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This is pretty fantastic:

Qwikster on Twitter

Even better that I learned about this from MST3K's Bill Corbett.

Good BBC Hiroshima flick added today. The re-enactments in this one (like most) don't add anything poignant to the narrative but the unmistakable narration by John Hurt and the vintage footage make it compelling viewing.

I suppose this thread can be merged now with the general Netflix thread, since Netflix will be offering nothing else but instant viewing going forward.

swo17 wrote:I suppose this thread can be merged now with the general Netflix thread, since Netflix will be offering nothing else but instant viewing going forward.

Done (just in case anyone wonders where the other thread went).

swo17 wrote:I suppose this thread can be merged now with the general Netflix thread, since Netflix will be offering nothing else but instant viewing going forward.

... or we could just retire it altogether.

ando wrote:Good BBC Hiroshima flick added today...

I also now have a reason to revisit Sokurov's The Sun (the end of WWII through the late emperor Hirohoto's eyes). It's also the only Sokurov film on Netflix.

Anthony Kaufman uncovers evidence that Netflix's resistance to stocking small films on DVD may extend to streaming as well.

Some specific rebuttals in there to the widely-circulated canard that streaming is "cheaper" for Netflix than disc rentals.

This is ridiculous: I was looking to restart my disc-only account, and the Netflix site only wants to offer me the streaming or streaming plus one disc plans. Anybody else have this issue? Am I going to be able to call them and do a work-around, or will I have to start six or eight separate Netflix accounts until Qwikster kicks in?

You might want to call them to see what your options are - I think the transition to Qwikster is happening pretty soon, if I'm not mistaken? I wouldn't be surprised if things were more wonky than usual.

Do you see a link anywhere that says "Show Additional Plans"? I click on that and am able to choose from a number of options. (I'm already on a disc-only plan though.)

No. It's only offering the $7.99 or $15.98 plans. If there are still other options, they become visible on the site only after I've subscribed and been charged for one of the two basic plans (i.e., as a second charge on my card to upgrade to a more expensive plan).

Incidentally, this is their current FAQ menu, in its entirety (emphasis added):

Netflix wrote:General
How does Netflix work?
What is the selection like?
How much does it cost?
Can I cancel any time?

How to watch instantly
Can I instantly watch TV episodes & movies via my Wii, PS3, or Xbox 360 right on my TV?
Can I watch instantly on my iPad or iPhone too?
Can I instantly watch movies streamed from Netflix over the Internet to my PC or Mac?
How fast does the TV episode or movie start playing?
How fast does my broadband Internet connection need to be to watch instantly?

Other
What is Starz Play?
Can I get DVDs by mail from Netflix?

Clicking on the final question takes you to a page that, again, offers only the $7.99 plan.

I feel like the Futurama guy in the "Shut Up and Take My Money" meme.

The long-awaited addition of The Wonder Years happened today.

See you guys in a few weeks

Cosmic Bus wrote:The long-awaited addition of The Wonder Years happened today.

If they're able to circumvent the music clearance issues that have kept the show off of DVD, then finally I may have a use for streaming video.

Perkins Cobb wrote:

Cosmic Bus wrote:The long-awaited addition of The Wonder Years happened today.

If they're able to circumvent the music clearance issues that have kept the show off of DVD, then finally I may have a use for streaming video.

They may have just replaced the songs with stock music, but I'm not adventurous enough to investigate.

Just checked and the Cocker theme has been replaced by a pretty lame sound-a-like. Having grown up with the show, it feels alarmingly off. I jumped around in one episode and heard Simon and Garfunkel, so I'm guessing that at least some of the original records have been retained?

Ugh. Without the theme song, I don't know if I even want to get involved.

Yeah, Married With Children is on instant watch, but it's missing "Love and Marriage", which, apart from nostalgia and being incomplete, is a perfect ironic setup for the humor to come.

Wonder Years is on Amazon too, free for Prime members. Yet one more reason to cancel Netflix Streaming

Looks like the full series run of Malcolm in the Middle hit Netflix today, as well.

The long-awaited addition of The Wonder Years happened today.

Hopefully The Carroll Burnett Show & Batman are next.

SamLowry wrote:

The long-awaited addition of The Wonder Years happened today.

Hopefully The Carroll Burnett Show & Batman are next.

The '66 Batman? Not unless they've resolved a decades-long rights issue. We'll probably see The Day the Clown Cried on DVD before we see Batman.

In other fantastic news, this message/insult topped my queue tonight:

Genealogies of a Crime has been moved to the Saved section of your Queue. We are not able to ship it at this time. We apologize for the inconvenience.
A Serbian Film has been removed from your Queue. We no longer offer this movie for rental. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope you find many other movies to enjoy at Netflix.

First of all, both films were already listed as "unavailable" -- in Genealogies's case, I don't believe it has ever been available at all; in Siberian's case, I'm certain it never was (and now it never will be). Eat me, Reed Hastings.

I'm pretty sure I got a hold of Genealogies at some point so it was around for a little while anyway.

A few goodies (feature films), but no greats, added today. Ok, perhaps Chinatown is an exceptionally good good one but the adds are better than most days. My other picks:
The Big Lebowski
The Barefoot Contessa
Death Wish
Edward The King
Mississippi Masala

and a Woody Allen splurge with
Interiors
Love and Death
Stardust Memories
Zelig