Physical Media has been a huge topic recently, especially when it comes to the conversation of what it means to actually own something. For years, movie lovers have lauded physical media like DVD and Blu-ray because of the novelty of unique behind the scenes extras, steel boxes, and collectors editions alike. From unique cases and dust covers to hidden easter eggs you could only find in a DVD menu.
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Some DVDs like Terminator 2: Judgement Day, actually had secret codes you could enter that would unlock a whole new version of the film. VHS tapes themselves carry nostalgia but also come with the added benefit of getting versions of movies no one else might have! Like old Star Wars tapes that have the versions of the films BEFORE the infamous updates made by George Lucas.
Lately, the topic of physical media has been even more intense with Sony making the decision to stop all physical media production for PlayStation games as well as Rockstar choosing to make GTA 6 a digital release only. Sony has even made a statement claiming that technically paying for the digital media doesn’t mean you have actually purchased the game. In todays climate, physical media means no digital copy of something you paid for can ever be taken away from you. Like when you pay for an album online and the musician decides to remove their work from the streaming platform you use, or buying a movie on an online platform only for that platform to shutdown and your digital collection goes with it.
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Or the opposite. Millennials still remember U2 uploading their album onto our devices without our permission. It was free but come on, nobody should be forced to listen to U2.
When you buy a tape, a CD, a Blu-ray or hell even a LaserDisc, the content you paid for can’t just be snapped away by some digital Thanos. Lookin at you, HBO! Where did WestWorld go?!
El Paso has had a good handful of nerd friendly outlets that served as physical media hunting grounds but the newest spot to open up is changing the game. Rewind El Paso doesn’t just have an incredible variety of vintage physical media, they’re actually taking modern flicks and rewinding them into VHS tapes!
Sergio Olivas, owner of Rewind El Paso told me that he doesn’t support streaming services at all. He hasn’t purchased a subscription to any of them and chooses physical media over digital. Sergio told me he’s been building his collection for the last 5 years but has been a lover of physical media his whole life.
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Rewind El Paso is even going to be teaming up with a local artist to create unique cover art for the modern VHS films. Sergio stood at the main counter and behind him an impressive collection of LaserDiscs from the 80s including a stunning Japanese Star Wars.
In front of him were cut strips of film reels from classic flicks like Jurassic Park, Scarface, and Dumbo. The carpet beneath the passionate motion picture patrons evoked strong memories of the eclectic rug designs from back in the day. With wild vibrant colors that would glow like cosmic rainbows under a blacklight.
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Sergio is giving El Paso collectors a place to find what they’re looking for, but beyond that, he has created a space dedicated to film history. Physical media can’t be digitally altered and changed, Sergio is giving the past a place to run free and judging by the response of this opening week, it’s clear that El Paso is here for it.
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Rewind El Paso is located on the 2nd floor of El Nuevo Tiradero at 207 N. Stanton downtown. Go support local anytime between 12pm-6pm!
Rewind El Paso Has Everything From LaserDisc To Blu-ray
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