At last!
About a month ago our local dvd rental place closed down, to our dismay. As I have no doubt mentioned before, there are very few films shown at the cinemas in Sevilla in original version so we usually have to wait until they are released on dvd as we refuse to watch dubbed films.
So today I had a google around and found a Spanish company that offers home dvd pick up & delivery – and they also offer a 15-day free trial period so we decided to go for it.
And so any film suggestions would be much appreciated. š
casa azahar 
Crikey, erm, here’s one I keep meaning to watch, based on a Phillip K Dick novel, ‘Through a Scanner Darkly”
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/scanner_darkly/
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That’s a cool one.
I’ll try to think of some suggestions- while we do have fairly different tastes, I’m sure I can think of something you might like.
I quite liked “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead”. I’ll keep thinking…
And I’m glad you found a place for rentals!
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We should be getting three films tomorrow morning. Not really sure how it works but I think they just take things from the list we made depending on availability.
During the trial period I’ll keep looking around for other possibly cheaper options. This was the first one I found and it costs 18ā¬ a month for six films a (one delivery of 3 films every two weeks). So that’s 3ā¬ a dvd, which is a bit more expensive than at our old rental place (2.40ā¬), but then again we don’t have to pick them up and drop them off. And we get to choose a time and place for each delivery/pick up, so that’s also rather convenient.
It’s just a relief to have found someplace we can rent dvd’s from.
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Here in the US we have a internet order and mail delivery service, called Netflix. You create a queue online, and they mail the first film to you; you watch it, then return it in the postage free envelope, when they get it back, they send out the next one. No late fees. I’m figuring it’s going to be a model for businesses like it.
I have no movies to suggest, however, as I rarely go to them, and don’t rent. But someday…
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Yes, I’ve heard about Netflix from PC. I think it’s cheaper than the one we’re trying out but I also think that sort of biz hasn’t really taken off here in Spain yet.
I’m just reading a webpage with customer opinions of the place and almost everyone has complained about slow delivery. Hmmm…
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Just checked our list again and it looks like we’re being sent Lone Star, Habana Blues and some Frasier episodes (series 3). They should be arriving at the house between 9-11 tomorrow morning. I guess we shall see how well this works …
Has anyone seen Welcome to Collinwood?
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Bastards! It’s 5pm and they still haven’t shown up. Don’t think we’ll carry on with this particular company …
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That stinks. I hope you’ll find another alternative. I wouldn’t be inclined to repeat business with them, either.
I mean, having something that’s coming by mail arrive a day or two later than expected is one thing, but something hand delivered that’s at least six or eight hours late the very first time doesn’t sound promising.
Companies that act like they’re doing their customers a big favor, as opposed to the other way around, really are annoying, aren’t they?
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Got a phone call from the head office (in Barcelona)this morning and they said there had been a problem with getting the films to Seville yesterday, so they should be delivered today before 6pm. We shall see . . .
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And . . . ?
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Not delivered on the 8th, but finally arrived around 9 am on the 9th. This is a pain because we need to be able to arrange delivery/collection for when we’re at home.
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They sound pretty slow. While it might be better than no flicks at all, it would be really inconvenient having to arrange for pickup when you can’t rely on them to show up.
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Sorry to hear that the service isn’t working out. Hopefully Netflix or a serious, effective competitor will be available soon. If you do get access to movies, these are the ones I’m working on watching:
Napoleon Dynamite
Garden State
Empire of the Sun
Following
Gerry
Get Carter
Godzilla 2000: Millennium
Spartan
In the Company of Men
In the Mood for Love
Joint Security Area
The Legend of Drunken Master
Drunken Master
Once Upon a Time in China
House of Games
Me and You and Everyone We Know
All the Real Girls
Roger & Me
The Big One
The Thin Red Line
Titus
Fear and Trembling
Batman Begins
Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story
Tony Takitani
2046
Broken Flowers
Kung Fu Hustle
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Oldboy
Duke Ellington: Love You Madly
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
The Five Obstructions
Medea
Epidemic
The Element of Crime
Dogville
Separate Lies
Good Night, and Good Luck
The Squid and the Whale
The Unbearable Lightness of Being: SE
The Producers
Pride and Prejudice
King Kong
War of the Worlds
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
Ghost in the Shell
The New World
Munich
The Producers
Anaconda
House of Flying Daggers
Hero
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Syriana
CSA: Confederate States of America
Inside Man
Waking Life
Friends with Money
Capote
Adaptation
Lovely & Amazing
Rushmore
The Conversation
Alien: Collector’s Edition
Aliens: Collector’s Edition
Blade Runner
Mission: Impossible
The Boondock Saints
The Saint
The Fugitive
Wall Street
Clear and Present Danger
Patriot Games
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Pulp Fiction
Reservoir Dogs
The Untouchables
The Hunt for Red October
Spartacus
Memento
True Romance
The Goonies
Highlander
The Last Starfighter
Apocalypse Now Redux
Full Metal Jacket
Tron
Chinatown
THX 1138: Special Edition
Citizen Kane
Dr. Strangelove
12 Monkeys
Ladyhawke
Repo Man
2001: A Space Odyssey
Blade Runner: The Director’s Cut
Edmond
Brazil
The Ground Truth
Double Indemnity
Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior
All the King’s Men
Good Will Hunting
PCU
Black Hawk Down
Sophie Scholl: The Final Days
Miami Vice
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That’s some kinda list there, Arnie! šÆ
We’ve been told by the rental company that we should have at least 30 flicks on our list at all times – I think we have about 20 so far.
We’ll check out some of the stuff on yours, Arnie, but we were sorta hoping for more personal recommendations (well, except from PC š ).
*runs away*
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OK, I can give a blurb about some of the above…I’ll work on the less obvious ones.
Following – by Chris Nolan. His first work, prior even to “Memento” (which you should absolutely see if you haven’t already). This movie is suppposed to be disturbing.
House of Games – by David Mamet. A crime/thriller. Mamet is amazing – he’s also an amazing playwright. I saw his play “Glenngerry Glen Ross” and it was incredible, really beyond words. I’ve heard the movie doesn’t do it justice. Also see “Heist” the movie, that is fantastic.
Blade Runner – by Ridley Scott. Based on the short novel by Philip K. Dick. Amazing.
Spartan – staring Catherine Keener. I just love her.
Chinatown – a very old school Jack Nicholson.
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Hey, I heard that, az!
I may make an occasional recommendation, if I see something I think you might like. We’ve got over 300 Netflix in the queue, there have to be at least three you wouldn’t hate! š
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Latest delivery … only one day late this time. And the guy showed up at such a random time of day that it was just by chance I was home.
So I told him this and he said it wasn’t his fault – he only got the films from Barcelona that morning and even got some that weren’t to be delivered until next week, so WTF?
I dunno. Can’t think of any other way to get films on dvd anymore. So perhaps knowing the delivery system is quite erratic and accepting that will make things easier.
Anyhoodle, got the very first episodes of Frasier, Dr Strangelove and City Slickers (in memory of Jack Palance). I’m happy. š
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Hmmm…liked Jack Palance much more in Baghdad CafĆ©. Cute Billy Crystal film though and my favourite character ended up being Norman. š
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May I suggest a really great flick? “The Lion in Winter”, with Kate Hepburn as Eleanor of Acquitane, Peter O’Toole as… can’t remember which king!, Anthony Hopkins (as Richard) and a *very* young Timothy Dalton. Great dialogue!
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I’ve been looking for that one for ages, SC, as so many people have recommended it but they don’t even have it at Amazon, let alone at this piss-ass rental operation. š¦
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Awaiting the third delivery today but so far we seem to be coming out ahead on this deal.
During our two-week trial period we received two deliveries of three films (which is what we’ll normally be receiving each month). And because both deliveries arrived late we were given a free third delivery for our first paid month. And then I got an email this morning telling me that today’s delivery will include a ‘free gift’ dvd, so we’ll be getting four instead of three.
Heck, if they are going to keep doing this to ‘make up’ they can always come late. š
So today we’re getting:
ā¢ Educating J
ā¢ Frasier: First season (episodes 13-18)
ā¢ Garage Days
ā¢ Tardes de GaudĆ
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Watched ‘Educating J’ this evening and really enjoyed it. And afterwards found out that the title in English is called My First Mister.
And yes, the last delivery was a day late too…
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I’ve never seen that one myself; I don’t even go to the movies anymore, unless it’s really something I want to see. Usually documentaries, not blockbusters.
Let me know when you come across some good things, and I’ll rent them. š
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Delivery service still remains dodgy, though this weekend that wasn’t a problem as it gave an extra day or so to watch the last two films we had here … both rather dissapointing.
Thumbsucker was interesting in parts and the actors were all quite fine, but it just didn’t seem to go anywhere interesting.
And I fell asleep during Jarhead … same old same old routine with young recruits and drill-sargeant-from-hell, blah-blah-blah. Nog watched the whole film and said there really wasn’t much story though some of the visuals (oil fields set alight) were quite surreal and interesting.
Off to watch an old Audrey Hepburn film that was lent to me by one of my students, the one where she’s blind … Wait Until Dark. I remember seeing it many many years ago and being sooooooooo creeped out by it. Back later.
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Hysterical.
I’d cancelled my whatever with these people at the end of February, though they still owed me a delivery of 3 dvd’s.
Nothing happened for ages. Except that I had nine dvd films here that nobody seemed willing to pick up – and I stil wanted my last ones that I’d paid for.
Several go-nowhere emails later I got a call from Media-express yesterday … blah,blah,blah we cannot send you more dvd’s as you are no longer a client, but you must return the nine films you still have.
Me … yeah well, the delivery guy never showed up when he said he would, then just left the next batch in the mailbox, so it’s really not my problem or fault I have 9 dvd’s here that I don’t actually want.
Them … but we cannot give you the missing delivery because you are no longer a client!
AT THIS POINT I DISCONNECTED.
Two minutes later they called me back.
I said – ‘Hey sorry but I don’t speak to liars or people who are trying to rob me…!
They said – ‘No,no… you’re not listening, we don’t want to …
Me – ‘I paid for two deliveries in February and only received one …
Them – ‘Yes, because you unsubscribed …’
Me – ‘Well duh!yeah! Because you were going to charge me for things I hadn’t received!’
. . . and so it went on for ages. And in the end both of us were laughing as we both got a bit more outrageous with our accusations.
In the end I was asked if I would give back the 9 dvd’s next Wednesday morning if they sent a messenger. And I said I wanted my 9 euros back. We shall see . . .
It was kinda fun because the woman I was fighting with on the phone actually laughed when I said *I don’t talk to people who rob me!* š
But they still owe me 9 euros…
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Huge non-surprise … š
After all that rigamarole nobody showed up on Wednesday to pick up the nine dvd’s…
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