Das Boot

Not Viewed: DVD

I’ve been told by friends that this movie is really good. I’ve read comments on message boards that this movie is really good. I would love to see this movie. It’s a World War II tale about a German U-boat (“das boot” = “the boat,” in German). I’ve rented this movie twice from Blockbuster in the past couple of months, but had to return it, late, both times without having watched it.

As part of some kind of promotion that I signed up for a couple of years ago, I get monthly free rentals (non-new releases) from Blockbuster. I usually use these coupons to rent old movies I’ve already seen, years ago, but for two months now, I’ve used a coupon for this movie I haven’t seen.

Several weeks ago, Blockbuster in our area (their “test market”) went back to late fees. They reduced the cost of renting movies to around three bucks, and made all rentals for three days. I have come to absolutely hate this. Both times I rented Das Boot, I ended up getting tied up in stuff and couldn’t find the time to watch it in the three day period allowed. So I had to return the movie, a day late, unwatched.

Fortunately, because I used my coupon both times, renting it cost me nothing either time. But ironically, returning them a day late has cost me sixty-six cents both times. I won’t rent from a Blockbuster store again (even for free) if they keep the 3-day limit. I need a week to manage the time to watch a movie — especially this movie, that runs three and a half hours.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com