Screen Junkies » DVDs

9 Reasons Netflix Is Still A Great Deal

Nicholas Pell — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 20:01:27 +0000

Much teeth-gnashing and crying in the darkness followed Netflix announcement that it was separating its DVD / Blu-Ray and streaming services. When Netflix unrolled its new DVD / Blu-Ray service, Qwikster, the response was a bit like when everyone found out the long-awaited Apple tablet had a name that sounded like a jam rag. While we’ll miss being able to get a new flick delivered to our door via U.S. mail and stream over the series of tubes at one low price, it could be a lot worse. Tons of things are more expensive than subscribing to both Netflix services. Here are nine.

Check out 10 reasons to stay on netflix!

Going to the Movies

Nothing ever compares to the experience of watching a movie in a cool, dark room with a mob of other people. You laugh harder, cry more and walk away with an experience greater than just seeing a flick. You also go home about $30 lighter than you went in — make that $50 if you bring a date. Between skyrocketing ticket prices and the minor atrocities committed at the concession stand, going to the cinema is a far greater expense than throwing Netflix / Qwikster whatever it is they finally end up charging for both services.

Renting Movies

Just in case anyone is still rocking Hammer pants, listening to Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, buying CDs and renting videos, we’d like to point out that this is a very expensive way to catch a film. At three bucks per — the price that renting movies cost the last time we wandered into a video rental place, somewhere around 1994 — or one dollar per night — apparently what those boxes outside of the 7-11 charge for the privilege of having a hard copy of How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days — renting movies like grandma used to is going to add up real quick.

Torrenting

Torrenting your favorite movie is, in theory, free. That’s one of the things people love about it. But it isn’t free when you add in the cost of getting sued by the MPAA. Laugh all you like. The movie industry has decided to redouble its efforts to hunt down and punish people like you who don’t want to shell out their hard-earned lettuce to find out Captain America: The First Avenger is possibly the worst super hero film since Punisher War Journal. The worst is when you get sued by the porn industry, which is happening more and more these days. Basement dwellers of the world are going to lose more than just money when pornographers come knocking on mom’s door inquiring about who downloaded Teen Butt Sluts Vol. 9.

Netflix Stock Plummets After Low Subscriber Prediction

Wookie Johnson — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:56:40 +0000

It’s going to be a bad Christmas at the Netflix house this year. In an attempt to embrace the new market of those who prefer streaming to DVD viewing, the company introduced a new subscription price model that didn’t go over so hot. In fact, it caused one million angry subscribers to cancel their subscriptions which has now caused the stock to plummet to a drop of more than 17 percent.

As an investor in Netflix, I’ll be having canned tuna for dinner tonight. And not the one they sell for human consumption. (CBS)

DVD Rundown: July 5th

Jame Gumb — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 21:09:26 +0000

It’s new DVD day. Deal with it.

Sorry I snapped. I’m just a little upset that Boy Meets World season six is out, and I’m stuck at work like a jackass instead of watching it. I’m sure you can sympathize. Also out this week is Das Boot, for those of you who like to watch Nazis on boats. There’s other stuff coming out as well, but if I list it all here, you won’t bother to read on. So take a look below.

Here’s this week’s DVD Rundown!

New Releases


13 Assassins	BloodRayne: The Third Reich	Hobo with a Shotgun	Das Boot

Television


Life According to Jim (S:4)	Boy Meets World (S:6)	The Cape (S:1)	Victorious (S:1 Vol. 1)

Screen Junkies DVD Rundown: June 28th

Jame Gumb — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:00:30 +0000

It’s new DVD day, which means it’s time for the Screen Junkies DVD Rundown. This week, we run the gauntlet from Sucker Punch to Stuart Little, from cage matches to Cowboy Bebop. If none of that tickles your fancy, there’s always the Lord of the Rings or Jumangi DVDs. And after all that, if you’re still not satisfied, I really don’t know what to tell you other than the world doesn’t revolve around you, and maybe you should learn to be happy with the hand you’ve been dealt.

At any rate, here’s this week’s DVD Rundown!

New Releases


Sucker Punch	Season of the Witch	Barney’s Version	Beastly


LOTR Extended	Jumangi	Cowboy Bebop	Stuart Little

Television


Law and Order: Criminal Intent (S:6)	Ancient Aliens (S:2)	Warehouse 13 (S:2)	WWE: Greatest Cage Matches

Movies Hollywood Makes Us Steal

Jame Gumb — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 22:42:49 +0000

In a world where almost any film you wish to purchase is just a few mouse clicks away, it’s rare to come across a title that is not available. But as rare as it may be, there are some movies that, for one reason or another, simply cannot be obtained by legal means.

Unless you are lucky enough to get your hands on an out of print or VHS copy, the only way to view these films is to steal them outright via digital piracy. Obviously, we don’t condone breaking the law, but if you want to watch a movie about Nic Cage catching leprosy (more on that later), sometimes you have to take drastic measures. If these films were available to purchase, that would be a different story. But since Hollywood chooses to keep them off the shelves, you can’t be held responsible*. With that in mind, here are five films Hollywood makes us steal.

* Note, you can and will be held responsible.

The Siege of Firebase Gloria (1989)

Anyone with even the slightest interest in cinema remembers R. Lee Ermey’s famous role in Stanley Kubrick‘s Full Metal Jacket. But this was not his only stint in a Vietnam War movie. Ermey also has a major role in The Siege of Firebase Gloria, a film that follows the exploits of a group of marines as they try to hold an outpost under attack by the Viet Cong. Although the film has some devoted fans (including Quentin Tarantino), you’ll have no luck finding it on DVD.

Fright Night II (1988)

Sequels don’t usually live up to their originals. I’ve never seen Fright Night II, so I can’t say one way or the the other. Chances are I won’t get the chance to see it, unless I illegally download it. Of course, I could go and buy a copy of the now out-of-print DVD on eBay. But considering the price is around $100 (depending on the auction) I think I’ll just go ahead and break the law. (Thanks for the tip, Mike Gavern).

Let It Be (1970)

Beatles fans would love a chance to own Let It Be on DVD. After all, the documentary chronicles what turned out to be the making of the band’s last studio album. But with no DVD release in sight, you’ll simply have to buy a used VHS copy. Don’t worry. I saw one on Amazon for only $300.

Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)

Looking for Mr. Goodbar? Keep looking. Although it is widely considered a classic, this film about the sexual awakening of a mild-mannered schoolteacher (Diane Keaton) is out of print, with no plans for a release on DVD or Blu-ray. To add further insult to injury, copies of Something’s Gotta Give abound, proving there’s no justice in this world, even when Diane Keaton is involved.

A Time to Kill (Tempo di uccidere) (1990)

Not to be confused with the racially-charged Matthew McConaughey legal thriller, this Italian film stars Nicolas cage as an soldier involved in Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia. I could try to write up a funny little description, but I don’t think I can top what I found on Wikipedia…

Lieutenant Silvestri suffers a toothache and decides to reach the nearest camp hospital. En route to the dentist his vehicle has an accident, and stops near a rock. Silvestri continues by walking. On his way, he meets and rapes a young Ethiopian woman. Despite this, he and the Ethiopian fall for each other. While taking refuge in a cave Silvestri shoots at a wild animal, but the bullet ricochets and hits the woman. Silvestri continues to the dentist. Upon reaching the hospital, he reads a medical book, leading him to believe he has leprosy. As he tries to escape from Ethiopia, Silvestri must evade his former comrades and reach his wife in Italy.

Rape? Toothaches? Leprosy? This film has it all. Unfortunately, if you want to see this overlooked Cage masterpiece, you’ll have to download a copy (which might be damn near impossible), or track down an old version being sold online. (Thanks to Ross McDermott for these suggestions).