Xtra-Vision

This large XtraVision stock, for rental and sale, all the newly released blockbuster dvds, video games and chart topping albums. There’s a reasonable classics/​not newly released section in the back and a small world/​arty cinema section too. Another addition to the line up is DVD box sets of all the big TV shows with special weekly renting prices. They also stock a small selection of meteor phones and some random fancy electronic gizmos like the Sony reader-​ma-​bob and those silly non-​iPods mp3 players that no-​one likes.
The prices are a little steep but they do frequently have worthwhile special offers and deals. For example, there’s a decent second hand video games section but if you don’t buy it, drop it back on time becuase they absolutely cream you on late charges.
The staff are surprisingly well informed and enthusiastic about the films and dvds, particularly the North American manager who is always up for a chat about the new releases. That said, I think that for films plain and simple you’re always better off in Laser up in Ranelagh it will have a better selection at better value pretty much ten times out of ten.

Iraland’s big dvd rental chain has a store on my street. They always have plenty of new releases, and some exclusive releases. They also sell a lot of DVDs and games, as well as retailing consoles, phones, and other consumer electronics. The staff are amazing, especially the older guy (think he’s American or Canadian) who seems to have watched every movie ever produced and can always answer your questions. (‘I’m looking for the one where Dustin Hoffman plays the cop on a self-​destructive mission for revenge. Know it?’) Their catalog is slightly gappy though — find me another movie store that doesn’t have Forrest Gump or Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels! It only takes two minutes and a piece of ID to become a member, and they’ve just dropped their prices for weekly rentals down to € 2, so there’s no excuse not to have something to do on a rainy day (which in Dublin is a lot of days).