Davis-area video stores

[ron_newman]

I'm probably the last one on my block to buy a DVD player. But now that I have it, I'm interested in hearing people's opinions of local video rental stores.

It looks like we have three choices: Hollywood Express on Elm Street, West Coast Video across the street, and Blockbuster in Porter Square.
My first impressions:

Hollywood Express -- largest selection, best chance of finding something obscure

Blockbuster - very liberal rental terms: a '2 day' rental is really 9 days, a 7-day is really 14 days. A lot more foreign and independent films than I would have expected, though probably not in the same league as Hollywood Express

West Coast Video -- why is this store still in business? I don't see any obvious reason to go here.

Comments

[ron_newman]

Blockbuster edits videos? Doesn't that violate the filmmaker's or studio's copyright?

Because I got a junk mail letter from Blockbuster offering unlimited $2 rentals until May 16, I've been going there. But I expect to switch my loyalty to Hollywood Express after that date. It would greatly peeve me to learn that I've rented an expurgated DVD.

[inkscarred.livejournal.com]

Yes, Blockbuster edits videos-- especially ones with GLBT themes or ones they see as having too much sexual content. They are a "family" video chain-- ugh.

[yangelina.livejournal.com]

"Family" version?
Wow. That is so lame.

[ron_newman]

the next time I'm in there (which may be the last time), I'm gonig to ask the manager about this.

So far, I think all the DVDs I've gotten there were standard studio versions. But I've never rented anything more controversial there than Fahrenheit 9/11. (Yes, I never got around to seeing that when it came out.)

[inkscarred.livejournal.com]

I'm blanking on the name of the film now, but about 6 years ago I rented a French film that seemed to jump around and was only 60 minutes long in the Blockbuster version-- so I went to a different video store where I found the 90 minute version. When I asked the manager at Blockbuster he explained to be about their "family values."

[four-thorns.livejournal.com]

blockbuster's editing or requiring editing of films that they think are objectionable was a topic of discussion in some of my media studies classes. last tango in paris is one that comes to mind as edited if you rent it at blockbuster. although i am curious about what the manager will say.

blockbuster versions

[mattdm [typekey.com] (from livejournal.com)]

I don't think they actually edit them themselves, but rather demand a censored version. Which, yeah, you could easily have rented.

Re: blockbuster versions

[inkscarred.livejournal.com]

That could certainly be the case.