Yes, this film's been out for a while.  So why is it up here?  Well because if you haven't seen Wall-E in high definition Blu-Ray goodness, you haven't seen it.  And now's your chance, because guess what recently released at Netflix on Blu-Ray?  You got it. 

So if you've been thinking about upgrading your account with the Blu-Ray option, now's the time.  Not only is Wall-E a singularly incredible piece of filmmaking, it is one of the most important sociological discussions of our time.  And it's a KIDS film.  Sure, in all likelihood, your kids will laugh and point and smile and do all the other things kids do when watching any animated film.  But this film teaches indispensible life lessons that are so unquestionably important for current and future civilizations, that to deny our children these lessons is nothing less than criminal.

And lest you think that this film is not for you, adults, please think again.  I promise you this film will make you examine your relationship with the world.  And if you already have, it will move you to tears.  This is not just a great animated film, it's a great film, make no mistake.  So, what about the Blu-Ray?

This film is THE example of why Blu-Ray destroys DVD in terms of quality and sheer movie enjoyment.  Yes, all you naysayers, the picture really IS that much better.  There are subtle nuances of animation that spring forth into vibrant life, the colors are as face-melting as the hardest metal show you've ever seen, and the depth is like nothing you've ever seen (on your television, at any rate...).  People will tell you to see 300 to see the difference.  Forget them.  Not only is Wall-E a much better film, but the picture is at least as good as 'that other film,' if not markedly better.  So ditch the spray-on abs, and pet the robot instead.

The downside?  Upgrading your account for Blu-Ray will now cost you a varied amount depending on your plan (from $1/month to $11/month).  Yup, Netflix is apparently squeezing us for all they can.  So you'll have to decide for yourself if it's worth it.  To put it in perspective, it'll cost you $4 to rent just 1 Blu-Ray movie from your local Hollywood Video.  So if you plan on renting a ton of Blu-Ray, it's definitely the way to go.  If you're so inclined, throw Wall-E in your queue.  You won't be disappointed.

[Netflix is cooler than ice in a freezer.  Find out why when you click on...]   

As the Oscar releases start rolling in to Netflix, it's likely that you'll see quite a few of them in this space.  There were quite a few good films this year, one of the most remarkable of which was this week's pick, Slumdog Millionaire.

Danny Boyle has a bit of an eclectic film collection going, and this just adds to the curious bunch.  Were one to view 28 Days Later (one of the best horror films in circulation to date), one might not peg Mr. Boyle as the man to direct this coming of age tale of love, determination and courage.  But let your fears be assuaged--he most certainly is.

Treading in the remembered footsteps of Jamal Malik, a young Indian man in search of his lost love, we are taken on an inspiring journey through the hardships of growing up in India, the events that can change the very core of a person, and the risks that are inevitably associated with truly following your heart. 

This film is simply everything you've heard about it.  The cast is fabulous, the direction is just about flawless, the script is good, and the story is touching.  The clever editing and (albeit gimmicky) use of the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire doesn't hurt either.  Let it be known, however, that Bollywood has been putting out incredible films for a while now, and this is decidedly not the best of the bunch.  This is just the one that will put Indian film on the map (naturally, directed by someone not of Indian descent... isn't it always the sad case).  Should this film whet your appetite, do yourself a favor and throw The Namesake, Monsoon Wedding and Earth in your queue.  Slumdog Millionaire.  Our Netflix Pick.

[Netflix is really cool!  Why?  Click on...]
  

There are so many reasons NOT to use a landline, I won't waste time listing them. However, backing up your cell phone with a secondary device at home or in the home-office is a must. You'd have to live under a rock not to know that you've got plenty of options. I say this because if you're like me, you get about 4 postcards a week from your cable company trying to sell you on their voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) service. For a roughly comparable cost to a local phone line, it may sound like a good option to simplify your billing. But wait! Hold the phone, and say Hello to Skype. 

I LOVE Skype. It's easy, a fraction of the cost of the competition, provides exceptional service, great voice quality, and they've recently implemented some impressive new plans/features that anyone trying to simplify their lives (and budgets) can appreciate:

(see them after the jump)

So if this is where it has to happen, then this is where it has to happen: I play World of Warcraft, more affectionately known in the gamer community as WoW, or even Warcrack.  If you've been alive for the last 4 years, odds are you've played, are playing, or know someone who plays or has played WoW.  After all, 11 million people can't be wrong.  Or can they?

Ben X is the story of one such mmog (massively multiplayer online game) player, a mildly autistic young Belgian man named Ben.  Ben is severely lacking in the social skills department (as are many in the mmog community), though his autism forces on him a particular type of social disconnection; one that can only be understood by the girl with whom he plays. 

Ben X is a film that shoots for the both the heart and mind in its quest to explore the possibilities/effects/challenges, not only of being autistic in the modern world, but of severe social detachment on the whole.  The journey we take with Ben is merely a snapshot of life at a particular moment in time, which can be frustrating in its claustrophobia.  But then, in utilizing that feeling, first time director Nic Balthazar forces us into a world we can't escape, which makes our eventual vindication (the form of which shall remain for you to witness) all the sweeter.  Added bonus: the performance from Greg Timmermans (Ben) is bloody fabulous.  This week's Netflix pick.

[What the heck is all the fuss about Netflix?  Find out after the jump!] 

We drink a lot of tea and we own a lot of teapots. I have a warm place in my heart for each: my Tetsubin, Yi Xing, English China, and so on. A few months ago we added the 45 oz. CURVE teapot from FORLIFE to the fold. It's now my favorite.

Function first, this is a champ of a teapot. It doesn't drip, holds a camel's ration, and seals tight enough to keep your brew piping hot for a lengthy tea party. The 45 oz. model is ideal for American-sized cupping and entertaining. And, it boasts the tightest mesh strainer of our collection - giving us infusion options that are impossible with other styles.

While I write this, I'm sipping a cup of spiced Chai ground to perfection with a mortar and pestle; brewed to perfection in this simple, elegant, and impeccably designed workhorse of a teapot.

At $20-40, you should buy the FORLIFE CURVE in more than one size.

True stories are a dime a dozen in film.  Often, it seems as though production companies think they can make a film sound meaningful and profound, simply by throwing "Based on a True Story" at the end of a preview.  Problem is, most of the time they're right, whether the film is any good or not, and people flock to the theater to watch all the (often awful) melodramatics play out on screen.  And even if the film stinks, there's still bound to be a gaggle of weepy filmgoers exiting the theater.

Fortunately for us more critical types, there are films like Changeling, which tells one of the most fascinating historically-based tales I've come across.  Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie, who is absolutely devastating in an Oscar-nominated role) comes home one day to find her son missing.  What at first looks to be a simple story of a woman's emotional journey through hardship is dosed with dark malevolence when the LA Police (a then vastly corrupt organization) try to foist someone else's child on her.  What ensues is an almost unbelievable chain of events, kept in motion by the absolute power of the police and their desire to hide the fact that the boy they found is actually not Christine Collins' son. 

The emotional power of this film is astounding, much of which is due to Jolie's searing performance as a mother dealing with incomprehensible and uncontrollable circumstances.  John Malkovich (who can go either way, really) also turns in an understated yet powerful performance as a reverend who has made it his life's goal to expose the LAPD.  But the real heart of the film lies in the amazing story it tells and the lessons society can learn from it.  Our Netflix pick.

[Why is Netflix fabulous?  Find out and try it free for 2 weeks, after the jump]    

Possibly the prettiest creamer ever made, the Calf & Half sports a distinctly shaped, double-walled design that recalls its content's origin.
 
Having been raised in the rurals of America's dairy state, this charming vessel holds a lot of appeal for me. I'm also a fan of paying conscious consideration and respect for the origin of one's food. The Calf and Half has completely won me over.

Designed by Liz Goulet Dubois at Rhode Island-based Fred Studio, it's available through Charles & Marie; $20. www.charlesandmarie.com

We've been heavy on the documentary side of things, so it's nice to grab hold of a film that's just plain fun to watch.  Recently out at Netflix is Horton Hears a Who, the animated adaptation of one of our favorite Dr. Seuss tales of the same name. 

Horton Hears a Who is the simple and lovable story of... well... Horton; a nice, well-meaning elephant who one day is woken from his complacency by the sound of a tiny voice, emanating from a tiny speck floating by.  All the other jungle animals think he's crazy (and wouldn't we all), and thus is Horton publicly excommunicated.  Not to be dissuaded, Horton sets off on a journey to find a safe home for the speck, upon which lives a community of tiny people called Who's.  Needless to say, much hijinks ensue; some perilous and some funny, but all entertaining.

This is a great family film that teaches wonderful morals to kids (and perhaps parents alike) about the value of creativity and individuality.  The animation, while not off to win any awards, is still pretty good and the colors are absolutely vibrant (especially if you're lucky enough to watch the blu-ray version).  The voice acting from Jim Carrey and Steve Carell is predictably fabulous, although I'm not sure if I was laughing more because Steve Carell was doing a great job or because every time I heard his voice I couldn't help but picture Michael Scott.  Either way, it's hilarious. 

So stay home with the family one night with some popcorn and Horton.  Our Netflix Pick.

[Find out why Netflix is great and try it for 2 weeks free, after the jump]
   

As a general rule, you
either love Bill Maher or you hate him.  I'm probably one of the fingernail-sized minority who is of two minds about the man.  In one breath, he can be as smart, witty and hilarious as anyone on the planet, and in another he can sink to the level of a 12-year-old twerp with an ego the size of Montana.

But whatever you think of the man, there's no denying the powerful insanity of Religulous.  While Bill Maher is no Socrates, his biting satirical wit is the sorrowfully perfect foil for religious zealotry as he scours the globe for monotheists to grill. 

Do we really need to get rid of religion or face the dire consequences, up to and including the death of humanity?  Maher will certainly make you seriously consider that question.  While his litany of pointedly opinionated sarcasm can grow tiresome, and you can't help but feel for some of the poor souls he interviews, you also can't help but feel as though they're lost as well.  And as the documentary moves quickly toward Maher's final soliloquy, his final assault, you find yourself wondering just how much of his self-aggrandizing, however egoistic, actually leads to a true statement about religious choices and their impact on society.

The bottom line is, no matter what your personal faith alignments may be, we all owe it to ourselves to question that which makes us take the actions we do, and more importantly, exactly what the consequences of those actions may be.  Religulous.  Our Netflix Pick.


[Learn the virtues of Netflix and try it free for two weeks, after the jump]