For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The action in this context would be the launch of the iTunes Movies, while the opposite reaction would be the retail stores' rejection of this concept.

Wal-Mart and Target have been crying foul over movie downloads appearing in the iTunes online store. According to them, this will open a whole new can of worms to the movie industry, especially if other studios join Disney in offering their movie downloads through iTunes.

Michael, over at Apple Gazette, thinks that it's not really the plight of the movie industry these retail stores are worried about, but more of their own. Apparently, they find this downloading technology to be a threat to their business. And why not? The iPod industry most certainly is a force to be reckoned with, given its broad market.

But is the iTunes Movies really a threat on Retail DVDs? Michael weighs the pros and cons.

Comparing the features of iTunes Movie and Retail DVD, it shows that the Retail DVD still has a much bigger edge than the downloadable counterpart. It has a higher video resolution, is compatible with widescreen presentation, and can be played in any DVD player in your home or car or DVD drive. Plus, there are special features included on most titles, while the iTunes Movie doesn't.

Apart from the accessibility of the products, where the iTunes Movie surges ahead since you can download and watch it almost instantly on your gadget without having to drive to the store and purchase, the only other thing that makes the downloadable movies a prettier option is the price. For US$ 12.95 to US$ 14.95, you can already download new releases. For the retail DVD, you'd need almost US$ 20 just so you can enjoy most new releases. But other than that, there certainly are no tell-tale signs as of yet of the retail DVD's apocalypse.

But beyond these considerations, really now, exactly how enjoyable would it be to watch a full-length movie on a 3-inch screen? Not so much, especially when you know you can watch the same thing, with much better quality, on your widescreen. So basically, for now, while the thought of being able to access movies on your iPod gives you that pizazz, it just doesn't seem attractively practical.

So, at the end of the day, should the retail DVD be threatened by iTunes Movies? The concern is understandable, but with all the foregoing analysis, the answer would have to be a no. Unless, of course, you think otherwise.