So I signed up for Netflix. What should I rent?

[silverweb]

Seriously.

I'm totally out of touch with current movies.

Suggestions and recommendations?

[Suich]

1. Here's what I've rented lately and can recommend:

"Milk" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013753/
"Doubt" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0918927/
"The Lucky Ones" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0981072/
"Last Chance Harvey" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1046947/

I liked them all!

:hi:

[silverweb]

2. Thanks!

I'd read all the raves about Milk here at DU, but had forgotten about it. And I'll definitely check out the others.

:hi:

[travelingtypist]

3. Be sure to check out the online watch instantly catalog.

I have now watched The Fugitive so many times I'm almost sick of it. I'm now watching Pirates of the Caribbean 3 online. I watch Pretty Woman, Wild Things, Armageddon, a lot of good ones. And they just put up WALL-e, which I got on DVD from them and thought was so-so cute.

[silverweb]

4. Unfortunately, I can't use that feature.

That was one of the first things I tried, but the on-line movies are only available within the continental United States -- and I live about a mile south of the Mexican border. :(

[handmade34]

5. Lars and the Real Girl

[silverweb]

7. I'd never heard of that one.

Just read the Wikipedia synopsis and it sounds great.

Thanks! :)

[handmade34]

8. hard to recommend movies to another

I like movies that portray people's oddities and humanness... "Son of Rambo" and "Gran Torino" are a couple others that are good. Make lots of popcorn, I like mine with olive oil and hot sauce

edit--- MILK is great!

[silverweb]

11. Yes, it is hard.

I hesitated before posting, then thought... what the hell -- DUers are never shy about sharing their opinions. :D

I'll have to try your popcorn topping, too!

[handmade34]

19. don't forget a bit of salt

just noticed your byline- Love Wendall Berry, I used to teach homesteading and he was a great source of inspiration...

[silverweb]

21. Garlic salt, for sure.

Homesteading sounds fascinating. I'll bet you could tell a lot of stories. My kids and I think we should be sharpening some of those skills because they may well be needed again.

[ghostsofgiants]

6. What kind of stuff do you like?

[silverweb]

9. A good cross section.

Drama, comedy, action, thrillers (horror not so much), sci-fi/fantasy...

Now that I've entered a few titles to my Netflix queue, their program has its own quiz and is making all kinds of suggestions. Pretty nifty!

At this rate, I'll have a new movie every week for life. :D

[ghostsofgiants]

12. Alright, well these are some of my personal favourites...

Mulholland Drive
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Masculin Feminin
Eyes Wide Shut
The American Astronaut
Brand Upon the Brain!

[silverweb]

16. Cool.

I've seen the first two, though I sure wouldn't mind seeing them again... both terrific. Now that you mention it, I always meant to see Eyes Wide Shut and never got around to it. The remaining three I've never heard of, so will definitely check them out.

Thanks! :hi:

[ghostsofgiants]

18. Okay, to replace the two you have seen, I suggest...

Inland Empire and The Face of Another.

[silverweb]

22. You're a gem.

:)

[sarge43]

34. Assuming you have boardband, do check out the Watch Instantly

That feature alone is worth the dues.

[silverweb]

51. I can't use that feature.

It was one of my primary hopes and reasons for signing up.

However, I feared -- and was right -- that instant watching is only for inside the continental United States. That's a problem with many on-line offerings, like Hulu and Pandora and most network stations.

I live in Mexico, so I'll only be able to take advantage of instant watching when I'm visiting on the north side of the border. :sigh:

[sarge43]

61. That's too bad.

Still Netflix is one of the better deals going.

If you haven't seen it already, check out It Happened One Night, the first screwball comedy and I think the best.

[EastTennesseeDem]

10. Let the Right One In

It's not horror, like the poster and subject matter may have you believe.

[silverweb]

13. The synopsis sounds intriguing.

Thanks for the suggestion. :hi:

[ghostsofgiants]

14. Definitely one of the best films to come out in recent memory.

:thumbsup:

[alphafemale]

31. Yep that's an awesome one. And Time Crimes whch was in the previews for LTROI.

That was incredible.

I love NetFlix for the obscure/older stuff you would never find at the local rental place more so than for the new releases.

On that line check out Chronos and The Wages of Fear.

[bikebloke]

41. Both are great films.

Warning: The DVD's default into horribly dubbed English. Set them up for the original language with subtitles.

[silverweb]

54. Excellent.

Thank you! :)

[kid a]

15. Frost Nixon & Milk

[silverweb]

57. Got Milk on the list.

Frost Nixon's another add. I forgot about that one, but it looks really good.

:thumbsup:

[MajorChode]

17. If you have a high-speed internet connection...

I would recommend buying a Roku DVR and dropping your subscription to the $8.99 plan. There are thousands of movies and TV available via the Roku player (you can also watch them online on your computer without the Roku DVR). The Roku player just allows you to watch the instant movies for free on your TV. The number of movies you can watch is unlimited. Some of the latest generation Blue-Ray players have the Netflix interface built in, which means you don't need the Roku device.

When Netflix upped their Blue-Ray fees I got pissed at them and switched to Blockbuster. I miss the instant movies most of all, though. There's a lot of great stuff available.

[silverweb]

20. I have the broad-band connection.

I can't watch instant movies, though, because I'm in Mexico and the download is disallowed outside the U.S. I cross the border to check my mail every week or so, and am content to just pick up my new movies then.

Besides, if I have access to instant movies, I'll never get any work done. :D

[MajorChode]

23. You might consider switching to Blockbuster

They have some subscription options that let you return movies directly to their stores and check out movies locally.

The Netflix selection of older movies used to be better, but I'm not sure if that is still the case.

[Juche]

26. They are limited to 2-5 a month now though

Back in the day you could get unlimited in store exchanges at blockbuster. With the 3 at a time plan, I was swamped in movies.


https://www.blockbuster.com/signup/rp/regPlan

[Juche]

24. Rate as many movies as possible

I've been on netflix for about 2 months and have rated almost 400 movies and TV shows that I've watched over my life and that I remember well enough to rate. The more you rate things you've already seen, the more and better the recommendations that netflix will give you for new things to rent.

It is hard to suggest movies w/o knowing what you like and don't like. I personally enjoy juvenile comedies and serious documentaries, and some of the ones netflix recommended to me were amazing, even though I'd never heard of them before.

[silverweb]

28. Excellent advice.

Once I started rating, more titles popped up that I've seen in the past, have heard of but not seen, or have never heard of -- and they all sound great.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

25. Well, Silverweb, you sound like a romantic at heart, so.....

I highly recommend "Lone Star" with Kris Kristofferson, Chris Cooper and Elizabeth Pena. It is definitely one of my all-time favorites, and I just watched it again this weekend. Been around awhile, but it really holds up.

To watch again:

Fargo
As Good As It Gets, About Schmidt if you're a Jack Nicholson fan
Chocolat
Laughing Out Loud

[silverweb]

27. Thank you.

I've seen As Good As It Gets... great movie, makes me smile just thinking about it. Chocolat is another one of those I meant to see and never quite got around to, and I appreciate the reminder. And I'll definitely check out the other titles you mention.

:hi:

[ZombieHorde]

29. I saw a funny sci-fi monster movie called Meatball Machine recently.

I highly suggest it if you are in the mood for a funny bloody cheese night. (Not for some kids) *Japan*



Ghost Town is a main stream comedy which is actually really really funny. *USA*



Milk is punk rock, check it out. *USA*



Ninja Scroll is one of the best movies in the world. (Not for kids) *Japan*




Oldboy is super awesome. It is about a guy who is kidnapped for 15 years for unknown reasons and then released just so he can figure out who and why. (Not for kids) *Korea*

[MilesColtrane]

30. I took a look back at my rental history.

Some of these are not current movies, but they are ones I've rented recently because I'd not seen them. (four out of five stars or higher according to me)

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
In Bruges
The Host (good Korean monster flick)
The Sand Pebbles (Steve McQueen movie)
The Man From Earth (low budget sci-fi done right...good script)
All five seasons of The Wire (the best TV series I've ever seen.)
Synecdoche, New York (directed and penned by Charlie Kaufman, starring Phil Seymour Hoffman. Sad, deeply weird, and occasionally very funny.)

[silverweb]

44. Excellent.

I'm tending the same way... choosing movies that are not necessarily the latest, but good ones that I haven't seen before.

Thank you. :)

[cwydro]

32. I recently got every season of the Mary Tyler Moore show,

because I grew up with that series.

They've got all kinds of TV shows, not just movies and the bonus is NO commercials.

[silverweb]

58. Thanks!

I will definitely check out the TV show offerings. :)

[Graybeard]

33. Three films about quirky, loveable women.

I instantly fell in love with these women.

Amelie - with Audrey Tatou

Happy-Go-Lucky - with Sally Hawkins

Avenue Montaigne - with Cecile De France

And after you have watched these, check out a film that stars two of these actresses in very different roles: Audrey Tatou and Cecile De France in "The Spanish Apartment."

[silverweb]

56. Thanks.

The only one I've heard of is Amelie, so I'll definitely check out the others.

:)

[AngryAmish]

35. City of God

[silverweb]

45. Saw that with my daughter.

An amazing movie, especially since it's based on a true story.

:thumbsup:

[lizerdbits]

36. 'Death at a Funeral' if you like comedy. NT

[silverweb]

46. And I do.

Thanks!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

37. Don't rent current movies

Find a book on film history and catch up on the classics, foreign films, the ones that never made it to your local multiplex, as well as worthwhile television series that either never made it to the U.S. or were not on a channel available to you or were before your time.

Here are the first few items in my queue:

Lovejoy, Season 3 (British comic mystery)
Extras, Season 1 (HBO comedy)
Doctor Who, Robot (old series)
Kavanagh QC, Series 2 (British courtroom drama starring John "Inspector Morse" Thaw)
American Blackout (documentary)
Taggart, Series 2 (Scottish police drama)
Life After People (documentary)
DaVinci's Inquest, Season 1 (Canadian forensic science drama)
The Place Promised in Our Early Days (anime)
Kavanagh QC, Series 3
The War Game (what-if pseudo-documentary about nuclear war)
The Last Detective, Series 2
Executive Action (conspiracy thriller)
A Touch of Frost, Seasons 9-10 (British mystery)
Paranoid Park (Gus Van Sant film--made in Portland, which is why I'm renting it)
Naked City, Season 2 (early 1960s TV series)
Maiko Haan (Japanese film)
DaVinci's Inquest, Season 2

I'm sort of on a TV series kick at the moment, but, for example, if you're interested in a certain country or part of the world, you can go to "Browse DVDs," select "foreign films," and then select the country or language you're interested in.

Explore!

[silverweb]

47. Wow!

That's quite a list! I'm in a combined mode right now of catching up with old movies and going for the best of the new.

There's enough to keep me watching for years and years. :)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

50. Yes, my own queue has nearly 500 separate titles on it

:-)

So many movies, so little time.

[silverweb]

53. It could be a lifetime project.

This will call for some scheduling... or I'm doomed. :D

[bikebloke]

38. A great foreign selection

OSS 117: Cairo, a Nest of Spies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwA6ir86slQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHtHs7cLV1E

[silverweb]

59. Oh, yeah.

Just watched the trailer and thought, "cool... international intrigue/thriller" ... then started laughing.

A definite add. :D

[Strong Atheist]

39. The Stuntman. nt.

[silverweb]

52. I've heard of that one.

Thanks! :)

[Strong Atheist]

60. Starring some unknowns and Peter O'toole. DO NOT look up anything about it;

part of the charm is that you have NO idea what is happening in the movie till later on...

[silverweb]

64. Thanks for the warning.

I'll not peek so as not to ruin the surprise. :D

I love O'Toole.

[sarge43]

62. Second that. O'Toole's always worth watching

Another O'Toole gem {i}My Favorite Year

[GCP]

40. It's great for getting TV shows

Series you've missed or want to get into - I never watch the stuff live any more, I just wait for the DVD to come out and miss all the commercials. They're especially good at the British stuff. If you've never seen "Coupling" - there's a treat in store for you - it's like Friends, only much edgier and sexier.

[silverweb]

49. Great!

There are plenty of shows I'd like to catch up on.

:)

[JonLP24]

42. With so many ideas listed I recommend

The Wire

It has drama, comedy, and a little bit of action from your prefences you said. My favorite part about the show is they don't manipulate emotions with score, it is raw and real. Give it sometime as it has a long drawn out plot and requires an attention span because something you might've missed however how small plays a big role later on. It follows from season 1, the drug war, the ports, the government, the school system, and last but not least the news media. I highly recommend and not only is it my favorite show it is also Obama's favorite show.

[silverweb]

48. You're at least the 2nd recommendation for The Wire.

It's definitely on my list!

:thumbsup:

[sarge43]

63. Third that. n/t

[A-Schwarzenegger]

43. YOUNG@HEART.

Guaranteed.

[silverweb]

55. OMG, yes!

Just watched the trailer and I'm hooked. :D

[TK421]

65. Monster Balls n/t

[yellowdogintexas]

66. I caught up with LOST and was ready for season 5 when it began in January

other things we have gotten:

Ballykissangel (BBC Ireland series, 6 seasons)
Last of the Summer Wine
Madagascar
Sleepers (an old Masterpiece Theater series that was great fun)
Monarch of the Glen


things we own that I would recommend:

Undercover Blues
I, Claudius
Good Neighbors
To The Manor Born
The Irish RM
The Great Race
Victor, Victoria

Stuff coming up in my queue:

The Tudors
The Forsyte Saga
Tom Brown's Schooldays
Deadwood
Reilly, Ace of Spies
The First Churchills
Hamish MacBeth
American Dreamer

[Manifestor_of_Light]

67. The Keeper:The Legend of Omar Khayyam

Starring Vanessa Redgrave.

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

68. Smoke Signals...

A small movie that is unbelievably touching, especially if you have grown up with family members that struggled with substance abuse issues. The only movie that i immediately started again as soon as it was over.