Buying Movies: The Future

[Brian2887]

This afternoon, I went to Blockbuster to rent Another Earth. It wasn't there, and the cashier had never heard of it. So, I drove over to Walmart, home of the nearest Redbox, and it wasn't there either.

I figured I'd walk back to Electronics and see how much a DVD cost to buy. And, there was no DVD. There was, however, a Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo box. Apparently, consumers are looking for all three at once, or else, and this is my theory, film studios have no idea how consumers want to buy movies.

Personally, I'm a little confused myself. I don't own a Blu-Ray player because I honestly don't see the need. Blu-Ray seems like a stop gap between DVDs and Streaming/Downloading, which is where I think most purchases will come from.

How do you buy your movies nowadays? Hard copies? Downloads? iTunes, Amazon Cloud, or this new UltraViolet service?

Like many of you, I'm sure, I have a pretty vast collection of movies/tv shows on DVD, and I'd love to be able to ditch the hard copies and store them in a cloud-style service, but I'm not sure if the technology is there yet. What are your experiences with movie purchases these days?

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

I still buy hard copies. There will enver be anything like actually buying a film and holding it in your hand.

 

[Morg]

I rent and netflix

 

[cronosred]

I buy combo packs, although I don't have a blu-ray player yet I figure electronics don't last forever and blu-ray players keep going down in price so eventually I will get one. I will always want a hard copy of my movies because downloads seem to usually come with so many complications and restrictions, I want to be able to watch my movie where I want when I want.

 

[Tron wolfgang]

I still buy hard copies. There will enver be anything like actually buying a film and holding it in your hand.

These are words of wisdom my friends
I totally agree with this comment.

 

[Soapy]

This is going to be a little bit of a rant, but people really need to stop having bull**** nostalgia about physical media. They really do. It's such a stupid thing to latch onto. This idea that it's somehow inherently better to have books movies and music and games taking up space in your home, collecting dust, only to be thrown into a landfill some day, rather than taking up disk on a HDD on your computer or a media server or in a datacenter somewhere is ridiculous. It seems like most people enjoy the plastic box sitting on their shelf more than the actual content itself.

Between watching movies on demand and subscribing to Netflix a couple of years ago, I don't think I've bought a single movie. It seems like such a primitive idea to me now.

 

[Symbiotic]

Hard copies. I was an avid watcher of VHS tapes in my youth, and continued with DVD and Blu-ray. The truth is, as others have said, I like owning my films in physical packages. I'm against streaming and downloading becoming the majority in the future because of that.

 

[Antithesis_SD]

This is going to be a little bit of a rant, but people really need to stop having bull**** nostalgia about physical media. They really do. It's such a stupid thing to latch onto. This idea that it's somehow inherently better to have books movies and music and games taking up space in your home, collecting dust, only to be thrown into a landfill some day, rather than taking up disk on a HDD on your computer or a media server or in a datacenter somewhere is ridiculous. It seems like most people enjoy the plastic box sitting on their shelf more than the actual content itself.

Between watching movies on demand and subscribing to Netflix a couple of years ago, I don't think I've bought a single movie. It seems like such a primitive idea to me now.

Man, those of use who like to have physical libraries sure are bats*** crazy, huh?

 

[Tron wolfgang]

Another reason why i like physical movies is lets just say for example netflix or some other streaming service goes down all these hundreds of movies just disappear in seconds and then what is there to watch?

 

[Soapy]

Another reason why i like physical movies is lets just say for example netflix or some other streaming service goes down all these hundreds of movies just disappear in seconds and then what is there to watch?

Obviously there would be backups. Digital as well as physical.


I mean physical media is never going to straight-up disappear. At least not in our lifetimes. Even in 20 years when streaming and downloading services are how the majority of people are taking in movies, there are always going to be collectors who want the physical thing. Not only that, but movie studios will also have to sell movies to poorer markets where the adoption rate of high speed internet or any internet won't be what it needs to be sell movies digitally to the majority in those regions. So physical media isn't going to disappear in a meaningful way for a long, long time. No one should be worried about that.

 

[Soapy]

Man, those of use who like to have physical libraries sure are bats*** crazy, huh?

I don't think anyone is crazy. Behind the times? Certainly.

 

[Duke]

Whenever I buy movies, music, etc. I prefer to get a "hardcopy" of it. I have purchased stuff from Itunes only to have it erased because I needed to reset my phone & kaput went all the stuff I bought.

 

[Soapy]

That's why you keep backups.

 

[Kane52630]

I buy mostly blu rays (if they are available) but I also use Netflix. Whenever I buy my movies they are either must buys (films that I love to death) or movies that are cheap to buy. So far I have a large collection of Batman films/shows.

 

[Brian2887]

That's why you keep backups.

Which is what the Cloud / UV is supposed to be, right? Buy it once, download or stream any time you want from anywhere...

 

[Rocketman]

My problem is that people are decreasingly being given a choice.
If I don't want a stupid Blu-Ray player, then don't make me buy a DVD+Blu-Ray+Digital Copy Combo Pack. I. DON'T. CARE.

I want to read a real book, watch a DVD, and enjoy those things, NOT for nostalgia, but because there's nothing wrong with reading an actual book and watching a DVD.

 

[bullets]

I prefer to buy the blu rays. I've tried streaming films from Netflix on my tv and it looked lousy.

It does bother me how they are handling it now. Apparently they want everyone to shift to 3D and so they'll put the special features with those discs and release the regular blu ray "bare bones". Also I have no use for combo packs. Especially the digital copy. I don't want to pay more for either. I'm sure it's nice for some people but as rocketman said, the choices are dwindling.

Also I prefer to read actual books , it's less stressful on the eyes.

 

[Spider-Who?]

I buy the blu ray combo pack and sell the DVD to friends with no blu ray player for 5 bucks. Use the digital code to pop it on my iPad.

 

[Spider-Who?]

Apparently they want everyone to shift to 3D and so they'll put the special features with those discs and release the regular blu ray "bare bones".

I encountered this tactic for the first time the other day with Conan. Didn't realize it till it was too late. I was pissed.

 

[redhawk23]

This is going to be a little bit of a rant, but people really need to stop having bull**** nostalgia about physical media. They really do. It's such a stupid thing to latch onto. This idea that it's somehow inherently better to have books movies and music and games taking up space in your home, collecting dust, only to be thrown into a landfill some day, rather than taking up disk on a HDD on your computer or a media server or in a datacenter somewhere is ridiculous. It seems like most people enjoy the plastic box sitting on their shelf more than the actual content itself.

Between watching movies on demand and subscribing to Netflix a couple of years ago, I don't think I've bought a single movie. It seems like such a primitive idea to me now.

You know whats bullcrap? Not being able to watch movies without an internet connection. That is bullcrap. I prefer physical media for very practical reasons. And books? Its not a matter of nostalgia that I find it easier to read words on paper rather than a screen. Also digital forms of media put the control of access into fewer and fewer hands.

 

[Spider-Who?]

This is going to be a little bit of a rant, but people really need to stop having bull**** nostalgia about physical media. They really do. It's such a stupid thing to latch onto. This idea that it's somehow inherently better to have books movies and music and games taking up space in your home, collecting dust, only to be thrown into a landfill some day, rather than taking up disk on a HDD on your computer or a media server or in a datacenter somewhere is ridiculous. It seems like most people enjoy the plastic box sitting on their shelf more than the actual content itself.

Between watching movies on demand and subscribing to Netflix a couple of years ago, I don't think I've bought a single movie. It seems like such a primitive idea to me now.

The glaring problem with this logic is your argument concerning nostalgia. Physical copies are still the go to for most entertainment (music being the exception). It's not nostalgia if it's still a mainstream form of purchasing.

But let's ignore that for a moment. If ALL physical media were converted to digital only, a huge part of the economy would collapse. Companies and factories that make their profit off of designing packaging, assembling and shipping would die. And then there's furniture companies that build storage for said media for both commercial and personal use and the companies THEY rely on to assemble, ship and sell... It'd be economic suicide to remove physical media.

 

[Thundarr]

Well, I never seem to have the money to buy the "latest & greatest technology". I still own (and use) a VCR for cryin' out loud. So I still buy DVDs. I still buy books. and when I am one day able to afford an HD TV and Blu Ray player, I'll probably buy those too.

Even if I were to win the lottery, or find a great job where I actually get paid a decent enough wage to live off of, I would still buy and maintain hard copies of my movies. Why? as others have said, the newer technology isn't necessarily better. What if my computer gets a virus that wipes out my entire movie collection? Or if the server breaks down? What if there's no internet, phone, or cable service due to a major blizzard or storm? What if someone breaks into my home and steals my computer, but leaves my "worthless" DVD and VHS libraries behind?

Besides, the computer downloads only ever have just the bare bones movies. You might get the extended director's cut, or the unrated version, but all of the "making of featurettes", "feature length commentaries", etc, aren't included. And I buy the DVDs as much for these added features as I do for the actual films themselves.

 

[chaseter]

I prefer physical media. I stream on Netflix but if I like buying movies and books and going to the store to get it. I like having a collection of movies and books.

As a society, I think it will be our downfall if we never leave the house to do anything. They even want to allow you to watch new movies in home. I will always prefer to go to the theater. Get outside, go to the store. Support your local stores.

 

[lespaul59]

I like the combo packs for the most part. I like getting the dvds because I don't have a Blu Ray player in my bed room yet. So the combo packs are a cheap way to get a dvd along with the BR. And it seems like combo packs are becoming more common for the same price as a regular BR. And the digital copies are just an added bonus to me I rarely ever watch them but they're free so I don't see a reason not to at least download them. But The new Conan is a perfect example of a combo pack I don't like for two reasons. 1. I don't want the 3D BR so why should I have to buy it. 2. No special features on the single disc BR but they come on the dvd. If it wasn't for the fact I like BRs better than dvds I would just buy Conan on dvd.

I also buy physical media over anything else. I actually buy the physical copy of Premier Guitar magazine when you can read it online for free. And the reason why is simple I can take it anywhere. Sure I can go out and buy what ever the lates gadget is but I don't want to and should never have to.

I think MP3 players and things like the Nook and Kindle have there place. I own an iPod and download albums and songs from iTunes. But I only download music when I can't find it in a store, it's an iTunes exclusive or things they may have a great price(if I can save $5 on an album it's all good). But I still keep an eye out for the physical copy. The great thing about buying music from places like iTunes and Amazon is I can buy single songs for the most part. And I think the really good thing about MP3 players and E Readers is the fact you can take your whole music, movie or reading libray where ever you go. But if I'm at home I will always rather pick up a book or pop a disk in to listen to music or watch a movie. Plus I don't know about you guys but I love going into a store and buying the book, magazine, cd, BR/dvd or whatever I'm looking for(and maybe even something I wasn't looking for).

 

[uniqueweasel]

I guess i'm still living in the dark ages, as I always prefer physical media. I like to watch my blu ray/dvd copy of a film, and enjoy the box and artwork, etc. Or sometimes read a "real" book or comic while listening to a cd. I guess it's the same reason why some people still listen to vinyls, to each his own. And while there is such choice it's good for all of us to be able to enjoy our media in various different ways that suit our different lifestyles/needs.