# I have GOT to stay away from the bargain DVD bins **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 12, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101 "2008-05-12T23:11:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101/1 "2008-05-12T23:11:53Z")
- sigh \* I don’t even have the time to watch the backlog of DVDs I have now, let alone find the time to watch more, but dammit, I got sucked back into the bargain section at Target _and_ at the grocery store. From Target: “A Man for All Seasons” - I have seen bits and pieces of this film in the past but have never been able to sit down to watch it all the way through. “Three Days of the Condor” - action-thriller with Robert Redford as a CIA analyst and a pre-whackjob Faye Dunaway as his love interest. “Mirrormask” - never heard of it, but “Man” was part of a “buy on get one free” sale and the other DVDs were mostly Adam Sandler vehicles and kiddie fare, so it was this or “Labyrinth” and this won. Written by Neil Gaiman. From the grocery: “A Scanner Darkly” that real-people-with-animation-drawn-over-them movie. Never seen it, haven’t heard great things about it, but it was six bucks and if I hate it I can sell it at Half Price Books and be out about the cost of a rental. “Identity” - a thriller starring John Cusack. I’ve seen it previously and was fascinated by it. Five bucks, can’t beat it. What bargain bins have y’all been digging in lately and what did you find? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2008, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101/2 "2008-05-12T23:14:17Z")
I was at Safeway the other day, and damned if they didn’t have a copy of _Ice Pirates_ in their CD rack. Couldn’t pass that up! ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101/3 "2008-05-13T00:24:15Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] “Mirrormask” - never heard of it, but “Man” was part of a “buy on get one free” sale and the other DVDs were mostly Adam Sandler vehicles and kiddie fare, so it was this or “Labyrinth” and this won. Written by Neil Gaiman. [/quote] Not a perfect film, but stunning looking and interesting. Very glad we saw it in the theater. > [@Otto](#): > > “A Scanner Darkly” that real-people-with-animation-drawn-over-them movie. Never seen it, haven’t heard great things about it, but it was six bucks and if I hate it I can sell it at Half Price Books and be out about the cost of a rental. Very disturbing Phillip K. Dick story (aren’t most of them) about identity. I saw and enjoyed it, but couldn’t say exactly what it means. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101/4 "2008-05-13T00:29:06Z")
> [@](#): > > “A Man for All Seasons” - I have seen bits and pieces of this film in the past but have never been able to sit down to watch it all the way through Assuming that’s the 1967 Robert bolt/Fred Zinneman/Paul Scofield version (and not Charlton Heston’s Cable TV remake), you’ve got a winner. De gustibus and all, but this is one of my favorite movies of all time. That someone couldn’t watch it all the way through boggles my mind, but we’re all made differently, I guess. I remember watching for it to come out on DVd. Then it came out, but was ridiculously expensive. Then it came out affordably, but was hard to find. Now it’s in the Bargain Bin. _Sic Transit Gloria Mundi_ Watch it, and pay attention to Bolt’s dialogue. All of Thomas More’s good lines are actual quotes. Notice the way Bolt uses water and water travel heavily. It’s also a metaphor for the wat human relationships change. In the original play many of the roles – Matthew the servant, the publican, the chief juror, and the executioner – were played by the same character and meant to be the voice of practical conduct. Some of the best dialogue got blunted in the transfer from stage to screen, but it’s still worth it. You’re lucky – when I hit the bargain bins I get things like **Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla**. I think I have a half a dozen copies of the silent **Phantom of the Opera**. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101/5 "2008-05-13T00:32:55Z")
Just picked up _Labyrinth_ for $5.99, and my kids now love David Bowie! 🆒 The 8 year old watches with subtitles so he can learn the songs faster. Recently I hit the “4 for $20” bin at Blockbuster and scored _Flags of Our Fathers_, _28 Weeks Later_, _1408_ and _Hot Fuzz_. Other recent bargains were _Inside Man_ and _Red Eye_ (both $3.99 each), _American Gangster_, and _3:10 to Yuma_. I love bargains. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101/6 "2008-05-13T01:21:43Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] “Mirrormask” - never heard of it, but “Man” was part of a “buy on get one free” sale and the other DVDs were mostly Adam Sandler vehicles and kiddie fare, so it was this or “Labyrinth” and this won. Written by Neil Gaiman. [/QUOTE] I had never heard of this before, either, but my friend Justin brought it over last night and we watched it. Admittedly, we were drinking, but man, that was a confusing and bizarre movie. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it or anything! I’m all about confusing and bizarre. Just know that going in. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101/7 "2008-05-13T02:13:25Z")
“Mirrormask” has different characters played by the same people - a la “The Wizard of Oz”. But no, I wouldn’t recommend alcohol consumption during viewing. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101/8 "2008-05-13T02:27:44Z")
[QUOTE=gaffa] Not a perfect film, but stunning looking and interesting. Very glad we saw it in the theater. [/QUOTE] Visually, a fantastic movie. Aurally, the biggest catastrophe since _Ladyhawke_ The thing sounds like it was scored by a cut-rate Kenny G. Tragic, really. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101/9 "2008-05-13T02:40:37Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] Assuming that’s the 1967 Robert bolt/Fred Zinneman/Paul Scofield version (and not Charlton Heston’s Cable TV remake), you’ve got a winner. [/QUOTE] If it is this version, I hope you have a big screen to watch it on. It is visually a stunning film. On a slightly different bargain bin note my son and daughter have history of giving each other joke gifts. For Christmas 2006 my daughter gave my son a copy of [Gigli](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigli). For her birthday she got that copy back plus another copy. For his birthday he got both of those. for last Christmas she got a total of 6 copies, all lovingly gift wrapped. Since the local bargain bins no longer stock this tittle, my son had to resort to Amazon where copies are available for just a penny or two. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101/10 "2008-05-13T02:45:09Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] …the biggest catastrophe since _Ladyhawke_ [/QUOTE] Ridley Scott’s _Legend_ has two scores - one by Tangerine Dream, one by Jerry Goldsmith. I so wish _Ladyhawke_ had done something similar. It’s one of my favourite films, and is ruined by that synth nonsense. It has some orchestral music throughout, but just not enough. ---
**Author:** ![Pollux\_Oil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/858c86/32.png) [@Pollux\_Oil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pollux_Oil)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101/11 "2008-05-13T03:33:28Z")
I stay away from Blockbuster for this very reason. I can never stay away from their 3 or 4 Used DVDs for $20 area if there are movies out that I want. I think the last set I ended up getting Shoot 'Em Up, Superbad, and Eastern Promises. I manage to convince myself otherwise when I go to Target or Wal-Mart, though, just because there are so many movies I want and I always feel like I could be spending my money on something more important. Like food. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101/12 "2008-05-13T03:35:01Z")
I was at Big Lots Saturday and they had a four disk box set of _The Beverly Hillbillies_; another four disk box set called _Strange Tales_ of fifties sci-fi movies; _A Kiss Before Dying_ (the Robert Wagner original not the Sean Young remake); _Don’t Come Knocking_; _Bank Shot_; and the documentary _Rock School_ - all from three to six dollars. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101/13 "2008-05-13T03:54:43Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] “A Scanner Darkly” that real-people-with-animation-drawn-over-them movie. [/QUOTE] It’s called rotoscoping. ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101/14 "2008-05-13T05:01:14Z")
Saturday at our local Hollywood Video scored Inside Man, Thank You For Smoking and the two volumes containing the complete second season of Weeds, all for the grand total of 20 clams. Very pleased indeed, especially the Weeds. Classic stuff worth multiple rewatchings IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101/15 "2008-05-13T05:10:06Z")
My latest bargain scores were ‘The Great St. Lewis Bank Robbery’ with (a very young) Steve McQueen and a factory shrink wrapped VHS ‘Casablanca’ and a used ‘Unforgiven’ for a buck each. ---
**Author:** ![Wheeljack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@Wheeljack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheeljack)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101/16 "2008-05-13T06:49:06Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] I was at Big Lots Saturday and they had a four disk box set of _The Beverly Hillbillies_; another four disk box set called _Strange Tales_ of fifties sci-fi movies; _A Kiss Before Dying_ (the Robert Wagner original not the Sean Young remake); _Don’t Come Knocking_; _Bank Shot_; and the documentary _Rock School_ - all from three to six dollars. [/QUOTE] You gotta love Big Lots. Where else can you find VHS tapes about the secret indiscretions of Bill Clinton packaged for retail? It’s like stepping back into a dimmer, scrungier version of time. The furniture there is awesome though. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101/17 "2008-05-13T07:38:37Z")
I just watched A Scanner Darkly about a week ago. I enjoyed it a lot! It’s one of the movies I suggest to people who think they hate Keanu Reeves, because he does a pretty respectable job in it. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101/18 "2008-05-13T11:35:47Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] That someone couldn’t watch it all the way through boggles my mind, but we’re all made differently, I guess. [/quote] It wasn’t that I couldn’t make it through the film, it was that other things intervened as the film was on. > [@CalMeacham](#): > > You’re lucky – when I hit the bargain bins I get things like **Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla**. Oh I have that too, from the dollar store. I posted about it in a thread about films that have the horrible copout “it was all a dream” ending and someone scolded me for spoiling it! ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101/19 "2008-05-13T12:30:35Z")
I do the same thing, but I haven’t even heard of some of these titles. I’ve gotten in the bargain bin at the supermarket: _Erin Brockvich_, _The Graduate_, _Syriana_, _Thelma and Luise_, things like that. I keep them on hand for teachers to use at the last minute, because it takes time to get them from the library. And yes, I find them between five and ten dollars. But some movies you’ll never get at a bargain price in Ralph’s and you want to keep them, like Fellini’s _Nights of Cabiria_, or María Novaro’s _Danzón_, or 친절한 금자씨 ([\*Sympathy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoNbdvw5Zug) [for](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUFaDj3mBCI) [Lady Vengence](http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/03/12/charlize-theron-remaking-sympathy-for-lady-vengeance/)\*) by Park Chan-wook (박찬욱). These you just have to check out or buy on Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![AlmondJoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@AlmondJoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlmondJoy)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101/20 "2008-05-13T16:19:20Z")
the previously viewed bin at block buster used to get me every time. now i ended up renting movies on itunes (its like one click and then i end up with like half a dozen charges on my credit card…oops) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-got-to-stay-away-from-the-bargain-dvd-bins/449101.md?page=2)