Planet DVD, a DVD and video game rental kiosk franchise has signed an exclusive agreement with Little Short Stop stores and is rolling into 32 locations in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph areas, starting this month.What maes us different is the 1,400 movie capacity of our kiosks,” said  president Jim Gormley in a press release.

Gormley was co-founder, president and CEO of Jumbo Video. However, many of the stores have closed down in recent years.Burden doesnt believe that  vending machines present much of a niche, however. People still like personalized service, he added.A lot of our customers like to ask what is good or ask for recommendations if they’ve seen everything.Another problem with movie packages for the Internet or digital cable is the lack of new titles Burden said.

Most studios have 28-day delays before vending machines can start renting their movies.The studios dont want their new movies being rented for $1.99 or $2.99. The same is true for Netflix. They have lots of old movies and TV shows, but it’s several months before they have the most recent movies In Burden’s opinion, the biggest factor hurting the movie rental business is illegal downloading of movies that are in theatres.

I have complained to the police several times over the local flea markets selling copied DVDs of movies that are still in theatres. Usually once a year they go in and check it out and chase them away for a few weeks. These guys make a fortune at the flea markets, because the movies cost them nothing and they probably pay no taxes to the government either.Stealing a movie does as much harm to local business as it does the big studio, Burden contends.We are the ones who see our revenue decrease, so instead of buying more movies to rent or hiring more staff or supporting local organizations, we need to cut back or watch our expenses more closely.The Rape Of The Vampire looks excellent on Blu-ray in AVC

he Rape Of The Vampire looks excellent on Blu-ray in AVC encoded 1080p high definition. Presented in 1.66.1 widescreen and mastered from the original 35mm negative, there are some minor specks here and there but no seriously distracting print damage. As seems to be the norm with these Kino releases of Redemption titles, there hasn't been a ton of cleanup work here so expect to see very minor print damage throughout, mainly just specks here and there.

The only audio option for the feature is a French language LPCM 2.0 Mono track with optional subtitles provided in English only. This track would seem to be about as good as it's going to get, as parts of the movie were obviously dubbed in post and the movie was made on quite a low budget. There's a little bit of hiss here and there but it's not all that distracting unless you're overly susceptible to such things. The dialogue is generally pretty clean and clear and there are no issues with the levels, which are properly balanced throughout. The score sounds quite good, it's a very effective piece of work and enhances the film a lot, and the subtitles are easy to read and free of any typographical errors.

The extras start off with a great documentary entitled Fragments Of Pavement Under The Sand which is basically comprised of interviews with the late Jean Rollin as well as with Jean-Denis Bonan and Jean-Pierre Bouyxou. More than just a retrospective look back at the director's debut feature, this also gives us some insight into what the French film market was like at the time, specifically the market for horror films.

Of course, the documentary also covers how the film came to be and how it was originally intended to pad out a film that producer was importing and wanted more footage for, but additionally we learn about the director's intentions with the picture and what it was like to be involved with the film. This is a very well put together piece and quite a valuable addition to the disc. It runs almost twenty-four minutes in length and is presented in HD. This is complimented nicely by two standard definition interviews carried over from the European Encore Filmed Entertainment DVD release from a few years ago, the first of which is a four and a half minute interview with Rollin who talks about films that influenced him as well as his obsession with vampire, the second of which is a nine minute piece with Jean-Loup Philippe who talks about his experiences working with Rollin as an actor in a few of his films.

The driving frenzy that is Memorial Day weekend is almost upon us. Here are some tips to help ensure that your next road trip is one you'll always remember, rather than one you'll want to forget.What I was watching these tapes for is the sound

Lift the hood. Fluids, filters, belts, hoses, cooling system, brakes and tires should be checked. Be sure all the lights and turn signals work. Windshield wiper blades shouldn't streak or scrape. Make sure that your spare tire is usable and properly inflated. If your car's battery is more than 3 years old, have it checked. Better yet, replace it. Make sure your air-conditioning system is fully charged. If your vehicle has a cabin air filter, have it cleaned.Speaking of cleaning, because you'll be spending a lot of time in your ride, clean the interior.Finally, If your car or truck has high mileage, is too small or has been unreliable, consider a rental.

Heaviest items should be placed closest to the center of the car. In SUVs, place the heaviest items on the floor to maintain safe handling. Loose items should be secured. Remove loose items from the rear parcel shelf so they don't hit passengers in a panic stop. As you pack the trunk, remember that you might have to unpack it to access the spare tire. Keep your rear view clear, no matter how large the load.

Make sure the combined weight of passengers and cargo doesn't exceed your vehicle's maximum load capacity. Overloading can overtax vehicle systems and lead to a serious accident. The capacity is listed in your owner's manual and varies by vehicle and are lower than you might expect. A four-cylinder Honda Accord has a maximum load capacity of 850 pounds.

What I was watching these tapes for is the sound where do you brake and where do you get on the gas Blaney said as the video showed the view from a camera on Hamlin's roof and his engine changed tones depending on if he's on the accelerator or on the brakes.

Understanding what Hamlin does through the corners was only part of Blaney's work. As the engines scream rises and falls, Blaney looks for reference points on or along the wall to give him an idea when he gets on the track where he might want to brake.Blaney noticed that Hamlin feathered off the accelerator when he passes two orange cones — meaning 200 feet until the corner along the fence.

Not all of Hamlins secrets were revealed. During every caution, the video cuts to a camera focused on Hamlin inside the car. That prevents Blaney from seeing how Hamlin heads toward Darlingtons pit road, which has among the trickiest entrances in NASCAR. He may have to learn about that on site.Before he returns to the Nationwide Series next month at Kentucky Speedway he'll view the race video from third-place finisher Kyle Busch's car.

But for now Blaney's focus will be on conquering the tight corners that force cars to run close to the wall, often earning drivers a famed "Darlington stripe" along their right-side door panel.

As the nation’s demographics change and more Americans slide into what used to be known as “old age,” awareness of elder abuse has become more severe. This documentary short, which was co-produced with the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life, details the case of a 96-year-old identified only as Miss Mary. In the course of the film, Miss Mary details how her grandson and his wife exploited her financially, using her Social Security money to support their drinking habit that she was forced to clean their home and cook their meals.Studios To Movie Fans: Take Our Clips, Please

After five years of monetary abuse, Miss Mary’s grandson sexually assaulted her in an attack that last several hours and left her hospitalized. Although her family was skeptical of her claims, Miss Mary regained her strength and participated in the trial of her grandson.

The DVD’s subject matter is very disturbing, to put it mildly, yet Miss Mary details her ordeal with a focus and calmness that is remarkable. Also included in this DVD are detailed accounts of the financial abuse and sexual attack on Miss Mary, a post-script her life after the assault occurred, and interviews with senior services advocates who comment on the circumstances surrounding this case which, sadly, is not as uncommon as some people would like to believe.Monster Bulls 10 keeps the excitement flowing with more than two hours of jaw-dropping bow, muzzleloader and rifle hunts for enormous elk and other large-horned species.

In this 10th anniversary hunting DVD, Bill and Tyler Jordan, Michael Waddell and David Blanton join other well-known hunters on their quests to take down the big boys. This 10th edition is packed with the most video ever found in a Monster Bulls DVD.

In addition to 13 original “never-seen-on-DVD,” action-packed adventures, you’ll enjoy the 10 most memorable hunts in the history of Monster Bulls. Join the pros as they travel across the Western USA in search of big bull elk in Montana, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. Then follow along as they chase giant moose, as well as Dall and Stone Sheep, in Canada.As a bonus, you’ll watch Cameron Hanes slip to within 9 yards of a bedded mule deer buck before he delivers the lethal arrow.

Maybe you needed a good cry, but you were at work and didn't have easy access to your DVD of The Notebook. So you searched for that heart wrenching break-up scene on YouTube and let the tears flow freely.Could be, nostalgic for times past when "real" men wore suits and drank bourbon you were itching to watch Humphrey Bogart tell Ingrid Bergman, "Here's lookin at you kid.

Or its possible you just wanted to have a good laugh at the expense of someone getting hit in the unmentionables.Whatever your mood, you've probably watched clips from your favorite movies or TV shows on YouTube. And, most likely, the clips weren't supposed to be there.Five years ago content owners and media companies, like Viacom, were taking YouTube to court for copyright infringement. They claimed YouTube's success was based on people uploading clips of TV shows and movies without permission. Today, "old media" can't deny the power of YouTubes gargantuan audience the site claims 4 billion video views a day) and is scrambling to find ways to work with rather than against it.

Vin Di Bona is the affable TV producer with a shock of white hair who created America's Funniest Home Videos in the late 1980s. His contentious relationship with YouTube began 16 years later: Here's what happened he explains I turned on the television, and CBS evening news said There's something new Its called YouTube and its a way to trade video and collect things and share it and we're going to show you what it does.' And they showed six clips and damned if three of them werent mine.

Di Bona called his lawyer, and the cease-and-desist chase was on. But it was his responsibility to search the site for pirated material and have it taken down. It was like playing Whack-A-Mole says Di Bona, "You know, whack the mole and six more would pop up, and those were my clips.

Consumers are more likely to rent DVD/Blu-ray discs than video games, but those who do spend more per month, according to a new report from ABI Research’s Technology Barometer. What the study also found, however, is that spending in one area does not necessarily cannibalize from other areas.

Among those who participate in these activities, the average monthly spend on games is $23. That compares to $16 for DVD/Blu-ray movies and TV shows, and $20 for Video on Demand. Monthly spend on movie theaters was the highest of the entertainment options, at $27, while restaurants eclipsed them all at $67.

The study also found that 51 percent of respondents reported playing online games, slightly more than the 45 percent who said they watched online video but less than the 66 percent who engage in social networking. These were all in roughly the same range as movie theater attendance (57 percent), DVD rentals (56 percent), and DVD purchases (55 percent).

“Connected CE devices, such as TVs and smart set-top boxes, also saw a significant increase in game play amongst respondents and, as more consumers enter the gaming market, the potential exists for incumbent players such as Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo to leverage new channels, like mobile and connected CE, and expand the market pie,” said senior analyst Michael Inouye. “This need not be a zero-sum game.DVD Review: The Adventures of Tintin

When a movie adaptation of a book hits the theater, fans are expected to wait a year or so for the sequel of the sequel novel. Kids getting out of a screening of The Hunger Games can’t run down to the videostore for Catching Fire. They could read the novel and imagine the upcoming film. But who wants to read for days when the movie is only going to last two hours? Those who got hooked on Steven Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin can see further adventures of the Belgian reporter and his little white dog right now without turning pages. The Adventures of Tintin: Season Two is an animated series that sticks rather closely to Herges original comics. Seven tales of action and excitement are ready to peel off the DVD set.

The Shooting Star starts off as merely an extra star in the Great Bear constellation. Tintin notices that the extra star is also growing larger. He goes to the local observatory to find out whats going on. Turns out its a meteor heading toward the Earth. Will the world survive The Broken Ear features a stolen museum piece that is mysteriously returned. Tintin discovers this is a replica. Who took it? The trail leads the reporter to the Republic of San Theodoros. He becomes yanked around in a military power struggle. “Tintin and the Picaros returns him to San Theodoros. he must save the opera singer Bianca Castafiore along with Thomson and Thompson. This one is startling because the formerly drunk Captain Haddock can no longer touch the booze. This was the last Tintin comic completed before Herges death.

King Ottokar’s Sceptre gets nasty when Tintin’s apartment gets a harsh makeover. He recovers a lost briefcase filled with royal seals and turns out mysterious men don’t appreciate his meddling nature.

Ultimately this leads to the suspicion that someone is looking to swipe the sceptre of King Ottokar IV. “Tintin in Tibet” brings in the Yeti. This is more of a travelogue as he, his dog Snowy and Captain Haddock climb the Himalayan mountains looking for a friend. They do have help from a local sherpa. But are they really a match for the Yeti Land of Black Gold” exposes trouble in the Middle East. Car engines are blowing up because the gas is bad. Tintin investigates by going to Khemed.almost takes Tintin Captain Haddock and Professor Calculus to Australia. Their travel plans get detoured when a pal offers them a flight on his experimental aircraft. The plane gets hijack. This is a rather scary episode since Tintin swears he’s dying at one point.