DVD's are a funny thing aren't they? I tell ya, one minute you're thinking you've got this technology sussed, the next you're wondering how society would let you own one without a licence. Sheesh. Have had it for a month or so now and although not totally familiar with all the bells and whistles, can quite confidently fill you in on the following.

There are some beautiful things about the world of DVD, the one I love the most is not having to rewind anything before you return it. Massive plus, especially when you hire as many as we do. Also is the scene selection function, so if you don't want to watch the rest of the flick now, you don't have to worry about someone else coming along and rewinding or going forward and losing your place. Then of course there are the technological benefits like an amazing picture quality (even on my crappy old screen) and the sound can be truly magnificent when set up right. And lets not forget the extras that many titles have; behind-the-scenes docmentaries, extra scenes, interviews, theatrical trailers, all top stuff.

BUT...have you ever taken home a brand new release from the vid shop, gotten through about 20 minutes and it gets to a good bit, then freezes? For no apparant reason? After you take it out to look at it, someone has obviously pretended this is a volvo and run their key down the side of it. You can lose whole sections of a flick because of it. Classic example was (and there are many now) Minority Report, got to that fight scene on the side of the building and totally froze up, and again after cleaning it. Closer inspection revealed that this thing wasn't just shipped in from another city/state, it was literally dropped from 35000 as the postal plane flew over. And I was the second person to hire it? No video would ever do that. And you can't just hit the tracking button. We lost that whole scene, right up to where he's driving along the road and his car goes into lockdown.

Another little crotch robber with DVD's is the legal disclaimer at the beginning. Have you got what you paid for? I have never ever EVER watched one, EVER...until I watched a DVD. You can't skip to the menu, you can't fast forward it, its the most painful 10-15 seconds (sometimes longer dammit!!!) in my daily schedule. It should be banned! Also, its a bit of a letdown, though makes perfect sense, that there are no previews. Ooooohhhhh. How will I know what to get next time? What do I have to look forward to in the coming weeks to be released? I dare say there is good to come from this devilishness however, that being that without previews, I can pick up anything I don't recognise on the shelf and go "never heard of it, I'll give it a shot", no preconceptions.

You gotta love DVD.

BH