By Joshua Rich
Daily Arts Writer
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| BOHDAN DAMIAN CAP/Daily University graduate Nate Vanwesep and LSA senior Michelle Brooks inspect the science fiction section at Liberty Street Video. |
He had discovered Hollywood Video, which had just arrived in Ann Arbor on Packard Street, a short drive from campus. Hollywood, the student found out, offers the best video rental rates in town.
For as little as $1.50 for five nights, the couch potato student could rent such classics as "Escape From New York" and "Village of the Damned" and watch them over and over again for an entire week. For newer movies, "The People Vs. Larry Flynt," for example, he had to shell out a bit more - $3 for one or five nights, depending on the movie's popularity.
Heaven, he thought.
Could renting movies get any better than this? He asked himself.
A quick trip to any of the other four nearby video stores answered his question - no.
Still, University students find renting movies a good way to take a break - or procrastinate - from studying, an innocent date activity, and a whole lot cheaper than plopping down more than $7 at the local cineplex.
"It's a total rip-off to go to the movies and spend lots of money," said LSA senior Miranda West. "It's total piracy."
So West, like many other students, frequently opts for the alternative. She heads over to the nearest video store for her regular dose of home entertainment.
One popular destination for students like West, who lives close to campus without a car, is Liberty Street Video. Just three blocks from campus, you can easily find this store with its gaudy, rainbow-colored neon sign in the window. Liberty Street has perhaps the widest selection of movies in Ann Arbor.
Particularly interested in films from her native Yugoslavia, RC junior Sara Bursac often finds exactly what she wants in Liberty Street's extensive foreign film collection. "Also," Bursac said, "(Liberty Street) has a big gay and lesbian section, and I think that that's very important."
No doubt, other students would agree. But for $3 for a one-night rental, they may prefer to go somewhere even closer to home.
Video retailers located directly on campus make up in convenience what they otherwise sacrifice in selection.
Campus Video on Church Street is located around the corner from popular South University Avenue student hangouts like the Brown Jug and Cava Java, and it's just down the street from many University buildings. Students, thus, are attracted by the ease in which they may go to class or to the coffee shop and then run over to Campus Video to catch a few flicks - if they can find any decent ones in stock.
The Michigan Union also houses a small video operation that caters to all students who live in nearby dorms like South Quad and West Quad, and those just passing through. But don't expect to find that rare Swedish existential film for your film class. The collection of the Union's video store doesn't go much deeper than the typical "Die Hard" or Woody Allen movie.
Of course, there's always Blockbuster, everyone's old video store standby. A short drive down Main Street, the nearest Blockbuster is home to the typical stock of any store in the chain - tons of new-release movies and just a few of the older ones. One LSA senior admitted that he chooses Blockbuster for its numerous copies of the newest, most popular films, despite its non-competitive $3-per-night fee.
Sure, Blockbuster is the perfect place to go if you are inspired to watch 48 copies of "Broken Arrow" on a Saturday night. Your parents will certainly be proud.
| Video ventures |
|---|
| Blockbuster Video: 2248 S. Main St.; 769-1920; best deal: $3 for 2 nights |
| Campus Video: 611 Church St.; 662-8800; best deal: $2 for 2 nights |
| Hollywood Video: 2111 Packard St.; 662-7171; best deal: $1.50 for 5 nights |
| Liberty Street Video: 119 E. Liberty St.; 663-3121; best deal: $3/1-night |
| Michigan Union Video Store: best deal: $3 for 1 night |
09-03-97
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