How to get DVDs for cheap

I'm going to take a break from my usual Thursday blog to start the first of many in a series on buying DVDs for cheap.

Ever wanted to start a great DVD collection? Or already have a good collection and want to make it bigger and better? Then look no further than this How to guide. Each week I'll be going through one to two places that you can look to buy DVDs.

Things to consider first while shopping:

*Do NOT be ashsamed to buy "Previously Viewed" or Used DVDs from stores. Its better to pay 1/3 the price and have a 100% store gurantee that it works than pay the full price.

*If it's a TV series you're looking for don't be afraid to buy different seasons at different stores. (Thats how I was able to get the entire series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer for $60, a $180 dollar value)

*Get the club card. Places like FYE and Suncoast have member cards that run from $20 to $25 and get you 10% off.

WAL-MART

While it pains me to actually tell people to buy formthing from wal-mart, it is still a good place to find a great deal on movies.

Wal-mart has 2 for $10 bins, that typically have decent to great titles in them ( at the expense of the special features but you're still getting the actualy feature). Wal-mart also carries a lot of NEW DVDs for in between $10 and $15. They also have new releases for about $10 sometimes too(typically just indies though).

Target

Target has great prices on DVDs, especially TV seasons.

I was in Target recently and they have a lot of TV shows with the first two seasons bundled to gether for $20 a piece.

The DVDs are also very moderatley priced, this store should always be considered if you're on a movie shopping spree.



By using all of these tips that I've learned over the years I've had the money to buy all the movies I wanted and still have enough left over to do other things.

This Friday.

The only new release coming out this Friday is the Street Fighter movie, and I don't know anyone (even street fighter fans) that want to see it.


HOWEVER

The Wrestler is opening at the Cobb here in Tuscaloosa, and I encourage all of you to go and see it.

2/24 DVD Releases

The shortest list for this month easily.

The Haunting of Molly Hartley - Words cannot express how terrible this movie is.
VERDICT: SKIP IT, destroy it if your friend buys it

Sex Drive - I never saw the movie, but it does look pretty funny.
VERDICT: RENT IT


And I do think it goes without saying how displeased I was that Slumdog swept the Oscars.

Appatow's Funny People

Now I think Judd Appatow has delivered some of the better comedy movies of recent years to the screen, and I think he'll do it again this summer.

You can view the trailer here.

My ONLY complaint is that like a lot of trailers it seems to give away far too much.

But this movie gets good props because:

• It's not Sandler's typical role (by that I mean stupid)
• It uses a song by The Postal Service in the trailer
• I like Seth Rogan/Appatow
  

2/20 Theatrical Releases

Only two new movies this week, to some people it means no trip to the theater at all (at least not to see a new movie).

Fired Up - There are really only so many ways that you can change the plot to the "Teenage Boys want to have Sex" genre, though this one is trying its hardest. This movie will be garbage.

Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail - Having never seen a Tyler Perry movie or play before, though not new to the idea of what they are, this movie looks promising. Coming from a town very densely populated with Tyler Perry's typical demographic, I'm quite certain I could understand all the jokes.

If you want my pick for a new movie to see, I'd go with Madea, but if you haven't seen Friday the 13th, I'd go with that first.

Haiku Review warrants Haiku reply

In case you haven't read the Crimson White's Friday the 13th Haiku review, here it is.

Crimson White reviews
Summarize the plots too much
Even in poems

Slasher movies rule
Nudity is required
Jason did "rape" them

The deaths were awesome
Did we see the same movie?
Flaming sleeping bag

The crowd applauded
When I saw it at midnight
That includes me too

I love horror films
Don't review what you won't like
It throws people off

Oscar Predictions

With the Academy Awards Sunday I thought I'd go ahead and make a few predictions.

If a title appears in BOLD it is what I would like to see win.

If a title appears in ITALICS it is what I think is going to win.

BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
(Paramount and Warner Bros.) A Kennedy/Marshall Production; Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
"Frost/Nixon"
(Universal) A Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment
and Working Title Production; Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Eric Fellner, Producers
"Milk"
(Focus Features) A Groundswell and Jinks/Cohen Company Production; Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, Producers
"The Reader"
(The Weinstein Company) A Mirage Enterprises and Neunte Babelsberg Film GmbH Production; Nominees to be determined
"Slumdog Millionaire"
(Fox Searchlight) A Celador Films Production; Christian Colson, Producer

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Richard Jenkins in "The Visitor" (Overture Films)
Frank Langella in "Frost/Nixon" (Universal)
Sean Penn in "Milk" (Focus Features)
Brad Pitt in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler" (Fox Searchlight)

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Josh Brolin in "Milk" (Focus Features)
Robert Downey Jr. in "Tropic Thunder" (DreamWorks, Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Doubt" (Miramax)
Heath Ledger in "The Dark Knight" (Warner Bros.)
Michael Shannon in "Revolutionary Road" (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage)

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Anne Hathaway in "Rachel Getting Married" (Sony Pictures Classics)
Angelina Jolie in "Changeling" (Universal)
Melissa Leo in "Frozen River" (Sony Pictures Classics)
Meryl Streep in "Doubt" (Miramax)
Kate Winslet in "The Reader" (The Weinstein Company)

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Amy Adams in "Doubt" (Miramax)
Penélope Cruz in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" (The Weinstein Company)
Viola Davis in "Doubt" (Miramax)
Taraji P. Henson in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
Marisa Tomei in "The Wrestler" (Fox Searchlight)

ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING
Danny Boyle for "Slumdog Millionaire" (Fox Searchlight)
Stephen Daldry for "The Reader" (The Weinstein Company)
David Fincher for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
Ron Howard for "Frost/Nixon" (Universal)
Gus Van Sant for "Milk" (Focus Features)

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
(Paramount and Warner Bros.) Screenplay by Eric Roth; Screen story by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord
"Doubt" (Miramax) Written by John Patrick Shanley
"Frost/Nixon" (Universal) Screenplay by Peter Morgan
"The Reader" (The Weinstein Company) Screenplay by David Hare
"Slumdog Millionaire" (Fox Searchlight) Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
"Frozen River" (Sony Pictures Classics); Written by Courtney Hunt
"Happy-Go-Lucky" (Miramax); Written by Mike Leigh
"In Bruges" (Focus Features); Written by Martin McDonagh
"Milk" (Focus Features); Written by Dustin Lance Black
"WALL-E" (Walt Disney); Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon; Original story by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM OF THE YEAR
"Bolt" (Walt Disney) Chris Williams and Byron Howard
"Kung Fu Panda" (DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Paramount) John Stevenson and Mark Osborne
"WALL-E" (Walt Disney) Andrew Stanton

2/16 DVD Releases

Body of Lies - I hate to say it, but Ridley Scott has lost his touch. After the boringboringboringboring looooooooooong American Gangster, which could have been really amazing, then this. It's easily confirmed.
VERDICT: RENT IT, if you must

Changeling - Though I have no interest in seeing the movie, a lot of people really seemed to like it. So it should go on your rent list if anything.
VERDICT: RENT IT.

Flash of Genius - No thanks.
VERDICT: SKIP IT

High School Musical 3: Senior Year - If you buy this, and you're a UA student, we need to talk.
VERDICT: SKIP IT

How to Lose Friends and Alienate People - Simon Pegg is one of the best comic actors we have around now a days, and though I missed this one in the theater I would still like to see it.
VERDICT: RENT IT

The Midnight Meat Train - [Insert your own dirty joke here]. This Clive Barker horror movie was seen by very few, because it was treated like garabge by Lion's Gate, but this is definetly on my buy list.
VERDICT: BUY IT

Quarantine - I didn't like [REC] (the original movie), so I didn't see this since its essentially a shot for shot remake but in english. Like Slumdog Millionaire, I don't think its nearly as good as so many people claim it is.
VERDICT: SKIP IT

Religulous - If you recall this was number 15 on my top 15 of 2008. Its a must see.
VERDICT: BUY IT

It's official, Joaquin Phoenix is compeltely insane.

The rumors are: A. He's under the influence.

B. It's all a facade.

He says he's going to be a hip-hop artist, and the murmurs across the internet are that its all fake, and that this currently in production documentary about him is supposed to be a mocumentary in the style of Borat.

Who cares, I'm still smiling at the thought of this interview.

2/13 Theatrical Releases

It will be a merry weekend at the multiplex this weekend, bodies and shopping and violence!

Confessions of a Shopaholic - Though the movie doesn't appear to be much different from your conventional RomCom, the leading lady Isla Fisher is a favorite of mine. The movie will surely attract the couples, but will probably not be memorable at all.

The International - Clive Owen is also a favorite of mine, though the movie does seem to take itself too seriously and may end up chocking itself because of it. It could be an enjoyable ride.

Now what I will be seeing this weekend

Friday the 13th - Say whatever you want about the series or what you think about the movies, but I am a horror movie fan and I love to see teenagers get hacked up by masked men. That's not as creepy as it sounds. Friday the 13th will hopefully be as fun as some of the remakes of recent have been and I'm hoping to have a lot of fun while watching it.

Trailer's and posters galore

Just a look into the trailers that have been released recently, and posters for the even further out films, and my thoughts.

Inglorious Basterds

I want to congratulate Tarantino on what looks to be possibly his most mature work to date (because honestly how many pop culture references can you put in a WW2 movie?). Basterds looks to be one of the most entertaining war films in a long time, and it doesn't hurt that its got a great cast.

Angels & Demons

Man this looks like quite the movie. Though I haven't read the books I did find the film The Da Vinci Code to be very entertaining, and the sequel/prequel looks to have upped the ante.

The Lase House on the Left

Trailer

Being a fan of the original I can't help but feel contempt for this movie. They seem to have dumbed down the movie for the poster, and they practically give away the entire film in the trailer. I'll go see it, but there will be no promises of enjoying it.

Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds trailer tonight

Those of us that love QT will be happy to know that the trailer for his new Movie Inglorious Basterds will premiere tonight on Entertainment Tonight, and will probably be online within ten minutes.

LUCKILY: You can see a sneek peek at it online right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KDH6DOLpJ0&fmt=22

For those of you that don't like QT, yes you're entitled to your own opinion, just don't share it with me.

2/10 DVD Releases

It seems as 2009 continues the length of the DVD releases lists keeps getting longer.

Back to the Future (Parts 1-3) Special Edition - While I'm not fully aware if they will be bundled together in some way, but yes the Back to the Future series is being re-released on dvd in the "Special Edition" format. What is so special about it I don't know, but if you already own them I'd stick with what you got.
VERDICT: SKIP IT, if you already own it.

Blindness - While I haven't seen the movie, and don't really plan on it. It could be worth a viewing.
VERDICT: RENT IT, maybe.

Miracle at St. Anna - There was so much buzz about this movie before it came out, and then when it did no one talked about. I really have no idea what to think. So it's definitely a renter.
VERDICT: RENT IT

My Name is Bruce - Being an Evil Dead/Bruce Campbell fan, this is a must see for me.
VERDICT: RENT IT, if you're a fan.

Nights in Rodanthe - We've all seen this movie before. Sorry Richard.
VERDICT: SKIP IT

Soul Men - If you've been following my blogs since the beginning you'll know that I didn't recommend seeing this in theater, and I don't plan on seeing it on video.
VERDICT: SKIP IT

W. - A very good film about our recent ex-president. Conservatives should know that the movie doesn't go out of its way to make fun of Bush, it really makes you feel bad for him in the long run. This is a movie that can be enjoyed by people of any political affiliation.
VERDICT: BUY IT

What Just Happened - I haven't seen this movie, but Robert De Niro playing a producer and Bruce Willis playing a bearded and overweight Bruce Willis seems to be a product for good laughs.
VERDICT: RENT IT

2/5 Theatrical Releases

Four new releases this week an surprisingly three of them don't look THAT bad.

Coraline - This is my pick of the week. Coraline is brought to us from the mastermind behind Nightmare Before Christmas, and it looks to be just as good. The story could be better than Nightmare, but that's because I put Neil Gaiman's writing ability above Tim Burtons (by a large margin). Plus the movie is in 3-d, and if that holds up, it could prove to be a very entertaining movie.

He's Just not that into You - The movie doesn't look that bad. Granted I'm curious how they're going to be able to weave all of these A-listers stories together. I'll watch almost anything with Ben Affleck and Scarlett Johansson, so this movie shows promise.

Push - I don't think the movie looks quite as aqful as everyone says "X-men ripoff" is what I keep hearing, but honestly how can you make a movie about people with super powers and not get compated to something like that before. If we're going to use that logic then we're going to have to call things like Heroes and Sky High x-men ripoffs.

The Pink Panther 2 - The only thing that could redeem this movie is Jean Reno, and as much as I hate to admit it I don't even think the Professional can save this movie.

My Beef with: Movie Critics

BLOGGER'S NOTE: After last week when you read my complaints about Slumdog Millionaire I decided a new weekly blog was born, the "My Beef With" (essentially the opposite of the "In Defense of" blogs that are sprouting on the CW Blogs.

I really don't like movie critics. I don't enjoy reading reviews (hence why I've yet to post any here on my blog). I think that people put to much faith in movie critics, and don't spend enough of their own time formulating opinions for themselves.

Movie critics do quite a few things that I do not like. The bulk of which can be summed up in that critics manipulate people into only watching what they deem good. However I will take the time to list here all of the reasons.

Number 1
Most Critics judge some movies by the wrong criteria

Movies that everyone knows will not be "Oscar Worthy", critics judge as if it's supposed to be the next Citizen Kane. We all know that there are some movies out there that are not made to be awarded with the golden statue. These movies are for pure entertainment. Mind-numbing, jaw dropping entertainment. Plain. And. Simple. Critics are apparently unaware of this as they repetitively give films like Punisher: War Zone and The Devil's Rejects bad reviews, when these movies didn't set out to win awards, they set out to entertain us.

Number 2
Most Critics are biased against certain genres

We're all aware I love horror films, and we all know that critics do not love horror films. The horror community can tell you what makes a bad horror movie, critics cannot. Like it's the general consensus of most horror websites that The Strangers was one of the better horror films of 2008; however, if you were to look for "regular" critics consensus of the film is that: "The Strangers provides a few scares, but offers little else to distinguish itself from other slasher films." *Taken from Rottentomatoes.com*. Now before I go on a tangent, let me just point out if you weren't aware that this does contradict what the horror fans think.


Number 3
Most critics use stupid jokes and puns in their articles

You've all read them. It's like when a review says things like "Put simply, it’s all lube and no spunk." (about Zach & Miri make a Porno), "Saw V is dead on the table. ", and "On reflection, Mirrors may have been better going straight to the DVD shelf. ".

You get the point. There are better examples out there, but I'm far too lazy to dig for them.

Number 4
When critics summarize the film

Sorry Crimson White, but you do this a lot, and it is infuriating to me. People read reviews to see what you thought of the movie, not to know what the movie is about.

Number 5
When they say "I'm a critic, I see movies so you don't have to"

Thats rediculous. Everyone needs to form their own opinions. Taking someone else's opinion and pretending its yours is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard.

Why nothing Robert Rodriguez says can be trusted:

I love Robert Rodriguez. Planet Terror, The Faculty, The Mexico Trilogy, Sin City, and From Dusk 'til Dawn are phenomenal movies. Rodriguez has started to dig himself into a hole though.

The man has gone on the record to several sources talking about upcoming projects. Things that he claims to be writing/directing, and says to have out within 6 - 18 months include: Sin City 2, Shorts, Machete, and Nerveracker. Not to mention the fact that he's supposed to be producing the Red Sonja remake at the same time.

Now you have all of these things he says should be out relatively soon, but don't forget to mention all the rumored projects he's supposedly signed on for with studios, these include: The Jetsons (Live Action), Barbarella remake and a remake/reboot of the Predator franchise.

There's no way that he can pull ALL of this off in two years, and he shouldn't be announcing all of these projects he's going to do if he's not going to deliver. Granted yes he probably will deliver but not at least for four to seven years. So if you hear about something Robert Rodriguez says he's doing, don't believe it til you see a trailer.

2/3 DVD Releases

Back again with another look at this weeks DVD releases. This week is filled with lots of definites. Definitely get it or definitely skip it. As well as a few, I'm not sures.

Friday the 13th, Part 1/2/3, unrated-deluxe editions - The first three in the series are being rereleased in their uncut formats, a definite buy for fans of the series.
VERDICT: BUY IT

His Name was Jason - Slasher fans and fans of 'behind the scenes docus' should definitely put this on their list. 30 years of everyone's favorite hockey masked killer. I'm there.
VERDICT: BUY IT

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist - Granted I haven't seen the movie, but here's my call. If you take the least interesting person from Superbad and the least interesting person from Charlie Bartlett, you get this movie. More than likely it'll be the least interesting movie of their careers.
VERDICT: SKIP IT

The Secret life of Bees - I have not seen this movie. I have no idea what to tell you. If you've heard of it and liked it, reccomend it to a friend.
VERDICT: NO IDEA

Space Buddies - Disney movie about dogs in space, heh.
VERDICT: SKIP IT

Zach and Miri Make a Porno - Don't let the title fool you, this movie does have a lot of heart at it's core. A funny movie and a delight to watch. Thank you Kevin Smith. Zach and Miri is my pick of the week.
VERDICT: BUY IT

Thats all for 2/3; however, on 2/6 Madagascar 2 will be released on DVD, and though I haven't seen it, if it follows the same formula the first one did: The penguins will be the only funny part.