Mike’s Movies

As a former employee, I can tell you with authority that our demise had almost nothing to do with Netflix and Blockbuster and had everything to do with mismanagement. We did good business up until our very last day. So don’t wail about the Netflix tyranny just yet — places like the Video Underground, Movieworks, Hollywood Express and the Mike’s in Beacon Hill are all doing great because, as far as I know, their managers aren’t complete morons.

Mike’s used to be great, but it seems like the online and big-​name stores have eaten away so much at the indy store business that Mike’s just couldn’t make it through. Store on Tremont is going out of business — «Everything Must Go» signs are up and shelves getting cleaned out. R.I.P.

This place used to be the obvious go-​to spot for the South End to rent everything from gay porn and Jon Waters to old classics.
Well, we called up over Christmas to ask if they had a Jon Waters film in stock «Female Trouble». The clerk sounded half stoned and said «No, we don’t carry that at all.» «NO WAY» I told him. Please check the computer… tap.tap.tap. «Nope, never heard of it.»
Something tells me they have several copies of Grey’s Anatomy episodes and that ‘Ricky Bobby’ movie.
Just another business that’s gone to hell in the South End, completely forgetful of the customer bas who’s kept them alive over the years.

ETA ²⁄₀₈: this place is closing :(
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i love this place! their selection is fantastic, and although i miss hollywood express, i have to say their tv shows on dvd collection trumps hollywood’s any day. the first time i came here we were wandering around and i realized they had a whole nother level of PORN downstairs, so we started walking down there and the guys at the desk were like «we’re very proud of our porn selection.» i can see why because it’s basically another level of the regular store, just stuffed with porn of all kinds (well, probably not ALL kinds, but MOST kinds). i always find porn sections in video stores creepy though, and this was no exception, as an older guy literally in a trenchcoat was browsing, and i was afraid to look at him for fear he’d Take It Out or something.
but never mind that. this is an awesome video store, and highly recommended. plus, as far as i can tell, it’s the only one in the neighborhood, and i’ll die before i support netflix!

OK– I know this area and this store are not «kid oriented» but my God! Who’s idea was it to put Gay/​Lesbian section right in front of the family/​children section?! Is it that hard to put it somewhere else in the store? I have no problem with ‘em having those films, but really… if you are going to have a kids section, do us parents a favor and stash those films in another area! Otherwise, it’s a very cute, quaint movie store!

Why are there so many dudes named Mike that own shit in Boston? Mike’s City Diner, Mike’s Pastry, and Mike’s Movies.
I really love Mike’s Movies, though, for several reasons, in a nice list-​type structure:
— Oddly satisfying selection of films. I really enjoy looking at the employee’s picks (someone has The Cat from Outer Space– I really am going to rent that sometime and remember what it’s like to be 9).
— Cool employees (for the most part– there’s one dude that’s always got a frown– turn it upside down, buddy! It could be worse!). Most of them are perfectly happy to chat it up about movies/​music/​the bum outside on the corner. They are always super nice in there and I often get my late fees removed for no reason at all.
— It’s not Blockbuster.
— It’s within walking distance of my house.
— I’ve never looked downstairs, but I’m pretty sure that’s where they stock the porno.
Only bad thing: they don’t open till Noon on Sunday. This has screwed up all day movie watching plans more than once since I can’t seem to remember this little tidbit about them. Oh well. At least their employees get a little bit of sleepin’ in time.

Yeah, this video store is okay I guess. I mean, they have the original Weekend at Bernie’s on DVD, but not Weekend at Bernie’s 2. What’s up with that? Sometimes, when I am browsing catalog titles, DVDs are in these crazy cases with teeth on the side that prevent me from seeing the title of the film clearly. That’s lame.
I checked out the employee picks section, and this one dude, Dan, his picks totally suck. I don’t know who he is, but he should be ashamed to have such horrendous taste in films.

Here are the reasons I love Mike’s:
— They always have the new movies in. It’s like magic! I don’t know how they do it. (Well, okay, I have a guess. My guess is that all the yuppies who rent at Mike’s go straight to the foreign film section. I don’t think most of the South End is as into seeing «Mindhunters» as I am. But whatever, I still win.)
— The steps to the porno section are right at the front of the store, so when yuppies come out with their little tags indicating which volume of «Butt Love Fest» they want to rent, everyone totally sees them. It doesn’t take much to amuse me.
— One time I rented King Kong and returned it late, and later when the girl behind the counter told me I had a late fee I said, «Oh yeah… I’d just gotten out of surgery that day and I was so totally high, I completely forgot about it.» But I could tell by the look on her face that she’d missed the first part of my sentence — everything up until «I was so totally high.» So she stopped for a sec, looked at me quizzically, and then said, «Well, that’s a good excuse,» and cancelled my late fee. And that is totally awesome.

I love any movie rental place where the staff knows their stuff, and isn’t afraid to share. Okay maybe not quite any… not like when I lived by the Lower Haight in SF, and renting a movie meant having some bitter, chain-​smoking film-​school dropout verbally, visually, and viscerally scoff at my completely benign (but apparently not sufficiently obscure) film selections. Christ, it’s not like I was renting Biodome. But I digress — Mike’s has a great staff, and they’re ready and willing to give you friendly recommendations, like last time I was there: «Green Street Hooligans» and «City of God» (both excellent) and they took the initiative to save me from renting «Comedian» which I subconsciously thought might suck anyway. It’s that kind of customer-​TLC that separates Mike’s from a Blockbuster or Netflix. Nice work!

Great movies, friendly staff and good rental policy. Be sure to check out the various themed movie collectiong – the 420 «Smoke this with a Bud» is especially funny hehe. the only downside is that they close kinda early…

A nice change from all the big «blockbusters» out there… a small, independent store with a great selection of DVDs.

This place is awesome. Such a good selection. Of documentaries, tv shows, cult classics, lots of foreign, gay/​lesbian, and just plain movies. They have deals different days of the week, like Tuesdays it’s 2 for 1. ANd they are so friendly and helpful. Oh yeah, and there are pornos downstairs. Truly a dream video store.