Hidden Gems of Netflix's Watch Instantly

Season 4 of The Seven Deadly Sins is up. If you are into torrents you probably already watched it a year ago. Looks like more of the same judging by the first episode. They have a short recap that was good enough for me but you might want to look up a real recap since it has been awhile.

Watched the original Jurassic Park with the kids. Haven’t seen it in 20+ years but I watched it so so so many times when it first came out that I remembered almost everything.

Effects look a little hokey in 2020 but still way better than any other early CGI film I can name.

The Wasp Network was a pretty entertaining movie. I don't know much about the underhand conflicts between the US and Cuban governments, so it had the added bonus of feeling like I learnt something too. Supposedly "based on a true story", but who knows, the hero character seemed too morally pure for someone in his position. Nevertheless the characters and locations are all very charismatic, and it's worth watching just for entertainment value.

The new six episode series of Transformers is very good. It is very dark, and not for little kids. I don't want to get spoiler-y, but there are strong themes of the cost of war, loyalty, torture, genocide, and what would you do when Fascism comes to your door? It is definitely made with the current moment in mind and doesn't pull punches.

New Tales of Monkey is hitting that old Hercules and Xena vibe... Plus it's based around characters I don't know about.

Watched Black Sails. I had already watched season 1 back when it originally aired and, feeling disappointed, I just ignored the rest. After the good word of mouth I decided to give it another chance.
Season 1 is not as bad as I thought, but still pretty average. It's just hard to connect to any character, since they're all bastards and the kind of good ones end up dying because of the bastards. Well, season 2 has a huge jump in quality and a big part of this is the depiction of Flint's past that gives the reason behind his actions. The story and the other characters are also more engaging. Just for this, it was worth it watching this series. Seasons 3 and 4 are not as good, but still worth watching.

My past recommendations have shown that I might have questionable taste, but The Old Guard was a solid as hell action flick. Charlize Theron being as big a badass as John Wick, but with a battle axe. Black female badass co-lead. Two supporting characters in a very well-presented long term relationship (who also kick all the asses). Dudley Dursley as a slimy pharma CEO. I really hope they get to make a sequel.

Watched season 2 of The Umbrella Academy and liked it. The new edition was very nice. The only real problem I had is the story was a repeat of last season. It was a little hard listening to the same characters doubting the same character. Also there was no good reason for why certain characters weren't using their abilities to their fullest. Also it was weird how one character mastered their ability and the best way to use it the first time they used the ability. They also never explained how this character even knew they had powers and how did her recruiter know. Hmmmm maybe it had to do with time travel. Anyway good show with some minor problems.

Wizards: Tales of Arcadia is a really good close to Guillermo Del Toro’s Trollhunters trilogy - thoroughly enjoyed watching it with mini-sorb.

Looking forward to the film that’ll be closing it all out next year. I had no idea it had such a stellar voice cast!

Baron Of Hell wrote:

They also never explained how this character even knew they had powers and how did her recruiter know. Hmmmm maybe it had to do with time travel.

It was time travel.

Spoiler:

The guy who killed Lila's parents was Five, but it was old Five. And remember that Lila and Five were both born on October 1st, 1989, but Five was an old man and Lila was, I don't know, 8?

Well it looks interesting that’s for sure

Interesting is one word for it. Cringey and off-putting are other words for it.

But I'm one of those people who didn't like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
And who binge watched the five seasons of Poldark in about as many days. Again.
And then watched Pride and Prejudice. Again.

I'll give it a go, but I feel that the trailer gave a bit too much away, and I've got the essence of the film from that. Kaufman wrote Being John Malkovich which is one of my favorite films, so I'll check this one out just for that. (But I never was much of a fan of Eternal Sunshine either)

And in contrast I loved eternal sunshine. this is probably a case of, “if this is the type of thing you like you’ll like it.“

Project Power was pretty bad. The best I can say for it is that it's not overly long, unlike some action movies these days.

Finished up season 1 of Kim’s Convenience. Enjoyed it a lot and will be watching the next few seasons.
It’s a Canadian sitcom about a family that owns a store. Parents are immigrants from Korea and kids (young adults) are first generation. Show is sweet and has a lot of heart.

Eleima wrote:

Interesting is one word for it. Cringey and off-putting are other words for it.

I've watched enough Charlie Kaufman flicks to be worn out on his cleverest-misogynist-in-the-room schtick. Anomalisa was like a concentrated distillation of white male self-pity and contempt for women. No, thanks.

Wrapped up Snowpiercer last night and I'd firmly put it in the recommended category. It's a little uneven in places, but it covers its ground quite well and though the final episode flounders a little at the start (like seriously, you've led a underclass revolution to take over the final bastion of humanities' survival, left it on its knees and you still want something resembling a class system?) there is a satisfying if slightly improbable cliffhanger ending.

Baron Of Hell wrote:

Watched The Platform and liked it. Very compelling movie with a simple idea. People at different levels in a hole are fed from a platform. People near the top treat the people below them badly. Different type of people show up from hoarders to people with Messiah complex. Kind of felt like The Cube but good. There weren't a series of test but the entire situation felt like a big test.

Finally got around to watching this last night. I enjoyed it as well.

I agree with you that while it's premise is superficially The Cube, the story--and the horror--is much deeper.

I don't know what it is, but Spain produces some seriously good horror films, especially ones where everything is contained to a single location.

Wife and I are getting into Community and Glow at the same time.Wow what great shows. Also it took me way too long to notice that Alison Brie is in both shows. Lol What a GD camelion!

ComfortZone wrote:

Project Power was pretty bad. The best I can say for it is that it's not overly long, unlike some action movies these days.

Not my or my wife's favorite, either. Just mediocre.

The King is a really excellent medical film. Great examination of Henry V. Any other good films set in medieval times on Netflix? (Crusader Kings III hype train is in full force for me.)

Sorbicol wrote:

Wrapped up Snowpiercer last night and I'd firmly put it in the recommended category. It's a little uneven in places, but it covers its ground quite well and though the final episode flounders a little at the start (like seriously, you've led a underclass revolution to take over the final bastion of humanities' survival, left it on its knees and you still want something resembling a class system?) there is a satisfying if slightly improbable cliffhanger ending.

I’m moving pretty slowly on this, mostly because my wife refuses to watch. But I do really like the show so far, and the changes they have made have been smart.

I do wish they would stop with having at least one disturbing scene every episode just to make sure it retains its Snowpiercer cred. I’d probably get Teresa to watch, but every episode has one scene that she would nope right out on.

I do think the premise is better suited for serial storytelling than a one off film.

OG_slinger wrote:
Baron Of Hell wrote:

Watched The Platform and liked it. Very compelling movie with a simple idea. People at different levels in a hole are fed from a platform. People near the top treat the people below them badly. Different type of people show up from hoarders to people with Messiah complex. Kind of felt like The Cube but good. There weren't a series of test but the entire situation felt like a big test.

Finally got around to watching this last night. I enjoyed it as well.

I agree with you that while it's premise is superficially The Cube, the story--and the horror--is much deeper.

I don't know what it is, but Spain produces some seriously good horror films, especially ones where everything is contained to a single location.

Hmmm might have to watch it.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

Anomalisa was like a concentrated distillation of white male self-pity and contempt for women. No, thanks.

If that's the way you feel about Anomalisa, then you would hate my livejournal page from university.

kuddles wrote:
ClockworkHouse wrote:

Anomalisa was like a concentrated distillation of white male self-pity and contempt for women. No, thanks.

If that's the way you feel about Anomalisa, then you would hate my livejournal page from university.

I like to think that given time we all grow past our university LiveJournal pages.

I in part liked Project Power. It's predictable, sure, and unfortunately forgettable, but it had a strive to overcome feel good factor, and a likable young protagonist in Robin Reilly, as portrayed by Dominique Fishback (who is actually 29 years old). I had low-key expectations, mind you, for an action flick centered around blink and you'll miss 'em powers. It's far from recommended, though, whilst not entirely awful.

I appreciated elements from the different take that is The Night Clerk. The introspection of self. The learning through observation and mimicry. The performance from Tye Sheridan carried me through. Terrible plot. Poor direction. Failed to deliver. Avoid.

RnRClown wrote:

I in part liked Project Power. It's predictable, sure, and unfortunately forgettable, but it had a strive to overcome feel good factor, and a likable young protagonist in Robin Reilly, as portrayed by Dominique Fishback (who is actually 29 years old). I had low-key expectations, mind you, for an action flick centered around blink and you'll miss 'em powers. It's far from recommended, though, whilst not entirely awful.

.

Yeah. I had difficulty suspending enough disbelief to accept the climactic ending. I don't like when movies violate their own physics without explanation.