And now, for a rant...
Today's rant: How movie companies are robbing us blind.
So, lately there have been an influx of movies that have been released - or should I say, REreleased with a new package, a few more special features and another disc or two. And be sure to jack the price up about twenty bucks. In addition to the twenty that you can already be sure to be charged as it is a new release. This brings the seemingly fabulous super special edition to break the bank for sure.
Now, as a savvy consumer I'm still completely suckered into the fancy packaging. Aside from one of my recent movie purchases, I have upgraded to my fancy schmancy edition from a simple VHS tape that I don't watch anymore (case in point: all of my VHS tapes are at home, and my VCR is lying upside down on the bottom shelf of my tv stand-bookshelf). Alas, an advertisement caught my eye the other day of a movie that I most likely will HAVE to buy, even though I already have it on DVD. Which is sad.
So, movies that have recently been rereleased with a fancier name:
Tommy Boy: Holy Schnike Edition
Clueless: Whatever Edition
Titanic: 2,3 OR 4-disc special edition with about a million extra features and at least 3 hours of extra footage (not that I would know...wait...okay, so I have just aired my guilty pleasure chick flick movie for the world to see...3 discs though! Come on!)
Wizard of Oz: So far I've seen a 2-disc and 3-disc edition, with like, five hours of special features (and if you buy it on amazon, you can get 3 discs of Wizard of Oz goodness, as well as a Graumann's Chinese Theatre program, a copy of the MGM studio newspaper released in 1939 specifically featuring the Wizard of Oz release, as well as a lot of other kick ass stuff related to the Wizard of Oz...so, for the $34.94 I paid, it's going to totally be worth it. Well, except for the fact that my single disc edition of the movie was the first DVD I actually owned, so I'm kind of sad to part with it...). And I just checked the specs of the two-disc edition on Amazon as well, and it doesn't seem to be too bad either, and for a measly $18.89...or $16.99 at Best Buy, but for me, the HARD CORE fanatic...it was not an option.
Empire Records: Special Fan Remix edition (so this is a little older than the other movies mentioned, but still worth mentioning, as they had released it already).
Office Space: Special Edition with Flair
Blues Brothers: 25th Anniversary edition
(this next one kills me)
Pretty Woman: 15th Anniversary Edition, which, from the specs I've read, doesn't seem to be THAT much different from the 10th Anniversary Edition, and I'm sure we can expect the 20th Anniversary edition in another 5 years, but if not, never fear, I'm sure there will be a 25th anniversary edition for sure in 10 years....
Anyway, I'm sure there are others (let me know)
In the meantime, they're re-releasing Airplane: Don't Call Me Shirley edition in December, which I am going to HAVE to buy (that's the one I NEED...see above)...because I LOVE LOVE LOVE that movie...and I already do own it on DVD but it SUCKS for special features.
Anyway, what's next?
Oh yeah. They're releasing the entire series of both Friends AND Sex and the City in December. For a measly $200 on Amazon, you can own all ten and six seasons respectively...(not for both. Both together are something like 400 bucks). So, if you weren't collecting them as they were released....hence the reason I'm holding out. I'm hoping to get Friends: The One with All Ten Seasons Collector's Edition (with a fancy-schmancy box)....and I've made a mental note to stop buying seasons of Cheers. :)
You know what I don't understand though? I don't understand why they release box sets of movies that aren't complete? For example, I saw a complete set of Harry Potter movies the other day...well except for the minute detail that they haven't even released the last four movies. But, whatever. You know they'll release another box set once the fourth movie is released on dvd too. And then again with the fifth, etc, etc....Yeah, we'll call that COMPLETE SUCKERS who buy that shit. Either buy them individually, or wait until all seven movies come out, seriously.
Oh, and they're re-releasing four of the six Muppet movies (so I've heard). I'll be stupid enough to buy them, but luckily I only own one of them already. :) Of course, this could make copy number #3 of the Muppet Christmas Carol...just like the Don't Call Me Shirley edition will be my third copy of Airplane...(oh well).
Editions I hope to see in the future:
Garfield the Movie: Super Fat Cat Edition (I don't even like this movie, but what a great name)
Blazing Saddles: You Can Call Me Jim Edition
Young Frankenstein: The Abby Normal Edition
Aladdin: Flying Carpet Edition
Shrek: Talking Donkey Edition
The Naked Gun: Stuffed Beaver Edition
Okay, I really can't think of anymore. Feel free to leave your ideas. But just remember, if any of these go, I want royalties.
- posted by L. @ 7:51 PM