On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Category: Videos and Video Game Rental [Edit]
3010 El Cerrito Plaza"In the six years I lived in the Mid-Atlantic region of the east coast, I never once ran into a music store anywhere close to this.…" read more »
Let me preface this by saying that I used to work at an independent small-chain video store on the East Coast (back in the days when laser discs were new). That said, Silver Screen is the best of what the West Coast is in terms of physical video stores where you can go and browse for hours (and I've to balk at all of the people who complain about this place not having a great selection of indepedent or foreign films. These people just aren't looking hard enough--can you find "The Calamari Wrestler" or "Tears of the Black Tiger" at Blockbuster? They're found when you look past the 500 copies of Twilight and {insert insipid popular mainstream movie title here}.) I've also read a couple of complaints about the people who work there, but you know what? If you just talk to them, they'll talk back. And when I mean talk to them, I don't mean be an ass and complain to them about everything and everything, because NO one likes a complainer.
Oh, that reminds me. One night when I was renting there was this woman there; a young, pregnant woman who was there with her friend trying to decide what to rent. She was talking to the kid across the counter about comedies and said amongst the giggles of her equally flighty friend, "Ya, someone here told me to rent "Lars and the Real Girl" and OMG, it was HORRIBLE! SO horrible! THAT person knew nothing about comedy! But I'm renting [What Happens in Vegas], with Cameron Diaz this time. Can't go wrong with Cameron Diaz, right?"
Honestly, that girl deserved a huge slap. She was so dumb that she didn't even register that I was staring at her, jaw-dropped. But seeing that I HAVE worked at a video store before like the poor kids who work there now, I understand that THIS is your common video renter--intellectually stunted and needing the kind of brain-fart candy filler that Hollywood craps out every year.
ANYWAY, their film and television DVD selection is top-notch. I could spend hours browsing through any section and would find *something* of interest. If it's not there, I ask, and if they don't have it, they can order it. Earlier this year when they decided to get rid of their Sunday through Wednesday "Get Two for Two" rental special that I would take advantage of every Tuesday or so, they received so many complaints that they brought it back, so they obviously listen to customer feedback. "Two for Two" is a great deal and if you do go every week (like I did for a very long time until recently), you can fill up your "Rent 10, Get 1 Free" Frequent Rental Card pretty quickly (the total cost for four movies through 2-4-2 is around $8, which is a great deal). This Silver Screen is also in a fantastically convenient area in the strip-mall-like El Cerrito Plaza, where you can get all of your weekly shopping done AND rent your entertainment all at once (and I believe that Silver Screen is SO good that it's probably the reason the video rental within its neighboring Albertson's/Lucky's failed miserably). Their staff, while seemingly surly at first, are actually very cool and very knowledgable about films, and they are VERY helpful and courteous; they will hold the movies that I want to re-rent up at the desk while I continue my shopping (and sometimes I get done very late, so it's very nice that they're open until 10 PM). I've been there so often that I'm known to them as Brown Hat Guy (because I wear a brown fedora all the time), which is all good (of late I've been horrible with names so I refer to one of the workers there as Ballcap Guy, since he always seems to wear a different unique 5950-type ballcap each time I see him).
I do agree with others who have said that their video game selection is lacking. But I don't believe that any video store SHOULD have a game section to begin with (far too much hassle, too expensive, renting systems is bull, too)...and I developed that belief when I had to rent out games and systems myself and games would come back REALLY messed up or systems would be broken. The people who rent films vs. the people who rent games are different creatures altogether and sometimes--often times--don't belong in the same room. And that's why, despite their deficiency in this area, I can give Silver Screen a strong 5-star rating.
(Okay, there's one other complaint, but it's not enough to warrant taking away any stars either: These guys seriously need to organize their foreign film section alphabetically AND by country/language. I would gladly volunteer to do this for them. SERIOUSLY--because I have worked in a video store before, I have the experience and because I have all the time in the world, I would be very glad to just sit there and organize and even make the labels for them. Please guys, do this favor for me--it's one of the main reasons why going through your foreign films gives me a headache and I often don't bother, even though there is a HUGE selection of them and I would love to watch every single one.)
This is a very well-organized video rental place. There are movies and video games to rent there. You can also purchase from a selection of new and old inexpensive videos. Unlike other video stores, the workers are hardworking, fun and very friendly.
This is the Creme-De-La-Crop!
A dying breed. Considering its size (a smallish store), its selection of movies is magnificent. Why they maintain a little porn room, I don't know, but why not, they have everything else. Staff is helpful and there are many benefits to membership (listed in other reviews). I wish I could go more, but my Roku does not cooperate. I don't know about the video game selection, but who cares, video games are for children and the feeble minded.
PROS
+Great prices on a wide variety of titles, $3/title esp. new ones
+Abundunt quantity with new titles and usually 5 day rental leased
+LATE CHARGES @ only a dollar or two a day
+Used DVD's at $9.95
+Frequent buyer program (every 11th DVD rental is free)
+4 for the price of 2 Sun to Wed
+Friendly and helpful staff
+CONVENIENT LOCATION
+Closes @ 10pm most nights
CONS
-Indie selection could be better even though they have them here
-Video game section is real limited esp. with 5 day rentals your favorite title is most likely gone by week's end
Yes, I have Netflix.
But I'm instant gratification in human form, so I came here last night for Escapism NOW. That's like Serenity NOW, only better.
The selection is good, as they seem to have most everything that I want to see. Only once, when I went in to get the Big Lebowski, they didn't have it and said their copy was missing. There are times when if you need to see the Big Lebowski, nothing else will do. But thankfully last night they had the escapism I needed via "Weeds." Good show, btw, if you haven't seen it.
Silver Screen charges $1 if I don't turn in my DVD on time. What am I saying "if." Silver Screen charges me $1 when I don't return my DVD on time. The charge is entirely reasonable, although it does little to curb the scofflaw in me. When they are allowed to electric shock me, I might move a little faster. *might*
How could I forget to mention that they sell used DVD's for $9.95 or 4 for $24? Today I got a great deal-- for 24 bucks I got 2 used copies of "Juno" (one for me, one for a friend), a copy of "27 Dresses" and a copy of "Enchanted?' That's 6 dollars a piece---best deal in town!
I'm in "Chick Flick Heaven" or as my hubby and son would put it, they're in "Chick Flick HELL."
I've always found the staff to be friendly and helpful
We have been going to Silver Screen for at least 15 years. This includes its original location in EC… Read more »
Love this place. I will never go back to any of the corporate chain video stores as long as I have this one in my neighborhood.
I love their Sunday-Monday special - 4 movie rentals for the price of 2. There's I think another special, 3 rentals for 9.99 or so, Tues-Thurs. Who does that anymore? No store, whatsoever!
Staff is very young, sometimes not too nice, but I'm forgiving since they have a better selection than any corporate video store I've been in.
Store has 2 entrances - plaza store side, and Fairmount street side.
Parking can be bad on the side of the plaza with all the other stores around, but I always find a spot on the Fairmount side!
When I had just graduated college, I applied for a job at Silver Screen. I choose to believe they didn't hire me because I was a flight risk, but that didn't make me love them any less.
I always find something interesting, and they usually are bound to have some obsure title I'm looking for. I come here between Netflix rentals. They don't always have the very lastest release in stock due to popularity and demand, but that just gives me an excuse to watch an indie flick I've been meaning to see.
One time my roommate and I had a movie marathon (because who can watch FOUR movies in 2 days???) and it was the most memorable marathon due to its weirdness. We watched Ed Wood, Punch Drunk Love, and The Hours back to back and we felt really really strange.
Regular DVD rentals are $3.99; new releases $4.99. They have a special where you can get 10 rentals for $35, and so on.
The late fee is only $1 a day, $2 for newer titles.
One section I find really helpful is the Employee Favorites section. I can spot movies that I like and check out new ones I haven't seen or forgot I wanted to see.
Coming here just makes me happy. My account is on a phone number I gave up four years ago, so I feel like I step into that time of my life again when I come here.
imagine a smaller version of Reel video, but with a killer porn section. could use more horror / exploitation films though....staff is ok, but they always seem like they're laughing to themselves if you ask for help finding a film in the horror genre. if it was'nt for my free rentals at Reel i'd frequent this place more often. maybe i'll go rent some porn lol
First I should mention that I'm a cheap bitch.
Second I should also mention that I don't do netflix because I don't watch enough movies and I'm a cheap bitch. Knowing these two things, here is the list of reasons why I dig Silver Screen.
-I'm a big fan of any place that gives you a frequent buyer card. If I rent 10 DVDs, the 11th is free. That just makes me feel special.
-If you rent 2 DVDs (I think it's Sunday through Thursday), they will give you two DVD's for free. Who does that shit? It's great if you're renting the whole season of 24.
-On the off chance (or maybe not so off) that I return a DVD late, they will often waive the late fee for me.
-They might have every popular TV series on DVD as well.
-The staff is always friendly and helpful, no real attitude here.
-They also have an "extra" room that houses movies and DVDs that don't belong out where kids can see them. I didn't even think video stores like that existed anymore...
So overall, Silver Screen video is a great place to rent if you're not looking for something too obscure and you don't want to drive out to Reel in Berkeley.
It's all about fulfilling expectations, and so I'm a realist. I don't have delusions about expecting Silver Screen to be the best ever DVD rental joint I've come across . . . but all things considered, this establishment delivers what I expect, which is NOT the best indie collection in the East Bay. Instead, I am thankful for the comparatively reasonable late fee charges: $1 for older movies per day and $2 for newer movies per day. This completely beats out Blockbuster where one is charged the original rental fee per late day. So, in line with Blockbuster, the most apt competitor, they give much more value. Additionally, the folks here are nice and always willing to help. I always find what I want in the new release section minus the softcore porn so prevalent at Blockbuster that I could really do without- it's like, "oh, what's this?" and then, "wait a minute, that's some lame ass softcore porn video mixed in with new releases". LAME (no offense to y'all who are actually looking for that shit- to each an ice cream cone).
Thanks Silver Screen for being close, cool and on the ball!
Cool local video store with a great selection. You can save A LOT of $$$ by prepaying for movies which comes out to about $3 per movie, then you can get 4 movies for the price of 2 Sun-Wed. So basically it's about $1.50 per movie. A steal even for the most frugal among us. This is partially why I don't use netflix because on a whim I can walk down the street and handpick DVDs for a very reasonable price. I've found the employees to be really nice. Plus I've heard they have a huge adult section although I never use it.
These guys have a good selection and almost always have new relesases in stock,I know there not as cheap as blockbuster or net flix ,but do you really want to support those mega corparations ther the reason we dont have many choices of small independant shops
Unfortunately, even the supposed cancellation of "Arrested Development" by Fox doesn't clear enough space on my rigorous TV-watching schedule to take full advantage of Netflix. (Yes, I know that Netflix has commercial-free TV shows on DVD, but I need instant gratification.) So when I have long weekends with no plans, I resort to renting DVDs at this local shop. While the selection is decent, this is not the place to find something super obscure; it's really just your typical neighborhood video store. The staff here isn't the most friendly bunch--definitely not the kind of semi-charming, know-it-all hostility displayed by the Jack Black character in "High Fidelity". The girl at the counter couldn't stop counting her precious comic books long enough to ring me up or put on a goddamn smile. I get a sense that a lot of the kids who work here give off the "this is my summer job" vibe and they don't really care or know much about movies. Which is too bad because just because a video store is in a mall it doesn't mean it needs to be devoid of all character. On Sundays through Wednesdays, they have a rent two and get two movies free deal. The rentals are almost $4 per movie (ouch) so I plan ahead and get four one week rental movies on Wednesday and keep 'em through the weekend.
Neighborhood: Lower Hills
Category: Videos and Video Game Rental
Albany, CA
Category: Videos and Video Game Rental
Berkeley, CA
Category: Videos and Video Game Rental
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
Everyone hates hearing about the "C" word...I did…
Loading...
