Roger Collier

I have seen a grotesque, truck-sized monster attack picnickers on the banks of the Han River in South Korea. I have seen a scrappy, old-school U.S. Marshal battle redneck meth dealers in the backwoods of Kentucky. I have seen a schlubby, pub-loving British salesman dodge zombies on the streets of London.

I have seen all these things, and much more, because I have Netflix Canada, the video-streaming service launched six months ago. I love Netflix. It lets me watch what I want, when I want. And it's cheap, with a monthly fee equivalent to the price of two grande cappumochalatteinos (or whatever).

But I also hate Netflix. It is yet another technology that encourages over-consumption. It's like having an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet in your house, except that instead of calorie-bombing your body with deep-fried meats, you poison your brain with four seasons of Heroes and a side of Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.

The best thing about modern gadgets and media services is that they free us from the schedules of content providers. Before I had my iPod, I listened to CBC Radio while commuting or exercising, but I would only catch the programs I enjoyed if they happened to be on. Many times I would end up listening to some boring call-in show about how to revive an ailing fern (hint: water).

Now I load my iPod with various types of podcasts -- news, sports, pop culture, science -- and choose according to my mood. If I want something funny, I listen to Wiretap. If I want to learn something, I listen to Stuff You Should Know. If I'm in the mood for a good story, I listen to This American Life. If I'm in the mood for whining and namecalling, I turn off my iPod and listen to my children.

Traditionally, television has operated the same as radio; programs come on at certain times and you miss them if you aren't tuned in. I have never been a regular viewer of any TV show. Nor am I the type who records something to watch later. I find it strange when people put that much planning into their TV watching. It's like having a protocol for how to waste time.

Typically, I spend my evenings reading, writing or playing basketball. When I do watch TV, I flick it on at random times, usually quite late. Before Netflix, my choices were limited. I could watch a generic cop show, a generic lawyer show, a rerun of a generic sit-com or a terrible reality show, any of which was already half over.

Now I can plop my butt on the couch and pick from hundreds of movies and TV shows. Though vast, Netflix's selection in Canada is spotty, with several duds for every gem. Critics like to complain that the menu pales in comparison to that offered in the U.S. That may be true, but there is still plenty to choose from, including foreign films, documentaries and classic movies. Besides, what do people expect for $7.99 a month?

There are a few things about Netflix that annoy me, though. For one, it creates categories of content it thinks you will enjoy based on what you've already viewed. A recent one that popped up, based on a few shows my children watched, was Feel-Good Talking-Animal Movies. Because heaven forbid we accidentally choose one of those dark and twisted talking-animal movies that make you feel bad.

Netflix will also make specific suggestions based on other movies you've viewed. Again, the results can be comical. I recently watched a documentary about the late singersongwriter Harry Nilsson, who partied with the Beatles, married three times and bought more drugs than a Wal-Mart pharmacy. So, naturally, Netflix suggested that I might also enjoy a documentary about (pause for effect) Mother Teresa.

The connection? Well, they were both human. Oh, and didn't Mother Teresa also have a string of hit pop songs in the early '70s? No, wait, that was Carly Simon.

What bothers me most about Netflix, however, is that it can be addictive -at least for willpowerchallenged people like me. I recently watched the first episode of Justified, a TV show based on an Elmore Leonard short story. It was great. In no time, I plowed through the remaining dozen episodes, sacrificing far too much sleep in the process.

Too bad Netflix doesn't have a Not Worth Staying Up Till 2 A.M. category.