Netflix Streaming Genre Alert Thread

[cylkoth]

I've noticed Netflix has added a ton of titles to it's Instant Watch inventory during the last few weeks, including some genre programming that may be of some interest. So I thought I'd start a thread for those with access to the service, to post any titles they may have come across and found entertaining. Or at least, engaging...(there's a difference?)

Of course the big news for some time has been that every tv Star Trek is available on streaming.

Here are some, including some recent additions-live action and animated, made over the last couple of weeks..

-The Captains (William Shatner chats with all the actors who've played Trek leaders)
-Being Human UK
-Caprica
-The Walking Dead
-The Eleventh Hour (Patrick Stewart's BBC series)
-Merlin S3
-The Gates
-Jericho
-Hyperdrive (BBC space-com)
-Warehouse 13
-Eureka
-Charlie Jade
-Nikita
-My Favorite Martian
-Roswell Conspiracies
-UltraForce (DIC/Malibu Comics animated series)
-Highlander the Animated Series
-Kong the Animated Series (and separatedly listed pilot Kong Return to the Jungle)
-Double Dragon animated

Double Dragon? Can we please get DIC's StarCom?

Of course, there's more-including movies, but these are a few of the series that caught my attention.
For a complete look at the entire streaming library they've assembled, go to www.instantwatcher.com an independent site that puts Netflix's own to shame.

 

[Professor Zoom]

Re: Netflix Steaming Genre Alert Thread

And Tron: Legacy also just started showing. Watch it soon, as it's a part of the Starz thing which is going away in a few months.

Didn't realize The Captains was there... must add to queue.

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

Re: Netflix Steaming Genre Alert Thread

I wish Tron was available as well as Legacy. I haven't seen the original in twenty years.

 

[JD]

Re: Netflix Steaming Genre Alert Thread

The notable movies I saw on the new arrivals include:
Paranormal Activity 2
Meet Joe Black
Inuyasha the movie 2
Tron Legacy
Howl's Movie Castle
Bleach: Memories of Nobody
Thumbelina
Troll Hunter (I don't know how major everyone would consider this one, but it's one I've been wanting to see).

 

[Nowhere Man]

Re: Netflix Steaming Genre Alert Thread

Off the top of my head.

Breaking Bad
Cocaine Cowboys

There's more, but I can't think. I recently switched to only streaming and I'm very happy with it.

 

[Harvey]

Re: Netflix Steaming Genre Alert Thread

Hey, Charlie Jade. I need to watch that at some point.

 

[JD]

Re: Netflix Steaming Genre Alert Thread

You should it's a great show. I only got to see about half of the episodes when it originally aired here in the US but I loved it.

 

[OmahaStar]

Re: Netflix Steaming Genre Alert Thread

Troll Hunter (I don't know how major everyone would consider this one, but it's one I've been wanting to see).

Have you seen it yet? It's awesome. I saw it on the big screen, and it was awesome! The film actually broke three times during the presentation, which just made it that much more entertaining.

 

[The Master of Tarquin Hill]

Re: Netflix Steaming Genre Alert Thread

Is that a Freudian slip in the thread title?

Seriously, Netflix needs to add some substantial content before it can justify its absurd price increase.

 

[cylkoth]

Re: Netflix Steaming Genre Alert Thread

-Kevin Smith's Red State (2011) seems to be generating positive comments from those who've seen it.
-The Last Enemy, a 5 part PBS/Masterpiece Contemporary mini series. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) and Robert Carlyle (SGU). Aired in 2008, but I never heard of it til now.
And speaking of Stargate alum there's
-Arctic Blast starring Michael Shanks.

When a total eclipse of the sun rips through Earth's atmosphere and shoots an arctic blast onto the ocean, it triggers a surge of icy fog that puts the planet in a dangerously deep freeze.

Pretty Australian locales get the cold shoulder..

 

[Professor Zoom]

Re: Netflix Steaming Genre Alert Thread

Is that a Freudian slip in the thread title?

Seriously, Netflix needs to add some substantial content before it can justify its absurd price increase.

How do you define substantial?

I just added like twelve things to my streaming, I have over 200 titles in now.

Over 400 in the DVD queue.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Re: Netflix Steaming Genre Alert Thread

Regarding "substantial content," before Netflix forced me to choose between DVDs and streaming, I'd estimate that about 10% of the titles in my DVD queue were also available on streaming. That's not even close to acceptable. 100% is the acceptable level.

Of course, the only way the movie studios would all agree to that is at gunpoint. So it's DVDs for me until and unless the situation changes!

 

[RoJoHen]

Re: Netflix Steaming Genre Alert Thread

Regarding "substantial content," before Netflix forced me to choose between DVDs and streaming, I'd estimate that about 10% of the titles in my DVD queue were also available on streaming. That's not even close to acceptable. 100% is the acceptable level.

I think I was somewhere around 95%. There are very few things that I want to watch that aren't available through streaming.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Re: Netflix Steaming Genre Alert Thread

My queue is very esoteric and diverse. I don't know what kinds of shows get streaming vs. not, never could figure out the pattern based on the small number of titles I was seeing.

 

[RoJoHen]

Re: Netflix Steaming Genre Alert Thread

I don't really watch movies all that often. Honestly, if I'm going to watch a movie, I'm probably going to buy it. I use Netflix for TV shows, and there are plenty of those available for me to watch.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Re: Netflix Steaming Genre Alert Thread

The only TV shows I get from Netflix are the ones I can't see on TV, namely premium cable - HBO, Showtime. I can't remember if those were available on streaming. Seems like premium cable should be the most opposed to streaming, since it directly threatens subscriptions. I know Netflix and Showtime have been fighting over streaming rights, not sure how that ever came out. And of course there was the fight with Starz, but that was mainly over movies.

In trying to find more clarification about just what Netflix does and does not stream, I did run across a news story about the neverending Netflix saga that makes some interesting points:

Netflix needs to return to its fundamentals: "giving customers convenience, a broad selection and a low price." Can't argue with that. But broad selection is key to their appeal.

But their struggles to get streaming rights to movies will continue to dog them:

The No. 1 priority now should be to obtain more streaming content. Scuttled licensing talks with Starz, the premium cable TV service was a setback. Starz owns the online distribution rights for Disney and Sony Pictures content. Netflix tried to downplay that by announcing a series of less important deals, including one with DreamWorks Animation.

The amount of spin coming out of Netflix during the crisis period was also uncharacteristic. Netflix has ballyhooed TV deals with such providers as the CW Network and AMC. Sure, those move the ball but not everybody wants to invest time in a series. Netflix is known for films and all the TV content in the world is going to cover up their inability lately to obtain movie rights.

I don't mind "investing time" in a TV series, but I can already see CW and AMC on TV. I don't need Netflix for that. I need Netflix for premium cable and movies, because those are expensive enough to justify my Netflix subscription. CW is on free TV; why would I pay anyone to see CW shows? As for AMC, they're part of a broad range of channels I get on basic cable. Taken as a whole, that tier is a good deal, but once you get into the premium realm, the deal looks a lot less good.

 

[Professor Zoom]

Re: Netflix Steaming Genre Alert Thread

Regarding "substantial content," before Netflix forced me to choose between DVDs and streaming, I'd estimate that about 10% of the titles in my DVD queue were also available on streaming. That's not even close to acceptable. 100% is the acceptable level.

For me, it's a number, not a percentage. I have a lot in both queues. Very few cross over actually. There's just a lot streaming that I want to see (or see again) Just watched a short documentary by Terry Jones about the number 1, before that James Ellroy's show about LA--fucked up show....

Of course, the only way the movie studios would all agree to that is at gunpoint. So it's DVDs for me until and unless the situation changes!

Fair enough. For me, right now, the value for the amount of content, works.

The only TV shows I get from Netflix are the ones I can't see on TV, namely premium cable - HBO, Showtime. I can't remember if those were available on streaming.

HBO does not want any of there shows streaming. Period. Which is a little sad, but, then, I still have the DVD's so it's ok. I think SOME Showtime shows do, but not all.

Seems like premium cable should be the most opposed to streaming, since it directly threatens subscriptions.

That's exactly HBO's position. Can't fault them for it. But, I'm still not rushing out and getting an HBO subscription. I have a ton of other things to watch...

I know Netflix and Showtime have been fighting over streaming rights, not sure how that ever came out. And of course there was the fight with Starz, but that was mainly over movies.

Yeah, I'll be sad to see Starz walk out... Of course, if they had convinced Netflix to go with the tiered system they wanted, I wouldn't have gotten that.

But stuff like Netflix streaming old CW shows does nothing for me. There's nothing in their library that I want to watch, and not really anything current either.

In trying to find the answer, I did run across a news story about the neverending Netflix saga that makes some interesting points:

Netflix needs to return to its fundamentals: "giving customers convenience, a broad selection and a low price." Can't argue with that. But broad selection is key to their appeal.

Which I personally think they have. Both streaming and DVD.

The amount of spin coming out of Netflix during the crisis period was also uncharacteristic. Netflix has ballyhooed TV deals with such providers as the CW Network and AMC. Sure, those move the ball but not everybody wants to invest time in a series.
Netflix is known for films and all the TV content in the world is going to cover up their inability lately to obtain movie rights.

I think actually TV is one of their MORE popular things now. Even most people on this board talk about catching up of shows, rewatching shows, etc. So, I don't know if movies are the end all be all. That might be what you want, but, unless Netflix releases figures, no one really knows what is the most popular and important thing in their catalog.

I don't mind "investing time" in a TV series, but I can already see CW and AMC on TV. I don't need Netflix for that. I need Netflix for premium cable and movies, because those are expensive enough to justify my Netflix subscription. CW is on free TV; why would I pay anyone to see CW shows?

No commercials? And some people are dumping their cable subscriptions. Why have cable when you can watch everything on the internet? My netflix bill is WAY less than my cable bill. I've seriously considered it.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Re: Netflix Steaming Genre Alert Thread

For me, it's a number, not a percentage. I have a lot in both queues. Very few cross over actually.

What titles are available on streaming but not DVD? I haven't found much that I can't get on DVD, except for shows that I suspect aren't available in either format. Here are two series I couldn't find on Netflix: Naked Science and Civil Warriors. (I know the latter is on DVD because Amazon has it.)

For me, opting for both streaming and DVD simply isn't worth the expense, but I'm interested to know whether I'm missing titles because of it.

I suspected that HBO was digging in their heels on streaming. They'd be fools not to. I do like their lineup, but again - just can't justify the expense if there's any alternative.

I've used Netflix in the past to catch up on series that I could have seen live - Justified, The Clone Wars, The Vampire Diaries - but I'm being more pro-active about sampling any new show now that I'm even slightly likely to like, so that I don't end up having to waste my rentals like that. (Which means I have to subject myself to stuff like Terra Nova to make absolutely sure it sucks, but I guess everything has a price.)

No commercials?

My DVR does a very good job of zapping ads. I don't need Netflix for that.

Why have cable when you can watch everything on the internet?

I've thought about cutting the cord, but I don't want to pirate stuff and I do want to yak about it online in a timely fashion, when the conversation is at its most lively, and the only way to accomplish both is to keep paying Comcast's exorbitant fees. At least I've scaled back some by dumping the basic+ tier (that had NatGeo, but again...Netflix has a lot of their series too.)

Which just goes to show that Comcast owes TrekBBS some of its revenues, since in a sense TrekBBS is now an essential part of their continued value to me.

And that segues into my theory of where all digital entertainment content (movies, TV, games and probably also some text-only content) is going...the content will eventually be free, and the value of the content will be in the online communities that are built up around it, which can be monetized through ads and selling the community stuff, like premium subscriptions that allow personalization, and that's just the beginning...

Content can be pirated but communities can't. There's the solution to piracy.

 

[The Master of Tarquin Hill]

Re: Netflix Steaming Genre Alert Thread

Is that a Freudian slip in the thread title?

Seriously, Netflix needs to add some substantial content before it can justify its absurd price increase.

How do you define substantial?

More new releases. More quality cable content. Good stuff! If the B stuff makes you happy....well, I'm happy for ya.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Re: Netflix Steaming Genre Alert Thread

Netflix can't get streaming rights to everything. The movie studios and premium cable channels correctly see streaming as a threat to their business model because to stream a show via Netflix is so much cheaper to the consumer than either theatrical showings or premium cable subscriptions.

All streaming is priced equally, so an old episode of Leave it to Beaver* is the same price as a new movie release or HBO series. This is not what the movie studios or HBO wants, to put it mildly. They want to maintain an image that their stuff is worth more than the countless thousands of titles in Netflix's library, many of which would be found in bargain bins or flea markets on the DVD format.

And of course they're going to fight the erosion in box office and subscription revenue which are vital to their businesses as they are now formed. They'll eventually face the same fate as the music industry, but they won't go quietly. And that's why nobody should hold their breath waiting for Netflix's streamed content to match their DVD library.

*No idea whether Leave it to Beaver actually available on streaming, but why not? There's no demand for it now, so any demand generated by streaming would be free money. Think of all the old movies and shows, foreign movies and shows that never got any real exposure in America, esoteric stuff, etc etc. All that eats up time that used to go to the broadcast networks, and will also eat up time that people could be using to see HBO. Pretty soon people wonder why they subscribe to HBO since they have no time to watch anything there. So the mere fact of Netflix's massive library is a threat to mainstream media.

The real problem here is that the movie and TV industries were built on economics of scarcity. You could only show X number of movies in any given theater. You could only show X number of TV shows on the three major broadcast networks.

Then scarcity started to be undermined - more channels on cable, more spaces for DVDs at Blockbuster. But the amount of content was still constrained by limits on the number of cable channels and shelf space, so all that was hardly a sea change.

Digital media has completely overthrown the economics of scarcity. It's a whole new ball game and needs new rules. Netflix is pioneering the rules, but even if Hollywood understands how fundamentally things have changed, their fear and inertia will keep them from embracing the new rules. They'll hang onto what they know for as long as they can. It is inevitable they will lose, but I'm sure the smart people in Hollywood are at least thinking of socking away as much cash as possible before they go down with the Titanic.