IT'S REX MANNING DAAAAAAY!!!!

So I'm trawling the shelves at Alpha Video (the most kickass video store in the known universe... well, Adelaide, anyway) last week, looking for a sweet flick to watch with the fella when I happened across a rare treasure that shall become the stuff of legend - a six-dollar mint condition DVD of Empire Records. I greedily grabbed the hallowed plastic case and clutched it to my chest. After all, there were only four copies in the bargain bin, and at least two other completely disinterested patrons on the other side of the warehouse-sized space - I mean, who in their right mind wouldn't have tried to roll me for such a precious piece of nerdly film gold?

I can safely say that I have seen this movie more times than anyone should ever see a movie. Any movie. But Empire Records is one of those that combines sweet mid-90s nostalgia, a great soundtrack, adorably annoying characters and quite the most usable quotes of any film this side of The Big Lebowski.

It's been years since my first marathon exposure to the movie (I believe it was on constant play-rewind-play on our crappy VHS for at least a week), but none of it has escaped from my subconscious. I was horrified to discover I could quote just about the entire script from memory, from the shoplifter's pre-pubescent dummy spit ("My name's not fucking Warren!!!") to a full rendition of Rex Manning's 'Say No More, Mon Amour' (complete with puffy-shirted dance moves). It was something like meeting up with your high school friends, years down the track. It's great to see them, you've missed them like crazy and there's a lot to catch up on. But then you go over the same old stories a couple of times and you realise that you don't have anything in common any more, except the old music and the memories. And that's okay. I can always keep the DVD on the shelf, and watch it any time I'm feeling sentimental for the old days of flannel shirts and Coyote Shivers.

"Attention Rex Manning fans, to your left you will notice a shoplifter being chased by night manager, Lucas. This young man will be caught, deep fried in a vat of hot oil and served to our first hundred customers. Just another tasty treat from the gang at Empire Records!"