I have Netflix and I'm not afraid to use it.
 

This thread is all about movie rental recommendations. For those of us with Netflix or Blockbuster subscriptions, renting movies has become a hobby rather than a treat. So, lets put our heads together and recommend movies that people ordinarily wouldn't risk $3.50 to rent (like back in the old day) but are SO worth it.

Here are the rules:
1) You may only recommend 1 movie per post, per day.
2) You must explain what genre the movie is and why you recommend it.
3) You may comment on other recommendations.

I'll start!

Meet The Feebles
Directed by Peter Jackson
For those of you wondering how Peter Jackson jumped out of nowhere and was given the reigns to Lord of the Rings, this movie explains a lot. Or a little, depending on how astonished you are by this movie that you forget to pay attention to the awesome direction. Meet the Feebles is like the Muppet Show meets Trainspotting meets Requiem for a Dream meets Scarface. I have long wished that more people knew about this movie because I love it so dearly.

Sodomy!

Cashback - Short version, an art student and part-time grocery store clerk suddenly gains the ability to pause time for everyone except him. He of course uses this ability to undress all the hot women who come into his store. Lots and lots of hot topless women, great cinemetography, and a good story too. There's a short film available online that has most of the nudity, but I highly recommend the whole thing.

Regarding Cashback .. I rented it before, purely for the nudity. It did not disappoint. Was also a rather good little love story.

Dead and Breakfast - a seemingly low-budget horror fest film that actually turns out to be not half bad. It stars Jeremy Sisko.

I'll add Cashback to my queue.

The Big Sleep with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.

The dialogue is sharp and witty, the dark mood of the film is film noir at its best. Though I think it stands up to repeated viewings, there might be some younger people here that won't be able to handle that it's in black and white.


As for Meet the Feebles... excellent choice.

The first thing I thought of was Casablanca. Seriously if you haven't seen this movie, rent it now. There is a reason that it's constantly rated one of the best movies of all time.
It has some of the best written and delivered dialog ever put on screen. The cast is fantastic and the humor still holds up today.
Plus it's Bacall and Bogart, you can't go wrong.

Actually Casablanca stars, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman rather than Bacall.

But it's still one of the greatest movies of all time.

Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928)
It stars Buster Keaton. Uh oh, not only is it black and white, it's also silent.

It's a very funny film, filled with many amazing stunts. In my opinion it's a lot more approachable than other silent films, especially for people unfamiliar with films from that time period.

Death to Smoochy (2002).
Danny DeVito (Dir.), Ed Norton, Robin Williams, Catherine Keener, Jon Stewart

A critical failure; a box-office disaster; a cult classic.

This is a dark comedy that we took a risk on only because we like Ed Norton. We were pleasantly surprised at how funny we found it. We ended up buying it, as it has a high replay value. But be warned: It's not for everyone. If you have an odd sense of humour (and a keen one, at that), you should enjoy it. It pokes fun at showbiz, specifically children's shows. Surprisingly well casted. I honestly don't know why it did so bad; maybe I'm an idiot who likes stupid movies.

Network (1976)
A movie that is really more relevant today than it was 32 years ago. I would call that prophetic. Its about a television network doing anything to get and stay on top of the ratings. The movie leaves you both wishing for that reality and then dreading it the next moment.

I will queue these... in my bittorrent client.

Fido (2006)
A sweet little story of a boy and his zombie. Takes place in a 50's pleasantville-type world after the Zombie Wars. ZombCom Corporation has devised a collar that eliminates a zombie's desire to consume human flesh (as long as it doesn't malfunction), rendering them docile creatures, put to use as domestic workers and factory labor. Features Carrie Ann Moss as "Mom", and Billy Connelly (!!) as "Fido".

How does it compare to The General (Another silent Buster Keaton movie)? We own it, and it's pretty awesome. Best locomotive chase scene *ever*.

I've decided not to count the last one as my suggestion for today, since I was just commenting on sapiens' suggestion. :-)

Today I'll nominate Graveyard of The Fireflies. But only if you're prepared to cry. Saddest movie I have ever seen, with the possible competition of holocaust films like Schindler's List or the Diary of Anne Frank. Also amazingly beautiful and very funny at times.

We haven't rented anything on our Netflix account for several weeks if not months. But the thing I like about Netflix is it suggested some movies we would have not seen otherwise. A good example is Rabbit-Proof Fence. Sadly our teenage son rented a bunch of skateboard movies and rated them like they were Academy Award winners. Since then recommendations have been a bit skewed.

The General is a much bigger budget film with a larger plot. I think that Steamboat Bill, Jr. has more comedic moments and more outrageous stunts by Keaton. The Hurricane scenes are amazing. I like The General, but I think that Steamboat Bill, Jr. is more fun.

The Dreamers (2003) Since we are all fans of films, this film begins with three cinephiles in the 1960's living in France talking or performing some of their favorite scenes in old movies.

And the only way I understood some of the movie references played out by the characters was by renting the films through NetFlix.

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (handy link straight to the netflix title ;) )

I hope you've seen this. Even if you have, rent it again. It is awesome.

Wow, that's crazy... I just watched Cashback last night and came in here to recommend it, and I see it's the first movie mentioned. Definitely worth seeing.

Looking back through my Netflix queue real quick, I'll recommend Internal Affairs. It's the original foreign film on which The Departed was based. And in my opinion, it is much better than the American remake.

You mean, InFernal Affairs.... Internal Affairs is a Richard Gere film from 1990.

Infernal Affairs is a good movie, and it's completely different in spirit than The Departed.

I'll add:

Hostage - Bruce Willis is a hostage negotiator...

I think that you mean Infernal Affairs (Infernal rather than Internal). I liked the original and the remake.

EDIT: Cynthetiq beat me to it.

In the same vein, I recommend In the Mood for Love. It's a drama/romance directed by Wong Kar Wai (or Kar Wai Wong). Like Infernal Affairs, it stars Tony Leung. I like Tony Leung movies. I also really like Wong Kar Wai movies. Plus, it's nice to get some exposure to Hong Kong films that aren't action/Kung Fu.

I haven't seen this movie but it sounds a lot like a book I read about 10 years ago called "The Fermata". In the book the guy had the ability to freeze time and used it to undress and sometimes have sex with various women. As I recall one of the problems he had is that when time was frozen he aged while everyone else stayed the same.

Wow, how did I never notice that before? Thanks for the correction. :)

Today, I think I'm going to go with an Alfred Hitchcock film... Rear Window. Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly are both fantastic in this, and it is my favorite Hitchcock film because it tells such a dramatic and tense story with very little dialogue. Truly masterful.

Oh, I need to see that movie again. SOOO GOOD. Too bad Netflix doesn't ship to Iceland... sigh.

However, I did just buy a DVD copy of Börn Nátúrunnar here in Iceland, which I am thrilled about. Is that available on Netflix? If so, I recommend that you all watch it. The English title is "Children of Nature," if you can't find (or type) the Icelandic one. Excellent little film, very Icelandic.

Today, I recommend Rules of the Game directed by Jean Renoir in 1939. It's a very entertaining French comedy/drama about the rich and their servants at the onset of WWII. Gosford Park took a lot from this movie.

never heard of it... the only one that comes to mind is:

101 Reykjavik

guy who whacks off to porn, lives with mom sleeps with her hot friend (Victoria Abril), all set in Iceland.

Wait, do you mean to say that this is the only Icelandic film you've seen? My friend, you need to watch some movies next time to come to this island!!!

no, we watch them pretty regularly... as far as availble via Netflix that's the only one I could find.

we saw Kalda Ljos recently. Scandinavian Center has Icelandic Films throughout the year. Please be on the lookout for Ikíngut as a DVD... we need it for our collection.

in my very biased opinion a great majority of the better films out there are B&W and/or silent.

and for a recommendation - The Inspector General (the original B&W not the colorised print). Excellent comedy with Danny Kaye and Alan Hale Sr.

Session 9

One of maybe three horror films to scare me. It's about this asbestos cleaning crew working over an abandoned asylum. Great... everything. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Ah, okay... whew.

Scandinavian Center... do you mean the American-Scandinavian Foundation in NYC? They funded most of my graduate research, including the current project... pretty cool center.

I mentioned this film as a must see in another thread a few weeks ago: The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0419294/. It is directed by and stars Tommy Lee Jones. The story is set in West Texas and Mexico and it has the same feel to it as No Country for Old Men, but it is a much better movie-- not as violent nor as nihilistic. This is not to say it doesn't have violence. It does. It examines the banality of evil and the possibility of forgiveness and redemption.

The Music Man

You know the "76 trombones and a marching band" I don't usually like musicals but this on is an exception. It's about a con man selling musical instruments back in the day. A true classic.

I really like this thread. So, another bump:

Today, I recommend Bringing Up Baby (1938) directed by Billy Wilder and starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn. It's a screwball comedy about a socialite (Hepburn) who teases/messes with a paleontologist (Grant). The dialogue is very quick and crisp. They are both (Grant and Hepburn) hilarious.

The Last Seduction

When someone says, Fuck You to Linda Fiorentino, she says, No, Fuck you, and you, and you, and you.

I'll second this one. It's a good film.

F**k

A documentary on the word Fuck. Interviews with comedians, actors, writers, congressman, porn star, singers and citizens about the word and why or how it is used and its origin.

D'oh. Don't post when stupid tired. That should be my new rule.

Phantom of the Paradise

This baby has quite the catchy soundtrack and a fun script and actors, it's too bad that it's overshadowed by the equally budget-less '70s musical Rocky Horror Picture Show, which manages to only be slightly better.

Dark City

It's a sci-fi/mystery directed by Alex Proyas who directed The Crow.

I really don't want to say to much for fear of giving away stuff but this movie is visually stunning and a well worth a watch.

Since I was sick today, I did 4 instant watch movies. Out of the 4, my recommendation is...

Stupid Teenagers Must Die!

Genre: horror spoof.

Plot synopsis: All the stereotypical characters (blonde, jock, nerd, and the 2 girls who can't stop making out with each other) of horror films show up at a haunted house to do a seance.

Recommended for its humor and B-movie gore. It was not as stupid as the majority of these movies since it actually had a plot other than just being a spoof.

I've been wanting to see Fido, but keep putting it off. I'll have to add that to our queue.

damn !, great thread. and Halx, tha's really funny you'd kick it off with that movie. I first rented that as a japanese copy when it first came out.

damn that was a funny movie!

I'll go with....
Thundercrack

Genre....horror/spoof/sex/just plane wierdness

From the unique genius team of director Curt McDowell and screenwriter George Kuchar (yeah c/p from google)

plot: the old car breaks down on a rainy night near a strange house (like rocky horror)

this movie is low buget, grany scratchy b&w. features actual sex but not enough to make it a porn movie. it's highly entertaining in terms of plot and acting. I'm not saying it's all good but you'll definatly know you saw a wierd movie.

I don't really want to go into it further due to spoiler factor.

it occurs to me writing this Netflix probably dosn't have it..no way would BBuster. sorry :paranoid:

got another one in mind to post...can I post after midnight ??:)

ok...new day new movie.

Marquis

French, Directed by Henri Xhonneux and written by satirist / puppeteer Roland Topor

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if the Muppets did De Sade?
well, probably not...but anyway, I rented this a while back and damn, what a cool movie. fantastic production(costumes and sets) plus it was just so suprising to see puppets in this kind of thing. definatly stands up with Meet the Feebles but not quite as goofy slapstic...but they cut no corners on the adult nature of the material.

this may also be missing from Netflix catalogue but I have seen it on the shelf at a few places.

Well, if you're looking for B-movie horror, I recommend Happiness of the Katakuris. Japanese horror musical with zombies and volcanoes. If it's wrong, I don't want to be right. One of the stranger movies I have seen. You can't miss the Sound of Music reference:
http://dreamers.com/indices/imagenes...32.IMAGEN1.jpg

that looks like a hoot sapiens :)

ok, here's todays movie.

The Incident
crime drama

Late one night, two young toughs went looking for kicks. check IMdb if you want more info I don't want to spoil it.

I think this is Martin Sheens 1st movie and he's really great in it as a thug. Ed McMahon is in it too, pritty decent acting on his part I'd say.

very powerfull acting by all in some very intense scenes of conflict. after watching this I really felt drained, higly suspensfull and very realistic.

Today, I recommend Le Samouraï directed by Jean-Pierre Melville. It's a French crime noir film. I really enjoy Melville films generally. This one stars Alain Deleon (my avatar) as contract killer, Jeff Costello.

Comedy - The Man w/Samuel L. Jackson & Eugene Levy

Special Agent Derrick Vann(Jackson) is a man out to get the man who killed his partner but a case of mistaken identity leads him to Andy Fidler(Levy), a salesman with too many questions and a knack of getting in Vanns way - IMDB "He's my bitch"
Very Funny Movie

Thriller-Drama - Inside Man 2005

Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster
A cop has to talk down a bank robber after the criminal's perfect heist spirals into a hostage situation.
A Must See

Sexy - Forbidden
Renee Rea & Tracy Ryan - Hot

Action - The Bourne Trilogy
"Freely adapted from Robert Ludlum's 1980 bestseller, The Bourne Identity starts fast and never slows down. The twisting plot revs up in Zurich, where amnesiac CIA assassin Jason Bourne (Matt Damon), with no memory of his name, profession, or recent activities, recruits a penniless German traveler (Run Lola Run's Franka Potente) to assist in solving the puzzle of his missing identity." IMDB

Thanks all, I keep updating my queue it's getting rather lengthy.

I received my Netflix subscription just a few months ago and I have piled the queue to years worth of movies and series.

I would heartily recommend Fur:An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus and Wristcutters: A Love story.

I must agree with the Black and White, and silent films having a majesty to them.

Today, I recommend Night on Earth directed by Jim Jarmusch. I like most of Jarmusch's films. Night on Earth was the first one I saw. It's a series of short stories about people on cab rides at night around the world. A lot of recognizable actors are in the film, including Roberto Benigni in a heartwarming story about an Italian cab driver and his love of pumpkins. An added bonus: Tom Waits wrote the music for the film.

It's been so long since I've seen that movie. Linda Fiorentino is a great femme fatale.

Today I recommend The Conversation directed and written by Francis Ford Coppola. It was his first movie following The Godfather. I guess it qualifies as a crime/drama/mystery. It stars Gene Hackman as a surveillance expert who suspects that the couple he is watching is going to be killed. This is a good movie, perhaps one of Coppola's best.

On a totally unrelated note, Netflix is eliminating multiple user accounts and this is a real bummer. I find their queue management system to be hard enough to work with as it is. Now I have to weed out my own queue and try to squeeze in a lot of the movies on my 9-year-old's queue and then juggle them around manually with that time-consuming system. Grrrr...and they're very vague as to why they are doing it.

/end threadjack

Nooobs!!! xD

www.watch-movies.net

Watch movies for absulotely freee and its completely legal since its only links to them ..I love the website

Please read the OP before posting....

I just watched it last night...

Lars and the Real Girl
Its about a guy who orders a Real Doll online and starts to believe that she is his girlfriend. This movie is so... out there... yet grounded. I was laughing the whole time. Really engaging and sweet. See it!

Netflix decided not to eliminate the profiles: Profiles are not leaving

Ong Bak.

Buddhist backwoods villager gets buddha-napped. Gos on wooging rampage to reclaim buddha. Lots of stunts (flying through barbed wire rings, sliding under cars, whatnot) decent plot, decent side comedy. Well worth $5, possibly worth buying if it's your cup of tea.

Discussion of Spielberg in a different thread leads me to recommend:

Jaws directed by Steven Spielberg. (The first Jaws, not 2, 3, etc.) If you haven't seen it in a long time or only in bits and pieces on television, rent it. It is probably my favorite Spielberg film. So many great scenes and well-written dialogue.

sounds like Mannequin but without the trashy 80s-ness

today's recommendation:
Live Free or Die Hard

much better than the 3rd installment of the Die Hard franchise and you should ph33r da l33t h4x0rZ like Kevin Smith

Wallace & Gromit: Three Amazing Adventures - clay animation

Includes:
A Grand Day Out with Wallace and Gromit
Wallace & Gromit in The Wrong Trousers
Wallace and Gromit in A Close Shave
and a dozen or so shorts.

These and a few of the shorts are better than Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit in my opinion.

BTW, watched this one the other night (on your recommendation), and I gotta say THAT WAS SOME FUCKED UP SHIT. Don't want to spoil it, but...what the fuck?

Anyway, it was fun, and all the movie references were nice. It'd be fun to netflix all the movies referenced by it.

Oh, and almost forgot, my recommendation for today: Yojimbo. This is the movie that A Fistfull of Dollars was based off of. Akira Kurosawa.

Stargate: Continuum - Better than the average Stargate episode and much better than Stargate: The Ark of Truth.

My pick for today:

Battle Royale

Kinky Boots

Chiwetel Ejiofor is a good singer... good soundtrack too.

Balls of Fury

Interesting homage to kung fu movies without being about kung fu.

This may not completely qualify as a movie as it is more of a series, but it makes for a great NETFLIX addition being that there are multiple discs.

DEADWOOD all 3 seasons.

I'm sure most here know about the show. It is set in the Dakota territories when the land was still an Indian Territory. Deadwood is a town that is set up within the territory to capitalize on area gold and to avoid government interference. It is one of the better produced show/movies in a long time. I'm watching the seasons again with the girlfriend (her first time) and I'm hooked again as is she. It's like American Shakespeare in the mud of the old west. The language and characters are very unique.

The Private Eyes

Watch out for the Wookilar!!!!

SHOGUN, the TV miniseries from the early 80's. I'd seen it about 20 years ago, and have started watching it again via Netflix. Saw the first 135 minutes on the first disc and have the rest in the queue.

There is a BBC miniseries on Netflix called Jekyll. The BEST Jekyll and Hyde reinvention I have ever seen. The make for the transformation is minimal. Little work on the jaw and hair line. The rest of it is just James Nesbitt showing just how good of an actor he is. 10/10.