Curate or Collect | What is the perfect balance? |

In this video I ramble about Curating and collecting and what is the perfect balance.
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Collectors Guilt | What is your secret shame? | Boutique bloopers |
#Collector #ManVfilm #BoutiqueBluray

[@jameswalker846]

If I'm honest my collection started off more like a curation but has transformed into more of collection based on certain boutique labels. I'm trying to redress the balance though, slow process. Another great video.

[@manvfilm]

Honesty is the first step to salvation. NAH! it just lets you know you love releases that have more care put into them.

[@filmmad0076]

Graham i think we officially have a mutual counselling service here now don't we LOL

[@filmmad0076]

For me i love going down rabbit holes. I'll watch a noir set, and really like Glenn Ford. So then i'll start looking at his other work and putting them on. Or i'll get one of the 88 films Shaw films, blind buy. Love it, and now i have a dozen of them and working through them. Killer Constable just turned up. Now this leads to a massive collection and backlog of things to watch. It also means i have thousands of films and always loads have not got too despite me watching a couple a day. But like you said i love discovering these films and increasing my experience of films. And to be honest i dont get rid of anything. As most of what i see i at least think i will probably want to give it another go later. So the collection is massive but to be honest for me there is no down side to that, apart from the space LOL.

[@filmmad0076]

be honest for me there is no down side apart from the space. I do work hard and earn good money so i can afford it without getting into trouble. And i think right now am enjoying my film watching adventure as much as i ever have and i have loved film all my 44 years

[@MovieMad1]

I need it to

[@filmmad0076]

@Fanatical Dragon yeah i have always been a HK fan i.e all the stuff from John Woo & Jet Li 80's 90's etc but these new releases are great for the earlier 70's stuff. Really loving it. Killer constable Tonight ;)

[@manvfilm]

Middle age men movie club!

[@ADS0791]

I’ve been collecting for a long time but it’s only been the last few years when I’ve been blind buying from boutique labels. This has easily become the most exciting part of collecting for me. For instance I got the Indictor edition of Roadgames last week, hadn’t even heard of it before this release. Loved it, this discovery much more satisfying than rewatching something I knew I already liked. With so fewer films being released in the last 12 months and even fewer of any quality, I would barely buy anything if restricted myself to films I already like

[@ickstudios2083]

I buy a bunch of stuff. I do not have the problem of wanting to keep garbage though. If I watch a Blu-ray and hate it I can let it go to someone who will love it. This has happened to me with many films that are widely praised but do not work for me. Once I realized I did not have to keep everything, I started to enjoy film collecting even more.

[@alex13stone]

I buy second hand DVDs or borrow them from friends to see weather I like them or not or steam them, either way it is not much of a loss if I don't like them I give them back or donate them to charity/ only stream or a sertain amount of time then end it.

[@lgbuk]

I don't blind buy physical media but I love discovering new films. I only purchase the blu ray if I know I will definitely watch that particular film again

[@CineApocalypseOnline]

I've noticed this with a lot of Blu ray channels, alot of them are just trying to one up the next channel. You see people buying the utter trash that is for sale in Poundland just to beef up the collection for no reason other than to have a good looking library, no intention of watching the film. The you have the people with a genuine love of movies like your self. I have a fairly substantial dvd and blu collection but these films are carefully selected, I do research before blind buying a movie, watch the trailer, read reviews, check out IMDB, thorough research before spending money. If I don't like the film I sell it on, if I do, I keep it. My Arrow Collection never stays the same, I'm either selling or swapping titles. Curation is the most important aspect of being a film collector, just buying the blu because it looks like a nice package kind of pisses Me off as there's no love for the actual film.

[@manvfilm]

But it’s weird right? All the packaging is nice and all, but it’s all about the film. Well it should be about the film.

[@filmmad0076]

@@manvfilm yeah the collecting for collecting sake i do find odd too. If someone comes round mind am sure they think i'm nuts with the volume i have but i do genuinely own the films i have because i want to watch them or rewatch them.

[@yournamehere6002]

Indicator has a great slate of titles coming out--I highly recommend THE BIG FIX and ISHTAR!

[@manvfilm]

Day of the Dolphin looked great.

[@johnyoung7763]

Really not a question or me tbh lol

[@MovieMad1]

I Bought train to busan it sat on the shelf for well over a year and one day I put it on and what a great movie. I buy movies I have seen and blind buys but try to balance it. Cant get rid of anything either even dvds I feel your pain

[@manvfilm]

That feeling of being unable to let go of something once you have bought it haunts me.

[@stevesmith5129]

A superb post, Graham. These ones are my favourite. I myself, as you may know, am very much a curator. I'm only interested in what I call, 'classics and rewatchables'. Of course, I blind buy all the time but after my first watch... I've seen enough movies in my time to know if I want to see it again. If I genuinely don't like something, on the eBay pile it goes. Often, I'm surprised too, and I find a new favourite, and there is no better buzz than that! I am a very harsh critic, I must admit BUT... I still have a large collection because of the sheer amount of great movies that have come out.

[@manvfilm]

Cheers Steve! I wish I was a harsher critic, but I guess it’s just not me.

[@stevesmith5129]

We're all different and no one is wrong! Keep up the good work. It's a great topic and fun to discuss.

[@blabla7752]

Yeah this is pretty much me, plus I might upgrade some of my films to a new format.

[@NoirFan84]

I very rarely blind-buy nowadays, not for my BluRay collection. Biggest reason really is space but also I don't want to own a lot of BluRays of movies I may not like or think much of. However, there are some things I just can't resist, like say the beautiful film-noir boxsets that Indicator are currently putting out. I'm a big film-noir fan & one or two of the movies in each set so far released I had already previously seen & I loved pretty much all of them so at least I knew buying the boxsets that there were titles on there I already know of & enjoy so they're worth having for that but I also enjoying checking out the few on each sets that I haven't seen so I feel it definitely worth the pick-up, but as I say, it's not often I pick up movies anymore that I haven't already seen & know I like.

[@manvfilm]

I have to agree on the noir sets. Of the twelve movies in the two sets there is only one film I don’t thing I’d revisit.

[@NoirFan84]

@@manvfilm Was it the first movie on the first boxset Escape In The Fog? I didn't rate that one either if so. I weren't all that keen on Tight Spot either, I like Ginger Rogers in the other films I've seen her but found her character annoying in that one. Haha.

[@manvfilm]

I strangely loved Escape in the fog. I really wasn’t a fan of 5 against the house. Every other film I liked with quite a few I loved.

[@kencarlson3545]

Again, I buy movies for my collection that I know I will watch again. And if I purchase a blind buy title that I really like ... I'll keep it. Also, don't fall into the trap of keeping films you DON'T like that are considered 'classic' films. There's obviously going to be 'classic' titles you watch that you'll NOT fall in love with. For example... IT'S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD .. is considered one of the TOP 10 comedies of all-time. IMO, not only is it NOT one of the TOP 10 comedies off all-time... I hate the movie (for many reasons). :)

[@manvfilm]

I’ve been meaning to pick up IAMMMMW for the longest while. I remember seeing it when I was younger.

[@CinePhill]

For me I reckon I discover mostly film full stop. Films I watched growing up I tend to look at as flippant watches, I can look back at them and go yea... I watched it. But films like 12 Angry Men stay with me now. And you’re recent reviews of Broken Arrow etc totally struck a chord because I watched then at the time. Would I watch them now? And enjoy them? Not so sure...

[@manvfilm]

I watched the 90’s action movies a lot when I was younger. I still enjoy the films but it’s a different enjoyment now. Like Armageddon I enjoy because of the excess and blatant manipulation attempts at emotional scenes.

[@matthewledoux9662]

My favorite part of collecting .......... woops I said collecting I guess I'm a collector, has got to be the blind buys and discovering a movie I've never seen and going, oh my goodness that is one of my all time favorite movies. When I was younger I only bought what I've seen in the theatres and every now and then ahaha hoard a little DVDs. But now when I "blind buy" movies of course you have the internet to do a little research or just to find a brief synopsis of a movie but I tend to go by the feel of it. I just know when I see a movie trailer or looking up a movie on different physical media sites which movies speak to me. I don't stream really at all except KZbin videos so I've become in tune with my movie needs to say the least. But curating, I personally know that there is no way I can do that to my collection. I'm just like you Graham I'm really never disappointed after I watch a movie. I usually can take away something from pretty much any movie in my collection , good or bad. And by bad I mean like some movies that people would rather gouge their eyes out than watch, but that's just me. I love cinema. You have a really great channel my friend, your videos take my mind off of this crazy world and I wanted to personally thank you! I really appreciate all of your videos. Not to mention we have similar tastes, but hey great minds think alike. Have a wonderful day my friend !

[@manvfilm]

Thanks Mathew, glad to know you're enjoying the channel. I sometimes wish i could be more critical of films, but i just enjoy almost everything. On the other hand i'm very rarely disappointed. If i didn't blind buy i don't think i'd buy as much. It is a great way to discover films. Although i'd much rather buy an older film than a newer one as well.

[@goodbye1469]

He's something you can do. Ask an obscure question about one of the numerous movies you have in your collection. If the person gives you the right answer, via in the comments first. It will be an answer only a true fan of a particular genre you poise the question to etc. That person wins, say 20 DVDs that you can live without, but might be a great find or want to the winner. It will be a different video, plus it culls a bit of your collection down, as you have mentioned wanting to do in previous videos. What do you think about this idea?

[@manvfilm]

This gives me a cold sweat.

[@Youngwolf152]

I am a collector but I collect what I like not what’s very rear or not I buy what I like because the boutique labels have it at its best quality I also blind but from boutique if I hear enough to want to see it like this month I bought arrow’s crash 4K and I’m so against selling what I buy but that one was actually the first one I was thinking of selling

[@manvfilm]

I’ve never seen Crash, it just doesn’t seem like something I’d be into. Although a lot of people have said it’s great.

[@goodbye1469]

Often a film can, any film, put you in a different kind of view of the film depending on the time of day you watch it, who you watch it with and if the film still hits you as good as it did when you were younger etc.

[@manvfilm]

Exactly. I've seen me stopping watching a film as I just wasn't feeling it.

[@goodbye1469]

@@manvfilm Yeah, me too. I think we've all done at some time.

[@manvfilm]

Yeah and it’s a great trait to have. To know when a film isn’t clicking because of yourself.

[@goodbye1469]

@@manvfilm It's true. Sadly this can happen on classics you always love. So often you watch it now and start finding fault. I tend to do this more when I'm with someone watching it together rather than on my own. This too can be a curse.

[@manvfilm]

Oh I experience that a lot. When you watch a film with someone for their first watch you start to become more critical of the film.

[@Youngwolf152]

And I refuse to sell my titles because they ain’t new and I hate wasting money so I won’t sell it at a price I want knowing people would spend the money but I feel like I can’t do that to people

[@jordanmoran1983]

I'm definitely a collector then, I blame fopp!

[@manvfilm]

For Fopp’s sake! What a store! I love it.

[@BryanLomax]

🤣🤣🤣

[@fangirl988]

I buy movies cheap on iTunes even if it’s movies I probably wouldn’t buy physical but every so often I find something amazing then I buy on disc

[@manvfilm]

That’s a sound way of working. I recently got arrow player. I’d highly recommend it.

[@PMediaUK365]

That's what I do now. I watch something on streaming and love it and then I'll look for it on disc to have it in my collection. Early days of dvd I mostly blinded buy mostly US releases because of there early release dates then ours. Now I mostly look for 70s/80s and 90s movies it put in my collection my collection method is completely changed....it must be the age😄

[@miguels478]

I think a blind buy of a film heavily related to something you already you know you like, is actually curating to a large degree. I mean, if I have seen 10 films I liked of director / actor, an extra one or two blind buys is a curated guess. I am sure your blind buys are really not blind buys - whether because it's a label (it's curation by others) or because it relates to something you know like? A blind buy, I suspect, would be much more you buying a Manoel de Oliveira film, which has a particular style of his own & in a different language, with actors you may never heard of.

[@manvfilm]

I guess you’re right. When I look at my last few purchases they are all either from labels, are cult horror, Italian films, shaw bros, made by filmmakers I like or starring actors I like.

[@miguels478]

@@manvfilm exactly - they are educated guesses of things you are likely to like. Not all will be to your liking perhaps, but chances are most will.

[@Reverend_Nada]

Continuing with my fight with the BR 4K set... i decided to go with the collector in me. Buy movies I don’t have instead of a nice box that holds a movie I’ll watch once

[@manvfilm]

My preorder still stands. I think about the purchase several times a day.

[@Reverend_Nada]

@@manvfilm def sounds like your heart is set on it. I was looking at it today, and it was the images of the characters from part 2 that reminded me i would be buying it for one movie (I hate the sequel...

[@FilmBloggerSam]

I blind buy a lot of movies, its my primary means of watching films. In recent months I have been going through a curation phase, selecting films to keep forever in my curation and then selecting films to move on that didn't work, and even some films I think are good, but that I strongly feel I will never revisit. It is quite liberating. I think this is a half way place of curator and collector. Its basically using the collector mentality in me to screen films for my personal curation. Cheers

[@jeremybreneman4508]

I collect then curate the films I love from the films I’ve acquired. It’s the best of both worlds.

[@manvfilm]

I just can’t let go of things!

[@jeremybreneman4508]

I’ve experienced that to from time to time. I think the fear of something being “inaccessible” is a real thing. I’ve experienced that with books too! After collecting movies well over half my life, I’ve found that it’s ok to weed out the blind buys that disappoint to the end of ultimately having a pruned out and thoughtfully curated collection (mostly). I sold the slip off my copy of Blood Hook because while I love the movie, I realized someone else sincerely appreciated the slip more, so I let it go. I don’t regret that. I’ve done the same with my films as well. If I feel someone else might want to discover and love it more, it’s a little easier (mostly). 🙏🏼

[@manvfilm]

That slip must have sold for a great price.

[@garypage1963]

Man v Film, good for you keeping films that you may not like and give them another viewing later. I am the opposite if I blind buy and its bad or I don't like it its passed on to someone else, in the back of my mind it's saying you won't watch it again and it's taking up space. 👍

[@asianactioncinema4687]

As i mentioned before I limit my collection to around 500 of my favourites which i will rewatch. There are plenty of fantastic films I have seen, but would probably never watch again for a variety of reasons. I am lucky to have friends to lend me movies they like as well as a few streaming services I use so plenty of stuff to watch, time permitting of course. If I see a new film i havent seen before that I love I instantly buy it on Blu ray if available to add to my collection. But by going through it every few months and getting rid of titles that, i haven't watched in a year / don't plan on watching anytime soon it keeps it under control. Of course we all have our top movies we will never get rid of, but it's very easy to hoard stuff for no reason, if you have the room of course.

[@iododendron3416]

Best middle ground: buy used DVDs cheap, then get the Blu Ray if you think the movie deserves it. Bonus points for getting a used Blu Ray for a low price, too.

[@fabulousbakerboy]

I agree; by buying used blu-rays or dvd's you can explore new cinema without emptying your wallet. You can also stream or even download... And THEN go for the expensive boutique release of a movie you liked very much. Blind buying expensive packages for the sake of 'exploring new films' is, in my opinion, a strange trend in the movie community. We used to have a cheap alternative for that in ancient times; Video rental stores! :) I'm still hoping for a comeback!

[@manvfilm]

Well who doesn’t love a bargain.

[@stuartobrien78]

The Hammer film "The Qatarmass Experiment 1955" is available in Letter box wide-screen on the Anolis German release. These Anolis blu rays don't just put a square box in the middle of the screen. Do you have the Anolis label. Bye Stuart

[@manvfilm]

I’ve never heard of the company Anolis.

[@NathanSimmonsSworn]

I'm always a collector of films. I have a big collection of titles, but these are ones I will watch and rewatch. I always like watching new things to expand my aperture on different genres, and will blind buy to try new things.

[@manvfilm]

How big a collection would you say you have Nate?

[@andygardner3910]

Hey Graham I am sure there are those among us who can’t always maintain a perfect balance or follow a rational trajectory no matter how hard we try. I truly envy anyone who has the discipline to remain selective. I do think that its ideal to follow a healthy mix of curated and Original material. The other end of the collecting spectrum is completist behaviour. That’s the thing I need to be wary of. I remember years ago wanting to collect all of Arrow’s White Window Box Blu-Ray Collection, 27 titles I think, with the two Demons movies in the Black cases. In advance there was one title knew I hated, found it almost unwatchable, and a couple of others I didn’t really care for. I still bought them all knowing full well I would probably never even open the film I disliked. Also, to complete the set there was one final title I just couldn’t find (I already owned the Arrow Steelbook version) so I went on eBay and bought the one I needed as part of a job lot (I already owned the other three titles)!? Looking back that’s a bit silly but it’s also not an isolated incident. I do try to temper the urge to collect wildly nowadays but it is definitely fun to blind buy and I agree with you that it’s a great joy to have a ‘random’ movie knock your socks off.

[@manvfilm]

The completions at is something I’m nearly at and now I’m in no rush. I was 10 titles away from completing the MOC. Eureka has a sale where 5 of them are on offer. Yet I only bought 2. As I get closer to the end I seem to be in no rush to get there.

[@mondozilla69]

Erm, read reviews before you buy? Then you don't end up wasting good money on rubbish movies.

[@manvfilm]

Then you're hoping someone else's opinion is exactly the same as yours.

[@fabianmyerscough971]

I'm definitely in the collector camp. I love discovering new films that I have never seen before. Last night I watched the Second Sight release of The Host. Never seen it before, heard some good things about it, blind bought the limited edition set upon release and finally got around to watching it. WOW...what a great movie. I absolutely loved it. If I hadn't had taken the risk on a blind buy, it could have well have just passed me by.

[@manvfilm]

Exactly. Well said. I love host, I thought it was a great horror capturing the feeling in the world

[@marcusgarlick82]

I think it very easy to curate films from the big studio movies and block busters when I first started my collection but it's so much harder to do that with boutique labels as all of them I buy are blind buys and I don't know much about them. like you say thats when you discover some absolute gems that's where my collection has definitely gone

[@manvfilm]

I think there are so many of us in the same boat. Starting off with studio films and then moving into the more niche films.

[@MuckMan_Movies]

The more I collect the more I become a curator due to space constraints. I personally don't want my collection cluttering up the house so I'm now having to curate my collection to keep it manageble.

[@manvfilm]

My wife doesn't want the collection cluttering up the house.

[@paullaidler1480]

I’m a collector and blind buy - if someone enjoys films and are selective in what they buy or watch they are missing out on a lot, l have found enjoyment In watching something unknown to me and am unable to sell if I don’t enjoy something the first time watched.

[@manvfilm]

Well Paul you sound a lot like me.

[@bogeymenproductions]

Great video. I see both points,I'm deffo a collector and I certainly have rubbish in my collection but as you said ,you can't beat being blown away by a blind buy.

[@manvfilm]

Yeah it’s a tough one.

[@michaelsmith1262]

Graham, do you know Eliot Cohen at all? People are worried because he hasn't made a video in over a month, and he has seemed down the last couple videos. I can understand if he is going through something and isn't thinking about making videos. Hopefully he will put something out soon even if it is to just let us know he's taking some time off.

[@manvfilm]

I know Elliot a little in passing. I’m sure he’ll be back soon.

[@blabla7752]

He went off for quite a bit before, just need to recharge your batteries I gather being a KZbinr

[@carncats07]

Can anyone help me? If a blu ray is advertised as the film having a 4k digital transfer, is it still a normal blu ray that will play in my player, or do I require a 4k player? Thanks.

[@NoirFan84]

Yes, it will play on your normal BluRay player. The film negative was put through a 4k scanner but put on a standard 1080p BluRay disc. A UHD 4k disc will not play on your standard BluRay player.

[@carncats07]

@@NoirFan84 Thanks mate. I thought that was the case, but I wanted to make sure of it. Thanks again.

[@goodbye1469]

I have to feel a certain feeling for a movie and it's genre. Yes, posters and reviews might help on a film that I've never gotten around to. Often hyped movies are best looked at months or even years later. Sometimes you think what was all the fuss about, but sometimes you nod to yourself and think, Yeah, I can see why it was what it became.

[@manvfilm]

I have the same feeling about new movies. They need 5-10 years to mature to see if they are really great or not.

[@goodbye1469]

@@manvfilm Very true, Graham.

[@crazybeast4496]

Spend the money on your family, stop wasting it on films!

[@filmmad0076]

Dear oh dear, think your in the wrong place mate! LOL

[@jameswalker846]

@Crazy Beast There's always one isn't there. Don't think this community is for you to be honest LOL

[@manvfilm]

I love being told what I can spend my money on!

[@shamrockballs1066]

I'm pretty sure he does, a man's allowed a pastime...

[@blabla7752]

Nevermind him, why are you wasting your time on this video/channel! Time is money!