The Unwatched DVD Pile of Shame

Every geek has one, it’s a secret that unites geek kind all over the world. You know what I’m talking about, the unwatched pile of DVDs that every collector has amassed.

Over the years I have bought DVDs with every intention of watching them or been given presents at Christmas and birthdays that I just haven’t got round to watching. Some are films I watched at the cinema and bought straight away, others are classics or films I felt I should own but never felt the desire to watch. As you can see there is a bit of flare on this picture, this is because almost all of them are factory sealed.

As Christmas draws closer, I can no longer be tormented by this pile of unwatched DVDs it has gone on long enough. Anytime I even consider buying something new, the unwatched pile of DVDs whispers to me, it says “What about us, you haven’t watched us yet, you promised” I tell the voice that I will watch them I just need to watch this box set first, honest. Believing I have subdued the voice I take my chosen box set and stand in line, tempted by inexpensive DVDs and sweets I refuse their siren like call and walk to the counter. Then suddenly the voice says “We will have another friend for our pile, you know you won’t watch it straight away. You only watched it on DVD last year for the third time, why is it never us?”.

I hear the DVDs cheer in my head and the seed of doubt has been planted, I look at The Battlestar Gallatica Blu Ray complete set I am holding in my hands and seconds thoughts have already crept in. This quickly gives way to a full blown change of heart, I can’t risk adding that beloved TV series to the pile of unwatched DVDs of shame. I try and reason with the voice and justify it, “but it’s in the sale!”

I run out the shop screaming. Obviously returning my now unwanted box set to it’s rightful place in the shop.

The above story  is a of work of fiction I hear no voices, apart from Citizen Kane which desperately wants to know why I’ve watched him five times and just don’t understand him but still want him around. The voices might not be real, but unwatched pile is and it has haunted me for years. It started out innocently enough, there were gaps in my collection and I wanted to have the complete works of my favourite producers, directors, writers and actors.

Then three things occurred that were beyond my control, the price of DVDs dropped dramatically, the wealth of quality Television shows was relentless and then Blu Ray happened. Like many other geeks I am slowly transferring to the beautiful HD format, every film looks better in Blu Ray but only a select number are worthy of upgrading.

Blu Ray also gave new life to older films, releasing new cuts of the film, new extra features and new remastered versions. The Star Wars Saga, Lord Of The Rings, Superman and The Back To The Future Trilogy serve as towering examples that Blu Ray is worth the upgrade for the right film.

So I thought it was high time that the unwatched finally gets watched.

Over the next few months I will be watching all these films and reviewing them, some of them are films I should of seen others are films I can’t remember why I own. There are also a few that I’m flat out ashamed to own, I can only beg your forgiveness for those. Either way I will be watching every single one of them, from the Oscar winning The Blind Side to the awful looking Zombie Strippers, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.