The world has changed.
I feel it when I shop.
I feel it when I mention DVDs or Blu-rays to anyone under 30.
Much that once was is lost. For few now live who remember the thrill of discovering obscure gems at the video store or being able to own lavish editions of films on shiny discs.
It began when Netflix began allowing you to watch films streaming over the Internet to your computer.
It will end with the demise of physical media, when studios will once again be able to dictate when and where you are able to watch your favorite films and an un-capped data plan will be the only gateway to film buff satisfaction.
Okay. So I may be a tad bit hyperbolic in my pessimism, but I don't think by much. The writing is on the wall for physical media. CDs are all but dead. Vinyl has made a minor resurgence, but the young folks who are currently embracing the love of cracks, pops, and cool artwork will eventually move on to something else. DVD sales are shrinking. Blu-ray never took to a level that was hoped-for by the studios. UHD is but a blip in sales figures.
Streaming is the future. Don't misunderstand me. I enjoy the convenience of plopping my large butt in my recliner and spending an evening watching movies on Netflix or marathoning a TV series on Hulu as much as the next tubby American. Streaming, as a technology, is fantastic! With ever-increasing download speeds and better compression algorithms, streaming media can often look and sound quite good on a gigantic television. There is an ever-expanding variety of streaming services that cater to all types of interests. Streamed content doesn't take up any shelf space.
I still prefer my shiny discs.
In the first place, video and audio quality are still better on a Blu-ray or UHD disc than via streaming. While 4k streaming is available, the move by ISPs to push data caps have insured that streaming high resolution video has to be minimized for the time being. Disc-based media allows for high bitrate video streams and uncompressed, high resolution audio. What that means for those of you who aren't A/V nerds is that the picture is clearer and more-detailed and the sound is more dynamic with a disc.
Secondly, content is pulled from streaming services all the time. Even folks who have paid to "own" a digital copy of a film have had that content either changed or yanked by the studios for sometimes arbitrary reasons. If I own a film on disc, it's mine. I can watch it whenever I want, for as long as I own a functioning player. I can also let my friends borrow it with no hassles. Many films and TV programs only exist today because of people who obtained them on physical media in the past.
Finally, you won't get sued for buying a DVD or Blu-ray. Downloading or streaming from sharing sites may offer convenience, but Hollywood is working overtime to shut it down and they have very deep pockets. Sometimes it's the only way to see certain content (see the previous paragraph), but it's a risk, nonetheless.
For those of you who are still with me after that rant, this brings me to the purpose of this site. Right now is a great time to be able to purchase DVDs and Blu-rays. Unless a film is a brand new Hollywood blockbuster, you can often buy a DVD or Blu-ray of it for under $10; sometimes waaaaaay under. That's primarily what I'll be covering here. I discovered that these cheap releases, often containing multiple films, are often ignored by the larger review sites. It can be very difficult to find information about their quality or contents. I'm going to do my small part to remedy that.
While the artistic value of many of these budget releases can be uneven, I've often found a diamond buried beneath the layers of garbage. At such a low investment, that makes it all worthwhile. I'm willing to take the bullet so that you don't have to do so. See? I care!
Finally, small boutique labels like Grindhouse Releasing, Code Red, Arrow, Twilight Time, and Shout Factory are currently releasing wonderful editions of lesser-known or genre content that are often lovingly restored and packed to the gills with special features. I will slip in the occasional review of these releases, since I feel like anyone who would regularly visit this site will likely be interested in the types of films contained in these releases. I know what you people are like.
So, here I go, clutching my precious discs to my ample man-bosom while the world moves on without me. As God is my witness, however, I'm taking some of you down with me.
