|
 |
Welcome Film Lovers... |
| Hello
and welcome to That's Rentertainment
-- the last locally owned and operated video store in the Champaign-Urbana
/ University of Illinois area. That's Rentertainment caters to film
fans (and fanatics) who have grown tired of the typical
Blockbuster fare. We specialize in international, independent, classic
American and Art House films on DVD (with a handful of VHS tapes
left over that have never been released on DVD). With almost 35,000 DVDs and over 1,000 BluRay discs, That’s Rentertainment has the largest selection
of movies in the entire Champaign-Urbana area -- if not all of Illinois.
We get new movies every week -- if you want to be kept up to date
about them sign up for our weekly e-mail
update or check out our New Arrivals
page. Membership is free (requiring
only 2 photo IDs, or an ID and credit card) and rentals can
be as cheap as $1.00 per disc, so come
on down and check out what you've been missing! |
 |
| This Week's New Release Message |
Sometime in early 2008 Adam Yauch (MCA of the Beastie Boys) started an indie film distribution company called Oscilloscope Laboratories (www.oscilloscope.net). Since then they have released almost a dozen films including "Dear Zachary", "Flow", and "Wendy and Lucy". We just got two more: "Gunnin' for that #1 Spot" (a documentary about eight high school basketball players hoping to make the NBA) and "Scott Walker: 30 Century Man" (a "rare glimpse into the creative world of the most enigmatic figure in rock history"). If you've enjoyed any of the other Oscilloscopes releases I would recommend either of these. If you're new to the game, I'd say these two are as good a place to start as any... even if you're not a big Beastie Boys fan.
Also new this week: the latest (last?) season of Canada's best TV show in years, "Corner Gas: Season 6", Henry Jaglom's "Deja Vu" (as seen at Ebertfest a few years ago), and Michel Gondry, Leos Carax, and Joon Ho Bong each direct a segment of "Tokyo!".
On BluRay we got Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow in "Two Lovers" and the above mentioned "Tokyo!" Otherwise, a few older releases: Bruce Lee in "Enter the Dragon" and Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" and "Inside Man".
Today the Illini 4000 for Cancer are in Sioux Falls, SD heading for Mitchell ("Mitchell!")where they will get a rest day. They are still reporting bad weather (either rain or hot) but hopefully they are getting the same break we just got (cool and beautiful). But, that westerly wind must be wreaking havoc on them. You can read the team's blogs, track their progress, and of course make donations on the Illini 4000 web-site (www.illini4000.org). |
(for previous week's new releases click here) |
Renter News -- not all about film but all of interest... |
Introducing "The Itty Bitty Bike Shop"
If you've been in our store lately, you may have noticed what might very well be the smallest bike shop in the world (right now it's 2' x 2') sitting where the Pepsi machine used to sit. We call it the "Itty Bitty Bike Shop". It's got all the basics for your commuting needs: chain lube, inner tubes, lights, multi-tools, patch kits, some reflectors, tire levers, water bottles, and, of course, the ChampaignCountyBikes.org Urbana-Champaign Bike map. We've also got a pump (schrader and presta) in case you need some air. By the way, 10% of all sales will go to ChampaignCountyBikes.org and another 10% will go to The Bike Project in Urbana. Ride safely! (link) |
 |
|
What's up in the local world of cycling?
1) Are you a bicycle commuter, interested in becoming a bicycle commuter, or just love joining groups? Check out ChampaignCountyBikes.org -- tons of information (including routes and maps) and super nice folks.
2) The Priarie Cycle Club has started their spring rides. Check out their web site for more information.
3) We've got a Cycling in Film list posted and here's a bunch of links to other cycling related stuff
4) Next time you are at Renter pick up a "Watch for Bikes" t-shirt -- now in "don't hit me" neon green!!!
5) And, we've made it easier than ever to stay hydrated while riding with the official That's Rentertainment water bottle. Check 'em out here. |
|
Welcome "Urbana-Champaign Bike Ride!"...
We've started a new web site -- UCBikeRide.com! You'll find some route maps (and a few cue sheets), some local cycling links, and a Google group for setting up spur of the moment impromptu bike rides. Check it out, join the mailing list and get out on your bike... it's fun. |
 |
Champaign County Bike Map
This week at the farmer's market, Champaign County Bikes held a press conference to announce the release of the all new Champaign-Urbana Area Bicycle Map. According to the good folks at CCB, "20,000 copies will be made available at local bike shops, fitness centers, other retailers, and public buildings throughout the communities. 10,000 copies will be distributed on the University of Illinois campus." Maps can picked up at various locations in Champaign-Urbana... including That's Rentertainment! (link) |
|
|
High Definition at Rentertainment...
As always, That's Rentertainment is an early adopter -- even when it comes to format wars that can't be won. We started buying HD and BluRay discs when they came out. We have since ditched the HD format and are now buying all the BluRay we can and now have almost 1,000 available to rent. That's more than anyone else in Urbana-Champaign -- in fact, it's probably more than everyone else combined! And we get more every week... |
|
|
Parkland Poster Project finally hung...
Paul Young and I have discussed the idea of having one of his Parkland College design classes design posters for That's Rentertainment. They had to be cool and deal with local not-for-profits, environmental causes or social issues (or be somewhat general movie related posters). Of course, the semester we finally decide to do it, Paul wasn't teaching. Luckily, John Havlik offered to have his class take on the assignment. (more) |
 |
|
Essential
Art House Films: 50 Years of Janus Films
Last year (2007) I decided to watch the entire Essential
Art House box set -- one film per week in the order presented
in the box, alphabetical chronological order. I wrote
one paragraph reviews of each film as I watched them. If you want, you can read the reviews here. |
|
|
|
|
Sign up for the That's
Rentertainment mailing list!
Enter your e-mail address in the box below and hit "Submit"
to start receiving the weekly That's Rentertainment New Arrivals
(every Tuesday-ish) e-mail update of the new DVDs
available for you to rent (sample updates can be seen
here): |
| |
NOTE
#1: We will never ever give, sell or provide your
e-mail address to anyone. It will only be used to send out
the That's Rentertainment New Arrivals weekly update.
NOTE #2: If you have a spam blocker in place
make sure <renter@rentertainment.com> is in your white
list. |
|
|
International
Video Transfers: That's Rentertainment can transfer your
PAL VHS tapes and DVDs to NTSC video and DVD. We can also make DVDs from your home videos (VHS, 8mm or MiniDV). Click here
for more information. |
|
| GIFT
CERTIFICATES: Give the gift that shows you don't care enough
to give it a whole lot of thought -- Gift certificates are NOW
AVAILABLE! Buy one for a friend, send one to your kid or be
selfish and just get it for yourself. |
|
That's
Rentertainment used to be the proud sponsor of...
we've stopped but you can still watch the Red Green Show on WILL-TV |
|
|
|
|
|
