The Unfortunate Saviour of Netflix?

Move aside, Harry Potter. The OTHER literary young-adult hit of the ‘noughties’ is coming to the big small screen.

Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events will be produced as a television serial in a co-production between Netflix and those crazy cats at Paramount.

Due to a fee increase in the US Netflix’s subscriber numbers have been falling recently, causing them to scrap for them back by commissioning the sequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (just…why?) and acquiring this universally-loved sitcom.

This looks to be a smarter move than the above in the fight for re-subscription. A Series… has great comic potential with a capacity to thrill – qualities largely untapped thus far.

‘Largely untapped’ is a deliberate term as this isn’t the first time Paramount have attempted to adapt the books, having produced a movie with stories from the first three instalments in 2004. Starring Jim Carrey and Meryl Streep the movie earned over $200 million at the box office.

Despite the success a sequel never materialised – something the director, Brad Silberling, found ‘a bit baffling’. I hear ya, Brad. Scroll to the bottom to see Jim Carrey doing what he does best in one of the movie’s bloopers.

Hey Netflix-Lover! Read how Kevin Spacey is Changing the Industry…

So they clearly think it’s worth another shot. It certainly is, but whether they can recapture the humour and magic of the underrated original 2004 adaptation remains to be seen.

Share your excitement with us and the world via Twitter @MovieMasticator, or Our Facebook Page.

As promised, here’s a classic blooper from the 2004 movie adaptation:

How Kevin Spacey Is Shaping The Future Of The Industry

Kevin Spacey is a game changer. Literally.

In 2 years he has accomplished 2 projects that will be remembered as pioneering change in the industry. 

In 2013 there was House of Cards – a Television Drama that was the first original content to be released solely via a streaming platform; Netflix. The show was a huge success, winning countless Emmy’s, success that has paved the way for further Hollywood giants to take a paddle in the warm, creatively stimulating waters of television.

Want More Netflix? Read which TV show may save it’s decline…

The second is the new instalment in the Call of Duty video-gaming canon – Advanced Warfare.

Spacey, using motion capture techniques similar to those used on Andy Serkis to create Gollum, stars in the war-based game as ‘Irons’ – a Governmental figure with an aggressive outlook on global affairs. (The trailer for the game is at the bottom of this article, showing Spacey’s mo-cap character in all its glory).

‘This is an opportunity to do something that nobody had done.’ – Kevin Spacey

Spacey has commented on how he was employed to not just play the role but to develop the character and assist the writing process. With his involvement, Spacey was endowing respect to a medium largely ignored by famed actors in the past.

It’s moves like this, and moves like his role in House of Cards, that shape the industry of the future.

The rise of on-demand entertainment was inevitable, but without Kevin Spacey’s involvement (and a little bit of help from David Fincher), the credibility of Netflix and other streaming services would have stalled for further years.

Netflix is now entering the world of original film production, partly due to the success of House of Cards. 

Spacey’s involvement in Call of Duty could potentially provoke gaming to evolve in a similar way – helping it to be considered a medium for storytelling equal to that of film and television in years to come.

‘Where the gaming world is going is being willing to push and bend and move in a new direction of actually capturing the character, and storytelling.’ – Kevin Spacey

Hats off to Kevin, who at 55 years old is interacting with platforms that his younger peers daren’t touch.

Where do you think the fusion between film-making and gaming will be in ten years?

Share with us via Twitter @MovieMasticator, or on our Facebook Page!

While on the subject of the greatness of Spacey, take a look at this clip from his recent appearance on Jimmy Fallon’s US chat show, where he rolls out his famed talents of impersonation…

As promised, here is the trailer for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare.

How ‘Friends’ May Save Netflix Decline

The video streaming service Netflix has suffered a big blow on the stock market. Okay, okay – so the stock market is normally a confusing jumble of numbers and information that seems to change whenever it likes and mean nothing.

But here is the simple summary: Netflix as a company was worth a certain amount and in the past few days that value has fallen.

Why? Because they increased their prices; by $1 per month in the US. This has caused some US subscribers to cancel their allegiance, or even just not sign up.

Well today Netflix has made an announcement that may be aiming to repair the damage – the hit US sitcom Friends is to be available on the service from New Years Day. Yes – ALL TEN SEASONS. That’s a lot of video to binge-view.

Believe it or not, Friends still has a MASSIVE following and commercial pull. It is still highly watched on Comedy Central in the UK and US, and regarded as a milestone in TV Sitcom Comedy.

Netflix is reaching out to those quitters or non-subscribers. Buying the rights to Friends is a deceptively huge move that they hope will go towards reparations.

Will you be subscribing? Let us know @MovieMasticator

Want to read more about Netflix? Here is our report of their strange introduction to Movie Production… Maybe another way to win our hearts?