Sci-fi & Fantasy Films | Film & Music

Sci-fi and fantasy fans tend to take their hobby very seriously. This genre has a huge market full of collectors and film and TV buffs. Even amateur sci-fi and fantasy fans may enjoy collecting certain types of DVDs and/or videos in a fairly serious way although many people do, of course, simply dabble, buying here and there when a film or TV series takes their fancy.

An introduction to sci-fi and fantasy DVDs and videos
There are hundreds of different titles in the sci-fi and fantasy entertainment sector. These genres have been popular with film-makers for decades -- we all fondly remember the sci-fi films of the 1950s with spaceships on string and aliens wearing tin-foil! Today these genres are still popular within the film industry but they are also particularly strong in TV terms and there have been a number of cult TV shows in recent years that have attracted extremely strong followings among sci-fi and fantasy fans.

So, a sci-fi and fantasy enthusiast may choose to buy films or box-sets of TV series. Some fans will buy anything to do with the genre as a whole whereas others may collect more selectively. For example, some sci-fi fans will only collect certain series of films and TV shows such as Star Trek. Some may only collect black and white movies from the 1950s and some may stick to buying works by their favourite directors or writers.

What to think about before buying sci-fi and fantasy DVDs and videos
If you are buying sci-fi and fantasy DVDs and videos online -- either as new copies or second hand -- then you need to make sure that the DVDs or videos that you buy are original copies. Pirate versions of DVDs and videos are not legal, they may not come with all the inserts and booklets (which are important to serious genre buffs!) and the overall sound and vision quality will almost certainly be poor.

A lot of enthusiasts here end up sourcing their DVDs or videos abroad. They may want to complete a collection with an import or foreign language version or they may simply not be able to get the DVD/video they want in the UK. One thing to watch out for here is the region compatibility of any DVDs that you may buy abroad. It may be that your DVD player is only set up to play region 2 DVDs (these are the UK and European versions) so buying a region 1 DVD from the USA may not work for you. Some DVD players, however, can play DVDs from multiple regions and many modern players can be upgraded to do so -- but this is worth checking out before you buy.

Finally, do check the rating of any film or TV series if it will be watched by children. A lot of kids enjoy popular sci-fi or fantasy series and films but not all of them will be suitable for viewing -- especially for the very young.

Things to consider when buying sci-fi and fantasy DVDs and videos second hand
People buy sci-fi and fantasy DVDs and videos second hand in two main ways. They may pick them up in shops or markets or they may buy them over the Internet. Online sellers may be small businesses selling general or specialist DVDs or videos -- or they may be individuals. Buying online is a little harder than buying in a shop -- after all, you cannot see the actual item you will be paying for until you've made the payment. In a shop, you can simply take a look at it to check it over.

Most people who sell online will give you enough information about the DVD/video they are selling to help clarify whether it is a worthwhile purchase. This should also include information about the quality and condition of the item -- if they don't volunteer this information then ask. There is no point wasting money on a DVD that won't play properly because it has a scratch or a video that falls apart or plays back in a cloud of static because the tape is worn out. If you have any doubts then ask to see a digital photo of the item -- and be aware that a stock photo that they have simply copied from a large shopping site is not enough to show you what you will be getting.

The seller should also state that the DVD or video is an original -- again, if they don't, ask them if it is an original recording or if it is a copy. It's not enough to be told that the film or series is on a new disc or tape -- some pirate copy sellers will copy their films/series on to a new DVD or video tape but this doesn't make them legal!

Finally, check to see how the DVD or video will be despatched and what kind of packaging will be used. There is little point spending your hard-earned cash on a DVD or video if the seller sends it in a flimsy envelope and it gets damaged in the post. This is especially important if you are buying a valuable collector's item or rare film, for example. If your purchase of a sci-fi or fantasy DVD or video is more expensive than the norm then try to get the seller to use a secure insured postal method. This may cost you more in potsal charges but you'll get peace of mind and (hopefully!) guaranteed delivery.