Netflix DVD wins 2012

This month marks my ninth anniversary with Netflix. I still love Netflix, but 2012 was not a big movie year for me. My attendance at the movies was way down for several reasons. I worked longer hours. The people I usually go to the movies with were less available, due to work and school commitments. After seeing over two thousand movies in the last eight years, my interest in movies is flagging. I'm more particular in my taste. I've completed some great movie lists: AFI, Academy Awards, Leonard Maltin, and almost all of the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die. You can see my progress at I Check Movies.

I saw 136 movies in 2012

73 were on Netflix DVD
21 on Netflix Instant via Roku
37 at a theater or other public venue
5 were on DVD from another source

Still worth it

I'm paying $21.33 per month for Unlimited Streaming + 2 DVDs out at-a-time (Unlimited) and I think it's worth it. On the nights I don't have a DVD, I watch something from my instant queue. I easily go through two DVDs each week, and one or two instant titles each week, in addition to the weekly trip to the theater to catch the latest blockbuster or IMAX movie. I like watching older movies by streaming, like The Naked City (1948), because then the picture quality isn't compromised by my slow connection. Keep in mind, I haven't had cable TV since 2004, and because of Netflix, haven't missed it a bit.

I'm glad Netflix changed its mind about splitting up and moving me to Qwikster, but boy, was that embarrassing. I felt bad for Reed Hastings. What a miscalculation.

Qwikster fan?

Not. Qwikster represents the beginning of the end of the DVD. DVDs are old school. I am a movie fan first and foremost. It doesn't matter to me how I get my movie fix. I was one of the first to buy a Roku box and get my Netflix movies streamed to my TV. However, I am one of those who will be moved to Qwikster, because I still have to have my movies on DVD.

The reasons I still want my movies on DVD:

Even with an HD TV and broadband, the picture quality is still better on DVDs most of the time. I admit this is probably my fault. It's cheaper to get DVDs from Netflix than to increase what I pay for broadband in order to possibly improve picture quality.

Of the 455 titles in my queue, only 176 are available instantly.

Optional subtitles, especially on English-language films. Try watching Trainspotting or The Hill (1965) or without them. Oops, bad example. The Hill is available only on DVD.

P.S. I'm still in shock as to Netflix splitting up. The name Qwikster makes me think this is all a bad joke and we're being pwned. It sounds like a mashup of Quitter and Flix. I thought about buying the name qwiksterfan, but I'm not going to do it.

Can't afford the new prices for Netflix?

For those of you upset about the price hike, help has arrived. I just learned about the Netflix Relief Fund.

Netflix and their new prices

Netflix is charging different prices for their services. Some folks are upset about this. Here's a link to the press release announcing the new plans.

The way I see it is that Netflix has a right to charge whatever they want and you have a right to choose whether to use their service. You can vote with your dollars. It doesn't matter how long you've been a "loyal" customer. You got what you paid for, or you would have quit.

You people who think it's "greedy" for companies to charge for their products and services certainly don't think it's greedy when the labor unions demand higher wages. You don't think it's greedy for the government to confiscate our money and our property to redistribute it to people who won't keep their pants zipped. Funny how you don't think it's greedy of you to keep your own money instead of giving it to Netflix.

It's a crime to share Netflix password in TN

I think it's unwise, but should it be a crime? Netflix sharing will be a crime in TN

IMDB 250 on Netflix Instant

PaulIsAGeek has done a great job of finding the IMDB Top 250 on Netflix Instant so you can easily add them to your Instant Queue. I have seen all but the last one.