Notes From the Movie Room 11/30/2024

🎬 The double-dipping dilemma struck again recently, once out of necessity and twice by choice. Of course, when it comes to obsessive collecting, I guess the concept of necessity doesn't enter into the equation...necessarily. However, I'll give myself a pass when one of my favorite films on DVD stops working. My copy of DARK CITY (1998), beautifully packaged in a handy-dandy slipcase with terrific artwork, started freezing up when I tried rewatching it a while ago. I gave it a good washing in warm water and dried it off carefully. No improvement. So, I tried some of the extra features on the disc, and the problem persisted there as well. Another careful, gentle washing didn't help. Then I did what any conscientious collector would do: I put it in the washing machine, used the heavy-duty cycle with hot water and detergent, and spin-dried for an hour. Oddly enough, that didn't seem to work, either. So, I gave up and ordered a Blu-ray from my local Barnes & Noble.

The Blu-ray has the director's cut, which my DVD also had. It also has the same extra features. I didn't hesitate to order the replacement, as this has long been a favorite of mine, ever since I saw its first run in a theater. Actually, I had double-dipped already, because I first bought the theatrical cut on DVD, but then decided I couldn't survive without adding the director's cut. I eventually gave my original copy to a friend. Triple-dipping! Is a 4K upgrade in my future? I hope not. I sincerely hope I never cross over that line.

The voluntary upgrading happened twice, both on impulse. I was browsing around at my B&N, looking at the new release section, and I noticed a Blu-ray copy of the 1956 classic INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, a release from Kino-Lorber. I didn't need to get it, as my DVD is in good shape.

But suddenly, something clicked inside of my brain. An uncontrollable urge overtook me. I could feel my hand reaching out toward the shelf where the Blu-ray sat. The shiny, colorful package seemed to be looking at me, taunting me. As hard as I tried to pull my hand back, I was unable to do so. It was as if I became possessed by an evil spirit, and I was powerless to resist. Despite my great agony, I succumbed to the evil forces that had taken control, grabbed the Blu-ray from the shelf, and, screaming inwardly, made my way to the checkout area.

I was immediately consumed with buyer's remorse and self-recrimination.

But I got over it. Very quickly, in fact. And the Blu-ray is wonderful!!

 Having completely recovered from all of that existential angst, I found it very easy to upgrade to a Blu-ray of THE BREAKFAST CLUB that I found at my local Disc Replay just a few days later. This movie is another big favorite of mine, one that I can rewatch again and again. The DVD copy I've had for years doesn't have any extras, so that was the main selling point, along with a very low price. No remorse ensued.

🎬I've been thinking quite a bit lately about this whole collecting thing and where it's going. And when I talk about collecting, I don't just mean DVDs and Blu-rays. I also mean books, records, CDs, magazines, etc. I don't mean to suggest that my house is so hoarded up that I have things piled up to the ceiling and have to walk through narrow pathways. Not yet anyway. However, I do have an occasional lucid moment when I look around and think: "Mike...what have you done?" Some of my fellow collectors on Youtube, mostly the ones who are in my age category, talk about this issue in terms of what will happen to our "stuff" when we leave this earth for the next emanation. (In my case, that will no doubt be an extended stay in Purgatory.) This preys on my mind quite a bit. My life clock is ticking away quite loudly. Either that, or there's a bomb in the crawlspace. Luckily, I've discovered the sheer joy of going through my "stuff" on a regular basis and giving things away to Goodwill. I was amazed to discover that once I allowed myself to let go of things I thought I could never part with, it became easier and easier.

Another idea I've picked up from my fellow Youtubers is the concept of curating a collection as opposed to simply acquiring as much stuff as we can drag into the house. We all need to stay focused on what really matters to us personally and not view collecting as some kind of competition. Just because a few collectors have all the latest new, shiny steel books, or 3,000 copies of HALLOWEEN, doesn't mean that you have to own them as well. And just because more and more people are dumping all of their DVDs and Blu-rays into the nearest trash bin and spending money on 4Ks...well, you get my drift. Some of these same folks are already anticipating the possibility of an 8K format. Hopefully, I'll be settled into Purgatory long before that happens.