Film Guts

Rent movies not war

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:25:00 +0000

Anyway, funny story.

While typing our newsletter which you should be signup to receive, a car came down the Holiday inn ramp onto 24th street. It was clearly dragging something. A few seconds of screeching later and the entire, whole, front bumper including license plate flips under the car and shoots out the back. The car never returns for it. I drag it to the side of the road, and then 10 minutes later a random person, NOT the person from the car, just takes it.

So October new releases are posted.

We still need pictures of people wearing BPE shirts (I refuse to say gear, schwag, or the lesser used skin drapes).

the forbidden kingdom is the new 10,000 BC

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 19:14:00 +0000

We are looking for photos of people wearing our shirts (don't have one? Don't HAVE ONE!?). Looking for both genders, will be used on our website and in the dormant but brewing webstore to show the shirts on actual people.

Which reminds me that we should really sponsor a little league team or something, an idle dream.

So, 3 non-new new to us films coming next month.

First, This gun for hire, a Veronica Lake noir film. Gilda, a Rita Hayworth Noir film. And finally based on a customer suggestion (bumping all 99,000 prior customer suggestions [we're fickle]) is Man From Earth, written by one of the better writers from The Twilight Zone and the original Star Trek. Much like a play, it takes place in one room and is wholly dialogue driven. A professor is moving away and at his goodbye party says he's a centuries old Cro-Magnon who can never die.

Wholphin v. 6 out now

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:45:00 +0000

Wholphin v. 6 is out now On the wholphin shelf in the new release room. Wholphin is a quarterly DVD magazine. From their website:

"Wholphin No. 6 features a documentary about a class of Chinese third graders who hold a democratic election for classroom monitor and in the process end up hilariously, if unintentionally, mocking 300 years of American politics; a beautifully black, comic exploration of 70s England that isn't, but could easily be, the prequel to A Clockwork Orange; a surreal dating short starring Michael Cera, with alternate audio versions featuring John Cleese and Daniel Handler; stunning footage of rarely-seen tropical reptiles and insects that are amazingly beautiful to watch, even when they're eating each other head first; as well as films featuring great white sharks, America's top Bigfoot hunters, and a miniature seeing-eye horse."

the blog lightens up

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 04:51:00 +0000

A few minor additions not noted before,

The animated batman movie Gotham Knight that just came out is in the new release room.

A few new floor additions,

The Overture, a thai biopic following the life of Luang Pradit Pairoh (Sorn Silapabanleng), highly revered thai music master, particularly the traditional thai ranad ek. Right up there with the "piano off" in Legend of 1900, this film features, seriously, and amazingly, a "ranad ek off" between him and another player.

And within a week, another very different thai film, Citizen Dog. A mountain of water bottles, people with tails, a bizarre, surreal, and strange romantic comedy.

Also, Blue sky Ice Cream is on sale, and we have these gigantic imported glass bottles of water we need someone to buy. Shipping mistake. If your thirsty, come by.

the blog lightens up

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 04:25:00 +0000

A confession to non-BPE Renters confronted with a Schizophrenic industry

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:30:00 +0000

In the mid-90s, collect calling became big business, with a bizarre boom of different collect calling advertising hitting the airwaves. Besides 1800 Collect, there were all of the long distance ads for the #'s you were supposed to dial before a regular number, like "dial 1010 before dialing". With so many of them, no one could keep them straight. Saturday night live advised people "Save by calling 10-10-1776-5-28-1830-242-3-316-68-22".

At some point, finally, the obvious question was asked amid Carrot Top ATT commercials, Newman from Seinfeld doing his bit, and (my favorite) Calvert DeForest collect ads - since when did anyone give a damn about collect calling? Somewhere hidden behind the high gloss of the commercials was a product no one really could remember being that important or useful, or really that expensive to begin with.

No one was sitting around jonesing for cheaper collect calls. Then the cell phone came and killed the trend (at least cell phones did one thing we should all be happy about).

It occurred to me video rental has kind of become like Collect Calling in the 90s. Way too much pomp and dazzle for perks that don't really matter on the backend, misdirection, pumping up 'features' that were invented to keep your eye off the simplicity of the deal: Don't rent more than 3 movies at a time, return them in a decent amount of time, don't lend them to random people. Done. Don't overthink it. Let's come together, over the course of your renting life, renting at place X or Y will probably not make much difference moneywise. Particularly down the line. This isn't a huge investment. Either you pay a flat monthly fee and then maybe you get your moneys worth, since, again, some honesty, most people will still be keeping what they rent longer than makes it worth it.

And oddly, The people who think the most about the fine print of renting usually are the worst renters. We want you to be passionate about movies, not about movie renting.

A mix of old and new rental habits have made the consumer think he has to outsmart his or her rental choice in order to get a good deal. This isn't a battle, you don't have to become a fugitive if you lose a movie, you don't have to pass a test to rent. Get a good movie first!

Most of the new "perks" are steps back.

Hell, most of the 5 day rental nonsense stems from old late fee policy where stores wanted you to keep them as long as possible (or the polar opposite who watches it in only 1 day rental nightmare, are we backwards for offering 2-3 day rentals?). The same goes for the 'unlimited' programs. The people who obsess about an unlimited rental plan are usually, again, keeping 2 minor movies for 3 weeks anyway, which makes the value of these programs something you have to work at, which again is not how it should be.

From the business side, vending machines and movies by mail make sense, not because of the benefit to the customer but because from a business angle you never have to ever meet or see a customer. Total lack of accountability. Rev that calling center and online customer support up. It's brilliant once you figure out a way to get customers to think it was their idea!

And I understand the feeling. Typically, the most vocal and pushy customers are also the worst. They usually will reference other video store prices.......incorrectly. This was a good convo from last week:

(man, drunk) "I could go to b______buster and rent movies for a quarter, and they let you keep them for 45 days, and they'll have _______ (insert third string rob schneider movie here)".

This is another good one - "Let's go to X. They don't have late fees"

The funny thing is no one who says this ever actually knows what OUR late fee policy is.

Here's the nuts and bolts:

This is not a medical decision, it isn't a riddle. Everyone likes to feel like they got one up on saving money, pulled one over on a business, but it is time for a simple fact: Video Rental, whether it is the constantly dragged into a lawsuit by their customers BB and Netflix, or a vending machine you feel comfortable sliding your Credit card into you wouldn't trust us with, is not an arena of heroic struggle.

I know you just stayed the night at a holiday inn express, but come in and rent, don't research. I know the rental ads from online and off try to scare you into thinking you could get hoodwinked, but those ads are usually by the same companies that did the hoodwinking in the past.

It is not ever going to be a sphere of life that will determine whether you are smarter, faster, hipper, sneakier, or better than someone else (including us). Rent movies because you want to see something that will effect you, come to Best Place Ever because it is the best movie store run by mere mortals, because it is locally owned, not because you need to prove something. Grab your red bull and Go to a club for that.

The same people who storm out of BPE because we won't give them a cash refund on a dvd because they "didnt like it", or they rented a samurai movie and they really wanted kung-fu, don't realize that no video store, locally owned or mainstream wants that kind of business.

The secret is BPE and its 3 owners, delusional and against all common sense, really do want you to watch good movies, painlessly and with friends. If people can pay $5 for a cup of coffee like its nothing, then why not pay far less for a piece of art or entertainment? We won't accidentally scald your groin if you spill us, and we won't ever ask if you want to rent your movies "grande".

UPDATED w/3 word Wall-E review. Comment gumbo, new releases posted on website

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:46:00 +0000

Quick 3 word Wall-E review. Idiocracy for kids.

The reviews referencing Chaplin aren't far off either. Visually, some shots would be envied even if compared against future films like Blade Runner or a Terry Gilliam film. Why is it in the same weekend, the "hard" R-rated film Wanted has lines like "kill one, save thousands" and is mainly childish, while the Pixar film Wall-E is by and large one of the most subversive films this year, and its sneaking by for kids? Why is Pixar making more mature films than the films targeted to grown ups? Easily some of the best and most entertaining social commentary all with barely any dialogue to weigh it down for the most part.

Sam Fuller's Steel Helmet has a south korean character, a young kid, nicknamed short round who follows the lead actor around........short round, sound familiar? Damn you Steven Speilberg and George Lucas!

Meanwhile, one of the "local arthouse" cinemas is showing Get Smart, Sex and the City, and an indie film that is already out on dvd. Things are going well.

So George Carlin died. And I have to stare at his face everytime I walk into the New release corner on his boxset. A huge loss for pretty much everyone breathing.

On the up side, its raining heavily and that means you should be renting movies. New releases for july have been posted on the website. We have a slew of new stuff to the floor.

And despite the movie ripoff summer season of '08 being a doozy, we've still got over 6,000 movies that should wet your visual whistle.

Until the Dark Knight comes out in theaters next month, there isn't much playing, so come in and return/rent some movies. Take a sticker, buy a button, tell a friend.

Any shelf ideas for our middle room? Give us a shout.

Ice cream back in stock. Drinks will be swapped out next month for an undecided mix of beverages. But root beer will be back.

Don't forget we can order films to buy.

Remember to please update your information if you move or change numbers.

If you missed out on the email, these are new to the store floor.

Planet Earth
Cities of the Underground s. 1
Rififi - Will be remade stateside soon! See this one first!
Devils on the doorstep
Psych s. 1
5 Charlie Chaplin films
Infernal Affairs 2-3
Innocence
Orlando
Great Yokai War
Chushingura
Kwaidan

Indy 4 (national treasure 3?) - 3 word review

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Mon, 26 May 2008 20:11:00 +0000

Apocalypto meets Stargate.

If I take a zero carbon footprint ’eco’ dvd case and litter with it, does 2+2=5?

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:55:00 +0000

Why do the new 'eco' lightbulbs contain mercury that requires actual special disposal?
Does that mean they aren't eco-friendly and just easily marketable?

Anyway, watching an episode of LOST from Season 3 or 4 when you haven't watched any of the other seasons is like eating flour then a raw egg and expecting delicious chocolate cake.

We are once again renewing our call for volunteers who would be willing to work every so often for free rentals (no new releases, sorry, dems the rules). Our vetting process is at best eccentric and at worst like reading microwaveable soup instructions from another planet. 99% of the work is stuff you pick up over time, so the training period can be hectic, didn't anyone watch GI Jane? It's like that. Anyone interested drop us your name and phone, it helps if we know who you are or your already a renter.

Furthermore, in the I wonder what he did to warrant a specific mention, we are looking for a one Joshua Skidmore, who we would like to disembowel, k?

Furtherest nevermore, let us kindly remind college students not to run off at semester end with our movies, and NEVER leave with someones promise that they are going to return them once your gone, they never ever ever never never never ever do.

Additionally amore, a few new movies from this month we skipped mentioning on the mailing list (should really signup at bestplaceever.com) -

New release - I want someone to eat cheese with

Criterion - Wages of Fear

Wholphin Issue 5 - including a 20 some minute short adapted from a Michael Chabon story starring Paul Rudd and Zooey Deschanel. Also, a blind rubiks cube champion.

Thanks for reading, you've been really great, and so have I.

Blog posts in future to be 20% meatier

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 02:45:00 +0000

I had a thought, in celebration of Michel Gondry's new film Be Kind Rewind, would it be a good idea to have a film contest where people have to shoot their own versions of popular or random films totally from their memory?

Just tossing it around. Totally just in our heads at the moment.

We would also like to say we have room in our hearts for as many framing stores in Des Moines as possible. I would frame my own right arm if I could part with it. No matter who you are, you have to be crazy to own your own business in this day and age.

What would it take to get someone who has no idea who Agnes Varda or Bernardo Bertolucci to rent the new criterion editions of his The Last Emperor, or her Criterion boxset? The Last Emperor has the best under the covers giggling since spaceballs. Agnes Varda's Cleo from 9 to 5 is the best movie with 9 and 5 in the title since 9 to 5.

On the online front, the 'store', using that term in the most humble way possible, will have an 'adopt-a-movie' section if anyone wants to give certain orphaned (ie stolen) movies a second chance at life.

BPE wins best place to rent a movie 2008

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:48:00 +0000

So we were voted Best Place to Rent a Movie for the 2nd straight year by Cityview. Thank you to those who voted.
Next year: Best place to make out, and best nachos. Let's make it happen. Someone buy us a nacho machine and start making out, possibly with nachos.

A note of correction from that issue: despite the article, we have been in existence longer then 2 years. In fact, since 2003.

We came up 2nd in Best locally owned store.

Some have asked in response "who won? what is Des Moines' best kept locally owned secret?!"

That's right, Frank Stallone.
Sorry, bad SNL norm macdonald joke.

It's actually, drum roll, Deck the walls?

That's right, the local franchise of the national corporate chain of framing establishments located in the mall.

Now, before it sounds like sour grapes because I'm sure the Deck the Walls people are nice and whose ever heard of a seedy frame shop anyway, I only mention it because in a bizarre twist, I actually have a locally owned framing store opinion, which I never thought would ever come up in any conversation ever for any reason.

Dot's Framing on the southside who we like to visit time to time, and who also framed much of what hangs on Cup O'Kryptonite's walls. They do good work.

Again, thanks to all.

4 Year Anniversary shirts from December will be on sale in perpetuity till our stock is gone. While not final, we'll probably put them for sale at $6-8. Check instore next week sometime.

A Beta version of a paypal fuelled online store page will be up end of march hopefully. Nothing huge, just a place to sell posters, shirts, used stuff, and whatever knick knacks and things we can think of. It is totally in the air, and may end up being something or nothing at all, we'll see.

For those who were looking for the TV Show The Wire, we got in all 4 seasons recently.

Best of lists, Hours/Pricing change (UPDATED 1/31)

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 04:26:00 +0000

A modest Price change coming early February:

It's been years since we've touched them but it is necessary to stay open and pay the bills, afford that huge indoor block of ice we keep for no reason.

New releases and regular criterions will be 3.25
Regular Titles will be 2.75
New/Multi-disc Criterions will follow suit.

Also, we will be trying out New Weekday hours starting Feb 4th.

Monday thru Thursday our new hours will be 2-12.
Friday and Saturday are the same - Noon to Midnight.
Sunday hours are 12-10.

2007 is over, our movie picks for '07!

All movies seen for the first time in 2007. We are trying to avoid putting movies that came out theatrically only very late in the year, since most critics year end lists have included movies that will get awards (oscars for instance) in 2008 or no one outside Festivals have seen yet, so bear with it. "There will be Blood" JUST opened here, yet its on many 2007 year end lists.

TJ

No Country for Old Men
Angel-A
Ghosts of Cite Soleil
13 Tzameti

Adam

The Ten
Eastern Promises
LOST Season 3 (Hurley Explodes)
The Wind that Shakes the Barley

Grant

3:10 to Yuma
Seeing the films of Andrei Tarkovsky for the first time
Hot Fuzz
Best American Drama you've never seen: Apart From That
BBC's Dr. Who relaunch
After this Our Exile
Criterion's release of La Jetee/Sans Soleil
Songs from the Second Floor
The Fountain (in perpetuity)

Please vote for us!

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 04:06:00 +0000

It's time once more for Cityview's Annual Best of Des Moines Survey.

Please take a moment to Vote us "Best Place to Rent a Movie" and "Best Locally Owned Store".

Go to Cityview's Homepage and click on the top right corner.
Or go directly.

Getting a team of people to vote on a bank of supercomputers a plus, but not required. Family, Friends, co-workers, random unattended laptops whose owner could return at any moment, all fair game.

Don't forget all the other amazing local stores, coffeeshops named after planets that are in town.

End Notes - updated with cityview survey link

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 01:01:00 +0000

Many quick notes, leftover shirts from our 4 year anniversary are still for sale at the shop in all sizes. Check out the design - By David Nietzke

After the new year, this will get its own post, but if your antsy, Vote for us for best locally owned store and best place to rent a movie at cityview's best of des moines 2008 survey - Cityview best of survey for 2008

Our holiday hours will be 12-7 on X-mas Eve.

Christmas day we will be open 6-10. CALL AHEAD if you want to be sure.

Hours will be the same on New Year's Eve with the offchance of closing at 10-11.

Don't forget to Caucus on January 3rd. Arrive at your precinct early, you and anyone you can drag there can register to vote and participate AT the event itself. MEGACAUCUS VOTAGANZA!!!

You can lookup your precinct location here if you don't know. Incidentally, while I won't tell anyone who to vote for, the location lookup is located within the obama website, draw your own conclusions.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/iacllookup
---------------------------------------------------

And because its too funny to us personally, BPE quasi-Employee of the Year: Thai Luong (take that other 2 semi, gray area, bordeline, on again off again we still love you "employees", maybe next year!).

We will also be starting a customer of the month thing soon, so rent often, rent nicely and take care of each other.

Until the new year. (signup for our mailing list on our website if you haven't!)

The 3 headed BPE Hydra

Until they run out.....

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 03:51:00 +0000

Shirts for Best Place Ever's 4 year anniversary will be available until whats in this box is gone, and then will be gone forever. While it is a 4 year shirt, it is not event specific, so anyone can pick one up.

They make good gifts, and if you couldn't make the bash, no better way to show support.

4 Year bash is in the bag

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 03:04:00 +0000

Thanks to everyone who came outdespite winter conditions and Oprah's distracting hypnosis -

BestPlaceEver turned 4 on Saturday, December 8th

We celebrated with 2 films, 2 bands, 1 director and a mess of giveaways

These fine people allowed us to giveaway stacks of dvds to many happy people. Courtesy of Mars Cafe, Criterion, Zeitgeist, and Kino films.

We Showed "Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea" with the director in tow and in the night

These Bands played:
The Autumn Project
Oh Possum

We also showed Battle Royale.

Food was locally catered by Frank's Pizza
Afternoon program Courtesy of Markey's Audio,
BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN: TWO-DVD ULTIMATE EDITION, Criterion, Zeitgeist films, and Mars Cafe.

4 Year Bash Evening Intermission a la Frank's Pizza

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 01:07:00 +0000

If your looking for the ticket prebuy info, or afternoon film trailer, check out the last blog entry.

The evening program's intermission will be catered by Frank's Pizza. (www.frankspizzadm.com)

Food is included in price of evening/package ticket.
Vegetarian pizza will be an option!

We'd also like to thank Markey's Audio for presenting the afternoon film via their lcd projector equipment.

UPDATED: Salton sea trailer and shirt preview

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 04:04:00 +0000

UPDATE:

THOSE WHO PREBUY

4 Year Anniversary Bash Tickets

Will be entered in a drawing to win

1st Prize
A copy of Criterion's 2-disc set of
Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused

2nd Prize
Wes Anderson's Royal Tenenbaums from Criterion

3rd Prize
Poster for Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times courtesy of Kino
$10 Mar's Cafe Giftcard

Winners will be announced at the event.

This is only a taste of the giveaways we'll hand out at the bash.

For full details on the 4 year bash, please refer to our website or the profile of our myspace page.

Trailer and praise for our Afternoon film.

"A Heartbreaking, sidesplitting parade of humanity"
-The Village Voice

"A funny and pognant new documentary"
-San Francisco Chronicle

"A hilarious and kindly ode to a fallen paradise"
-SF Weekly

"I don't know whether to laugh or cry. A must see."
-Kansas City Star
***

This is one of the UNUSED shirt sketches by our friend David Nietzke just to give you a taste, we weren't sure if everyone would get the 'Seven' reference here, but we didn't want it to go to waste. The idea we went with is great, and will be worth wearing.

BPE turns 4! All day Bash! Tickets at BPE Now.

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 22:16:00 +0000

What: We turn 4 with 2 films, 2 bands, 1 director, a mess of giveaways, and all day festivities
When: Saturday Dec 08, 2007
at 4:00 PM and 8 PM depending on program
Where: The Varsity & Vaudeville Mews
25th and University (varsity) & 212 4th St (Mews)
Des Moines, IA 50311
United States

Click Here To View Event

BestPlaceEver turns 4!

Saturday, December 8th

An all day event of fun and film.

Over $1,000 in giveaways courtesy of Criterion, Zeitgeist, and Kino films.
Different giveaways at each event, so come to both!!!!

Afternoon Program @ The Varsity Theatre -- (map)

4 PM - "Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea"
+followed by Q and A w/director Chris Metzler

Narrated by John Waters, an epic western tale of fantastic real estate ventures and failed boomtowns, inner-city gangs fleeing to white small town America, Hair-raising and hilarious, part history lesson, part cautionary tale and part portrait of one of the strangest communities you've ever seen, this is the American Dream gone as stinky as a dead carp.

Evening Program @ The Vaudeville Mews

8 PM

Bands
The Autumn Project
Oh Possum

Intermission w/locally catered food

At Midnight - The Infamous, the one of a kind viewing experience, Battle ROYALE!!!!!!!!

Tickets available as a package deal or separately for each program.

Available from BestPlaceEver NOW!!

Tickets, particularly for the evening program or package deal SHOULD be bought prior to event so we know how much food to get (vegetarian option will be provided).

Courtesy of BATTLESHIP
POTEMKIN: TWO-DVD ULTIMATE EDITION, Criterion, Zeitgeist
films, and Mars Cafe.

Plus a commemorative T-shirt sold only at this event designed by local artist David Neitzke.

Lars and the Real Girl and Mr.Woodcock

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:10:00 +0000

....were directed by the same guy.......what the hell?

I feel used.

varsity myspace, writers strike

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:08:00 +0000

if you feel the want, there is a myspace for the varsity up. Listed under our friends, or myspace.com/varsitydesmoines

Add as your friend.

Sidenote, how many people know their is an upcoming writers strike in the movie industry threatening to shut down new productions? The TV writers strike is already starting I think. Prepare for reality tv shows en masse.

4 year anniversary event announcement november 1st

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:08:00 +0000

The tedious and inevitable tying up of loose ends as regards the event slowly continues.

I promise full disclosure as of next week, with tickets on sale then. It should be fun, we may publically speak. Grievances will be aired, duels will be paced, movies shown, dvds given away, much rejoicing.

The only 4 year old's Birthday party that goes into the wee hours

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 03:22:00 +0000

Finalizing details, putting calls into tokyo, getting on the red eye to seal deals with Bono (without his permission, nothing in Des Moines moves, little known fact), getting excited.

Saturday December 8th, all day multi-venue BASH.

The Varsity, The Vaudeville Mews.

Ever since V for Vendetta, we're V haunted.

More giveaways and fun then your silly bones can handle.

There might be actual stormtrooopers.....fingers crossed.

More cryptic messages coming soon.

To Be-rlin Alexanderplatz or not to Be-rlin Alexanderplatz

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 03:05:00 +0000

Berlin Alexanderplatz is director Rainer Werner Fassbinder (pronounced fossbinder, fossssbinder if your a snake) epic climax to his career. This film could hardly ever be watched in any form for the past few decades. Recently, it was restored, cleaned, given the deluxe treatment and given a renewed theatrical run at select film houses and film forums. It was adapted from the acclaimed German novel, and is coming out via Criterion this November.

.....oh, yeah.

It's 15 hours long.
It's a 7 disc set.

So, the conundrum. This landmark of film, this milestone, how do we rent it, do we rent it? Is there going to be enough people to even break even on it?

We took the plunge as loyal criterion-ites and ordered it.

So again, the challenge of renting out a 15 hour movie.

So let us hear if you want to see this film, if you know of someone who might. Can we tempt you?

We are going to split it into 2-4 hour chunks, or renting it out by 1-2 discs at a time.

Check it out, and give us some feedback.

Here is a synopsis from Criterion's website:

"Rainer Werner Fassbinder's controversial, fifteen-hour-plus Berlin Alexanderplatz, based on Alfred Döblin's great modernist novel, was the crowning achievement of a prolific director who, at age thirty-four, had already made forty films. Fassbinder’s immersive epic, restored in 2006 and now available on DVD in this country for the first time, follows the hulking, childlike ex-convict Franz Biberkopf (Günter Lamprecht) as he attempts to "become an honest soul" amid the corrosive urban landscape of Weimar-era Germany. With equal parts cynicism and humanity, Fassbinder details a mammoth portrait of a common man struggling to survive in a viciously uncommon time."

Plus, it comes with an entire second adaptation of the novel by another director.....

# New high-definition digital transfer from the 2006 restoration by the Fassbinder Foundation and Bavaria Media, supervised and approved by director of photography Xaver Schwarzenberger

# - Two new documentaries by Fassbinder Foundation president Juliane Lorenz: one featuring interviews with the cast and crew, the other on the restoration

# - Hans-Dieter Hartl's 1980 documentary Notes on the Making of "Berlin Alexanderplatz"

# - Phil Jutzi's 1931, ninety-minute film of Alfred Döblin’s novel, from a screenplay co-written by Döblin himself

# - New video interview with Peter Jelavich, author of Berlin Alexanderplatz: Radio, Film, and the Death of Weimar Culture

4 Year Anniversary whispers pt 2

noreply@blogger.com (BPE) — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 22:47:00 +0000

But seriously, 2 venues, all day, locally catered food, an exclusive local artist designed tshirt, a director, ridiculously priced, loads of dvd giveaways from some amazing labels.....it might be december 8th.

I have a hunch.