So it?s Friday night ? a rainy Saturday ? or even a quiet weeknight when nothing is on TV and you?re taking it easy. You want to rent a movie but just don?t know where to go.
Locally, Blacksburg provides you with four places where you can rent movies: Blockbuster, Crossroads, Movie Gallery and Newman Library. Yes, even the library has movies ? and better yet, they?re free.
So where are they, and who has what selections and prices? Here?s everything you need to know about renting a movie in Blacksburg.
The first on the list is the closest in terms of walking distance for students ? Newman Library. With a continuously-growing selection, the library has about 1,000 DVD titles and over 8,000 titles on VHS. Addison, the library?s search engine, is a great tool to use when searching for that DVD you?ve just been dying to see, and is accessible from your home computer.
The best part about getting movies from the library is that they?re all free. You can check out up to two movies for three days, and late fees are a dollar a day per item. The library?s collection is always growing, and staff let renters know which movies they?ve just put out in circulation by posting signs on the sides of the bookshelves.
If you?re more interested in the latest new releases, Movie Gallery, located at 708 N. Main St., has a large selection of new releases A recently-promoted deal allows you to receive a fourth movie free after renting three others at full price.
Movie Gallery also serves as a donation center for school supplies to assist Blacksburg Elementary School ? if you bring in an item, you get a free rental from their gallery selection. Diane Oakes, store manager said, ?We?re a big company with country values.?
Prices vary among the different genres; to get a new DVD release for seven days runs $3.89. Selecting from the collection of older movies costs $2.49 for seven days. All kids? movies are $0.99 for seven days, and the store offers a special of five kids? movies for $2.97. ?You?re lucky if you get (those movies) for two days at other places,? said Oakes.
Crossroads, the former downtown powerhouse, offers many unique titles that can?t be found at the more mainstream stores. Operating in their new location next to Gumby?s Pizza on Prices Fork, Crossroads displays films recommended by employees.
Len Comaratta, a manager of Crossroads said, ?You?ll be hard pressed to find really bad movies on our floor.? Crossroads offers a large selection of foreign, obscure and cult movies in addition to stocking best-sellers. ?Even other managers of the other movie places come here to rent since we have the best TV series selection,? said Comaratta.
For an overnight new release, Crossroads charges $1.99. A three-day new release runs $3.49, a catalogue collection movie (older item) runs $1.99 for three nights, VHS tapes are $.49 per night and Xbox 360, Xbox, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Gamecube rentals are $5.00 for four nights. Unlike other local stores, Crossroads? policy involves paying when you return the movie. If you bring your rental back three to six days after it was due, you pay double the rental price.
Dave Franusich, another Crossroads manager, said, ?We?ve got stuff you?re not going to find anywhere else and we have a very knowledgeable staff.?
The fourth rental option is that trusty chain store Blockbuster, located on University City Boulevard across from the Math Emporium. All new releases can be rented for $4.29. Recent new releases are two-day rentals and older items are one-week rentals.
Blockbuster also offers a Rewards program, which involves a fee of $9.99 for the whole year and offers special deals when renting movies. Participating members can rent one movie Monday through Wednesday and get a free movie rental from the older titles. Coupons entailing special are also mailed out during the month to members.
As always, your experience may vary, and the best way to find out which store suits you is to try it yourself. So kick back, relax, and enjoy the show!