Usually on December 31st, most people are gathered at parties or around their televisions waiting for the phrase “3, 2, 1”. But this year my family and I have decided that we’re going to watch some classic movies on Netflix that won’t be available come January 1, 2015.
There’s nothing wrong with a little last minute binging and these films are only going to be available until the end of 2014. Make sure to try to catch at least one, if not all of them. They’ll make for a wonderful New Year’s Eve watch party!
1. Gladiator (R)– Director Ridley Scott and star Russell Crowe bring back the sand and sandal epic for a new generation. Beautifully filmed with elaborate sets, amazing gladiator fights and a performance by Joaquin Phoenix that’s so ice cold, Jack Frost himself would get frostbite.
2. Big Trouble In Little China (PG-13) -  This is in my top 10 favorite movies of all time. Director John Carpenter put together a kung fu, sci-fi, comic book film that defies any genre. He took elements from the kung fu movies of the 70’s, 1950’s science-fiction and a story straight out of a comic book and melded them into one amazing movie. This was originally a critical and commercial flop when it was first released. It has since influenced everything from the Matrix Trilogy to every Marvel film that’s ever been made. Truly required viewing and it’s a showcase for Kurt Russell and his out of bounds John Wayne-esque performance that is a heavy dose of hilarious and wonderful all rolled into one.
3. Batman (PG-13) – The millennials can have Christian Bale as their Dark Knight… Give me Michael Keaton any day of the week. A new generation is discovering Keaton with his new film Birdman, but we knew back in the late 80’s how amazing he could be. Director Tim Burton captured the Dark Knight in a way that payed homage to the 1930’s comic books and the new, darker version envisioned by Frank Miller. Jack Nicholson is allowed to go bonkers as The Joker and then they throw in a soundtrack by Prince. This is better on every level!
4. The Breakfast Club (R) -Â No one knew how to write/direct a film about high school life better than John Hughes. He was a 35-year-old man who tapped in to the ups, downs, sorrows, uncertainty and laughter that encapsulates high school. His young cast featuring Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall were absolutely pitch perfect. From the soundtrack, to his easy directing, John Hughes created the perfect movie about how we’re all equally awkward in high school… No matter what clique we represent.
5. Spaceballs (1987) -Â Director Mel Brooks’ spoof of the sci-fi genre has quite possibly the funniest line ever uttered in a motion picture. “What’s the matter Col. Sanders… Chicken?” Some of John Candy’s best work, throw in Joan Rivers, Bill Pullman and Rick Moranis as Dark Helmet, this movie will have you rolling from beginning to end. A hysterical spoof/homage of the sci-fi genre.
Have a Netflix “End Of The Year Netstravaganza”! It might become the party that all your friends want to be at.