Too Much of a Good Thing? (442 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.5 on 12 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by morontian (View user info) at 2006-11-02 12:46:32 EST
I was raised Catholic. Now, I shudder to imagine how much that may reveal about my personality, but I can say that the doctrine manifests itself in rather peculiar (and often amusing) ways. I blame a lot of shit on my religious progamming, mainly because I like to blame my personal shit on everything I can set a sight on. But it doesn't take an apostle nor an atheist to see that the DVD format has gotten a wee bit out of hand. There are certain things in life that should come and go and live on in the memory. Homo Sapiens follow this patern, for example. However, now we have finally invented a format which we have utilized in a purely excessive manner, vainly absolving ourselves from the "entertainment gluttony" the mass media has increasingly seduced us with over the course of the last fifty years, or so.
So much shit, man, and I hate to admit how much I love it. I remember my dad renting a VCR from the movie store when I was very young and that was exciting enough in itself, but the last couple of years have seen the release of discs that I never thought would exist, the kind of home entertainment that I never would have even dreamed of as a kid. A lot of it is from that very time period, as a matter of fact.
I almost shit myself when I walked through Best Buy and saw the completely unheralded issue of the first season of "Sledge Hammer!" That was a big one. The DVD release KISS: EXposed and Queensryche's Operation: Livecrime were great joys on the musical front, for I just knew that my time-degraded video cassettes were going to be the last sad, decaying records of some great moments (in my own opinion) in entertainment. I was also one of those guys that bought those little VHS boxes of the X-Files. You know, the ones that had three tapes with, like, two episodes on each tape? I have no guilt whatsoever in owning the beautifully packaged Collector's Sets for the first 7 seasons on DVD, and I'll probably pick up the last two seasons in those cheapsie sets they're issuing now. Used would be even better.
And it doesn't stop. Over the last couple of weeks, more of my prayers have been answered. I found out that the first season of The Animaniacs has been available for a couple of months, with the second season due out for Christmas. Damn my poverty. Also out, and in my price range, is Eric Johnson's preformance on Austin City Limits. Damn, I remember watching that 15 years ago and catching it on tape, only to be recorded over by my sister for an episode of Days of Our Lives, or some such shit. It was this that finally raised the question in my mind: Is this healthy?
What of the loss of fond memory? Am I over-romanticizing here, or is there a certain validity to holding dear memories of something that you saw on TV as a kid, or even as an adult? What about limited issue stuff that you thought was going to be special, only to be improved upon ten years later by a new format? I mean, sure, it's still collectible and true wierdos would pay for the obsolete original if you wanted to un-load it, but what of the magic? Sentimentality, I guess.
So, what's next? Almost every movie is out there on a format that's not going anywhere for a while, even with the advent of Blu-Ray and HD-DVD. Fuck, just about every TV show that mattered is available in its entierty, with the exception of Mad About You which they abandoned after season 2, those fucking bastards. So yeah, what do we need now? Hell, for that matter, what's left?
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1) Pink Floyd: The Wall Live - 1980- This would be a great place to start. The CD came out a few years ago and the sound was stellar. We know the video footage exists because it was originally intended for the movie, not to mention that we've all seen clips. SO LET'S HAVE IT, ALREADY!! This would be one of the most important concert releases in rock history, so to sit on it forever would be nothing but narcissistic snootiness. I think we all would understand the possible quality loss of the original film stock after 25 years of storage, so the only relevant argument is this: That shit in Berlin ain't gonna cut it for the real fans, Roger.
2) Rad - 1986- This movie holds some of the fondest memories I hold in my pretty little head. Lori Loughlin's super sexy presence notwithstanding, this movie caused me more injury than any other before or since. To this day I still try to imitate the BMX and freestyle histrionics that made this movie so damned cool in the reckless 80's. Of course the possibility for hospitalization is much greater now, not to mention the fact that I get tired a lot quicker, but the fun is still there if I look deep enough.
3) 1991 World Series - Not a bad piece of baseball, now was it? IT FUCKIN' ROCKED!! I don't even like the Twins, but there is no denying a great series of games regardless of the teams. Lempke breaking the tie in Game 4 by scoring off Willard's fly? Spectacular. Morris making Smoltz his bitch in Game 7? Wow. Gladden touching base in the bottom of the tenth ending the game 1 - 0? 'Nuff said. We need this whole series as reference for our kids, man. If the WWE feels justified in box setting every Wrestlmania, then some crappy fanzine overview glorifying one team in this series just ain't cool. Two teams made this exciting, and the Braves deserve the face time of their showing.
4) Two - Short lived TV show from 1996-ish - This was one of those late night action-dramas, sort of like Renegade, but I recall really enjoying it. Michael Eaton played twins seperated at birth. Gus had a nice little life while Booth had miserable, abusive experiences. Naturally, Booth kills Gus' wife and frames him for the murder thus sending Gus on a run from the law who of course doesn't believe a brother exists. I think it only lasted one season (ironic) so it wouldn't take up much space. I've sure seen worse one off TV shows burned off on a disc and sold.
Other than that, I just don't know. I'm sure if I racked my brain I could come up with a million of these, but I'm not sure if I really want to. What if all the stuff I loved years ago turned out to be so much shit on a shingle? I think I have enough humility to know that my tastes are probably shit, so I'll forego the petitions I see on-line and just buy what is sold to me when it's available. Till then, I'll just keep tuning in.
Which reminds me, I need to pay my cable bill...
User Reviews
Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2006-11-03 12:38:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2006-11-03 08:44:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Amontillado (user info) at 2006-11-03 00:05:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I would buy All That if it came out, as long as it didn't have Amanda Bynes. She annoys the hell out of me.
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2006-11-02 16:03:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Someone should put that old late night datey/game show thing "Studs" out on DVD. Or air reruns on cable or some such shit.
I want to see meatheads stick hearts on their jeans again.
I like girls.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2006-11-02 15:08:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
...which I will be watching next week while Sam is out of town because he can't stand Melanie Griffith. Ah damn that was a good book too.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2006-11-02 14:57:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I recently discovered the HDnet movie channel. Get it, movies in HD. I scan it every week to see what is coming on. It's a good way to see all those movies you always meant to see but never got around to. Bonfire of the Vanities comes on tonight.
Submitted by St_Jimmy (user info) at 2006-11-02 13:49:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
You need to get out more.
Submitted by simple_catalyst (user info) at 2006-11-02 13:45:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by Beano312003 (user info) at 2006-11-02 13:30:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by foster (user info) at 2006-11-02 12:55:13 (#)
Ranking: 1
+1 pic
Submitted by morontian (user info) at 2006-11-02 13:01:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Brutal
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-11-02 12:56:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
HARD TIME ON PLANET EARTH
Submitted by foster (user info) at 2006-11-02 12:55:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
+1 pic