BS: Netflix DVDs & Mostly Martha

Subject: BS: Netflix DVDs & Mostly Martha
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 10:21 AM

First, for those of you who have a terrible time getting those DVD rentals back to the video store, or if you live in an area where you can't rent good films online, this new idea, Netflix, is a truly wonderful service.

For $20/mo, you can rent all the DVDs you want (they are sent to you 3 at a time), return them whenever you like, and never a late fee. They are mailed with pre-paid return mailers. We've seen the newest releases the same week they've come out. There are tons of excellent foreign films (foreign to us in the US, that is), documentaries, classics, etc. I'm impressed and very pleased with the breadth and depth of their film selection (much better than most video rental stores), and the service. If you've ever had to endure places like (shudder) Blockbuster, you will think you have died and gone to heaven.

You can join or learn more by going here:

http://www.netflix.com/Default

They even offer a free trial! Now, I'm rarely without a film to watch.

Last night, we saw the German film "Mostly Martha" which was excellent. However, we did have one complaint, and that was the subtitle/translating was an abomination. We knew we were missing some rich dialog, but also, there were a few times when there was no subtitling of the dialog at all! It was really bad. This film was so good, it rose above even something as substantial a barrier to appreciation of the film as that awful subtitling/translation.

But I was wondering if people know of other subtitled films they've had a terrible time with? The American distributor of the film was Paramount, so I'm wondering if that is who is at fault for it? I don't know much about the process of translating and subtitling. Anyone else here have some insight into this they could share?

Subject: RE: BS: Netflix DVDs & Mostly Martha
From: okthen
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 02:48 PM

There are UK equivelents which I find useful, personally I use "choiceserental" but I'm told Tesco's and some other outfit are starting up soon. I find it useful for 2 main reasons, first I don't have to go further than the nearest postbox and second they have films that most shops don't. Quite a few "vestapol" DVDs featuring Doc Watson amongst others, blues documentaries etc.
The basic membership is £9.99 (per month) for 1 film at a time £15 for 2, if we watch 4 films a week it costs us less than £1 a film.

Subject: RE: BS: Netflix DVDs & Mostly Martha
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Jul 13 - 03:11 AM

Interesting to see this nine-year-old thread introducing people to Netflix.
But I have a question. I buy a lot of DVDs, and I'm thinking maybe I'd be better off spending my money getting streaming video, which I don't have to store.
What do you think of Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming video services? My DSL connection allows for about 2.5 megabytes per second - is that fast enough?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Netflix DVDs & Mostly Martha
From: ranger1
Date: 22 Jul 13 - 06:15 AM

Amazon Prime and Netflix are both good, Hulu Plus has ads that you have to suffer through for the same price that one pays for Netflix. Avoid Redbox's new streaming service, I cancelled it before my free trial was up. As for download speed, I'll have to get back to you on that one.

Subject: RE: BS: Netflix DVDs & Mostly Martha
From: ranger1
Date: 22 Jul 13 - 06:21 AM

I'm back. Answers about download speed here.

Subject: RE: BS: Netflix DVDs & Mostly Martha
From: artbrooks
Date: 22 Jul 13 - 09:32 AM

I can't speak for the others, but the selection on Netflix of streaming videos vs. hard copy DVDs is pretty limited. That is (based on my own unscientific study), if you want to watch movie A (I was going to say movie X, but then remembered the question came from Joe Offer), there is probably a 1 in 8 chance it will be available streaming and an equal 1/8 chance it won't be there at all.

I have no problems streaming with a 4 MB connection. Netflix has a free trial period...check the connection out for yourself.

Subject: RE: BS: Netflix DVDs & Mostly Martha
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jul 13 - 11:52 PM

I have NetFlix but I don't get the movies watched as often as I like. The thing that makes it worthwhile is that my son, in college, uses it a lot for the streaming end. I rent 2 movies at a time and I called them when he was leaving for college - as long as I pay for two movies, they're fine with two family members streaming the movies. I've heard of abuses, passwords shared widely, but we keep it in the family.

If I were setting up viewing now, I would explore the offerings of Amazon Prime and Hulu along with Netflix. I'd think one or two tops should fill your viewing needs. Hulu, from what I understand, has recent television and classic programs. Netflix has classic programs and some of the new ones streaming, but many of the new ones are still on DVD only. I think Amazon and Hulu are streaming only. And I'd look at the Roku box to handle the accounts.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Netflix DVDs & Mostly Martha
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 03:12 AM

I gotta figure out what Art said about Movie X....

I have a 3.0 megabit connection that rarely goes better than 2.5 when I test it. Sounds like I wouldn't be satisfied.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Netflix DVDs & Mostly Martha
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 07:42 AM

Try the trial joe, our tv is not high def but the netflx picture was ok when we had 1.5 mps

Subject: RE: BS: Netflix DVDs & Mostly Martha
From: ranger1
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 09:07 AM

Definitely try the free Netflix trial. I really like it, myself. Yes, many movies aren't available immediately, but there's loads and loads of stuff on there, so much that I doubt I'd ever get bored in this lifetime.

Subject: RE: BS: Netflix DVDs & Mostly Martha
From: artbrooks
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 06:49 PM

One of the opportunities - if a bit convoluted - is the chance to see all of those BBC/Brit TV shows. We get a variety of catalogs (eg, 'Signals') offering us imported DVDs. We look them up on Netflix - they are usually available - and watch them free...things like 'Foyle's War' and 'Pie in the Sky'. Trial=free.