And Netflix by mail... for now.

The Blockbuster mail service will be closed by mid December.

I'm one of the few people (apparently) who refuses to stream movies. Low bitrate sucks. Discs forever.

I thought they were already closed...have been around here for years.  All we have now is Redbox.

Seems there might be a couple of Blockbusters left in Louisville.  Will have to cruise by.

We'll still have Wild and Woolly Video, though.  They've found a niche in the artsy part of town and seem to still be doing well.

I remember in the mid-90s, I was riding with my parents somewhere, and we passed our Blockbuster which had been there for several years by then (as well as a few others nearby.) My father said to my mother how he wished they had invested in movie rental "because they are everywhere."

It's one of those things that, at the time, I never thought would ever go away. Everyone loves movies; everyone will always need a building to visit to rent them.

An era is ending.

I've never used Netflix or even walked into a Blockbuster or Family Video store. I don't rent movies and I never will.

There are a few independent retailers I frequent - more for books and vinyl but sometimes movies too.

These special smaller stores are the ones I would hate to lose. Blockbuster and the like I won't miss at all.

While I am a physical media type person, I had a fallout with Blockbuster when they were still mostly  VHS and never looked back.  I always found their sales to be a rip off because often the film cases were damaged as was the media.  I only made one purchase from them in the last 10 years which was a copy of Down Periscope because at the time no one carried it, so for around 10.00 I thought it a bargain.  That was until I brought it home and it would only play on one of three DVD players.  It was the third copy that finally worked right.

As for downloads, I see their purpose and use them when I have to, but still want the disc, the artwork and the inserts, though you hardly find inserts anymore.  Let us not forget we live in a world of instant gratification as well.  Why buy a DVD when you can stream it often for free/almost free.  There are avenues that allow this, legally and illegally.  Why buy the DVD if you are only going to watch it one time.

While I am not unhappy to see Blockbuster go I will keep my physical media over streaming any day.

Finally, I am NOT advocating stealing.  I have paid for or been gifted every movie I own and do not and will not condone piracy.

Does anyone else remember these?

Ray: "You think I could be a movie star, Carl?"
Carl: "Can you act?"
Ray: "Oh I could act like a movie star."

Quoting Mixmaster_Mal:

Quote:

Given that most younger people seem to watch their movies on screens of 10" or smaller, quality isn't really required any more.

I find that that absolute pronouncements are not useful for things like this. For me personally, I like choice. I buy and use just about every format, depending on the situation. On the train, I can stream YouTube and Netflix to my phone and tablet. In my Home Theater, I use 3D Blu-Ray discs, and everything in-between.

I can remember watching TV on a 9" color TV using NTSC standards. My 10" tablet is far more visually satisfactory, than even my old 21" Trinitron TV. So, everything is relative. I say, enjoy the versatility and diversity of sources and formats - one size does not fit all. 

Oh, and then there is the economic factor. Not everyone can afford the "best." Due to the advances in technology, today even mid to low-end a/v equipment can deliver a superior experience than obsolete high-end formats. I have some really good stuff, but it still isn't the best or most expensive. And even stuff lesser than what I have, can be pretty darned enjoyable.