VHS? No problem!

[milwaukeedriver]

I haven't seen much writing in the forum concerning VHS tapes. I've only been around RiffTrax for about a week, but I've already watched Star Trek IV, X-Men, and the Fifth Element.  These were the only 3 movies in the catalogue that I owned, and they were all on VHS.  I tend to buy movies 2nd hand, and I tend to buy them for VHS (I mean, 2 bucks a pop.  C'mon.  I'm not paying $15 for a Star Trek IV DVD).

I've got a laptop, so I can set it down 10 feet from the TV and listen to its speakers as I watch the VCR-based entertainment system play the movie normally.

I haven't noticed any gross amounts of sinc problems or drift.  Yeah, I can't easily pause it, but if anything catastrophic ever happened and the movie or computer stopped, the Disembaudio voice cues seem just as comprehensive as starting the movie with the RiffTrax from the beginning.

Yeah.  So. . .VHS.  VHS-VCR A-OK.  If RiffTrax chooses movies based in-part on their likeliness to already be in people's libraries, I'm golden.

I was wondering if others have had similar good experiences, or if I should start stocking-up my supply of Crossroads and Cocktail DVDs?

[Bob M.]

Yeah, we did X-Men with a VHS tape and it worked perfectly... actually, it had zero drift, which we thought was kinda funny.

[MontyServo]

I think the VHS of Star Wars Episode One will provide problems with the rifftrax, since they used the DVD version to create the riffs.  The original VHS version of the movie is the theatrical version, while the DVD version has an extended Pod Race scene.

[starfighter]

  They've been saying all along that Ep.1 is 133 minutes on DVD.  My $0.50 VHS copy arrived today and it's also 133 minutes so I'm not anticipating any problems.
      Welcome, milwaukeedriver.  I've been on this from the start and have watched 9 of the movies on cheap VHS tapes with no drift problems.  If I am off a hair a light touch to FF or R puts it that much closer.  I do see one problem you must have had though, if you were watching Star Trek IV.  How long before you realized they were riffing on Star Trek V?

[Tarantulas]

I think this got brought up somewhere else as well.

I think the DVD and VHS tapes have different run times.

Did anyone verify this?

[milwaukeedriver]

I've been on this from the start and have watched 9 of the movies on cheap VHS tapes with no drift problems.

When I first found this site, I was stoked (because I'm a MST3K fan), but I also found myself second-guessing the purchase of those movies I only had on VHS.

The RifftTrax folks should totally push VHS more.  I mean, what if I come across an inheretance of noting but laserdiscs and betamaxes!?  If RiffTrax doesn't mention them I might not put 2 and 2 together! 

Huh.  Star Trek V, you say?  I WONDERED why Mike and Kevin never mentioned the whales. . . 

[Tarantulas]

When I first found this site, I was stoked (because I'm a MST3K fan), but I also found myself second-guessing the purchase of those movies I only had on VHS.

Don't buy when you can rent.

Also, welcome to the forum

[kodiakthejuggler]

The RifftTrax folks should totally push VHS more.

I hope you know that in a couple years you won't even be able to watch VHS tapes anymore!! Unless you keep your analog TV on hand, that is, but who would want to do that?? You'll be shunned by the masses. No one will like you!

VHS is dying faster than Farrah Fawcett at the William Shatner Roast!
Embrace the future!

[Tarantulas]

Who sells VHS tapes besides Wal-Mart? (not including mall chain stores)

I found the other thread discussing this..

http://rifftrax.com/smf/index.php?topic=593.0

It was over in the new EP1 board...

[milwaukeedriver]

Who sells VHS tapes besides Wal-Mart? (not including mall chain stores)

Pawnshops, baby! 10 for $10.  Cheaper than Blockbuster.

[starfighter]

   If I have to pause the tape for more of that stupid pod race sequence, so be it.  .50 for the tape is cheaper than a rental and I don't have to return it.  You can't always get them that cheap, but eBay, half.com, Amazon and Half-Price Books usually have that option available. Then I can save my DVD purchases for things like the Justice League Unlimited set instead of bad movies, and I have a hunch I'll still be using my VCR when people start having to buy HD-DVDs to replace their old DVDs once they decide what format will become the new version of BetaMax.  I've gone through enough of this with vinyl records, cassettes, 8-tracks and CDs to go along with my departed RCA CED collection.

[CailtyssRulien]

For the record...

Star Wars Episode I doesn't work with VHS. The DVD contains some extended scenes (it appears) becasue on the VHS, they start making riffs at things that are just not there (Someone had mentioned before that the DVD contained an extended podrace introduction, well it appears that the VHS is the version shown in theaters) I also noticed that the movie would be 20 to 30 seconds ahead in a couple spots, and had to stop and go find the dvd (i hated I so much that i never bought the dvd)

[gammer]

Who sells VHS tapes besides Wal-Mart? (not including mall chain stores)

Pawnshops, baby! 10 for $10.  Cheaper than Blockbuster.

Neat idea. I'm tempted to go to a pawn shop to see what other *gems* they might have in VHS.

[Tarantulas]

But at the end of the day, it's still VHS

I've done everything I can to try and move away from tape... but yeah, it's hard, especially with older movies.

[Cambot]

VHS 4-EVA!!

No, but seriously, I have this chain of used book stores near me that still sell tons of VHS. They're between $1.98 to $2.98 a pop. I watched the following Rifftrax on VHS

Star Trev V
Cocktail
Crossroads
Halloween
Top Gun
Point Break

And it works perfectly.