Captain America and Borders

[kybearfuzz]

Tonight I went to see Captain America: First Avenger with Brian (cincycub). We caught the 2D version, which was fine. The movie is really great. It seems to capture the 1940's pretty well and Chris Evans does a grand (and buff) job as Steve Rogers. How they got him to look so puny in the beginning was amazing! Great action and special effects. There is an extra scene at the end. I highly recommend it.

On the way home I stopped in Crestview Hills for ice cream and walked down to Borders. I missed the store closing by seven minutes.

The news that the bookstore chain was closing all locations was depressing. I have always loved bookstores, even as a kid I used to go in them and dream of buying whatever I wanted. As an adult, I still love going into bookstores, rarely passing up a chance to go into one. I remember how thrilled I was that a Borders was opening a location so close to my house a few years ago.

Borders really is a cornerstone of the shopping area and I think a lot of folks enjoy hanging out there. I myself remember sitting in the coffee shop there last October working on Bear Patrol #3. Besides buying books, magazines and sketchbooks there, I often spent time scoping out the local bear population, which often was pretty plentiful.

So the idea of it closing is just sad. When I stopped in there yesterday, the sales clerk at the register even said that she's seen more customers crying about the closing than the employees. There still is a month or so left I hear. My only curiosity is going to be whatever they put in its place.

Comments

[mort-83.livejournal.com]

I want to see Capt America. I'm so glad that the nailed that era. I always like the WWII era.

It is sad about Borders. I too, love bookstores. We have a fair amount of used book stores here, I haven't been in one in a while, but I love looking through the stacks-never know what you'll find.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

We have a few used book stores here too, including a chain called "Half Price Books," which is always fun to go looking through. However, none of them are set up for hanging out like Borders.

[itzgid.livejournal.com]

This puts me in mind of "you've got mail," when the big chain store put the small time operation out business. I watched the same thing happen in NYC when Borders opened on the upper west side and Murder, Ink (a small indy place) closed. Somehow I can't quite feel sorry for them -- except for the folks who'll be out of a job.

[bruinwi.livejournal.com]

I saw Capt. America this afternoon as well. I thought is was rather clever how they managed to meld two Marvel titles (Capt.A and the Howling Commandos) into the story line. I was equally pleased at how they got a Hollywood glamor boy (Neal McDonough) to pass as the massive Dum Dum Dugan; but hey, if they can make Chris Evans look scrawny, they can make a slender man look muscular.

You're not the only one to miss Borders. They closed one on the west side this spring, and now the one on the east side will close, as well.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

I noticed that they never referred to Dugan and boys as "The Howling Commandos," but I knew exactly who they were when Dugan showed his mug and that bowler hat. I loved the movie because I could pick things like that out, things that the non-comic book person at the movie would miss.

[bruinwi.livejournal.com]

This is why I could not nudge my partner in the ribs and whisper, "Oh, my God...that's Dum Dum Dugan!" He'd think I was insane....er.

[jccub1.livejournal.com]

Fantastic to hear...Cap Am isn't out here until next week and I'm chomping at the bit to see it :D Huge hugs handsome

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Very sad! I'm not sure how long Barnes & Noble will be around either. I can't remember how long it's been since I bought a DVD or CD in either store. It's hard to justify buying books either, as I can get them much cheaper on amazon.com. (Plus, Barnes & Noble keeps books on the shelves as new for months after I've already purchased and read them)

Borders and Barnes & Noble pushed out the independent booksellers and now amazon's done the same. I still love browsing in bookstores, savoring the experience of holding a book in my hands. I'm not a good candidate for a Kindle or Nook ... It feels like a betrayal.

Let's hope something nice comes in, so that the empty store isn't an eyesore.

HUGS!

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

It seems that B & N are hanging in there for the long haul. I was reading a Yahoo News article about where Borders went wrong. The analyst quoted in the story said that Borders really messed up when they handed over their internet sales fulfillment to Amazon, because they would handle all the e-books, which is generally the direction they believe bookstores are going. B & N seems to be okay there because of their e-book products.

My buddy Brian was here overnight on Thursday and we had discussed this. Both of us are still very hands-on when it comes to books and prefer ours on paper. I feel like we are going to be a minority someday.

Very sad. Hugs back!

[dewittar.livejournal.com]

I am heartsick over the loss of bookstores. I used to live my life in them. When I was here in grad school Boston seemed to be bookstore central-- they were everywhere. Now they are all gone. What's left are used bookstores which are not at all the same thing for me.

Bookstores helped me to expand my horizons and boundaries just by browsing. I remember taking hours and hours to walk through a bookstore. I had to go through every section to see what caught my eye.

Browsing Amazon is not at all the same thing.

Sadness.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

I think I felt the sting of the vanishing independents when Lambda Rising, the big gay bookstore in DC's DuPont Circle, closed down a couple of years ago. I was heartbroken as it was one of the regular places I visited without fail whenever work sent me to DC.

And you're correct, browsing Amazon is not at all the same thing. Boo...

[prisonbitch.livejournal.com]

some of the Borders are being bought by books-a-million. but i don't think any of the ones around here are. borders also owned all the waldens & b daltons. so they're closing too.

And with Eastgate Borders closing, I can't think of another bookstore on this side of town. So, I'll have to go to Newport and pay to park, or hit Joesph-Beth or the Kenwood B&N. Or just give up and shop amazon like everybody else...

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if Books-A-Million would work out here, but I wouldn't mind having them. They're not Borders, but I'd take it.

[prisonbitch.livejournal.com]

oh, and i almost opted for the 2d captain america because many 3d movies i've seen recently had no real benefit in 3d, but there were some good 3d elements in the captain america.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

We opted to skip the 3D for Captain America too. Lately movie makers have filmed everything in 3D, but not really put anything into the movies to make you remember it's 3D, except the credits.