Rocket Video

 

3

17

Quilty K.

Los Angeles, CA

Nowadays with Netflix and Blockbuster, one would think that video rental spots like this little number would stock more fringe stuff yet to be put on DVD.  But they don't.  They're just as complacent with having their piddling selection of "Mondo" films define the entirety of their range.  They show initial promise by giving a good stab at categorizing films by directors, for instance, but in the end, only shows just how little they carry.  

My advice to those with internet connections is download or stream films through itunes, amazon, or netflix it.  The era of local video spots has ended, and Rocket Video, as one of the last standing bastions of this scene, just proved it to me.  It's expensive and their selection relies just a wee bit heavily on the Criterion Collection.  Yes, we get it.  Someone needs to tell them that their "bootlegs" can be legally had by distributors such as Milestone films or Canyon Cinema.  For the cineaste who craves a bit more than the newest Wes Anderson on DVD, look elsewhere.

Oh yeah, their rates are also steeper than a gorge.

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0

14

Joshua D.

Los Angeles, CA

This place has decent selection for one of those indy cinephiliac stores.  but the late fees are murder.  

I asked them why theyre so brutal with the late fees and they said that business was slow....  DUH.  maybe if they werent so evil with the late fees theyd have more customers.

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0

5

Mark M.

Los Angeles, CA

Any store that has videos organized by director deserves 5 stars. These guys are the best and I went for the lifelong membership. All I can hope is that my job does not take me away from los angeles for at least a couple of years.

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Elite '08

72

126

Kellee S.

Venice, CA

I like how Rocket Video smells. Like it's seen things. It's a video store that spent last night getting messed up at Chateau Marmont with Francis Ford Coppola and Sidney Lumet only to end up at The Standard doing lines with Barzog and Patty Smith and waxed poetic into the early hours of the morning somewhere in Malibu with Peter Finch and William Holden. Then it dragged itself out of bed after only a couple of hours rest to bring you the best movies you didn't even know existed, the ones that remind you that films can be wonderful, powerful, and enchanting.

It's a video store that makes me believe video stores will survive Netflix and digital distrbution because of it's obscure collections and EXTREMELY knowledgeable film-loving employees.

Some of my best movie nights at my old apartment in Hollywood involved walking down to Rockets and asking someone behind the desk, "Can you recommend something strange and wonderful to us tonight?"

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Elite '08

11

86

Gretchen H.

Los Angeles, CA

The selection here is rockin! The attitude is great (except for this one guy who doesn't even seem to smile.....or talk....hm.....)! Nice location except for the fact that Pink's wafts through the air..

Although the store size was recently cut, the stock wasn't, so it's a bit crowded. The giant TV in the back is fun to get a wide variety of movies, the Rescue signs for kitties and doggies is nice....it's just a nice down to earth kind of place.

Do try Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, and their vast selection of cheesy horror, and even small budget movies that you can rent for free with a paid rental - spread the love! :)

If they don't have it, you can usually request that it be ordered and *poof!* there it is! It's great!

And as a side note - You can bring your pets in! Kitties and doggies alike!

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Elite '08

2167

1796

stephy s.

San Francisco, CA

Say it's Saturday afternoon and your brain is fried from the work week. You could lay in bed and flip aimlessly through the channels or watch 3 games of football at once or maybe watch some porn or just go to your local Blockbuster and get the latest and greatest blockbuster movie flying off shelves now.

OR

You could take a trip down movie memory lane and come here and stroll the aisles filled with videotapes (For those of you who aren't old enough to remember those, they are the things that don't look like CD's and they have actual tape in them) of foreign films and hard to find classics and rarities.

What I also love about this store is that it has a heart to it and you can tell this by the attention they give to their organization of movies. They have sections of films that go beyond A through Z, comedy, foreign, suspense, etc. Instead they also have things broken up by directors so you can stumble upon films you never knew existed or totally spaced on. Example: What's Up Tiger Lily by Woody Allen. Awesome film by the way!

As a one slight negative and loss of a star, I will say they aren't the most hands on helpful, unless you go up and ask directly, but hey, I worked in a video store in college and I used to think I was too cool for school and judged people and thought their taste sucked too, so I won't hold it against them.

What I will say is, they are great at calling you when you accidentally stick a tape that no one should ever see from your um, uh, personal collection and not laughing at you when you come in to pick it up and hand back their copy.

Whoopsie :)

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Elite '08

103

254

andy s.

Park La Brea, CA

No big box video chain can shake the majesty that is Rocket Video! If you love movies to the point of giving everyone a migraine (like me), then WELCOME HOME.

Rocket has popular films, they have rare films, nu, you want rare, I rented "Our Man In Havana" six months before TCM woke up from their coma and finally aired it. You want rare, boychick, they have mod rock-opera "Privilege" starring supermodel Jean Shrimpton. They also have "Hellzapoppin" starring Olsen and Johnson, boyeeee.

The staff are friendly, helpful and have zero attitude, no movie is too uncool for them, whether it's a Martin Lawrence comedy or an obscure Ozu classic on Criterion, IT'S ALL GOOD.

There's a little corner there with a widescreen monitor and at least 20 chairs and you can sit there all day and watch whatever eye-gouge they feel like screening that day, and they show everything from "Spinal Tap" to Johnny Godard.

Thursday night they have guests that stop by to talk and autograph anything you give them. Past guests have been Sid & Marty Krofft, John Phillip Law (Diabolik/Pygar from "Barbarella") and my fave, Jack Larson aka Jimmy Olsen from the "Adventures of Superman" TV show. I like the fact that Superman's pal was played by a gay man, but then who else would cozy up to the "Man of Steel"?

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Elite '08

11

35

Dan O.

Los Angeles, CA

If you're looking for some obscure flick by some French director the girl you have a crush on is really into, Rocket will have it. Or if they don't, they used to but someone lost it and it's on order. I love to just stroll the aisles - there's so much to look at. Bottom line is that they have everything from blockbuster, mainstream dvds to the obscure and rare and wonderful. They also often have in-store presentations involving directors, cast, and crew of interesting films of old. All in all, they live and breathe films at Rocket Video.

Minus a star for short rental period, thus the potential for hefty late fees for us procrastinating bastids.

Oh, and if you don't know where Rocket is, the next time you're standing in line at Pinks, look across the street and to your left.

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1

2

Brendon S.

CA

When Robert Altman passed away it occurred to me just how few of his films I've seen. I can only recall seeing The Player (a great movie) and Dr. T and the Women (a not so great movie). Once this embarrassing realization hit I immediately set out for Blockbuster. Unfortunately Blockbuster only had two Altman films: The Player and Dr. T and the Women. Thanks Blockbuster, that's not the first time you've let me down and it probably won't be the last ( the first time was when they decided to only carry the R rated version of Requiem for a Dream instead of the unrated version that played in theaters).

Thankfully Rocket Video was there to help me out. All of the great directors get there own shelf here. So its very easy to find to works of say David Lynch just by going to his section. Certain movie stars also get there own space, so if you looking for a Buster Keaton film your in luck. It's a pretty good selection too. You can find just about anything here.

On the downside, all rentals are only for two days. There is also a membership fee ($60 for lifetime, $30 for 1 year). So if your not the type who rents obscure films then you might as well use the cheaper and longer Blockbuster.

Oh and one day a week (I think its WED.) you can get some free popcorn with your rental. Granted the popcorn is cold (at least mine was) but its free (YAY).

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