If you happened to catch the SAG Awards, then you already know that the big winner was one that many rooted for, but few expected to clean house – Stranger Things. The Netflix Original Series scored big with audiences last year, coming seemingly out-of-nowhere, delighting audiences by bringing back the classic storytelling of the 1980s, complete with a period setting to perfectly capture that vibe. As families have gathered to experience a modern classic that has in many ways opened the door to share the films that inspired it (E.T., for example), it’s interesting to see how important the 70s & 80s are to the viewers of today. One Day at a Time was inspired by the 1975-84 series of the same name; Fuller House is huge; but that’s just scratching the surface. Here’s some things you need to stream right now…
Voltron: Legendary Defender – Season Two – I’ve been praising this modern spin on the classic Voltron cartoon since DreamWorks Animation first launched the series last year. Wrapping the first season with a cliffhanger ending, the second season continues the story and already has audiences asking about a third round. Added bonus? Playmates Toys just launched an all-new collection of related action figures and vehicles.
He-Man and the Masters of The Universe – Though it hasn’t received a Netflix reboot (yet), Filmation’s famous Masters of the Universe is back on Netflix after being away for awhile. The adventures of He-Man and Skeletor have only become more legendary over the past 30+ years, and with some new action figures on the way through Mattel and Super7, now is the perfect time to revisit the original cartoons, and introduce a new generation to them.
She-Ra: Princess of Power – It’s only right that He-Man’s sister is back on Netflix as well, and that means that Hordak is right there with her.
We’re Lalaloopsy – No, this one isn’t from the 80s at all, but in a lot of ways, MGA Entertainment’s Lalaloopsy dolls feel like kindred spirits to the likes of Strawberry Shortcake and the like. My girls have loved the previous Lala movies that have become Netflix staples, and now the first season of this original series is bringing the fun into short-form.
Music: Sample This – I’m a big fan of the musical content that Netflix has been offering, and there’s often some surprising documentaries that make their way into the queue. This 2012 doc is new to Netflix, telling the story of one of the most-sampled records in all of hip-hop history: “Apache,” by the Incredible Bongo Band. Even if you don’t “know” the song, you’ve heard it – and with Baz Luhrmann’s The Get Down and the soundtrack to MARVEL’s Luke Cage bringing a lot of classic hip-hop into viewers’ living rooms, this is a worthy companion for those looking to add some music history into the mix.
Not For Kids: Roger Corman’s Death Race 2050 – In one of those “day-and-date” releases where the film came to Netflix at the same time it hit Blu-ray and DVD, here we have a sequel to the 1975 film, Death Race 2000. Audiences with little or no knowledge of the original film will likely find themselves confused as to why a 2017 movie looks and feels like this one – especially since Universal already has a modern remake series that’s three movies deep, and with a fourth on the way. In a lot of ways, this B-movie feels like a spin-off of the 1990s “Carmageddon” video games that were actually inspired by Death Race 2000. A cross-country race where pedestrians equal points, and it all happens in a future America that looks an awful lot like Idiocracy… or one that could be where we’re all headed. A good movie? Not really. But it’s a very entertaining one for what it is. Again – NOT FOR KIDS!
The Rock Father is a member of the Netflix #StreamTeam, bringing you news and features on great streaming content on a regular basis!
