All Narfed Up photography and words by Bryan Villarin

Movies

Goodbye Blockbuster Total Access

In Business, DVD, Movies on 24 October 2007 with no comments

Since I haven’t mentioned Blockbuster in awhile, I felt that I should update on that - we switched to Netflix.

Reasons:

1. Our local Blockbuster on Live Oak (Arcadia, CA) got closed down. The manager said it was a corporate decision. That one is 0.4 miles away from home. Now, the closest one is 2 miles away. Boo.
2. When returning the Blockbuster DVD mailer for a free one in-store movie rental, I couldn’t think of movies to rent on-the-fly.
3. I like the UI of Netflix vs. Blockbuster Online.
4. I heard customer service is better than Blockbuster.

If I really need a new release sporadically, there’s a Redbox closeby. (4.7 miles from home, but whatever.)

Review: Transformers

In Movies, Review on 9 July 2007 with no comments

Last Thursday, Pete sent me a text message asking me if I wanted to make up for not being able to see “Transformers.” That was a rhetorical question, so he ordered a ticket for me online.

Shia LaBeouf was perfect for the movie, and so was Megan Fox. Um, yeah. Oh, and Tad Hamilton…er, I mean, Josh Duhamel was pretty good, too. Actually, I think the whole cast was picked very well.

Because of Megan Fox, there were some unnecessary sexual innuendos. Then again, Megan is a fox, but I digress.

Plot development wasn’t too great, but I won’t go any further to spoil that.

Other than that, you won’t be disappointed. The effects were awesome, and all the transformers emitted sheer power.

Review: Ratatouille

In Movies, Review on 6 July 2007 with 1 comment

A few days ago, I was planning on seeing “Transformers” with some friends — but it was sold out. So, we saw “Ratatouille.”

It was awesome! Hilarious, clever, awesome animation (even cute at times), and a nice story line. If you like food, it might even inspire you to cook!

I give it 10/10. For reals. Everybody should love it!

Mini-review: Surf’s Up

In Movies, Review on 10 June 2007 with no comments

What did I think about “Surf’s Up“? Cute. Funny. Clever. Hilarious. Somewhat predictable. I like penguins, so I saw it. The waves look nice on the big screen, but it’s cool to wait until it’s out on DVD. (Sorry MPAA!)

Mini-Review: Ocean’s Thirteen

In Movies, Review on 10 June 2007 with no comments

I thought Ocean’s Thirteen was really good. If I were to have an IMDB account, I’d give it 7/10.

I loved the humor. The guy next to me was snoring, and the rest of the theater seemed quiet for most of the movie — even when it was hilarious! Maybe I’m just flattering myself, but I don’t care.

The plot seems to jump around a lot. I don’t think the transitions were as smooth as in Ocean’s Eleven. I thought the heist in this film was clever, once again, so I especially love the process they went through.

Bottom line: You’ll enjoy it! Just don’t expect as much “polish” as the previous ones, m’kay?

Remember Kindergarten Cop?

In Funny, Movies, Photos on 6 April 2007 with 1 comment

I was updating a coworker’s computer, and upon restarting, I couldn’t log in. (He told me the wrong password.) I left a note on his monitor telling him to call me, then he left this note:

The following thoughts came to mind, in this order:

1. Terminator
2. Kindergarten Cop
3. Detective John Kimble
4. prank phone calls using audio clips from “Kindergarten Cop“

C’mon. You know what I’m talking about.

Update with Blockbuster Total Access

In Movies, Review on 2 February 2007 with 2 comments

So far in the comments in my experiences with Blockbuster Total Access post, 1 positive, 4 negative. I’m done taking detailed notes, so here’s a few points for your consideration:

• I like being able to return the DVD mailers for free movies in-store.
• Since my last update to that post, it “feels” like they’ve shipped quicker. After returning the DVD mailers, 2-3 days to get the next ones.
• Cost of 3 DVDs-at-a-time: $17.99 + tax = about $19. For the month of January, my mom and I have gone through Seasons 2 and 3 of “24″ (wrapping up last night, actually). Plus, I used the mailers to get some other movies. Let’s just say I got 24 DVDs out of this. That comes out to $1.26/rental. We’ll probably cut down once we get caught up with “24″, but I kinda like that price.

Yep. I’m not into Netflix starting to let out streaming movies. We don’t have a computer hooked to the TV, and there’s no way my mom’s going to work with that. This is the easiest solution at the moment, so as long as Blockbuster Total Access doesn’t give us trouble, we’ll probably continue with the plan.

“The Departed” gets re-released

In Movies on 25 January 2007 with 4 comments

I was watching TV right now, and just saw a commercial promoting “The Departed“. Its received a bunch of awards and nominations, so, with my emphasis added:

Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures said: “We congratulate Martin Scorsese, as well as the producers, cast, and everyone who worked on ‘The Departed’ for all of the honors the film has already received. With awards season rekindling interest in the film, we thought it was the perfect time to put ‘The Departed’ back in theatres for moviegoers who hadn’t seen it, as well as for those who want to watch it again. Additionally, we want to make the film as accessible as possible to Academy members across the country so they have every opportunity to see it on the big screen the way it was meant to be seen.”

Source: The Hollywood News

I guess releasing it on DVD doesn’t make the film as accessible, huh? It’s been a DVD I’ve been aiming to buy, but it sounds like they’re trying to milk it. I’m kind of annoyed at this move — just release it to DVD already!

The Protector

In Movies on 17 January 2007 with no comments

I just watched “The Protector“. That movie was like a video game. More impossible, more impossible. Tony Jaa was just vicious and awesome. In my opinion, the plot wasn’t built up too exhaustively, but it’s probably meant for more action. I especially love this: “Contains one of the longest no-cut fight scenes in movie history: the fight up floor after floor lasted four-plus minutes. (IMDB)” It was like a video game, man! You gotta see it.

Experiences with Blockbuster Total Access

In Movies, Review on 3 January 2007 with 31 comments

Andy pointed out a coupon code for a one-month free trial with Blockbuster Total Access (instead of two weeks). I’ll post my experiences and thoughts as the trial period progresses.

• Friday, December 29, 2006 - I sign up and add Seasons 1, 2, 3, and 4 of “24“. We can immediately use the eCoupon, so that’s pretty nifty.
• Tuesday, January 2, 2007 @ 11:26pm - I receive email notification that the first three discs of Season 2 ships. Why was Season 1 skipped? At the moment, all of the discs are available, and the order numbering wasn’t changed. I found the reason why: “Once titles have been added to your queue, [you] can prioritize them in the order you’d prefer to watch them.” (Source: Blockbuster Online FAQ) It doesn’t say will watch them. At least the season will be in order (as long as I keep the lock on the set).
• Friday, January 5, 2007 @ 12:06pm - I received one DVD in the mail. 24: Season 2 - Disc 3. I haven’t received Disc 1 or 2 yet. Brutal.




• UPDATE: Monday, January 8, 2007 @ 11:27pm - I still didn’t get Disc 1 or 2, so I reported the problem to Blockbuster Online. What’s the point of watching Disc 3 when I haven’t seen the previous two discs? Here’s an idea: can I rip the DVD to an ISO, return the DVD, then watch it later in VLC Media Player after I’ve seen the first two DVDs?




• Tuesday, January 9, 2007 @ 1:05pm - I finally received Discs 1 and 2. The queue only shows Disc 3, and Discs 1 and 2 aren’t there at all. I tried to call the toll-free number, but it’s busy, so I’ve emailed them in hopes they don’t ship Discs 1 and 2 again.




• 2:44pm - The email response took an hour and a half. Their system was undergoing scheduled maintenance, so they weren’t able to access my online account. I initially tried to call right after I sent the email. They asked me to try to call customer service, and again, it’s busy. Straight brutal.




• 4:10pm - The line finally got through…but I was on hold for more than 10 minutes. I give up for now.




• 6:44pm - After a few emails, there’s basically nothing they can do. The system is automated, and the DVDs are coming. So, I’ll have extra copies I won’t need. I’ll technically have five out. I guess that means I’ll be able to return them to the store for five free DVDs, huh? The time it took for them to arrive really stunk, that’s for sure. I’ll give Blockbuster this much: returning the DVD mailers to the store definitely isn’t possible with Netflix.




• 10:57pm - I got through two DVDs this afternoon. I watched 24 (Season 2, Discs 1 and 2). Just came back from the nearest Blockbuster (in Arcadia), and the clerk said that the mailers registered as returned immediately. I got two more DVDs to watch that are due Thursday. Pretty cool, but I’m not entirely sure if this is healthy. Not to worry, if I continue the membership, it’ll be more for my mom.
• Wednesday, January 10, 2007 @ 7:00pm - Ok, this is really amazing, yet irritating at the same time. The two DVDs that shipped yesterday (in the late afternoon) arrived today. I’m glad, but what’s up with the inconsistencies?
• UPDATE: Saturday, January 13, 2007 @ 10:49am - Blockbuster received Discs 1 and 2 on January 11th. Discs 4 and 5 shipped on the 12th in the afternoon. And now…they’re here! Things are picking up, maybe? My mom and I are pretty stoked. Plus, I have the extra Discs 1 and 2 to return to the store. At the moment, I have five mailed DVDs.
• 11:07am - You know the part of the the mailer you tear off? There was information explaining how the service works. Under “Best of all you get your movies faster”, it says “When you bring in an online DVD for exchange, your Queue will free up immediately and your next DVD will ship out the next business day.” I returned Discs 1 and 2 on the 9th, so the next DVDs should’ve been sent out on the 10th (or 11th at the latest). Nope, they weren’t sent until the 12th. Next business day my foot…




• Friday, January 19, 2007 @ 9:09am - On 1/16/07, I returned the mailers to Blockbuster to exchange for free DVDs. I barely got an email today that they were received and Disc 6 (”24″, Season 2) shipped out this morning. I need to complain to someone at Blockbuster or Blockbuster Total Access, because the wording in their ads state that as soon as they get scanned in the store, they’re marked as returned and the next DVD in your queue will get shipped out. Rubbish, I say.
• Monday, January 22, 2007 @ 9:34am - On Saturday, two DVDs came in. They were supposed to be Disc 1 and 2 of Season 3, but I got two copies of Disc 2. I reported the problem last night, so hopefully I’ll get Disc 1 by tomorrow.
• UPDATE: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 @ 3:48pm - I got email that Disc 1 (Season 3) was shipped yesterday morning, and it got here today. At least I know what Blockbuster Total Access is capable of! Billing starts on the 30th, so I’ll just make this my last update of this post and write a decision about the service in the next few days.