12 Netflix and Hulu Picks for Nerds who like Good Shows and Cool Flix!

I hate the cable company. I mean really, really, REALLY, hate them!  So much so that I am one of a new breed of TV watchers who has downscaled my Cable use to the point where I don’t even have a box or any package at all (hmm, that doesn’t sound right). In fact, the only reason I even have channels 2-13 with the cable wire is because those evil “Feh Feh Pi Goh”  tried to get into my home without permission and do something improper to my cable internet access because they know I watch most of my TV online!

I am not alone! A few of us have decided to minimize the role of the evil dictatorship that is cable by sharing various picks of favorite or amusing shows we've watched via Netflix instant watch and Hulu Plus.  It’s been fun sharing little gems and things we have found on our journey to find watchable material via old and new shows available at the push of a button.  People often wonder how we are able to watch so much material in order to find the good stuff.

Believe it or not, it’s not as hard as you might think to find a decent show or movie and it definitely beats having to flip through 200 channels of mostly crap shows in order to find something watchable on cable. I mean, common on, a guy can only flip through so many Filipino and Spanish tv programs in order to find anything decent to watch. I hate sports, I don’t care who’s on what runway and if I have to watch crappy anything that has a Kardashian in it I think I might go postal!

So, we few Browncoats, who have  have ventured into the black and sought refuge in "the Verse", like to share with each other little gems of entertainment we have found along the way. It’s our way of sticking it to the Unholy Alliance that is the Cable Companies of America.  

As of today April 24, 2012 here are my 12 Netflix and Hulu Picks for Nerds who like Good Shows and Cool Flix!

Ghost in the Shell Standalone Complex :

If you have read my past blog about Otaku anime picks for n00bs who want to get into Japanese anime without watching someting that will bring on nightmares, then, you would know my love for this Manga turned anime show that inspired the Matrix. Now you can see for yourself how much the Matrix ripped off this lovely anime right down to the jacking in the back of the head. Check it out on Netflix!

Planet Hulk:

Tired of watching really bad live action versions of superhero flicks?  I recommend you watch these animations from Marvel Animation Studio. Produced and designed before the big Disney acquisition, these stories were not afraid to be as faithful to the comics as they can and still turn out a good story. I am amazed at how many times I have watched an animation only to find that it was better than most of the live action movies. And Planet Hulk is one of those animations. Based on one of the most popular Hulk Stories to date, Planet Hulk is what happens when you mix the big Comic Green Monster with the Movie hero Maximus from Gladiator and throw him out into space. It’s a great comic and a great story. Check it out on Netflix right now or HULK WILL SMASH YOUR PUNY HUMAN FACE IN!

Sherlock:

I know everybody thinks Robert Downey Jr. is the Best Sherlock Holmes since Data’s version from the Star Trek The Next Generation. But as much as I love RDJ, Nothing holds a candle to this new hip but still faithful adaptation of Sir Conan Doyle’s famous Detective as played by Benedict Cumberbatch. Mr. Cumberbatch is soon to be even more famous here in the states since he has been cast as the villain in the new J.J. Abram’s Star Trek Sequel and will also be portraying Smaug the Dragon through motion capture in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit! So before everyone finds out how great this guy is, check out the roll that that brought him to the attention of two of Hollywood’s best directors. Check it out on Netflix!

Luther:

Before there was controversy about a black man playing the Norse god Heimdall in the movie Thor,  Idris Elba was kicking butt and winning awards for his portrayal of an “on the edge cop” named Luther in the BBC smash hit show with the same name.  Check out Idris in this great show before you catch him in the Ridley Scott Alien prequel Prometheus. It will only make you even more excited to see him in that movie when you already know what he is capable of. Check it out on Netflix!

The IT Crowd:

I know this show may not be for everyone but if after watching the episode entitled, “The Work Outing” and it doesn’t make you laugh even a little then you may want to get your sitcom funny bone checked.  For every nerd who ever had to deal with explaining to your parents how to hook their printer to their laptop or download pictures to their Facebook page this program is for you!  Repeat after me, “Have you tried turning on and Turning it off again?” Check it out on Netflix!

Warehouse 13:

If you like your “Neo X-Files” type shows to be a little corky and fun then Warehouse 13 is the show for you.  This show is about two secret agents who hunt down cursed or magical items and store them in a very lucky numbered building.  It’s filled with tons of sci-fi cameos (Capt. Janeway/Kate Mulgrew for one) and has been known to crossover with another SyFy show Eureka from time to time. It’s silly, it’s fun and it has a unique charm. Check out the old episodes on Netflix and, if you like it, check out the newest Episodes on Hulu!

The River:

The River is like combining the show Lost with the movie The Shinning but a lot easier to follow.  It’s creepy, it’s eerie, and it has been badly advertised and slotted by ABC. The bad news is ABC has all but officially cancelled the show.  The good news is that it may be one of the first shows to be resurrected by Netflix picking it up for its new original Netflix only content.  Watch the remaining shows, if you dare, on Hulu for now and if it does move over to Netflix all the better.

Ironclad:

Ironclad is a brutal sword and stone movie about a rough band of misfit swordsman fighting off the brutal King John of England (played wonderfully by Paul Giamatti). Though it borrows most of its story line from  greater films like The Seven Samurai and  The Magnificent Seven, the hard fought action battles and great character actor performances elevate it to a greater level than most films that plagiarize to this extent.  The actual  siege battle at Rochester Castle did take place in history and the story of what happen after the King John signed the Magna Carta is an interesting one.  fair warning... the battle scenes are brutal and realistic. Check out this movie via Netflix and you will wonder why you never heard about this flick playing in theatres.

Nerdcore Rising:

You think it’s hard out there for a Pimp? Try being taken seriously by anyone in the industry when you call yourself a Nerdcore Rapper.  This well done Documentary chronicles the rise of MC Frontalot and the Nerdcore hip hop scene.  It’s a must for people who call themselves nerds and want someone to represent!  Check this movie doc out on Netflix!

Legend of the Seeker:

I know fans of the Terry Goodkind books are torn by this short-lived TV show but I really enjoyed it. This Sam Raimi Produced show is much like Hercules and Xena but more contemporary and fun than its predecessors.  When it ran on TV, it ran late at night and at weird times of the day. Sadly, it was cancelled after two seasons. But it is worth a watch. What can you say of a show that has a Wizard, a guy with a magic sword and a beautiful companion who stares deeply into men’s eyes and make them fall in love with her?  The sword play was much better on this show than on Xena and Hercules and the effects were not as cheesy. People often ask me who I would cast in a Wonder Woman movie and I always say, hands down, Bridget Regan from Legend of the Seeker. Check this show out on either Netflix or Hulu and let me know if you agree!

Jim Henson’s The Storyteller:

This show was a short lived show from the late 80’s that featured the magic of Henson’s Muppets and the fairy tales of medieval Europe. It Starred John Hurt (Harry Potter’s Wand Supplier Mr. Ollivander) as the lovable narrator who told old fairy tales to is puppet dog!  If you like movies like the Dark Crystal and Labyrinth you may want to check this series out. If you like it, you can also watch the second season called  Jim Henson's the Storyteller: Greek Myths, Both of which can separately be found on Netflix.  

Hulk VS.

Now, I put this here at the bottom not because it was the worst of my pick but more so because this animation is really a double feature. The problem is the First movie is not as good as the second.  The second movie is, “Hulk vs Wolverine” and it is great.  If, like me, you were a little disappointed with the lack of blood in the Wolverine and X-Men movies then you will not be disappointed here.  Wolverine actually stabs people with those sharp pointy things he waves around at people. It’s a shock really, to find that the best version of Wolverine is not only in an animation, it’s in an animation that doesn’t even have his name in the title but here he is….in all his “snikt” slashing, awesomeness.  Now the first movie, “Hulk Vs. Thor” is not awful or anything it’s just not nearly as good as Hulk Vs. Wolverine.  So don’t let the first half distract you from getting to the second half when you stream it on Netflix. Both are definitely worth a watch.

So those are my 12 Netflix and Hulu Picks for Nerds who like Good Shows and Cool Flix! I will, from time to time, recommend new things as Netflix and Hulu show and movies tend to come and go with time. Let me know what you think of my picks and if you have any shows or flicks you would like to share let me know in comments down below!