I doubt that either of these films will disappear for good anytime soon, but it's still strange seeing them unavailable just two decades creation. It's weird knowing something exists but being unable to see it, or unable to see it in a fuller format. You can find it available to rent, but only in 480p - it doesn't appear to have ever made the leap to HD, even though there ought to be an available film print to scan (The Library of Congress even has one preserved). Take Slacker, a progenitor of indie cinema that kicked off Richard Linklater's career. It seems weird that such a notable film could more-or-less disappear.Īnd then there are films that haven't received the upkeep they deserve. And while I'll be the first to admit that Chungking Express is not on the same tier as Star Wars, it's still well-known among movie nerds. I'd pay to rent or download it, but for whatever reason I can't - not a single service offers it. One movie I've wanted to rewatch for years, Chungking Express, is only available on DVD and Blu-ray, and the Blu-ray discs are out of print and currently selling used on Amazon for over $100. But often enough I find that not to be true, and with some notable titles, too. You'd think that streaming and digital distribution in general would mean that basically every movie ever made should be available online.

Download shadow of the blair witch