FLICKS FILM AND VIDEO FILE : Store Wars : The first critique is in. A local video-rental business is checked out for its various characteristics.

What makes one video store different from another? Is it cost? Is it video selection? How about snacks? Maybe its decor? It is any number of things, really. The problem is, it’s hard to find time to check out every local outlet to compare all of these characteristics.

That’s why we’re here. This week we begin a series of previews of local video-rental businesses. Much as our past movie theater reviews, these critiques will take into account the various factors that make one’s video renting an enjoyable, fruitful activity.

The first store on our long list is the Video Super Shop at 3461 Saviers Road in Oxnard:

* Location: The store is situated in a shopping center next to a hair-design business and a health-food store. Talk about one-stop shopping. Parking is plentiful and there is a sign at the entrance to the lot, which makes it clear that the video store is actually in there.

* Selection: There is quite a variety of movie categories from which to chose. In addition to the adventure, comedy and drama departments, there are also sections devoted to musicals/classics, Spanish-language and adult videos. There is also a nice collection of “Kid Vids.” And, although it’s not labeled as such, the store has a mini-collection of outdoor videos--the “National Geographic Video” series, the “Adventures of the Wilderness Family” series and “Lorne Greene’s New Wilderness” series.

* Decor: The walls are covered with posters of old and new films and entertainers. In fact, old and new are so well-integrated that the wall to the right of the entrance features Roy Rogers and Trigger next to Janet Jackson and Young MC.

* Food: A nice selection of candy and some beef jerky-type product.

* Special features: Certain videos are affixed with “Mature” and “We recommend” stickers. And many videos have the movie’s rating (PG, R) attached to the front, for quick reference. Just to the right of the entrance is an easy-to-read board listing newly released videos and those soon to be released.

* Pick of the week: As at most video stores, this one has some videos that can’t be found just anywhere. Our favorite: “The Best of Jimmy Swaggert.” This 1985 video features the evangelist singing ten spiritual songs. The video was next to the Marilyn Monroe collection.

* Rental cost: Most recent big hits, such as “Silence of the Lambs” and “Dances with Wolves,” are $3.99 for two nights. Other new releases are $3 for two nights (some also are available at $2.50 for one day). Movies in the classical, musical or kid-video categories are $2 for two nights. There is a 50-cent discount for any movie rented Thursday and returned Saturday. Membership is free.

* Final comment: The store has a huge selection. The only problem is the filing system--it’s not always alphabetical, so some movies are difficult to find.

Ventura County’s recent sunny weather might make it difficult to think about skiing, but that’s what people will be doing at the Ventura Theater Sunday. Warren Miller’s “Born to Ski,” his latest annual ski film, will be shown at 7 and 9 p.m. And when a Miller film is shown, it’s an event.

A quote from a skier early in the film sums up the prevailing spirit: “I wasn’t born to ski. I was born to work, but I got laid off.”

This time around Miller and crew visited Colorado and Utah, as well as Switzerland, Canada, Yugoslavia, Japan and Chile. They shot various styles of snow-skiing as well as in-line skating, windsurfing and bungee-jumping. Admission is $6 in advance, $7 at the door.

On Sunday the Ojai Film Society will present the 1990 Italian movie “Daddy Nostalgia.” It stars Dirk Bogarde as a dying man and Jane Birkin as his daughter, who, although she’s never gotten along with her father, rushes to his bedside on this occasion. This story looks at how she tries to resolve the relationship. The film will be shown at the Ojai Playhouse, 145 E. Ojai Ave., beginning at 4:30 p.m. Admission is $6.