10/19/06

Best Independent Video Store Around

by alisonkramer

This place has all the new domestic and international releases, plus many ancient classics you can't find anywhere else. The owner lives upstairs, so it's very non-corporate, and the staff is knowledgable about under-the-radar cult films. Get a "cine-phile" membership, all movies are rented for 3 days and you get a discount when you pay for the first three films upfront.

08/24/06

Artifact of a bygone age

by markothebeast

With the arrival of Netflix, video stores are becoming a thing of the past. Blockbuster stock is bottoming out, and I can't even name any other video store chains anymore... So what a delight when I moved to the "Lexus liberal" community of South Pasadena and discovered this absolute gem of a store. It is dvd "boutique," and if you can't differentiate between a movie and a film, you're in the wrong place. But...

Need a little help breaking down your choices on French crime noir? Wanna get dialed in on the top 3 Argentinian comedies of all time? Perhaps you've been desperate to know where that one Korean director has gone since the millenium? This is the place.

The staff is deeply knowledgable (if at times a bit too cool), and if film is your thing, stroll on over. They stay open late too, and with a great coffee shop/ice cream parlor across the street, I almost feel like I can live without Silverlake. Until Netflix takes it all away, that is.

05/30/03

finally! a great video store in So Pas

by ruddy

Wow, what a great selection in this little store. Some areas are organized by director or subject, which is nice. They also have a good (but small) kids' selection.

Mostly DVDs, with an emphasis on cinephile, classic and international titles. I saw most of the Criterion Collection available for rent.

Given that the other choices in the area are Blockbuster and Hollywood (and that's in Pasadena), any film fan in the SG Valley needs to check this place out.

Note: they don't have a sign up in front yet, so you need to look for them. It's across the street from Busters, a great coffee place.

• Pros: selection, 3 day rental, organization
• Cons: no sign out front