New on Netflix - March 2017

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) - Over the past few months, it has become increasingly apparent that Netflix has shifted its focus to original content, rather than being focused on providing a vast selection of catalog titles. However, this month features a fantastic balance between original content and catalog titles. Most months I select five or so titles; there are 15 for March. You do the math.

"Blazing Saddles"(1974)

In 1974 Mel Brooks unleashed "Blazing Saddles," a satirical Western that took aim at the inherent racism found in Hollywood's portrayal of the Wild West. It's a wild send-up of the genre, smart and riotous. It's one of those films that everyone wants to replicate, but so many fail to even come close.

"Chicago"(2002)

Hollywood once had a rich and profitable love affair with musicals; these days we're lucky to get one or two a year. "Chicago," a rather murderous musical, won six Oscars including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress forCatherine Zeta-Jones. For the record,Renée Zellweger should have won for Best Actress as well. If you like the Jazz Age, murder or incredibly dazzling musical numbers, then "Chicago" is a delightful place to spend two hours.

"Memento" (2000)

This was where I discoveredChristopher Nolan. "Memento" is a particularly alluring, mind-bending film about a man, played by Guy Pearce,who is trying to track down the man who killed his wife. The major obstacle of the film is that the man has no short-term memory. To compensate, the man tattoos the clues he uncovers on various parts of his body. At the time I saw the film because it starredCarrie-Anne Moss, who a year before had waltzed into the spotlight courtesy of a film called "The Matrix." This pairs well with Nolan's first feature, "Following."

"Midnight in Paris" (2011)

I have a love-hate relationship withWoody Allen. "Mindight in Paris," a fantastic drama in which a man is transported back to the 1920s every night, is without question one of his stories that I absolutely love.

"Nacho Libre" (2006)

I liked "Napoleon Dynamite," but it was hard for me to get past the fact that I was watching my former classmate,Jon Heder,run around in Moon Boots. With "Nacho Libre" I had no such troubles, as Jack Blackstars as a monk who becomes a professional Mexican wrestler. It's utterly ridiculous, but Black is perfectly cast.

"The Craft" (1996)

"The Craft" is a quintessential 1990s film. It's built on an '80s chassis with a fashionable update in style and music. Sure, it lacks the heft of a John Hughes film, but stands with the likes of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Clueless." Besides, who doesn't like a film about teenage witches fronted byFairuza Balk? Toto, we certainly aren't in Kansas anymore.

"This Is Spinal Tap" (1984)

"This Is Spinal Tap" might just be my favorite satire. It certainly is one of the funnest and most truthful takes on the music industry, particularly as it was when hair metal was king. Ladies and gentleman, this film goes to 11.

"Burning Sands" -NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM

There are a dozen or so Netflix Originals appearing this month. "Burning Sands" intrigues me as it features Travante Rhodes, one of the stars of my favorite film of 2016, "Moonlight." The narrative follows a fraternity pledge as he endures hell week. It's not an entirely original idea; we've seen in it "Goat" and the upcoming horror "Raw."

Disney’s "Pete’s Dragon" (2016)

When it played in theaters last year I was particularly hard on "Pete's Dragon," in part because it used the tired trope of a young boy raised in the wilderness (a story we had already watched twice in 2016 in "The Legend of Tarzan" and Disney's "The Jungle Book"). Returning to the film with a clearer perspective allowed me to appreciate David Lowery's film more the second time around.

Disney’s "The BFG" (2016)

Every year we have a handful of films that deserve a far better box office fate than they end up with. Unfortunately, this year that includes "The BFG." Steven Spielberg's adaption of Roald Dahl's classic novel might not be nearly as good as the director's best films, but even a B-grade Spielberg film is infinitely better than "The Secret Life of Pets," "Trolls" and "Sing."

"Coraline"(2009)

I loved director Henry Selick's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (no, it wasn't actually directed by Tim Burton) and quite liked his adaptation of "James and the Giant Peach.""Coraline," an adaptation of Neil Gaiman's story about a girl who discovers the door to an alternate universe, was a step forward in animation and a creepy-crawly adventure that I've returned to numerous times over the past few years.

"Marvel’s Iron Fist": Season 1 -NETFLIX ORIGINAL

We're edging closer to the premiere of Marvel's Hell's Kitchen mashup "The Defenders," but first we have to get up close and comfortable with the man known as Iron Fist. You've probably already asked for the day off.

"Déjà Vu" (2006)

Tony Scottmade his share of great action and popcorn films (and a particularly interesting vampire film called "The Hunger"), but he never could quite get out of the shadow that his brother, Ridley, cast. "Déjà Vu," one of the director's last films, is an enjoyable thriller with sci-fi elements that finds an ATF agent (Denzel Washington) investigating a bombing, but he gets sidetracked by a beautiful woman (Paula Patton).

"Who Framed Roger Rabbit" (1988)

Detective Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) doesn't care much for toons, but he's out to prove Rodger Rabbit is innocent in this classic cartoon and live-action mashup.

"The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" (2004)

Wes Anderson's catalog is filled with unusual delights including "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou," a strange little monster of a movie that finds oceanographer Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) setting out to avenge the death of his partner by tracking down the shark that did the killing.

Available March 1

"Angry Birds": Season 2 (2013)
"Blazing Saddles" (1974)
"Chicago" (2002)
"Deep Run" (2015)
"Dirt Every Day": Season 1 (2013)
"Epic Drives": Season 2 (2015)
"Friday After Next" (2002)
"Head 2 Head": Season 2 (2013)
"Hot Rod Unlimited": Season 1 (2013)
"Ignition": Season 1 (2013)
"Impossible Dreamers" (2017)
"Jurassic Park" (1993)
"Jurassic Park III" (2001)
"Kate and Mim-Mim": Season 2 (2015)
"Know Your Enemy – Japan" (1945)
"Kung Fu Panda" (2008)
"Let There Be Light" (1946)
"Memento" (2000)
"Midnight in Paris" (2011)
"Nacho Libre" (2006)
"Nazi Concentration Camps" (1945)
"Roadkill": Season 2 (2013)
"Rolling Stones: Crossfire Hurricane" (2012)
"San Pietro" (1945)
"Singing with angels" (2016)
"Sustainable" (2016)
"Slums of Beverly Hills" (1998)
"The Craft" (1996)
"This Is Spinal Tap" (1984)
"Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny" (2006)
"The Lost World: Jurassic Park" (1997)
"The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress" (1944)
"The Negro Soldier" (1944)
"Thunderbolt" (1947)
"Tunisian Victory" (1944)

Available March 3

"Greenleaf": Season 1 (2016)

Available March 4

"Safe Haven" (2013)

Available March 5

"Señora Acero": Season 3 (2016)

Available March 7

"Amy Schumer: The Leather Special" - NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Available March 8

"Hands of Stone" (2016)
"The Waterboy" (1998)

Available March 9

"Thithi" (2015)

Available March 10

"Buddy Thunderstruck": Season 1 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL
"Burning Sands" - NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM
"Love": Season 2 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL
"One More Time": Season 1 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL
"The Boss’ Daughter" (2016)

Available March 13

"Must Love Dogs" (2005)
"Million Dollar Baby" (2004)

Available March 14

"Disney’s Pete’s Dragon" (2016)
"Jim Norton: Mouthful of Shame" - NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Available March 15

Disney’s "The BFG" (2016)
"Lucha Underground": Seasons 1-2
"Notes on Blindness" (2016)

Available March 16

"Beau Sejour": Season 1 – NETFLIX ORIGINAL
"Coraline" (2009)

Available March 17

"Deidra & Laney Rob a Train" - NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM
"Julie’s Greenroom": Season 1 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL
"Marvel’s Iron Fist": Season 1 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL
"Naledi: A Baby Elephant’s Tale" (2016)
"Pandora" - NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM
"Samurai Gourmet": Season 1 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Available March 18

"Come and Find Me" (2016)
"The Vampire Diaries": Season 8 (2016)

Available March 20

"El Reemplazante": Season 1-2 (2012)

Available March 21

"Ali & Nino" (2016)
"Another Forever" (2016)
"Evolution" (2015)
"Fire at the Sea" ("Fuocoammare") (2016)

Available March 23

"How to Get Away with Murder": Season 3 (2016)
"Welcome to New York" (2015)

Available March 24

"Bottersnikes & Gumbles": Season 2 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL
"Déjà Vu" (2006)
"Felipe Neto: My Life Makes No Sense" - NETFLIX ORIGINAL
"Grace and Frankie": Season 3 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL
"Ingobernable": Season 1 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL
"Spider" (2007)
"The Square" (2008)
"The Most Hated Woman in America" - NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM
"Who Framed Roger Rabbit" (1988)

Available March 25

"The Student Body" (2017)
"USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage" (2016)

Available March 26

"The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" (2004)

Available March 27

"Better Call Saul": Season 2

Available March 28

"Archer": Season 7 (2016)
"Jo Koy: Live from Seattle" - NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Available March 30

"Life in Pieces": Season 1 (2015)

Available March 31

"13 Reasons Why": Season 1 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL
"Bordertown": Season 1 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL
"Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life": Season 1 (2016)
"Dinotrux": Season 4 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL
"FirstBorn" (2016)
"Five Came Back" - NETFLIX ORIGINAL
"GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling" (2012)
"Rosewood": Season 1
"The Carmichael Show": Season 1-2|
"The Discovery" - NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM
"Trailer Park Boys": Season 11 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL