As many of you know I’m a big collector of Blu-Ray’s. I collect releases from the big labels and the more boutique ones. Of course I’m more of a fan of the boutique ones.

As a fan I read forums and I read other collectors opinions on releases and what not. With some releases you have to pay a lot of money (especially for boxsets) and you have to ask yourself is it really worth the money ?

For example I paid £40 fro the Harry Potter Collection on Blu-Ray which was released recently. The films come in cardboard cases in a box, you get a lot of extras but you think the packaging is a bit flimsy. did you get your money’s worth ?

Personally I don’t have a problem with them at all but I know some would be after spending so much money on the box set they expect a better quality to their packaging. I know people have made complaints about Arrow Video’s Limited Edition releases like Bride of Re-Animator, Society and Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 because they have cardboard packaging and can be easily damaged.

What I have a problem with is when big name companies skimp out on their big releases like boxsets and what not as they are quite pricey but you don’t get much for your money. I don’t buy all that many of them, I tend to buy the cheaper ones though. I recently was thinking about the Exorcist Collection on Blu-Ray then I read reviews and they put me off because of the packaging and the lack of special features and picture quality of Exorcist 3.

At the same time I found out that Scream Factory are releasing Exorcist 3 on Blu-Ray soon with a new remaster, special features and two cuts, I’ll definitely be getting it as I have a Region 1 player. It surprises me that a boutique label gives a title such as Exorcist 3 a lot or love and attention and the producers of the film couldn’t even care about it.

Another thing is double dipping which is a thing a lot of people do, I’m getting into that myself as I bought Christine released by Universal in the US. Now another boutique label here in the UK called Indicator ( a fairly new one) are releasing it soon they also putting out Brian De Palma’s Body Double a title I’ve been looking forward to release on Blu for ages !

I feel very fortunate to having a Region 1 player as I no longer have to miss out on any releases from Boutique labels now I can get my hands on all of Shout Factory/Scream’s Factory releases as I don’t think all that many of them would be released here in the UK. Criterion Collection have a vast brilliant library and there’s a new label called Vestron Video Collection which is very exciting as well.  I know they are a bit more expensive than Arrow releases but I don’t mind, the amount of love that goes into them are about the same and the artwork is killer !

With some big label releases you get a fair lot with them sometimes like some of the classic iconic films and some recent releases like Batman Vs Superman where you get two cuts of the film and they aren’t too expensive. Warner Bros have been kind enough to start an exclusive line of films only available from HMV on Blu-Ray again a number of them I really want to get. At £15 each or 2 for £25 that’s pretty good.

At then end of the day I buy big releases and those from boutique labels which is the best way to be really as I’m not to picky and all the titles i have picked up I’m very impressed with. The only things that I disagree with is HD4K releases which are really expensive and you to have to fork out for another player. I personally don’t see the point of buying films I already have with slightly better audio and picture quality.

When it comes down to it, it’s your choice of what you think is worth the money.