The Pact Is Over!

Yes my friends, Doc and I have gone one year without paying for movies. That means, we didn't buy DVD's, go to the theater, or rent movies on our dime for 365 days. Woo-hoo! We did it!



There have been many times of weakness, especially in the beginning. Doc and I are both huge impulse movie buyers and that seems to be cured. I think, spending idle moments flipping through our DVD storage books, and seeing how many CRAP movies we have has turned on a light, at least for me. I will probably never buy a DVD on impulse again. I don't ever want to be stuck, broke, and bored, looking for a movie and being faced with a Lee Marvin retrospective. No thank you!



Not seeing movies at the theater wasn't as big of a challenge. Face it, we're broke, so going to the movies is a real luxury and a rarity even without the pact. But these are the movies we bravely missed this past year:

• Night at the Museum
• DaVinci Code
• Superman Returns
• Casino Royale (ouch...still haven't seen it but it tops Doc's list of must-haves)
• Click
• Borat
• The Devil Wears Prada (I got this from the library yesterday...)
• Dreamgirls
• The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
• Eragon
• You Me and Dupree
• Rocky Balboa
• The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
• Little Miss Sunshine
• Final Destination 3
• The Queen
• The Lake House (Phew, dodged this bullet!)
• Man of the Year
• Snakes on a Plane
• Clerks II
• Letters from Iwo Jima
  

No big loss, in hindsight, wouldn't you agree?

Movies we did see, through the kindness of others or for free:

• The Last Mimzy
• Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest
• Cars
• Talledega Nights
• Jackass: Number II
• V for Vendetta
• Curious George
• Me, Eloise
• Veggie Tales: Moe and the Big Exit
• MST3K Escape 2000

As you can see, a majority are kids movies, but overall, these were movies I enjoyed and don't regret seeing. I am looking forward to the summer blockbusters as well as seeing smaller films in an actual theater. But it will probably still be a rare occaision for the time being, what with the babysitting and financial situation being what they are.

This pact has had quite an effect on me personally. It helped me to realize what a compulsive buyer I am. I now consider most every purchase carefully. I've actually started making gifts for people instead of buying them movies, which is much more cost effective, as well as creatively gratifying. Actually, I used to get quite a thrill going shopping. Now, I become aprehensive, almost overwhelmed when I go into a large store, like Target or Walmart. I don't want to be swept away by the so-called "bargains" or "price roll-backs." Because, frankly, it all adds up, bargain priced or no. Now, I can go into Target and leave having only spent $20 instead of $200.

My pick as first movie to see now that the pact has expired? Hot Fuzz. See you at the movies!