It doesn't take an IMAX 3D showing to know that Toy Story 3 would be a summer blockbuster.It's bound to happen one way or another - with or without advanced technology.But this summer, in 2010 on June 18th, kids and grown ups alike will revel in what Disney-Pixar has put together as Woody and the gang once again find themselves in peril, trying to get home to Andy.The storyline is that Andy decides to keep one toy out - Woody - and intends on putting the others in the attic as keepsakes.But Andy's mom accidentally throws them in the trash, and they escape the dumpster by sneaking into a box bound for donations to Sunnyside Daycare Center.Trials and tribulations ensue as Woody tries to convince the gang that Andy didn't abandon them so that they'll want to try to return with him.A typical Toy Story movie wouldn't be complete without some sort of sinister plot, so you'll have to be in theaters on June 18th to see which person or toy tries to keep Woody and friends from returning home.The original script was completely different for the third installment of the Toy Story movies.It was supposed to be about the toys sending Buzz off to Taiwan to get repaired, but he winds up recalled instead.The IMAX 3D version of the movie ensures that this time, we'll get to see the characters come to life even more so than in the past.You get to see the same beloved character you've grown to know and love - Woody, Buzz, Jessie - and Mr.And Mrs.Potato Head among others.But this time, you're also going to get introduced to many new characters via the big screen - including Lots-o-Hugging-Bear, played by Ned Beatty, Stretch, voiced by Whoopie Goldberg, and American Idol finalist Lee Dewyze as Twitch.And before the movie comes out, be on the lookout for the video game version of Toy Story 3.It will be available on June 15th for the Wii, PlayStation 3, and XBox360 consoles.And the dastardly Zurg is back as a character that you can play.In addition to the video game launch, Mattel and Lego are set to release toys based on the film.You'll be able to find Lots-o-Huggin-Bear on store shelves - a pink, strawberry-scented plush bear.It's rumored that there will be a Mr.Potato Head whose pieces fly off if you talk too loud around him.Make sure you mark your calendar for June 18th and go see Toy Story 3 in 3D this summer - it's bound to be a blockbuster and you're guaranteed a good time, whether you're a child or an adult!

Movie Rental Comparison. Blockbuster vs.Netflix.Maybe it's just me, but I'm more old school when it comes to renting DVDs.I decided to give Netflix a try not too long ago, but I was kind of hesitant at first.The reason being is because when I want to watch a movie, I want to watch it now.I don't want to have to wait a day or two twiddling my thumbs waiting for a movie to arrive in my mailbox that I'm itching to see.To me, when it's time for Blockbuster to take on Netflix in the Movie Rental ring, I think Blockbuster video delivers the knockout blow.The reason I favor Blockbuster so much more than Netflix is because when I see a commercial advertising the newest DVD release of a movie I just have to see, I got to run to Blockbuster video, grab me a copy, not worry about late fees and return it once I'm done viewing it.Now I'm not dissing Netflix, because they do have a very cool premise to themselves.I like the fact that you get to keep the DVD for as long as you want, you just can't get another DVD until you return the one you already have.And I like the plans they have for certain amount of DVDs to rent at a given time.But I'm just not too crazy about 'mailing' back a DVD after watching it, then waiting for them to receive the DVD before I can get another one.With Blockbuster it's so simple. You got a craving to watch a movie, you call up Blockbuster to see if it has a copy, and odds are it does as it has the largest selection of DVDs anywhere compared to other video store chains locally, you pick the movie up, you keep it for as long as you want without worrying about late fees.It's the golden answer to my DVD viewing as far as I'm concerned.So I give Blockbuster the nod when it compares to Netflix.Even though Netflix doesn't sound half bad, nothing beats the local selection at my local Blockbuster.Netflix, go towel off, because you're not bad at all, but when it comes to facing Blockbuster, to me, you don't have a fighting chance.

Not to date myself or anything, but can anyone else remember going to the video store on a Friday or Saturday night? I'd wander the aisles and take a look at every movie on the "just released" rack in order to decide which one or two videos I was going to rent.Netflix and the Internet have pretty much killed the video store these days and so what's a video store product manager to do?(Streaming) Video Killed The Video Store.To be a video store product manager in the 1990s was the bomb! Everyone finally had a VCR in their house and the movie studios were cranking out movies, both new and old, on video tape left and right.Your only real problem was trying to get your stock level right so that you could meet the needs of most of your customers.Almost overnight everything changed.Those darn DVDs came along.Sure, you could start to replace the tapes in your stores with DVDs, but all of a sudden the product managers over at Netflix discovered that you could cheaply use the U.S.Postal mail to send DVDs to people's homes.Oh, oh - now your store was under threat.There was nothing on anyone's product manager job description that told how to handle this situation.As though things couldn't get even worse, they did.Since so many consumers now had high-speed internet service to their house, the Netflix product managers moved on to the next stage of their game. offering streaming video and making it so you didn't even have to wait by your mailbox anymore.Given all of these superior ways to get your hands on the latest and greatest videos, why would anyone still make the trek to the store and run the risk of incurring late fees? There are some people for whom a weekend video is still a spur-of-the-moment purchase.These last remaining people were vacuumed up when the product managers from Redbox placed their self-service DVD rental kiosks outside of 7-11′s and other stores.That's it, game over for the video stores.How Video Stores Are Being Reborn.But wait, all of the stores have not gone away.Sure, sure - the big chain ones like Blockbuster and Hollywood Video have been closing their doors left and right.However, a number of the independent video stores are still open for business.What have their product managers been doing?A number of the stores have changed the products that they offer to their customers.Some have started to offer events.Nicole LaPorte from the New York Times reports that these have included a film studies program, classes on anime mythology, lectures by filmmakers and spoken word events.Clearly, this isn't your father's Blockbuster store.What you're starting to see is that place that we used to go to rent video tapes is transforming itself into more of a community gathering place or a cultural hub for people who really like films.The store product managers are positioning their products to be different than Netflix which clearly has no soul. it is both nameless (who is sending me those videos?) and faceless (exactly where is Netflix located?).Video Store 2.0.All of this "connect with your customers" strategic management stuff is good short-term product manager positioning.However, what should video store product managers be doing in order to prepare for the long-term?Dr.Peter Fader is a very smart marketing professor at the University of Pennsylvania who thinks that he knows the answer.Here's the most important point that he makes. as easy as it would be to do, video stores that want to survive must not consider Netflix as an adversary.Netflix is just too easy to use and if you position them as the enemy, then you'll force your customers to choose and in the long run the video store will lose.Dr.Fader has a different suggestion.He believes that video stores should position themselves as an alternative to Netflix.Yes, when people want to watch the summer's latest action flick, they'll turn to Netflix.However, when they want a film that might not be in the mainstream, one that is a bit harder to find and which Netflix doesn't have, that's when the video store can step in.The video stores' current efforts to provide film based events at the store is another great way to supplement what their customers are getting from Netflix.Instead of thinking of video customers as having to pick either Netflix or the local video store, instead start to think of the video store as just being a part of a video watcher's portfolio of video information sources.This is the path to a video store's long-term success.What All Of This Means For You.As product managers we all seem to spend our time trying to figure out how we can make our products more successful.We scheme and plan ways to capture another 1% of market share.What we rarely spend any time thinking about is the very real possibility that one day our whole market might just vanish.Video stores had this happen to them with the arrival of Netflix and Redbox.The video stores that didn't adapt, are now gone.The ones that realized what was happening and who have transformed themselves are still here.In order to survive in the long run, these stores are going to have to create an entirely new market for themselves and find a way to coexist with the new video delivery services.Product managers should learn from this story that the game is never over even when your account manager or business development manager starts to panic.The rules might change, the players might change, and how we keep score may be done differently.However, as long as you have the ability to roll with the punches, your product can deal with almost any change that comes along and you'll emerge on the other side stronger and better for the adventure.Now put that on your product manager resume!

A Blockbuster movie cannot be mistaken.They really have something special, which is hard to say about other films that we are saddled with.A vast number of movie productions simply cannot be taken seriously, unless they show us something really meaningful.Nowadays that is so hard to find.People get bored with the stupid filmmakers, who are successfully trying to produce as silly movies as they actually can.Blockbuster movies are really a thrill to all movie fans.They are hard to find, especially if you are pretentious, but once you meet something that covers your requirements, you will enjoy it to the full.I saw " Mirror Mask" and fully enjoyed it.This was the last time that I tried for and succeeded in finding a really nice blockbuster.You may have less difficulty compared to mine, but it all depends on the genres you fall for.Where can one find a nice blockbuster movie and enjoy it in the serene atmosphere of their home? Well, probably, but you have to search really hard.There are some nice blockbusters for rent, which you can take from your local video store.The problem is that too many people are coming to that idea, especially on a Friday or Saturday night.If you really want to avoid crowds and get your favorite blockbuster movies on rent with no problems, you'd better try to hire them online.Internet offers you truly the possibility to find and hire everything your heart craves for.Use your computer skills to get in touch with the latest releases, by just borrowing them from the online stores you chose.Remember that Internet is the greatest tool, and it help you out with all kind of difficulty, it can find your blockbuster movies on the cheapest possible hire as well.