Collecting DVDs sometimes feels like holding onto a fading piece of entertainment history. Remember when DVDs came packed with creative menus, hilarious bloopers, quizzes, and all sorts of behind-the-scenes fun? Lately, though, it seems most releases have been stripped down to just the essentials: Play Movie, Scene Selection, and Subtitles. The fun and effort that once made DVDs unique seem to be disappearing, leaving collectors like me wondering where the magic went.
Recently, a co-worker introduced me to Criterion, a company dedicated to restoring and distributing significant classic and contemporary films. (I promise this is NOT an ad.) Their collection is large, and after browsing their website, I settled on three harder-to-find ones: Tootsie, Defending Your Life, and the 1960s version of Romeo and Juliet. Ordering from an American company had its drawbacks, though. Import fees added an unexpected $26, something I always seem to forget about. When the DVDs finally arrived, there was another problem, my Romeo and Juliet case arrived cracked, with pieces rattling inside.
Luckily, the disc itself played perfectly, and Criterion’s customer service quickly refunded me $5 so I could replace the case myself, instead of having to send it back and deal with more shipping and import fees.
Despite these minor setbacks, I was reminded why physical media still has its place. The picture quality on all three movies was stunning, and the bonus features, especially on Tootsie, which needed an extra disc for all the extras, are a collector’s dream. While I’ll be looking for a Canadian seller to avoid future import fees, it’s reassuring to know that companies like Criterion still care about the art and experience of the DVD. There’s still a lot of fun to be found for collectors who know where to look!
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