Remember when you were a kid and going out to rent a movie was an experience you treasured? Well, it can be again if you know where to look. Right here in Ottawa you can find a number of video stores that will bring back that nostalgic sense of movie-watching-as-an-event that you just can’t get with the click of a mouse. These aren’t the chain stores of renting nightmares past: each of these is a fixture of the community, held down by people who know what they’re doing and who do it well.
1. Glebe Video International (779 Bank Street, Floor 2)
This is the first video store I ever visited after moving here to study film. Located on the second floor of a building on Bank Street, it’s a tucked-away treasure trove of classics and foreign films. If you’re interested in the history of cinema, this is the place to go. A great selection of hard-to-find (or pricey to order) box-set collections makes it the ideal place for students and film buffs alike: with DVDs ranging from early-cinema classics, to hard-to-find newsreel clips and early documentaries, it’s the best place to get a feel for film history. They also feature a broad selection of foreign DVDs arranged by country and easy-to-navigate sections for specific genres or well-known directors. If you’re lucky enough to still own a VCR, they also have an extensive VHS collection that vastly extends their available catalogue and really brings back those childhood memories.
2. Elgin Street Video (258 Elgin Street)
When I moved to Centretown and started exploring the neighbourhood, I immediately fell in love with Elgin Street Video. The friendly and talkative staff create an incredible sense of community and it’s by far my favourite destination when I’m jonesing for an intelligent and engaging discussion about film. Even if you’re not really a film buff, the staff here quickly make you feel like a ‘regular’ in that Cheers kind of way – which is fitting considering the fact they have the best downtown collection of TV series for rent. Ranging from ‘classics’ like Dr. Who and Dallas, all the way up to modern favourites like Boardwalk Empire and the latest BBC version of Sherlock Holmes, the TV-series DVDs are offered as a two-for-one deal and they also have a reward program that earns you a free rental every 12 visits. With an extensive collection of documentaries and a highly-recommended section that has yet to steer me wrong, believe me when I say you’ll fill the reward card fast! A good rotation of new-releases are also available, though only as one-night rentals. While most of the videos are on DVD, they do offer a selection of titles on Blu-Ray for those of you who might be in the market.
3. Invisible Cinema (319 Lisgar Street, Floor 2)
Hardly invisible, this entrance brings to mind the phrase ‘it does what it says on the box’. The brightly coloured mural of the storefront is reminiscent of a dream, and emerging from a set of stairs into this second level location is truly like entering a world rooted in the surreal. Invisible Cinema hosts, by far, the most eclectic collection of movies you’ll ever find. It’s the home for every imaginable genre, sub-genre, and sub-sub-sub (ad infinitum) genre under the sun. If you can imagine it existing, chances are it’s available here. Drive-in classics, Blaxploitation, Kaidan (folkloric Japanese horror), revenge films; they have it all! Even if you don’t go in wanting to rent a movie, it’s worth the experience just to browse the aisles (though I bet you come away with a membership and a handful of films). While it does host a selection of new releases, and the usual division of sections by director or country, it’s the awe-inspiring sub genres that really make it worth the visit. Anything ‘B-movie’ (think laughable excess, not unfortunate Jerry Seinfeld) can be found here. If you’re looking for something in particular that’s not on the shelves, they’re happy to order it for you to purchase.
4. Movies ‘N Stuff (1781 Kilborn Avenue)
Don’t let the cute name fool you: these folks know what they’re doing. As always, the staff is great and they’re fully capable of steering anyone in the right direction, from casual film consumers to avid connoisseurs. They always feature hot new releases but also impressively feature a huge catalogue of titles (over 7000 and counting) that range from the hard-to-find obscurities to well-known classics. They offer their older catalogue at a cheaper rate than new releases, but the ‘new’ titles cycle through fast enough that a modicum of patience pays off when releases get bumped to the catalogue shelf. The store’s outside of my normal haunt, but the website piqued my interest: it drew me in and once I stepped inside I became a member. Designed by Andrew Phillips, you can browse through their inventory of older films, new releases, staff picks and everything else by genre/category. Plus, there are links to actually watch the trailers! Movies ‘N Stuff isn’t on my way home each day, but the website means that anytime I go I can be assured that I know they’ll have exactly what I’m in the mood for that night. Well worth the 5-10 minute detour from my front door!
On a final note I’d just like to say that ALL of these film places are worthy of their longevity. You can always call to inquire about specific titles, and if something isn’t available on-site they’ll help direct you to a place where you can get what you need. Combine that with the friendly atmospheres and the joy of discovering new film experiences just by browsing the aisles: these in-town stores definitely trump the internet hands-down, no questions asked.
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