Empty Shelves
I'm totally re-thinking the whole concept of maintaining a movie library in my home.
In my childhood I remember thinking how great it would be to actually own a personal 16mm film version of Star Wars, as one family I knew did. When videotapes hit the market, my dream came true and I became an out-of-control home taper, building up a vast library of movies and shows. Basically, whatever was showing on HBO or Showtime. Heck, I even recorded D.C. Cab.
It slowly dawned on me that I would never have the time to rewatch most of these films. But I persisted, because I was still smitten with the idea of actually owning them. And besides, if I did have a spare evening to watch Local Hero or Real Genius, the tapes were right there on my shelf, instant entertainment!
When DVDs hit the market, it was love at first sight. Now I could have pristine copies of these movies, with surround sound, director's commentaries, and bonus features. And they took up less space than VHS video cassettes! It didn't take long for my precious video collection to find its way to a garage sale table.
Fast forward to today. I see the writing on the wall and it says "Digital video downloading and subscription streaming." That's what's coming. In fact, it's already here. We've been using the new Watch Now feature through Netflix, which allows subscribers to instantly view any of the 5,000 (and growing) movies and TV shows currently offered. It was so easy, and addictive, to watch the entire seasons 1 and 2 of The Office without having to wait for a disc to come through the mail.
This technology is still in its infancy, but I can already predict how successful it's going to be in the future. More than that, however, I can see that my youthful dream of a movie library is quickly coming true. It's just that the collection won't be in my home, and it will be bigger than I ever could've imagined.
Now what will I do with all the empty space on my shelves?
In my childhood I remember thinking how great it would be to actually own a personal 16mm film version of Star Wars, as one family I knew did. When videotapes hit the market, my dream came true and I became an out-of-control home taper, building up a vast library of movies and shows. Basically, whatever was showing on HBO or Showtime. Heck, I even recorded D.C. Cab.
It slowly dawned on me that I would never have the time to rewatch most of these films. But I persisted, because I was still smitten with the idea of actually owning them. And besides, if I did have a spare evening to watch Local Hero or Real Genius, the tapes were right there on my shelf, instant entertainment!
When DVDs hit the market, it was love at first sight. Now I could have pristine copies of these movies, with surround sound, director's commentaries, and bonus features. And they took up less space than VHS video cassettes! It didn't take long for my precious video collection to find its way to a garage sale table.
Fast forward to today. I see the writing on the wall and it says "Digital video downloading and subscription streaming." That's what's coming. In fact, it's already here. We've been using the new Watch Now feature through Netflix, which allows subscribers to instantly view any of the 5,000 (and growing) movies and TV shows currently offered. It was so easy, and addictive, to watch the entire seasons 1 and 2 of The Office without having to wait for a disc to come through the mail.
This technology is still in its infancy, but I can already predict how successful it's going to be in the future. More than that, however, I can see that my youthful dream of a movie library is quickly coming true. It's just that the collection won't be in my home, and it will be bigger than I ever could've imagined.
Now what will I do with all the empty space on my shelves?
Permalink posted by Phil at 12:39 AM
13 Comments:
What's a movie? I can't remember the last time I watched one.
Now what will I do with all the empty space on my shelves?
Dude....books?
I'm still buying DVD's for the foreseeable future.
It's much cheaper than going to the movies, not that we are ever able to.
With our movie library over 500 and growing, it's hard to imagine not having it. There's something about all those DVD cases that just...is cool. Perhaps it's the American Consumer dream blinding me with the need for physical purchases. I'm not sure, but I fear a future of complete dependence on computer technology. Didn't you see Live Free or Die Hard? :)
Toad, we've got books... Thousands of them. I need to do a little weeding in that department too.
Angela, I agree that there's something quite satisfying about seeing the rows of DVDs that tell the world what kind of movie fan you are.
We still have several hundred DVDs, but I'm reaching a point where I really hesitate adding to it. The movies I absolutely love, like Star Wars, Gregory's Girl, Lost In Translation... well, I'll just have to keep those around. And my son has said he wants to keep his Scooby Doo collection, but the Disney movies are no big deal.
We'll see how it goes, but I've definitely cooled on the idea of building an all-encompassing DVD library.
You can never have enough books. Ever.
I love, love, love re-watching favorite movies. When I'm folding laundry, it's Emma, Pride and Prejudice, and Jane Eyre that give my brain something to feed on while my hands mechanically match socks. At Christmas time, the classics come out: It's a Wonderful Life, Christmas Vacation, and Die Hard. When I'm sick, comfort flicks take the place of comfort foods as I snuggle up and indulge in marathon sessions of Star Wars or Lord of the Rings.
We have Netflix, and I love it, but it will never take the place of being able to lay hands on beloved films whenever the mood strikes me.
We could definitely use more bookshelves in our house, too. I have hundreds of books out and at least twice that many packed away in boxes in our storage area, awaiting the day I buy a house with a library in it!
The Disney movies can go? Blasphemy! Considering all the Pixar movies are Disney, double blasphemy! :)
Wow, these comments are great... Really making me think about this whole thing.
Disney movies -- at first I thought they're all keepers, but when I asked the kids, they had definite opinions about what they didn't care about anymore. A few that went bye-bye on eBay: Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Little Mermaid, Monster's Inc, Bug's Life, Cars. A few that will always be on our shelves: Lion King, Jungle Book, Cinderella, Finding Nemo, Toy Story, 101 Dalmatians. I absolutely know I'll buy Ratatouille when it comes out because it was such a rich and enjoyable film for all ages.
Katrina, I usually watch TV shows on DVD while folding laundry. Just because they're short and I don't have to commit to the laundry pile for 90 minutes! I'm keeping my TV on DVD collection: Series like Seinfeld, Andy Griffith, Mr. Bean, Flame Trees of Thika, Vicar of Dibley, Brady Bunch, Fawlty Towers.
However, I can see a time in the not so distant future where it will be easier to click a mouse button a few times and have all those shows and movies streaming onto our TV via the Internet, rather than go searching through the house looking for whatever DVD I want to see.
And don't even get me started on the cheapo packaging some of these multi-disc collections come in. My son's Scooby Doo, Johnny Quest, and Looney Tunes sets all have broken plastic pieces where the discs are held in place.
I don't think I could get rid of our wonderful movie collection...at least, not until I am able to watch any movie I want through cable, satellite or the computer without commercials. I really just love being able to have a movie for every mood I'm in.
Katrina - I do the same thing. I love to be able to put in a movie I love (pretty much all the ones you mentioned are ones I love) and watch it while I clean the house and to chores that don't need to undivided attention. I pop in a DVD when I'm cooking, doing dishes, laundry, and just picking up around the house. If its not a good movie that I've got on its a season of one of my favorite shows - usually FRIENDS.
Phil - I can't believe your kids got rid of Cars?! I love that movie. I also have the Cars game for the Wii. Now that is fun! :) I definitely approve of the movies that your family kept. All winners.
Oh, an "Office" marathon. That's one of my favorite shows...
Hey- you're the guy to ask, I'm sure- what's a really good movie for the 3-5 year old set? Still haven't hit on anything that the kids have fallen in love with. Thanks!
Kristen, movies for 3-5 year olds?
Here are a few suggestions:
Curious George
Homeward Bound
Winnie the Pooh
Thomas and the Magic Railroad
Mickey's Great Clubhouse Hunt
My kids always liked the older animated Disney films, like Lady and The Tramp, 101 Dalmatians, Aristocats, Jungle Book. Those were some of the first movies they ever saw.
Back in the 1990's I recorded all of the "Wonder Years" episodes as they aired on TV. I am so glad I did, since it's never been released on DVD. Turns out it probably never will be, since figuring out all the royalties to the various artists who did the background music for the series is prohibitive. So I'm hanging on to those VHS tapes for dear life!
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