Netflix streaming capabilities is easily my favorite new thing about the NXE, but what are the best movies to add to your queue? Here are the top 10.




10. The Wild Bunch
The Wild Bunch is a badass Western. William Holden leads a gang of outlaws looking for one last score as the old West is transitioning into a more modern society. The film is most notable for its rampant, though I wouldn't say excessive, use of blood and gore. If you want to save some time, fast forward to the last ten minutes and watch the most amazing shootout ever captured on film. In addition, those looking for a more thoughtful western should add The Searchers to their queue.




9. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Moving to a more contemporary film, Charlie Kauffman's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a mindfuck of a movie. After Jim Carrey gets his mind wiped in order to forget his ex-girlfriend (played by Kate Winslet), crazy shit starts going down. This is a movie that begs for a second viewing. Also, keep an eye out for the amazing Tom Wilkinson (aka Guy in my blog header) in a bit part as the doctor who wipes Carrey's mind.




8. Bullitt
Arguably Steve McQueen's best movie, Bullitt follows a cop tasked with protecting a witness testifying against the mafia. McQueen is classic cool in this movie, and the highlight is a tense chase through the streets of San Francisco performed by car enthusiast McQueen himself.




7. Stand By Me
Adapted from a Stephen King story and being a classic 80s movie, Stand By Me follows the journey of four boys looking for the body of a boy who was hit by a train. It's got the breakout performances of both geek celeb Wil Wheaton as well as River Phoenix. 24 fans will get a kick out of a young Kiefer Sutherland kicking ass way before CTU ever hired him. Stand By Me also features the classic 'train dodge' scene. "Hey Lard-Ass! Chow down!"




6. The Day The Earth Stood Still
The Day The Earth Stood Still is THE classic science fiction movie. Nothing else can ever compare. It's deliciously cheesy in its Cold War sensibilities about nuclear weapons, and it's the perfect alternative to the abortion of a remake coming out on December 12th. Elevate your geek cred by going to sci-fi conventions and yelling "Klaatu barada nikto". As a supplement to TDTESS, add the first season of The Twilight Zone to your queue and watch the classic episode "Time Enough At Last".




5. Cool Hand Luke
Sent to a chain gang for taking the heads off of parking meters (though the real crime is nonconformity), Paul Newman gives his greatest performance as Luke Jackson. George Kennedy also gives a strong performance as Luke's right hand man. Luke's attempt at eating 50 hardboiled eggs in one hour is both hilarious and cringeworthy simultaneously, and Cool Hand Luke has one of cinema's most classic lines: "What we've got here is... failure to communicate."




4. Escape From New York
The ultimate spur-of-the-moment movie, Escape From New York is just full of moments that can only be described as "fucking badass". The year is 1997, and Manhattan has been turned into a maximum security prison island. When the presidential escape pod lands inside the walls, Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) is forced to take on the Duke of New York (Isaac Hayes) in order to rescue the president and decide the fate of the world. Sounds awesome, right? Would it make you even more interested if I told you that the eyepatch-endowed Snake Plissken is the main inspiration for Metal Gear Solid's Solid Snake? Consider your interest piqued.




3. Little Shop of Horrors
My favorite musical, Little Shop of Horrors is delightfully demented in the way it eschews the genre. From the doowop opening theme to its ballad about living in poverty, the songs are surprisingly catchy. The plot follows a lowly flowers store janitor who buys an alien, maneating plant. Rick Moranis is at his best here (yes, better than Ghostbusters) and a special appearance by Steve Martin as a crazy dentist certainly livens up the joint.




2. Duck Soup
The Marx Brothers are staples of slapstick and vaudeville comedy, outclassing the three Stooges by a mile. Duck Soup is their greatest film without question, and at a scant 70 or so minutes, it's the perfect way to take a break from gaming. Filled with hysterical musical numbers, jaunty wordplay, and the always hilarious 'Mirror scene', a staple of physical comedy imitated many times over, Duck Soup is a must-watch for anyone who likes to laugh.




1. Space Jam
Do I really need to say anything? It never hurts to have Space Jam at your fingertips whenever your jonesin' for some of the best acting Michael Jordan has ever done. Five aliens come to Looney Tunes Land to kidnap Bugs and crew by challenging them to a basketball game. The Tunes enlist His Airness, while the aliens steal the powers of five 90s basketball greats. It's got high-octane sports moments, Bill Murray, and an amazing montage featuring Charles Barkley and Mugsey Bogues, plus the greatest opening song EVER. What more could you want?





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