Where to get movies now my local video store closed

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468 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1603939 3-Aug-2016 23:16

networkn:

Hmm I finally might have a use for my xbox one!

Believe it or not, but i use my xbox one every day! Use it more as a home entertainment system rather than a gaming console. I've got a USB TV adapter, so use it to watch normal tv. Only downer is the TV adapter is not supported in NZ, so you don't get the EPG and have to set your xbox region to a supported country (mine's set to UK). We've got the xbox media remote and everything setup to turn on/off with the xbox, so don't need to fiddle with multiple remotes or the controller.

But back on topic, I do suggest renting a movie using the xbox and seeing how you go. Unsure how the MS movies library compares to others providers (and whether they have what you want to watch), but i guess there's only one way to find out!

Sam91

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Ultimate Geek

#1603942 3-Aug-2016 23:28

Where are you based? Civic Video Glenfield is one of the best video stores.

networkn

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#1603943 3-Aug-2016 23:29

Mt Roskill

JimmyH

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#1603948 3-Aug-2016 23:35

There's also Sky. Much as I hate Sky, their movie channels package combined with Sky Box Office isn't a bad option for supplying a good range of movies.

However, there are a number of downsides to Sky:

1. for an occasional movie viewer, it possibly doesn't pass your "not stupidly expensive: test? Particularly as for the HD films you want you would have to spring for the HD ticket as well;

2. The picture quality is definitely sub-BR quality, which you state you want; and

3. It's not as good as it used to be for recording movies as they come up and watching them later. The new box seems to apply a lot more copy protection than the old one did, so you either spring another $15 a month for the *tiny* recording capacity of the MySky, or endure the hassle involved in connecting an HDCP stripper and HTPC setup with an IR blaster to the box.

For movies only, you would need a few people in the family keen on movies to justify the substantial cost of Sky as a solution (it quickly adds up: base package, plus movie package, plus HD ticket, plus recording ability, plus extra charges for any box office films)

On balance, I think that something like an Apple TV with Netflix (and just accept the somewhat sub-BR quality) and the iTunes store, combined with something like a Fatso subscription, might be the most cost effective way of doing what you want.

networkn

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#1603949 3-Aug-2016 23:36

I have Sky and a HD Ticket and MySky as well. I've never been that impressed with their movies but I'll check the current range and perhaps it's worth it.

I don't subscribe to movies and on demand movies are about $9 from memory. We were renting 3 new release BR movies for about 12.

happyfunball

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Ultimate Geek

#1605062 5-Aug-2016 15:10

I would also recommend the new ATV. Get a US region Apple ID and then everything is in $US, and you get the best possible selection of films and TV shows, second to none. Much better than the video store (which is why it closed down!) The only drawback is no 4k (yet). It also streams any video's you've encoded or imported into iTunes yourself (but 4K is down sampled to 1080p).

One big advantage that gets overlooked here is that the ATV supports HDMI-CEC so it turns on the TV for you and selects its HDMI input automatically, and it controls the TV or HDMI receiver volume. No fiddling around with more than one remote, so its the least fuss of all the options. Very family friendly.

Get a HDHomerun connect on the network and you can watch local TV on it too. One box and remote for everything.

davidcole

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#1605063 5-Aug-2016 15:22

happyfunball:

I would also recommend the new ATV. Get a US region Apple ID and then everything is in $US, and you get the best possible selection of films and TV shows, second to none. Much better than the video store (which is why it closed down!) The only drawback is no 4k (yet). It also streams any video's you've encoded or imported into iTunes yourself (but 4K is down sampled to 1080p).

One big advantage that gets overlooked here is that the ATV supports HDMI-CEC so it turns on the TV for you and selects its HDMI input automatically, and it controls the TV or HDMI receiver volume. No fiddling around with more than one remote, so its the least fuss of all the options. Very family friendly.

Get a HDHomerun connect on the network and you can watch local TV on it too. One box and remote for everything.

The old Apple TV3 also get itunes movies. Much cheaper to buy that. But not as capable.

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jonb

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#1605064 5-Aug-2016 15:30

Reading this thread makes you wonder why all the video shops are closing. It seems pretty convoluted to find the movie you want to watch, legally, so will be surprised if the average person would be doing what geekzoners are doing. I suspect torrenting is still how most people access movies, and the main cause of video shops closing. Legal downloads might be a growing market, but for the same price (or more expensive) as a trip to the video shop, and all these workarounds it is hardly convenient.

richms

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#1605066 5-Aug-2016 15:34

The average person I know, other than for their kids, doesnt go out getting movies at all from anywhere. The luxury of having the time to set aside to watch something is something many people do not have.

Richard rich.ms

networkn

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#1605069 5-Aug-2016 15:35

jonb:

Reading this thread makes you wonder why all the video shops are closing. It seems pretty convoluted to find the movie you want to watch, legally, so will be surprised if the average person would be doing what geekzoners are doing. I suspect torrenting is still how most people access movies, and the main cause of video shops closing. Legal downloads might be a growing market, but for the same price (or more expensive) as a trip to the video shop, and all these workarounds it is hardly convenient.

Exactly this and why I started this thread.

PhantomNVD

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#1605078 5-Aug-2016 16:03

No, I'd say "most people" just stick to Lightbox/Neon/Netflix and go to a cinema for anything newer that's now on their chosen platform or normal telly,

"Most people" can't be stuffed torrenting any more than searching out legal content IMHO

LookingUp

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Ultimate Geek

#1605112 5-Aug-2016 17:17

Chromecast + Google Play. Has a lot more recent movies than Netflix NZ and other local options, and doesn't appear to have a geo-restriction. Also really useful for hooking Spotify, Pandora etc. into a home theatre amp. Plus, with Chrome on a PC, you can cast anything from the PC to a TV. A cheap and very flexible option. Particularly good if you're an Android household.

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Geekzone

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#1605135 5-Aug-2016 17:44

jonb:

Reading this thread makes you wonder why all the video shops are closing. It seems pretty convoluted to find the movie you want to watch, legally, so will be surprised if the average person would be doing what geekzoners are doing. I suspect torrenting is still how most people access movies, and the main cause of video shops closing. Legal downloads might be a growing market, but for the same price (or more expensive) as a trip to the video shop, and all these workarounds it is hardly convenient.

There is no workaround really. If you want access to movies available locally without having to break geo-restrictions then you can get on a PC (Microsoft movies), an Apple TV (iTunes), or Chromecast (Google Play, Netflix, Quickflix, Lightbox), Xbox (Microsoft movies).

I don't understand what's so hard about this.

happyfunball

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Ultimate Geek

#1605191 5-Aug-2016 20:21

Its not complicated when it comes to renting movies. You choose your device, you choices are Microsoft, Amazon, Google or Apple. The device replaces your old disc player.

The device comes with a remote control and you pick the movies you want. Any device will have more movies than the video store you used to use. No travel time to the video store, no late fees, no bad or missing discs, no waiting for the disc to come back because someone else has it out (remember that? :). Its simpler and faster, possibly cheaper too.

On top of that, you get Netflix for basically nothing, and you can buy TV shows too! Most people like it after they try it, my wife was amazed and she didn't get it either at first.

kendog

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Ultimate Geek

#1605285 6-Aug-2016 09:39

All the pros sound amazing.
But I still want the picture and sound quality you get on bluray.

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