I know that we can all pretty much agree that Tim Burton's movies have been uneven at best as of late. However, the guy directed so much gold (Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Beetlejuice) that he could still probably direct 5 more duds before he completely ruins his reputation as an incredible director. Big Fish is one of my favorite of his films and likely the one that still has a hold on my heart.
Safety Not Guaranteed made it on to my Best of 2012 list as an honorable mention. Partially because it gets points for originality and starring Aubrey Plaza but only on the honorable mention as the story is very all over the place and I can't decide if the twist at the end is brilliant or just plain hokey. Now...you can watch and decide.
New To Netflix
 | 1. Big Fish What’s a good story without a little hyperbole? If you agree with that statement, then you likely have seen Tim Burton’s masterpiece, Big Fish. A touching story that garnered multiple award nominations and captivated audiences with visual flair and a great performance from Obi Wan himself (Ewan McGregor not Alec Guinness). |
 | 2. Safety Not Guaranteed The coming out party (cinematically at least) for Aubrey Plaza who has been adored by nerds all around the US for her character in Parks and Recreation. This film is actually worth a watch if you haven’t seen it, it involves a guy who placed an ad in the classifieds seeking a time travel companion (Not Doc Brown). |
 | 3. The Mask of Zorro A Spanish action flick starring none other than Antonio Banderas playing…Antonio Banderas, er I mean, Zorro. He has a mask on in this movie, and it’s black. So it’s different from all those other Banderas movies you’ve seen, trust me. |
 | 4. Godzilla Roland Emmerich’s take on the large dinosaur-like being that terrorized Japan for so many years. Except this time Mr. Godzilla takes down Manhattan like only Godzilla can - take that Cloverfield! |
 | 5. Black Snake Moan Perhaps one of Samuel L Jackson’s stranger films. It follows a young abused woman (Christina Ricci) and her boyfriend (Justin Timberlake…yep) and Samuel L Jackson’s quest to rehabilitate this young troubled couple. Interesting? Yes. Entertaining? Yes. Good? You tell me. |
 | 6. Hustle & Flow Terrence Howard’s Oscar nominated performance is captivating and this film actually took home an Oscar for Best Song with a song that would likely make Oscar voters’ heads explode had they heard it as a standalone on the radio. |
 | 7. Jay and Silent Bob Down Under Wait a second? There’s another Jay and Silent Bob? |
 | 8. Pretty in Pink Oh Jon Cryer, these were the good ol’ days before you had to show up to set and deal with a hungover coke ridden Charlie Sheen. It’s Ashton Kutcher now, but still. Oh wait, we’re talking about Pretty in Pink. It’s a classic. Which suggests you should watch it if you haven’t already done so. And no fellas, the movie isn’t about being Pretty in Pink. |
 | 9. Friends with Kids An interesting concept where two friends decide to have kids without the romantic component which is usually destroyed by kids anyway. Am I right married couples?? AM I RIGHT? Awkward…I’m gonna head out now. |
 | This is a bio flick on Che Guevera the revolutionary who helped Castro take over Cuba. That’s all I got. |
 | 11. Undefeated A documentary that follows the Manassas Tigers football team, an underprivileged squad that became the ultimate underdogs under coach Bill Courtney. |
 | 12. Mona Lisa Smile Holy Pretty Woman Batman! A Julia Roberts sighting! Granted a sighting from 2003 but a sighting nonetheless. The film follows Julia Roberts teaching women from the 50s to reevaluate their places in society. |
 | 13. Futurama Vol. 7 For those who are actually interested in spending their time on Netflix watching Futurama Vol. 7, you likely don’t even need a description for this one. |
Netflix Expiring
 | 1. Saw 3D March 8th Likely titled “Saw: The Final Chapter,” because putting the number 7 after the word Saw was just too embarrassing. Anyways it’s the final chapter in the tired franchise until they decide to make “Saw: The Final Chapter 2” followed by “Saw: The Final Chapter For Sure” (Or Saw 9, but who’s counting at this point, me I guess?). |
 | 2. Dorian Gray March 9th Anybody remember this 2009 Colin Firth flick? Me neither. But you have until March 9th to refresh your memory! |
 | 3. Manhunter March 15th Honestly one of the creepiest movies ever made. It follows one of the weirdest serial killers I’ve ever seen on screen and there is one scene in particular that still creeps me out. Save this one for a rainy day! |
 | 4. Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids March 9th Oh how innocent were the days youth and watching Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids. Also, I have a strange craving for a pudding pop now. |
 | 5. Basic Instinct April 1st Sharon Stone, when she was still young enough to be a sex idol. Michael Douglas is in this too, but this movie was mainly popular because of Sharon Stone, let’s be honest here. |
 | 6. Steel Magnolias April 1st Break out the tissues and the ice cream because this one is going to be a real tear jerker, whether they be tears of apathy or in the case of most boyfriends dragged into this one, tears of pain and suffering. |
 | 7. The Last Exorcism April 3rd Remember how I said “Saw: The Final Chapter” would be followed by “Saw: The Final Chapter 2”? It’s movies like this that legitimize that claim. “The Last Exorcism 2” is now in theaters…I’ve written a letter to the makers of The Last Exorcism demanding that this film be renamed to “The Last Exorcism (Kind of)”. They have yet to get back to me. *fingers crossed* |
 | 8. A Bronx Tale April 1st What is more gangster movie than Robert De Niro and the Bronx? If you have yet to find out, do so before it's too late. |
Hell yeah Godzilla. I don't care what people think, I like that movie. Is it good? No, but that's part of the "charm" of it.
I really wish Robert Rodriquez would do a Zorro movie. Funny side not about Mask of Zorro Sean Connery was originally planned to play the OG Don Diego de la Vega. Which im sure we can all agree would have been awesome.
Because Three 6 Mafia preforming at the Oscars was hilarious.
Big Fish is a wonderful film. That's all I got. It's just so charming.
@Monkeyman04 said:
Funny how this was going to be my exact comment.
I remember liking Godzilla, although I have no attachment to the original movies and I was like 12 when I saw it.
THIS BLOG POST GIVES ME AN EXCUSE TO POST THIS:
My work is done. Just listen to that theme tune. Ugh it's so so so so so so so good.
That other Jay and Silent Bob film is a Stand-up/documentary style still good hilarious and extremely raunchy as always when Kevin and Jason get together or whenever Jason is in the situation at all.
Some people forget that there is a remake of Manhunter.
Cool adds!
@Monkeyman04: History shows again and again, how nature points out the Folly of Man!
I haven't seen ED WOOD, but I have seen most of Tim Burton films and BIG FISH is by far his best.
Also, I think I'll watch THE LAST EXORCISM again since I remember that movie being awesome.
@etragedy said:
you're right there. They have a great selection of TV programs but they have a very limited amount of movies.
Why don't they make another Zorro film? It doesn't have to be continuity, but at least use the character.
The best Zorro films were the earliest ones with Douglas Fairbanks. If you haven't seen them check 'em out.
Ed Wood was a kind of cool biopic - it's ostensibly about the friendship of young director Ed Wood and his friendship with horror has-been Bela Lugosi, but it's really about young director Tim Burton and his friendship with horror has-been Vincent Price.
Damn, I thought I had reviews up here for all of those films...
@Watcherg44: History shows again and again the folly of Hollywood remakes.
@VioletEyedDragon: Mask of Zorro has the 2005 sequel, Legend of Zorro. It's horrible.
@FinalDasa said:
i saw pieces of it.
I was trying to say (though I might not have expressed myself clearly) that I wish a ZORRO film was in production right now. I don't care if it is continuity or not: I just think that since it has been eight years we should have a new one.
@VioletEyedDragon: Totally, I'd rather have a new Zorro than that Lone Rider movie coming out.
In fact just the other week I spotted Legend of Zorro, assuming it was the only Zorro movie and had to be the one from the 90s. Then it kept going. A nut shot, impossible physics, and hearing only that bee from those allergy commercials later even I couldn't keep watching.
Well if you don't count the parody/spoof 'Zorro the Gay Blade' there was 24 years between The Mark of Zorro (TV movie) and The Mask of Zorro and the last Zorro film before that had been 35 years earlier (also called The Mark of Zorro) - so we're not due for another Zorro film until at least 2029.
@etragedy said:
too bad.
@FinalDasa said:
I think it is Lone Ranger. and yeah, it is gonna be awful. I would totally prefer seeing another Zorro movie over that.