Movie Rental Rant

DRaider90

DRaider90

Uwharrie Off-Road Volunteering
Joined
Oct 23, 2007
Location
Weddington, NC
I bet there is a chance someone has posted something about this, but I didn't see it. And felt like venting anyway so here goes.

I haven't been into renting movies since about say 2005 (and gaming since maybe 2003). Just wasn't worth the money when I started using other cheaper avenues to watch movies. I just started renting again because both Netflix and Blockbuster have free trail offers going. So I figured what the hell, its free.

So I get the first DVD's in the mail, and find out most of the don't have any bonus features? My first thoughts are WTF? Most bonus features are bs anyway, but some I do like to watch. It was one of the big reasons they pushed for people to switch from VHS to DVD (besides picture and sound). So now you have to buy the DVD to get the bonus features? That is a joke. And what happens to value of buying used? I never liked the idea but I am sure people don't want to buy a used DVD without any bonus features from a rental place.

And on top of that they try to force you to watch movie/game previews. The only way to skip them is to fast forward through them, you can't "skip chapters" or hit "menu". Movie previews at the theater are nice, because they are for movies not in theaters yet usually. A DVD with previews for "coming soon to DVD" is just stupid. And to try and force you to watch them is bs.

I don't see how this is going to boost DVD sales. Unless by some miracle they make the bonus features worth spending $20 for. The bonus features were worth spending $4-$5 with a rental, but not $20. And now game rentals are $10? Even for 5 days $10 is insane. When my free trials are over that will be the end of that. Looks like I haven't been missing out on anything the last 6 years.

Rant Over.
 
That's all we rent is Redbox or Netflix and we always have bonus features. Not to the extent of Blueray, but just the same as normal DVD movies. Sometimes it just depends on the movie.
 
I have no problem with netflix. I mainly stream movies through my ps3 though, and most of them are animated for my kids. Still, I watch a movie every now and then, it suits my needs.
 
I have gotten a lot of netflix dvds that are scratched and will freeze up. Nothing pisses me off more than being right in the thick of a suspensful scene and the damn scratch freezes on you.
 
Maybe I'm crazy, but I don't think any of the complaints you have have anything to do with the rental service. Its the same DVD whether you buy it in a box or rent it.

Do you have a specific example of a DVD you got that didn't have special features, that should have? not all movies come w/ special features, many just let youtweek sound or go to specific chapters.
Likewise... often when there ARE special features, it's on a 2nd DVD that is just extra stuff. The rental guys rarely provide that 2nd CD.
re: "space" on the DVD, part of the problem is that now that everything is in HD, w/ more "lines" in the video data, the files are bigger and take up more space on the DVD... so we can't fit a thousand things on 1 disc anymore.

We own many DVD's that have the preview blocked. Remember, the studio makes some of its money by that advertising ;-). I've found sometimes I can skip them if I hit the menu button at just the right time though...
 
I did netflix for a while, twice. I didn't like it the first time and wasn't any better the second time. Why? Selection, unless you know what you want to watch it's hard to find movies there. It's almost like they hide the new releases. When I hit new releases, I want to see new releases damnit. On the off-chance you do find some new movies you want to watch then you have to get in line. Takes a really long time to get them unless you found them 4 weeks ahead of time and didn't forget to move it to the top of your queue. Then there's their watch instantly option. Yeah, complete crap. Mostly a bunch of old ass movies I could care less about. Their PS3 interface sucks too. Just no good way to search for new content. And I have to pay an extra $3.00 to rent blu-rays. I suppose the extra $3 isn't too bad, but their blu-ray selection sucked too. THEN, OMFG, then a ton of the movies I rented were scratched all to hell. They'd play all the way till the end and then just stop! I had a lot of similar problems with their instant watch thing too.

Red Box? Used it the first time a week or so ago. The movies displayed on the signage near it were not what was in it. No big deal though, just need to look on the screen to see whats available. I got a blu-ray for $1.50 for one night. A little pricier than netflix and they don't come in the mail. Selection was better. Overall I don't really have much to complain about. It's great for those nights were you go, "Hey, let's rent a movie, for cheap!"

Anyone else tried Vudu? The menus work nicely on the PS3 and the selection is great. It's still too pricey to be very competitive. This is where I'd like to see things go. Get away from discs alltogether and start streaming GOOD/POPULAR content, but make it affordable. Right now prices are too high.
 
RatLabGuy said:
Do you have a specific example of a DVD you got that didn't have special features, that should have? not all movies come w/ special features, many just let youtweek sound or go to specific chapters.
Likewise... often when there ARE special features, it's on a 2nd DVD that is just extra stuff. The rental guys rarely provide that 2nd CD.
Click to expand...

blockedspecialfeatures.JPG


Some have this screen, but a lot don't. They just don't have any special features area even listed. Saw 3D is a perfect example. I did a little digging and found out it started in March or 2009 with Fox, followed by Disney and others.

Maybe its just me but my standards for DVD rentals is higher than most. It could be that I haven't rented anything since 2005. When if the movie came with 2 discs, you got both discs. It didn't matter how many discs it came with. The movie you rented at Blockbuster was the same as the movie you got when you bought the DVD. And prices were cheaper then, and rental lengths longer. I know the economy sucks, but damn.

And I didn't even touch the scratched DVD issue. Just about ever other DVD I have gotten won't even play at first. The DVD will read "BAD". I have to clean the disc and try to get it to play. And even then most will freeze up/get choppy to the point they aren't watchable even. But I sort of shrugged this off because I know they don't test every DVD after each rental. But it is a pain in the ass either way.

I noticed some mentioned the streaming feature of NetFlix. It was a nice feature if you hadn't kept up with movies too much in the last 6 years (like me), but if you wanted to watch anything close to new it wasn't available. Unless you like watching a bunch of TV episodes they offer, and classic b rated movies, then its probably not for you. It was enough entertainment to fill the month trial period, but beyond that I don't see a big use for it at the price you pay.

The best deal if you want to call it that is the monthly Blockbuster fee, with 5 in store exchanges. So you can walk in and get the latest releases without waiting for them to mail them to you. Just don't try to do the in store exchange with games, they will charge you.

You would think with pirating being such a big issue they would be focused on trying to get people to rent and buy their DVDs by improving the special features etc.
 
I hardly ever watch movies but when I do I either get it offline or do redbox. Never had a problem with either and it really dosent bother me when it does mess up. Mostly because she rented something stupid that im not interested in and the fact that we never make it through the whole movie anyway:rolleyes:

I never watch the special features and and my eye sight sucks so I dont waste money on blueray and all that fancy crap.
 
I have the netflix streaming only deal.

Most new releases are garbage anyways, and they have a decent enough library online so I am happy with it.

Just had a problem with it a few days ago. Couldn't get it to stream, it would load, then kick back out to the queue. Didnt think anything of it. Got an email from Netflix today apologizing for the issue and giving me a 3% credit on my next bill. Its not much, but the fact that they even gave it to me when I had written the whole issue off is pretty good in my book.
 
I love my Netflix. All I watch is movies, We don't have cable satellite or an antenna to get local air stations. You got to take the good with the bad. You have never gotten a scratched disc from a video store or from Redbox?

It works well for my needs and I don't have to drive anywhere, I live way out In BFE. I don't mind waiting for new releases, if i wanted to see it bad enough I would have bought a movie ticket. It works really well fro me but I'm an exceptional case I guess. Its a lot better than watching Trailer trash on TV.
 
RatLabGuy said:
re: "space" on the DVD, part of the problem is that now that everything is in HD, w/ more "lines" in the video data, the files are bigger and take up more space on the DVD... so we can't fit a thousand things on 1 disc anymore
Click to expand...

DVDs aren't HD. Never have been, never will be.

Redbox for a buck or Netflix streaming here. No complaints with either.

If you don't like sitting through the previews, jailbreak your DVD player or buy one that's crackable.
 
I have had netflix for over 2 years. Ive watched plenty of movies and have only had 3-4 that were bad. Only 1 got half way through and stopped. The others were cracked discs. I have also never waited for a new release. Guess I am lucky....
 
Just went to Family Video last night and was pleasantly surprised. Got a new release and "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" for $1.93. And the next one is free. I don't watch near enough movies to warrant even the netflix $9 a month and redbox didn't have "Oh Brother Where Art Thou".
 
I don't have cable or satellite, so I use Netflix to watch last season's TV shows. I get my movie rentals from Amazon Video on Demand or Redbox.

I didn't realize that the rental companies were giving out DVDs without the special features, I suspect they are doing that in an attempt to get you to buy the dvd with the special features.
 
I do on demand. We NEVER remeber to take the movies back. we forgot about a movie once and it cost us 10 dollars... sooo now we pay a lil extra once in a while.
 
I only do OnDemand...the gf tries to do redbox...but I now have 3 terrible movies that cost me $75, because they weren't returned. I was charged $1/day for 25 days, then you own the movie. Now I can do HBO/Showtime/Cinemax on demand and most of those movies are free...or I do movies on demand, and those are usually less than $4.
 
The only problem with on-demand is your monthly subscription just to have the ability to watch on-demand. Your cable/satellite provider is screwing you! :D What are you paying, $50 a month minimum for a bunch of channels that you don't use? Then you have to pay more for the actual stuff you want to watch?
 
^^^Through TWC...I got 500ish channels, first 2 years was only $33, and now I'm up around $68 for the same service. But that was the bundled deal. Right now for no restrictions in the US telephone, 1500 channels and roadrunner...the bill is right at $208/month.


But I agree...there are a bunch channels I don't use. I typically only use the movie channels a couple times a month, and watch less than 10 different channels. To be quite honest, I go to Badin Rd drive-in more (typically 2-3 times a month) than I use the on-demand movies.
 
You have to call TWC each year to get new pricing. Their rates don't "really" go up, they just charge you more hoping you're too lazy to call and bitch. They'll give you the new package pricing and update your account for another year. Another reason I hate these bastards.

For example, I just upgaded to their extreme speed road runner for no additional fees. I was paying the same price as the RR extreme for the RR turbo because of an old pricing scheme. So now I get 30 Mb download and 5Mb upload for $55.
 
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