Why I Rent Movies Locally

I live in Canmore, AB, a small town of 12,000 people, full of local businesses and mountain charm. Fast internet is accessible to almost everybody and stream a video on Netflix or rent it on iTunes is easy peasy. So, why rent movies in a movie store? Avalanche Movie or, as my son calls it, The Popcorn Store, is not just another movie store. They are your ‘home movie connection’, as they state on their website. You know that feeling just your neighbourhood businesses can give you that you BELONG to a place? That they appreciate your business? I mean, they really appreciate your business?

Around a year ago, they almost closed when their rental space was requested and they had to move – in my opinion, to a better and more convenient location even if just a block or so from the older one.  Their price is the same as renting through iTunes BUT… you are helping a local company, local jobs and, of course, your community when you rent from them.

Visit the Avalanche is a weekly outing in my family. My son is in French Immersion at school so, during the week, he can watch movies in French and Avalanche will offer a good selection, something that you can’t find on Netflix, for example – You can find French movies with English subtitle, but not English movies translated to French.  You always have fresh popcorn and new movies to browse through. You rent three movies and the fourth is free, so we always have a stack of movies that we can keep for a week when we leave the store – Way more convenient than the 24 hours you have to finish once you start your iTunes rental movie!

The ‘Movies We Like’ is one of those things that may not work for everybody but it does work for me. We do have very similar taste and I can pick these movies with my eyes closed, knowing that they will be a good entertaining. This last weekend, I rented The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and I just loved it – the type of movie that makes you feel great. Check the trailer below:

Last year, a kids’ movie rental was Ian’s gift to his friends that came to his birthday party. I finally had a good feeling of giving back on a loot bag…