Digital Joe #5

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Do ya'll remember about a month ago, in the very first Digital Joe, when I said this column was going to be all about interactivity? As in my interactivity with all of you? And I also said that if you did comment, there was a chance that a future column would be dedicated to that topic? Well, we've got our first one today, everyone.

It seems as though two recent columns have sparked some discussion, specifically my choice in discs to buy and the number of movies I actually watch. I want to address both of those ideas today for everyone to munch on.

First off, I will freely acknowledge that about half my collection is made up of TV shows. Everything from the first three "Star Trek" shows (the good ones, as I like to call them) to "Queer as Folk", "Smallville", "The Simpsons" and the entire DC Comics Animated Universe. Frankly, I find nothing at all wrong with that. The other half of my collection are real theatrical movies. I have a healthy amount of Disney flicks (double disc Collector's/Masterpiece/Anniversary sets as well as the Platinum Editions, all Pixar movies and one lone Limited Edition disc). Then there's "everything else".

"Indiana Jones," "Nightmare on Elm Street," "Moulin Rouge," "Network," "Rent", 'Jaws 3". The list goes on and on. The thing is, when it comes to buying movies, I am very picky. I know there are some things out there I'm not going to like. I've seen parts of "Gone with the Wind" and for the life of me, I can't figure out why it's beloved by so many people. Likewise, I have "Jaws 3" because it's a fun, cheesy, schlocky, brainless movie.

I enjoy collecting TV shows because there are a lot of things I missed when they were on first run. I never watched "24" on TV, but it was on sale a couple weeks ago, so I grabbed season one. Just as soon as time allows, my boyfriend and I are going to start the series. (We're in the middle of "Buffy," "Seinfeld" and "Queer as Folk" right now.) Yesterday, for example, I had nothing on the list to get, but I went to the store anyway, ending up with the two "Masters of Horror" discs that came out. Sure, they're part of a television anthology series, but they are also directed by movie directors.

Next week is going to be "Brokeback Mountain" come hell or high water. I thought about the "Planet of the Apes" set today, backing away only because of the online information I read about it. I find it much easier to watch three episodes of a television show over a movie most nights of the week, even if they end up being the same running time.

The point of all this is I believe in a diverse collection that isn't limited to just science fiction or drama or whatever else. Part of that diversity is television shows. They may be disproportionate on a Buy List only because they are released in volumes or season sets. I'm anal enough that I can't have a Season 1 and nothing past it on my shelf. If I could, surely "Star Trek: The Next Generation" Season 1 wouldn't be around. But I am a completist.

As of today, I have watched 25 movies this year, either on disc or in the theater. They run the gamut from "Scooby Doo Goes Hollywood" (1979) to the foreign language flicks "You'll Get Over It" and "Bear Cub," not to mention "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "Good Night, and Good Luck". The best movie I've seen this year? I gave "Batman Begins" and "Finding Neverland" both four stars. (Yes, I know they did not come out in 2006. And I did see "Batman Begins" in the theater last year.)

The worst? "Superstar" and "Super Mario Brothers" by far.

Since I've had a LiveJournal (2003), I've reviewed a total of 131 movies. Long reviews. Short reviews. It's a catalogue of what I watch. Really, I do watch movies, regardless of what my wish list looks like. I think you'd agree with me that it's a lengthy and diverse list to boot. I think I'm as qualified as anyone to judge a crap movie. I would hope at this point we can agree that what I like isn't going to be what everyone is going to like.

Believe it or not, the only thing in my Netflix queue that is a television show is "Star Wars: Clone Wars" (a series I'm going to be starting in on tonight). Everything else is a movie. Off the top of my head, "Doom" is in there, along with "Latter Days". There's another 60 or so flicks waiting for me, so it's again another diverse list.

Keep in mind, that, by all means, let me know in the forum (there's an entire thread dedicated to DJ right now) or drop me an e-mail about something I should see, something I should stay FAR away from or whatever else is on your minds. The only way DJ is going to be truly interactive is if we start a dialogue between us.

You'd better believe if I find something I really love you're going to find out about it. Heck, I'll be screaming it from the top of whatever mountains there are in Michigan. But finding the gem comes with seeing some complete dogs. I've seen some of those. I think we all have, to be perfectly honest. My dog, like I said before, might be someone else's treasure.

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