The Netflix Instant Watch recommendation thread

[Bullwinkle]

If you want a goofy, fun time then check out Todd and the Book of Pure Evil.

It's basically Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure meets The Evil Dead.  It starts off slow but develops an almost Joss Whedon like storyline by the end of the first season.  I had a blast with the show.  Atticus steals every scene he's in.

I second this.  It's a bit like John Dies at the End the TV series.  Both musical episodes are also fantastic, the second being a true musical with some really great funny songs.

Hoping it picks up then, because I'm fairly unimpressed after 3 episodes.  So far, its a wannabe Buffy without the funny or the great dialog.

I turned it off after the first two minutes.

[forgeforsaken]

If you want a goofy, fun time then check out Todd and the Book of Pure Evil.

It's basically Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure meets The Evil Dead.  It starts off slow but develops an almost Joss Whedon like storyline by the end of the first season.  I had a blast with the show.  Atticus steals every scene he's in.

I second this.  It's a bit like John Dies at the End the TV series.  Both musical episodes are also fantastic, the second being a true musical with some really great funny songs.

Hoping it picks up then, because I'm fairly unimpressed after 3 episodes.  So far, its a wannabe Buffy without the funny or the great dialog.

It's definitely not a wannabe Buffy, it's going for something different.  It's much more over the top and intentionally cheesy.

[CeeKay]

Netflix Canuckistan got Red Tails this past week. I found it pretty damn cheesy, but fun none the less. I thought Terrence Howard put in a fairly convincing performance though as the Colonel in charge of the Tuskegee squadron, lobbying their cause in Washington. A number of the cast were actually quite decent. The funny thing about it is that weakest performances were from the white actors, some of who were just terrible. Well maybe that's fitting considering the subject matter.  I'd be comfortable recommending it to any fan of military action films.

hopefully that one comes to US Netflix soon.

[hepcat]

If you want a goofy, fun time then check out Todd and the Book of Pure Evil.

It's basically Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure meets The Evil Dead.  It starts off slow but develops an almost Joss Whedon like storyline by the end of the first season.  I had a blast with the show.  Atticus steals every scene he's in.

I second this.  It's a bit like John Dies at the End the TV series.  Both musical episodes are also fantastic, the second being a true musical with some really great funny songs.

Hoping it picks up then, because I'm fairly unimpressed after 3 episodes.  So far, its a wannabe Buffy without the funny or the great dialog.

I turned it off after the first two minutes.

So the credits didn't make you laugh?  I feel your pain.  The font they used for "director" was just NOT witty enough. 

I think from now on, I'll just use you and Gratch as my personal critics.  If you guys hate something, I know I'll like it.  

[Gratch]

I think from now on, I'll just use you and Gratch as my personal critics.  If you guys hate something, I know I'll like it.  

 

I watched a couple more episodes last night, and it's slowly growing on me.  Still don't think it's anything great, but since nothing else is really grabbing me at the moment, I'm going to at least give it through Season 1.  Side note:  I didn't even recognize Jason Mewes outside of the "Jay" persona.

[hepcat]

As I noted earlier, it starts off really slow.  I honestly was about to give up on it after the first two episodes.  Then they had a scene with the puppet Baby Todd playing thrash guitar and his sidekick dressed as a Viking and riding a flying motorcycle in one of Todd's dream sequence.  That convinced me to stick around.  I think once you hit the musical episode, you'll warm to it even more.  Yeah, it's got some weak moments, but it's got enough funny moments to make it worth wading through those.

[Bullwinkle]

If you want a goofy, fun time then check out Todd and the Book of Pure Evil.

It's basically Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure meets The Evil Dead.  It starts off slow but develops an almost Joss Whedon like storyline by the end of the first season.  I had a blast with the show.  Atticus steals every scene he's in.

I second this.  It's a bit like John Dies at the End the TV series.  Both musical episodes are also fantastic, the second being a true musical with some really great funny songs.

Hoping it picks up then, because I'm fairly unimpressed after 3 episodes.  So far, its a wannabe Buffy without the funny or the great dialog.

I turned it off after the first two minutes.

So the credits didn't make you laugh?  I feel your pain.  The font they used for "director" was just NOT witty enough. 

I think from now on, I'll just use you and Gratch as my personal critics.  If you guys hate something, I know I'll like it.  

I didn't get to the credits.  It was an awful, grating concert with forced "edgy" dialogue, poorly delivered, in what was clearly going to be a trite dream sequence.  Plus the guy's face bugged me.

In truth, I had to turn it off because my wife was sleeping on the couch and my daughter was in the next room and in that short time they had something about pussies and sexy she-bitches.  I might have given it more of a chance in other circumstances, but it didn't compel me to give it another shot, either.

[hepcat]

Once you realize they're making fun of those conventions, not reveling in them, it makes more sense thematically.  And as I said, the first two or three episodes are rather weak.  They don't find their footing until midway into the season.  

Plus the guy's face bugged me.

That doesn't change throughout the entire run of the show.

p.s. "edgy"?  I think you have a different definition of edgy than I do.  Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure was about as far from that word as possible...and so is this.

[Bullwinkle]

Once you realize they're making fun of those conventions, not reveling in them, it makes more sense thematically.  And as I said, the first two or three episodes are rather weak.  They don't find their footing until midway into the season.  

Plus the guy's face bugged me.

That doesn't change throughout the entire run of the show.

p.s. "edgy"?  I think you have a different definition of edgy than I do.  Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure was about as far from that word as possible...and so is this.

Well, as I say, it was a dream sequence at the beginning where he was being an ideal cool version of himself.

I don't actually mean to criticize as I really can't having only seen a snippet and most comedies take a couple of episodes to find their tone.

[EddieA]

They've finally added season 2 of The Avengers : Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

[hepcat]

Man, I wish they hadn't cancelled The Avengers animated series.  I think it's one of those rare, real attempts at making a decent Marvel cartoon that comes even remotely close to matching the greatness of those coming out of the DC Animated studios.  Highly recommend watching both seasons on Netflix!

Oh, and add The Black Panther animated series to your queue if you like the Avengers animated show.  It's really quite good too.

I don't actually mean to criticize as I really can't having only seen a snippet and most comedies take a couple of episodes to find their tone.

It's all good.  I was just being cranky yesterday.  We'll share a beer over it if I can ever convince you to come to chicago for one of biannual board gaming get togethers.

[Crawley]

The Avengers is one of those 30 minute shows I'll watch before heading to bed - Dr Who Classics, Twilight Zone and Family Guy being the others I typically choose from. It's pretty good. I'm about half-way through the 1st season so glad to hear there's another season waiting. Was there only the two seasons?

[hepcat]

Sadly, yes.  Only two seasons and then cancelled.   

[CeeKay]

Sadly, yes.  Only two seasons and then cancelled.   

actually it is morphing into Avengers Assemble, like Justice League became Justice League Unlimited:

Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes hasn't been cancelled as Avengers Assemble is being viewed as a continuation of that series.

[hepcat]

Cool, I did not know that!  Thanks, Ceekay!  You cheered me up with that bit of news.

[EngineNo9]

Mike Birbiglia's film Sleepwalk With Me just became available recently and I found it both funny and entertaining. 

[Bullwinkle]

Mike Birbiglia's film Sleepwalk With Me just became available recently and I found it both funny and entertaining.  

Yeah, I've heard good things about that movie.

Queen of Versailles was added, too, and it's supposed to be a fantastic documentary.  Don't let the Jersey Shore meets Legally Blonde cover fool you.

[Crawley]

Mike Birbiglia's film Sleepwalk With Me just became available recently and I found it both funny and entertaining. 

Been waiting for that one to appear on Netflix after hearing the standup version of it on This American Life awhile back. I know the movie got pretty good reviews but got kinda lost in theaters. 'course I didn't help by not seeing it there but hey!

[Gratch]

As I noted earlier, it starts off really slow.  I honestly was about to give up on it after the first two episodes.  Then they had a scene with the puppet Baby Todd playing thrash guitar and his sidekick dressed as a Viking and riding a flying motorcycle in one of Todd's dream sequence.  That convinced me to stick around.  I think once you hit the musical episode, you'll warm to it even more.  Yeah, it's got some weak moments, but it's got enough funny moments to make it worth wading through those.

You were right, and I'm glad I kept watching.  I finally got hooked by the end of Season 1, and was really sad to see it end (especially with that whopper of a cliffhanger).   Sucks it got cancelled...I would have loved to see where they went with it next.  While it was always cheesy, the writing got significantly better as it went along, the characters became more likeable, and Atticus became, well, Atticus.  . That second musical episode was one of the funnier things I've ever seen.  Here's hoping they can figure out a way to revive it somehow.

Side note:  I know that Jenny was supposed to be the "hot chick", but Hannah (especially evil Hannah) was just...dayum.   

[Caine]

Glad that Always Sunny is now on streaming.  Good chance to catch up on the episodes I've missed.  Got the wife watching too. 

Also watched Wilfred.  What a nice tea twisted show.  So odd to see Frodo hitting the bong.

[kronovan]

I'm watching the anime series Darker than Black for the 2nd time - this time with my son. I'm watching it on Netflix Canuckistan, so I'm not sure if its on Netflix USA . It's produced by one of Sony Music Entertainment's subsidiaries  -Aniplex- who also did Fullmetal Alchemist and Rurouni Kenshin. It's pretty much a story along the lines of the aftermath of a weird and F#@$'d up Tokyo, but this series puts a much more interesting twist on that theme. It has some gory moments, so it might not suit the squeamish. There's some excellent animation in it though and the English dub is good. The soundtrack is done by Yoko Kanno (Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell: SAC) and although it's not her best work, it's still very good. Definitely worth a watch if you like anime.

[hepcat]

Side note:  I know that Jenny was supposed to be the "hot chick", but Hannah (especially evil Hannah) was just...dayum.   

Agreed.  While Jenny was no slouch in the looks department, Hannah's a redhead. 

[WorkingMike]

I just watched it this morning. Very well done documentary about some fabulously wealthy folks whose business model was a proverbial house of cards.

Queen of Versailles was added, too, and it's supposed to be a fantastic documentary.  Don't let the Jersey Shore meets Legally Blonde cover fool you.

[hepcat]

I've been looking forward to seeing Queen of Versailles.  I know what I'm watching this weekend now.

[Gratch]

I just watched it this morning. Very well done documentary about some fabulously wealthy folks whose business model was a proverbial house of cards.

Queen of Versailles was added, too, and it's supposed to be a fantastic documentary.  Don't let the Jersey Shore meets Legally Blonde cover fool you.

IIRC, the husband in that film was the same guy who threatened to lay off employees if Obama won.

[Crusis]

Queen of Versailles was great!

Spoiler for Hiden:

The mother looking for the puppies (that may have been eaten by their Python) in her ridiculous Gucci shoes while the overworked housekeepers take care of the kids and clean up all the dog shit was probably the finest moments in the movie.

[EngineNo9]

Yeah, I agree that it was a great movie but man do I have absolutely no sympathy for those people.  It just made me sick watching them.

[Gratch]

EDIT:  Whoops, wrong thread.   

[hepcat]

Since we're on a documentary kick here, I would like to heartily suggest The Ambassador.  Not sure if this one has been brought up yet, but if not it's an amazing film.  Mads Brügger makes Sascha Baron Cohen look like a wimp.  The whole film is about his attempts to "buy" a diplomatic position from the Central African Republic via some shady folks, and the subsequent experiences he has with a jaw dropping level of corruption in that region.  He puts himself in harm's way more than any investigative journalist (albeit a humorous one) I've ever seen.  

[Caine]

Glad that Always Sunny is now on streaming.  Good chance to catch up on the episodes I've missed.  Got the wife watching too.  

Also watched Wilfred.  What a nice tea twisted show.  So odd to see Frodo hitting the bong.

[whiteboyskim]

For those interested, the entirety of The West Wing is now available. Fabulous series. Seasons 1-4 are terrific and the best writing Aaron Sorkin has ever done, IMO. Season 5 is aimless and just wanders all over the map, but season 6 picks up with a strong energy. But once the campaign gets going in earnest about 3/4 of the way through season 6, every episode from then until the end becomes a must-watch. Terrific, highly entertaining series.

[kronovan]

Netflix Canuckistan got the Usual Suspects, The Raid: Redemption and The Hunt for Red October this week. I promise I won't bitch about the lack of decent content on the service here for at least 3 weeks. 

[EngineNo9]

I see that Blue Valentine is now available.  Highly recommended drama if you don't mind depressing movies.

[CeeKay]

Super HD and 3D streaming is coming.

[kronovan]

Well considering you need this for Super HD

"Netflix Super HD requires that your Internet Provider is part of the Netflix Open Connect network."

It won't be happening in my neck of the woods anytime soon, considering all of the Internet Providers I can use have their own competing services.

[hepcat]

Even though I'm convinced that he'd appear at the opening of a can of baked beans if you offered him 12 bucks and cab fare, Robert De Niro was actually fun in Red Lights.  It's a horror/thriller that sees De Niro's character come out of retirement and return to the stage as the world's most famous psychic.  A group of academics at a local college try to debunk his claims...with one of the professors seeming to have a little TOO much interest in doing so.  Well worth a watch.  Not great, but a decent enough try.

[Crawley]

I see the Iron Sky, the movie with Nazi's living on the moon, is on Netflix now. Also the horror film V/H/S is there which I think had a bit of buzz. Haven't watched either yet.

What we're watching right now is Once Upon a Time. The show where fairy tale characters were cursed and now live in a small town in our reality with no memory of who they were. This show should not work. It looks like they spent next to nothing on it and the costumes look cheap and the special effects are right out of a made for SyFi Channel movie. But it's surprisingly good for light entertainment. It almost has a Lost feeling to it as you try and figure out whats going on and particularly the flashback sequences with all the characters when they lived in the the fairyland world. Its also a lot of fun to try and figure out which character is who as they don't share the same names in our world. There's some nice twists in a lot of the episodes.

So for some reason the show really works and is a lot of fun.

[Bullwinkle]

I see the Iron Sky, the movie with Nazi's living on the moon, is on Netflix now.
 

FDR: American Badass has been up, too.

I can't quite bring myself to add either of them to my queue.

[MonkeyFinger]

I see the Iron Sky, the movie with Nazi's living on the moon, is on Netflix now.

Wow, that was... bad. Thankfully it was only 92 minutes and it did have a couple of interesting moments but overall was full of the stupid. Apparently, Moon Nazis can build "flying saucer" type vehicles that can reach Earth undetected but drive Volkswagons and motorcycles with sidecars around on the surface of the moon. And a cell phone is the missing key to finally getting their battle wagon the Gotterdammerung flying. Oh, and "aircraft carrier" ships that look like giant space zeppelins. 

The female lead was sweet. No, not the President - the Moon Nazi one. 

[kronovan]

I see the Iron Sky, the movie with Nazi's living on the moon, is on Netflix now.

Wow, that was... bad. Thankfully it was only 92 minutes and it did have a couple of interesting moments but overall was full of the stupid. Apparently, Moon Nazis can build "flying saucer" type vehicles that can reach Earth undetected but drive Volkswagons and motorcycles with sidecars around on the surface of the moon. And a cell phone is the missing key to finally getting their battle wagon the Gotterdammerung flying. Oh, and "aircraft carrier" ships that look like giant space zeppelins. 

The female lead was sweet. No, not the President - the Moon Nazi one. 

Damn! You make me so jealous that this hasn't arrived on Netflix Canuckistan yet.   
We do have NAZIS at the Center of the Earth though, which I still haven't watched - should I?