How do YOU decide whether to buy a Steelbook?
- Thread starter digitalbabe
- Start date
Steelbook are like potato chips you can never have just one. They do look so much nicer than your standard cheap amaray casing. I think it's great that they are becoming more and more main stream. I just wish the U.S would look at Germany and here in Canada and see what a huge market they are not exploiting! 
For me personally it's a combination of the movie, price, artwork, and of course "the addiction" itself
For me personally it's a combination of the movie, price, artwork, and of course "the addiction" itself
I got into Steelbook collecting by fluke, and thanks to a certain someone here. I previously collected HD DVDs but after the war was well lost it was difficult finding decent ones at decent prices. So I went Blu with SB adding a bit of flair to an otherwise fairly boring product. Most of my HD DVDs are still sealed so it follows that most of my SBs are too.
To be honest I collect to collect and hope I can help those unable to get a release for whatever reason. So no, I have no set criteria for getting a SB but just make sure that if it's a good film I'll watch anyway, I get an extra copy.
There are definitely SBs I have that I wouldn't buy the amaray of. To an extent, that decides whether you collect to collect or collect to view. I understand both sides and sometimes think I'm on the flip side of the coin.
To be honest I collect to collect and hope I can help those unable to get a release for whatever reason. So no, I have no set criteria for getting a SB but just make sure that if it's a good film I'll watch anyway, I get an extra copy.
There are definitely SBs I have that I wouldn't buy the amaray of. To an extent, that decides whether you collect to collect or collect to view. I understand both sides and sometimes think I'm on the flip side of the coin.
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I mainly buy steelbooks of movies that are worthy of shelling out the extra cash for. Or, if it's a movie I like or one that I think I'll like. I'll double dip or triple dip, but it has to be worth it. I hate lame releases that look cheap or ones that regurgitate art. Part of the reason I started collecting steelbooks is because I liked the alternate art. If studios want to keep re-releasing things, at least be tasteful about it. 2nd releases just flood the market, which is why it is important that they stand out!
Put me in the same category, bought some steelbooks already where not like the movie but like the art.
Also bought some that others seem to really want like harry potter steelbooks even though don't like the movies at all
I buy the steelbooks because of the artwork, usually...sometimes I tend to double dip on Amarays to watch them. yes, some bad films have great looking steels...which is a letdown sometimes...I just saw (well, I turned it off after half of the film) Hanna...and that might make me not buy the upcoming steelbook...but something about big faces and steelbook covers....would make a nice display... ;-)
new to this and will arrive home tonight to my first haul of Steelbooks, but so far my criteria for Steelbook hunting have included:
1. either i really like the movie, or a blind buy that i have a good feeling about based on reviews and word of mouth
2. if i don't own the movie on BD yet and i can either get a Steel when it first comes out and is priced "normally", or if the Steel has been out a while but is still about the same price as an existing non-Steel version.
3. BIGGEST FACTOR, esp for double-dips - the cover art is different than any other home video version and does not have the blue banner or other big studio logos. Examples: Canada versions of Matrix, 2001, Departed, I Am Legend, Inglourious Basterds (which just happens to be my haul waiting at my apartment now!)
1. either i really like the movie, or a blind buy that i have a good feeling about based on reviews and word of mouth
2. if i don't own the movie on BD yet and i can either get a Steel when it first comes out and is priced "normally", or if the Steel has been out a while but is still about the same price as an existing non-Steel version.
3. BIGGEST FACTOR, esp for double-dips - the cover art is different than any other home video version and does not have the blue banner or other big studio logos. Examples: Canada versions of Matrix, 2001, Departed, I Am Legend, Inglourious Basterds (which just happens to be my haul waiting at my apartment now!)
Artwork has to be nice, and I need to love the movie as well.
I will never get a steelbook if I've never watched the movie before for example and I try to avoid junk movies as well
I will never get a steelbook if I've never watched the movie before for example and I try to avoid junk movies as well
Sounds like we're all creatures of opportunity here. A lot of "if's" "or's" & "but's".
I know I am. Although I want them all I'll look for the best opportunities for a good price. Try to avoid foreign languages so mainly US, UK & CA (they're Bi...LOL) but won't deprive myself of a great looking case because of linguistics I.E. - ZOMBIELAND (Ger.)
I know I am. Although I want them all I'll look for the best opportunities for a good price. Try to avoid foreign languages so mainly US, UK & CA (they're Bi...LOL) but won't deprive myself of a great looking case because of linguistics I.E. - ZOMBIELAND (Ger.)
Well it's pretty simple: ressources are limited, so it's always going to be a matter of choice.
If I had a lot of money, I wouldn't think twice and I'd buy absolutely everything. Sadly It's not the case
1. The movie. If i like the movie, and i'll buy the SB.
2. Region. As of now, i still don't have Region B player. maybe i'll have it someday. there are no Blu-ray disc Region C stand alone, aite? CMIIW
3. Price. If i can afford it, i'll buy it
but if there's a cheap SB, doesn't mean that i'll buy it. Ex: Wolfman UK, only 10 pound, but i don't like the movie, so i passed. And i'm against double dipping 
gonna sell everything that i have more than one
2. Region. As of now, i still don't have Region B player. maybe i'll have it someday. there are no Blu-ray disc Region C stand alone, aite? CMIIW
3. Price. If i can afford it, i'll buy it
but if there's a cheap SB, doesn't mean that i'll buy it. Ex: Wolfman UK, only 10 pound, but i don't like the movie, so i passed. And i'm against double dipping gonna sell everything that i have more than one
I started collecting SBs in the past year, and first and foremost, I have to enjoy the movie. I will open all of the SBs I buy to watch. I understand the "keeping them sealed" mentality as a collector, as I have done this with collecting action figures in the past. But as I get older, and finances become more important due to real life (family, house, etc.), I've moved into the realm of not spending money on collecting items just to pack away in a box or on a shelf. Although, there some exceptions. But with SBs anyway, I would open just to look at the inside artwork....
Second would be price - over $35 starts to put stress on the wallet. Honestly, I started collecting SBs because I got tired of losing money every time I bought a standard release. At least SBs have resell value.
Third is artwork. Generally, if i like the film, I'll usually like the artwork. I don't think I'd buy a SB movie that I'm not interested in just for the artwork though.
And I'm not for buying multiple copies or various releases of the same film, unless I'm a fanatic for the film (like Sucker Punch). They would have to be on my top 10 list of films for me to do this.
But I guess like any collection, everyone is going to have their own set of "rules" as they collect....
Second would be price - over $35 starts to put stress on the wallet. Honestly, I started collecting SBs because I got tired of losing money every time I bought a standard release. At least SBs have resell value.
Third is artwork. Generally, if i like the film, I'll usually like the artwork. I don't think I'd buy a SB movie that I'm not interested in just for the artwork though.
And I'm not for buying multiple copies or various releases of the same film, unless I'm a fanatic for the film (like Sucker Punch). They would have to be on my top 10 list of films for me to do this.
But I guess like any collection, everyone is going to have their own set of "rules" as they collect....
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