OT: Movies/TV Shows
- Thread starter BeLeafer
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MyNameIsJonas
Well-known member
Re: OT: Recent Movies You've Seen
For anyone wanting to get into a solid show on the ground floor...watch Season 1 of Hell on Wheels.
For anyone wanting to get into a solid show on the ground floor...watch Season 1 of Hell on Wheels.
Montana
Champion
Re: OT: Recent Movies You've Seen
I think people should have a higher standard than simply entertainment though.....Had the creators of Lost gone in with a vision of telling a story over X number of episodes, and didn't later sacrifice their vision by stretching it out longer due to it's popularity and the money it could generate.
A perfect example of this was the UK version of 'The Office'......Rickey Gervais was a virtual nobody, and along with Stephen Merchant had a vision for a show.....he made two seasons, and a special to finish it off, and refused to make any more regardless of how popular it was and how much money he was offered. (and he was able to parlay the quality and popularity of that art into a brand/empire that they've sold all around the world in various incarnations of that show, but he never sacrificed his work or his vision to water down his own product solely for profit)
Nothing comes even remotely close....it's the gold standard for television dramas by a country mile......just went through all five seasons again recently, and it's just as enjoyable on a 2nd/3rd viewing as it was originally. Seasons 1-4 are goddamn perfection.
As brilliant as 'The Wire' is, they got a little weird in season 5 too, with the whole McNulty storyline.
I think people should have a higher standard than simply entertainment though.....Had the creators of Lost gone in with a vision of telling a story over X number of episodes, and didn't later sacrifice their vision by stretching it out longer due to it's popularity and the money it could generate.
A perfect example of this was the UK version of 'The Office'......Rickey Gervais was a virtual nobody, and along with Stephen Merchant had a vision for a show.....he made two seasons, and a special to finish it off, and refused to make any more regardless of how popular it was and how much money he was offered. (and he was able to parlay the quality and popularity of that art into a brand/empire that they've sold all around the world in various incarnations of that show, but he never sacrificed his work or his vision to water down his own product solely for profit)
Nothing comes even remotely close....it's the gold standard for television dramas by a country mile......just went through all five seasons again recently, and it's just as enjoyable on a 2nd/3rd viewing as it was originally. Seasons 1-4 are goddamn perfection.
As brilliant as 'The Wire' is, they got a little weird in season 5 too, with the whole McNulty storyline.
worm
Well-known member
worm
Well-known member
Re: OT: Recent Movies You've Seen
agreed though the end of the last season makes things interesting
curious what they do
agreed though the end of the last season makes things interesting
curious what they do
MyNameIsJonas
Well-known member
LeafOfFaith
Well-known member
Re: OT: Recent Movies You've Seen
Lost was great all the way, but yeah, way too many easy fixes and ignored mysteries at the end. Pretty big letdown.
One show with no gimmicks that I loved when I saw the episodes long after the show was done was Dallas. The writing, the twists and turns, it was truly awesome, and basically created the cliffhanger in prime time tv. The new one is pretty good too, but can't match the old one in its prime.
Mad Men is one of my favorites and very good too, but it reminds me a bit of the Sopranos, where nothing really ever happens. You just have to enjoy the interactions and writing, but can't expect big things to take place.
Game of Thrones has been pretty great so far, on all fronts - writing, acting, effects, settings. Only shitty thing is that after 10 episodes, you're done for a year.
Lost was great all the way, but yeah, way too many easy fixes and ignored mysteries at the end. Pretty big letdown.
One show with no gimmicks that I loved when I saw the episodes long after the show was done was Dallas. The writing, the twists and turns, it was truly awesome, and basically created the cliffhanger in prime time tv. The new one is pretty good too, but can't match the old one in its prime.
Mad Men is one of my favorites and very good too, but it reminds me a bit of the Sopranos, where nothing really ever happens. You just have to enjoy the interactions and writing, but can't expect big things to take place.
Game of Thrones has been pretty great so far, on all fronts - writing, acting, effects, settings. Only shitty thing is that after 10 episodes, you're done for a year.
worm
Well-known member
Re: OT: Recent Movies You've Seen
yep especially the last half
really made up for season 3....but still not as good as season 2
yep especially the last half
really made up for season 3....but still not as good as season 2
Montana
Champion
Re: OT: Recent Movies You've Seen
"Louie" has to be the best show currently on tv, in that we're getting to see an extremely talented artist do something very very few artists ever have the opportunity to do, which is transfer their artist vision to the screen 100% unempeeded.....the fact he's given free reign to write, direct, cast, act, etc and is able to express his voice directly to the audience is incredibly refreshing.
Not saying that art can't be expressed in other ways (The Wire pulled off various directors expressing different writers messages for instance)....but it's incredibly valuable to see a single artists vision all the way through as it was intended.
Television/Film is one of the few mediums where it's become standard for multiple artists (writers, producers, directors, actors) all attempting to input their own creativity into the final product.....whereas with books, paintings, standup, etc we're often hearing/seeing/reading a singular artists vision, making it a much more (to me) satisfying.
Makes something like "Louie" all that much more enjoyable in the rare occurances we get it.
"Louie" has to be the best show currently on tv, in that we're getting to see an extremely talented artist do something very very few artists ever have the opportunity to do, which is transfer their artist vision to the screen 100% unempeeded.....the fact he's given free reign to write, direct, cast, act, etc and is able to express his voice directly to the audience is incredibly refreshing.
Not saying that art can't be expressed in other ways (The Wire pulled off various directors expressing different writers messages for instance)....but it's incredibly valuable to see a single artists vision all the way through as it was intended.
Television/Film is one of the few mediums where it's become standard for multiple artists (writers, producers, directors, actors) all attempting to input their own creativity into the final product.....whereas with books, paintings, standup, etc we're often hearing/seeing/reading a singular artists vision, making it a much more (to me) satisfying.
Makes something like "Louie" all that much more enjoyable in the rare occurances we get it.
Bleedsblue&white
Well-known member
Re: OT: Recent Movies You've Seen
Nobody watches Fringe?
I'm a Sci-Fi buff (nerd, geek, whatever( and I love the show. To me it's like X-files, except they actually answer things. The acting is top notch. Don't want to give to much away in case someone's going to watch it, but most of the main characters get to play more than one role, and they do it brilliantly.
Walter Bishop is one of the best characters ever.
Nobody watches Fringe?
I'm a Sci-Fi buff (nerd, geek, whatever( and I love the show. To me it's like X-files, except they actually answer things. The acting is top notch. Don't want to give to much away in case someone's going to watch it, but most of the main characters get to play more than one role, and they do it brilliantly.
Walter Bishop is one of the best characters ever.
MyNameIsJonas
Well-known member
Re: OT: Recent Movies You've Seen
i can verify Louis and Montana's taste in TV is awesome.
i can verify Louis and Montana's taste in TV is awesome.
LeafOfFaith
Well-known member
Re: OT: Recent Movies You've Seen
I've tried to get into Louie, but haven't been able to.
I've tried to get into Louie, but haven't been able to.
Leo Bannister
New member
Re: OT: Recent Movies You've Seen
Is he too American for you?
Also, anyone that hasn't been watching Breaking Bad needs to be.....IMO It's up there with The Wire, Sopranos and Mad Men. The progression of Walt and Jesse is ****ing brilliant.
As much as I enjoy Dexter it is not even close to any of these shows. I don't think Dexter had a chance to ever be a brilliant/artistic show, the writing/acting has always been a little hooky right from the start. Michael C. Hall is the only thing that has been holding that show together with the exception of the season guest spots (John Lithgow, Julia Stiles and Colin Hanks), the rest of the actors remind me of bad CTV morning specials. It is what it is though and I suppose you need to suspend some disbelief while watching a show about a serial killer/forensic detective hunting down and brutally murdering other killers.
Having said that, it could have been something special if they did like 3 seasons of it. But again from the start that was never the type of show it was meant to be.
A good example of this was The Killing. That had the potential to be a brilliant idea for a TV show, 12 episode long crime drama based off of one case. Instead they had to drag it out into 2 seasons and by the 16 episode you really didn't care who the killer was, but as long as it was over soon, was enough to keep you watching (for all the wrong reasons). Although I did think the ending was OK.
Is he too American for you?
Also, anyone that hasn't been watching Breaking Bad needs to be.....IMO It's up there with The Wire, Sopranos and Mad Men. The progression of Walt and Jesse is ****ing brilliant.
As much as I enjoy Dexter it is not even close to any of these shows. I don't think Dexter had a chance to ever be a brilliant/artistic show, the writing/acting has always been a little hooky right from the start. Michael C. Hall is the only thing that has been holding that show together with the exception of the season guest spots (John Lithgow, Julia Stiles and Colin Hanks), the rest of the actors remind me of bad CTV morning specials. It is what it is though and I suppose you need to suspend some disbelief while watching a show about a serial killer/forensic detective hunting down and brutally murdering other killers.
Having said that, it could have been something special if they did like 3 seasons of it. But again from the start that was never the type of show it was meant to be.
A good example of this was The Killing. That had the potential to be a brilliant idea for a TV show, 12 episode long crime drama based off of one case. Instead they had to drag it out into 2 seasons and by the 16 episode you really didn't care who the killer was, but as long as it was over soon, was enough to keep you watching (for all the wrong reasons). Although I did think the ending was OK.
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LeafOfFaith
Well-known member
Re: OT: Recent Movies You've Seen
Too American?
I have to borrow a Teeds term by wondering who this unfunny replicant is.
Too American?
I have to borrow a Teeds term by wondering who this unfunny replicant is.
acescanuck
Mod Squad
Re: OT: Recent Movies You've Seen
Have you checked out Lucky Louie? Unfortunately HBO bailed on it after 1 season, but man was it funny.
Have you checked out Lucky Louie? Unfortunately HBO bailed on it after 1 season, but man was it funny.
