November streaming highlights: the movies and series you just can’t miss
1/11/2022
Translation: Veronica Bielawski
New month, new streaming highlights. Whether it’s on Netflix, Disney+, Sky or Prime Video: Here's what's on streaming services this November.
Why didn’t the skeleton have a mobile? He had no body to talk to! With that, here are the best series and films appearing on Netflix and other platforms this month.
All Quiet on the Western Front
I always thought everyone was against war. Until I found out there are those who are for it. Especially those who don’t have to go in.
«All Quiet on the Western Front» isn’t just any old novel. It’s one of the most important anti-war novels in world literature. Back in 1930, just one year after publication, the book was already translated into 26 languages, one million copies of it were sold in Germany and a US film adaptation was made. That’s right at the time the German National Socialists were preparing their takeover – and they didn’t like the success of the book.
They spread the rumour that Erich Maria Remarque, the author of the book, was actually named Kramer and portrayed him as a liar, claiming that Remarque was a French Jew and never served as a German soldier in World War I – all untrue Nazi propaganda. At the premiere of the US film adaptation in Berlin in 1930, Goebbels, the local Gauleiter at the time, staged a massive disruption of the event. In December, the Film Review Office in Berlin went so far as to ban the film. Remarque emigrated, first to Switzerland, then to the US. He remained active, writing books like «Flotsam» and «Arch of Triumph». Ultimately, however, he was also honoured in Germany. In 1964, Remarque was awarded the Justus Möser medal and, in 1967, the Great Cross of Merit. At the end of 1968, Remarque was even accepted as a member of the German Academy for Language and Poetry.
Today, not quite 100 years after the novel was first published, its story and Netflix adaptation are more relevant than ever in light of the war in Ukraine. Remarque describes the horrors of war from the point of view of the German soldier Paul. But according to the world view during the First World War, his fate – and that of numerous comrades – wasn’t worth a separate report. Hence the short and snappy communiqué, «All Quiet on the Western Front». Because back then, the death of thousands of people and soldiers was nothing to write home about.
Starts: 28 October
Where: Netflix
Souls
«So you remember your own death,» says a character in the upcoming Sky original series to young Jacob. An interesting premise. After a serious car accident, Jacob claims to remember his former life as the pilot of a passenger plane that went missing a whole 15 years ago. Sounds like a promisingly eerie mystery series!
Start: 8 November
Where: Sky Show with Entertainment Pass
The Crown – Series 5
«The Crown», one of Netflix’s biggest hits, is entering its fifth and second-to-last series. Its focus is, of course, still the Queen – this time around, played by Imelda Staunton. She’s the third actress to wear the crown over the course of this series; «The Crown» is the fictionalised but kind-of-accurate story of the British monarch, beginning with her coronation in 1947, depicted in Season 1.
We’ve made it to the 1990s since then. «Finally,» I’ve found myself thinking – and that’s by no means me downplaying the four previous insanely good and exciting seasons. But I do feel the most connected to the upcoming Season 5 decade, because I experienced it myself as a kid. It was back then that I first came to understand the institutional significance of the monarchy in Great Britain. Most significantly when the media war around Diana and Charles started. And then ended with the accidental death of the princess.
Start: 9 November
Where: Netflix
Mammals
I'll be honest with you: I have no idea what I just watched in this trailer. But James Corden is in it. And I couldn’t help but laugh along because of him. That’s what prompted me to look over the series’ official press info. In a nutshell: author Jez Butterworth is behind the darkly comedic drama. His goal: bring to light the revelations, secrets and complexities of modern marriage and fidelity. In a world of eight billion people, what happens after we find «the one»?
Sure thing! I mean, I still have no clue what this series is about. But I’m totally on board with it. It’s on my watch list.
Start: 11 November
Where: Amazon Prime Video
1899
When I read «from the makers of ‘Dark’», I can’t help but gulp quietly. Don't get me wrong – «Dark» is amazing. Or at least it starts off that way. Then things head downhill. Eventually, I found myself totally overwhelmed by the ever more crazed and confused plot lines. Who exactly is who? How? Where? And when? I ended up dropping the show. Sorry Netflix, I’m frankly too slow for something so convoluted.
Regardless, the «1899» trailer looks just as captivating and atmospheric as «Dark» back in its heyday. Here’s the premise: A steamship full of European migrants is on its way from London to New York. They encounter a second migrant ship drifting in the open sea. From then on, the voyage takes an unexpected turn. What the passengers find aboard the other ship turns their passage to the promised land into a mystery – and fear-filled – trip. Wanna bet there’s some connection to «Dark»?
Start: 17 November
Where: Netflix
Mickey: The Story of a Mouse
Say what you want about Disney being a black hole of a media house, film studio, theme park company and streaming giant. Its origins – a drawing of a mouse – remain fascinating. Ah, good ol’ Mickey Mouse. He’s known all throughout the world. And it’s so simple: just draw one big circle, then add two smaller ones to it – et voilà! You’ve got yourself the little black mouse who’s considered a symbol of childlike joy and innocence, even in the cynical adult world.
No wonder a documentary’s been made about it. And based on Disney+ documentaries so far, «Mickey: The Story of a Mouse» is sure to be immensely interesting to Disney nerds like me. After all, it tells the story of how, at the low point of his career, Walt Disney came up with the character that would establish his entire empire – which all began with Mickey’s starring role in the first-ever animated work with synchronised sound on picture, «Steamboat Willie». In the decades that followed, stunningly different versions of the mouse were developed, ultimately reflecting the dramatic social changes that Mickey symbolised.
Start: 18 November
Where: Disney+
Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium
Elton John’s concert at the Los Angeles Dodger Stadium in October 1975 was undoubtedly one of the most iconic live performances in music history – Elton at his beloved piano, wearing a studded Dodgers baseball team jersey and wowing the crowds with sassy rock and powerful soul. That was the same year that he mentally came so close to the precipice of insanity that he swallowed 64 Valium tablets in an attempt to take his own life – and only narrowly escaped death.
Almost 50 years later, he’ll be giving his farewell concert at that very venue, which will be livestreamed worldwide. The concert will kick off with «Countdown to Elton Live», and the livestream will start on Disney+ at 4:30 a.m. (and will certainly be available for viewing afterward). If you’re looking for some inspiration in the meantime, be sure to check out «Rocketman», starring the outstanding Taron Egerton.
Start: 21 November at 4:30 a.m.
Where: Disney+
Willow
When I hear «Willow» I think of the iconic soundtrack album by the great James Horner. Pure 80s nostalgia. «Willow» was one of the first great fantasy motion pictures of its time. It started with only moderate success, only garnering its cult status later on. But «Willow» was groundbreaking for the development of modern computer-generated imagery (CGI) – I mean this scene, in particular. It shows Willow (Warwick Davis), the young wizard-to-be, trying to free the sorceress Fin Raziel from her animal form. The computer-generated morphing animations were groundbreaking, and served as the proof of concept for James Cameron’s T-1000 in the 1991 movie «Terminator 2». On a side note, if you’re interested in details like this, I recommend the documentary «Light and Magic» on Disney+. It tells the story of the special effects company, ILM, which was founded by George Lucas, and how it grew from its first experimental but groundbreaking effects for «Star Wars» to become Hollywood’s largest, most successful and perhaps even most influential company.
In any case, this series offers a sequel to the feature film released over 30 years ago. The trailer looks quite promising. Warwick Davis reprises his role of the wizard – and my fantasy-loving heart skips a beat. Join me, there’s still room on this trip down memory lane!
Start: 30 November
Where: Disney+
Luca Fontana
Senior Editor
Luca.Fontana@digitecgalaxus.chI'm an outdoorsy guy and enjoy sports that push me to the limit – now that’s what I call comfort zone! But I'm also about curling up in an armchair with books about ugly intrigue and sinister kingkillers. Being an avid cinema-goer, I’ve been known to rave about film scores for hours on end. I’ve always wanted to say: «I am Groot.»
