Just joined Netflix and can’t wait to start getting the goods. I have 400+ slots to fill in my queue. If you could recommend just one DVD, what would it be? Looking for anything good and different, hopefully something off the beaten path.
My one recommendation for you would be “The In-laws”. The original with Peter Falk and Alan Arkin. One of my favorite comedies that I didn’t even realize was out on DVD till just now.
Hm. Mystery Train or Withnail & I for “indie” comedy (or Ghost World or The Big Lebowski, if you haven’t seen them). Ikiru or The Bicycle Thief for classic foreign. Before Sunrise/Sunset or About A Boy for modern romantic comedy. Fast, Cheap & Out Of Control, To Be And To Have, or Spellbound for documentary. Kitchen Stories, The Man Without A Past, or The Man On the Train for modern foreign. Out Of The Past for classic film noir. Videodrome for weird thriller. The Killing Fields for political drama (and the original Manchurian Candidate for classic political drama). Maybe Dark City for sci-fi - not really my genre, and I assume you’ve already seen Bladerunner. Schizopolis for avant-garde. That should be a good start.
**Shaun Of The Dead. **
Best movie of 2004. I’ve watched it with both audio commentaries and the zombie-meter so far, and I’ll probably watch it again soon.
I do need english subtitles 'cause of the strong english accents.
Strange Days, 1995. It’s New Years Eve on the eve of the Millennium, and Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes) is a scummy conman who deals porn that jacks directly into your brain. Complications arise when he discovers a rape/murder on one of his tapes. He and his best friend Mace (Angela Bassett) try to solve the murder and escape vicious cops who may number two – or 200. Great cyberpunk movie.
Arabian Knight, 1995. Adapted from A Thousand and One Nights, a shy, almost silent cobbler tries to woo a princess. Some of the most beautiful, strange animation ever. Also called The Thief and the Cobbler.
Tampopo.
Because it’s definitely good, and it’s definitely different 
Drama - Boondock Saints
Comedy - Life Less Ordinary
Patch of Blue - Sydney Poitier and Elizabeth Hartman. I had no idea it was on DVD until I checked just now. I know what my next movie purchase will be.
Millenium Actress. Bit of a slow start, but otherwise an all-around good movie. A journalist and his camera man are interviewing an elderly actress who used to be the star of a studio that is being torn down. There’s no english language track though (it’s anime), so if you don’t like subtitles you might want to stay away.
The Usual Suspects, if you haven’t seen it. Also Unforgiven.
Runaway Train. Awesome performance by Jon Voight.
Sorcerer. Four men running from their pasts wind up in Central America. With nothing to lose, they agree to cart six boxes of highly-volatile TNT (the nitro has leaked out and could blow with the tiniest bump) in trucks over 200 miles of hazardous jungle terrain to stop an oil well fire. It’s a nail-biter.
I second the nomination for The usual Suspects – a wonderful film. In the same sort of mode: Insomnia with Al Pacino
I’d recommend Brain Donors, but AFAIK it’s not out on DVD, 
so I’ll go with Galaxy Quest instead. Funny, funny, fun stuff.
Pretty much anything on this list. Sneakers if you are a technophile.
Boogie Nights.
Hmmm - just one? It’ll have to be Local Hero (1983). Scottish comedy drama, very funny and entertaining in a slightly ironic, low-key way.
What’s the deal w/ the sequel? It’s way overdue.
Thanks for all the great recommendations. I’ve seen quite a few of them already but I did manage to find a couple to add to my queue. Looking forward to seeing Shawn of the Dead. Mississippienne recommended Arabian Knight. Sounds really interesting. Amazon carries it but Netflix unfortunally does not.
Another movie that I found that I like to recommend is Breaking Away. I remember catching this on TV years ago and thought it was great. Looking forward to seeing it again.
Don’t miss The Princess Bride. If you haven’t seen it, I envy you. If you have seen it, see it again. This is one of those movies that gets even better with re-viewing.
I own it and love it.
For my selection it would have to be Seven Samurai.
Fargo
I thought it would be the one where you camped out in the theatre for a month with your bucket of popcorn.