Gomer Joins The LOVEFiLM vs NETFLIX Debate

 

Ok, so I’ve been a LOVEFiLM customer for many years, before they were owned by Amazon and before they were called LOVEFiLM.

Then Netflix opened it’s doors to the UK and I was ecstatic!

Let me provide some context.  I am a lover of film, have been for many years and as such I listen to and read a lot of American film critics.  One source in particular, the /Film Filmcast which I enjoy so much I donate to them at the rate of $2 per month.  That’s right, I pay to hear people’s opinions on film.

During these podcasts, Dave, Devindra and Adam often mention films that are available via Netflix and I have found it so frustrating that they can talk about a film on the show and then recommend that folks go to Netflix and watch the film they’ve just been discussing…..when I couldn’t.

Now I know that LOVEFiLM has a streaming facility so this whole streaming content delivery thing ain’t new but their service is poor, at best, with titles available to stream on my PC but NOT on my PS3………….which is attached to my lovely, shiny HDTV!

So as soon as I saw that Netflix had become available, I jumped at the chance.  Granted, their content is limited at the moment but they’ve only been open a week and they have promised to add more and more content daily.  I have made full use of my subscription so far by watching a TV show called ‘Breaking Bad’ which I always meant to get into but never did.  My first visit to Netflix had this show listed in the TV Show category so I started watching.  In HD.  In 5.1 Surround. Also on my Android.

I have watched 14 episodes so far.

There are friends I have who I discuss film and TV with who, like me, wondered how these two media giants were going to compete with each other as, in many ways, optical media is going the way of the dodo and Netflix has arrived with a solid reputation from across The Pond.

I made the decision to jump ship.  I signed up for Netflix and cancelled my LOVEFiLM account within 2 days.

This evening (30 minutes ago) I had a very pleasant, young lady at my door asking me if I ‘had ever heard of Amazon.com’?

Why ‘yes’, I answered.

‘Well, Amazon own a company called’………wait for it……….LOVEFiLM!

Yes, Netflix have been live for under 1 week and Amazon are sending out the sales force in erm, force to get people to sign up for LOVEFiLM!

This pleasant, young lady proceeded to completely diss Netflix, calling them ‘has beens’, ‘greedy’, ‘poor quality’ and ‘lacking in content’ amongst other things.

I dunno about you film fans out there but to me, this smacks of desperation and is indicative of how many cancellations LOVEFiLM have already received.

LOVEFiLM are offering their streaming and optical media service (2 Disks) for £9.99 per month.  The pleasant young lady also advised me, when challenged, that LOVEFiLM are NOW streaming all content simultaneously across ALL platforms.

Netflix charge £5.99 for unlimited streaming.

If nothing else, this shows EXACTLY the impact that the arrival of Netflix has had.

I’m sticking with Netflix for now.

Anyone else have any thoughts?  Feel free to post up!

Gomer

Gomer Hunts The Host

This is the first time I’ve seen something like this done prior to The Oscars!  A Trailer!

Usually you get a comedy montage type thingummybob at the front of the ceremony itself but this year, the guys from Funny or Die have put together ‘Off The Grid’ to reintroduce us to one of the best hosts The Oscars has ever had……..

Gomer’s Picks Of 2011

These are in no particular order and I would put money on it that I’ve forgotten a few films that should probably belong on this list, particularly when there are plenty of films out there that I haven’t even seen for one reason or another.

The biggest surprise of the year for me was ‘Apes which went above and beyond what I’d expected and gave us, the audience, a chance to see what can be done with performance capture.

Feel free to discuss…….

Drive

Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes

Another Earth

Senna

TT3D: Closer To The Edge

Paul

Limitless

Margin Call

Source Code

Super 8

Contagion

Moneyball

The Skin I Live In

Warrior

Gomer Wants To Live In Hobbiton

Just take a look at this latest Production Diary from the set and location of The Hobbit.  Not only does it give you an idea of the logistics involved in making a film like The Hobbit but also showcases the skill and craftsmanship of the crew who are working on this film…….

Gomer Goes Ridley Didley Wha?

Now, Ridley Scott has brought us some of the most iconic cinema in history.  Simples.

However, when the man turns round and says that his latest soon-to-be-classic ‘Prometheus’ has little or bugger all (I’m paraphrasing here) to do with Alien I sat up and listened because this is NOT what the film press had led us fans to believe.

Then I saw this and all has been forgiven Sir Ridders………

Ok, so there’s not much in the way of plot, story or character development but really, who gives a flying fuck when the man can create an atmosphere like this in a trailer that last around 60 seconds!?!

Roll on 8th June 2012!

Gomer: An Unexpected Journey

Well, Peter Jackson has been through quite a lot to get the Baggins’ journeys up on the big screen and from what this short trailer shows, it’s all gonna be worthwhile.

Granted, it’ll be a year before we see ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ and we’ll read and watch a lot more about it between now and then but it’s a lovely Christmas Gift from PJ to give us this early glimpse into his return to Middle Earth……..

Gomer Rises

Well, the time has come to get our first official peak at Christopher Nolan’s end to his outstanding Batman trilogy, ‘The Dark Knight Rises’.

Without a doubt, the character I’ve been most waiting to see in action is Tom Hardy’s Bane and having seen him in this years ‘Warrior’ he is certainly looking the part, complete with missing neck!

So, without further ado, cast yer eyes over Mr Nolan’s Bat’s final onscreen appearance and if you manage to understand a word that Bane says in this trailer then feel free to post up yer thoughts…….