Cross the Netflix Stream: 2016

Saturday, December 31, 2016

Best & Worst TV Series 2016 Year-End Review

Best & Worst of 2016

I watched ninety four TV seasons and mini-series this year. Here are my top 14 and bottom 10 picks for the year. This is based simply on what I watched this year, not on what was released this year.
Check out the previous year-end reviews.

The best pilot goes to The Night of (2016), while the rest of the show didn't quite live up to the first episodes, it's a good show. Read my review.

Best & Worst Movies 2016 Year-End Review

Best & Worst of 2016

I posted at least two movie reviews every single week this year. That's right I didn't miss a single week. My highest one week mark was eleven movies.
Check out my previous reviews!

I watched two-hundred and fifty two movies this year. Here are my top 22 and bottom 14 picks for the year. This is based simply on the movies I watched this year, not on what was released this year.
Check out the previous year-end reviews.

Passengers Movie Review

Passengers (2016)

Time Lapse Movie Review

Time Lapse (2014)

Call My Agent! Review

Call My Agent! (2016-)
Watch Call My Agent! on Netflix

The Netflix press release lists this as Ten Percent, but the Netflix site lists it as Call My Agent! Six episode French mini-series centered around talent agents and their clients. The agents get 10% of the actor's pay.

Entourage Season 6 TV Review

Entourage (2004-2011)
Season 6 - 12 episodes (2009)
Buy Entourage Season 6 on Amazon
Watch Entourage on Amazon - Free HBO 30-day Trial to Prime Members

Movie star Vince Chase navigates the road to stardom with his agent and group of friends.

Season six isn't really about Vince. It's about Eric and Turtle's romantic relationships.

Also Watched - Rogue One, Aliens, Finding Dory, Genius

This week I watched Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Aliens, Finding Dory, Keanu, Genius

Fuller House Season 2 TV Review

Fuller House (2016-)
Season 2 - 13 episodes (2016)
Watch Fuller House on Netflix

DJ Tanner-Fuller lives with her sister Stephanie, best friend Kimmy, and their kids in this spin off of the sitcom Full House.

Barry Movie Review

Barry (2016)
Watch Barry on Netflix

In the fall of 1981, a young Barack Obama, known to his friends as Barry, begins his junior year at Columbia University. This fact based film explores race, culture, and identity.

The OA Season 1 Review

The OA(2016-)
Season 1 - 8 episodes (2016)
Watch The OA on Netflix

Having been missing seven years, a blind girl mysteriously returns, but now she can see. The events unfold over eight chapters. In the trailer the main character states she was present for "all of it." Though we don't know what "it" is. This certainly has the conspiracy vibes.

Spectral Movie Review

Spectral (2016)
Watch Spectral on Netflix

An engineer and a military team infiltrate a war ravaged city where mysterious phantoms are killing civilians and soldiers.

Captive Mini-series Review

Captive (2016)
Mini-series - 8 episodes (2016)
Watch Captive on Netflix

This documentary focuses on hostage and negotiation scenarios, following eight different people in eight different countries.

Sing Street Movie Review

Sing Street (2016)

The Magnificent Seven Movie Review

The Magnificent Seven (2016)

Michael Clayton Movie Review

Michael Clayton (2007)

Gabriel Iglesias: I’m Sorry For What I Said When I Was Hungry Netflix Comedy Special Review

Gabriel Iglesias: I’m Sorry For What I Said When I Was Hungry (2016)

Entourage Season 8 Review

Entourage (2004-2011)
Season 8 - 8 Episodes (2011)

Entourage Season 8

Any Given Sunday Movie Review

Any Given Sunday (1999)

Crazyhead Season 1 Netflix Series Review

Crazyhead (2016-)
Season 1 - 6 episodes (2016)

Fuller House Season 2 Netflix Series Review

Fuller House (2016-)
Season 2 - 13 episodes (2016)

Amour Movie Review

Amour (2012)

The OA Season 1 Netflix Series Review

The OA (2016-)
Season 1 - (2016)

Also Watched - Blue Jay, Captain Fantastic, Mercenaire

I also watched Blue Jay, Captain Fantastic, Mercenaire

Reggie Watts: Spatial Review

Reggie Watts: Spatial (2016)
Watch Reggie Watts: Spatial on Netflix

A surreal, experimental, and improvised comedy performance.

Hip Hop Evolution Review

Hip Hop Evolution (2016)
Mini-series - 4 episodes
Watch Hip Hop Evolution on Netflix

In the 1970's the foundation for hip hop was laid in the South Bronx. Featuring interviews from those that created the genre and those that revolutionized it, this documentary series traces the origin of hip hop and rap.

Fauda Season 1 Review

Fauda (2015-)
Season 1 - 12 episodes (2015 YES/ 2016 Netflix)
Watch Fauda on Netflix

This Israeli political thriller follows a deep cover Israeli Defense Force unit that infiltrates Palestine to thwart terror attacks.

White Rabbit Project Season 1 Review

White Rabbit Project (2016-)
Season 1 (2016)
Watch White Rabbit Project on Netflix

This series is a Mythbusters spin off featuring build team Grant Imahara, Tory Belleci, and Kari Byron as they explore pop culture, history, and science topics. They will NOT bust myths.

Barry Netflix Movie Review

Barry (2016)

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Movie Review

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Sand Storm Netflix Movie Review

Sand Storm (2016)

Captive Netflix Mini-series Review

Captive (2016)
Mini-series - 8 episodes

Westworld Season 1 Review

Westworld (2016-)
Season 1 (2016)

Finding Dory Movie Review

Finding Dory (2016)

Finding Dory - A more then acceptable Finding Nemo retread.

Entourage Season 7 Review

Entourage (2004-2011)
Season 7 - 10 Episodes (2010)

Entourage Season 7

Aliens Movie Review

Aliens (1986)

Aliens - The prototype for action movies, a great script, and sequels.

Hip Hop Evolution Netflix Mini-series Review

Hip Hop Evolution (2016)
Mini-series - 4 episodes

White Rabbit Project Season 1 Netflix Series Review

White Rabbit Project (2016-)
Season 1 (2016)

White Rabbit Project Season 1

Keanu Movie Review

Keanu (2016)

Keanu -

Entourage Season 5 Review

Entourage (2004-2011)
Season 5 - 12 Episodes (2008)

Buy Entourage Season 5 on Amazon
Watch Entourage on Amazon - Free HBO 30-day Trial to Prime Members

Movie star Vince Chase navigates the road to stardom with his agent and group of friends.

Season five has Vince trying to overcome the disaster that was Medellin. In Hollywood one good movie makes you a star, and one bad one makes you a pariah.

Merlí Season 1 Partial Review

Merlí (2016-)
Season 1 - 13 episodes (2015 TV3/ 2016 Netflix)
Watch Merlí on Netflix
Only in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland

In this Spanish language series, Merlí is a high school philosophy teacher who encourages students to think outside the box. his unorthodox methods cause concerns from parents and teachers.

Also Watched - Don't Breathe, Hands of Stone, Kids

This week I watched Don't Breathe, Hands of Stone, Kids

Black Mirror Season 3 Episodes 5 Men Against Fire & 6 Hated by the Nation Review

Black Mirror (2011-)
Season 3 - 6 episodes (2016)
Watch Black Mirror Season 3 on Netflix

Black Mirror examines the pitfalls when technology and society intersect. What happens when technology goes off the rails, creating a horrifying situation? Ultimately the questions are, does technology make us happier, is being connected at all times beneficial, and does it do more harm than good?
Black Mirror is an anthology. Each episode is self contained with completely different actors.

Pacific Heat Review

Pacific Heat (2016-)
Season 1 - 13 episodes (2016)
Watch Pacific Heat on Netflix
Only in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland

A covert squad of inept agents fights crime in Australia. This animated adult series is a cop show satire, Hawaii 5-0 meets The A-Team, looking similar to Archer.

Gilmore Girls: A Day in the Life Review

Gilmore Girls: A Day in the Life (2016)
Mini-series - 4 episodes
Watch Gilmore Girls: A Day in the Life on Netflix

Consisting of 90 minute episodes that depict one of four seasons, Lorelai and Rory Gilmore's story in Stars Hollow, Connecticut continues. Rory is trying to determine her next occupation while Lorelai deals with a loss at the inn and her mother's grief.

Spectral Netflix Movie Review

Spectral (2016)

Spectral - A little bit of Aliens and Ghostbusters.

Genius Movie Review

Genius (2016)

Genius - Even a genius needs an editor.

Fauda Season 1 Netflix Series Review

Fauda (2015-)
Season 1 - 12 episodes (2015 YES/ 2016 Netflix)

Fauda Season 1

Reggie Watts: Spatial Netflix Comedy Special Review

Reggie Watts: Spatial (2016)

Reggie Watts: Spatial - Interesting in a hey look at this Youtube video I found kind of way.

Blue Jay Netflix Movie Review

Blue Jay (2016)

Blue Jay - Life is living with your choices. You can't go back.

Entourage Season 6 Review

Entourage (2004-2011)
Season 6 - 12 Episodes (2009)

Entourage Season 6

Captain Fantastic Movie Review

Captain Fantastic (2016)

Captain Fantastic - It's not a comedy, it's about finding balance.

Mercenary Netflix Movie Review

Mercenary [Mercenaire] (2016)

Mercenary - The Rudy of rugby looks at culture but doesn't go far enough.

Pacific Heat Season 1 Netflix Series Review

Pacific Heat (2016-)
Season 1 - 13 episodes (2016)

Michael Che Matters Review

Michael Che Matters (2016)
Watch Michael Che Matters on Netflix

Former SNL Weekend Update co-anchor and The Daily Show Correspondent Michael Che performs.

Entourage Season 4 Review

Entourage (2004-2011)
Season 4 - 12 Episodes (2007)

Movie star Vince Chase navigates the road to stardom with his agent and group of friends.
Season 4 looks at what happens after Vince's movie Medellin wraps, but before it's sold to a studio. Eric trys to become a legitimate talent manager. Vince's next project with the dream team from Medellin has problems.

Also Watched - The Infiltrator, Hell or High Water, Victoria

This week I watched The Infiltrator, Hell or High Water, Victoria

3% Season 1 Review

3% (2016-)
Season 1 - 8 episodes (2016)
Watch 3% on Netflix

This sci-fi series depicts a world where society is divided between progress and devastation. Only 3% of applicants to the 'good' offshore island are admitted. This series will be shot in Brazil entirely in Portuguese. It's based on creator Pedro Aguilera's own 2011 web series.

Mercy Movie Review

Mercy (2016)
Watch Mercy on Netflix

A family must protect their dying mother from a religious sect.

Westworld Season 1 Episode 10 Review

Westworld (2016-)
Season 1 (2016)

Westworld - Season 1 Episode 10 -The Bicameral Mind

Merlí Season 1 Netflix Series Review

Merlí (2015-)
Season 1 - 13 episodes (2015 TV3/ 2016 Netflix)

Merli Season 1

Don't Breathe Movie Review

Don't Breathe (2016)

Don't Breathe - The most dark and twisted version of Scooby Doo you could imagine.

Entourage Season 5 Review

Entourage (2004-2011)
Season 5 - 12 Episodes (2008)

Entourage Season 5

Hands of Stone Movie Review

Hands of Stone (2016)

Hands of Stone - Formulaic to a fault.

Michael Che Matters Netflix Comedy Review

Michael Che Matters (2016)

Michael Che Matters - A solid set.

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life Netflix Mini-series Review

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life (2016)
Mini-series - 4 episodes

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life

New in Theaters for December

A lot of movies are premiering in December, but only a few of them interest me. This is why they might be worth watching... or avoiding. It's certainly a sci-fi heavy month.

WATCHING

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (December 16, 2016)

Divines Movie Review

Divines (2016)
Watch Divines on Netflix
Excludes France

Set in the French suburbs, a teenager and her best friend descend into a life of crime and money when they begin working for a female drug boss.

Paranoid Mini-series Review

Paranoid (2016)
Mini-series - 8 episodes
Watch Paranoid on Netflix
Excludes United Kingdom, Ireland

This series follows the ever expanding investigation into the murder of a doctor that occurred in broad daylight in front of her son on a crowded playground.