That's Rentertainment Logo
516 E John Street, Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 384-0977

Urbana-Champaign's Best Independent DVD Rental store
(locally owned and operated since 1985)


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Welcome Film Lovers...
Hello and welcome to That's Rentertainment -- the last locally owned and operated video store in the Champaign-Urbana / University of Illinois area. That's Rentertainment caters to film fans (and fanatics) who have grown tired of the typical Blockbuster fare. We specialize in international, independent, classic American and Art House films on DVD (with a handful of VHS tapes left over that have never been released on DVD). With over 36,000 DVDs and close to 1,700 BluRay discs, That’s Rentertainment has the largest selection of movies in the entire Champaign-Urbana area -- if not all of Illinois. We get new movies every week -- if you want to be kept up to date about them sign up for our weekly e-mail update or check out our New Arrivals page. Membership is free (requiring only 2 photo IDs, or an ID and credit card) and rentals can be as cheap as $1.00 per disc, so come on down and check out what you've been missing!
That's Rentertainment, Champaign, IL
This Week's New Release Message
Harry Brown
OSS-117
Red Riding Trilogy

International film dominates the new release wall this week. From the UK we have "Harry Brown" (w/Michael Caine and Emily Mortimer), from France comes the 2nd in the OSS-117 series, "OSS-117: Lost in Rio" (w/Jean Dujardin), and, again from the UK, we have "Red Riding Trilogy" (dir: Julian Jarrold, James Marsh, and Anand Tucker). Also of note this week we got "I Need That Record! The Death (or Possible Survival) of the Independent Record Store", "Carmen and Geoffrey" (a documentary about Carmen de Lavallade, dancer/choreographer, and her husband Geoffrey Holder, a choreographer/set and costume designer/painter), and "Leonard Cohen: Bird on a Wire".

If you've been in the store lately you may have noticed here's been a bit of a changing of the guard behind the counter. Gone are Allison, Bronwyn, Leah, and Pat but picking up where they left off are Ben, Courtney, Darwin, and Erin. Say "hello" the next time you stop by.

This week's top renter list is "Top 10 Comedies":
1) INVENTION OF LYING, THE
2) SERIOUS MAN, A
3) 500 DAYS OF SUMMER
4) MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS, THE
5) HOT TUB TIME MACHINE
6) WHIP IT
7) BIG LEBOWSKI, THE
8) INFORMANT, THE
9) KICK-ASS
10) HANGOVER, THE
(a longer version of this list and more "Top 100" lists can be found here)

(for previous week's new releases click here)
Meet the Rentertarians...
Allyson  
Allyson 10 Movies I've seen over & over & over...
(August 24, 2010)
These are probably underestimated:
1) Total Recall (16)
2) Roman Holiday (20)
3) Goonies (30)
4) Princess Bride (28)
5) Adventures of Robin Hood (15)
6) Tommy Boy (10)
7) Anastasia (25)
8) Mulan (25)
9) Star Wars (IV,V,VI) (12)
10) Con Air (19)
(more employee fun here)
Renter News -- not all about film but all of interest...

Illinois Green Business Association Certifies That's Rentertainment as a Green Business!
With assistance from the Illinois Green Business Asociation, That's Rentertainment continues to implement as many energy saving, waste reducing and environmentally friendly practices as possible. After working with the IGBA for the past few months, we are pleased to be their 4th Certified Green Business in Champaign-Urbana (the first three businesses to be certified were the International Society of ArboricultureB. Lime, and Ippatsu Salon). You can read more about the process and what we do to reduce, reuse and recycle right here.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

The 2010 Parkland College Graphic Design Poster Project
Last year we were lucky enough to have John Havlik and Paul Young's Parkland College Graphic Design class use That's Rentertainment as a "client" in a poster creation project. We were even luckier this year because they asked us to do it again! Once again, I think they did a great job. Next time you are walking by or in the store, check 'em out. Or, you can see them right here on the inter-tubes: 2010 Posters and the 2009 Posters.
Classics

Introducing "The Itty Bitty Bike Shop"
If you've been in our store lately, you may have noticed what might very well be the smallest bike shop in the world (right now it's 2' x 2') sitting where the Pepsi machine used to sit. We call it the "Itty Bitty Bike Shop". It's got all the basics for your commuting needs: chain lube, inner tubes, lights, multi-tools, patch kits, some reflectors, tire levers, water bottles, and, of course, the ChampaignCountyBikes.org Urbana-Champaign Bike map. We've also got a pump (schrader and presta) in case you need some air. By the way, 10% of all sales will go to ChampaignCountyBikes.org and another 10% will go to The Bike Project in Urbana. Ride safely! (link)
Itty Bitty Bike Shop

What's up in the local world of cycling?
1) Are you a bicycle commuter, interested in becoming a bicycle commuter, or just love joining groups? Check out ChampaignCountyBikes.org -- tons of information (including routes and maps) and super nice folks.
2) The Priarie Cycle Club has started their spring rides. Check out their web site for more information.
3) We've got a Cycling in Film list posted and here's a bunch of links to other cycling related stuff
4) Next time you are at Renter pick up a "Watch for Bikes" t-shirt -- now in "don't hit me" neon green!!!
5) And, we've made it easier than ever to stay hydrated while riding with the official That's Rentertainment water bottle. Check 'em out here.

Cycling

Welcome "Urbana-Champaign Bike Ride!"...
We've started a new web site -- UCBikeRide.com! You'll find some route maps (and a few cue sheets), some local cycling links, and a Google group for setting up spur of the moment impromptu bike rides. Check it out, join the mailing list and get out on your bike... it's fun.
cornfields
Champaign County Bike Map
This week at the farmer's market, Champaign County Bikes held a press conference to announce the release of the all new Champaign-Urbana Area Bicycle Map. According to the good folks at CCB, "20,000 copies will be made available at local bike shops, fitness centers, other retailers, and public buildings throughout the communities. 10,000 copies will be distributed on the University of Illinois campus." Maps can picked up at various locations in Champaign-Urbana... including That's Rentertainment! (link)

Champaign-Urbana Area Bicycle Map


Essential Art House Films: 50 Years of Janus Films
A few years ago (2007) I decided to watch the entire Essential Art House box set -- one film per week in the order presented in the box, alphabetical chronological order. I wrote one paragraph reviews of each film as I watched them. If you want, you can read the reviews here.

Sign up for the That's Rentertainment mailing list!
Enter your e-mail address in the box below and hit "Submit" to start receiving the weekly That's Rentertainment New Arrivals (every Tuesday-ish) e-mail update of the new DVDs available for you to rent (sample updates can be seen here):
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NOTE #1: We will never ever give, sell or provide your e-mail address to anyone. It will only be used to send out the That's Rentertainment New Arrivals weekly update.
NOTE #2: If you have a spam blocker in place make sure <renter@rentertainment.com> is in your white list.

International video transfers and custom DVD creation. Click here.

International Video Transfers: That's Rentertainment can transfer your PAL VHS tapes and DVDs to NTSC video and DVD. We can also make DVDs from your home videos (VHS, 8mm or MiniDV). Click here for more information.


GIFT CERTIFICATES: Give the gift that shows you don't care enough to give it a whole lot of thought -- Gift certificates are NOW AVAILABLE! Buy one for a friend, send one to your kid or be selfish and just get it for yourself.

That's Rentertainment used to be the proud sponsor of...
Red Green Show Logo
we've stopped but you can still watch the Red Green Show on WILL-TV

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