Does Bill Gates own Blockbuster?? (Blockbuster)

Member Name: TheDrowningMan

Product:	Blockbuster
Date:	21/08/03 (250 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Gets all new releases straight away

Disadvantages: Doesnt have any decent quirky offbeat movies (eg. sid & nancy (love it!)), Expensive, replacing all the good movie rental places., Fines are huge.

Blockbuster video, another faceless company which is slowly monopolising a service throughout the land. I never used blockbuster until a little while ago. There used to be a smallish video rental place called Universal video just down the road from me. This used to have loads of films, all the new hollywood billion dollar movies, and all the small weird, quirky films that you could only find in such a place. This place really did have a plethora of awesome videos. Unfortunately, it went bust (not, i assure you, because i never paid my fines). So, what to do?

Well, i knew there was a Blockbuster a little way away, so i went and checked it out. I wasnt impressed. For a place so exclusive you need more identification than if you were opening a bank account at fort knox, there didnt seem to be many good movies. The whole place is taken up by chart dvds, the amazing top ten, which unfortunately this week contains such cinematic gems as 'Seeing double' with an all star cast of 's club x'. Well, i understand that the odd 12 year old will enter the store and snap it up, but personally i cant see the majority of people wanting it. So, what else have they got?? Well, theres a drama section, that contains 'The Erotic Blair Witch Project', an action section that contains hannibal colohaust, (its actually cannible holocaust, but i defy anyone not to get it wrong), and a comedy section that contains 'roy chubby brown'. As you can see, they obviously stack the shelves during power outages.

So apart from them actually having hardly any decent films, what else is wrong with it?? Well, £3.75 for an overnight rental i think is a total rip off. I mean, if you rented it more than about 3 times, it would be cheaper to buy it, and if its a really good movie (chances are its not though) then you will wanna watch it more than once before you take it back, right? One night just isnt enough time!

the staff generally arent that polit
e, nor do they look at all happy. Although it doesnt suprise me for a corperation such as this, it saddens me, as i remember how cheerful Mr 'greek guy with no name' always was at Universal. Although it must be hard for them to catch their breath after charging you the astounding amount for the movie, reminding you of your fine you received for bringing back the latest dire release 5 minutes late, and trying to ram another sugar coated promotion down your throat, they could at least say goodbye! I dont blame them really, but it just makes the experience of spending an hour doing something you know is impossible, (finding a movie you all want to watch), and failing, that little bit more disheartening.

Well anyway, i know blockbuster is an american company, blah blah blah, but when i was in america late last year, we went to blockbusters a few times. You wouldnt believe the difference. Theres so many more movies, in more or less the same sized store. They have loads more sections, and you can find anything you want really easily. I even found 'half a sixpence', starring tommy steel, in the musical section, and ive never been able to find it in england! I cant remember how much the rentals were exactly, but i dont think it was as expensive, and im not sure if they have overnight rental on new releases, but i can only speculate that they dont, cos its dumb! Why cant it be like that here???? It just seems like the english blockbuster franchises dont put any effort in!

Im just disappointed that blockbuster seem to be replacing the decent video shops that had so much character, and so many awesome films. I dont wanna have to travel miles and miles to find a bigger blockbuster in order to rent out say, lock, stock..., one of the best british movies ever. And heaven forbid you should ever find anything released before 1990.

Blockbuster seem like they are here to stay, which is unfortunate. I can hear the knell that marks the end of
watching the offbeat, memorymaking, cult movies we love.

Summary: