Friday has arrived again which means it's time for the GeekTonic "Netflix Watch Now Movies Worth Watching" feature.
If you're looking for some inexpensive entertainment, Netflix's movie streaming service is a great place to start. All you need is at least a one-out-at-a-time Netflix subscription and a Netflix Watch Now
Playback device or compatible browser. Each Friday, I'll be highlighting a selection of newly added Netflix Watch-Now titles you can check out - I'll try to screen out the worst of the bunch & just leave the better quality ones or at minimum some of the "broader appeal" titles.
(Disclaimer: Not all of these will appeal to everyone - of course)
Batman
In Tim Burton's hands, this comic book character taps into his brooding side, and Gotham's underbelly writhes in its vices. Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton) starts to make a name for himself as a masked enemy to the criminal set just when the flamboyant Joker (Jack Nicholson) takes over as tops in the mafia. Adding the art-house hues to a big-budget formula meant major success at the box office, an Oscar for Art Direction and a line of sequels.
Lifeboat
Using a story by John Steinbeck as inspiration, Alfred Hitchcock stages a gripping World War II drama by cramming eight survivors of a German torpedo attack into the hull of a tiny lifeboat -- among them, a magazine writer (Tallulah Bankhead), a radio operator (Hume Cronyn) and a crazy woman (Heather Angel) clutching the corpse of her dead baby. But the real trouble starts when one of the survivors (Walter Slezak) reveals he's a Nazi.
Sleepers
In this drama based on characters in Lorenzo Carcaterra's controversial book, four boys from Hell's Kitchen enter a reformatory where a cruel guard (Kevin Bacon) abuses them. Years later, two of them avenge their tormenter and stand trial, defended by a druggie lawyer (Dustin Hoffman) and aided by their scheming cohort (Brad Pitt) and other friends from the 'hood (Robert DeNiro, Minnie Driver), who face the moral dilemma of justice vs. loyalty.
Cleopatra
This epic saga of love, greed and betrayal -- which won four Oscars -- stars Elizabeth Taylor as the passionate and ambitious Egyptian queen. Determined to hold on to the throne, she seduces the Roman emperor Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison). When Caesar is murdered, however, she redirects her attentions to his general, Marc Antony (Richard Burton), who vows to take power. But Caesar's successor (Roddy McDowall) has other plans.
North to Alaska
A tough, hard-drinking gold prospector (John Wayne) agrees to go pick up his partner's fiancée, but winds up with a beautiful substitute (Capucine) instead. When both partners vie for her favor, trouble breaks out -- in spades! It's the Duke like you've never seen him before in an entertaining Alaskan adventure co-starring Ernie Kovacs, Fabian and Stewart Granger. Directed by Henry Hathaway.
The IT Crowd: Series 1
Enter the glamorous offices of Reynholm Industries, then take the elevator to the basement, where you'll find the decidedly unglamorous IT support team: slacker Roy (Chris O'Dowd), social misfit Moss (Richard Ayoade) and technically ignorant supervisor Jen (Katherine Parkinson). Together, they find nerd-tastic adventures in this hilarious British sitcom from the producer of "The Office." The program won a 2008 International Emmy for Best Comedy.
South Park: Season 1
The first season of Comedy Central's groundbreaking, foul-mouthed series -- featuring some of the most original pint-sized characters ever to mouth off in the cartoon world -- is finally all in one place. Prep your funny bone for classic episodes of this witty, edgy, occasionally cringe-inducing but always hilarious tribute to scrappy animation from creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone.
In the Bedroom
Set in a tranquil town on the Maine coast, In the Bedroom tells the story of a couple (Sissy Spacek and Tom Wilkinson) whose teenage son (Nick Stahl) is involved in a love affair with a single mother (Marisa Tomei). When the relationship comes to a sudden and tragic end, the boy's parents must face their worst nightmare and embark on a dark, dangerous psychological journey. Spacek and Wilkinson turn in stunning performances.
Blue's Clues: Season 1
Lovable dog Blue (voiced by Traci Paige Johnson) leaves clues for her human friend, Steve (Steve Burns), to help him solve problems and learn new things in this popular Nickelodeon series for preschoolers. In this collection, Steve and Blue visit a farm on their first-ever skidoo. The pals also learn about flying, help sea creatures at the beach, play hide-and-seek, and skidoo into a painting of a museum to reorganize the artwork.
Point Break
To nab the culprits behind a string of bank heists, brash young G-man Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) poses as a wave rider to infiltrate a group of surfers who may have pulled off the robberies in this high-speed cult favorite. But after gaining the trust of the gang's charismatic leader (Patrick Swayze), Utah gets swept up in their heady lifestyle -- and is soon forced to decide where his loyalties lie. Gary Busey plays Utah's testy partner.
History's Mysteries: Roswell: Secrets Unveiled
In this installment of the History Channel's documentary series, host Arthur Kent and company set out to create the definitive examination of the controversial events that took place in Roswell, N.M., in 1947. Fodder for conspiracy theorists and alien enthusiasts alike, the rumors surrounding the crash landing of a spaceship in the Roswell desert have been a lightning rod for controversy and conjecture.
The Tudors: Season 3
Get a sneak preview of the premiere episode instantly on Netflix!
The sexually insatiable King Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) romances third wife Jane Seymour (Annabelle Wallis) and ruthlessly quashes an uprising of rebels protesting England's break with Rome in the third season of Showtime's Golden Globe-nominated historical drama. But dissension within his own ranks leads Henry to question the loyalty of his closest allies. Grammy winner Joss Stone joins the cast as Anne of Cleves, Henry's fourth wife.
The Tudors: Season 3 premieres Sunday, April 5, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime.
Buena Vista Social Club
American guitarist Ry Cooder brings together a group of legendary Cuban folk musicians (some in their 90s) to record a Grammy-winning CD in their native Havana. The result is spectacular as subsequent concert footage of gigs in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and New York City's Carnegie Hall proves. Director Wim Wenders captures not only the music, but also the life stories of these fascinating artists.
That's it for this week. Let us know in the comments if you loved or hated any of these.
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