Quibi's TV Shows and Movies
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Photo courtesy of Quibi[/caption] Quibi's video streaming platform is split into three categories: "Movies in Chapters," long-form narratives split into 10-minute episodes; "Unscripted and Docs," reality TV shows and docuseries; and "Daily Essentials," news shows from outlets like NBC, ESPN, and the BBC. While the streamer has a long way to go before it catches up with Netflix and Disney+ in terms of the size of its library, Quibi launched with over 25 titles that each offered three episodes, with new installments released daily. Compared to Apple TV+'s meager debut, which included just a handful of shows, Quibi gets a gold star here for offering a variety of content to new subscribers. Starting with Quibi's "Movies in Chapters," the initial titles appear impressive at first, especially with star-studded casts that include Sophie Turner, Liam Hemsworth, and Christoph Waltz, among other recognizable Hollywood names. However, although Quibi excels in its ability to acquire star power, the stories in which they are featured lack the creative punch needed to stand out. Take Most Dangerous Game, for example, where Waltz and Hemsworth go head-to-head in an action-thriller where humans hunt other humans for sport. It's a by-the-numbers story that's light on the action for the first few episodes. If anything, Quibi's short-form approach to storytelling doesn't allow the viewer to really get into the narrative because, after seven or eight minutes, the episode (sorry, chapter) is over. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/18/netflix-review-2019"] While other titles like When the Streetlights Go On and Flipped are worth checking out if you decide to sign up, Quibi's "shorter is better" model still doesn't make sense if you look at the streaming landscape as a whole. If the recent release of Netflix's popular Tiger King documentary has taught us anything, it's that viewers are game to sit through several hours of content if they deem it to be entertaining... shorter isn't always sweeter.
Then there's the way the shows and movies are formatted for mobile viewing. One of the most baffling aspects of Quibi is its choice to opt for a mobile-only streaming service. Amazon, Netflix, and Disney+ (among others) offer mobile streaming options as well, but also allow their content to be watched on your desktop or TV, if you don’t want to squint at your phone. Quibi also films its content in both vertical and horizontal formats, which is a purposeful departure from its rivals. So, if you're watching Most Dangerous Game in vertical mode on your phone, the image fills the screen, offering you a different aspect ratio. In horizontal mode, you get a more cinematic look, with a widescreen perspective that shows you more detail (and characters) in each frame. The Movies in Chapters definitely look better this way, since most prestigious TV shows these days are shot more like films. Maybe it's just me, but the vertical option makes many of the productions look cheap.
Where Quibi excels is in its docuseries and daily news shows. One of the standouts is LeBron James' I Promise, which centers on a school in Akron, Ohio founded by James where at-risk youths are given a chance to flourish in a nourishing academic environment. It's a heartwarming look at how the public school system in America could change for the better. Generally, the quality of the docuseries is due to the subject matter and not the shortened running time. And there are still some duds in the bunch, like Will Arnett’s Memory Hole and the underwhelming revival of MTV’s iconic prank show, Punk’d.Quibi's User Interface
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Photo courtesy of Quibi[/caption] While we do have gripes with the fact that Quibi is only offered via a mobile app, its UI is butter smooth, with no noticeable lag while switching between horizontal and vertical viewing modes. The Quibi app is currently available to download on both Android and Apple devices. And like many of its streaming counterparts, the service allows subscribers to download movies and shows for offline viewing. Depending on your phone's specifications (and Wifi connection), many of the shows are presented in 4K with crisp video and audio quality. Quibi also comes fully equipped with a handy "continue watching" option so you can pick up a show where you left off. This might sound like a resounding "duh," but Disney+ launched with a bug-filled version that caused the company to remove this particular feature in order to work out the kinks. Another convenient (if not expected) feature lets you follow shows if you click the bookmark icon, which notifies you when a new episode is available to stream. If you find yourself unable to decide what to watch, Quibi offers “More to Explore” buckets, which highlight programs that will make you “Laugh out Loud” or “Be Inspired.” There’s also a “Coming Soon” section that gives you a sneak peek of upcoming series like Dummy, starring Anna Kendrick. As far as the "streaming functionality basics" go, Quibi checks all of the boxes so the UI doesn't get in the way of your viewing experience.
Quibi's Price
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Photo courtesy of Quibi[/caption] Quibi currently offers a 90-day free trial for new subscribers, which is a pretty good deal considering the platform launches with over 25 titles. At $4.99 per month (with ads) Quibi is on the cheaper end compared to Netflix and Amazon's $12.99 price plan. But unlike Netflix, Quibi doesn't charge extra for 4K content, which is a plus. It's just a shame there's no smart TV or set-top box app you can download to enjoy all of that 4K beauty on a big screen. Quibi offers a better value than Apple TV+ (also $4.99), promising to deliver 175 new shows in its first year. Apple, on the other hand, is still lagging behind most of the competition in terms of its library. Disney+, at $6.99 with a digital catalog of over 500 titles, is hard to ignore at this price point if you're looking to just add one new service, but it's important to keep in mind that (so far), Disney+ isn't offering TV-MA content. So if you're looking for more R-rated fare, Quibi might be worth a try, especially with that 90-day free trial.from IGN Reviews https://ift.tt/2RnF1c2
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