Re: Netflix Instant Viewing Log
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 6:14 am
Anyone who streams a movie that exists as a Criterion Blu-ray deserves the 47-minute version.
I like to think it's the HD streaming I don't deserve. A full movie isn't asking for much.Perkins Cobb wrote:Anyone who streams a movie that exists as a Criterion Blu-ray deserves the 47-minute version.
Welcome to the wonderful world of Netflix Instant Watch's own unique 1.50:1 (or so) aspect ratio reserved for a select number of their films; it's not quite widescreen and it's not quite full-frame. None of the films presented in this format were shot with this AR in mind, but no matter: Netflix will take a pan-and-scan master and stretch it so it fits this heretofore unknown image ratio rendering these films unwatchable.James wrote:Does anyone know how I can appropriately view Red Road on Netflix Instant Watch? When I hit resume (I had a problem with this stream in the past and want to see if I needed to rent the DVD or if there's a fix), it starts out in the proper aspect ratio, only to then switch to a stretched-out image with unnecessary black bars on the top and bottom of the screen.
No, it's a fail. Pretty much all of the Paramount rarities (unlike the MGMs) are turning out to be old full-frame transfers. Redline 7000 actually looks better than a lot of them, and yes, you can zoom it on your TV to approximate the OAR. But that's still not good enough. Get it right, or don't bother.gcgiles1dollarbin wrote:Am I just kidding myself, or is Red Line 7000 ok w/ regard to AR?
Much obliged, Perkins. I couldn't find OAR information on the information superhighway or in reference books, and I thought just possibly Howard was being old school with the ratio. I watched it anyway. I got it wrong, and I bothered. But it was a blast, anyway. Kind of scary to see A.J. Foyt flip an old stock car at the end. Maybe TCM will broadcast it properly some day. Or maybe PFA will have a Hawks retrospective, if I'm lucky. Or maybe Gus Van Sant will do a frame-by-frame remake.Perkins Cobb wrote:No, it's a fail. Pretty much all of the Paramount rarities (unlike the MGMs) are turning out to be old full-frame transfers. Redline 7000 actually looks better than a lot of them, and yes, you can zoom it on your TV to approximate the OAR. But that's still not good enough. Get it right, or don't bother.gcgiles1dollarbin wrote:Am I just kidding myself, or is Red Line 7000 ok w/ regard to AR?
Whaaaat?! Dream come true! One of my most sought after movies; now I don't have to shell out piles of bills for a dusty VHS.MyNameCriterionForum wrote:Mann's The Keep now available.
Netflix raises prices, offers streaming-only option
By Charles Riley, staff reporter
November 22, 2010: 10:06 AM ET
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Netflix is raising prices on DVD rental plans, but will offer a new option that relies exclusively on streaming video, the company announced Monday.
The new plan, priced at $7.99 per month, allows customers to instantly watch unlimited TV episodes and movies streamed to a computer or TV. The option includes no DVD rentals, and will take effect immediately.
Meanwhile, Netflix (NFLX) is raising prices by $1 a month on its two most popular plans -- the one and two-DVD at a time options, which will now be priced at $9.99 and $14.99 per month.
Price increases are even steeper on plans that allow three or four simultaneous rentals. The three-DVD price will increase from $16.99 to $19.99, and the four-DVD plan moves to $27.99 per month from $23.99.
"We are now primarily a streaming video company delivering a wide selection of TV shows and films over the Internet," Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and CEO said in a statement.
While Netflix continues to ramp up the number of titles available to stream, not every program is available, a tripping point for users who prefer the instant streaming service, but want access to the entire Netflix library.
Netflix shares are up more than 200% since January, and rose nearly 8% in early trading Monday.
Mark my words: That, right there, is the end of the Golden Age of home video."We are now primarily a streaming video company delivering a wide selection of TV shows and films over the Internet," Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and CEO said in a statement.
Let's hope other companies emerge to fill the gap left by Netflix for those of us who prefer to watch from physical media.Perkins Cobb wrote:Mark my words: That, right there, is the end of the Golden Age of home video."We are now primarily a streaming video company delivering a wide selection of TV shows and films over the Internet," Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and CEO said in a statement.
The NY Public Library has gotten its act together in a big way over the last few years in terms of DVDs, but they still only have a fraction of the catalog titles that Netflix (used to) carry. Criterions, Kinos, popular television shows, and mainstream recent releases are pretty well covered, but studio catalog titles and small labels are hit-or-miss. Any English-language horror/exploitation/cult stuff is rare. No Blu-ray at all. So it's a help, but I don't think it's going to save me from spending that bundle on OOP DVDs. EDIT: Oh, and the DVDs are often, predictably, scratched all to hell, and sometimes they're also ... yucky in fairly imaginative ways.knives wrote:Do you have a library or college nearby? That's definitely the cheapest option.

I'm only halfway through it as I write this, but wow... terrible filmMr. Ned wrote:Whaaaat?! Dream come true! One of my most sought after movies; now I don't have to shell out piles of bills for a dusty VHS.MyNameCriterionForum wrote:Mann's The Keep now available.
Somewhat, yes. Don't expect to find everything, but they have The Blind Menace and the Allan King Eclipse set, for instance.Mark Metcalf wrote:Is Blockbuster online better for stocking those new Criterions, Animeigo, etc?