Incredible bargain on "Grindhouse" DVDs

When Raste and I went to see the "Grindhouse" double feature last year we had an absolute blast.  "Planet Terror" and "Death Proof" are both fantastic movies separately, but when watched back-to-back in a real movie theater with all the fake movie trailers in between it was an entertainment experience that I don't think will ever be surpassed.  If you didn't get a chance to go see these films in the theater, (and odds are that you didn't since they were about as popular as a fat chick at a frat party) then I urge you to at least rent them, especially "Planet Terror".

I was very interested in picking these films up on DVD, but when they were released they were kind of expensive at $20 each.  Hey, I liked the movies, but I was looking for some kind of package deal.  Since I've had a Netflix membership for nearly 6 years, I find it very hard to buy DVDs unless I can get them on the cheap.  But I still really wanted them, especially since both DVDs were supposed to be extended cuts that included the "missing scenes" from the theatrical releases.  (Note about the "missing scenes":  In keeping with the "Grindhouse" theme, both Tarantino and Rodriquez cut the best parts of the "steamy" scenes from their films.  This was their homage to the time honored practice of theater projectionists cutting the best "skin" sections out of movies and then splicing them together into their own "highlight reels".  A cool idea, but a bit frustrating when you can tell that this hot chick is just about to get wild and then the film suddenly cuts forward about 5 minutes.)  So I've been keeping an eye on both of these movies and hoping for a price cut.  Today I got my wish.

My office building is located right next to a Super Target (big ole store like Wal-Mart or K-Mart for those of you unfortunate enough not to have experienced the shopping nirvana that is a Super Target) and I go there about once a week to grab a sandwich from the deli and then just walk around to blow off some steam and sift aimlessly through the clearance racks.  After finishing up a delectable grilled Cuban sandwich, I started my normal rounds of the store.  I always save the electronics department for last since it is closest to the exit anyway.  And on the last display I walked past were a bunch of DVDs on sale for just $10, among them the extended 2-disc editions of "Planet Terror" and "Death Proof".  "Oh hells yeah!", I thought, "Get in my BUGGY!!"  And as I picked them up to get a closer look and make sure that they hadn't been put on the wrong rack by mistake I noticed something else, there was a special offer sticker on the "Planet Terror" DVD.  The sticker said that there would be a coupon inside the case for $5 off of "Death Proof".  Holy shit could this get any better!?!?  As it turns out, yes it could…

So I went through the line and bought "Planet Terror" for $10.90 including tax.  Then I walked outside, opened the DVD and retrieved the coupon.  Oops.  The damn thing said the offer expired on 12/31/2007.  Oh well, $10 is still a good deal, right?  I went back in the store to buy "Death Proof" and I figured I would still try to use the coupon.  Sometimes those things will work after the expiration date, but I didn't have very high hopes for it.  To my surprise it worked just fine and I scored my copy of "Death Proof" for just $5.90.  WOOT!  Maybe this is payback for all the rotten luck I had last week.  I left the store with a smile on my face, feeling like I had finally had a chance to get one over on the system.  But little did I know, things would soon get EVEN BETTER…

When I got back to the office I decided to open my copy of "Death Proof", just for grins.  And what do you think was inside?  If you guessed a $5 off coupon for the movie "Planet Terror", then give your nuts a good scratching because you deserve it for being such a smart cookie.  (If you are a chick and you guessed right, then you may scratch my nuts as a reward.  Just be careful with the nails.)  So now I can go back to Target and buy another copy of "Planet Terror" for just $5.90 and then return it unopened using the receipt from the first copy that I bought for $10.90.  (Did you follow that? 'Cause my head hurts…)  When all is said and done, I will have picked up both movies for a grand total of just $11.80 with tax included.

I am a bargain hunting FOOL and this kind of stuff just totally geeks me out.  I don't know if anybody else would be willing to go through this much trouble just to save $10, but I sure as hell will.  It probably wouldn't have been worth it if I had to drive across town or something, since gas is $3 per gallon.  But the Target is within walking distance of my office, so it worked like a charm for me.  If anybody out there reading this gets inspired by my foolishness and decides to try this out, let me know how it turns out for you.  Happy hunting!