Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion

This thread is about our experiences with Amazon Prime relative to their "Instant Video" (streaming movies) service. See the following link:
http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=sv_mov_ai...

Yesterday I signed up for the Amazon Prime "30 Day Free Trial". I thought I would be able to stream movies FREE using my ROKU device. I already do this with Netflix but I wanted to compare the two different services.

At first it looked like a good deal. I watched a couple of free episodes of the "Father Ted" series using my ROKU device for the Amazon Prime Instant Videos.

However, when I started looking for more movies which I've been wanting to see, the search process was very clumsy and time consuming. They didn't have many of the movies I was looking for.

When I did find a movie I was looking for, the screen said there would be a purchase charge of $1.99. I called them and told them I thought I had signed up for free streaming. They explained that not all their streaming was free. Only select movies are free. So after you spend time searching, you still have to pay.

I have Netflix and when I search the Netflix list of Instant movies on my computer, whatever I find can be streamed free of charge via my ROKU.

So at this point, I'm beginning to think Netflix may be a better deal.

Comparing Amazon Prime to Netflix: Amazon Prime provides a "Watchlist" instead of a queue (like Netflix has) but it serves a similar purpose. But Amazon doesn't provide a history of past-movies-watched. Netflix does. So that's a Netflix advantage.

Amazon Prime is $79 a year. Netflix charges around $7.99 per month for streaming.

What experiences have you had with Amazon Prime relative to streaming movies?

Today I received an email from Amazon.com regarding the phone call I made to them last night (mentioned above):
==================================================
"An Amazon Prime membership includes unlimited, instant streaming of thousands of select movies and TV shows. The selection of Prime instant videos is always changing and titles currently unavailable may become available in the future.

"To view the portion of our catalog currently included, visit:
http://www.amazon.com/instantvideo/pr...

"More information on Prime Instant Video is available on our Help pages:
http://www.amazon.com/help/primevideos "
==================================================

I've done some exploring online and I see that certain movies which are free (for Prime Amazon members) show the following next to the listing:
"Prime members: $0.00"

Otherwise, the price is shown on the listing.

There is a search box online for finding specific movies. It's easier to search using my computer than to search using my TV screen.

When you find a movie you want, you can click on "Add to Watchlist" (similar to your queue at Netflix). When you go to your TV screen you can navigate to your Watchlist to choose the movie you want to watch. Or you can just search for a random movie from the offerings.

LISTINGS ONLINE

Amazon Instant Video: Movies
http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=amb_link_...

Amazon Instant Video: TV
http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=amb_link_...

I notice that at the left of each of the screens linked above there is a list which includes price categories. So you can search for the free movies or TV shows.

Looking at the movies by price - of the 58,450 movies, only 232 are free. Looking at the TV shows by price, of 9961 shows, only 410 are free. So I'll be canceling my free trial of amazon prime and switching to Netflix.

Monique wrote: "Looking at the movies by price - of the 58,450 movies, only 232 are free. Looking at the TV shows by price, of 9961 shows, only 410 are free. So I'll be canceling my free trial of amazon prime an..."

Monique, yes, Netflix is a better deal when it comes to movies. However, along with the Amazon Prime membership, I also get lots of free shipping. After a while the Prme membership pays off if you do a lot of online shopping.

I must say that I have found some movies which I was able to stream free at Amazon Prime but which could only be acquired at Netflix via Netflix DVD. In other words, I could stream them free via Amazon Prime but not via Netflix.

Also, sometimes Amazon has movies which Netflix doesn't offer.

PS-Monique, I forgot to say "Welcome to the group!" Nice to see you here.

I've recently subscribed to Netflix--mostly because I wanted to watch Breaking Bad. My frustration is that every time I search for a program or movie I'd like, I get "this is only available on DVD". Then you have to pay another subscription for DVD's. Not sure whether I'll keep Netflix after I finish Breaking Bad. Does anyone have recommendations on good programs to stream from Netflx without requiring a DVD? Also, do those of you who subscribe to DVD's feel you get a better selection? I really don't want to deal with the mailing, but if you all find it good, I might try! Thanks!

Hi Carol. I have both the DVD subscription and the streaming subscription to Netflix.

I do think there is a better selection with the DVDs. However, I like the streaming because it's immediately accessible.

I like DVDs because you can roll them back to a specific spot much more easily. When you roll back while streaming it's not as easy to go to a specific spot. Time is wasted finding the exact spot.

Of course, the DVDs often have bonus features.

Below are links to some movies I streamed which I enjoyed.
(I gave each one at least 4 stars, some 5.):

Little Miss Marker - http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Lit...
This one was adorable! (4 stars)

Safe Haven - https://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Sa... (5 stars)

Mona Lisa Smile - https://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Mo... (5 stars)

Carolina - https://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Ca... (4 stars)

The Country Teacher - https://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Th... - (4 stars)

Bleak House - https://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Bl...
I LOVED Denis Lawson in this. Anna Maxwell Martin was very good too. (There are several episodes.)(A classic) (5 stars)

Dark Horse - http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Dar...
A bittersweet movie. (4 stars)

The Man Who Cried - https://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Th... (4 stars)

Woody Allen: A Documentary - https://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/%2... (4 stars)

National Geographic: Inside the White House - https://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Na... (5 stars)

A couple of the above may be foreign, but I appreciated the English captions. :)

Of course our tastes are probably different. There are probably many more but the record is incomplete.

If you want to know some movies I gave 3 stars to, let me know.

Please let me know if you find any other good movies at Netflix.

PS-Here are a couple more:

The Proposition - https://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Th... (4 stars)

Departures - http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Dep... (5 stars)

PPS - A few more
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/A_G...
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Not...
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/I_m...
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Rad...
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The...
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/A_F...
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/A_F...
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Joa...
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Ken... (This one has several episodes)
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Nat...

Carol wrote: "I've recently subscribed to Netflix--mostly because I wanted to watch Breaking Bad. My frustration is that every time I search for a program or movie I'd like, I get "this is only available on DVD..."

I don't do streaming as, far as I know, they still don't provide captions, which I need. I feel I do get my money's worth out of mailed DVDs though, and if you liked Breaking Bad, you'll probably like these:
Rescue Me
Dexter
Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
The Tudors
Let Me In
Rome
True Blood
Boardwalk Empire
Game of Thrones
Hunger Games
The Borgias
Men In Black
Shameless
Homeland
House of Lies
Argo
MadMen
which I compiled from a 10 minute search of my dvd receive/mail records. I do realize you asked for stream-able stuff, but I feel my list all compares with Breaking Bad. Why accept anything inferior just because it streams?
The postal mailings are incredibly fast. I mail today, get an email tomorrow they have received it already!
I would not pay for two subscriptions, I'm too cheap. Even if they provide captions with streaming at some point I would still opt for quality over convenience.

Netflix does supply captions with some of the streamable movies, but not all. You can opt for "On" or "Off" on those movies. But that's ONLY if you are streaming to your computer screen.

Thanks Joy!
Carol

Monique wrote: "Looking at the movies by price - of the 58,450 movies, only 232 are free. Looking at the TV shows by price, of 9961 shows, only 410 are free. So I'll be canceling my free trial of amazon prime an..."

Monique, your figures of "232" and "410" seem off. Amazon claims as follows in the following quote:
==================================================
"An Amazon Prime membership includes unlimited, instant streaming of thousands of select movies and TV shows." (See my Message #3 above.)
==================================================

The word "thousands" means that there are many shows available for free streaming if one is a member of Amazon Prime.

You can see the same quote at the following page:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C...
(See the word "Prime".)
It says:
=================================================
"Your Amazon Prime membership now includes unlimited, commercial-free, instant streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows at no additional cost."
=================================================

Wow!! Thanks Earl!
Carol

Almost finished with the series,"Grand Chef," on Netflix and it's very good;Korean background but has subtitles. Like a good book, can't wait for the next episode.

Nina wrote: "Almost finished with the series,"Grand Chef," on Netflix and it's very good;Korean background but has subtitles. Like a good book, can't wait for the next episode."

Nina, I saw your post here but I replied to it in the topic called:
"What MOVIES or DVDs have you watched? (PART SEVEN - 2014) (ongoing thread)"
The link is: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
See Message #36 at the above-linked page.

My husband is deaf so captioning of streaming movies is essential. Netflix wins hands down - almost all the movies are accessible. We stream movies to our tv and "turn on" the captions through the subtitles section before playing. I can not usually find the specific movies I search for but my husband manages to find some good titles that we never heard of before. Yea Netflix!

Hi Michelle! Welcome to the group! I agree, Netflix is great!

Watched a good movie on Netflix this week; "A Man Without a Face." And tonight it's "Blue Jasmine." I'll report on the latter tomorrow.

I LOVED "Blue Jasmine". Cate Blanchett won best actress at the Golden Globes. Bet she'll get the Academy award too!

"The Man Without a Face" sounds good. I've put it on my netflix queue. Thanks,Nina.
I see that it's based on the book: The Man Without a Face by Isabelle Holland
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/The-Man-...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107501/?...
"Chuck wants to leave home but can't make the grade for boarding school. Then he finds out the disfigured recluse living nearby is an ex-teacher."

I remember when The Man Without a Face came out as a movie starring Mel Gibson. I never wanted to see it. I read the book as a teen & was pretty creeped out by the subtext, especially a part towards the end. She seemed to be playing with the idea of homosexual pedophilia, not my cup of tea. I heard the movie differed quite a bit from the book, though.

Jim, There was a suspicion of homosexuality but never proved and never shown to be between the tutor and the boy. They really were just friends in the movie. It was the towns people who raised the issue as the tutor had been accused and subject to prison in an earlier incident but he was innocent accrding to this version. I totally agree with you as far as my viewing preferences however.

Watch wrote: "Amazon prime is quite good i really thankful of Nina for this post
http://pearlmovies.to/"

Welcome, Watch.

BTW, I think the "Pearl Movies" website (which you linked us to above), should have an "ABOUT" page. Exactly what IS that website all about? I'm suspicious when things are given away free.

I wonder if anyoone has seen the movie, "The Hundred Foot Journey," as it was listed as one of the best movies of this year.

I haven't seen that movie, Nina.

Joy H. wrote: "I haven't seen that movie, Nina."It's about two competing restaurants and is supposed to be like a comedy of sorts. I think I am finally back. Thanks for answering.

Here's the IMDb link for that movie, Nina:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2980648/?...
I plan to borrow it from our library.

I always have liked James Garner and Eva Marie Saint. They compliment each other in this movie.

I've always LOVED James Garner! LOL
Here's his IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001258/?r...
"Amiable and handsome ... charming"!

James Garner in "Support Your Local Sheriff" is one of my favorites.

Here's the IMDb link for "Support Your Local Sheriff!"(1969)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065051/?...
I think I've seen it but I'll borrow it from our local library anyway. Garner is worth seeing twice. Thanks, Jim.

PS-I just realized that "Support Your Local Sheriff!" is available for free streaming from Amazon Prime! Whadaya know! I won't have to get it from our library.
Here's the Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Support-Local-S...

PPS-I searched and found a post of mine from 2011. It said:
Trivia for "Support Your Local Sheriff!" (1969)"
"The film's title is a parody of a bumper sticker popular around the time it was made, 'Support Your Local Police' part of the 'law and order' movement led by such contemporary politicians as Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George Wallace."
FROM: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065051/t...

I can't remember the last movie he was in but it was wonderful. I think the main character had died and the grandson was watching a video. Brought tears.

Nina, there's just too much to remember! LOL