It’s so tempting to purchase DVDs these days, with the average price of them coming down as the average movie ticket price conversely skyrockets. Sometimes, though, after that initial viewing, you end up with the equivalent of a $20 coaster, as it is merely serving to bookend the more popular films in your catalogue.

Well, here are a few ideas to add a little something to your DVDs that are not on the "Extras" menu: Movie Drinking Games. These are just a smattering of cinema staples that may be found in your cabinet, or at the local video store, that will help you attain a greater appreciation for the subtleties and complexities of modern movies.

Oh, yeah, and it will get you drunk.

The drinks can be of your choice, and be as creative as possible (a Sex on the Beach, perhaps, for The Little Mermaid, a glass of mead for Lord of the Rings, etc). If you want to keep things relatively mild, take turns with a group and designate who will drink during each specific time.

Kids, don’t try this at home.

The first few are fresh from the good folks at mygayweb.com:

Die Hard: Bruce Willis’ big-screen breakout rejuvenated the action film genre and spawned a slew of lesser imitators. Accept no substitute (including the sequels). Willis plays a nails-tough NYC cop out to whoop some Eurotrash tail after they seize a skyscraper with his wife inside.

When to drink:
• Every time someone swears.
• Every time John McLean fires his gun (his real gun, fellas)
• Every time something breaks (window, table, chair)
• Every time you see a police car.

Dude Where’s My Car: What better way to follow Bruce Willis big break than by the screen gem from his ex-wife’s current boy toy, Ashton Kutcher? The homoerotic tension between him and best bud Sean William Scott is palpable.

When to drink:
• Whenever the word "dude" is said.
• Whenever the word "sweet" is said.
• Whenever the phrase "and then" is said

Pretty Woman: Viewing this, Julia Roberts’ modern-day Pygmalion story, as a drinking game may be the only way to find this film amusing after all these years.

When to drink:
• Every time Edward Lewis is on the phone
• Every time Vivian laughs
• Every time Vivian is in her underwear/naked (take 2 drinks)
• Every time Kit says the "f" word (take 2 drinks)

The Fellowship of the Rings: For all you fantasy geeks out there (myself included), sitting through the extended, director’s cut of the film may cause minor couch chaffing. To alleviate that, here are some ways to make the time fly by. Just as the film itself is complex, the game surrounding it comes with its own set of rules.

Rules: optionally have a drink every time someone else points out one of these suggested occurances:

Cinematography Events
1. Someone/something says "precious"
2. The party passes through (or makes camp in) some ruins
3. Someone spots a major difference between the book and the movie (Tom Bombadil’s scene, Saruman’s involvement...)
4. Someone spots a "new scene"
5. Certain hobbits provide comic relief
6. Gandalf says something while glaring through his eyebrows
7. Anyone (Sam) acts in a sexually ambiguous fashion
8. Someone gets all CGI in a dramatic moment (Gandalf, Bilbo, Galadriel)
9. Hobbits look scared or are overcome

Chasing Amy:  Director Kevin Smith posted drinking games to his own film on his site, viewaskew.com. Here are a few suggestions to enhance your next viewing of perhaps his greatest film.

When to drink:

One drink when...
• Someone says the word "lesbian".
• A character tells a story that involves a flashback.
• A character drinks (any beverage).
• A character is seen smoking a cigarette (have 2 drinks if you see them light the cigarette).

Two drinks when...

• Alyssa cries (4 drinks if actual tears are seen).
• Banky makes a homophobic comment.
• A character drinks Pete’s Wicked Ale.
• An actor or actress from a previous Kevin Smith movie appears onscreen (not including Holden, Alyssa, or Banky).

Three drinks when...

• Brian O’Hallaran is onscreen. If you don’t know who Brian is, drink 6.
• A character bashes the Hartford Whalers.
• Jay and Silent Bob appear.
• The Pete’s Wicked Ale logo appears onscreen, but no one is drinking it.
• Holden cries.

Special cases

• When Banky declares, "Bring on the free hooch!," say the phrase along with him or pay the price: 5 big ones. An excellent punishment for rookies.

And finally, what could be more wholesome than creating a drinking game to a Disney cartoon? That’s right, not even the Magic Kingdom is safe from this form of entertainment.

The Little Mermaid: No need to feel crabby about this drinking game, everyone has a special porpoise. The object is to select one of the main characters in the movie and drink according to the following rules:

Ariel: Her hair does something funky underwater (as a heroine, she’s rather bland, so there are no real quirks about her. If you select her, this is the best you can do).

Triton: Does/says something determinedly parental; uses his triton; gets mad about contact with the human world

Sebastian: Loses his cool; does something funky with that lip of his; says "Ariel" in that awesome accent

Flounder: Acts like a guppy; anytime he spins around in a circle

Eric: Does something really naive; has a bonding moment with the dog; plays that flute of his

Grimesby: Does something pompous; tries to convince Eric to forget "the dream girl"

Ursula: Laughs demonically; puts on makeup

Someone sings

A human object gets misused/misnamed

You see the priest’s little, how should I say it...altar boy?

Cheers!