39 replies to this topic

[Loomis]

So, now that I'm well used to the God's gift that is DVD, and now that Blu-ray is taking picture and sound quality to frankly preposterous levels of excellence, I find myself feeling a curious nostalgia for the days of good old VHS.

Just thinking about "films on tape" brings to mind warm memories of childhood. The comforting whirring and clicking of the "video recorder", as the machine was called (note for the benefit of younger CBners: this was sort of like a DVD player, except that the movies weren't on disc but on "cassettes" the size of large paperback books). Persuading my father to buy me FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE back in the days when it cost about thirty-five quid because there was almost no market whatsoever for selling films on VHS to regular members of the public - people rented them for the night from off licences and, well, that was pretty much it. (And then waiting about three months for it to arrive from the mail order company. People complain about the current slowness of the Royal Mail, but it truly took the piss back in the day. Also, "cheques" had to "clear".) Carefree afternoons spent adjusting the "tracking" in order to get a visible picture. Those rather wonderfully packaged early Warner Home Video editions of the Bonds - pan and scan only, of course - that for cover artwork would, with no apparent rhyme or reason, use either the original theatrical poster or a seemingly random still from the film.

*Wipes away sentimental tear*

And, also, I find I have a perverse desire to watch films on VHS again, if only to be even more appreciative of the huge leap in quality afforded by DVD and Blu-ray. Alas, I haven't watched anything on VHS for seven years. I'm precise about the date because I know that I haven't (apart from cinema visits, obviously) watched films on anything other than DVD since I lived in Japan, where I bought and rented a lot of VHS tapes, and I left Japan in 2002.

So, any other Luddites out there with a bizarre affection for VHS? Or am I just quite insane?

Seriously, though, I'd have thought that things like those Warners Bond tapes would be getting quite collectible these days. Also, does anyone here still watch things "on video"? It's okay to admit it, you're among friends.

[Scrambled Eggs]

I know what you mean.

Clearing out a (sadly deceased) close relative's house there was an Alladin's cave of old VHS tapes, the same ones I watched time and again around their place when I was a little 'un.

I'm not allowing them to be thrown away.

There's definetly something charming about them - especially ones that were recorded from the tv. It's quite a treat to watch Raiders of the Lost Ark complete with ad breaks from 1986.

[Captain Tightpants]

I'll occasionally watch something on VHS if VHS is the only medium I have it on. My parents used to give my brother, my sister and I a video every birthday as a present - usually Disney, though as I got older they have me TOMORROW NEVER DIES and THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH - though as they got played so often, they've worn out a lot in places.

[TheSaint]

There is alot of movies and tv that aren't available on dvd so, until they are, I still have my vhs versions. After watching Frank Miller's craptastic Spirit film, I re-watched the Spirit tv pilot from the '80s. I recently dubbed the Andrew Clarke Saint pilot for a friend who has never seen it.

Those are two programs that will probably never be released commercially on dvd so, I'll be holding on to those tapes for quite some time.

[Darth Prefect]

Absolutely, I watch VHS all the time. Three reasons:

1 - Some things aren't on DVD. (TV shows, some movies, promotional stuff, etc.)

2 - Some things are worth keeping but not worth upgrading unless its cheap.

3 - There's no DVD player in my kitchen, so how else am I going to watch anything while I'm cooking or doing my dishes?

[Blofeld's Cat]

Updated all my VHS tapes to DVD ages ago, not that I had all that many anyway. And what I didn't want to keep I just gave away.

Except my ye olde pørn collection, that is.

[danslittlefinger]

Absolutely, I watch VHS all the time. Three reasons:

1 - Some things aren't on DVD. (TV shows, some movies, promotional stuff, etc.)

2 - Some things are worth keeping but not worth upgrading unless its cheap.

3 - There's no DVD player in my kitchen, so how else am I going to watch anything while I'm cooking or doing my dishes?

Totally the same reasons apart from the dishes..I bung those in the dishwasher or chuck them out (if paper).

Nothing like putting one in and listening to it whir away.

Edited by danslittlefinger, 16 February 2009 - 06:29 AM.

[Tarl_Cabot]

I still own alot of good movies on VHS that I've yet to upgrade to DVD(don't get started on blue ray), including 6 Roger Moore Bonds,2 Connerys,3 Brosnans and 1 Lazenby...and a few other good movies...but I've kinda given up on the idea that I'll buy a new VHS player since mine broke last year...I'll probably donate my tapes to a local library...if they'll take them.

[sharpshooter]

Updated all my VHS tapes to DVD ages ago, not that I had all that many anyway.

Yep, same with me. I haven't watched VHS format for ages.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Actually, to tell the truth, the ONLY VHS video I still own is "THE ABYSS SPECIAL EDITION" that come in a "SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION BOX", which includes a 28-page high-gloss booklet. Only limited to 2000 copies worldwide, and mine is #1337.

Thought I would hang on to this one.

[Safari Suit]

Yes, considerably (or something which makes more grammatical sense). For one thing, while we have a DVD recorder, it is a pain in the to work and the DVDs it writes don't work on all players, so any films I tape off TV, I actually tape off TV. For another, second-hand videos are very cheap, so if there is an old film on a second-hand video of a film I am interested in, or which intrigues me upon inspection, than I buy it, and after watching it give it to a charity shop. If it is a film I really like, I buy it on DVD. And as others have mentioned there are quite a few films, and TV-series and music-related videos, that are not on DVD.

I am only mildly interested in picture and sound quality to be honest. For me the main advantages of DVD are 1) Extras and 2) They take up less space than videos.

[DamnCoffee]

I still have loads of VHS' in my bedroom, stored away in the storage cupboard. I've kept hold of my Bond VHS, just for the sentimental value. My parents are fools, so they haven't upgraded to a DVD player downstairs. I watch a Bond movie when I am waiting for the bus to get to school every morning. So, yes. I do still watch VHS.

[Simon]

I have the old Saint Sanders movies on VHS, and there is nothing wrong with those as they are old films on old formats in 4:3 ratio.

No great shakes then - but otherwise, no.

[MkB]

Actually I have nothing at home to play a VHS, so I've asked my brother to convert for me everything that's not available on DVD (some TV shows, family movies, etc.)
In fact, VHS remind me more of the time when my brother was a toddler (our parents bought a VHS player when my bro was about 2, I believe, which means that I at least 12+ already. Our family wasn't really ahead of the hi-tech trends at the time! I remember my Mom replaced our black and white TV with a colour one when I was about 5 (ca. 1982)

[Qwerty]

I've still got a few films that I've yet to switch over to DVD on. Can't remember the last time I actually sat down to watch one of them though...

So glad that rewinding is a thing of the past.

[Vauxhall]

Got lots of VHS films in boxes around the house, but haven't watched one since I borrowed GANDHI off my parents last year. Still got a joint VHS/DVD player though, which is pretty handy.

[Mr. Blofeld]

I watched tapes all the time when I was little; mostly Disney, I'm afraid.

As for taping off TV, the most recently I did that was to tape an episode of 24 so my father could watch it the next night (I'm afraid my family's too cheap for DVR ).

[Professor Dent]

I've got loads of VHS tapes but haven't had a VCR hooked-up to a TV in my house in a long time. Definitely can't say I miss rewinding tapes or trying to figure out what shows I recorded & where they are on the bloody tape. TiVo has ruined me.

[[dark]]

I still own all the Bonds on Special Edition VHS - I've toyed with getting rid of them, but they were the first format I owned the movies on. I'd never watch any of them, but I'm a bit sentimental; am I alone?

[sharpshooter]

I still own all the Bonds on Special Edition VHS - I've toyed with getting rid of them, but they were the first format I owned the movies on. I'd never watch any of them, but I'm a bit sentimental; am I alone?

No. I still have the SE VHS set, don't watch them, but couldn't bring myself to throw them out either.

[Jaws0178]

I still have all of the Star Trek movies on VHS. I had the Bond movies, but I promised a friend that when I got the UE's, he could have them. Got the UE's, gave them to him. Also, Mr. B, have you tried the movie website Hulu Rules!! It is a website that has television shows you can watch, including 24. Just a thought

[mccartney007]

I still own all the Bonds on Special Edition VHS - I've toyed with getting rid of them, but they were the first format I owned the movies on. I'd never watch any of them, but I'm a bit sentimental; am I alone?

I'm with you on that one. I remember getting every one of my VHS copies and couldn't part with the memories associated with them.

[Mr. Blofeld]

Also, Mr. B, have you tried the movie website Hulu Rules!! It is a website that has television shows you can watch, including 24. Just a thought

My father is an Internet illiterate, so he doesn't really know how to do any of it...

[Loomis]

I still own all the Bonds on Special Edition VHS - I've toyed with getting rid of them, but they were the first format I owned the movies on. I'd never watch any of them, but I'm a bit sentimental; am I alone?

I'm with you on that one. I remember getting every one of my VHS copies and couldn't part with the memories associated with them.

Ah, but do you still watch them? That's the test.

[Professor Dent]

I still own all the Bonds on Special Edition VHS - I've toyed with getting rid of them, but they were the first format I owned the movies on. I'd never watch any of them, but I'm a bit sentimental; am I alone?

Consider me sentimental too. I still have all mine too & don't have plans to get rid of them.

[DamnCoffee]

I loved the massive picture they built up on the side, when all put together!

[gkgyver]

I too own the Bond Special Editions on VHS.
I even bought the 3 VHS edition of the extended Fellowship Of The Ring!

Soon afterwards, 'twas over with VHS.

But I miss the times where you would watch something on TV, and you could spontaneously record it. I'm sure you can with DVD, too, but frankly, I haven't walked on that terrain yet.

[Turn]

I think I'll always have a sentimental spot for VHS. Not that I watch anything in the format anymore, just, like it seems with a lot of others, it has a lot of good memories associated with it.

I pruned my probably 2-300 tape collection of stuff I taped over the years a few years ago. I have maybe a cabinet full still, mostly of Bond segments and a few other things.

I owned several copies of the series on VHS, from the early CBS/Fox to the upgraded MGM to the remastered MGM to the letterboxed MGM. I sold most of my Bond collection 10 years ago when they announced the SE versions of the films, many for good money. I sold remember selling both VHS letterboxed box sets along with TND and NSNA for around $250. That financed my first SE DVDs and the player.

Strangely, I've found myself drawn to wanting to collect these again, although I don't have room as it is. I had to fight off the urge to purchase several copies at a thrift store just recently while searching for Bond paperbacks and albums.

[Joey Bond]

I still watch Thai movies on VHS because some of them haven't been updated to DVD yet (and may never will), and those that are just aren't worth watching. I've also got a lot of taped TV shows and concerts on VHS.

As far as Bond goes, I've only rented VHS and now I've at least got VCD, if not DVD or Ultimate Edition DVD for all of them.

What a change we've grown up with. I would have never imagined being able to watch movies in a disc/ on a computer 10-15 years ago.

[Conlazmoodalbrocra]

I do when I go home to my parents' house. They still have a VCR and VHSs.