Every once in a while when Im surfing netflix through my xbox I end up watching something I dont expect much from and end up thoroughly enjoying, like Moon for example. I know that plenty hatrackers use the service and thought it would be interesting to see what everyone could recomend, were all OSC fans so that should be a good base for quality of product we have all been known to enjoy.
Carriers starring Chris Pine (new Kirk) is about four people surviving a highly contagious disease ravaging the known world. It is not Resident Evil or Zombieland, I found it to be much more realistic in how they acted and reacted to the changing world.
District B13 is a French action film oozing with parkour instead of guns and kung fu. I think they are making a re-edited international version (dub it in english and re-state the story several times over so we can understand it) but the version offered is subbed in english. Oh yeah, just in case any has heard of this guy Luc Besson, hes the producer I guess. If you havent heard of parkour/free-running before this movie is a good introduction if a bit dramatic.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I watched Avatar the Last Airbender, Donnie Darko, Dexter and Dead Like Me.
Posted by Sa'eed (Member # 12368) on :
The Up series is pretty fantastic. Instead of watching all the installments I think it's okay to just watch one of the latter installments (as it includes flashbacks to earlier interviews.)
Arrested Development is on there. So is the first season of "Californication." The pilot is a riot.
[ September 19, 2010, 09:06 PM: Message edited by: Sa'eed ]
Posted by maui babe (Member # 1894) on :
I just noticed that all 7 seasons of Buffy are available streaming. I've enjoyed rewatching some of my favorites while I've been off work for a few days.
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
Yeah, me and my wife have been slowly making our way through Buffy. It's my first time, but mostly repeats for her.
Posted by Flying Fish (Member # 12032) on :
The Man From Earth, scripted by Jerome Bixby.
Very low-budget (in a good way), lots of familiar faces as the actors (but no big names). A college professor preparing to depart his job and town reveals to his close friends he is in reality an immortal caveman. Thought provoking and intelligent.
SF without cgi, explosions, or Transformers.
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
I am watching Heroes, Air Bender, and Pushing Daisies.
Netflix just added a bunch more mainstream/blockbuster movies with a deal they made with Epix.
Posted by BandoCommando (Member # 7746) on :
quote:Originally posted by AchillesHeel: Every once in a while when Im surfing netflix through my xbox I end up watching something I dont expect much from and end up thoroughly enjoying, like Moon for example. I know that plenty hatrackers use the service and thought it would be interesting to see what everyone could recomend, were all OSC fans so that should be a good base for quality of product we have all been known to enjoy.
Carriers starring Chris Pine (new Kirk) is about four people surviving a highly contagious disease ravaging the known world. It is not Resident Evil or Zombieland, I found it to be much more realistic in how they acted and reacted to the changing world.
District B13 is a French action film oozing with parkour instead of guns and kung fu. I think they are making a re-edited international version (dub it in english and re-state the story several times over so we can understand it) but the version offered is subbed in english. Oh yeah, just in case any has heard of this guy Luc Besson, hes the producer I guess. If you havent heard of parkour/free-running before this movie is a good introduction if a bit dramatic.
The star of District B13, David Belle, is widely credited as being the originator of the Parkour activity. I remember seeing a couple of YouTube videos of him back in 2004 or 2005 just doing his thing around Paris suburbs. One of them was dubbed over with Mario Bros. sound effects, which was pretty amusing, and that one can still be found. I remember another one that had an interview of him by what was probably a local news outlet, but I can't find that one anymore (maybe taken down for copyright reasons). It featured a number of spots that are also shown in the Mario movie, but in longer segments. Many of those locations can be found in District B13, then some of the exact moves are copied in the "Casino Royale" James Bond movie's opening chase scene.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
quote:Originally posted by Flying Fish: The Man From Earth, scripted by Jerome Bixby.
Very low-budget (in a good way), lots of familiar faces as the actors (but no big names). A college professor preparing to depart his job and town reveals to his close friends he is in reality an immortal caveman. Thought provoking and intelligent.
SF without cgi, explosions, or Transformers.
That was a great script. I love the reaction of everyone when he gets to the big "reveal." I love the whole discussion of how much he remembers from being a caveman.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I just watched Moon last night.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Its not streaming, but I just watched the first disc of Supernatural and put the entirety of the released series on my que at the top of the list. Episodic scifi\paranormal without gratuitous sexuality (Charmed) and super clean-cut story-line and sets (Sanctuary) Im actually happy that I ignored the show until now, now I get to shotgun five seasons of entertainment.
And, as the youngest of three boys I enjoy the banter shared so far by the sibling protagonists. Towards the end of the pilot they announce the emotional tone one should expect from the heroes with a bit dialogue, I am paraphrasing but its close.
"(dramatically) Hey, about what I said about Mom earlier... Im--" "Whoa. No chick-flick moments" "(amused) Jerk." "B####"
Like I said, I am the youngest of three brothers and appreciate art reflecting life.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Supernatural : Buffy :: California girl : redneck guy
Posted by 0Megabyte (Member # 8624) on :
Weirdly enough, in the last few days I've been watching various movies like Beetlejuice and Dune streaming. Also, lots of South Park.
Now, I'm finding lots of independent movies on here. This Film Has Not Been Rated was interesting, as an example!
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
It was good, that unrated movie.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
I used to do origami as a kid, and I used to be pretty proud of myself until I found Between the Folds on Netflix. It twisted my mind into pretzels. It's only about an hour, but it changed the way I look the whole of art, science, and their intersection.
Also, I just finished watching the first couple seasons of The Sarah Silverman Program. For some reason I thought it was kind of annoying when I caught it on TV, but I've seen every episode Netflix has to offer and I found them absolutely brilliant this time around. I don't know what drugs I was on the first time.
Posted by Flying Fish (Member # 12032) on :
Watched "Franklyn" last night. I recommend it.
The pace is kind of slow and deliberate, and for the first 30 minutes you will find yourself asking, "Okay, what's real and what isn't? And what do these three storylines have to do with each other?" And not everyone will like the ending.
But it does eventually resolve and tie everything in, and I wasn't disappointed. And visually, it has a nifty look, with some of the action taking place in a neat, surreal, fantasy city.
Posted by Destineer (Member # 821) on :
I had no idea Sarah Silverman was on NF Streaming! Thanks for mentioning that, Speed.
Veronica Mars seasons 1-2 are quite good.
They have pretty much every Sherlock Holmes adventure Jeremy Brett ever did.
Good movies I've seen on there recently: Body Heat Solaris In the Mood For Love Last Temptation of Christ Spartan
If anyone likes cop movies and hasn't seen Heat, check it out immediately.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
quote:Originally posted by Speed: I don't know what drugs I was on the first time.
Um...speed?
Posted by The Ether of Space (Member # 2656) on :
Lost Legend of the Seeker Arrested Development Aeon Flux
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
I was just thinking of this thread after I watched The Last Temptation of Christ, which was recently added to the Netflix streaming list.
I remember when it came out, hearing (from a bunch of people who'd never seen it) how it was the most evil, Satanic movie ever made. The controversy was so rampant that even now, 20+ years later, I was a little reluctant to watch it.
But I'm glad I did. Not only was it very well made, but it did a really good job of telling the story of Jesus' life, and highlighting the best aspects of Christianity. It's really too bad that the fundamentalist hype machine had its way with the film, and convinced so many people to avoid seeing such a lovely example of religious cinema.
Also, I just watched The Damned United after hearing about it on Fresh Air. It was made by the same director that did The King's Speech. It's loosely based on a true story that, in any other context, I probably wouldn't have given a damn about. But it's got such a cracking script, tight pacing and thrilling performances that it turned out to be a real delight. Highly recommended.
Posted by Destineer (Member # 821) on :
Last Temptation is a beautiful film. Might be Dafoe's best role, which is saying a lot.
Posted by Yebor1 (Member # 1380) on :
kids in the hall A little bit of fry and laurie Red dwarf- dont miss this one my favorite series (english or british) of all time. Dead like me
Posted by Yebor1 (Member # 1380) on :
oh and the first 36 episodes of the roboteck macross saga
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Its not streaming but I just now finished watching Sunshine directed by Danny Boyle (28 Days Later, Slumdog Millionaire.) Starting with the cast Cillian Murphy (Scarecrow in the new Batman movies) Michelle Yeoh (duh) Cliff Curtis (lotsa smaller parts, under-rated) and Chris Evans (Fantastic 4, Evil Ex #2, soon to be the new Captian America.) The sets are indistinguishable between real and CG, a soundtrack that really drives home that Danny Boyle will never have an excuse to use a bad soundtrack in what should be a long career.
The story (like Moon) is less about the scifi aspect and more about humans in that setting. In addition to the expected special features there are two short films that apperantly Boyle believed deserved some attention. Both are interesting if not outright odd, Dad's Dead is especially unique.
Posted by Yebor1 (Member # 1380) on :
The Tin Man----a great OZ mini series
Posted by Rawrain (Member # 12414) on :
I watched Duece Bigalow: Male Gigalo and that's the only one I remember XD
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Almost forgot, Survivors is a great BBC series about the few people to be immune to a flash disaster disease that kills ninety percent of the world in only a couple of days. They keep close to reality such as staying away from the cities because of disease, one woman responds that she had already had the sickness and survived and is reminded that millions of dead bodies have alot more "normal" ailments than they could protect against. Im not a BBCaholic so for me to praise a UK show is pretty rare.
Posted by Darth_Mauve (Member # 4709) on :
In the early 80's I think, James Garner came out with an update to "Maverick". It was fun and cute and on Netflix--until Saturday. Then it disappeared off my cue.
Posted by Destineer (Member # 821) on :
quote:Originally posted by AchillesHeel: Its not streaming but I just now finished watching Sunshine directed by Danny Boyle (28 Days Later, Slumdog Millionaire.) Starting with the cast Cillian Murphy (Scarecrow in the new Batman movies) Michelle Yeoh (duh) Cliff Curtis (lotsa smaller parts, under-rated) and Chris Evans (Fantastic 4, Evil Ex #2, soon to be the new Captian America.) The sets are indistinguishable between real and CG, a soundtrack that really drives home that Danny Boyle will never have an excuse to use a bad soundtrack in what should be a long career.
The story (like Moon) is less about the scifi aspect and more about humans in that setting. In addition to the expected special features there are two short films that apperantly Boyle believed deserved some attention. Both are interesting if not outright odd, Dad's Dead is especially unique.
Sunshine is amazing. First glance: it looks like The Core in space. Second glance: these shots are beautiful. Third glance: OMG, these characters aren't cracking wise, they are treating the possible end of human life on earth with the soul-crushing seriousness it deserves.
Posted by Destineer (Member # 821) on :
quote:Originally posted by Yebor1: oh and the first 36 episodes of the roboteck macross saga
Just finished this. Such fun! Minmei is the worst singer in human history, but somehow that almost makes it better.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
quote:Originally posted by Destineer:
quote:Originally posted by Yebor1: oh and the first 36 episodes of the roboteck macross saga
Just finished this. Such fun! Minmei is the worst singer in human history, but somehow that almost makes it better.
I absolutely love the way the female crew member says in the pilot, "Captain! No smoking on the bridge!"
Posted by Amanecer (Member # 4068) on :
I'd heard Timer recommended in a previous thread. I was looking through Netflix for something to watch tonight and it popped up so I went for it. I really enjoyed it. I thought it was a very thoughtful treatment of the idea that people can get a timer that will tell them when they will meet their soulmate (assuming that their soulmate has a timer). Thanks to whoever originally recommended it.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
FYI both seasons of Dollhouse are now streaming.
Posted by Sa'eed (Member # 12368) on :
I really enjoyed "The Pillars of the Earth" miniseries (available on netflix streaming) and recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical dramas. The acting is mostly great and I especially liked the performance of the actor playing Prior Philip and the performance/looks of the actress who played Aliena. The main villain is played by Ian McShane of Deadwood fame and he's menacing and brilliant as always even though the character doesn't deviate too much from relentless evil/plotting. Some reviews have mentioned how old fashioned the series feels, that it would have been a big time hit in the 80s if stripped of the sexuality/violence. It's true. That doesn't make it any less entertaining though and I think it's telling of how spoiled we've become in terms of quality television that a series like this just comes and goes without much splash.
I also think the opening credits/theme music is the best I've seen in a long while:
(titles in a foreign language)
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
I have to give another nod to the Airbender series. My son and I both loved it.
Another odd movie that I happened to watch a few times and really loved is called "Protagonist" by filmmaker Jessica Yu. It's very odd, an indie flick, which interweaves the stories of 4 men who come to some sort of catastrophe in the Greek sense, having to do with their image of what it means to be a man. Some of the scenes are acted out by these eerie puppets, while the men are telling about them, and there are scenes from a play by Euripides woven in as well. I found it fascinating and one of those movies you think about for a long time afterward.
Posted by Yebor1 (Member # 1380) on :
Jusy finished watching "FIREFLY" complete series.....already had the serenity movie but never got to see the series....absolutely loved it and knew i would based on the movie.. astarting watching EUREKA this week great show also watching old L&O Criminal Intent and Frist two sseasons of Lie To Me
Posted by rejewvenator (Member # 12447) on :
I've been watching Jeremiah, which is good on its own as post-apocalyptic comic-book adaptation. But if you grew up in the late 80s or 90s, you'll love Luke Perry and Malcolm Jamal-Warner in the lead roles.
+1 on Arrested Development.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Ditto on Jeremiah, the occasional guest star or joke relating to either one of thier histories is priceless.
Posted by Destineer (Member # 821) on :
I thought the acting and dialogue in Jeremiah was painful. Some of the worst I've seen.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
There's a movie called "The Maze" that's streaming now. It's a pretty cheesy horror movie (actually, I didn't see the whole thing so I'd better not pass judgment), but if you skip to the 53-minute mark you'll see the latest acting work of one Richard Dutcher. Nice to see Mr. God's Army getting paid again.
Posted by Vadon (Member # 4561) on :
I don't know if the DC Animated Universe is up anyone's alley, but Batman: Under the Red Hood is fantastic. Watched it a couple times this year and again tonight.
I still get chills during the climax.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I like that stuff, thanks for the recommendation.
Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
I just watched Man of the Century and About a Boy. Both were fantastic.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Based on this thread, I watched the following:
Moon Californication The Man Who Fell From Earth (best of the bunch, IMO)
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
I've been watching TV shows on Netflix. My instant queue currently has these shows lined up: Pride and Prejudice (I think I haven't seen this version) The Guild seasons 1 and 2 Blackadder series 1 (I just finished watching the first episode) Blackadder series 2 Red Dwarf series 1
I also am completely caught up on Stargate Universe, although Netflix doesn't have season 2 - I watched those episodes elsewhere. I got to see the whole of Doctor Who season 4, which I hadn't seen all of before. I started to watch Farscape but decided I wasn't in the mood right then, and also watched one episode of the Catherine Tate show.
My younger daughter (age 15) has watched Invader Zim and Hey Arnold.
I'm reminded of things I've seen before that I'd like to see again, or things I didn't get a chance to see before, and finding many of them on Netflix.
Now I just need to get a device that will let me watch these shows on my TV so I can do other things on my computer while watching. I'm still in my one-month trial period, but I think I'm going to keep it.
Posted by iglee (Member # 12455) on :
Speed, I've seen "Between the Folds" a couple of times. The second time with my daughter who does beautiful origami. I just bought her Prof. Thomas Hull's book that was mentioned.
Anyway, I've been watching "River Monsters" both seasons. Now that is some intense fishing especially the Goliath Tiger fish form the Congo river
My wife and I really enjoyed "Doc Martin"
If you like old movies try "I Know Where I'm Going" with Wendy Hiller. Petula Clark had a minor role as a child. And "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness" with Ingrid Bergman.
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
I'm watching Merlin Season 1 and enjoying it so far.
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
I also just started Merlin. Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
CaySedi, any of the new generation game consoles will let you stream to your TV. The Wii is probably the lowest cost one. Pawn shops around here are charging less than $100 for them now.
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
Kwea: The pawn shop near us charges near retail prices. I would prefer to go ahead and buy new in that case. I'll see when I get my tax refund.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
The Wii's definitely cheaper, but if you can swing it I'd add the extra $100 for a PS3. It will be able to do higher quality video output, plus play blu-ray (it is a very high quality blu-ray player, for cheap, and a good up-sampling DVD player). A lot of blu-ray players are slow and clunky, so a lower quality one can be a huge annoyance (minutes of loading and such), making the PS3 probably the most cost effective blu-ray player on the market.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
I just watched Twilight Samurai on Instant Queue. I rather liked it. It's not extremely action packed, though there are very tense fight scenes, it's much more about him as a person, and the society he exists in.
It was a very moving flick IMHO.
Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
Dakota Skye is a good quirky indie drama/romance about a girl who has a superpower: she can the truth behind all lies as subtitles. Really interesting movie.
Also good was The Baxter, which is about the guy who gets left at the altar for the leading man.
Posted by Yebor1 (Member # 1380) on :
they just added "Kids in the hall" to instant streaming its a great sketch comedy show from the early ninties another of my favorites
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Just watched Pandorum streaming, Ben Foster in space with as much if not more attention to detail than in Moon. Like most of Foster's work its not a family flick but it is exquisitly done in every way, I highly recomend this movie.
Posted by The White Whale (Member # 6594) on :
I just watched Timer with my girlfriend. Very clever. It's a simple idea, and I thought they executed it very nicely.
Thanks for the recommendation, whoever you were.
Posted by Sa'eed (Member # 12368) on :
quote:Originally posted by BlackBlade: I just watched Twilight Samurai on Instant Queue. I rather liked it. It's not extremely action packed, though there are very tense fight scenes, it's much more about him as a person, and the society he exists in.
Second others suggestion of District B13, Carriers and Pandorum.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
I just watched The Karate Kid remake, and aside from the much conversed incorrect title I thoroughly enjoyed the flick. Smith showed an affinity for martial-arts, and and thier equivalant of the "bonzai" scene ispired sympathy very well. The movie certainly ran longer than I had anticipated, but that allowed for much more character development in between training progression and I appreciated the little bits of complaining from Smith while Chan smacked him around.
Posted by Sa'eed (Member # 12368) on :
"Spartacus: Blood and Sand."
It's bloody and gory (with high sexual content) but it's involving, sad and entertaining. It is so clearly inspired by "300" in style that you might snicker but the show is actually considerably better in terms of emotion and storytelling than that film.
Also, Lucy Lawless does the best work of her career in this show and still looks stunning.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Even better than when she spread ez-cheese with a paint roller on a man wearing a womans bikini?
The Soup is a very odd show, and I cannot find the video.
Edit- I just googled 'Lucy Lawless Spartacus' and I know what Sa'eed is talking about now.
[ February 21, 2011, 04:38 AM: Message edited by: AchillesHeel ]
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Some of you may remember a thread sharing the preview for Jack Goes Boating, well I finally watched it on DVD through Netflix and while it certainly delivers an odd romance the surreality of it shines through. Via the special features I learned that Phillip Seymor Hoffman and much of the cast also played the same roles in the stage play that inspired the movie to be made, and ofcourse that Hoffman himself directed the flick. It makes me want to see it performed live.
Posted by Ryoko (Member # 4947) on :
Jack Goes Boating!
Woo hoo!
I was the OP on that thread. I ended up being able to see that in the theater, but I forgot to follow up with my thoughts on it...
I really enjoyed it. Hoffman definitely knows how to make awkward situations beautiful. Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
I want to see it live because of those awkward scenes, live theatre will always creep into your head more than a movie and actually hearing two people yell at each other like that in person would a much more interesting experiance.
Posted by Sa'eed (Member # 12368) on :
I saw about 40 minutes of "Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky," and I plan to finish the rest. The beginning of the film depicts the notorious premiere of the "Rite of Spring." I've heard the piece before but never seen the actual dance. This was done in 1913, and no wonder it got the reaction it did.
youtube clip Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
That certainly does look interesting Sa'eed, but are you refering to the responses left on youtube? if not what kind of response did it get?
So I have apperantly had a very boring weekend and here is the result. Operation: Endgame features Zack Galifianakis doing the role he was born to play, eccentric assasin walking around not doing much at all but oddly dressed while doing it. Rob Cordry actually plays a foul mouthed alcoholic and a couple of other familiar faces round out the cast and if you have a perpensity for impolite dialogue than you will love the first twenty minutes. Also, flaming golf club. Men Who Stare at Goats was much more than I expected and while I reccomend it I dont think it should be ruined.
Posted by SoaPiNuReYe (Member # 9144) on :
quote:Originally posted by BlackBlade: I just watched Twilight Samurai on Instant Queue. I rather liked it. It's not extremely action packed, though there are very tense fight scenes, it's much more about him as a person, and the society he exists in.
It was a very moving flick IMHO.
Hmmmm, been meaning to watch this. In the Mood For Love is available for streaming if anybody is a Wong Kar-Wai fan. It's my favorite romance film ever.
Posted by Sean Monahan (Member # 9334) on :
quote:Originally posted by AchillesHeel: That certainly does look interesting Sa'eed, but are you refering to the responses left on youtube? if not what kind of response did it get?
I think he's probably referring to the riot that occurred at its premiere.
Posted by Destineer (Member # 821) on :
They've got a lot of good Wong Kar-Wai movies up. In The Mood For Love is probably the best one.
Posted by Mucus (Member # 9735) on :
I'm rather fond of Ashes of Time if thats available.
Posted by Sa'eed (Member # 12368) on :
quote:Originally posted by AchillesHeel: That certainly does look interesting Sa'eed, but are you refering to the responses left on youtube? if not what kind of response did it get?
I was referring to the 1913 audience reaction to the premiere of the "Rite of Spring." The youtube link is a recreation of that original production.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
Days of Being Wild
Hobbes Posted by SoaPiNuReYe (Member # 9144) on :
quote:Originally posted by Hobbes: Days of Being Wild
Hobbes
Yes!!
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Interesting bit of history and it makes the choreography make more sense.
Thanks.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Currently watching Persons Unknown, about eight people who are abducted and wake up in an early 1900's American town alone. There are fully stocked shops including a chinese restraunt, and they cannot leave. I would hate to reveal anything more about the show seeing as it relies upon suspenseful storytelling, but I will say that Kandyse McClure (Dee from BSG) plays a character so very unlike her most notable perfomance that it impresses me.
Posted by Yebor1 (Member # 1380) on :
just finished SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES very good
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Also all nine seasons of Srubs is now streaming, which goes a long way in replacing my casual broadcast viewing. And Grown Ups was much better than I expected.
Posted by D_Dub (Member # 6766) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tatiana: I have to give another nod to the Airbender series. My son and I both loved it.
Make that another nod for Avatar the last Airbender.
I really enjoyed the story.
Unfortunate about the latest live action movie though. Really bummed me out.
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
My girls have been doing an Avatar marathon lately. I got sort of interested in it, enough to pay attention, anyway. without seeing the live action movie, Cayla is disdainful about it.
Posted by D_Dub (Member # 6766) on :
quote:Originally posted by CaySedai: My girls have been doing an Avatar marathon lately. I got sort of interested in it, enough to pay attention, anyway. without seeing the live action movie, Cayla is disdainful about it.
Get fully interested. You won't be disappointed.
If Ender's Game were to ever become a movie, the Airbender movie reminded me of how I almost don't want it to become one. Great story gets made into the worst movie. It deserved a better script and better direction. The only movie I wished I unwatched. Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
HA! Andrew "Onder" Wiggeen.
Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :
quote:just finished SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES very good
Oh god yes. One of my favorite series ever. Very good development of robot characters, without resorting to magical-human-feelings a la Battlestar Galactica.
Posted by Destineer (Member # 821) on :
Yeah, great show.
Avatar TLAB is like the best kids' show ever made. DuckTales might be close, but really it's all about Avatar.
Posted by Destineer (Member # 821) on :
I just watched My Name is Khan. It's an insane mix of Bollywood melodrama and feel-good propaganda. If you like bad movies, this one is epic.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
I just saw The Killing last night, which is one of Stanley Kubrick's very first movies. It's short and extremely low-budget. It's an old B&W noir that feels like an MST3K reject for the first few minutes. But as soon as you adjust to the cheap '50s-ness of it, there's some amazing stuff in there. Non-linear storytelling and fascinating performances that give an enlightening glimpse of great things to come.
I read an interview with Tarantino in which he listed Enter the Void as one of his top 10 movies of last year, mainly for the opening credit sequence. I wasn't able to make it through more than 20-30 minutes of the actual film, but those credits really are pretty cool if you've got 5 minutes to kill.
Ever since I saw Picnic at Hanging Rock on Netflix streaming I've kind of been going on an obsessive Peter Weir movie marathon. Of the others that are available on streaming, I think Fearless is the best. Another great Jeff Bridges performance, if you just saw True Grit and want seconds.
And finally, although this may sound like damning with faint praise, I just saw Daybreakers, and it was a lot better than I expected. There are some over-the-top performances, and the movie seems to think it's cooler and more clever than it really is. That said, it is based on a reasonably interesting concept, and it's very well paced. For all the eye-rolling that some of Willem Dafoe's acting and dialogue got, I was solidly entertained throughout and never once checked my watch. Not bad for a vampire flick.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Daybreakers... the cars were very inventive, the best thing Whedon and Co. could come up with for vamp's driving during the day was special glass. But the story was trying very hard to not be as simple as it really was and the whole film was just too cool for itself. I understand they were all vampires, but why did everyone look like the spawn of Dark City's and The Matrix' extras?
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
True, Daybreakers was by no means a classic. And it did benefit a lot from my diminished expectations.
In fact, I had originally intended to just see a few scenes to get a feel for it, and I ended up watching it to the end. There were several elements that were pretentious and silly, but I didn't find any of it boring. And that goes a long way with me.
Posted by Flying Fish (Member # 12032) on :
I watched Gattaca and felt this strange sensation that time had slowed down, and I was watching something I was supposed to enjoy, but just couldn't.
A few weeks later I watched Daybreakers, and felt this strange sensation that I was watching Gattaca.
Posted by Darth_Mauve (Member # 4709) on :
I watched the first season of the Munsters--that less intellectual Addams Family program. OK, its more than that and Herman is adorable.
Anyway, what I caught on the first episode was the blatant attack on racism.
Mailman to neighbor. "I have to deliver mail to [italic] those people.[/italic]
Neighbor "How can you stand it. Its not that I have anything against there kind, but they need to know their place."
Mailman "indeed. They should know their place, and it is disgusting that they don't."
What follows is that, due to Grandpa's mistake, the neighbors suddenly fall magically in love with the Munsters. Perhaps in lust is a better word.
Suddenly I am getting a serious headache as I try to wrap my head around this idea--The Munsters can be seen as a social commentary on race relations.
What are the Munsters? Scary looking odd people with one cute niece who "passes" as normal. How were African Americans looked at then (and in many places now) but as scary when they moved into your neighbor hood. And there was always the fear that the person you were dating was really "one of them" who was passing.
Even the filler stuff on Netflix can be entertaining.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
quote:Originally posted by Flying Fish: I watched Gattaca and felt this strange sensation that time had slowed down, and I was watching something I was supposed to enjoy, but just couldn't.
A few weeks later I watched Daybreakers, and felt this strange sensation that I was watching Gattaca.
Ha!
I actually liked Gattaca quite a bit, so take my recommendations with a grain of salt. Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
I just noticed that Netflix now has both 3rd Rock from the Sun and Cliffhanger. So now your only choice is whether you'd rather see John Lithgow be deliberately or unintentionally hilarious.
Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
One of the more interesting movies I've seen in a while is The Nines, starring Ryan Reynolds. As far as I can tell, it's a movie about neoplatonic emanation and a literal interpretation of a world generator.
Posted by Sa'eed (Member # 12368) on :
I have seen two episodes of this show so far and have thoroughly enjoyed them. The series is 7 episodes and it was a hit in the UK and therefore it's getting a sequel series. It was aired on PBS recently. I'm talking this show:
I just discovered that "Beakman's World" is on Netflix.
I have a 10 year old son/excuse to watch.
"Beakman!"
Posted by Yebor1 (Member # 1380) on :
yep its in my instant que also beakman that is now if they just had animaniacs id be in saturday mornimg heaven
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
I feel bad for kids that dont know anamaniacs, Yakko singing every single country in the world has been replaced by Spongebob splitting his pants for ten minutes straight.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
I am half way through series 2 of Hyperdrive, a BBC science-fiction comedy starring Nick Frost. I dont usually like british shows much but Hyperdrive is alot of immature fun.
Posted by shadowland (Member # 12366) on :
Timer had been in my queue for several months due to a thread here about it. I watched it recently and thought it was quite enjoyable, though the end was a bit more abrupt than I was expecting.
And I watched Sin Nombre, which was a pretty moving tale of immigration to the US.
The Man From Earth sounds interesting, so I'm adding that to my queue right now.
Posted by 0Megabyte (Member # 8624) on :
So, I am watching the first season of Arrested Development on Netflix today. Interesting show. It reminds me of my dreams about failure, though. You know the sort, where you dream that you're unable to do something? Like you're supposed to know your lines, or know the answer to the test, and you know absolutely nothing about it?
Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
I ended up watching Downton Abbey, which was good.
If you want a farce, then check out Mystery Team starring Donald Glover from Community. It's about a group of kid detectives who are 18 but act like they're 6 and end up on a murder case.
Posted by krynn (Member # 524) on :
I've used the streaming Netflix to watch old Macgyver episodes, Californication, The International, and I haven't checked yet, but I want to watch The Shadow (old comic movie with Alec Baldwin).
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
*shiver* The Shadow...
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
If you want to see Californication, get a move on. I read yesterday that Shotime is pulling all past seasons of their currently-airing series off Netflix streaming. I don't know when, but keep that in mind.
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
quote:Originally posted by AchillesHeel: I feel bad for kids that dont know anamaniacs,
How about grownups who don't know anamaniacs -- feel sorry for us?
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
No worries, Speed. I just found all the seasons online. Moving on now to Boardwalk Empire. Looks good. Has anyone been watching it?
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
quote:Originally posted by Uprooted:
quote:Originally posted by AchillesHeel: I feel bad for kids that dont know anamaniacs,
How about grownups who don't know anamaniacs -- feel sorry for us?
No, just shame.
Posted by krynn (Member # 524) on :
"United States, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Haiti, Jamaica, Peru..."
Posted by Puppy (Member # 6721) on :
Downton Abbey!
Posted by Sa'eed (Member # 12368) on :
quote:Originally posted by Puppy: Downton Abbey!
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sa'eed:
quote:Originally posted by Puppy: Downton Abbey!
Posted by Wingracer (Member # 12293) on :
It's probably not on netflix but you can download a wonderful movie called "Ink". It was truly great and different.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
I enthusiasticly second Ink, and it is streaming.
Posted by Yebor1 (Member # 1380) on :
woohooo netflix just added TRIGUN now all they need is COWBOY BEEBOP
Posted by Wingracer (Member # 12293) on :
quote:Originally posted by AchillesHeel: I enthusiasticly second Ink, and it is streaming.
Yeah I see Hulu has it. I downloaded it but liked it so much I think I will go ahead and send a donation to them. Posted by krynn (Member # 524) on :
quote:Originally posted by Yebor1: woohooo netflix just added TRIGUN now all they need is COWBOY BEEBOP
They don't have it? That is surprising.
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
I am so addicted to Dollhouse on Netflix streaming. Just watched Season 2, episode 1. Good stuff.
Still watching Merlin from time to time but that is a pleasant pastime rather than an obsession.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Ooh, almost all of the Star Trek series will be streaming later this year.
Posted by Yebor1 (Member # 1380) on :
would like to see some "eastenders" and 'are you being served?' streamed also
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
Currently watching the last episode of the miniseries "The Stand."
Posted by Wingracer (Member # 12293) on :
quote:Originally posted by CaySedai: Currently watching the last episode of the miniseries "The Stand."
Good show. I actually still have it on VHS around here somewhere Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
Started watching Trigun, this being the first anime series I've started since I gave up on Dragonball GT in 200(3-5?). I find I'm enjoying this quite a bit. I may even have to watch other anime series after this.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
I am nearing the end of Gun x Sword, while involving giant robots with riders inside it has stayed far from being a Gundam knock-off. There is one fan-service episode later on but aside from that the series is graciously devoid of the brainless cheese cake humor so common in anime these days.
I took the time to rewatch all of Trigun a while back, and couldnt help but think that the animation has become antiquated. Perhaps animators have overcome the downsides of computer involved animation that were so obvious eight years ago.
Posted by Sa'eed (Member # 12368) on :
The Tudors, ya'll. The Tudors.
Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
Jericho is annoyingly addictive. I wish it didn't get canceled. In the post-apocalyptic J category, Jeremiah is also good.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
But atleast Jericho was brought back for a time and went out in style, so many other great shows cant say the same.
Posted by Swampjedi (Member # 7374) on :
I'm discovering the joy^H^H^H DOOOOOM that is Invader Zim via Netflix.
I'm unsure how I missed it over the years.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
I just watched Toy Story 3 now that its streaming, nice cap on a movie from my childhood. Little creeped out by the resignation to painful death scene, I may be paranoid and pessimistic but I dont need to be reminded by Buzz Lightyear that we are all going to die.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
quote:Originally posted by T_Smith: Started watching Trigun, this being the first anime series I've started since I gave up on Dragonball GT in 200(3-5?). I find I'm enjoying this quite a bit. I may even have to watch other anime series after this.
Trigun is one of Mrs. BB's favorite anime. If you enjoy that you should give Cowboy Bebop a shot, once it gets on Netflix of course. Though I've heard you can get the entire series for $20 these days, and the movie *is* available on Netflix instant queue.
Posted by Destineer (Member # 821) on :
Sad that Heinlein's name lives on in lights while Bester, a greater writer in every way, remains unknown even to many serious fans.
quote:Originally posted by JonHecht: Jericho is annoyingly addictive. I wish it didn't get canceled. In the post-apocalyptic J category, Jeremiah is also good.
Really? I thought both those shows had some serious problems. Jericho I can see liking, but the acting and dialog-level writing in Jeremiah was so painfully clunky.
Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
They definitely both have their problems (more so Jeremiah), but I'm running very low on post-apocalyptic shows and take what I can get.
There's a reason that Jeremiah was tagged on to the end. Even so, what made Jeremiah worth it for me was an interesting plot, Theo, and BSG actors. I was able to forgive the bad acting on most people's part for the sake of a desire to finish the story. Given that I have abandoned TV shows before, that must mean the show had some redeeming features.
Jericho's issues for me mostly have to do with the plausibility of certain scenarios, character actions, etc., but I can forgive that. Occasionally they had bad acting on the part of non-main characters, but the main characters haven't been bad enough that it mattered (though they haven't been particularly good either). I am only just now going to start Season 2 and maybe it gets worse.
If you have any suggestions for good post-apocalyptic stuff that I haven't seen, please let me know.
Posted by Darth_Mauve (Member # 4709) on :
quote:Sad that Heinlein's name lives on in lights while Bester, a greater writer in every way, remains unknown even to many serious fans.
Bah, not a single creepy sociopathic psychic ex-Russia star-ship navigator is named Heinlein in the entire Babylon 5 universe. The same can't be said for Bester.
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
quote:Originally posted by BlackBlade:
quote:Originally posted by T_Smith: Started watching Trigun, this being the first anime series I've started since I gave up on Dragonball GT in 200(3-5?). I find I'm enjoying this quite a bit. I may even have to watch other anime series after this.
Trigun is one of Mrs. BB's favorite anime. If you enjoy that you should give Cowboy Bebop a shot, once it gets on Netflix of course. Though I've heard you can get the entire series for $20 these days, and the movie *is* available on Netflix instant queue.
That's a series I've been wondering about for years now, having heard generally postive reviews from multiple circles of friends. Does the movie function as a stand alone, or is it best to watch the series first?
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
I suggest watching the series first, or else it can be tough to understand the characters and settings. One cannot simply watch Cowboy Bebop without being introduced to Edward and Ein.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
quote:Originally posted by T_Smith:
quote:Originally posted by BlackBlade:
quote:Originally posted by T_Smith: Started watching Trigun, this being the first anime series I've started since I gave up on Dragonball GT in 200(3-5?). I find I'm enjoying this quite a bit. I may even have to watch other anime series after this.
Trigun is one of Mrs. BB's favorite anime. If you enjoy that you should give Cowboy Bebop a shot, once it gets on Netflix of course. Though I've heard you can get the entire series for $20 these days, and the movie *is* available on Netflix instant queue.
That's a series I've been wondering about for years now, having heard generally postive reviews from multiple circles of friends. Does the movie function as a stand alone, or is it best to watch the series first?
The movie is a sort of aside from the series. The series starts off with just two characters and builds from there until you get to all five members of the crew, which are all featured in the movie. I saw the movie first before I watched the series and that worked just fine for me.
Posted by Graeme (Member # 12543) on :
The Rockford Files. James Garner is so cool as Jim Rockford that I completely overlook the awful ugliness that was the mid to late 1970s. (Orange and gold shag carpet, anyone?) Smart, resourceful, compassionate, Jim Rockford is the best detective for your money, at only $200 a day. The secondary characters are rich and nuanced as well, with acting to match the superb writing. The memorable performances of Rocky, Dennis Becker, Angel and Beth Davenport practically transform this series into an ensemble show. And it also has one of the best theme songs ever.
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
Toy Story 3. And my 15-year-old is watching it for the first time, and having a ball. It's as much fun to watch her watch it as it was to watch it the first time.
Posted by Destineer (Member # 821) on :
quote:Originally posted by JonHecht: If you have any suggestions for good post-apocalyptic stuff that I haven't seen, please let me know.
Survivors seemed pretty good from the first couple eps. As far as movies, let me think of stuff you might not have seen. Have you seen Threads? Excellent nuclear war film.
Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
Thanks for the suggestions.
I started watching Survivors but was kind of tired when I checked it out and fell asleep. It might have had to do with the fact that Martha Jones died. I'll give it another shot.
Threads looks really interesting. It's not available on Netflix, but it's available for download, as far as I know, legally.
I'm also trying to decide on a version of Day of the Triffids to watch.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Awesome, seasons one and two of Sons of Anarchy are both streaming, not only that but they are listed as one thing rather seperated. It seems like Netflix is trying to replace and duplicate broadcast television as much as they can, making the integration of additional content as smooth as possible.
Posted by Sa'eed (Member # 12368) on :
The 1968 "Romeo & Juliet" directed by Franco Zeffirelli. Olivia Hussey as Juliet is most exquisite and beautiful.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
I finally watched The Crazies after netflix putting it in front of me for some time now, pretty good small town gone nanners horror movie starring Timothy Olyphant.
Posted by Flying Fish (Member # 12032) on :
@Sa'eed:
Ah, Olivia Hussey. I remember being dragged out to the local theater with my high school freshman English class to watch Romeo & Juliet -- with Ms. Hussey as Juliet. And I recently watched the Mother Theresa biopic, with Ms Hussey as Theresa. MAkes me feel old, sniff....
Also, currently watching The Tudors, season 1.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
I just finished watching The Other Guys. It's another one that may have benefited from low expectations, but for a movie that dopey it was surprisingly funny. No Citizen Kane, but a great way to mindlessly blow an evening.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
I agree, but add on that Wahlberg and Farrel were supposed to be in Cop Out and bailed when Kevin Smith was brought on to direct, only to make thier own dopey cop movie.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Im watching Easy A right now, and it is exceeding my considerable expectations.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
Veronica Mars, season 1 is television at its best.
Season 2 is mediocre.
Season 3 is a husk of its former self, which is what I hear is standard for shows that move to the CB.
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
Here's one I do not recommend:
Brooklyn's Finest.
I am a big fan of the director, Antoine Fuqua, Tears in the Sun and Training Day were amazing, King Arthur, Shooter and the Replacement Killers were all good. Unfortunately, the serious potential of Brooklyn's Finest was not achieved.
It tried to be "Crash", where different stories came together into one cohesive tale, and failed. It tried to be "Departed" with a story of divided loyalties and the stresses of an undercover officer (and other similarities I won't get into, for spoiler avoidance) and failed. It tried to be "We Own the Night" where the lines of family ties and devotion to a cause are pushed to their breaking point, and failed. It tried to be "Training Day" where the lines of good and bad are confused and the only reality is one of being stuck in the bad places you protect the community from, and failed. It tried to be a porno, and instead of being exciting or intimate, it was just dirty and superfluous.
This movie boasts a great cast, and good cinematography. What it really lacks is an emotional connection with its characters and the audience. That, and an odd overemphasis on unnecessary scenes, with an even odder glossing over of scenes that should have been paramount.
Could have been a great movie, but instead is worth missing.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Cookie's Fortune is finally streaming after so long of not being available in anyway, and it still isnt available on DVD but atleast I get to watch one of the best movies ever made again.
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
I was recently pleased to see the newest seasons of Doctor Who compiled so that we can watch them back to back. I was disappointed to see that the image shown was the eleventh doctor and Amy Pond, since the last show in that compilation was "The End of Time." Tonight, however, I discovered that they have added Season 5, and so started watching it again. :-) (Currently on "The Beast Below.")
So, theoretically, if I wanted to wait a few months to a year, I could watch Season 6 on Netflix. (Not gonna happen - I signed up to get the whole season on Amazon so I don't have to try to find the new episode each week, and also don't have to worry about legalities.)
Anyway, yay, Netflix!
Posted by aeolusdallas (Member # 11455) on :
quote:Originally posted by AchillesHeel: Its not streaming, but I just watched the first disc of Supernatural and put the entirety of the released series on my que at the top of the list. Episodic scifi\paranormal without gratuitous sexuality (Charmed) and super clean-cut story-line and sets (Sanctuary) Im actually happy that I ignored the show until now, now I get to shotgun five seasons of entertainment.
And, as the youngest of three boys I enjoy the banter shared so far by the sibling protagonists. Towards the end of the pilot they announce the emotional tone one should expect from the heroes with a bit dialogue, I am paraphrasing but its close.
"(dramatically) Hey, about what I said about Mom earlier... Im--" "Whoa. No chick-flick moments" "(amused) Jerk." "B####"
Like I said, I am the youngest of three brothers and appreciate art reflecting life.
Yeah Supernatural is a gem. It has ups and downs but out of 6 seasons so far I can only think of 2 or 3 episodes that I didn't like and none that I outright disliked.
I recently watched the Patrick Stewart version of "Lion in Winter" It was fantastic.
Posted by Jeff C. (Member # 12496) on :
I've been watching a few different series, including American Dad, Fullmetal Alchemist, Trigun, and Stargate Universe. For movies, I just watched Outbreak, Just Cause, and Batman: Under the Red Hood.
It depend what you like, but Trigun was amazing. It's an anime with only 26 episodes, but it tells an entire story from beginning to end. I'd check it out (takes a few episodes to get going). Definitely worth it. Fullmetal Alchemist is another anime worth watching.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
I got my brother addicted Supernatural, he likes it more than I do. Interesting little thing, Jensen Ackles voiced Red Hood in that animated movie.
I really enjoyed the first two volumes of Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood, and am waiting for the rest to stream.
There are now 126 episodes of Monk now streaming.
Posted by Selran (Member # 9918) on :
quote:Originally posted by Speed:
quote:Originally posted by Sa'eed:
quote:Originally posted by Puppy: Downton Abbey!
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog Firefly Lots and lots of MST3K Lots and lots of Eddie Izzard (because there's a f**king "H" in it!) Dexter Money Python's Flying Circus
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
Law Abiding Citizen is goooood.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Oddly enough the scariest part of Law Abiding Citizen was for me was the court room scene, not the criminals and murder but the part that could concievably happen.
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
Three words "Kids love me."
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
Netflix has Lost, which I hadn't seen since season 2 because I got tired of the cliffhanger merry-go-round. Last week my wife & son left town, and I figured since I had the house to myself and the series was over, I'd see whatever happened on the island.
I wanted to finish before everyone got back, so I really cranked through it. I watched the final episode last night, immediately before I went to sleep. It was fun, but I got completely burned out. By the end, I just wanted it to be over.
So today I got home from work, finally unencumbered by my Lost marathon, and I thought I'd see what showed up on my DVR during my lost week (pun intended). I saw an episode of Community, which seemed like a perfect way to cleanse my palate.
omg community! That show rocks. I wish they had it on Netflix...
Posted by GaalDornick (Member # 8880) on :
Iron Man: Exremis is great.
Posted by Misha McBride (Member # 6578) on :
quote:Originally posted by Selran:
quote:Originally posted by Speed:
quote:Originally posted by Sa'eed:
quote:Originally posted by Puppy: Downton Abbey!
Posted by Geraine (Member # 9913) on :
quote:Originally posted by Speed: Netflix has Lost, which I hadn't seen since season 2 because I got tired of the cliffhanger merry-go-round. Last week my wife & son left town, and I figured since I had the house to myself and the series was over, I'd see whatever happened on the island.
I wanted to finish before everyone got back, so I really cranked through it. I watched the final episode last night, immediately before I went to sleep. It was fun, but I got completely burned out. By the end, I just wanted it to be over.
So today I got home from work, finally unencumbered by my Lost marathon, and I thought I'd see what showed up on my DVR during my lost week (pun intended). I saw an episode of Community, which seemed like a perfect way to cleanse my palate.
Haha yeah. My sister is in love with Josh Halloway. She loves him so much that she gave my brand new little nephew the middle name Sawyer.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
Well, I've heard plenty of dumber middle names.
I wouldn't say I'm in love with him, but I am a fan. When I started watching Lost he annoyed me. At first he kind of comes across as sort of a soap opera pretty boy. But it didn't take long for me to realize that he had most of the best lines in that whole series.
Of course the writers get credit for the lines, but they must have loved writing for Sawyer. Not only was he a fascinating character, but Holloway sold that material brilliantly. Often when the show would get buried in melodrama and mythology, Sawyer could walk into a scene and make it fun to watch again.
It was cool seeing him in Community. I hope he shows up in some other places now that Lost is done.
EDIT: I just skimmed his IMDB profile, then confirmed it with my DVD collection: Sawyer is the leader of the very first gang of vamps ever to be dusted on Angel. Right there in the pre-credits sequence of episode 1. I never would have guessed it.
[ May 15, 2011, 09:48 AM: Message edited by: Speed ]
Posted by GaalDornick (Member # 8880) on :
The first season of Archer is streaming, and it's hilarious.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Action fans should recognize the name Tony Jaa, and if you have seen a singe Jaa film you know his friend Petchai Wongkamlao. Wongkamlao stars in The Bodyguard, a humorous action movie that had my brother and I cackling like idiots as he wire-fought his way through scenes that would do Rambo proud only to move into dialogue that got more laughs from me than the Naked Gun films ever did. It is currently streaming, and there is a sequal already out that I have yet to see but greatly anticipate.
I love that show so much! The middle episode, which annoys me and is less satisfying than the other two, is still better than most of what we get on American television. (My favorite episode was the third, though I might have liked the first better if I had been less familiar with the source material.)
They've just started filming the second series today. This is the commitment that the entire Hobbit filming schedule had to be arranged around in order for them to get Martin Freeman as Bilbo.
The show is phenomenal. Though I'm almost certain the second series can't live up to the potential of the first, I'll be there to see it.
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
A few new or I hadn't discovered before: Dark Shadows Macgyver Mission Impossible Twilight Zone
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
I love that show so much! The middle episode, which annoys me and is less satisfying than the other two, is still better than most of what we get on American television. (My favorite episode was the third, though I might have liked the first better if I had been less familiar with the source material.)
I watched this a few months ago after reading you and Narnia discussing it on FB. I completely agree, fabulous show.
Posted by Destineer (Member # 821) on :
Just saw Marwencol. Probably one of the top 5 documentaries I've ever seen. Trailer here: http://www.marwencol.com/ Posted by Sa'eed (Member # 12368) on :
Saw Salt. It was preposterous and full of gaping plot holes but it was watchable.
Currently reviewing Babylon 5 (saw the whole series about six years ago, I am surprised by how much of it I've forgotten and how the serious becomes so good starting with the second season.)
Posted by Shawshank (Member # 8453) on :
I'm watching Sports Night by Aaron Sorkin. This show is so stinking good. I've never seen a 22 minute show be able to weave great humor, genuine drama, and be able to ask some real ethical questions like this before.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
I'm watching WWII in HD, it's a very gorgeous and well exectued narrative for the entire conflict.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
I'm not usually a sports guy, but I just watched When We Were Kings, and that is an amazing documentary.
It's a true story with a narrative so tight it couldn't possibly have been scripted any better, with characters more outsized and iconic than anything the Coen Brothers have ever invented. The material is so good you almost couldn't ruin it, but it's still gratifying to see the immense care and skill that went into making the film. The best boxing movie I've ever seen--and yes, I have seen Raging Bull, The Fighter and Rocky.
Posted by rollainm (Member # 8318) on :
Just watched my first episode of Torchwood! Very cool. In fact, if this first episode is a good indicator, I may end up liking this - dare I say it - more than Doctor Who.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
I find I can no longer watch sports movies when I really dislike the sport in question. Which makes me wish I saw Raging Bull before that happened. Perhaps I'll change back to being able to enjoy them again. I really hate boxing, and I've found that watching movies about boxers just makes me wish they would get out of the sport. It's too bad because it seems almost all the movies about sports that are also supposed to be Oscar-bait type movies (which I mostly enjoy) are boxing. Bleh.
I feel like Netflix has had a pretty big up-tick in the quality of their streaming media over the last 6-9 months.
Pros: I love being able to choose what to watch when and catch up on whole seasons of shows I love or haven't seen before. It's better to watch on the TV so my family can watch together (although I should be able to hook up my TV and a computer to watch shows I have purchased through Amazon.com with Amazon Unbox but haven't figured it out yet).
Cons: Bandwidth issues and interruptions. It can get annoying having to go back and start another episode after one ends, instead of just letting it go (which doesn't apply on the PC, IIRC). And they don't have the most recent shows until that season has ended (despite that fact that it says they have Doctor Who season six). (But I can usually find the recent shows online on the network or cable company website.)
But on the other hand, I just watched episode 1 of The Tick. ;-)
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
The bandwidth thing mentioned in the article isn't as dramatic as it sounds. Almost all of netflix's bandwidth is last-mile bandwidth, which is plentiful. Netflix uses hardly any bandwidth at the parts of the internet with bottlenecks.
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
But it requires a lot of bandwidth at my house - even when nobody is using a PC we can get interruptions.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
That likely has less to do with the amount of bandwidth and more to do with the variability of your connection, especially if you have DSL. Netflix will attempt to use all of the available bandwidth it feasibly can, to give the highest picture quality (up to whatever the max is for what it is streaming). If the available bandwidth suddenly drops, it will need to rebuffer. This is true whether you have 1.5 Gbps or 8 Gbps.
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
It seems to do it at any time, no matter what anyone else is doing online. It has happened with three computers online and with one computer online that isn't active (my older daughter leaves her laptop on and connected all the time).
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
Yes, it doesn't have anything to do with your usage (which streaming algorithms can easily notice and work around unless it changes with dramatic suddenness). It has to do with the flakiness of the connection itself.
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
OK.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
We've been watching Farscape. I had forgotten how much I love that show. *happy sigh*
If you're having trouble with streaming, you might call Netflix support. They are awesome, knowledgeable and helpful. They diagnosed a problem with one of my friend's internet service that several representatives of that service had failed to recognize. It was quite astonishing, to call customer service and get something actually resembling service to a customer. They were pleasant and surprisingly knowledgeable when I called them as well.
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
Olivet: that is something that honestly never occurred to me. I just figured it was having too much going on online (despite the fact it sometimes happens when nothing is going on). I'll have to try that when I have time.
Posted by Sa'eed (Member # 12368) on :
"My Man Godfrey" starring William Powell and Carol Lombard.
I have hundreds of films in my netflix queue but am always indecisive about what to watch in the rare time I do want to watch something. On a Sunday evening couple of weeks ago, I was driving and listening to an NPR station which airs classic radio programs in the Sunday evening timeslot. They decided to air an episode of a program that was called "Academy Award" which presented (as wiki tells me) adaptations of films, books and plays. The episode that began airing on my drive was an adaptation of the classic film "My Man Godfrey." Having no idea that I had previously put this film in my queue, I became so intrigued by the beginning of the program that I made a mental note of the source's title and changed the station lest the film got spoiled for me.
Finally saw the film a couple of nights ago. I loved every minute of it! Classic screwball comedy with an endearing heart. I liked William Powell's performance so much that now I actually want to watch those Thin Man films which he also stars in!
Carol Lombard is also wonderful in it. Unfortunately she's another Hollywood talent who died too young. Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Goemon is a pretty cool Japanese action and intrigue flick, dubbed in english with some recognizable voice actors if you are an anime fan. Its set in a stylized pre-modern Japan with cg backgrounds, it was done much better than that makes it sound. They play with a couple of classic western tales, robin hood and sparticus are the most obvious and supposedly the whole story is based on an old Japanese story.
I like Goemon so much that I didnt even wait until the movie was over to suggest it, I am still watching as I type this. The cg to set work is examplary, way better than Sucker Punch in fact I wish I had rather saw this in theaters that day.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
Hmmm, I wathed like 15 minutes, and was so turned off by the voice acting and the style I knocked it off my instant queue without a second thought.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Im rewatching Ink, such a great movie.
Posted by Sa'eed (Member # 12368) on :
Just realized that I've had the same Netflix disc since early April. I have a 1 disc at a time plan plus blue ray access so I end up paying $12.5 a month. Still, even though the selection of only DVD material is still slightly better than what we can watch through instant watch, having grown accustomed to IW, the whole DVD thing (putting in the player, shipping it back, throwing away the red envelopes) now seems like such a hassle.
A couple of days ago I saw a 1996 French film called Ridicule which piqued my interest after reading this blog post. It's about a French lord who needs money to drain a disease infested swamp that's killing his subjects, so he goes to Versailles (film takes place a few years before the French revolution) to ask for money but has to play a game of wits with the aristocracy there. In Versailles, wit is valued above all else and is a deadly weapon, and the people there have made a game of insulting and ruining each other with witty phrases and the main character, being quick tongued himself, has to navigate and rely on his wit to get his way. The film was supposedly nominated for various Oscars at the time and won a few. Recommended.
Posted by Wingracer (Member # 12293) on :
quote:Originally posted by AchillesHeel: Im rewatching Ink, such a great movie.
Yes it is. Might re-watch it myself tonight.
Posted by lem (Member # 6914) on :
I finally started watching Fragglescape...I mean Farscape. Seriously, during the first few episodes I kept expecting them to sing us Dance Our Cares Away.
I don't get it. It is like Buck Rogers meets Fraggle Rock.
But episode Eight won me over. This is getting good. Does it get better?
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
I watched a few episodes of Little Britain a year or two ago, and thought it was kind of funny, but not enough to make me finish the series. I kind of trailed off after the first season and forgot about it.
Then I saw one of the people from that show in Bridesmaids, and I showed my wife an episode of Little Britain when we got home so she could see who he was.
I don't know if my tastes have changed in the last year, or if Season 2 is better than Season 1. But the show I used to think was mildly entertaining is now (in parts) hilarious. In fact, there was a sketch I saw yesterday that was so funny I couldn't sleep last night. Every time I closed my eyes I'd see the sketch in my mind and go into epileptic fits of laughter. Seemed like it lasted for hours. My poor wife had to fall asleep on a vibrating bed.
The Catherine Tate Show is a similar sort of program, and almost as good. A little more repetitive as a series (although both are based largely on recurring characters), but funny and very impressively executed. If you're a fan of Doctor Who and have never seen Catherine Tate in her natural environment, you owe it to yourself to catch an episode or two.
(EDIT: If you're a fan of Doctor Who, you also owe it to yourself to see Little Britain, as some of the funniest parts are the inter-sketch narrations provided by Tom Baker. And if you're a fan of Buffy... well, I won't spoil that one for you. Just watch.)
[ June 19, 2011, 06:11 PM: Message edited by: Speed ]
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
Watched Ink last night. The last couple scenes got a tear out of me.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
We've really enjoyed "Making Stuff", a four part Nova mini series. I was finishing the third and fourth episodes the other night and the kids were so engrossed they went back and watched the first two and headed into the third again.
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
Ironman 2 was pretty enjoyable, depending on your ability to suspend your disbelief.
Posted by T:man (Member # 11614) on :
I finished Baccano! last night, it was so amazing.
Isaac and Miria are the greatest couple in anime, ever.
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
I'm surprised no one has said anything here yet. Star Trek (TOS, Voyager, TNG and Enterprise) are all on Netflix streaming. I just finished a run through of TNG on DVD so I started with TOS.
I've already seen someone say that TNG's episodes seemed to have less than ideal quality. I haven't noticed that on TOS, but that's probably because I expect the quality to look a bit aged. *shrug*
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
I am also surprised and ashamed that we haven't all been talking about the show that's been available to stream for 12 whole hours. Man, Hatrack has really gone downhill. Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
Pfft, closer to 48 hours, sir.
And if anything says something about the quality of an internet forum, it's obviously the speed at which it's members discuss what's been uploaded on Netflix.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
According to Instantwatcher, it was added today. Anyway, thanks for reminding me. I just watched an episode of Voyager. Aaah, the memories.
Posted by T:man (Member # 11614) on :
I watched Precious last night. Very, very sad.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
I think I've heard of that movie. Is it by any chance based on anything, by anyone?
Speaking of which, I think THIS wins the award for all time stupidest promotional tie-in. Apparently a new novel can be "based on" an identical previous edition of the same novel. Now that I know how that works, if you'd be so good as to dictate Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to me as I sit at my word processor, I think it might just inspire me to write a bestseller.
Posted by T:man (Member # 11614) on :
Is it a novelization of the movie, or a stand-alone and similar novel?
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
quote:Originally posted by T:man: I watched Precious last night. Very, very sad.
Sick thing is that the mother deeply reminds me of my aunt, for horrible reasons. I felt that Mariah Carey's role was over represented in the advertising when the movie came out, so much attention for a role that did little while the teacher character and the examplary actress got little to no press. But yes, it was a very sad movie and an outstandingly good drama.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
For those of us who were children, or mildly childish during the early nineties the animated X-Men show is now streaming along with X-Men: Evolution.
Posted by Marek (Member # 5404) on :
As well as The 90's spider-man cartoon, spider-man unlimited, and spectacular spider-man, also Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, and The Silver Surfer. and pretty much any other Marvel cartoon you can think of, and several i didn't even know existed.
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
All 5 seasons of Bones.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I've just started Waking The Dead. I'm about 8 episodes in and so far I'm enjoying it: Cold Case meets CSI with the ensemble feel of NCIS and it's British so the acting is, you know, good, and the camera work not as overdone.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Got to watch the 1950's movie So Young, So Bad. I admit that the only reason I turned it on is because I think Anne Francis is pretty, but despite being such an old film it is surprisingly progressive and relevant. An idealistic psychiatrist starts working at a home for troubled teenage girls, only to find sadists in charge who torture the girls rather than even attempt rehabilitation. They touch upon several topics that are still sensitive today, racism/nationalism, suicide, child molestation, child abandonment even sex for favors. Its an impressive film that holds up extremely well for sixty-one years old.
Posted by Yebor1 (Member # 1380) on :
I just wanna know when animaniacs is going to appear on netflix streaming. Deep Space Nine isn't streaming yet i wonder why it ok i just finished watching all seven seasons on http://www.allstepisodes.com/ so im ok but why the discrimination i know they have it because i was able to get it from netflix on dvd
Posted by T:man (Member # 11614) on :
quote:Originally posted by Marek: As well as The 90's spider-man cartoon, spider-man unlimited, and spectacular spider-man, also Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, and The Silver Surfer. and pretty much any other Marvel cartoon you can think of, and several i didn't even know existed.
I've been waiting forever for the nineties spider-man.
I no longer need friends
(Also the Silver Surfer cartoon is all kinds of ridiculous)
ETA: For those of you who like spider-man I highly recommend Spectacular. It is my favorite spider-man cartoon ever.
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
Effective September 1 (or technically, on your billing date after September 1), the unlimited streaming-plus-disc plan prices are all increasing. Technically, Netflix is eliminating the combination plans, leaving customers to have a streaming-only plan AND a disc-only plan if they want both formats. Personally, it's going to be a 60% increase ($8 for streaming plus $8 for one disc at a time).
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
Good thing I only stream or else I would be POed.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
I just dont like the manner in which they are going about it, they state that one DVD at a time is 8$ and only streaming is 8$ so therefore having both should be 16$. That doesnt really scream "lets bargain this to provide a satisfactory offer to existing and future clientele."
More of a "shut up and sit down" approach in my opinion. My problem isnt with the increase perse, just the bull-headed manner in which they designed it and the statement they released. I would actually consider losing my DVD's but I just discovered The Wire, and well... I have to watch every single episode now.
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
quote:Pachter predicts Netflix's streaming content licensing costs will rise from $180 million in 2010 to a whopping $1.98 billion in 2012.
That's a biiiiig increase.
edit: But if liscencing fees for streaming online are where the costs are coming from, how come it's streaming + DVDs that are seeing such a big increase? DVDs as a market don't seem to be nearly as strong as they used to be.
Honestly I think the day will come where physical copies of our movies will be playing second fiddle to massive online media streaming services. At least until the zombie apocalypse happens, then all those who hoarded DVDs will be viewed as Gods when the internet stops functioning.
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
God's of coasters maybe...I doubt the power will be up long after the zombie apoc.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
You hoard dvd's and low battery use portable dvd player's, I'll hoard toilet paper.
We will see who becomes God in zombieland.
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
I hoard ammo...because anything you or anyone else can hoard that I need and don't have...well, you do the math. Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
The trailer for Blindness, starring Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo and Danny Glover. Its not streaming, but I was very impressed with this film and cant figure out why I havent heard of it in the last three years.
The trailer sets up the premise, but does not prepare an audience for the gravity of its story and plot elements. This is not a movie for kids or any over sensitive members of your family. What it is, is a dissection of human morality and its frailty in the face of weakness. The film makers did an excellent job of telling the story so I dont want to spoil any of it, just warning you that there is a good length in this long movie that is hard to watch.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
The day will come when there is as much available streaming as there is on DVDs. That day has not come yet. It REALLY hasn't come for the vast majority of things that I want to watch.
For that reason, I rejoice over the new price structure. I have used streaming maybe once in the past year, and I use the DVDs all the time. I am happily switching to a DVDs-only plan and saving almost six dollars a month.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
They just added Birdemic: Shock and Terror to the streaming list. This is truly a Manos/The Room/Troll 2 level cornucopia of awesome badness. If you want to add icing to the cake, there's also a Rifftrax for this movie. But with or without it, this movie is a scream. Watch it with friends.
Posted by shadowland (Member # 12366) on :
That's great news! I can't wait to watch Birdemic again.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
I finally watched Timer, I don't think I was impressed by the premise as many of you were but the cast was impeccable and I did enjoy the movie very much. I like the directors sense of humor, the scene where Emma Caulfield has trouble with automatic door at the supermarket hit my funny bone with precision.
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
Memento...so good.
Timer, eh? I loved Emma Caufield from Buffy...I will check it out.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
I have to say, I never realized just how skinny Caulfield was until I watched Timer. Good for her for being healthy but someone needs to give that woman a sandwich.
Posted by Yebor1 (Member # 1380) on :
OMG THE KILL POINT amazing television i knew John leguizamo was a great actor but this just put him throught the roof same for Donnie Walberg and whole cast dont miss this one
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Watching Leguizamo in Too Wong Foo, and then in his short lived character in Gamer will show just how dynamic his acting ability is.
Posted by Jeff C. (Member # 12496) on :
They added Mad Men recently, which I hear is good. I've also been watching Camelot, although there's only ten episodes and the series was cancelled,despite the amazing reviews.
Psych is also a good show, although it's been up for a while.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
This may be too late to be useful, but I was browsing my instant queue and noticed that one of my movies is expiring tomorrow, so I decided to watch it.
The movie was Witness for the Prosecution, and it was brilliant. A nicely plotted courtroom mystery with a truly unconventional twist ending. But better still, the colorful characters and witty dialogue made it more fun to watch than just about any other film I've seen in the genre. Wonderfully acted and directed, and the script is a classic demonstration of why Agatha Christie is one of the 20th century's most beloved authors.
If you're bored tonight, give it a shot. At least watch the first 10 minutes and see if you can bear to turn it off. Otherwise, add it to your DVD queue before they make you pay extra for it.
Posted by 0Megabyte (Member # 8624) on :
So... I've been watching a lot of Star Trek: The Next Generation on Netflix.
Like, alot.
Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :
quote:I finally watched Timer, I don't think I was impressed by the premise as many of you were but the cast was impeccable and I did enjoy the movie very much. I like the directors sense of humor, the scene where Emma Caulfield has trouble with automatic door at the supermarket hit my funny bone with precision.
I loved how Timer completely ignored all the typical romantic comedy tropes.
That said...
WARNING: Don't watch Timer with a romantic interest with whom you are questioning the seriousness of your connection.
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
Not related to netflix, but RA's warning...One of my first dates with my wife was to go see "The Last Kiss" in the theater...since we both really liked "Garden State" we figured for the same off beat, fun, moving, romantic comedy/drama...
Big mistake. Big. Mistake. Not a date movie at all, let alone a beginning of the relationship date movie.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
I never thought I would say this but, Wristcutters: A Love Story might be a better date movie than Timer.
Also while on the topic of off kilter love stories, Good Dick is an amazing movie written, directed and starring Marianna Palka co-written and also starring Jason Ritter, John Ritter's son. I cannot praise this movie enough, its frank, its bitter and socially uncomfortable. Just like real life. Because of the provocative title I feel that I should say that there is no nudity and no sex scenes, dialogue doesn't get much worse than what is in the trailer.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
I just finished the first two seasons of Damages, I am happy that I waited to watch it as a marathon due to the very detail oriented plot twists and cliff hanger style. Between streaming Damages and getting The Wire through the mail I find myself in crime drama nirvana.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
quote:Originally posted by Yebor1: OMG THE KILL POINT amazing television i knew John leguizamo was a great actor but this just put him throught the roof same for Donnie Walberg and whole cast dont miss this one
I'm watching The Kill Point right now, I love seeing all those familiar faces from The Wire.
ETA I am about half way through, and Wahlberg is absolutely annoying.
[ August 05, 2011, 12:09 PM: Message edited by: AchillesHeel ]
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
A bit of Fry and Laurie...awesome!
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
quote:Originally posted by pooka: We've really enjoyed "Making Stuff", a four part Nova mini series. I was finishing the third and fourth episodes the other night and the kids were so engrossed they went back and watched the first two and headed into the third again.
We've been watching that too, at your suggestion, and it's a lot of fun. I especially enjoyed Episode 3. It's nice to see environmentalism focused on how things can get better, rather than how screwed we are. I really enjoyed seeing a piece on the subject that was exciting and inspiring, rather than depressing.
*****
I just finished watching Topsy Turvy with my wife, and we both loved it. The main plot involves the creation and production of Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado. But it's really more of a leisurely slice-of-life examination of late 19th Century London theater than a standard biopic.
It's also a movie that we're lucky was ever made. There's not much mainstream market for projects like this, but somehow they managed to get more time and money invested in it than there was ever a hope of making back. It was clearly a labor of love for someone. The result is an impeccably researched and relatively lavishly produced film, full of top-notch actors and scrupulous attention to detail.
It's a little long, and I wouldn't call it suspenseful. But it never drags and is fascinating and enlightening from start to finish, particularly if you've got any interest in the subject matter.
[ August 07, 2011, 10:00 PM: Message edited by: Speed ]
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
Jim Henson's the Story Teller...makes me sad all over again that he died.
Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
They have the first two seasons of Reboot on netflix.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
I hate to keep monopolizing the thread, but a couple weeks ago I just streamed the most interesting movie I've seen in a long time. The movie was Nosferatu.
I don't know if I should admit this, but I think it was the first silent feature film I've ever seen all the way through. I watched it mainly to experience an important piece of culture, but I never expected to actually like it.
Much to my surprise, I was totally captivated by it. I didn't even notice time passing as I watched it. If anything, the silent, flickery black-and-white only enhanced the experience. More than a mere cultural relic, it was a really excellent film.
And the most surprising part was how much it's stuck with me over the past few weeks. I've seen various vampire movies, books and TV shows in the past. Some I've liked more than others. But this was the only thing I've ever seen that actually got me interested in vampire lore in general.
Since I saw it I've scoured the web for historical vampire legends, ordered the Werner Herzog remake of Nosferatu from Netflix, watched Shadow of the Vampire (a fictionalized movie about the making of Nosferatu), and I've even started reading Dracula. As much as I enjoyed Buffy and the like, it never had this effect on me.
The Herzog remake was also very good, in a different way, but it didn't get into my head the way the original did. And the remake isn't on streaming, so there's that.
Posted by EarlNMeyer-Flask (Member # 1546) on :
I never watched later seasons like 2 onwards of Futurama when it came out even though I love sci-fi and the Simpsons. I don't remember why though. Anyways, I'm really enjoying Futurama. It's really funny.
Posted by EarlNMeyer-Flask (Member # 1546) on :
Maybe Netflix won't be with us for much longer, but I guess we'll have to see. Hulu is great too. I watch current tv on it.
Posted by odouls268 (Member # 2145) on :
i'm still a hulu guy. no homo.
Posted by Jeff C. (Member # 12496) on :
They just threw Tangled on streaming, which is one of my favorite Disney movies. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out!
Also, Star Trek: ToS, Voyager, and TNG are all up for streaming. Always entertaining.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jeff C.: They just threw Tangled on streaming, which is one of my favorite Disney movies. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out!
Great. I wanted to see that.
Posted by Jake (Member # 206) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jeff C.: Also, Star Trek: ToS, Voyager, and TNG are all up for streaming. Always entertaining.
I wish they had DS9. Amazon does, and since I have prime it doesn't cost me anything more than I'm already paying, but I'd rather give Netflix the buisness.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
Tangled was quite good, but the animation was so stunning it might be worth your while to order the dvd our blu-ray for the full experience.
Also if you need to catch up on some of Disney's best recent work, they had Toy story 3 on streaming last time I checked.
Posted by Jeff C. (Member # 12496) on :
I wish they had DS9, too. I'd love to watch that again after my Voyager run.
Tangled is amazing, and I am very tempted to buy it on bluray.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Paper Man is an odd dramatic comedy starring Jeff Bridges, Emma Stone, Lisa Kudrow and Kieran Culkin.
And Ryan Reynolds as Captain Excellent. Posted by EarlNMeyer-Flask (Member # 1546) on :
quote:Originally posted by Yebor1: OMG THE KILL POINT amazing television i knew John leguizamo was a great actor but this just put him throught the roof same for Donnie Walberg and whole cast dont miss this one
So I watched Kill Point and I have to say what a crazy mix of really great moments with bad effects/edits, completely unbelievable shoot outs and poorly written emotional scenes.
C-
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Wahlberg's character only became more foolish, and Omar Little (the sniper) was over written with no real set-up. I found Kill Point trite and easy to predict in the end, certain elements hint to a darker more complex story that could have been if not for tv producers need for generalization.
The old man could have been much more interesting, but he really only got that one good line "(I'm paraphrasing) I came out in 1962, this is nothing."
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
If anyone here is only familiar with Jackie Chan from his post-Rush Hour movies, and you've always wondered what the big deal was about him, Netflix just answered your question.
This is one of Jackie Chan's best movies ever, and it also showcases his equally amazing Peking Opera School brothers Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao.
It's great all the way through, but if you can't watch the whole thing, just skip to the end and watch Jackie fight Benny "The Jet" Urquidez. If you only know that guy as the assassin from Grosse Pointe Blank, you're in for another jaw-dropping surprise.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
'Super' starring Rainn Wilson and Ellen Page is not streaming, but I think its worth seeing. I have to note that there is a scene between Wilson and Page that is the fifth most disturbing scene of a sexual nature that I have ever seen, and three of the top four are violent rapes.
Its not a timid film, but I think that is the point in contrast to conventional action and hero movies.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Season one of Walking Dead is now streaming, with plenty of time to lament with all the other fans about how long it will be before season two starts airing on AMC.
All of The Wonder Years is also streaming now.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
Malcolm in the Middle too. Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
Luckily, before Starz leaves Netflix for good, they allowed the entire fourth season of Torchwood to be aired on Netflix. Only the first episode was available on Starz.com, and none of the episodes were available on Amazon.com, my preferred online source to pay for videos. I was willing to pay extra to see it, but now I don't have to.
Posted by Sa'eed (Member # 12368) on :
The dad from Malcolm in the Middle is pretty amazing in Breaking Bad, which is also now streaming (maybe it's always been?). I've seen four episodes so far and they were all tense and compelling. Best show I've seen in a while. Love the Albuquerque setting.
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
It's rather new to netflix, but its amazingness is not new at all.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
If Smallville is included I might start cherry picking some of the later episodes, mainly ones with other heroes.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
There's a new season of That Mitchell and Webb Look up now. A quite enjoyable, British sketch comedy show starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb.
Hobbes Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sa'eed: The dad from Malcolm in the Middle is pretty amazing in Breaking Bad, which is also now streaming (maybe it's always been?). I've seen four episodes so far and they were all tense and compelling. Best show I've seen in a while. Love the Albuquerque setting.
I just heard an interview with Aaron Paul, who plays Jesse on Breaking Bad. He said that when he was younger he came very close to being cast as Reese on Malcolm in the Middle. One way or another, he was destined to hang out with Bryan Cranston.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
The Perfect Host starring David Hyde Pierce, and after watching this I will never watch Frasier the same.
[ October 16, 2011, 11:27 AM: Message edited by: AchillesHeel ]
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Being Human, the "UK" version, aka the original is streaming. The opening narrative made me an honest fan and the actual meat of the show was simply icing on the cake.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
I'm sure everyone knows that Netflix has all the Saturday Night Live archives. But that's a massive pile, and I just found something awesome buried in there. So if you have Netflix, click the following:
I know the early '80s SNL has a bad rep, but you've really got to see two things:
1. 10:00 in: If you're a fan of A Mighty Wind, this may surprise and delight you. 2. 17:20 in: If you watched Billy Crystal on the Oscars last year, and you're too young to understand why everyone used to love him so much, watch this sketch. It's just Billy and Martin Short, and it's one of the funniest sketches I can ever remember seeing on SNL.
The rest of the episode is pretty funny, too. All above the standards of the era. But those two sketches especially were so awesome I had to share.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
You won't be disappointed.![[Wall Bash]](graemlins/wallbash.gif)
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)