I didn't see any of these movies in the theater, so here are my Top 3 blind buys for HD DVD:

1. Shooter (Mark Wahlberg is great in this film)
2. Children of Men (Excellent cinematography)
3. Mission Impossible 3 (Probably the best of all 3 MI films)

And all three have fantastic PQ to boot. (Ok, my fiance bought me the Mission Impossible box set for Christmas, but I didn't see MI3 in the theater so I consider this a blind buy!) :)

Darn - it's going to be hard to stick to just 3! :D

Stardust - one of the best films of 2007, IMO
Planet Earth - wonderful series
Blade Runner - need I say more... HDM encode is the best ever
Midnight Run - a funny and great classic

I might go for another "three" in a minute, too! :)

1) TRANSFORMERS
2) Matrix Trilogy
3) Bourne Ultimatum
A close 4 is Harry Potter Boxset!
Also preordered The Kingdom!

1) Serenity (never saw an episode of Firefly)
2) Heroes (never saw an episode until I bought the box set)
3) Corpse Bride

I don't go to the theater (last movie I saw in a theatre was Fellowship of the Ring) because of cost and small children ($30 for me and my wife to go AND I have to pay at least another $20 for a babysitter...so $50 for 2 hours or so or I can buy 2-3 HD films and watch them whenever I want in the comfort of my own home. Pretty much 90% of my HDM is Blind Buys

1) Transformers
2) The Fountain ( I still don't have any clue what the movie is about but I love it)
3) Eastern Promises
Honorable Mentions: Knocked Up and Hot Fuzz

My basis was my enjoyment of the movie that I blindly bought on HD DVD, not just on PQ.

I didn't see any of these movies in the theater, so here are my Top 3 blind buys for HD DVD:

1. Shooter (Mark Wahlberg is great in this film)
2. Children of Men (Excellent cinematography)
3. Mission Impossible 3 (Probably the best of all 3 MI films)

And all three have fantastic PQ to boot. (Ok, my fiance bought me the Mission Impossible box set for Christmas, but I didn't see MI3 in the theater so I consider this a blind buy!) :)

Well, I have not bought to many HD-DVD's yet, but I did buy The Kingdom as a blind buy on HD-DVD today at Best Buy, based on the great reviews from people on this site. Still have not watched it. :o

Craig

1. borne series
2. transformers
3. shooter

1) Transformers
2) Children of Men
3) Planet Earth

Honourable mention: Stardust - Doesn't truly count though cuz I actually haven't seen it on HD DVD yet. However, I saw the DVD and the movie was great.

I just looked over almost 40 HD DVDs and realized I only had 1 blind buy in there: A Scanner Darkly. Which I am very glad I purchased (the fact that I paid only 12 bucks doesn't hurt either). This will all change considering I just ordered the first 4 Harry Potter films without seeing a single one, and I am pretty sure I will blind buy Stardust and The Kingdom during BestBuy's B3G2 sale. Maybe the fifth Harry Potter as well, but I am a little afraid of putting so much faith in a series I know nothing about.

1. Timecop
2. U-571
3. Unforgiven

I NEVER blind buy.... but of course I did BB the following: :D

Transformers & Serenity. Got both in BOGO deals or I would have just rented them. Either way, they both turned out as keepers so I would have bought them anyways.

Overall though, I will NOT blind buy anything.... except, ya know.... maybe. :D

Kingdom
Fountain
Children of Men

1. Children of Men
2. Planet Earth
3. The Manchurian Candidate

I never did blind buy and never will... I never know what kind of crappy movie Hollywood will come up with so I always watch a movie before stepping in the store to buy it.

I never did blind buy and never will... I never know what kind of crappy movie Hollywood will come up with so I always watch a movie before stepping in the store to buy it.
That's what I used to think, but my local shops often still charge more than $5 to rent.

Sometimes I'd rather just buy a movie for $10-15 if it has reasonable reviews.

$20+ is tougher for blind buys though.

Kingdom
Fountain
Children of Men

You just reminded me that I did blind buy The Fountain, but didn't really care for it. There was something there that I knew was interesting, but the film came off a little too pretentious at times.

You just reminded me that I did blind buy The Fountain, but didn't really care for it. There was something there that I knew was interesting, but the film came off a little too pretentious at times.

it's certainly a love it / hate it film.

personally it's in my top10 ever.

WOW this is a rough one...

1. Kingdom
2. Hot Fuzz
3. Lucky # Slevin

I always blind buy. I never go to the movies and I usually know if I will like a movie or not before I even see it,to be honest.

I'm going to blind buy Planet Earth series soon. Everyone seems to rave about it, and it looks awesome to me. Even if I end up not loving it, I'm sure it'll still be some good eye candy.

Heroes (never saw an episode until I bought the box set)
Mission Impossible 3
Eastern Promises

There are many others, but these are the ones that readily come to mind.

1. The Depahted.
2. Children of Men
3. Transformers

1. The Departed
2. Children of Men
3. Lucky # Slevin

This is a great question. For me:

Batman Begins
Transformers
The Bourne Identity/The Bourne Supremacy (either or both)

Those ratings are only among the discs I have watched sp far. I have plenty more unwatched movies on hand. The Matrix series, the Mission:Impossible series, and probably 20-30 more. Four Harry Potters are also on the way, all blind buys.

1. The Prestige
2. Children of Men
3. Stardust

1.Shooter
2.The Departed
3.Planet Earth

Transformers
Serenity
Blade Runner

Just watched the Fountain yesterday and its the first movie I did not understand. Hate to admit to that

1. Bourne Identity
2. Bourne Supremacy
3. The Rundown

I don't blind buy too many movies due to my position at Blockbuster, but these have proven great upon repeated watchings.

1. mi3
2. 2001
3. king kong-even though it came free with the player.

Hot Fuzz
The Bourne Ultimatum
The Triplets of Belleville

Serenity
300
Transformers

1. Blade Runner
2. The Bourne Ultimatum
3. Timecop (well soon to be)

I don't know if these are my top 3, I have a ton of blind buys that I like, but off the top of my head:

Hot Fuzz
Children of Men
Stardust

Children Of Men
Hot Fuzz
Disturbia

*I also just blind bought Stardust and Blade Runner, but have not had a chance to watch Blade Runner.

1.- Serenity (had the HD-DVD for months until I finished watching "Firefly" on Universal HD, which made the movie's plot and eye-candy quota detonate into HD nirvana when I finally saw it for the first time);
2.- Lost in Translation (hated it the first time I saw it, but on repeat viewing the movie grew on me tremendously and its now one of my favorites);
3.- Children of Men/The Departed (tie).

1. Casablanca
2. Grand Prix
3. Mutiny on the Bounty

Its amazing how good these old films look!

Children Of Men

Hot Fuzz

Pride and Prejudice

Blind buys and I'm satisfied with the movies and PQ. Win, win :)

Corpse Bride - The only feedback I ever heard prior to viewing was was "it's not as good as Nightmare." Yeah, fine. That doesn't mean it isn't awesome. PQ is insanely good as well.

Planet Earth - :eek:

The Departed - I had a feeling I would like this when it arrived on disc. I was right.


I've got Children of Men and Hot Fuzz on the way, so one of those may take a top 3 spot when this is over.

1. The Depahted.


Nice accent :p

Obviously movie such as Transformers, the shooter and hot fuzz are incredible in they're own way Im gonna go with

Disturbia
The Hitcher
Next

Stardust
Heroes
Serenity

Sure there were movies I liked better, but these were suprises.

300
Transformers
Hot Fuzz

I don't see a lot of movies in the theater...

1) Corpse Bride
2) Balls of Fury ( I was actually surprised about how much i liked it)
3) Transformers

worst
1) Knocked Up ( not my cup of tea)

Darn - it's going to be hard to stick to just 3! :D

Stardust - one of the best films of 2007, IMO
Planet Earth - wonderful series
Blade Runner - need I say more... HDM encode is the best ever
Midnight Run - a funny and great classic

I might go for another "three" in a minute, too! :)
Planet Earth, yep that is another one of my top blind buys. :D

1. Corpse Bride
2. Serenity
3. Batman Begins

Heroes
Lucky # Slevin
Corpse Bride

Transformers
TMNT-PQ
Shrek the Third-I liked the movie and the PQ

worst blind buy...Oceans Thirteen, runner up was 300 believe it or not. That movie just left me uninspired. The audio was the only impressive part of that movie for me.

The Kingdom
Bourne Trilogy

Worst:

Hot Fuzz.. I think I laughed maybe once during the entire movie. :(

300
Transformers
Hot Fuzz

I don't see a lot of movies in the theater...


NT holla :D

Batman Begins
Transformers
The Bourne Identity

Inside man
Bourne Ultimatum
The Aviator

Bourne Trilogy
Battlestar Galactica
The Kingdom

the host
dead silence
serinity

In order:

The Prestige (British Import)

Stardust - I knew NOTHING about this movie except the actors and people's comments/critiques. I have already rewatched it three times. Great fun.

HPGOF (British Import - last year)

All three have my replayability index of 9/10

Darn - it's going to be hard to stick to just 3! :D

Stardust - one of the best films of 2007, IMO
Planet Earth - wonderful series
Blade Runner - need I say more... HDM encode is the best ever
Midnight Run - a funny and great classic

I might go for another "three" in a minute, too! :)

Good suggestions, I really hadn't paid any attention to Stardust that one got by me. And I definitely need to get Blade Runner and Planet Earth.

My top 3...

1. Serenity
2. Stardust
3. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

...and just for balance, the winner for bottom feeder in my library (also a blind buy):

Slither

Seems like a get a few blind buys whenever I pick up a 3 or 4 disk package set where the other movies are something I've seen and want. Here's my list:

Last Samurai
U-571
HP 1-5 (though I've seen 1 and 2 on broadcast TV)

i don't do many blind buys but i will give you my top four (that's all the blind buys i think i ever made)

1. shooter
2. the kingdom
3. We are Marshall
4. TMNT

Blade Runner
Forbidden Planet
The Wild Bunch

Hot Fuzz
Children of Men
300

1. The Kingdom
2. Shooter
3. Children of Men

1. Blade Runner
2. Transformers
3. The Searchers

This thread saves me some time to research what good movies are out there that people recommend for this format.

I only got Transformers on a blind buy so far. Everything else recommended is now in my Netflix queue. Thanks folks!

Does not seeing a movie in theaters constitute a "blind buy" when it's released on HD DVD? I know I've bought movies because of a certain director, group of actors, etc. without seeing it theatrically, but I have an idea of what I'm getting into. I just find it hard to believe that people will just buy an HD DVD, especially considering current prices, without knowing what they're getting. Just my two cents.....

The Bourne Ultimatum
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Blade Runner

Serenity
Children of Men
Shuan of the Dead

Heroes
Feast
Blood Diamond

I have more than just 3 blind buys regarding HD DVDs, but here are 3 of them;):

-Transformers
-The Bourne Ultimatum
-King Kong


...oh, and 3 more, just for the heck of it!:p

-Blade Runner
-The Ultimate Matrix Collection
-Batman Begins

1.The Bourne Ultimatum
2. Hot Fuzz
3. Harry Potter 1-5 Gift Set

Basically every movie made in the last year or so has been a blind buy for me. I just don't like spending that much money at the movie theater. Anyway, here's the winners.

Heroes -I saw the pilot episode on the xbox live marketplace and knew I had to have it.
The Kingdom -I knew literally nothing about it but saw that everyone here wanted it. Turned out to be a great movie.
Shooter -I liked Wahlberg in The Departed (Which was also a blind buy) so I picked this up for cheap on ebay. Turned out to be a favorite.
Children of Men -My friend kept on and on about this movie so I bought it. Excellent purchase.
Transformers -I thought it was going to be stupid, but actually turned out to be quite good.

Epic Fail Award: Knocked Up -I just didn't find it that funny.

Children of Men
Hot Fuzz
Planet Earth

1) Lucky number slevin
2) Serenity
3) MI3

Stardust and Eastern Promises are my only blind buys this year. So I guess that's 2 out of 3...

MI3
The Thing
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. (Bought it for the wife and kids, I ended up loving the film.)

V for Vendetta
Children of Men
Smokin Aces (this movie really grows on me each time I watch it)

Shooter
Eastern Promises
Smokin Aces

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Corpse Bride
Shaun of the Dead

1) The Bourne Ultimatum
2) Shrek the Third (did not deserve the bad press that it got, funny as hell!)
3) World Trade Center

Two honorable mentions, that just happen to be cinematic classics that I am ashamed to admit I have never seen, until I blind bought them on HD DVD and loved them...

1) Casablanca
2) Bullitt

-Murray

Does not seeing a movie in theaters constitute a "blind buy" when it's released on HD DVD? I know I've bought movies because of a certain director, group of actors, etc. without seeing it theatrically, but I have an idea of what I'm getting into. I just find it hard to believe that people will just buy an HD DVD, especially considering current prices, without knowing what they're getting. Just my two cents.....


No, a blind buy is not reading a review or opinions on forums like these or looking at "RottenTomatoes" or anything other than seeing it on a shelf or on sale online and just taking a chance and buying it.

For me, it was:

1. Backdraft - really good movie

2. 12 Monkeys - bad movie. Maybe I thought HD would make Bruce Willis a better actor.

John

Does not seeing a movie in theaters constitute a "blind buy" when it's released on HD DVD? I know I've bought movies because of a certain director, group of actors, etc. without seeing it theatrically, but I have an idea of what I'm getting into.

For me, "blind buy" doesn't mean I have no idea what a movie is about, it means I don't care about the extras, I don't care about the price, I don't care if it's a combo;), it doesn't matter if I have seen it theatrically either. It just means I have to buy it when it's out. Usually the day of its release. The Kingdom wasn't a blind buy, although it turned out as a very wise buy since I think it's a great movie. "Blind buy" implies a certain "quality" to a movie that justifies a purchase, without even knowing what's inside (PQ, AQ, Extras, DC or theatrical cut, etc) ; at least that's what it means to me. I bought the Bourne Ultimatum for $39.99 CAN, I guess that was pretty blind... ;)

2. 12 Monkeys - bad movie. Maybe I thought HD would make Bruce Willis a better actor.


Different tastes... 12 Monkeys is one of my favorites movies. I don't have it in HD yet, but I will, and I will "blindly" buy it ;).

Well i guess a blind buy to me means never seeing the movie before or knowing much about it, just whats read off the synop. So here are my 3 so far

Inside Man
Stardust
Smokin Aces

Blind Buys only.

1. The Kingdom, one of the better films I've seen in a while.

2. Children of Men, hated it the first time I watched it, but really came around to it the second go round.

3. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, one of the funniest movies I've ever seen, and Depp is hilarious.

Different tastes... 12 Monkeys is one of my favorites movies. I don't have it in HD yet, but I will, and I will "blindly" buy it ;).

12 monkeys was an immediate buy for me, too. brad pitt is priceless.

blind buys i've never watched before: ocean's 13 (have not watched yet), superman II donner cut (hated superman ii, but read this cut is way better; not watched yet), seabiscuit (not watched yet), backdraft (not watched yet, i've wanted this movie for yeeears), corpse bride (not watched yet), troy directors cut (have not watched yet)...

hot fuzz (liked it, but should've rented it), bourne 3 (dur), serenity (biggest surprise for me), alexander final cut (blows away the theatrical version), clockwork orange (should've rented, but great presentation for such an old movie), enter the dragon (fantastic), TMNT (ridiculously pretty).

i will also be getting blade runner and american gangster blind, and possibly the elizabeth movies.

sorry i didn't split it into threes. haha. i guess my top three right now would be serenity, alexander final cut, and bourne 3, with hot fuzz close fourth because of the absurdly great quality.

1. Children of Men one of the best movies i have seen in years. Plus great audio/video
2. Bourne Ultimatum a series that keeps getting better. Again awesome a/v
3. TMNT my childhood back on screen in a cool movie. Raph Vs Leo fight. Demo worthy for audio/video


Honorable mentions

Transformers and Smokin' Aces

1) Dog Day Afternoon
2) The Pianist
3) The Prestige

All three, fantastic movies that I probably would have never seen if they weren't brought to my attention from their release on HD-DVD.

V For Vendetta (I haven't bought this, just saw it on a netflix rental, but I mean to buy it, does that count?)
Transformers
Batman Begins

Transformers
Children of Men
The Departed

(May change as I have the Kingdom and Eastern Promises still shrinkwrapped)

A blind buy is simply buying a movie you've never seen before. It's not that hard to figure out...

Shooter
Letters from Iwo Jima
Lucky Number Slevin

A blind buy is simply buying a movie you've never seen before. It's not that hard to figure out...

I only asked to see how others defined a "blind buy". I guess according to your definition I blind buy all the time. You're right. It wasn't that hard to "figure out".

Mission Impossible III
Bourne Ultimatum
Sahara

Has anyone seen Breach with Chris Cooper? I haven't but it sounds like I would like it, would anyone reccommend it? How is the pq? Thanks

'Breach' is a good suspense flick. It's a little talky, but keeps you engaged.

Best blind buys:


Children of Men
The Matador
Serenity

I define "blind buy" simply as a movie that you haven't seen before purchasing. I of course always do a little research on the movies I'm picking up, but just over half of the HD/BD movies I've picked up have been blind buys by my definition. I'll usually pick them up due to a favorite actor/director being a part of it, or simply just because enough of you people are raving about it on here.

Has anyone seen Breach with Chris Cooper? I haven't but it sounds like I would like it, would anyone reccommend it? How is the pq? Thanks

Oh, and I haven't watched it yet, but after watching the Bourne series and The Kingdom recently I'm starting to realize I've enjoyed everything he's been in so far. I picked it up in the Amazon BOGO, so we'll see if the streak continues...

It's good to see Children of Men getting so much love here. Of my my 30 or so movies I own on HD DVD and Blu Ray, I've watched and rewatched Children of Men by far the most. It often stays on my mind days later.

Best blind buy for viewers in general: Planet Earth (what else could it be?)

It's good to see Children of Men getting so much love here. Of my my 30 or so movies I own on HD DVD and Blu Ray, I've watched and rewatched Children of Men by far the most. It often stays on my mind days later.

Best blind buy for viewers in general: Planet Earth (what else could it be?)Children of Men is one of the best movies in my collection. Worth every dime. ;) Watched it 3 times since purchase! :D

It's good to see Children of Men getting so much love here. Of my my 30 or so movies I own on HD DVD and Blu Ray, I've watched and rewatched Children of Men by far the most. It often stays on my mind days later.

Best blind buy for viewers in general: Planet Earth (what else could it be?)
I watched Children of Men again last night. I'm still very impressed with the cinematography and how many scenes are just one continuous shot. Very well done.

Oh, and I haven't watched it yet, but after watching the Bourne series and The Kingdom recently I'm starting to realize I've enjoyed everything he's been in so far. I picked it up in the Amazon BOGO, so we'll see if the streak continues...
I think you will enjoy Breach very much. Another very good film.

1) Transformers (WOW)
2) Bourne Ultimatum
3) Planet Earth

Serenity, Planet Earth, 300

Close third: Lucky #Slevin.

1. Borne Ultimatum I missed it in the Theater and knew I was going to buy it.
2. Blood Diamond
3. Slither

id have to say

shooter (since i dont have it on blu-ray)
the chronicles of riddick
sahara (also since i dont have it on blu-ray)

i already have most of the popular choices like serenity, transformers, batman begins, matrix trilogy, bourne trilogy, and both mummys so i go with the 3 above.

children of men is an interesting movie but the ending really put me off.

Blind buys, right? Never seen 'em before:

Eagles Farewell Tour - Man, those old farts can still play!
Blood Diamond
The Pianist

Planet Earth
TMNT
Shrek the Third

Not in this order neces...but

1. Transformers
2. Order of The Phoenix
3. Superman Returns

These are all top notch HT experiences, especialy in the AQ department. I am only listing HD-DVD's though. If both formats were involved there would be 1 or 2 different choices

Netflix sent me Children Of Men and Stardust. I didn't like Children OF Men to tell you the truth. Nothing wrong with it per se but I'm glad I didn't blind buy this after seeing so many posts including this in one's list. I'll give Stardust a try.

Planet Earth
Blade Runner
Midnight Run

After this weekend I gotta say

1. The Kingdom
2. Stardust
3. Unforgiven

No, a blind buy is not reading a review or opinions on forums like these or looking at "RottenTomatoes" or anything other than seeing it on a shelf or on sale online and just taking a chance and buying it.

John

Since some people think my definition is too restrictive, let me modify it again :)

A blind buy is not reading a review or opinions on forums like these or looking at "RottenTomatoes" or anything other than seeing it on a shelf or on sale online and being led by a friend to the Hi-Def section in Target with a blindfold on and grabbing a title off the shelf. Then being led out of the store by your friend still blindfolded and driven home before you are allowed to look at the title you bought. Then when you look at it you discover you bought a Blu-Ray movie.

NOW THAT'S A BLIND BUY

John

If blind buy means I've never seen the movie in any format before buying the HD DVD then almost everything I buy is a blind buy.

Unexpected rawness or intensity which sat with me for days from Blind Buys:

Black Snake Moan
Children of Men
Meet Joe Black

Unexpected old-fashioned pleasures from Blind Buys:

Harry Potter
Heroes
Batman Begins

Unexpected renewed pleasures from Known Quantities:

Casablanca
American Werewolf in London
2001: A Space Odyssey

Black Snake Moan, Children of Men and Eastern Promises

Planet Earth, Children of Men, and perhaps the Kingdom. Had no idea what the second 2 were even about, just heard positive things. The Island (uk import) wasn't too bad either.