u/mcmatu

There are about 100 copies of the standard version of Iron Angels I-III left. If you like fun Hong Kong films, this riff on Charlie’s Angels is worth a pickup.

Picked up a few new ones today at the local used shop and got “Disclosure Day” 4k and the two criterion 4ks (including “Trainspotting” in a Scanavo case, “Mrs Doubtfire” & “Abandoned” from PressPlayVideo. “InnerSPACE” was from Amazon. 5/6 of these are 4k Blu-ray releases.

Some of these were probably posted here and one more wasn’t in the pike (“The Woman Chaser” from Cinematographe/Vinegar Syndrome). Pickups from Vinegar Syndrome, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Steelbook Reddit, McKay Nashville and Press Play Video. This hobby is so much more fun because I get to share it with a family member, a few local friends and everyone else on places like Reddit.

We may not have many options for new or used boutique purchases in Middle Tennessee but thankfully, we have Press Play Video’s mobile video store. I’ve been going weekly and lightening my wallet but I’ve enjoyed talking with the Owner and other shoppers. He recently had a “summer clearance sale” all August and used boutique copies were 40% off so my Iron Angels I-III slipcase copy was only $42! A score for me. “The Mask” 4k was also purchased at $32 (new Arrow, Criterion and VS titles were 25% off). The rest of the pile was bought at McKay’s except for “Hoppers,” which I won from the /steelbook subreddit. “While You Were Young” and “Birth Of A Nation” blu-rays were $2.95 each, “Made In Italy” was $4.95, the “Killers Game” steelbook was $10.95 and “Crime 101” was still wrapped and $14.95.

I’m hopeless as I’ve fallen for the rigid slip box (“chunky” or otherwise) packaging. Now some pictured here aren’t really “chunky” as I did keep my old Universal Monsters set in here because it was a special edition. I do watch the movies I have here so I’m not just collecting packaging but I have reached the point where collecting movies is as much for the cool packaging and features as it is the movie (which DOES remain the primary reason for collecting in the first place, because I like or want to watch a film). I also have a few tv series and the Jack Ryan set not pictured (the latter one) which I didn’t add was because I just added “The Gambler” and “A Man Called Hero” today. I also didn’t put the digipacks (like the 4k of “Killers of the Flower Moon”) from Criterion in here either though I’d think they could fit the aesthetic.

Tuner is a film well worth repeated viewings and is one of the best film’s I’ve seen all year and I’m happy that Black Bear Pictures decided to release it on physical blu-ray media even if the blu-ray I just watched isn’t packed with any behind the scenes features and is barebones except for the theatrical trailer. If the studio ever partners with a boutique distributor to release a feature-packed special edition, this is one film I’ll “double” maybe even “triple dip” on. It’s that special.

Note: I put the blu-ray in the one yellow standard case I own and it immediately made the film feel more special. It goes well with the pictured Bobblehead that came from the movie (I got the bobblehead from my AMC Theaters Dolby Cinema one night only screening of the film).

These 4 films were on sale or had coupons on Amazon. I decided to pick up an early Cary Grant film and three Claudette Colbert films. Excited to add these to the collection. Total of $30 for the four.

This pre-code gangster film with a romantic love triangle is an imperfect film with an imperfect transfer but given it’s nearly 100 years old, it works for me.

Bought a week or so ago, I’m watching this film for the first time in decades. Thoughts on the film and transfer?

Went to my local store with new boutiques available and picked up “Riddle of Fire” (which is so much fun) in the limited edition box and “Goin’ South,” the limited hardbound book edition and got “Drive” from 1997 (a very very fun B Movie) from Amazon (which — for some reason — took a week to get to me when it was supposed to be delivered overnight with my purchase of the 4k of “Maurice” last week).

Picked up “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka” and “Nightwatch” special editions at my local indie store, Press Play Video today. (Bonus appearance of “The Outfit” because the store owner Joe talked about it with me — I bought the Cinematographe release of “Badge 373” from him — and I bought that one at B&N on Friday). Excited to dig into these films and already have read 2/3 of the essays about “Nightwatch.”

They took a while to get here but I’m very happy to each of these in this films.

“Hearts Beat Loud” and “Bent” are the only two I’ve ever seen before. “Red Rock West” I got to add to my Cage collection (it’s the only major studio film here), and I selected everything else based on VS descriptions of the partner labels. “The Ernie Game” and “The Rainbow Boys,” “Pet Shop Boys,” “Golden Arm” and “Pirates” all interesting. Finally, “The Woman Chaser” in the limited edition Cinematographe edition was one I couldn’t pass up. “Started my watching with “Golden Arm.” Quite fun.

Was out at my local 2nd hand shop and found “O.C. and Stiggs” from Radiance mixed within the Criterion’s (I went there looking for Breaker Morant or Lost In America on Blu-ray but they didn’t have ‘em). This shop has a plethora of Criterions and rarely has Radiance, 88 Films, Kino, VS or Arrow titles but there it was. I was happy to pick it up as I didn’t see it at B&N for their 50% off sale. At the same price, I bought the film. I first heard of it through a podcast appearance from Jon Cryer who mentioned how the film (shot in 1983, released in 1987/88 on VHS) was buried. It’s like many Altman films in that it works as a satire of “exploitative” teen comedies and 80s excess itself. Happy to have this curiosity to add to my collection. (I also picked up two Disney/Fox titles that are out of print — they were still sealed in their cases brand new — for $6 each: “Courage Under Fire” and “Pearl Harbor”)

I’ve been very selective about buying anything, save for one or two boutique titles a month from a local indie vendor. Then Criterion moth at B&N arrived and I went a little crazy getting 10 titles over 3 weeks. I also purchased “Hi, Mom!” 4k, “Normal” 4k, “Plainclothes” blu-ray all for 50% off there along with 40% the Retro VHS Slipcover Blu of “Neighbors.” Finally, I was tracking “Clean and Sober” on Amazon and it had a coupon the other day so I bought it and “Three Amigos!” (To get overnight shipping). I think my wallet can rest now (at least until I match up with the local vendor (Press Play Video) at one of the events they’re at. Also, I am including a photo of the collection of Criterion’s I own right now.

Breaking in from “The Odyssey” discourse, Tracy Letts mentioned “Clean and Sober” a while back and I put it on my Amazon Watchlist. It had a coupon for like $5 off recently and I ordered it (with “The Three Amigos!” to get free overnight shipping). “The Conversation” and “Cutter’s Way” spines make an appearance too. Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming. Speaking of which, Tracy looks like Award-worthy in the previews of “I Play Rocky” which was screened before “The Odyssey” yesterday.

Well, after getting 3 discs (and one Radiance) on Thursday. I went back today (Saturday) and treated myself to 4 more Criterions. Three 4ks (“Sorcerer” “Withnail & I,” and “Carnal Knowledge”) and one standard blu-ray (“The Furies”) in a lovely chunky box (I’m a sucker for such things). I also have “Neighbors” from the sale for the “Retro VHS Slipcover Series” from Alliance. I also, finally, bought the Criterion Closet van to display with my films (I used my $10 reward certificates from Thursday towards today’s sale so in my head, I got the “van” for $15). Thoughts?

Went to my local Barnes & Noble to purchase my first selection from the Criterion sale and also scored “Hi, Mom!” with the same Half off deal. They also have double stamps at the moment so I got 20 stamps (good for $10 tomorrow) with this purchase. Glad to have upgrades of my old “Network” and “This Is Spinal Tap” films with “Killers of the Flower Moon” joining my collection! This store had the Criterion merch and while I think the Criterion Closet truck was fun, it was $25 so not worth more than a disc to me.

Finally got my collection organized. When I bought the A-Z dividers, I knew I would want a clean look and this certainly does that for me. I used to have several movies stacked horizontally (in order) on top of the vertical film cases in the barrister case in the middle . While I will build more to match the two custom built shelves on either side of the barrister cabinet, for now I just went to my storage unit and grabbed the one taller stand from my storage unit. It isn’t a favorite but it works, for now (and at no cost to me). It is nice having everything the way I actually want it. The stuff stacked horizontally on the first picture is my TV on blu-ray section and what little amount of DVDs I have.”