Ed's Review Dot Com

Well, if you’re a NetFlix subscriber as I have been since 2003, you got the email. Netflix is changing the rules. The are separating DVD’s from Streaming.

Now I have to admit, I’ve seen this coming for a long time. If you remember a few years ago, they raised rates rather steeply to keep up with the cost of mailing DVDs. That has to be a pain, postage, packaging, not to mention the lost and stolen DVD’s. They’ve complained for a long time about the costs of mailing DVD’s and have been looking for a device to attach to your TV set or an app to send to your iPad to allow you to download from them which I am sure is lower cost. However, the DVD plan, even though they’ve complained bitterly about losing money on the system, must have had something going for it, as it sure played havoc with all the brick and mortar rental stores. How many times do I remember fast forwarding through VHS tapes to try to get it done by 10:40 so I could run to Wherehouse and turn in the tape before they locked the door at 11:00 only to get there and find three guys inside the window laughing at me for the $4.00 late fee I was about to get.

But if you recall, after the big price increase, Blockbuster got into the DVD mailing mode with a plus over Netflix. They still had a few brick and mortar stores, so you could finish the DVD, run to the store instead of to the mailbox, and get a new one for free from your mail DVD program at the Blockbuster store. Then Redbox and a number of competitors came around and brought the game to another level. The price increase didn’t last very long, and not only was reversed, but actually they were forced to drop the price.

So why didn’t Blockbuster’s program kick NetFlix out of the game? One reason, and the reason why NetFlix Watch Instantly is not acceptable as well; Content!!!

NetFlix had EVERYTHING under the sun! Foreign films from all over the world. Obscure films from 15 years ago. Classic’s from the Black and White and Silent Movie eras. Everything.

My favorite thing from NetFlix is the new releases. Those who read this blog know that every Tuesday I’m looking at the new releases out on DVD. I hate the delays on some features that are released as Blockbuster Exclusives and such, but I can live with that. But that content that makes NetFlix DVD service so extremely awesome just isn’t there on Watch Instantly yet. They are adding some newer films (not all 1980’s TV Movies like it used to be), especially with the Starz connection, but it’s just not got near the content that the DVD collection has. Maybe some day it will.

Now there is a new fad of watching the previous seasons of that TV show that you love, where you missed the previous years. I personally watched every office episode for the 2 or 3 years I didn’t know about it. Some people are into this big time, and that’s a good use for a streaming account at a low cost. But if you want to watch new release movies, you have to keep both accounts and it’s simply a way to increase the cost.

So it is a good idea for NetFlix or a rip off for the loyal customers that have had the service for years and years and years. I guess that remains to be seen. I know many people are cancelling their accounts right and left, but many more a signing up at the same time due to all the publicity (Bad press is still press, and all press is good).

Will I keep both accounts? Well for now I have to, but I’ll be looking closely at dumping the DVD service and switching to Redbox. I have setup a Redbox account, and I like the idea that they are all around me. I can login on-line and reserve a particular movie at one of the grocery stores close by, pick it up, and return it anywhere. It also shows me other locations that have the one I want when the usual grocery store is out of it. That’s pretty hot! So I’m definitely going to try that out, and see how it works. It may allow me to dump the DVD service from NetFlix altogether. I’ll definitely have to give it a lot of thought.

As to whether it will work out for NetFlix or not, I am not sure the whole TV appliance thing is going to work out. There is going to be fierce competition in that field, and the content owners and cable and satellite providers may win that out on that one. I don’t see why I need a third party in the middle. So NetFlix may be shooting themselves in the foot here, as the DVD mailing service is what made them, and they’re dissing their best customers. We shall have to wait and see.

If you have any opinion on NetFlix and the new pricing schedule, or Redbox, or anything else in the market, be sure to let me know. I’ve seen other brands besides RedBox (Blockbuster and AM-PM have them too and more). I wonder if Redbox is the leader or if one of the others is better. Let me know your $.02 and what works best for you.

Hope you’re enjoying the great summer of movies!

–Ed of EdsReview

Hyde Park International, Merchant Ivory Productions

Omar Metwally, Anthony Hopkins, Laura Linney, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Hiroyuki Sanada, Norma Alleandro, Alexandra Maria Lara,  Kate Burton, Norma Argentina

I’ve struggled with this review.  I was anxious to see the movie,  but waited from the time it was released on DVD for the release on “Watch Instantly”.  I liked the premise and I thought it would be good, but it was a lot different from what I expected.  This is a very cerebral movie and it is dreadfully slow.   The basis of the story is a writer who has conned the school to give him a grant to write a biography of a South American author who published one famous book and then died.  Problem is that he has no permission to write such a book.  So his overly demanding girlfriend/fiance coerces him into going to South America to ask permission of the author’s family.

And what a family it is.  The house is being run by the widow (Laura Linney) in a crotchety role, with the help of a gay relative (Anthony Hopkins) and her husband’s mistress.   Each is a misfit, and what a dysfunctional family this is.

The whole thing is rather strange, and goes about it very slowly!   I’m not sure if this is classic cinema and wonderful storytelling, or crap.  I find myself leaning toward the crap side, but I can’t seem to get it out of my head either.  So maybe they’re clever after all???  Anthony Hopkins is an awful flaming gay queen character.  He can’t pull that off.  And Laura Linney is supposed to be this bitch old lady which Bette Davis used to be able to pull off so well, but unfortuantely here, its not nearly as bitchy as it’s supposed to be.  I didn’t buy it.  The two relatively unknown actors seemed to pull it off more than anyone, so maybe the lack of notariety is an advantage here.   Not sure.

The wife says “No”.  The queen says,  “Yes, but”….and the conditions are really strange.  It is sort of explained, but it gets resolved in 2 sentences and the urgency and need seems to fade away leaving you wondering why it was such a big deal?   The mistress takes a liking to the guy, and one of the “While You Were Sleeping” moments occurs.   This also warranted big drama when the plot was discovered, but again it was dissolved by a shrug and sigh, and plods straight along without looking back at it.

The ending is also particularly NON-stunning as well.  It just sort of comes to an end.   “Who was that?  Oh, just someone that I used to know”

All in all I didn’t rate this very high as I didn’t enjoy it very much.  I was slightly interested in what would happen, but mostly I was disappointed, and in the end I realized I didn’t really care if he wrote the damn book or not.   I know some people are going to go gaga over this film and call it fine art cinema, but for the average guy, this is mostly boring.   I am really willing to discuss further if any fans want to disagree, but it didn’t move the earth for me, that’s for sure.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Treasure Entertainment

Ciarán Hinds, Iben Hjejle, Aidan Quinn, Dorothy Cotter, Eanna Hardwicke, Hannah Lynch, Jim Norton

The Eclipse is a ghost story that is a romance that is a mystery that is a story of grief.  This is another Netflix “Watch Instantly” film, and it’s an Irish film.  It’s a very deep story with well developed characters.   The biggest trouble I had was the fact that they whisper and mumble throughout the start, and many people give up after the first 10 minutes since it’s very hard to hear, especially if you’re not used to the very lovely Irish accent throughout.  The views are spectacular, and for spookiness, it has a lot going for it.   Michael is a recent widower, living with his 2 children.   He is not doing too well with the grief process.  He picks up an interest in ghost stories and becomes convinced something supernatural is happening in his house.  He meets a couple authors at a literary festival and forms a bond that changes everyone. 

There are some real shocks at the least expected times.  This starts to move the pointer toward the horror side, but most of the time is spent in developing the characters and their relationships.  Everyone is seeing ghosts.  Some are afraid, some are curious, some are obscessed. 

Warning:  This is not a teen slasher flick.  It’s deep and develops slowly.  The first 10 minutes or so are so quiet, and the characters talk so softly that you have to be patient and get past that part.  But in a while you get pulled in.  Is it real?  Is it a dream?   Or is someone just a little nuts?   And near the end, there is one of the funniest fight scenes since Borat!

Anchor Bay Films, West of Midnight Productions, Whitewater Films

Hillary Duff,  Ellen Burstyn, Michael Murphy, Evan Ross

This is a direct to DVD film.  I can see why.  It’s not going to compete with the big guys.  When I was a kid, I used to collect 45 RPM records.  Trouble is, at $.66 each,  most were outside my 12 year old budget.  But at the Woolworth’s there was a discount bin with 10 records for $1.00 in a box.   The only one you could see was a little known song that you had heard of.  But once you opened the box and took out the other 9, you found that you never heard of any of the songs or the artists.  Ah, but this was 1963’s YouTube.   In those collections of unheard junk, were lots of little gems.  Songs that didn’t make it, or didn’t get the right promotion, but was a great song.  I built up my private collection of these unknown songs, and it was a secret that only I knew. This movie is like the discount bin.

Usually a “direct to video ” is a strong warning to stay away.  But this movie wasn’t bad.  Hillary Duff is the star, usually a sign to stay away, but she’s not that bad.   This film is available on NetFlix “Watch Instantly”.   It’s a little bit like an “After School Special”, but it’s clearly PG-13.

This is a teen angst movie, for sure.  Greta’s Dad is gone, and Mom is a bit of a flake.  Shipped off to Grandma and Grandpa for the summer so Mom can “work on her failing marriage”, Greta comes in with a really bad attitude and gets a lot worse.  She meets an ex-con, and the grandfolks are not happy, but maybe he’s just what she needs.

Greta is in a lot of pain and needs all the help she can get to pull through.  She’s decided not to live anymore, and someone needs to intervene or she’s going to do it.

Not a wonderful movie, but definitely way above the normal “direct to video” stuff, and definitely worth plopping in the “Instant” queue if you’re interested in the concept.

IFC Films,  Sundance Selects

Albert Barnes

This is a documentary and is available on NetFlix “Watch Instantly”.  This is an interesting documentary into the treasure of Post-imporessionist paintings collect by Albert Barnes who passed away in 1951.  It included amazing Renoirs, Gaugins, El Grecos, Goyas, Monets, Van Goghs, Picassos and many others.   Dr. Barnes was an inventor and made a fortune from a medicinal solution called Argyrol.  Dr. Barnes died in 1951.  After his death, a group was formed called the “Barnes Foundation”.    Dr. Barnes had a part in his will that stated that the paintings must NEVER be removed from the walls where they are currently hung, and that they should stay there forever.  His other requirement was that they be used for educational purposes.

The house in Lower Marion, Pennsylvania where the art is housed was opened to the public, initally 2 days a week.  Over time it became more accessible, but it still required advanced appointments, and is located in a residential area seriously restricting public access.  There were also some issues with the condition of the property and of course some financial considerations.  A plan was developed to sell some of the works to raise money for the repairs and upkeep, and a plan was developed to send some of the paintings on a world tour.

Finally a plan was developed to move the paintings to a new location in Philadelphia in 2012.  This triggered a backlash of opposition to breaking the will and moving the paintings.

This documentary has it’s bias, but tries to show both sides of the discussion and the problems with leaving the paintings where they are, and moving them to a new location.  No matter which way it goes,  some people will be upset.

This is not a fast past or extremely suspenseful film, but it is a good study of the legal challenges and the backlash against both sides.   It’s available in HD, which makes it a great watch on your PC should you go the Watch Instantly route, as I did, but I’m sure this is occasionally show on the Sundance channel, and through other venues.  It’s not a mainstream film by any means, but if you enjoy fine art, or like documentaries, this is a prety interesting film.  Not as earth shattering as some, but an interesting story just the same.