Where Do You Get Your Movies?

[metirish]

I joined Blockbuster last week....the wife had a membership but it's been more than a few years since that was used. I used to hate the place , late fees and all that crap....not big selections on movies that weren't huge hits....so I joined Netflix....loved it at first . I had the 3 movies at home deal.....$18 IIRC....problem was that I noticed that the movies would sit there unwatched for weeks at a time and it just kept going like that. Plus one thing that really annoyed me about Netflix was that certain movies they just didn't have and more than a few new releases wouldn't be available for ages after it's release elsewhere.

But my main problem was the fact that I'd have movies sitting at home not watched while they were billing me monthly , not their fault of course but I put my membership on hold last year.

So last week I went looking for the movie Hunger and it's not available on Netflix until next month while BB has it, so I went and joined and was surprised to see that they had a wide selection of independent and foreign movies ....and a decent rewards program(which I've not joined yet, but will), the place seems to have had an overhaul in how they do business and I think I like it better now.

Where do you go?

[Guest themetfairy]

On the rare occasion that we physically rent a DVD, it's from Blockbuster. But I'm more inclined to watch films on On Demand. Because I'm lazy, and don't feel like driving back to Blockbuster to return a film after I've seen it.

[Edgy MD]

Netflix first. Slacker store second.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

We're all about the local elitist pricks at the neighborhood video store. It's a short walk from home so we can drop off and pick up on the way to and from work/school.

It's the kinda place where people come in with their dogs and the guys behind the counter are watching some foreign horror flick from the 1940s and you can talk "film" with the owner, who's not even an elitist prick.

Large selection of foreign flicks, documentaries, whole sections arranged by director, and multiple copies of the new moovies. Makes up for the fact that the prices are a little higher than you might want 'em to be ($3.25 for 1 day, $2.25 each day after).

[metirish]

Hilarious JCL.....they must have Flame & Citron then , a Danish movie. I saw it on previews last night and it looked a delight...

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Flame & Citron was also previewed on the In the Loop dvd.

[TransMonk]

We ditched Netflix a few months ago. We have a local video store that fits our needs. Cheap fees and daily specials. I also have the Direct TV package with 25ish movie channels, so we try to find something to watch there if we are going to watch TV.

Netflix never worked for me. I need to make decisions while holding boxes in my hand. I also need the instant gratification of going home and watching the movie that night.

[Vic Sage]

netflix works pretty well for me.

with a family of 4, we maintain 4 lists and so everybody always has a movie, or one on the way. Living in the suburbs, there are no video stores in walking distance, and the nearest blockbuster is about a 10min drive. But we use it for those rare moments when there is nothing in the house anybody wants to see, but we want to see SOMETHING. But Usually, in those situations, we just go out to the movie theater and see something NEW.

Also, with netflix you can watch stuff online. I just plug my laptop into my bigscreen and I've watched many a tv show or shlock movie that way. Yesterday, my son and I watched a whole lot of SOUTH PARK, just cuz mommy was out and not there to object.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Mostly HBO and Turner Classic Movies. Sometimes American Movie Classics or Fox Movie Channel.

I think it's been at least ten years since I've rented a movie. (We rented Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Indian and the Cupboard when my son was a toddler.)

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy DC wrote: Netflix first. Slacker store second.

This.

[Ceetar]

I do Netflix. Generally just burn the movie and instantly send it back. This way I always have a cache of movies I haven't seen on hand.

Now with insta-streaming through the Playstation, I have even more options to pick from.

If I'm really desperate I'd probably bittorrent a movie before actually leaving the house to go to blockbuster or hollywood video. (I wonder where either of my rental cards are..hmm..)

[Guest sharpie]

The Slacker Store, similar to JCL. Only a short detour from the subway. They have a good backlist, they make good recommendations and I'm averse to paying Netflix's monthly fees for the same reason as Irish. Have had interesting conversations with people while being in that store, which is why I go there and the neighborhood music store and neighborhood book store, cause I like talking about those things with like-minded or at least opinionated (non-virtual) people.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Ceetar wrote: (I wonder where either of my rental cards are..hmm..)

At Local Elitist Prick Video, they save $$ and you save wallet space by putting a small sticker on the back of your driver's license with your member number written down. Now that's genius!

[TransMonk]

Our Local Elitist Prick Video store uses your phone # as your member #. It's fairly easy to remember.

[Guest sharpie]

Ours has dispensed with numbers entirely and just ask your name.

[batmagadanleadoff]

I haven't rented a movie in over 10 years. I got tired of forgetting to, or not bothering to return the movie in time and then paying late fees that exceeded the cost of the movie itself. I've been buying DVD's for keeps ever since DVD technology went mainstream about 10 or 11 years ago. I have a very large DVD collection, but I've hardly bought any DVD's in the last two or three years. Once in a while, I'll tape a movie off of TCM now that technology exists to record TV programs digitally. I don't tape movies off of cable TV because they're usually not letterboxed even though they should be. I try to avoid pan and scan whenever possible. I'm like that.

[Willets Point]

There don't seem to be any video rental stores left in my burgh. I hardly watch any movies any more but when I do Netflix (usually instant view) or the public library fit the bill.

[Guest Vince Coleman Firecracker]

Queens Public Library system or through the cable box.

[RealityChuck]

Hollywood Video, or Redbox.

Redbox is a kiosk in the local grocery that rents films for $1 a night. If you don't return the film after 25 nights, you own it. Not a great selection, but nice for recent releases.

There's also Amazon.com for when I buy DVDs.

[nymr83]

movie channels, on demand, amazon, hulu (though more for tv)
the parents use netflix so if i really want to see something i'll have them take it out
i cant remember the last time i was in a brick and mortar movie rental store, those seem to have gone near extinct.

[Fman99]

I have literally millions of friends on the Internet who share their movies with me. They're so nice!