Netflix

About a year ago I trialed Netflix (CA) and quit disappointed. Their service was great, but I was looking for specific series, and their catalogue left me wanting.

Recently then I decided to give them another shot - lowering my expectations somewhat, and instead of focusing on cutting edge releases, dig into their catalogue for other material. I have to say, this time around I am somewhat impressed.

They have a decent catalogue of film, series, and some popular free content (like TED Talks). Within the trial month I have managed to catch up on

• select TED Talks
• Family Guy
• Sherlock
• (500) Days of Summer
• Freakonomics
• Thor
• Kids in the Hall
• Zach Galifianakis: Live at the Purple Onion

Suffice to say, I feel I have gotten my trial's worth from Netflix, and I am willing to continue and pay for the experiment. I am encouraged by some of their recent additions (eg first season of Breaking Bad, Thor, Captain America) and looking forward to exploring their documentary section next.

Total Recall

Caught Total Recall opening night and had a great time! I was apprehensive about this project when it was first announced, but now I realise that was all for naught. The plot and execution are completely different from the first; instead of focusing on subjective perception, this one is focused more on who we are and who we choose to be. Visually, it was clear they took a queue from Philip K Dick's other great adaptation Blade Runner in the Colony. Although borrowed, the aesthetic worked extremely well, and their application to the wealthy and affluent United Federation of Britain was inspired.

All that aside, Colin Farrell played a great unsuspecting Douglas Quaid and Kate Beckinsale was amazing as spy/assassin wife Lori Quaid, rounded out with great support from Jessica Biel, Bryan Cranston, Bill Nighy.

Total Recall delivered as a great sci-fi action flick, and with all the right nods to the original, it satisfied on every level.

Dark Knight Rises

Not too sure what I can add to this space; I thought this was a great film! Invariably people start to compare it to Dark Knight, but I think that's just a poor comparison to make. I enjoyed both greatly, for similar reasons (eg great villains, great cast, great writing) and dissimilar (eg plot, execution). Each film was tailored to its content and catered to the strengths of its cast.

Loved Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, and supporting cast. The film itself started off with a bang (in mid-air no less!), and continues to snowball through Gotham, and climaxes in a finale worthy of the series.

Perhaps Dark Knight Rises suffers a little in execution, stuttering a little here and there due to its epic scope, but I hardly noticed.

All in all, loved the film.