ZYX Television

ABC Family now has a lot of hit shows on cable television. Luckily for those that refuse to pay a ridiculous amount of money each month for cable, many of the shows are now streaming via Netflix's Instant Play.

Now keep in mind, these shows are targeted towards the young adult population (AKA screaming, teenage girls). But, some of the shows can be appreciated by everyone.

The ABC Family shows I decided to watch were "The Secret Life of the American Teenager", "Greek", and "Make It or Break It".

I was excited to watch "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" because Molly Ringwald was one of it's stars. Unfortunately, this show was a complete waste of time. I tried to finish watching it, but I only made it halfway through the second season (I gave it a try).

This show is about a young girl (Amy)  that gets pregnant at age fifteen. Amy tries to keep the secret from her parents, but of course they find out. "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" tackles issues concerning relationships, sexuality, and spirituality. It is definitely a "teen soap opera" filled with drama after drama.

What I hated most about "Secret Life" was the acting. The conversations between characters are choppy and awkward, you could tell it is scripted. When I started watching the show I thought it was going to be a semi-realistic story about the difficulties of high school life. Well it isn't, the plot is so far fetched and ridiculous its painful to watch. So painful, that I stopped watching.

The acting in Greek was much better than in The Secret Life of the American Teenager. This show is about a nerdy college freshman (Rusty), that tries to break out of his shell by joining a fraternity. He attends the same college as his popular sister (Casey), and struggles to gain acceptance. This show is not just about Rusty, but about the people he meets along the way. This show contains romance, parties, prank wars, and of course drama.

The character's in Greek are well developed, quirky, and realistic. I enjoyed the triumphs and tribulations Rusty finds himself in, and became nostalgic of my own college experiences.

Some of the drama in Greek, was long and drawn out. The plot itself wasn't always realistic, and a lot of the relationships had a "fairy tale like" quality. Over all  this show was entertaining and I recommend it to anyone.

On a side note, Greek is definitely not a family show. I know that it aired on "ABC Family", but it contains sex, drinking, LGBT issues, and almost everything else college students struggle with. The issues are tackled lightly, but be aware before watching (or letting others watch).

The show Make It or Break It certainly is worth watching. It is about a girl from "the wrong side of the tracks" (Emily) who finds herself training for gymnastics at one of the most elite gyms of the country (The Rock). The other girls that train at the Rock are each other's support and competition.

This show tackles many issues "normal teenagers" face, along with the pressure to compete and perform flawlessly. "Make It or Break It" is visually appealing and emphasizes the work it takes to be a gymnast.

It wouldn't be an "ABC Family" show if there wasn't needless drama. This show is unrealistic, because everything always works out. When one of the "Rock girls" breaks her spine, she magically finds a treatment and is able to perform again.

 Although there are aspects to this show that are ridiculous, I think that it was very well done and merits your time. The character development is excellent and the story actually contains some substance.

Out of the three ABC Family shows I watched on Netflix, I enjoyed "Greek" the most. I still appreciated "Make It or Break It" but hated "The Secret Life of the American Teenager"

Just keep in mind, if you decide to watch any ABC Family show be prepared for drama!

Nothing Is What It Seems

Growing up I always dreamed of being a model or an actress, because I thought their lives were perfect. They wore beautiful clothes, and received large quantities of money just for making appearances. As I got older I realized all of the glitz and glamor that comes with the job, also comes with a price.

The Documentary "Picture Me" that is currently streaming via Netflix's Instant Play, highlights both the ups and downs of being a model in the fashion industry. This film capture's a model's perspective of the fashion industry through the video diary of Sara Ziff.

Image is so important in our society, unfortunately most of what the media produces is a facade mistaken for reality. Sara kept accentuating that when she was modeling she felt fake, and as a model she was treated like a doll, not a human. The industry itself does not value models for their hearts and souls, but for their willingness to do whatever they are told to do.

It was interesting to watch Sara over a five year span, and how she changed. At first she was so excited when she received a big check for her work, but after awhile the money did not fulfill her dreams. So often many of us think that money equals happiness, but in reality money is just a way to fulfill our physical needs not our emotional ones.

I liked the way this film was done, but at times it was a little long. I also wished that it would have delved more into the darker world of the fashion industry. Drugs, eating disorders, body distortion, and ageing were topics brought up briefly, but they could have been emphasized more. Another thing that wasn't brought up, was digital editing of the models. Sometimes models are digitally edited so much they do not even look like themselves anymore.

I think that this documentary is worth watching, especially if you are into fashion and the media. Although I didn't really learn anything I wasn't already aware of, it was interesting to see things from a model's point of view.

I learned that it is good to dream big, but be aware of the price.

It's The End of the World

Well, probably not yet, but it is Monday....

I started watching the television series "Jericho" on Netflix's Instant Play this weekend. I am about halfway finished through the 1st season, and still not sure quite what I think about it. This show drags on at times and contains some mindless drama, but it's interesting enough to keep watching.

Jericho is about a small town that survives a nuclear disaster. The information surrounding the nature of this  disaster has not yet been revealed, but it could be an attack from another country. The show's main character (Jake) has a mysterious past and had just returned to the town "Jericho" before the disaster took place. There is another person new to town "Robert" that seems to have known that this disaster was going to happen, and could be a part of the conspiracy. The drama unfolds as resources begin to dwindle, and true colors are revealed. Some individuals are forced to go to extreme lengths to protect themselves from outsiders and from each other.

As I was watching this show tonight I was wondering if I could survive a "nuclear disaster". I wasn't sure so I found this Nuclear Disaster Survival Quiz and discovered I really don't know that much. Luckily, this quiz gave the correct answers instantly, so now I feel more prepared for a nuclear disaster. Thanks Jericho!

Now only if I could be better prepared for Mondays......

The Secret of Kells

I decided to go out on a limb and watch one of Netflix's top 10 picks specialized for me.

 Some of their recommendations are absolutely ridiculous and things I would never watch such as "Strawberry Shortcake". Others seem mildly interesting but "generic" in a sort of way. "You liked a movie about crime, so we are assuming that you like every possible movie about crime".

When I saw "The Secret of Kells" on my "Top 10 Picks" list I was interested, but skeptical. I briefly read the plot summary and decided to watch it. Although, I am not a huge fan of animated films I thought I would give it a try.

This animated film is about a young boy (Brendan)  that lives in a world confined to a monastery. When a monk who is well known for his artistry at creating "Illuminated Manuscripts" seeks refuge in the monastery, Brendan becomes fascinated with his cause. Brendan goes through great lengths and ventures out of his comfort zone in order to protect the unfinished sacred book of Iona (which later becomes the book of Kells). Along the way Brendan meets a new friend and is challenged both physically and emotionally.

The plot of this movie was really simplistic and not very captivating. It was fairly predictable, and there were some elements that were overly strange and irrelevant. The film itself was very artistic and the animations were amazing. I really appreciated how colorful and creatively done this film was.

After watching "The Secret of Kells" I looked up The Book of Kells on Wikepedia and the information provided about the book made me more interested in the movie. Since I never had heard about the mystery of the "Book of Kells" I did not  understand the significance of this story. If you are a history buff, or interested in celtic folklore you will appreciate this movie more than I did.

I really enjoyed the animation and the way the film was done. Although the movie "The Secret of Kells" does not make my top 10, it was worth it to watch.

C- (I'm Being Nice)

For some reason I wanted to watch the movie "Easy A" for awhile (I actually almost saw it in the theater, but I used my better judgement). The movie had decent ratings, plus it looked funny and quirky. I was really excited when I saw it on Netflix Instant Play, and was looking forward to watching it on this rainy afternoon.

Unfortunately, "Easy A"  turned out to be a great disappointment. It wasn't absolutely terrible, it just failed to meet the low expectations I had for this film. The story idea itself was semi clever, but I found the movie to be full of cliches and over acting.

"Easy A" is about a "typical" high school girl (Olive) that tells her friend she lost her virginity when she really didn't. The news spreads like wildfire, and Olive decides to take advantage of the situation. She begins to "pretend" to sleep with people for gift cards in order to increase their popularity. Of course she faces the consequences of everyone thinking she is something that she is not, and falls for a guy that doesn't judge her based on her reputation.

There was nothing really original or unique about this film. It was mildly entertaining, but I definitely wouldn't watch it again.

On a positive note, I did think that Emma Stone (Olive) performed flawlessly and did a great job at playing her role and staying into character. The other acting in this film I wasn't too impressed with.

So I give this film a C-, sorry but it's not easy to get an A.

It's Worth It

You will not need your "Cash Back" if you decide to watch this movie. I was reluctant to watch it at first, but it captivated my attention after only a few minutes.

Monday is the the most treacherous day of the week, so I wanted to watch a comedy about the workplace to lighten my mood. I noticed "Cash Back" a few months ago while browsing through Netflix but was disinterested. The plot description portrayed this movie as bizarre, and the cover of the movie lead me to believe that all this movie would be about was sex. Just what I want to watch on a gloomy Monday, a movie about bizarre sex?

Definitely!

This movie was both intriguing and hilarious at the same time (which is a rare combination). It is about a young boy in art school, that develops insomnia after he breaks up with the "love of his life". Since he can't sleep, he decides to get a job at the local super market in order to pass time.The protagonist (Ben) himself isn't particularly funny, but the characters he meets through his job are what brings the movie to life.

One thing about this film I was enchanted with were the visual effects. What I failed to mention earlier, is that while Ben had insomnia he discovered that he could stop time (this factor originally was unappealing to me). After watching this movie I realize he could only theoretically stop time, not actually stop time (this movie was not a science fiction flick). Some of the special effects used while time was theoretically stopped were pretty amazing. This movie was very artistic and visually appealing.

Warning: this film contains some sexually explicit material, but it is not raunchy or uncomfortable. Ben was fascinated with the female form so this movie explains how his fascination developed and why he likes to paint women naked. In addition to Ben's obsession with nudity there are two scenes that contain strippers, along with some male "chauvinistic pig" comments. Although a few parts made me flinch, I thought that most of this content was done tastefully and think all of it added to the film's lure.

I recommend this movie to those who think beyond the spectrum of what is ordinary, but also enjoy a good laugh. Those who are not artistic may not appreciate this film, but I think everyone may enjoy it's hilariousness.

Movie FAIL

I went on Netflix tonight in order to see the newest movies and shows on Instant play. As I was going through the "New Movies to Watch Instantly" list, I noticed there were a few interesting movies, but most of the shows seemed beyond strange. I often wonder who would invest money in such ludicrous films, maybe the producer's are counting our curiosity for strangeness.

 The stowaway "Jack" captured all of our hearts in the first movie "Titanic". Well, 100 years later apparently a modern luxury liner follows the same path as the Titanic, and a tsunami causes an iceberg to block the ship's path. Will the guests of the of this ship suffer the same fate of those before them? Is Jack really back? I will never never know because I cannot bring myself to watch this movie. Trust me, my heart will go on.

I remember in high school I did not have a lot to sing about. I guess I was wrong because in 2006 the Disney movie "High School Musical" showed the world how fun high school is with its catchy songs and snazzy dance moves (Oh I can't believe I actually said the word "snazzy"). Due to the Movie's atrocious popularity, I guess producers and writers thought it would be a great idea to create "spin offs" from the movie. "Sunday School Musical" is the hippity hop in the apostolic world. I searched it on IMDB, and there is is no storyline. Hmm  a movie with no story line, maybe I should write a song about it! 

I live in Minnesota so I often suffer from "Cabin Fever" of course it's a common fear that a flesh eating virus is going to attack me during those long winter months. Well, in the original movie "Cabin Fever" a flesh eating virus attacks a group of college students (of course it's always the college students) and they must fight for their lives. Well, in Cabin Fever 2 (now proudly streaming on Netflix Instant Play) there is a crazy virus that attacks those at prom. Apparently this virus is spread through a bottle of water  See IMDB. This plot makes me thirsty, but afraid to drink water. Kids please don't drink the water. 

I am going to admit it. I read  the book "Twighlight". I was ultimately disappointed and became instantly disenchanted with this new vampire craze. I noticed that, like a succubus, writers and producers were going to thrive off of the "undead's" newly gained popularity (again, crazes go in cycles). I never thought that they would bring a lightning struck, woman nemesis into the picture. Well they did, and of course it's a battle between the female vampire and the Frankenstein girl. Dear Vampire girl, can you suck the juice out of a battery powered woman? I bet you can't, that's why this movie fails!

You can watch all of these movie FAILS and more on Netflix instant play! 

Netflix Doesn't-At Least Not Yet

I instantly fell in love with my Droid phone the minute I unwrapped its shiny package. It was everything I hoped for except... it didn't play Netflix.

I have an Ipod Touch, and it plays Netflix just fine, so why can't Droid?

The other day I decided to Twitter @Netflixhelps to see if they had any "insider" information on when Netflix would stream via Android.

Netflixhelps answered me within 48 hours (it was over the weekend) and sent me a link to the Netflix blog post on Android which you can view right here.

Their reason for not already streaming content on Android according to their blog post, is security "hurdles" (I am simplifying their explanation). But, some suspect that Netflix and Apple may have some "deal" or at least Netflix has financial motivations to not be so quick to develop a Droid application.

All I know is that the blog post from Netflix (which is dated November, 2010) states that Netflix hopes to have an Application for Droid "early next year". Well, it's already April and still no developments?

So as of right now when it comes to Android "Netflix Doesn't"

Why Should you Care What I Think?

Well, you shouldn't, but I hope you take my opinions into consideration.

The purpose of this blog is to hi-light the good content streaming on Netflix, but it doesn't necessarily mean that we will agree on what is good content.

Everyone is different, we all have different preferences and opinions. That is why I am trying to be objective while critically evaluating each show I watch on Netflix. I am a very blunt individual so you may catch me rant and rave from time to time, but that is not what this blog is all about.

Why am I qualified? Well, I am not a professional movie critic but I do have experience in the field. I worked for 3 years at a video store, and as a perk I was able to rent 8 movies a week for free. After watching all of those movies I gained the ability to identify the "trainwrecks" of Hollywood film production. I also have a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and took film study classes while attending college.

I am not one of those snooty critics whose opinions seem so "above" the general public's heads that their movie ratings do not reflect what people really think.

Every year when I watch the Academy Awards, half the selections picked for "Best Picture" make me wonder what the critics were thinking.

This blog is designed to quickly evaluate a show in order for you to save time and get the most out of your Netflix subscription.

I am very open to other's opinions so if you disagree about something I wrote tell me! Prove me wrong! I love arguing. 

Goth Girl VS Serial Killers

I started reading the "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by Steig Larsson around Christmas. The story was excellent and the book was comprehensive.

The movie is definitely worth watching, and it is very similar to the book, although some minor details were left out.

For those of you that have not read the book the story is about a journalist, a computer hacker, and an old business tycoon who come together to try to find out what happened to a 16 year old girl. The story is much more intricate than this simple explanation and delves into social and political issues that are currently prevalent in modern society. 

If you want something to watch that is fun, lighthearted, and entertaining this movie is not for you. 

"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" movie is slow paced and there are not a lot of special effects. That being said the story is very compelling and thought provoking. 

If you don't have time to read the book, it is worth it to watch the movie, but you will still have to read...Subtitles.... 

Julianne Moore~You Are A Catch

 I had never heard of this movie until I saw it streaming on Netflix's Instant Play. The plot seemed interesting and I really like Liam Neeson and Amanda Seyfried. This movie ended up being kind of slow but interesting enough.

Chloe is about a Doctor (Julianne Moore) that suspects her husband (Liam Neeson) of cheating, so she hires a prostitute (Amanda Seyfried) to seduce him. Julianne Moore and Amanda Seyfried develop a relationship as Amanda Seyfried shares her illusive affair with Julianne Moore's husband in the movie Liam Neeson.

I enjoyed the acting and the character development but I thought the movie dragged on. It was slow and the ending was corny. It reminded of a Lifetime Movie with better acting.

This movie captivated my attention, but I definitely would not watch it again. If you like the actors in this movie its worth watching but it is not a must see movie.

If time is extremely important to you, you might as well skip watching this movie. There was nothing extremely superb about it.

Instant Play Release Dates

If you are anything like me, you like to frequently check Netflix to see what's new on Instant Play.

Even though I have over 300 items in my Instant Que, I still need to know what new shows are available to watch instantly. Everyday when I get home from work, I check Netflix and see if there is anything new or "better" to watch than what I already have in my Que.

I spent 3 years working at a video store and I remembered that new movie rentals were always released on Tuesdays. So I thought that maybe there was a certain day of the week that Netflix released their new items on Instant Que.

I spent a few weeks checking Netflix to see if I could figure out that day that they were released, but guess what I couldn't.

I finally realized the easiest way to solve this problem would be to ask Netflix themselves. So I went on Twitter and asked my question to @Netflixhelps. They responded within 24 hours and told me that there are no specific days that they add content, they add it as they acquire it.

So if you have a question for Netflix ask them via Twitter and if it's during the week they will respond quickly.

Although Netflix answered my question, the constant checking for new content continues..... 

Get Your Psychic On!

I am realistic about supernatural theories. I understand that there are a lot of things out there that cannot be explained, but I am very skeptical about using  beings such as "ghosts" or "aliens" as an answer.

That being said I really enjoy the first 3 seasons of the show Medium and am excited to see the last 3 seasons now streaming instantly on Netflix.

Each season (that I have seen thus far) is generally good, but there are those few episodes that are absolutely ridiculous.

The show was also on a progressive spiral downward, so if you hate the first season you will not like any of the other ones. There are still those episodes in each season that really captivate one's imagination.

Patricia Arquette plays a woman who uses her psychic abilities to solve crime for the district attorney's office. While dealing with her personal "ghosts" she helps raise a family and often "saves the day" in a city filled with crime and murder. Patricia Arquette is amazing in this role and does a really good job at bringing her character to life.

So although the plot of the show lacks at times, the character development and acting in this show is definitely superb.

I recommended that you try to watch the first season and if you hate it don't try to watch more.

It's worth a try, we could all use a little supernatural in our lives!

Who Would Actually Marry Tim Allen Anyway?

The idea of this movie seemed interesting but ended in disappointment and boredom.

The movie is about a a selfish, mediocre business man (Tim Allen) who suffers from commitment phobia. His daughter (Elisha Cuthbert) resents him for always having to clean up his messes. He gets in an accident in Mexico and is presumed dead. All of the women in his past  gather together for his funeral and fight over what they think his final wishes would be. I am not going to spoil the rest for those who want to see it. *hint the ending is completely obvious

I was disappointed with the acting in this movie. I thought for the most part everyone did a terrible job, but I was most dissatisfied with Elisha Cuthbert's performance.

Cuthbert remained unemotional throughout the entire film. Even at the "sappy" moments you could tell her reactions were forced. The role just did not fit her personality. She still  tried to wear it like over sized t-shirt, but it just made her look "baggy".


Overall the movie was cheesy and predictable with a shallow plot. It wasn't a complete waste of time, but if you value your time STAY AWAY! 


For more information about this movie check it out on IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1074214/