When I want to rent a movie, its a little annoying if its out of stock, but it really toasts my crunchies if the place I fo to get it from doesn’t stock it at all.  Redbox, the automated DVD rental kiosk has entered the very competitive industry with an aggressive roll out of locations, but has been hampered by anti-competitive (some would say illegal) business practices, and now a new policy to only attempt to st0ck top tier new releases.  Universal, Warner and Fox have all put pressure on DVD suppliers not to sell new releases to RedBox in a misguided effort to protect a failing business model. Redbox responded quickly by using alternate means to obtain new releases so they could meet customer demand…so far so good.  But as of late there have been several new movies that just didn’t appear at your local Redbox, and a new analyst report has stated that this in an intentional omission.

Apparently, Redbox doesn’t think its profitable to stock new release titles that were not big box office hits.  While its certainly true that you can’t expect any physical location to stock every single title, to ignore significant releases is one sure way to lose customers in a hurry.  People (thats you and me) are not to tolerant of being disappointed.  If you stop by a Redbox, and they stock the movie you want…and it happens again, pretty soon your not going to even bother looking.  This type of negative reinforcement will quickly erode the customer base, and at a time when physical DVD rental is nearing decline in favor of streaming media, I just don’t think this bodes well for Redbox.

Attention Redbox, if you decide to not even attempt to stock mainstream new releases, I will stop even looking.  I don’t like disappointment, and when I heard 3 major movie studios were trying to prevent you from getting new releases, I felt like supporting you to show they my middle finger…but if you can’t be bothered to try and provide me with a good selection, sorry but that’s something entirely different.

Transformers is one of those movie franchises that you knew would have a sequel before the 1st movie was ever released.  And true to form, Hollywood has given us another sequel, but the question is, can this movie eclipse what has been called the most underwhelming blockbuster of modern cinema.  The original movie was all flash and no substance, and took many fans by surprise with its less than serious portrayal of cartoon characters…yeah, who’d a figured that would happen!  So this week its off to the theater to review Transformers Revenge of the Fallen.

“Hey guys bill from ct here showing off my awesomely stylish   Tshirt from you guys.  Here’s my daughter and I getting ready to watch transformers 2. You might notice that unlike the last picture you got there is noone in the background. That is because as soon as we showed up everyone ran home to order a tshirt for themselves. You guys have a great show and a listener for life. By the way the movie was intense. The story was pretty weak, but the action was insane. Lots more transformers and they were all easier to discern. Also I was very happy to see that Michael bay brought optimus back to the most kick butt transformer that he used to be.  He took on 3 decepticons in hand to hand combat, no blasters needed.”   —Bill

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There are many things I really get anoyed with, and one of those things is sequal reliance.  So many times it seems that a movie is made, not because there is a great story to tell, not because someone has a passiona and vision for a new project…nope..its made in an effort to find that most coveted of bovine…the cash cow.  Its been happening in movies and video games for a long time, but I always thought that a few companies were above such shovelware, but alas…I may be wrong.  Pixar is making no less than 3 sequals for 2010.  I hope with all my heart they get all the love and attention that Pixar usually delivers, but I cant shake the sense of dread that something wicked this way comes.

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Also this week,

You are what you blog

Et Tu Pixar?

Your dog is lying to you

Hit by a meteor!

DVD cramping music sales

Bye Bye Betelgeuse

The snub of a lifetime

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Sometimes life isn’t what you expect, and then sometimes its exactly what you expect but that doesn’t make it any better.  Thats the problem Danny Donahue is having, his life has become as boring as it is predictable.  One day, it all becomes too much and he takes things just a little too far.  Sentenced to community service, Danny and his best friend Wheeler, soon find themselves mentoring troubled youths, and in the process, discover just a little about each other, and life.  Listen as Jeanne and Mike give you thier review, plus the box office results, dvd releases and of course, the Movie Bits giveaway

Staring

• Seann William Scott
• Paul Rudd
• Christopher Mintz-Plasse

Rated R for some extreme profanity

Runtime 100 minutes.