Tag: Netflix
2 “House of Cards” – First Steps
Despite the availability of the new Netflix original series’ 13 chapters, I’m going into this with just a toe in the water to start: exposure to just the first 50+ minute episode, and hesitation from even glancing at episode summaries so not to alter my perspective, reactions and expectations.
(And I will try my damnedest to refrain from making card-related puns, but no promises)
“House of Cards” is Netflix’s second bout in the original, big-name, episodic entertainment arena, but you probably know about the background by now, especially if you’re reading this, so we can skip THAT battleground and dive right into the show. Plus, with all of the announcements and news surrounding more green-lighted original streaming shows coming out daily, we’ll tackle that luchador soon.
It’s a good show. I probably should rephrase that as “It was a good episode”, as no series is given the free pass from putting a bullet in its foot in the initial, but it was enjoyable. Even coming from a short-attention-spaned, would-rather-watch-nostalgic-childhood-programming 20-something, there were enough moving parts to keep me interested … but it’s not without its bumps.
To launch us into the fray, I really enjoy the style of HoC. When the initial trailers/previews came out, I wasn’t sure if what I was seeing, which included a lot of on-screen narration and fourth-wall breaks by Kevin Spacey, was original promo material, or actual content, and I’m happy to say it is a reoccurring device in the show. A lot of people aren’t a fan of programming that tells a story, rather than just showing them, but it is incredibly effective for HoC to introduce a lot of characters and ideas without starting at character development square one. It also doesn’t feel like a spoon-feeding of facts and details, due to Spacey’s genuine delivery, as if he’s narrating for himself in the anticipation of the onset of Alzheimer’s, or something of the like. It feels like he’s addressing someone on his level when it occurs. Spacey’s character’s dry wit also seeps in from time to time to lighten transitions between overlapping plot points, and draws a nice sweet to sour line drawn from the tenser material.
The pacing is also well-managed, while David Fincher sits at the Directing (Chapters 1 & 2, exclusively) and Executive Producing helms of the program. Minimalistic lulls in the perpetuation of Spacey’s drive to achieve allows for fast-paced exchanges and hand-offs. Think of it like the pacing of Fincher’s action movies, but without the action bit. “Fight Club” meets “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” with a dash of “Our Town” (if “Our Town” was the epicenter of the free world). You won’t be able to multi-task stream to this one.
I also believe that casting choices have been strong so far, regardless of role size, but leads Spacey and Robin Wright are definitely the break-aways on this one. The pair (playing husband and wife) starts strong and does not dial it down. Even one-on-one scenes have a certain cadence and tone that remains consistent throughout, creating silhouettes of very, very aggressive characters. Kate Mara joins the first chapter as a hungry reporter in D.C. looking for some sort of angle to lift her above council meeting articles, and does a great job as a neutral underdog character, but I may have ruined a bit of the series for myself by reading on IMDB.com that she only appears in two episodes*, despite my enjoyment over the dynamic of her character’s interactions with Spacey. Her capacity for an outsider status with insider know-how makes her the easiest to root for in my opinion (but that perspective is clouded by a journalism minor) since her actions are, in all rights, legal. Either way, Mara is great with Spacey, Wright is great with Spacey, and Spacey is … great.
The issue that I do have from the get-go is that there are a few lesser plot points that have the potential to grow as the game goes forward, but are hard to stomach in round one. For example, the storyline featuring an irresponsible Representative brought into Spacey’s fold, played by Corey Stoll, carried a lot of sex and scandal (yes, in the first episode) but it came off as somewhat unnecessary. It was an attempt to provide background for the character to depict where his morals lie, but they almost served more as commercial breaks for me. The character is effectively portrayed as smarmy, but, until he gains relevance within the series (many a seemingly unneeded scene from his introduction) there’s little put forth to get me to care. Had there not been a number of exchanges about his character to reveal a larger part of the whole in the future, I would rule him out, but I’ll give him a stay of execution … for now.
The show is pretty, smart, funny, deep, interesting, timely, and such and so on to include a long string of compliments. I do think it’s worth your time to investigate. Political-drama fan or not, it’s worth an hour. From here on out, I’m left with an interest and inclination to continue down the rabbit hole, but not so gripping that I was able to sit down and power this out instead. I wouldn’t say, “Sign up for Netflix in order to get access for ‘House of Cards’ exclusively”, but I am willing to wholeheartedly endorse it.
*Author’s note: I am incredibly happy to say that IMDB.com was not factual at all based on what I have seen, having viewed additional chapters in the series. I cannot say why IMDB is inaccurate at this point, but I blame that on the fact that this is a new playing field for IMDB. (Of course I wrote this after watching Chapter 2. It even sounds like a politician’s statement. Rest assured that if you enjoyed Kate Mara in Chapter 1, you will get more soon)
0 Episode 70 – 01/29/13 feat. Dave Wheeler & James Wheeler
Dave and James joined Dan and Adam in the Wheels Brewing Co Studio for another edition of “The Wheeler-Whelan Flour Hour with that man they call Adam”. They discussed Dave’s move to LA, and how that will affect his streaming media consumption, and James chipped in many a suggestion as to what he should watch while on the coast. It’s another tangent-heavy episode, thanks to the Wheeler boys, but the show wraps up with another great round of “Movie Bluff”.
Taped at The Wheels Brewing Co Studio, Minneapolis, MN on January 29, 2013.
Check out photos and this week’s bonus tracks by clicking here.
Click here to listen: Episode 70 – 01/29/13 feat. Dave Wheeler & James Wheeler
0 Episode 69 – 01/23/13 feat. Connor Boran & Emily Dyess
Connor and Emily join Dan and Adam in the studio to live by Buffering’s law and discuss streamables. And such. Dan throws down a big list of recognizable movies coming to Netflix in February, and there’s a compare and contrast between Pandora and Spotify. From there, the group jumps into a round of Movie Bluff. And there were good times had by all.
Taped at The Wheels Brewing Co Studio, Minneapolis, MN on January 23, 2013.
Check out photos and this week’s bonus tracks by clicking here.
Click here to listen: Episode 69 – 01/23/13 feat. Connor Boran & Emily Dyess
0 Episode 68 – 01/16/13 feat. Andrew Nelson & Erik Nelson
It’s always fun to have brothers in the studio, and Dan and Adam lucked out with a set of bros (sans the puka shell necklaces and popped collars), plus a NEW guest for Episode 68. Andrew and Erik joined Dan and Adam in the Wheels Brewing Co. Studio for a fantastic, tangent-heavy night. The way it was supposed to be. Plus, Dan and Adam introduce Erik to Movie Bluff.
Taped at The Wheels Brewing Co Studio, Minneapolis, MN on January 16, 2013.
Check out photos and this week’s bonus tracks by clicking here.
Click here to listen: Episode 68 – 01/16/13 feat. Andrew Nelson & Erik Nelson
0 Episode 67 – 1/2/13 feat. Jeff Priesmeyer & Julia Schmitt
Jeff and Julia join Dan and Adam in the studio for another High School reunion-type episode (Jeff, Julia & Dan graduated in ’04, and Adam in ’05), as well as for Bloody Marys after New Year’s Day. Jeff and Julia talk about what they’re streaming online these days, and Julia talks about her streaming media habits after getting rid of an Internet subscription in her apartment. From there, they play a great round of “Movie Bluff”.
Taped at The Wheels Brewing Co Studio, Minneapolis, MN on January 2, 2013.
Check out photos and this week’s bonus tracks by clicking here.
Click here to listen: Episode 67 – 01/02/13 feat. Jeff Priesmeyer & Julia Schmitt
0 Redbox Instant: All the hype with none of the calories … I mean, content
Through multiple press releases and interviews in 2012’s third and fourth quarters (July-December for you non-business folks), a number of high-ranking executives for Verizon and Coinstar (owner of Redbox) state that the Redbox Instant service, currently in customer BETA testing, would focus on quality over quantity.
“Do you really need 100,000 titles? I mean, really,” said Paul Davis, CEO of Coinstar.
As I wade through the RB Instant library, I’m glad Davis stuck to his word, offering such featured titles as “Soccer Nanny (unrated)”, “Demonic Toys 2”, and “Biebermania”. Upon further investigation into the library, which will be available to subscribers for $8 per month, I discovered the well-honed tastes of Davis and others comes out in spades with a plethora of B-, C-, and even D-list thriller and horror titles, with little else to distract viewers.
Alright. I jest. I have no idea of that which Davis calls quality entertainment. However, based on that which has been made readily available during this BETA test, it’s hard to imagine that RB Instant will pose any sort of threat to Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Hulu (especially since Redbox currently has no plans to add TV shows to its concoction).
The service does offer a few recognizable titles (using “few” in its strictest definition), including “Thor”, “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”, “Rango”, and the recent remake of “True Grit”. Sadly, (and I’m being 100 percent sincere about this) beyond those four films, there are only a handful of additional movies that I recognize. Plus, all four listed above are already available on Netflix AND Amazon Prime.
Before I rag on this service TOO much, there are two additional tiers to the RB Instant account: monthly Redbox kiosk credits, and the ability to pay-to-rent and/or purchase videos electronically.
First, the RB Instant subscription, as I’ve stated before, runs you $8 per month and includes four DVD rental credits to be used at any Redbox kiosk. At roughly $1.20 per DVD (plus tax), you’re technically investing more than half of that $8 on DVD rentals, while throwing $3.20 at the subscription service, which actually starts to explain the quality of films available for streaming. The RB Instant site really hammers it home that you will receive four free DVD rentals, which means you will most likely experience an additional charge if you opt for Blu-rays (usually about $1.50 at the kiosk).
From afar, this piece of the puzzle seems appealing, as everyone likes getting something for nothing. However, at its core, it is a contradiction to the service’s name: Redbox INSTANT. Through most of my Redbox kiosk experiences, very little has ever been instant. Limited and/or poor selections at my nearby locations, not to mention long lines, have deterred me multiple times from using the service spontaneously; in my world of movie consumption, pre-selecting and reserving a movie is like picking a restaurant for dinner at 12:30 PM. I really don’t know what I want until I’m hungry. That’s why I already ditched the Netflix DVD delivery service. I have yet to utilize the four credits bestowed upon me, but as you can probably understand, I’m hesitant. I’ll give it the ol’ college try this week and will give an update IF my experience differs from the norm.
The remaining feature is the ability to purchase or pay-to-rent films electronically. This service is not available on Netflix, but has been a part of Amazon Prime since its release and is also a large part of the Apple iTunes store experience.
The renting aspect is fairly straightforward: I would pay $X amount for a film, either in standard- or high-definition, and then I can watch it when I want within a 30-day window. As soon as I start to watch it, I have 48 hours to complete it as many times as I want. Standard stuff. However, there is little to no documentation as to the purchase process. From the looks of it, I’m not even sure the movie is technically downloaded. I believe, if I’m reading the site correctly, that it just goes into my RB Instant library, and can only be viewed with an Internet connection. Not much of a selling point there.
I also reviewed pricing, and found RB Instant tends to charge MORE for both rentals and purchases. I picked a few titles at random (“Ted”, “The Amazing Spider-Man”, and “Juan of the Dead” [yes, it’s a real movie]), and here’s what I found:
Across the board, RB Instant is more expensive than Amazon Prime and iTunes. In some cases, it is cheaper to rent or purchase the HD version from either Amazon Prime or iTunes versus the SD version via RB Instant. No points awarded there.
Before I wrap things up, I know some folks out there will want to know about the user interface, as the ease of use is a big part of the streaming game. Here’s my take: it isn’t bad, but there’s nothing new there. I tested the web site, as well as the iOS app, and I found nothing special about it. It comes across as cluttered, like most streaming sites, and includes the hover-over for cryptic descriptions.
I did find one major fault to the site that rubbed me the wrong way. Every time I performed a search query for a new movie, multiple entries for said movie would pop up, forcing me to sift between the physical, Redbox kiosk copy, and the digital copy, which was usually buried beneath the former. On some occasions, I had to run multiple attempts to locate that which I sought. As the search occurred on the Instant site, I had hoped (and assumed) that the digital copy would trump the physical.
Also, you cannot purchase or pay-to-rent movies on the iOS app. A lot of people will see value in that, so to prevent unintentional pocket purchases, but it stinks if you’re on the road, or out and about and want to watch something new. It’s a nit-picky issue, but it’s something that can be completed elsewhere through alternate services.
Based on the hype surrounding the service, as well as statements provided by leadership leading up to the release, I had high expectations for this service, and RB Instant has fallen short. Buffering does not yet have an in-house rating system, but RB Instant has set the bar for how low it can go. The most positive thing I can say about RB Instant right now is that the first month is free, and it includes the four DVD credits. However, I am setting a reminder on my calendar to cancel my subscription the day before my month is up, because I have no want or need to keep it.
My recommendation to you is to exploit the loophole, get four free rentals, and cancel it too. Otherwise, it is not worth your time. Most, if not all, of its library and features are available elsewhere.
0 Episode 66 – 1/1/13 feat. Kia Hammill & Zach Hammill
Kia & Zach join Dan and Adam in the studio on New Year’s Day to kick off 2013 with an episode of the Buffering Podcast! Kia & Zach talk a bit about their journey from California to Minnesota for the holidays, as well as what they are watching online. Zach also gives us the inside scoop on A&E’s upcoming show, “Bates Motel”, starring Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga. From there, the quartet plays an excellent round of “Movie Bluff”.
Taped at The Wheels Brewing Co Studio, Minneapolis, MN on January 1, 2013.
Check out photos and this week’s bonus tracks by clicking here.
Click here to listen: Episode 66
0 Episode 65 – 12/19/12 A Commemorative Clip Show!
To celebrate the fact that “Buffering …” is now an AWARD WINNING PODCAST (check out category #14), we decided to look back at the past 64 episodes to some of our favorite conversations and games. Here’s a quick overview of all of the episodes we used in this clip show (not the order in which these tracks appear): Episode 2, Episode 13, Episode 16, Episode 22, Episode 39, Episode 41, Episode 43, Episode 46, Episode 49, Episode 52, Episode 54, Episode 61, and Episode 62.
Taped (& compiled) at The Wheels Brewing Co Studio, Minneapolis, MN on December 19, 2012.
As this week’s episode is a compilation of previous episodes, there were no bonus tracks this week.
Click here to listen: Episode 65 – 122012
0 Episode 64 – 12/11/12 feat. Steve “Frank” Frankenfield & Bennett Wadekamper
Bennett and Frank join Dan and Adam in the studio, where Frank and Bennett bond immediately over their common passion for “League of Legends”, and Adam and Dan learn a thing or two about League of Legends. We test out a new format with a commercial break in the middle, and then jump in to a round of Movie Bluff.
Taped at The Wheels Brewing Co Studio, Minneapolis, MN on December 11, 2012.
Check out photos and this week’s bonus tracks by clicking here.
Click here to listen: Episode 64
0 Episode 63 – 12/05/12 feat. John Egan & James Wheeler
James joins Dan and Adam in the studio, while John joins via Skype from Green Bay, WI. Unfortunately, there were a few tech issues regarding the connection, but we still had a solid episode overall. John and James mention what they’ve been streaming lately, and everyone discusses Disney’s partnership with Netflix. After a break, we jump right in to Movie Bluff.
Taped at The Wheels Brewing Co Studio, Minneapolis, MN on December 5, 2012.
Check out photos and this week’s bonus tracks by clicking here.
Click here to listen: Episode 63
The Buffering Podcast 