HOW OFTEN DO YOU BUY MOVIES THAT YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH?

The Burgomaster · July 22, 2007, 07:56:39 AM

Are you likely to shell out your hard-earned money to buy movies that you are unfamiliar with? Or do you try to stick to the movies you know and love (or at least have heard or read about)? I am sometimes intrigued by DVD cover art or the descriptions on the back of the boxes and will buy movies based on these elements alone (which is why I bought so many crappy Lion's Gate DVDs a few months ago - - Lion's Gate is the champ at slapping great cover art on terrible movies).

I am a big blaxploitation fan. I never heard of this movie, but I recently ordered a copy anyway:

How about you? Do you get sucked in by movies that you don't know much about or do you try to take the "safe" road and at least do some research before throwing away good money?

Newt · July 22, 2007, 08:12:38 AM

Quote from: The Burgomaster on July 22, 2007, 07:56:39 AM
... I am sometimes intrigued by DVD cover art or the descriptions on the back of the boxes and will buy movies based on these elements alone ...

Yes - and I'll add one further qualifier: price. If it is only a buck or two it greatly adds to the appeal/temptation. I've bought quite a few books based on the same criteria. But I will admit I am cheap - it's the only way I can afford to maintain the habit.

Of course if I have seen the movie (or any part of it) mentioned on here, it becomes a 'must have'.

Caronte · July 22, 2007, 09:14:20 AM

two weeks ago I bought "sleepwalkers II" because I love Naomi Watts

I paid 2.49 € for it ( 3 $ more or less), on DVD, it doesn't have extras or anything else, I didn't see it yet but it sucks...

Andrew · July 22, 2007, 09:47:58 AM

Very often, which is not surprising considering the site. That sort of behavior does result in some unexpected pain and suffering now and then. An interesting title from my recent blaxploitation binge is "The Mack." It has some great lines, but the movie falls flat. Maybe "Superfly" will be better...

The Burgomaster · July 22, 2007, 11:40:53 AM

Quote from: Andrew on July 22, 2007, 09:47:58 AM
An interesting title from my recent blaxploitation binge is "The Mack." It has some great lines, but the movie falls flat. Maybe "Superfly" will be better...

I bought THE MACK a few months ago and I thought some of the dialogue was great. SUPERFLY is good, but I think you will find it to be a little rough around the edges as far as film editing and stuff. It's more of a drama than most blaxploitation movies. There are a few fights and stuff, but it's more "talky" than you might expect.

RCMerchant · July 22, 2007, 12:55:10 PM

I buy a LOT of junk because of the fact I know very little about it. 3 on a MEATHOOK-great title eh? I DISMEMBER MAMA-how can you miss? If I had known they were Paul Leder movies...I would have not dropped a penny for them....

Fausto · July 22, 2007, 01:16:43 PM

I find myself buying unknown DVDs increasingly often, mainly because its the only way I can afford the habit. An FYE and an EB Games, which both sell used DVDs, were added to a shopping center right near my house, and if the cover art is intriguing enough (and the price low enough) then I'll give it a try. I also do this with games, as I perfer oldschool RPGs to the car racing shoot em up puzzle solving crap they sell nowadays. However, the problem with cheap games is that nine times out of ten those games are cheap for a good reason (this is especially true of cheap handheld games). Even the worst b films have some sort of cheesy charm that makes them worth the buy (for the experience, if nothing else). Bad games are just a waste.

Dennis · July 22, 2007, 02:06:58 PM

If the DVD looks interesting and the price is low I'll buy. Every Gamestop (there are 3 in the area) has at least 2 racks of used DVD'S, I'll always check them out before I leave with whatever game I've purchased, recently got a Mill Creek 50 pack of horror classics because the price was $2.00, can't go wrong with that.

Quote
Quote from: The Burgomaster on July 22, 2007, 07:56:39 AM
I am a big blaxploitation fan. I never heard of this movie, but I recently ordered a copy anyway:

How about you? Do you get sucked in by movies that you don't know much about or do you try to take the "safe" road and at least do some research before throwing away good money?

I saw this one at the theater, it is as I recall a pretty good flick, really liked the theme song.

CheezeFlixz · July 22, 2007, 03:29:44 PM

Oh jeez way to many! I go to shops with previewed and obscure titles pretty cheap and I'll get some of them, at times I get a winner and at times I get a dud. After a while I either trade them, sell them or just donate them to the library. Very few make the keeper collection.

asimpson2006 · July 22, 2007, 03:34:05 PM

Not too often for me. If I see something that looks cool that catches my eye I will get it if I can however I tend to go for things I have knowledge about.

Shadow · July 22, 2007, 03:39:22 PM

I do it all the time. If it falls into a film category I like, I'll buy it.

Allhallowsday · July 22, 2007, 06:04:07 PM

I often buy films I have not seen, usually because that's the only way I can see them. Sometimes when cheap I'll buy movies I know nothing about or very little. I've found a few gems in the $1 dvd bin.

DodgingGrunge · July 22, 2007, 06:33:58 PM

Time was the majority of the movies I purchased were ones I hadn't seen. If my local video stores didn't carry She Devils On Wheels, say, I had no choice but to buy it. That being said, Netflix is a godsend! Their selection is big enough I've been able rent a lot of the lesser titles on my to-see list. Of course, I've also discovered a lot of really great movies that I've subsequently shelled out money to own, so I've probably broken even financially. But given the choice, I'd much rather own a movie I like!

JaseSF · July 22, 2007, 07:14:53 PM

I do it all the time. I admit I'm always browsing cheap bins looking for possibly interesting buys and I've been surprised that more often than not, I'll like what I purchased. Usually the older the film, the more likely I am going to like it though.

lester1/2jr · July 23, 2007, 02:23:26 PM

I usually don't buy movies period. but I think it's important to strike out on your own rather than just going by recommendations all the time. Theres a lot of movies that still need to be discovered. and tastes can be radically different. certainly we can all remember a movie that was supposed to be great that you thought was s**t, for me Dark City comes to mind. and no critical review really captures what I love about , saym Barbarella.

at the same time, the internet has made it alot easier to take less of a gamble.