Move Over Netflix and Make Room for Dixons

February 25, 2012 Other Movie Stuff
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Following in the footsteps of LoveFilm and Netflix as well as online streaming services from broadcasters such as Channel 4 and BBC, British electronics retail giant Dixons has announced that it will be launching its own video and movie streaming service early this year.

Called Knowhow Movies, the service will feature both film and television content; though a list of supported devices hasn’t been announced yet, Dixons says that users will be able to access content “at home or on the move.” Dixons hasn’t revealed which content providers are on board, saying only that there will be a “huge range.”

Dixons is the latest retailer to move into the already crowded video on-demand market, following a partnership between entertainment retailer HMV and FilmFlex to provide customers with streamed film content.

It is the first time Dixon’s retail chains Currys and PC World have stepped beyond selling technology and into content.

There’s no word on the quality of the line-up either, so we don’t know whether Knowhow will bring you the likes of Drive, The Sopranos and Downton Abbey or if it’ll be all Grease 2 and Bonekickers.

What do you think about this move?  With the problems Netflix has been having lately, do you think this is a good move?

 

Recently Asked Where To Watch Free Movies Online

February 24, 2012 Watching Movies
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I was put in an awkward position recently when a very good friend of mine asked me if I knew where to watch free movies online.  I didn’t know how to answer at first because personally I feel strongly against online movie piracy but I didn’t want to make her feel bad with my ‘soapbox lecture’.   I hinted that although the temptation is out there, you could get in much trouble if you weren’t careful.

I am sure there is a limited number of places where to watch free movies online, but these sites are usually limited to trailers or very old and unpopular movies.  You see, watching movies together as a family for me has always been something that we cherish and enjoy together, however when searching free online movie options, we decided long ago that we would need to be careful and ethical.

Crazy Family Watching a Movie

O.K., so there are actually lots of excellent movies out there as we all know, but where to watch free movies online safely is something that every parent should know… Do you want to know why?  Being a mom of two boys can be  stressful. I clean the house, cook for everyone, take care of the kids and do every bit of house work possible.  My only consolation is being able to enjoy a good movie with my children without worrying that I’m breaking the law!

Kids are demanding nowadays.  They learn fast and adapt fast.  They even have their own opinions on the greatest movie twists.  In short, they know the fads and even when it comes to movies, they surely don’t want to see the same ones over.  To most of them, yesterday’s movie is history, ancient.  So when I do decide to find the time to search where to watch free movies online, I want to make sure I don’t set a bad example for my family, and that I don’t tarnish a good family tradition.

For now, I will just keep on going to the video rental store (which is more than 15 mile away from my home),  and resist the urge to download free movies online.  Also, to that very good friend of mine, I will not suggest you find where to watch free movies online unless you give careful consideration to the legality.

I won’t even download one of my favorite movies of all times despite my bratty kids urging me to do so – Toy Story 3.  Sure, the first one is funny and the second one is also awesome in its own way, but the third one is the movie that touched our hearts.  It’s so good that I couldn’t help but feel anxious as I anticipate the day when both my kids will leave us for college and eventually start a life of their own!

Simple things like getting together with them is precious, and teaching them proper values is why knowing where to watch free movies online is not that important to me.

My tip: Learn how you can take advantage of the things you can get for free, and the Internet is a good place to start.  However, be careful to educate yourselves on right vs. wrong, and the legal ramifications associated with downloading free movies online.  Online, you can get free vouchers that you can use when buying products.  It’s also much cheaper and faster to book a room through a website than actually calling the hotel itself.  Even buying tickets for vacations is a breeze; you also get lots of freebies.

Knowing where to watch free movies online may or may not fit into your personal interpretation of a “freebie”.   All in all, I have to say that the best way to spend family nights is having a sumptuous dinner while watching movies. It is a very simple way to show your loved ones how much you care for them and that money doesn’t always matter; your time together is valuable so you find ways on how you can all have fun being together as a family.

Movies About Diseases

February 20, 2012 Movie Genres
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I hate to get morbid here but after watching Philadelphia recently, I got to thinking about all the recent films that involve disease and death… Film history is full of wonderful films about disease, illness, outbreak and recovery. Some are documentaries, other are based off books or plays, and yet, still more are pure fiction. Disease is the stuff of great dramatic stories.

One of my most recent favorite new indie films Shame. Shame profiles the life of a sex addict and, although it is a work of fiction, it is remarkably realistic. The movie writer and director interviewed hundreds of sex addicts before creating the film. Shame also comes out at an interesting time. Sex addiction is a controversial topic. Some people believe it is a real addiction like gambling addiction or crack addiction. Others say it is a behavioral issue stemming from a mental disease (P.T.S.D., depression) but not an addiction unto itself. Skeptics will say it is just an excuse for people to behave immorally. Regardless of your feelings about the validity of sex addiction, Shame is an excellent independent film.

Love and Other Drugs follows the story of a hotshot salesman, Jamie (Gyllenhaal), who finds himself quickly climbing the ladder in the cutthroat world of pharmaceutical sales. His charm serves him well in career and with the ladies. Enter the free-spirited Maggie (Hathaway) who catches the eye of Jamie. Being a victim of Parkinson’s, she has issues with accepting this disease which results in her being something of a standoffish character that doesn’t like to be tied down. When the two meet though, chemistry is definitely evident. Seemingly having both met their match, Maggie isn’t as easily persuaded by Jamie’s advances and sees right through him, though is intrigued by his charm. Likewise, Jamie is lured in by Maggie’s unflinching resistance and how she seems to just understand him.

For those who can remember back to the early 1980s and the start of the AIDS epidemic, there was something vaguely surreal about seeing the warnings on our television screens and the reports put out by the media. Was this all just hype, we were left wondering? Could this new disease really be that bad? Should we all be rushing off for a confidential HIV test? Since then, of course, the grim reality of the destructive forces of HIV and AIDS has hit home, with millions dying. Today, many more are living with the HIV virus thanks to vastly improved treatments. While for some, the media reports have undoubtedly hit the mark in terms of encouraging more responsible behavior to curtail the spread of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV); for others it has been the extremely poignant movies like Philadelphia that have been produced which have caused them to think twice.

Most recently, “Contagion” is a movie that follows a group of people through a virus outbreak that threatens mankind and could kill millions. The virus is unknown and anyone who carries it will die within a few days of being infected. Doctors from the world over attempt to find a cure for the lethal disease as people lose control and become more and more desperate.

I’m just scratching the survace here but you can see that filmakers have found ways to make great dramas and thrillers centered around disease and suffering.

Five Valentine Movie Ideas

February 14, 2012 Movie Genres
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If you always wanted your life to resemble some film this Valentines Day you could think the same for two! The rigmarole of DVD movie marathon only gets better with Valentines around the corner. So pop some corn and get some cola and let some evergreen romance flicks help you snuggle up with the significant other.

When Harry Met Sally
This is a movie about two people who try to be friends, and only friends. It is a story of platonic friendship, and whether or not it really exists. The stars are Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. The film is humorous, and complete with fake orgasms, and funny fight scenes. It is a great Valentine's Day movie for couples.

Lady and the Tramp
This classic Disney movie appeals to children and adults alike. Lady, a Cocker Spaniel, has a happy home with Jim Dear and Darling until her home life is disrupted by the arrival of a new baby. When the couple go away on vacation, lady ends up running away and meeting Tramp, a stray mutt. When Jim Dear and Darling return and find that Lady and the Tramp have saved the baby from a rat that entered the crib; they end up adopting Tramp. This story is a great choice to watch as family on Valentine's Day. It is a story about romantic love as well as the love of family.

Annie Hall
In case unfulfilled love isn't on the agenda then Woody Allen's Annie Hall with its tale of two people so made for each but just not meant for each other would surely make you cherish every moment spent together. Spelling hope for all those who haven't found the 'one', The Bridges of Madison County, is an ode to a lifelong romance spawn from a few days of togetherness. Middle aged Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep meet, fall in love but she won't leave her husband and children and he respects her too much to convince her otherwise.

Dirty Dancing
Forbidden love, lots of dancing with even more dirty dancing, and Patrick Swayze in some really tight pants! What else do you need? Frances 'Baby' Houseman and Johnny Castle fall in love even though they know they shouldn't, but what they really get down to is a lot of bumpin' and groovin'. This movie is perfect for the couples who love that old school music with romance thrown in.

Barefoot in the Park
If the subject is love then can Robert Redford, one of the greatest  lover boys of movies be wandering elsewhere? Absolutely not! Watch him in Barefoot in the Park keeping pace as the hapless husband to a zany Jane Fonda, you'd realize why your mom and her mom were nuts about Redford! Barbara Streisand and Redford's unrequited love in The Way We Were and his special romance with Meryl Streep in Out of Africa would surely sum up the night unlike ever before.

Just be careful don't get too involved in the 'reel' love lest you miss out on 'real' love!

Reserve Your Redbox Movie Online

February 8, 2012 Watching Movies
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I’d like to share a quick way to grab your movie from a Redbox kiosk.  Simply reserve your movie selection on line, then go to the movie kiosk and select the Online Rental Pickup option.  Swipe your credit card and viola!  Your DVD movie dispenses without waiting…  pretty cool huh?

 

Related Post:

Where to watch free movies online

The Risk and Cost of Illegal Movie Downloads

February 5, 2012 Other Movie Stuff
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The net is crawling with all kinds of sites that offer unlimited movie downloads. The question is, which movie sites are legal?

I have looked at many movie downloading sites, only to find they are not claiming to be legal. One even says to not use the word “legal” if you are promoting them. Why would they say that?

Be wary of sites, that offer file-sharing (P2P) networks. These sites will have amazing graphics and appear to be legal. Unfortunately, these peer to peer networks, are not able to guarantee a legal movie download. Make sure the site is backed by major movie studios, such as MGM.

Remember that it is still illegal to share and download movie files that are copyrighted. With more and more individuals becoming concerned with RIAA and MPAA lawsuits, many are being lured to these false sites by attention grabbers such as “Millions of movies online”. Some of these sites sites even go as far as to use falsified recommendations and endorsements from authentic companies. In addition, you should also keep an eye out for phrases that make undeliverable promises such as, “Unlimited Music Downloads” or “80 Million movies online”.

In order to legally download a movie from a website the owner has to have a license to offer the movie to you. I do not know of any P2P website that can offer a movie download without breaking copyright laws.

Illegal pirated bootleg movies are costly. For each and every movie you download illegally you can be subjected to a fine of a minimum of $750. Now if you do the math how many legally produced movie DVDs do you think you could have purchased for $750?

When downloading a movie from a website which is licensed to distribute movie titles online, both for direct downloading and online streaming methods you won’t risk the chance being caught by law. Many people considering the chance of being caught to be nil, so they are risking the chance. But why are they risking the chance of getting caught instead when there are legal movie downloading websites out there!

You will also probably lose your internet service provider (ISP) as a result of downloading illegal pirated bootleg movies. Now if you have several good ISPs in your area you might get past this hurdle but if you are like me and only have one ISP that can provide you superior service this can also become a major issue.

So illegal pirated bootleg movies are costly, not only financially but socially as well, and are just not worth the risks involved.

I’m a Sucker for Good Low Budget Films

January 25, 2012 Other Movie Stuff
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Low budget movies make money when there is a compelling and intriguing story that viewers can identify with.  Most low budget movies are made by writer/directors who are moving up from short films to feature films.  I you are interested, you can find low budget movies to invest in by searching the net for “how to invest in a movie” or “how to invest in a low budget movie”.

I’ve seen great low budget movies with new twists and turns, but with lower production quality.  Let’s face it, few low budget movies of this type are made for the fast buck simply because they typically make no money.  Until 2009, Star Trek was basically an American TV franchise with some low budget movies here and there.


 

Lionsgate plans to produce up to 10 films each year under its microbudget initiative, which was conceived and structured by Sean Kisker, Lionsgate’s executive VP of strategic planning and operations.  These films are all targeted to be under a million dollars, but there’s a lot of variation within that. I mean, look, if some mega movie star decides to attach to it, then the budget may change, but we’ve asked people to conceive of anything in their projects that wouldn’t break the million-dollar mark.

What are some of your favorite low budget movies?

Home Theater versus Big Cinema Experience

January 23, 2012 Watching Movies
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Just not too long ago, Roger Ebert wrote an article pertaining to six reasons movie theaters had a relatively dismal year in terms of the amount of viewers.  I  agreed wholeheartedly  with his opinions, and one in particular stood out to me: the absurd prices.  I think there are a lot of you out there who feel like, for the most part, only the major blockbusters are worth shelling out the nine or eleven dollars for (more for 3D and IMAX, of course)….


But one of the forms of theater entertainment that I personnally don’t mind shelling out the cash for is the uniplex.  Unfortunately, in most markets, nearly all single-screen theatres have gone out of business; the ones remaining are generally used for  arthouse  films, i.e.     the Crest Theatre  in downtown  Sacramento, California , small scale productions, film festivals or other presentations.  Since the 1960s, multiple-screen theatres have become the norm, and many existing venues have been retrofitted so that they have multiple auditoriums.

While many people are stuck with their ordinary television sets, some are moving to modern home theaters. According to current home theater news, wider options are available for people. Home entertainment setups now come in a good range of choices. The flexibility is worth noting as well. Home entertainment systems are more convenient than movie theaters.  Well, its basically much like having your own movie theater inside your home.  What are your thoughts?

Truly Horrible Movies in My Opinion

January 18, 2012 Movie Reviews
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So as I was watching my favorite movie of all time – The Shawshank Redemption, I began to ponder the stark differences between such a great film as this, and the grotesquely terrible movies ever to waste my time.  I’m embarrassed to say that I actually sat through these all-time-worst movies in my opinion…

  • Mommie Dearest (1981)
  • Howard the Duck (1986)
  • The Garbage Pail Kids Movie (1987)
  • Hobgoblins (1988)
  • Mac and Me (1988)
  • Showgirls (1995)
  • Bio-Dome (1996)
  • Battlefield Earth (2000)
  • Freddy Got Fingered (2001)
  • Death to Smoochy (2002)
  • Super Troopers (2002)
  • From Justin to Kelly (2003)
  • Gigli (2003)
  • Catwoman (2004)
  • Alone in the Dark (2005)
  • The Pacifier (2005)
  • Little Man (2006)
  • The Nanny Diaries (2007)
  • Birdemic: Shock and Terror (2008)
  • Land of the Lost (2009)
  • Year One (2009)
  • Clash of the Titans (2010)
  • Cop Out (2010)
  • Sucker Punch (2011)

I Can’t Decide on the Greatest Movie Twist

January 12, 2012 Movie Reviews
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Ever watch a movie, and find yourself tearing at the last scene or at least really close to it.  I am intrigued by the market for movie endings…

Of my favorite movies, I like the revenge/happy ending of Shawshank.  My favorite TV ending is that Different Strokes when Arnold gets molested by the Maytag man…  Kidding of course, that was pretty stupid.

Rosemary’s Baby  is a thriller classic with one of the most memorable movie endings of all time.  As with many movies with twist endings, like Fight Club,  once you know the ending it can be a rewarding experience.  If we ever do a “worst twist endings” list, I think “Mystic River” should be on there.

How about Psycho… Psycho  comes with a fairly early twist in that the main heroine in the film (Janet Leigh) gets murdered well before the film’s conclusion.  It’s not that these new technologies have made writers shy away from the twist ending technique — it’s that  fewer movies come off as original,  and, because of this, fewer people tolerate a lack of creative storytelling.

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