I didn't want to start a post for the film I want to talk about. It's no Goblet of Fire or anything. I might not even get a response. So I haven't seen a movie/film thread yet like the book thread above.
The film I rented last weekend? Layer Cake. Stars Daniel Craig (latest Bond). Has that modern british gangster stuff. A bit more refined than the Guy Ritchie stuff (which isn't necessarily a good thing). Though it did have the same feel a bit...not as funny. Producer of Lock/Stock and Snatch is the director methinks.
I liked it lots. Nice good plot. My only let down was Sienna Miller. As in why didn't we get MORE of her. She is high on my hot list right now. Those Serbs were scary man. If you are wondering how Craig will do as Bond...check this out. My choice was Jonny Lee Miller but Craig is less pretty boy more tough guy in a sophisticated kinda way. Though Craig wasn't a tough guy in this movie...he was still cool.
[ December 29, 2008, 05:01 PM: Message edited by: Ultra Jorge ]
Posted by Ghost of Numf-El on :
Haven't seen it myself, so I can't comment.
But I'd like to recommend another film for you - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
I saw it in the cinema about a fortnight ago - and laughed like a drain throughout.
It's about a thief who becomes an actor trying to be a private eye. It's got one foot in the pulp Private Eye novels / films, and the other in Lethal Weapon type buddy movies.
Not too surprisingly, since it's written and directed by Shane Black, the guy that wrote Lethal Weapon.
Starring Robert Downie Jnr and Val Kilmer, it's well worth a look.
No idea when it's out on DVD.
Posted by Lad Boy on :
Good Night and Good Luck.
Outstanding cinematography, acting and script.
Posted by Joe-Boy on :
Wolf Creek....sort of a "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" in the outback...very visceral horror that stays with you. Amazing Cinamatogrophy...technically theres nothing I could nitpick about it...and "Mick", the Villian, is scary as hell..especially when he is only shown in Silohuete (which is a good 50% of the movie)...and very familiar to us Australians (infact the actor who plays him - John Jarret - was the host of "Better Homes and Gardens" for years...now he's on a crappy outback soapie called "Mcleouds daughters")
Saw 2 - not so good...saw (pun intended) the inevitable "plot twist" ten minutes in (think Stockholm syndrome)...yes it was very gorey, there were some lame jokes ("its the last house on the left"), and its plot was ripped off from "Cube" (fantastic movie - "Cube 2-Hypercube" not so good) ((and to a lesser extent "House of 9" - avoid at all costs)) ...that scene with the needles though...left me a little shaken.
Going to See Harry Potter tomorow night.
Bought "Sin City" and "Napoleon Dynamite" today
Cant wait to see "Haught Tension" (High Tension) which Ive been told is "French Horror" at its best...Also keen to see "Hostel" - the New movie form Eli Roth who directed "Cabin Fever"
And Finally, Brokeback Mountain opens here soon...Im excited!!! gay cowboys!!! (well that and its an Ang Lee film, and it has Jake Gyllenhall in, and Annie Proulxs' Novella is pretty damn good aswell (I read it years ago)) in any case Ive heard good things Posted by Don Jorge del Oeste on :
Ghost, I was planning to check out Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Glad to hear it was good. Probably wait for dvd though.
Lad Boy, Good Night and Good Luck I am going to see asap! Looks great. Syriana as well. Clooney trying to spread some truth!!!
Joe Boy, I am seeing Potter on Sunday on IMAX. I am pumped. I also just bought Sin City (an all time fave for me!) and Mr. Dynamite! Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
I saw "Walk the Line" and it was good. Not great, but good performances in a film that's pretty much what you'd expect in a biopic about a musician.
I'm going to try to see "Rent" this weekend...
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I'm up for Rent on Sat., but might try to sneak in Good Night, Good Luck sometime soon.
Jorg, I saw Layer Cake and thoguht it was very good and entertaining. Like you said, not necessarily as good as Snatch or Guy Ritchie's films, but entertaining. Definately didn't have as strong humor. I really like Craig in this (never seen him in anything before) and am now confident he'd make a good Bond. Definately not a pretty boy, and has a rugged sense to him (while refined). And you're right--those Serbs were freakin' scary!
I've posted at lenght on Legion World about Sin City (see those threads). Needless to say, I thought it was genius.
I reccomend Cinderella Man, just out on DVD to everyone--a very good movie. I like Russel Crowe, despite how he's portrayed in the press.
Still waiting for the next Boondocks Saints/Donnie Darko/Kill Bill/Sin City to blow my mind...I feel like its been a good few months. Actually, I feel like I've just seen something excellent but for the life of me can't remember what it is.
Oh, and Goblet of Fire was a lot of fun. Tough when you've read all the books though and have to accept that lots of things must be left out, but very entertaining and true to the spirit of the books nonetheless (most importantly). Wish Ralph Fiennes could be scarier, but then again, that'd be *too* greedy of me given that its a kids film!
Posted by Joe-Boy on :
Its actually gotten an M15+ rating over here...But boy was it fun Posted by Don Jorge del Oeste on :
Cobalt, my fave all time films are the Usual Suspects, the Professional, and Pulp Fiction. I can now add Kill Bill and Sin City.
Ah another Boondock Saints fan!
Drake, I want to see Walk the Line...and my gf really wants to see it.
Posted by Joe-Boy on :
Walk the Line wont be here for awhile *sigh*
I bought some old skool horror today..."House on Haunted Hill" (Vincent Price not Geoffrey Rush) "Little Shop of Horrors" (Corman) and "Night of the Living Dead" (original)
hoooray!!!
So Ill be watching those and Pam Anderson in Stacked tonight.
Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
I saw "Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic" and was disappointed. I've liked her before on many occassions, but the film didn't do it for me. Maybe she's just better in small doses or her standup loses steam after awhile (the film itself has her standup intermixed with mocumentary scenes and songs).
Posted by Don Jorge del Oeste on :
I saw Kingdom of Heaven! It rocked. Very different from actual history but bah who cares!
Ridley Scott and the writers did good. They explained lots of the complicated politics through action. Also made Saladin very honorable which I liked. Again for the record the characters were very off from real history. Saladin seems was the only good guy in the whole true story. The film was beautiful from beggining to end.
Posted by Joe-Boy on :
Kingdom of Heaven didnt do much for me... Just saw Monster in Law...it was funny...but it was no Legally Blonde.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Ghost, i did see Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and loved it.
Any film with Michelle Monaghan and Shannyn Sossamon has got to rock. But Kilmer as a gay private eye! it was great. Downie was awesome as well.
Here are some of the films I've seen since 2005(!!!)
Lola rennt (Lola Run foreign film german) Festen (The Celebration foreign film german) Malena (Belluci) Irreversible (Belluci!) Stage Beauty The Libertine Vanity Fair 25th Hour Confessions of a Dangerous Mind Easy Rider (I'm curious about it) Proof Chinatown Lawrence of Arabia Taxi Driver The Sting Consant Gardener Equilibrium(Bale) Alfie
Posted by knowjack on :
Man, that Irreversible was one of the roughest things I've ever watched. I had an idea it would be violent, but MAN I wasn't expecting that.
I watched SHERRYBABY the other night with Maggie Gyllenhaal. It's a "small" movie where she plays a recovering addict who's out on parole and trying to reconnect with her daughter. She doesn't play a very "likeable" character, but her performance was amazing.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Lola Rennt was pretty good. Fun.
Festen was very depressing. Real good acting.
Malena was amazing. Great scenes of Sicily. Great story of how everybody just continued to get at her to finally she became what the false mean spirited gossip of the townsfolk suggested.
Irrevresible. Very disturbing. It start with the most disturbing scene I've ever seen. Than in the middle it has a horrible rape scene with Monica. It ends with a beautiful Monica froliking in her apartment naked for 15 minutes. I love Monica but this movie wasn't worth it. Part of my soul is darker now.
Stage Beauty? pretty good.
The Libertine? I expected more.
Vanity Fair? Eh. Glad I never read the book. Good acting all the way around. But no likable characters really.
25th Hour. pretty damn good. Norton directed by Spike Lee.
Easy Rider? Another classic that I just didn't care for. I guess it's one of those "you had to be there". Kind of like in comics with GDS or Kree-Skrull War.
Lawrence of Arabia on the other hand I loved. That was a great epic.
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind rocked!
What have you guys seen lately? What do you think of some of these movies?
[ May 04, 2007, 10:07 AM: Message edited by: Ultra Jorge ]
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Very cool movies I've seen somewhat recently that I reccomend:
Children of Men - sci-fi/commentary on humanity, excellent. Good Sheperd - for the acting alone Inside Man - Denzel and Clive Owen? Hell yes! Plus Jodi Foster being excellent (I'm iffy on her) 300 - Of course everyone knows I'd like this, but I have to at least say its probably my favorite movie since Kill Bill Part I Grindhouse - definitive movie going experience of 2007
Hm. Feel like there's been quite a few others.
Posted by Dream Girl on :
i recently watched a murder movie called "The Wolf" that didnt come out too long ago.
It was ok at the beginning, but towards the end it got more exciting, there was enough blood for a 13 year-old like myself.
But movies like this,they never quite satisfy me.
Posted by Dream Girl on :
The cool thing was it had Bon Jovi in it.
And this wont interest you watsoever, but i couldnt keep my eyes off him!Hehe!
He just looked real good is all.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Cobalt you and I continue having similiar tastes.
300 and Kill Bill (as well as Sin City) have joined my favorite movies list. (Usual Suspects, Pulp Fiction, and the Professional)
Children of Men? I liked it but thought it was missing something. But it was good. Just another that maybe I was expecting more? Some more explanation would've been nice.
Dream Girl, Bon Jovi? I used to like him when I was your age (in a hetero kind of way). When he started cutting his hair like a girl, getting highlights and plastic surgery I started making fun of him. (again in europe I see bon jovi graffiti?! he's like hasselhoff over there!)
Posted by Dream Girl on :
Hey, same here, i only listen to very few of his songs anyway...
What the heck do you mean with Bon Jovi graffiti? Oh well, (you dont have to answer that).
The movie was good otherwise.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
quote:Originally posted by Dream Girl: Hey, same here, i only listen to very few of his songs anyway...
What the heck do you mean with Bon Jovi graffiti? Oh well, (you dont have to answer that).
The movie was good otherwise.
DG, lol. In Italy quite a few times I saw shapree marker on posts "Bon Jovi forever!" or I love Bon Jovi. I saw a few times in spain as well.
What was Wolf about? Was it an American or German film?
Posted by Joeboy Harvestar on :
Its actually Cry_Wolf...probably had a different title in Germany.
Posted by Stealth on :
Count me in among the Boondock Saints fans.
Every time I go to Blockbuster, I keep forgetting to look for the Russian horror movie Night Watch.
Grindhouse, or at least the Planet Terror half and the fake trailers, has inspired me to inventory my horror film collection.
The ones I have that I would definitely recommend are:
Tenebrae (aka Unsane), Suspiria, Deep Red, A Lizard in a Woman's Skin (aka Schizoid), The Beyond (aka Seven Doors of Death), City of the Living Dead (aka Gates of Hell), House by the Cemetery, Zombi 2 (aka Zombie), Black Sunday, Black Sabbath, Baron Blood, Lisa and the Devil, Kill Baby Kill...I'm probably forgetting some. And yes, those are all Italian horror movies. It's my favorite country for horror movies.
Diabolik (aka Danger: Diabolik) is not a horror film, but I think everyone should see it (and don't anybody mention that it was on Mystery Science Theater 3000 -- I loved that show, but I'm still angry that they lumped Diabolik in with the genuinely bad movies.) The Diabolik DVD is outstanding -- one of the people interviewed is Steve Bissette!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Jorg, we definately have the same taste in a lot of movies. The 25th Hour is something I remember wanting to see when it came out but forgot all about. Spike Lee has blown me away in the past but also let me down, while Norton is brillant 90% of the time.
Stealth, Suspiria is one of my favorite horror movies of all time (think I've mentioned it to JoeBoy in fact before). Highly, highly reccommend it to all. I actually have been thinking of watching a 'guilty pleasure' horror movie I own, Prom Night. Not the hardest mystery to crack, but those scenes with the kids are so damn creepy!
Posted by Stealth on :
Yay! Another Suspiria fan.
Suspiria is not only a great horror movie, it's a masterful exercise in pure cinema. Here's a review I did of it:
I've just recently started getting into Italian horror movies too!
'Saw Suspiria' a while ago and really enjoyed that. I just bought 'The Bird With The Crystal Plumage' DVD and loved that one as well. And a few years ago I rented 'Bay of Blood' (also known as 'Twitch of the Death Nerve' - GREAT title!) - what a warped movie! SO SO original. I've truly never seen another horror movie like it.
'Deep Red' and 'Zombi 2' have been on my "must-see" list for about 10 years now but the rest of your recommendations are new to me Stealth. Definitely going to look out for them though!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Two movies I forgot to mention that were great.
The Illusionist and Prestige.
Cobalt, Norton rocked in the Illusionist! Batman and Wolverine rocked in the Prestige.
Never heard of Suspiria. I will try to check it out. Not a big horror fan though.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
*bump*
I just saw Blue Velvet. Um...um...
I'm a David Lynch fan so I wanted to check this out. Scary. Gave me nightmares. My wife was disturbed. It wasn't even that good. Ohwell.
Posted by dedman on :
I just got my DVD's from my DVD club, I'll be watching them over the next few days (between bar-hopping ) They are: Dark City Saving Private Ryan Da Vinci Code Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning Shaun of the Dead Shawshank Redemption
I also ordered some more, Pan's Labyrinth, 5th element and the Bourne Conpiracy...should haev those in a week or two
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I'm part of blockbuster online and I love it.
dedman thise are all good movies. I've seen them all save Texas Chainsaw.
Shawshank is probably my fave. Very overwhelming. Though I always loved Dark City.
Posted by Stealth on :
Dark City is awesome.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I saw Curse of the Golden Flower. Big chinese epic with Chow Yun-Fat. It was pretty good. Big family imperial court drama. No Crouching Tiger but it was a beautiful film. They went all out with the visuals.
Posted by Stealth on :
Omg, I love Curse of the Golden Flower. I had the good luck of seeing it at the movie theater. Astonishing spectacle! I almost never go to the movie theater anymore, but movies like Curse of the Golden Flower are a reminder that sometimes it's worth it.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
I needed emotional release so I've been watching movies at which guys are legally permitted to tear up.
Brian's Song The Green Mile To Sir with Love (teachers only).
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Stealth, it looked pretty good on my 50inch LCD flatscreen. I agree one of the most amazing visual experiences i've had.
Lately, i go to the IMAX theater for the few films I see a year.
Blockade, man those were sad. Should've watched Million Dollar baby to go along with it. Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
With Tommy Lee Jones and Barry Pepper. Janurary Jones! hot.
I didn't dig all that much. My friends highly recommended it.
It takes place in a border town in Texas. It's a very small town and quite depressing. It was a bit out there. The ending sure didn't help. There wasn't much of one.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I saw Eragon this last weekend. It was good. I can tell it was meant for kids. It was very much a cross between Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.
Good actors! Lots of big actors. One not so "big" actor was Sienna Guillory who I may be in love with. She was Helen of Troy once after all. She is also part cuban. She is perfect.
Posted by Stealth on :
Inspired by the discussion of Curse of the Golden Flower, I dusted off a couple of videos I haven't watched for years, both of sword-and-fantasy movies from Hong Kong -- Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain (early 80s) and The Bride With White Hair (early 90s).
I watched Zu and it seemed a lot more like a kiddie movie than I remembered it; in fact, I'm not even sure if kids today would go for it, as the special effects could charitably be described as dated. But it does at the very least deserve respect for breaking new ground at the time of its original release.
Tonight, I'm going to watch Bride With White Hair, another one that broke new ground in its time. Hopefully this one stands the test of time better.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Something the Lord Made: a HBO movie with Mos Def (the guy can act). For those that like the underdog movies, this one might interest on a couple levels. Def plays a black (lol) maintenance worker that rigs a tool for a heart surgeon that solves a problem that had been preventing operation on blue babies. Well done, true, not preachy but the message gets across.
Revolt of the Zombies: similar to Something the Lord Made, heh, no not really. $2 used at the local Gamespot, three zombie movies on one DVD, including the one the only, Night of the Living Dead.
Better than the quarter bins are the used DVD bins.
Posted by Stealth on :
quote:Originally posted by Blockade Boy: Better than the quarter bins are the used DVD bins.
I'll say. A few months ago, I found a cheap copy of the B&W Mexican horror "classic" The Brainiac, the one about the guy who eats brains with a spoon and periodically turns into a demon whose head expands and contracts (possibly the cheapest monster mask in film history.)
It just occured to me...Robert Rodriguez should do a remake!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Stealth, let me know which Hong Kong are worth seeing. I loved the Killer and Hard Boiled. Haven't seen much of the fantasy/legendary stuff.
Also interested in the old Kurosawa Japanese films.
Posted by Stealth on :
Jorge, my top recommendation would be the aforementioned Bride With White Hair. When I watched it last night, it was even better than I remembered. And unlike Zu, it quite gracefully gets around the limitations of the budget and of the technology at the time. And the characters and the deep themes and the symbolism that give the movie more substance than usual for this kind of spectacle. Just make sure you don't accidentally get the inessential sequel, Bride With White Hair 2.
Have you seen the one from a couple years ago, Hero? If not, I'd recommend that one, too.
Now I'm gonna have to rent Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. I haven't seen it since it was in the theaters.
Oh, and the Killer and Hard Boiled are favorites of mine, too, especially Hard Boiled.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I was to see Hero asap! My friends all loved that movie. They also liked Fearless by Jet Li.
And yes Hard Boiled rocks!!!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I saw Bobby. It was pretty darn good. Actually while it was entertaining I started to ask myself...all this better tie in or not this movie might suck. Oh it tied in. I won't ruin for you guys but it was pretty cool.
I was impressed with Emilio Estevez's directing and most of his writing. There were some very cliched writing in some scenes.
Some very good acting jobs as well. A ton of good actors were in it.
Harry Belafonte? I never thought of him as a good actor. He did pretty good here.
Nick Cannon? Isn't he like a Nickolodean kid actor? Guy did great.
Helen Hunt did an amazing job. I consider a real actor someone who acts completely different in every role. She pulls it off. I didn't think of her at all as 'Helen Hunt'. She also looked great.
Joshua Jackson? So I never liked this guy. Thought he was just some young punk actor. Heard he was dating someone hot that I love (but forgot who right now). Hated the guy. He won me over. He did a great job here and finally looks like a man vs. a teen actor. Good for him.
Shia Labeouf? Again I was just talking smack about this kid. I think I just got sick of him playing the same character. He did a great job. Sadly Transformers probably won't help his acting career. He needs to do more films like this.
William H. Macy? Actually he did just all right. He did have a few scenes towards the end I liked. When his life was getting complicated. btw, I've met Mr. Macy and he's the nicest human being in the world. No really.
Freddy Rogriguez did an amazing job. Lindsay Lohan? It's a shame cause while she isn't great...she isn't bad. She's got talent. I hope she gets her stuff together.
Pretty good movie and I'm not a bleeding liberal either. (ofcourse of you don't carry a gun, a bible, and drive a pickup you might get accussed of being a bleeding liberal)
[ June 11, 2007, 12:11 PM: Message edited by: Ultra Jorge ]
Posted by Joeboy on :
Ill tell you what I WONT be watching. "John Rambo". ew.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I'm a bit over Stallone. I haven't seen the latest Rocky and don't have plans for it either. Won't see Rambo either.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Saw two movies this weekened.
The Painted Veil with Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, and Liev Schreiber. Three of my favorite actors. And the reason I wanted to see it is because of another film. Up at the Villa is a good movie taking place in preWWII Italy. I really liked that film and the same author wrote both novels.
Well? It was OK. Great acting but a bit boring for my tastes. In all those 1920s books it seems the anti-heroine is the same. I am not sure if the writers are trying to portray them as feminist or worse. They all have spunk, they all sleep around, and will it never ends good does it?
I've wondered in the past that men and women are the same. Women should be able to do everything a man does and be judged the same. Why do women want to bring themselves down to our levels? It's not pretty for man or woman.
Still this movie is a long road and the heroine certainly gains much respect. She cheats on him pretty early on and it's a long road to forgiveness. Also the fact that people would just marry whoever your parents approve of is a big factor. He knew she didn't love him when they married.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
The other movie I saw (speaking of feminism) is Bound.
The Wachowski brothers doing a lesbian/mob movie? I was worried. But it was pretty good. Corky (Gina Gershon) is a butch ex-con handy woman. Violet (Jennifer Tilly) is the girlfriend of a mobster. Sparks fly. I liked it lots. Yes we have women acting like men doing bad things but they prove they are smarter than men.
I was rooting for Corky all the way in this one. At the end it was nice to see she never became a damsel in distress yet kept it realistic when she's flat out fighting mobsters. There was no kung-fu theatrics here where Corky is beating up all the mobsters with her high kicks. No this was gritty.
I saw some David Lynch in it as well and I always love that. Posted by Pov on :
Bound was teh hottness. Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I saw Ocean's 13 this last weekend. It was all right.
My wife and best friend are pop culture junkies of sort. Ok, that isn't fair. They atleast pick the cooler stuff and to tell the trith are quite oblivious to pop culture for months at a time. In other words they love star studded fun films like this.
It wasn't as good as the first two. I liked the second one alot just cause it was in Europe.
The film was successful in my eyes but it wasn't that strong. It seemed rush. I paid extra for a premium theater and the sound quality was horrible. (this is why i watch films at home!)
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Saw Casino Royale. It rocked! Now that's how James Bond is suppossed to be. Not too suave. Rugged yet refined.
Also saw Chelsea Wall's which was...ok. Actually I fell asleep on two different nights trying to finish it. I never finished it. It didn't suck but it really didn't hold my attention.
Posted by Ram Boy on :
Saw "Stoned", a story about the death of Rolling Stnes founder Brian Jones, a couple of days ago. I thought it was awesome (Monet Mazur, who I've never heard of before, is stunning.) But then when I checked out what some film critics had to say after it's release, they didn't care for it. ehh, critics.
Just bought "300". We'll probably watch it tommorrow night. Looks beefy and I'm hoping it's not too violent (bloody beef = yuck.)
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Ram Boy, I never heard of Stoned. Maybe I'll check it out.
300 was awesome!
Posted by Ram Boy on :
I hear you, Ultra Jorge. I hadn't heard of it either and it's been out for almost two years. The opening sequence when they find his body in a pool was incredible. And even though I'm gay, I love looking at a beautiful blonde as much as the next guy who likes looking at beautiful blondes. And Monet Mazur is one of those Julie Christie type beautiful blondes (my favorite variety.)
Speaking of beautiful blondes, my favorite movie of all time this month is Nicholas Nickleby. Another movie that I didn't know existed until a few months ago. The beautiful blonde is Charlie Hunnam and he's actually prettier than his costar Anne Hathaway (no really.)
It also has to be the gayest version of Nicholas Nickleby (or any Dickens story, for that matter) ever made. Though Charlie and Anne are the love interests, the movies main focus is on the relationship between Nicholas and Smike. Throw in Nathan Lane, a pink horse, and Dame Edna Everidge, and well, it's pretty gay.
But still you don't have to be gay to enjoy it. In fact if you're not gay most of the references will probably go right over your head (think Pee Wee's Playhouse). So don't let that stop you from seeing it if you haven't. Christopher Plummer's performance alone makes it worthwhile. Also, the cinematographer and art director didn't miss a beat so it's amazing to look at.
Posted by Pov on :
Grass grow.
Fascinating!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Ram Boy it sounds funny. I love Nathan Lane. I am sure some stuff will fly over my head (e.g.nelliest).
Plus I love Anne Hathaway. Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Entourage. I loved this show since it came out. I've always been a Jeremy Piven fan (met him in miami once...he had a yellow ferrari. must be nice).
Anyways, I will just comment on the Day &@%*ers episode. I thought when I saw Turtle in the bunny outfit the show had jumped the shark. But when I saw the ending with Drama in the outfit. I laughed for like 10 minutes straight. Literally cried and hit rewind about 3 times. My wife was not amused. Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I love Entourage, one of my favorite shows. One of the funniest shows ever on TV. That being said, I watch it in DVD form since I don't have HBO, so I haven't watched most of season three or four. Still, I catch espisodes when I travel (which is a lot), and I saw the bunny outfit one--hysterical.
Great, great show. Also saw the documentary making of mediian episode--one of the funniest episodes EVER!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
All right Cobie I know I could count on you! It's such escapism for guys really. It reminds me of those years between 24 to 27 when my friends and i finally got decent jobs after college and try to act "money" to pick up the chicks, etc.
Anyways, everything Drama or Ari says just makes me laugh. great show.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Anyone see Damages on FX? Rose Byrne, Glenn Close? Pretty darn good show.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Also saw that! (You can count on me )
Actually pretty darn good, as you say. Its definately got my attention and I'm dying to see it play out.
Never was a fan of Glenn Close until the Shield season four (or was it five?), but consider me one now. She kills it here. Love Tate Donovon and Ted Dansen does a great job. Lots of other actors shining and Rose Byrne is the surprise star of each scene she's in.
Yet another example of why FX is where its at these days for this type of intense drama on television.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Been a fan of Rose Byrne since Troy and then Wicker Park (which had the other starring female of Troy).
Posted by walkwithcrowds on :
Heroes has just started showing over here.
I've on;y seen the first three episodes so far but I am hooked.
The first couple of episodes were a bit slow but there seem to be a lot of plotlines they are setting up.
Hiro is my new God by the way.
His, absolute, joy in the use of his powers is infectious and the moment when he teleported to New York left me with a big, goofy grin all over my face.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
walkwithcrowds, Heroes is a great show. My wife is not a comic book person at all and it became her favorite show. My daughter as well (11) not into comics and this is her favorite show. (she's a cheerleader)
Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
I'm really liking "Burn Notice" on USA lately. It's a good summer show - good enough to rise above other summer fare, but might've gotten edged out against the regular season shows. I'm definitely interested to see where the main plotline goes and it's always fun to see all the little "spy tricks" he lets us in on every week.
Posted by Stealth on :
This past weekend, I saw an excellent 2-part documentary on VH1. It was called NY77: The Coolest Year in Hell, and it focused on all the unpleasant things in New York City 30 years ago: urban decay, Son of Sam, the beginnings of my two least favorite music genres, hip-hop and punk rock, etcetera. I always like it when a movie or TV show or documentary refuses to sanitize the past, but instead illuminates how similar the past is to the present. I'm thankful that, as bad as Southeast Florida is right now, it's still not as bad as New York City in '77.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
drake, i like burn notice. i've seen a couple of episodes. gotta catchup with it.
Stealth, i am watching The Bronx is Burning which is an ESPN series about the summer of 77 in NYC from the Yankees perspective. It's pretty good. Two of my favorite actors are in it John Turturro and Oliver Platt. (i saw Daniel Sunjata when i went to nyc a few weeks ago. he's pretty but his acting needs a bit of work)
Stealth, where in FL are you? Us Floridians have to stick together. Posted by armsfalloffboy on :
I watched The Prestige last night on DVD. I was completely blown away. My wife and I kept throwing out theories about what was going on--the movie kept a nearly perfect balance between confusing you and revealing just enough to keep you completely enthralled. Bale and Jackman (whew! How man-crush worthy can a guy be?) were brilliant. First movie in a while I've just adored.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
armsfalloffboy, aye and aye again! One of the best films I've ever seen. I was blown away. My friend told me there was...a twist. I figured out the Bale part early on. (don't want to give this away!) But it just amazed me.
Which reminds me. I need to see that film.
Bale and Russell Crowe have a western coming out. Bale looks very...Eastwoodish in it.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Jorg, I've also been watching the Bronx is Burning (man, are tastes in TV are about as similar as can get ). Great show so far! Like the show Stealth is watching, it really does a good job of showing NYC in 1977. I'm a major Yankees fan too, so that is the most pleasing part for me (I love Nettles, Munson, Chambliss, Randolph and others, but generally dislike Reggie Jackson b/c he wasn't a life long Yankee).
John Turturo is one of my fave actors too. Sunjata (sp?) is the man on Rescue Me, so I like him here a lot too.
I love how the show NYC in the 70's and 80's as being as dirty, rugged and slimy as it was. Guiliano really cleaned it up. NYC is so much nicer now its like a whole nother city. Lots of cities are like that now (Chicago, even Baltimore to a degree...not so much Detroit ).
The Son of Sam scenes have been very intense, as was the riot.
Posted by Stealth on :
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: Stealth, where in FL are you? Us Floridians have to stick together.
We do indeed.
I'm in Hollywood, a little bit north of Miami. [sarcasm]Lovely place. [/sarcasm]
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: NYC is so much nicer now its like a whole nother city. Lots of cities are like that now
What I wanna know is, when is it Miami's turn?
And thanks, guys, for the recommendations of Bronx is Burning; I don't usually watch ESPN, so I had no idea they were doing movies now.
Oh, one other thing: there wouldn't have been a riot like the New York '77 one in Ecuador, because blackouts are so common there. LOL
[ August 14, 2007, 08:04 PM: Message edited by: Stealth ]
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Cobie, my godmother lived in NYC her whole life so I visited alot as a kid. I agree 100% about Guliani cleaning it up. It's like night & day. When I last visited my friend made a comment that Guliani "disneyfied nyc"...like that was a bad thing. I will take disneyfied any day before what it was. It's called a nice, clean, safe city.
Stealth, regarding Miami. I also have visited the southeast region since I was knee high. Have family in Hollywood, West Palm, Miami, etc. You know I saw Miami get a bit better in 90's. Sure it was too trendy but hey that was better than trashy. The last couple times I went though (last year and in 2004) it seemed a bit more trashy than it should be. It attracted quite a deviant crowd. And I'm all for some deviants...but it was a bit scary again. Lots of bums, etc.
Posted by Ram Boy on :
Just watched Miss Potter. I enjoy period movies (my partner calls them Big Skirt Movies. As in; "Oh no! Not another..."), and this one was wonderful.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
See I hate "chick flicks" but I love period pieces? I guess the history nerd in me digs them.
Ram Boy, so was Miss Potter crazy? Or just very imaginitive? And what characters did she create again? Posted by Ram Boy on :
Well, I'm just guessing here, but I'd say because she was productive and making money for her publishing house, she wasn't considered crazy. Had she just been some lady who talked to her drawings and DIDN'T make money for anybody, they might very well have locked her up.
From watching the movie I'd say that Peter Rabbit, was her most memorable character. But aside from that, her most notable accomlishment as far as I'm concerned, would be buying thousands of acres of land in England's Lake District, and then leaving it to the British people in a trust. Very cool.
Posted by Stealth on :
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: Stealth, regarding Miami. I also have visited the southeast region since I was knee high. Have family in Hollywood, West Palm, Miami, etc. You know I saw Miami get a bit better in 90's. Sure it was too trendy but hey that was better than trashy. The last couple times I went though (last year and in 2004) it seemed a bit more trashy than it should be. It attracted quite a deviant crowd. And I'm all for some deviants...but it was a bit scary again. Lots of bums, etc.
Yeah, I used to see a therapist on Lincoln Road, and there were always bums on the bottom floor of the building. As you said, scary.
The good news is that she's now semi-retired and living on the other coast of Florida, not far from Tampa as a matter of fact; her and I have the occassional phone session, for free.
And earlier tonight, I watched the first disc of the Best of Bravestarr DVD. (For those unfamiliar with it, Bravestarr was an 80s cartoon that cross-bred the western and space opera genres; the titular hero was a Native American sheriff with mystical powers.) Back in the day, it wasn't my favorite cartoon, but seeing the feature-film pilot for the first time was awe-inspiring. It must have been the only time that Filmation had a decent budget to work from (they also did She-Ra, He-Man, Flash Gordon, 60s Superman, etc.) The irony is that, for all the money they put into it, Bravestarr was a ratings/toy sales flop that pretty much destroyed Filmation.
[ August 15, 2007, 11:28 PM: Message edited by: Stealth ]
Posted by walkwithcrowds on :
BRAVESTAR!!!
Oh Man I used to LOOOOOVE that cartoon.
What was it again?
"Eyes of the eagle!! Strength of the bear!! Speed of the puma!!"
I think there may have been another power as well.
He had a cool, talking, robot horse.
Oh, and the Judge was HOT!!
...but not as hot as the redhead from Scoobt Doo
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Bravestar sounds vaguely familiar. I can imagine the costume. Futuristic cowboy uni but he was native american.
Another vague memory was the Jace guy in the plant trucks? He had a guy called Herc?! Jace had a rogue hairstyle. Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Cobie, I've seen Rescue Me a couple of times and really like it I just don't have the time (even with the DVR).
Speaking of Burn Notice on USA...has the Dead Zone fizzled out? I used to love it but this season so far...sucks. I've only seen like the first 4 episodes.
4400 has got my interest again.
(I need to watch more movies and less tv darn it!)
Posted by Stealth on :
quote:Originally posted by walkwithcrowds: "Eyes of the eagle!! Strength of the bear!! Speed of the puma!!"
I think there may have been another power as well.
He had a cool, talking, robot horse.
"Bravestarr -- eye of the hawk, ear of the wolf. Bravestarr -- strength of the bear, speed of the puma."
The horse -- Thirty-Thirty was his name -- was my favorite character. An ornery ol' cuss with a heart of gold and a trusty shotgun he calls Sarah Jane. (for those who might be puzzled, Thirty-Thirty could shift from quadriped to biped, and in biped mode, he had humanoid hands instead of hooves.) He was more a cyborg than a robot, though.
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: Another vague memory was the Jace guy in the plant trucks? He had a guy called Herc?! Jace had a rogue hairstyle.
Ha ha. Jayce all the other good guys on his show had girly hairstyles. But personally, I've always liked girly hair on men.
The problem I had with Jayce's show was that the title sequence always had more action than the actual episode.
Great theme song, though. "WHEELED WARRIORS..."
Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
Yeah, "Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors" was a cool show. It was a bit of a "Star Wars" ripoff, but still entertaining enough.
I'm also enjoying "4400" these days and finding myself losing interest in "Dead Zone". I was mostly just interested in the storyline with the evil politician anyway.
Posted by Omni Craig on :
Dead Zone's not the same without Walt... I've lost interest in it too!
I like the campiness of Burn Notice.
Posted by Omni Craig on :
Did anyone else watch the Spike TV mini-series "Kill Point"? There's only 1 episode left, next Sunday night. It was 8 hours in all, about a bank robbery that goes wrong, so they take hostages and will only talk to this one police negotiator, who the chief hates because he makes up the rules as he goes along... I know the premise sounds "done to death" but there have been some pretty good turns along the way:
Click Here For A SpoilerFor example one of the hostages is the daughter of a wealthy guy, so he offers to try and get the criminals (ex-military unit who went to Iraq) an escape route. Also, the hostage takers try and get public sympathy by saying some of their demands are for every soldier in Iraq to have bulletproof vests, and for all Senators in Congress who have children of age to enlist in the military and get sent over to Iraq...
In another episode the hostages get the upper hand on the robbers briefly. Meanwhile there are also other members of the H.T.'s military unit on the outside who start trying to find their brothers another way out of the bank (even killing a hitman and taking out a few SWAT snipers along the way). And on the comical side of things there's a couple who has spent the entire time in a closet (they had snuck into the closet for a "quickie" moments before the bank got robbed...talk about poor timing!). They were finally discovered by the H.T.s this week.
It will be interesting to see how it all plays out next week!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Omni, I agree after Walt died I've lost interest(Dead Zone).
I haven't seen Kill Point but it sounds cool. John Leguizamo and Donnie Wahlberg. It's a mini-series right?
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
The Cat's Meow
Pretty good film. I'm a huge Orson Welles fan and got hint of this by a tangent. Mostly the Welles/Hearst connection(Citizen Kane).
The Cat's Meow is about a real party on Hearst's yacht. It had a number of famous people and one of them died(or was killed). Writer/director Thomas Ince died under mysterious circumstances. The sad part is the party was for his birthday.
It was said he died of a heart attack but rumors suggested he was shot in the head by Hearst. The famous people on the boat never talked about it. Among the famous people the most famous was Charlie Chaplin and Marion Davies. It was said they were having an affair and Hearst was very jealous. He accidently killed Ince thinking he was Chaplain.
Personally I believe it. Hearst seemed to be an evil man in everything I've heard about him.
Kirsten Dunst played Marion Davies. This film made her seem not as bad as other reports of her. Joanna Lumley did an amazing job and played erotic fiction novelist Elinor Glyn. Jenniffer Tilly played much hated gossip columnist Louella Parsons. Eddie Izzard played Chaplain. I don't want to sound mean but Eddie is just a bit hard to look at. Atleast in this film. He's got a villain's face.
I enjoyed the film. It was directed by Peter Bogdanovich. It really captured that 1920s spirit.
Posted by armsfalloffboy on :
"Dogfights" on the History Channel. I'm not much for the war documentaries these days, but they've got really cool computer reenactments of fighter v. fighter action. Fun to watch.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
After the Michael Vick fiasco I wonder how long they will keep calling it Dog Fights. Posted by armsfalloffboy on :
ewww.
Posted by Lance's realm on :
I also have been watching "Damages." I am quite enjoying this show. I also started watching "Flash Gordon" on SciFi, but am less than thrilled with it. I've seen only the first episode though, so I'll give it a bit longer. The only other thing I am watching now is "LA Law." I love syndication!
Posted by armsfalloffboy on :
I'm going back and watching all of the Dr. Whos i've DVRed over the summer...Daleks again? Really? I'm starting to get the feeling that sometimes I get from the postboot Legion--haven't we been here before? Am I supposed to know who the floating head is? Who's the cat lady? I'm sure that if I'd been watching Who on the Beeb for the last forty years, all of this stuff would mean something, but I haven't been, which just makes it kind of irritating. I do love the new woman, whose name escapes me. Wicked hot.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
You know I've never seen Doctor Who. I mean as a kid I saw them on PBS. It was reruns of the one with big curly hair from the early to mid seventies.
Anybody recommend any of the newer stuff?
Posted by armsfalloffboy on :
If you've got an extra hour a week, it's good fun.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Haven't watched a movie in a while. I knocked two out this weekend.
The Good Shepherd. Starring Matt Damon with a ton of famous people. GREAT MOVIE! Not sure why I liked it so much. It had a real boring CIA vibe...no action. I guess it was the retro stylized look of the CIA (or pre-CIA) of the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Cuba played a big part as well. Bay of Pigs/Bahia de los Cuchinos...my grandfather was detained in Cuba when that happened though he wasn't involved. Horrible story of how him and a few hundred men were detained in a theater for a week. I might tell it one day.
Anyways great film! I love history, i love the time period, i love the Yale Ivy League stuff, the Cambridge(Five spys...Crudup did a great job!), the english, russian, cuban connections.
The other film I saw was Lady in the Water. I heard bad things but it was better than I expected. My wife and I are big M.Night fans (writer/director) but this movie didn't draw us like his other ones. We were pleasantly suprised and won't doubt M. Night again. He rocks.
Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
This was a big movie week for me, in and out of theaters: Bourne Ultimatum - really clever how they wove in pieces of the last movie into this one. All the spy/counterspy survellance stuff got kinda tired, but still a great spy flick Transformers - Had to see it just to see it. Got what I expected from a Michael bay film. And yes, the Transformers were almost impossible to look at - like walking scrap piles. The Prestige - very good film about obsession and illusions. The Illusionist - not so very good film about the same.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Drake, I badly want to see Bourne Ultimatum! Transformers I want to see but haven't had a chance.
I actually love The Prestige and the Illusionist. The Prestige is much better though.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: Haven't watched a movie in a while. I knocked two out this weekend.
The Good Shepherd. Starring Matt Damon with a ton of famous people. GREAT MOVIE! Not sure why I liked it so much. It had a real boring CIA vibe...no action. I guess it was the retro stylized look of the CIA (or pre-CIA) of the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Cuba played a big part as well. Bay of Pigs/Bahia de los Cuchinos...my grandfather was detained in Cuba when that happened though he wasn't involved. Horrible story of how him and a few hundred men were detained in a theater for a week. I might tell it one day.
Anyways great film! I love history, i love the time period, i love the Yale Ivy League stuff, the Cambridge(Five spys...Crudup did a great job!), the english, russian, cuban connections.
The other film I saw was Lady in the Water. I heard bad things but it was better than I expected. My wife and I are big M.Night fans (writer/director) but this movie didn't draw us like his other ones. We were pleasantly suprised and won't doubt M. Night again. He rocks.
As usual I'm with you on both!
The Good Sheperd was a solid movie that I really enjoyed. I thought along the same lines: "wow, this *should* seem really boring to me, but I'm pretty into it!". I thought the acting was spot-on and CIA connection to the Yale secret societies (and Britain's spy community) was worth watching the movie for that alone.
I was more positive going into Lady in the Water, but I also enjoyed it immensely. It was definately more off-beat and a 'smaller' film for M. Night, but that almost made it more enjoyable for me, since it was so much for him and his diehard fans, which I consider myself. Paul Giamatti, one of the greatest actors, well, ever, knocked it out of the park. When he finally breaks down near the end...well, that was enough to wow me. An emotional tide hit me, similar to Mel Gibson's breakdown at the close of Signs, showing that M. Knight knows when to give these guys the room to flex their acting muscles and use both the musical score and montage to create an emotional release after a build of dramatic tension.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Lady in the Water was definitely underrated! Not M. Night's best movie by far, but certainly good.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I wouldn't mind M.Night directing somebody else's scripts. For instance he is interested in doing a Potter film. That would rock!
Even though he is suppossed to write/direct a live action adaption of Avatar: The Last Airbender it's still not "his" property so it will be different. He did write the screenplay for the first Stuart Little film. Posted by Stealth on :
I've got to watch a movie soon. I haven't contributed to this thread for eons.
Lately, I've been enjoying one of my greatest guilty pleasures on DVD -- Mission: Impossible. I was really into the show during the mid-90s, when the FX channel was showing reruns of it. A lot of stuff stretches credibility too far (people being fooled by rubber masks, to name the most obvious example), and if I took the political subtexts seriously for a moment, I would be horrified with myself for watching it. On the other hand, the cinematography and production values of the first few seasons are of big-screen quality, the editing style was groundbreaking, and all this exquisite technique is showcased in some of the best remastering I've ever seen for a TV show DVD. M:I Season Three, my favorite season, is due in November, and I'm counting the days.
Posted by Ram Boy on :
After catching only two consecutive episodes of Stargate Atlantis, I’m now a fan. The storyline so far, involves using bio weapons to turn their arch enemies, the Wraiths(?) into humans so as not to be eaten by them anymore. (how fun is THAT?)
On a less inspiring note, I caught Brian DePalma’s Blow Out on TV a couple nights ago. Yikes. I was actually rooting for John Lithgow to strangle Nancy Allen so she couldn’t talk in that squeaky Bronx accent anymore. There’s a horrible scene where her and Dennis Franz are attacking each other with bad accents………
It does make me want to watch Michelangelo Antonioni’s Blowup again. It’s been a few years since I’ve seen it and I don't have it on DVD yet.
Posted by Rockhopper Lad on :
My birthday present to myself this year was the 1990 Canadian TV series Dracula: The Series on DVD.
It's cheesy, campy and silly, but it's also a whole lot of fun.
Geordie Johnson as "Alexander Lucard" (aka Dracula) is just yummy. We also get to see Geraint Wyn Davies in a pre-Forever Knight vampire role, though one less tortured than Nick Knight.
The only problem with the show is those annoying kids and their uncle keep getting away! Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Stealth, i saw the first MI but my friends love 2 and 3. I gotta watch them.
Ram Boy, I've been waiting to see Blow Out for a while now. I have an obsession with Jane Birkin in her younger days. Posted by Stealth on :
Jorge, I think there's been a misunderstanding here. I was talking about Mission: Impossible the 60s TV show, not Mission: Impossible the movies.
Posted by kid chaos on :
I'll be watching the season premiere of "Its Always Sunny in Philedelphia" this Thurs on FX!
Its the funniest show since Arrested Development!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Stealth, yes i did misunderstood. Sorry.
Kid Chaos, I've never heard of that show but I was a huge fan of Arrested Development (have all the DVDs). I will check for it on FX.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by kid chaos: I'll be watching the season premiere of "Its Always Sunny in Philedelphia" this Thurs on FX!
Its the funniest show since Arrested Development!
This show is beyond hysterical!
Jorg, check out ASAP! Its the kind of show that you feel filthy afterwards for finding so amusing. Adding Danny Devito in the second season was brillant. This is the funniest he's ever been in his career.
Posted by Pov on :
Woohoo!
Season two of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team starts tonight on CMT!
Half the fun tonight is watching those self-delusional girls who don't have a chance of making the competition... sorta like the AI try-outs, only instead of lousy singing, there's bad choreography and scaaaary jiggling...
Then next week it gets BETTER! Posted by Quislet, Esq. on :
quote:Originally posted by armsfalloffboy: I'm going back and watching all of the Dr. Whos i've DVRed over the summer...Daleks again? Really? I'm starting to get the feeling that sometimes I get from the postboot Legion--haven't we been here before? Am I supposed to know who the floating head is? Who's the cat lady? I'm sure that if I'd been watching Who on the Beeb for the last forty years, all of this stuff would mean something, but I haven't been, which just makes it kind of irritating. I do love the new woman, whose name escapes me. Wicked hot.
Actually the floating head (the Face of Boe) was introduced in the first season (Eccelston) of the revived series. The cat lady was introduced in the second season (1st season of Tennant)
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Dead Zone fans. The first few episodes really didn't do much for me but then it picked up. The pulpish episode on a train and then the episode at a train station got my interest. I do like when we get away from the main plot. Dead Zone is back.
I see some more Canadian actors and possible locales. Some budget cutting? Not that Maine is that expensive to film in.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Jorg, are you still watching Damages? I've missed more than half the episodes, but ever time I tune in (like this week) I'm totally hooked back in. The acting and plot are just too damn engrossing. I admit right out though that I'm definately a 'DVD Season' watcher of shows, and perhaps that's where I can get hooked here.
BTW, anyone see any new shows this year that look interesting? Just the one with my boy from Rome with time travel for me (which looks kick-ass BTW).
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
As far as network shows, Pushing Daisies is my choice for best bet for new shows.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Cobalt, I am pissed off at my DVR. It hasn't recorded the last two Damages I think. The last I saw is when Glen Close rehired the guy from Space Camp. I love that show need to watch the ones I missed.
oh, Borders had a special of 40% off any (ONE) boxed DVD set. I mistook the promo for ALL DVD sets 40% off. I walked up there with Rome Season 1 & 2 ($100 each!) and Heroes season 1. The cashier let me know the 40% can only be used for one. I got Rome season 1.
And yes I plan to watch Lucius Vorenus aka the Son of Hades aka Kevin McKidd in Journey Man as well.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Rome = THE BEST show of all the great shows I've watched these last few years. Probably tied with Veronica Mars. Even better than Lost & others.
Long live the 13th Legion!!!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Rome was amazing. Certainly one of my favorite shows since...Twin Peaks?
Posted by Ram Boy on :
We just saw Across the Universe yesterday. It's sort of an anti-war/love story wrapped in a tribute to the Beatles. Very neat. Includes some of the most amazing renditions of Beatles songs you'll probably ever see or hear. "Let It Be" was mind blowing. Other awesome highlights were "Strawberry Fields" and "With a Little Help from My Friends"
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I finally saw It's Always Funny in Philadelphia. LOL. That stuff is funny. I saw three episodes but my favorite was when they suckered the poor college guys to the "party mansion". The flier. oh man i cried.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
The episode where they were held hostage cracked me up. Danny Devito doing a strait-up John McKlane impression from Die Hard 1 was fall down hysterical. I was almost crying I was laughing so hard.
Posted by Stealth on :
I went to see the new movie The Kingdom, mainly because of Jennifer Garner (in last year's Alias thread, I did complain about her lazy performances during that show's final season, but she's still one of my favorite actresses).
It's pretty good. A popcorn actioner with a dollop of substance. It raises a lot of current political issues, but wisely refrains from attempting any easy answers.
Before the movie started, I saw the trailer for Elizabeth: the Golden Age, the sequel to 1998's refreshingly gutsy and fast-paced historical drama Elizabeth, my favorite film of that year; lead actress Cate Blanchett and director Shekar Kapur both return, as does Geoffrey Rush in the role of Elizabeth's confidant.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Stealth, Elizabeth The Golden Age looks awesome.
Posted by Stealth on :
Yeah. Maybe it'll even be that rare animal: a sequel that's better than the original.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Just saw the first two episodes of Cane starring Jimmy Smits. It has one of my favorite actors in it...Nestor Carbonell.
Story about a Cuban-American family running a sugar/rum business in southeast FL. Right up my alley. Nice to hear some authentic cuban accents.
It has lots of good internal politics. Many beautiful people. Speaking of internal politics and beauty...Polly Walker is in it (Rome).
CBS at 10pm every Tuesday night!
Posted by Stealth on :
I somehow overlooked Cane. I'll watch the next episode and see if I like it.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Cane was very...Godfather. They are not mobsters but they certainly know how to...protect the family.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Just saw the last episode of the Bronx is Burning. I admit...I got teary eyed. Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Saw Key Largo with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. eh. Atleast Lauren was looking beautiful.
Saw Mambo Kings as well this weekend. It was pretty good. Maybe the best acting job I've seen Antonio Banderas do. The movie is based on a pulitzer prize winning novel. I am guessing the book is better. It wasn't bad. I was hoping for more. It tells the story of two cuban brothers who move to NYC in the 1950s (golden age of big bands & mambo, etc). They have good times and bad times. Great soundtrack though.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Jorg, for the best of the Bogey/Becall movies, I reccomend "The Big Sleep". Bogey is my favorite actor of all time, and I love Becall too (absolutely stunning).
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Cobalt, cool. I'm a fan of film noir especially the Maltest Falcon. Though I admit...I haven't seen many noir films. I've heard The Big Sleep is good and will check it out. thanks.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Tonight on CBS at 10pm I believe...CANE! Try to check it out! It's not great but it's pretty good.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I'd agree with The Big Sleep as the best of Bogey/Bacall movies (despite the byzantine plot). I actually like Key Largo quite a bit, except for the whole boat scene at the end (which feels way too "Hollywood"). But Lionel Barrymore facing off with Edward G. Robinson is pretty awesome.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
On a related note, I watched Murder, My Sweet the other day. It's an adaptation of Chandler's Farewell My Lovely, only with a much less convincing Phillip Marlowe than Bogey is in The Big Sleep.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I kind of like Key Largo too, though I have to agree that there are some parts that you have to take with a grain of salt. You're right on Eryk about Lionel Barrymore vs. Edward G. Robinson. Barrymore's performance ages like fine wine for me, as I've gotten older.
The Big Sleep is probably my favorite noir movie of all time besides the Maltese Falcon. Bogey's performance and the dialogue itself are worth watching and rewatching over and over again. Its not as tight or perfect as the Maltese Falcon but its one of those great Bogey films where you find yourself kind of acting like him during the rest of the night afterwards.
I first became obssessed with Bogey and film noir when I was about 12 years old after Casablanca changed everything about the way I watch movies and then my Mom rented me the Maltese Falcon. I've never seen Murder, My Sweet however...I may have to soon...
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I became a fan of film noir when I saw the Maltese Falcon about 10 years ago. I saw Casablanca recently (3 years ago?) and was impressed. Always thought it was a chick flick.
Anybody read the detective stories with Sam Spade or Phillip Marlowe?
I also saw The Third Man recently. I thought it was pretty good. Is that considered noir? I do atleast.
Have you guys seen Kiss Me Deadly? (Mike Hammer)
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I've heard really good things about The Third Man, but I've never actually watched it. Casablanca is pretty close to the top of my favorite movies ever.
I've come close several times to binge reading Chandler and Hammett's books, but haven't taken the plunge.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I watched the movie version of A Picture of Dorian Gray (with Donna Reed)yesterday!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
EDE, I've always wanted to see that.
I saw Babel yesterday. I expected more. Never came together for me. It was a bit long as well.
I have The Trial with Orsen Welles on deck. It's based on the Kafka story. Is it considered noir?
I also got some of the old italian films on deck. Blow Up is in my house right now and then I plan Dolce Vita.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Blow Up? Um, well, hmmm.
I guess it's one of those that at the time it was revolutionary? Atleast the style, nudity, and drugs were. But besides the style it had little substance. It certainy captures mod swinging London of the 1960's in a very cool way. Probably the first time it was captured (good and bad).
There is a great murder mystery subplot that needed to be the main plot.
I was thrown off my rocker btw. I didn't know this film was in London. I thought it was in Italy. Not that I didn't mind the english beauties such as a very young Vanessa Redgrave and Jane Birkin. Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
The best thing I watched this weekend was Hitchcock's Rope. Given that it was Hitch, I knew it would be good, but I was kind of surprised at just how good it was. It's moved up near the top of my favorite Hitchcock films now.
Posted by Caliente on :
I'm watching everything on my new TV! (Instead of studying like I need to.) Actually, it's mostly just movies on ABC Family and TBS.
Posted by Yellow Kid on :
Venture Bros. !!!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: The best thing I watched this weekend was Hitchcock's Rope. Given that it was Hitch, I knew it would be good, but I was kind of surprised at just how good it was. It's moved up near the top of my favorite Hitchcock films now.
I actually just saw this about two months ago for the first time ever.
I agree completely--totally engrossing and I was blown away by how good it was. Its a variety of things. First is the splendid acting by not only Jimmy Stewart but the entire cast. The two brothers are done very well, especially the sneakier of the two (the actors names esacape me at the moment).
The scene where they get into an arguement about murdering someone (the entire party) is so well done that I was almost cringing by the aura of uncomfortability. You can genuinely get the feeling that if you were in the room, you'd want to get up and leave at any moment.
And Jimmy Stewart is masterful. Its amazing how good he had gotten that late in his career where each and every look he gives speaks volumes about how clever he is--and the two brothers pick up on this at every step.
Its probably one of my fave Hithcock films too. It seems like it would make a masterful play to see live.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
This weekend, I watched:
(1) American History X - I've seen this before, (even own it), but despite a Sunday packed with football games, I couldn't help but watch this instead. Its probably what I'd call the best film about racism ever made. Edward Norton's performance ranks up there with the absolute best in film history. Its an incredible film. I'd forgotten just how good it was and how heart-wrenching it is throughout.
Funny enough, Crash came on aftewards and I couldn't watch that one again. Its too much of a 'feel bad movie', whereas American History X gives me a completely different feel.
(2) The Zodiac - you know what? This was a great movie! I didn't expect much and was surprised at how much I liked it. I've become a quasi-expert on seriel killers ever since I was a teen because of a fascination wtih them and a minor in criminal justice (at one point not *that* long ago, I considered the 'FBI Profiler' career that I'm sure tons of comic fans have thought about). I know a good deal about the Zodiac, but was shocked at how well it was portrayed and surprised by some of the detail. Its an almost 100% accurate film and really gives you the facts and the questions surrounding them. But it was good because it wasn't the typical 'seriel killer thriller' but gave you the 'step by step' look at how the police and media responded to the Zodiac over three decades. Great film. What really made it though was the phenominal cast. Gyllenhal, Downey Jr. and Ruffalo are the stars, buts there's at least a dozen other recognizable actors that do a great job. A very creepy few scenes too.
(3) Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia - this show might be the funniest show on television. I'm th kind of person who hates the Simpsons, finds South Park has gotten way too preachy over the years and am probably a little unfair when I rate someone's comedy routine. But holy crap! This show is freakin' funny!
(4) Heroes Season One - I finally got around to watching this (I missed everything from the 'Save the Cheerleader' episode onwards in season one). I thought it was great. Some really great scenes and it was a great ride. Definately deserves the hype it gets and while I wouldn't say its one of the best shows on TV (there's just too many better ones), its a solid, great show that was a lot of fun. Definately Peter Petrelli is my favorite character (Ando is probably my second), but I couldn't help but root for Sylar a little because he steals every scene he's in.
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: I watched the movie version of A Picture of Dorian Gray (with Donna Reed)yesterday!
Never seen this! How was it?
You know I share your crush on Donna Reed! Perhaps one of the prettiest women who have ever lived.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: This weekend, I watched:
(3) Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia - this show might be the funniest show on television. I'm th kind of person who hates the Simpsons, finds South Park has gotten way too preachy over the years and am probably a little unfair when I rate someone's comedy routine. But holy crap! This show is freakin' funny!
I could never get into the Simpsons, Family Guy or South Park. I don't know why I just think it's stupid. Sure they make really funny witty comments but I could never get into it.
Philadelphia on the other hand is the right kind of stupid! Love that show.
The funniest show currently? 30 Rock just makes me laugh out loud. "Johnny Carlos is ethnic." lol.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I've never really caught 30 Rock, but really love Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan and Alec Baldwin (especially when he's funny). You're tastes in TV are usually pretty damn close to mine Jorg, so if I ever can catch 30 Rock, I'll give it a try!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I just finished Damages. WOW!!!!!!!!!
Holy cow that was good!
Cobie, I just 30 Rock highly!
Posted by Dain on :
Guys, is there a topic about Smallville? I can't find one and the search function doesn't get any results. I've started watching the 4th season (haven't watched the first 3 yet, just the pilot) and would like to talk with others about it.
Posted by Caliente on :
There's a Smallville thread here, Dain. Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I'm watching Orson Welle's The Trial. Since my wife refuses most experimental films with me I watch this with a buddy of mine when we get a chance.
We've had 3 viewings and are probably an hour into it. My time is strapped! Can't even sit down for two hours to watch a film with a buddy. Conflicting schedules and all of that.
The Trial is strange. I've never read a Kafka book and I'm not sure if I want to. I heard Welles took many liberties though.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I've tried watching The Trial before, but I don't think I've ever made it all the way through. All I've read by Kafka is The Metamorphosis, which is pretty cool, but I've never been all that inspired to check out the rest of his work.
(Side note: I was at a party one time where we did the "Party Quirks" game from Whose Line is it Anyway? and I drew the guy from the Metamorphosis as what I had to act out.)
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
EDE, so it isn't just me who has a problem finishing that film. Good.
You drew a roach huh?!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I saw "A Life Less Ordinary" this weekend, which was actually better than I thought it was going to be.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
EDE, I've always wanted to see that story. I'm a big Stanley Tucci fan though I know he has a small part. That was a strip in 2000AD I just read on Wiki. Strange.
(subliminal msg) WATCH CANE TONIGHT ON CBS!!!!!
Posted by Stealth on :
I watched the 1970 Italian murder mystery The Bird With the Crystal Plumage -- Dario Argento's directorial debut after paying his dues as both a screenwriter and a film critic -- for the first time in nine years. It was better than I remembered; in the past I had kinda dismissed it because it wasn't as flamboyant as his later films (Suspiria, Deep Red, Tenebrae) but it's a perfectly good straightforward thriller. Strange how film criticism in Europe produces talented directors, but generally not in America.
I've also been watching that DVD set of Mission: Impossible Season Three that I mentioned earlier in this thread. It really was the best season of that show, despite being the most turbulent season behind-the-scenes. Before Season Three was halfway through, M:I changed showrunners three times, until finally settling on producer Stan Kallis and head writer Paul Playdon (the latter was only in his twenties at the time.) Despite being produced under great stress, this team's episodes were stylish, sophisticated, and used a variety of approaches to avoiding the formulas that were getting stale. But it was too good to last. By the time Season Four started, Kallis had one foot out the door, Playdon was burned out, and cast members Martin Landau & Barbara Bain were gone. The show was never as good again.
[ December 10, 2007, 08:24 PM: Message edited by: Stealth ]
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Stealth, you had me at 1970 Italian murder mystery! That film is on the list!
btw, CANE is Tuesday night not tonight. duh.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Oh I REWATCHED Victoria's Secret Fashion Show again. I think that's three times now since it aired last Tuesday.
Posted by Stealth on :
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: Stealth, you had me at 1970 Italian murder mystery! That film is on the list!
Cool. I look forward to your thoughts on it. And there's another good one from only a year later that I'd recommend: Lucio Fulci's A Lizard In a Woman's Skin.
Posted by Dain on :
quote:Originally posted by Caliente: There's a Smallville thread here, Dain.
Ah. Thank you, Caliente! Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I finished The Trial. Eh. I understand what he is trying to say about bureaucracy, red tape, the system. You can become a number, etc. I imagine a critique of communism was at work here as well. THe film? WTF? Actually I'm not all that suprised. I've seen many art house off the wall films that while I get "it" there isn't much more to get. It's a dream.
I also watched one of my all time favorite films Quiz Show. Directed by Redford and starring Ray Finnes and John Turtorro. Great film! Watch it if you get a chance.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
More on Quiz Show. It's a true story but ofcourse they stray a bit from the truth to make it more exciting, etc.
Something else I've noticed is that I'm a big fan of this small time NY actors. John Turturro, Rob Morrow, Hank Azaria (all in the film), Stanly Tucci, Campbell Scott, Oliver Platt (not sure if he's from NY), and Andy Garcia (also not a NYer but plays a good one!).
Films like Big Night (Tucci/Campbell), The Spanish Prisoner (Campbell), and Quiz Show are among some of my faves I always forget.
And by "small time" I mean they are not these huge celebrities that make blockbuster films. Andy has been in a few blockbusters but has made many smaller films. Michael Keaton is also a guy I'd add to the list.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Cane rocked last night!
Anyways I don't go to the theater that much anymore. Too many movies out there. I usually wait till award season to see what gets nominated to narrow the field down.
Recent movies I am looking foward to seeing on DVD?
The Bourne Ultimatum, Michael Clayton, 3:10 to Yuma, No Country for Old Men, Atonement, Into the Wild, Eastern Promises, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, La Vie En Rose, American Gangster.
Charlie Wilson's War looks great! But how could I forget BALLS OF FURY!!!
Posted by Set on :
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: Something else I've noticed is that I'm a big fan of this small time NY actors. John Turturro, Rob Morrow, Hank Azaria (all in the film), Stanly Tucci, Campbell Scott, Oliver Platt (not sure if he's from NY), and Andy Garcia (also not a NYer but plays a good one!).
Also, Chaz Palminteri, usually cast as a mobster. He's always fun to see.
If you haven't seen Oscar (yes, Sylvester Stallone, in a comedy, as a 20's era mobster), then go, run, see it!
It's the season for me to watch the funnies. Clue, Soapdish, Oscar, A Fish Called Wanda. All my faves.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Picked up from the library, the second season of Justice League.
It's really good, not kiddy stuff. Real, meaningful stories and characcter development, great humor and solid art.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Set, I responded to you a couple of days ago but it didn't seem to take.
I like Chaz. He was in my favorite movie...The Usual Suspects! I haven't seen those other films you mentioned but I put them on my rent list.
BB, I love the Justice League cartoon. It was really good.
I saw Best In Show over the weekend. It was pretty funny.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I saw two movies last night.
Thomas Crown Affair was the first one. That one is just plain fun.
Miller's Crossing! I HIGHLY SUGGEST this one. It's an Irish (some italian) mob film by the Coen bros. Stars Gabriel Byrnes with a host of good actors including John Turturro and Marcia Gay Harden.
It's not your typical gangster film. The visuals/cinematography was amazing. Imagine Sin City but not filmed with green screens or any CGI. The colors just pop even when they are dull.
The story was very good. It never got too complicated yet it was intricate.
This film is a gem and I am suprised it is not better known. Cobie rent this if you haven't seen it already!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Actually watched Thomas Crown Affair again! (my wife hadn't seen it) I love this movie. I should watch the original.
3:10 to Yuma. Pretty good. Not what I expected especially the end. Anyone see this? I don't want to talk about it cause I feel like I might give something away.
Little Miss Sunshine. LOL. That was good. I actually just accidently walked into a little girl beauty paegent. My family and I were disgusted how the parents pimp these girls. (i was at brunch at a nice hotel and we decided to walk around after and ran into the paegent...left quickly). Really good acting here. It's About a Boy meets Napolean Dynamite.
I also saw Superbad. Heh, I thought that was funny. The fat kid got annoying though. McLovin and Michael Cera were hilarious! And hot teenage girls. Can't go wrong.
I just finished watching Lost Season 1. I am starting Season 2 tonight. I've become an addict of that show.
Posted by Lard Lad on :
I just saw "Sunshine" (Not "Little Miss..."), a sci-fi movie about a mission to revitalize a dying Sun. It's from Danny Boyle, the guy who gave us "28 days Later". I enjoyed "Sunshine" a lot, even though it's not exactly thrill-a-minute. it's kinda artsy like "2001" and has a bit of an "Alien" vibe to it as well at points. A very unusual sci-fi movie that's diiferent from a lot of the usual stuff out there.
I'd recommend it fairly enthusiastically. I think it got overlooked. Not saying it's a classic but definitely interesting stylistically. Some beautiful effects and sets.
"Superbad"...well, based on enthusiastic reviews and word of mouth, I thought it would be a lot funnier. It was certainly pretty funny at points, but maybe I'm just not its target audience at 37. The bit about the fat kid's peculiar drawing obsession wasthe biggest LOL moment for me, though--knew a guy who did the exact same thing! Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Sunshine? I gotta check it out. Sounds like Solaris with Clooney. That was very slow.
Superbad was very juvenile. I felt old (32) and a bit embarrassed for my wife with some of the language. It got down right crude. I'm a Michael Cera fan though because of Arressted Development. Posted by Lard Lad on :
Never saw "Solaris". But "Sunshine" was not as badly-reviewed as that one. I think the pacing was pretty decent in "Sunshine" personally.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Don't feel bad guys. My brother (he's 25) wasn't really into Superbad either and he's not that old. My little bro (19) absolutely loved it however and so did all his friends. Its definately a movie aimed at high school and college kids. I thought it had some pretty funny parts. The cops were great but my experience with the police (and there have been many) make me realize its all wishful thinking.
Posted by Pov on :
I thought "Superbad" was meant as a description for the film in general, just from the commercials. And we all know the commercials are usually made from the best bits of the movie...
I didn't even bother watching the $3.99 Video On Demand broadcast. Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Saw another "juvenile" movie this last weekend Transformers. And I thought it rocked.
I was never a huge fan of the cartoon. Sure I watched it but I was a much bigger fan of G.I. Joe. I did watch some Beast Wars and while I thought changing into animals was silly I did like the overall story.
This movie was a bit long but I just loved the action, the funny lines, Megan Fox's body, etc. Good old action & fun...the robots looked great!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I highly reccomend 'No Country for Old Men'. Its not what you'd expect unless you know the Coen Bros. going into it. Amazing acting, beautiful cinamtography and some really intense seens that had my blood pumping.
All this you're hearing about Javier Bardeem (sp?)? Its not just media talk. The man does a phenominal job.
I loved it. Jorg, its right up your alley.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Cobalt, speaking of the Coen Bros watch Miller's Crossing if you haven't already! Just saw it last month and it rocked!
I've heard really good things about No Country for Old Men. I love the Coen Bros and been a fan of Bardeem for a while now.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Bardeem has the best bad guy performance since the millenium began. To be honest, I can't remember the last bad guy to nail it so well (Longshanks in Braveheart?). Its one of those scary ones that only comes every so often.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Man I hated Longshanks in Braveheart. I loved when the French hot princess whispered in his ear that his son isn't the baby's father. Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Agreed. His portrayal made me hate him more than I've hated most any character in a movie, which shows how good a job he did.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Sick-day run to the library for DVDs.
Fido
I laughed. I cried. I chewed my fingers a little.
Pretty good soundtrack.
Back to the library to pick up a Squirrel Nut Zippers' CD.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Fido? Is that a zombie movie?
Speaking of zombies (of sorts) I saw I Am Legend. I enjoyed it lots. Got into the story. The zombie-vampire things starting to get smart sure was scary.
I also saw FF: Rise of the Silver Surfer. It was fun. Some things were cheesy but I enjoyed it. I hate Doom though. The actor is all wrong. I mean Dr. Doom with bitch brows?! C'mon! I want a scary eastern-european type! Anyways, loved the special-effects.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: Fido? Is that a zombie movie?
A boy and his zombie, to be completely accurate. A whim pick off the shelf that turned out to be golden.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Saw Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.
I really liked it BUT I had to see it in two parts. I'm actually suprised it did as well as it did. There is lots of information to process and it isn't very clearn. It's not suppossed to be clear...they are pirates. My daughter passed out about an hour into. My wife and I tried to watch the rest but stopped it.
We decided we are missing to many elements of the film and will try to catch up. The next day I went on Wiki and started an outline of sorts. It wasn't easy. Came home...read it out loud to my wife...she then read it again and said "Got it". Watched the film again and loved it.
The entire series of film should be a miniseries of about 10 to 12 episodes. The last two especially have LOTS crammed into it. (I had to outline the first two films as well cause this film pulls so much from them)
If you are willing to do the homework it's a great film. I don't know if it was possible to streamline it without it being a completely different film.
Maybe film companies should do wht ABC does with Lost. They let you know there is homework. They make it an interactive experience. Just saying. Some of the promos can be an interactive toy/game to inform you of plotlines, subplots, etc.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Or maybe the film needed an intermission during the film. Have Capt. Jack Sparrow explain what the heck is going on in a comical way. Wait 10 minutes and start again?
Posted by Lard Lad on :
I saw Pirates 3 on DVD (didn's see at cinema) without pausing or backtracking and didn't really find it confusing. What was considered most confusing about it?
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
To be honest, I didn't like Pirates 3. To the point where I've reccomended to my friends that they not bother wasting their time with it. Hard to pin down why. I'm even surprised I dislike it so much.
I was sick today too (hope you're feeling better BB!), so I watched a few movies I know Lady Cobalt has 0 interest in watching, including "The Horse Soldiers" with John Wayne. I borrowed it from my Dad and am glad I watched it. Its my favorite John Wayne western (the Quiet Man is my favorite of all of his films) and definately my favorite William Holden movie. It has everything a film needs, including some very genius cinematography, montage and mis en scene, all the while not losing its charm.
Have not been into television at all lately. I just stopped watching Nip/tuck a few episodes in...it just didn't capture my interest (neither did last season though). Other than NHL hockey and UCONN basketball, I hardly ever watch TV. I am trying to tune in for two MTV guilty pleasures: Road Rules/Real World challenge, even though its rotting my brain, and Making the Band, because daaaaaa-aaaamn I still have the hots for Aundrea and the other four girls are lookin' good too Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Lard Lad here is some quesions about Pirates 3.
Why is Barbossa helping them rescue Jack?
All the deals brokered between characters.
Deal between Turner and Sao? Deal between Turner & Beckett? Deal between Jack & Bennet?
Davey Jones/Beckett deal was probably the only one I understood. On paper it's easy enough to understand but during the swashbuckling I got serious lost. (i was also at a theme park all day that day so I might've just been tired)
Cobie, I am going to the USF/Conn game a few Saturday's from now. And I thought you were too old for MTV already. Posted by Blockade Boy on :
"Reign Over Me"
Another library DVD random pick winner, mainly chosen for Cheadle but with reservations about Sandler, me not being a big fan. Cheadle delivered as expected. I figured Sandler had to be getting recognition for his role, I thought it amazing. Most emotional guy scenes since Penn in Mystic River.
I looked at the Academy website to see if the movie got any nominations. Na Da. That really caught me by surprise, I thought the movie that emotional and that well played. Checked out Rotten Tomotoes to see what the buzz was. Best they had was "uneven" or awkward but without any real concrete examples of something wrong or missing. I could think of a couple scenes that didn't work great for me but not enough to call the entire movie awkward.
As a whole I thought it a really good movie with some great performances.
Makes me wonder if it's still not "too soon" for the public to be dealing with 9-11. After this Cloverfield eruption, it seems to me that many are still trying to take sole possesion of the pain of 9-11 as if it's theirs to not share.
There was a certain time at which Vietnam movies became acceptable, a time at which people were willing to outlay their feelings and grief.
Sometime in the future, I think there will be a movie referencing 9-11 that will be proclaimed "great," and it will in essence be this movie, just at a time when the public is willing to accept it.
[ February 02, 2008, 06:34 PM: Message edited by: Blockade Boy ]
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Blockade, I admit I stay away from 9/11 related works. Just too emotional even though it's been nearly 7 years.
I'm also not a big Adam Sandler fan but it would be interesting seeing him in a dramatic role. I'm just not a big comedy guy. Jim Carey? Pet Detective and Dumber films are not for me. But I love him in dramatic films. (Ok, Cable Guy was a dark comedy and I loved that)
I haven't even heard of Reign Over Me. I will keep it in mind. Thanks.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
(just saw Saffron Burrows is in it...nice!)
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: Blockade, I admit I stay away from 9/11 related works. Just too emotional even though it's been nearly 7 years.
I thought they did the right thing in this movie, purely post 9/11, a few years after the fact. Not exploitive at all but a look at the affect on one guy (mostly).
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Saw a movie I loved this weekend. Four Last Songs! As I said I'm a Tucci fan and it takes places in Mallorca (the island I honeymooned in and am totally obsessed with). Nuff said. It take place in modern times and it's about music composers. (usually when you think music composers you think period piece)
Loved this movie. Just ordered it from Amazon along with Big Night (another fave).
[ February 04, 2008, 09:09 AM: Message edited by: Ultra Jorge ]
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I've seen quite a few films since my last post.
Shrek 3! Super funny!
I saw Eastern Promises with Vigo M. Really good. You know I figured out the suprise before hand...or atleast I suspected it. It made it funner cause I was looking for more clues to back up my assumption. Loved it.
I saw FF: Rise of the Silver Surfer. I didn't think it was all that bad. I enjoyed it.
This Valentine weekend the wife and I decided to go cheap. Movie night every night and pick up food.
We watched a somewhat disturbing film called Little Children. Great acting (Kate Winslet!), interesting story, etc. Jennifer Connolly is in it as well. The main guy is called Patrick Wilson. Did a really good job and I had to suck it up while he was walking around with a Men's Health body all the time. The funny thing is I looked him up at IMDB and I actually have met his brother twice! We have mutual friends (his brother and I). They are from the Tampa Bay area. I don't want to ruin the ending but it is not as horrific as I thought it was going to end. I thought it was surely going to give me that I want to throw up or cry feeling but it suprsingly didn't do that.
Saw the Heartbreak Kid with Ben Stiller. I haven't laughed out so loud so many times during a movie!
And finally I watched Chocolat with the mrs. Chocolate and Johnny Depp? How can I not indulge her. Depp wasn't in it much actually. Real good story taking place in the late 50s about a repressed small town in France. Juliette Binoche is the leading lady and she does fantastic. Alfred Molina is the "villain" and boy do you HATE HIM in this! He makes his Doc Ock seem tame! And it's funny even in this age I could relate with all the brimstone the conservative religious folks in my part of the world throw around.
Anybody see any of these movies? What you think? Or did you watch any Valentine specials? We usually watch Casablanca but after two years of doing that we thought we'd branch out.
[ February 17, 2008, 07:44 PM: Message edited by: Ultra Jorge ]
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Shrek 3. The classes were a bit ahead but many had missed several days due to bad weather and needed to catch up so we had movie days. It's something watching some pretty hard core kids oohing at the cute babies or laughing out loud at the jokes, many of which I know were aimed more at someone my age. Shrek does a great job at finding jokes that hit several generations.
There were so many "life lessons," that were played so well, without shoving them down the viewers' throats.
A favorite scene amongst the girls was when Cinderella I think it was, singing all disney, suddenly went commando.
My favorite scene was probably "assume the position girls" or the "charlie's angels" pose. The vignete at home at the end was also a favorite.
Character i'd most like to be with, Queen lillian. Love a women that can give a good headbutt.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
quote:Originally posted by Blockade Boy: Love a women that can give a good headbutt.
You know that almost sounds...well, um, anyways. Yes her knocking down a few walls with her forehead was impressive!
On Monday I saw the 1990s version of Lord of the Files. They changed quite a few things but the story was still the same. I don't care for the changes myself but I guess they wanted to make it different than the original film.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN! Wow they really did well. Cobie called it didn't he?
I'm suprised Atonement didn't do better?
Best Actress: Marion Cotillard!!! That's the beautiful french girl from A Good Year. She is transformed into an old ugly singer!
Javier Bardem is a great actor as well. Overdue for him. Daniel Day Lewis won best actor. No suprise. He's amazing. It was him or Vigo. Tilda Swinton transformed into NORMAL! So many actors can't do normal. I gained respect for Depp when he a Nick of Time. He played a normal dad. Not a wierdo. Crazy and wierdo are overrated. Acting like a normal person is hard. Another good example is Kevin Spacey in American Beauty.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
I haven't seen ANY of these movies nominated for best or with a lead actor.
What a dullard.
The oil one sounds my cup-of-tea. I like historical american settings. "No Country" doesn't sound right for me but it's the Coen's, so I must see.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I also really want to see "There will be Blood" (the Oil movie). Daniel Day Lewis is just so extraordinary.
Kudos for "No Country". Truly was magnificent and Javier deserves it too.
I haven't seen Michael Clayton (and want to) but I really like Tilda Swinton. She's been in some really off-beat stuff, and I hear her performance is masterful and really makes the movie.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Of the clips they showed, the acting that stood out to me was Hoffman (the Truman Capote guy), but I forget what movie that was.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Blockade, that was Charlie Wilson's War. The clip by P.S. Hoffman does look great. Again he is acting like a normal joe learning Finnish for apparently no reason.
I haven't seen any of the films either except for the one Viggo was nominated for (Eastern Promises). I talked about that one a few posts ago. I highly recommend it. Viggo does a great job.
Lots of those films are coming out soon on DVD. Can't wait.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: I also really want to see "There will be Blood" (the Oil movie). Daniel Day Lewis is just so extraordinary.
I haven't seen Michael Clayton (and want to) but I really like Tilda Swinton. She's been in some really off-beat stuff, and I hear her performance is masterful and really makes the movie.
A few thoughts. Upton Sinclair wrote the book that There Will Be Blood is based on. He called Oil. (which I think you may know that)
Tilda Swinton is pretty cool. I want to see the film Orlando by her. It's based on the hero Rolando switching genders.
No Country...is based on a book by Cormac McCarthy. His other book Blood Meridian is on my to read list. I hear it's awesome. I also hear his the latest one The Road is pretty good. Viggo M is set to play the lead character in the movie adaption.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Blood Meridian is the only Cormac McCarthy book I ever read (in college for American Lit). It's...interesting.
I have to say at first I didn't like it at all. But about two-thirds of the way through (and I may never have read the whole thing if not for it being college-related), I really started to get into it. McCarthy has such a ruthless, gritty style to his writing. I swear, reading a few chapters by him leaves you feeling like you just went ten rounds in the boxing ring and got the shit kicked out of you. Both because of the harsh, ruthless view he has of the world and because of his style of writing itself. But I'm not saying that's a bad thing--because I think that's what finally hooked me by the 2/3 point of his book.
Also, its just filled front to back with symbolism, allegory and very deep themes. Not all of them you'll quite get, but there is an excellent website on Blood Meridian (somewhere online) that will help you. I admit I wouldn't have gotten half of what I understood without the help of my American Lit professor.
I recommend it--but be prepared for something unlike you've ever read.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I've never been able to get into McCarthy's stuff for some reason. He often gets compared to Faulkner, who is my absolute favorite writer, but while there's an obvious Southern Gothic influence on him, it just doesn't have the same appeal to me.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
EDE, you saw any of the Oscar related films? btw, I saw the 1990 Lord of Flies movie which I commented on a page back. What you think of that if you've seen it?
Last night I saw something...different. You know when you want to see something no one has heard of? Sigourney Weaver and Michael Caine star in Half Moon Street (1986). I read about it somewhere and got interested because it's a political-erotic thriller set in London dealing with the Middle East.
It was...different. Despite the horrible dated soundtrack it wasn't that bad. Good plot, good acting, a very sexy Sigourney (well when she isn't wearing the biggest shoulder pads I've ever seen). It was very professor by day HOOKER by night.
She actually became a high priced hooker and has no qualms about it. It's a bit Basic Instinct with politics instead of psychos.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
You know... I don't think I've seen any movies released in 2007, Oscar-nominated or not. I've been so busy catching up on "classic" films lately, that I really just haven't been paying much attention to newer stuff.
I actually just watched On the Waterfront last night, which was pretty cool.
I think I saw the 1990 Lord of the Flies back in high school (when I was obsessed with the book), but I don't really remember much about it.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
My last visit to the libray brought home High Noon and Transporter II. I got Transporter one day, because I couldn't find anything else. Good stuff. A most underated action hero.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
One the Water Front is one of my favorite movies of all time. Mainly because when I was a kid, it was so important to my Dad, who is a quintessential blue-collar guy. Its what I believe is Brando's finest performance on screen.
High Noon is also one of my favorites (I assume you mean the Gary Cooper western BB, b/c I don't know of any others). I watched it whe I was a kid, all by myself, at about 3:00 AM one night after sneaking back down to watch TV. I've watched it a dozen times since. The sense of being so alone in so strong in that movie, and so oddly liberating at the end.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
"alone" I got too but the "liberating" part, not so much. His wife is a Quaker and had to do what she had to do. That scene was very powerful with me.
No waste in that movie. Every scene seemed to have a play.
Posted by Blacula on :
(^^^ Big fan of High Noon here too! LOVE the wordless montage sequence as the clock ticks over to 12 and the train arrives!)
Cormac McCarthy's 'The Road' is one of the best books I've ever read. And I read a lot! I whole-heartedly reccommend it to everyone here.
And if you won't listen to me, perhaps you'll listen to Oprah -
I haven't seen anyone reference this one here, but yesterday I rented "Across the Universe", a recent musical which uses Beatles songs for all of its numbers (and to name all its characters). This movie has some absolutely gorgeous renditions of many of their classic songs (of course pretty much all their songs are classics!) sung by a very vocally-gifted cast!
Okay, the story won't blow anyone away...like the story in most musicals is really its selling point, but it gives a nice flavor of the '60s with an attractive, talented cast. And I really enjoyed the psychedelic imagery, particularly in the segments featuring "I want you/She's so heavy", "I am the walrus", "Dear Prudence", "Happiness is a warm gun" and "Being for the benefit of Mr. Kite".
At heart it's a fairly simple love story between two leads, Jude and Lucy, who have an involving entourage of friends they come to share their lives with. All of them are very interesting as well, particularly Lucy's brother Max.
My only caveat with the entourage is that one of the characters, Prudence, really seems to get the shortest shrift, and I've a feeling a lot of her story was left in the cutting room. If I read between the lines correctly, Prudence was struggling with her sexual identity, and that would've been a welcome storyline.
I absolutely love the Beatles and found this celebration of their work thoroughly entertaining! Not only are the voices of the main cast terrific, but we get a lot of terrific celebrity singing appearances by the likes of Bono, Joe Cocker and Eddie Izzard. I don't know if people who don't worship the Beatles will like it, but I feel confident that those who do will be in heaven while watching "Across the Universe"!
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Love the trailer for that one, I've been meaning to pick it up.
Library pick-up:
Black Snake Moan
Music aside, this just couldn't hold my attention. It just couldn't decide if it wanted to be dark, a feel good, what. Just not to my tastes.
Return to Oz When the chicken started talking, I switched out the dvd.
1408 What?
I'm not even going to bother putting in the "Simpson Movie." It's probably just a hard to please me weekend.
OTOH: "Tales of Mystery and Imagination" sounds great on this new laptop with all the speakers and woofer an such.
Posted by Stealth on :
I saw the historical drama "The Other Boelyn Girl" at the theater. Natalie Portman (Anne Boelyn, doomed wife of King Henry VIII) and Scarlett Johanssen (Mary Boelyn, Anne's sister) both look lovely and give excellent performances. The movie is probably historically inaccurate and definitely a bit soap operatic, but I liked it.
Posted by Lightning Lad on :
quote:Originally posted by Blockade Boy: OTOH: "Tales of Mystery and Imagination" sounds great on this new laptop with all the speakers and woofer an such.
The Alan Parsons album BB? My favorite album of all time.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Yep
Great album. I ripped it to my new laptop, 204 MB of magical sound.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I'm watching 'The Right Stuff' on the History channel right now. I saw it years ago when I was a kid and remember loving it, because my Dad loved it so much.
Its really a damn great movie. Sam Sheperd as Chuck Yeager is my favorite in the movie. The role he plays just speaks volumes to me about what a man is.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I'm getting ready to watch Seven Samurai! I'm pretty excited!
Posted by rokk steady on :
I saw There Will Be Blood the night before the Oscars. I have a thing for the director, Paul Thomas Anderson (Magnolia is one of my favorite films ever).
When I walked out of the theatre, I thought: "I'm not sure I liked that." The ending was incredibly odd, not what I was expecting in light of what had come before.
As the film has percolated in the back of my head for the past week or so, it has started to tower in my mind. I love it. I think it is a great work. If this "growing trend" keeps up, I might end up founding a religion based on it.
On another note, I highly recommend "Into the Wild." My mind wouldn't let go of that movie either.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: I'm getting ready to watch Seven Samurai! I'm pretty excited!
And it was as awesome as I was expecting! It took two nights to watch, however!
Now I'm getting ready to watch Hitchcock's Jamaican Inn!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Seven Samurai rules! Great movie Eryk! As I'm sure you're already well aware, "Magnificent Seven" is a take off on it, and I personally think once you've seen 7S, M7 actually is better because of it.
You know, I've never seen Jamaican Inn, but have wondered for *years* about it. You've got to let me know about it! IIRC, its one of his earliest films.
Posted by Clive on :
Hitchcock, huh? Think it'll be suspenseful? Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: Seven Samurai rules! Great movie Eryk! As I'm sure you're already well aware, "Magnificent Seven" is a take off on it, and I personally think once you've seen 7S, M7 actually is better because of it.
Yeah, I really want to re-watch M7 now.
quote: You know, I've never seen Jamaican Inn, but have wondered for *years* about it. You've got to let me know about it! IIRC, its one of his earliest films.
It's not quite one of his earliest, but it's pre-Hollywood Hitchcock. Actually, I think it's his last British film. I'd put in a similar category to Rebecca (his first American film), not the least because both were based on Daphne du Maurier books (though it seems like JI is much less faithful to the original source, from what I can tell).
Anyway, it's a solid movie, but nothing to get too excited about. After seeing Rope, I keep thinking there's got to be at least on more fastastic Hitchcock movie out there I haven't seen, but this wasn't it. I've got Marnie recorded to watch sometime this weekend, so I'll see how that is.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Let me know what you think about Marnie. Marnie is good, I'd even say 'very good', but it's probably not in my top three Hitchcock movies (close to fantastic, but not quite deserving of that designation). Rope blew me away too by how much I enjoyed it, since I honestly never gave watching it a second thought until they started playing it on AMC last summer. What I do like about Marnie is that Tippi Hedron is in it, and I really like when Hitchcock uses her.
I'd probably rank Marnie much higher than the Birds in terms of Hitchcock films.
There are still many Hitchcock movies I have not seen. For example "Strangers on a Train", which sounds like it may have some of Rope's themes, intrigues me.
BTW, if you haven't seen "Notorious", watch it ASAP. Its not only fantastic, its worthy of being a contender for his 'best'.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I actually recorded Strangers on a Train last night (I just happened to notice it was on Chiller), so that may get watched this weekend in addition to Marnie.
Yeah, Notorious is pretty powerful. I'd be hard-pressed to come up with a top three favorite Hitch films. Besides Rope, Vertigo is probably my favorite, though I'm a huge fan of Lifeboat as well. And of course North by Northwest and To Catch a Thief are just cool. And I love both versions of The Man Who Knew Too Much, and am firmly convinced if you could combine the two of them in the right way, you might just have the perfect film (with Jimmy Stewart as the hero and Peter Lorre as the villain...)
I like Birds because I think it shows Hitch's dark humor in a really interesting way. About half the movie is a pretty conventional 60s love story, then it kind of gradually converts into this crazy movie about attacking Birds. There's something kind of perverse about it.
I tend to think Psycho is way overrated. I mean, it's good, but maybe I've just seen it so many times that it's lost its impact. Or maybe it's just that it spawned so many imitations that its hard for me to enjoy it as the original.
[ March 07, 2008, 11:43 AM: Message edited by: Eryk Davis Ester ]
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I agree with Psycho, and I probably feel that way for the reasons you list.
That's an interesting way to look at the Birds. I think that's exactly what the recent film 'Hostile' was trying to immitate: one-half of the film is this really funny 'college kids partying across Europe' sequence and then the next half this horrific and graphic torture craziness. In an odd way, that about sums up the change in culture from now to then from a really pessimistic point of view (instead of romance we get sex/drugs/let's party dude and instead of attacking birds we get graphic torture sequences).
North by Northwest if my favorite, but I also really don't think I could narrow it down to three or even five. I love Rear Window. I'd say the last 5-10 minutes of Rear Window are far more terrifying than any part of Psycho, and the combination of Hitch's suspense building, Jimmy Stewart's acting, and Grace Kelly being in peril (and then Jimmy Stewart) only heighten it.
I'm interested in what you think about Strangers on a Train!
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by Ram Boy: We just saw Across the Universe yesterday. It's sort of an anti-war/love story wrapped in a tribute to the Beatles. Very neat. Includes some of the most amazing renditions of Beatles songs you'll probably ever see or hear. "Let It Be" was mind blowing. Other awesome highlights were "Strawberry Fields" and "With a Little Help from My Friends"
"Let it Be" was one of my favorites also (and one of the most powerful scenes in the movie) along with "Come Together."
My latest DVD borrow from the library.
Rather than overtly "anti-war," I found it very non-judgemental, letting the times tell the story. At the very least, they were subtle I thought.
With all the great singers and arrangements, Cocker was just glory, a whole different level to me. Also impressing me was how well they integrated the catalogue, the songs never took me away from the story telling.
I particularly enjoyed catching Beatles homages, my favorite being the rooftop scene.
I can't imagine I'll make it though the weekend without watching this again.
Posted by Clive on :
BB, hope you caught my own review of "Across the Universe" last page. I've watched it twice in the last week. Excellent, excellent movie for Beatles fans!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: I'm interested in what you think about Strangers on a Train!
Watched it tonight and it's pretty awesome! Definitely one of Hitch's most memorable villains! I can see some similarity with Rope, in that you've got the same kind of amoral sociopath who see murder kind of as part of experiencing life to the fullest.
I actually wasn't a huge fan of the action sequence at the end, but the movie as a whole was really good. I loved seeing Pat Hitchcock (his daughter) in it, as well. She's really underrated as a character actress, and I wish she was in more stuff.
[ March 09, 2008, 10:11 AM: Message edited by: Eryk Davis Ester ]
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
rokk steady, I haven't seen Magnolia. I have to correct that!
Seven Samurai I saw when I was about 23 to 24? 8 to 10 years ago. I have to rewatch it. I did remember loving it.
I'm also a Hitchcok fan. My wife is a big fan as well. Isn't there a CD collection with some of his best work? I need to get that.
Cobie, when the Right Stuff come out? I remember seeing it but I was quite young methinks.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by Clive: BB, hope you caught my own review of "Across the Universe" last page. I've watched it twice in the last week. Excellent, excellent movie for Beatles fans!
Actually, the "search function" did miss it, nice review.
Nerdy Legion connection: the recruitor ("flat feet") played Dr. Morlo in the Legion cartoon. (saw that on imdb)
Prudence's story was very subtle but I didn't see it as her struggling with her identity as much as others struggling to recognize it. A telling thing but I thought, consistent with the times, her opening scene. I'm pretty sure it was designed to be easy to miss, as the cheerleader singing "I want to hold your hand." Her feelings were clear to her but easy for the audience to miss. These denials I thought well and intentionally mimicked by Max' character ("I think she's hung-up on me").
After reading your thoughts, her opening appearance in NY and her comment in the club about Max and Jude, I can see your point. They were showing the character struggle between trying to fit the mold or being herself. At least the character got closure.
I thought it well played myself, expressing the denial that was prevalent. No clubbing over the head, well in line with the movie's approach to the war, black America, the radicals, the open living lifestyle...
Another story that was easy to miss was Jo-Jo's. His comments about music being the only thing that made sense were easy to forget by the time the story got around to explaining the cause for the comments.
I think these are two examples of why I can easily see myself watching this movie again and again, to catch more details.
Now if Taymor were to follow-up with a story about the after-affects of the 60's, whose music would she choose?
Of the "discoveries," I think Joe Anderson has the best shot at making it in the business. His pre-NY Max particularly I think would have made him a lot of fans.
[ March 09, 2008, 10:35 AM: Message edited by: Blockade Boy ]
Posted by Stealth on :
quote:Originally posted by Blockade Boy: Now if Taymor were to follow-up with a story about the after-affects of the 60's, whose music would she choose?
Black Sabbath.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: Let me know what you think about Marnie. Marnie is good, I'd even say 'very good', but it's probably not in my top three Hitchcock movies (close to fantastic, but not quite deserving of that designation). Rope blew me away too by how much I enjoyed it, since I honestly never gave watching it a second thought until they started playing it on AMC last summer. What I do like about Marnie is that Tippi Hedron is in it, and I really like when Hitchcock uses her.
I just watched it. Up until about the last fifteen minutes I didn't think it was all that great... but those last fifteen minutes... wow! Really powerful stuff! Much of the rest of the movie seemed kind of tedious and moving in a lot of different directions, but all that set-up really comes together at the end! And, yeah, Tippi Hedron's performance is pretty awesome!
Posted by Clive on :
quote:Originally posted by Blockade Boy: Prudence's story was very subtle but I didn't see it as her struggling with her identity as much as others struggling to recognize it. A telling thing but I thought, consistent with the times, her opening scene. I'm pretty sure it was designed to be easy to miss, as the cheerleader singing "I want to hold your hand." Her feelings were clear to her but easy for the audience to miss. These denials I thought well and intentionally mimicked by Max' character ("I think she's hung-up on me").
After reading your thoughts, her opening appearance in NY and her comment in the club about Max and Jude, I can see your point. They were showing the character struggle between trying to fit the mold or being herself. At least the character got closure.
I thought it well played myself, expressing the denial that was prevalent. No clubbing over the head, well in line with the movie's approach to the war, black America, the radicals, the open living lifestyle...
Having viewed the movie a second time Friday night, I can see your point. If you watch the "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" sequence closely, it's a lot more obvious she's singing about the cheerleader, not the football player (or possibly both--summaries I've read of the film describe Prudence as 'bisexual').
I think in a way what I most lament about her is the relatively smaller amount of screen and vocal time she gets. T.V. Carpio is absolutely beautiful, and her voice is one of the best in the cast, much better than Sadie's (who gets lots and lots to sing) in my opinion.
quote:Another story that was easy to miss was Jo-Jo's. His comments about music being the only thing that made sense were easy to forget by the time the story got around to explaining the cause for the comments.
Loved JoJo as well, BB, and his awesome soulful voice. I'm not sure what you meant about not understanding his comment until later, though. Seemed pretty understandable from when we first meet him at his little brother's funeral.
quote:I think these are two examples of why I can easily see myself watching this movie again and again, to catch more details.
Having just watched it the second time, I can say I was no less enthralled than I was the first!
quote:Of the "discoveries," I think Joe Anderson has the best shot at making it in the business. His pre-NY Max particularly I think would have made him a lot of fans.
He struck me as looking like a young Denis Leary! And he is very charismatic and promising. I've heard tell he's being considered for the title role in a Kurt Cobain biopic. He could easily pull that off, I think--possibly win an Oscar for it.
Jim Sturgess (Jude) is already on the rise. This month he stars in 21 opposite Kevin Spacey! Now that's moving up to the big leagues!
Overall, I just feel that Across the Universe captured artfully just about everything I love about the Beatles! Rent it now, people!!!
Posted by Clive on :
Also, re: Prudence--I love the choreography in "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" as she walks thru the football practice! I love that stuff and how it emphasizes her singlemindedness and how she isn't minding her surroundings.
Loved Max's singing and the surrealness during "Happiness Is a Warm Gun"! That's always been one of my very favorites among the 'lesser' Beatles tracks, and I love how it and such other underdogs as "I Want You/She's So Heavy" and "Because" are included in the film, complete with some of the most inventive imagery!
Posted by Ram Boy on :
On TV, caught parts of Beatlejuice last week and it's not aging well at all. Also caught The Mask which is holding up wonderfully.
On DVD it was an Ab Fab weekend:
"I started repressed false memory therapy. I'll get something on you yet."
"Who dies in their own vomit these days?"
"How long is it going to take that old woman to score a tab of aspirin? I could score acid quicker."
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester:
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: I'm interested in what you think about Strangers on a Train!
Watched it tonight and it's pretty awesome! Definitely one of Hitch's most memorable villains! I can see some similarity with Rope, in that you've got the same kind of amoral sociopath who see murder kind of as part of experiencing life to the fullest.
I actually wasn't a huge fan of the action sequence at the end, but the movie as a whole was really good. I loved seeing Pat Hitchcock (his daughter) in it, as well. She's really underrated as a character actress, and I wish she was in more stuff.
Cool! Now I have a movie to look for! I'm really looking forward to what you describe as one of Hitch's best villains. The entire premise for the movie just seems so cool!
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester:
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: Let me know what you think about Marnie. Marnie is good, I'd even say 'very good', but it's probably not in my top three Hitchcock movies (close to fantastic, but not quite deserving of that designation). Rope blew me away too by how much I enjoyed it, since I honestly never gave watching it a second thought until they started playing it on AMC last summer. What I do like about Marnie is that Tippi Hedron is in it, and I really like when Hitchcock uses her.
I just watched it. Up until about the last fifteen minutes I didn't think it was all that great... but those last fifteen minutes... wow! Really powerful stuff! Much of the rest of the movie seemed kind of tedious and moving in a lot of different directions, but all that set-up really comes together at the end! And, yeah, Tippi Hedron's performance is pretty awesome!
Yeah, the end is really one of those great endings we sometimes get in Hitch's movies. Its also neat to see a young Sean Connery *not* in the James Bond role, even if there are some similarities here.
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: I'm also a Hitchcok fan. My wife is a big fan as well. Isn't there a CD collection with some of his best work? I need to get that.
Cobie, when the Right Stuff come out? I remember seeing it but I was quite young methinks.
I believe the Right Stuff came out in the early 80's, so I might have even been a baby when it did. I remember my father liking it growing up, so when it was on the other day, I checked it out. Its actually quite good. There's some real good commentary on bravery and being in control of one's destiny. My favorite scenes are all the Chuck Yeager sequences, which Sam Sheperd really just nails. He provides this great image of the American hero of yesteryear.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Re: Across the Universe.
Something inside of me is wired to hate musicals. I love theater, plays, classical music concerts, hell dinner theater is fun! Musicals?! It just hurts me in ways I can't explain. People singing lines? Ouch.
I got accussed by a woman once of not being a fan of "the Arts". I have a BA in Fine Arts! Musicals hurt me.
EDIT: I actually do like operas. Go figure.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I tend to like musicals on stage, but not generally on film. I'm not sure if that makes any sense at all.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Most movie musicals seem to just throw the music in there and it doesn't have a place in the dialogue. Taymor did an amazing job in sculpting the plot and the song choice to make sure the lyrics were natural dialogue IMO.
quote:Originally posted by Clive:
quote:Another story that was easy to miss was Jo-Jo's. His comments about music being the only thing that made sense were easy to forget by the time the story got around to explaining the cause for the comments.
Loved JoJo as well, BB, and his awesome soulful voice. I'm not sure what you meant about not understanding his comment until later, though. Seemed pretty understandable from when we first meet him at his little brother's funeral.
I missed THAT completely!
I was wondering about that bus station. Seemed out of place to me. Now I see, it was in De'troit.
I thought his comment was referring to his time in Vietnam.
Posted by Clive on :
Guys, I'm not a fan of musicals, or of movie musicals, but I love me some Beatles...and I loved me some Across the Universe!!
So if YOU love you some Beatles--even if you don't love you some musicals--give it a try, already!
That goes for you, too, Mr. Cobalt Kid!
Posted by Clive on :
quote:Originally posted by Blockade Boy: I missed THAT completely!
I was wondering about that bus station. Seemed out of place to me. Now I see, it was in De'troit.
I thought his comment was referring to his time in Vietnam.
Well, really, it could have referred to that as well, BB. But most immediately, it was what happened to his little brother during the riots. During the funeral ("Let It Be"), you see JoJo standing over the casket with their mother and also comforting her as they sit in the pew. Next thing you know, JoJo's on the bus to NYC.
Don't feel too bad...I missed the true point of Prudence's "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" sequence, after all. Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: I tend to like musicals on stage, but not generally on film. I'm not sure if that makes any sense at all.
Yeah it makes sense to me.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Recently saw the latest Bourne film. Ultimatum is it? Anyways it was pretty good. You see some spots where the books may have gone deeper and the first two films seem to have ignored. Anyways loved it.
Elizabeth the Golden Age? It was pretty good. Ofcourse the visuals take the cake. BEAUTIFUL! Great acting. History? Eh, a bit off for me. The Spanish were portrayed like cartoon evil villains. Still pretty good stuff though.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I watched Three Strangers, with Peter Lorre and Sidney Greenstreet, last night. It was fantastic! Another movie I was expecting to be good, but actually far exceeded my expectations!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Never heard of it EDE. I gotta check it out.
I am going to the Sarasota Film Festival in a few weeks. Stanley Tucci is going to be there! I just bought tkts for it online! Charlize Theron is also there for a film called Battle of Seattle about the WTO Seattle thing in 99. I'm more excited about Tucci! I've mentioned here he's one of my fave actors! My goal is to talk with him for a couple of minutes. I bought tkts for the After Party which is usually kick ass! I also am going to watch 3 other films. Tucci's film is called Blind Date btw.
Posted by Ram Boy on :
A DVD called The Jane Austen Book Club . It's cute if a little slow at times, but since I'm a devotee of Emily Blunt it was more than worthwhile. She of course is wonderful.
Emily Blunt News! The Young Victoria (she plays the lead) is in post production and she's currently filming The Wolf Man.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
TV shows - as I said in the Lost thread, Lost is the only thing I'm watching right now. Everything else is just garbage (not including the Daily Show or Colbert Report).
However, I did watch the Riches season two opener. It was enjoyable. The show always seems to be...*lacking* something. But Eddie Izzard, the lead character, makes all of his scenes 100% worthwhile in tuning in. Like all the FX shows recently though, I wonder if I'll be able to maintain any sort of interest (I faded out midway through last seasons of Rescue Me and Nip/Tuck, and I used to watch those two shows religiously).
Posted by Lard Lad on :
Eddie Izzard? You mean the guy who played Mr. Kite in Across the Universe? How interesting!
Take the damn hint, Cobester! Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I slowed down on my movie watching. I saw Disturbia and suprisingly liked it.
I've also been watching shows like Lost, Survivor, Medium, and Dirt.
Cobie, what is the Riches like? British actors acting American? I always got the feeling it was making fun of the American stereotype. That seems to be a popular trend these days.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I've been on a Fritz Lang kick lately. I watched "M" a week or so ago, and started watching "Metropolis" the other night. I always forget how powerful silent films can be, until I see one that's really awesome.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I have a nice framed poster of Metropolis at home. It was one of the first films I saw in film school and it just struck a chord with me. Way before its time. Have to check out some of his other stuff.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
"M" is usually considered to be his masterpiece. It also gave Peter Lorre his first starring role.
I've got the DVR set to record some his stuff over the next couple of weeks.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Jorge, the Riches is actually pretty good. I'd say its not the greatest show in TV, but like most FX shows is very enjoyable with consistent quality and downright moments of brillance. I like it better than Dirt, but not as much as Damages.
There isn't really any making fun of the American stereotype, either. If anything its the opposite of that, really getting into the American stereotype (southern/Texas/Midwest) and exploring how false/true that can be. But that's only a minor aspect of the story, as its really an analysis of honesty and truths, and the sense of both freedom and creating barriers/limitations on your life.
And the cast is superb.
The first season was good, with moments of 'great'. The first two episodes so far in season two have been A+. Very good. We'll see if that remains so.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Cobie, good to hear The Riches isn't what I feared. May have to check it out.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
V and V: The Final Battle.
It's twins! Good shows but they obviously left the smarter aliens, the ones that designed the ships, behind.
30 Seconds Over Tokyo.
Now I'm a firm believer that it's okay for men to cry at movies....
... as long as it's either Brian's Song or The Green Mile, but I've been having my moments lately. When Crowe gives his breakfast to his littler daughter in Cinderella Man. The "Let it Be" boy in "Across the Universe." The little chinese man that brings the gifts to the american soldiers in "30 Seconds" ... I bent but did not break.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Cinderella Man gives me (2) moments: (1) the aforemented Crowe giving his breakfast to his daughter (2) Braddock to Jay Gould: "Thanks. For all of it". Something about that bit of dialogue gets me all misty.
I love that movie.
Posted by Eryk Dumaka Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Dumaka Ester: I've been on a Fritz Lang kick lately.
I watched The Testament of Dr. Mabuse tonight.
Wow! What an incredible movie! It reminds me a lot of golden age comics in its basic feel and plot!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Agree on Cinderilla Man. Great stuff.
Re: Fritz Lang. As I said I have a Metropolis poster and my daughter asked what is that(after it being in the house for 2 years). I explained it was a silent film b&w. She was shocked. She couldn't understand how films could be "silent". She also saw rotary phone the other day for the first time...same shock.
I've seen a few good ones this last weekend. No Reservations. A romantic comedy but it's about the NYC restuarant scene with Catherine Zeta-Jones (me heart her). It was pretty good.
Saw Big Night again. Stanley Tucci, Shaloub, and a bunch of other great actors. I'm going to a film fest with a Tucci film and he will be in the audience. So I'm watching some of his films.
Superman Returns. Eh. I've never been a huge Supes fan but I did enjoy the original movies back as a kid. The guy who played Superman was pretty good not great. Lois Lane was a horribly cast IMO. I think it tried a bit too hard to be like Donner's films. I enjoyed it but thought it was flawed on many levels. It can't compare to any Spider-Man film. I just don't see it appealing to kids.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: Superman Returns. Eh. I've never been a huge Supes fan but I did enjoy the original movies back as a kid. The guy who played Superman was pretty good not great. Lois Lane was a horribly cast IMO. I think it tried a bit too hard to be like Donner's films. I enjoyed it but thought it was flawed on many levels. It can't compare to any Spider-Man film. I just don't see it appealing to kids.
Agree. I didn't see it right away, so when I did I was left a little dissapointed. Upon a rewatch, only more so. Whereas, I liked the Spider-Man and X-Men films and have only grown to enjoy them more upon each watch (excluding X-Men 3, which overall I found very weak).
Posted by Eryk Dumaka Ester on :
Superman Returns was horrible. Especially compared to Batman Begins, which was pretty much the best Bat-movie ever.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Didn't like Batman Begins at all the first time I saw it, at the theatre. It could have been one of those days, where not even bare Halle Berry boobs would have made me smile. Since have seen it on DVD and enjoyed it. Nothing to rave about for me but I enjoyed it. I get the feeling I will enjoy this a bit more everytime I watch it.
I could probably say the same for Superman Returns. The first time, the attempts at making Superman canon fell flat with me, leaving for five years, ditching the kid; we don't need a Superman, oops, guess we do.... The bullet to the eye thing I just found stupid.
Routh looks great and I enjoyed his Superman but Marston's character was great and he wouldn't have even been a character if not for the first two things occurring. So...
Speaking of Batman Bale.
I saw the remake of 3:10 to Yuma. A Brit and an Aussie doing the old west. Both actors were great. I can't think of a Russel Crowe movie I've not liked. Bale's choice of movies are a little more hit-or-miss with me but I generally enjoy his acting.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I haven't seen 3:10 to Yuma yet but its on my "must see" list right now. I love both actors and I agree 100% with you about Crowe. Just about everything he does is nothing short of spectacular.
I loved Batman Begins when it came out and each time I rewatch it, I love it more. At this point, its probably my favorite super-hero movie I've ever seen, or at least tied only with: X-Men 2, Spider-Man 2 and the Rocketeer. Its the definitive Batman performance (live action) for me.
Posted by Eryk Dumaka Ester on :
Just watched Fritz Lang's Man Hunt. Highly recommended to Hitchcock fans.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
EDE, I really gotta watch the other Lang films! darn it!
3:10 to Yuma was very good. I actually thought it was going to be more...spectacular. But in a way the fact that it wasn't was a pleasent suprise.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Went to the Sarasota film fest this last weekend. Saw 5 films in three days. Actually all of them were pretty good. Usually I watch one clunker!
The first (and worst) was "I Can No Longer Hear the Guitar". It wasn't bad at all but it was very slow. Note to all...do not watch a french existialism flick as a late flick after dinner and drinks. I'm not a philistine so I did take something good from it. But much of the film had characters whispering in a dark room or them just staring at the wall.
Next was a Norwegian film called Gone With The Woman. It was great! A romantic comedy ala the Heartbreak Kid. Very funny! I may buy it. I knew very little about Norwegians and it's nice to see they are not that different. (no offense to the Norwegians )
Then saw a movie in Mongolian! In subtitles ofcourse. It was called Mongol and it was about Genghis Khan. It was his rise to power as a child to a young man. The guy suffered a ton but never gave up was basically the gist of it. I love history so I enjoyed it but my buddy fell asleep.
Blind Date by Stanley Tucci. Based on a film Theo van Gogh (dutch film maker killed by muslim extremist last year). The most depressing film I've ever seen. Parts of it got tedious but overall it was great. Great ending. Tucci did not attend though he was suppossed to. I was upset cause he's one of my favorite actors. But I soon forgot about Tucci when I was in the same room as Charline Theron!
Battle in Seattle was the last film I saw. Written and directed by Stuart Townsend. The guy is not just a pretty boy actor. One of the best written and directed film I've seen. He filmed it in 29 days for 7 million. Great acting also by a host of actors. Controversial subject matter...the WTO protests in Seattle in 1999. Certainly raised my awareness of the issue surrounding the WTO. I'm not going to join a protest but I will spread the word.
The highlight was Townsend, Theron, Michelle Rodriguez, and Martin Henderson were there. They hung out for about 30 minutes after the film to answer questions. I never get star struck and I admit I did.
[ April 23, 2008, 12:25 PM: Message edited by: Ultra Jorge ]
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Anyone see anything new? I haven't but I did meet CHARLIZE THERON!!! Ok, I wasn't officially introduced but I was in the same room as her!
Posted by Lance's realm on :
Does anyone know if Damages is ever coming back?
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Damagers is coming back from what I read. They are doing production now but no time table when it will air. I am guessing fall. There are two more "seasons" of 13 episodes each.
Now is CANE coming back?!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Currently watching BLACULA!
Er... the movie, not the Legion Worlder!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
You know what I loved? Cloverfield. What a great, great movie.
If you're watching to see the monster then you'll be dissapointed even though its earliest appearances were cool. By far the really scary thing is the little spidery things in the sewers.
But more than anything it was definitely one of the best sets of characters I've seen in a long while. Great interaction, moments of pure courage, friendship and love and I was blown away by all of them. The love story was actually really great and the kid with the video camera ended up being one of the best parts of the movie after he initially seems annoying.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Blacula, lol. I always thought it was funny.
Cobie, I get motion sick easily...will Cloverfield make me barf?
Posted by Lard Lad on :
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: Cobie, I get motion sick easily...will Cloverfield make me barf?
Hard to say, Jorge. Has any movie you've seen with a lot of handheld camera action ever made you sick in the past?
In any case I'd imagine that effect would be lessened on the small screen. Obviously, this effect was a reported complaint about it, so it still might be risky for you.
...or you could take some Dramamine beforehand! Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Hm, it didn't bother me much Jorg so you might be okay. Probably because its on the small screen you would be. Out of the entire movie probably only about 4 minutes or so have parts where the camera "bobbling" is intense.
I actually thought the hand-held camera was extremely useful here in building suspense. Its the most successful I've ever seen this format done in. It had the precision of Hitchcock and Tarrantino in regards to montage, but at a pace a thousand times faster.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Last week I watched Face in the Crowd, with Andy Griffith as the anti-Andy Griffith. Seriously, it's kind of disturbing watching him in a role where he's such an evil bastard. A pretty powerful film, however.
Blacula was pretty cool. I'm watching the sequel tonight!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Currently watching The Deadly Mantis! Mega-kewl 50s sci fi!
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Major Academy Nominees watched so far: American Gangster The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford Atonement Eastern Promises Michael Clayton No Country for Old Men There Will Be Blood
Still to See: Away from Her Charlie Wilson’s War The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Elizabeth: The Golden Age Gone Baby Gone I’m Not There In the Valley of Elah Into the Wild Juno La Vie en Rose The Savages Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Looking Most Forward to: La Vie en Rose and a the Hoffman flicks: The Savages and Charlie Wilson's War.
However: Favorite films so far have been Kite Runner and Across the Universe.
Posted by Lad Boy on :
Just watched the last three episodes of Battlestar Galactica season 3 last night. Dragging my sleepy butt to work now. The season didn't end as strongly as it started, but still the best show in recent memory, imho.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I watched Atonement last night. I have to say--I was a bit dissapointed. Very slow film with not too much actually happening. Neither Knightly nor MacAvoy get to flex their acting chops until the last half hour of the film either. Not sure what all the hullaboo was about. The premise is interesting but we've seen it before and seen it done better.
Also watched Casino Royale. I'm not the biggest Bond fan in the world, but I like the character and franchise. I thought this was very well done and liked it a lot. It definitely gave a sense of danger moreso than 'fun', which was refreshing for Bond. I especially liked Vesper, perhaps my new favorite Bond girl (as I said, I'm not a huge fan and have only watched 20% of the films). Is that supposed to be Money-Penny, or somewhat similar?
Posted by Stealth on :
Before going online, I watched Lucio Fulci's Zombie, a great, ground-breaking 1979 B-movie.
Not only gorier and with scarier-looking zombies than earlier zombie films, it's also refreshing in its refusal to draw heroes-and-villains lines. In Fulci's (and writers/spouses Elisa Brigati and Dardano Sachetti's) misanthropic view, dead or undead/opressors or opressed alike, all humanity is equally revolting, and even seemingly decent people are forced into killing to survive.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Blockade Boy, I saw Eastern Promises. Loved it. Haven't had the alertness for Michael Clayton yet. Though I do have American Gangster sitting around the house (as Michael Clayton).
Cobie, I know Atonement was based on a book and I had the feeling it was going to be slow like a book.
Casino Royale was pretty good. I liked them getting grittier than before. There was one scene I didn't like. After he was poisoned and went through hell...he showed up at the card table all squeaky clean. I would've preferred him to let the villain know...yes you poisoned me and I'm back. Besides that I really liked it. Not sure which girl you speak but the spanish girl at the beggining...alavao que buena!
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Trying to figure out "Primer."
I think I might try playing it in reverse.
Posted by Blue Battler on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: Currently watching The Deadly Mantis! Mega-kewl 50s sci fi!
I love that movie. One of my VHS tapes I still have.
For a real hoot, though,watch The Giant Claw one of these days. Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
A movie I found suprisingly enjoyable was 'Deja Vu' with Denzil Washingston. Denzel is one of my favorite actors and he was as excellent as he usually is (and the supporting cast as well). The movie involved aspects of time travel, alternate universes, etc. As a longtime DC comics fan, I'm basically an expert on that stuff and saw some of the endings coming before hand, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the film. All of that science-fiction stuff never took away from the basic character drama of the film. More than anything, this reminded me of Preminger's Laura, which I consider to be a great film.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Just watched Elizabeth, parts I and II. Blanchett and Rush were enthralling but I couldn't really get into the screenplay or maybe it was the directing/editing. Liz's speech to the Lords and in part II to the troops were great but that montage in part I where she was practicing,
huh?
Posted by Stealth on :
It took me two years, but I've finally gotten over the offensively bad final season of the TV show Alias, and I watched the first episode of Season Two (because that's the season with the most Irina in it) and the first few minutes of the second episode.
It holds up pretty well, and it was nice, as a comic book fan, to note how much Irina is like Natasha Romanova gone bad, down to having the long red hair of Natasha's "classic" look.
On the other hand, the scene I used to love where Sydney pretends to be a rich Italian socialite demanding a hotel room was cheezier than I remembered, with Sydney dropping grade-school Italian phrases into her English like...well, the way foreigners used to talk (and sometimes still do) in comic books.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I just watched Juno after fighting Lady Cobalt off for weeks.
Guess what? All that hype? Totally worth it. The movie was excellent, phenominal, even deserving of the word "Masterpiece".
The acting was so good that it almost ripped my throat out. Never has Jennifer Garner been this good. Never has Jason Bateman been so honest. Ellen Page? Consider me a fan for life. Plus at least another four or five actors that had lesser roles and just knocked it out of the park.
It had moments deadly serious and tense and yet it maintained a light-hearted feel continually. Humorous, off-beat, engrossing...I'm shocked at how much I liked it. I thought I wouldn't.
By far the best movie I've seen this year.
Posted by Lard Lad on :
Checked out "Teeth" last night. Veeery unusual horror/satire/dark comedy.
It's about a teenage girl who preaches abstinence and knows very little about sex. Well, it turns out she has a mutation which invloves having teeth in...well, use your imagination! And those teeth bite off...certain things of males.
Got it?
Okay, well it's played pretty straight and the lead actress is really talented and really helps sell the outrageous-sounding premise. By the end we're really rooting for her, and she's kind of a dark avenger...with a twist!
It's a little like Carrie in a way but more tongue-in-cheek, I guess.
Anyhow, it's not a perfect film but very enjoyable and certainly with a novel premise. I definitely recommend it!
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: I just watched Juno after fighting Lady Cobalt off for weeks.
Another teacher and I combined classes to show Juno as the "end of the school year kid's are not going to study anymore math" film. It passed my watch six times without getting board criteria and actually had our usually bored with life students interested. One class, it was the first time I've heard "quiet" all year!
Posted by Ram Boy on :
We just watched the first disc from season three of Dante's Cove. Three back-to-back episodes. I'm tired and I'm cranky but still thought it was pretty entertaining.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Most recent:
Arrested Development - I bought and watched Season One of this show after hearing about how funny it was for years. Lady Cobalt ended up not really enjoying it that much but for some reason I loved it. I thought it was the perfect blend of witty, tight dialogue and outright ridiculousness. Between this and Juno, I not only actually like Jason Bateman now, I like him a lot! Portia del Rossi was the best I've ever seen her and pretty much all the actors were fun. My favorite character was the oldest brother, Jobe, played by Will Forte. He sleazed it up so much that I couldn't help but love him.
Indiana Jones & the Crystal Skulls - I saw this and actually liked a lot. I'd say 95% of all of my friends were disappointed and many outright hated it. But I thought it was cool--Harrison Ford has aged quite a bit so they pretty much aged the series from the late 30's to the 50's, and in doing so changed many of the themes: whereas there are now Commies instead of Nazis, the other 1950's-centric themes apply too, including the Cold War, nuclear paranoia and aliens, which are all really connected in popular fiction of that era. So I thought it all fit pretty well. Evidently, many disagree . Plus, I for some reason kind of was digging Kate Blanchett with that weird haircut, but I always find her very pretty.
Dexter - this is the series that prompted me to revisit this thread. I'd heard about it a little, but never realized what I was missing. Probably the most intense TV show I've ever seen, it’s quality rivals some of the best offered these last few years, like Lost, the Shield and Rome. Getting into the mind of a serial killer who was led towards another path which included some morals he could hang onto is fascinating. The show is creepy and makes no apologies for it; the subject matter is not for the faint of heart. The supporting characters are interesting, complex and really flawed and I like pretty much all of them. This is really a great show (I’m halfway through season 1). The most interesting part is to really explore the notion of a serial killer as a cold sociopath person who really can’t feel any emotions, but knows how to fake it to blend it just right; and then how that is both a gift in dealing with horrific situations and a serious flaw in being unable to feel love, compassion or care for those that love him.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Saw The Happening last night. I thought it was pretty good. There were a few moments early on where I thought it was shaping up to be M. Knight's best movie ever, but it didn't quite deliver. Nonetheless, I thought it was pretty solid. I wasn't quite sold on Mark Wahlberg as a science teacher, but I thought the cast did a pretty good job overall. It probably reminded me of The Birds more than anything, though more like if the birds had started near the end and focused on the characters fleeing from the center of the attack.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
To Do List: IJ $ the CS Hulk Iron Man. Charlie Wilson's War (someone keeps checking it out of the library before I get there, grrr.)
Arrested Development: I've tried on several occasions. It's just too low key for me. I don't get into Office either.
Dexter: that sounds interesting. Is it on regular network?
Posted by Set on :
Just saw the Hulk. Meh. Somewhere between this movie and Ang Lee's version, there's a good movie, waiting to get out. (Ang Lee's had better casting, better acting and better CGI. This one benefitted from not having Hulk-dogs and not having Kris Kristofferson chewing the scenery, as well as having a better storyline.)
Iron Man rocked like no super-hero movie since Spider-Man has rocked.
I liked the new Indy as well, so it's nice to see that someone else in the world liked it! (Then again, every review that I read before the movie said that it wasn't as good as Last Crusade, which I hated with a passion, but was way better than Temple of Doom, which was my favorite, so I'm obviously not the average Indy fan...)
As for TV, Galactica's done, so now I'm waiting for Eureka to start up again. Once Eureka is done, it should be about time for Supernatural to start up again. I watch about 45 minutes of TV a week. Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by Blockade Boy: Dexter: that sounds interesting. Is it on regular network?
Its on Showtime which is probably why both of us never heard of it before now. It actually doesn't have that much nudity, swearing or blood (okay, maybe a good amount of swearing), its just the gruesome subject matter that gets to be censor-free. I believe it already has 2 seasons out on DVD.
Posted by Lard Lad on :
I didn't hate the new Indy, but the switch to '50s sensibilities was very jarring for me. Yes, I know it wouldn't have made sense to set this film in the '40 given Indy's age, but it often felt that Indy was simply irrelevant or outmoded in this setting. Even the UFO stuff seemed out of Indy's story bubble. The story was simultaneously too real (A-bomb) and too surreal (aliens) to be an Indiana Jones adventure. I'd just have to say this story needed a '50s-style hero, not a '30s/'40s-style hero.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I think Indy might've actually worked better if the focus had been on Shia Leboeuf's character rather than Indy himself. Somehow the Russians seemed far less interesting as villains than the Nazis did. The basic problem, conceptually, is that while the Nazis were pretty much obsessed with occult stuff, the communists very definitely weren't, so you can't have them going after something like the Ark of the Covenant.
I wasn't big on the alien component, either. Part of the success of the first movie was that the plots were very much rooted in the pulp literature of the 30s/40s. But crashed alien bodies from Roswell is so much more a 90s kind of plot than something from the 50s.
So, while I enjoyed the movie, I thought it could have been a lot better.
Posted by Set on :
It almost seemed like Indy 4 was a potential re-invention / expansion of the pulp genre. Somewhere in the fuzzy area between Alan Quartermain and Flash Gordon and The Day the Earth Stood Still.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I watched Rabbit Proof Fence last night. It was interesting in that I knew almost nothing about the history of Aborigines in Australia going into it, and so it was nice being exposed to something different. As a movie, it was a little tedious. But as far as getting one pissed off at the arrogance of European civilization, it was quite effective.
Posted by Probability Pete on :
"The Middleman" a new sci-fi series on abcfamily based on a comic book of the same name episode 2 is on tonight with a repeat of episode 1 an hour earlier watched it last week a lot of fun sort of like Men in Black meets Gilmore Girls.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Saw Get Smart over the weekend. While far from the worst movie ever based on a classic TV series, it was kind of disappointing, especially given the talent involved. I'd recommend waiting for when it is shown ad naseum on Cable TV.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: Saw The Happening last night. I thought it was pretty good. There were a few moments early on where I thought it was shaping up to be M. Knight's best movie ever, but it didn't quite deliver. Nonetheless, I thought it was pretty solid. I wasn't quite sold on Mark Wahlberg as a science teacher, but I thought the cast did a pretty good job overall. It probably reminded me of The Birds more than anything, though more like if the birds had started near the end and focused on the characters fleeing from the center of the attack.
Saw the Happening too and I agree with Eryk's assessment. I liked it though many will not. It wasn't his best movie but it was a good watch and I'd watch it again. There were some very suspenseful and creepy parts and I thought those moments were done very well. It was the actual people (you'll know who I mean when you see the movie) who were terrifying, not the 'event'.
Posted by Lard Lad on :
Finally rented The Prestige on DVD after meaning to since, like, forever! Wow, was it ever worth the wait! Excellent performances from Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale--as well as all the supporting actors like Michael Caine, Scarlett Johannson and David Bowie. Bale is swiftly becoming one of my very favorite actors!
I feel pretty astute, though, as I figured out well before the end the twists for both characters that were later unveiled. I was left though with some questions about Bale's twist and how far and with whom his ruses were taken, if anyone who's seen it knows what I mean. That's part of the fun for me, I guess.
Anyhow, I highly, HIGHLY recommend this 2006 film to anyone who hasn't seen it yet or who's enjoyed any of director Chris Nolan's other films like Batman Begins or especially (one of my personal favorites of his) Memento. I'll definitely be seeking Nolan's other films out!
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Loved The Prestige, time to watch that one again.
"Mysterious Skin"
The second amazing piece of work (The Lookout) I've seen by the Third-Rock kid Joey Gordon-Levitt. He doesn't play it safe with his roles, for sure.
A great movie to see on a day where you need a kick in the emotions. NOT an easy movie to watch though. I'd recommend reading a good synopsis before taking this one on.
Posted by profh0011 on :
I've finally gotten around to playing back my entire Gerry Anderson videotape collection. I started with 10 random episodes of STINGRAY (recorded off the Sci-Fi Channel just before they yanked it off the air), and am now in the middle of a trio of THUNDERBIRDS compilation films (2 episodes each). After this it'll be the 2 TB feature films, and then the 10 episodes of CAPTAIN SCARLET AND THE MYSTERONS I taped off Sci-Fi before they stopped showing that, too.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
"You Kill Me"
A killer (Ben Kingsly) is forced into AA because his drinking is getting in the way of his work. The description alone was enough to pique my distorted sense of humor but add in Tea Leoni (yumm) and one of my favorite character actors, Bill Pullman...
Did I mention it's also set in a funeral parlor?
Posted by Awkward Pause Boy on :
Sigh...
I'm nearly through everything I can find from the League of Gentlemen. Why none of you British posters made note of this series--leaving me to discover it by accident--is beyond me. I suppose you just wanted to keep it local.
Posted by STU on :
The Mole. Although this season has been a bit lackluster, it's still one of the more involving reality shows. (And I'm supplementing it with episodes of Season 1 on DVD.)
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
Eureka on Sci-fi.com since i don't have cable or satelite.
I just found the show a couple of weeks ago when i was out of town and it was on the hotel tv.
I like it, its a fun little show that doesn't try to be to grand.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Friends of mine are big fans of Eureka, recently gave me the first two seasons to watch. I agree with you, they don't try to overdo it and the premises are fairly realistic. The character personalities, including the house, are some of the best on TV IMO.
I do wish they had more episodes with Lojack though.
Posted by Set on :
Yeah, until Heroes and Supernatural start up, Eureka is all I watch. (And even then, Heroes has burned me two seasons in a row, so they better get their act in gear!)
I kinda want the focus to go back to characters like Jo and the kid with the glasses who's always messing up. Zane annoys me and I am sending negative energy his way, in hopes that something bad happens to him. Zoe's boyfriend can also suffer the same mysterious and tragic fate, for all I care.
Also, the actress who plays Jo should play Wonder Woman. Something about her demeanor makes me think 'Amazon princess.' Or maybe it's just her nose.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Jo does have a mediteranean look to me. Hank is probably my favorite character, easy for me to identify with but Jo would be a close second.
I've not seen Season 3, so Zane is still around? Not my favorite. Too out of character for Jo to put up with that without at least an armbar. There are enough wormholes floating around that place, both boyfriends could just disappear and it wouldn't even be necessary to wrap a show around it. Just asimple, hey, where'd those two go? Don't know, must have fallen into a wormhole.
Were there any other new characters for season 3?
Posted by Set on :
quote:Originally posted by Blockade Boy: Were there any other new characters for season 3?
A corporate exec type, sent to improve Global Dynamic's bottom-line. She immediately rubs almost everyone the wrong way (implementing all sorts of fees and prices for things that are generally free in Eureka, like meals in Cafe Diem and arguing to shut down any 'pure research' that doesn't have money-making applications). I'm not sure, but she looks kind of like the chain-smoking case-worker, Juno, from Beetlejuice.
There's some nice passive-aggressive resistance to her ideas. After stating that meals at the Cafe are no longer free, she stops in for a coffee and the guy in charge says, 'That'll be 25 dollars.' The next person in line orders the same thing and he's like, 'Oh, no charge for you.'
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Have to wait an entire year for the DVD.
Battlestar Galactica seasons 1-3. After Eureka and Stargate, have to say the dialogue and character personalities in BG comes off severely lacking. It does have that well defined goal (reaching Earth) and leading mystery (13th Cylon) the others don't so I was somewhat interested. The space scenes/battles were awesome but they would do some really dumb stuff like, have faster than light spaceships but not be able to stick something into a coin size hole to keep a spacedock from leaking air. crazy.
Mysery Alaska: hockey meets spectacular scenery in a slapstick comedy. It's great because see, it's really a guy flick but you can pass it off as a chick flick and score double points with your girl.
Does Russel Crowe make any bad movies?
Posted by Uranus Lad on :
Weeds! Beside that, nothing. It's Summer, nothing is on.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Control
About Ian Curtis and Joy Division.
Probably only hit home to me because this was my undergrad years and I had probably the only roommate in the entirety of rural/small town Indiana (Purdue) that was into new wave. The good old days, doing the sizzle on the cafeteria floor. We knew Devo before the world and all the Brians and Iggy before most of America did. Joy Division was a rumor.
Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
The final season of "The Shield" just started and I'm totally psyched! This is an awesome show - it's the kind of show where everything builds on everything else and one of the most important resolutions has been coming since the end of the pilot episode - can't wait to see how this all pans out!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Drake, I'm also a huge SHIELD fan and am really psyched too! The quality has never faltered and even though I missed a bunch of eps last season, I'm still totally excited (and can always catch up on the DVD seasons).
Posted by Exnihil on :
Just watched the film, "How the West Was Won," this weekend for the very first time.
It is the prototypical example of the "All Star Epic" including turns by Jimmy Stewart, Gregory Peck, and Henry Fonda. Admittedly, it's a bit dated (both in its historic approach and its filming technique - something called Cinerama that utilized three concurrent cameras and creates an effect that's a bit distracting on a flat screen) but for the sheer scope of what it attempts (a multi-generational tale that spans nearly the entire 19th century) it was quite impressive.
Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
What new shows are people interested in checking out?
Fringe: The most highly anticipated new show for me - the pedigree has a lot to live up to.
Dollhouse: Same as above, but less so. I'm not convinced Eliza Dushku is actually a good actress, despite how much Joss Whedon loves her.
My Own Worst Enemy: Nice to see Christian Slater in the spotlight again after years of supporting work. Interesting premise (I can see the pitch: "It's like a cross between 'Fight Club' and 'Alias'!")
[ September 09, 2008, 07:07 PM: Message edited by: DrakeB3004 ]
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Drake,
I checked out the first episode of Fringe. It was good. Didn't love it but I will stick around for a few more episodes. Does the actress look just like Kate Blanchett or what? My wife is a fan of the Dawson Creek kid so it looks like we will be around for a bit. (He did good in Bobby).
I will also try to catch My Own Worst Enemy. I saw Slater in person once in 2001. Nice guy.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
P.S. I haven't posted here in a long while. I've read it the thread recently and got lots of comments on what you guys wrote but I need time! I also have watched lots of films since my last post I have to post about.
Latest film I saw was Ratatouille yesterday. Loved it. I never got over being grossed out about the rats making the food though. Really well written. Brad Bird rocks! (writer/director did Incredibles as well) I was amazed by the animation!!! All these new comic films should be animated IMO. Not the cheap animation either.
Posted by Exnihil on :
Just watched "The Grifters" tonight, for the first time since seeing it in the theatre close to 20 years ago. It has aged, but that final scene still disturbed me with just how vicious it was.
I find it odd how numb I am to most movie violence, but every once in a great while I'm still capable of being shocked. Even knowing it was coming, this is still one of those scenes.
Posted by Ram Boy on :
We rented 3 DVDs this past weekend.
"The Fall" - Though I liked the highly stylized look of this movie, the story of a suicidal stunt man manipulating a young girl through his storytelling was a little depressing.
Ram Boy's Review: "meh, you decide."
"I Heart Huckabees" - Amazingly enough, I understood everything about this existential comedy so either I'm getting smarter or they did a kick-ass job with the screenplay.
Ram Boy's Review: "See it and you'll feel smartr afterwards!"
"The Other Boleyn Girl" - We were really over DVDs by this point so we didn't actually watch this historical drama.
Ram Boy's Review: I'm pretty sure it would have been an OK movie! But then again, it might have sucked!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I recently saw The Other Boleyn Girl. It did a good job with the history of the subject. Showed all of those ugly politics that probably was the cause of all their ills. It got a bit bleak (as expected).
Posted by Shady on :
22 pages! Took my breath away when I saw that.
I'm trying to stick with Fringe but the gal is kind of generic and big conspiracies are getting kind of old (that's all X-Files seemed to be about after awhile). I'm giving Primeval a 'chance', too. I like the characters and love the special effects but hate the long lost wife and the possible conspiracy that might be surfacing.
I'm looking forward to Sanctuary, though! I love Amanda Tapping and the idea of a Sci-Fi/Fantasy mix!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Catching up with some old comments.
Still haven't seen Juno but it's on my list.
I know Indiana Jones & the Crystal Skulls didn't get great reviews but I'm going to buy it.
Also going to buy Iron Man when it comes which I enjoyed just as much as the Dark Knight if not more.
Have to borrow Dexter from a friend. Never seen one.
EDE, I gotta watch The Happening still. I always said M. Night reminds me of a modern Hitchcock. I have to buy that Hitchcock collection as well.
Lard Lad, really glad you checked out The Prestige. I keep telling people to watch it at work and no one has. That film is amazing.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Films I've watched since my last posts...
Michael Clayton. Liked it.
No Reservations. As a huge Catherine Zeta-Jones fan and that NYC atmosphere I liked it. (Going to NYC in a month...it's been too long!)
Rush Hour 3 was horrible.
Sideways lived up to the hype. Really enjoyed it. Didn't know the main characters were such losers. Made the film more fun since I was suprised.
The Assassination of Jesse James. Ick. Probably a good book. It seemed to stick to the history pretty good. Didn't try to be glamorous. Brad Pitt did an OK job...not great. Didn't care for it. Way to long.
Goya's Ghost? About the artist Goya facing the strict catholic church and then the liberal yet oppressing French(Napolean). It was suprising. Had its moments. Natalie Portman did an amazing job acting. She was better here than in The Other Boleyn Girl. Javier Bardeem did very well also. Strange film though. The ending was pretty wacky.
Balls of Fury made me laugh. Watch it drunk though. Resident Evil: Extinction eh. Milla just does it for me so I watched it. It was fun/exciting.
Quills. Disturbing for the wrong reasons. I was expecting disturbing but I guess it still suprised me. Unless you are a real fan of the Marquis I suggest to skip it.
Knocked Up was pretty funny.
In Bruges with Colin Farrel, Ralph Fiennes, and Brendan Gleeson(love that guy) was really good. Two hitman from England just come off a kill and are sent to Bruges (Belgium) to hide out. Colin being the young hitman gets bored in this quiet but beautiful town. Gets into trouble. Highly recommend it!
Vantage Point. Pretty good. I expected better to tell the truth because it had so many good actors. Yet the nature of the film (fast, fast, fast) didn't give time for much great dialogue. I enjoyed it.
No Country for Old Men. Javier Bardeem freaked me out! Really good film though didn't care for the ending. Again based on a book I had to rewatch the two last scenes with Tommy Lee Jones a few times to "get it". Not sure if I did.
Jumper. Loved it. Just for the exciting escapism it provided and action!
Ladron Que Roba a Ladron. Spanish film based in Los Angeles. It's Ocean's 11 en el barrio. I really enjoyed it. My wife used the subtitles and she did as well so not much was lost in translation.
The Magus with Michael Cane. I'm a sucker for the european films that take place on a Mediterranean island BUT this film wasn't great. Had a young hot Candice Bergen(Murphy Brown). Cane had way too much make up. Still enjoyed some parts of it. Woody Allen I think said this was the worst film ever made. It wasn't that bad but it was bad.
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. Loved it! Alberty Finney I believe is one of the best actors ever! His Hercule Peroit was amazing! I'm a sucker for detective fiction stuff though.
Just the Ticket was an Andy Garcia/Andie MacDowell was a film I enjoyed 10 years ago on HBO. While my wife really enjoyed it I didn't care for it the 2nd time around. I'm a fan of both actors though so I wanted to check it out again.
Blah! Sorry guys I started this thread and haven't posted in months. Life has been really busy but as you see I've still been watching movies. Will post about what shows I'm watching later.
Anybody seen or have ideas about these films I just posted?
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: Drake,
I checked out the first episode of Fringe. It was good. Didn't love it but I will stick around for a few more episodes. Does the actress look just like Kate Blanchett or what? My wife is a fan of the Dawson Creek kid so it looks like we will be around for a bit. (He did good in Bobby).
I was on the fence about this after the first episode, but I'm actually starting to dig it. There are a couple of that I find really distracting, though, like Anna Torv's accent which comes and goes. I'm not sure I like the Will Eisner-esque integration of the location info into the backgrounds. I mean, I like the concept, but I'm not sure it works in live action stuff.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. Loved it! Alberty Finney I believe is one of the best actors ever! His Hercule Peroit was amazing! I'm a sucker for detective fiction stuff though.
For some reason I remember not really caring for this adaptation. Big fan of the book, though.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I haven't read any Agatha Christie but my wife told I would love her work.
I like the location info planted into the scene personally.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Agatha Christie rocks beyond all belief.
Posted by Shady on :
I liked Tuesday's Fringe pretty well, too. I guess I'm in for the long run.
Mystery Theater has a lot of Christie's work, both Peroit and Marple. Love them, but my favorite 'Orient Express' is Houstonof's. I just have a soft spot for him. (Yes, I know I probably spelled his name wrong!)
I'll buy the last Indiana movie as well, even though it was a bit of a letdown.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Shady, Ustinov is the one I think you are talking about. The Poirot with white hair? I actually own the dvd for Murder Under the Sun with him in it. Pretty good.
I just imagine David Suchet though when I think of Poirot.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Agreed about David Suchet.
Re: Fringe, I'm also kind of bugged by some of the goofy psuedo-science. It wouldn't bother me if it weren't such a central element of the show, but since it is, I'd prefer if it were a little more realistic.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
With my latest library aquisition, I think I've watched every major 2008 Academy nominee except Môme, La.
Charlie Wilson's War was easily the most affecting for me. I can't say Hanks deserved a nomination and maybe that's what held it back. Amy Adams was excellent as was of course Hoffman who was nominated.
Hoffman might easily be the best male actor the US has going right now. Not many can pull off character leads with such diversity.
Still hoping the library gets Môme, La, the clips look great.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Blockade, I really enjoyed Charlie Wilson's War. Good story. As a fan of history there are a TON of stories out there they can easily adapt.
I mean there were like 400 Roman Emperors and about 75% had an amazing story! Or maybe the people they affected.
Trust me I'm all for fiction. But when i see bad fiction I just think...couldn't they just adapt some history? Charile Wilson's War was great.
Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
Re: Fringe - I wasn't really wowed by the first episode, but I'm liking it more after the second and third eps. It's still a little too "X-Files" but it's growing on me.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Some shows: The Fringe – caught the first episode, but that’s it. I liked it, and I understand that they’re trying to make it viewer friendly with weekly episodes, but I love complicated long term plots. Still, Veronica Mars was able to do both, so maybe Fringe will? Either way, I’ve missed all the episodes since it debuted. I’m a poor weekly viewer and prefer DVD seasons.
Dexter – Jorge, you’ve got to check this out! Incredibly unique and well done. I bought season 2 but haven’t watched it yet.
Deadwood – I just bought Season 3. This show is superb, simply one of the most poignant, original and best things on TV.
Grey’s Anatomy – wait, Grey’s Anatomy? I don’t really like this show, but Lady Cobalt loves it, so I usually read comics while she watches and catch a few minutes. But I did see my boy from Rome on there (he’s that army surgeon guy). I wonder if he’s a new recurring character? I really like the actor because of his role on Rome. I also can’t stand Kathryn Heigl, so her leaving the show helps guys like me.
Sons of Anarchy – I’ve really enjoyed the episodes I’ve caught of this show. Typical of FX, its another show with great actors, most of whom I recognize as character actors I absolutely love from all over the map, and it has strong, powerful plots that pull absolutely no punches. FX always has the best edgy shows and this is no different. With the SHIELD ending and Rescue Me kind of becoming more ‘lovable’ and ‘friendly’, I’m glad to see another very tense show. Anyone else checking this out?
Some movies… In Bruges – this looks good, glad you reminded me of it Jorge
Agathie Christie movies – never seen any of them, but I recently read “And then there were None” (finally!), and will post on the Reading thread about it. Her books are usually excellent and I can see how they’d make good films, they’d appear to be perfect for adaptation.
Charlie Wilson’s War – I also thought this was great. I agree Jorge, so many great and interesting people have lived throughout history, that there is fodder for tons of great movies.
American Gangster – so many people I talked to disliked this film, but I wasn’t convinced they were right (like all people who watch a lot of movies, I believe my opinion is usually more refined ). Anyway, Denzil and Russel Crowe in the same movie? Those are two of my favorite actors working today! And you know what? I pretty much loved it! I can see its not for everyone, and it’s a pretty brutal and honest look at the 1970’s New York drug/crime scene. The Viet Nam aspect of the drug ring (with the US Army), the corrupt cops, and the pretty horrible conditions of Harlem, NY then (which aren’t a main part but subtly always there) are brutal. The 1960’s and 1970’s were a damn bad time for cities in the USA. New York is so much more cleaned up now, and its amazing how Ridley Scott can reinvent those conditions back then. Thank God I didn’t live through the 1970’s.
I actually haven’t watched many new movies in awhile. Just been hella-busy.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
In Bruges: had me laughing out loud, embarrassing but then... oh wait, you've not seen it. Get on that.
American Gangster: not a big Denzil fan since he always basically just plays, Denzil, but also loved just about everything in this movie. Everything (except the blatant street shooting) rang credibly to me.
Appaloosa: I don't normally spring for movies still at the theatre except big budget sci-fi, but this looks too good to wait.
[ October 03, 2008, 08:09 PM: Message edited by: Blockade Boy ]
Posted by Candle on :
Yes, Ustinov! And it was probably the Sun movie that I saw him in.
The british series actors are the ones I think of when I think of Christie's work, usually, but I can never remember their names. I do the same thing with the PBS's Sherlocke Holmes series and all of their Jane Austin work, too, and many others.
I've been enjoying 3 of BBC's series this past year or two, Dr. Who, Torchwood (waiting for new stories on these 2)and Primeval. These series both attract and repulse me for the same reasons, though. While they're really Sci-Fi in their concepts, they don't really care about the science part of the stories very much.
American Sci-Fi is almost obsessed with trying to make things grounded in 'reality'.
Speaking of reality, Project Runway is nearing this years end! I'm sure there's a thread here somewhere about that show but I just don't have time to find it! Love Tim Gunn.
Posted by Quislet, Esq. on :
Just got back from seeing "Religulous" the BIll Maher quasi-documentary.
It was pretty much what I figured. There were some funny bits. How can you not have funny bits when you put the kooks on camrera?
But I am not a big fan of Bill Maher. I remember watching Politically Incorrect and several times, the guests would be having a great dialog, Bill would interrupt with a question that completely ended the conversation. A couple of times in the movie, I could see him ask a question and basically ignore the answer, almost interrupting with his next question.
The film does a good job of juxtaposing contradictory statements and images. But at times it seems a little heavy handed. And at the end Maher gets downright preachy about how dangerous religion is. In "Religulous" Maher is a second rate MIchael Moore and it shows.
One thing I did see that got me excited was in the Coming Attractions. It was for Gus Van Sant's biopic of Harvey Milk, titled "Milk". For those that don't know Harvey Milk was one of the first openly gay people elected to public office. He, along with the mayor of San Francisco, was shot to death by former city supervisor Dan White. White's lawyer(s) were the first to raise the Twinkie Defense.
Posted by Candle on :
Primeval was excellent with the sabertooth ~ evolved sharks next week!
Sanctuary was a disappointment, though.
Posted by matlock on :
I just watched the first season of Gavin and Stacey on BBC America (thank you Comcast On-Demand.) I really enjoyed it. It was funny without the kind of mean-spiritedness that seems prevalent in sitcoms today. Plus I was really intrigued by the way it played up the difference between the Welsh and English characters. I guess I never thought about it. I read there's a notion of remaking it for the US, but I don't think you could transpose that culture clash here in the same way. The regions here are so spread out - I couldn't hop in my car in the US South and drive to see a girlfriend in the North. Well, besides the fact my wife would probably kill me. Anyways, I will have to catch the second season as it airs which means I'll probably have to wait a while to catch the right order, after being spoiled getting the first 6 in a few days.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I caught the Season premiere of Life on Mars last night. Actually pretty well done and entertaining. A good mesh of drama, angst, humor, tension and pretty well paced. Plus, lots of great actors. I might try to keep up on this one.
Quis - 'Milk' also has James Franco in it as Harvey Milk's boyfriend (openly), correct? It looks very good from what I've read about so far.
Posted by Ram Boy on :
Well, this sucks.
We went and saw The Duchess the night before last and it was thoroughly disappointing. I'd really enjoyed the book the movie based on, Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman, and thought, with all the incredible events that this woman had witnessed and was a part of, it couldn't possibly be dull. Wrong. Instead, the screenwriter(s) chose to take the material and turn it into an extremely bland melodrama about the sacrifices women will make for their children.
Another major gripe I had was that, in the biography, Georgiana's personality pretty much jumps of the page and you realize what a charismatic and appealing human being she was (despite her flaws). Here was a woman who, not only, led the upper ranks of English society but was also able to go out, kick back, and have a few beers with the common folk from time to time. However, in the move version, Kiera Knightley conveys all the charm and appeal of one of Jane Austen' most tightly wound spinsters.
And to top everything else off, it seemed like the cinematographer went out of his or her way to make the colorful and splashy world of late eighteenth century England look as dull and lifeless as possible.
[/gripey movie post rant]
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Update: I think I've officially decided that Fringe is my favorite new show of the season. It's not anywhere near Pushing Daisies or Lost awesome, but it's pretty damn good. Life on Mars has quite a bit of potential as well.
Posted by Quislet, Esq. on :
If the American version of Life on Mars is like the British, then it will be real good.
Posted by Uranus Lad on :
quote:One thing I did see that got me excited was in the Coming Attractions. It was for Gus Van Sant's biopic of Harvey Milk, titled "Milk". For those that don't know Harvey Milk was one of the first openly gay people elected to public office. He, along with the mayor of San Francisco, was shot to death by former city supervisor Dan White. White's lawyer(s) were the first to raise the Twinkie Defense.
If you haven't seen The Times of Harvey Milk -a documentary that came out in the mid-eighties. It's definitely worth a look and it'll make you cry guaranteed. Can't wait for the feature though.
As for what I'm currently watching, Heroes (natch), Terminator the Sarah Connor chronicles -if you haven't checked out this show yet, do yourself a favor, it's possibly one of the best things on TV right now, I kid you not. I'm pretty sure you can hulu most of the episodes. Still into Prison Break but I'm a couple weeks behind. I just got done watching all 14 episodes of Firelfy (again) and am sifting through past seasons of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Watched Pushing Daisies last night. Still not sure what I think about this one but it is most definitely one of the most original shows out there right now. I'm thinking of talking the Shield next as I hear good things but I kinda hate cops shows. I also want to ge to the last few years of Dr. Who. PBS is playing it on Monday nights but either I miss it or catch the same few episodes I've already seen.
Seriously, hulu has totally changed my "TV" watching habits in a major way and I don't have to pay for cable TV or a DVR! If you are unfamiliar, check it out, the extent of the content is surprising. Of course they don't have everything but certainly enough to keep you entertained for a long time.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I've been enjoying Fringe as well.
Cobie, I have to watch Dexter and Deadwood! I saw a couple shows of Deadwood and was a bit lost but I liked what I saw. Must rent DVD for both.
Blockade Boy, I agree about Denzil. Most of the time he plays himself. Sure he's charasmatic and I enjoy lots of his films but he's not a big draw for me.
In Bruges was funny! Cobie, EDE, all of yous gotta check it out!
Bill Maher is the is the other extreme of someone like Bill Reilly. I guess I never watch Bill Reilly cause he just makes me angry but I gave Bill Maher more of a chance. I consider myself a moderate and can't stand the guy. Yes he's rude and full of himself. Best way I describe myself is "I love hippies but I hate commies". Bill Maher is a commie. Though I am glad he took a shot at religion personally. Sometimes I can't believe it's 2008. I read an article about how Europe is mostly agnostic and atheist now. We are always behind the curve aren't we when it comes to Europe? Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I loathe Bill O'Reilly more than anything and it disgusts me that so many Americans, including well educated businessmen I know, actually listen to him.
At the same time, I absolutely can't stand Bill Maher. People like Bill Maher is the reason liberals get a bad name.
Posted by Uranus Lad on :
While Maher can be a totally smarmy asshole, at least he can back up his arguments and doesn't just start screaming "SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" at people who disagree with him. Of course, it is kind of comparing apples and oranges.
This is pretty funny Lil' O'Reily Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I agree Cobie. I hate them both.
When will people wake up and notice the silent majority are all us in people in between? Moderates, either dems or reps. I guess we should open a political forum.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Not really an O'Reilly fan, but I actually find him far less annoying than Sean Hannity (or Alan Colmes, for the matter).
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I met Sean Hannity in NYC once. He's as pompous in person as he is on TV. Even when only meeting him for literally 45 seconds.
He basically has no credibility anymore--he's a complete nut. He belongs in a Frank Miller comic book.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Saw 28 Weeks later. Rose Byrne is just so perfect.
It was pretty good. I mean no way that would ever happen. They have like 18 soldiers watching all of London. I was never "scared" but my blood pressure did get pretty high. I felt like boarding up the windows.
Quick thoughts about the actors...
Robert Carlyle. Always like him. My favorite film of his is Plunkett & Macleane.
Catherine McCormack. She hasn't been in that many things but has that beautiful face you know you've seen somewhere. Braveheart, Spy Game, Sound of Thunder (ick!). She's also in Shadow of the Vampire and Tailor of Panama but I haven't seen those films yet.
The wife and I are going to try to watch some scary films this month. Next is Hannibal Rising.
Posted by Mystery Lad on :
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. Loved it! Alberty Finney I believe is one of the best actors ever! His Hercule Peroit was amazing! I'm a sucker for detective fiction stuff though.
This story- book or movie- has just about the most jawdropping murder solution ever!! Seriously, between this and TEN LITTLE INDIANS/AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, can there be any doubt that Ms. Christie is/was the queen of the mystery denouement!
Maybe this belongs in the reading thread, but there *was* an adaptation of my favorite less famous Christie work-- THE HOLLOW.
Unfortunately, the movie just didn't capture the charm and distinctiveness of the characters that came across in the book.
It, too, has an elegant solution to the murder mystery- but not one nearly as 'big' as those of her more famed mysteries.
EDE-- the first time I saw the film version of ORIENT EXPRESS, I wasn't that impressed either. It seemed really slllooowww. But I watched it again not too long ago and enjoyed it much more. Give it another chance one of these days.
Posted by l.e.g.i.o.n.JOHN on :
Spike TV was airing Empire and Jedi back to back leading into the 2008 scream awards show. i had nothing better to do and since it Star Wars i'll watch it and then check out the 2008 Scream awards show @ 9pm.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
quote:Originally posted by l.e.g.i.o.n.JOHN: Spike TV was airing Empire and Jedi back to back leading into the 2008 scream awards show. i had nothing better to do and since it Star Wars i'll watch it and then check out the 2008 Scream awards show @ 9pm.
Yeah I know what you mean. Star Wars films (old ones) are just hard to change the channel to. So are the Indiana Jones. No matter how many times I see them I still can't change the channel.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Mystery Lad, I think I just found out why you call yourself that.
I'm a BIG fan of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. But from what everybody tells me I have to read Christie's work. Never have. I've seen a couple of the films.
A buddy of mine just saw Witness for the Prosecution (1957) and said it was really good. Starring Tyrone Power and directed by Billy Wilder.
Posted by Mystery Lad on :
You're too smart for your own good. Now I'll have to kill you. Something involving an airtight locked room, maybe?
Ha-ha-ha! Evil cackle...
WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION is a good movie, based on a play, rather than a novel, I believe. Tyrone Power stars, but Marlene Dietrich walks away with the movie and slaps it in her back pocket on the way out.
Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester are entertaining in it, too.
I look forward to reading your thoughts about Agatha Christie's work when you get to it. Most of them are fairly quick reads.
Posted by Candle on :
The British series on Mystery! is so good reading Christie isn't enough ~ you have to watch them.
I still haven't seen her final Peroit or Marple books made into movies, though. I loved both of them, as books!
My favorite Holmes movie is the one not written by Doyle, the one about the teen Sherlock that sets up his lifelong fight with Moriority (sp?), the beginning of his friendship with Watson and why he never married. I can't remember the title, exactly, or the stars but it was on TV recently.
I've always enjoyed the old Charlie Chan movie/mysteries, too.
Fringe was interesting and pretty weird last night!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I remember liking Charlie Chan as a kid.
Young Sherlock Holmes? Came out in 85. If that is the one I liked it as well.
Speaking of Sherlock how about the amazing news of Guy Ritchie directing a Sherlock film with Robert Downey Jr as Sherlock, Jude Law as Watson and Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler(I love Rachel McAdams).
Ritchie promised who won't do it his usual style and would stick with a classical Holmes but the studio wants it to be more action/adventure. Sounds good to me!
The last Fringe was about the people that are living microwave ovens?
Posted by Candle on :
Young Sherlock Holmes it was!
Robert Downy Jr. as Sherlock? WOW! Well, at least he has the drug problem part down! Sorry ~ he'd probably be great, it's just the accent might be a stretch. lol
Yah, EXPLODING HEAD microwave ovens. Gads.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Watched Hannibal Rising today. It wasn't bad. It possibly made Hannibal too sympathetic and not creepy enough. I am thinking they were trying to show it can happen to anyone?
I expected it to be more disturbing than it was.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Anyone been watching Crusoe? I'm not wowed by it, but it's pretty decent. It's a bit of Lost meets Pirates of the Carribean meets Swiss Family Robinson.
Posted by Stealth on :
quote:Originally posted by Candle: Robert Downy Jr. as Sherlock? WOW! Well, at least he has the drug problem part down! Sorry ~ he'd probably be great, it's just the accent might be a stretch. lol
He's already done the accent, in Chaplin, and he did it quite well IMO.
Posted by Stealth on :
I watched legendary Italo-Horror director Dario Argento's most recent movie, Mother of Tears, hoping it might be a late-career return to form...it wasn't.
That said, it's not entirely without interest, either.
Anyone who's not watching "Life on Mars" is really missing out on a terrific show!
If you haven't heard the premise, it's about a New York City detective, Sam Tyler, who is struck by a car and wakes up in 1973. For some reason he finds exists in that era as himself and on that era's police force as a recent transfer. He has no idea why he's there and what his purpose is, though it's hinted often that he's in a coma in 2008.
The series is just plain lotsa fun! Seeing him experience the culture of the '70s and the brash tactics of the '70s police is a hoot. I've never been particularly fond of Harvey Keitel, but he's terrific as Lt. Gene Hunt. It's fun seeing Sam and Gene (often literally!) duke it out every episode. Jason O'Mara is a budding superstar as Sam.
Love the '70s hairdos and clothes, the hippies and even the social commentary about Now vs. Then. The show definitely has a serious side, but the more whimsical side is what's drawn me in.
If you're curious, you can easily catch up on it at ABC.com, unless I'm mistaken. This quirky show deserves a chance!
Posted by Candle on :
quote:Originally posted by Stealth:
quote:Originally posted by Candle: Robert Downy Jr. as Sherlock? WOW! Well, at least he has the drug problem part down! Sorry ~ he'd probably be great, it's just the accent might be a stretch. lol
He's already done the accent, in Chaplin, and he did it quite well IMO.
I know he's a darn good little actor. I was just kidding.
And I thought Chaplin was from the silent era of movies ~ a 'silent' actor.
Sorry, sometimes I get on a tare or something!
Posted by l.e.g.i.o.n.JOHN on :
TCM was just showing "Forbidden Planet" one of the true Sci-fi greats. this is another one of those movies that i have to take time out to watch no matter what anytime it comes on.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Mmmmm Altaira. Tasty.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Lard Lad, that sounds very interesting. Have to fit it into my schedule.
Just saw the French Connection. Now that was good! Old school tough guy cops in old school seedy NYC! Popeye Doyle is a loose cannon! It's hard to like the character after he killed one of his own men but darn it I'm watching part II tomorrow! Doyle will get his man! So this was Hackman's breakout film? I can easily see why.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I was so pumped up about FC I saw French Connection II. Popeye Doyle in Marseille! Oh boy was that BAD! Lots of long useless scenes. The first one had similar scenes but they were better. I fell asleep like 5 times. This was at 9:30pm which is early for me. Why didn't the bad guys just kill Doyle? They made him a junkie instead?! I want those 2 hours of my life back! Still in the mood for cool seventies cinema though!
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
era of the car chase scene. just a bit earlier, 68, but now I've a taste to pick up "Bullet."
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
quote:Originally posted by Blockade Boy: era of the car chase scene. just a bit earlier, 68, but now I've a taste to pick up "Bullet."
Yup, that was a good car chase scene (will car chasing commuter train).
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by LardLad: Anyone who's not watching "Life on Mars" is really missing out on a terrific show!
If you haven't heard the premise, it's about a New York City detective, Sam Tyler, who is struck by a car and wakes up in 1973. For some reason he finds exists in that era as himself and on that era's police force as a recent transfer. He has no idea why he's there and what his purpose is, though it's hinted often that he's in a coma in 2008.
The series is just plain lotsa fun! Seeing him experience the culture of the '70s and the brash tactics of the '70s police is a hoot. I've never been particularly fond of Harvey Keitel, but he's terrific as Lt. Gene Hunt. It's fun seeing Sam and Gene (often literally!) duke it out every episode. Jason O'Mara is a budding superstar as Sam.
Love the '70s hairdos and clothes, the hippies and even the social commentary about Now vs. Then. The show definitely has a serious side, but the more whimsical side is what's drawn me in.
If you're curious, you can easily catch up on it at ABC.com, unless I'm mistaken. This quirky show deserves a chance!
Has anyone ever told you you have good tastes sir?
Posted by LardLad on :
I take it you're a fan, Des? I'd love for you to share your thoughts!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
From two pages ago...
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: I caught the Season premiere of Life on Mars last night. Actually pretty well done and entertaining. A good mesh of drama, angst, humor, tension and pretty well paced. Plus, lots of great actors. I might try to keep up on this one.
That was after the premiere and I've caught several episodes since. I think the show is really just excellent, and a ton of fun to boot. There are several reasons I like it but I'll give you my big ones:
(1) The main actor (Sam) - you know what, this guy is a *star*. He's likeable, he gives deep performances, yet he's funny as hell when he wants to be and usually its when he's being subtle about it.
(2) The general back and forth between funny moments (laughed out loud by the Vanilla Ice sequence last week) and the deadly serious and very poignant moments. So much of the show is about how things have changed for the better since 1973, or perhaps some things for the worse, and perhaps have not really changed much at all. And that works so well for humor and for the most serious and powerful of themes.
(3) The sense of style - man, its FUN. And I have no great love of the 1970's and in fact am generally pretty damn glad I missed 'em! But its very stylistically done but also done very...hm, 'gritty' is too strong a word, but...genuine? It feels very street level, very POV from the everyday guy (rather than some Hollywood startlet, soldier in Southeast Asia or March on Washington hippie, etc.).
(4) The part I like the most is they play up the part of the early 1970's that is usually very associated with the era--the sense of not knowing where the world is going or even who you are from an individual's point of view, and how this was a very real and despairing feeling then. And then they show Sam, who usually at first appears to not feel this way, to be confident and flexing his modern sense of knowing what it is right...and then he has his moments where those attitudes come right into play. And you're left wondering if perhaps some of those attitudes are still very much with us today? Those sequences are very groovy.
Its probably my favorite new show besides Sons of Anarchy (I'd say both equally tied for being very rare great shows right now).
Posted by LardLad on :
Yeah, Des, and "Life on Mars" just keeps getting better! I just caught up on last week's episode, and it's just as enjoyable, if not moreso, than it has been from the start. Loved Sam wowwing his P.D. with the Michael Jackson moves!
One thing I was happy to see is that after that last episode, I think we're more likely to see Sam exploring the "sexual revolution" side of the '70s--something I'd wanted to see him do more in that era. If you've seen the episode, you'll understand why!
I hope he doesn't settle into a relationship with "No-Nuts" (though I do lover her!) too quickly and explores the wildside a little!
Posted by Candle on :
These may not be equal to 'Life on Mars' but I saw trailers for 2 new movies this week.
*One was for a new Will Smith movie ~ it looked interesting but I'm not really sure what it's about.
*The other was for a new Star Trek movie ~ I was just so shocked! I hadn't heard anything about it before this. I'm a Trekkie, a kind of layed back one. But, I HAVE dressed up like a Bajorian for Halloween before. blush
I didn't recognize any cast members but it seemed to be a prequel to the original series with Spock and Kirk like characters. I can't wait.
Posted by Set on :
quote:Originally posted by Candle: *The other was for a new Star Trek movie
I didn't recognize any cast members but it seemed to be a prequel to the original series with Spock and Kirk like characters.
Pegg looks good as Scotty, Urban looks surprisingly good as McCoy, and the rest, eh. They'll do.
Spock isn't in that picture, but he's being played by the dude who plays Sylar on Heroes. Yikes...
They got a Russian kid to play Chekov, but he just doesn't look right to me. Such irony!
Posted by Quislet, Esq. on :
quote:Originally posted by LardLad: Anyone who's not watching "Life on Mars" is really missing out on a terrific show!
If you haven't heard the premise, it's about a New York City detective, Sam Tyler, who is struck by a car and wakes up in 1973. For some reason he finds exists in that era as himself and on that era's police force as a recent transfer. He has no idea why he's there and what his purpose is, though it's hinted often that he's in a coma in 2008.
The series is just plain lotsa fun! Seeing him experience the culture of the '70s and the brash tactics of the '70s police is a hoot. I've never been particularly fond of Harvey Keitel, but he's terrific as Lt. Gene Hunt. It's fun seeing Sam and Gene (often literally!) duke it out every episode. Jason O'Mara is a budding superstar as Sam.
Love the '70s hairdos and clothes, the hippies and even the social commentary about Now vs. Then. The show definitely has a serious side, but the more whimsical side is what's drawn me in.
If you're curious, you can easily catch up on it at ABC.com, unless I'm mistaken. This quirky show deserves a chance!
I haven't seen the US version. I loved the British version. And that makes me wary of seeing this. I don't want to be comparing the two.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
The library FINALLY got in a Legion of Superheroes, vol 3. Since I don't have cable, I've not had the pleasure.
Substitutes, Ferro Lad.
Posted by matlock on :
I have to put in a good word for Cartoon Network's Friday night lineup from 8:00 to 10:00. "Batman: The Brave and the Bold" has far surpassed my expectations and is lots of fun, "Secret Saturdays" is pretty interesting, "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" is hit or miss but not bad and "Ben 10 Alien Force" is really good for those of you missing the DCAU house style (a lot of veterans from JLU seem to have taken up residency on the series.) What makes it great is that my 2 1/2 year old is into them too so it's good father and son time. He really likes Ben 10 and Clone Wars, and anything to get a break from his obsession with "Ratatouille" is most welcome. Frankly, those are about the only shows on CN these days outside of a few Adult Swim programs that I can even watch. I really wish they'd have taken the opportunity to pick up the Legion cartoon for this block, it would have fit right in.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I watched 88 Minutes with Pacino. Horrible. It was a psychological drama.
Tried too hard to be sexy. I've never been so disappointed to see beautiful women making out. It was just so out of left fied and forced. (there was a naked yoga scene for a split second I enjoyed).
The good? I love Alicia Witt! Some other good looking ladies besides here...Leelee Sobieski, Amy Brenneman, Deborah Kara Unger(The Game), Leah Cairns(Battlestar...naked yoga!).
The bad? Everything else. I admit Pacino did a good job but the story was weak. Everybody is a suspect was done good for a while then got old. The forced girl on girl stuff was horrible.
Basically failed at being smarty and sexy. Not smart enough and forced sexyness.
Posted by Candle on :
Pegg looks good as Scotty, Urban looks surprisingly good as McCoy, and the rest, eh. They'll do.
Spock isn't in that picture, but he's being played by the dude who plays Sylar on Heroes. Yikes...
They got a Russian kid to play Chekov, but he just doesn't look right to me. Such irony!
Thanks, Set! (I wish ther was a 'genufleck'(sp?) Graemlin that I knew!)
I'm just hoping for the old team gestalt! It's just so rare.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Note to self: pick up "88 minutes." Turn down volume.
Posted by Candle on :
I've enjoyed watching 'Leverage' for the last two nights. The show has a likeable cast and good bad-guys. I've always loved Robin Hood stories.
Posted by cleome on :
JLU cartoons on Netflix. The ep with Morgaine was awful, and there was one other clunker that I've blocked out all memory of-- mostly, however, it's fun.
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
Right now i am watching the Big Bang Theory, and am trying to see 3rd rock from the Sun online, but its kinda frustrating, the only sites i can find break up the eps, or dont finish them at all.
I did find the japanese version of youtube that has a lot of the big bang stuff on them.
My god i have no life.
Posted by cleome on :
rickshaw1:
quote:My god i have no life.
But can your socks stand up on their own ?
I just watched Airplane last night for the 9,234,658th time since its premier. Yeah, yeah, I know. But I hate this time of year for more reasons than I could post, even if you all were interested. Desperate times, desperate measures, blah blah blah...
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
So, like in all years, while I was shopping for people for Christmas, I decided that it was me that is the person I buy the best presents for, and I went and bought myself like 8 or 9 movies on Amazon.com. They are all movies from the 40’s, 50’s or 60’s from a few genres: Hitchcock suspense thrillers, 50’s Westerns, Noir films or 50’s science-fiction thrillers. The only problem is now I have about an additional 30+ I want to add to my collection and I can’t justify spending more than $70 on myself for Christmas (I even feel guilty about that when I still haven’t bought most my presents )
Anyway, these films include mostly ones I’ve seen before and loved, though some I just bought on impulse. So far I’ve (re)watched 2:
Rope – EDE and I were discussing Rope about a year or so back and I ordered the movie and rewatched it. Even better the second time around. This is one of those gems that all movie fans love to find: the Hitchcock movie overlooked that ranks right up there with all of his best, and when you see it you’re blown away. There are so many good things already covered in this thread but for me the best part is two things that are pure Hitchcock: (1) the way he builds suspense by focusing the camera on his actors faces while events are occurring off-screen, so you’re becoming more and more anxious along with actor, almost seeing the wheels turn in their head, while at the same time assuming the worst, and (2) the way Hitch makes you feel incredibly nervous for the villains. Just like in Psycho, you aren’t really rooting for the bad guy, but you can’t help but feel nervous for them when they are on the verge of getting caught. It’s a complex and intriguing feeling when you watch his films. Rope remains the surprise Hitchcock film of the year for me.
Strangers on a Train – this is another one EDE mentioned to me that I had never seen though I of course knew of the plot and knew it was widely recognized as a great film. But WOW! It really is a great film. And so much of that has to do with the two actors and the way Hitchcock plays them against the rest of the movie (cast, setting, each other, really everything). Farley Granger, who I really only know from the aforementioned Rope is really a terrific and likeable actor, and he does a great job here of letting the viewer relate to him and suffer with him throughout. But the real show-stealer is Robert Walker who plays Bruno Anthony! He is superb! I would say he ranks up there for me as Hitch’s greatest on screen villain / menace EVER (better than Norman Bates definitely, though Raymond Burr’s menacing on screen persona in Rear Window is an honorable mention but just too brief to really compare). Walker is so many things: likeable but completely menacing and terrifying; totally believable; completely insane. Just thinking of this now as I type, Walker is really doing an incredible job bringing the Joker to life on the screen in terms of presence. Great, great movie.
BTW, isn’t it cool how you can always tell when a film is in Washington D.C. in these old films? Just like The Day the Earth Stood Still, Strangers on a Train’s setting is *so* D.C. even without all the monuments. I wonder if it’s a common set or location they use. You can always tell when a movie is in New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco or Los Angeles (blech on that last one!).
Some others I bought (both those I’ve seen before and some I haven’t), that I hope to maybe review: The Day the Earth Stood Still and Forbidden Planet (both I’ve seen many times but the remake made me recently long for the original and I figured I’d get what I consider the other great sci-fi movie of the 1950’s). The Big Sleep—my favorite noir film, at least tied with the Maltese Falcon as the two best detective and two best Bogart films outsides Casablanca. I’ve watched the Big Sleep so many times, and it’s a real pleasure knowing I’ll be watching again. The Searchers, which I *always* considered one of the best westerns ever before AFI ranked it that way, though I’m not sure I’d rank it as *the* best; certainly, its fantastic. The Third Man which I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never watched, which is an oversight I must fix. I generally do love Welles, either as director or actor, though I’m not one of those people that will grab you by the ear and explain to you his greatness (Although I have to say this recent notion in the last 20 years of A Touch of Evil being better than Citizen Kane doesn’t quite ring true with me). Hm, there are one or two more I ordered but haven’t gotten in the mail yet so I’ve forgotten what they are (yay for me for being surprised when they come in).
My wife is not really a movie buff like I am, and never watched ‘older’ movies when she was growing up (whereas I would watch endless amounts of them with my mom and dad). So my goal is that for each one I have to ‘push’ her into watching each one with me and then hopefully she will appreciate them, like she’s done with all of Hitch’s films so far.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by Candle: I've enjoyed watching 'Leverage' for the last two nights. The show has a likeable cast and good bad-guys. I've always loved Robin Hood stories.
Shady, everyone I know whose watched this is raving about how good it is. I'm curious but have never watched it...hopefully I can rectify (TNT is usually good about showing reruns). Timothy Hutton is generally fantastic.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
quote:Originally posted by Blockade Boy: Note to self: pick up "88 minutes." Turn down volume.
LOL, good idea. Fast foward also.
Cobie, I've been meaning on going on a Hitchcock kick. Sounds like an awesome present. I did the same. I bought myself the Spanish Prisoner and the Maltese Falcon. Can't wait to rewatch these. It's been about 10 years since I've seen either.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Speaking of Hitchcock, I watched Stage Fright a week or so ago. Another movie which doesn't get much attention, but is actually pretty close to a top-tier Hitch film. The twist in it actually caught me completely by surprise, which hasn't happened in awhile.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Speaking of Stage Fright did anyone else catch Stage Beauty? Pretty good film about the theater world during the reign of Charles the II. Billy Crudup and Claire Danes. Rupert Everett as Charless II.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
So anyone want to name the best (or their favorite) Hitchcock films.
I started looking at his work and recognize the famous ones but some I wasn't so sure if I heard of them or not.
Anyone willing to rank them?
(Doesn't Christmas get you in a Hitchcock mood?!)
Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
Favorite Hitchcock? Hmm... probably "Vertigo". Or "Spellbound"
Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: Speaking of Stage Fright did anyone else catch Stage Beauty?
I thought Crudup did a bang-up job. Very compelling portrayal.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I recently watched the Russian flick Nightwatch.
It's kind of a Harry Potter meets Matrix horror movie. Lots of humor actually...reminds me of the 5th Element.
Anyways I am going to watch the sequel tonight Daywatch. The effects for this one look really crazy. You can youtube it.
Posted by matlock on :
My wife got me a copy of "Prince Caspian" for Christmas and I have to say that though it was pretty to look at I was disappointed in it. They took far too many liberties with the adaptation for my tastes. A made up a rivalry between Caspian and Peter, and a lame stab at romance between Caspian and Susan left me cold. I could go on and on but suffice to say when you are tasked with adapting a very short book and manage to omit pieces of the original narrative in favor of "original" material you will lose my interest every time. Well, maybe with Disney bowing out of any potential version of "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" we can get something a little closer to the charm of the Lewis originals.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I never read any of Lewis' books. I am eager to see Caspian though.
Just watched the La Dolce Vita. I was very suprissed. I guess I was expecting a cooler version of Roman Holiday. Boy was I wrong. I have heard it's non-linear but that didn't bother me. I can see for others it can become frustrating but basically it was just 7 short stories about the same character that make a whole.
Things I got out of it? Fellini was condemning and praising modern culture a bit and vice versa with the old school ways. Commentary of has man becomed to civilized or are we supposed to be this civilized? It's a discussion I have with my friends often. I believe we are animals and thus can't ignore that side of us.
Certainly seemed to have some statements about excess. In fact each short story seemed to be about some excess or another and how it can really turn ugly. The main character's obsession with women and not wanting to settle down. That is a statement in man's animal nature and in excess as well.
Throw in having sex with a rich but insane putana at a prostitute's house (who made them cafe), a disturbing religious scene (the "miracle"), annoying paparazzi, some celebrity scenes with the famous dip in the Trevi fountain, and a quasi violent tame orgy...and, um, well...you have it, kind of.
I can see how this was popular back in the day (and now). Films about rich, famous, good looking people partying themselves to death are always attractive.
Not what I expected. It was good but not great. It's a bit out there.
Posted by Rockhopper Lad on :
My Christmas gift to myself this year was season two of The BeastMaster on DVD. It's silly fun and, in some places, fairly well-written fantasy TV, but I'd be lying if I said that the main reason I remember this (1999-2002) show so fondly was anything other than the gorgeous Daniel Goddard running around in a loincloth.
In addition to the scenery, it really is quite watchable. And it does make me nostalgic for the days about 10 years ago when fantasy/science fiction TV series were plentiful on weekend afternoons.
Posted by Set on :
Having had a bit of free time in the last week or so, I've caught up on the first season of Burn Notice (I like), the first season of Life (also cool) and the first two seasons of Bones (pretty cool).
Currently halfway through the first season of Supernatural (awesomeness personified).
Posted by Candle on :
I understand what you mean, matlock.
I still liked the movie, though. Just not as much as I could have.
I wish someone who knew how to make movies would get ahold of Terry Pratchett's stuff. The British cartoon of the witches was rather terrible. So much wasted potential!
I recently saw 'Vertigo'. Stewart is so completely strange, so obsessed and furious! I really think the story is more complex and horrorfying than it gets credit for.
But I still want a clear shower curtain. And when I see a bunch of crows in the trees I wonder.
I've been on and off again with the sci-fi show, 'Stargate Atlantis' but I'm fairly bummed about the series ending this week.
Somehow TPTB on that show seem to think that the only formula they can use for Stargate stories must involve HUGE incredibly powerful and numerous badguys. Then, they have to have some mega genious, like Sam or Rodney, sweep in with a short term solution but the war still goes on. The characters were finally really getting mature and complex and stories could less galaxy destroying possiblities!
Oh well. Sorry for the rant. I just don't know why everything has to be an epic. Posted by cleome on :
Robin Hood: Men In Tights
Now I can't get that damn song out of my head. [eek]
Posted by Mystery Lad on :
I thought VERTIGO was slow and a bit boring when I first saw it in college. Boy, did my opinion change by the next time I saw it a decade or so later.
Hmmm- the fact that my first viewing was on a small set with mediocre color in a college dorm room couldn't have had anything to do with my initial judgment, could it?
It most definitely is complex and- I'd call it disturbing more than horrifying- but I thought it'd been pretty much recognized as such.
That scene where Kim Novak, freshly bleached and teased and tucked into the Jimmy Stewart character's fantasy, emerges into the ghostly green glow of reflected neon is one I'll never forget.
It's a small masterpiece of mood, music, character and obssession. That scene, I mean. VERTIGO as a whole is most definitely not 'small'.
I know his own favorite of his films was SHADOW OF A DOUBT, which I always love. My personal favorite is probably REAR WINDOW. I think a good argument could be made putting VERTIGO forward as his best film.
Posted by Mystery Lad on :
For Christmas (which my family just celebrated this past Saturday due to an injury to my mom), I received two DVD sets which I'm currently enjoying: A Frank Capra collection including IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT, MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN (definitely do *not* judge this one by the Adam Sandler remake), YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU, MR. SMITH GOES TO TOWN and AMERICAN MADNESS (the only one I've never seen before) and the remastered I, CLAUDIUS PBS/BBC series.
So far, I've only watched the documentary stuff for the Capra collection (interesting and gladly, it didn't put me off him- the way bios sometimes do of artists/writers I admire). I'm about 5/6s through CLAUDIUS, which has gained few peers in the ranks of great TV drama since it was produced in the 1970's. I think one of the greatest villainess in history slithers her way across the screen, like the snake in the opening credits. Not historically accurate, I don't believe, as she died years before her onscreen death.
For myself, I bought the second season of ROUTE 66- if you've never watched this series, rent it sometime and watch a few episodes. There's never been another show quite like it. Hearing the light, jazzy theme song just makes me happy.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Mystery Lad, first off love that current avatar.
Thanks for the Hitchcock info. I will start watching soon!
Your Christmas presents sound pretty cool! I want to read I, Claudius badly! Didn't know there was a PBS/BBC series! I still have to read it first.
Posted by Candle on :
I agree, disturbing is a better word then horrifing. You're much better at words then me, ML.
There's so many Hitchcock stories I don't think I've seen as many as I'd like. I used to watch his TV series way back when.
I recently saw the original Deeds movie and it was wonderful. Was the main actor Cooper or Peck? I want to remember Coop in the part but the last old style movie I saw had Peck for sure, a reporter undercover as jewish. Gary Cooper was my mom's favorite and he's one of mine, too, right up there with Spencer Tracy.
Come to think of it, I saw Smith recently, too! That's Jimmy Stewart and the valley and Claude Rains as the mentor who's sold out?
Anyway ~ I loved I Claudius by PBS when I saw it in it's american showing. Was that really in the 70's? gads It has Derek Jacobie and James Hurt (Aliens) in it. They were so good in that mini-series! When I see them in anything else, I expect them to be lisping or cutting off someone's balls!
Jacobie was just on Dr. Who for a couple of episodes (rerun this year). He starred in the Brother Cadfiel(sp?) Mysteries, too. That's a fun series and I even found a gardening book on herbs and remedies from the middle ages named after the show! Posted by cleome on :
Any fans of I *Heart* Huckabees here ?
Normally, I tend to be skeptical when people rave about "quirky indy" films. The quirkiness ends up being wayyyyyyyy overdone and/or pointless. But this movie did have an actual plot that I could follow and take interest in. Also the acting was top-notch, which kept things from dragging.
I appreciated that neither the villains nor the heroes, such as the set-up was, were playing with entirely full decks;That neither side was operating for entirely selfless or selfish reasons. It kept my sympathy up for grabs mostly, so I never got bored.
Posted by Stealth on :
quote:Originally posted by cleome: Any fans of I *Heart* Huckabees here ?
Normally, I tend to be skeptical when people rave about "quirky indy" films. The quirkiness ends up being wayyyyyyyy overdone and/or pointless. But this movie did have an actual plot that I could follow and take interest in. Also the acting was top-notch, which kept things from dragging.
I appreciated that neither the villains nor the heroes, such as the set-up was, were playing with entirely full decks;That neither side was operating for entirely selfless or selfish reasons. It kept my sympathy up for grabs mostly, so I never got bored.
Yes. I like that movie, too, for the same reasons you listed.
Posted by Candle on :
Sounds like I should see it.
I want to see the Brad Pitt movie that's out now, I forget the title, of course. He's growing younger.
And looking back, I don't think JAMES Hurt is correct. I just don't think his name is WILLIAM Hurt. sigh
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
We watched the original Mr. Deeds in grad school (Gary Cooper is the lead Shady, you were right the first time). Its actually a really great film! Not Capra's best, but a pretty darn good movie.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is nothing short of extraordinary and it deserves all the praise it gets. Jimmy Stewart is one of the most likeable human beings in the history of man, and Claude Reins--now there was an actor that could ACT! One of the greatest of all time, though sometimes forgotten today.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
PS - anyone ever watch the show "How I Met Your Mother"? I just started watching it. One of the funniest shows I've ever seen and complete with some real heart and commentary on friendship and relationships. I'd say this is the second funniest show on television behind "Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia" which is a completely different show in that its so off the wall.
Posted by Mystery Lad on :
Hey! Don't leave Jean Arthur out! She's my favorite old-timey actress (she was Capra's, too). Stewart and Rains are great, but a good deal of MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON's heart and intelligence come from her character.
Posted by cleome on :
I've seen It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, but I take it in controlled doses. As I do the U.S. Office. Given RL right now, I really need my head in a happy place most of the time. Neither of those shows exactly provides the minimum RDA of Happy Place. :/
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Cleome, there is mucho happy place in "How I Met Your Mother"!
Posted by Candle on :
'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' Or something like that.
And it's JOHN Hurt on I Claudius.
Yes, Jean Arthur was wonderful. It amazes me that so many of those older time stars were so individual in their beauty.
Just take Jean, Kate Hepburn, Donna Reed, Ingrid Bergman and Marlena Dietricht, for Stewart costars!
These were my mother's era, but they seem so ageless and forever. (Sorry for the edit ~ a teacher was here talking to me and I forgot what I was doing!)
[ February 10, 2009, 04:01 PM: Message edited by: Candle ]
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Watched Woody Allen's Celebrity the other night. I read it was a homage or remake of Dolce Vita.
Now this I got into much more than Dolce Vita. I admit Vita was more deep but Celebrity just worked better.
Since Vita was fresh in my mind I picked up all the similarities and how they diverged just a bit.
Kenneth Branagh did an amazing job acting like...Woody Allen. Judy Davis played Kenneth's wife and I thought it was a Mia Farrow imitation.
Lots of stars. Charlize Theron (i saw her in person last year!) was very hot in this! She was grinding on Anthony Mason (one of my fave Knicks ever!). Wynona Ryder did great as well. I love Gretchen Mol. She was in the Leo scene.
I suggest everyone check this out. And ofcourse it takes place in NYC.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
As an aside, I make sure I watch that Charlize Theron commercial everytime its on (for the perfume). WOW! Posted by Yellow Kid on :
Nothing as cool as you guys. I've been doing a bunch of downloading recently and today's MOVIE DAY!! This morning we've watched Caveman with Ringo Starr, Shelly Long and Dennis Quaid. If you've never seen it then shame on you, it's hilarious. Now it's Surf's Up and next is The Day the Earth Stood Still followed later on by Mama Mia!!
I'm downloading The Colour of Magic and hope like heck I get it burned to disk in time to add it to today's movie fun.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Deadwood DVDs, second season.
Kidney stone. "Instrument." Accessing the bladder. That's all I'm saying.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Deadwood Season Two was possibly the best season ever of a TV show. I just watched all three seasons last month. What a great show.
Swearagin is not only the meanest and most rugged character I've ever seen, he's possibly the most likeable!
The kidney stone sequence was incredibly painful to watch. Really well done.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: Swearagin is not only the meanest and most rugged character I've ever seen, he's possibly the most likeable!
reading up to your first comma I was thinking "that's not Swearagin you're describing, that's Anton Chigurh. But then you added "he's possibly the most likeable!" and that in totality describes him perfectly to me also.
Now, Bullock on the other hand. Two seasons and unless I missed something, they really haven't fleshed this character out as to why he is the way he is. Not even much of a hint, other than a few things he told his son and I didn't see any explanation that could be taken from that.
I'm really hoping that the library has season 3 in stock.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
quote:Originally posted by Yellow Kid: Nothing as cool as you guys. I've been doing a bunch of downloading recently and today's MOVIE DAY!! This morning we've watched Caveman with Ringo Starr, Shelly Long and Dennis Quaid. If you've never seen it then shame on you, it's hilarious. Now it's Surf's Up and next is The Day the Earth Stood Still followed later on by Mama Mia!!
I'm downloading The Colour of Magic and hope like heck I get it burned to disk in time to add it to today's movie fun.
YK, so how did it go? Were they good, bad, ok?
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I watched the Michael Caine version of The Quiet American this weekend. Interesting to compare with the original version, which I just saw a couple of weeks ago. I think the newer version is a better movie overall, but I prefer the original, more tragic ending.
Posted by cleome on :
Over the weekend, I finally gave in and watched Maxed Out with mr_cleome. Once my burning desire to punch my fist through the computer monitor subsided, I decided that it was actually pretty well done. Also it fueled my determination to sell everything I own (if necessary), up to and including my internal organs, in order to get the credit monkey off my back;At least for a little while. :/
Obviously all documentaries have their biases, and you have to approach them with that in mind, but I thought its points were well-made. Whether it would change the viewer's mind if s/he went into it with entirely opposing biases... I don't know. Also I don't necessarily recommend it for weekend viewing, if what you want on the weekend is escapism.
Posted by kenaustin on :
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge:
quote:Originally posted by Yellow Kid: ....I'm downloading The Colour of Magic and hope like heck I get it burned to disk in time to add it to today's movie fun.
YK, so how did it go? Were they good, bad, ok?
If you liked "The Colour of Magic," you should look for "Hogfather," another excellent Pratchett Discworld movie. Death was hilarious taking over the duties of the missing Hogfather(Discworld's Santa Claus), while his granddaughter, Susan, investigates the Hogfather's disappearance.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Just saw a favorite childhood film of mine. Dead Poets Society. I think this is the 3rd time I watched it since it's debut in 1989. 2nd time was in 1993 I believe. So it's been 16 years.
It was very good. It was sweet and to the point. Not overly complex and well directed (Peter Weir a great director that has not done many films and that is a good thing)
I never knew Ethan Hawke was in it. I remember the other guys but not him. You'd think I would've recognized him atleast from Reality Bites.
Posted by Candle on :
Saw Dr. Who's 4 series ender this last week on BBC America. Fans on the net site said quite a bit was cut.
What seemed strange to me was that the whole 4th was played all over again this year with the season cliffhanger combined with what I would have thought was the part 2 BEGINNING of series 5. But it's not and I'm pretty confused. Does anyone here know why the reoeat season being hailed as 'new'?
Sometimes, I think I live in the Twilight Zone. Posted by l.e.g.i.o.n.JOHN on :
i must admit my new guilty Pleasure is Degrassi TNG. i use to watch the original on Nickelodeon and PBS from back in the day and one day i noticed that Degrassi the next generation was airing in syndication so i watched it and got hooked all over again.
Posted by cleome on :
Animated Dilbert. I know, I know. But I just can't help it.
Posted by Lad Boy on :
Battlestar Galactica. Totally addicted.
Posted by superboymddjr on :
I am watching the Dead Like Me marathon today. Love that series and can't wait to get a new DVD movie coming out soon this week.
Posted by Candle on :
I spent most of President's Day on the couch watching Pokemon and taking naps. sigh
Posted by cleome on :
We have a local pizza joint/theater that's been showing movies about civil rights and social justice recently. (Appropriately enough, the pizza joint is on MLK Blvd.) Last week they had a documentary called A Time For Burning (1967). It was very no-frills in the style of that period's approach to a documentary. Somebody points a camera and just lets the subjects air their fears, frustrations and hopes (or lack of same) with little or no intervention. But bells and whistles aren't necessary when the subject matter is this good. Check it out, but be warned that it's not light entertainment.
Posted by Fat Cramer on :
I watched Heckler last night, a documentary about people who heckle stand-up comedians and movie/show critics - from the point of view of the performers. It was pretty interesting, particularly how some of the stand-ups deal with hecklers (ranging from clever to violent). There was a lot of focus on Jamie Kennedy, who I've never seen in a movie or show, but who I gather is not very well regarded, to put it mildly....
Posted by cleome on :
Is there a support group for viewers of the film Adaptation ? Seriously. I can't remember the last time I was so caught up in the first 3/4ths of a movie, only to be bitterly disappointed and practically hurling furniture at the screen during the last quarter.
Yeesh. I felt bad for Meryl Streep, and I don't even like Meryl Streep.
Still watching the Teen Titans cartoons on disc. Sometimes the anime shtick can wear on my nerves, but in general it's enjoyable and nostalgic. I really like how they handled the Gar/Tara thing-- giving it a fair amount of depth for a kid-friendly show.
Posted by SharkLad on :
I'm hooked on the current season of Survivor ... but then I'm hooked on all seasons of Survivor ... couple of real characters this season ... my favorite is a guy from NYC who seems totally out of place ...
Posted by Arm Fall Off Boy on :
I have become totally addicted to NCIS. It's on USA and since that's one of the few channels we get at work, it's usually on during my lunch.
Right at this very minute, I'm watching Hang 'Em High with Clnt Eastwood. I've never seen the whole movie, just bits and pieces.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: Update: I think I've officially decided that Fringe is my favorite new show of the season. It's not anywhere near Pushing Daisies or Lost awesome, but it's pretty damn good. Life on Mars has quite a bit of potential as well.
New update: Life on Mars has surpassed Fringe as my favorite new show.
Posted by kenaustin on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: New update: Life on Mars has surpassed Fringe as my favorite new show.
Ouch! There's a bit of bad news regarding Life on Mars.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Damn, its one of the few shows I'm actively watching and loving right now.
Posted by LardLad on :
It IS really good. Sucks that it's being cancelled, but good that it will have a definitive ending. Jason O'Mara has a bright, BRIGHT future ahead of him!
Posted by MLLASH on :
quote:Originally posted by SharkLad: I'm hooked on the current season of Survivor ... but then I'm hooked on all seasons of Survivor ... couple of real characters this season ... my favorite is a guy from NYC who seems totally out of place ...
All the guys on his tribe are SO cute!
I hate Coach. And what's with the hair?
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Courtesy of the local library, I'm working my way through the five seasons of Babylon 5.
One of the things Toledo and area does right is the library system. Also well stocked, maintained, staffed and updated. Best bang for the buck I think we have around here.
Posted by cleome on :
Finally saw the Dark Knight opus yesterday. Oh, Lord, do I EVER want those lost two hours of my life back...
Bah.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I've wanted to check out Life on Mars but BOTH are DVRs are getting full quickly. Not enough time. I haven't even watched sports because the DVR is close to full. Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Haven't been here in a while.
cleome, hmmm, I was looking foward to watching Adaptation.
Some films I've watched recently.
Still on a Woody Allen kick I checked out Vicky Christina Barcelona. Loved it. As I've mentioned before any film about spending a whole summer in europe (escaping) is up my alley. Didn't disappoint. Not sure if Penelope should've gotten an Oscar. Her performance was great but she wasn't in it much.
Girl with the Pearl Earring. Very good film. I was intimidated. Those films based on a book can get long and boring. This was sweet and to the point.
Hancock was decent. Certainly suprised me.
X-Files was a good 2 hour X-Files episode. Wasn't great just another episode to me. I liked it though.
Journey to the Center of the Earth. It was fun. My mom liked it much more than me.
Forgot one. Wanted. I personally loved it. Really good action flick. Angelina sometimes doesn't do much for me. This time she did.
[ March 11, 2009, 12:30 PM: Message edited by: Ultra Jorge ]
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Recently watching "Forgetting Sarah Marshall". I've gotten mixed reviews from my friends. Lady Cobalt was pretty 'meh' about it. Personally, I thought it was hysterical. I love Kristen Bell, and Jason Segel is hilarious. Anytime Paul Rudd shows up in a walk-on role usually ends up making me laugh, and I can barely look at Jonah Hill without laughing (fat kid from Superbad). Mila Kunis was great--this was the first time I've really found her attractive; I think its her personality/character in all the other things I've seen her in. Here, she was fantastic. It wasn't the greatest movie ever but it was 2 hours of funny escapism
Oh, and Russell Brand! I have no clue who he is or why all the hate, but I thought he was hysterical!
We bought Vicky Christina Barcelona too, and will be watching that shortly...
Posted by cleome on :
(snip)
Ultra Jorge:
quote:cleome, hmmm, I was looking foward to watching Adaptation.
Well, you may end up loving it. A lot of people did, apparently. I just didn't happen to be one of 'em.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Just wanted to mention that I'm kind of digging Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Much better than Conan was, at least.
Posted by SharkLad on :
quote:Originally posted by MLLASH:
quote:Originally posted by SharkLad: I'm hooked on the current season of Survivor ... but then I'm hooked on all seasons of Survivor ... couple of real characters this season ... my favorite is a guy from NYC who seems totally out of place ...
All the guys on his tribe are SO cute!
I hate Coach. And what's with the hair?
Coach is a major tool ... as soon as the merge happens (if he makes it that far), I'm sure Erinn and Sierra will conspire to kick his arse out of there asap ...
The Jalapao tribe is mighty good-looking ... hated seeing Spencer voted off this week ... JT is totally pulling the strings ... I thought the whole issue of Spencer coming out to his tribe or not was surprising ... there's been so many openly gay castaways that who would think it was an issue ...
On Timbura, I like Brendan a lot ... but my favorite is Stephen ... bet he makes it pretty far ...
Posted by MLLASH on :
Yeah I felt bad for Spencer! The Brendan/Taz/Sierra/Stephen thing is awesome. I include Stephen amongst the cute Jalapo tribemembers.
I totally hope that blow-monkey Coach gets the boot soon! Maybe we should revive the SURVIVOR thread here...
Posted by SharkLad on :
Do you watch any of the extra videos on the CBS Survivor website? There's always at least one or two videos from Coach's tribemates talking about what a tool he is or a video of Coach himself saying something really stupid ...
Tyson reminds me of Greg from the first season of Survivor ... a little crazy & doesn't really seem to care about anyone else ...
sucks that the show isn't on for another two weeks ...
Posted by Mystery Lad on :
Don't feel too bad for Spencer- he's apparently dating Todd, the gay guy that won a couple of seasons ago.
Posted by SharkLad on :
I saw that on the "Survivor Talk" webcast on EW.com ... pretty bizarre ... quite a few Survivors from different seasons have hooked up ... pretty incestuous that Survivor family ...
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
"Rome" season one:
Who needs porn...
"Pullo, report immediately to Princess Cleopatra and do whatever she says..."
lol
Posted by Disaster Boy on :
battlestar galactica season 4.5! ugly betty damages season 2
and my new favorite show....
RuPaul's Drag Race!!!!!!!! so good.
(can't wait for torchwood and doctor who to come back)
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by Blockade Boy: "Rome" season one:
Who needs porn...
"Pullo, report immediately to Princess Cleopatra and do whatever she says..."
lol
You've got great taste in television shows, BB!
I love the look Verinus gives Pullo at the end when the baby is presented to the public!
Posted by Sketch Lad on :
Wednesdays exhaust me-- Top Model Idol Make Me a Supermodel
Go ahead... mock my taste in TV!
Posted by Candle on :
So that's where Top Model is!!!!!
Thanks, Sketch! Is it still on CW?
I'll have to record it because of Bible Study, but that's okay!
Yah!!!! Posted by Candle on :
quote:Originally posted by Disaster Boy: . . .(can't wait for torchwood and doctor who to come back)
Me either! (What's taking so long, anyway?)
I think the new Frank Lloyd Weber reality tryouts for his 'Josephs Coat of Many Colors', the American Broadway musical, looks pretty good!
Maybe, that's where Adam, from Idol, SHOULD be?!
Posted by Set on :
I've been watching Legend of the Seeker on Hulu and it's not half bad. It's kinda surprising how slick it looks compared to the fantasy fare that Sci-Fi belches forth every now and then...
On the one hand, there's a fair bit of mythology that doesn't get explained as well as I'd like. On the other hand, the cast (and recurrings) includes a couple of serious hotties.
Posted by Candle on :
Watched the end of ER last night. I haven't followed the series in a few years now, since John left, but it was fun watching these last few weeks, seeing the old cast. sigh
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Forgot to mention that the Life on Mars finally was actually pretty awesome!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I missed it. I want to try and watch it online, but haven't been able to do it during work yet Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
You know... I'm actually pretty satisfied with the season we got. It was a pretty coherent storyline overall, and I don't think it would necessarily have been improved by multiple seasons.
I was actually pretty satisfied with the twist at the end, which could have come off as kind of cheesy, but I thought actually worked okay (except I thought the "President Obama" reference was kind of stupid).
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I'm also kind of enthusiastic about The Unusuals, the show that's taking over it's time slot. It looks to have potential, at least.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Me too. In fact, the more off-beat the better. I could use something different, just like Life on Mars was.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Initial thought on the Unusuals:
Well, it was okay. I wasn't wowed by it, but I'll probably keep watching it for the time being.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Yeah, thats about how I feel too. It was pretty good, but nothing extraordinary. A few too many cliches with moments of trying too hard to be amusing and moments of trying too to be poignant. But still, the characters were all pretty likeable.
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
My show list is pretty much non-existent anymore.
Big Bang Theory NCIS Numb3rs Castle Rules of Engagement Bones Better Off Ted shows possibility
Thats pretty much it...well, except for Eureka when it finally returns. And half the time, the shows i still watch i watch on the puter. Except for CBS. For some reason, I can never find the full eps there, just the clips.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I went to a film festival a couple of weeks ago and was lucky enough to hang out with Jeremy Renner from the Unusuals.
Ok, ok. He actually was at the table next to me at dinner but we did go to the same after party and he was next to me there most of the night. Maybe he was following me?!
He looks like a pretty cool guy. I finally got to see Stanley Tucci he was sitting close to me at brunch the next day with Steve Buscemi. Jon Voight was at the after party as well with a very young thing. Go jon!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I recommend one film I say at the festival. It's a modern pulp detective story called The Missing Person. Good stuff.
Posted by Director Lad on :
I've been enjoying Castle for its frothy lightness. Most cop shows take themselves waaay too seriously for my taste, so Castle's senses of humor and the absurd have really entertained me. I enjoyed the first episode of the Unusuals for the same reason. I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes (assuming ABC doesn't give it the heave ho).
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
It kinda reminds me of a cross between Remington Steele and Moonlighting. But without all the sexile tenshun between the leads. Sorry, but skinny chick needs to eat sump'in. Other than that, I really like the show.
Posted by Caliente on :
NCIS!!! I LOVE THIS SHOW LIKE RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!! It's on USA, like, 3+ times a day, so I was able to catch up and start watching in earnest this season. And can I just say? Damn. DAMN! I love this show.
New obsession what? Noooo... >.> (But I did sort of cut my hair in an Abby-esque way. )
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Cali, thats my Mom's favorite show . I do notice its on basically all day long.
I tried to watch a little of Castle and couldn't get into it. It was a little too cheeseball for me (obviously its done on purpose, I just don't find it all appealing). Both of the actors are pretty likeable though. I think she's gorgeous. But it takes a hell of a lot for a cop show to get me to watch it. Cop shows and medical dramas are the X-Men titles of TV shows.
I watched a bunch of movies over the last few weeks, some good, some not so good, though none that were really outstanding:
- Vicky Christina Barcelona - this was very fun, and it helped that all of the actors are extremely likeable. Javier Bardeem just seems like the coolest guy you'd ever want to meet. Penelope Cruz as a crazy artist is actually something I found extremely attractive despite knowing I shouldn't. It was the lead character that I really liked here, not Scarlet Johannson. This was definitely worth a watch.
- Rachel Getting Married - I watched this with Lady Cobalt. You know what? I pretty much hated it. Hard to say why...just something that wasn't for me. And I usually like Anne Hathaway. But it was very dark, depressing and yet felt so full of itself thinking it was all hip and trendy.
- The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford - this movie is one that won't appeal to many people but I liked it. Its very dark, and it has a definite slow burn feel to it (don't watch it if you're tired, you might fall asleep). But Casey Affleck is nothing short of fantastic, and Brad Pitt lends a degree of menace to the character he hasn't done since Fight Club. Even Sam Shepard as Frank James (who isn't in it that long in the film) is superb. I know the James Bros. legend very well already which enhanced my viewing (Lady Cobalt did not, and thus, wasn't into it). The train robbery scene is by far my favorite--its so dark and scary, its like strait out of a horror film. Its by far the most intense train robbery scene I've ever viewed. The traditional train robbery in movies has become a photocopy of the Butch & Sundance 'good ol' times' sequence; here, it returns to the real terror such a thing must have been.
I Love You, Man - I was hoping this would be hysterical, because I think Paul Rudd rocks, Jason Segel is funny as hell, and Rashida Jones is awesome. And you know what? It was utterly terrible. This is a classic case of "going to the well one too many times". A clear reminder of why so many comedy films get it wrong.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I thought Unusuals was better the second week than the first. There's still a little too much kind of cliched sentimentality in it, while I keep hoping to ratchet up the offbeat absurdism a little bit.
Posted by Caliente on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: I tried to watch a little of Castle and couldn't get into it. It was a little too cheeseball for me (obviously its done on purpose, I just don't find it all appealing). Both of the actors are pretty likeable though. I think she's gorgeous. But it takes a hell of a lot for a cop show to get me to watch it. Cop shows and medical dramas are the X-Men titles of TV shows.
I totes agree, Cobster! Which was actually kind of disappointing for me 'cause I really love Nathan Fillion. I watched the first episode, though, and was just kind of like "eh". Castle was cool-- smarmy and know-it-all and just kind of an ass but in an awesome way. The girl cop, though, was just a cold fish and didn't do much for me. And the other cops? They seemed to be totally inept, which was disappointing.
Truthfully cop dramas really aren't my thing unless there's an underlying theme that I really dig. (NCIS has the character driven stuff and my other show, Numb3rs, is cool with the math/family stuff.) That's why I don't usually watch any of the CSIs and will catch an episode of L&O or Cold Case here and there but am by no means an obsessive fangirl. (Shocking, I know.)
Also, Cobaltus, to the X-Men reference. Y'know, you could've as easily said AVENGERS these days. Or BATMAN for that matter!! Posted by LardLad on :
quote:Originally posted by Caliente: [QUOTE]Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: [qb]Also, Cobaltus, to the X-Men reference. Y'know, you could've as easily said AVENGERS these days. Or BATMAN for that matter!!
..on the other hand, I was totally feeling the X-Men analogy, Des! Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
"The Unusuals" - I had high hopes for this one, but it's quickly losing me. I can see what's it's trying to do, but it doesn't quite work. (interesting coincidence that the newbie comes from privilege - the same device used in "Southland") Having the dispatch call in oddball crimes and numerous shots of downtown NYC (my neighborhood, actually) in an effort to "place" the series doesn't really convince me that the show's as oddball as it wants to be or that the show's filmed in NYC (the greenscreen stuff in the last ep was just distracting).
"Castle" is kinda fun. It reminds me of "Bones" in what it's trying to do. That show took awhile to really grow on me and the same might be true for "Castle". Right now, Fillion seems to be trying his darnedest to carry the show on his smirk. Hopefully it'll have time for the characters to gel. And for some reason, the female cop's wardrobe doesn't seem genuine to me. (the shot they use for the police station is several blocks from where I live so one can only hope they actually shoot something there sometime)
"Better Off Ted" - I'm really getting into this show. It reminds me of "Arrested Development" (not just because of Portia DeRossi) and "Scrubs." It's got a sharp sense of humor and has a good amount of absurdity without being over the top.
[ April 18, 2009, 09:07 PM: Message edited by: DrakeB3004 ]
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I caught part of "Idiocracy" on Comedy Central over the weekend. It's Luke Wilson and Maya Rudolph as two "average people" who somehow end up 500 years in the future, into a time in which the "dumbing down" of society as advanced to a degree that they are by far the smartest people around.
While I didn't like the movie much at all, it got me started thinking that it was actually kind of a cool and original premise for a story.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I saw that too! It was utterly terrible! One of the worst movies I've ever seen actually.
But yeah, the premise for the whole thing is actually pretty good. It'd make a great Twilight Zone or Outer Limits episode, or one issue story in Strange Adventures or something.
Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
I agree -- "Idiocracy" has an interesting premise and it would be interesting to see what this "dumb" world would look like,(the tv show of neverending blows to the crotch is probably going to be on Spike next season) but it was a bad film and there wasn't really a story there.
It could have been a collection of short films, each helmed by a different director showing different visions of the "dumb future".
Posted by Bicycle Repair Man on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: I caught part of "Idiocracy" on Comedy Central over the weekend. It's Luke Wilson and Maya Rudolph as two "average people" who somehow end up 500 years in the future, into a time in which the "dumbing down" of society as advanced to a degree that they are by far the smartest people around.
While I didn't like the movie much at all, it got me started thinking that it was actually kind of a cool and original premise for a story.
Not so original: The Marching Morons was published in 1951.
Posted by Candle on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: . . . the "dumbing down" of society . . . it was actually kind of a cool and original premise for a story.
Outer Limits had a similar story when I was a teen.
These parents were shown trying to hide that their son, or maybe daughter, I can't remember for sure, was very smart. We don't know why until the end, when he's (she's) taken away by authorities to be euthanized so that the other kids, who weren't smart, wouldn't feel bad about themselves.
Everyone had to be mediocre. sigh
Posted by Candle on :
I love 'Fringe'.
The stories are so interesting and BEST OF ALL, the characters are so incredibly perfect.
What superb casting!
Posted by Raging Bull on :
Harper's Island.
It's so tacky and cliched, yet strangely compelling.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
New obsession: Life After People
There's something just incredibly cool about this show!
Posted by Candle on :
I saw that miniseries when it first came out, I think, or something very like it.
Is it based on the idea of humans leaving the planet with probes either sent back periodically over the years to check on what's happening here?
Anyway, I rattle on so. sigh
I'm waiting for the new Star Gate Universe to come out.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
You're thinking of the Future is Wild, which is somewhat similar. It focuses on the future course of evolution in the absence of humans.
Life After People is more about what would happen to all of our stuff after we suddenly disappear, and how long it takes for all evidence of human life to be wiped out. There's something oddly groovy about watching the International Space Station crash into Earth, thus destroying our attempts to preserve human DNA, or finding out that it will take about 100 years for parrots to quit mimicking human language in our absence.
Posted by cleome on :
Idiocracy would have been okay as a half-hour short. Not so much as a full-length movie. The premise is somewhat disturbing, but not in the way Judge intended, I'm sure.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
The Day the Earth Stood Still.
the new one
ugh
The DVD box had the original movie also, making the new one seem even worse in a side-by-side comparison.
Quantum of Solace.
WOW! Smartest written James Bond movie I can remember. I like that it continued on the story and some non agency characters from the last movie and I think I'm going to like this "real" Bond. Best foot chase sequences I recall seeing in a movie.
Still wouldn't mind a super villain on occasion but this direction has to be my favorite of all Bond takes(sorry Mr. Connery).
Posted by Sarcasm Kid on :
Is anyone familiar with a cartoon called Spicy City?
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Life After People was pretty groovy! Is that an ongoing series?
I love watching the history channel specials. The one about Krakatoa is simply fascinating to me. I also watched the gloomy one about 2012...my friend said it best: "looks like shit is over in 2012." The special is a little over the top in being alarming and trying to scare you. Its like Fox News or something.
Posted by CJ Taylor on :
quote:Originally posted by Raging Bull: Harper's Island.
It's so tacky and cliched, yet strangely compelling.
It is such a '90's slasher flick. I'm sadly hooked on it.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: Life After People was pretty groovy! Is that an ongoing series?
I love watching the history channel specials. The one about Krakatoa is simply fascinating to me. I also watched the gloomy one about 2012...my friend said it best: "looks like shit is over in 2012." The special is a little over the top in being alarming and trying to scare you. Its like Fox News or something.
Yeah, they just started an ongoing series of it, on Tuesday nights! Tomorrow night pigs take over the world or something!
The History Channel is definitely a mixed bag. A lot of stuff is extremely good, but a lot of times it seems more like the National Enquirer than National Geographic.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Yeah. I really couldn't stop watching the 2012 thing, but I was half-smiling the whole time. I was like, "jeepers, these people are trying so hard to convince me we're done in 2012 that I almost feel bad not believing them!".
But for the most part they have some good stuff.
Posted by LardLad on :
Over the past week or so, I caught up on the last 10-or-so episodes of "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles". These episodes really brought out the potential in the show that had been evident in the first season and the first part of this season. It's a shame that this show is pretty much guaranteed to be cancelled because it was exploring some storytelling back alleys that the Terminator films never have time for. Really, the whole concept that Jim Cameron created has so much more potential than what got distilled into a hand full of white knuckle chase flicks, and this series was realizing it.
There are a lot of astute and demanding viwers of television on this site, and I think many of you would have been pleasantly surprised by this series. It was on the cusp of becoming another Lost or BSG, and it looks like it would have jumped that cusp based on where they were apparently taking the series based on how the last episode ended. I think that was quite admirable seeing as how it was obviously working with some effects budget constraints.
I'd encourage any of you to check it out on DVD or whatever. With a new movie coming out, it's a shame that a series with such potential may be all but forgotten.
Posted by cleome on :
Lardy, I'll see about getting that added to our Mega-Flix queue. It sounds like just what I need to be watching right now.
Posted by LardLad on :
Alright, so after I caught up on my DVR backlog of "Terminator: SCC" and "Pushing Daisies", I caught up on the last five episodes of "Life on Mars". I've mixed feelings about the finale...
Click Here For A SpoilerIt fell somewhere around "St. Elsewhere" and "Newhart" territory with the solution that was offered. On one hand the writers worked hard to show you that everything fit; on the other hand, I would have preferred something that didn't relegate the series to an 'imaginary tale'. (yeah, they're all imaginary tales, but you know what I mean... )
Yeah, there was always the chance it was the delusions of a guy in a coma from the beginning or he was crazy or something, but the story seemed to be leading to a greater significance behind everything Sam was experiencing. Like maybe he was there to change the future for the better and learn more about his past (particularly with his father) in the process. And God, Time or Whatever was behind it all--but that's the "Quantum Leap" fan within talking.
But we do get some resolution in 1973 and see that Tyler no longer wants to return to 2008 before the Big Reveal. Interestingly enough, the original UK series it was based on had a much different, possibly more satisfying ending. I Wikipedia-ed it!
But the series title sure got added meaning here, eh?
In the end I really enjoyed the series a lot and hope to see Jason O'Mara, Gretchen Mol and Michael Imperioli doing more great stuff in the near future.
Posted by cleome on :
Am nostalgia tripping yet again by watching The Critic on disc. The whole fat-schlubby-guy-hooks-up-with-hot-chicks routine gets old fast, but the satirical bits like the Trek-Hee Haw show are just as funny as they were a decade ago.
Posted by Candle on :
Watched 'Fringe', the season ender last night after 'Idol'.
William Bell is Spock!!!!!!!
Hahahahahahahahahahah.
I love 'Fringe'!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Fringe got better and better over the course of the season. Glad that it's coming back next year.
Posted by Candle on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: Fringe got better and better over the course of the season. Glad that it's coming back next year.
What you said! Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Hancock
Didn't this movie get panned or at best, an "eh?"
Can't figure out why. I thought it one of the better super-hero flicks I've seen. Plucked all the right stings with me and for once in a movie, the ending was actually in doubt. Wasn't sure which way they were going to swing with it.
Maybe I'll track down some reviews to find out why I'm wrong for liking it.
Posted by cleome on :
Just saw Kevin Smith's Zach and Miri....
Ehhh... I guess it was okay. No surprises. I guess it's supposed to be a When Harry Met Sally that guys can enjoy because it's got cursing and naughty bits to season the usual rom-com tropes.
Whatever.
Posted by Exnihil on :
"Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead"
Why on earth had I not seen this film until tonight?
"Miller's Crossing" has just been bumped to #2 on my list of all-time most wittily dialogued films.
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
I'll see zach and miri if Miri is nekkid. Posted by rickshaw1 on :
R and C are dead was a fantastic little movie. Oldman and Roth hit all the right notes. Their interplay was hysterical.
Posted by cleome on :
quote:Originally posted by rickshaw1: I'll see zach and miri if Miri is nekkid.
TBH, I can't remember if she was totally in the raw. Can you tell this film just didn't make much of an impression on me?
She did wear a see-thru Princess Leia dress in one or two scenes, though.
Posted by LardLad on :
Locally, on Sunday late nights they show two reruns of Desperate Housewives. I've been watching them for a little over a month. I'll be damned if it ain't one of the most clever, fun and entertaining series going! I'm obviously not its target demographic, but I ain't complaining.
I'm avoiding spoilers and am choosing to continue to watch it piecemeal with those two episodes a week. What I've seen so far takes place apparently during the third season. If this was DH in a creative lull as I've heard, I can't wait to see the "good" stuff!
My official guilty pleasure, I guess....(other than internet porn )
Posted by Arm Fall Off Boy on :
I really like NCIS and Bones.
Posted by Candle on :
I LOVED 'Hancock', BB! (I don't know that the whale's tail would have held up for the throw, but his powers weren't totally defined so I could let it go, with just a murmur.)
'Bones' has probably, the best ensemble cast on TV, right now, I think.
I don't always watch it new, though, 'cause I try to keep up on 'Smallville'. Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by LardLad: Locally, on Sunday late nights they show two reruns of Desperate Housewives. I've been watching them for a little over a month. I'll be damned if it ain't one of the most clever, fun and entertaining series going! I'm obviously not its target demographic, but I ain't complaining.
I thought the first season was really good, but it kind of got bored and formulaic after that.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I never thought I'd feel sorry for alligators, but tonight's Life After People kind of made me do so.
Posted by legionboy on :
Smallville, Brave & the Bold, Clone Wars, Newhart
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
I did the season finales this week.
Love the NCIS (new show spinning out of the LA visit with chris odonnell and crew by the way).
Rules of Engagement was very good. That is a tight crew and consistently funny.
Big Bang was a little more quiet, but still very funny
Castle was good, glad to see it on the schedule for abc next fall. The networks have their fall lineups on their websites by the way.
Bones was good. Don't know how well it will work if they decide to take the "romance" to the next level, though.
Didn't watch house this year, basically because he didn't seem to be as much of an ass. No fun if he isn't.
CBS has four new shows lined up. Unfortunately, I think the Jenna Elfman vehicle will pretty much be dead on arrival. I always like her, but the lead guy is a douche.
ABC looks to have some good shows.
Fox looks like it might have some as well.
Quit watching NBC years ago, but they have a new show, MERLIN.
Posted by Candle on :
I might watch the 'So You Think You Can Dance' competition, off and on, this summer. I love dance movements.
'Glee' was good.
I'm really waiting for the new Star Gate and Project Runway shows, though.
Posted by cleome on :
Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo
[yawn]
Given that the first film wore out its welcome with me with over half an hour left to go, I should've known better.
Dear Hollywood,
If you can't produce a script where the women in the story have at least as much personality/screen time as the title character's exploding bong, just leave out the women altogether. Or have them played by Real Dolls. Save yourself a few bucks, and score some points for honesty in the process.
Sincerely,
cleome
Bleah. Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: I never thought I'd feel sorry for alligators, but tonight's Life After People kind of made me do so.
Next thing you know, you'll feel sorry for sharks!
(yeah right)
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Rick, one of your favorites, Julianna Marguiles has a new series from CBS next fall with Chris Noth. I don't know anything about it, but I know you like her.
Without Lost right now I have no shows that I like really (Real World/Road Rules Challenge, my guilty pleasure, doesn't count as a show ). I guess I have to wait for Mad Men to start back-up. And Sons of Anarchy.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Movies I’ve recently watched:
From Here to Eternity – I saw this when I was a teenager but recently rewatched when I used some gift cards I got from a hotel on amazon.com and picked up several movies I felt I should own. Wow, I forgot how truly amazing this film is. Several actors all give the performances of their careers, while Montgomery Cliff gives a steady, despairing performance that keeps you grounded and worried throughout the film. Donna Reed—who I love—was as good as I remember, but I was surprised at how attractive I found Deborah Kerr this time around. Burt Lancaster is fun to watch on film, but I totally forgot how the entire last 20 minutes have an intense action sequence that adds an air of positivity to the film (which is ultimately shot down upon the ending of the movie). Ernest Bornign (who is from my hometown) was awesome as he always is, and plays one mean bastard. And Sinatra truly is wonderful in this film, its not all just hype.
The Other Boelyn Girl – After watching the Tudors seasons, I was more interested in seeing this movie than ever before, and I thought it was pretty good. Not great, but a good watch. Scarlet Johanson goes against the grain and plays a more innocent and sweeter role than normal, while Natalie Portman is brutally cunning and hurtful, taking one perception of Anne Boelyn to the extreme. I thought some of it was good but after watching the very excellent Tudors (which I realize isn’t 100% accurate in its history), I was a little bored with the movie. Eric Bana was a bit of a non-entity but the two girls, and surprisingly, their mother, were good.
Double Indemnity – I finally saw this after a long time. I actually had thought I’d watched it before and then realized I hadn’t—and I’m sure glad I did. Its one of the best movies I may have ever seen, if for nothing else than the fact that its so bleak and racy for 1944 (and written in 1936 I think). Lady Cobalt was also very impressed, and I’ve had to really give her the hard sell on watching older movies, but she’s finally coming around (don’t worry, I’d divorce her if she didn’t ). Everyone always talks about Barbara Stanwcyk as the ultimate femme fatale, and I see that here. But she gives a much more subtle performance than I would have guessed. And Edward G. Robinson’s role is much more minor than I thought but he is just so awesome you can’t help but want more of him whenever he leaves the scene. I love seeing him in his 1940’s roles when he stopped being the lead actor in movies, and found out this is the film where he made that transition. He said he’s rather “be a supporting actor in great movies than a lead actor in mediocre ones”. And he sure made the right move, IMO.
Juice - Anyone else ever see this excellent film from the 1980's/early 90's? It stars Omar Epps, who is beyond excellent, and Tupac Shakur in his early days when he was really showing off how talented and artistic he was. Its the ultimate 'urban gangster teenagers drama' from that era, and what I would say is the only really excellent one. Its one of my favorite movies, and I used to watch it all the time in college. Tupac's role is an obvious homage to James Cagney but 50 years later in a new setting, and he is masterful in showing that characters de-evolution into a brutal, ruthless killer. Meanwhile, Omar Epps is smart, insightful and a good kid, but he is able to get across the despair of not being able to get out of the hood and all of its trappings like no one else.
Up next I’ve several movies I’m watching with Lady Cobalt but I have to give in to one of hers, Bride Wars. Ugh. I like Anne Hathaway but the plot looks terrible and I can’t stand Kate Hudson. But then we’re watching To Catch a Thief, Notorious, Charade (all of them favorites of mine) and one I’ve never seen before from noir era, the Black Widow.
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
Cobie, I'll check her out.
Little disappointed in the preview i saw for Jenna's show. It seems like they could have found a better kid with acting chops than the owe they did.
I predict that if they survive, they'll probably ditch the guy altogether and keep the baby. and Jenna is always worth watching. Its broad comedy, like Dharma and Greg was, but that cast was spot on.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Re: Older movies.
I went through my Cagney phase last summer. My favorite actor all-time, easily. Also saw casablanca, Mockingbird, several others.
I'm kinda in a rock movie phase now. Seen most of the Beatles flicks including Lennons "Imagination." Scorcese has a series on the blues that is hit or miss.
Been trying futily to track down "She's Gotta Have it."
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
The creepy thing about Double Indemnity is the whole idea of Fred MacMurray as a murderer. It's so weird watching him in villainous roles (see also The Apartment), having grown up with him as the guy from the old Disney movies/Dad on My Three Sons.
It's almost like watching Betsy Palmer kill people in Friday the 13th.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Re: New shows.
"V" is the only thing that really strikes me as interesting thus far. I remember kind of liking the original series when I was a kid (I think I even had some of the comics). Elizabeth Mitchell certainly isn't going to hurt the show.
Posted by Mystery Lad on :
Cobie- Deborah Kerr is one of my favorites! She classes up just about everything in which she appeared. THE KING & I, NIGHT OF THE IGUANA, TEA AND SYMPATHY are a few others I recommend.
DOUBLE INDEMNITY-- def. in my top 10 to 15 beloved movies. That dialogue when Stanwyck and McMurray first meet is laugh-out-loud funny and sexy. Pretty much one of the models on which movie couple scenes/dynamics are based. Not many can approach. Barbara Stanwyck is possibly *the* most versatile actress who became a movie star.
EDE- McMurray's career before Disney and My Three Sons was a long one. He did lots of romantic comedies. One I like a lot is TOO MANY HUSBANDS, which is a variation on the spouse-coming-back-from-the-dead-on-the-eve-of-"widow/widowers-remarriage story. McMurray's the one coming back from the dead and Jean Arthur's his 'widow'. Melvyn Douglas is the 'third wheel'. It's a cute screwball comedy which ends in a rather unique scene.
Click Here For A Spoiler The trio meet up at a night club and share a dance with all three- implying that a menage-a-trois has formed. Kind of racy, even for now. Posted by Mystery Lad on :
quote:Originally posted by Blockade Boy: Re: Older movies. I'm kinda in a rock movie phase now. Seen most of the Beatles flicks including Lennons "Imagination." Scorcese has a series on the blues that is hit or miss.
I saw a TOMMY a few weeks ago at the University of Tennessee. It was a great production which makes me want to view the movie (Roger Daltry, Ann Margaret and Oliver Reed) again. The end of the stage production I saw was one of the most rousing, life affirming things I've seen. I don't remember that from the movie at all. I want to see if it was the stage director's interpretation, or something that went over my head when I saw the movie.
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
Just got the "spaced" series from Netflix starring jessica Stevenson and Simon Pegg. Not as funny as I thought it would be, but still very good.
You can see that a lot of Pegg's future work has its roots in that show.
It took me a while to realize that Mark Heap was also the Doctor from Green Wing. He was a lot thinner and looked a lot different in Spaced.
Posted by Candle on :
Watched Mental last night and liked it.
Primeval started on BBC a couple of weeks ago and Torchwood is supposed to have a preview next Sunday during Primeval.
So I'm pretty happy. Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Cobi, I agree with you 100% Vicky Barcelona and Jesse James.
Saw a recent pulp film called The Man Who Wasn't There. It was interesting. A bit slow but I liked it. Coen Bros film where they used lots of pulp film noir shots. It's not cheerful.
Saw Ronin with Deniro & Luc Besson. I'm a big Mamet fan who wrote it. First 1 hour was really good. Lots of quality action and then the 25 minute car chase put me to sleep. While I like old school stuff...car chases died with the seventies. I never saw the end.
Speaking of action. TAKEN with Neeson had plenty. Like Ronin it just had sharp writing and quality non-stop action. It also has a connection. Luc Besson was a writer for it.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I recorded a marathon of Philo Vance movies off TCM the other day, and have been watching them since. They're pretty solid mysteries. One cool thing I noticed: the coroner has a habit of saying things like "I'm a doctor, not an X" or "I'm a coroner, not an X". I wonder if that was the inspiration for the famous Star Trek catch-phrase?
Posted by LardLad on :
I saw Pixar's latest film "Up" Friday with my family. This movie had a lot going for it and had a great heart at its center, but I was ultimately let down by the plot as it turned out. The 'threat' or 'problem' was a little underwhelming to me and felt a little too manufactured compared to what I expect from Pixar. I mean, it was fun and all, and there were some really cool things--but it just felt more like what I would expect to see from the also-ran studios like Dreamworks.
Don't get me wrong..."Up" far from sucked! I mean, the first few minutes of it are genuinely heartbreaking in one of the most effective dialogueless sequences I've ever seen in an animated film. Hell, I almost cried! But after a point, it really felt more generic and formulaic like any other animated film you'd see from any other studio. With recent Pixar classics like "Wall*E", "Ratatouille", "Finding Nemo", "Monsters, Inc." and "The Incredibles" to use as comparisons, I couldn't help but feel "Up" should have reached muched higher.
Still, do check it out; it's definitely worth a look. I'd be curious how any other Pixar fans here might feel it measures up.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
To Catch a Thief – I was surprised when I realized I never saw this movie but thought for many years that I had. I’m a huge Hitch fan, and I really like Cary Grant a real lot (particularly when he’s with Hitch). I also really enjoy Grace Kelly and think she was absolutely stunning as well as very charming. Well, now that I’ve watched it, after hearing praise for it for several years, I have to say I thought it was a solid, good movie, but its definitely not one of my favorite of Hitch’s films. Its hard to explain why, but I think overall I found it slightly bland. The scenery spectacular (I couldn’t think of any other movies filmed on the French Riveria), Cary Grant was charming and fun as ever, Grace Kelly was great, and the dialogue was very witty and snappy which I what I was expecting and hoping for. I also was pleasantly surprised to see Jesse Royce Landis in the movie (recognizing her from one of my favorites and a much better film, North by Northwest) and she was truly excellent here, even stealing the scenes from Grant & Kelly which is no small feat. I figured out the plot about half way through, and so did Lady Cobalt, so it wasn’t exactly a shocker, but still an enjoyable twist. All in all a very good effort and worth a solid watch, but not overly spectacular. Everyone does a fine job, of course, but I like North by Northwest better for Cary Grant/Hitch, and Rear Window better for Grace Kelly/Hitch. Someone said “To Catch a Thief has all the elements of the various Hitchcock films”, and that’s true (mother figure, icey blonde, false accusations, etc.) but I think all those things are done better in other movies.
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: While I like old school stuff...car chases died with the seventies. I never saw the end.
You said it! Man, I can’t stand watching yet another stupid car chase scene anymore. They should have just retired them all together when Steve McQueen stopped acting. Even Tarrantino’s “Death Proof”, which was a tribute to those old 70’s car chases, couldn’t get me all that interested. To Catch a Thief has not one but two of these and they add an element of blandness to the movie it could have done without.
Gettysburg – I saw this movie several times over the years because its one of my father’s all time favorite movies. But I hadn’t watched it all the way through in a long time (usually just catching several scenes). Gettysburg is truly for people who are (a) Civil War buffs, (b) want to see real heroism in action during war movies and (c) do not preach to you about right & wrong but simply present a story from all angles. My father is all of the three and he loves this movie. And I also love it too, and was delighted by the movie once more. There are so many great actors and so many great sequences that its truly moving. I was moved to tears about five separate occasions. The movie is hugely long—its over 4 hours, so pack a lunch. Its also essentially three movies in one, each day of Gettysburg getting a full hour plus story. And there is no real sense of beginning or end other than the fighting at Gettysburg, so the sense of the Civil War existing three years prior to the movie and going on another two years is apparent, and may leave some viewers with a lack of closure, but I thought it was a pretty realistic depressing sense that is conveyed. At the same time, the heroism of Col. Chamberlain, executing what students of history recognize to be the single most brilliant military move in the history of the United States is nothing short of extraordinary. And Sam Elliot gives a brief performance as Bufford in the beginning that is subtly full of every emotion in the spectrum, including one moment that moved me in a way I didn’t see coming. Tom Berenger as General Longstreet is the best role of his entire career; C. Thomas Howell as Chamberlain’s brother is likely his best performance too. It really is a moving epic, though its obvious its not the kind of movie Hollywood critics will ever like or even want to see succeed. Which is fine; let them keep the crap they usually like Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Saw the latest Bond flick. Loved it. He was pretty dark in it...almost too dark for me. It seems he's reconciled at the end. Great action scenes (though the chase on the Sienna rooftops was a bit too much like the Bourne Morocco rooftop chase).
STATE OF GRACE. 1990. NYC irish mobster flick. Really good actors here. A young Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Robin Wright, John Turtoro(sp), Ed Harris. Good movie. Takes place in Hell's Kitchen.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I saw the Brendon Fraser version of Journey to the Centre of the Earth a couple of weeks ago, and it was pretty entertaining. Nothing extraordinary, but overall a decent take on Verne's basic concept.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: I saw the Brendon Fraser version of Journey to the Centre of the Earth a couple of weeks ago, and it was pretty entertaining. Nothing extraordinary, but overall a decent take on Verne's basic concept.
It was a bit corny and Fraser is getting old. But it was decent. And I am somewhat of a Fraser fan but the dye job on an aging guy...not good.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I think I've yet to see a version of JttCotE that isn't at least a little bit corny. I think the concept just lends itself to that. Especially with Fraser who does the slightly goofy but not over the top thing better than just about anybody.
Well, at least it was a lot better than the version with Pat Boone. Posted by rickshaw1 on :
Getting old? Damn folks, he's younger than I am and I don't feel thaaat old. Nobody stays pretty forever, lol. Receeding hairlines, lines on the face, a little puffyness from age and food...thats life.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Brendon Fraser: He's like the anti-Keanu Reeves. One's in Encino Man and the other, Bill and Tedd. It's the same guy. After that, complete split, like in Star Trek. Good Kirk and Evil Kirk.
Fraser can be fun. I've yet to see God's and Monsters and I know he can do "real," just his real seems more real than Reeves' real. I just do not know anyone as stiff as Reeves' characters.
Still on my old movie search. Watched "Red River," with The Duke. Not his best and poorly edited movie. Just jumped around without making it's point until a forced dialogue near the end clears it up. That's how ya know a director knows the movie hoovers, when there's a long solilyquey (someone spell that word for me) near the end to try and make the pieces fit.
Hard to find John Wayne movies at the library.
Speaking of Barbara Stanwyck, I've got Crime of Passion ready to go into the player.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
For particularly good "serious" Fraser, check out The Quiet American, also starring Michael Caine.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Thanks, I'll try and track that one down.
Te'a Leoni should be in every movie made.
Just thought it needed mentioning.
Posted by Mystery Lad on :
1st ten-twelve minutes of this year's Tony Awards= best opening to any awards programs... ever!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Fraser was also in Crash right? I haven't seen that one yet.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Yeah, he's in it, but I haven't seen it either. Everytime I think about watching it I get flashbacks of horrible James Spader movie with the same title.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
*dragging a topic started in What Are You Reading*
Speaking of Appalachian area being one of the poorest areas in the US...has anyone seen SQUIDBILLIES??? It's in the Appalachian part of Georgia.
Adult Swim show that is hilarious! I just found out about and have been watching episodes on Adult Swim's website and You Tube. Never heard of it until recently. I'm not a big fan of cartoons (Simpsons, South Park) but this one really hooked me.
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
Eureka returns tonight. Definately gonna be watching that. Even get to see it on the TV since the braves are on peachtree tv, which apparantly isn't available inside the US except in the atlanta area, but available in canada and everywhere else. peachbastards.
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
Sorry, folks. Eureka returns July 10th, not June 10th. I was major disappointed.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Well, I'm NOT watching the Stanley Cup final as my poor 13 inch tv and convertor does not seem to be able to pick up a signal, sigh.
For $5.99 at the Rite-Aid I did pick up a DVD package of 20 old spaghetti and early tv westerns. Some fairly good stars in them, though the quality of the recordings is generally bad, some of the stories have been clever.
I highly recommend "Any Gun Can Play" with Ed "Kookie" Brynnes. Double and triple crosses all over as different factions try to track down hidden gold stolen from a military train.
Posted by Mystery Lad on :
Anyone watch the concert of CHESS on PBS? I'd like to hear what people thought of it.
Posted by doublechinner on :
I watched the last 45 minutes of "Animal House" with my wife and the 6-year old and all laughed our @$$e$ off! "NO PRISONERS!"
Posted by Candle on :
Don't bother with 'Benjamin Button' It had a good moment or two but it's not worth the time. sigh
My husband's pick, 'Grand Torino' is WONDERFUL. Boy, is HE crowing. sigh
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I did watch the entire NBA Playoffs. I'm a basketball fanatic and a big Orlando Magic fan (i live an hour away). Never had so much excitement and heartbreak.
ANYWAYS, just watched the Red Violin last night. Great movie! Very well done! I may buy the DVD.
Posted by l.e.g.i.o.n.JOHN on :
enjoying weekend #2 of a Degrassi TNG marathon on the "N" network,..was a huge fan of the original Degrassi back in the day and i got hooked on the new show. all month long the "N" has been running back to back episodes especially on the weekends from season 1 thru mid-season 8 gearing up for new episodes starting in July. it's my new gulity pleasure. Posted by Rockhopper Lad on :
I recently bought the complete series DVD set of Drak Pack, a cartoon I absolutely loved when I was eleven.
The premise was that young descendants of Dracula, Frankenstein's monster and the werewolf become super-heroes.
The dialogue is some of the best in the Saturday morning genre of the time, full of alliteration, puns and cleverly-turned phrases.
My problem with the series is that the three protagonists (Drak, Frankie and Howler) sometimes appear as humans and sometimes as the more recognizable forms. In human form they have no powers, yet they frequently go into dangerous situations. Even in human form they refer to each other as Drak, Frankie and Howler, so there seems no point in them having "secret identities".
I really enjoy watching it again, but the plot hole is just huge.
Posted by Candle on :
My husband, Chuck, is watching the latest Steven Seagal movie now. I HATE the later Segal movies (however you spell his name.)
It's bad, because I won't watch it with him. It's good, because he'll have to stop crowing that his movie picks are better than mine, which he's done since he chose Gran Torino and I picked Benjamin Button. Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Watched two movies with the wife.
The Happening by M. Night with Marky Mark. (i still can't remember his real name). I liked it. It wasn't great but it kept us entertained. I think I read he wanted to do a B movie justice and he did exacly that. It felt like the Birds mixed with a zombie flick.
Donnie Wahlberg (just remembered) did pretty good. I like when movie stars don't act like THE MAN and all of that. I've said on this thread before that actors impress me when they act like a surburban dad, or a school teacher instead of a hitman, etc.
Fools Gold. Never really enjoyed Matthew McNaughey (though ofcourse my wife does). He's a bit too animated for me. BUT I kind of liked this film. I know he played Dirk Pitt in Sahara and now I kind of want to watch it. You know a friend of mine always debate who should be the next Indiana Jones. Matthew made an argument. With the right direction (Spielberg!) who knows? Ofcourse Nathan Fillon is our top choice.
It's a fun action/adventure story in the Carribean. The star of the movie is the YACHT!!! Holy moley! Kate Hudson does nothing for me. I mean she does more than Dunst or Maggie Gyllenhall (a whole of a lot more actually) but not much. I think she reminds me a friend's mom.
I recommend the Happening. If you are in the mood for summer escapism then I also recommend Fools Gold. If anything it will inspire you to work out more. (just finished. d'oh!)
Posted by Candle on :
TV wise, the new series 'Mental' is interesting.
The headguy is sort of a nice House (with the accent that they should have allowed Hugh Lorry to keep.)
Posted by Set on :
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: Mark Wahlberg (just remembered) did pretty good. I like when movie stars don't act like THE MAN and all of that. I've said on this thread before that actors impress me when they act like a surburban dad, or a school teacher instead of a hitman, etc.
Best Mark Wahlberg film, IMO, is The Corrupter, with Chow Yun-Fat. Awesome, but not a happy funtime movie.
For Wahlberg fun, The Big Hit dishes it up.
The Italian Job is also pretty neat, although the death-spiral void of emotional prescence that is Ed Norton drags it down. (Even with Norton doing his best job of sucking the life out of every scene he appears in, it's a better film than the Ocean's Eleventy-Billion franchise, IMO. Note that I'm biased by finding Charlize Theron about a googleplex better to watch than Julia 'watch me smile so grotesquely that you can see my face peel back and show off my skull' Roberts.)
If you ever get roped into seeing Wahlberg in Shooter, just rupture your ear-drums with a pencil or fake a heart attack or something. It's really that bad. Preachy, moralizing, condescending, screamingly offensively political, etc, etc.
It's like pain. Pain that hurts.
quote: I know he played Dirk Pitt in Sahara and now I kind of want to watch it.
Very, very fun movie. Matt McWhoosywhatsis usually seems to be a little too 'intentionally charming' (and coming close to veering past charming into 'schmuck') for my taste, like he's hamming it up for the ladies (see also, Grant, Hugh), but Dirk Pitt *is* an over-the-top goofy James Bond pastiche, so it totally works in that movie.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I forgot The Corruptor! Love that movie!
I've seen parts of Italian Job and really liked what I saw.
I will check out Big Hit. And thanks for the heads up on Shooter.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Slum Dog: after watching the Academy Awards, which thankfully gave away nothing, I think I was expecting High School Musical: the India Years.
Totally blown away by this movie.
Nixon/Frost (I love our library): Was most impressed at how even handed it was and any movie that can keep the tension up when covering fairly recent events is okay by me. Maybe not so surprising, the other movie that comes to mind that did this was Apollo 13, same director.
Posted by cleome on :
Just saw Memento yesterday, and actually had an easier time following the plot than I expected to. Maybe I was just having a particularly lucid day. The DVD extras didn't really hold my interest, though. Guess I'm not enough of a cinema geek.
I resisted the urge to re-watch the scenes one-by-one in reverse-reverse order: just to see if I missed anything.
[ June 24, 2009, 08:30 PM: Message edited by: cleome ]
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I guess the lack of shows right now has me watching tons of movies.
Raging Bull. Great movie! There was one or two parts that got a tad slow with long shots. Though when this film first came out that was revolutionary (in America atleast). Now I am used to it and want to fast foward. That is the only knock! DeNiro had an amazing performance! I believe he won the Oscar for it. Great movie. Maybe my favorite Scorsese film.
The Doors. Wow. Music is something I wish I was more into. I really enjoy the sixties and seventies music...always loved The Doors. Another great film. Stone did a great job of capturing the magic and then the disaster. Val Kilmer was pretty good. I don't give too much credit when an actor plays a drunk, druggie, crazy, or mentally challenged sometimes.
Meg Ryan was a horrible casting job. She was 29 or 30 years old and played a role of Pamela Courson between 18 to 24. The bangs were a tough sell as well.
Kyle MacLachlan did pretty good. (I'm a Twin Peaks fan ofcourse).
Posted by Set on :
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: Val Kilmer was pretty good.
I still have some fond nostalgia for Real Genius and his character in Willow, but Kilmer's a total hit or miss. When he's on, he's close to Johnny Depp levels of on. When he's just there to cash a check, it shows...
Posted by cleome on :
Saw The Corporation last night. My favorite segments were those talking directly with people doing street-level actions against corporate takeovers: such as the Bolivian citizens who rebelled when water privatization forbade them from even gathering rainwater when they were too poor to pay inflated prices. (!! Thank You, World Bank. !!) There was a lot of filler, but stuff like this made up for it.
Posted by LardLad on :
I saw Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen yesterday with my family. I was really dreading it from the advance reviews, but I was pretty much trapped, having two little boys who are obsessed with them.
Really, though, I found it better than expected. The story was better than I've heard it described, and there were some genuinely touching moments in there. But the main purpose was to entertain, and I felt it succeeded in that pretty well despite it running too long. Some of the jokes were definitely a little too racy and the humor a little too broad, but all of those moments drew big laughs in my packed cinema. And the Twins really were nowhere near Jar-Jar levels of annoyance.
That said, it's really not a film I'm anxious to see again. It was fun for one viewing but would offer little to nothing in repeating. Just a good popcorn flick--nothing inherently wrong with that.
Of course I'm not really what anyone would call a hardcore Trans-fan.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
quote:Originally posted by cleome: Just saw Memento yesterday, and actually had an easier time following the plot than I expected to. Maybe I was just having a particularly lucid day. The DVD extras didn't really hold my interest, though. Guess I'm not enough of a cinema geek.
I resisted the urge to re-watch the scenes one-by-one in reverse-reverse order: just to see if I missed anything.
Yeah I think it's a testament to Nolan that he pulled this off and it wasn't hard to understand. Love that film.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
<----------- Huge fan of Memento
Posted by LardLad on :
<-----------Me, too!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I've kind of halfway watched the first two episodes of the Philanthropist (on NBC, I think?). Really just thought I'd check it out because of Neve Campbell. It seems like there's the potential for a halfway decent show there, but it doesn't really do anything for me.
Posted by LardLad on :
What really sticks with me about Memento, other than the exciting storytelling method, is how utterly evil Carrie-Anne Moss's character is. I remember a shot of her smiling toward the end/beginning that just made me feel sick inside. Quite a brilliant turn on her part after having played the heroic Trinity in The Matrix trilogy!
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Wonderfalls: DVD set
This one didn't last very long. Quirky humor, a little bit preachy but I'm enjoying it.
Posted by Candle on :
I'm buying the complete 'Beauty and the Beast' series with Ron Pearlman. That was the most beautifully staged series that I can remember, truly lovely work. I can't make the final payment until August, though. sigh
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Blockade Boy: Wonderfalls: DVD set
This one didn't last very long. Quirky humor, a little bit preachy but I'm enjoying it.
That's a Bryan Fuller series, right? I'd like to see it based on that.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
He has quite a resume: Dead Like Me, Pushing Daisies, Heroes and Voyager.
The DVD set has shows never aired but I'm a bit concerned it will leave the end hanging.
Posted by LardLad on :
Gawd, I'm still mourning "Daisies" so much that I haven't gotten up the will to watch the final three episodes I've got saved on DVR, let alone explore another Fuller series that got killed off too soon.
No comics spin-off will fill the void left by such a uniquely awesome show. Meanwhile, what do we have? Umpteen CSI and Law & Order shows and soon five hours of primetime Leno a week? With only one season of Lost left, I'm worried there will be nothing creative and original left on TV!!!
Posted by cleome on :
quote:Originally posted by LardLad: What really sticks with me about Memento, other than the exciting storytelling method, is how utterly evil Carrie-Anne Moss's character is. I remember a shot of her smiling toward the end/beginning that just made me feel sick inside. Quite a brilliant turn on her part after having played the heroic Trinity in The Matrix trilogy!
On the one hand, I love watching a really good actress go to town on a meaty role. OTOH, I feel sad when I realize how few chances really good actresses get to do that. Yeah, she's evil, but in her own mind it goes with the job. I doubt she thinks of herself as evil, but rather as being cut from the same cloth as the hero was when he was still doing his job.
IMHO, those are the creepiest villains around. You could spend a hundred years showing them how evil they are, but they'd never believe you.
Posted by cleome on :
Another film I just saw was the adaptation of Katherine Anne Porter's novel Ship of Fools. I've loved her work for years. Despite the inevitable liberties between novel and film, I was thrilled to see it on screen at long last.
Speaking of incredible actresses: Simone Signoret as La Condessa, a would-be revolutionary on her way to jail. Vivian Leigh as a wealthy divorcee' afraid that her life is already over at the ripe old age of 45. Elizabeth Ashley as an aspiring painter who can't let go of her painter boyfriend, even though they are (not in the words of the pre-WWII setting) absolutely toxic to one another.
Oh, and there were some men in the movie, too. Posted by Ram Boy on :
Documentaries on hulu recently.
Just watched an interesting one called DiG!. It chronicles the early years of two rock bands, The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre and the relationship that they had with each other. I'd heard of The Dandy Warhols but the (now defunct) Brian Jonestown Massacre is new to me.
Also, earlier this week I'd watched a slightly disturbing documentary called Confessions of a Superhero about the various characters who dress up as superheros (as well as other popular icons) and panhandle outside of Graumen's Chinese Theater in L.A.
Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
DiG! was a fun rockumentary. My favorite was that guy who didn't play anything - he was just up on stage for no reason other than he was their friend. You should check out "Driver 23" If you like rockumentaries about fifth-rate musicians with delusions of rock-godhood.
Oh, and "Some Kind of Monster" about actual rock gods Metallica was also pretty fun.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Have been watching lots of movie as of late.
Woody Allen's Hollywood Ending. Didn't love it. It was fun and entertaining but I usually enjoy Allen movies more. Deborah Messing looked hot though.
Charade with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. It was pretty good. I quite liked it. Plot has a few holes but it was a light entertaining see. It's funny I was thinking "I've seen this before" and started thinking about a possible modern remake...then it hit me. Truth About Charlie with Mark Wahlberg.
Speaking of Wahlberg. BOOGIE NIGHTS. Great film! I thought this was a comedy (and it was) but it certainly got "real" towards the end. Nice to see we can have a message in this type of movie. I was always in love with Heather Graham but now even more so.
21. My wife loves blackjack and we recently went to the local casino for a b-day party and she tore it up. As a person who plays double nine dominoes with an obsession the counting card thing really interested me. Loved the movie and I might lose my house, car, and saving gambling! JK, I don't gamble but this movie sure makes you want to. (kind of like The Program makes you want to do roids)
Full Metal Jacket. Wow. Great movie. I was expecting more surreal but Kubrick just threw the "real" at us pretty hard. Maybe my favorite Kubrick film thus far. (I've seen Spartacus, Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, The Shining, and Eyes Wide Shut, and well um AI if you count that one)
As far as TV shows
Entourage started last night! Damn I love Sloan!
I've been addicted to Expedition Africa on History Channel. (2hour season finale last night I haven't watched yet)
Burn Notice has been pretty good as well.
Waiting for Psych.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Various comments to last few weeks of posts:
Memento - Lardy, you're dead on with Carrie Ann Moss's role in this one. That sequence where she is basically laughing to his face telling him what she's about to do is frightening to behold. I remember being SHOCKED by it the first time and its better and better the several times I've rewatched. This is the earliest film I recall seeing her in. She's such a totally underrated actress, likely because of the bad wrap the latter two Matrix films deservingly get.
Charade - one of my all time favorite movies (as several LWers know, I'm a huge Audrey Hepburn fan, whom I've loved like no other woman since I was 11 years old). Its just plain fun in a way so many other movies try to be but fail. Best of all is the dialogue and chemistry between Grant and Hepburn and the obvious way Grant is poking fun at the idea of a girl like Audrey falling for someone his age—and the way she doesn’t care. Walter Matthau also plays his role so well and so off-beat that’s its really fun to watch. And James Coburn has a bunch of fun with his role too. I just reviewed “To Catch a Thief” recently and while that’s a completely different movie, its interesting to note how much the chemistry here surpasses the non-chemistry of Grace Kelly and Cary Grant there.
Boogie Nights – this is an excellent movie, and parts of it are really poignant. Everyone does a good job. I agree about Heather Graham. Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds and John C. Reilly are also fantastic, and this one of the creepiest performances ever by Phillip C. Hoffman which is really saying something.
Full Metal Jacket – What’s odd is that Kubrick really allows this to be seen as two almost separate but connecting movies. I’ve seen it like 20 times, so when I watch it now, I usually tune in for the first half but don’t bother with the second. When I mention it to my father, who was a teenager during the Viet Nam years, he says “that movie really pissed off a lot of people”. I like it, but its not one of my favorite Kubrick movies.
DiG! – Haven’t seen this but I’m interested because I just kind of discovered the Dandy Warhols a few years ago via Veronica Mars (Drake—is that how you know them?).
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Forever Knight: I just started the third season.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Forever Knight. Was that on cable? I always bunch it with my other early 90s favorite cable shows like Highlander. Anyways I used to enjoy it my early teens.
Sahara - after watching Fools Gold with Mcnaughey(sp?) I was in the mood to watch this. I liked his character much better here. He made a good Dirk Pitt. Also like the sppt cast better (Zahn and Macy rock!). Penelope Cruz's character fell flat to me. The overall story was actually pretty good. The last scene on the beach (Taragona spain...nice!)!
Munich - Wow! I thought it was going to be sadder and have more of a message. It was Spielberg who likes to hammer you with emotions. While it had emotion and a message...it had lots of action! The emotion basically dealt with guilt and Avner(Bana) missing his family. The message was definetly even sided with them explaining the average Palestinian side of it (the terrorists were scum ofcourse). The action and spy stuff was great! Bana, Daniel Craig, and Hinds (great actor!) were amazing. So were the sppt characters. Ayelet Zurer I just saw in Angels and Demons. She is beautiful and a really good actress.
Marie-Josée Croze was just plain hot! (the female assassin).
Finally. JUNO. Saw it last night. Corky, good script, and acting. Wish we saw Juno get a bit more counseling. That mistake could happen to anyone (i got my 17 year old gf pregnant way back when). But she was cracking jokes. Someone had to sit her down and explain to her to take it bit more seriously. But that's the 30 something in me speaking.
Posted by l.e.g.i.o.n.JOHN on :
was bored one night and while channel surfing i came across Tru.tv which use to be Court.tv and two shows inparticular,..Operation Repo, and Man vs. Cartoon.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Enterprise: working on season two.
Okay, a few of these episodes are some of the worst Sci Fi I've ever seen and the only character I find consistently has a uniques or interesting voice to me is T'Pol but the "Carbon Creek" episode is already one of my favorite Star Trek episodes, ever as is the ship design my favorite.
Now I'm wondering, will we ever see "Chef" or find out what the squeak is in the Captain's quarters?
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Enterprise: nearly done with season two and I have noticed the pattern to the writing. Make these people who are supposed to be the best of the best commit moronic act after moronic act and have everything work out hunky dory as a set=up to show that this human way of acting is superior.
Posted by duck458 on :
True Blood, Hung
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Just watched Mad Men Season 2; I'd seen some eps previously but missed more than I saw. I expected it to be excellent after season 1 and boy my expectations were not only met--they were far exceeded. It remains simply one of the best shows I've ever seen combining real powerful commentary on the themes of the times, an intricate and intriguing look into a past era (which from what I gather is quite realistic) and just an amazing array of style and "cool". Each time they show advertising in its glory age, they show the glamorized version, the crude version and then the likely truth that falls somewhere in between.
Watch it--you won't be sorry.
Posted by ultrajo on :
True Blood, Hung and Mad Men
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I'm sitting here this morning, still completely blown away by Inglorious Basterds, which I saw last night. Melanie Laurent and Christoph Waltz were the standout performances...so much so that I'm blown away by them both. I *must* find other movies they've been in, even if they're in French and German (I understand a little French and no German).
It was so good I need to see it one more time before I go to Key West on Saturday.
Posted by cleome on :
Saw the documentary King Corn last week. I've been wanting to see it for ages, since I read a piece by one of the filmmakers in a local yuppie food rag.
It uses a lot of the modern tropes in documentaries (cute stop-motion toys, ironic re-imaginings of childhood educational films, etc.) to make its point. Overall, though, the smarm level is low. Basically, the two filmmakers move to Iowa (where they both have very distant family) and grow an acre of corn, exactly as its grown in modern America for industrial purposes. Hijinks (and the discovery that most commercial corn tastes like crap, and is primarily for use in corn syrup) ensue.
Totally into Burn Notice.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Godspell
Hits hard in this 9/11 generation.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
More Woody Allen... Melinda and Melinda - A recent Allen film. Not one but two good stories here!
Anything Else - Woody working his usual magic with young actors. Good stuff. Also recent.
Curse of the Jade Scorpion - Great! Woody's best acting performance by far! Helen Hunt and Charlize Theron make those 1940 dresses look nice also.
Love and Death - a film that if I was under 30 would've hated but I laughed very loudly...amazing how one changes while getting older.
Prince Caspian - Eh. My wife and daughter loved it. Didn't do much for me. I'm more of a Potter fan.
Killing Me Softly - Another attempt to recreate Basic Instinct fails. Nice scenes with Heather Graham though.
Underworld Rise of the Lycans - Liked it better than I thought I would. But damn I got tired of that castle.
Push - Loved it. Lots of potential here. Good acting by young (and old) actors. Good action film. One complaint is they made it as if there is a definite sequel coming...didn't like that.
Also watching True Blood, Entourage, Top Chef, Psych, Miami Social(more my wife's show but Katrina has me watching it).
Expedition Africa was great on History Channel. Rented Mysterious of the Nile which had Pasquale. Wish they would've made that a series instead of a 45 min documentary.
I'm sure I left out other things it's been a while since I've been here.
Also plan to rent Mad Men...season one soon.
Posted by Set on :
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: Push - Loved it. Lots of potential here. Good acting by young (and old) actors. Good action film. One complaint is they made it as if there is a definite sequel coming...didn't like that.
That was a good one. Dakota Fanning had a scarily mature presence in that movie. It felt like her relationship with the main dude was sliding into and out of 'The Professional' territory, at some points. Yeah, dear, there's 'another woman' in my life, but she's like, 12.
The bit at the end where one of the mind controllers takes over four gunmen at the same time and has them as a personal death-squad, moving like automatons, was awesome. The telekinesis-fu wasn't bad either...
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
Sons of Anarchy.
It's like watching cheeseball testosterony tv. The bikers are super clean, have all their teeth, always one step ahead of everyone....It's hifrickenlarious.
The lead guy dresses like he's a skateboarder and he's supposed to be in his thirties. Ron perlman has a buzz cut...funny stuff.
Posted by MysticLuna on :
I don't watch as much tv as I used to, but I like Supernatural, Drop Dead Diva, Wolverine and the X-Men, the new Batman thingy, and...that's it...oh Ruby.
Posted by cleome on :
Movies seen recently:
Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices. Pretty much what you'd expect. My favorite bits took place in London, Quebec, and Germany. The matter-of-fact attitude of those interviewed there is in marked contrast to what I think of as the definitive timidness in the U.S. over confronting these hideous monoliths over their blatant abuses of power. The Quebecois, in particular, offered a stellar example of what Labor looks like when it doesn't suck eggs. (Cough. I'm ex-AFSCME, so I get to say that. Nyah.)
Beat the Devil. Humphrey Bogart, Gina Lolabrigitta, John Huston, smugglers, boats. C'mon, what more do you need?
Rabbit-Proof Fence. Australia's "Stolen Generation" in the early 20th Century. Three little girls sneak away from the Whites who want to "cure" them of being Aboriginal to return to their tribe. Just a great, great film. I should have seen it sooner. It's a rare case where the disc extras are every bit as good as the original film. Because the horrible "protection" program that separated Aboriginal children from their families didn't end officially until 1970, you see observers, the acting coach, and film crew (many of whom are Aboriginal themselves) literally weeping as a scene where the children are torn from their mother and grandmother is being filmed. Living history, paralleled in the U.S., of course.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I think I talked about Rabbit-Proof Fence earlier in the thread. A great film.
Just watched the first episode of Jay Leno's primetime show. Not impressed.
Posted by matlock on :
I'm going to give FlashForward a try tonight. I figure I'll at least stick with it 'til Dominic Monaghan turns up. I watched Lost from the get-go in large part due to him being on it, so maybe lightning will strike twice.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I enjoyed Flash Foward.
I saw W. by Oliver Stone. Eh. Some things I liked some I didn't.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by cleome:
Rabbit-Proof Fence. Australia's "Stolen Generation" in the early 20th Century. Living history, paralleled in the U.S., of course.
Pretty much paralleled by every civilization known to man, including the one that proceeded Europe's visit to this big continent.
I saw this one on the shelves at the library but I'd have to be in a certain mood to pick it up. Even though the topic interests me, I'd always find an excuse to get a more "fun" movie. Typically, after seeing it I chastized myself for waiting so long.
My latest:
Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog.
Dial-up isn't condusive to seeing this as it was released on the internet so I was particularly happy to see it in DVD form.
As fun as advertised. Some catchy toons that won't leave the head so that can be a problem. .
[ October 04, 2009, 02:27 PM: Message edited by: Blockade Boy ]
Posted by Candle on :
Flash Forward is okay, that's the one about everyone passing out and seeing the future? I prefer Bones, though.
Smallville is still pretty merky,but I love the Tower stainedglass windows. Beautiful visuals there, sigh.
The Diva show with the dead girl in the lawyer girl's body is okay but I missed the 1st one so I don't know what happened to the lawyer girl's soul ~ why the body's alive but the soul's gone, so I don't really watch it regularly.
LOVE Fringe and enjoyed the first House but have missed the others (keep forgeting Monday TV.)
Now, I'm just waiting for the first new Stargate and Sanctuary.
Posted by Candle on :
'House' was good this week! I'm glad to see him not so angry and hurtful. He was actually funny playing charades during the conference and wonderful when he helped the neighbor!
Catch 'The Forgotten' if you can, on Tuesday nights at 10. It has a great cast with Christian Slater and fantastic stories. Wow!
Posted by Lethargy Lad on :
House remains good.
Glee is a delightful surprise, I was fearing a "hipper, edgier" Fame, but instead found it to be intelligent, funny, surreal, dark, and convoluted. Besides, I'm nuts for Jane Lynch.
Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
Flashforward : I'm liking this series - the way it's building the mystery, the personal stuff interweaved with the worldwide emergency/conspiracy stuff, etc. They clearly have an idea in mind for what's behind all this. I imagine the series will reboot to a degree once we catch up to the flashforward, (another flashforward?) so I'll stick with it for now.
Community : I wasn't expecting much, but this show is really funny! It's a lot smarter than it seems from the commercials and the oddball cast meshes well. And despite Joel McHale's smarminess, it also has heart.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
"The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency"
As always, I'm a year or two behind those with cable. This is one of those shows that manages to be both funny and touching at the same time, with hilarious end credits to boot.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Eastwick, ok my wife made me watched it...damn I like it. Have to suck up the macho stuff and admit it. Yes it's Charmed meets Desperate Housewives (2 shows I hate) but technically Eastwick is older than both(the books). I always heard the books were really good. And I'm a sucker for small towns in New England especially Rhode Island.
Still enjoying Flash Foward. Loving Fringe! My Smallville viewing always had lots of fast foward. Not a fan of the emotional drama soft music playing parts. It's been less of that lately which is good.
Haven't caught up with Amazing Race(my fave reality show) or Survivor(eh). I have been watching Top Chef: Las Vegas. (love top chef...i just can't afford to be a foodie anymore in this economy).
Darn, I'm watching LOTS of things. Clash of the Gods(History channel), The Community(2nd episode was to die for!), The Office, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Medium, Psych, Heroes, Three Sheets, and Sanctuary just taped this week! whew!
No wonder I don't post as much anymore. Don't worry I still have a life. I do exercise regularly.
I heard LIE TO ME is great but don't have the time. I'm also watching Wolverine and the X-Men(pretty good) and a DVD class on mythology.
Movies? I just watched Witness for the Prosecution(directed by Billy Wilder) and The Prophecy(the angel thing with Walken). I'm sure I forgot something. The bad economy has me staying home more. Posted by Mysa Nal 3 on :
'House' was great this week and so was 'The Forgotten'. Good stories and good acting.
I'd like to see 'Where the Wild Things Go' (or something like that, my memory is killing me.)
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Harry Potter pentology.
My third time trying to get through it but this time I was determined.
Goblet was my favorite, I really enjoyed this one. The first three, I pat myself on the back for completing them but other than the Weasleys, Hagrid and Snape, didn't much care for story or character. The fifth one just struck me as bad; a disjointed telling of cliches.
Posted by Dev Em on :
Big Bang Theory is the only thing I watch regularly.
Catching some NCIS/NCIS:LA on demand. Like both shows...just not motivated enough to catch them when they air.
Waiting for Lost, and that new show with Andre Braugher, Scott Bakula and Ray Ramano.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I saw Shadows & Fog by Woody Allen. The setting is similar to a late 1800s Victorian London...yet everyone is American.
It has a Jack the Ripper type murderer. The rest of the film is Woody Allen running around in you guessed it...Shadows and Fog.
I didn't care for it. Everyone in it is famous but I was pretty disappointed.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
My scary movies for Halloween experiment is going bad. I watched The Prophecy (Christopher Walken) I remember loving it when it first came out. Scariest part is Viggo Mortensen as the devil. But I didn't love it the 2nd time around. So much potential and they fail to deliver.
I decided to give the Prophecy 2 a chance...it was really bad. I will not give Prophecy 3 a chance.
I am going to watch Unknown tonight (James Caviezel, Greg Kinnear, Bridget Moynahan, Joe Pantoliano and Barry Pepper). Not a "scary" movie but suspenseful I believe.
btw, I DON'T do scary movies! Yes all 6'1" 270lbs of me can't take them. I basically get in a fight/flight response for 2 hours and don't enjoy it. (I did watch Vacancy recently and enjoyed it thought)
Posted by cleome on :
Just saw the Korean film Sympathy For Lady Vengeance (Park Chan-wook) at a buddy's place last week.
Recommended for you mystery/thriller fans who love striking visuals (along with a little violence and sex). A woman gets out of jail after doing time for murdering a kid. You get a series of interlocking flashbacks and other characters' parallel narratives as she sets in motion an elaborate plan (harking back somewhat to films like Lang's 'M'). Some of the turns and twists are preposterous as hell, but so what? It's normal enough in this kind of story.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Sounds pretty good cleome. Adding it to my Netflix list! thanks.
Posted by Lardi the Incorruptible on :
Last week I was unsurprisingly on a horror kick (see "Zombie Flicks" thread for the rest) and rented a film I'd read a lot of buzz about Drag Me to Hell. It's Sam Raimi's return to the horror genre and offers what you'd expect from him: a mix of humor and thrills. It's a lot of fun and offers Raimi's B-movie sensibility in droves. Everything is played straight but the humorous intent is pretty obvious.
Basically, an old, creepy gypsy woman puts a curse on a loan officer who turns her down for an extended grace period on her mortgage. But before the curse is put on, the two have a hilarious no-holds-barred knock-down/drag-out in the parking garage! That and follo-up scenes between the two are the lure of the movie, IMO.
I could kick myself for not spotting the switcheroo that set up the ending, though. It was set up beautifully!
So if you're in the mood for a little light B-movie fare with some genuine thrills amid the comedy, I'd highly recommend Drag Me to Hell!
Posted by cleome on :
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: Sounds pretty good cleome. Adding it to my Netflix list! thanks.
Let me know if you like it, Jorge. I always enjoy reading the reviews here. (There are two other parts to the "Vengeance Trilogy," but I haven't seen them yet. The stories have a common theme, but they aren't connected in any other way.)
Posted by cleome on :
Saw Whip It the other day. It's kind of like Rocky with an aspiring roller derby queen in the lead role. The performances were good, even if the plot didn't offer any big surprises. I did like the relationship between Bliss aka "Babe Ruthless" and her ex-beauty queen Mom. Also the fact that they didn't demonize the "older" (a whopping 31-year-old!) champion who resented that the heroine was a natural at something that she herself had spent years mastering.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
My wife is out of town and a buddy of mine and I went on a movie watching spree.
Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. I liked it. I like them adapting a really good storyline and hope they continue to do so. Batman should've been knocked out a few times though. Didn't love the art.
Green Lantern: First Flight. Didn't care for the changes in the story but overall I did like the story. I've always been a Corps fan so I loved that they got serious screen time. Also didn't love the art.
When it comes to animation I'm a snob. After seeing some of those Japanese studious create something beautiful I'm a bit picky. I just think it appears to be low quality.
G.I. Joe. Horrible. Acting was terrible except for Sienna Miller ofcourse. The guy playing Duke talks like he's from the hood in every film he's in. I didn't care for the story. Did like the bad guys but I always have when it comes to Cobra.
Probably going to check Wolverine in the next few days.
Posted by Candle on :
I'm hoping to see 'Avatar' when it comes out. The trailer is fantastic.
Trailers tell too much of the story, I think. At least, in recent years.
But the special effects look incredible and the movie has Sigourney Weaver, which is almost always a draw for me.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
candle, i agree or they show all the action scenes or comedy scenes in the preview. Hate seeing a movie and all the best parts were in the preview.
I saw Wolverine. It was better than I thought (or heard). I did go in with low expectations. Some scenes were bad but for the most part I liked it. Schriber was an awesome Sabretooth.
Posted by Mystery Lad on :
I bought the complete series of FARSCAPE and have started from the beginning, instead of skipping around and watching the dozen or so episodes I never caught.
I've listened to a couple of commentaries, too.
Do those of you who pick up DVDs with audio commentaries listen to them? They're either really fascinating or great insomnia cures.
Maybe there ought to be a thread for DVDs people've bought but haven't watched yet. I've got a good stack of those!
Posted by Dev Em on :
Commentaries are really hit or miss. The ones I've heard on the new Battlestar Galactica series were good.
Posted by Candle on :
Just saw Men of a Certain Age on TNT. It's Monday's @ 10 pm.
I can't say enough good about the show! Ray Romano and Scott Bakula and one of my favorite black actors, who's name I can never remember, darn it!
If you haven't seen it, do. Funny, realistic, wonderful friendships.
Posted by He Who Wanders on :
quote:Originally posted by Candle: I can't say enough good about the show! Ray Romano and Scott Bakula and one of my favorite black actors, who's name I can never remember, darn it!
Andre Braugher, who more than a decade ago starred in Homicide: Life On the Street.
I agree: It's a funny and warm comedy about genuine relationships, not over the top as Everbody Loves Raymond could be.
Posted by Candle on :
Yes, Andre Braugher, thank-you. His poor relationship with his father is already so rich with dimensions!
And Ray beating up the Hulk air toy because his life is out of control was incredible.
And Scott driving that car around the block! Satisfaction for everyone in the world in that moment.
Oh, man. sigh
Posted by Candle on :
Reminds me of us -
Posted by Stealth on :
I watched Avatar over the weekend. I'm planning on posting a long and detailed review on my blog, but here's the short version:
The first three-quarters or so renewed my faith in the possibilities of cinema, but it comes undone at the end because a genre movie is only as good as its villains. I'd still recommend it, though.
[ December 23, 2009, 03:54 PM: Message edited by: Stealth ]
Posted by Stealth on :
Just finished watching the last episode of Misfits. It's a SciFi comedy drama that aired on the UK channel E4 that lasted 6 episodes. A 2nd "season" has already been greenlit. If you don't mind trying to understand the different accents, I recommend it.
Been watching tons of stuff lately which ofcourse I can't remember right now.
DEXTER! I bought the first 3 seasons and have watched the first 2. I love it.
Caught up with Sanctuary.
Recent films I've seen? The Spanish Prisoner, Wolf, Jennifer's Body(couldn't resist the Fox), Unforgiven, Alice in Wonderland (Disney), Jumanji, Patton(great movie), Dirty Dozen, The Informers. Good stuff.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Jorge, you'll love season three of Dexter. It feels a little slow at first but the build-up is really great. Some great acting performances.
Jennifer's Body - what did you think? Knowing we share similar "tastes" ( ), will I like it?
Patton - one of those great movies I rewatch every few years. You can't help but act like him (George C. Scott's portrayal of Patton) afterwards.
Posted by SharkLad on :
Community on NBC ... it's getting better and better ... Danny Pudi is great ...
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: Jorge, you'll love season three of Dexter. It feels a little slow at first but the build-up is really great. Some great acting performances.
Jennifer's Body - what did you think? Knowing we share similar "tastes" ( ), will I like it?
Patton - one of those great movies I rewatch every few years. You can't help but act like him (George C. Scott's portrayal of Patton) afterwards.
Hey Cobalt! Jennifer's Body? I mean drink a few beers and watch it. They never show too much but get close...you know how it is. If you don't feel like thinking and you feel like drinking I'd say do it.
LOL @ the Patton comment. My wife told me I was talking like him for a few days after I saw it.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Now that I'm all old and stuff (with a pregnant wife at home), I don't really go out on Saturday nights anymore, and on the rare occassion we do (to dinne or a movie or something) we're not out late. It's weird for me to even type that, trust me. I don't think I missed going out on a Saturday night from age 14-27.
Anyway, lately I've been in on Saturday nights and have started to watch Saturday Night Live again. And I have to tell you--this is the funniest the show has ever been in its entire history. Maybe its a generation thing, but the 70's, 80's, 90's and beginning of this decade all had their moments but none of them are even close to how funny the current SNL cast is. Its been this way for a few years, I know, because I've seen some clips online. But about 80% of the sketches are falldown on the floor funny. The recent Blake Lively and Taylor Swift appearances were hysterical (Charles Barkley sucked though but hey, that's tough to work with).
I would have never thought I'd be at home watching SNL again on Saturday Night like I did when I was 12 or 13, but here I am. And thankfully, its pretty damn funny.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
PS - on the Jennifer's Body comment. I just might do that!
And yeah, that's hysterical you were acting like Patton afterwards. Its all in the way he says things and the sentences almost crack like a whip. "Disss--MISSED!!!" When he gets out and starts directing traffics of the tanks near the end its just hysterical. I think its one of the great acting portrayals in cinema history.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
LOL@ Cobie. Accepting getting old is a good thing. Same here. I was a party animal up until about 27 also. 28-31 things slowed down a bit but not too much(still would hit restuarant bars and such). 32-34...i am falling asleep by 11pm and stay home much more. The economy didn't help the last 3 years either.
Sushi is now a luxury that we eat a few times a year...cause for me to get full on sushi i need to spend atleast $30 on myself.
Hence, I've been watching LOTS of movies.
Continuing the military theme I saw Kelly's Heroes last weekend. I got to see Australia (beautiful), The Big Sleep (Bogey and a bunch of hot chicks), and I'm currently watching Leatherheads. Not a big fan of plastic surgery Renee...and so far it's only had a few funny partys. eh.
Posted by dedman on :
I don't watch much TV, but I do make an effort to watch "Attack of the Show" on a regular basis...want a show that celebrates geekiness? well this is it.
For the first time since season 1, I am watching Lost as it happens.
Been watching lots of movies, mostly older stuff from my collection, most recently I rewatched 30 days of Night. Enjoyable movie, but I haven't rwad the graphic novel its based on (gotta check that out)
Posted by Lardi on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: I would have never thought I'd be at home watching SNL again on Saturday Night like I did when I was 12 or 13, but here I am. And thankfully, its pretty damn funny.
I'm guessing you watched tonight's episode? Though it wasn't particularly strong, it had it's moments. Did you see that segment at the end of the news with Kristen Wiig and Fred Armison playing those singers who wing all their songs? I laughed so hard that I cried! The material itself is funny, but moreso Fred and Kristen playing off each other and struggling to keep a straight face! Loved that one and the (at least one) other time they did it!
Posted by Lardi on :
Update: Looked it up online, and the skit is called "Garth and Kat". You can find it here on Hulu!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I was laughing so hard when it aired on Saturday that I was actually crying a little. You're totally right that its not that the skit is funny by nature, its just that Wiig and Armison keep making each other laugh! And usually both of them are the ones that never break character. They couldn't even look at each other by the end of the skit. Then Seth Myers couldn't help cracking a smile the rest of his bit, which carried over into Keenan Thomas's bit as well. It was cool, like an electricity was going for the next few minutes after Wiig and Armison.
Kristen Wiig is hysterically funny. She might be the funniest SNL female cast member of all time. There's at least always 2-3 hysterically funny Kristen Wiig moments every Saturday.
I was also crying with laughter during the Andy Samburg / Rahm Emmanuel bit. It was awesome--he played it completely strait, just the way we (the public) pictures Emmanuel to be. Great stuff.
Posted by Exnihil on :
Lately I've been addicted to a group of documentaries collectively called the "Up Series".
In 1963, a group of English 7-year olds from different backgrounds were interviewed on topics ranging from the class system to race relations to gender issues. The conceit was that these children would be representatives of the generation who would be in power in the year 2000. The initial program was called "7 Up".
The same group was interviewed 7 years later at age 14, and thus started a series that could very easily be called the first "reality series," as subsequent entries visited the same group at ages 21, 28, 35, 42, and 49, with "56 Up" currently in preproduction.
I'm up to the 35 episode and am just astounded at what a beautiful experiment this series is. It's like a stone was skipped through time, allowing you just the briefest touch points as you watch these fourteen people grow in ways that for some you could have well predicted at age 7, but for others you never could have imagined.
I'm not doing it justice, but it's good, good stuff.
Posted by MLLASH on :
quote:Originally posted by SharkLad: Community on NBC ... it's getting better and better ... Danny Pudi is great ...
Community rules!
30 Rock, anyone?
Posted by SharkLad on :
Where are you watching the "Up Series," Ex? It sounds amazing ... like a longitudinal psychological study ... I'd like to check it out ...
Posted by SharkLad on :
quote:Originally posted by MLLASH:
quote:Originally posted by SharkLad: Community on NBC ... it's getting better and better ... Danny Pudi is great ...
Community rules!
30 Rock, anyone?
Yeah, Community rules! 30 Rock is great too, but I don't watch it faithfully like Community or the Office or Parks and Recreation ... I tend to save up a bunch of 30 Rocks and watch them all at once ...
Posted by Exnihil on :
quote:Originally posted by SharkLad: Where are you watching the "Up Series," Ex? It sounds amazing ... like a longitudinal psychological study ... I'd like to check it out ...
I've been renting them from Netflix (though if you have the service, they can actually be watched online on the Netflix site). You're right about the longitudinal study comparison... the director, Michael Apted, admits on the commentary that it probably wasn't until about 14 years in that he realized the series was no longer just a political statement about class divisions, but really about the human experience as a whole. I think you'd really like it, Sharky.
Posted by SharkLad on :
I mentioned the series to my friend today, and it turns out she's a big fan and has the first few series on dvd, so hopefully I'll be checking it out very soon ... thanks for posting about it!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
The latest Community (Physical Eduation) had me laughing very hard. It's actually replaced 30 Rock as my favorite comedy...and I love 30 Rock.
The 7UP series sounds amazing.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
The History Boys
On a bit of an intermission but so far, blows away carpe diems and such. Not yet "To Sir With Love," but funnier.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Community is a great series! A lot of differen characters bring the funny. I love the roll credits sequences each episode.
30 Rock is one I dong follow but catch sometimes. My wife hates it because they always win awards. I watched the Jon Hamm episodes recently on a plane (love Mad Men) and thought they were great.
Posted by Blacula on :
quote:Originally posted by Exnihil: Lately I've been addicted to a group of documentaries collectively called the "Up Series".
In 1963, a group of English 7-year olds from different backgrounds were interviewed on topics ranging from the class system to race relations to gender issues. The conceit was that these children would be representatives of the generation who would be in power in the year 2000. The initial program was called "7 Up".
The same group was interviewed 7 years later at age 14, and thus started a series that could very easily be called the first "reality series," as subsequent entries visited the same group at ages 21, 28, 35, 42, and 49, with "56 Up" currently in preproduction.
I'm up to the 35 episode and am just astounded at what a beautiful experiment this series is. It's like a stone was skipped through time, allowing you just the briefest touch points as you watch these fourteen people grow in ways that for some you could have well predicted at age 7, but for others you never could have imagined.
I'm not doing it justice, but it's good, good stuff.
I love this series! I first saw 7, 14 & 21 Up when I was a teenager and have caught the rest (up to 42) as each one came out. It made me kinda feel like I was growing up with them.
It's a devastatingly powerful series. Just thinking about how all the grand hopes and dreams of those 7 and 14 year-olds are either slowly destroyed by the bitter disappointments and mundane realities of growing up and facing a harsh world, or are ultimately fulfilled and transcended through their acceptance and happiness in the lives they eventually find for themselves, makes me emotional even now.
There is a US version and I think a couple of other countries have versions too but the UK one is definitely the best (and by far the longest running) so I would recommend starting there if anyone is interested in checking them out.
Posted by SharkLad on :
I'm in the middle of 28Up ... truly an amazing examination of the paths one's life can take ... I've gotten so invested in some of the participants' lives, I have to keep myself from "spoiling" it by looking up on wikipedia what happened to everybody ...
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I rewatched Clue with my wife the other day. You know, it holds up pretty well! Its funny, the actors & actresses all deliver in every scene and there is a great bit of mystery in it to make you think. The dialogue is snappy and it shows just how awesome Tim Curry might have been if he'd had the career Clue made it seem like he might have had. I used to love this movie as a kid and I like it even more as an adult.
I also watched The Wicker Man (the original); this is the second time I've seen it. But wow, I forgot how offbeat and weird it is! It's not scary really, and only eerie for like two minutes in total--but rather, just plain weird. But that isn't a bad thing, as I do like the movie quite a bit. You can see how it played on the fears of people during the early 70's and their inability to understand the hippie movement post-Charles Manson. Christopher Lee is incredible as always though here he is obviously just enjoying being Christopher Lee and playing parts in the Hammer horror films in whatever way he felt like playing just then. And of course the final few minutes are just fantastic and horrific--again, not scary, just horrific because it feels so realistic. I think in terms of horror movies, the Wicker Man stands apart in a class of its own; I wish more directors would go this route and just get completely offbeat.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
As for TV, besides Lost I'm kind of just catching things here and there these days. One show I've started trying to watch when I can is House. Its on basically all the time but I of course am watching all the seasons out of order. That's okay because the show is really just fantastic. Hugh Laurie does a great job but so does his large supporting cast, and the writing is intelligent and thought-provoking. Great show--I'm considering buying the seasons.
And I find myself watching Castle more and more. It's one of those shows that's just plain fun and it thrives on the strengths of the actors. Both of the two leads are smart, funny, have great dialogue, have emotional and poignant moments when it calls for it and have incredible sexual tension. It's more light-hearted and in all the best ways.
Posted by Blacula on :
^^^ I love Clue. I must have seen it at least a hundred times. It's weird that an actor as talented and charismatic as Tim Curry is didn't have a bigger career.
Something I'm watching - Fringe. A friend leant me the first season on DVD and I'm about 5-6 episodes in. He told me it was a bit like The X-Files but to that I want to say "I knew The X-Files and this sir is no X-Files." I'm finding it really boring. And I don't like any of the characters either. My love of JJ Abrams (thanks be to Lost) is the only thing keeping me going at this point.
So my question is - Have any of you Legion Worlders watched it? Does it get better? Should I stick with it?
Posted by Stealth on :
I lost interest in "Fringe" after two or three episodes. I found it very annoying, with a "weird just for the sake of being weird" vibe.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I was on the fence about Fringe for the first few episodes but thought it got better as it went along. It never gets mindblowingly good or anything, but worth watching I'd say. I haven't watched the second season.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
As I type this I'm watching the episodes of Flashforwad that are available on abc.com.
It's pretty impressive. Wish I'd been watching it all along.
Posted by Stealth on :
Peter Graves' passing has made me break out the Mission: Impossible DVDs. Reviews of selected episodes to come.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: I was on the fence about Fringe for the first few episodes but thought it got better as it went along. It never gets mindblowingly good or anything, but worth watching I'd say. I haven't watched the second season.
Yeah, I have to say that Fringe really picks up in quality as the series goes on. I'd take a bit further than EDE in my praise and say the last few episodes really are pretty damn terrific. I'd say its the second best sci-fi television show in ages (after Lost).
For me it beats X-Files hands down, but while I liked X-Files I was never a major devotee (of course, when it was out was during my early formative teen years, so I was distracted to say the least).
Posted by rouge on :
We've been watching the "Bridge" these last few weeks. The pilot was fantastic, the second episode a little disturbing and the third one was a head scratcher. I really have no Idea where it's developing to, but it's sure been interesting.
Posted by Stealth on :
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE Episode 3.1, "The Heir Apparent."
Quite blatantly sing "Anastasia" as a blueprint, the third season opener packs enough twists and turns to transcend its derivative origins. Barbara Bain has one of her best roles as the feeble, blind old "princess", Peter Graves has fun as an unctuous con man, and, unusually, Martin Landau's big scene actually involves him shedding his disguise. Greg Morris and Peter Lupus deliberatly let themselves be put in solitary confinement, the toolkit for their escape cleverly disguised as a pair of eyeglasses worn by Lupus. Alexander Singer, one of the show's best regular directors, brings a lot of style to this episode, and Lalo Schifrin, who composed the iconic theme music, does the whole score for this episode, one of his most memorable.
The next episode is a slow 2-parter involving boxers and the mob, not one of my favorites, so next I'll be skipping ahead to Episode 3.4, "The Mercenaries."
Posted by Exnihil on :
I just watched a pretty good documentary called, "The Botany of Desire".
Adapted from the book of the same name name by journalist Michael Pollan, it examined the phenomenon of how, throughout history, humans have engaged in nearly symbiotic relationships with certain plants. It suggests that because these plants satisfy certain base human desires, we have created environments where they would not only be guaranteed survival, but evolutionary triumph over other plants.
The four plants examined in this film (and the corresponding desire which they are said to satisfy) were the apple representing sweetness, the tulip - beauty, marijuana - intoxication, and the potato - control (that is to say, control over our own fate at the hands of the elements).
It was a very interesting film and although I didn't agree with all of Pollan's conclusions, it's worth a rent if just for the wealth of historical tidbits (ex: the role of the potato in bringing about the Industrial Revolution; how the tulip nearly destroyed the economy of the Netherlands; etc.).
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid:
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: I was on the fence about Fringe for the first few episodes but thought it got better as it went along. It never gets mindblowingly good or anything, but worth watching I'd say. I haven't watched the second season.
Yeah, I have to say that Fringe really picks up in quality as the series goes on. I'd take a bit further than EDE in my praise and say the last few episodes really are pretty damn terrific. I'd say its the second best sci-fi television show in ages (after Lost).
For me it beats X-Files hands down, but while I liked X-Files I was never a major devotee (of course, when it was out was during my early formative teen years, so I was distracted to say the least).
I just watched a couple of second season episodes online, and they were pretty fanastic!
Posted by Blacula on :
OK. It sounds like Fringe gets better so I will forge on with it. Might pop back in with a review when I finish the season.
Re: The X-Files - I think it really was pretty fantastic back in it's day. But by "back in it's day" I only mean the first 4 or 5 seasons - when the show started to get bogged down in all that alien-conspiracy crap and the at-first-cool-but-very-quickly-annoying "Cancer Man" became the unstoppable Big Bad of the show I soon lost interest. Never saw the last couple of seasons.
But those first few seasons really were excellent and the chemistry between Anderson and Duchovny was like few other things on TV. It WAS the show! Great characters played by great actors. Something I think Fringe is seriously lacking in so far. The female lead is OK if a bit bland, Pacey is just kinda there and the "funny" crazy antics of the old man (shades of Starman/boy) have annoyed me since the first episode. Whereas Scully and Mulder crackled in every scene they were in together.
Something else that I liked about The X-Files compared to Fringe (so far) is that the former mixed up it's monsters of the week a lot more. One episode could be something mythical like a werewolf or a vampire, another something sci-fi like an alien or a technological terror, another something creepy and scary like a serial killer or a haunted house, and so on.
Whereas in Fringe it's been the same villain and plot every episode - Mad scientist creates some sort of sci-fi weapon which he/she either accidentally or intentionally kills people with. Heroes find out how to counteract the weapon using some sort of knowledge from Pacey's Dad. Shadowy company lurks in the background. The end.
It hasn't been a very good start but you guys like it and it's been picked up for a third season so it must do something right down the line. I'm off to watch some more now.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Yeah the lack of variety plotwise in the early episodes kind of bugged me too, and a lot of the pseudo-science in those episodes seemed goofy beyond belief. You get some more variety as more bits of the overall mythology get introduced.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Yeah, I agree. I almost feel like they were holding back on the really great stuff in order to build tension towards the end of the season. Nothing wrong if that if they had better scenarios in the beginning.
It will really get awesome when one of the recurring antagonist of season one starts to show up (David Robert Jones played by the awesome Jared Harris, who is also on Mad Men). He does an excellent job at being an incredibly dynamic character creating all kinds of problems while not falling into too many cliches or villains / antagonists. By the end of the season, he's morphed into this incredibly awesome character.
Posted by Stealth on :
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE Episode 3.4, "The Mercenaries"
Everybody involved in this episode seems to be having a ball, both in front of the camera and behind it. In a rare villainous role, Pernell Roberts plays the leader of a band of soldiers of fortune (among his goons are Vic Tayback and Bo Svenson) who is ultimately undone by his own greed. Loyalty or lack thereof is a big theme in this episode, with Peter Graves and Barbara Bain posing as sleazy gunrunners loyal to no one, including themselves. This episode marks the directing debut of Paul Krasny, who had been the series' lead film editor during the first two seasons, and he dives in with gusto, bathing the screen in atmospheric lighting and bizarre camera angles, and creating one of the series' most memorable visuals in the imagery of flowing melted gold. Unfortunately, due to his promotion to post-production supervisor, Krasny didn't have the time to direct any more Season Three episodes.
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE Episode 3.5, "The Execution"
One of the series' starkest and most disturbing episodes, in which the IMF kidnaps a hired killer (Luke Askew) working for a powerful mobster (Vincent Gardenia), and makes the killer believe he's going to the gas chamber unless he turns stool pigeon. Proving once and for all that she wasn't just a pretty face, Barbara Bain has one of her least glamorous and most memorable roles as the killer's hard-boiled lawyer. Director Alexander Singer shows his versatility by setting aside the warm, ornate visuals of "The Heir Apparent" for a chilly, no-frills look. This would also be writers' William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter's last IM script to be filmed and broadcast. After two seasons as the series' head writers, they were promoted to showrunners, which resulted in a few great episodes but a lot of hurt on the part of the show's hard-working crew, and the final spark that exploded these writers' already-volatile relationship with the series' creator and executive producer, Bruce Geller. But in my opinion at least, Woodfield and Balter's early exit during the third season was a blessing in disguise, which I'll elaborate on as the IM reviews continue in order of original broadcasting.
Posted by Awkward Pause Boy on :
A treat: The Guild (previous seasons are on Netflix and worth watching first)
A tad subversive: Mr. Deity Posted by Blacula on :
Just want to pop in and say that I'm just over half-way through the first season of Fringe now and enjoying it a lot more! So, thanks to all those who told me to stick with it!
I think I accidentally spoiled myself to something that happens in the last episode of this season though so that's a bit annoying.
Hope there are some other surprises coming up to um, surprise me.
Posted by Dingleberry Damsel on :
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 3.6, "The Cardinal"
Woodfield & Balter are credited as producers, but this episode actually passed through a total of THREE showrunner teams -- W&B, interim producer Robert Thompson, and eventual full-time producer Stanley Kallis. Amazingly, the behind-the-scenes strife doesn't show in the finished product at all! And much of the credit for that must go to Sutton Roley, one of the most inventive and dynamic prime time TV directors of his time. Theodore Bikel, in a rare TV appearance, plays the villain, and Paul Stevens excels in the double role of a beloved Cardinal and a goverment-puppet impostor.
The production problems do show on the following string of episodes which, for various reasons, I don't regard as worth discussing. But THEN comes the real prime cuts.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 3.13, "The Mind of Stefan Miklos"
Writer Paul Playdon, still in his twenties at the time, came up with an astonishingly complex yet perfectly executed script that Robert Thompson hungrily snapped up. But it was Stanley Kallis who made Playdon the show's script consultant and head writer, which would result in what I consider the best era of MI ever. As for the episode itself, Robert Butler directs stylishsly but unobstrusively so as to not obscure the all-important details that dovetail perfectly as the IMF works hard to win a game of wills against Stefan Miklos (Steve Ihnat), an enemy agent with one of the world's sharpest minds. Trainspotters will also savor the appearances of a pre-stardom Ed Asner, Outer Limits Control Voice Vic Perrin, and "The Brain That Wouldn't Die"'s leading man, Jason Evers.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 3.14, "The Test Case"
Sutton Roley strikes again, enlivening a rather formulaic and claustrophobic story -- in which Martin Landau takes the place of a human germ warfare guinea pig -- with dazzling camerawork, quick cuts, and monochromatic red filters. Accordingly to Roley, Bruce Geller found the end result fascinating but confusing, but decided it didn't matter as long as it was good.
Posted by Dingleberry Damsel on :
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 3.15, "The System"
I generally prefer the international intrigue episodes to the organized crime episodes, but this casino-themed episode is brisk enough to make the grade. Even the blackjack and roulette scenes are visually dynamic, thanks to the then-new "snorkel-cam." Greg Morris has an edge-of-your-seat long-distance safecracking sequence, Martin Landau's vocal mimicry skills get a workout, and Barbara Bain enjoys herself as a beautiful but heartless gambler.
Posted by Blacula on :
Just finished season one of Fringe.
Well, I did a complete 180 on this show and ended up really enjoying it! I even came to like all of the characters which is something I really was not expecting to happen after their blandy-mcblanderson starts.
It's funny I compared it to The X-Files earlier because I discovered that the things I like about the two shows are completely the opposite.
My favourite episodes of The X-Files were those that dispensed with whatever the stupid alien-goo-kidnapping-sisters-conspiracy-thing was that formed the spine of the plot for it's entire run and just concentrated on telling weird/creepy stories about the monster/alien/ghost/serial-killer/whatever of the week.
Whereas in Fringe I'm completely hooked on the underlying plot of the show about alternate realities and science gone bad and shadowy corporations and all the rest. I love having the feeling that we've barely scratched the surface of where these writers/producers are wanting to take us with this show too.
Obviously after Lost we know that JJ Abrams has long-range goals in mind when he creates a show and I really get that feeling with this one too.
I'm gonna see if any of my local shops have season 2 on DVD yet so I can catch up with the rest of you guys.
So thanks again to those who told me to stick with it. I was *this* close to quitting it after those dull first few episodes but I'm really glad I didn't now.
Posted by Ram Boy on :
Right now? BalconyTV London (BalconyTV Dublin has some great new bands performing, as well)
In the DVD player is a movie called Little Ashes that we tried to watch a couple of nights ago but just couldn't finish. We'd made it about halfway through before we decided that either it was really boring, or we were just really tired.
Posted by Mattropolis on :
I am looking forward to Happy Town later this month, although it seems like it might just be a retread of the awesome Harper's Island, which didn't get the attention it deserved.
Posted by Dingleberry Damsel on :
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 3.16, "The Glass Cage"
The MI directing debut of the stylish John Moxey, whose previous experience included directing "Horror Hotel", a great little horror movie starring Christopher Lee. This time, the IMF has to convince the enemy that their prisoner is an imposter. Barbara Bain has yet another juicy role as a prison system head whose icy hauteur masks forbidden passions, and there's yet another future TV star among the guest players -- this time, it's Larry Linville.
Posted by Blacula on :
quote:Originally posted by Mattropolis: I am looking forward to Happy Town later this month, although it seems like it might just be a retread of the awesome Harper's Island, which didn't get the attention it deserved.
OMG! Another Harper's Island fan!?! I thought I was the only one. Loved that show. Haven't heard anything about this Happy Town though. Off to research it now.
Posted by Officer Taylor on :
quote:Originally posted by Blacula:
quote:Originally posted by Mattropolis: I am looking forward to Happy Town later this month, although it seems like it might just be a retread of the awesome Harper's Island, which didn't get the attention it deserved.
OMG! Another Harper's Island fan!?! I thought I was the only one. Loved that show. Haven't heard anything about this Happy Town though. Off to research it now.
My wife was totally addicted to Harper's island last year. She was posting and interacting with people about it on CBS's mini-site and had a helluva time. Me, it just didn't grab.
Posted by Officer Taylor on :
quote:Originally posted by Blacula: Just finished season one of Fringe.
Well, I did a complete 180 on this show and ended up really enjoying it! I even came to like all of the characters which is something I really was not expecting to happen after their blandy-mcblanderson starts.
It's funny I compared it to The X-Files earlier because I discovered that the things I like about the two shows are completely the opposite.
My favourite episodes of The X-Files were those that dispensed with whatever the stupid alien-goo-kidnapping-sisters-conspiracy-thing was that formed the spine of the plot for it's entire run and just concentrated on telling weird/creepy stories about the monster/alien/ghost/serial-killer/whatever of the week.
Whereas in Fringe I'm completely hooked on the underlying plot of the show about alternate realities and science gone bad and shadowy corporations and all the rest. I love having the feeling that we've barely scratched the surface of where these writers/producers are wanting to take us with this show too.
Obviously after Lost we know that JJ Abrams has long-range goals in mind when he creates a show and I really get that feeling with this one too.
I'm gonna see if any of my local shops have season 2 on DVD yet so I can catch up with the rest of you guys.
So thanks again to those who told me to stick with it. I was *this* close to quitting it after those dull first few episodes but I'm really glad I didn't now.
Ugh. I find I have a lot less patience with series than I used to. I started out watching Fringe myself last year and gave up on it pretty quickly. Maybe I'll check out the DVDs as well.
I'm going to have a huge void left when Lost goes off the air, so I need to find something to fill it. (Incidentally, I was a slow-starter on Lost and didn't start watching it regularly until Season Three!)
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I didn't start Lost until Season 2, and I'm guessing the fact that I watched the first season on DVD helped.
Since V doesn't quite seem to be cutting it, and Flashforward seems to be terribly inconsistent (and unlikely to be renewed for next year), it looks Fringe is probably *the* series to go to for Lost fans!
Posted by Mattropolis on :
quote:Originally posted by Officer Taylor:
quote:Originally posted by Blacula:
quote:Originally posted by Mattropolis: I am looking forward to Happy Town later this month, although it seems like it might just be a retread of the awesome Harper's Island, which didn't get the attention it deserved.
OMG! Another Harper's Island fan!?! I thought I was the only one. Loved that show. Haven't heard anything about this Happy Town though. Off to research it now.
My wife was totally addicted to Harper's island last year. She was posting and interacting with people about it on CBS's mini-site and had a helluva time. Me, it just didn't grab.
I loved it right up until the predictable ending...
Posted by Officer Taylor on :
quote:Originally posted by Mattropolis: I loved it right up until the predictable ending...
I think despite herself, my wife was hoping for something more unexpected or complicated than what it actually was. She had this great theory that the first victim faked his own death and was the killer all along. Alas, it was much more mundane.
Posted by Mattropolis on :
Yes, it was much more like Scream than I wanted it to be...
I'm hoping for much better things from Happy Town!
Posted by Mattropolis on :
Another show that I can't miss is Damages. All I can say is that if Glee is the best written "comedy" then Damages is the best written "drama".
Damages, with it's jumps back and forth in time, manages to keep me guessing every season. And Lily Tomlin and Martin Short and guest-starring this season, and playing the hell out of their characters. Glenn Close, as Patty Hewes, is perhaps the most complex character on tv right now. I could rave about the entire cast but I wouldn't do it justice.
Posted by Blacula on :
Ditto on being disappointed in the ending to Harper's Island. Not only in who the killer turned out to be (though I hadn't predicted that as early as a lot of people seemed to) but more in the fact of who survived. Especially...
Click Here For A Spoilerthat annoying kid!
Still, it was a lot of entertainingly campy and occasionally creepy fun while it was on.
As for Lost - I also only came to the show while Season 3 was on. I watched the entire first two seasons on DVD in about one week (DVD is definitely the best way to watch that show - or just about any show IMO) and then started watching the live airings. LOVED it from the very first second.
Fringe is nowhere near as good as Lost is but like I said, it does improve markedly from its first few episodes and with Lost and Battlestar Galactica both finished or finishing it probably is the best sci-fi show left on TV.
Are there any other contenders? I know there's the Stargate franchise but I'm not into that and Dr Who is OK but a bit kiddie for me. What else is there?
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Well, there's Heroes, but I assume everyone pretty much gave up on it after the first season.
Posted by Blacula on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: Well, there's Heroes...
But no, seriously...
Posted by Officer Taylor on :
quote:Originally posted by Blacula: As for Lost - I also only came to the show while Season 3 was on. I watched the entire first two seasons on DVD in about one week (DVD is definitely the best way to watch that show - or just about any show IMO) and then started watching the live airings. LOVED it from the very first second.
Yeah, it was interesting how I got into Lost. I watched the pilot episode, the season 1 finale, the season 2 finale and probably less than 5 other episodes. I'm not sure what happened; I think it conflicted with something else I liked in the same timeslot or something. And every damn time I tuned in hoping to catch a fresh episode, it seemed they were re-running the damned pilot episode again!
But finally, a combination of the Season 2 cliffhanger plus lots of enthusiastic buzz on this very board encouraged me to start tuning in on Season Three as the episodes aired. The summer after that season I acquired the DVD sets of the prior seasons and got all caught up in time for Season 4!
So there ya go--a rather circuitous route, but one I've found extremely rewarding! An outstanding show that will be dearly missed.
Posted by Dev Em on :
I missed the entire first season of Lost, except for snippits here and there...oddly enough they were usually Sayid focused scenes or flashbacks. I watched the last half hour of the S1 finally and was confused as hell.
I happened across the season 1 recap and first episode of S2 and have watched every episode since. Caught up the first season through the local videa store...and now have to watch the episodes on Hulu since I am in class when it airs.
Once it's done, I really have nothing but Big Bang to grab my attention on tv.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I came in on Lost some point during the first season. What helped was is my brother and I watched the entire Season 1 in like 2 days in preperation of Season 2 and I've been watching it all along ever since.
Before every single season, we rewatch the entire show (I now do it with my wife). So I've watched Season 1 5 times and some episodes 6 times.
quote:Originally posted by Blacula:
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: Well, there's Heroes...
But no, seriously...
I had planned to write a scathing criticism of Heroes Season 3 a few months ago (much like my over the top ones of some of DC's series) but just couldn't muster the energy. Needless to say, Blacula's said it all.
Matt, totally agree about Damages. I still haven't seen Season 2 though and none of 3 (I'll get around to it).
Glenn Close totally blew me away on the Shield Season 4 a few years back so this was a no-brainer. I was delighted to see her take her already A-game to the *next* level.
Posted by Mattropolis on :
Both Flashforward and V started off strong for me, but I lost interest with the extended midyear break. Strangely, the long wait has only made me more excited for new epsiodes of Glee!
Posted by Mattropolis on :
Damages is another favorite... Tonight's episode should be awesome
Posted by Lance's realm on :
Damages and The Amazing Race are about it for me. Well, I do watch 2.5 Men with my wife, but I think we are getting tired of it. I was watching V, but the big break made me lose interest completely. Oh, I am also recording Spiderman and His Amazing Friends and watching the one ep that is aired each week. (I would love to see this on DVD - the editing is atrocious.)
Whoops - almost forgot, my wife and I do watch The Mentalist. What a fun show!
Posted by kenaustin on :
After having watched the first season of Misfits, I learned of another BBC show called Being Human.
The first tagline I read for it, "A vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost share a house in Bristol" made me check it out. I mean, it sounds like the beginning of a joke, right?
I just finished watching the first two seasons. Here's the Season 2 trailer. Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I caught "Across the Universe" finally and I've got to say I enjoyed it quite a bit! I thought it was very moving in parts. Like Lardy told me ages ago, its a must see for Beatles fans.
Posted by Crymsun on :
Lost is the number one show for me. I watch Flashforward and V as well.. and i'm kinda curious about the upcoming HappyTown.
Posted by Mattropolis on :
Yes I still watch Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters too! Don't tell anyone!
Posted by Mattropolis on :
There is a preview of the first 14 minutes of Happy Town at ABC.com. I think the Harper's Island (and Scream) comparisons still apply.
Nevertheless, I am looking forward to it.
Posted by Jerry on :
I'm enjoying the new HBO drama Treme, and recommend it for anyone who loves New Orleans. Guest appearances by Elvis Costello have been a bonus.
Posted by Fanfic Lass on :
I've been spending the last few nights away from the computer, enjoying my new G.I. Joe Season 2 DVD. Season 2 often gets dismissed just because those lame new villains, Dr. Mindbender and Serpentor, supplanted the awesome Destro and Cobra Commander. But even so, there's a lot to like about Season 2 IMO. The ratio of good to bad episodes is about the same as Season 1, and I liked several of the new Joes, especially Sci-Fi, Cross-Country, Beachhead, Mainframe, Leatherneck, Wetsuit, and Lift-Ticket. I also adored one of the new Cobras: Zarana. And best of all, my favorite female Joe, my role model Lady Jaye, appeared in a lot more episodes than Scarlett or Cover Girl.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I never realized it at the time, but do you think the purpose of Serpentor's introduction was to try to replicate the Megatron/Starscream relationship by shifting Cobra Commander into the Starscream role?
Posted by Fanfic Lass on :
Good point. Even more ironic, the Season 1 relationship between Cobra Commander and Destro anticipated the Galvatron/Cyclonus relationship from Transformers Season 3.
And you just reminded me that the final episode of G.I. Joe Season 2 sets the stage for a Cobra civil war that would have been a much better plot for the G.I. Joe movie than the silly Cobra-La nonsense they ended up doing.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
The Darkstorm/Lexor relationship in Visionaries is yet another variant of the Megatron/Starscream relationship (with Chris Latta once again playing the treacherous lieutennant).
And Cobra-La was horrible! As questionable as much of Transformers: The Movie was in my mind, it blew the G.I. Joe movie out of the water.
Posted by Fanfic Lass on :
Well said. While both movies suffer from the same core problem -- great animation, weak story -- the Transformers movie is still much better, although I'm deeply ambivalent about it. I hope you're still considering doing an EDE Retro Review thread for Transformers.
I hope Visionaries is released on R1 DVD someday, because it's one of the few classic 80s cartoons that I never got the chance to see.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
The big difference for me is the Transformers movie actually introduced a lot of elements that I'd like to see in a contemporary version of the Transformers (the Quintessons, for example), while I can't of anything offhand from the G.I. Joe movie that wouldn't be better being completely forgotten.
And Visionaires is fantastic! I recently rewatched it on Youtube, and I was surprised at how good it was.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by Fanfic Lass: I've been spending the last few nights away from the computer, enjoying my new G.I. Joe Season 2 DVD. Season 2 often gets dismissed just because those lame new villains, Dr. Mindbender and Serpentor, supplanted the awesome Destro and Cobra Commander. But even so, there's a lot to like about Season 2 IMO. The ratio of good to bad episodes is about the same as Season 1, and I liked several of the new Joes, especially Sci-Fi, Cross-Country, Beachhead, Mainframe, Leatherneck, Wetsuit, and Lift-Ticket. I also adored one of the new Cobras: Zarana. And best of all, my favorite female Joe, my role model Lady Jaye, appeared in a lot more episodes than Scarlett or Cover Girl.
My brother and I used to *live* for Beachhead appearances. There was just something so damn awesome about him in his no nonsense way. Plus he was a commanding officer but one of the lowest on the totem pool before the rank & file, which is a position that always has great characters.
I totally have to rewatch the old GI Joe seasons since I haven't watched them since the 80's.
Posted by Fanfic Lass on :
Amen to all of that, Cobie.
Beachhead is the kind of character that is harder to write than he seems. He's the ultimate hardassed military man, but unfortunately most writers don't know the difference between hardass and jackass. The writers of G.I. Joe got it right, though, maybe because the Season 2 story editor, Buzz Dixon, had Real Life military experience.
And this is a good time to get G.I. Joe DVDs -- based on Season 2, it would seem the Shout Factory DVDs have overall superior sound and picture quality to the old Rhino DVDs. Hopefully they'll stay in print for a long time, because when finances allow, I'd like to replace all my Rhino G.I. Joe DVDs.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
You know... I'm starting to suspect that the Hawaii Five-O reboot starring Daniel Dae Kim may actually end up being the "Lost alumni project to watch".
Posted by Exnihil on :
Through the magic of Netflix, I've recently been revisiting a childhood favorite of mine, an English sci-fi show from the 70's called, "The Tomorrow People."
It's horribly written, badly acted, and has extremely cheesy special effects... but I'm enjoying the heck out of it.
The basic premise, if you've never heard of it, is that humanity is poised to take the next step in evolution, and the first group in which this step has manifested is a small group of teenagers.
I discovered this show a couple of years before I discovered the Legion but watching it again, it's clear that I have a "type". The Tomorrow People are a group of super-powered teenagers, with a code against killing, who travel through space and time protecting the earth from alien invasions. Hmmmm... Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Season finale of Fringe = pretty awesome.
It occurs to me that there's a lot of "Alias" in this show.
Posted by Officer Taylor on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: Season finale of Fringe = pretty awesome.
It occurs to me that there's a lot of "Alias" in this show.
Not too surprising, given its Abrams-ness. Looking forward to someday catching up with it via DVD. May make that a summer project, so I can climb back aboard in the fall. Next season without Lost sure feels like a bitch!
(odd that there's no Fringe thread)
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I only watched the second half of the second season, so I've got some catching up to do as well!
Posted by Officer Taylor on :
Oh, I thought you'd stuck it out from the beginning! Who here was I thinking of? Don't think it was Des...
Wasn't poor USALUS, was it?
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Oh, that post was a bit misleading. I watched the first season, missed the first half of the second season, then watched the second half.
Des I think has only seen the first season.
Posted by Officer Taylor on :
I saw the first 3-5 eps of the first season and haven't tuned in since. Didn't suck or anything but felt a little formulaic. I trust LWers, though--they're what got me to check back into Lost, after all!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
As discussed earlier in this thread, it gets *a lot* better over the course of the first season.
Posted by Officer Taylor on :
Yeah, I read that and understand. Just reiterating my history with the show for entertainment purposes.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I've only seen season 1 so far but will def get season 2 when it's on DVD. Like Lost, it definately is great to watch in large chunks.
I've never seen an ep of Alias however. Do you guys recommend?
Posted by Fanfic Lass on :
Recommend Alias? YES, YES, YES!!!!!
But stop after Season 4. Season 5 is an abomination.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Well I'm not quite as enthusiastic about the show as FL but I'd say it's definitely worth watching for fans of other Abrams shows (e.g. Lost and Fringe).
Posted by Fanfic Lass on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: I've never seen an ep of Alias however. Do you guys recommend?
quote:Originally posted by Fanfic Lass: Recommend Alias? YES, YES, YES!!!!!
But stop after Season 4. Season 5 is an abomination.
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: Well I'm not quite as enthusiastic about the show as FL but I'd say it's definitely worth watching for fans of other Abrams shows (e.g. Lost and Fringe).
So, Cobie, have Eryk and I sold you on Alias? Have you watched any episodes yet? Have we sold anyone else on Alias?
Posted by Quislet, Esq. on :
I'm currently watching (via Netflix) the British version of Life on Mars. It is very well done. It is mainly a police show with bits of fantasy/sci-fi thrown in. THe basic premise is that Police Detective Sam Tyler gets hit by a car and wakes up in 1973. He has papers saying he is being transferred into his "old" department.
Posted by Blacula on :
^ If you enjoy Life on Mars Quis don't forget to watch the sequel Ashes to Ashes which is different but still good IMO.
You should probably avoid the US remake though which I've never seen but have heard was terrible.
Posted by Quislet, Esq. on :
I saw the first episode of Ashes to Ashes and was not impressed.
Posted by Blacula on :
^ I think most critics agree that Ashes to Ashes gets a lot better after the first couple of episodes. The main actress tones down the over-the-topness of her acting and the rest of the 'sillier' elements begin to make more sense as the show goes along. It gets kinda clever toward the end I thought.
... Though I'm not actually sure how I got myself into this discussion since I'm not really the biggest fan of either show.
They're both pretty good but by no means my faves.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by Fanfic Lass:
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: I've never seen an ep of Alias however. Do you guys recommend?
quote:Originally posted by Fanfic Lass: Recommend Alias? YES, YES, YES!!!!!
But stop after Season 4. Season 5 is an abomination.
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: Well I'm not quite as enthusiastic about the show as FL but I'd say it's definitely worth watching for fans of other Abrams shows (e.g. Lost and Fringe).
So, Cobie, have Eryk and I sold you on Alias? Have you watched any episodes yet? Have we sold anyone else on Alias?
Yeah, I think so! But it will probably take awhile before I get to watching it. Lady Cobalt and I haven't been able to get through the season of House we started before the baby was born in the entire last month, which shows you how often we're able to watch a television show. Getting an entire hour (or jeepers, more than an hour) to ourselves is pretty rare these days!
There's been a lot less TV / movie watching and a lot more comic book reading.
That's okay--I will certainly get to Alias eventually!
Posted by Officer Taylor on :
quote:Originally posted by Blacula: ^ If you enjoy Life on Mars Quis don't forget to watch the sequel Ashes to Ashes which is different but still good IMO.
You should probably avoid the US remake though which I've never seen but have heard was terrible.
Though I haven't seen the British version, I would have to say the American series was definitely NOT terrible! I loved all the actors, the retro/modern feel and the quirkiness of the stories.
The ending? Well...I can tell you it's different from the original and is kind of a cop-out in a way. On the other hand it also kinda fits!
In any case I don't think it dtracts from what I felt was a refreshingly atypical series with one of the best casts in an ultimately-doomed series since the late, lamented Firefly.
I think Cobalt and Edie would agree with me in my praise!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Yeah, I thought the American version was solid, though I haven't seen the British version either.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I also thought the American version was very good and worth watching as well. Excellent cast and even after I knew the series was doomed, it was still good enough for me to follow through to the end.
Never saw the British version either.
Posted by Officer Taylor on :
See, Blacula? TOLDja!!!
Posted by Jerry on :
The Treme finale was heartbreaking.
Posted by Blacula on :
quote:Originally posted by Officer Taylor: See, Blacula? TOLDja!!!
What do all those critics know anyway? If three of Legion World's leading luminaries liked it then it must have been good!
I haven't been to the cinema in a loooooonng time but I was dragged to see Prince of Persia with my brother and his friends the other night and guess what - I really enjoyed it!
Once I got past all the white actors in brown-face (it's like the 50s cowboys and indians movies all over again!) and the terribly miscast Jake Gyllenhaal sucking all of the charisma out of every scene he was in (and I normally like Jake!) I got into it as a rollicking good adventure with fantastic visuals that totally make me want to go back in time and swashbuckle my way around this Arabian Wonderland.
The climax totally had me thinking of the Legion too but I won't spoil what it was.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I've been watching Mad Men Season 3 lately and it's fantastic, continuing the level of excellence the show has always had. Each episode is very powerful--definitely a thinking person's show, yet the visuals are so stunning that it requires more watches just to take it all in.
Since the baby has been born I haven't been able to get to the movies. I'm traveling this week to South Dakota and Oklahoma so I'm wondering if when I'm on the road I might have time to zip in to see Iron Man somewhere, since that's the one I want to see above all others.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Hey guys haven't been here in a while. Hope you guys are doing good.
Some films I've seen recently?
Oxford Murders. It was entertaining. Nothing really that wows.
North by Northwest. My wife loves Hitchcock films and neither of us have seen this one. Eh. It took us 3 nighst to watch it. I fell asleep the first two nights after 40 minutes (it WAS a rough week at work).
The last Cary Grant film we saw Charade was much better.
Posted by Blacula on :
Welcome back Ultra Jorge! It has been a long time. Hope all's well in your world.
I remember not enjoying North by Northwest quite as much as I expected to. I think it's held up as one of Hitchcock's best films and while I did think it was pretty good, I also remember thinking there was something unengaging and slow (if that's the right word - not wanting to make it sound like I needed modern fast-cuts and roller-coaster pacing to enjoy it) about the whole thing too.
And Cary Grant's weird voice disturbed me the whole time too. I think that was the first time I'd ever heard him speak and it made me suddenly realise that all these funny accents I'd heard various actors use over the years had all been copies of his!
Some of my favourite Hitchcocks (though I haven't seen them all) - The Birds, Rebecca, Shadow of a Doubt, Lifeboat.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Wow, I actually loved North by Northwest and its a contender for my very favorite Hitchcock film, and is probably my very favorite Cary Grant film. If you're not that familiar with Cary Grant, I think it's a good example of the kind of roles you'd often see him in. My other favorite Cary Grant movie is Gunga Din which has him in a type of role he didn't often get to play.
I love Charade because it has the other love of my life, Audrey Hepburn, in it and is charming and absolutely hilarious at times. But that is Cary Grant at the very end of his career and he's poking fun at himself (which makes him even more likable but isn't the best example of his work).
Getting back to North by Northwest, I think a lot of it is what Hitch was trying to shoot for: he was trying to get across the idea of moving gradually across the country from New York to South Dakota to increase the sense of things spiraling out of control for Cary Grant's character. But in doing so, it may make things feel like they are dragging out. Personally, I love to just take in the scenary and the dialogue, and I love the scenes between Eva Marie Saint (BTW, be still my beating heart) and Grant.
I think if any character in the movie is "over the top" it would have to be James Mason's villain. Whenever you see a parody of James Mason getting angry, it is always referencing this movie.
But don't worry Jorge and Blacula, I'll give you time to love movie.
PS - welcome back Jorge! LW needs more of you! Talk some movies, books, comics, football...
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
lol Blacula his accent is wierd.
Cobie, I did notice the dialogue was very good. Some great lines. The scenery also was great. That house in the end...wow. And I'm sure like you Cobie I have had a drink at that bar in the Plaza.
(this year I am going to try and get involved with the football picks again!)
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
North by Northwest is kind of the culmination of "the Wrong Man" theme that Hitchcock visited over and over again in a variety of movies. I'm actually not sure it's the best of his forays into that genre, but it's certainly the biggest in scope.
Of the four Grant-Hitchcock collaborations, I'd rank it the second best, behind Notorious. To Catch a Thief would be third, and Suspicion a distant fourth.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Wow, I totally agree with your order of the Grant/Hitch collaborations! North by Northwest is my favorite, but Notorious is by far the best and a contender for Hitch's best film. It's one of the greatest movies ever made and Claude Rains, Ingird Bergman and Cary Grant all deliver performances that are stunning. The final sequence is one of the best, most memorable sequences in film history.
To Catch a Thief is a fun movie but a bit 'fluffy' at time where you start to feel it isn't all that serious and that is distracting. In fact, Cary Grant carries the whole movie and without him it would suffer. And it has an overly long annoying car chase scene (I'm sure I reviewed it in depth earlier in this thread).
Suspicion is kind of unmemorable and really only for Hitch completists. I watched it once and really only remember the plot details.
To get back to the beginning, Notorious is a must-see for movie buffs. Casablanca made me a fan of Claude Rains early on, but Notorious made me sit back and take notice of how damn talented he was.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
BTW, I much prefer North by Northwest over The Man Who Knew Too Much. I love Jimmy Stewart but he and Doris Day don't work as well for me as Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Have you seen the original version of The Man Who Knew Too Much? With Peter Lorre? I think it's in many ways a lot tighter movie than the re-make.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Some awesome Cary Grant movies:
The Philadelphia Story Arsenic and Old Lace Only Angels Have Wings Topper His Girl Friday My Favorite Wife The Talk of the Town
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Unfortunately I haven't but its one I've always wanted to. This conversation tonight has reignited my interest in it. I'm a Peter Lorre fan too ever since I first saw Maltese Falcon.
When I was in High School watched The 39 Steps which was great. I wouldn't mind rewatching it again.
I like Hitch's earliest films because he had to work within certain confines and so really flexed his muscles (and made his actors do the same) with very little. I like his later stuff too, but you can see he got a little funky with cinema tricks and camera angles and the like. Early on, things were very clever and that enhances the viewing.
[ July 01, 2010, 08:47 PM: Message edited by: Cobalt Kid ]
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Another really sweet, fun Cary Grant movie with Myrna Loy is "Mr. Blandings Builds his Dream House" which was playing on TCM a few months back.
An Affair to Remember is excellent as well. Incredibly romantic. It perhaps has been overly praised over the last few decades but don't let that jade you--it is quite good.
And when I was at UCONN and had a film class we watched Blonde Venus which was one of his earliest appearances and perhaps his first great one, co-starring Marlene Dietrich and directed by the incredible Josef Von Sternberg. I absolutely recommend everyone check that out. It certainly would never have gotten made in the post-War years becuase its so racy.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I almost mentioned Mr Blandings, but I thought the list was getting too long, so I left it out!
I don't think I've watch An Affair to Remember.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
BTW, I was going to do a ranking of the Hitchcock-Stewart collaborations, but, while The Man Who Knew Too Much is almost certainly the weakest, the other three (Vertigo, Rear Window, and Rope) are all so awesome that I'm not sure I could order them!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I agree on the Stewart/Hitch pairings! I watched Rope a few years back I believe right after you starting talking about it and completely fell in love with that movie. It now is on the short list of dream productions for me to see live on the stage.
Rear Window has been a favorite Hitchcock movie since I was a kid. It's my Mom's favorite Hitchcock movie (my parents are big film buffs, which is why I am). I bought it and had my wife watch it for the first time about a year ago and once again even on the 10th or so viewing, I was blown away by how good it was.
Vertigo was a film I didn't like when I was a kid/teeneager because of the tricky camera angles but I've really grown to love it. What is so incredible is just how dark the film is in tone and how there is this underlying creepy feeling throughout. It makes me feel like Jimmy Stewart could have been this incredible horror star had he wanted to or had he made movies in a horror-centric era.
Rear Window has perhaps the single most excruciating sequence to watch ever in a Hitch film, with Grace Kelly in the apartment and Raymond Burr making his way back, then re-entering the apartment and *then* confronting her. And then when it finally calms down and you're heart is racing, Raymond Burr notices Grace Kelly's signal to Jimmy Stewart and you realize it isn't over yet. And then the next 5 minutes are terrifying. That entire end of the movie is one of the greatest endings ever in movie history.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: I almost mentioned Mr Blandings, but I thought the list was getting too long, so I left it out!
I don't think I've watch An Affair to Remember.
An Affair to Remember is really great. It's highly romantic but absolutely in the mid to late 1950's mold that makes you just wish you lived in that time (or me at least).
It also romanticizes a cruise ship voyage more than any other piece of work.
Deborrah Kerr wasn't one of my favorites until From Here to Eternity (great film) but that really made me like her a lot. I always knew her role there was very outside the norm and so I wanted to catch up on some of her other films. Many of them are a little "fluffy" for me but some of them are really great. An Affair to Remember is the greatest.
And the ending is terrific.
Posted by Blacula on :
Time for Blacula's shameful confession #2 - I was *REALLY* disappointed with Vertigo when I finally saw it.
It's been a couple of years now so I can't quite remember what it was about it that I hadn't warmed to but I remember complaining my poor rommate's ear off about how it was totally overrated by the critics and everything.
I remember some things I liked about it - that vertigo camera effect at the beginning (and later on maybe), the twist, the end... others I've forgotten right now. But unfortunately, I don't remember them being enough to make me actually enjoy the film.
It probably didn't help that I'd seen Mel Brooks' High Anxiety many years before it.
Also, I am not much of a James Stewart fan. He's another one with a weird voice IMO. Plus, it's hard for me to forgive him for It's a Wonderful Life - (shameful confession #3) one of my most disliked films *ever*.
I did like Rear Window a lot though. And I really want to see Rope. As well as all those Cary Grant films on EDE's list. I can't believe how few of his films I've seen. I guess when an actor's as famous as he is, I just assumed I'd seen him in lots of stuff. Only now do I realise it's just North by Northwest and Suspicion.
I especially really need to see Notorious. It sounds like a good 'un.
I agree that The Man Who Knew Too Much is not one of Hitch's best efforts and that Doris Day is probably one of his most miscast leading ladies ever - but I could listen to her sing Que Sera Sera forever so it wins based on that alone for me.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Confession time for me: I've never been much of a fan of Doris Day, the actress because of The Man Who Knew Too Much, and therefore have not seen all that many of her films. Doris Day, the person, however, seems pretty groovy!
My mother-in-law when she was younger was a dead ringer for Doris Day.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I'm not much of a Doris Day fan either. I like a lot of old movies, even pretty cheesy ones, but most of hers just haven't really aged that well, imo.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Come to think of it, one of the reasons I dislike Doris Day is that she was in several remakes of movies from the 30s/40s that I thought were better the first time around.
See High Society (a remake of The Philadelphia Story) and Move Over, Darling (a remake of My Favorite Wife), for example.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
BTW, even though The Philadelphia Story is one of the greatest movies of all time, maybe it's not for Blacula. Between Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, and Katherine Hepburn, it's pretty much a weird distinctive voice extravaganza!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: Come to think of it, one of the reasons I dislike Doris Day is that she was in several remakes of movies from the 30s/40s that I thought were better the first time around.
See High Society (a remake of The Philadelphia Story) and Move Over, Darling (a remake of My Favorite Wife), for example.
I'm with you on High Society! It doesn't even come close to the Philadelphia Story. Sinatra chews up the scenary (and I like Frank quite a bit but not always), Bing Crosby was at the end of his career when he was kind of competing with Sinatra in 'cool' and that wasn't something I enjoyed seeing, and even Louis Armstrong shows up in a role that really makes me go . Definately not for me.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Story is great! You're right Eryk--if the voices distracted Blacula and Jorge before, they'll really flip for this one. I love it for the witty banter and its the quintessential Katherine Hepburn film and the quintessential Cary Grant film all rolled into one.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was on TCM this morning (for 4th of July Weekend) and I couldn't help but watch it again. Terrific movie! And the quintessential Jimmy Stewart performance--if you don't like him here, you just don't like him. (Spoiler alert--I like him quite a bit).
Claude Rains, naturally, steals the entire movie.
Posted by Dev Em on :
Started rewatching the new Gattlestar Galactica this last week. I've gotten through the mini series and first 2 regular episodes so far.
It is an interesting watching it again knowing where the ride is heading. Knowing who the cylons are gives a whole new level to the show. It'll be interesting to see how it all works watchng it now that it's over.
I love the level of realism they used on this show. The guns firing bullets, the characters are all flawed in different ways, and there are the whole religious intonations with Baltar (onbe of the best characters in this reboot).
Posted by Blacula on :
^ Man. I LOVED Battlestar Galactica... until the end and now I can barely bring myself to think about it. I have never been more disappointed in the ending to a fictional story ever. It was like it was written by competely different people to the ones who'd been giving us the smart, sophisticated show we'd been watching until then. That or the previous writers just had *no idea* how they were going to resolve all those cool mysteries and storylines they'd been setting up since the first episode.
I totally agree with you on Baltar though, Dev Em. Fantastic character and just amazing acting by James Callis. A revelatory performance I thought. Tricia Helfer too. For a sexy, sultry, model turned actor she showed that she has some serious acting chops. Grace Park as well, Lucy Lawless... gosh, I could list the whole cast (except Jamie Bamber - and even he wasn't too bad). Great acting in that show.
Posted by Blacula on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: BTW, even though The Philadelphia Story is one of the greatest movies of all time, maybe it's not for Blacula. Between Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, and Katherine Hepburn, it's pretty much a weird distinctive voice extravaganza!
I have always wanted to see The Philadelphia Story. Maybe I can watch it with subtitles?
But seriously, the "weird" voices of Grant, Stewart, et al aren't enough to make me dislike a film. Just wonder where on earth they came from to get accents like that. lol
P.S. Does anyone think Tony Curtis was copying Cary Grant's voice when he was pretending to be the rich, yacht owner in Some Like It Hot? I always chuckled at the voice he used in that movie but now think it had a remarkable similarity to Grant's. Or is that accent just typical of a certain region of the USA? Like Hepburn's New England (I think) accent?
Posted by Sarcasm Kid on :
Singing in the Rain. Just bought it on DVD.
Posted by Mystery Lad on :
Some other great Cary Grant movies:
BRINGING UP BABY HOLIDAY PENNY SERENADE
I'll second TALK OF THE TOWN and ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS (both co-starring my favorite classic movie actress... Jean Arthur, also a possessor of one of the most distinctive voices ever).
Also entertaining- SYLVIA SCARLET... but it's a heap of weirdness and not for everyone.
Cary Grant was originally a member of an acrobatic troupe from England, Katherine Hepburn was from New England (New Hampshire, I believe).
I'm pretty sure it was Grace Kelly in HIGH SOCIETY, not Doris Day. I like the couple of movies she made with Rock Hudson- late '50's or early '60's sex farces.
Blacula- I disliked VERTIGO the first time I saw it as well. Decades later, I watched the restored version, with much better color and loved it. I'm sure the print made a difference, but I think I wasn't mature enough to 'get' it.
In particular, the scene where Kim Novak emerges from that foggy green light, her appearance and demeanor changed to meet Stewart's character's specifications is a haunting, beautiful piece of cinematic work.
A few years from now, watch it again and see if you don't find a new appreciation for it. I'll bet you do.
[ July 04, 2010, 10:59 PM: Message edited by: Mystery Lad ]
Posted by Sarcasm Kid on :
I also saw the last few minutes of The Women, the original, last night. I saw it at the nursing home once before and I've gotta say, it's pretty funny.
Posted by Mystery Lad on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: Deborrah Kerr wasn't one of my favorites until From Here to Eternity (great film) but that really made me like her a lot. I always knew her role there was very outside the norm and so I wanted to catch up on some of her other films. Many of them are a little "fluffy" for me but some of them are really great. An Affair to Remember is the greatest.
And the ending is terrific.
She's really good in TEA AND SYMPATHY, though the movie itself is maybe not so great. NIGHT OF THE IGUANA is a movie of hers I like alot, though it's a bit talky. It's by Tennessee Williams and it shows.
BLACK NARCISSUS is another good movie of hers. Very striking looking and would never have been made by an American studio.
Posted by Mystery Lad on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was on TCM this morning (for 4th of July Weekend) and I couldn't help but watch it again. Terrific movie! And the quintessential Jimmy Stewart performance--if you don't like him here, you just don't like him. (Spoiler alert--I like him quite a bit).
Claude Rains, naturally, steals the entire movie.
Hmmm. Not to take anything away from Claude Rains, but I always thought Jean Arthur was the bandit in this case.
Posted by Mystery Lad on :
I just watched OKLAHOMA on a much better TV than I've seen it on and it was like seeing it for the first time. The colors were beautiful and the Arizona landscape (standing in for OK) were beautiful. As was the music, of course-- Gordon Macrae's about the top of singing movie actors, in this style of music, anyway.
I lived in Oklahoma years ago and saw an outdoor production of the musical that played every summer. Probably still does, for all I know. Anyway, you'd think it was a rock concert the way the audience cheered when the title song was performed.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by Mystery Lad:
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was on TCM this morning (for 4th of July Weekend) and I couldn't help but watch it again. Terrific movie! And the quintessential Jimmy Stewart performance--if you don't like him here, you just don't like him. (Spoiler alert--I like him quite a bit).
Claude Rains, naturally, steals the entire movie.
Hmmm. Not to take anything away from Claude Rains, but I always thought Jean Arthur was the bandit in this case.
Yeah, Jean Arthur is just terrific in every scene she's in. The sequence where she gets drunk (with the actor whose name I forget but love, especially in 'It's a Wonderful Life') is really great.
Posted by Dev Em on :
quote:Originally posted by Sarcasm Kid: Singing in the Rain. Just bought it on DVD.
One of my favorite movie ever. O'Conner is briliant in his "Make 'Em Laugh scene, and Gene Kelly is my favorite singer/dancer from that genre of actors.
Posted by Blacula on :
quote:Originally posted by Mystery Lad: Blacula- I disliked VERTIGO the first time I saw it as well. Decades later, I watched the restored version, with much better color and loved it. I'm sure the print made a difference, but I think I wasn't mature enough to 'get' it.
In particular, the scene where Kim Novak emerges from that foggy green light, her appearance and demeanor changed to meet Stewart's character's specifications is a haunting, beautiful piece of cinematic work.
A few years from now, watch it again and see if you don't find a new appreciation for it. I'll bet you do.
I will definitely do that Mystery Lad. There was enough in there that I could see what people liked about it but I think maybe I just wasn't in the mood or was expecting something more or something. I actually have it on DVD somewhere so I will give it another go sometime.
Posted by Blacula on :
quote:Originally posted by Sarcasm Kid: I also saw the last few minutes of The Women, the original, last night. I saw it at the nursing home once before and I've gotta say, it's pretty funny.
I have always wanted to see that movie (the original, not the apparently terrible remake). It looks like a hoot.
Posted by Sarcasm Kid on :
It is. There's this part where they're in Reno and one of them has this little freak-out.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Blacula:
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: BTW, even though The Philadelphia Story is one of the greatest movies of all time, maybe it's not for Blacula. Between Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, and Katherine Hepburn, it's pretty much a weird distinctive voice extravaganza!
I have always wanted to see The Philadelphia Story. Maybe I can watch it with subtitles?
But seriously, the "weird" voices of Grant, Stewart, et al aren't enough to make me dislike a film. Just wonder where on earth they came from to get accents like that. lol
P.S. Does anyone think Tony Curtis was copying Cary Grant's voice when he was pretending to be the rich, yacht owner in Some Like It Hot? I always chuckled at the voice he used in that movie but now think it had a remarkable similarity to Grant's. Or is that accent just typical of a certain region of the USA? Like Hepburn's New England (I think) accent?
Tony Curtis is a huge Cary Grant protegee, so I'd say "yes". Grant's accent is some sort of English accent mutated by living/working in America (it may be "English trying to sound Amerian").
Stewart's from Eastern Pennsylvania, as I recall, but I don't think that has much to do with his voice.
Posted by MLLASH on :
I just watched SILENCE OF THE LAMBS for the first time. Memphis? Crazy transexual-wannabees? I had no idea.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
^Great film! And the final sequence is FREAKING SCARY!
I watched that when I was like 12 and it was the first time I learned what the words 'serial killer' meant.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Same here Cobie. I watched it when I was 14 and couldn't sleep that night.
Watched Shutter Island a few nights ago. It was pretty good. While I'm not a big Leo fan I am a big Martin Scorcese (sp) fan. Beautiful film (shots, music, etc). The overall story? Pretty good.
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Saw it last night and LOVED it. Nice to see Gilliam using modern special effects in such a glorius way. Good acting all the way around. My wife was pleased with the 4 good looking guys in it. Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Oh wait also saw Hot Tub Time Machine. Man I'm almost 35 and grew up in the 80's...and I was very drunk when I watched it but it was hilarious!
Not a big comedy fan but this like Hangover really made me laugh.
Posted by Blacula on :
Saw Predators the other week. I really quite liked it. The last say 20 minutes, especially
Click Here For A Spoilerthe whole Topher Grace thing
were a bit weaker than the very fun/exciting first two-thirds but not enough to dull my enjoyment of it. Definitely my favourite Predator movie since the first one.
Next on my Must-See list - Inception.
Posted by Anti-Matter Eater Lad on :
I saw Inception. I liked it but wasn't in love with it. Although, I did see it at the midnight show and was extremely tired from the day before. I started explaining the movie to someone and realized how brilliant it really was. I saw the movie again and now I'm obsessed with it.
Posted by Exnihil on :
Tonight I watched "Before Night Falls," Julian Schnabel's adaptation of Cuban novelist Reinaldo Arenas's autobiography.
I have to say, although I pretty much detest Schnabel's paintings, I have to give him his props - between this film, "Basquiat," and "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," - dude makes some really beautiful and affecting movies.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Exnhihil, I saw Before Night Falls when it came out at a film festival. Good story (my family is cuban).
Anti-Matter Eater Lad, I loved Inception. I have to see it again but I love a great movie that refuses to dumb down. This is what the Matrix should've been.
Posted by Anti-Matter Eater Lad on :
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: Exnhihil, I saw Before Night Falls when it came out at a film festival. Good story (my family is cuban).
Anti-Matter Eater Lad, I loved Inception. I have to see it again but I love a great movie that refuses to dumb down. This is what the Matrix should've been.
I agree. Although Matrix was great (not 2 & 3). Both it and Inception really made me see I should be shooting for loftier goals in life.
Posted by Outdoor Miner on :
quote:Originally posted by Ultra Jorge: Anti-Matter Eater Lad, I loved Inception. I have to see it again but I love a great movie that refuses to dumb down. This is what the Matrix should've been.
I think it's how we would have remembered The Matrix had they not made the sequels.
I was really impressed with Inception.
Posted by Blacula on :
So I saw Inception and though I really liked it and was super impressed with the direction/story/acting/everything of it (and would definitely recommend it to people)... I didn't really engage with it on an emotional level.
Unlike say, The Matrix which I was completely emotionally absorbed in and had me leaving the cinema feeling like I'd been hit full-on in the face by the future, after Inception I just thought 'OK, that was a really well-made movie. Now, what are people talking about at Legion World.'
I read a criticism somewhere that the stakes weren't high enough in this movie - and I completely agree with that. In The Matrix we worried whether our heroes would save all of humanity or die in the process. Our only worries in this film were
Click Here For A Spoilerwhether our heroes would influence this poor kid to lose his inheritance or get stuck in a limbo world for a few seconds (real-time).
Those aren't the kind of stakes that have you on the edge of your seat rooting for a character.
Still a good movie though and that whole, hour-long 'wake-up' sequence was simply amazing and worth the price of admission alone.
Oh, and I also thought it was nowhere near as confusing as some people make it out to be. Unlike say, Mulholland Drive which practically demands you talk it over with someone afterward to see whether you've worked it all out properly or not, I thought Christopher Nolan spelled everything out in this film pretty clearly.
Posted by Sarcasm Kid on :
Right now I'm watching the miniseries adaption of Stephen King's The Tommyknockers on VHS. I only watched it once in its entirety.
...why did everyone see it necessary to make most Stephen King novels into TV miniseries back in the 90s. Note I say "most".
Posted by Jerry on :
They got good ratings and made people a lot of money....
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
quote:Originally posted by Blacula: Oh, and I also thought it was nowhere near as confusing as some people make it out to be. Unlike say, Mulholland Drive which practically demands you talk it over with someone afterward to see whether you've worked it all out properly or not, I thought Christopher Nolan spelled everything out in this film pretty clearly.
What the heck was that bum behind the dumpster? Death? What was up with the opera? and that box? lol. still like that movie...and yes it has a great sex scene. Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Speaking of Stephen King I saw him a few months ago (April) at the grocery store in Sarasota...his winter home. Cool guy.
Haven on sci-fi...anyone else watching it? I'm a few episodes behind.
Speaking of series'....been loving True Blood. Damn I'm jealous of Alcide...was that Flash Thompson in the first Spidey?
Loving Entourage.
Tried watching season 1 of Mad Men...my wife and I keep falling asleep. Super boring. I'm only 3 episodes in but have no desire to watch more.
Posted by Chief Taylor on :
Not sure where else to post this, but AICN is reporting that Will Forte will not be returning to Saturday Night Live this season. Will was IMO the funniest and most talented of the more recent SNL cast and will be sorely missed. Hopefully, as has happened so many times, more will rise to fill his void. Funny how that always seems to happen!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I saw Agora with Rachel Weisz & Max Minghella. Film came out in 2008 in Spain & Europe.
It's funny I always tell my friends there are hundreds of true stories in history that most people do not know about...yet they are amazing.
And I always use the story of Hypatia as an example. Well guess what? Someone finally made an excellent movie of Hypatia.
Couldn't ask for a better cast. Rachel is amazing and Max is up and coming.
Check out Hypatia on wiki and Agora. I suggest it for everyone.
Besides Hypatia it is concerned with that period of time when the Roman empire fell and the dark ages are creeping in. We see the fall of the library of Alexandria...truly sad.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Saw Full Frontal. I've semi-boycott of Steven Sodebergh films after his Che film. Probably my biggest pet peeve is people romanticizing a murderer like Che.
BUT, Full Frontal was pretty good. I remember when it came out many friends loved. I love me some Catherine Keener.
Posted by kenaustin on :
A good thought provoking show that asks very interesting questions, and then gives you science based information to make your own hypotheses.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I've watched a lot of good movies lately:
Tombstone - probably the best western since "the Outlaw Josey Wales", it was iconic the moment it was finished. I've watched this movie probably 50 times and after a few years of not doing so, just bought it and rewatched it. The definitive, best take on Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday (even if it clearly is pro-Earp, which some historians don't like).
Detour - I got this really cool film noir set of films, all of which are more obscure than the traditional fare and this was the first one I popped in. What a great film! It's about a down on his luck piano player hitch-hiking from NYC to LA and along the way gets picked up by a bookie; through an accident, the bookie dies and the piano player knows he's going to get pinned for murder, so he gets rid of the body and assumes his identity *just* to get to LA. But he makes a mistake of picking up another hitch-hiker...who just so happened to recognize the car and is about to blow the whole thing--that is, unless he plays by her rules and helps make her some money. This is as noirish as it gets! Really, really cool film.
Valentine's Day - watched this with the wife and let me tell you, this is a total chick-flick in every way, so if you like those, you'll like this, if you don't, you'll hate it. For the most part it wasn't my cup of tea, but several performances were really top notch which made it easier to watch. Eric Dane (from Grey's Anatomy) has a smaller part that really gives the movie some meaning; Bradley Cooper & Julia Roberts add a really solid layer of meaning to the film with their story twists; George Lopez proves he's just too damn likable not to want to have in every movie; Taylor Swift is so cute that I wish I was in high school and dating her. Even Jamie Foxx, who IMO plays too many roles where he acts like he's "the man" does a really solid job here, with Jessica Biel, who does an equally good job at having a sense of humor about herself.
The Hangover - rewatched it. Yup, definitely the funniest movie of the last 10+ years. Possible 20 years. Possibly EVER.
Posted by Chief Taylor on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: The Hangover - rewatched it. Yup, definitely the funniest movie of the last 10+ years. Possible 20 years. Possibly EVER.
I enjoyed that one but didn't feel it totally lived up to all the hype/buzz. For my money "40 Year-Old Virgin" is funnier.
Posted by Chief Taylor on :
Anyone watch the premiere of "The Event"? Was it any good?
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I watched the first episode of The Event. It was okay, but I'm not thrilled by it.
It seemed to lack a good "point of view" character, as everyone seemed to know more about what's going on than the viewer does.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: I watched the first episode of The Event. It was okay, but I'm not thrilled by it.
It seemed to lack a good "point of view" character, as everyone seemed to know more about what's going on than the viewer does.
I skipped it. Will wait for huge amount of praise before I check it out. I found too many Lost-inspired shows in the past 2-3 years to be kind of lame.
I did end up watching "Lonestar" about the con man living 2 lives and deciding to try and make it work for real. I actually thought it was a solid beginning! Very well-written and full of tension--enough to make me very curious where it is going.
quote:Originally posted by Chief Taylor:
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: The Hangover - rewatched it. Yup, definitely the funniest movie of the last 10+ years. Possible 20 years. Possibly EVER.
I enjoyed that one but didn't feel it totally lived up to all the hype/buzz. For my money "40 Year-Old Virgin" is funnier.
40 year old version is very good and actually IMO much funnier upon further rewatches. But I think Hangover is a lot funnier--personal tastes and all that.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Hawaii Five-O reboot looks promising!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Watched "Lone Star" because of Cobie's recommendation above, and, yeah, it was actually pretty good, though I have my doubts about it maintaining my interest long-term. Unfortunately, that might not be a problem, as it seems like it's already in danger of cancellation due to low ratings for the premeire. A shame, really, because it's a pretty unique show.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I think the actual delivery of the premiere episode was way better than the previews made it out to be. A shame, like you say! Maybe it will pick up some, though it appears that is the most competitive slot for new shows.
I've got to say, nothing on Tuesday night seemed good at all and nothing tonight seems to be worthwhile.
I need a new Lost! A show I live and die for.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Yeah, I think it's up against both Hawaii Five-O and Chase, both of which were pretty strong new shows as well.
I'm trying to watch the premiere episode of every new show this season, but nothing's really jumping out as the "must-watch" show of the season yet.
Posted by Sarcasm Kid on :
Well, ever since it started a couple of weeks ago I've been watching the MAD animated series, even though I've never read the magazine.
The episode last night included, as I've mentioned before, a sketch called "Grey's In Anime", where a patient hallucinates that the doctors of Grey's Anatomy are anime characters.
"Oh no! The violet fragment of the Esper Crystal is lodged in his chest!"
"Of COURSE, that explains the poisoning of his soul!"
There's an earlier, shorter sketch of a housewife taking a tray of gingerbread men out of the oven, when two Gingerbread policemen burst through the front door and tell her that her "murderous crime spree is over!"
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Undercovers = a bit disappointing. Good, but not really up to the awesomeness expected from J. J. Abrams.
Posted by Chief Taylor on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: I watched the first episode of The Event. It was okay, but I'm not thrilled by it.
It seemed to lack a good "point of view" character, as everyone seemed to know more about what's going on than the viewer does.
I just watched it on Hulu in order to determine if I should watch the second episode tonight. found it a pretty damn gripping 40-odd mintues of television. Lots of mystery and intrigue and a pretty cool ending.
It seems to be built to fill that "Lost" void in a way with some similar tropes (even an airplane involved). It also has a pretty sophisticated and demanding storytelling technique. But at the same time it's definitely its own thing. I'm definitely intrigued and will absolutely watch tonight's episode at the very least. Given the ending, how episode two goes will go a long way toward my deciding if this is going to be a show to watch.
Posted by Chief Taylor on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: Hawaii Five-O reboot looks promising!
Was Wo Fat in it?
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
It appears Wo Fat has been replaced by a generic Central European bad guy in this version.
Second episode was pretty solid!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Watched Episode Two of the Event. I dunno. I'm really not digging it overall.
However, the fact that D.B. Sweeney is probably enough to encourage me to keep watching it for the time being.
Posted by Chief Taylor on :
^Not really super-crazy about where things appear to be going with "The Event" in its second episode either. I wasn't really expecting it to go there, ya know? Of course, we don't know exactly what there is just yet, but it would appear to be going over pretty well-trodden territory.
I'm gonna wait and see for the moment, especially because I'm still enjoying the show's storytelling technique and because some of the characters intrigue me. It's probably getting at least a couple more episodes from me.
As for Hawaii 5-0, I'll have to check it out on Hulu and let you know what I think. Still hope they have an actual Wo Fat show up, though....
Posted by Chief Taylor on :
And though I'm afraid it will suck, I'm planning on checking out No Ordinary Family tonight.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Yeah, I'm skeptical about NOF as well, but I guess I might as well check it out.
Posted by Chief Taylor on :
quote:Originally posted by Chief Taylor: And though I'm afraid it will suck, I'm planning on checking out No Ordinary Family tonight.
I don't think it sucked at all, actually! I was very pleasantly surprised to see Julie Benz (Darla from Buffy & Angel) playing the mom. Otherwise, it was funny and kind of resonant with real family problems even as it integrated super hero tropes fairly seamlessly. A big plus is that the rest of my family was into it as well!
Definitely on board for at least another coupla episodes!
Posted by Quislet, Esq. on :
Same here about No Ordinary Family. Although I could tell what the boy's power would be before it manifested.
Posted by Chief Taylor on :
quote:Originally posted by Quislet, Esq.: Same here about No Ordinary Family. Although I could tell what the boy's power would be before it manifested.
Well, it was spoiled in the ads! Posted by Quislet, Esq. on :
Didn't see the ads.
Posted by Chief Taylor on :
I sorta saw them, but my son pretty much memorized them! He kept telling me what all their powers would be as the hour went on.
When the son's powers manifested, I said, "Behold! The power of math!" Posted by Quislet, Esq. on :
The son needs to dye his hair blonde and his skin green.
Posted by MLLASH on :
NOF... watching now... so far, I'm liking it as a more serious take on supers (not as serious as HEROES, thankfully).
I'm probably going to give Sh#$ My Dad Says 1-2 more eps.
Simpsons premiere was dull. family Guy premiere was... out there.
Posted by Blacula on :
I love those old-fashioned Agatha Christie-style murder mystery stories (and the comedies that make fun of them, like the wonderful Clue) so I really enjoyed the Family Guy premiere.
My favourite line was that guy's gasp jsut before he was killed "It's you! The man - or woman - behind it all!" Posted by MLLASH on :
I guess it was out there for me because so many castmembers were done away with... didn't expect that. I wonder if they will stay dead?
Posted by MLLASH on :
Looks like NOF *is* gonna be pretty serious. I'm not sure I'm in the mood for it... we'll see...
Posted by Blacula on :
I'm not a regular Family Guy watcher so the only cast member that died that I was familiar with was
Click Here For A Spoiler Diane.
I think I read somewhere that they will all stay dead though. Or at least until the writers decide they want to use them again.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
NOF was surprisingly good.
Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
I just saw "No Ordinary Family" online and was underwhelmed. I'll stick with it awhile, but the pilot tried to do too much in the first episode. (which I can forgive given that it was the first ep) The writing came across as ham-handed and the metaphors for their powers were too on the nose. "Buffy" did a good job of using the supernatural to dramatize the traumas of high school, but so far "NoF" is nowhere near as clever or genuine in dealing with family issues. The show also reminded me of "Joan of Arcadia" (and of course "The Incredibles")in its melding of fantasy with family but the writing on that was also far superior. (in its first season anyway)
Posted by Chief Taylor on :
quote:Originally posted by DrakeB3004: I just saw "No Ordinary Family" online and was underwhelmed. I'll stick with it awhile, but the pilot tried to do too much in the first episode. (which I can forgive given that it was the first ep) The writing came across as ham-handed and the metaphors for their powers were too on the nose. "Buffy" did a good job of using the supernatural to dramatize the traumas of high school, but so far "NoF" is nowhere near as clever or genuine in dealing with family issues. The show also reminded me of "Joan of Arcadia" (and of course "The Incredibles")in its melding of fantasy with family but the writing on that was also far superior. (in its first season anyway)
I can't really disagree with you on most of those points, Drake. There wasn't much in there that screamed "Originality!" as I watched it. In fact the telepathic scenes with the daughter reminded me a little too much of how Matt Parkman discovered his powers in "Heroes".
I was also disappointed to see a superpowered threat emerge so quickly--I'd certainly have preferred a more organic development of this sort of thing. Hopefully, powered characters won't be crawling out of the woodwork....that was one of "Heroes"'s many failings.
What I liked (and what will ensure I watch some more episodes) was the presence of Michael Chiklis and Julie Benz as the main characters. I've enjoyed them both in the past, so it was pleasant to see them again. I also liked the family-friendly feel and how I can apparently share the show with my kids.
I kinda like that the mom has a fairly aggressive super-power along with the dad. I also like how she's the breadwinner/genius and the dad is more the caregiver. It's a subtle distinction which makes NOF less a knockoff of the FF or the Incredibles.
Also, superheroes, and especially superhero families, haven't exactly been done to death on live-action TV at least, so it's a welcome sight. If they can keep it family-friendly and family-relevant without dumbing it down, it could be a worthy viewing experience longterm. I'm hopeful at least!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Yeah, there's a lot that can be criticized with NOF, but it kind of worked for me, somehow.
The whole plot with the girl and her boyfriend really kind of annoyed me, and I hope they don't get hung up on that kind of thing.
I'm assuming the powers connect to that magic plant thingie that the mother was interested in. It is a bit of a coincidence that the first bad guy Daddy decided to go after just happened to be powered as well.
I liked the touch that both parents revealed their powers to their friends before each other, which was kind of a nice bit of characterization (and really said more about the dysfunctionality of the family than a lot of the more blatant stuff on the show).
Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
"Hawaii 5-0" looks like a fun show. Pretty straight forward, likable cast. I'll stick with it for now.
"Chase" was ok. I'm not ready to ditch it, but it's going to get stale for me soon if they don't give the main character a bit more personality.
"The Event" almost has me interested, but it reminds me of "Lost" (of course) mixed with "The 4400" so far. And I'm getting pretty annoyed at the time-jumping. Especially the overused device of showing something really dramatic happening then jumping to the past to show us how this situation came about. It was cool when "Alias" would do it, but it's been done to death by now.
Posted by MLLASH on :
Is "CHASE" at all based on the DCU blonde fed by the same name that had her own short-lived series?
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by MLLASH: Is "CHASE" at all based on the DCU blonde fed by the same name that had her own short-lived series?
I presume not. Other than having a lead blonde character (who's not even named Chase in this one), there's no similarity.
Watched the first two episodes of "Blue Bloods", which actually seemed like a fairly interesting take on the whole overdone "cop show" genre, centering around a family whose members are at different points in the police-hierarchy (the grandfather is a retired cop; the father Chief of Police; the elder son a detective; the middle son a dead cop; the younger son a rookie; the daughter a DA). It was going pretty well until they threw in this goofy subplot about the FBI recruiting the rookie son to investigate a secret society within the police department. That kind of threw me out of the whole thing.
Posted by Chief Taylor on :
quote:Originally posted by DrakeB3004: "The Event" almost has me interested, but it reminds me of "Lost" (of course) mixed with "The 4400" so far. And I'm getting pretty annoyed at the time-jumping. Especially the overused device of showing something really dramatic happening then jumping to the past to show us how this situation came about. It was cool when "Alias" would do it, but it's been done to death by now.
So far, I'm enjoying that aspect of "The Event". I don't know that it's necessarily "overused" on TV. I see the method used a lot in comic books but not so much regularly in films or TV shows that I watch. If anything, it's used in change-of-pace episodes of certain series rather than an every episode thing. Then again, I haven't seen much of "Alias", so maybe it's fresher to me because of that?
In any case I think that storytelling device is pretty well executed on this show, and it's one of the main things that has me still watching after 2 episodes despite it apparently being another spin on the tired 'alien invaders' trope.
The device works to set up a small mystery, get you thinking about how that character got to this point and then pay it off withinin a few minutes. Told more chronologically, that element wouldn't exist. At the same time there are larger mysteries to contemplate that unfold more slowly.
IMO, "The Event" is more a mystery show than "Lost" was ever intended to be. It's certainly debatable, but so much of the minutia that comprised Lost's mysteries stemmed more from the fans wanting to know stuff like "what is the Dharma Initiative?" much more than it being absolutely essential to what story Carlton & Lindelof ultimately wanted to tell. Yes, those elements were intentional, but "The Event" seems to be more about the mystery element being more essential to what it is and in paying off how each episode is structured. (I have no idea whether I'm getting my point across here or if I'm coming off as rambling...:confused) Of course, it's early, so it's hard to say for sure. But I feel the narrative structure supports this.
We'll see how I feel after a handful of them are under my belt, though. Maybe the technique will begin to bore me after a while....
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
The Event still seems kind of blah to me.
No Ordinary Family is solid, if unspectacular.
Hawaii 5-0 is still really strong! Love getting to still see Daniel Dae Kim on a weekly basis!
Posted by Chief Taylor on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: The Event still seems kind of blah to me.
No Ordinary Family is solid, if unspectacular.
Hawaii 5-0 is still really strong! Love getting to still see Daniel Dae Kim on a weekly basis!
Still enjoying the first two and haven't seen 5-0 yet.
"The Event" I noticed only used the flashback technique twice in the latest episode (if I'm remembering correctly). I don't know if they're backing off that technique slowly or if they're just trying not to shoehorn it in so many times. Hopefully, it's the latter because I'd hate to see it go away altogether. Interesting, unforeseen twist at the end of this one!
I'd have to agree with Edie's assessment of "No Ordinary Family". No new territory being broken, but it's well executed. I didn't get bored at any point. A lot of that has to do with some pretty likeable actors inhabiting the roles. This episode involved the characters exploring the limits and consequences of their powers. The development with the son's teacher I felt was particularly realistic under the circumstances. If I was the kid, I would've had the teacher give me a complex problem and solve it as he watched.
Hope to get around to "Hawaii 5-0" soon. Is it in more of a serial or episodic format? Most cop shows lean heavily to the latter with "case(s) of the week" and very little continuity from one to the next. I'm a nut for continuing stories and usually don't go for continuity-lite. But there are exceptions.
Posted by Power Boy on :
the event .... the first episode is free on itunes.
cute boys, good cast. a little annoyed with the jumping around in time gimmick. and 'the event' mystery.
seems like why i didnt like lost. instead of just telling a good story it relies on gimmicks to increase tension and keep viewers on a hook like a fish.
oh well it's been 10 minutes.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Chief Taylor: Hope to get around to "Hawaii 5-0" soon. Is it in more of a serial or episodic format? Most cop shows lean heavily to the latter with "case(s) of the week" and very little continuity from one to the next. I'm a nut for continuing stories and usually don't go for continuity-lite. But there are exceptions.
It's basically episodic, with ongoing subplots. So there's a case of the week, but there's also some mysteries that have been set up in the background.
Posted by Chief Taylor on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester:
quote:Originally posted by Chief Taylor: Hope to get around to "Hawaii 5-0" soon. Is it in more of a serial or episodic format? Most cop shows lean heavily to the latter with "case(s) of the week" and very little continuity from one to the next. I'm a nut for continuing stories and usually don't go for continuity-lite. But there are exceptions.
It's basically episodic, with ongoing subplots. So there's a case of the week, but there's also some mysteries that have been set up in the background.
Sounds good, actually! I wouldn't expect a show like this not to have cases of the week, but it's encouraging to hear that plot threads carry through. That's the kind of thing that helps me get into a show. I'll definitely have to sample it!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Just to be clear, while they do seem to be flirting with more ongoing storylines, the primary appeal of the show is still on the level of lots of explosions, machine guns, witty banner, and quite a bit of this:
Posted by Chief Taylor on :
^Never a bad thing, IMO! (Forgot BSG's Grace Park was in it!)
(Hopefully, there's plenty of the male variety for the sake of equality for those who prefer men....)
Posted by Blacula on :
I prefer men but I don't mind seeing more Grace Park in any state of dress. She was so good in BSG. Looking forward to H50.
Posted by MLLASH on :
I just watched the first 3 eps of RAISING HOPE on hulu.com.
It is EXCELLENT, much funnier than RUNNING WILDE and COUGAR TOWN, both of which I have recently gotten into.
Very much recommend. Try the pilot episode and if you like it, don't miss the next 2.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Raising Hope is also the first new show to receive a full-season pick-up.
Definitely funny stuff, by the same guy who did My Name is Earl, and in a similar vein.
Posted by MLLASH on :
I never watched MNiE. Something old/new to check out!
Martha Plimpton looks SO like my Mom and Aunt it is almost unsettling.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I only saw the pilot of Raising Hope. It had Bijou Phillips being her awesome crazy self, which I find very appealing. You can just tell she's semi-crazy in real life and that makes her hotter.
I've been so busy that I haven't had a chance to catch any of the new shows, but of them all, Hawaii 5-O seems like the one I want to check out the most (the EDE thumbs up helps). I can do a "story of the week" approach while the cast continues to grow and add depth each week. I need something to replace the awesome Life on Mars (American version).
Other than that, I'll I've watched now for months is Mad Men (awesome) and Jersey Shore (if you're not watching, shame on you ).
Rubicon also was awesome but I missed too many episodes where I'd be lost now. I'm going to pick up the season DVD when it's out.
I never have been able to follow-up Lone Star since the pilot. Hopefully I can catch back up as my travel schedule slows after this week.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I think you'd love MNiE, Lash. I only watched sporadic episodes, but it always struck me as extremely funny. It definitely covers the same social milieu as Raising Hope, and has the same main-character-trying-to-do-the-right-thing-despite-his-questionable-background-and-circumstances thing going on.
And, Cobie, Lone Star was actually cancelled after the second episode. Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Wow, it never even had a chance! Too bad Posted by MLLASH on :
I'm always shocked by these "cancelled at 1 and 2 episodes" things.
Even comics will give 'em 6 issues... (RIP Vext, Heckler and last edition of Exiles).
Posted by Dev Em on :
Every time I hear the words Lone Star...I think of Spaceballs.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
The other two canceled series (or all but canceled) thus far are My Generation, which I never watched because it didn't seem to be interesting at all, and Outlaw, which I tried to watch the pilot for but got bored halfway through. Lone Star was definitely too good to deserve this fate.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: I need something to replace the awesome Life on Mars (American version).
You might check out Detroit 1-8-7 as well. It's a pretty conventional cop show, but it has Michael Imperioli, which is kind of cool.
Posted by Legion Tracker on :
Thanks for the Lone Star info, EDE. I had set my DVR to record it and had wondered why no new shows were showing up.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
For the record, The Event has gotten a lot better the past couple of weeks, especially this week.
So do you guys think Click Here For A Spoilerthe "aliens" are really just time traveling future humans? Posted by MLLASH on :
So, Raising Hope is one excellent comedy. Sweet too. It's my 1 breakout new show this season!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by MLLASH: So, Raising Hope is one excellent comedy. Sweet too. It's my 1 breakout new show this season!
Currently watching last night's episode! Awesome!
Posted by Chief Taylor on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: For the record, The Event has gotten a lot better the past couple of weeks, especially this week.
So do you guys think Click Here For A Spoilerthe "aliens" are really just time traveling future humans?
I'm still watching it as well, and it still has my interest. I think it has thus far avoided the well-travelled roads I feared it would venture down and improved on some of its faults along the way. It definitely has potential.
As to your question, that thought has occurred to me. However, would that explain the 1% DNA difference?
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
chuck on nbc
Posted by Dev Em on :
The Walking Dead is honestly the only show I am watching at this point. 5 more weeks, then nothing on the horizon.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
^Same. Other than sports (NY Rangers and Football), I just can't find anything to keep my interest other than the random History Channel special.
I need to catch up on Fringe.
Posted by Chief Taylor on :
Though they're taking this week off, I'm still watching The Event and No Ordinary Family pretty avidly. Otherwise, it's TWD, Survivor and the odd episodes of Criminal Minds, House and the second hour of Biggest Loser.
Posted by ExnihiLASH on :
Just saw the film, "Nowhere Boy," about John Lennon's younger days prior to the formation of The Beatles.
Apart from a few minor eyerollers (the complete lack of a Liverpudlian accent in any of the characters, and a couple of sly winking moments - ex: John walking past the Strawberry Field gardens; playing around with his food and putting chips in his mouth to resemble a walrus), I have to say it was a fine little film.
Most of the dramas I've seen about the Beatles err either in attempting to recast events through a lens of modern sensibility, or in trying to pack too much history into too small a running time. "Nowhere Boy" made neither mistake. It's a nice tight story, focusing on John's conflicted feelings about his estranged mother, and how that conflict fueled a lot of his passion toward his music.
Bonus points to Kristin Scott Thomas who turns in a wonderfully sympathetic performance as John's aunt Mimi.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Chief Tay-LSH: I'm still watching The Event and No Ordinary Family pretty avidly.
I'm still watching both of these as well, but I can't say I'm all that invested in either them. One moment The Event is looking pretty solid, then the next moment there's something incredibly cheesy that kind of takes me out of it.
TWD and H5-0 remain the top new shows of the season.
After what I thought was a weak start, Fringe has gotten pretty solid. They were kind of taking a chance with the "alternating Earths" format, but I think it's started to work.
Posted by l.e.g.i.o.n.JOHN on :
$#&T My Dad says, Mike & Molly, and East bound & Down (even though it's season ended a few weeks ago) Boardwalk Empire, and the Walking Dead are the shows that i've made sure not to miss this season.
Posted by Ram Boy on :
Don't laugh, but I'm watching makeup tips on how to achieve the Megan Fox look.
(I'll be needing some volunteers later. Rocky?)
Posted by Blacula on :
OK - I just watched what could potentially be my most favourite thing I've seen in all of 2010. And it was a TV movie.
BBC's Sherlock (episode 1 - 'A Study in Pink').
Has anyone else here seen it? Gosh, I was blown away by it. The writing, the acting, the filmmaking, the misdirection, the humour, the mystery, the callbacks to classic Sherlock Holmes elements, the beginning, the middle, the end... I loved it all.
What a winner of a series. For those who don't know, it's a modern re-imagining of the Sherlock/Watson tales. I'm not familiar enough with Conan-Doyle's tales to know if this episode, or any of the later ones, are direct adaptations of any of his stories but it was a fantastic adaptation if so, and an awesomely written mystery in it's own right if not.
Martin Freeman of The Office and Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy and the soon to be Hobbit plays Dr Watson. He's pretty good in the role. I'm kinda sick of him so I wasn't over the moon about him being in it but I really have no complaints about his performance. The real star though of course is the guy who plays Sherlock. Absolutely amazing. Perfect blend of arrogant anti-socialness and endearing likeability. And a real gusto of a performance. The constant energy he exudes and the pace at which he delivers his very smart and clever lines means you are forced to pay attention to him and keep up.
The mystery was great too. Very exciting and intriguing. My only issue with the conclusion was that I kept thinking to myself -
Click Here For A SpoilerHasn't Sherlock seen The Princess Bride? They're both poisoned! Though we never found out if my theory was right or not which was a bit annoying.
What can I say? I really, really liked this. Hope the later episodes are as good. Did anyone else at Legion World see this?
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
quote:Originally posted by Blacula: OK - I just watched what could potentially be my most favourite thing I've seen in all of 2010. And it was a TV movie.
BBC's Sherlock (episode 1 - 'A Study in Pink').
All three episodes are really, really good (especially the third). Can't wait for the next series to start.
Posted by Blacula on :
^ Good to know Dave! I'm already looking forward to it too. 3 episodes in this season just isn't enough!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
My wife and I have started back up on watching House seasons (we're on season 3). What a damn good show this is. I personally think it works better to watch a bunch at a clip but of all the shows I watch, this is the easiest to catch an ep here or there.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
For the record, Human Target = all kinds of awesome.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
We watch Human Target too. It's nowhere near as awesome as the Milligan Vertigo series, but as an action show with personable characters it's still a fun show.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
Aside from HT, we're currently catching up on "Being Human", which had a great first season, though the second has been uneven so far (two episode's left).
We still watch "Chuck", which has been great fun and really over-the-top this year especially with the "Pop culture icon" guest star of the week format.
We don't have TMN so we're behind on Dexter, but may find other ways to see it.
"The Bridge" doesn't look like it's coming back and TWD is done for a while, so I think that's it for us right now.
Posted by Chief Lardy on :
Tonight, I watched SNL. While the sketches and host were about average, the musical guest was fan-friggin-TASTic! Paul-friggin-McCartney! When I saw he was scheduled, I figured he'd be supporting some new album and might be performing some songs I'd never heard--NOPE! He performed "Jet" and "Band on the Run" from his Wings days, and astonishingly, he performed most of "A Day in the Life" which melted into "Give Peace a Chance"! "Day" is primarily an iconic John Lennon song from their Beatles days (albeit one with a McCartney interlude) and "Peace" is all John post-Beatles. This was such a touching tribute to John on the week of the anniversary of John's murder! Frankly, I teared up. Just beautiful! To top it off, they ended the show with Paul performing "Get Back" as the credits ran! I was in Beatles fan heaven!
Look, the old boy's voice may obviously be on the wane, but he still doesn't phone it in. I'm so glad SNL let him have more than the customary two songs. And again, it was a rare treat to hear Paul singing some of John's parts, a lovely tribute to John and of how much he and John have meant to popular music for four decades!
Thanks, Paul and SNL!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Just watched the awesome mid-season finale of Hawaii 5-0! Seriously, you guys need to be watching this! Some advancement on the longterm subplots, and the return (for the very first time) of
Click Here For A SpoilerWO FAT!!!! Posted by Exnihil on :
A few terse reviews of the movies I've watched over the past week of downtime:
"A Single Man" - beautiful and subtle film about 24 hours in a man's life after his lover is killed in a car crash. Colin Firth astounded me with his performance, leaving me wanting to see more of him, so next up was...
"Dorian Gray" - better than I had hoped (only just) given that it was made just last year. Again, Firth puts in a good performance... no-one else does.
"A Hard Day's Night" - Been on an intense Beatles kick for a couple months now, so I thought I'd loop back around and see their actual films. Surprisingly funny and well directed. I'd expected madcap, and while it was that, it also was a joy to look at (not to mention listen to).
"Jean de Florette" and "Manon des Source" - two film cycle of epic tragedy set in bucolic France. I had seen these a decade back and had nostalgically remembered them as the best foreign film(s) I've ever seen. My opinion has not changed.
"Goya's Ghosts" - how this many talented people (including the director and all the primary actors) could make such a dog of film is beyond me. Avoid at all costs.
Posted by MLLASH on :
I recently went on a Jennifer Elise Cox kick, she's the girl who played Jan Brady in the 90s Brady Bunch movies.
I bought the entire Lifetime comedy series LOVESPRING INTERNATIONAL on iTunes because I remembered she was in it, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Then I started with 10 ITEMS OR LESS on Netflix (available for instant viewing). Lo and behold-- she's a regular on it, too! I did not know at the time I decided to try it. Funny stuff!!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by Chief Lardy: Tonight, I watched SNL. While the sketches and host were about average, the musical guest was fan-friggin-TASTic! Paul-friggin-McCartney! When I saw he was scheduled, I figured he'd be supporting some new album and might be performing some songs I'd never heard--NOPE! He performed "Jet" and "Band on the Run" from his Wings days, and astonishingly, he performed most of "A Day in the Life" which melted into "Give Peace a Chance"! "Day" is primarily an iconic John Lennon song from their Beatles days (albeit one with a McCartney interlude) and "Peace" is all John post-Beatles. This was such a touching tribute to John on the week of the anniversary of John's murder! Frankly, I teared up. Just beautiful! To top it off, they ended the show with Paul performing "Get Back" as the credits ran! I was in Beatles fan heaven!
Look, the old boy's voice may obviously be on the wane, but he still doesn't phone it in. I'm so glad SNL let him have more than the customary two songs. And again, it was a rare treat to hear Paul singing some of John's parts, a lovely tribute to John and of how much he and John have meant to popular music for four decades!
Thanks, Paul and SNL!
Didn't see this post the first time around, even though we facebooked about it when it was happening, Lardy. As you know, I totally enjoyed this as well! I was really shocked and beyond delighted when Paul did his John tribute (so much that I ran to facebook to post about it).
It was a really touching, cool as hell tribute that Paul did and I went to bed really happy that night.
Skits were only okay but that was the best musical performance I've seen in a long time.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
PS - I'm still on a huge House kick with my wife and have been steadily watching it for weeks and weeks. We're now up to Season 6.
Quite simply, it's one of the best shows ever with one of the best casts ever. Hugh Laurie deserves all the praise he's gotten and then some.
Posted by SharkLad on :
Got the DVR set for "The Cape" on Sunday... let's see if NBC learned anything from "Heroes"...
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Getting ready to watch The Scarlet Pimpernel!
Can't believe I've never seen it! I've read at least part of the book, however!
Posted by Power Boy on :
just started The Adventures of Merlin. episode one.
Posted by Fanfic Lady on :
The best version of The Scarlet Pimpernel is the Looney Tunes version.
"It'th the Thcarlet P-P-Pumpernickel."
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: Getting ready to watch The Scarlet Pimpernel!
Can't believe I've never seen it! I've read at least part of the book, however!
Zounds! I liked it!
Posted by Legion Tracker on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester:
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: Getting ready to watch The Scarlet Pimpernel!
Can't believe I've never seen it! I've read at least part of the book, however!
Zounds! I liked it!
So what *is* a Pimpernel?
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
It's a type of flower, similar to a primrose!
Posted by SharkLad on :
"The Cape" was good... a little campy but not overboard... good visuals... best line - "Say hi to Dorothy, bitch"...
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by SharkLad: "The Cape" was good... a little campy but not overboard... good visuals... best line - "Say hi to Dorothy, bitch"...
I just watched it, and was fairly impressed. There were things I didn't like about it, but overall it's got me a lot more interested than No Ordinary Family or The Event.
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
Been trying to find Hedwig and the Angry Inch I think it is. Heard it was pretty good. Gotta be better than Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
Posted by doublechinner on :
I actually liked The Cape, as well! And I was ready not to. Keith David is a treasure as the leader of the delightful Circus of Crime (which is a great name, but not exactly accurate. More appropriate would be Circus and Anti-Establishmentarianism, I think). The whole setting--the villains, the city, the plot, the hero's appearance and abilities--has a wonderful, Golden-Age feel to it. I keep flashing on pre-Kirby Sandman, or Kubert's Hawkman, or the covers to the original Green Lantern, and their later descendants, like the Question, or even Aztek. In the Cape's world, bright colors and darkest shadows mix freely, a city can be subverted by rich and corrupt criminals, the lives of the virtuous sundered, and the heroic journey is about recovering that life, which includes a little boy who reads comic books and idolizes his dad, even in the face of damning evidence that his dad is a criminal, which places it in a 1930s/40s context, not the saccharine world of the 1950s. People are killed, but not gratuitously, and we see the suffering that killing leaves in its wake. The shows weakest link seems to be the actor playing the lead character, but maybe I expect too much.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Yeah, I think the Golden Age or even pulp feel to The Cape is it's real strength. And visually it's brilliant. I thought the writing was kind of weak though. It seemed like they were trying to cram too much into the premiere episodes. But it was nice to see a tv super-hero with, you know, an actual costume and secret identity for once. I'm pretty much bored with the whole "ordinary people with secret super-powers" motif of Smallville/Heroes/No Ordinary Family. Anyway, it's definitely a show with a lot of potential. Though the odds on it's getting a chance to develop that potential don't look promising.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I shall await Season One of the Cape to finish and complete reviews from Eryk, Sharky and Doublechinner on whether it stayed good!
I don't want to get burned like with Heroes which turned into a huge suckfest!
Posted by doublechinner on :
I'm totally with you, EDE, about seeing an actual costumed hero again! And I don't mean to give the impression this is classic television. "Lost," it's definitely not. Got it's got great bones, and I hope, unlike poor "Heroes," the creative team can improve, rather than tear down. The other thing I realize is that I've ALWAYS had a big thing for the true caped, hooded hero of the 1930s and 40s--Hourman, Spectre, Green Lama (!?!). It's such a simple but powerful and intimidating visual, it has an almost genetic memory kind of impact. So, it's a big thrill for me to see that done "live action" and done rather well. It's also great to have an articulate response to Edna Mode's classic declaration, "No capes!"
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
We've recently got into the BBC "Robin Hood" Series via Netflix.ca, and it's been really fun. The whole cast is great (particularly the villains), the writing's punchy and it's been a great series for "Done-in-one" television. For a Comics connection, Paul Cornell was one of the writers in the first season.
We're almost done Season #1 and Seasons #2 & #3 are available (I assume on the US Netflix as well).
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
So I actually thought the third episode of The Cape definitely showed signs of improvement. This is totes looking like a Fringe more than a Heroes in terms of quality-trajectory.
Posted by Chief Lardy on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: So I actually thought the third episode of The Cape definitely showed signs of improvement. This is totes looking like a Fringe more than a Heroes in terms of quality-trajectory.
I caught most of it last night, my first chance to see it. There's obviously already a lot of backstory, and not knowing it confused me at various points.
I also thought that what I saw of what the cape itself can do looked pretty goofy and how the hero reclaimed it at the end seemed silly. Is that what the cape does? Grab things and hit/slice things?
Seemed like the Cape did his worst Christian Bale as Batman impression, too, with the voice. I understand the need to disguise, but it never comes off as anything but silly.
Some of the acting was good, but the lead himself seems a little too wooden.
I might check out the pilot and future episodes, but I wasn't nearly as impressed as I was by those early episodes of Heroes.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
The Canadian/American remake of Being Human was... Interesting. The Effects were better but the acting was worse. The plot is moving in a different direction already and the cliffhanger was good. It was funny to see Canadian settings and hear Canadian music and then be told they were in Boston. Would American Audiences really turn on it if it was set in Montreal? :/
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
My wife and I completed the final seasons of Tudors last night--one of the best series to hit television ever. I highly recommend this to anyone at all who loves drama and intrigue. People with a passion for history will get an added bonus (but it's not necessary).
The acting is outstanding and the creators pulled no punches--yet didn't go out of their way to be needlessly controversial (and with King Henry VIII, the controversy is already firmly there).
The series ended perfectly.
I felt a familiar emotion from watching the finishes to Rome, Deadwood and especially Lost. I'm thrilled it ended on a high note, but I'm sad to see it go.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Just watched this week's Hawaii 5-0, and wow! What a great bit a television! First off, an exciting episode in and of itself, as the team has to solve the disappearance of the head of the Tsunami Warning Center against the tense backdrop of an oncoming Tsunami, but then it suddenly and unexpectedly tied into a plot from a previous episode, and then set up a new mystery at the end! This show just keeps getting better and better!
Posted by Chief Lardy on :
^I watched that episode Sunday, Edie, (as it aired after the football game) my first full ep of the season. Not bad, I'd say! Good cast, hints of ongoing subplot--if there were more sex, I'd be sure to watch more! Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I was actually wondering how someone who hadn't been following the series would react to the episode, because it really shifted from something that seemed like a standalone episode to relying heavily upon the emotions evoked by previous episodes.
Posted by Chief Lardy on :
Caught encore presentations of the first two eps of Being Human tonight. So far, me rikey! Will definitely check out episode 3 this Monday!
Posted by SharkLad on :
My enthusiasm for "The Cape" is steadily declining... it took me a while to get caught up with the third and fourth episodes, and when I did watch them, I was kind of bored... shame since it seemed pretty promising...
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I'm still liking the Cape, but it does have problems. The flashbacks are really annoying me, for one thing. The inconsistencies in his abilities are kind of annoying as well. On the one hand, he seems to have unrealistically mastered too much of the stuff the circus folks taught him in the first episode, but then he makes a stupid mistake of not being able to use his cape against the wind on top of the moving train last episode.
I loved, however, the head of prisons or whatever as his groupie in the latest episode, as well as the tension between his career as a super-hero and the fact that his allies are, well, criminals.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Chief Lardy: Caught encore presentations of the first two eps of Being Human tonight. So far, me rikey! Will definitely check out episode 3 this Monday!
I'm undecided on this as well. The whiny-ness of the characters is getting on my nerves already. And vampires are *so* boring! It is kind of cool seeing Jacob as the head vampire or whatever however!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Hello everyone! It's been a long time.
I've seen many good flicks since my last post.
But I will start with a disappointment. The Bridge Over the River Kwai. Considered one of the best films ever. I don't see it. Sure it had that honor and principal thing but I just didn't see it as such a big deal. I did see it as head games between the japanese general and Alec Guinness' character.
This may be the first time I've seen William Holden acting. It was a decent portrayal of the disillusioned army man.
I have to admit the ending was fantastic. One of the best ever but the 2 hours and 40 minutes that it took to get there...painful.
Decent acting, great ending.
Posted by Blacula on :
^ I've never seen Bridge on the River Kwai. Or The Great Escape. All my brothers and Dad love their World War II movies so I'm not sure how I missed them.
Sorry to hear BotRK isn't that good because I think I'd still like to see that one one day - if only for William Holden. I really like that actor. Ultra Jorge - see Sunset Boulevard and The Wild Bunch if you want to see some really good William Holden movies.
I've seen loads of things recently. Trying to remember them all...
* The Shield Season 7 (final season) - LOVE THIS SHOW! Anyone else here watch it? VERY, VERY, VERY good show - one of the best cop shows ever. Acting, writing, directing, music... everything about this show was on point. Very sorry to see it go. That said, I was a teensy bit disappointed with the ending. I was fervently hoping something different would happen with one of the characters. Can't complain though - those writers gave me seven seasons of pleasure (even if that pleasure was a little lot confronting and hard to take at times).
* The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl who Played with Fire - (proviso - I haven't read the books). God, these movies sucked! The first one was SO completely blindingly obvious from the very first scene and the second was just a boring drudge. It didn't help that the main male character was completely lacking in any personality or charisma or that the main female character was such an artificially constructed, geeky-emo-male's wet dream fantasy come to life - she's 5ft, tattooed and pierced, amazing with computers, amazing at self-defence, amazing at sex (whether it be with a guy or a girl)... ugh. I'm sure the books have things going for them but based on what I've seen from these films, I never want to find out.
* Up in the Air - I really liked this one. George Clooney picks good films IMO and he's really good in this one. So is the whole support cast around him. Funny and sad. As someone who used to fly a lot for work I could relate to the story somewhat too. I'll see this one again one day.
* True Grit (the original) and Rooster Cogburn - other than bits and pieces of a few when I was about 5, I think these were the first John Wayne films I've ever seen. Really not seeing what the big deal was with the guy. Not a very good actor. That said, he's pretty good in True Grit and the movie is all-around excellent too. Great writing and directing and a fab supporting cast here too (including Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper). I think even someone who didn't like 'Westerns' would enjoy this movie. It's sequel Rooster Cogburn is pretty much just an inferior re-tread however, though it does have a pretty cool extended raft-escape scene and Katharine Hepburn is in it for those who are fans of hers (I'm not really one of them).
* Blue Velvet - Great movie. Weird and creepy and disturbing but also romantic and beautiful and haunting. I can definitely see why it's considered a classic. The scene where Dean Stockwell sings Roy Orbison's hit In Dreams is amazing. I was a big Twin Peaks fan back in the day so it's interesting seeing Lynch using some early versions of techniques he used in that show here too.
* Black Swan - I liked it. The story (and it's conclusion) were pretty plainly telegraphed almost right from the start but I don't think that really mattered. Even if the end was a little obvious it was still a pleasure to watch Aranofsky's impressive filmmaking and directing skills and Natalie Portman's incredible performance - she definitely deserves the Oscar IMO. What wasn't fun though was the annoying group of teenage girls who sat behind me and whispered and giggled all the way through the movie! I have murderous thoughts toward people like that!
More movies later as I think of them...
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Blue Velvet...wierd and great movie. It gets downright insane. But that's David Lynch for you. Lynch reminds me of the Joker. (Killing Joke version)
A classic actor I've come to really respect is Gregory Peck. I have to say he does not act the same in every film...and his films are pretty good.
Recently saw him Spellbound (didn't love that movie), The Snows of Kilimanjaro, and I have Mr. Deeds goes to Washington next.
I have not read The Snows of Kilimanjaro but I enjoyed the film. I hear the film and and book are quite different. Ava Gardener's character was completely made up for the film. Ava is a hot little number. Never seen any of her films. Have to catch a few. (The Sun Also Rises I have on my list to watch...she's in that...and I've read that book. It will be interesting).
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
quote:Originally posted by Blacula:
* The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl who Played with Fire - (proviso - I haven't read the books). God, these movies sucked! The first one was SO completely blindingly obvious from the very first scene and the second was just a boring drudge. It didn't help that the main male character was completely lacking in any personality or charisma or that the main female character was such an artificially constructed, geeky-emo-male's wet dream fantasy come to life - she's 5ft, tattooed and pierced, amazing with computers, amazing at self-defence, amazing at sex (whether it be with a guy or a girl)... ugh. I'm sure the books have things going for them but based on what I've seen from these films, I never want to find out.
About every 30 minutes or so, my wife would pause the movie and take 5 minutes to explain all the stuff they skipped or changed. I agree the movie on its own wasn't great (and the mystery easy), but from the sounds of it the book was much better.
quote:
* True Grit (the original) and Rooster Cogburn - other than bits and pieces of a few when I was about 5, I think these were the first John Wayne films I've ever seen. Really not seeing what the big deal was with the guy. Not a very good actor. That said, he's pretty good in True Grit and the movie is all-around excellent too. Great writing and directing and a fab supporting cast here too (including Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper). I think even someone who didn't like 'Westerns' would enjoy this movie. It's sequel Rooster Cogburn is pretty much just an inferior re-tread however, though it does have a pretty cool extended raft-escape scene and Katharine Hepburn is in it for those who are fans of hers (I'm not really one of them).
I highly recommend the new version which I think trumps this one. Both are fairly faithful to the book so some scenes are almost verbatim, but the acting is superior and the ending is much, much better.
quote:Originally posted by Blacula: * Blue Velvet - Great movie. Weird and creepy and disturbing but also romantic and beautiful and haunting. I can definitely see why it's considered a classic. The scene where Dean Stockwell sings Roy Orbison's hit In Dreams is amazing. I was a big Twin Peaks fan back in the day so it's interesting seeing Lynch using some early versions of techniques he used in that show here too.
I love Lynch but I don't love Blue Velvet. It is masterfully rendered and a decent enough parable, but the lengths of depravity and mysogny, no matter how effectively rendered, aren't justified (or prehaps redeemed is the better world) by the movie's message or theme. It's a little too proud of it's horrifying moments that it wallows in them rather than use them to an artistic and effective point. It's a very fine line, but moreso than other Lynch works, I think Blue Velvets falls victim to itself.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
By the Way, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is the English title, whereas the actual translation of the English title is "Men Who Hate Women", which actually informs the story quite a bit better in my mind.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Great book, but not sure how well it could be translated to film. I know a US remake version will be coming out next year.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
My Brother-in-Law just sent down the first three seasons of Breaking Bad. We've already plowed through Season One and are two episodes into Season 2. It's really, really good. My wife didn't care for it at first, but now she's more hooked than I am.
Posted by Exnihil on :
I recently watched one of Frank Capra’s films from 1937 called, “Lost Horizon”.
About 30 minutes into it I started getting déjŕ vu. The rest of the film just cinched it. This will only have meaning to fans of the show “Lost,” but take a gander at the plot (abridged just to highlight the parallels):
Click Here For A SpoilerA group of Westerners are traveling home on a plane, when it crashes deep in an isolated land, completely hidden from the outside world. They all survive the crash (though the pilot is killed) and, after a short time taking shelter in caves, are met by the inhabitants of the land. These inhabitants, who are led by a mysterious figure, live in a seemingly impossible environment – both completely hidden from the outside world and, at the same time, built in a modern fashion with all conveniences of civilization. Meanwhile, in the outside world, a search ensures for the plane which just “disappeared”.
The crash survivors, including a scientist, a con-man, and a terminally ill passenger (who begins to miraculously recover in this place), are initially anxious to get back to civilization but, over time, they come to appreciate that this hidden land is a miraculous place where all of what they were before can be wiped clean. Most of them come to feel that they don't want to leave.
The hero is eventually granted an audience with the mysterious leader who tells him that his arrival was not an accident at all; that he was brought there intentionally. The leader has been watching the hero for years. It turns out that the leader is actually hundreds of years old (he was 108 when he realized he would no longer age), but is preserved by the magical properties of the place. He is finally prepared to die, however, and needs someone who will take his role in protecting this place.
Before this happens, though, through a heated discussion between two characters – one, a realist and one, a “man of faith,” the hero is convinced to escape the place with a small group of the survivors. After leaving, one of the escapees commits suicide and the hero, after a time, realizes that he never should have left and that he has to go back.
Forsaking everything in the real world where he is a highly respected person, the hero tries for a long time to find the place again (growing an almost comical beard in the process), but eventually makes it back to fulfill his destiny.
Wow, right?
I’m not saying that this movie was the only source for “Lost,” as clearly there are a great many other elements to the show… but I would be highly suspect if the above movie were not the core source. I mean, my wife and I were literally watching “Lost Horizon” with mouths agape at points going, “That’s almost the exact conversation from Lost.”
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
WOW. Really, wow. I never heard of this movie before! It clearly is a huge inspiration on Lost. I totally have to watch it!
Posted by profh0011 on :
I've long felt that DR. STRANGE was almost entirely the creation of Steve Ditko, with Stan Lee only writing the dialogue (and some of his best, in my opinion). However, the ONE DS plot I do feel Stan contributed was the ORIGIN... part of which seems to have been inspired by the film LOST HORIZON. It's notable that with the ORIGIN story, Doc, who originally resembled Vincent Price (see THE RAVEN) began to resemble Ronald Colman. And of course, there's The Ancient One (Sam Jaffe)...
Posted by profh0011 on :
As an aside, please note that the main girl in LOST HORIZON is played by Jane Wyatt, who decades later played "Amanda" on STAR TREK (Spock's mother).
Posted by Dev Em on :
quote:Originally posted by Exnihil: I recently watched one of Frank Capra’s films from 1937 called, “Lost Horizon”.
About 30 minutes into it I started getting déjŕ vu. The rest of the film just cinched it. This will only have meaning to fans of the show “Lost,” but take a gander at the plot (abridged just to highlight the parallels):
Click Here For A SpoilerA group of Westerners are traveling home on a plane, when it crashes deep in an isolated land, completely hidden from the outside world. They all survive the crash (though the pilot is killed) and, after a short time taking shelter in caves, are met by the inhabitants of the land. These inhabitants, who are led by a mysterious figure, live in a seemingly impossible environment – both completely hidden from the outside world and, at the same time, built in a modern fashion with all conveniences of civilization. Meanwhile, in the outside world, a search ensures for the plane which just “disappeared”.
The crash survivors, including a scientist, a con-man, and a terminally ill passenger (who begins to miraculously recover in this place), are initially anxious to get back to civilization but, over time, they come to appreciate that this hidden land is a miraculous place where all of what they were before can be wiped clean. Most of them come to feel that they don't want to leave.
The hero is eventually granted an audience with the mysterious leader who tells him that his arrival was not an accident at all; that he was brought there intentionally. The leader has been watching the hero for years. It turns out that the leader is actually hundreds of years old (he was 108 when he realized he would no longer age), but is preserved by the magical properties of the place. He is finally prepared to die, however, and needs someone who will take his role in protecting this place.
Before this happens, though, through a heated discussion between two characters – one, a realist and one, a “man of faith,” the hero is convinced to escape the place with a small group of the survivors. After leaving, one of the escapees commits suicide and the hero, after a time, realizes that he never should have left and that he has to go back.
Forsaking everything in the real world where he is a highly respected person, the hero tries for a long time to find the place again (growing an almost comical beard in the process), but eventually makes it back to fulfill his destiny.
Wow, right?
I’m not saying that this movie was the only source for “Lost,” as clearly there are a great many other elements to the show… but I would be highly suspect if the above movie were not the core source. I mean, my wife and I were literally watching “Lost Horizon” with mouths agape at points going, “That’s almost the exact conversation from Lost.”
I am so looking for this movie!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Wow! I never realized how close the parallels between Lost Horizons and Lost were! Now I want to watch again with that in mind!
It's funny that Lost Horizons seems to be a largely forgotten novel/movie these days, while the fabled land at the core of the movie, Shangri-La, has become a part of the collective pop culture consciousness. I suspect the vast majority of people think that the idea of Shangri-La is much older than it's actual 1930s origins.
Posted by Tempest on :
I am watching (and reading) Tsubasa: Resevior Chronicles. I love CLAMP and Yuko is my favorite character they have created so far. Anime is a bit tiresome with the long pauses...but most animes do that. Almost done with Season 1 and then on to Season 2.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Currently watching the A&E Nero Wolfe series from about ten years ago, and wondering why I never knew of the existence of this particular piece of awesomeness until recently.
[ March 05, 2011, 12:41 PM: Message edited by: Eryk Davis Ester ]
Posted by Dev Em on :
quote:Originally posted by Exnihil: I recently watched one of Frank Capra’s films from 1937 called, “Lost Horizon”.
About 30 minutes into it I started getting déjŕ vu. The rest of the film just cinched it. This will only have meaning to fans of the show “Lost,” but take a gander at the plot (abridged just to highlight the parallels):
Just checked and one of the Libraries in this area has this...renting it this week.
Posted by Chief Lardy on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester:
quote:Originally posted by Chief Lardy: Caught encore presentations of the first two eps of Being Human tonight. So far, me rikey! Will definitely check out episode 3 this Monday!
I'm undecided on this as well. The whiny-ness of the characters is getting on my nerves already. And vampires are *so* boring! It is kind of cool seeing Jacob as the head vampire or whatever however!
I'm officially hooked on this show, with seven episodes in now! It's really fun to watch. It does have some angsty stuff going on, but it also has a humorous side to it that is coming out more and more as each episode goes by. There's this scene in last week's episode in which Aidan (the vampire lead) has an allergic reaction to garlic that is handled quite hilariously!
Being Human just has a good mix of soap opera, its own internal mythology and a real sense of humor that's really clicking with me. Definitely recommended!
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
Unintentional comedy... Sons of Anarchy
Fairly Legal. Not great, but okay at 10 or 11 on a Thursday night.
The Defenders... cute show. Belushi's ex should be the lady from his last show, according to jim, who played his wife. Now that could be funny.
Scrubs... still love this show. The lady playing Jordan... hottcha...
Got back into How I met your mother in syndication. Watched the show at first, but lost it.
Rules of engagement... The entire cast is funny.
Tried both the british and american version of Being Human and just can't stick it.
Waiting for Eureka and Warehouse 13 to return.
Posted by The Flying Fool on :
Waiting for Apr. 23rd, 9pm and the return of the wonderful Matt Smith as Doctor Who.
Posted by matlock on :
Don't forget Amy and Rory! The last season if Doctor Who was easily my favorite since the series was revived.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
How I Met Your Mother is always cool for a solid watch, even if I don't watch it religiously. Like the Office (but much more so IMO), if I catch it and I've got a few minutes, I'll rawk it out.
Community needs to get into syndication ASAP.
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
Just watched the Dresden Files on Netflix. Solid cast, Murphy was a fun watch, very attractive and smart.
don't know how the character is in the books, but in the show he seemed awfully squirmy and twitchy, as one character noted.
Would have liked to have seen more, but, it only lasted one season.
I forget who it was, but thanks to the poster here that recommended the series.
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
Castle. The show is just fun.
Posted by Rockhopper Lad on :
I called in sick for a tummy bug today and watched two movies on DVD this afternoon. I had checked both out from the library some time ago and finally got around to seeing them.
First was 1964's The World of Henry Orient, with Peter Sellers and Angela Lansbury. Sellers plays a concert pianist that two teenage schoolgirls become obsessed with. It's hilariously funny and very poignant in some places. I saw it on the late, late show when I was a teenager and decided to see it again.
Second was 1969's They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Jane Fonda and Michael Sarrazin play two young people in a weeks-long dance marathon in the 1930s. Gig Young won an Oscar for his role as the emcee. I had never seen it before.
Both great films in their own ways. I never would have put them together, but seeing them together I noticed some casting coincidences. Al Lewis (Grandpa Munster) appeared in a supporting role in both movies. Phyllis Thaxter was in Henry Orient and Susannah York was in They Shoot Horses. Of course Thaxter played Martha Kent and York played Lara in Superman: The Movie Posted by future king on :
I love the American version of Being Human.
The British version not so much.
Posted by Exo-Lardy on :
^Me, too, fk! I've extolled its virtues a couple of times in this thread. It really got better and better over the course of its 13 episodes with this week's being the last of the initial run. It was announced last month that there will be a second season. It's got a good mythology to it, an increasingly impressive cast, a nice humorous touch and it tied up a lot of loose ends while leaving room for future stories.
I watched most of the first episode of the British version. Just didn't grab me. I may look at it some more, but I don't see it impressing me like the American adaptation does.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
quote:Originally posted by Exo-Lardy: ^Me, too, fk! I've extolled its virtues a couple of times in this thread. It really got better and better over the course of its 13 episodes with this week's being the last of the initial run. It was announced last month that there will be a second season. It's got a good mythology to it, an increasingly impressive cast, a nice humorous touch and it tied up a lot of loose ends while leaving room for future stories.
I watched most of the first episode of the British version. Just didn't grab me. I may look at it some more, but I don't see it impressing me like the American adaptation does.
See I'm the exact opposite. We love the British version, but the American one really left us cold (full disclosure, we only watched the first few episodes). George and Annie are just so much more likable than their American counterparts. It may just be a matter of which you were exposed to first, but we were really turned off by the new one.
Also, Herrick was much creepier than Bishop, in that he was so disarming in his looks and mannerisms, that it's that much scarier when he goes full on vampy evil.
Posted by Exo-Lardy on :
One difference that bothered me was that the UK version's ghost was all about making tea and was visible to everyone. Just didn't seem all that tragic and ghostly, I guess.
Though the American version hooked me almost immediately, it still got MUCH better as the season went on. Not sure if anyone with a preference either way would ever warm up to the other version, though.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
quote:Originally posted by Exo-Lardy: One difference that bothered me was that the UK version's ghost was all about making tea and was visible to everyone. Just didn't seem all that tragic and ghostly, I guess.
In Season 1, Annie is still only visible to other Supernatural creatures (Once she begins honing her powers she's able to appear). The Tea thing is kind of a coping mechanism as she tries to sort out what's going on (including her suppressed memory of how she died). It's kind of a running joke when she keeps making tea that she can't drink and the others don't really want. I found the relationship between Annie and George was what one of the things made the show.
Posted by Candlelight on :
I prefer the British version of Being Human, too. I don't much care for the ghost girl in the American show, but the series, as a whole has been growing on me.
Did anyone watch Off the Map, Wed. on ABC? Interns getting a second chance to do their residencies in a Central American country at a clinic. Wonderful stuff.
Did you know that coconut milk has the same nutrients as blood plasma and was used during WWII by medics if blood wasn't available? It's even sterile in the nut.
There's a new movie coming out called Cowboys and Aliens. Harrison Ford is in it, which can be a plus or minus, but it looks good in the trailer I saw!
Posted by Exo-Lardy on :
quote:Originally posted by Dave Hackett: In Season 1, Annie is still only visible to other Supernatural creatures (Once she begins honing her powers she's able to appear). The Tea thing is kind of a coping mechanism as she tries to sort out what's going on (including her suppressed memory of how she died). It's kind of a running joke when she keeps making tea that she can't drink and the others don't really want. I found the relationship between Annie and George was what one of the things made the show.
Hm. Well, what I saw was presumably the first episode and it opened with Annie opening the door for a pizza boy and talking to him. Then, the other two made a comment about her keeping out of sight since she's supposed to be dead, and that would complicate things. It's on my free DVR list and is listed as the first episode. It begins with a montage similar to how the American version begins, so I assume that's correct.
In the American version Sally (the ghost's name in this one) begins completely disconnected from anything except other supernatural beings. She can't touch anyone or anything. By the end of the season, she's just being able to hold things in her hands with a great deal of concentration. She's a long way from being able to make tea.
Posted by Ram Boy on :
Two sl#ts and a nazi. I'll leave it at that.
Posted by cleome on :
Old MTM sitcoms on Hulu.
My nostalgia is harshed somewhat by the constant reminder of how much "romantic comedy" behavior is actually pretty stalker-ish and creepy. But what are you gonna' do...?
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
Robin Hood Season 3 was a bit of a disappointment. I recognize they lost half the cast at the end of Season 2, but the season just kept changing directions until the finale which came out of nowhere. We greatly enjoyed the first two seasons, and Season 3 had some great bits, but overall it failed to measure up to its predecessors. Shame it's all over now.
Posted by googoomuck on :
I've been watching Rocky and Bullwinkle Season 1
Posted by Candlelight on :
I've watched Stargate Universe for the run, and now it's been canceled. They had some writing at the end of the last episode, which I couldn't catch. Does anyone here know? I couldn't seem to actually find any information at the official site. sigh
Posted by Sarcasm Kid on :
For anyone who ever watched Scooby Doo in the 80s, and completely dreaded Scrappy Doo and Flim Flam, enjoy.
A new incarnation of Lingo starts Monday night on GSN. Bill Engvall will be the host, and I can't wait! I love Lingo!
Posted by Sarcasm Kid on :
I usually watch that show because the woman I watch at the nursing home watches the game show network.
Posted by Dev Em on :
Just saw Green Lantern: Emerald Knights today with the kids. Hannah loved it. I liked it well enough, and Jon liked the parts he watched in between playing with his Batman toys.
Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
I just starting watching "Game of Thrones" and am thoroughly intrigued. Swords, sex, political machinations, beheading(s!), sex, kingdoms at stake, creepy mythical man-beasts, incestuous sex...!!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by DrakeB3004: I just starting watching "Game of Thrones" and am thoroughly intrigued. Swords, sex, political machinations, beheading(s!), sex, kingdoms at stake, creepy mythical man-beasts, incestuous sex...!!
Me too! Really well done--I've only caught a few episodes here and there but its all been top notch.
My siblings (both brothers and sisters) are really into the books. They lent me the first book, which I've yet to start, but tell me I'll be totally invested in no time once I start reading, that the books are that good.
Posted by lancesrealm on :
The books are that good, Cobie. Get started!
Posted by Invisible Brainiac on :
Criminal Minds. It's the only non-animated series that has totally gotten me hooked. For the record, the only animated series that did the same were Avatar: The Last Airbender and the Legion of Superheroes, natch.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
Breaking Bad started Season 4 last night. Great stuff, but pretty intense. I'm glad they dealt with the cliffhanger quickly and got a status quo of sorts to work from, because i'm a lot more interested in where the characters go from here.
Posted by Emily Sivana on :
Napoleon (2002) a mini-series about Emperor Napoloeon I's rise, reign, and fall. It is really entertaining and well-filmed.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Dave, my wife and I are midway through Breaking Bad season 3--we just got into it a few weeks ago.
All I can say is WOW. What a mind-blowingly fantastic show! One of the best I've ever seen and worthy of all the accolades and ratings it gets. It's a show that pulls no punches and every character is totally realistic and fully realized.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
Glad you like it Cobie. We were starting to get burned out on "Dexter" with all it's plot contrivances and stretches it made to maintain the Status Quo it wanted. When I mentioned this to someone, they suggested Breaking Bad and it's been great. I'm loving how every action has realistic consequences and Walt just keeps going deeper and deeper into that hole. It will be interesting to see him fully "Break Bad" as the show progresses.
Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
My wife and i were looking for stuff to watch during the summer and decided to rent "Weeds" Now we bought all the seasons on the cheap from Amazon. Good show! It's a bit all over the place sometimes with their stories, but very entertaining!
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
quote:Originally posted by DrakeB3004: My wife and i were looking for stuff to watch during the summer and decided to rent "Weeds" Now we bought all the seasons on the cheap from Amazon. Good show! It's a bit all over the place sometimes with their stories, but very entertaining!
We're watching Weeds on Netflix Canada right now. We're about midway through the second season. It's been really fun, and this season seems to be finding its groove a bit better than the first season which, as you said, didn't seem to know what kind of show it wanted to be at times.
Posted by Iam Legion on :
Hot in Cleveland. Betty White is still hillarious!
Posted by SharkLad on :
Rupaul's Drag U... oddly addictive...
Posted by SharkLad on :
Stumbled across an episode of "Little House on the Prairie"... the school teacher was in horse and buggy accident, so Mrs. Ingalls was asked to fill in... she was trying to help one of the older students learn to read when Mrs. Olsen came in and called the student dumb in front of everyone...
Boy, that Mrs. Olsen was a real beyotch...
Posted by l.e.g.i.o.n.JOHN on :
My Girlfriend has got me hooked on A-list NY, and after two seasons i have to call it one of my guilty new pleasures. But Riechen really needs to get over himself with his "ohh poor me i can't find love yadda,yadda,yadda." Ohhh and Austen!! jezzus man get over it and just do Riechen already. i'm getting tired of his drunken tirades and his attack on the Rodiney/Reichen relationship. Mike is my fave so far, the others Ryan, Derrick and TJ, kinda remind me of that female clique in HS that hung together gossiped about everything but kept smiling the whole time while talking much $#iT behind your back. gotta love the cattiness huh?
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
Just finished Season 2 of Weeds, but Season 3 isn't on Netflix Canada yet. May be a renter, just to resolve the cliffhanger.
Definitely a better Season than the first. Although I found Peter's turn at the end a little abrupt and extreme, it certainly amped up the tension. Zooey Deshanel (Sp?) alternated between funny and annoying over the last few episodes, I hope she's used sparingly in the future, if at all.
Posted by Mystery Lad on :
Fans of golden age or just after Hollywood will appreciate this... I just spent the past hour watching home movies on YouTube. Home movies featuring Paul Newman, Natalie Wood, Rock Hudson, Lauren Bacall, Julie Andrews, Sal Mineo, Jane Fonda, Kirk Douglas... too many to remember.
Shot by Roddy McDowell at his beach house and just now released.
Can you imagine beach parties with these people? It's fun seeing them in this setting, with windblown hair, kids and dogs underfoot. There's no sound- so it's eye candy only.
Apparently a documentary is being assembled from the footage. Roddy McDowell is one celebrity whose 'tell-all' I would love to read- but the fact that he refused to write one makes me like him even more. He was friends with just about everybody back then, apparently... and knew and kept all his friends' secrets.
Posted by profh0011 on :
I decided to dig out my videoptape of BLACKSTAR for the first time since 1981 and watch it again. It's just as I remember-- every frame screams "Filmation!" (the same people who did JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH, STAR TREK, FLASH GORDON), but it's been terribly watered-down for "the kiddies". Oh well.
Here's what baffles me. Both the IMDB and Wikipedia have the episodes listed in a certain order, with air dates. Now, as far as I know, I taped the first 11 episodes off CBS during their initial run. And the order is COMPLETELY different! How is this possible???
Unless, of course, the information on both websites is INCORRECT and is being perpetuated because nobody knows any better...
1 - SEARCH FOR THE STARSWORD 2 - KINGDOM OF NEPTUL 3 - LIGHTNING CITY OF THE CLOUDS 4 - THE QUEST 5 - THE CROWN OF THE SORCERESS 6 - THE AIR WHALES OF ANCHOR 7 - THE LORD OF TIME 8 - THE MERMAID OF SERPENT SEA 9 - TREE OF EVIL 10 - CITY OF THE ANCIENT ONES 11 - THE OVERLORD'S BIG SPELL
Posted by Rockhopper Lad on :
I really like the History Channel's How the States Got Their Shapes. Brian Unger can redraw my borders any time! Posted by dedman on :
I've been watching Known Universe a fair bit lately. Just finished up Game of Thrones yesterday from the PVR.
Posted by Set on :
Just watched Charlie Jade on Hulu recently. There's some gems buried among all the dross there.
Misfits is amusing, but appalling, at the same time. It's like a train wreck. I can't look away!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Currently watching the season premiere of Hawaii Five-0, now with added awesomeness from new cast member Terry O'Quinn!
Posted by Dr. Tot Rocket on :
THE PLAYBOY CLUB series premiere!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: Currently watching the season premiere of Hawaii Five-0, now with added awesomeness from new cast member Terry O'Quinn!
Okay, overall I thought the season premiere was a bit weak. The whole "getting the band back together" thing was a little too easy after last season's finale. But it sets up what looks to be a pretty groovy new status quo for the new season! And I'm pretty excited about getting to see Terry O'Quinn on tv regularly again!
Posted by Dr. Gwen Roil: Girl Psychiatrist on :
I deplore office politics... except on Parks and recreation, where Leslie Knope could make a pile of dog turds seem appealing...
But this hatred of office atmospheres has kept me from watching THE OFFICE all this time. So I got over it, and watched the new season premiere.
I'm rather into it. The meanness and back-stabbing are all spot-on. Very humorous!
Posted by Legion Tracker on :
Dr. Gwen, THE OFFICE is great, and it seems so "you." I'm amazed you've been missing it!
Posted by Dev - Em on :
HAve you guys ever seen Office Space? Hilarious movie, especially great if you've ever worked in that environment. I worked at a IT company, and with just about every character in that movie...even with how out there some of them were.
Posted by Dr. Gwen Roil: Girl Psychiatrist on :
I def. plan to NETFLIX *all* seasons of THE OFFICE... starting today, Season 1 episode 1!
I'll squeeze in OFFICE SPACE when I need a break from the TV show!
Posted by Exnihil on :
quote:Originally posted by Blockade Boy: Trying to figure out "Primer."
I think I might try playing it in reverse.
I just discovered this movie but have now watched it three times over last night and this afternoon (It's only about an hour and a quarter).
In case anyone ever plans on catching this fantastic movie blind, I'll spoiler tag this comment... but Primer has to be the most engaging and "realistically" presented movie I've ever seen about
Click Here For A SpoilerTime Travel
I highly, highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys films about the above topic.
And my mind is blown to learn that the entire film was made for just $7000!
Posted by Dr. Gwen Roil: Girl Psychiatrist on :
OMG... Steve Carrel's character on THE OFFICE is **so** ******BEYOND****** !!!!!annoying!!!!!!
Thankfully, these 2 guys are super-awesome:
**dreamy sighs**
Posted by lancesrealm on :
Primer was great, and very smartly done. It is one of the few films that requires re-watching a few times to notice all of the subtleties.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
Lash,
You really should check out the original UK Office. Its really great (and Ricky Gervais is brilliant in it).
I'll also second OFFICE SPACE.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
Blockbuster Canada is going out of business, so I got a stack of films I probably never would have if they weren't virtually free.
Last night I watched "Snakes on a Plane".
The title of the movie is pretty much all the review you need. There are Snakes on a Plane. You're either down with that, or you're not.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Thing I've watched recently...
The entire Avengers cartoon. It's great! Best comic cartoon I've seen! And as a huge Avengers fan it really captures that Avengers spirit.
Still watching old Highlanders. I'm on season 2.
I watched the original season of Spartacus: Blood & Sand. Awesome! (sad about Andy Whitfield)
From Paris with Love, Centurion, Stone, Dial M for Muder, Last Night (good new film with Keira Knightly and Sam Worthington...young married couple in nyc), Persons Unknown the mini series (i hate it...still have 2 episodes to go), an old Antonio Banderas flick from spain...tie me up, time me down, Sucker Punch (kinda liked it, kinda hated it), Black Swan(great!), Tron and Tron Legacy. eh.
APOCALYPSE NOW. I haven't seen this in a few years. I didn't see the redux this time (i have before). Great movie! My wife has never seen it and she loved it. I recently read Heart of Darkness also so I wanted to rewatch it. Great book...better movie.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Just watched the premiere of Terra Nova. It was actually a bit better than I thought it would be (my expectations were pretty low), but I'm not completely convinced by it yet.
Posted by Lard Lad on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: Just watched the premiere of Terra Nova. It was actually a bit better than I thought it would be (my expectations were pretty low), but I'm not completely convinced by it yet.
I caught it Monday and found it pretty decent as well. I can see some things possibly derailing the show (like if they get too teen-angsty and what-not), but if they can enhance the mystery and keep things kind of edgy, it has potential. I'd hate to see a terrific concept go south like "The Event" did very quickly last year.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Yeah, it's got the potential to improve or go massively downhill. I found the "writing on the rocks" the most interesting bit of the whole show, and though they actually revealed a little too much about it by the end.
The characters are a bit on the cliched side (notice how similar the family structure is to "No Ordinary Family"), but Jason O'Mara's shines through pretty much anything he's given.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I also found Terra Nova surprisingly exceeding me expectations. It didn't floor me, but it was still decent and has potential. Also, like you guys, I'm a big fan of Jason O'Mara.
What the series could use a little upping of the danger / suspense factor to kind of bring the series to the next level in terms of a sense of urgency and uneasiness. Otherwise it runs to risk of feeling a little 'lite' like so many other shows have done.
In other news I found Pan-Am to be boring beyond belief (though with a potential good spy plot that could save the series if it was an centerpiece) and the Playboy Club to be horrible and a compilation of cliches and half-developed stereotypes. Neither has any acting worth noting.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Jorge, my wife and I also enjoyed Spartacus: Blood and Sand. It didn't try to pretend it was Rome or Deadwood in terms of being highbrow and instead reveled in the violence and sex of the era. That made it refreshing and exciting!
It was really sad about Andy Whitfield. I actually think we might not continue watching beyond Season One since he's not in anything after.
Posted by Ram Boy on :
Just watched the first two episodes of Pan Am. Pretty enjoyable, and the production looked amazing. I'm particularly keen on the actress who plays the French stewardess.
Posted by Set on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: Jorge, my wife and I also enjoyed Spartacus: Blood and Sand.
Gods of the Arena is actually pretty decent. It's set in the year *before* Blood & Sand, and you get to see some awesome backstory of Oenomaus/Dottori, Crixus, Ashur, etc. and, since it's set before the events of Blood & Sand, some relationships are surprisingly different. We know that Batiatus and Solonius are hated rivals, and that Lucretia and Crixus have 'a thing' in Blood & Sand, but their relationships are 100% different in Gods of the Arena, which is kinda neat.
I'm not sure if the violance and sex is less gratuitious, or if I just was so jaded by the amount in Blood & Sand that I didn't notice it as much in Gods of the Arena... Posted by Ram Boy on :
Episode 3 of Pan Am was somewhat of a disappointment. New York was totally miscast as Berlin. Christina Ricci's performance bordered on the manic, and there was a looooong German folksong involved.
Still lovin' the steel and glass look of the airport sets, though. In fact, if I could get away with it, I'd redo our living room in Mid Century Pan Am Terminal.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
Breaking Bad Season Finale was pretty crazy. Looks like a world of possibilities for Season 5 (the last one). Glad they're pulling no punches with Walt's walk to the dark side and that no solution is ever neat and tidy.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
FX Canada just launched and they're playing something called "American Horror Stroy" that looks interesting. I PVRed the first two episodes and will check them out later this week.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I checked out the first episode and liked it a real lot. My wife actually thought it was too scary and wasn't in the right mindset to watch it--so that might be a good endorsement of how chilling it is. I plan to eventually watch the entire season.
Can't wait to check out Breaking Bad Season 4, but I'll have to wait until the season is out on DVD.
Also really looking forward to the new western AMC has that will follow Walking Dead. That channel can basically do no wrong these days. (And I'm also glad to see FX staying strong now that Rescue Me is over).
Posted by Exnihil on :
I don't know why it was in my mind recently, but the other day I started thinking about one of my all-time favorite shows, "Twin Peaks". Bored last night, I watched the pilot episode again on Netflix. Man, that show was so good.
Long story short - I have a sneaking suspicion that I'm going to wind up watching the whole series again. Damn you, David Lynch. Posted by LASHbrain on :
AMERICAN HORROR STORY has been EXCELLENT!
Also, I have gotten into ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT on Hulu & Netflix, never watched it. It amuses me!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
So Eryk and other Hawaii 5-O fans: is Terry Quinn on full-time? To say I'm a fan is understating it like saying I don't like being stabbed. Maybe it's time I really check this show out?
Lash, you'll enjoy Arrested Development I think. It's not for everyone and it might not be in my top 5 funniest but it had true moments of comedic brilliance throughout.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Also, 'Hell on Wheels' has been freaking fantastic! AMC can do no wrong, honestly. The three best shows on television and this one is looking good too.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: So Eryk and other Hawaii 5-O fans: is Terry Quinn on full-time? To say I'm a fan is understating it like saying I don't like being stabbed. Maybe it's time I really check this show out?
He's a recurring character this season. He's a key player in the ongoing storyline this season. I think he's been in about half the episodes so far (I'm about four episodes behind right now, though).
Posted by LASHbrain on :
Cobie, yeah your ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT description is pretty spot-on for me... I am liking it well enough as a whole... no characters that I just fall in love with like on my TOP-FAVE shows, but each character is just interesting and amusing ENOUGH that I am into it.
Also, I learned today that in quite an intersting deal, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT is RETURNING with all new shows, as a NETFLIX EXCLUSIVE.
Having a star trek TNg marathon .... I always loved troi but I never realized that she was integral to so many episodes!
It's like the troi show...
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Anybody watched Person of Interest?
It actually sounds kind of interesting, plus Michael Emerson is pretty much all kinds of awesome.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Have not seen it yet but my father-in-law (who has good taste in television shows IMO) says its really fantastic. The acting, as expected, is top-notch with the groovy Michael Emerson and the equally awesome Jim Caviezal.
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
I've been trying to watch farscape, but the main actor is such a ham, and... puppets? Sorry, it just doesn't work for me. Though, they've got some very attractive ladies on it.
Posted by Lard Lad on :
<== Aeryn Sun!
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
Yah know, she has a distinctive face. Not a classically beautiful face, but a distinctive face. But, on her, it absolutely works. Very attractive lady. Didn't she do a guest spot on The Dresden Files?
Posted by Lard Lad on :
Not sure. I remember Claudia Black (Aeryn) appeared on Stargate in its last seasons around the same time Ben Browder/Crichton moved over to that series. Never was a Stargate fan, but I watched some episodes because those two were on it.
Claudia also was in the excellent sci-fi movie "Pitch Black" with Vin Diesel. She was an unfortunate early casualty in that one.
Classically beautiful or not, I'm a fan of hers!
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
Oh no, she's beautiful, don't get me wrong. She has a distinctive face, not some blandly pretty face like say... Gwennyth Paltrow. That's why it works, her face is not only beautiful, it has character. Plus, she's got that husky voice. Grrrrooowwwwwwlllll!
Posted by Mystery Lad on :
I loved FARSCAPE. It did take a half-dozen or so episodes to really 'gel', I think. But if you're turned off by the main guy's hamminess, which I found fun, really, and didn't stop thinking of the puppets as puppets, you might not ever tune in.
Claudia Black ought to turn up in projects much more often. She's a good actress, in addition to her distinctive looks and great voice.
I've been watching ONCE UPON A TIME and GRIMM, both of which I really like. The first is much more ambitious in scope, I think. I was a bit shocked to see Kate Burton kicking butt in GRIMM, though. In a good way.
I also really like, in a guilty pleasure sort of way, REVENGE. It keeps swerving in ways I didn't expect. Hard to see the girl from EVERWOOD as someone as hardcore as her character here, at least at first.
I just watched HOW TO TRAIN A DRAGON- which I missed in theaters (not hard to do- my movie-going's really dropped off in the last couple of years). I thoroughly enjoyed this cartoon. It was sort of fitting to watch it just after Anne McCaffrey died. It reminded me how much I wanted a dragon to ride as a teenager (and still do, to tell the truth).
Posted by MLLASH classic on :
EDE, Lardy, Cobie... are you still into TERRA NOVA? I've watched the first 2 eps on HULU and am interested enough to continue. I'm mesmerized by the combo of high-tech and dinosaurs!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I haven't been keeping up with it regularly, though I've caught an episode or two since the premiere. It still strikes me as good, though not anything that's a must watch. If it.gets renewed, I'll probably go through and watch the whhole season.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I haven't watched an episode since #2. It was good and if I can watch it I will but it wasn't something I just *had* to watch.
If people were raving about it, I'd definitely check out what I've missed.
Posted by Dev - Em on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: Also, 'Hell on Wheels' has been freaking fantastic! AMC can do no wrong, honestly. The three best shows on television and this one is looking good too.
I'm 2 episodes into it and absolutely love this show. It turned into something that I wasn't expecting...which is a good thing,
Anson Mount is a good lead, but Colm Meaney totally steals this show though in my opinion.
Posted by Lard Lad on :
quote:Originally posted by MLLASH classic: EDE, Lardy, Cobie... are you still into TERRA NOVA?
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: I haven't been keeping up with it regularly, though I've caught an episode or two since the premiere. It still strikes me as good, though not anything that's a must watch.
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: I haven't watched an episode since #2. It was good and if I can watch it I will but it wasn't something I just *had* to watch.
I echo Edie and Cobie's opinions exactly. Nothing wrong with the show, but nothing "must watch" about it either. Maybe with Walking dead on hiatus, I'll catch back up with it. We'll see...
IMO, best new series to this point goes to "Once Upon a Time" of the ones I've checked out. Posted by Exnihil on :
I saw a great documentary on the big screen a few months back called, "The Cave of Forgotten Dreams," and, since then, have been working my way through the works of director, Werner Herzog. The man himself seems batsh!t crazy, but he made some fantastic films.
I just watched his "Encounters at the End of The World" last night, and now I totally want to visit Antarctica.
Next up on the queue is his second of five films made with fellow insane person, Klaus Kinski, a film of particular note in Legion World circles: "Nosferatu the Vampyre".
Posted by Power Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by MLLASH classic: EDE, Lardy, Cobie... are you still into TERRA NOVA? I've watched the first 2 eps on HULU and am interested enough to continue. I'm mesmerized by the combo of high-tech and dinosaurs!
I saw the first episode of Outcasts -- the british tv series Terra Nova is based/spun from. I liked it, it seemed for a bit older crowd than Terra Nova - it was kinda intense/darker. Apollo from BSG is on it and the guy from Ugly Betty too. (Betty's boss)
I'm loyally following Ringer, it's my favorite new show, there are so many twists and turns each episode.
I'm also watching Grim, it's pretty good, I like it because it's a bunch of done in ones so far, and the comical werewolf helps.
Posted by cleome45 on :
I was at my buddies' place yesterday evening, watching some of Nick Park's work: A Matter of Loaf and Death and Shaun the Sheep.
As usual, really nice looking work, but I admit it irritated me that of course the evildoer was an "old"/fat woman. Because of course a few extra pounds/years makes us all homicidal maniacs out to destroy men and/or their friendships with one another, doncha' know. Thanks, Nick.
"Shaun the Sheep" involved the flock "inventing" rugby, using a cabbage that fell off the back of a passing truck... to the consternation of the neighborhood pigs, who wanted the cabbage for themselves. It was really adorable.
Posted by Fanfic Lady on :
My DVD of "Centurions: The Original Miniseries" arrived yesterday. For anyone who never watched or who doesn't remember that 1986 cartoon, the concept is basically Iron Man cubed, three armored guys with a variety of weapons, each guy specializing in either air, land, or sea. A cool twist which I've always liked is that the person in charge of teleporting their weapons from a super-satellite in space to whatever location they happen to be in is a woman with a pet orangutan named Lucy.
I wish I could say it holds up as well as Transformers, but unfortunately it doesn't. Despite some talented voice actors in the cast, the characters are bland and the performances flat. And the dialogue lacks the wit and snap of the better 80s action cartoons (like Transformers.)
It's also misleading to call this a mini-series, because these are actually five self-contained episodes. Thus, each one rises or falls depending on the quality of the animation, which varies. The best ones have a nice combination of smooth, clean "American-style" designs and punchy, dynamic "Japanese-style" action sequences. My favorite episode by far is the first, "The Sky Is On Fire." I'd recommend trying to find that one on the internet rather than spending money on this DVD.
Posted by MLLASH classic on :
Don't roll your eyes too hard, but I've totally gotten into THE VAMPIRE DIARIES on Netflix.
I'm halfway through Season 1. Where does it rank with past vampey things?
It's much less campy than Buffy could be... about 50 times more exciting than what I have seen of the Twilight films (the main girl is 10 zillion times better than the Bella)... of course it's PG-13 unlike True Blood, but I think overall I'm enjoying it as much as True Blood.
So... it's kinda a less-humorous themed, much more exciting, less booby/butty version of past vampirey things!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by MLLASH classic: Don't roll your eyes too hard, but I've totally gotten into THE VAMPIRE DIARIES on Netflix.
Posted by Dev - Em on :
quote:Originally posted by cleome45: "Shaun the Sheep" involved the flock "inventing" rugby, using a cabbage that fell off the back of a passing truck... to the consternation of the neighborhood pigs, who wanted the cabbage for themselves. It was really adorable.
Shaun the Sheep is hysterical to me for some reason. The kids watched it when it was on Disney as buffers between shows...great stuff.
Posted by MLLASH classic on :
1 more ep of Vampire Diaries Season 1 remains for me to see, and I am now officially a big unapologetic fan!! After this- Season 2 awaits!!
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
American Horror Story was dealt a blow for me with the Rubber Man episode (we're a few weeks behind in Canada). Not to be too spoilery, but I didn't like the "pulling back the curtain" aspects of it. I want spooky, creepy and challenging fare, not a soap opera of ghosts. Hoping the last handful of episodes get it back on track.
Posted by Blacula on :
I just saw The Adventures of Tintin and LOVED it!
An extremely fast-paced, action-packed thrill-ride that looked AMAZING! I swear I wanted to just teleport myself straight onto the screen and run around all those awesomely animated foggy French streets and dusty North African towns myself.
I was a big fan of Herge's books about this famous boy-reporter when I was growing up and have read all of them - so I went into this movie with some trepidation that they might screw it up. But I was seriously impressed.
Super-fun movie and I really hope we get a sequel now.
quote:Originally posted by Dave Hackett: American Horror Story was dealt a blow for me with the Rubber Man episode (we're a few weeks behind in Canada). Not to be too spoilery, but I didn't like the "pulling back the curtain" aspects of it. I want spooky, creepy and challenging fare, not a soap opera of ghosts. Hoping the last handful of episodes get it back on track.
NO AHS SPOILERS HERE, just info that may be helpful...
In the 12 episodes of AHS, you get a complete story that meets the 3 criteria you list. HOWEVER... the soap-opera aspect is there too. Don't let that be a dealbreaker because...
The next-to-last episode is one of the most ....SEVERE hours of television I have ever watched. The finale: 100% NOT what I expected but left me very satisfied.
And Jessica Lange gives an awardsworthy performance throughout.
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
Just got Terry Pratchett's Going Postal in mail from Netflix. gonna watch it tonight maybe.
Posted by MLLASH classic on :
30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, and The Office all resume tonight, hooray! But ...it will seem SO weird without my beloved Community! Up All Night (also resuming tonight) is cute and all but it's SO not as streets ahead as Community.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
Netflix Canada finally got Being Human (UK Version), so we got to see the Season 2 finale at last (it was great). On to Season 3!
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
Mostly just watching Big Bang Theory and How I met your mother reruns, when I'm not on TVland at night to go to sleep.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Re-watching the Thin Man movies this week!
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
awesome. Love me some Myrna Loy. And that series, while a bit different from the books, was a great example of that kind of pop, zing and verve from that era.
Posted by Rockhopper Lad on :
I recently bought the Guiding Light classic DVD set and have seen a few of the episodes from the early '80s, only one of which I distinctly remember seeing when I was a teenager. It's interesting to see the standard of male beauty changing at that time. The young leading men were starting to become more buff. Before that, a handsome face was considered sufficient. Rugged young men such as John Wesley Shipp (Kelly Nelson [Shipp still looks awesome, BTW]) and Greg Beecroft (Tony Reardon) spent a lot of time shirtless. It's a lot of fun seeing this show again.
Posted by Viridis Lament on :
Yo Gabba Gabba. Dani loves the bright colours and all the singing and dancing, especially when I sing and dance along with the show for her.
Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
I'm glad "Justified" started up again. Not the best thing in the world, but better than most.
Speaking of cops in hats, I've been catching up with "Prime Suspect" in Demand and I like it a lot - it's too bad people were so turned off by Maria Bello's ladyballs. (I don't know what it is, but it seems they promoted it all wrong - who knows?)
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
Watched "A Serious Man" last night. Still thinking about it, mulling over the "difficult" ending. Not sure if the movie was successful or not, but there were some great individual scenes.
Posted by cleome45 on :
Somebody at work recommended the cartoon Archer: a parody of Sixties spy epics. I could only get clips (no cable or satellite), but it does look pretty amusing.
Also caught what I think is the last episode of Bob's Burgers. It reminds me of why I never followed my Mom into the restaurant biz.
Posted by Blacula on :
^ Archer is HIL-ARIOUS! I think it would definitely appeal to the Venture Bros./Community/etc.-appreciating crowd here at Legion World.
I've only seen the first season though. Definitely need to track down the others.
Posted by Fanfic Lady on :
I just finished watching the first episode of the new NBC show "Smash." It does have every making-of-a-musical cliche, but this kind of story has been neglected in TV and movies for so long, that it feels fresh, or at the very least like an old friend one hasn't seen for a while. And I thought it was well-written and well-cast -- my favorite is Katherine McPhee as the small-town girl with dreams of stardom.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Pretty impressed by the premiere of "The River"!
Posted by MLLASH classic on :
LOVED the pilot ep of SMASH... I'm onboard.
Have debated NETFLIXing ARCHER for awhile... now I am convinced to proceed with it!
AAaaaaand, was waiting to hear someone whose opinion I respect report on THE RIVER... so consider it HULU'ed!
Posted by Fanfic Lady on :
quote:Originally posted by MLLASH classic: LOVED the pilot ep of SMASH... I'm onboard.
YAY!
Posted by MLLASH classic on :
SMASH episode 2: IN LOVE WITH IT.
I empathized with both actresses up for the role, and had to dab a tear for both of them last night. Also touched by the final scene at the adoption meeting and Anjelica's joy at not losing her director.
I love everything about SMASH, but I did spend some time in the theatre world in the 90s so that's not a big surprise to me.
Posted by Fanfic Lady on :
I'm waiting until the weekend to watch the next episode of "Smash" so I can savor it and so I won't be tired from staying up late. After reading Lash's review, I'm even more excited about it.
Posted by MLLASH's *glare* on :
Just watched episodes 3 and 4 of SMASH... yeah, there's a lot of "cliche" kinda stuff going on here... jealousies, diva-ness, cheating, etc. and I am *LOVING* every minute of it. Let's face it, this is what happens in theatre.
Much more realistic to me than GLEE ever could hope to be.
Posted by matlock on :
The last couple episodes of "Game of Thrones" just to review. April 1st can't get here too soon.
Also "Young Justice" and "Green Lantern" with my boy. They're basically fulfilling my superhero fix these days.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Cant wait for Game of Thrones to restart!
I highly recommend Archer--fall off the couch hilarious! The humor is abbrasive that it's engrossing.
Drake, I also like Justified quite a bit. We've always kind of liked the same shows.
For example, I've been rewatching all 7 seasons of the Shield, which is the best cop show ever IMO, and one of the best TV shows ever. Just finished the finale of season 5 this past weekend--whew, I forgot how tough the show is on it's viewers. I've got my wife totally hooked, and shes been a trooper handling the rough subject matter. The show amazingly contains what I consider the greatest performances ever by both Glen Close and Forrest Whitaker.
Also, a show I think is really funny is New Girl.
Posted by Exnihil on :
I just watched a British film that I really enjoyed, called, "Exam".
The premise is this:
There are eight final candidates competing for an extremely prestigious position within a corporation.
Having reached the final selection stage, they are brought into an exam room with a single piece of paper sitting on their desk and are told they have 80 minutes to answer a single question to determine who gets the job.
They are given a block of instruction containing a few key points which will result in their disqualification, namely - They may not spoil their paper in any way, they may not leave the room for any reason, and they may not attempt to communicate with the armed guard at the door.
The timer begins, they flip their papers over... and they are completely blank.
Thus begins a nice 80 minute suspenseful puzzler of a film that completely held my interest throughout. It is basically a character study piece of the candidates themselves, where each minute escalates the tension between this group, and the lengths that each will go to ensure that they are the only one to answer correctly.
I did find the ending a little less than what I had hoped, but the journey there was quite engaging.
Recommended.
Posted by cleome45 on :
I'm watching reruns of The Rockford Files, and also Portlandia on hulu.
The latter can be pretty uneven. It often suffers from "SNL" syndome. (Lorne Michaels is at the helm, after all.) Y'know, that thing where a sketch runs on five or ten minutes longer than it should, because nobody knows how to end it.
Some of the sequences are priceless, though. A local organic grocery service brings a Yuppie couple a Durian, and the resultant surreal happenings are almost worthy of Kids In The Hall at its best. A cat goes on tour with a two-person human band, only to attract a very creepily-devotional human fan.
And the recent half-hour ep about people who take brunch wayyyy to seriously was doubly rewarding, because I recognized most of the places in which it was set. (The local pizza parlor was disguised as the brunch place that everyone had to get into at the same time.)
[ March 11, 2012, 09:47 PM: Message edited by: cleome45 ]
Posted by Rockhopper Lad on :
I'm enjoying GCB quite a bit.
As a Houstonian, it makes me dislike Dallas all the more. Posted by Exnihil on :
The wife and I went to see "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" this evening - the espionage film with Gary Oldman and Colin Firth - and... I am just dumbfounded at how little I enjoyed this film.
I fancy myself a reasonably intelligent person, but I don't think I can remember a time when I have understood less of what was going on in a film than I did during this one.
I'm not even talking about the "wow... this has so many convoluted twists that I'm lost in the plot" type of confusion that can be, at times, sort of fun. No... I'm literally talking on the level of, "Wait... who is that guy? What are they doing now? Why are they doing that?"
Perhaps I was in the wrong mind set, perhaps the variety of dialects used added to the effect, perhaps it was a case of not being familiar with the source material, but... whatever it was, I'm amazed that I could sit though a film that garnered fairly wide acclaim and come away just so unsatisfied.
Did anyone else see this?
Posted by cleome45 on :
quote:Originally posted by Blacula: ^ Archer is HIL-ARIOUS! I think it would definitely appeal to the Venture Bros./Community/etc.-appreciating crowd here at Legion World.
I've only seen the first season though. Definitely need to track down the others.
Having just seen the first eight eps, I'm now convinced that it's secretly written by certain Legion Worlders. I refuse to name names, however.
(Also, watching it before bed? Not good. I don't ever want to talk about my dreams ever again...)
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Exnihil,
I was worried about Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy being a bit too complex.
I like dense espionage tales but sometimes they get lost in translation (into a film).
I personally think that films and novels should be shorter and more focused. There is an art to the novella.
Anyways this has happened to me watching other movies...i tried watching them again a few years later. Usually the 2nd time around it's better. But I hear what you are saying.
Posted by Jerry on :
I rented "The Conspirator" over the weekend. Whoa. A period piece with a timely message and a lot of suspense. Robin Wright is excellent in this one.
Outside of that, I may start watching some old Knight Rider and A-Team on Netflix.
Posted by Raging Bull on :
Mad Men, but I'm not really feeling it this season. The hiatus was so long that it sometimes feels like I'm watching a parody of Mad Men.
Posted by MLLASH's back on :
ARCHER has been a total hoot!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by Raging Bull: Mad Men, but I'm not really feeling it this season. The hiatus was so long that it sometimes feels like I'm watching a parody of Mad Men.
I'm a longtime fan and I'm also not getting into it yet this season. Something feels like it's missing--some kind of tension, or I don't know what. I'm hoping it picks up.
Posted by Lard Lad on :
Having watched the penultimate episode of the current second season, I must continue to extol the virtues of SyFy's American version of Being Human. This has been an engaging and occasionally hilarious series since it debuted last year. I can't compare it much to its British progenitor (couldn't even get thru the pilot of that version), but in and of itself, this show is just flat-out good!
Again, if you've never heard of it, the premise revolves around a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost sharing an apartment in an attempt to "be" more "human". The vampire Aidan struggles (often unsuccessfully) to stop feeding on people and to be free from the mafia-esque vampire society he's been a part of for centuries. The werewolf Josh had his life shattered by the encounter that turned him and constantly finds his attempts to rebuild complicated by his curse in some unexpected ways. The ghost Sally was a murder victim and her dealing with her afterlife helps us see things from the ghost perspective in ways we've never seen.
I know it sounds all angst-ridden and melodramatic--and it IS all that and more! But the show finds the right balance to not always take itself so seriously, even while delivering a lot of shocking, emotional developments. It's not a "funny" show, but it's not all "Twilight-y" either. Plenty of down-and-dirty violence and sexiness without glitter and lipgloss.
Definitely recommended for sci-fi/horror TV genre fans and anybody who likes to be entertained.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
I'm the opposite of Lardy, I can't stand the remake of Being Human. But even the current season of the UK original with 2/3 of the principle cast gone, is really compelling and fun.
I'd skip the pilot myself as a lot of the premise really changed going forward with the main series, but would highly recommend at least the first three series (which are only 8 episodes each I believe).
Posted by Lard Lad on :
Been watching "The Voice" avidly. That said, tonight Christina Aguilera goes and eliminates THE BEST FRIGGIN' SINGER IN THE WHOLE DAMN COMPETITION!!! WTF?!?!
Note to all future male Voice competitors: If Christina presses her button, and you have ANY other coach turn around for you, CHOOSE THE OTHER COACH! Between this season and the first, Christina sticks with the divas, even if there's a clearly superior male on her team!
Jesse should have had a shot at winning it all, and Christina sabotaged it. #superpissed
/end rant/
Posted by KidChaos on :
Having a good time on my night off watching my ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT DVD collection.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
^ for some reason after reading your post, the first thing I thought of was the Carl Weathers episode.
I just LOVE how he deadpans that his focus is purely on food.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Ps - Lardy, you are so right on the Voice. I'm quasi into it, but my wife really is. But c'mon--what the HELL is Christina thinking? She's my girl from waaaay back (the dirrrty video changed my life ) but she is definitely the worst coach.
It was also telling how when Blake and his four did a song together, he let each shine in a big way without taking any spotlight, while with Christina did the total opposite.
Posted by Lard Lad on :
Yeah, I noticed that, too. Blake didn't have a single solo part while Christina hogged most of the spotlight. I mean...that outfit alone!
Usually, I'm not into singing competitions or even most reality shows in general, other than Survivor. There were two seasons of American Idol where I was into the final 10 or 12. But there's something about the Voice that has hooked me this season and its debut last summer.
Coming into this week, I thought Christina's and Ceelo's teams were the ones to beat. But Christina has all but insured her team won't win by eliminating Jesse.
BTW, did you hear the lady on Ceelo's team do "Roxanne" the previous week? That was AMAZING! Posted by Set on :
Grimm is turning out to be a pretty fun show. Anyone watching it?
Posted by Lard Lad on :
I watched the first four episodes or so, then stopped. There just wasn't enough to draw me in. Wouldn't be surprised if it's gotten better since then. I also jumped off shows like Fringe and Lost early on and ended up returning and becoming a big fan.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
It's definitely turned out to be one of the big surprises of the season.
It's got the basic problem that the longer it goes on, the more improbable it seems that this secret culture of Wesen are living among us, since like half the population seem to belong to it, but once you get past that, the build up of mythology is actually getting pretty cool.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by Lard Lad: Yeah, I noticed that, too. Blake didn't have a single solo part while Christina hogged most of the spotlight. I mean...that outfit alone!
Usually, I'm not into singing competitions or even most reality shows in general, other than Survivor. There were two seasons of American Idol where I was into the final 10 or 12. But there's something about the Voice that has hooked me this season and its debut last summer.
Coming into this week, I thought Christina's and Ceelo's teams were the ones to beat. But Christina has all but insured her team won't win by eliminating Jesse.
BTW, did you hear the lady on Ceelo's team do "Roxanne" the previous week? That was AMAZING!
Lardy, did you see last night's ep? My wife was ready to try to pull Christina through the television screen and slap her upside her head! She's officially joined the Christina haters, which seem to be a groundswell movement online. I can't blame 'em.
But all four had great performances. I really like Tony Lucca and if he won I'd be happy, but I have to say, Jermaine is probably my favorite.
Posted by Lard Lad on :
Yeah, I watched it. Don't know why Christina's so snarky to her old Mickey Mouse mate Tony. But I have to applaud her for allowing Chris Mann to go through on her team without interference. Lindsey was cute, but Chris is clearly better than her on her team.
Speaking of Tony, I like him, but I was in love with singing of his blonde teammate Katrina (you know the cubicle lady). I thought she was just great and got better every week, while Tony, IMO, peaked with the Britney Spears cover. If Adam hadn't given Tony the 60/40 edge, Katrina would've been in the finale.
Jermaine has the edge I think. Either him or Chris should win.
I love Juliet, but she's a little inconsistent. She didn't do so well on "Free Bird" or with "Crying" a coupla weeks ago, imo, while she killed it on "Roxanne" and "Man's World".
All in all, it's a terrific final four, if not my ideal line-up. Jesse and Katrina were my choices for Teams Christina and Adam. But the four who are there are terrific.
Posted by Legion Tracker on :
I miss The Voice already.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
Sherlock Series Two finally made it's North American debut and didn't disappoint. Can't wait for Baskervilles next week.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid:
quote:Originally posted by Raging Bull: Mad Men, but I'm not really feeling it this season. The hiatus was so long that it sometimes feels like I'm watching a parody of Mad Men.
I'm a longtime fan and I'm also not getting into it yet this season. Something feels like it's missing--some kind of tension, or I don't know what. I'm hoping it picks up.
It's picking up a little but I'm still not 100% feeling it. I think the blame lays on what's going on with Don. Which is really not all that much that is exciting. Subsequently, I now find Megan a bit irritating. I do get that their showing the generation gap in the 60's and how the culture was changing and find it fascinating.
Peggy is as awesome as ever, and she's basically carrying the show.
Meanwhile, Pete is back to being someone I dislike. And Roger, while reclaiming a certain charm that has been missing since the third season, needs to continue along his character arc this season so it can get exciting.
Ken has continued to emerge as a favorite. Joan is fantastic. Lane is a great character. Even Sally is great. I need a healthy dose of them each episode to balance out the boring Don stories.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Dave Hackett: Sherlock Series Two finally made it's North American debut and didn't disappoint. Can't wait for Baskervilles next week.
Definitely enjoyed it, though a bit annoyed that Click Here For A SpoilerIrene Adler didn't quite beat Sherlock in the end. Posted by rickshaw1 on :
Underworld: Awakening. And wondering if the Danny Mcbride that was part of creating the characters is the same one from Land of the Lost and East bound and down.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
Sherlock: Hounds of the Baskerville was a bit of a letdown. I had the mystery solved early and didn't find it the best episode (while still good, it just wasn't up to Sherlock's High standards). I wonder if the 8 minutes PBS lopped off made a difference?
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Yeah, definitely the weakest episode of Sherlock so far.
In semi-related matters, "Elementary" sounds completely awful.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Of all the new shows annoucned, "Vegas" by CBS looks to be the possible best. It also has what looks like the best cast, complete with Michael Chiklis who finally returns to television after his jaw-droppingly phenomenal run on the Shield.
Posted by cleome45 on :
mr_cleome has on a lot of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart in the evening, but since I'm not a two-party believer and just want this joke of an election over ASAP, it doesn't really do much for me.
Though Colbert discussing fashion with Anna Wintour was good for a few chuckles.
Posted by Exnihil on :
quote:Originally posted by Exnihil: Lately I've been addicted to a group of documentaries collectively called the "Up Series".
In 1963, a group of English 7-year olds from different backgrounds were interviewed on topics ranging from the class system to race relations to gender issues. The conceit was that these children would be representatives of the generation who would be in power in the year 2000. The initial program was called "7 Up".
The same group was interviewed 7 years later at age 14, and thus started a series that could very easily be called the first "reality series," as subsequent entries visited the same group at ages 21, 28, 35, 42, and 49, with "56 Up" currently in preproduction.
I'm up to the 35 episode and am just astounded at what a beautiful experiment this series is. It's like a stone was skipped through time, allowing you just the briefest touch points as you watch these fourteen people grow in ways that for some you could have well predicted at age 7, but for others you never could have imagined.
I'm not doing it justice, but it's good, good stuff.
And... two and a half years after I wrote that... I'm watching "56 Up"!
It was broadcast in the UK over the past few weeks, but probably won't be available in the States for a bit, but... you know... the magic of Youtube, and all that.
This is the largest number of returning participants since age 21, with 13 of the 14 taking part.
I would love to see this project continue to at least "70 Up" to provide a sort of symmetry to the whole thing, but the reality is that director Michael Apted is, himself, 71 at this point.
He's said in the past he would continue the project as long as he's able, though, so... fingers crossed, hopefully I'll be posting about "63 Up" seven years from now.
Posted by SharkLad on :
Dude, no way! Is the whole thing on YouTube?
Posted by Exnihil on :
Thanks! Just watched a "Suzy and Nick" and "Tony"... such an amazing program, even if Suzy likens it to a bad book...
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
Castle season 4 reruns on a canadian site. Catching up on some eps I missed.
Tryin' to rewatch Chuck, but can't find the pilot online and don't know where the dvd's are.
Posted by matlock on :
We watched "Melancholia" a couple nights ago. It was about what I expected. It was well made but the plot was less important than the overall tone and the acting was good but the characters were pretty unlikable. It may have been the first Lars Von Trier film I watched in it's entirety.
Posted by matlock on :
I caught "Badlands" on TCM earlier. Terence Malick's first film and loosley based on spree-killer Charles Starkweather. Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek were so young then and played the roles with such nonchalance that the crazy things they were doing seemed almost normal. The vast open landscape of the midwest looks pretty alien to the rolling, wooded hills of mid-Georgia where I sit.
The Bruce Springsteen song "Nebraska" was based on the same events so now it's stuck in my head.
Posted by lancesrealm on :
I am not currently watching anything current, but I am picking up the "Big Bang Theory" dvds, and I just finished season 1 of "Game of Thrones." GoT was pretty good, but then, having read the books multiple times, it held no surprises. Still, it was fun to watch.
Posted by Dev - Em on :
Not watching anything right now.
I'll find something soon.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
Watched some of our favorite Breaking Bad episodes in lead up to last night's season premiere, which, of course, meant the premiere suffered a little in comparison (though it was still really good). Been waiting for four seasons to see full-on Heisenberg, and it looks like it won't disappoint.
Also watched the first episode of Misfits. It was decent enough and we'll definitely watch the rest of season 1 at least.
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
Just discovered the series Lost Girl. Love it. Finished Season One. Going to start season 2.
Also finished the first season of Downtown Abbey...love that as well.
Netflix has changed my life. Last night I saw Drive (Ryan Gosling). Enjoyed it very much. Great acting.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" made it to Netflix Canada, so I gave it a try last night and found I liked it more than I expected. For a heavily CGI dependent movie, they did some decent work giving us interesting characters and plot. John Lithgow steals all his scenes, but they do a great job with Serkis/Caesar.
[ July 18, 2012, 06:18 AM: Message edited by: Dave Hackett ]
Posted by Blacula on :
^ I just watched that movie too and really enjoyed it! I didn't pay attention to its reviews so I'm not sure how well it was received but IMO it's definitely one of the better Hollywood-style action/thriller/drama movies I've seen in a while.
I've only ever seen the original Planet of the Apes (oh yeah - and its crappy Tm Burton remake) so I'm not super-into that whole mythos, but I'd definitely pay to see a sequel to this one; as long as they bring back James Franco for it - I found the whole relationship between Ceasar and he really touching/powerful.
Posted by kenaustin on :
The 1st season of Continuum, another sci/fi show from Canada's Showcase. Not to be confused with the web series of the same name.
"A detective from the Corporate Congress ruled year of 2077 finds herself trapped in present day Vancouver and searching for the members of Liber8, a terrorist group from her time who are fighting to free the future from the corporations. "
Possible sociopolitical agenda aside, it's a pretty good show.
Posted by Set on :
There's a South African (I think) series called Charlie Jade that might be kinda/sorta along those lines. I really liked it.
Posted by the Hermit on :
quote:Originally posted by kenaustin:
"A detective from the Corporate Congress ruled year of 2077 finds herself trapped in present day Vancouver and searching for the members of Liber8, a terrorist group from her time who are fighting to free the future from the corporations. "
From that description I think I'd be rooting for the "bad" guys.
Posted by kenaustin on :
quote:Originally posted by Set: There's a South African (I think) series called Charlie Jade that might be kinda/sorta along those lines. I really liked it.
Looked it up...Wow, I'd never heard of it. Sounds pretty good. Going to try and check out some episodes.
quote:Originally posted by the Hermit: From that description I think I'd be rooting for the "bad" guys.
Same thing I said. But then they murdered 30K innocents to kill 20 corporate heads. Posted by Viridis Lament on :
Just started watching Dexter on a regular basis. Watched a few episodes here and there before, finally picked up season 1. Loving it so far!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
^ you're gonna love it Deddy, it's right to your alley. Season 1 is fantastic.
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
The Summer Olympics. So far, its been a lot of fun. And... they have women's beach volleyball.
*Nods head enthusiastically.*
Posted by lancesrealm on :
I don't have cable, so I am glad for the library!
Lately I have watched M*A*S*H, and am currently in season 4.
I also picked up the first disk of "Kung Fu." It was ok, but nothing to write home about.
My library does not have "Continuum," but it sounds really cool!
I am thinking about picking up Farscape from the library as well.
Posted by Exnihil on :
Last week I watched a pretty affecting film from Hong Kong called, "In The Mood for Love" by the director Wong Kar-wai.
I think I've mentioned in the past that I'm pretty into world cinema, but this film was probably one of the more "foreign" of foreign films I've seen, in the sense that some of the more traditional elements of western cinema that I'd normally take for granted as being essential to an engaging film, were absent... yet - probably five days on - this movie is still lingering with me.
The plot in a nutshell: two neighbors in 1960's Hong Kong discover that their spouses are having an affair together, and - by way of helping each other deal with it - slowly form a platonic relationship more meaningful their respective marriages.
And that's it.
It is really much more a mood piece than a plot driven film, but I found it really beautiful in its melancholy. The cinematography is probably as large a character as either of the two leads (perhaps more so), beginning in almost claustrophobic narrowness and opening wider and wider as the film goes on and the bond between the characters becomes deeper.
I'm probably doing a horrible job trying to recommend this - in fact, I probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone for whom plot is the most important element of a movie - but if you occasionally like something that's more evocative than narrative, I'd say definitely check this out.
Posted by matlock on :
"That Thing You Do!" It's one of those movies I will watch at the drop of a hat. I'm a sucker for movies about bands that almost make it. It's got a great cast from top to bottom. I love the period setting in the early sixties. I love the way the band gets better guitars when they make the big time. I love the fact that Tom Hanks gives Peter Scolari work when he can.
This movie makes me giddy. And the songs are pretty snappy, like they say in the movie.
Posted by He Who Wanders on :
"That Thing You Do" is a fond musical movie memory of mine, as well.
I still love the fact that the bass player's name, which is never given in the film, is given as T.B. Player in the "where are they now" end credits.
Posted by Lard Lad on :
Been watching some "Doctor Who" in preparation for the new season that's about to start. I only started getting into DW last year, but I think it's the story of River Song (played with gusto by ER's Alex Kingston) that has hooked me so deeply into it. I love her! It's nice to see someone pushing 50 getting such a pivotal, meaty and just plain FUN role!
Matt Smith is thoroughly engaging as the Doctor himself, and Karen Gillan's Amy Pond (bringing redheads back!) has got to be one of the prettiest, sexiest ladies I've ever seen in all of Sci-Fi!
Posted by Blacula on :
quote:Originally posted by Exnihil: Last week I watched a pretty affecting film from Hong Kong called, "In The Mood for Love" by the director Wong Kar-wai.
I think I've mentioned in the past that I'm pretty into world cinema, but this film was probably one of the more "foreign" of foreign films I've seen, in the sense that some of the more traditional elements of western cinema that I'd normally take for granted as being essential to an engaging film, were absent... yet - probably five days on - this movie is still lingering with me.
The plot in a nutshell: two neighbors in 1960's Hong Kong discover that their spouses are having an affair together, and - by way of helping each other deal with it - slowly form a platonic relationship more meaningful their respective marriages.
And that's it.
It is really much more a mood piece than a plot driven film, but I found it really beautiful in its melancholy. The cinematography is probably as large a character as either of the two leads (perhaps more so), beginning in almost claustrophobic narrowness and opening wider and wider as the film goes on and the bond between the characters becomes deeper.
I'm probably doing a horrible job trying to recommend this - in fact, I probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone for whom plot is the most important element of a movie - but if you occasionally like something that's more evocative than narrative, I'd say definitely check this out.
I bought the Criterion DVD of this movie years ago but have never gotten around to watching it. I might have to pull it out one cold and lonely night when I'm in the mood for some melancholia.
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
currently knockin' myself the hell out at night with Big Bang Theory dvds.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Just got season 4 from the library of Burn Notice. I have Fi fantasies that involve a really big gun and lots of sudden explosions.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
Canadian Netflix just added a bunch of content, so we've been alternating between Season 2 of Community, Season 2 of Justified and Season 4 of Weeds. All have been pretty decent so far. Justified especially really picked up it's game in season 2.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Justified season 2 was pretty awesome! Fantastic final episodes as it all came together in a big way.
Winona is my #1 TV crush these days.
Posted by Blacula on :
I recently bought the first season of Justified.
But I watched the first 2 or 3 episodes and was kinda bored. I went in expecting something like The Shield, and instead got something closer to NCIS.
I like all of the creative team behind it though so just wanna know from people if the tone of it is gonna change/improve in the future?
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I would say the first season of Justified gets continually better and around episode 7 or 8 (can't remember specifically when) it really takes off into full gear. Season 2 is even a whole level better than Season 1 from the get-go.
The Shield remains a contender for my all-time favorite TV show ever. I just rewatched all 7 seasons in the winter (my wife for the first time) and was blown away again by how good it was.
Sons of Anarchy is probably the closest thing on TV to the Shield these days. Which makes sense since the head writer of the Shield (Kurt Sutter) is the head writer / producer of Sons. Just be warned, the subject matter of Sons is as heavy--and gut-wrenching--as the Shield. But the quality is immense.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
Blacula, when we first started watching Justified I remember thinking "Why is this so lauded?" It seemed like a decent procedural, but nothing more. Then the season slowly builds, and sucks you in (especially once they bring Walt Goggins back). By the end of the season it had transformed into a "pretty good" show. Noe, every episode of Season 2 has been of superior quality so far.
Posted by Power Boy on :
ok ... 'cause I bought season one as well ... and I'm having a hard time getting through it.
hmm, I think its ok but, a bit slow or something.
I think I'll give it another go tonight!
Posted by Set on :
I tend to watch lots of mindcandy USA shows like Burn Notice, White Collar, etc., so I started watching Suits pretty much on cruise control, and I'm finding the witty banter is really engaging. Season one is a little drier, I think, as they are still finding their footing, but the lead attorneys executive assistant, Donna, is hilarious. She has rigged the intercom in his office to always be on, so that she is always listening in on his private meetings, which makes her invaluable, in that she always knows exactly what he needs, even before he calls for it.
The banter between the lawyers associate and his elderly grandmother, who gives classic lip and doesn't appear nearly enough (which is probably what keeps it so fresh when she does appear), is also very fun.
Anyone else addicted to the various USA shows?
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
quote:Originally posted by Set: Anyone else addicted to the various USA shows?
We don't get USA up here, but any time I've seen "Psych", I really like it.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I never gave USA a chance until the aforementioned Suits sucked me right in. I don't follow it religiously as I do some other shows but I love watching it whenever its on, for all the reasons Set mentions. Fantastic cast, clever dialogue and just awesome chemistry on screen between a variety of cast members. I do plan to eventually get the seasons and do a full-on watch through.
Since I got hooked on Suit, I started trying to give some of the other shows a try. The one I've settled on, though I've only caught episodes here and there, is White Collar. It's got my all-time favorite television crush, Hillarie Burton, though she doesn't appear nearly enough (60 minutes an episode is my preferred amount ). But the series really shines with two of my favorite factors: clever / ingenous plots and fantastic camraderie / friendship between the leads.
Like Leverage on TNT, another clever and well-done show, what's nice about these shows is they are by no means 'light' but they aren't super-heavy either. Yet, they also are superior to the rather run of the mill fare the main networks produce. Very entertaining.
Posted by Set on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: Since I got hooked on Suits, I started trying to give some of the other shows a try. The one I've settled on, though I've only caught episodes here and there, is White Collar. It's got my all-time favorite television crush, Hillarie Burton, though she doesn't appear nearly enough (60 minutes an episode is my preferred amount ).
She's very pretty, but I think Elizabeth Burke is a much more interesting character, and Diana is both beautiful and, at times, snarky, which is cool.
quote: But the series really shines with two of my favorite factors: clever / ingenous plots and fantastic camraderie / friendship between the leads.
The trust issues get a little stale, after a while. It feels like whenever they get too chummy, there's a contrived situation that pits them against each other, again, and it's getting old.
It reminds me of a bad vampire romance show I used to watch called 'Kindred the Embraced,' in which an uncle and his niece start out pretty much every episode at odds, because she's all rebellious, and he's all over-protective, and then, by the end of the episode, they've worked it out, and then, next week, bang, character reset, and they're right back at it, as if last week didn't happen.
On the other hand, it kinda makes sense with White Collar, because both of the leads are extremely intelligent men who are utterly convinced that they are smarter than the other, and that their choices are going to be better / more effective / more 'right' than the others choices. They talk a good fight about respecting each others abilities, but neither one of them is willing to share control of a situation, or is comfortable letting the other pull his weight.
I get that it's useful for maintaining a certain type of 'trust issues' drama (and that, given the scary levels of competence of the two characters, any situation in which they are firing 100% in synch on might get handled too quickly!), but the character regression annoys me.
The banter is great, 'though.
Of the other USA shows, Covert Affairs is kinda fun, Burn Notice rocks (Bruce Campbell!), Fairly Legal is utterly infuriating (see a supposedly smart character naively screw up every single week, and somehow win anyway, usually by exploiting her friends!), Psych is very fun (although the kids watch it more than I do), Common Law is new, but looks like it's gonna be fun and Royal Pains is a guilty pleasure that I only watch for Divya.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
SO I'm doing my usual "giving a try" to shows on Network TV that look interesting.
The main thing that sticks out to me is that even though the four networks have huge budgets, they can never seem to quite get it totally right. Almost all of the shows on CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox have a certain amount of cheesiness to them that should not really be there. This wasn't the case a few years ago: when House and Lost and a few others debuted, there wasn't anything cheesy about them. Even shows that never made it like Life on Mars didn't have that cheese-factor. But lately, these last two years or so, it's like every show has an element of not willing to go "all the way". It's hard to put into words what I mean.
The three shows that I'm checking out so far are:
The Mob Doctor which so far is one of the better new shows. The acting is very good, and it has a quiet intensity that I like. In a way it's a medical procedural drama meets pure crime. Which is basically the only way I'll like a medical procedural drama. The set-up is firmly planted for when things go tits-up, and that should be entertaining / nerve-wracking to watch.
Revolution is a pretty good sci-fi type show. But this is the one that really has the "cheesiness" problem that I reference above. There are some really good moments so far (the lead character Charlie killing the warden in the latest episode at the end) but every episode is jam-packed with cliches, weak over-acting, lame coincidences and unbelievable dialogue. This show is rife with potential...but it really needs to get over these problems for me to take it seriously. And the nerdy millionaire character with the glasses? C'mon. Dial down the cliche-ness PLEASE.
Vegas debuted last night and its jam-packed with actors that I love, first and foremost being Michael Chiklis whose run on the SHIELD ranks up there with the all-time great acting jobs in TV history. Dennis Quad, Carrie Ann Moss (from the Matrix) and Jason O'Mara (from the American Life on Mars and the cancelled Terranova) also round out the cast and all are very solid. Quaid does a bit too much over-acting in the first episode but O'Mara is awesome, and Moss was impressive. (As an aside, Moss looked simply stunning! I don't care how much older she is than me. ) The show has a great high concept that is based on a true story: 1960 Las Vegas with a cowboys versus gangsters larger theme and a mystery / cop procedural episode to episode theme. There's a lot there that could please a lot of people. The only problem is the aforementioned "cheesiness factor" which isn't quite as bad here as in Revolution, but its there is small doses and needs to be cut out immediately. And considering how many movies and television shows have dealt with mobsters and casinos, they have to be very careful not to tread into cliche terriroty. So far, though, this could be the best of the bunch.
Also, one of my favorite comedies, New Girl, started out great last night. Hilarious all the way through on both episodes. The other two series rounding out that two hour block, The Mindy Project and Ben and Kate are not really for me, but they actually were better than I expected--both being pretty good. All the other new comedy shows look like absolute shit to me, particularly Go On and The New Normal. I've also always found Modern Family to be atrocious.
As I always say though, the very best shows on television can be found on AMC, FX, HBO and Showtime. That's where the good stuff is. And as previously mentioned in this thread, USA is producing some pretty good stuff too (and Leverage on TNT is good as well).
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I'm kind of enjoying Revolution, though it's definitely got a "Haven't I basically seen this all before?" problem.
Didn't get a chance to watch Vegas last night, but I'll check it out later online.
Posted by matlock on :
We gave "Last Resort" a try last night. My wife is a big Scott Speedman fan since he was on "Felicity," and you can't go wrong with Andre Braugher. It was pretty decent, although it seemed in a big hurry to throw a lot of characters on screen in one hour. There's a whiff of "Lost" about it, maybe just it jumps right into the action (although there was about 15 minutes of preamble unlike Lost.)
I'm not sure it's something that's going to have legs though. So many shows these days just beg to have one good year and then stop, especially genre shows.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Yeah, "Last Resort" definitely has potential, but it felt like they were trying to cram too much into an hour premiere. Interested in seeing where it goes, however.
Posted by lowercase mllash on :
I couldn't disagree more about MODERN FAMILY, it's too cute!
REVOLUTION has kept me onboard for 2 weeks, we'll see how it goes.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Though I'm a red blooded American male, I find Sofia Vergera to be the most annoying thing on planet Earth. The problem with a Latina Marylyn Monroe is, Marylyn Monroe in general is the most annoying thing on planet Earth.
Posted by lowercase mllash on :
*hurls brandy snifter*
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Bah!
My pal Josh Siegel and I will buy Modern Family and turn it into a sitcom about a Depression era Jewish family that has a young prodigy that creates the superhero genre!
Ps - it'll maintain a certain amount of adorable gay shenanigans as Josh seems to really like these.'
Posted by lowercase mllash on :
If it doesn't have a bellowing busty Columbian, I'm outta there!!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
666 Park Avenue was better than I thought it would be. I was expecting it would be ABC trying to hard to have a 'sexy show' (and there was still some of that), but was delighted to see a very strong horror element present throughout.
It was good enough to watch a few more episodes for sure. To be fair though, it wasn't anything spectacular--nowhere near as good or scary as American Horror Story. I guess it's that intangible "network cheesiness factor" that is hard for me to get over that krept up in spots.
Great to see Terry O'Quinn though.
Posted by Power Boy on :
I watched Elementary, I think the "I have issues" so I'm a complex character may drop off as the series continues out of pilot territory and hopefully it will be a mystery series rather than so much ... "I'm a genius ... I'm crazy and Peculiar ... I've got a dark past so I'm interesting!!!"
Anyway, I already like it better than the British one, at least this one offers a new take on Sherlock Holmes ... if a bit too many new takes haha.
Besides that guy that plays Sherlock on the British Sherlock Holmes gives me the creeps.
so in conclusion:
Lucy Lu + views of Manhattan = Peebz will be watching this.
Posted by Power Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: 666 Park Avenue was better than I thought it would be. I was expecting it would be ABC trying to hard to have a 'sexy show' (and there was still some of that), but was delighted to see a very strong horror element present throughout.
It was good enough to watch a few more episodes for sure. To be fair though, it wasn't anything spectacular--nowhere near as good or scary as American Horror Story. I guess it's that intangible "network cheesiness factor" that is hard for me to get over that krept up in spots.
Great to see Terry O'Quinn though.
I am looking forward to this ... I am somewhat hoping it will be cheesy and run with it. for entertainment value.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Hmm... I didn't like Elementary at all. Honestly, it seemed to me they should've just made a completely new character with a few homages to Sherlock Holmes, because it really seemed to have almost nothing to do with Conan Doyle's stories.
Haven't watched 666 Park Avenue yet, but my expectations are pretty low.
I'm enjoying the second season of Grimm. It strikes me as the kind of show I would've absolutely loved when I was about twelve or so.
Posted by Power Boy on :
I watched Grimm for almost all of season one and then gave up, I think the first few episodes with the evil conspiracy plot were the best ... and then the rest of season became a "Buffy Light" where the main character solves done in one problems. I am curious about season two though, from the advertisements it looks like its going to have more action.
I love that nerdy Werewolf guy!!! Even the main character and his GF are likeable, However I think the majority of the rest of the cast suffers from ... bad acting.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
This season's been pretty heavy on the "conspiracy stuff", so you might enjoy it more.
The biggest problem I have with the show, as I think I've said before on this thread, is that the whole "underground creature community" doesn't make a whole lot of sense when it seems like half the people around are part of this community.
Posted by Power Boy on :
I am watching 666 Park Avenue!
... what are great deal! I wish someone would make my dreams come true for some measly bloodshed and amorality!!!!
Great huge New York apartment (furnished no less), cute socially responsible lawyer golfing boyfriend! I want to be this plucky handy woman blonde lady ... "I will get this job at the last minute by wowing them with my architectural knowledge!"
I have architectural knowledge too!
*sigh*
anyway, VANESSA WILLIAMS! Seems like she's EVIL!!! and that creepy guy from Lost!!!
also, I think that bellhop is the malucci guy from ER.
It's an all star cast!
Click Here For A Spoiler wait ... as I type ... Vanessa Williams is taking that blonde chick on a shopping spree. McQueen She buys her a frickin MCQueen. Of course this down home girl is going to look fantastic in it ... 'cause she is the building repair woman by day and a super model by night.
Its not a scary show ... its a wish fulfillment show ... like a Disney princess movie.
Yes, it is SUPER cheesy but I am in for a few more at least! It may be my new favorite show.
Posted by cleome46 on :
[snip]
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: ...the whole "underground creature community" doesn't make a whole lot of sense when it seems like half the people around are part of this community.
Hey, it worked in the X-Verse, didn't it? Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
666 Park Avenue just fell kind of flat for me. Not bad or anything, but just not enough there really to hold my interest.
Meanwhile, Revolution added another Lost alumnus to its cast last night. I really like the setup of the show, but the characters just aren't really doing much for me, yet.
Posted by Power Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid:
Revolution is a pretty good sci-fi type show. But this is the one that really has the "cheesiness" problem that I reference above. There are some really good moments so far (the lead character Charlie killing the warden in the latest episode at the end) but every episode is jam-packed with cliches, weak over-acting, lame coincidences and unbelievable dialogue. This show is rife with potential...but it really needs to get over these problems for me to take it seriously. And the nerdy millionaire character with the glasses? C'mon. Dial down the cliche-ness PLEASE.
I also thought that, and similarly that it was a copy and paste of a lot of other *big hits* in popular media right now. <says dryly> The Hunger games ... + A little Walking Dead and/or Falling Skies + Outcasts ... etc. etc. etc.
Also, they had that weird 30 minute long fight scene ... where the one guy basically kills and army with ninja moves. was a bit ludicrous.
I couldn't handle Mob Doctor myself ... she was too *sassy* and the premise was too *edgy* .... which apparently the networks think is really appealing. what do I know though, they're making the millions off these shows ...
anyway, the whole, I'm gonna do something radical while everyone is arguing with me, and I save this man's life on the operating table ... turned me off.
I did try (don't laugh) Call the Midwife ... its a BBC America show ... and it was actually really good, a tear jerker and up there with the cheese but ti really pulled me in, the finale of the episode had me really sucked into it emotionally. In fact, I think it portrays what it is like to be poor or live in slums in an accuracy that is rarely seen.
I haven't tried Last Resort yet, or Mindy ... i heard it was funny but the quality probably won't last ..
I haven't tried Vegas yet either, I have been just too cynical and imagine its a Boardwalk Empire/Deadwood/ Etc. knockoff.
In fact, I loved Deadwood BUT it's totally not like something I would like, the acting really took it out of its been done grim and gritty set up.
[ October 02, 2012, 10:16 AM: Message edited by: Power Boy ]
Posted by Power Boy on :
Just read Cobie's review of Vegas ...
Dennis Quaid and Carrie Ann Moss?? My shit is watching that tonight!
Posted by Power Boy on :
... and I'm not gonna name names but ... I think there are a lot of Carrie Ann Moss dopplegangers out there on tv .... some shows like V and Lost and others .... and they don't hold a candle to Trinity!
Posted by Legion Tracker on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: Also, 'Hell on Wheels' has been freaking fantastic! AMC can do no wrong, honestly. The three best shows on television and this one is looking good too.
I just started watching this a few weeks ago and I like it a lot. It has such a variety of fascinating characters, engaging and realistic plot twists and turns, and attention to historical ambience in every regard. I especially like watching how this diverse group of folks is learning to make a life (or not) in community together. We see the toughness and creativity of everyone as each tries to make a life for himself or herself up against the raw edges of ethnic, racial, gender, social, and economic barriers...all while trying to figure out where justice lies. A fascinating show!
Posted by lowercase mllash on :
3 episodes in, and I'm still into REVOLUTION. Charlie remains my primary draw; I was worried the show would become way too depressing but the glimmers of hope (like episode 3's ending) are very nice. Yeah, I know a show like TWD is probably a LOT more depressing in theory, but the fantasy element (zombies) just makes it different for me. REVOLUTION could threaten to just turn into a "people being awful to each other just because they can now" show, but I think that worry has been addressed in episode 3 somewhat.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Some incredibly implausible bits in the second Last Resort episode, but I'm still digging the show quite a bit. We'll see where it goes.
Posted by Power Boy on :
GLEE is amazing this season, last season was a super dud IMO, this one is back on track ... I almost cried. ok maybe a little.
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
Season 5 DVD of Burn Notice. It's getting a bit repetitious and I don't really care for the new bad guy. Fi is still easy to look at.
Posted by Power Boy on :
I watched the pilot of the West Wing last week ...
I think I will be addicted if I start watching it.
Its so 90s. and Alyson Janney!!!
*sigh* However, I bet its not a satire anymore because real life politics have surpassed the fictional in its absurdity.
Posted by Power Boy on :
tonight ... 666 ....
Posted by SharkLad on :
The West Wing is completely addicting... one of my favorite all time shows!
If you like the West Wing, you'll also like the Newsroom...
Right now, I'm watching season 1 of Homeland... I wasn't into it at first, but I've been sucked in...
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
REVOLUTION is losing me quickly. Too many of the characters are just really annoying to me.
Really digging VEGAS, however, which actually seems to be getting better with successive episodes. And looking forward to NASHVILLE's premiere tomorrow night.
Posted by cleome46 on :
Last night, I watched a couple of Greg The Bunny eps on disc, followed by the Marx Bros. in At The Circus.
Just what the doctor ordered. Posted by Power Boy on :
I am so addicted to the West Wing ... I feel like I'm part of the cast ... I love my new friends.
I dropped 666. the biggest disappointment. I dropped Last Resort and Revolution.
Gossip Girl is in its final season and its pretty sad that that is the only show besides Star Trek TNG that I have followed straight through in real time as it aired.
I'm hanging in there for Elementary.
quote:Originally posted by SharkLad: The West Wing is completely addicting... one of my favorite all time shows!
If you like the West Wing, you'll also like the Newsroom...
Right now, I'm watching season 1 of Homeland... I wasn't into it at first, but I've been sucked in...
I've only seen episode 1 of the Newsroom, I really liked it, I don't have cable so I will have to wait until I can download it.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I'd rather Terry O'Quinn go back to Hawaii Five-0, so I'm pretty much hoping 666 gets cancelled. Posted by Power Boy on :
I'm sure the viewers want some Terry O'Quinn and Vanessa Williams evil badnassery! Did we get that with episode 2? no, we got a story about some random lady. I'm not in it to see random Tales from the Darkseid one offs! I want to see Vanessa Williams snap that blonde lady's spine! and then I want to see Vanessa and Terry turn on each other! From episode two it seems like its not gonna be what I want for at least 10 or 11 episodes ... so I'm out. PEES!
notice how I spelled "dark side" .... that was unintentional.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I traveled all last week for work and missed all the shows (thankfully saw Walking Dead though).
I realized I didn't care all that much that I missed any of them. Only Vegas and Mob Doctor have me anxious to check in...for now.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: REVOLUTION is losing me quickly. Too many of the characters are just really annoying to me.
Crap! Just when I was ready to give up on the show, I really like the latest episode!
Totally saw the twist at the end coming, but it worked well nonetheless! Neville's story was actually pretty interesting, and the Jeff Fahey appearance was pretty much awesome!
Posted by cleome46 on :
Squirrels! The little beasts are everywhere right now!
[shakes fist]
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
quote:Originally posted by cleome46: <font face="palatino">Squirrels!</font f> The little beasts are everywhere right now!
Now as chick-flickie as I thought it'd be. I imagine sales of chocolate pie are down.
Posted by Exnihil on :
quote:Originally posted by matlock: We watched "Melancholia" a couple nights ago. It was about what I expected. It was well made but the plot was less important than the overall tone and the acting was good but the characters were pretty unlikable. It may have been the first Lars Von Trier film I watched in it's entirety.
I actually had to watch this one over two nights, as I found the first part to be a tremendous slog. The second part improved a good bit... but I'm sort of torn on Von Trier as a director.
I feel like he's very "unsubtle" in the messages he tries to put in his films. There's an old phrase about how to present things in meetings and such - "Tell 'em what you're gonna tell 'em; Then tell 'em; Then tell 'em what you told 'em." That works great for a powerpoint, but for a film? Not so much.
Posted by Power Boy on :
I think he's just depressed and makes movies about that.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
AMERICAN HORROR STORY - ASYLUM premiere was off the hook crazy. It's still got some of the drawbacks of the original where it won't settle on a tone, but in this episode turns it to its advantage by throwing everything but the kitchen sink into the premiere. In a single hour we get Horror, suspense, melodrama, sci-fi, period piece, and probably four other genres all thrown in a blender for a messy but tasty cocktail. If they can keep this up, it will be a very entertaining series.
Posted by Power Boy on :
Is American Horror story Asylum different than American Horror Story or is it Season 2?
Did they pull a Spartacus?
I like Clea Duval and Adam Levine as well! Posted by Dave Hackett on :
quote:Originally posted by Power Boy: Is American Horror story Asylum different than American Horror Story or is it Season 2?
Did they pull a Spartacus?
I like Clea Duval and Adam Levine as well!
It's a new "series" with a lot of the same actors (playing different characters). It looks like each year they'll do a complete story and then move on.
It's great because people who like Adam Levine can tune in to see him, and people who don't can tune in to see horrible things happen to him. Posted by Power Boy on :
Oh I see, thanks.
Jessica Lange is just too good of an actress ... she creeps me the f out!
I'm not sure if I will stick with this though, I had a hard time getting through Season one.
The acting is way too good and believable ... I like my horror to be a bit camp ... If its too realistic I just feel transported into this horrible situation. Too intense.
Especially the murder scene of the gay couple, it was just too real for me.
Posted by Blacula on :
^ I really enjoyed AHS season 1. I actually thought it was very camp. Especially the gay couple whom I loved. I do agree that their murder scene was particularly horrible though. It was all laugh, laugh, laugh and then... head smash. That was difficult to watch.
The rest of the show was a hoot though. I loved all of the genre/tone-shifts. Screwing up tone is usually something that throws me right out of a show but this one worked because it was intentionally so all-over-the-place. I just jumped on the ride and let the show take me where it took me.
I also really like that it was a finite story in season 1 and now the show has completely reinvented itself for season 2. That seems like a unique concept to me. Have any shows ever done that before?
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
For the past month or so (mainly on weekends) my wife and I have been rewatching Lost all the way through. We just finished up season 3 on Saturday. I'd forgotten what a powerhouse season #3 is! Fantastic all the way through and the final 5-6 episodes might be the best run of episodes throughout the series.
This is the 6th time I've seen seasons 1&2, and the 3rd for season 3. It's amazing how much you continue to pick up on that you've never seen before.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: For the past month or so (mainly on weekends) my wife and I have been rewatching Lost all the way through. We just finished up season 3 on Saturday. I'd forgotten what a powerhouse season #3 is! Fantastic all the way through and the final 5-6 episodes might be the best run of episodes throughout the series.
This is the 6th time I've seen seasons 1&2, and the 3rd for season 3. It's amazing how much you continue to pick up on that you've never seen before.
Arguably, this is also where the wheels start to come off though, as a lot of the mystery and intrigue masterfully set up in season three fails to pay of satisfactorily as you continue through the series.
Posted by MLLASH on :
AMERICAN HORROR STORY probably deserves its own thread. I had a difficult time with Season 1, in that each and every character was SO gosh-darn unlikeable ...except for Connie Britton. I mean really, I hated all of them, except Connie Britton. And then the season just kept getting more and more DEPRESSING every week. But I hung in there, mainly for Connie Britton.
But when all was said and done, the season ended with the most bizarre and twisted "feel good" episode I had ever seen... I was kinda floored and speechless and really loved it.
Season 2 really opened strong and was much more thrilling than depressing to me. I'm definitely onboard!
And speaking of Connie Britton-- and one always should-- I am totes loving NASHVILLE.
Alas, LOST eventually lost my attention... I became convinced there was no way it was going to wrap up in a satisfying way for me.
Posted by Power Boy on :
so ... You like Connie Britton ... I take it.
I have currently caught up to season 3 of the West Wing ... on which Connie Britton is a cast member. I think she will only be on for season 3 though.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: For the past month or so (mainly on weekends) my wife and I have been rewatching Lost all the way through. We just finished up season 3 on Saturday. I'd forgotten what a powerhouse season #3 is! Fantastic all the way through and the final 5-6 episodes might be the best run of episodes throughout the series.
This is the 6th time I've seen seasons 1&2, and the 3rd for season 3. It's amazing how much you continue to pick up on that you've never seen before.
I think the Season 4 finale is probably my favorite, but overall those last few episodes of Season 3 are definitely among the best.
Posted by cleome46 on :
quote:Originally posted by Dave Hackett:
quote:Originally posted by cleome46: <font face="palatino">Squirrels!</font f> The little beasts are everywhere right now!
<---- watchin my all time favorite Lost episode, "The Constant" while drinking lots of wine and scotch.
Posted by rickshaw1 on :
The Guild, season 5 and Eureka,season 1.
Posted by MLLASH on :
quote:Originally posted by Power Boy: so ... You like Connie Britton ... I take it.
I have currently caught up to season 3 of the West Wing ... on which Connie Britton is a cast member. I think she will only be on for season 3 though.
There's something likeable about Connie Britton.
Of course, in American Horror Story, hers was the ONLY character written in any way likeable, so the odds were in her favor.
I do highly recommend AHS Season 1 though, but it is a MUST that you see ALL 13 episodes!
And speaking of AHS, that reminds me I haven't watched episode 2 of AHS:A yet... *scampers off to TV*
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: <---- watchin my all time favorite Lost episode, "The Constant" while drinking lots of wine and scotch.
Ooh, definitely one of the best!
Posted by MLLASH on :
re: episode 2 of AMERICAN HORROR STORY: ASYLUM...
Awesome. Firing on ALL cylinders! Amazeballs. Can't watch in the dark.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
We got a sweet deal on our Cable/Internet/phone package as part of their "retention" program, so we've been ODing on some On Demand choices. Finished all of Game of Thrones (excellent), caught up on Dexter (disappointing), watched the end of Alphas (keeps getting better), and we still have American Horror Story and Walking Dead on the go. Slowly turning into a couch potato.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester:
quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: REVOLUTION is losing me quickly. Too many of the characters are just really annoying to me.
Crap! Just when I was ready to give up on the show, I really like the latest episode!
Totally saw the twist at the end coming, but it worked well nonetheless! Neville's story was actually pretty interesting, and the Jeff Fahey appearance was pretty much awesome!
Bah! Focus on annoying nerd stereotype guy and flashbacks to his boring, personalityless wife pretty blew all the enthusiasm I started to pick up with the last episode.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
American Horror Story Asylum continues to be far more intense than last series. Although there isn't much light-hearted fare, I do find it funny that every episode opens with something horrible happening to Adam Levine.
Posted by Exnihil on :
It kept popping up as "recommended" in my Netflix queue, so I finally relented and started watching the early 2000's series "Freaks and Geeks".
Started... aaaaand finished. There were only 18 episodes, and - once I saw an episode or two - I had to just do a marathon of the whole thing.
I was so impressed. It was such a spot-on representation of the way I remember childhood in the late 70's/early 80's. Remarkable for a show of this type, I found the characters incredibly well written - falling into "types" but not crossing the line into cliches.
Well worth a watch.
Posted by Viridis Lament on :
I've just recently started watching the Astroboy cartoons via the Crackle app on my xbox
Posted by Power Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by Exnihil: It kept popping up as "recommended" in my Netflix queue, so I finally relented and started watching the early 2000's series "Freaks and Geeks".
Started... aaaaand finished. There were only 18 episodes, and - once I saw an episode or two - I had to just do a marathon of the whole thing.
I was so impressed. It was such a spot-on representation of the way I remember childhood in the late 70's/early 80's. Remarkable for a show of this type, I found the characters incredibly well written - falling into "types" but not crossing the line into cliches.
Well worth a watch.
SO GOOD. So many of those actors were at their best ... and even though many of them went on to supersuccess ... their Freeks and Geeks performances were their best. (IMO)
Suuuuch a shame this was cancelled so early. I came to love it a few years after it fell off the air and was really confused as to why it didn't get great ratings.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
quote:Originally posted by Power Boy: Suuuuch a shame this was cancelled so early. I came to love it a few years after it fell off the air and was really confused as to why it didn't get great ratings.
As I recall the timeslot wasn't ideal. We watched the first run and liked it, but it wasn't heavily promoted.
Posted by matlock on :
Freaks and Geeks is insanely good. I think the only one we watched during it's original run was the last episode, but we were hooked. I wasn't quite as old as the characters but I was close enough to remember that era well. It deserved a longer run but that last episode stands as one of the best finales I've seen.
The show was also hampered by a hiatus that didn't help it build any momentum at all. It's not really the kind of thing you'd have expected a broadcast network to green-light anyway so I'm glad we got what we got.
Posted by Power Boy on :
The last episode was fantastic ... that's what I remember of the series ... and them always hanging out in the stairwell.
Posted by MLLASH on :
FREAKS AND GEEKS-- ROCKS! Only like 4 episodes into it (going SLOWLY here to savor) but YES, it is GREAT fun!!
Also, Netflixers should totes check out ARCHER. Holy Shitsnacks, it's fun!!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Archer is HIGH-larious!
Posted by Blacula on :
I just watched and enjoyed the first 3 episodes of American Horror Story. Gosh - they're certainly putting the "horror" in it this season though aren't they? Other than the odd moment, I didn't find last season that scary or disturbing at all. It was mainly all just camp fun to me. But this season is really quite horrific and gory. And so many tropes of horror are being thrown at us too - asylums, mad scientists, torture, exorcisms, the Devil, serial killers, monsters, aliens... I wonder if they're going to leave themselves anything new to cover in season 3? Maybe a Jaws-type water-based horror?
The trick with this show though is not to take it too seriously and just go along for the ride. I'm doing that and really enjoying it.
Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
My wife and I just went through ALL of "ARCHER" on Netflix and holy hot shit that's a funny-ass show!!! GENIUS!!!! A friend described it as "Arrested Development" meets "Burn Notice" and (aside from the fact that there are several cast members of "AD" involved) that is a pretty good description.
For those who haven't heard anything about it, it's basically a spy-show satire, but the best one that's ever existed since "Get Smart."
Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
Oh, I've also been watching "Last Resort" ... it's a tense drama week in, week out where it always seems like the world is at stake, but they manage to keep it up each and every week, despite how utterly preposterous the premise might seem.
And if any of y'all have been waiting for Andre Baugher to command the screen the way he did in "Homicide", this is the place!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
I was enjoying "Last Resort", but haven't been able to get myself into the mood to watch the last couple of episodes.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
The one episode we tried to watch of Archer started with the same juvenile "adult" jokes in other of the lesser adult swim stuff and my wife turned it off (it was the one where his mother gets caught covering herself in whipped cream in front of a video screen). Maybe it was just a bad one to start with?
Posted by Dev - Em on :
Archer is sophomoric in its humor, but it does it better than most other shows.
I love it and laugh out loud at something every episode I have seen.
Posted by MLLASH on :
quote:Originally posted by Blacula: I just watched and enjoyed the first 3 episodes of American Horror Story. Gosh - they're certainly putting the "horror" in it this season though aren't they? Other than the odd moment, I didn't find last season that scary or disturbing at all. It was mainly all just camp fun to me. But this season is really quite horrific and gory. And so many tropes of horror are being thrown at us too - asylums, mad scientists, torture, exorcisms, the Devil, serial killers, monsters, aliens...
THIS. AHS:A is absolutely horrific this season!! What happened to Shelly last episode was HORRIFYING!
The alien angle is what is cunfuzzling me the most. Everything else ties up so well together, I am not sure how they are going to fit the alien angle in... or if the alien angle is really even needed (personally I don't think it is, but I am keeping an open mind about it).
The Sister Mary possession has me on the edge of my seat!
SEASON ONE SPOILER STATEMENT FOLLOWS HERE!!!
. . . . I do hope they avoid another "nobody gets out alive" ending, even though Season 1's bizarre and feel-good twist on that ending was genius.
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
We are currently catching up on the Newsroom, and I must say it is EXCELLENT. Wow, Sorkin really got back into form after the West Wing sort of petered out there. I think a 10 episode season may really be a great format for him to stay on task and not dilute the progress.
Posted by Power Boy on :
I saw one episode of the Newsroom, it was excellent, I have heard that some episodes are really good and some are too contrived/preachy.
I am muddling through Season 7 of the West Wing, apparently Sorkin left after season 4. You can really tell .... the show is all over the place. with all these weird new characters ... the different camps running for president ... its not the same type of show, much less the same quality.
and what the frack happened to Sam?
Posted by Fanfic Lady on :
I've started watching episodes of Spider-Man, aka Spider-Man 1981, aka the old Spider-Man cartoon that has no amazing friends, on YouTube. I haven't seen these since about 1987 or 1988. I saw one of the six Spidey vs. Dr. Doom episodes, which wasn't very good. But then I saw "Under the Wizard's Spell," written by my heroine Christy Marx and guest starring Medusa, and that was very good indeed.
I saw a visually stunning film in the theater over the weekend - Ang Lee's "Life of Pi".
It's basically a parable about the nature of belief and god but - taken on a strictly literal level - it's also movie about a young boy lost at sea for 8 months, sharing a life boat for various amounts of time - until nature takes its course - with a zebra, an orangutan, a hyena, and a freaking Bengal tiger!
It was an incredibly engaging movie, if a little pat in it's overall message, but it truly had some of the most amazing CGI I think I've ever seen. The animals in the movie were so realistically rendered that I had to keep reminding myself that they were just digital creations.
A warning though, if you happen to see a preview and think its a heartwarming tale or something, this movie has some pretty brutal scenes and is probably not the best for younger kids.
Posted by Triplicate Kid on :
WESTERN ANIMATION:
Legion of Super-Heroes Late to the party.
Kim Possible Later to the party. Since my earliest Internet days, I couldn't have avoided exposure to its fandom if I tried. It's exactly what I expected. Glorious ridiculousness. Some plots do get tired fast, and the "calling an old friend for a ride" thing is never amusing. After growing used to anime, several things struck me about Western animation, though Kim Possible may be a pretty extreme example. Super-simplified backgrounds. Hectic pacing. Fluid movement. The anime martial arts I've seen look choppy in comparison, though I'm not sure that's a bad thing. One of KP's outstanding moments: the zero-G fight. The animators don't use this as an excuse to up the wire-fu quotient. Her moves look talented yet awkward in this environment. The "robot fighting underground" which looks like Robot Wars when the overall weirdness level leads you to expect Super Robot Wars. And then a boxy wheeled machine transforms into a humanoid mech. Comb fights. "I added another L." Lanyards. "I gave him a few pamphlets." Jack Hench. "The student has surpassed the master." I'll say it: This show was the 2000s' answer to The Tick. I find it weird if this ends up on a list of "girls' action cartoons". She's an Action Girl, but it feels like one of those shows aimed at boys and everyone else.
ANIME:
Heartcatch Precure Probably back in 2010, with inadequate information, I decided to be a Pretty Cure completist. I got the impression the metaseries was better than it was. I notice now that I decided this when apparent fan-favorite Heartcatch was the newest series. Anyway, I skipped Fresh to get to it, and this'll probably be my last. (One review I saw of Suite killed any chances of my watching it. That show has the attitude of a really annoying art teacher I had.) I really don't like the Doremi style. I can't understand reviews that say this has better animation but weaker characterization than the early series. The backgrounds look cheaper than anything I've seen since Doki Doki School Hours. Aside from that, this is a pretty good show. It does break some conventions, but not enough or often enough. (It does at least answer a standing question I had: if you interrupt an attack sequence, does what you've done carry over to your next use? Answer: Yes.)
Michiko and Hatchin I heard this described as a buddy series with an odd relationship. What I heard about it wasn't accurate - in a good way. The team of a sexy escaped convict and the abused 10-year-old girl she saves doesn't feel contrived. Interesting rendering of the Brazilian setting, but it would be better if it could escape the lingering anime conventions.
Space Brothers (Uchuu Kyoudai) The first time I've ever started an anime while it's still airing. A decent slice-of-life-ish show, but the starting situation (older brother makes a career change and goes back to the shared childhood dream the younger brother already followed: becoming an astronaut) doesn't feel real enough.
TOKUSATSU:
Samurai Sentai Shinkenger I've dipped into Japanese live-action, even tokusatsu, before, but this is my first entry into the best-known metaseries. My reason for choosing this one? The monsters looked better, though part of that is context. They're mythical creatures, not aliens or the weird golems I've grown too used to. Anyway, it's about what I expected. It does start off really quickly, though. I guess they know the audience is used to this by now.
Posted by Power Boy on :
The Quick and the Undead ... so far I wouldn't recommend it.
Posted by cleome46 on :
quote:Originally posted by Dave Hackett: The one episode we tried to watch of Archer started with the same juvenile "adult" jokes in other of the lesser adult swim stuff and my wife turned it off (it was the one where his mother gets caught covering herself in whipped cream in front of a video screen). Maybe it was just a bad one to start with?
I admit to watching it with one hand permanently over my eyes, much as I did when South Park first came down the plank.
I don't know exactly why it works better for me than, say, Family Guy and many of the AS shows. I think it has to do with the pacing. Or perhaps that it feeds my own deep-seated suspicions regarding the mindset most "super-spies" would have if they existed in real life.
Posted by Power Boy on :
I watched Ted ... it wasn't as funny as the trailer ... and most of the jokes were just nasty not really funny.
Posted by Power Boy on :
Archer is crass. I like Archer because it is over the top ... like its making funny of itself ... or spy genres rather than being straight jokes.
Its more of a laugh at show for me. Some episodes are way more funny than others ... and others are just so so.
Posted by Power Boy on :
I don't find South Park or Family Guy interesting ... or the Simpsons ... or pretty much anything that is too entrenched in pop culture.
just too hard to keep up with.
I DID see one episode of South Park ... it was the Brittney episode where she shoots off her own head and then everyone's like "oh Brittney I love your new look!" and she records an album ... with no mouth ... and everyone loves it! haha
btw I was listening to Brittney recently, my music was on shuffle, and she was talking about shaving her Click Here For A Spoiler ass in one song!
ha! did she even realize she said that ... or does she just mindlessly read what they put in front of her? or is she really crude and funny?
Posted by Exnihil on :
I saw a movie over the holiday that I previously didn't know existed and - if I had - never would have thought that I'd not only enjoy it, but also still be thinking about it three days later... and slowly coming to the opinion that I'd seen a work of art.
Trust me, no one is more surprised than I that I dug this so much - but I'm talking about movie from 1968 called, "Head," starring... The Monkees.
First off, although I'd seen The Monkees TV show before, I've never liked it. I don't enjoy the sort of dumbed-down slapstick and random jump cut thing that typified the show.
That being said, though... "Head," - made after the cancellation of the show, and during a drastic wane in the Monkees popularity - was a pop art deconstruction of the prefabricated nature of the band, from the same production team that would go on to make "Easy Rider," and "Five Easy Pieces." In addition, it's also a meta-fictional reflection on the nature of reality and free will.
Yes... really.
It's very difficult to describe the movie in terms of plot... there actually isn't much of one, apart from an overarching theme of the four band members attempting to break free of the various levels of fictional constructs in which they exist. Instead, it plays out in a series of vignettes, connected in a stream of consciousness fashion that follow a sort of dream logic.
Throughout these vignettes, the band members are continually confronted with the artificial nature - not only of the world in which they exist (breaking out of staged scenes only to find that the "behind the scenes" reality is staged as well) - but also of their selves (having their actions cut short to be informed that they are not in line with the archetypes that they are supposed to be filling; being torn apart as their very bodies are revealed to be mannequins).
The ultimate journey toward trying to assert free will involves them realizing the only way out of this illusionary world is by death, so, in the final scene (which connects to the first scene in a "Finnegan's Wake" type loop) they attempt to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge... only to find even these actions are nothing more than part of a pre-scripted world.
I'll know that "meta-fiction" is not everyone's cup of tea... but when combined the "psychedelic" sheen of the era in which it was made, as well as some of the most bizarre cameos to ever be in a single movie - Frank Zappa, Annette Funicello, Jack Nicholson, and Sonny Liston, as well as others - it all just really clicked for me.
To sum up my feelings on it, I'd say it was like "A Hard Day's Night" as imagined by Grant Morrison.
If that sounds like something you'd like... check out "Head".
Posted by Dave Hackett on :
Watched the entire season of VEEP over the holidays. Really funny stuff.
Posted by He Who Wanders on :
quote:Originally posted by Exnihil: Trust me, no one is more surprised than I that I dug this so much - but I'm talking about movie from 1968 called, "Head," starring... The Monkees.
Oddly enough, I saw a PBS documentary on The Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour" on New Year's Eve. "Head" was essentially The Monkees' "MMT"--and, like the latter, was panned by critics and left fans scratching their heads.
And, like "Head," MMT is now regarded as an artistic masterpiece that influenced subsequent filmmakers (including Martin Scorsese, who was interviewed in the documentary).
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
If you want to get even more crazy, you should do a little searching around about what some conspiracy-theorists think of "Head" and how it connects to CIA brain-washing / the CIA control of the counter-culture (particularly in Laurel Canyon where the Monkees, Zappa, etc all lived) and how it was a "clue" to the true nature of who controls the world. Trippy stuff indeed.
Posted by He Who Wanders on :
Mike Nesmith controls the world? Why are we not all wearing wool caps?
Posted by Power Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by Dave Hackett: Watched the entire season of VEEP over the holidays. Really funny stuff.
Supposedly it is spun off of the British show, "In the thick of it".
which is incredibly funny. It is on hulu.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Oddly enough, I've never actually seen Head, though I will say that I think the Monkees tv show is actually a lot more meta-fictional than is perhaps initially apparent.
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Those Serbs were scary man. If you are wondering how Craig will do as Bond...check this out. My choice was Jonny Lee Miller but Craig is less pretty boy more tough guy in a sophisticated kinda way. Though Craig wasn't a tough guy in this movie...he was still cool.![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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It didn't suck but it really didn't hold my attention.
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as "Alexander Lucard" (aka Dracula) is just yummy. We also get to see Geraint Wyn Davies in a pre-Forever Knight vampire role, though one less tortured than Nick Knight.![[Bouncing Boy]](graemlins/BouncingBoy.gif)
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)
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Oh, and there were some men in the movie, too. 
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. Definately not for me.
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