What's new

irritated at blockbuster (1 Viewer)

Philip_G

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2000
Messages
5,030
Imagine that, right?

Why do they rent unrated this, unrated that, like eurotrip, but a film like the dreamers that was released NC17 has been chopped to R?
 

Philip_G

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2000
Messages
5,030
new dvd drive
for new releases I go to mcd's but i want the dreamers and they won't have it.
 

Sam A

Stunt Coordinator
Joined
Oct 4, 2004
Messages
149
philip, there is a netflix office in the heart of denver. check them out. a friend who lives there loves them.

you should check them out

PS PLEASE BOYCOTT BLOCKBUSTER!
 

Tony Whalen

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2002
Messages
3,150
Real Name
Tony Whalen
An HTF member who goes to BB? Imagine that. ;)

(just buggin' ya Philip_G) :D
 

Kenneth

Supporting Actor
Joined
Jul 31, 1997
Messages
757
I suspect that it is because of civil liabilities for your state. My previous state of residense (Arizona) made it a civil crime to knowingly allow NC-17 materials to be made available to kids under the age of 17. This applied to rentals and theaters. Colorado may have a similar law. They probably don't have a legal statute concerning unrated material because it is "unrated" and it is harder to make a blanket law since all movies made before the ratings board are unrated.

Kenneth
 

Malcolm R

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2002
Messages
25,141
Real Name
Malcolm

I believe most of it is urban legend or ancient history, but Blockbuster was rumored to, at one time anyway, have used their size and clout as a video rental giant to demand edited versions of controversial scenes/films, demand only full-screen versions of DVD's, and refused to carry NC-17/unrated films.

I believe they do still refuse NC-17 films but, at least locally, none of the other issues seem to be relevant today.
 

Grant B

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2000
Messages
3,209
Malcolm
I believe it is more than a urban legend about the NC-17 demands. I refuse to spend $ there for that reason.
 

Sam A

Stunt Coordinator
Joined
Oct 4, 2004
Messages
149
I just hate very large mainstream chain stores. blockbusters are like starbucks. and what sucks more about BB is that they carry very little unless its new releases.
 

Philip_G

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2000
Messages
5,030
oh, I have a netflix account, just not a big fan. I'm more spontaneous than that.
but you're right, they make it here next day. Blockbuster's online rentals also come out of denver, as do walmarts I believe. The blockbuster online gives you 2 free rentals a month at the brick and motar BB store, which is neato.
 

Tony Whalen

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2002
Messages
3,150
Real Name
Tony Whalen
Why does BB suck?

Well, speaking from my personal experience, every time I've gone there, the service has been poor. The staff are completely uneducated in their trade, and are often simply kids who really don't give a rat's ass.

In addition, the last time I went there I wanted to purchase a new DVD. I took the very last copy off the shelf, and asked the girl at the counter if they had any more. She said "sure", and proceeded to repack one they were using in-store, thinking I couldn't see her. I walked out...

Also, more importantly, BB always favored pan-and-scan (or MAR) releases over OAR ones. This is a policy that I believe was recently changed, however some stores still follow this, and only supply MAR disks when MAR and OAR are seperate releases. This was a big one for me.

Then there is the whole NC-17 thing...

I've just had too many negative experiences in their stores.

The other big chain in Canada is Rogers Video. Rogers, in contrast, has always had OAR available, the staff has been friendly and knowledgable about their product, and just generally a far more positive experience to shop there. Heck, it was a Rogers employee who got me into DVD in the first place, damn him. ;) (He noticed I was always ordering widescreen tapes when I couldn't find them. Around '98 I think.)

That's my two cents... :)
 

Matt Butler

Screenwriter
Joined
Jun 23, 2001
Messages
1,915
Real Name
Matt Butler
I use Netflix due to the fact that Hollywood and BB have a bunch of tools working for them.

I also refuse to shop at Circut City, Wal-Mart, and Best Buy unless its a rare case.

Support local stores!!
 

Chris Lockwood

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Apr 21, 1999
Messages
3,215
> Why is BB so bad?

For me, it started when their founder stole the baseball team that should have been ours. I'm not sure he was still with them at the time, but it's easier to boycott BB than his waste hauling (wink wink) business.

Plus I think a lot of people here don't appreciate the effect BB has had on Mom & Pop video stores that might carry obscure titles or actually employ people who have some knowledge of movies.

And they are the biggest company in their market, so like McDonald's, Wal-Mart, Microsoft, etc, that is enough to make some people hate them.

I admit I do buy used DVDs there. But with Netflix around, who needs in-store rentals?
 

John Alvarez

Screenwriter
Joined
Sep 3, 2004
Messages
1,129

Sound like most service industries. Ask your next waitress what the correct serving temp. is for chicken or the next convience store attendant what does octane rating really mean...:D
 

Sam A

Stunt Coordinator
Joined
Oct 4, 2004
Messages
149
"Support local stores!! "

AMEN!!!

I would go into why, but there is a restriction on political statements here. all I will say is, if the company is listed in a stock exchange, i usually donjt trust it. :)
 

Matt Butler

Screenwriter
Joined
Jun 23, 2001
Messages
1,915
Real Name
Matt Butler


They have a office here in Sacramento! :D

Seriously, Netflix may be a big corporation but there is no where to rent DVDs localy that isnt BB or Hollywood; so Id rather do Netflix. Lesser of evils.

I usually shop local when possible and if not; the lesser of two evils. CC and BB only when theres a deal I cant refuse. (The Friday 13 bonus disk with the box set at BB as an example.) I shop at Target or Costco over Sams and WalMart. Also I shop locally for music.

It really is sad that local businesses are taken over by corporate America.
 

Jesse Skeen

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Apr 24, 1999
Messages
5,033
Amen Matt- remember Arden Town Video? They had a HUGE selection of laserdiscs for rent, and were in business for a long time but once Blockbastards opened everywhere they lost most of their VHS business to them, and there weren't enough LD people to support them on just that.
Something I just found out on DVDTalk- Blockbastard puts their DVDs in their own type of cases, so they THROW OUT the cases they come in! I went by one last night and grabbed about 15 perfectly good cases from the dumpster (there were tons more in there), so I can use them on my homemade discs- I need to find some porn to put on a DVD and put in one of those cases, I think that would be appropriate! :D
 

Matt Butler

Screenwriter
Joined
Jun 23, 2001
Messages
1,915
Real Name
Matt Butler


When I had my laserdisc player I rented from three places; but I cant remember their names.

1) Family Video in Roseville corner of Sunrise and Cirby
2) A shop on Howe bout Arden
3) A shop corner of Watt and Fair Oaks

Wasnt Ardentown the Howe bout Arden store? I do remember them well. I live in Citrus Heights so to rent lasers it was a bit of a trek no matter where I went.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Top