Movies/DVD's

[hardtack 10,414]

I took my son to see Hunt For the Wilderpeople the other day (I had seen it on my return flight from NZ recently) and I have to say that it is one of the funnier films I have seen in a long long time... in fact, since Taika Waititi's previous film What We Do In the Shadows (a superb mocumentary about a share house in Wellington occupied by vampires). 

This film has a real heart, laugh out loud laconic humour, and the kid who played Ricky Baker (the overweight "bad boy") is brilliant, as is Waititi's cameo as a minister providing solace at a funeral.  And Sam Neill is perfrect in the part as the hardened bushman "uncle" with a heart of gold.  Just 4 words - Go and see it!!

Edited July 15, 2016 by hardtack

[Ethan Tremblay 30,025]

On 14 July 2016 at 4:20 PM, hardtack said:

I took my son to see Hunt For the Wilderpeople the other day (I had seen it on my return flight from NZ recently) and I have to say that it is one of the funnier films I have seen in a long long time... in fact, since Taika Waititi's previous film What We Do In the Shadows (a superb mocumentary about a share house in Wellington occupied by vampires). 

This film has a real heart, laugh out loud laconic humour, and the kid who played Ricky Baker (the overweight "bad boy") is brilliant, as is Waititi's cameo as a minister providing solace at a funeral.  And Sam Neill is perfrect in the part as the hardened bushman "uncle" with a heart of gold.  Just 4 words - Go and see it!!

Looking forward to seeing this one HT. I really enjoyed What We Do In The Shadows, it had a bit of Flights of the Conchords humour about it. 

[Ethan Tremblay 30,025]

Watched Captain America: Civil War last night and was completely underwhelmed. They are just becoming so dull and boring and aimed too much at children. The fight between the 'Heroes' at the airport was hard to watch it was that terrible. 

Age of Ultron was also horrible, I think my time watching Marvel movies is over. 

[Bluey's Dad 3,419]

On 06/09/2016 at 11:51 AM, Ethan Tremblay said:

Watched Captain America: Civil War last night and was completely underwhelmed. They are just becoming so dull and boring and aimed too much at children. The fight between the 'Heroes' at the airport was hard to watch it was that terrible. 

Age of Ultron was also horrible, I think my time watching Marvel movies is over. 

I actually enjoyed that fight scene, but other than that I agree it wasn't great.

Age Ultron was indeed horrible. I enjoyed the first avengers movie much more.

Guardians of the Galaxy and Deadpool are my favourite Marvel movies. First Class as well (Fox I know, but Marvel characters).

[Adam The God 29,391]

21 minutes ago, Choke said:

I actually enjoyed that fight scene, but other than that I agree it wasn't great.

Age Ultron was indeed horrible. I enjoyed the first avengers movie much more.

Guardians of the Galaxy and Deadpool are my favourite Marvel movies. First Class as well (Fox I know, but Marvel characters).

Occasionally Marvel willl hit the mark. I agree with Guardians and would add Ant Man to that too. I was very surprised by how good that was, but not Deadpool. Deadpool felt like it was a movie that thought it was extremely bold and fresh, but gee, it was disappointingly conventional and obvious. Not to mention Reynolds simply channelling Jim Carrey as Ace Ventura for two hours.

The opening title sequence was a nice try, if not once again feeling like they thought the film was fresher than it actually was. That sequence did remind me a little of Watchman though, which I think in terms of modern action films based on graphic novels, it's pretty hard to surpass, directorially and substance-wise.

[Bluey's Dad 3,419]

11 minutes ago, A F said:

Occasionally Marvel willl hit the mark. I agree with Guardians and would add Ant Man to that too. I was very surprised by how good that was, but not Deadpool. Deadpool felt like it was a movie that thought it was extremely bold and fresh, but gee, it was disappointingly conventional and obvious. Not to mention Reynolds simply channelling Jim Carrey as Ace Ventura for two hours.

The opening title sequence was a nice try, if not once again feeling like they thought the film was fresher than it actually was. That sequence did remind me a little of Watchman though, which I think in terms of modern action films based on graphic novels, it's pretty hard to surpass, directorially and substance-wise.

Yep, Watchman is probably #1, agreed, followed by the Dark Knight, but both of those are DC properties.

Having read a lot of Deadpool, it didn't seem bold or fresh to me, it felt like an extremely loyal translation from the comics.  I was really pleased with it, and really liked having an actual Russian Colossus. For some reason he was American in the other X-man movies.

But yeah overall, comic book movies seem to be in decline. It's really unfortunate given there is still so much untapped potential. DC in particular has a lot of material to work with, and are only bound by the continuity of 3 films, where Marvel's movie universe has a much greater continuity burden when considering new properties.

The bat family in particular is a very rich vein. BvS alluded to Jason Todd, and I'd love to see some Robins on the big screen. Before DC went and retconned the hell out of everything, they were getting to a really interesting place with Batman. He was actually starting to heal his psychological scarring by building proper relationships with his surrogate sons. A mentally healthy Batman was an interesting prospect to comic book readers who have been subject to watching Bruce get lumped with drama and death for decades. But DC squibbed it. I'd love to see an on-screen parental relationship with Bruce & Dick/Jason/Tim and see where they take it.

[Macca 16,625]

Here's a classic comedy/western that's always worth another look see ...

 

[Macca 16,625]

Here's a comedy/horror movie known for it's cheesiness & ham acting.

'The Comedy of Terrors' ... Vincent Price,  Peter Lorre,  Basil Rathbone & Boris Karloff all try to outdo and outwit one another in this farcical comedy.  Even the house-cat brings a few laughs.

 

[Adam The God 29,391]

Saw Snowden last night. It was awesome. Followed it up by watching what I'd been meaning to watch for some time: Citizenfour. Both are must sees.

[Little Richard 6,216]

On ‎1‎/‎10‎/‎2016 at 2:19 AM, A F said:

Saw Snowden last night. It was awesome. Followed it up by watching what I'd been meaning to watch for some time: Citizenfour. Both are must sees.

Keen to see Snowden, have only heard really good things.

I managed to make it to IMAX for the first time in years, to see A Beautiful Planet. It was amazing and I forgot just how good the 3D experience is there. The '3D' that they offer at regular cinemas does not even begin to compare.

[Adam The God 29,391]

13 minutes ago, Luther said:

Keen to see Snowden, have only heard really good things.

I managed to make it to IMAX for the first time in years, to see A Beautiful Planet. It was amazing and I forgot just how good the 3D experience is there. The '3D' that they offer at regular cinemas does not even begin to compare.

I've only been to IMAX a few times. The last time was seeing INTERSTELLAR in 70mm. Pretty amazing. Pity the film was just good and not brilliant.

[Little Richard 6,216]

And I finally got around to watching two TV series' that I've been meaning to for a while - True Detective (S1) and Rake. Both brilliant, TD was an amazing experience and I put it up there with the best. Still, nothing tops The Wire IMO.

[Little Richard 6,216]

10 minutes ago, A F said:

I've only been to IMAX a few times. The last time was seeing INTERSTELLAR in 70mm. Pretty amazing. Pity the film was just good and not brilliant.

I'm glad that's your sentiment of Interstellar. I was pretty underwhelmed and it annoys me when people fawn all over it. It was decent, but I still much prefer Inception, The Prestige and The Dark Knight when considering Nolan's work. Keen to see Dunkirk.

[Adam The God 29,391]

3 hours ago, Luther said:

And I finally got around to watching two TV series' that I've been meaning to for a while - True Detective (S1) and Rake. Both brilliant, TD was an amazing experience and I put it up there with the best. Still, nothing tops The Wire IMO.

I prefer Oz to The Wire, but once you get used to the pace of the latter, it becomes gripping and binge-worthy. But The Shield IMO is the superior cop show of the early 2000s.

True Detective season 1 was great. Season 2, not so much. HBO keep umming and ahhing about renewing for a third. They've cancelled it, then it's been back on, then on hiatus etc.

Haven't seen Rake. Are we talking the original Australian series or the US remake?

Cannot wait for the third season of The Affair and the second season of The Man In The High Castle. I love Transparent too, but haven't caught up with Season 3 yet. And the third series of The Fall is out soon too.

Another Amazon show I've really got into is Eric Overmeyer's (The Wire amongst other things) adaptation of Michael Connelly's Bosch. That's a cop serial I like a lot. Has a few Wire regulars in it too.

Oh and just found out Amazon are coming to Australia later this year. Very exciting. Much prefer their catalogue of original shows to Netflix. The Amazon production model is also the future.

[Adam The God 29,391]

3 hours ago, Luther said:

I'm glad that's your sentiment of Interstellar. I was pretty underwhelmed and it annoys me when people fawn all over it. It was decent, but I still much prefer Inception, The Prestige and The Dark Knight when considering Nolan's work. Keen to see Dunkirk.

Haha, I was on the edge my seat to see Inception. I followed it from early principal photography, but was a little underwhelmed. I think that's where Nolan started to go downhill. Inception, The Dark Knight Rises and Interstellar are all forgettable, but enjoyable enough on first viewing IMO.

I'm a big Bond fan and I hope he one day gets to helm a Bond film. His style of narrative construction might discount him as the production company like to go with the less adventurous choices, although Marc Forster and Sam Mendes are a bit of a change in direction. If Mendes doesn't helm the next one (I expect him to), expect someone like Nolan to direct it.

[Cards13 9,117]

All The Way.

Hot about half way through this HBO film about LBJ taking over the presidency after JFK was gunned down. Really interesting view and Bryan Cranston is such a compelling actor.

[Little Richard 6,216]

4 hours ago, A F said:

I prefer Oz to The Wire, but once you get used to the pace of the latter, it becomes gripping and binge-worthy. But The Shield IMO is the superior cop show of the early 2000s.

True Detective season 1 was great. Season 2, not so much. HBO keep umming and ahhing about renewing for a third. They've cancelled it, then it's been back on, then on hiatus etc.

Haven't seen Rake. Are we talking the original Australian series or the US remake?

Cannot wait for the third season of The Affair and the second season of The Man In The High Castle. I love Transparent too, but haven't caught up with Season 3 yet. And the third series of The Fall is out soon too.

Another Amazon show I've really got into is Eric Overmeyer's (The Wire amongst other things) adaptation of Michael Connelly's Bosch. That's a cop serial I like a lot. Has a few Wire regulars in it too.

Oh and just found out Amazon are coming to Australia later this year. Very exciting. Much prefer their catalogue of original shows to Netflix. The Amazon production model is also the future.

Haven't seen Oz, but I do rate The Shield very highly. The Wire edges it out for me, just love the realistic and super gritty edge that they totally nail. The Shield builds some amazing tension but at times there's a bit too much All-American macho in there. Still love it though. Season 2 of TD isn't on my to do list any time soon.

Rake - the Australian version, very well written and Richard Roxburgh is great in the main role. 

The other shows you've mentioned, I haven't seen much of at all, except for The Fall (1st season) which I thought was pretty cool. I've only just started getting into binge watching TV but Luther was one of the first I watched and that is a brilliant show. Idris is definitely a huge favourite, is amazing in that and The Wire and I suppose that provides a nice segway into your Bond references too... he'd be a pretty cool Bond.

I actually haven't really enjoyed any Bond films since Casino Royale. They just don't seem to do it for me anymore.

You're obviously pretty into film and TV - do you have any involvement in film making at all?

[Adam The God 29,391]

1 hour ago, Luther said:

Haven't seen Oz, but I do rate The Shield very highly. The Wire edges it out for me, just love the realistic and super gritty edge that they totally nail. The Shield builds some amazing tension but at times there's a bit too much All-American macho in there. Still love it though. Season 2 of TD isn't on my to do list any time soon.

I rate The Shield pilot finale as one of the great TV moments, along with the finale of S2E12 of Breaking Bad and the final episode of Twin Peaks. But I totally get you on the macho stuff, but I love the swagger.

Quote

Rake - the Australian version, very well written and Richard Roxburgh is great in the main role. 

Ah yeah. Still never seen it. I should check it out.

Quote

The other shows you've mentioned, I haven't seen much of at all, except for The Fall (1st season) which I thought was pretty cool. I've only just started getting into binge watching TV but Luther was one of the first I watched and that is a brilliant show. Idris is definitely a huge favourite, is amazing in that and The Wire and I suppose that provides a nice segway into your Bond references too... he'd be a pretty cool Bond.

I've never got around to Luther either. That's not a Jimmy McGovern show is it? Haha, good segue. And I don't get the whole Idris would make a good Bond thing. James Bond is a product of  White Europe. It just wouldn't make sense for me. Many of the characters around him could change and not be effective (ie Jeffrey Wright playing Felix Leiter), but it'd be another film unless he was White European.

Quote

I actually haven't really enjoyed any Bond films since Casino Royale. They just don't seem to do it for me anymore.

Yeah, fair enough. Each to their own. I love the 60s and 80s Bond films the best, but SPECTRE was my favourite since the 60s Bond's. Unpopular opinion in some parts. I really like all the Craig films though.

Quote

You're obviously pretty into film and TV - do you have any involvement in film making at all?

Yeah, I produce, but have always loved film and TV. Do you still screenwrite?

Edited October 3, 2016 by A F

[Bluey's Dad 3,419]

15 hours ago, A F said:

I prefer Oz to The Wire, but once you get used to the pace of the latter, it becomes gripping and binge-worthy. But The Shield IMO is the superior cop show of the early 2000s.

True Detective season 1 was great. Season 2, not so much. HBO keep umming and ahhing about renewing for a third. They've cancelled it, then it's been back on, then on hiatus etc.

Haven't seen Rake. Are we talking the original Australian series or the US remake?

Cannot wait for the third season of The Affair and the second season of The Man In The High Castle. I love Transparent too, but haven't caught up with Season 3 yet. And the third series of The Fall is out soon too.

Another Amazon show I've really got into is Eric Overmeyer's (The Wire amongst other things) adaptation of Michael Connelly's Bosch. That's a cop serial I like a lot. Has a few Wire regulars in it too.

Oh and just found out Amazon are coming to Australia later this year. Very exciting. Much prefer their catalogue of original shows to Netflix. The Amazon production model is also the future.

woah woah woah. Are you telling me Phillip K Dick's novel has been made into a TV series?

Is it at all loyal or has it just been turned into a crappy 'what if the Nazis won' thing?

 

Also OZ is brilliant. Despite some pretty outlandish storylines, it keeps pretty grounded and the characters are just so well written and acted. I can't say enough good things about it. I think I might pop it back on my re-watch list, after I finally get around to Luke Cage and Stranger Things (both Netflix shows).

While I'm on Netflix, I highly recommend Jessica Jones. Some people will be turned off by it being a Marvel property, but it works as a single season run in its own right. I probably am little biased though as David Tennant plays the villain. I watched it right after Dr Who, so it added a lot to the unsettling mood after watching him as the Doctor, then as a sexual abuser.

 

Just on Amazon, if it comes to Australia, do you know how much of the catalogue we'll get access to?

[Little Richard 6,216]

10 hours ago, A F said:

I rate The Shield pilot finale as one of the great TV moments, along with the finale of S2E12 of Breaking Bad and the final episode of Twin Peaks. But I totally get you on the macho stuff, but I love the swagger.

Ah yeah. Still never seen it. I should check it out.

I've never got around to Luther either. That's not a Jimmy McGovern show is it? Haha, good segue. And I don't get the whole Idris would make a good Bond thing. James Bond is a product of  White Europe. It just wouldn't make sense for me. Many of the characters around him could change and not be effective (ie Jeffrey Wright playing Felix Leiter), but it'd be another film unless he was White European.

Yeah, fair enough. Each to their own. I love the 60s and 80s Bond films the best, but SPECTRE was my favourite since the 60s Bond's. Unpopular opinion in some parts. I really like all the Craig films though.

Yeah, I produce, but have always loved film and TV. Do you still screenwrite?

Haven't got around to Twin Peaks but it's on my extensive list. Breaking Bad is excellent viewing

RE Bond: I really rate the old school Bond films, and I am a huge fan of the books. I get the product of white Europe thing, but I think the audience of Bond these days is much younger and doesn't really have the same knowledge of Bond beginnings or the time that the original Bond was actually based in, so I think the fact that Elba is a dapper British gentleman with a tough edge in his acting than any of the other competitors (in my eyes) would make him a good candidate.

Having said all of that, I would love to see them go back and re-do some of the original stories, in the proper era and so forth. But that's such a risk considering how good most of the originals were.

Luther was created by Neil Cross, who did a fair bit of writing for Spooks.

Nice! How is that going? Been busy? Yep still writing (and sometimes directing), done a few short films and gearing up for a feature film in the new year which will be amazing, if we can get it off the ground. You know how these things go I'm sure haha.

[Adam The God 29,391]

On 10/4/2016 at 9:46 AM, Choke said:

woah woah woah. Are you telling me Phillip K Dick's novel has been made into a TV series?

Is it at all loyal or has it just been turned into a crappy 'what if the Nazis won' thing?

It's amazing. Yep, Phillip K Dick indeed. Ridley Scott is EP. Was hooked within 10 minutes. Very rare. Only Breaking Bad and Twin Peaks have had that same impact. It's awesome. EP 2 is the weakest, but it builds beautifully.

Also OZ is brilliant. Despite some pretty outlandish storylines, it keeps pretty grounded and the characters are just so well written and acted. I can't say enough good things about it. I think I might pop it back on my re-watch list, after I finally get around to Luke Cage and Stranger Things (both Netflix shows).

Yep, outlandish and soap operaish at times, but one of my favourites. I'm finally watching Stranger Things at the moment. I love 80s music, so it's pretty amazing. The synths everywhere, Joy Division and mention of The Smiths is enough for me, but it definitely takes cues from the films of Spielberg and Twin Peaks. Haven't heard of Luke Cage???

While I'm on Netflix, I highly recommend Jessica Jones. Some people will be turned off by it being a Marvel property, but it works as a single season run in its own right. I probably am little biased though as David Tennant plays the villain. I watched it right after Dr Who, so it added a lot to the unsettling mood after watching him as the Doctor, then as a sexual abuser.

I've heard elsewhere that Jessica Jones is awesome. Interesting.

Just on Amazon, if it comes to Australia, do you know how much of the catalogue we'll get access to?

No idea, but it usually works on the principle of whether there is a local distributor already and given I haven't been able to find any of their shows (even multi-Emmy-Award-Winning Transparent on DVD), I'd say they'll open the whole catalogue. I've downloaded their shows because it's the only way to get my hands on them, but when they come here I'll get a subscription. It's a much better catalogue than Netflix and none of their shows are on FOXTEL which I still have.

 

On 10/4/2016 at 11:05 AM, Luther said:

Haven't got around to Twin Peaks but it's on my extensive list. Breaking Bad is excellent viewing

Twin Peaks is the greatest television show ever made. Its influence is ridiculous. From The X Files, through The Killing, Hannibal, Stranger Things etc. I'd strongly recommend you watching the original series before the new series comes out in 2017. I'm about to embark on my 8th viewing of it. Haha.

RE Bond: I really rate the old school Bond films, and I am a huge fan of the books. I get the product of white Europe thing, but I think the audience of Bond these days is much younger and doesn't really have the same knowledge of Bond beginnings or the time that the original Bond was actually based in, so I think the fact that Elba is a dapper British gentleman with a tough edge in his acting than any of the other competitors (in my eyes) would make him a good candidate.

The old school Bond films are brilliant. Of a time and place though. I love the books too, including all the continuational novels. SPECTRE was basically a remake of my favourite film On Her Majesty's Secret Service, so I think their plan is to stealthily remake as many of the originals as they can and not call them that, because as you say, newer audiences are always discovering Bond and they won't be as keen to go back and watch the older films, even though for the most part they're far superior.

Having said all of that, I would love to see them go back and re-do some of the original stories, in the proper era and so forth. But that's such a risk considering how good most of the originals were.

I've long thought they should do a TV series, but I suspect that'd impact too greatly on the film franchise, who hold the literary rights.

Luther was created by Neil Cross, who did a fair bit of writing for Spooks.

Ah, right. Gotcha. Haven't really seen any Spooks, but it's MI5, right?

Nice! How is that going? Been busy? Yep still writing (and sometimes directing), done a few short films and gearing up for a feature film in the new year which will be amazing, if we can get it off the ground. You know how these things go I'm sure haha.

Always busy pitching if that makes sense. Have a bunch of shows and films that I'm working on, but I tend to do overseas stuff, which makes it hard to finance here, but we have. And Screen Australia/Film Victoria are a great support too. Oooh, interesting. Any filmic influences on the feature? And good luck. I certainly know how it is. Painful. Haha.

 

[hardtack 10,414]

I would agree to an extent that Twin Peaks was the greatest TV series ever made...that is certainly true of the first series, but I thought the second series was a little disappointing as he handed directorial (and writing?) control over to a number of different people, including (if I recall correctly) Dianne Keaton.  To me this resulted in a lot of inconsistency in the quality of the episodes and didn't flow as well as the first series.

I'm a huge Lynch fan, but strangely one of my favourites of his is The Straight Story...based on a true story about a guy who rides a ride-on mower across state to visit his dying estranged brother in the next state. A very slow paced, gentle film that is completely out of character with his usual fare, but which is mesmerizing to the point where it could only be a Lynch product.

[Bluey's Dad 3,419]

14 hours ago, hardtack said:

I would agree to an extent that Twin Peaks was the greatest TV series ever made...that is certainly true of the first series, but I thought the second series was a little disappointing as he handed directorial (and writing?) control over to a number of different people, including (if I recall correctly) Dianne Keaton.  To me this resulted in a lot of inconsistency in the quality of the episodes and didn't flow as well as the first series.

I'm a huge Lynch fan, but strangely one of my favourites of his is The Straight Story...based on a true story about a guy who rides a ride-on mower across state to visit his dying estranged brother in the next state. A very slow paced, gentle film that is completely out of character with his usual fare, but which is mesmerizing to the point where it could only be a Lynch product.

I haven't seen Twin Peaks, but my number #1 TV show of all time is Babylon 5. JMS (the author/director/producer) planned the entire 5 season run before he began shooting the pilot, from memory I think he wrote or co-wrote every episode except 3 or 4 of them. Quite an achievement for 5 seasons of 20 or so episodes, plus 5 telemovies. The way the plot threads meet up with each other years later is astounding. Season 1 has a time travel episode, which shoots scenes from season 3. Then in season 3, you see the same episode from that point of view. There are plot threads that don't pay off until season 5. At the end of season 4, he was told the show would not be renewed, so he shot the last episode. He was then thrown a lifeline by another network, and continued onto season 5, HAVING ALREADY SHOT THE FINAL EPISODE!! If you watch the show in chronological order, you actually have to stop before the end of season 4, watch season 5, then watch the final episode of season 4 because that's actually the 'last episode'.

It's only let down by 2 things - special effects (which were revolutionary at the time, but are now dated), and a few miscast actors.

I was a Star Trek kid, so had actually stayed away from Babylon 5 in my teenage years. I watched it in my 20's, and I'm glad I did, the subtleties would been lost on on my younger self. There's no way I would have been able to follow the politics of the various races and governments at the age of 10 or 11. DS9's politics, although interesting, weren't nearly as deep as B5.

B5 also has 2 astounding actors in Peter Jurasik and Andreas Katsulas, the latter of which is the only actor who's been talented enough to make me cry while acting through layers and layers of alien latex make-up. Andreas's character, G'Kar, goes through a character arc so extreme, and done so brilliantly, I don't think we'll ever see it done again on TV. It took an author planning ahead 5 years and one of the most talented actors I've ever seen to pull it off. Some of his speeches gave me shivers.

 

@A F I highly recommend Jessica Jones if you get the chance. Krysten Ritter is AMAZING, as is David Tennant.

Luke Cage is good, but not on the same level. Someone linked me a story the other day that internet idiots are complaining the Luke Cage (the show, not the character) is too black. It's about a black superhero who lives in Harlem, I'm not sure what people were expecting, and his comic book is rooted in the blacksploitation frenzy of the 70's.

Edited October 5, 2016 by Choke

[Adam The God 29,391]

On Thursday, October 06, 2016 at 9:17 AM, Choke said:

I haven't seen Twin Peaks, but my number #1 TV show of all time is Babylon 5. JMS (the author/director/producer) planned the entire 5 season run before he began shooting the pilot, from memory I think he wrote or co-wrote every episode except 3 or 4 of them. Quite an achievement for 5 seasons of 20 or so episodes, plus 5 telemovies. The way the plot threads meet up with each other years later is astounding. Season 1 has a time travel episode, which shoots scenes from season 3. Then in season 3, you see the same episode from that point of view. There are plot threads that don't pay off until season 5. At the end of season 4, he was told the show would not be renewed, so he shot the last episode. He was then thrown a lifeline by another network, and continued onto season 5, HAVING ALREADY SHOT THE FINAL EPISODE!! If you watch the show in chronological order, you actually have to stop before the end of season 4, watch season 5, then watch the final episode of season 4 because that's actually the 'last episode'.

It's only let down by 2 things - special effects (which were revolutionary at the time, but are now dated), and a few miscast actors.

I was a Star Trek kid, so had actually stayed away from Babylon 5 in my teenage years. I watched it in my 20's, and I'm glad I did, the subtleties would been lost on on my younger self. There's no way I would have been able to follow the politics of the various races and governments at the age of 10 or 11. DS9's politics, although interesting, weren't nearly as deep as B5.

B5 also has 2 astounding actors in Peter Jurasik and Andreas Katsulas, the latter of which is the only actor who's been talented enough to make me cry while acting through layers and layers of alien latex make-up. Andreas's character, G'Kar, goes through a character arc so extreme, and done so brilliantly, I don't think we'll ever see it done again on TV. It took an author planning ahead 5 years and one of the most talented actors I've ever seen to pull it off. Some of his speeches gave me shivers.

 

@A F I highly recommend Jessica Jones if you get the chance. Krysten Ritter is AMAZING, as is David Tennant.

Luke Cage is good, but not on the same level. Someone linked me a story the other day that internet idiots are complaining the Luke Cage (the show, not the character) is too black. It's about a black superhero who lives in Harlem, I'm not sure what people were expecting, and his comic book is rooted in the blacksploitation frenzy of the 70's.

Tried Luke Cage last night too, mate. Didn't hook me. Is there a specific episode it hooked you?

[Satyriconhome 10,339]

On 05/10/2016 at 7:15 PM, hardtack said:

I would agree to an extent that Twin Peaks was the greatest TV series ever made...that is certainly true of the first series, but I thought the second series was a little disappointing as he handed directorial (and writing?) control over to a number of different people, including (if I recall correctly) Dianne Keaton.  To me this resulted in a lot of inconsistency in the quality of the episodes and didn't flow as well as the first series.

I'm a huge Lynch fan, but strangely one of my favourites of his is The Straight Story...based on a true story about a guy who rides a ride-on mower across state to visit his dying estranged brother in the next state. A very slow paced, gentle film that is completely out of character with his usual fare, but which is mesmerizing to the point where it could only be a Lynch product.

HT - I can't begin to tell you how far you have fallen in my estimation with that bolded statement above...American sheeesh