This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

Featuring: Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer. Director: Rob Reiner.

The thing about cult classics is that if you don't see them before they become known as "cult classics", they can disappoint you a little because you're expecting too much. That is sort of what happened to me with This Is Spinal Tap.

Don't get me wrong, this was an extremely funny movie. The writing was incredible, the performances were spot on and the style was ingenious for the time. But, you know, I didn't piss my pants. I was really expecting to piss my pants. This movie just has that sort of reputation, especially if you're a huge fan of rock n' roll. And really, who isn't?

Now, before you start calling me a picky asshole (which I am) for talking crap about a great movie (which it is), I want you to know I really did love this movie. I can't believe I'm seeing it nearly 30 years late. This is something I should have been pissing myself laughing at when I was 10 and close enough to the 80's to appreciate all the humor. Well, as best a 10 year old could. If, like me, you were sheltered from this movie as a child you definitely need to watch this. It was pretty damn funny. I would have thought it was even funnier if I had seen it when I was a kid like I should have. I guess you sort of have to blame bad parenting.

Click here to add this to your instant queue. 

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? It's always talked about as a "cult classic" and I'm all about those.

Is it artsy? Not really, just a really well done mockumentary.

What stood out the most to you? How spot on so much of the satire was. It was almost like watching an episode of Behind the Music, but funnier.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Sick of listening to that 80's rock station at work.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars.

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Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010)

Featuring: Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk, Katrina Bowden. Director: Eli Craig.

We've seen the story a million times. Naive college kids head out to the country and run into a house full of psycho-hillbilly maniacs. It's been done to death, literally. After a while, every overdone movie sub-genre becomes due for a send-up.

Tucker & Dale are just a couple of hard working good 'ol boys who bought a fixer-upper vacation home out in the woods. An array of miscommunications and misunderstandings leads a group of college students to think Tucker & Dale are out to get them. The college kids end up attacking Tucker & Dale and all sorts of horror-related comedy ensues.

Most spoofs put out these days are over the top and just add shock value to the movies they are taking over for. Tucker & Dale vs. Evil isn't that sort of movie at all. It doesn't go for the shock gags (for the most part), but instead plays off the ridiculousness of the fear many northerners have of southerners way out in the country. This movie was a really fun 90 minutes and I'd recommend it to anyone who is a horror movie fan. It's a lot funnier than you think it's going to be.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? It was recommended by the blog NETFLIX STREAMING.

Is it artsy? No way.

What stood out the most to you? The way it flipped around the typical killer hillbilly movies.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Ready for some good laughs with likable leads.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars.

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Duck, You Sucker (1971)

Featuring: Rod Steiger, James Coburn. Director: Sergio Leone.

Warning: This movie is only supposed to be available for streaming until Jan. 1st. Act fast!

Look at that cover. Look at it. How could anyone not be intrigued by the possibilities? A cover like this one is only found on two kinds of movies. Awful movies, and awfully awesome movies. Luckily, this one is representative  of the latter. I should have known that after I saw the king of spaghetti westerns, Sergio Leone, was at the helm.

The first ten minutes of this film are strange, confronting and to be honest made me a little queasy - in a good way. The rest of the film is partly hilarious, a bit over the top, and disturbingly tragic. Needless to say there is a lot going on this film.

It stars James Coburn as an IRA explosives-man on the run in Mexico during the revolution. Coburn's character meets up with a bandit, played by Rod Steiger, who is out to make the score of a lifetime and just happens to need a man that is good with dynamite. The two are rivals and confrontational at first but eventually build enough mutual respect to become friends. I won't really go into where the story goes from there, except that to say it goes all over the place and not in directions you will expect.

This is one of those movies you find yourself enjoying way more than you thought you would. It's a roller coaster ride, filled with  the ups and downs, the fear and all the excitement that goes with it. Check it out, you'll either love it or hate it. But, you're queue will look much cooler with that cover in it.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 1/1/12. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Look at that cover, seriously.

Is it artsy? Not at all.

What stood out the most to you? From the disturbing opening ten minutes I was hooked.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking for something over the top, a little disturbed and different.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars.  

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Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

Featuring: Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Burl Ives. Director: Richard Brooks.

Warning: This movie is only supposed to be available for streaming until Jan. 1st. Act fast!

With Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor joining forces I think Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, hands down, wins the award for prettiest eyes in a movie. Taylor is smoking hot as the neglected wife who is completely desperate to get her husband into bed and Newman plays opposite her as a stubborn drunk who has given up on life. Somehow, I think only Paul Newman could play that role sexy. And yes, I am feeling very secure in my masculinity as I write this review.

Despite the bad southern accents (as twitterer @Tny8 pointed out, because being a Chicagoan I can't tell a bad one from an authentic one), I found myself getting all wrapped up in the drama of this movie. When I wasn't busy thinking about how bad I wanted Liz (yes, we're on a first name basis), I found myself relating to the troubles of Newman's character. I understand high expectations, and I understand not living up to them. Particularly now that my 30th birthday is just around the corner (same age as Newman's character). That sort of pressure can be hard to escape, it can be hard to find yourself, and I suppose it could make you even do something as insane as neglect a woman as foxey as Liz Taylor in her prime.

That sort of depression can only come from complexity. The complexity in this movie, and Newman's character, is born from his insanely dysfunctional family, the suicide of a best friend, and the pain and suffering young love can bring about. Over the course of the 24 hours portrayed in this movie Newman is able to work through his issues with his father (interesting performance from Burl Ives) and his wife. Were the answers satisfactory? I won't spoil that, but I will say that in life, they rarely are.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 1/1/12. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor. Do I really need any other reason?

Is it artsy? No, but it is based on a Tennessee Williams play and my understanding is he was a bit of an artist with that sort of thing..

What stood out the most to you? Paul Newman gave a great performance, Taylor was f***** hot.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking for conflict and sizzle.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars.  
 

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Nights of Cabiria (1957)

Featuring: Giulietta Masina, Francois Perier. Director: Federico Fellini.

Warning: This movie is only supposed to be available for streaming until Jan. 1st. Act fast!

Giulietta Masina's face is so expressive it seems as though it was in her DNA to perform in silent films. I don't know if she ever was in any silent films or not, but every time I see her in a movie I just picture her with Charlie Chaplin hamming it up and holding  conversations with just their facial expressions. She seems to be from another time. A time when theatre was more important than the silver screen. Her energy, her deliberate awkwardness. I can't tell if she was brilliant or an idiot savant, but what I do know is that I absolutely cannot keep my eyes off of her.

Nights of Cabiria again pairs up Masina with famed  Italian director Federico Fellini, himself a bit of an odd bird. Together they tell the story of a prostitute who is jaded enough to expect those around her to hurt her, but hasn't yet reached the level of cynicism that keeps her from being hopeful of finding true love. As you can probably imagine, she's right in that sweet spot where she get hurts a lot. Masina, and by extension her character, has such a great spirit that somehow this movie keeps from devolving into a depressing mess. You want to follow her journey, you want her to succeed, even if you sort of suspect it's just going to turn bad in the end. After all, part of me thought she sort of suspected it as well.

Queue this one up, it's a ride worth taking and at the very least you can come back and tell me what you think of the enigma that is Giulietta Masina. There is just something about her I can't quite put my finger on.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 1/1/12. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I watched La Strada a while back and I became interested in Fellini and incredibly intrigued with Giulietta Masina. Plus, just look at that poster. Awesome.

Is it artsy? It doesn't feel artsy but I guess it sort of is. It is in Italian.

What stood out the most to you? Giulietta Masina has the most expressive face I've ever seen in my life.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? In the mood for something different.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars.  

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Led Zeppelin: The Song Remains the Same (1976)

Featuring: Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, John Paul Jones. Directors: Joe Massot, Peter Clifton.

Warning: This movie is only supposed to be available for streaming until Jan. 1st. Act fast!

If you aren't a fan of Led Zeppelin then you need to either hit up iTunes (or obtain by other means) some of their music. Either that or get off of my page. They're the greatest rock band of all time in my mind and they are unquestionably up there in everyone's top five (provided they have any knowledge of music history). Their music was incredible and their energy was insane. The four of them were as talented as any group in history.

I imagine you all probably know that already, but I was just making sure. This film captures the band live from Madison Square Garden in New York tearing the house down in their prime. Watching them perform gave me goosebumps and it only got more intense as it went on. Jimmy Page is probably the only man in history that could give that other Jimi a run for his money as far as creativity and skill with the guitar. My face melted a little bit, no bullshit. Robert Plant's voice is absolutely mesmorizing, I didn't even really need to watch this to be hypnotized. The music is that good.

This is something that should be watched by anyone with any passing interest in music. Sure, there were trippy scenes thrown in for absolutely no reason that only detracted from the performance, but that's just how they rolled in the 70's. Don't let the bizarre beginning distract you from what is here. A thrilling performance from the greatest rock stars of all time.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 1/1/12. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Led Zeppelin were rock gods.

Is it artsy? No, but it tries to be with pointless trippy parts that just feel tagged on.

What stood out the most to you? Jimmy Page is a bad mother f*****.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Stoned and/or ready to rock.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars.  

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Letters from Iwo Jima (2007)

Featuring: Ken Watanabe, Shido Nakamura. Director: Clint Eastwood.

Warning: This movie is only supposed to be available for streaming until Jan. 1st. Act fast!

I hadn't really heard much about Letters from Iwo Jima when I turned it on. I vaguely remember hearing it was pretty good and I knew Clint Eastwood was directing so that made it worth a shot despite my World War II movie fatigue. I'm sure I can't be the only one that has it. There have been so many good WWII movies that it feels like I've seen every angle you could take on the war of wars that any other movie on the subject would seem like a cliche or a retread.

After about five minutes I realized that this movie was entirely from the perspective of Japanese soldiers. It never really occurred to me that anyone would ever think to film a WWII movie from the Japanese perspective and once I realized that I was suddenly intrigued. Clint, you sneaky bastard. The reason you never see any movies from that point of view is because the Japanese were the bad guys. WWII wasn't the kind of war that had much moral ambiguity to it like say, any war since. I'm of the opinion that the allies were on the side of good. Sure, in war there are always bad things done even by the side in the right. And, if you're going to point to any war as being a "Just War" then it would be this one.

Showing the other side is sort of a risky step by Mr. Eastwood. Some could, and probably have thought of this movie as being almost apologetic for the Japanese in WWII. Instead, in my opinion, it shows that even a just war is completely absurd and that the people who are hurt by such a war are never the evil mother f****** who started it. It's the hardworking men and women with families that suffer. That's whats happening now, and that's what always happens in war. It's just a bad business and ideally we'll have a lot less of them once we realize that the poor bastards on the other side are probably just like the poor bastards on our side.

I realize this hasn't been much of a review, but it was a movie that got me thinking. And sometimes, we need movies like that. Well acted, thought-provoking, slightly daring and touching as well. Give it a try, we all need to be a little more anti-war.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 1/1/12. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Clint Eastwood is a pretty darn good director so I thought it deserved a shot.

Is it artsy? No, but the movie is almost entirely in Japanese so expect to do plenty of reading.

What stood out the most to you? I didn't know much about this movie going in, so finding out it was told from the Japanese perspective was pretty surprising.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Needing a reminder of the absurdity of war.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars. 

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Giant (1956)

Featuring: Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean. Director: George Stevens.

Warning: This movie is only supposed to be available for streaming until Jan. 1st. Act fast!

You can't really go wrong with a cast like Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean. Each of them were legends in their own right. I also believe that Hudson and Dean gave the best performances of their careers in this movie (Hate to admit it, but I think Rebel Without a Cause is a bit overrated).

Hudson was wonderful as a wealthy, traditional Texas rancher who falls for the strong-willed (surprise, surprise) Elizabeth Taylor the moment they met. This is really a tale of their marriage over the years, and the dysfunctional family the two of them produced. The charisma between Hudson and Taylor is absolutely fantastic and some of the most memorable scenes are the two of them in bed arguing like an old married couple. It's hard to pull off those simpler moments in life and make them relateable and the two of them are very convincing.

James Dean plays Hudson's rival who has a huge chip on his shoulder and uses that motivation to work his way from the bottom to build his own empire. He creates a complex, if troubled character and portrays a man with an inferiority complex wonderfully. Overall, this is a fantastic epic well worth the over three hour run-time. You will witness some of the greatest actors of all time doing what they do best, creating characters that are believable, like us yet different and very compelling. You should definitely check this one out.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 1/1/12. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I'm in love with Elizabeth Taylor, and not in some creepy necrophilia kind of way either you sicko.

Is it artsy? No.

What stood out the most to you? The chemistry Taylor and Hudson had as an old married couple could be really funny at times.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? In the mood to watch a good movie with humor, intrigue and interesting characters. Also, you should have about three and a half hours because it's pretty long.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars.

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Best in Show (2000)

Featuring: Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Michael McKean, Parker Posey, Jane Lynch. Director: Christopher Guest.

Warning: This movie is only supposed to be available for streaming until Jan. 1st. Act fast!

For those of you whom are unaware, Christopher Guest is the unchallenged king of the "mockumentary" genre of film making. He was the brains behind the huge hit This Is Spinal Tap and created other cult classics such as Waiting for Guffman. To direct and write that sort of movie you have to have the sort of mind that can spot the absurd in the mundane.

After all, Best in Show is a movie about dog shows. The only thing I have ever remembered about dog shows is that my grandpa would fall asleep in the kitchen watching them on television while my grandma cooked. They aren't the most exciting things in the world. Unless you have the sort of mind that can see the craziness that most of us don't recognize at first glance. Throw in good comedic actors who know how to play their part and give them some really funny lines to deliver, in an understated but somehow outrageous manner, and you end up with a damned funny movie. You get great comedic timing, a lot of laugh out loud jokes, and evidence as to why Christopher Guest will always be the master mockumentarian. Very funny stuff, queue it up. You'll never look at a dog show the same way again.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue. 

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 1/1/12. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I've had people tell me it was funny. They were right.

Is it artsy? Nope.

What stood out the most to you? Probably the woman that slept with pretty much every bald guy in the movie, that cracked me up each time.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking to laugh or in the company of one of your friends that keeps her pooch in her purse.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars.

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Live Flesh (1997)

Featuring: Javier Bardem, Francesca Neri, Liberto Rabal. Director: Pedro Almodovar.

Warning: This movie is only supposed to be available for streaming until Dec. 14th. Act fast!

Some movies are inspiring because they explore the wonder and joy that true love can bring. This isn't one of those movies. This is a movie that delves into the darker aspects of love. The way that love can make you do terrible, hateful, vengeful things. This movie shows us what some of our more primitive emotions can drive us to do.

Spanish director Pedro Almodovar has never shied away from exploring sex in his movies and this one certainly isn't any different. Live Flesh features a young Javier Bardem (who you may know as the creepy guy from No Country for Old Men), a complicated Francesca Neri, and a revenge-filled performance from Liberto Rabal. The story revolves around the three of them in a unique love triangle that goes deeper than just jealousy over one man taking the others lover. Bardem plays an officer, who gets shot by Rabal and Neri flip-flops between the love and guilt she feels for both of them. It gets complicated, as love and passion always does, but the story is compelling enough to keep you interested between dirty sex scenes.

If you like your passion mixed in with a little anger, you should enjoy this film.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 12/14/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I was curious to see some other movies featuring Javier Bardem.

Is it artsy? No, but it is in Spanish, for some subtitles count as artsy.

What stood out the most to you? Penelope Cruz giving birth, and the cutting of the umbilical cord. You'll know what I'm talking about.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? In the mood to explore some of the more base emotions of life.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars.

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The Boxer (1997)

Featuring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Emily Watson, Brian Cox. Director: Jim Sheridan.

Warning: This movie is only supposed to be available for streaming until Dec. 31st. Act fast!

For those of you that are unaware, Daniel Day-Lewis is the most intense man in the world. His stare would make Chuck Norris wet his pants. He's an insanely talented actor, and when its all said and done he'll go down as one of the greatest of all time. In The Boxer, we find Day-Lewis in one of his more understated roles. While Day-Lewis was spot on as always, the most interesting character in this movie was the political turmoil that affected every single person in the story.

I'm not Irish or anything, but I know enough about history to know that the famous luck of the Irish is actually bad luck. The Boxer is set during the period of time when peace was just around the corner in Ireland. After decades of conflict, the Irish were a hardened people that knew nothing but fighting and tragedy and you can imagine the kind of effect that would have on the psyches of Irish citizens. It made them paranoid and led to an odd sort of morality that is reflected in this film.

Against this backdrop, we have Daniel Day-Lewis portraying a former IRA fighter, fresh out of jail, looking to make a comeback in boxing after 14 years. I won't spoil the plot, but Day-Lewis ends up in the thick of things. And of course there is a girl, and it is of course complicated. Emily Watson did a wonderful job as the love interest and their unconventional relationship made for some powerful, if subtle, scenes.

I shouldn't really have to tell you to watch this movie because you should already know that every single Day-Lewis movie is required viewing here at Netflix Stream. This is yet another interesting film in one of the most interesting film careers in history.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 12/31/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Daniel Day-Lewis is an acting god.

Is it artsy? No, it's a boxing movie, but it isn't in black and white.

What stood out the most to you? The political backdrop of the story.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? For a good fight.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars.
 

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Destry Rides Again (1939)

Featuring: Jimmy Stewart, Marlene Dietrich. Director: George Marshall.

Warning: This movie is only supposed to be available for streaming until Dec. 25th. Act fast!

I've always associated the holidays with Jimmy Stewart. His charm, the peculiar way in which he talks and the morally upstanding, but mischievous characters he plays, give me the warm and fuzzy feeling I crave in between thanksgiving and new years day. Before I decided to watch It's a Wonderful Life for the millionth time, I thought I'd see what else ol' Jimmy had on Netflix. I came across a few movies and the one I decided to watch first was Destry Rides Again.

I picked this one mostly because I had no idea how the hell a guy like Jimmy Stewart would fit into a western genre known more for violence and rough characters than that aw-shucks charm Mr. Stewart is famous for. Throw the always intriguing Marlene Dietrich into the mix and I just couldn't resist. This movie wasn't at all what I expected when I turned it on, but after watching it, I thought that it was exactly what I should have expected. Jimmy Stewart fit in the way he always fits in, with that unique force of nature he seems to possess.

Having Marlene Dietrich playing opposite of him made this movie quite the treat. She played a wild and sometimes venomous woman that was always interesting when on screen and her chemistry with Stewart was wonderful. Stewart played a sort of pacifist sheriff out to bring law and order to a wild west town. The premise is a little silly, but the performances of Dietrich and Stewart make the end product wonderful. If you like westerns, and/or Stewart and Dietrich, queue this one up immediately.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 12/25/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I just couldn't imagine what Jimmy Stewart would be like in a western.

Is it artsy? No, its good raunchy (for the time) fun.

What stood out the most to you? How wild Marlene Dietrich could be.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? In the mood to watch an old movie that will make you laugh.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars.

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Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter (2001)

Featuring: Phil Caracas. Director: Lee Demarbre.

Warning: This movie is only supposed to be available for streaming until Dec. 1st. Act fast!

Imagine a bunch of your stoner friends from high school coming up with an idea for a movie called Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter. Now picture those stoners finding a bunch of shitty movie-making equipment and then somehow showing enough initiative to not only make their crazy movie... but put their hearts and souls into it. If you can imagine that movie... then you have an idea of what kind of movie Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter is.

Obviously, they're not going to make an incredible movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat. However, the chances are good there would be some really dumb shit that would make you laugh even though you know you shouldn't. This movie can't match the insane genius of a movie like Black Dynamite, but it does feel like it was done by a pot-smoking savant. 

My advice when it comes to this movie? Imbibe with friends, laugh at stupid lines like "the power of Christ impales you", enjoy the surprisingly creative but awful fight scenes, and have a ridiculously good time watching a ridiculously bad movie MST3K style.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 12/1/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I think the title alone is enough to warrant having this in my queue.

Is it artsy? Think of the artsyist thing you can think of, multiply it by ten, and think of it's opposite. That is how unartsy this movie is..

What stood out the most to you? To be honest, this movie is so batshit crazy that I can't really even pick out a single moment.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Stoned, with friends.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars.

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The Botany of Desire (2009)

Featuring: Michael Pollan. Director: Michael Schwarz.

Warning: This movie is only supposed to be available for streaming until Nov. 20th so act fast!

I really had no idea how fascinated I was by plants until I watched this documentary on the relationship between plants and humans. I actually want to start a garden now. Not that I ever would. I've always been more of a carnivore. Plants leave me alone and I leave them alone.

At least that's what I always thought. Apparently, certain plants have survived and thrived because of their dependence on humans. They focus on the apple, the tulip, marijuana and the potato in this movie and show the drastic impacts we've had on those plants and the impacts they have had on us. It all sounds really bland I know, but if you like learning about random stuff this is a very well made and interesting documentary. I enjoyed it and so will you, even if no one would ever call you Dr. Greenthumb.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 11/20/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I thought it was going to be erotic. It wasn't.

Is it artsy? No, despite how the cover looks it is not artsy. It's just about plants, straight up.

What stood out the most to you? Everything really, I never knew agriculture could be so fascinating. That and the weed pants looked really pretty, not that I do that stuff, anymore.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? A curious one, I really learned a lot.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars.

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Creature from the Black Lagoon: Special Edition (1954)

Featuring: Richard Carlson, Julie Adams, Richard Denning. Director: Jack Arnold.

When it comes to horror movies, I've always had a soft spot for the classics. When I was little and it was around Halloween, my Dad would go to the video store and come back with titles like Dracula and The Mummy. Once we popped in the VHS tape and got the tracking adjusted as best we could, I would lay on the floor and get wrapped up in classic tales told by Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff and the like.

I have to confess that until this year Creature from the Black Lagoon is the one classic monster movies I had never seen. Maybe, it was hard to find on VHS. Maybe my Dad didn't care for it, or maybe it was just because he's allergic to fish. Whatever the reason, I never had the opportunity to watch it until this Halloween and I'm glad I did.

Creature from the Black Lagoon tells the story of an archeological expedition that finds evidence of a mysterious creature never before observed by man. They end up following the trail to a lagoon deep in the jungle and discover a fish-like but humanoid type monster. As with most of the classic monster movies it is possible to develop a bit of sympathy for the monster. You can understand why he is doing what he is doing, but you also know that there is no choice but to fight him.

It's a shame I hadn't seen this one earlier because it does rank up there with the other classics. It has all the tension, the mystery and wonder of movies like The Wolf Man and Frankenstein. I'm just only getting to appreciate that now.

Click here to add this movie to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 1/1/13. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? It's the one classic monster movie that I've never seen.

Is it artsy? Nope.

What stood out the most to you? The underwater scenes were all well done. As would be expected.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking for old school thrills.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars. 

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Tales of Terror (1962)

Featuring: Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Basil Rathbone. Director: Roger Corman.

The second film in this year's Vincent Price marathon is a collection of three stories based on the work of Edgar Allan Poe. Tales of Terror teams up the original king of b-movie horror Vincent Price, with a few of my favorites from the genre: Peter Lorre, Basil Rathbone, and director Roger Corman. In my eyes, there was really no way I could go wrong with this choice.

This one was even a little better than I was expecting. While it's not as great as other Price classics such as the The Fly, House on Haunted Hill or The Last Man on Earth, it is definitely the most enjoyable of the Edgar Allan Poe based movies he is so well known for. While Price was wonderful as always, Basil Rathbone and particularly Peter Lorre in the second story really stood out. If you like Vincent Price and his brand of horror this is definitely one you need to check out.

To add this movie to your Netflix queue click here.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 5/1/13. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? You really can't go wrong with Peter Lorre and Vincent Price on the screen together, they're an incredible duo.

Is it artsy? No, it's Vincent Price and company in all of their b-movie glory.

What stood out the most to you? Peter Lorre really stole the show in the second story.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Ready to watch some well done classic Edgar Allan Poe inspired tales..

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars. 

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La Strada: Special Edition (1954)

Featuring: Anthony Quinn, Giulietta Masina, Richard Basehart. Director: Federico Fellini.

Warning: This movie will stop streaming on May 26th so act fast!

Sadly, The Criterion Collection is moving from Netflix over to Hulu Plus soon and many of their wonderful films are expiring in the next month or so. For those of you that are unfamiliar with Criterion, they are dedicated to taking the best films, completely restoring them and making them available in a way that they never have been before. They tend to restore films that mainstream audiences haven't really paid much attention to, but that film buffs love. Basically, expect a lot of Frederico Fellini, Francois Truffaut and Akira Kurosawa reviews on this site in the near future.

La Strada is a film from famed Italian director Frederico Fellini about an innocent, and very peculiar girl. She gets sold by her impoverished mother to a brutish traveling strongman who performs at circuses and on the streets to hustle up money. He's a drinker, a lover of whores and an all around unpleasant guy. He's played by Anthony Quinn who gives a brilliant performance. His counterpart, played by Giuletta Masina, was wonderful as well. Although, I have to admit, her character is probably one of the hardest to grasp that I've ever come across in cinema. I'm not sure if she is supposed to be simple, childish, stupid, or somehow the smartest one in the film.

I don't really get why she stays with Quinn's character, or really why anyone is the way they are. If you're the kind of person that needs answers by the end of a movie this probably won't be a film for you. Sometimes that annoys me, but with this film it added to the incredible charm and fancy of the film. Some of the moments are breathtaking in the most spectacularly ordinary ways. It's a gorgeous piece of cinema that shows the dirtiness of Italy at the time as well as it's striking beauty. As you can see from the last paragraph, it has left me full of contradictions and I couldn't be happier for it.

If you're adventurous enough to try movies that feel different, look different and are in a different language then you should try this one out. I really enjoyed my time with it even if I'm not exactly sure why. I know it's saying something about life and love but I have no idea what. That's part of the fun I think, because really, the whole thing could just be saying nothing and I wouldn't know.

Click here to add this movie to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 5/26/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I've recently developed a new appreciation for Italian cinema.

Is it artsy? Yes, you could call it that. It's not a bunch of existential bull****, but I'd still call it artsy.

What stood out the most to you? Trying to figure that intriguing girl out. Well, that and the incredible setting and cinematography.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Open minded and with a childlike sense of awe.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars. 
Sorry, couldn't find a trailer in English.

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Harlan County, U.S.A. (1976)

Director: Barbara Kopple.

Warning: This will stop streaming on May 26th so act fast!

Yesterday I talked about how much I enjoyed documentaries about mundane topics. This is not one of those documentaries. This is one of those documentaries that slaps you in the face and shows you how f***** up and evil people can be. Harlan County, U.S.A., is about the coal miners strike in, you guessed it, Harlan County, Kentucky.

For those of you unfamiliar with the history of the relationship between mining companies and miners in Harlan County, it's awful, bloody and downright gruesome. In the 30's guerrilla warfare actually broke out between the two factions and while things weren't quite that bad in the 70's, it still wasn't pleasant. The head of the company was actually convicted of murder for ordering the death of a union leader - and his entire family. All of this because the workers wanted to join the United Mine Workers of America so that they might get a contract that included things as luxurious as say, bathrooms and and indoor plumbing at the shacks they had to live in on company property.

These people fought and died for their right to unionize and when you look at that through the lens of our current political climate in an age where corporations are allowed to do anything they want and workers have no representation - it looks like their blood was shed in vain.

This is an important documentary for us all to think of. Just to be reminded of what the profit motive is capable of if left unchecked. Everyone should watch this to see how far we've come, and in some ways, how far we've regressed.

To add this documentary to your Netflix queue click here.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 5/26/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I've heard it's a classic documentary and I can see why.

Is it artsy? No, but it is incredibly confronting.

What stood out the most to you? The depths of depravity the mining company would sink to.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Ready to get a glimpse at the darker side of corporations.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars. 
 

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Election (2005)

Featuring: Simon Yam, Tony Leung Ka Fai. Director: Johnnie To.

I'm not sure why but this movie is listed under the martial arts genre by Netflix. Maybe because it has Asians in it? Yes, there is some street-fighting but I didn't see any flying roundhouses anywhere. This is a straight up mob movie. Which is cool, because I like mob movies.

The story revolves around a power struggle between two up and coming triads and is sparked when one of them is elected over the other. A battle erupts over who can control the baton that signifies who the leader of the triad is. Things go back and forth for a while, there are some unexpected developments and a really surprising and disturbing finale concludes the movie.

I have sort of mixed-feelings about this movie. I was really unsure about how I felt about the movie until it was over. The important thing is that it kept me entertained throughout. At times this film seemed too frantic and confusing to keep up with and then all of a sudden it would slow down and show some of the brutal realities of what it means to be a person willing to kill to get what they want. One thing I will say, the director didn't stylize violence the way American directors tend to. The violence was there and it was brutally unapologetic.

Anyone who enjoys mob movies should definitely check this one out and form an opinion of their own. In retrospect, I think I like this movie a lot more now that I'm reviewing it than when I was actually watching it. I didn't know what to think, but now that I know what happened in the end, I have to say I rather liked it.

Click here to add this movie to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 8/18/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Cover looked cool.

Is it artsy? No, but it is subtitled. For some that counts.

What stood out the most to you? How much cooler Asians in suits smoking cigarettes look than the rest of us.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? When you realize you've run out of good American mob movies to watch but you still need a fix.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars. 

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Herb & Dorothy (2008)

Director: Megumi Sasaki.

My great-grandma was the kind of person that never threw anything out. It got so bad that we eventually had to kidnap her and throw all of her junk out because all she had was little paths running all through her house. Herb and Dorothy Vogel remind me a lot of my great grandma. Only, they didn't collect doilies and spoons from Baskin-Robbins, they collected art. A lot of it.

Herb & Dorothy is a documentary about the Vogels. He was a postal clerk and she was a librarian. They look like they could be anyone's sweet little grandma and grandpa. Like most couples that last as long as they did, they shared a common interest that provided constant excitement: art. When they were still young they realized they weren't exactly the artist types but they loved being surrounded by beauty. They were people of modest means but that didn't stop them from collecting art. They went out and started meeting young artists in the New York area and they would buy their art while it was still cheap. Some of the artists turned out to be huge successes, others you've never heard of. They did this for decades and they were really good at it. Despite living in a small one-bedroom apartment they eventually filled it with 4,000 minimalist paintings. Their collection is valued in the millions, but they've never sold a single piece for profit.

They clearly aren't your stereotypical art collectors. They like it for the beauty, not the money. Now obviously anyone who obsessively amasses a collection of that size has a few issues, but that doesn't stop them from being the cutest little old couple I've ever seen. It's so easy to tell they still really love each other after all of those years. Everything about this documentary made me happy. I don't think I've ever said "awww" so much during a movie. If you have interest in the art world at all or just like smiling at cute little elderly couples you should really give this one a try. It's my feel-good pick of the year.

Click here to add this movie to your Netflix queue. 

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Sounded like a cute documentary, it was.

Is it artsy? It is about a couple of art collectors but I wouldn't call it artsy.

What stood out the most to you? Five semi trucks full of art.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Happy and looking to be even happier.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars. 

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