Start Building a DVD Collection Today
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There’s never been a better time to start collecting dvd movies and dvds of episodic television. Prices have come down since dvd technology first came on the market, and there is an ever-increasing amount of dvds to choose from. New releases come out on an almost daily basis, including releases of old programs never offered before.
One of my favorite things about collecting dvds has to do with aesthetics. They just look better and store better than any other format. Remember the days of VCR tapes, always losing the flimsy cardboard covers so you ended up having to label them yourself to identify them? I can’t count how many times I had to put a tape in the VCR just to figure out what was on it. But dvds come attractively packaged, often with nicely photographed and laid out inserts, with scenes delineated and other features.
The packaging and the discs themselves take up much less space than the old VCR format. In my experience, dvds hold up much better to years of use or storage than VCR tapes, which deteriorate over time, and can even warp and fade, especially if exposed to heat or direct sunlight. As long as the dvd is kept in its protective case, usually made of sturdy plastic, there usually isn’t a problem with wear and tear. You really get your money’s worth with dvds of tv show and dvd movies!
Even after you’ve watched a film at the theater you might want to purchase the dvd because they often have added features – deleted scenes, commentary by the director or actors, bonus short films and footage, blooper “reels”, etc. Sometimes the deleted scenes alone are another whole movie’s worth of entertainment, especially with comedies, I’ve found. And dvd’s give you the convenience of easily selecting a scene as your starting point, without having to painstakingly fast-forward and rewind. “No rewinding needed” is another definite plus of the dvd format!
The big-box stores offer older releases at bargain bin prices, if you want to find an old favorite or just beef up your collection. Of course the most expensive are the brand new releases and special “deluxe” dvds. The deluxe versions might include both the theater version and the director’s cut, which allows you as the viewer to compare and contrast them. There are also dvd “clubs” of course, where you get to pick several movies for practically no charge if you agree to purchase a few at full price within a specified time period.
Nowadays you can do these transactions online or over the phone instead of wasting postage to decline their offers. That brings up online movie renting services, a fairly new innovation, and the old standby of dvd movies rental places, from mom and pop places to fast food restaurants to the big name movie and game renters.