It's the Superman problem. Make a character so awesome and powerful that you have to spend all your time thinking of reasons they're not instantly solving whatever the issue is.
That said, Season 4 is great.
Things you just watched on netflix/streaming video...spoilers all over the joint...
- Thread starter Zaphod
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It's the Superman problem. Make a character so awesome and powerful that you have to spend all your time thinking of reasons they're not instantly solving whatever the issue is.
That said, Season 4 is great.
I’m still trying to make sense of his body modifications. I mean, were his feet broken into flexible mush or not?
Wow.
Stranger things. S4/Ep4.
The entire internet was right this time...that was just wonderful. Intense. Thinky and shit.
And Sadie Sink (Max) is just stealing pretty much every scene she's in. If she doesn't at least get an Emmy nod for this episode...I'mma have to re-educate some folks.
(seriously, her soliloquy in the graveyard kinda ripped my heart out...she is great.)
Stranger things. S4/Ep4.
The entire internet was right this time...that was just wonderful. Intense. Thinky and shit.
And Sadie Sink (Max) is just stealing pretty much every scene she's in. If she doesn't at least get an Emmy nod for this episode...I'mma have to re-educate some folks.
(seriously, her soliloquy in the graveyard kinda ripped my heart out...she is great.)
Finished up Night Sky, on Prime.
Great cast, very slow burn for the first several episodes, but it picks up steam and was quite engaging.
It has lovable grandparents, nosy neighbors, secret portals to other worlds, ruling (religious?) sects, apostates, apostate hunters, and rebels.
Looking forward to s2.
Great cast, very slow burn for the first several episodes, but it picks up steam and was quite engaging.
It has lovable grandparents, nosy neighbors, secret portals to other worlds, ruling (religious?) sects, apostates, apostate hunters, and rebels.
Looking forward to s2.
Cool, that's our next once we finish ST4 I think.. then maybe Counterpart to keep things rolling..
As a bit of background: Cowboy Bebop first came out in 1998 at a time when I was casually interested in anime but not so much that I was willing to do the things that were necessary for an American to get their hands on it. If it came on during The Sci-Fi Channel's anime month then I had a decent chance of seeing it but even Cartoon Network didn't end up carrying it until a few years later. Even though the proto-internet was a whisper about this Cowboy Bebop I had neither the money to buy the ridiculously priced VHS imports (if such a thing even existed for the show) with translations nor the availability on regular television to see it. Then, the few times that it did come across my path such that I could see it the show never really grabbed me.
So when the Netflix adaptation started showing previews the only thing I could do was judge it based on itself as I had no preconceptions or expectations about Bebop other than it's never really interested me. However, watching it made me curious enough to go back to the anime and give it a real shot and...I like it. I can understand why it got a following when it did, though it's nothing particularly special now, it would have been pretty radically different from most of what western audiences knew as anime in the late-90's and if having your expectations looped like that was something that appealed I can definitely see the attraction it had.
The Netflix adaptation is interesting. Most of the episodes are direct adaptations from the anime but they've mixed some episode's concepts into others and they've taken each character's one (or two) stand-alone episodes and made those plots cover the character's entire run on the series. The exception here is Spike whom you know was a baddie before he left the syndicate but they do nothing to really connect himself, Vicious and Julia until the last couple of episodes when they have a full flashback episode. That left me, through the whole series, being disconnected and really not caring about the angry white boy and his daddy issues even though I understood that I was supposed to care because they connected with Spike in some way. They also fundamentally changed Jet and Spike's relationship with the past near the end: in the anime Jet was aware of Spike's past when everything went down and he'd accepted it as the way things are, in the show Jet got blindsided with Spike's past and throws Spike away because of it. I know they did that for the potential Season 2 drama but it just felt out of line for the character.
Also, they abandon Ein on the dock for no good reason. Fuck them forever for that sad puppy looking as his ship and pals fly away. This change, alone, was all of the reason to cancel the series.
So when the Netflix adaptation started showing previews the only thing I could do was judge it based on itself as I had no preconceptions or expectations about Bebop other than it's never really interested me. However, watching it made me curious enough to go back to the anime and give it a real shot and...I like it. I can understand why it got a following when it did, though it's nothing particularly special now, it would have been pretty radically different from most of what western audiences knew as anime in the late-90's and if having your expectations looped like that was something that appealed I can definitely see the attraction it had.
The Netflix adaptation is interesting. Most of the episodes are direct adaptations from the anime but they've mixed some episode's concepts into others and they've taken each character's one (or two) stand-alone episodes and made those plots cover the character's entire run on the series. The exception here is Spike whom you know was a baddie before he left the syndicate but they do nothing to really connect himself, Vicious and Julia until the last couple of episodes when they have a full flashback episode. That left me, through the whole series, being disconnected and really not caring about the angry white boy and his daddy issues even though I understood that I was supposed to care because they connected with Spike in some way. They also fundamentally changed Jet and Spike's relationship with the past near the end: in the anime Jet was aware of Spike's past when everything went down and he'd accepted it as the way things are, in the show Jet got blindsided with Spike's past and throws Spike away because of it. I know they did that for the potential Season 2 drama but it just felt out of line for the character.
Also, they abandon Ein on the dock for no good reason. Fuck them forever for that sad puppy looking as his ship and pals fly away. This change, alone, was all of the reason to cancel the series.
Enjoyed this a lot. But hey, JK Simmons and Sissy Spacek? I'll watch whatever they put together.
Based on this thread, watched Colossal last night. Well acted. Really interesting concept. But damn, do they beat you over the head with the metaphors.
Oh I loved Happy Gilmore.....just watched the abomination called 'Interceptor' on Netflix, holy hell that was terrible. I mean, if I am generous one one of the final 'campy' scenes kinda made it....funny. But as best I can tell its nepotism to get your hot wife into a movie and do a cameo.
For All Mankind season 3 has started on Apple TV. As a reminder, it’s an alternative history story where the Soviets beat us to the moon. But it ends up making it so the space race never ended. Season 1 was the late 60s to mid 70s, where the US tries to figure out what to do, including female astronauts (because the second person on the moon was a female cosmonaut) and a permanent lunar base. Season 2 skipped to the mid 80s. Reagan started his two terms in 1976 (after President Ted Kennedy). The Cold War has extended into space with a more militarized NASA, a nuclear powered lunar base, and shenanigans with the Russian base that almost causes WW3.
Season 3 picks up in 1992. Gary Hart is ending his second term as President. The Beatles played a reunion show. Flat panel screens exist already, but it doesn’t look like CDs exist. There’s a private space hotel, the US and Soviets are now racing each other to Mars, and there’s a private space company that apparently wants in on the action. First episode was pretty slow at first. Lots of showing what characters have been up to in the last 10 years. Then thing pick up quickly. I didn’t much care for it all at first, but the climax saved the episode.
They’re continuing to do a good job weaving in different events along with a great “what if” we hadn’t given up on space after we landed on the moon.
Season 3 picks up in 1992. Gary Hart is ending his second term as President. The Beatles played a reunion show. Flat panel screens exist already, but it doesn’t look like CDs exist. There’s a private space hotel, the US and Soviets are now racing each other to Mars, and there’s a private space company that apparently wants in on the action. First episode was pretty slow at first. Lots of showing what characters have been up to in the last 10 years. Then thing pick up quickly. I didn’t much care for it all at first, but the climax saved the episode.
They’re continuing to do a good job weaving in different events along with a great “what if” we hadn’t given up on space after we landed on the moon.
Orville New Horizons (nee Season 3) - On the one hand it's more Orville. On the other hand they're unconstrained by broadcast episode length expectations and it shows. The first episode was over at minute 41 but there was another 20 to go. Episode 2 had about 3 extra plot points that weren't necessary that dragged it out to over 1:10 in length. They're just too long and don't have the need to be. This is one area where whatever Paramount's doing to manage Trek is, generally, the correct thing. While many episodes approach the 60's 50-52 minute length of TOS episodes just as many fall into the 42-45 minute length. Having the flexibility to take anywhere from 42-52 minutes is great but most stories don't need more than that and not being judicious with your editing is a great way to make people tired of your show. If the narrative pace can't support over an hour of episode, or your story has a natural endpoint well before that, please just edit it down.
I agree. I watched both episodes yesterday. I'm happy for more Orville, but some of it feels like "Look at our VFX budget!"
I still love the Star Trek vibes from the show.
I still love the Star Trek vibes from the show.
In episode 2, trying to talk to the big bad before killing them all.
House Of The Devil isn't a very good movie.
It's gotten raves for being a throwback to the great horror films of the 1970's/80's. Well, it has some of the weird camera angles, and bad lightning, and lots of film noise. But the story is dumb and predictable and just not much fun.
It's gotten raves for being a throwback to the great horror films of the 1970's/80's. Well, it has some of the weird camera angles, and bad lightning, and lots of film noise. But the story is dumb and predictable and just not much fun.
I went back to Pacific Rim: The Black (on netflix), having watched the first episode when it originally came out and then getting distracted. Surprisingly despite the teen protags I'm enjoying it a lot.
Not enough of the big stupid "robot punches monster" stuff still, but just enough extra lore to make it a little fresher without adding a clown car.
Not enough of the big stupid "robot punches monster" stuff still, but just enough extra lore to make it a little fresher without adding a clown car.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) is still in theaters and is available for purchase on the usual streaming services. Rentals will probably follow soon.
I saw it at the theater. Wow, this is a fantastic film. Story, performances, action, drama, comedy. It has it all and it does it all very well.
The movie features Michelle Yeoh, one of my favorite actresses, James Hong, Lo Pen himself!, Jamie Lee Curtis?!? holy shit I had no idea she was in this and when she showed I was like... "wait... that's... omfgwtfbbq!" She has a great role. And, I had no idea he was still acting... Ke Huy Quan, Short Round himself, and the original Data. It looks like he's beeing doing stunt coordinating and fight choreography for awhile. But he's really strong here as an actor.
This is a fantastic film. It should win every award, it should win everything. Absolutely loved it.
I saw it at the theater. Wow, this is a fantastic film. Story, performances, action, drama, comedy. It has it all and it does it all very well.
The movie features Michelle Yeoh, one of my favorite actresses, James Hong, Lo Pen himself!, Jamie Lee Curtis?!? holy shit I had no idea she was in this and when she showed I was like... "wait... that's... omfgwtfbbq!" She has a great role. And, I had no idea he was still acting... Ke Huy Quan, Short Round himself, and the original Data. It looks like he's beeing doing stunt coordinating and fight choreography for awhile. But he's really strong here as an actor.
This is a fantastic film. It should win every award, it should win everything. Absolutely loved it.
Win everything everywhere all at once, maybe?
Definitely on my short list of things to watch when I have time for a movie.
I have to agree, this is an amazing film and a definite must-see!
Finished the final season of Goliath on Prime.
Same general formula as prior seasons, but the cinematography was rather different (in a good way) which felt both more interesting, and somewhat out of place.
If you like the formula, it’s a decent series finale.
Same general formula as prior seasons, but the cinematography was rather different (in a good way) which felt both more interesting, and somewhat out of place.
If you like the formula, it’s a decent series finale.
Servant on Apple TV keeps a decently weird, slightly chilling and thrilling home horror theme all of the way through season three. It has some good moments of genuine creep and the whole cast really keeps the characters interesting (extra hat tip to Rupert Grint) even through some slow moments in the story, yet it has just enough suspense and supernatural splashes to keep it going. I loved the S3 cliffhanger. The motif of gourmet food presented throughout the series is the most clever and effective hook I’ve seen utilized to propel further depth in this genre. Good stuff.
Four out of five glasses of Grenache.
Four out of five glasses of Grenache.
Just finished watching the second (and final) season of Made for Love on HBO Max. I don't think I ever heard anything about this show elsewhere. My wife just found it. It stars Cristin Milioti (the mother from How I Met Your Mother) and Ray Romano as her dad. She married a tech billionaire, who whisked her away to the self contained headquarters/compound of his company "Gogol" for the past 10 years. She escapes when his next new idea is to implant a chip in people's brains, so that they share consciousness with their significant others (with the two of them going to be the prototypes, but surprise! he already implanted the chip in her brain and can see everything she is seeing.
It's definitely an interesting and unique show. Each episode is only about 30 minutes each, and there's only 16 total episodes. So it's a pretty quick watch. I'm a bit disappointed that it was cancelled after two seasons, but they ended the second season pretty well. It could continue, but it didn't have to.
It's definitely an interesting and unique show. Each episode is only about 30 minutes each, and there's only 16 total episodes. So it's a pretty quick watch. I'm a bit disappointed that it was cancelled after two seasons, but they ended the second season pretty well. It could continue, but it didn't have to.
Ooh, we enjoyed the first season on Made for Love, didn't realize the second was out - thanks for the heads up! Good timing since we just finished Hacks.
I liked S1, and am disappointed it’s been cancelled, but not completely surprised as it didn’t seem to get any publicity elsewhere.
At least they wrapped up the story in S2. So many other cancellations leave viewers without any closure.
Need to remember to get back to it.
I started watching after reading the general praise. But...
I'm in S2, 3 or 4 episodes, and I really don't care for this adolescent/angsty teen love interest/conflict shit going on. Is it like this throughout the rest of it?
I honestly don't remember that being an issue at all. I mean, they're kids so yeah there will be some 'kids are annoying' stuff going on there and you kind of have to accept that. The alternative would be completely unrealistic portrayals of kids as robots who never feel anything. But yeah, there is a question of balance of moving the story forward vs. acknowledging how characters feel about the situations they are in.
Generally I would say no, it is not like that through the rest of it because it moves pretty fast once it gets going. I haven't watched season 4 yet, which people say has some pacing issues, but season 3 sticks out in my mind as being the one that is more heavy on interpersonal drama, not season 2. Even then, it's only a couple episodes that feature it heavily and they still manage to pack in enough stuff happening to make it feel interesting.
Separately, I finally got a chance to watch The Batman while flying back from the Philippines. It was excellent. I would not call it the best Batman movie I have seen but it is in the top 4 for sure. It's different, maybe a bit too emo to be very re-watchable but I enjoyed it and found it extremely cinematic and just interesting to watch on a visual level. It's a bit slow but it moves enough at the right times to keep from boring me and it has some actually believable bad stuff happening. The Riddler is actually a very good bad guy and seems to fill his role very well. I won't go into more spoiler territory but yeah, I liked it. I've seen so much Batman content over the years that I guess I have a very, very wide definition of what I am willing to accept as 'Batman' so I don't feel like it was 'not my Batman' or whatever, I just enjoyed it.
Also, Top Gun: Maverick was great. We watched it in Manila at a mall and the screen was smaller than I wanted but we were seated relatively close and we had Potato Corner and real mango juice to drink so it was great. My wife *loved* the flying scenes. They really pulled out all the stops there and I have to appreciate all the effort and expense put in there. All around great action movie.
The Bubble (on Netflix) was okay. It could have been much shorter, maybe about 30 minutes trimmed and it would have been a tight, funny comedy. Given the subject matter (actors stuck in a covid bubble endlessly shooting a shitty movie) I suppose there's something amusingly meta about the extended runtime. I did get the impression that there were a lot of inside jokes for people who work in the film industry.
It's no Tropic Thunder, but that's a really high bar.
It's no Tropic Thunder, but that's a really high bar.
Ugh, yeah that whole thing is a nightmare. I'm just hoping things turn out better than I'm expecting. We hung out with some of my wife's friends and the election came up. Everyone was bemoaning the results except one woman and when we asked she admitted being a BBM (Bong Bong Marcos) supporter. After assuring her we were not judging (we were totally judging though) we asked why. Her answer was, "Leni Robredo seemed too weak to be president."
:facepalm: Yeah... a woman who has been a successful lawyer for years and served as vice president to an extremely hostile president and then ran a well respected campaign for president is 'too weak'. It's painfully obvious that the misinformation campaigns were successful, they used edited videos to portray Robredo as mentally incompetent or professionally incompetent and that kind of thing was enough in conjunction with massive efforts to whitewash the Marcos regime from the 70s/80s to somehow convince people that the dictatorship of Marcos Sr. was somehow beneficial for the Philippines and engendered massive financial success for the lower and middle classes. Marcos did no debates, hardly any interviews and made nearly no specific campaign promises or any kind of platform for people to hold him to after election. Of course, after the election was over, some of his first moves appear to be aimed at pardoning past crimes of his own family and their supporters. I think people bought into the idea that somehow kindness and concern for the lower parts of society equate to being weak when you compare it to politicians who only care about looking for people to wage 'war' on (drug pushers, criminals, minorities or foreigners, etc.). Saying you want to help people is 'weaker' than saying you want to hurt people. Uh, anyway, movies are great!
I also watched The Northman on the plane. It was ok, good even. I think I felt a bit let down because I had heard it compared favorably to Conan the Barbarian but I found it a bit bleak and unpleasant to watch compared to that. It was a bit too much like The Green Knight. It had a bit too much 'artistic-ness' and edginess to be actually enjoyable. It was very well made and I liked the basic concepts but it was just a bit too dark/dreary for me. It was pretty good though just because it was well shot, had an interesting story and some twists and surprises but it felt like it was missing something that would have made it more enjoyable to watch.
Phil Tippet's "Mad God" is now on Shudder.
It is... something. Certainly an achievement. But not precisely entertaining. It feels long at 85 minutes.
It is... something. Certainly an achievement. But not precisely entertaining. It feels long at 85 minutes.
Yep. He's an SFX guy who has worked on a bunch of stuff. This was a personal project he's been fiddling with for 30-odd years. All stop-motion, no dialog.
Mando & Nic Cage*
It.. ugh.. it works
*Prime members can buy it for $10 currently
It.. ugh.. it works
*Prime members can buy it for $10 currently
I’m not entirely sure why I did it to myself, perhaps some combination of nostalgia and naivety but regardless, I subjected myself to the original Highlander last night. It’d been a few decades since seeing it and I’m not sure of it was the intensity of Lambert’s fiveheaded glare or Zim being a bad guy that made us love this as a kid but wow, it didn’t age too well.
They should do a proper Hollywood acquisition of this IP to rectify my trauma and mashup Predators & Highlanders. Keep the rotoscoping but add in some Predator POV, plus someone with a six-head stare to really sell the audience on the intensity of the situation. Digital Sean Connery cameo for good measure.
They should do a proper Hollywood acquisition of this IP to rectify my trauma and mashup Predators & Highlanders. Keep the rotoscoping but add in some Predator POV, plus someone with a six-head stare to really sell the audience on the intensity of the situation. Digital Sean Connery cameo for good measure.
Bill & Ted Face the Music. On the one hand, in the Year of Our Lord 2020 I can't quite accept a story about a humanity coming together in harmony being anything other than a deluded fantasy. On the other hand, that's not what they told instead it's a story about humanity coming together, briefly, to save reality. Which, in the Year of Our Lord 2022, feels more than a little farfetched too. Like, the movie made today would have to have a subplot where, faced with the obvious end of reality, about 2/5 of all of humanity looks at it and demands to know what kind of Satanic Deep State plot they're trying to get them involved in and refuses to assist with saving reality.
The good news is the rest of the movie is damn good. It's surreal as hell hearing modern Keanu speak like a surfer himbo but it's genuine and their daughters had a fantastic plotline of their own. It was cute and funny and harkened back to the original movies without being a flat remake. It's available on Prime and well worth your 90 minutes.
The good news is the rest of the movie is damn good. It's surreal as hell hearing modern Keanu speak like a surfer himbo but it's genuine and their daughters had a fantastic plotline of their own. It was cute and funny and harkened back to the original movies without being a flat remake. It's available on Prime and well worth your 90 minutes.