05-28-01
Oh, a weekend of frivolous nothings.
Too many movies were rented and watched, their existence presenting me with a point to ponder: to rent DVDs or videotapes.
I am a fast forwarder. I fast forward through promos and commercials and the opening credits, and then launch head first into the action. I fidget when I am watching television that is being broadcast, rather than previously taped and watched at my leisure, because I can't do anything about the annoying two minute pauses every 7 minutes or so in the programming.
This is why DVD appeals to me. Not only am I almost always able to watch the movie in widescreen -- pan and scan makes me nauseous, plus I'm always wondering what the hell I'm missing from the director's vision -- and have a choice of audio options, but I can cut to the chase, start the damn thing whenever I want, jump around from scene to scene, fast forward at 36x the normal speed, etc.
So, when I made the first trip to the video store to get a bunch of movies, I got 4 new release DVDs, and one video because there was no DVD available, but tons of tapes. Each movie is $3.79 a pop for a new release, but I get to keep them for 5 days if I want, allowing for multiple viewings if I so desire. And if I return the movies early, sometimes I can get credits on my account toward future rentals.
I took the movies back the next day, and wandered around the store, checking out what was available in the older selection of DVDs. I found 5 movies that I'd wanted to see, but never got around to renting when they were new. So I took my selections up to the counter, presented my rental card, said that I wanted to use my $2 credit, watched the girl ring it all up, and then was told that the cost of this venture was some incredibly large sum of money.
Apparently, DVDs are always $3.79, regardless of age, unlike the videos that go down to $1.99 after they stop being considered a new release.
I suppose that I could have said that I was going to opt out and find the video counterparts of the selections, thereby saving myself nine bucks, but I am incredibly lazy, they were already rung up, I was there at the counter, and I do greatly enjoy the DVD player I have had for less than a week, so I bit the bullet and paid the large chunk of change.
When I got home, I discovered that the girl at the counter hadn't removed the anti-theft mechanism that locks each DVD case shut and triggers the alarm system, not that were I really interested in stealing DVDs I couldn't have easily slit the back side of the case open and pocketed the discs, a'la mission impossible or something. So I went back to the store, expressed my asked if they could please unlock the movies so that I could go back to my home that I had just come to the store from, and watch my movies. The girl complied with my wishes, told me she was sorry, and then went about her business.
I watched the movies I rented, and I'll tell you what, I don't care if the Three to Tango DVD claims to have a widescreen side and a fit-to-screen side to the disc, the whole damn thing only plays fit-to-screen. Neve Campbell, by the way, is a lot cuter when she's not playing Julia Salinger or Sidney Prescott.
You know, when I worked at a video store, I totally would have given someone in my situation at least a free rental on their next visit, for having to drive back to the store because I was being a fucknut and didn't unlock the DVD cases. I should have just jimmied them open with a nail file.
