May 20: what have you been watching lately?
- Thread starter CuriousG
- Start date
Annael
Immortal
it lost me after Season 1. But then, Martin lost me with the Red Wedding. From what I'm reading online, I'm content that it's so.
The Big Bang Theory's finale, on the other hand, was wonderfully satisfying. They resisted the urge to give everyone in the cast a completed arc (Peter Jackson, take note!) and instead pretty much left their futures open for us to imagine. I loved how they showed that winning the goal he'd worked for all his life changed Sheldon's life in ways he was not prepared for, forcing him to grow; I admit, I cried during his acceptance speech. And I loved the tie-in at the end of the accompanying Young Sheldon episode showing us Sheldon's future that he, as a boy, could not imagine: friends.
The new Project Runway continues to be so much better than the old one. I kinda hope though that they let Tim Gunn be a guest judge one of these days.
I've been watching Fosse/Verdon, but I wish we got more of the actual dancing and less of Fosse's internal monologue. I also feel that the showrunners dislike both main characters, which makes me a bit defensive on their parts: whatever their faults, they were both incredibly talented, and we don't get to see that.
Also watching the new Les Miserables series, which has a bit too much scenery-chewing for my taste but is otherwise good. Olivia Colman as Mme. Thenardier steals the show, like Olivia usually does.
Saw "Tolkien" yesterday. As a fan I got all the references, but I had to wonder if those who have not read his works would. Nice to see Edith brought to life, and the TCBS - and Sam. A bit heavy-handed in the war scenes I thought.
The Big Bang Theory's finale, on the other hand, was wonderfully satisfying. They resisted the urge to give everyone in the cast a completed arc (Peter Jackson, take note!) and instead pretty much left their futures open for us to imagine. I loved how they showed that winning the goal he'd worked for all his life changed Sheldon's life in ways he was not prepared for, forcing him to grow; I admit, I cried during his acceptance speech. And I loved the tie-in at the end of the accompanying Young Sheldon episode showing us Sheldon's future that he, as a boy, could not imagine: friends.
The new Project Runway continues to be so much better than the old one. I kinda hope though that they let Tim Gunn be a guest judge one of these days.
I've been watching Fosse/Verdon, but I wish we got more of the actual dancing and less of Fosse's internal monologue. I also feel that the showrunners dislike both main characters, which makes me a bit defensive on their parts: whatever their faults, they were both incredibly talented, and we don't get to see that.
Also watching the new Les Miserables series, which has a bit too much scenery-chewing for my taste but is otherwise good. Olivia Colman as Mme. Thenardier steals the show, like Olivia usually does.
Saw "Tolkien" yesterday. As a fan I got all the references, but I had to wonder if those who have not read his works would. Nice to see Edith brought to life, and the TCBS - and Sam. A bit heavy-handed in the war scenes I thought.
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Otaku-sempai
Immortal
We've been watching the new season of Lucifer on Netflix. It's a marked improvement on season 3 though the writing is still a bit clunky in places. We're not binging it; we are up to episode 7 so far and still wondering how Eve made it to the mortal plane. There have been interesting revelations about Lilith. I'm not quite buying into the idea that there has never before been a Celestial/human child; there's too much mythology in existence on the subject already.
CuriousG
Half-elven
My favorite remains the 1st season, which was the funniest. It was the humor that attracted me to the show, plus the premise that Satan is on Earth and not intent on spreading evil, just a rich playboy who falls in love with a cop. I've seen enough crime shows for one lifetime, so I never paid attention to the crimes, other than Lucifer saying silly things like "Oh, a baker baked in his own oven, how splendid," or whatever. (quote not literal) Though I did like the expert way they'd shift the suspicion of whodunnit among various suspects--they showed continuous creativity there and didn't fall into a formula.
I wondered how Tom Ellis got some of those lines from S3 out of his mouth, they were so childish/adolescent, and his constant whiny daddy issues with God got tiresome.
Eve is wholly new type of character for them. I'm not sure I exactly like or dislike her, but she injected new blood into the show. There were running out of ways to throw the dice and find new relationship dynamics between various characters.
I wondered how Tom Ellis got some of those lines from S3 out of his mouth, they were so childish/adolescent, and his constant whiny daddy issues with God got tiresome.
Eve is wholly new type of character for them. I'm not sure I exactly like or dislike her, but she injected new blood into the show. There were running out of ways to throw the dice and find new relationship dynamics between various characters.
Kimi
Super Moderator
Sam is a wonderful companion on this meandering journey that takes in Cook's journeys from Antarctic to Arctic and places between. He doesn't shy away from the dark side of Cook's legacy, but his warmth and enthusiasm as he engages with people from many of the places Cook visited makes it a delight to travel with him. Sometimes it's laugh-out-loud; sometimes I found myself crying along with him.
My favourite parts were from the places I'm most familiar with: New Zealand and Vanuatu. Probably my next favourite was the part that was almost entirely new to me: Cook in the Aleutians.
And a re-watch: "A Knight's Tale". Just huge fun, although watching Heath Ledger always makes me sad, too.
My favourite parts were from the places I'm most familiar with: New Zealand and Vanuatu. Probably my next favourite was the part that was almost entirely new to me: Cook in the Aleutians.
And a re-watch: "A Knight's Tale". Just huge fun, although watching Heath Ledger always makes me sad, too.
Thor 'n' Oakenshield
Rohan
I enjoyed the episode greatly, though I do think certain aspects could have been expanded upon - the entire season definitely needed way more time to brew: why this season wasn't 10 episodes is just a complete mystery to me. The characters were all still top-notch, especially with regards to acting: as always, Peter Dinklage and Maisie Williams are the MVPs of Westeros. The conclusions to certain arcs were maybe a bit flawed, but overall it was really good, and the final scene had me in tears - I was sobbing.
Ataahua
Super Moderator
The final two seasons were more 'GoT-lite' than what we've been used to. More episodes should have helped fix that - or at least added some complexity and depth.
That said, I'm overall happy with the finale. It still should have been fleshed out more - for instance, why Brienne isn't by Sansa's side anymore - but the endings for the characters was pretty decent. And Drogon was superb.
Also, check out this piece by Vanity Fair that looks at how LOTR inspired GoT. The writer also postulates what will happen in the GoT finale (at that point, two weeks away), and he nails it: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywoo...h-lord-of-the-rings-iron-throne-ring-of-power
That said, I'm overall happy with the finale. It still should have been fleshed out more - for instance, why Brienne isn't by Sansa's side anymore - but the endings for the characters was pretty decent. And Drogon was superb.
Also, check out this piece by Vanity Fair that looks at how LOTR inspired GoT. The writer also postulates what will happen in the GoT finale (at that point, two weeks away), and he nails it: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywoo...h-lord-of-the-rings-iron-throne-ring-of-power
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Paulo Gabriel
Lorien
I went to the cinema to see John Wick 3. [laugh]
CuriousG
Half-elven
It also made me think, more generally, that though I am a very biased Tolkien fan who has trouble being objective about his influence, I keep seeing major authors like JK Rowling and George Martin openly admit that Tolkien influenced them, and of course I see it in their works. I don't think there is One Author To Rule Them All and that other authors don't deserve their due, but I think "Tolkien: Author of the Century" was well-earned and not hyperbole.
Ataahua
Super Moderator
and I admit I delayed watching the finale because I hate endings - but the writers did a great job with this one. Other series should take note.
Sheldon finally being able to look beyond himself - and introducing Howard as Astronaut Howard Wollowitz [heart] - was a beautiful moment.
Sheldon finally being able to look beyond himself - and introducing Howard as Astronaut Howard Wollowitz [heart] - was a beautiful moment.
Otaku-sempai
Immortal
I just got done watching the latest "TORn Tuesday'" live-stream. Most of the discussion was about Game of Throne's Bryan Cogman being hired to help develop Amazon's LotR series. Since I caught most of it live, I was even able to take part in the chat.
Kelly of Water's Edge
Rohan
This one's a sequel to The White Queen and The White Princess, based on a series of novels by Philippa Gregory covering the women of the royal dynasties of York (late Plantagenet) and Tudor. Gregory's no Sharon Kay Penman or even Elizabeth Chadwick (a bit lighter on historical accuracy and heavier on bodice-ripping), but I'm watching because it's a historical period of interest for me.
First of all, as with the first two miniseries we have to go with the theory that Perkin Warbeck really was Richard of York, the youngest of the Princes in the Tower, Elizabeth of York knew it, and she condoned not only his execution but that of their pitifully tragic cousin Edward of Warwick, who spent the majority of his life imprisoned simply because he was a male too genetically close to the throne. Most historians agree it's highly unlikely that the younger of the skeletons found in the White Tower wasn't Richard, although it's quite possible that Warbeck could have been an illegitimate son of Edward IV considering his womanizing reputation. Up to the audience to decide how endangered Elizabeth's sons actually were or if some of the motivation was that Elizabeth liked being Queen and didn't want a downgrade to princess again - or to see her husband, who she has come to love, dead like her uncle Richard III instead of her brother.
As the Spanish Princess begins, Ferdinand and Isabella's daughter Catherine starts off in a bad position as she arrives to marry crown prince Arthur.. A PTSD suffering Elizabeth hates her from the get-go, simply because of the heavy price she paid in her family's blood to make the marriage happen - Isabella wouldn't let her daughter eventually share a possibly contested throne, of course. Also haunting the shadows is Edward of Warwick's sister Margaret, who alternates between not being able to keep her mouth shut about what happened and in deathly fear of her sons ending up like her brother and cousin.
A game-changer occurs when Arthur dies young, and Catherine sets her sights on his brother Henry - eventually to be Henry VIII of six wives fame - in desperation to keep the British alliance for her family. In a "downstairs" plot, the stakes are perhaps just as high for her head lady-in-waiting, whose lover - a kindhearted Muslim - will face a gruesome fate if the alliance doesn't hold, with Spain now under the Inquisition...
A bit of a fun watch, although take the accuracy with a huge grain of salt.
First of all, as with the first two miniseries we have to go with the theory that Perkin Warbeck really was Richard of York, the youngest of the Princes in the Tower, Elizabeth of York knew it, and she condoned not only his execution but that of their pitifully tragic cousin Edward of Warwick, who spent the majority of his life imprisoned simply because he was a male too genetically close to the throne. Most historians agree it's highly unlikely that the younger of the skeletons found in the White Tower wasn't Richard, although it's quite possible that Warbeck could have been an illegitimate son of Edward IV considering his womanizing reputation. Up to the audience to decide how endangered Elizabeth's sons actually were or if some of the motivation was that Elizabeth liked being Queen and didn't want a downgrade to princess again - or to see her husband, who she has come to love, dead like her uncle Richard III instead of her brother.
As the Spanish Princess begins, Ferdinand and Isabella's daughter Catherine starts off in a bad position as she arrives to marry crown prince Arthur.. A PTSD suffering Elizabeth hates her from the get-go, simply because of the heavy price she paid in her family's blood to make the marriage happen - Isabella wouldn't let her daughter eventually share a possibly contested throne, of course. Also haunting the shadows is Edward of Warwick's sister Margaret, who alternates between not being able to keep her mouth shut about what happened and in deathly fear of her sons ending up like her brother and cousin.
A game-changer occurs when Arthur dies young, and Catherine sets her sights on his brother Henry - eventually to be Henry VIII of six wives fame - in desperation to keep the British alliance for her family. In a "downstairs" plot, the stakes are perhaps just as high for her head lady-in-waiting, whose lover - a kindhearted Muslim - will face a gruesome fate if the alliance doesn't hold, with Spain now under the Inquisition...
A bit of a fun watch, although take the accuracy with a huge grain of salt.
Thor 'n' Oakenshield
Rohan
A truly enjoyable film, even if it sometimes struggles trying to be its own thing while remaining true to the original animated classic. The changes they've made to the story are all pretty good, but never expanded enough to make the film more unique - thankfully, though, the strong acting on the part of Will Smith and Naomi Scott makes up for that. Scott, especially, is a fantastic actress, blessed with an incredible singing voice - they've given her a new song in this remake, 'Speechless", and it is just so good.
Mena Massoud as Aladdin himself is okay, but never really gets to shine in the same way as the other two.
Overall, a really fun (and really funny) movie, with a lot of charm and heart.
Mena Massoud as Aladdin himself is okay, but never really gets to shine in the same way as the other two.
Overall, a really fun (and really funny) movie, with a lot of charm and heart.
Aragorn the Elfstone
Tol Eressea
Last night I watched Ridley Scott's ALIEN in honor of today's 40th Anniversary. I never tire of this film. So beautiful and beautifully frightening. [cool] It continues to amuse me that I am so obsessed with it, as I generally loathe horror films - but its combination of science fiction and horror is so astonishingly absorbing. The film has an ability, unlike any other film, to worm its way inside you and never let go.
Not going to discuss the finale of Game of Thrones beyond saying that I thought it was phenomenal. I've purposely been staying away from (and will continue to do so for a while) any and all online discussion of the final season, as I've found in recent years that the internet noise surrounding the show has decreased my enjoyment. This turned out to be a good move, as I had a purer experience this season than I can remember having in some time.
Ataahua
Super Moderator
That'd make me eight when the film came out. I remember the poster with the cracking 'egg' and the tagline "In space, no one can hear you scream" - and that was enough to send a shiver up my spine. I didn't see the film until seven or eight years later and it more than lived up to the hype.
Have you seen the interviews with cast, maybe for the 25th or 30th anniversary? The're extensive and a crack-up.
Correction: those interviews were with the Aliens cast, not Alien. My bad.
Have you seen the interviews with cast, maybe for the 25th or 30th anniversary? The're extensive and a crack-up.
Correction: those interviews were with the Aliens cast, not Alien. My bad.
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Aragorn the Elfstone
Tol Eressea
...a mere 15 years ago. Though I have a memory of seeing part of the film as a kid on television with my parents (what were they thinking???) and hiding my head under a pillow during some early parts of the film (I'm not sure if I sat there for the rest of it or not). I don't remember seeing any of the actual alien beyond the facehugger, and that was enough to terrify me. I had stayed away from the film for years.
Even seeing it for the first time at 20 years old, I was dreading coming upon the notorious chestburster scene, and actually paused the film when I knew it was about to happen, paced around the room, and then prepared myself before pressing play. [
]
I've been obsessed with ever since. I love that the real terror of the film comes from the eerie quiet of space. The film never fails to completely unsettle me (and god help me, I don't know why I find that appealing [laugh]).
I have seen various interviews with the cast over the years - I love watching all that stuff. The Charles de Lauzirika documentary from the DVD/Blu-ray box set is one of my favorites and I've watched it often.
There's a "Making of Alien" book by J.W. Rinzler (author of the great "Making of Star Wars" books) coming out in July that I cannot wait for. [
]
Even seeing it for the first time at 20 years old, I was dreading coming upon the notorious chestburster scene, and actually paused the film when I knew it was about to happen, paced around the room, and then prepared myself before pressing play. [
]I've been obsessed with ever since. I love that the real terror of the film comes from the eerie quiet of space. The film never fails to completely unsettle me (and god help me, I don't know why I find that appealing [laugh]).
I have seen various interviews with the cast over the years - I love watching all that stuff. The Charles de Lauzirika documentary from the DVD/Blu-ray box set is one of my favorites and I've watched it often.
There's a "Making of Alien" book by J.W. Rinzler (author of the great "Making of Star Wars" books) coming out in July that I cannot wait for. [
]
