For being a japanese release and include all those items, it must have been a real bargain when it was released. (24000 yen)

I guess it all depends on your point of view and what you're comparing it to. The 2 "halves" of "The End of Evangelion" (KILA-161 + KILA-311; each half was paired with the one of the last 2 TV episodes) were available for 11600 total about 4 months earlier. So from that point of view, the fancy box, 12"x12" booklet, 800-page storyboard book, 18 Cardass cards, 3 phone cards, Eva-01 model kit, Rei figurine, and the "Death and Rebirth" movie would be valued at 12400 yen, which seems reasonable.

Then again, 9 months later, Gainax released a movies-only DVD release (KIBA-105) for only 8800 yen. No cool extras or pack-ins (except Cardass and phone cards in the 1st pressing), but certainly cost much less (if you ignore than the high cost of buying a DVD player back in September 1999...)

I was really lucky to have bought my LD box of the movies from someone in the United States (I paid ~$55 including shipping). The shipping cost from Japan to Washington State, USA for this set is astronomical...

There's even a Youtube Video for that!

Julien

Ah, so there is! My set is missing the plastic shopping bag (which isn't uncommon, based on my prior Yahoo!JP Auctions research) and the transparent outer wrap w/ "LD" sticker (which isn't shown on this video). Still, 99.44% complete isn't too shabby for something like this...

Mine is missing a few things, but I think I paid $20, so that's not a big deal. Ditto the Ghibli Box I got for $65.

I got the picture that LDs was extremly expensive in Japan, I mean in the late 80's early 90s some movies gost up to 8000 yen, for one movie without any extra stuff. Many later box sets without anything were also mostly around this price range.

I was just meaning that in japan in that time the bex must have been a real bargain =)

Prices for a lot of things are quite high in Japan. If you look at release announcements, when there's an LD of something, a tape version (or two), & maybe a VHD, you find that the LD was often the cheapest option.

Hey, my ex copy of Jurassic park had the same thing, only it was blessed twice. Reblessed if you must, and I knocked a bottle of Ozzy holy water on it as well.

I've not got anything massively rare but I've got a few that tend to claim rather high prices:

The Game: Criterion Special Edition
Jaws: Boxed Discovision CAV
The Matrix
Pulp Fiction: Criterion Special Edition

The ones that probably mean the most personally to me are probably the Star Wars Original Trilogy THX Faces releases as they are still the best way of watching the (almost) unaltered original trilogy.

Good luck finding The Last Man On Earth/Panic In Year Zero double feature laserdisc. The picture and sound are staggering. Released in 1999 as one of the last 100 LDs in the US. I got lucky with finding it from a guy who had piles of laserdiscs that said he had it, then couldn't find it. Three days later he called me after much searching with a near mint copy. I have never seen it for sale again. Laserdisc Vault on ebay always advertises it but it is never in their stock. If you find it, grab it. On a high end Japanese player it will be the best b/w laserdisc you will ever see, especially considering the era in which the films were made.

I think a number of members on this site have invested a great deal of money and time in aquiring their treasured titles and hardware over the years, but it's really about the fact that we appreciate this fine format that lasted from 1978 right up until late September of 2001.

The following titles are what I spent the most on but, because I am a regular guy on a regular wage, who happens to be a serious collector, then I do not mind aiming for these rare collectables.

1) THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH in DD.
2) X-MEN x2 of in DD.
3) MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 2 in DD.
4) JIN ROTH ANIME MOVIE in DD.
5) GODZILLA BOX SET JAPAN EDITION in DD.
6) THE 6TH DAY (CURRENTLY RESERVED NEW) in DD.
7) BLUE SUBMERINE BOX SET OF SERIES JAPANESE ONLY (CURRENTLY RESERVED.)

There are more but cannot think of them right now.

The bottom line is that it's not about the amount spent but only the enjoyment of the format.

Genuine Regards to all

Hi benmbe, how are you mate?

I must admit, I don't know what they all are...but even then that is a mighty fine high-end set of titles. Well done that man! I will (one day soon) chase an X-Men 2 and MI:2 for myself, sadly not in the position to do so just yet.

Hiya Guvna dgtwoodward,

Good to know that your here

The X-MEN is not the second movie but 2 of X-MEN the first movie, and since I purchased these mint items they have now shot up to around $500.

It's been an arduous journey getting hold of these over the years, a labour of love you might say.

Good to know that your here aswell.

Are you well?

Regards

Hi there Ben

I am well, and I am glad that you are too . As you say...I couldn't be without the lddb now either. It's an invaluable tool, even before the addition of this fine forum it was still quite interactive, what with being able to add new titles, pictures and extra info, a great site.

Yes sorry, I meant X-Men. Just having a bit of a sequel frenzy and an 'old' moment. I would also like to get hold of The Matrix. My collection has gone up from about 320ish in January upto about 390ish now...so I am in the mind to shift some things about to make room for more titles so my desires need to be slowed down until I have the shelves to place the new additions onto. A problem I have talked about with our other mutual friend on here...my mate Bullruckle .

Hello dgtwoodward,

WOW!!!!.....Your collection is coming along well.

THE MATRIX on Laserdisc is fantastic the picture was above average and the sound is expansive to say the least.

I have two MATRIX Laserdisc's.

The good news is that the LD versions are now showing up more often, on auction and sites such as this.

I hope that you are able to purchase a well looked after item soon, for it will be worth it.

Sincere Regards

Most of the last japanese LD releases I purchased cheap from japan when many shops were getting rid of LD. Based on receipts, I paid from $7-$20 each for sixth sense, u-571, tokyo raiders, x-men, crimson rivers, the cell, limey, mission impossible 2, american beauty, the beach and scream 3. I sold most of them already.

Yes I do too Ben. THE MATRIX is a landmark movie that I would love in all formats (as I do with SUPERMAN, BATMAN, 007, TREK and others!).

All the best to you.

My most valuable LD is Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921)



Took me a long time to get a copy of this one. Rudolph Valentino Silent Classic with new movie soundtrack score by Carl Davis.

That is a wonderful disc.