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Home > Blogs > Sir Critic on Cinema > Archives > 2008 > August > 12 > Entry
How do you rent your movies?
It seems like every few months, the home movie-renting business offers a new twist. First it was your good old fashioned video store. Next it was DVDs by mail. Then it became watching a movie on demand, piped in through your cable/satellite feed. Now we have DVD rental kiosks, of which Redbox seems to be the most ubiquitous.
Me, I’m a Netflix man, but I’m a little different from the average renter. Unlike 95 percent of moviegoers, I’m actually LEAST interested in the new release section. Since I’m fortunate enough to have watching movies as part of my job, I see most everything theatrically. So I use Netflix mostly to catch up on older movies I’ve not seen.
I tried video on demand a few times, but I’ve found playback is a little funky lately, so I tend to avoid it. On the other hand, video on demand does force you to watch the movie soon, whereas Netflix enables me to be lazy enough for me to keep movies for months on end. I’m sure that ain’t just me.
I haven’t tried Redbox yet, but I like the idea of being able to reserve movies from home before you actually go out. Still, Redbox is all new releases, so again, I would get that only if I needed a movie pronto.
And brick and mortar stores? I can’t remember the last time I rented from one. I’ll go in there occasionally to pick up used DVDs on the cheap, but otherwise, I don’t see the need anymore. Seems the industry doesn’t either. Remember when you used to be able to rent from gas stations?
So which approach do you prefer? Or do you mix and match? Why? Clue me and your other readers in, maybe you’ll give us ideas or venues we haven’t thought of.
And to add to the fun, if you feel so inclined, tell me what your’re watching lately. Here’s the top of my Netflix queue, after the jump.
8 1/2: Never have seen one of the best movies about movies. I’m on that kick with the release of Tropic Thunder at hand. (Review coming tomorrow).
Out of Africa: One of the few Best Picture winners I’ve not seeen. I’m trying to catch up with movies directed by the recently departed Sydney Pollack.
Day for Night: Another of the movie-movies I’ve not seen, to my shame.
The Electric Horseman: More Pollack.
In a Lonely Place: One of Bogart’s most unusual performances, so I’ve heard.
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days: Really need to catch up with this one to do a proper 10 Best list.
Point Blank: NOT to confused with the Keanu/Swayze movie. This is a 1967 crime drama I’ve always wanted to see ever since Martin Scorsese featured it in his A Personal Journey documentary about American movies.
Jesus Camp: Acclaimed and reputedly frightening doc that got away from me.
Sherrybaby: A drug addiction drama with Maggie Gyllenhaal in the lead. I like her work.
Animaniacs: Catching up with one of my favorite TV cartoon shows - and saving monry from buying those expensive DVD box sets in the bargain.
Your turn!
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment | Categories: Ask the Audience
Comments
By Dennis
August 12, 2008 9:55 PM | Link to this
A friend rents the movies and copies them for a small fee. Big distribution list, we all kick in a few dollars. Most are not worth watching anyway, so you can harldly call it theft.By Nancy
August 12, 2008 9:43 PM | Link to this
Redbox Can’t beat the convenience.By derwood
August 12, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this
Most rented movies come to us via Netflix. However, I’d like to plug a new site that has been adding movies and TV shows to their lists. Its www.hulu.com They don’t have a ton of content at the moment, but they’re adding new stuff all the time.By Carol
August 12, 2008 8:40 PM | Link to this
I love the redbox…it’s only $1.00, and they have the new releases. I also go to Drugmart because the movies are only $1.99 and you can keep for 3 days. I go to the Library also…theirs are free!!!By SRCputt
August 12, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this
My last Netflix movie delivery was Disney Princess: Follow Your Dreams, so obviously not all my rentals are just for me. But pretty high on my list are Freaks and Geeks, so I can see where the Apatow factory got its start, and Berlin Alexanderplatz, which I watched halfway about 15 years ago and then had one of the tapes break. Getting through each of those multidisc sets should take me awhile. And I won’t get started until finishing the current miniseries that has my attention: The Olympics.By SRCputt
August 12, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this
And I’m another Netflix subscriber. I also have Starz and HBO and use their OnDemand features about once a week. The only time I go into the rental stores is to buy used DVDs.By Allie D.
August 12, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this
I just re-started my Netflix plan and I’m so happy to be back. I love it and I’ll never look elsewhere for rentals. It allows me to see the indy/limited release movies that haven’t been released out here. I love the Friends section on it and the freedom it gives with the time allows me to swap movies back and forth with a buddy of mine out here if either of us has rented something worth sharing. Because I have a Tivo brand DVR, I can’t access the Comcast On Demand stuff anymore, which I did use pretty frequently, especially if I was up late, wanted to watch a movie, but was too lazy to get up and scan my shelves for one. Not all of them are in HD or widescreen format, though, so they don’t always look too great on our TV, but I’m not too snobby to enjoy it usually. As for actual rental stores… no. lol My grocery store still rents movies, though, and they’ll put out their previously watched DVDs for $5 or $10 each. I have picked up several movies that way. I have seen these DVD rental machines at McDonald’s recently. Is that the Redbox thing? Color me ignorant. lolBy Kim S.
August 12, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
I’m a mutt. At any one time, I may distribute myself accordingly - redbox, Netflix and a rental store. I use Netflix for older stuff and TV shows (I don’t have cable, so that’s not an option). If it’s something I’m getting for my mom, I may redbox it - she’ll watch it the same night. Plus I registered with them online, and I get free rentals twice a week. I find redbox makes me watch immediately, or the next night at the latest. I do use the video store, just in case I missed something, or to get some indie that I’d really like to see. But I prefer having the most amount of options. I’ll take all of the above!By ME
August 12, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this
I forgot … On demand is ok if you really want to see something fast, but it doesn’t always work right for us. At peak times (despite what a particular cable company tell us) it will take 15-20 times to try to get a movie. Yes we reboot the box, we’ve had all new wires run and a booster added. Gee still having problems at peak times on the weekend. Even the free on demand stuff won’t always load. That’s why I love Netflix. No muss … no fuss and any time a disk wouldn’t play we have had a new one in a day! Sorry cable until you get your act together you can keep your $4.95 or more a movie …By ME
August 12, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
I’m a Netflix fan myself. My mom and I share a plan, since I have online and she doesn’t - I maintain the list and set up what movies we’ll get. Then she watches them and shares with us. I love it. Saves us a little money plus it makes it fun. She’ll tell me if she liked it or not and guesses if I’ll like it. Usually she’s right … But aren’t Mom’s right by default? I haven’t been to a movie store since the one in town closed and don’t see a need. I don’t think I’d use the Redbox for new releases. I’ll stick to Netflix. I love having the extra time to get through a couple movies. We average about 6-8 a month.