I finally got NetFlix- what should I rent?

[Ruthla]

I'm enjoying re-watching some '80's movies that I haven't seen in 20 years, and I'm also using this opportunity to watch some classics that I haven't ever seen (I currently have Lawrence of Arabia and Casablanca on my desk, to be watched this week.)

But I'm completely at a loss when it comes to any of the new movies- "new" being defined as anything made in the past 15 years that isn't comepletely child-oriented.

Yeah, we can browse through Netflix and look at titles, but I'd like some input from other MDCers as well. I'll be watching these movies either with all 3 of my kids, or just with my 12.5 and 14yos- there's no such thing as "adult time" in my house!

[Thalia the Muse]

Some of the more recent movies I've really enjoyed (I don't get out as much as I used to, either!)

In America
Once
Pan's Labyrinth (NOT for kids)
No Country for Old Men (ditto, not for kids)
Lars and the Real Girl
Brokeback Mountain
Burn After Reading
O Brother Where Art Thou
The Painted Veil
You've probably seen the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but if not -- get those!

And a couple of Hindi movies:

Paheli
Asoka

[kangaroomum25]

I think Phantom of the Opera would be ok for the older kids.
Harry Potter?

[Thalia the Muse]

Oh, I forgot Enchanted, which is just a really fun little fluff of a movie.

[mamaverdi]

You can befriend people on Netflix so you can see what your friends are watching.

[kriket]

also be sure to hook it up to your 360 and get the digital downloads! Its great! no waiting for disks no additional costs!

and DH and I like watching TV shows, we just finished "The Office" up until the newest season!

I think we're moving on the "Voyager" next!

[Alyantavid]

We mostly do tv shows from Netflix and I couldn't think of many.

Into the Wild (I wouldn't let my 2 & 6 year olds watch it but your kids are probably old enough)
The Painted Veil is a great movie
A Far Off Place was a favorite of mine when I was a young teen. It was much better then than now but not a bad movie.
Big Fish
Love Actually
Stardust

[Drummer's Wife]

I was going to suggest the instant viewing stuff, too. That's all we really do, we maybe have rented 3 actual disks that they mailed.

We watch a lot of movies on there and be sure to check out the new Starz plays. I think they merged from vango so there's more choices for instant movies.

Mostly though we watch TV shows, I love that you can watch the whole season at once. That is how we've watched past The Office episodes, also Jericho is good, DH really like Jeremiah (though, maybe not appropriate for your youngest) Dexter (probably not for any age kids) oh and I loved Weeds (and did let my kids watch, but most people probably would not)

I'll have to come back with more, including movie titles after I check my Queue and previously watched. One I can think of is "The Pursuit of Happiness"

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by kriket

also be sure to hook it up to your 360 and get the digital downloads! Its great! no waiting for disks no additional costs!

and DH and I like watching TV shows, we just finished "The Office" up until the newest season!

I think we're moving on the "Voyager" next!

Um, what's a 360?

If we watch a DVD online, it needs to be on the tiny computer monitor.

[Arduinna]

The Girl in the Cafe

[Arduinna]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

Um, what's a 360?

If we watch a DVD online, it needs to be on the tiny computer monitor.

Xbox 360 is a gaming system.

We do the instant watching on our tivo.

[jeanine123]

Everything! Seriously though, I don't watch a whole lot of movies but I did see The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. Excellent movie! I also liked Iron Man but not sure if you'd want the munchkin watching it since people are being shot and burned. I also like that you can get tv series from NetFlix.

[jeanine123]

Originally Posted by Drummer's Wife

That is how we've watched past The Office episodes, also Jericho is good, DH really like Jeremiah (though, maybe not appropriate for your youngest) Dexter (probably not for any age kids) oh and I loved Weeds (and did let my kids watch, but most people probably would not)

I'll have to come back with more, including movie titles after I check my Queue and previously watched. One I can think of is "The Pursuit of Happiness"

Hey a Jericho fan! : Have you been able to watch at all on The CW? It's re-runs but it's still pretty nice to see, especially since Sunday nights are so blech when it comes to shows.

I also really like Supernatural, but I'm way behind on that one still.

I second The Pursuit of Happyness. Can't believe I forgot that one, it's really good.

[Drummer's Wife]

Originally Posted by jeanine123

Hey a Jericho fan! : Have you been able to watch at all on The CW?

no, cause we don't have tv. But I really loved that series and had never heard of it until we found it on netflix. I can't imagine the suspense if you actually had to wait a week between episodes.



we watch on a 19" LCD screen and it's fine as long as we aren't too far away but I'm thinking there is a way to connect netflix instant play to your tv.

[MadameXCupcake]

We do instant watch too, you can hook computers up to newer tv's pretty easy.
I'll come back later probably with some good movie titles.

[jeanine123]

Originally Posted by Drummer's Wife

no, cause we don't have tv. But I really loved that series and had never heard of it until we found it on netflix. I can't imagine the suspense if you actually had to wait a week between episodes.

I didn't have to wait for Season 1 because I came to the series late as well. But it was hard to only be able to watch 2 epis a night. LOL Season 2 was soooo HARD to wait for each new episode! And it was over way too fast! So much more story that could be told.

[Drummer's Wife]

Originally Posted by jeanine123

I didn't have to wait for Season 1 because I came to the series late as well. But it was hard to only be able to watch 2 epis a night. LOL Season 2 was soooo HARD to wait for each new episode! And it was over way too fast! So much more story that could be told.

I know, so much happened in season 2. I read that the show was canceled, then fans complained enough to bring it back so the network gave them a short season. That's why it was like half the amount of episodes. What a shame cause it was so good and it would have been nice if they had been able to include more details and draw it out a bit longer.

so there ya go Ruthla, definitely check out Jericho

[meemee]

MOST IMPORTANT : remember to rate your movies. there is a quick way of doing it. based on your rating they will send you suggestions. most of my suggestions were v. v. good and i enjoyed watching them.

the foreign film section is just mind blowing. and a great collection of documentaries too many which were suggested to me - otherwise i would not have known about them.

its scary. you can sit and in one evening fill up your list for months.

fool around yourself. and read and see what you like. most of the time i had no idea how it was going to be, but they all were good.

and where movies are concerned - to me its just like music. i dont really like recommendations from people until i know what their movie preferences are.

[katmann]

We love it for TV too - we watched all of Six Feet Under last year, and started on Dexter this year (both of which are great).

We watched the Dark Knight last night and it was pretty good, but a little intense for a PG-13 rating if you ask me. I LOVED The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, but it's a tearjerker. Some of my 5 star movies are
Sicko
The Business of Being Born
Why We Fight
Jesus Camp
Babel
Little Miss Sunshine

[Traci mom23boys]

I LOVED Weeds & Six Feet Under but IMHO they are way too sexy for your aged girls. The Riches has the edge those shows have, without being too explicit.

These are my favorite indy type films in no particular order:

Dear Frankie
Benny & Joon
What's Eating Gilbert Grape?
Rabbit Proof Fence
Green Fingers
Danny Deckchair
joyeux Noel
Simon Birch
Amelie
The Prize Winner of DeFiance, Ohio

Not quite Indy...that haven't been mentioned:
Kitt kitridge American Girl
National Treasure
Return To Me
Family Stone
A Lot Like Love
Family Man
except I have to second *Little Miss Sunshine*, one of my top 5 faves.

I didn't add drama/thrillers because they are usually Rated R, but I would be happy to recommend more. We have been members of Netflix for over 5 years. We LOVE it.

I agree with previous posters that it is so fun to watch a series in its entirety. There really are some excellent TV shows.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is fantastic. It evolves over time into a multilayered classic. Don't miss it! (The 1st season gives the wrong impression, the 2nd season takes you much deeper)

Blessings,