Comments on: These movies brought to you by the number 11.

By: charley

charley — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:16:09 +0000

Of course that will be different for everyone. But if more people “think locally” first, and rent what movies their local independent store DOES carry, and use services like Netflix as a backup to fill in the gaps, there will always be room for both. I know that’s a lot to ask of people, so I do understand that the process we’re witnessing is inevitable. My local store that just closed had an astonishing collection of quirky/indie/import/classic titles; the manager was a serious cinefile. His collection included DVDRs of films not officially available anywhere. Johnny Guitar, My Son John, Make Way for Tomorrow, Ruggles of Red Gap–all films I was able to rent locally. But not everyone is so lucky. The other local patrons each thought that the other customers were supporting the store, so their Netflix habit was just a drop in the bucket. But the bucket eventually filled, and the store is gone. Now I too have no choice: it’s Netflix or drive 50 miles to a store that carries classics and indies. Which means a lot of driving for me: I refuse to support the Netflix juggernaut.

By: Cool Bev

Cool Bev — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:13:01 +0000

I hate to continue the thread-hijack, but I have to comment on Netflix v. brick and mortar. In my neck of the woods (Silicon Valley), the independent video stores were all wiped out by Blockbuster and Hollywood well before DVDs were invented. And they don’t go in for classic, quirky or cult movies.

I miss our old video store, and wish I’d bought more of their VHS stock when Blockbuster killed them off. But I love my Netflix queue – How many of the movies in this article are at your local independent or chain rental shop?

By: rhsmith

rhsmith — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:09:51 +0000

The occasional attitudinal retail clerk is one of those unavoidable but survivable bumps on the road of life.

But when said clerk doesn’t have the movie you want it’s not a bump in the road, it’s the end of the line.

By: charley

charley — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:40:27 +0000

Yes, it would be nice if we could have both. Unfortunately more and more people are finding themselves, like you, missrhea, without the choice.

By: missrhea

missrhea — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:20:47 +0000

Not that it really needs my defense but, if I’m to see any of the movies referred to here, I need Netflix. I live 10 miles from the nearest video rental place and getting there (anywhere) can be a challenge in the winter. The mail carrier gets through most days and so do movies.

By: charley

charley — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:55:15 +0000

I can’t comment on your specific experience with attitudinal clerks. The video store workers I know love movies; that’s their only attitude. In any case Netflix hasn’t eliminated attitude; they’ve eliminated human interaction. Bit of a baby/bathwater imbalance there, to my view. The occasional attitudinal retail clerk is one of those unavoidable but survivable bumps on the road of life, and is hardly unique to video stores. But you’re right that it’s inevitable. People publicly protest against the megacorp takeover of American life, but privately they support the companies that are leveling the consumer landscape. Like people who don’t vote, they imagine that their one little purchase doesn’t matter. They are wrong.

By: Richard Harland Smith

Richard Harland Smith — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:59:11 +0000

I’m all for Mom & Pop video stores and even worked in one in 1985-1986 but I got tired of the hipper-than-thou attitude of the clerks who repeatedly hadn’t even heard of the movie I was asking for. I don’t get that kind of bad-titude with Netflix. I still support the so-called brick-and-mortar video stores near me when I can but all business owners should be reading the writing on the wall. DVD is dying and instant viewing and/or file sharing are going to become the rule rather than the exception as far as at-home movie viewing is concerned. Best of luck in the time you’ve got left but don’t be the last one to find out the party’s over.

By: keelsetter

keelsetter — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:45:37 +0000

Hi, Charley -

Good point about the Netflix thing. We have a great independent video store here in Boulder which I try to support as much as I can. And, heck, even my film series is seeing a big drop in attendance because one-time customers now just use my film calendar as a resource to add titles to their future Netflix Que. It came to mind while writing only because it is a popular service nation-wide (and beyond?), and one that I’m having to rely on more-and-more when the local independent video store fails to stock their shelves with the Blu-Rays I’m eager to rent. I’m tempted to tweak the opening paragraph, but will let it stand so as to allow your thoughtful comments to make the point instead. We are certainly in agreement that indie video stores should be supported whenever possible.

By: charley

charley — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:41:19 +0000

Nice entry, some great movies mentioned. (NB: It would’ve been nice to have shared this list without the free advertising for Netflix, which is driving local independent rental stores out of business across the country. It’s nice these days to have the choice, Netflix as well as a local place to browse and interact, but Netflix is quickly eliminating that choice. It’s probably inevitable, but to see columns like this that just kind of take it for granted that Netflix is of course where movies come from is depressing. My neighborhood indie store just shut its doors after 25 years.)

By: keelsetter

keelsetter — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:14:03 +0000

Even if they come with meatballs?