With Oscar season in full bloom, it is time once again for our regular look at what's new and notable on the Netflix streaming service.
This month: the Breaking Bad prequel finally arrives, Ricky Bobby rides again and a Netflix-owned sequel to one of the best martial arts films ever created.
Better Call Saul, season 1 (February 1)
The ending of Breaking Bad felt like a national day of mourning. We knew it was for the best that Walter White went away before he inevitably met the same fate as so many other television characters who stayed around long past their expiration point. But when Walter actually met his fate and the screen faded to black, those of us who devoted ourselves to Breaking Bad were left with a Walter-sized hole in our hearts.
But then along came Better Call Saul, the prequel series that tells the origin story of Walter's crooked and yet delightful attorney from Breaking Bad. Today, it's available on Netflix, and just in time for a glorious weekend binge. It's not like you have anything else to do.
Full Metal Jacket (February 1)
If a random person on the street asked you for a quote from a war movie, there's a good chance you'd end up quoting Gunnery Sergeant Hartman from the masterpiece that is Full Metal Jacket. His was a memorable performance, to be sure, but FMJ is a brutal Kubrick classic that will hold up to repeated viewings for eternity.
Talladega Nights (February 1)
This Will Ferrell flick about an over-the-top Nascar driver named Ricky Bobby is an instant classic. And frankly, if you haven't seen it, we can't be friends.
Fuller House (February 26)
We've talked about this much-anticipated sequel to the beloved sitcom Full House, and it finally arrives on Netflix this month. All of the original cast (except the Olson twins, which is no big loss) returns for at least part of this 10-episode series that was financed and produced by Netflix.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (February 26)
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was a fantastic and fantastical martial arts film with some of the craziest visual effects we'd ever seen when it was released in 2000. Fifteen years later, there is a sequel, and it's another Netflix exclusive. This time around, a group of warriors is tasked with protecting an ancient sword known as The Green Destiny. Sequels are often terrible (see: Anchorman), but we're looking forward to this one, mostly because Netflix is serious about putting big money behind exclusive film franchises.
What do you think?