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Higgins has been on fire lately. First he sparked an engrossing conversation about which authors inspired you to read all their books. Then he asked what song you’ve listened to the longest, on repeat. These posts will make our greatest hits album.
Let’s borrow from his bag of tricks and talk about movies. I had a decent VHS collection before the proliferation of DVDs, which came during my college years. Movies I’ve owned in both formats include the Back to the Future trilogy, Animal House and Tommy Boy. (My wife has replaced some higher-brow titles. And since the advent of Netflix, we don’t buy many DVDs.)
Today’s topic is this: which movies did you feel the need to re-own on DVD? And, as a follow-up, is there any film you’ve owned in any three formats? VHS, DVD, Blu-ray, HD DVD or Laserdisc. Or any formats I may be leaving out.
Go on. Chat it up.
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When I moved over to DVD (about a year later than most other people — after my family experienced the laser disc debacle of the mid- to late-90s, I was determined not to be fooled again) the movies I re-purchased included “Say Anything,” “The Graduate,” “The Royal Tenenbaums” and (don’t judge) “Newsies.”
posted by Nora on 9-21-2007 at 7:22 am
I resisted getting a DVD player until they stopped making tapes. I will still choose a tape over a disc when I have the choice, because I have children. VHS tapes will work even after a lot of abuse, but discs will corrupt if you look at them sideways. And they are harder to fix. When we rent a children’s movie, I have to return them to the store about 25% of the time because they have already been ruined by a previous child.
Adult movies (meaning not-children’s movies) usually work, but I don’t want to take the time to watch something the rest of the family won’t.
posted by Miss Cellania on 9-21-2007 at 7:34 am
Probably my #1 pick, Blazing Sadles other top pics have to include,
Dumb & Dumber
Viva Las Vegas
Grease
Satuday Night Fever, I just love the part when he ask his dad not to hit his hair cause he worked hours on it.
posted by Dean on 9-21-2007 at 7:47 am
The Sound of Music, and to Nora: Newsies is the best!! I love Kenny Ortega and all of his work (ALL of it, including HSM and HSM2)!
posted by Lindsay D on 9-21-2007 at 8:06 am
Ditto on Grease. I could watch that movie every day. I’ve also had the Grease soundtrack on 8-track, cassette, and cd.
posted by Lebetho on 9-21-2007 at 8:20 am
Lawrence of Arabia, the Star Wars movies, and Dr. Zhivago are all worth having in every format and version available. Why? Of course, for the different pictures on the boxes.
posted by DW on 9-21-2007 at 8:32 am
This isn’t so much a tape/DVD thing but I had to get the ‘When Harry met Sally’ anniversay dvd. How many go out and but the anniversary/directors cut DVD of something they already have?
posted by JaneM on 9-21-2007 at 8:46 am
Dirty Dancing, Slapshot, Gone With The Wind, Dumb & Dumber, MP & The Holy Grail, Goonies. I have a list going of DVD replacements I still need.
posted by mrs.djs on 9-21-2007 at 8:55 am
I have Krull on Betamax, VHS, and DVD.
posted by Carla on 9-21-2007 at 9:04 am
The Happy Prince
posted by Vorpal on 9-21-2007 at 9:06 am
Back to the Future Trilogy
Count of Monte Cristo (Favoriate Movie EVER!!)
Braveheart
posted by Witty Nickname on 9-21-2007 at 9:16 am
Caddyshack.
posted by Smileystyle on 9-21-2007 at 9:21 am
Bullett.
I’d say there was more titles, but this is the one I can recall from the old RCA videodisks (goin’ waaay back).
posted by terryS on 9-21-2007 at 9:31 am
The director’s cut of Blade Runner, which I’ll probably get on HD someday as well.
posted by Johnny Cat on 9-21-2007 at 9:33 am
A slight twist to the conversation.
when I moved in with my soon to be husband I went thru our DVD collection and noticed to my delight we had about a dozen of the same movies and in one instance had 3 copies (not really sure where that 3rd one came from). (Don’t get me started on the music collection)
The ones I can think of were:
Blazzing saddles (had 3)
Airplane
Office Space
I know there were more but I can’t remeber which ones now.
Movies on both VHS and DVD:
Blazzing saddles
Indiana Jones series
Star Wars 4,5,6
Various Star Treks
Various Muppet Movies (I love the Muppets)
When the price of the VCR to DVD records come down a bit more I’ll get one. I have alot of stuff on tape that you can’t get on DVD. Like the time I was on the Bozo Show that my grandma taped off of the TV.
posted by Beth on 9-21-2007 at 9:53 am
Of the few dvd re-buys I have, the only one that really stands out is the Alien series with Sigourney Weaver. I only say this because this gem in my collection really reveals how much of a nerd I am. Not only did I buy each of 4 movies on both tape and dvd (alien v predator I only have on dvd) but I also have the box set on tape. So yes, I have 3 copies of all four movies.
On a side note (or entirely different topic) there are a handful of cd’s that I had to re-purchase. And no, this is not about re-formatting music, no one can keep track of that anymore. This is about having to re buy an album because it was borrowed never to be returned, lost, or broken. Truly a testament of how much I enjoy these groups.
Shins- “chutes to narrow”- 3 times
Radiohead- “hail to the Thief” – 4 times
Modest Mouse- Every album has been bought twice (not including the latest two) and “The lonesome Crowded West” and “this is a long way to drive with nothing to think about” have both been purchased 3 times
posted by Tom on 9-21-2007 at 9:55 am
Outside of ‘Animal House’ and ‘Transformers: The Movie’, I had 5 different version of the ‘Star Wars Trilogy’ on VHS, one version on laser (Don’t even own a player) and 2 so far on DVD.
posted by Bob Kman on 9-21-2007 at 9:56 am
“The Princess Bride”
My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
posted by KJ on 9-21-2007 at 9:57 am
Truffaut’s ‘400 Blows’ I own on laser disc and DVD, same with Jarmusch’s ‘Dead Man’.
posted by SteveO on 9-21-2007 at 10:10 am
Princess Bride
Love Story
The Wizard of Oz
Just the classics…:)
posted by shellbell on 9-21-2007 at 10:19 am
The Star Wars Trilogy
The Indiana Jones Trilogy
Down by Law — I knew my husband was the man for me when, on an early date, he made a reference to the “I-scream-a, you scream-a” scene.
We also have various editions of the Lord of the Rings DVDs(widescreen, boxed sets with Gollum figures, etc.).
posted by Jen on 9-21-2007 at 11:03 am
The Great Escape
Swingers
Boondock Saints
(the latter two from my more rambunctious days)
posted by antisense on 9-21-2007 at 11:12 am
Local Hero
Holy Grail I have on VHS, DVD and the original soundtrack LP.
Stop Making Sense (VHS, DVD, cassette, CD, and a poster from the lobby from the premiere!)
posted by Mac on 9-21-2007 at 11:15 am
everything ever released by Disney
all available Scooby Doo videos
posted by Janix on 9-21-2007 at 11:29 am
Rebuys:
Braveheart
Muriel’s Wedding
MP/Holy Grail
Princess Bride
Wayne’s World
Clockwork Orange
I didn’t have a gigantic movie collection to begin with. But if you want to talk about cassette-to-CD rebuy, whoa. That is still an ongoing project.
posted by Rachel on 9-21-2007 at 11:33 am
DVD and VHS:
The Last Supper
The Usual Suspects
The Jerk
Blues Brothers
Star Wars
The Little Mermaid
What About Bob?
posted by Kevin on 9-21-2007 at 11:37 am
at the risk of sounding banal, edward scissorhands. and hotshots 1 & 2, duh
posted by v on 9-21-2007 at 12:27 pm
fear and loathing in las vegas. as good as that movie is, its even better with the clearer picture of DVD
posted by v on 9-21-2007 at 12:28 pm
Being a girly sort of girl, I have a thing for “My Fair Lady”, which I have on VHS and DVD. I also have the soundtrack. And “Pygmalion” on DVD. And a few copies of the play.
Also:
Star Wars IV-VI
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Once Upon A Time In The West
Alice in Wonderland
posted by natlynn on 9-21-2007 at 12:38 pm
Not nerdy, just sappy.
Love Actually – a new Christmas tradition
posted by Jan on 9-21-2007 at 12:40 pm
The classics:
Star Wars
Grease
posted by gina on 9-21-2007 at 2:05 pm
Braveheart
Rob Roy
Highlander
Star Wars (4-6)
Princess Bride
Magnificent Seven
Outlaw Josey Wales
Holy Grail
Only a couple that weren’t already listed. Y’all have great taste….
posted by Craig on 9-21-2007 at 3:00 pm
Gone With the Wind
Princess Bride
Real Genius
Quiet Man
and a very hard to find movie
Return to Oz
posted by Lindsey on 9-21-2007 at 3:21 pm
The Little Mermaid (mostly because I wore the VHS out) and Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. Probably the two best movies ever made, if you don’t count the Princess Bride, which isn’t on this list only because I never owned it on VHS.
posted by Elizabeth on 9-21-2007 at 4:49 pm
The original Star Wars trilogy
Pulp Fiction
posted by Ssquach on 9-22-2007 at 8:16 pm
Space Balls
LA Story
Must have those two in both formats. They both continue to crack me up every time I watch them.
I also watch Sopranos over and over so when they are available in HD I’m there.
posted by DBKim on 9-23-2007 at 3:18 pm
Hey Jason – thanks for the kind words! In my case, I’m obsessed with two movies:
LA Story
Koyaanisqatsi
And owned them both on VHS, Laserdisc, and DVD. (I initially got Koyaanisqatsi on DVD by donating to a foundation to get the handmade DVD as a premium….)
I also bought The Jerk on both VHS and DVD, but not Laserdisc.
posted by Higgins on 9-24-2007 at 8:55 am