in 2000, when i was 17 and had a summer job, i started a project of a checklist of videos i wanted to rent (the oldest version archived is from a year into it at http://web.archive.org/web/20010412083543/http://howisya.tripod.com/film.html). i had disposable income and lived within walking distance from a hollywood video, where i always brought a printout of my list, and more importantly film went from something i might try to see to something that became works of art (or really notable entertainment) i needed to experience. my options expanded further a year later when i went to college and had access to the library with free video borrowing. then i didn't even have to spend money or walk that far to see a lot of classics and popular movies of yesteryear. with access, my tastes in film expanded not unlike my tastes in music expanded with internet access years earlier. when i graduated in 2005 and signed up for netflix, where i could rent pretty much anything with ease, it was game over. the only difference is i rarely ever rewatch old movies, i mostly watch things for the first time because there's so much i want to see.

i don't watch much tv for practical reasons, not because i disagree with all of you praising the quality of it these days.