I Queue It
Published by JD May 1st, 2008 in , I Watch Stuff.It’s better in the matinee
The dark of the matinee is mine
Yes, it’s miiiiiine
When I’m not watching SNL clips or eppies of Hell’s Kitchen (ohhh, the shame) on Hulu, you’ll find me in the dark of the matinee that is my living room, watching a Netflix.
In my little world, “Netflix” is synonymous with “DVD” or the more archaic term “mo-vie.” I probably spend more time obsessing over my ever-growing Netflix queue than I do actually watching DVDs. (Isn’t “queue” a fun word? It’s British for “list of movies”!)
I’m thinking of trademarking the following phrases:
- “It’s in my queue” (I’m going to watch that movie)
- “I’ll put it in my queue” (I’m interested in watching that movie)
- “Queue it!” (Watch that movie!)
I love Netflix so much I gave it to my mom for Christmas. Thanks to the “Friends” feature, I can keep a close eye on her rental activity. I think it’s starting to bother her that I can tell her what movie she has at home before she knows herself, but why would Netflix include this feature if we weren’t supposed to spy on people?
Oh, and let’s not forget Netflix’s “Watch Instantly” feature that allows users to watch free streaming movies. (Note: it used to be called “Watch Now,” but I guess that phrase didn’t adequately convey the urgency of just how quickly you could watch a movie.)
My brother and I have had “Queue Wars” in which we add titles to create the longest queue. He totally cheats by adding every episode of every season of 24. We also send each other notes about movies. Here are some of his better ones:
Of Dogville:
A real chore to watch. Fell asleep twice in the first 45 minutes and fast-forwarded through most of it.
Of Click:
Like a bad It’s a Wonderful Life.
Of The Departed:
Good story, though violent. Jack Nicholson is famous enough that he didn’t have to talk with a Southie accent.
Of American Psycho:
You would like this one.
And I did!
Oh, Netflix. Is there nothing you can’t do? Sure, sometimes a disc is damaged or late, but I can forgive these small flaws.
However.
The other day, I found out that Hugh Laurie starred in a Brit-com called Fortysomething. QUEUE IT! But, when I tried to add it, I got a very disturbing message:
If you wish to add this 2-disc series to your Queue, you must first remove some movies.
Wha-a-a-a-at?
There’s a limit to the Netflix queue? I thought it was endless, like a rainbow (OK, I know rainbows supposedly have ends at which are pots of gold, but sometimes they just seem to fade away into the horizon and that’s what I thought the Netflix queue was like).
I currently have 468 titles. Why is that the limit? Why not 500? Or unlimited? Why do they capitalize “queue”? But most important:
What will I delete?
- Mondo Bizarro/Mondo Freudo?
- Bloodsucking Freaks?
- Bride of Re-Animator?
- Confessions of a Psycho Cat?
- Surely not The Wizard of Gore?
Please help me decide!
If you want to enhance your Netflix experience:
- Check out this search tool to find all of Netflix’s Watch Instantly movies. And then watch instantly!
- Share your queues and reviews with FeedFlix!
- Manage your Netflix account from your iPhone!
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The queues are long at humor blogs!
We received 3 months of Netflix as a Christmas gift this year. Unfortunately we rarely watch TV in our house so in the entire 3 months, we only watched 4 movies. Maybe in a few years when these damn kids are out of the house!
Add Once to the queue. Awesome movie and music.
Definitely keep Confessions of a Psycho cat!
How funny that I should come to your blog a read this post about the very question I’ve been asking. “Is there a limit?” I just started using Netflix and my list is CRAZY! All I have to do is hear about a movie and it’s on my list. I feel like I’ve been on a Mission to watch as many movies as humanly possible. What’s really bad is that I have my kids on this Mission with me… “You’re gonna sit down, be quite and watch this movie!!!”. Shouldn’t they be running around outside??? Any who, it’s been fun. Helps that I have a friend at work that is on the same “Mission” as mine.
P.S. I love your phrases. Mind if I try them out???
I’m with Gizmo, you cannot delete Confessions of a Psycho Cat, that’s for sure. And Mondo Bizarro feels like a new catch phrase, though I do like your take on Queue it.
Sample usage: My day was so Mondo Bizarro, especially after the old lady at the mall stopped me and asked how I was. And then told me she thought I was much younger.
How about you dump Bloodsucking Freaks for a week and then pick up where you left off with them? Yes that’s it, Bloodsucking Freaks needs to step out of the queue to make room.
cardiogirl’s last blog post..I would have made a good Boy Scout
Grr: the sample sentence *should* read
My day was so Mondo Bizarro, especially after the old lady at the mall stopped me and asked how OLD I was. And then told me she thought I was much younger.
cardiogirl’s last blog post..I would have made a good Boy Scout
I adore my Netflix. We’re watching ‘My So-Called Life’ from beginning to end. And considering getting ‘Picket Fences’. You know, TV from when TV wasn’t all about awkward and nearly brain damaged hoomans vying for cash and other valuable consideration by irritiating the living Bejeebus out of each other and us.
Plus, foreign films! Yaay!
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Jeff: You are definitely not getting your Netflix’s worth. However, I have to applaud you for not watching much TV. That’s a habit I need to break. Or not.
Gizmo: I’ve seen Once! I loved it. Also downloaded the soundtrack. Highly recommended. And I’ll take your suggestion on Confessions of a Psycho Cat, too. You MUST have good taste!
Lisa Lisa: Yes, there is a limit, but you know what? When I first got the idea for the post, the limit was 464, and now it’s 468. So what does THAT tell you? (I don’t know). Anyway, I do share the Netflix Mission. I wonder if I’ll live long enough to watch all these movies. Do you think your kids would enjoy Confessions of a Psycho Cat?
By all means, use the phrases—that’s how the word will be spread!
Cardiogirl: Thanks for being the perfectionist we all know you to be and fixing that sample sentence. MUCH better! I like the idea of using Mondo Bizarro as much as possible. If someone can actually write a paragraph using all the titles of the above movies, I’ll be sending out a fabulous prize.
Shieldmaiden: I love Netflix for TV. I often just wait until a show comes out on DVD; I prefer watching it that way. In fact, I watched the first 7 seasons of CSI (like, 4 episodes a day) and now can’t even be bothered to watch the current season on TV. I’ve considered Picket Fences, too. And so, so many more. But I’ve reached my limit!
Sorry JD. I’ve never seen any of these movies. I’ve only heard of ‘The Wizard of Gore’ from watching Juno. ((Great movie, BTW))
If you deleted all the soft porn, how much space would that free up?
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I’m scared. Somebody get me my pacifier. You’re telling me those are actual movie titles? OK, I just clicked one. My God, they’re real!!! Where have I been? I’m in Jeff’s camp. We had Netflix for six months, and I know it will throw you into convulsions, but we were never able to watch the ten we had in the Queue to make it worthwhile, so we ditched it. Is there something wrong with us? Seriously. Are we missing the Netflix portion of the frontal cortex? Are we going to hell? Will you still be my friend even though at any one time, I had 425 less movies in our Queue than you?
p.s. I’d keep Psycho Cat.
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Regan: I think you are worlds better off for not having heard of those movies. I saw Juno and didn’t even catch the Wizard of Gore reference! How dumb am I?
Tiggy: Well, see, ever since my mom joined Netflix and can see my queue, I had to remove all the soft porn, so it can’t be that. All the soft porn is gone, unless you count 300, which I totally do.
Kathy: Ssshhh. It’s OK. Now I want you to go shred some paper and come back when you’re a little calmer. OK, better? Now then. Yes, you are missing a very small but very important part of your brain that controls your level of laziness. Mine is very high, therefore I watch a lot of movies. Yours must be very low, so you do more productive things. I can’t say who’s better off, but you’ll be my friend forever.
What an odd amount of movies to have as a limit - I’ve always read that the limit was 500. But putting all that aside…how the heck are you EVER going to watch that many movies?!?!
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I’ve never used NetFlix, but I’ve considered it. Perhaps I’ll break down… You make it sound so lovely.
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In Juno, the guy she’s giving her baby to and Juno watch the Wizard of Gore. =)
I’ve hit the limit in the queue a few times. Arrrggghhh! I think it might add the Queue + Saved DVDs to get the total. Or it seems like that was my thought at the time. I think the total is 500.
I love Netflix because I get to watch all the TV shows I never watched when they were shiny and new. Right now, I’ve got Babylon 5 queued up.
Sometimes I’m really kindhearted and pop a movie in the queue that my husband requests. Mostly, though, it’s all about ME.
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Lisa: I suspect I may never watch them all, but I still feel the need to keep my collection. I just enjoy looking at them all, reorganizing them, trying to remember what the heck this or that one is about again . . . Netflix!
Corrina: It’s probably not as fun as a cool, gadgety phone, but I love it. Even if you don’t watch a lot of movies, it’s a good way to catch up on TV shows. And we ALL need to watch more TV, right?
Regan: OHHHHH yeah. I remember now. How could I have forgotten? Thanks for reminding my poor old brain.
Kelly: “It’s all about me” is usually a very reliable motto, especially when it comes to Netflix. And is it just me, or are TV shows less appealing when they’re shiny and new? I think you must be right about the total including Saved Movies, now that I think about it.
I don’t know if they have Netflix in Canada… but I best not even enquire. I still have quite the “queue” of shows on Tivo to watch.
If I added movies to my list, I would NEVER get time to blog (and that would be a damn shame).
Well, I had Blockbuster movies by mail and everything was going fine (except I had a hard time keeping even 30 movies in my queue) until they changed my plan by charging me more money for fewer movies per month. This didn’t sit well with me so I canceled the whole thing, and they made a counteroffer but I told them to take a hike. I own 85% of Johnny Depp’s movies anyway … LOL
But I love that free watch-it-now thing! Thanks!
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Is the queue limit similar to the ipod limit? My nano is supposed to hold 500 songs, but filled up at only 438, so I had to buy a new ipod that holds 2,000 songs. It must be related to minutes used, rather than actual number of titles. Anyway, I got a way better ipod. The color is cooler and the screen is larger for my over 40 eyes.
Maureen: I’m afraid of Tivo. I watch too much TV already. I don’t even really understand how Tivo works, and I’m afraid it’s like a robot that comes into your bedroom and starts forcing you to watch TV. But I’ll probably succumb one of these days.
jennypenny: Netflix changed my plan only once: to charge me less! I think they’re trying to stay competitive with Blockbuster and Amazon. Have you seen Sweeney Todd yet?
ann of the shampoo bag: I really don’t know why there’s a limit—it’s just a list! It’s not taking up space or anything. As for your iPod, bigger is better, as is a cooler color. Very important.
I don’t think I could ever be a Netflix user. I have DVDs that I haven’t watched yet, and I’ve had them for several years. Sometimes, things I have on DVD end up on TV before I’ve watched the DVD, which means the DVDs never get opened…
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I’m a bit scared to comment here as I’ve never heard of Netflix and I rarely watch movies. If I did have Netflix my queue would probably be 0. Then again, I hate queuing for anything ;O)
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dcr: We have every cable movie channel known to humankind. Every now and then, I tape a movie and add it to my collection—which never gets watched. But, like my queue, I just enjoy collecting movies. Sometimes I may actually watch them.
babs (beetle): Don’t be scared! If you hate the idea of queueing, Netflix is not for you, as that’s part of the fun. And don’t worry: I’ll do it so you don’t have to!
In your “Whaaaat?” moment I had a visual of Scooby Doo in his doggie language, “Rwaaaat?” LMAO! I love Netflix, I’ve been using them since ‘03 and though our movie watching has dwindled a good bit since the Wii came out…we still have a few lying around for Sundays when nothing at all is on.
Wasn’t American Psycho just bizarre?! I loved it! Now if I could just sit through the one with Christian Bale in it as Houdini… he’s hott! Did you see him in Batman, wow! I digress, loved the post!
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Sabrina: Ha! I didn’t think of the Scooby Doo reference!
When talking about Christian Bale, there’s no such thing as digressing. Any information is relevant. I want to re-watch American Psycho, because, yes, it WAS bizarre. Haven’t seen the other one—is it The Prestige? Or The Illusionist? Anyway, they’re both in my queue.
Thanks for stopping by, as always!
Well I’m just gonna be a bitch and add to your troubles…
Have you seen Blackadder? It’s the Brit-com that Rowan Atkinson got a huge helping of fame from. He wrote it, starred in it…whatever.
Anyway, if you’re into Hugh Laurie (and I am, but he’s definitely gotten better looking as he gets older), try adding series 3 and 4 of Blackadder to your list.
If you can…
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Jane @ Kidzarama: Add, add, add! I’ll remove even Confessions of a Psycho Cat< for more Hugh Laurie. I’ve heard of Blackadder, and it sounds awesome. I, too, prefer the older, gruffer, Vicodin-popping Hugh Laurie, but now with this recommendation, I think I definitely have to give Blackadder a look. Thank you!