We’re living in a bizarre period in Star Wars where nothing is coming out. Everything we’re getting is in various stages of talks and development and nothing is for certain. It’s been a long time since we were in this position, it was that fallow period between Revenge of the Sith and the start of The Clone Wars, but it wasn’t that long.

Now, with new movies on the horizon and new owners of the franchise, everyone wants to bring you the news of what’s going on and what’s coming next. The problem is no one quite knows, and the people who know for sure aren’t talking. Or they are talking, but in very opaque hints.

When Yahoo News reported that Cad Bane might be getting his own Netflix series, it seemed totally plausible. 

The article itself does a good job of not being responsible for any of the information it’s passing along, using lots of question marks and speculation, but those I’ve spoken to in the know have rejected this theory out of hand. 

Let’s think about the idea first: How many people know who Cad Bane is? How many Star Wars fans know who he is? The Clone Wars was great, but it didn’t get the most eyeballs on it. Especially not when it’s compared to the movies.

If Disney/Lucasfilm was going to take a step toward Netflix, don’t you think they’d choose a character with higher visibility? Granted, they’re moving forward with characters like Daredevil and Luke Cage, but I’d argue that more people still know about Daredevil than Cad Bane.

Secondly: according to people in the know, this is more like a few different stories getting passed around the world and intermingling in a way that nothing is recognizable in the story. Maybe Disney is exploring Netflix for Star Wars, but nothing has been decided. Maybe Cad Bane is due for some more TV, but it’s to do with the Bonus Content. 

And, to be honest, on a scale of absurdity with 10 being the most absurd, I was told the “Cad Bane on Netflix” story was a 9.

So, while we might be getting more Star Wars and some of it might end up on Netflix, I’d say don’t put money on Cad Bane helming his own show there.

Each Friday we will be bringing you weekend-viewing movie picks available for streaming on Netflix! From the popular to the obscure, we will browse Netflix’s Streaming library so you don’t have to, and bring you what we consider to be “Must Watch” selections!

Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Starring Bob Hoskins, Charles Fleischer, Christopher Lloyd, and Joanna Cassidy

I realize I really don’t need to “recommend” Who Framed Roger Rabbit to anyone, nor is a review in order for this amazing and timeless classic. So let’s just go ahead and say that this film is this week’s “Friday ‘Flix Pick” to let you know that it is now streaming on Netflix.

I recall watching Who Framed Roger Rabbit for the first time as a kid. I was probably around the age of ten, so the film was a solid six years old by then. I don’t quite remember how I saw it; perhaps it was on television, maybe it was over at a friend’s house. In any case, I have one very vivid memory of my first viewing: I was scared shitless.

Sure, it was all fun and games. A cartoon/live action murder mystery! And look! There is Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse in the same movie together! And check out that red head! This movie is so – OH MY GOD THAT GUY’S FACE IS MELTING OFF!

I just remember that part catching me so much by surprise and having nightmares for days afterwards. I also found those psychotic bullets to be a bit unsettling for some reason as well. Childhood trauma aside however, as I grew up and watched this film several more times, I grew to appreciated it for the masterpiece it is – and it is a masterpiece, don’t let anyone argue otherwise. It warms my heart that with it now on Netflix a whole new generation will now get to experience Who Framed Roger Rabbit who may have otherwise never been exposed to it.

You know it’s been a while since you watched it, and perhaps you have (age appropriate) kids who have never seen it. Don’t deny yourself the pleasure, or your kids the face-melting trauma. Fire up your streaming device of choice this weekend and watch Roger Rabbit and Eddie Valiant face-off with Judge Doom and his band of gangster weasels.

Each Friday we will be bringing you weekend-viewing movie picks available for streaming on Netflix! From the popular to the obscure, we will browse Netflix’s Streaming library so you don’t have to, and bring you what we consider to be “Must Watch” selections!

Mike Birbiglia’s ‘My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend’
Directed by Seth Barrish
Written by and Starring Mike Birbiglia

Perhaps you’ve never heard of Mike Birbiglia. Maybe the name sounds a bit familiar, but you just can’t place it. Or perhaps you are very familiar with his works on This American Life and his various comedy specials he’s done over the years. No matter your familiarity with Mr. Birbiglia, you should do yourself a favor and sit down and watch his latest one-man show, My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend.

Prior to watching his latest special, I was vaguely familiar with Mike Birbiglia from his work on This American Life, but that was about it. It just so happened one night a few weeks ago I was surfing Netflix for something to watch when I saw a Facebook post from one Mr. Matt Page praising this special. The timing was perfect, and after a quick search and a click of the play button, I was on a journey with Mike Birbiglia.

I honestly think it is fair to say that Mike Birbiglia is one of the best story tellers of our time. This is no ordinary stand-up comedy special, though I assure you your sides will be thoroughly split by the end. Instead, Birbiglia takes you on a journey with him through his hilarious, touching, and sometimes painfully awkward love life which eventually culminates in the marriage to his now-wife, Jen Stein – and the irony that he spends much of the show arguing against the relevency of marriage in the modern day is not lost on him. Through hilarious anecdotes, manic body language, and peppering in some genuinely touching moments that just might bring a tear to your eye, Birbiglia takes you back in time through some major moments in his life and his delivery is such perfection that you’ll feel like you experienced every moment yourself.

If you are a fan of great story telling of a subject matter we can all relate to, then I can’t recomend Mike Birbiglia’s ‘My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend’ enough. If we were on a star rating system here, I would give it 6 out of 5 stars. Fire up which ever device you prefer to stream Netflix on and start watching now.

Derek takes place in a home for the elderly where the title character (Gervais) works. He seems immediately to have some sort of mental disability though Gervais denies it and ultimately it’s irrelevant. He is at the very least naïve and honest to a fault. The show seems to explore the relationships of a small group of disenfranchised people cast off from society and left on the fringes.

The setup of Derek fits nicely with what Gervais has done in the past, maintaining his mockumentary style with cutaway interviews. While some say it’s a gimmick that’s getting tired, I disagree. It’s a signature style that works well with the stories Gervais wants to tell and never more so than here.

While it feels right at home in the Gervais-verse it also stands out and is possibly the most heartfelt thing Gervais has done to date. The characters seem sincere, and the subject matter hits home. It is at once funny and heart wrenching.

In one scene Hannah, the head of the home unexpectedly head butts a woman in the pub defending Derek, and in the next Derek deals with the death of a friend while dispensing simple wisdom.

“I miss, I misses her… and she’s not here to make me feel better. She used to make me feel better… she’d tap me on the head and say ‘It’s all right‘ it would make me feel better straight away, like magic. She’d say kindness is magic Derek. It’s more important to be kind, than clever or good looking. I’m not clever or good looking but I’m kind.”

In past roles Gervais has carried a character but never really seemed to stray too far from his true self. Even David Brent seems only to be a caricature of Gervais’ normal presence. But in Derek, Gervais seems to finally be stretching his legs. He’s truly acting and there are times when you can barely see him behind the mask he’s crafted.

The show also introduces Karl Pilkington in his first fictional role as Dougie, the homes maintenance man. You may know Pilkington from The Ricky Gervais Show pod cast or An Idiot Abroad. While Pilkington has little acting experience he feels entirely natural here and may be the breakaway character. He doesn’t have a wasted line, Pilkington seems not to try and while seeming simple both in character and in real life also seems quite lucid.

If the pilot is any indicator Gervais has crafted something truly wonderful in Derek, I hope it holds up.

All seven episodes landed on Netflix September 12 and are available for viewing, Derek has also been picked up for a second season.

Each Friday we will be bringing you weekend-viewing movie picks available for streaming on Netflix! From the popular to the obscure, we will browse Netflix’s Streaming library so you don’t have to, and bring you what we consider to be “Must Watch” selections!

DREDD (aka DREDD 3D)

Directed by Pete Travis, Screenplay by Alex Garland

Starring Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey

A long time ago there was a comic book which featured stories about a futuristic dystopian city, ravaged by crime and ruled by all-powerful judges. Then in 1995,  Sylvester Stallone and Rob Schneider did their best to ruin it for everyone. Last year, the franchise was redeemed in a film worthy of its pulp comic and brutally ultra-violent roots.  And starting today, it’s available on Netflix for you to put into your instant queue or your brain-hole.

I recommend the latter.

Dredd, which we reviewed when it came out, including interviews with Karl Urban and Alex Garland, drops the origin story route that most comic superhero movies try to deal with, and jump us right into the thick of the story. The main plot revolves around Dredd (Karl Urban) taking on an apprentice Judge (Olivia Thirlby) and an investigation of a murder in the giant Peach Trees housing complex. This pits them against drug kingpin Maw Maw (Lena Headey) and they have to fight their way up the giant building.

For those who have seen The Raid: Redemption this plot may seem familiar. For those who haven’t, I recommend you watch both of these as a violent double feature.

But the real reason to watch here is Karl Urban. He does more with the bottom third of his face and his voice than most actors can do with their whole bodies. Lena Headey has a lot of fan with this bad guy role, too. A scene with her and a mini-gun is especially fun.

For those on the squeamish side, this movie is not for you. This is bloody and brutal. If that’s your particular cup of tea, then I highly recommend you take advantage to watch this over the weekend.

Who knows? If there’s enough viewership, we might just get the sequel Urban and Garland have promised they want to do.

Each Friday we will be bringing you weekend-viewing movie picks available for streaming on Netflix! From the popular to the obscure, we will browse Netflix’s Streaming library so you don’t have to, and bring you what we consider to be “Must Watch” selections!

Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn

Directed by Stewart Hendler

Starring Tom Green, Anna Popplewell, Enisha Brewster, Ayelet Zurer, Masam Holden, and Daniel Cudmore

For years fans of the Halo videogame franchise have been hoping and praying for a live-action feature film, and while an “actual” feature film seems to forever be doomed to remain in development hell, this web series is the next best thing – if not just as good.

Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn began first as a web series, but has since been collected into one 90-minute feature film on DVD and Blu-ray, and is now available on Netflix Instant. Forward Unto Dawn follows a young Thomas Lasky as he and other cadets at the Corbulo Academy defend against a Covenant invasion, the events of which directly tie into the Halo 4 videogame.

Senador Kooch reviewed all five episodes of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn as they were released, and you can check those in-depth reviews via the links below. The Good Senador and I also interviewed Frank O’Connor and Daniel Cudmore about the film back when they were first released and you can check those out below as well.

If you are a fan of Halo, then there is no reason for you to not check this film out. The acting is great, the effects are top-notch (especially for a web series), and while the pacing is a little slow at times, when the action comes it is just what Halo fans have been hoping to see in the live-action format. Perhaps this isn’t exactly the full feature film Halo experience that some fans have been hoping for, but with a movie seemingly stuck in development hell, I would be plenty pleased to keep seeing these web series in the mean time – perhaps we can get a full series with full seasons at some point.

You can check out Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn on Netflix Instant right now.

If you’d like to add Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn to your Blu-ray collection, you can purchase it from Amazon here.

You can follow Arse-bot and all the pointless thoughts he puts out into the interwebs on Twitter @Arse_bot

• Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Episode 1 Review
• Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Episode 2 Review
• Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Episode 3 Review
• Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Episode 4 Review
• Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Episode 5 Review
• INTERVIEW: Frank O’Connor
• INTERVIEW: Daniel Cudmore

Way, WAY back there was some rumors of Zombieland to continue on as a TV series – which is actually what the film was intended to be by the writers. Well, now those rumors have ramped up again, and Broadcast Now is pointing to Amazon.com’s Instant Video service as the one to make it happen.

Netflix has already started to dabble in the original programming ring, most popularly by bringing back the cult-hit television series, “Arrested Development”, so it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that Amazon would want to throw their hat in the ring.

In addition to this news/rumor, io9 reportedly got their hands on some casting sheets for the television adaptation of Zombieland which reveals the return of the four main characters from the film, along with two newcomers to this group of survivors. According to what they obtained, the show will maintain the same humor from the film, but have a bit stronger focus on the relationship between Tallahassee and Wichita – because, you know, all the focus groups said they want more romance in their television shows.

If Zombieland were to come to Amazon Instant Video as a weekly series, I would definitely have to consider once again signing up for their service. When they first launched their Netflix competitor I tried out the free trial, but ultimately decided it wasn’t worth my money to essentially have a clone Netflix service that might have a few different titles. However, with these two companies beginning to step into the original programming arena they are making a strong case for customers to consider having both, or at the very least, take a moment to think about which streaming service will get their hard-earned money. If you are only looking to have one streaming service, the decision to go with Amazon or Netflix could become increasingly more difficult.

So, what say you, readers? Does a Zombieland TV series sound enticing to you? If you are only a Netflix subscriber, could this potentially convince you to sign up for Amazon’s service as well? Sound off in the comments below!

Each Friday we will be bringing you weekend-viewing movie picks available for streaming on Netflix! From the popular to the obscure, we will browse Netflix’s Streaming library so you don’t have to, and bring you what we consider to be “Must Watch” selections!

The Whisperer in Darkness

Directed by Sean Branney

Starring Matt Foyer and Barry Lynch

The Whisperer in Darkness is everything you would expect from a movie produced by the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society. This movie is a fairly faithful adaptation from the short story, which can be both a benefit and an occasional hindrance. The small sections of new, original material help to pad out what would have been a short, unsatisfying film.

Like so many Lovecraft stories, Whisperer is narrated by our hero, Albert Wilmarth, college professor and milquetoast nerd. Wilmarth has been receiving unbelievable accounts of strange creatures harassing a farmer and his family in backwoods Vermont. The farmer’s son crashes Wilmarth’s party and gives him equally questionable photographs. Being a shy widower with nothing better to do, Wilmarth decides to visit the farmer, but the farmer receives him with suspicious reservations and hints of things to come.

Wilmarth soon discovers that large, mechanical crustaceans from outer space are removing people’s brains and keeping them alive in jars full of magic brain Gatorade! The cosmic crabs also want to open a door between our world and theirs. Wilmarth is scared of bodily harm and physical activity, but he must un-bunch his panties in order to save a young girl from her violently pessimistic father and put the kibosh on the space crab séance.

For all of the places this film could have stumbled, it more often than not stays on its feet. The creative team behind this film knew what makes Lovecraft fun and they did a nice job of interpreting his extravagantly baroque, obtuse style. I actually liked the addition of a biplane dogfight with the sea creatures from the stars.

Had H.P. Lovecraft been extroverted enough to work in Hollywood instead of dying in frustrated poverty, he would have written this film.

This week’s Friday ‘Flix Pick was submitted by Nick Burke. Be sure to check him out over at Paper Wasp!

Each Friday we will be bringing you weekend-viewing movie picks available for streaming on Netflix! From the popular to the obscure, we will browse Netflix’s Streaming library so you don’t have to, and bring you what we consider to be “Must Watch” selections!

The Warrior’s Way

Directed by Sngmoo Lee

Starring Jang Dong-gun, Kate Bosworth, Geoffery Rush, Danny Huston and Tony Cox

Back in 2010 a trailer caught my eye for a film called The Warrior’s Way. I thought it looked pretty cool, at least visually, but after an onslaught of poor reviews by critics and it just kind of falling off my radar, I never got around to seeing it. About six months ago I was down with a broken leg and had ample time to explore Netflix. I was very pleased to see The Warrior’s Way hit Netflix’s instant queue, immediately hitting play to see if I had missed out on a stinker of a movie, a lost gem, or something in between. I’m happy to say it certainly wasn’t a stinker.

The Warrior’s Way follows Yang, a member of the Sad Flutes Clan, the deadliest clan of assassins in 19th Century Asia. Yang is driven to become the greatest swordsman the world has ever seen, and the movie begins with him accomplishing this goal by killing the now former greatest swordsman – the leader of a rival clan. With the rival clan all but wiped out, one member remains: a small child whom Yang is ordered to kill to complete the genocide of their mortal enemies. Yang is unable to murder the infant, so he takes the child, leaves his life behind and heads West to find refuge from his clan who are now out to kill him for disobeying orders.

Yang lands in the small town of Lode where he and the baby are able to find at least temporary reprieve from the Sad Flutes. Here, he befriends the local town folk, including the town drunk, Ron (Geoffery Rush) and the beautiful Lynn (Kate Bosworth). As Yang spends more time in Lode, he becomes closer to the residents of the small, dusty town, finding joy and learning about their dark history. A Colonel (Danny Huston) who has terrorized the town for years returns, and while Yang fends him and his men off, he swears to return with reinforcements. The film culminates in both the Colonel’s men and the Sad Flutes bearing down on Lode looking for vengeance for their own reasons against the residents and Yang.

The Warrior’s Way is a solid film that, in my opinion, is underrated. There is a solid story to be told here, and it is told quite well – perhaps some were expecting more of a “kung-fu action flick” than what it actually is, but the build up of the story and the characters make the action sequences that much more thrilling. And I assure you, there is plenty of thrilling action. The sequences are stylized and dramatic and a lot of fun to watch. This film is not without its faults; while Geoffery Rush and Jang Dong-gun are compelling, but Kate Bosworth seems to be more or less just reciting lines. Because of this, the light love story subplot falls a bit short, but since the main point of the film has nothing to do with these characters finding love it doesn’t take much away from the film.

If you are looking for a solid movie about a lonesome warrior looking for redemption with a compelling story and some pretty slick action, The Warrior’s Way will satisfy. Despite the poor reviews this film received I really enjoyed it and think more people will too if they give it a go. Lucky for us Netflix Instant subscribers, it’s still available and ready for your viewing pleasure!

Each Friday we will be bringing you weekend-viewing movie picks available for streaming on Netflix! From the popular to the obscure, we will browse Netflix’s Streaming library so you don’t have to, and bring you what we consider to be “Must Watch” selections!

Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope

Directed by Morgan Spurlock

Starring a bunch of nerds

Comic-Con Episode IV is a survey of both nerd-culture icons and the fanatics who worship them as they both take part in this annual celebration of all things geek. But it also flirts with the deeper truth of Comic-Con’s origin and what it has now become. There would seem to be a reason most nerds avoid the spotlight of mainstream culture and Comic-Con’s rise in prominence give many of them doubts about its future.

Morgan Spurlock follows seven different people with vastly different motivations as they prepare for Comic-con. There are illustrators looking for work, a couple looking to further their relationship, a collector looking for his next limited-edition toy, a cosplayer looking to have fun, and the last is the owner of one of the largest comic book stores in the United States. All these stories are intercut with interviews with Kevin Smith, Joss Whedon, Paul Dini, Matt Fraction, Seth Rogan, Eli Roth, and dozens more. Oddly, Spurlock himself is the only one absent from the film in either appearance or narration.

If you have been to Comic-Con recently or even several times, the information presented in this movie will be nothing new. They take a necessary spin around the convention center to showcase this near-unbelievable collection of authors, artists, merchandise, and cosplayers. If you have never been to Comic-Con, then this is an intriguing window onto a lifestyle you may only be peripherally aware of.

If I had to sum this film up in one adjective it would be ‘honest’. If you are expecting Spurlock’s typical exposé-style film making then you might be disappointed. This movie plays more like a tribute to the event from the perspective of the industry moguls who grew up as the same sweaty, mouth-breathing fanboys that now plague them.

This week’s Friday ‘Flix Pick was submitted by Nick Burke. Be sure to check him out over at Paper Wasp!