Making the best of Netflix

January 6, 2007 6:19 PM

What's the best way to browse Netflix?

Despite having used Netflix for the past three years, I have never really found a good way to browse foreign & Independent films. I really like newer French/Italian/Chinese & Spanish movies and would love to rent recently released DVD's. However, I've always found that once I click on Foreign and then the sub-genre, I'm presented with a very limited interface. A few recent movies on the left, a few critics picks on the right (which everyone that has any interest in that genre has most likely seen) and a couple of new releases right below.

Why don't they let me browse all new releases under any genre (just like they do for hollywood / popular releases)?

Are there Netflix RSS feeds for new releases under each genre?

Are there 3rd party tools that work like itunes' browse interface where I can sort by release date and genre?

posted by special-k to computers & internet (7 comments total)

The All DVDs Releasing This Week page is divided by genre (while the feed isn't) and updates every Sunday. I check that religiously.
posted by glibhamdreck at 6:32 PM on January 6, 2007

I go to amazon's list to find choices and then plug those in.
Netflix seems to hide what movies are coming out b/c it doesn't want you to ask for them, so it will have it in stock for those that do.
posted by chickaboo at 6:57 PM on January 6, 2007

I started using Netflix only several days ago (just finished watching my first rental minutes ago!), and I've been playing around with Netflix Freak. It is a neat little application, but it is Mac only. May or may not answer your question.
posted by rossination at 11:42 PM on January 6, 2007

Hacking Netflix lists some "hacks" but none of them seem to apply to your RSS question.

There are alternatives to Netflix (GreenCine, Cafe DVD, Facets) that cater to foreign and indie film interests.

VideoETA has a complete release list for DVDs (they also have a handy email alert reminder feature). Digital Bits and DVD Talk are also good websites to check.
posted by plokent at 2:59 AM on January 7, 2007

Thanks plokent. Its not that Netflix doesn't carry these movies, they just make it harder find and rent.
posted by special-k at 12:41 PM on January 7, 2007

Netflix welcomes user suggestions (I've sent a few in during my going-on-7-years subscriber-ship) - you might want to consider writing one in.
posted by allkindsoftime at 4:43 PM on January 7, 2007

Oh man. I just subscribed to GreenCine, an alternative to netflix that focuses on independent and classic films, though they have mainstream stuff as well. The site is set up so that other subscribers (some seriously awesome film dorks) can post lists of favorites, and the site itself will actually recommend (sometimes wonderfully obscure) movies based on your rental history. The descriptions of the films are very clear and honest, and not hurried like I found the Netflix ones to be. It costs about the same, and they donate money to different film organizations.
Check it out. It's awesome.
posted by simonemarie at 7:19 PM on January 7, 2007