For as many streaming services as there is currently are, Netflix remains possibly the premiere platform to watch movies and television shows. The first mainstream streaming service there was, it’s a platform that continues to boast some of the finest and most noteworthy movies you’ll find anywhere.
With a streaming catalog mixed between Netflix original movies and endless amounts of well-known movies like The Dark Knight, Carol, and Ip Man, there’s no shortage of potential viewing options when it comes to Netflix’s impressive lineup of movies.
Here are some of the movies you can currently find streaming on Netflix that we’d recommend checking out.
Updated: March 26.
Superhero: The Dark Knight
There’s no denying the popularity or monetary success of the MCU’s movies — but no superhero film on Earth surpasses The Dark Knight, The Godfather Part II of the superhero genre.
When a deranged criminal mastermind calling himself the Joker (Heath Ledger) wreaks havoc on Gotham City, Batman (Christian Bale) and his allies Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) do their best to protect the city.
Bigger, darker, and more realistic than Batman Begins, The Dark Knight is the crowning achievement of everyone involved in the making of the film, from director Christopher Nolan to stars Christian Bale and Heath Ledger (who’s absolutely transformative in his acclaimed performance as the Clown Prince of Crime). Many superhero movies have come out since, but The Dark Knight continues to stand apart as the best of them all.
Romance: Carol
A historical romance movie starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara locked in a forbidden love that can never be? What else is there to know? Hauntingly elegant and masterfully evocative, Carol follows a central romance that’s doomed to failure — both due to societal standards of its time and the couple’s vastly different aspirations in life.
In 1950s Manhattan, an aspiring photographer (Mara) becomes infatuated with a New Jersey housewife ( Blanchett) experiencing serious marital issues with her husband (Kyle Chandler).
As you’d probably expect, Mara and Blanchett are sensational in their respective roles, both of them stuck in an existential deadlock and unsure of where to take their lives next. It's a beautiful movie with some powerful messages and themes, as likely to affect you as Casablanca or Call Me By Your Name.
Drama: Lion
If you watch any movie with Dev Patel in it, it’s safe to assume you’re in for a good time. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about a postmodern medieval epic like The Green Knight or a more hard-hitting drama like Lion, each of Patel’s movies are worth-watching for some reason or another.
In 1986, five-year-old Saroo gets lost from his family, and is eventually adopted by a kind Australian family who raise him as their own. Twenty-five years later, Saroo (Dev Patel) opts to finally return to his family, wondering how much things have changed in the interim.
That plotline may sound cliche or overly-melodramatic, but the finished quality of Lion transcends its mediocre-sounding premise. As Saroo, Patel is tremendously effective, portraying every ounce of emotion in his leading role, from his subtle feelings of isolation and displacement to his inner anxiety reconnecting with his lost family.
Sci-Fi: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1
As with Harry Potter or Twilight, when it was announced that The Hunger Games film series was coming to a close in 2014, millions of people rushed out to see the initial conclusive chapter, Mockingjay — Part 1. Continuing the odyssey of Katniss Everdeen, the movie is an overall decent sequel that most fans will likely enjoy.
Rescued from the destroyed arena of the previous Hunger Games, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) is taken to a secret district underground, reluctantly agreeing to serve as the face of a rebellion against the Capitol.
Admittedly, Mockingjay — Part 1 is probably the weakest of the four Hunger Games movies, spending far too much time setting everything up for the final chapter in Part 2. However, there is still plenty to like about this movie as well (the acting, the soundtrack, and political undertones), not to mention the fact that it’s necessary viewing for anyone interested in seeing the true conclusion to The Hunger Games with Mockingjay — Part 2.
Horror: Pitch Black
Sci-fi horror films in the same mold as Alien have been released time and time again, yet few are quite as popular or universally well-known as the Riddick trilogy. Beginning with Pitch Black, Vin Diesel’s famous anti-hero has entered the public canon as his second best-known role behind Dom Toretto, offering audiences a heavy metal alternative to the Alien and Prometheus series.
Crash-landing on a desolate planet, a notorious fugitive (Diesel) reluctantly joins forces with his former jailers, combating mysterious carnivorous creatures targeting the crash’s survivors.
At its basic level, Pitch Black is to Alien what Lake Placid is to Jaws, neither film coming close to matching the quality of the landmark horror movie it’s loosely based on. But for what it is, Pitch Black can be a supremely entertaining if incredibly kitschy movie.
Family: The Magician’s Elephant
A relatively new arrival to Netflix, The Magician’s Elephant has garnered mostly positive reviews from critics, with particular praise going for its tremendous voice acting, colorful visuals, and underlying story about family and friendship.
Searching for his missing sister, a young boy (Noah Jupe) is told that he’ll receive help from a powerful magician (Benedict Wong) known to have a pet elephant by his side.
The main story and message of The Magician’s Elephant may be a little boilerplate, but its immaculate animation lends serious credence in helping build lovable characters audiences can relate with and root for. It’s not exactly on par with Disney or Pixar, but it’s a movie that’ll leave families more than satisfied (and probably even a little bit teary-eyed).
Action: Ip Man 2
Moving to British-controlled Hong Kong, Ip Man (Donnie Yen) continues his mission of recruiting followers to study Wing Chun, meeting various rivals along the way, including Hung Ga martial arts master Hung Chun-nam (Sammo Hung).
By the basic laws of the universe, the person who trained iconic martial artist Bruce Lee is likely to be just as dangerous and renowned a fighter as the late action star. Needless to say, Ip Man was just that: an exceptionally talented kung fu innovator who mastered the art of Wing Chun when he was just 20-years-old.
The Ip Man film series is certainly an exaggerated retelling of Ip Man’s life, but it's a movie that lives up to the larger-than-life legend that is Ip Man. Following up on its exciting earlier entry, Ip Man 2 focuses on the discipline, principle, and desire to dedicate oneself to learning martial arts, as well as the physical and mental benefits that can come through said study.
Documentary: Waco: American Apocalypse
In 1993, a nearly two-month standoff occurred between the FBI and a religious cult known as the Branch Davidians. In what was supposed to be a routine search and arrest on the part of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, a gunfight that claimed the lives of 10 people raptly ensued, leading to a siege on the U.S. government’s part near Waco, Texas.
Waco: American Apocalypse details the background surrounding this infamous incident, shedding light on the Branch Davidians, their beliefs, and their controversial leader, David Koresh (who, along with 75 other Davidians — including several children — were killed when the building they were held up in erupted in flames).
Many critics have pointed out that Waco: American Apocalypse doesn’t provide much in the way of examination or analysis on the actual case it discusses. But if you’re interested in a more objective, fact-based breakdown of what happened in Waco, this is a perfect documentary for you.
Sports: Gridiron Gang
Before he was Black Adam or an international movie star, Dwayne Johnson was struggling to eke out a place for himself in the acting realm, starring in several decent action, comedy, and sports films throughout the 2000s — Gridiron Gang among them.
Frustrated at his lack of progress getting kids to turn their lives around, a juvenile detention center worker (Dwayne Johnson) organizes a youth football team, encouraging everyone on the team to learn the value of sportsmanship, teamwork, and responsibility.
Based on the story of the 1990 Kilpatrick Mustangs, Gridiron Gang’s basis in reality makes it an endearing if paltry movie, chock full of cliches around every corner. As bland as the overall movie is, Johnson’s lead performance was a turning point in his career, illustrating his ability to take on more serious roles.
Underrated: The Other Bolelyn Girl
The thing most people associate with England’s Henry VIII is his various marriages, with most of his wives either dying from natural causes or via execution on Henry’s orders. In The Other Bolelyn Girl, the film explores just one of Henry’s notorious marriages, analyzing it from the perspective of Anne Bolelyn and her sister, Mary.
Hungry for the affection of British monarch Henry VIII (Eric Bana), two sisters compete for the King’s attention, one of them becoming his temporary mistress (Scarlett Johansson) and the other becoming the second (Natalie Portman) of his six wives.
An accurate representation of history? Not at all. But for all its historical inaccuracies, The Other Bolelyn Girl makes for an affecting character study of the fictionalized Henry VIII and his relationship with each of the Bolelyn sisters.
This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.
source https://wealthofgeeks.com/movies-on-netflix-now/
No comments:
Post a Comment