the rules and regulations in your country relating to the sale of pre-recorded
movie footage - her in the UK for example it is illegal to supply a
movie to anyone that has not been rated by the BBFC - British Board
Of Film Classification - even if the movie is available in the UK. Imported
DVD's often are un-cut or are cut differently - for example a DVD from
malaysia has all adult oriented material completely removed by the censor
and something that passes a US censor (if there is one) requires a cut
in the UK before it is given the required certificate.
Beat
the auctions:
Don't
pay over the odds either - it's very easy to this when you get carried
away. Do some research before you make a bid to ensure that you can't
buy it new and online at a lower price. Here's a top tip - check the closing
time of a lot - DO NOT BID UNTIL THE END! Synchronise your watch with
the auction sites time and put a bid in a few seconds before the auction
ends - people will not have an opportunity to out bid you! The trick is
to open a number of bid pages for the same item - put a differing amount
on each one up to the bid limit you have set and you can submit 2 or 3
bids instantly in the closing seconds just in case anyone has been watching
and waiting like you. I also helps if your closing bid is an unusually
odd amount people work in whole numbers 75.00, 45.00, etc make it an original
bid - use 75.01, 45.63 - pan opponents bid may be beaten by just a few
pence using this technique. I beleive that this is known as 'siniping'
and you can even get software to help you to do it automatically submitting
bids in the closing seconds of a lot - I think auctions will soon get
wise to this huge advantage so exploit it while it is there!
Other
formats and extensions to DVD specifications:
Rule
1 make sure that they play on your equipment! Formats such as DTS and
superbit (A full guide to superbit coming soon) is the very latest in
cutting edge and I am sure that Dolby 6.1 will soon be out with overhead
sound effects!
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