There's a lot of great new movies released on video this year that you should see. Did you know that netflix still has four million DVD subscribers and I'm one of them. I get 2 discs each week for $12.68 a month. I think that's a great deal so I rarely go to the movie theater as everything ends up on DVD 3 to 6 months later. As soon as I see a commercial for a movie I immediately put it in my netflix queue and when it becomes available it'll move up in the queue so I don't have to remember and keep track of what I wanted to see. I must have a netflix warehouse nearby because they get my returned discs very fast. The only time there's a wait for a DVD is if it's super popular like Prince (Purple Rain) and Carrie Fisher (Postcards from the Edge) movies right after they died. And Christmas movies in December which I can never get. The negatives of dvd rentals is that two years ago netflix quietly stopped Saturday delivery of dvds. Last year the movie companies removed extras from rental dvds, so if you want to watch the deleted scenes or interviews you have to buy the movie. This year I've discovered that I can no longer play their dvds on my 10 year old dvd player! I couldn't figure out what was going on because I know my dvd player works because I do exercise videos every week. The netflix dvds worked on my computer. So after this happened with 3 discs I finally called them and they told me that new dvds have a security patch on them which make them unplayable on old dvd players. If you rent redbox dvds you might encounter this issue too. While DVD players aren't that expensive, it just sucks that I have to spend money on a new one when I have a perfectly good working one already. When I searched amazon for dvd players released in 2016, there were only 12 models, none from brands I recognized. Then I thought well how do I even know that those have the new security patch? I read somewhere that you can download the security update to your dvd player, but mine is not connected to the internet, hence I don't do streaming. I'm stuck, I don't know what to do? I'm a big IMDb fan! The Internet Movie DataBase is the go-to site to find out about who is in movies, plots, reviews, etc. I always read their goofs sections before watching a movie to know what to look out for while watching. It could be mistakes or lack of continuity in filming, always interesting stuff! Most common are cars seen in the movie were not available during the time period the movie was in. Also on the movie pages is a message board where people ask questions about the movie. While I don't post, I enjoy reading as I learn more about the movie or someone answers a question I had in my head. Well IMDb just announced they are shutting down their boards. There's already a petition to stop them. lol There is also a new location for the boards but quite frankly it's not the same. I want to see the discussion right under the movie listing, I don't have time to look around a message board. Girls Season 5 Lena Dunham brought to TV a unique show that we didn't have anything like. An all female cast of whimsical, broke, millennials living in Brooklyn. The show is provocative, all the characters are unlikable, yet I can't turn away. I keep bookmarking all the cool places they go to in NYC like the rice pudding bar. I described more about this show in this post. I'm a bit sad that the final season will air on HBO in February. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children Jacob finds his grandfather's old photos and curiosity about them leads him to a dilapidated former orphanage, where he discovers a group of children who are not only peculiar but also possess extraordinary powers. If you read the book, know that the characters have been changed and it's very loosely adapted from the book. Tim Burton's movie is rated PG-13 as its not meant for younger children. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Eva Green, Judi Dench, and Allison Janney. Southside with You The story of Michelle and Barack Obama's first date. The entire movie takes place on one day in 1989. While working at the same law firm in Chicago, Barack tricks Michelle to going out on a date with him. The movie is well done and plays lots of classic R&B music from that period. Starring Tika Sumpter and Parker Sawyers. Jason Bourne This is the 4th movie in the series, can't believe the first one was 10 years ago! They show scenes from it and Matt Damon looks so young. I always find all the spy/government technology in these films so intriguing! Expect a non-stop action flick. Some of the scenes are filmed in DC and at the end you see them walking through a park with a pond. Well I immediately recognized that park! It's where I used to do my lunchtime walk at a previous job. The park always had few people in it, just the occasional tourist and ducks. So imagine my surprise when one day a man walked past me and said he sees me there everyday! I immediately found a new route. lol Homeland Season 5 The long wait is finally over! If you've never heard of Homeland read my synopsis here. In Season 5 they were finally able to drop the Brody story line and just focus on my favorite characters Carrie, Saul, and Quinn in Germany against the backdrop of the War on Terror. At any given moment, each of these three could have been playing for the same team or lunging for one another’s throats. Carrie remains fearless, overly passionate and unstable. The show has won 5 Golden Globes and 2 Emmys. Snowden In 2013, CIA technical expert Edward Snowden revealed stolen classified U.S. government documents. This Oliver Stone movie starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Shailene Woodley tell the story that exposed secret NSA mass surveillance programs including taping the German Chancellor's cell phone, and being able to search anyone's facebook or email account for little reason. Snowden was granted asylum in Russia. For more info read this article: The Snowden Effect: 8 Things That Happened Only Because Of The NSA Leaks The Secret Life of Pets I normally don't watch children's movies but this movie was really cute. It's seeing the world through a dog's eye and the adventure they take. You'll recognize Kevin Hart's voice immediate, he plays the rabbit. Sully Based on the true story of a plane in 2009 that landed on the Hudson River after both engines were disabled by birds; saving 155 lives. Tom Hanks plays airline pilot Chesley Sullenberger who deals with accident investigators who second-guess his decisions. Directed by Clint Eastwood. Watching this movie in February makes me feel how cold it was for the passengers stuck outside on the water without coats. It was a fantastic movie detailing the heroism of that day. On the same topic of a movie about a pilot making a safe landing, you must see the movie "Flight" starring Denzel Washington. Kept me on the seat of my pants with an ending I did not see coming. Kevin Hart: What Now? Kevin Hart returns to his hometown and does a stand up comedy show in front of 53,000 fans at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field, marking the first time a stand-up comedian filled an NFL stadium to capacity. I also liked Kevin's last live show that he made into a movie, read my review here. Central Intelligence Starring Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson as high school classmates who reconnect at work. One is an accountant and the other a CIA operative. It's a funny look at their counterespionage operation. Girl on the Train During her daily rail commute, divorcée Rachel Watson observes the happily married couple living in a house near the train route. One day, she witnesses a scene that enrages her -- and soon finds herself deeply entangled in the ensuing mystery. I loved the book and wrote a review here. The book is based in London while the movie is based in the suburbs of NYC. Though the main character Rachel played by Emily Blunt still has an English accent that comes and goes during the movie. They poke fun of it once when she asks the psychologist where he's from and he says back "you have an accent too". While I liked the movie, I think you really need to read the book first as it dives deeper into all the characters and gives more dimension to the story. Emily was pregnant when she filmed this movie so to mimic being an alcoholic she changed contact lenses that made her eyes look more glossy. Jack Reacher: Never go Back Tom Cruise returns with his particular brand of justice in the second movie in the Jack Reacher series based on the books by Lee Child. When Army Major Susan Turner, who heads Reacher's old investigative unit, is arrested for treason, Reacher will stop at nothing to prove her innocence and to uncover the truth behind a major government conspiracy involving soldiers who are being killed. Filmed in DC and New Orleans, it was fun to watch Tom Cruise get off a DC metro bus. This action packed movie will keep your attention. The Infiltrator Think new version of Donnie Brasco starring John Leguizamo and Benjamin Bratt. The exploits of U.S. Customs agent Robert Mazur are recounted in this narco-crime thriller set in the 1980s. Gaining the trust of some of the world's most notorious drug lords, Mazur becomes a key player in an intricate government sting. The Dressmaker Based on the fictional book of a woman who was banished from her small Australian town to go to Paris and become a dressmaker. She returns home what ensues is comedy, drama and tragedy. Expect lots of twists and turns. The costumes from the 1950s are amazing! Starring Kate Winslet and Liam Hemsworth who I thought had too much of an age gap to be romantically involved. Inferno The third movie in the series of the Da Vinci Code. Tom Hanks returns as symbologist Robert Langdon. This time, Langdon awakens in an Italian hospital with no memory of the past few days and suddenly finds himself in a race to stop a madman from unleashing a plague on the world. The ending is different from the book. The scenery of the movie filmed in Italy makes me want to go back! The cinematography at the beginning of the movie is creepy, almost as if they were trying to make this a scary movie. Overall I was disappointed with the movie. The Girlfriend Experience Inspired by the 2009 film of the same name, this series delves into the world of "transactional relationships," in which a law student turns into an escort for wealthy clients. Starring Riley Keough. Similar to House of Cards, expect a dark provocative drama. Advanced Style This documentary profiles seven New York City women aged in their 60s through their 90s, whose snappy style decidedly disproves the notion that advanced years and glamour are mutually exclusive. Based on the books of the same name, its the brainchild of a photographer who walks around NYC and asked women of advanced age who are dressed fashionably to pose for his photographs. Most of the women featured have an eccentric style and talk about how marginalized they feel because of their age. This movie really takes you out of the box and makes you think about traditional beauty. I highly recommend this movie! Queen of Katwe Disney presents a movie based on the true story starring Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo. A Ugandan girl's life changes forever when she discovers she has an amazing talent for chess. This movie was amazing! It's a shame it wasn't recognized for any big awards. It shows how real people are struggling with the realities of their lives living in poverty and single motherhood. The film is very inspirational and everyone will love it! The Accountant Offering two very different skills to his clients, a financial forensics expert and trained assassin goes to work for a tech mogul who's determined to eliminate those responsible for secretly manipulating the company's financial records. Starring Ben Affleck and Anna Kendrick. Allied During a perilous World War II mission in Casablanca, French-Canadian operative Max Vatan falls in love with and weds French spy Marianne Beausejour. After learning that Marianne may be a Nazi double agent, Max launches an investigation of his wife. Starring Brad Pitt, it was nominated for 1 Oscar for costume design. Coming out in March: Loving Recounting a landmark chapter in the struggle for civil rights, this absorbing drama depicts the 1958 arrest and imprisonment of Richard and Mildred Loving for violating Virginia's law against interracial marriage. Nominated for 1 Oscar. It's non-violent film just showing the life of a white construction worker and his shy black wife. Fences Starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. Working as a trash collector in 1950s Pittsburgh, Troy Maxson struggles to raise his family while trying to transcend the bitter experience of being a talented baseball player denied the opportunity to play in the majors because of his race. This film is nominated for 4 Oscars and won 1 Golden Globe. Coming out in April: Jackie The film is an interesting look at the days after JFK assassination and how Jackie had to stand up for herself against all the men that were telling her what to do. Starring Natalie Portman who really nailed Jackie's accent and way of speaking. The movie shows what a fashion icon Jackie was. I was surprised it only showing at the indie theater in my city. It's nominated for 3 Oscars including costume design. Lion This is a must see movie! Read my review here. Related Posts: 2016 movies on netflix Golden Globes Viewing Party