Watch, Watched, Watching: Midsommar Night Blues

[Heartofice]

5 minutes ago, Isis said:

It's the best thing ever? I don't get to do it as often I used to since I got together with someone who is annoyingly compatible with me and wants to see 95% of the films I want to see. But it's not something that I would think twice about doing. Completely normal thing to do. I can't imagine only being able to watch films that another person wanted to watch. That would be weird.

This is a good point, watching with other people can completely make or ruin a movie for me. I've been to movies I knew I liked but the other person's reaction totally spoiled the experience for me. If I can tell they are bored or are fidgeting then it can start to irritate me and I can't concentrate. 

I actually think for a lot of movies, viewing it alone can be the preferable experience.

[Isis]

2 minutes ago, Heartofice said:

This is a good point, watching with other people can completely make or ruin a movie for me. I've been to movies I knew I liked but the other person's reaction totally spoiled the experience for me. If I can tell they are bored or are fidgeting then it can start to irritate me and I can't concentrate. 

I actually think for a lot of movies, viewing it alone can be the preferable experience.

Of course the reverse of this is equally true - there are quite a few cinematic experiences that are highly memorable because we went together. In particular the scarier, more visceral films tend to be something we feel bonded by having seen together.

But I wouldn't say films have any less impact from being seen alone.

[Heartofice]

16 minutes ago, Isis said:

Of course the reverse of this is equally true - there are quite a few cinematic experiences that are highly memorable because we went together. In particular the scarier, more visceral films tend to be something we feel bonded by having seen together.

But I wouldn't say films have any less impact from being seen alone.

Definitely. Seeing my friends faces whilst watching A Quiet Place was priceless!

[BigFatCoward]

I went to see one of the later, stupider Rocky films, and not only was I alone but I was the only person in the whole theatre. 

[Isis]

21 minutes ago, BigFatCoward said:

I went to see one of the later, stupider Rocky films, and not only was I alone but I was the only person in the whole theatre. 

Quite a few times I tried going to see the LOTR films again on my own, hoping for a screen to myself, and every time someone would come in after the film had started and sit either in the row in front or behind (much like some people do on trains or buses).

After a weekend away we finished off Stranger Things S3 and I have to say I almost couldn't really be bothered to give it my full attention in the last couple of episodes. All the so-called emotional bits absolutely bored the tits off me. They went on f-a-r too long and were just draggy. Some of the bits that were meant to be funny felt like they were trying too hard. So yeah... moving on to Dark S2 next.

[Mr. Chatywin et al.]

3 hours ago, Isis said:

It's the best thing ever? I don't get to do it as often I used to since I got together with someone who is annoyingly compatible with me and wants to see 95% of the films I want to see. But it's not something that I would think twice about doing. Completely normal thing to do. I can't imagine only being able to watch films that another person wanted to watch. That would be weird.

Also go see Midsommar.

It would seem that I’m the outlier, at least here, then. I just can’t imagine seeing a new film and not talking about it with someone.

[Heartofice]

11 minutes ago, Tywin et al. said:

It would seem that I’m the outlier, at least here, then. I just can’t imagine seeing a new film and not talking about it with someone.

Thats what the internet is for..

[Zorral]

13 hours ago, Raja said:

Honestly, only reason I couldn't bring myself to keep watching it is because Franco is an idiot. I adore maggie gyllenhaal though, she was in a series called The Honorable Women, which almost no one watched.

Because of everything that's been going on for the last decades, I couldn't make myself watch it either.  That shyte's right in our face all the time. Though my older friends, who grew up in NYC and remember Times Square of those days vividly, love The Deuce.  

As for The Honorable Woman, people did watch it, though perhaps more in the UK than here?  I'm not sure. But when it became available on netflix in the US all the major media covered all the episodes, praising Gyllenhaal lavishly.

 

[Veltigar]

I don't know why, but the last couple of days I don't seem to be able to muster up the courage to start a serious film. So I ended up watching the Rock's Jumanji flick instead. It was actually quite a good flick. Totally forgettable, but it whiled away a few hours at the very least. And Jack Black was legitimately great in the film. I'd probably watch the sequel in theatres which is something I would not have guessed I would say if you'd ask me beforehand.

 

EDIT: Also forgot to say that I'm so happy that Poldark is back. I can't believe that this has been going on for five seasons already and that it's about to end 

On 7/14/2019 at 1:48 PM, Jace, Basilissa said:

I find Black Panther frustrating because it has to settle for just being a really, really, good superhero movie when greatness was there for the taking with just a few changes. I feel like the titular character got a bit shafted by a kind of rote character arc when he was so fucking cool and compelling in Civil War while Michael B. Jordan is the best villain one could ever hope for. They're vastly different characters in vastly different films, but I found Killmonger just as fascinating as Heath Ledger's Joker. I just wish the movie around him had the same kind of narrative focus that Nolan's movies have. That's more of a Marvel CU thing, I think though so it's hard to even judge the movie too hard and like I said it's really, really, good.

I wouldn't say Black Panther was a really, really good superhero movie, but then I tend to be lukewarm about the genre even though my friends keep on dragging me to the theatre. I do think you're right in your assessment that it could have easily been much better if the story had been given a bit more thought. Michael B. Jordan was crazily magnetic in the film, so they could have mined more pathos out of his arc. I don't really recall Chadwick Boseman in Civil War that clearly, so to me he's just playing a very boring character in general, but he was going on a very substandard adventure in this one. They spent to little time on his defeat in my opinion. Not only should he be heavily traumatized and less game to take on Killmonger, he should also have some legit concerns about his suitability as king. The concept of Wakanda might be laughable, but if their unique culture is such a thing, than losing his trial-by-combat should have at least shook his foundations a bit more thoroughly.

22 hours ago, Zorral said:

Because over here all the talking has come and gone because GJ was on HBO eons ago here.  A lot of publications did articles, recapped all the episodes, etc.  Also, here it is HBO, and many if not most people don't have HBO.

And I've seen a lot of writing about it over in the UK too -- particularly because Sally Wainwright.

You just don't hang out in the right places. You hang out here, where a female-centered series of any kind tends to not be of interest to this sf/f/superhero, or gangster, lots of shoot em up violence / action oriented audience -- as you can see by which shows, film and series get the most admiration in this thread.  This audience adored The Wire, but was basically eh about Treme that wasn't any of these, and found The Deuce disappointing as it wasn't the sort of porn thing they expected.

Well, I think you give the good people of this board to little credit Zorral. The Wire is an amazing cultural milestone (although season five does lessen it) and is pretty well regarded everywhere. I have seen neither Treme nor The Deuce, so I won't comment on their comparative quality, but I do know enough of them to state with no small measure of certainty that they were a lot more niche in their appeal than The Wire ever was. That sort of inevitably means that less people will talk about it, in the same way Brian Fuller's earlier show got less press than say GoT, regardless of the fact that Fuller's shows are much better. 

The only discussions I saw of Gentleman Jack (although I didn't read them, because I didn't watch any tv on my travels and prefer not to be spoiled) were on The Guardian and that is usually also an audience with quite specific tastes  

I do have to read up some more on Sally Wainwright though. I keep seeing her name bandied about and I feel like I'm missing out or something. 

13 hours ago, Jace, Basilissa said:

I just finished watching the Dungeons & Dragons movie for the first time since my best friend (who was a D&D type while I was not) dragged me to see it in theaters and we got lit the fuck up. 

I gotta say, I misjudged this film for all these years. Jeremy Irons is a force. I can honestly say I've never seen such acting in my entire life. 

Imagine if Tommy Weisau's performance in The Room was delivered by an Oscar Award winning leading man. Exactly the same in every respect, but delivered by Jeremy Irons. Then you will have an inadequate but understandable basis from which to project.

It's fucking amazing. I highly recommend. Skip the entire 2nd act, because Irons isn't in it, but the rest is prescription filmmaking.

Is it the one with Jason Stateham?

1 hour ago, Tywin et al. said:

It would seem that I’m the outlier, at least here, then. I just can’t imagine seeing a new film and not talking about it with someone.

No buddy, I feel you. It's always better to see a film in the right company. I have fun memories of e.g. going to see Widows earlier in the year with someone I was quite fond off and whose gentle spirit reacted funny to the violence in that film  Or shaming a friend for opening his bag of crisps during A Quiet Place or being disappointed together with all my friends after waiting for what felt like ages to see the post-credits scene of the last Ape film and then finding out that it was just a monkey breathing It's just all those little moments that make it more fun together, not to mention the post-movie talks and the shared anticipation. 

[Zorral]

14 minutes ago, Veltigar said:

I have seen neither Treme nor The Deuce, so I won't comment on their comparative quality, but I do know enough of them to state with no small measure of certainty that they were a lot more niche in their appeal than The Wire ever was. 

You are wrong about that.  Baltimore is a lot more niche than NO. New Orleans is one of the numero uno vacation destination of the USA, with a music scene that has influenced the history of music all over the world since at least the end of the 19th century. The difference is that David Simon knows Baltimore inside and out for decades, but he doesn't know any of the other places he's been setting his series in since, despite the great expertise he enlists.  I know.  I was there for Treme.   (I also happen to know Baltimore pretty well, due to living on the Eastern Shore -- though nothing like Simon -- and of course I've lived in NYC most of my adult life.) 

New Orleans is like the Twin Towers after 9/11 -- people all over the world felt a personal connection because people all over the world and the US had been there.

But a huge number of people who loved The Wire just cannot seem to wrap their minds around the idea there can be a narrative that doesn't center shoot-em up.  Treme centered culture.

I mean, like, well, why didn't you watch Treme?  Because you weren't interested in what Simon was exploring?  Why is what he's doing in Treme considered niche, when most of the world is facing right down the gun barrel of what happened to New Orleans, cultures, communities and the families shredded like confetti by the forces of natural catastrophe in tandem with the forces of human evil and corruption/

What happens to this sustaining cultural foundation of a place when catastrophe rips those communities apart like the hurricane did a telephone book and blow them in all directions, scattered, unable to reunite?  But at the same time, for those who can, how that culture provides resiliance hope, and sustainability to rebuild.  But you loved The Wire because, you know, black people with guns, killing each other? 

How you can say this is niche is beyond me -- -particularly when you haven't even watched any of it.  I can tell ya, you're missing out on some of the most gorgeous writing and video ever put up on television, not to mention music.

 

[polishgenius]

I find it difficult to believe that anyone who actually watched The Wire thinks it centered shoot-em-up.


The reason Treme didn't do well is because it has a dragging, meandering narrative that takes forever to get to any kind of a point, not because it doesn't have guns. I was unbelievably excited when I finally got my hands on it having not been able to watch it for ages, and it was an incredible disappointment despite a wonderful cast and a subject matter both musically and in the recovery from Katrina thing that I thought was gonna be really interesting. It just wasn't a well-written show. 
 

[Zorral]

1 minute ago, polishgenius said:

I find it difficult to believe that anyone who actually watched The Wire thinks it centered shoot-em-up.


The reason Treme didn't do well is because it has a dragging, meandering narrative that takes forever to get to any kind of a point, not because it doesn't have guns. I was unbelievably excited when I finally got my hands on it having not been able to watch it for ages, and it was an incredible disappointment despite a wonderful cast and a subject matter both musically and in the recovery from Katrina thing that I thought was gonna be really interesting. It just wasn't a well-written show. 
 

I disagree entirely with that.

 

[Veltigar]

1 minute ago, Zorral said:

You are wrong about that.  Baltimore is a lot more niche than NO. New Orleans is one of the numero uno vacation destination of the USA, with a music scene that has influenced the history of music all over the world since at least the end of the 19th century. The difference is that David Simon knows Baltimore inside and out for decades, but he doesn't know any of the other places he's been setting his series in since, despite the great expertise he enlists.  I know.  I was there for Treme.   (I also happen to know Baltimore pretty well, due to living on the Eastern Shore -- though nothing like Simon -- and of course I've lived in NYC most of my adult life.) 

New Orleans is like the Twin Towers after 9/11 -- people all over the world felt a personal connection because people all over the world and the US had been there.

But a huge number of people who loved The Wire just cannot seem to wrap their minds around the idea there can be a narrative that doesn't center shoot-em up.  Treme centered culture.

 

Euhm, I wasn't talking about the cities the series were set in now was I?  I was talking about the actual series itself. If we just look at city size and impact, than we would all be watching nothing else than Asian series. With the occasional dash of New York, D.C. or London thrown in for good measure if we're being very generous. 

I also don't think it's quite credible to claim that people worldwide preferred Treme. The Wire, despite being much older, has 248.958 ratings on IMDB, Treme only has 12.540. Now a consensus gentium does not say much about the quality of the series under comparison, but it does say everything about popularity. Treme was much more niche than The Wire ever was and The Wire is already comparatively niche when you lay it out next to a True Blood or a GoT.

I also think you're doing a disservice to The Wire by claiming that it simply centers around "shoot-em ups". In fact, I'd argue that The Wire is just as much about culture as almost any other series on record. It's just not culture most of us would like to be involved with.  

[GallowKnight]

5 hours ago, Veltigar said:

Is it the one with Jason Stateham?

No, that's In the Name of the King.

[HexMachina]

6 hours ago, Veltigar said:

I don't know why, but the last couple of days I don't seem to be able to muster up the courage to start a serious film. So I ended up watching the Rock's Jumanji flick instead. It was actually quite a good flick. Totally forgettable, but it whiled away a few hours at the very least. And Jack Black was legitimately great in the film. I'd probably watch the sequel in theatres which is something I would not have guessed I would say if you'd ask me beforehand.

 

EDIT: Also forgot to say that I'm so happy that Poldark is back. I can't believe that this has been going on for five seasons already and that it's about to end 

I wouldn't say Black Panther was a really, really good superhero movie, but then I tend to be lukewarm about the genre even though my friends keep on dragging me to the theatre. I do think you're right in your assessment that it could have easily been much better if the story had been given a bit more thought. Michael B. Jordan was crazily magnetic in the film, so they could have mined more pathos out of his arc. I don't really recall Chadwick Boseman in Civil War that clearly, so to me he's just playing a very boring character in general, but he was going on a very substandard adventure in this one. They spent to little time on his defeat in my opinion. Not only should he be heavily traumatized and less game to take on Killmonger, he should also have some legit concerns about his suitability as king. The concept of Wakanda might be laughable, but if their unique culture is such a thing, than losing his trial-by-combat should have at least shook his foundations a bit more thoroughly.

Well, I think you give the good people of this board to little credit Zorral. The Wire is an amazing cultural milestone (although season five does lessen it) and is pretty well regarded everywhere. I have seen neither Treme nor The Deuce, so I won't comment on their comparative quality, but I do know enough of them to state with no small measure of certainty that they were a lot more niche in their appeal than The Wire ever was. That sort of inevitably means that less people will talk about it, in the same way Brian Fuller's earlier show got less press than say GoT, regardless of the fact that Fuller's shows are much better. 

The only discussions I saw of Gentleman Jack (although I didn't read them, because I didn't watch any tv on my travels and prefer not to be spoiled) were on The Guardian and that is usually also an audience with quite specific tastes  

I do have to read up some more on Sally Wainwright though. I keep seeing her name bandied about and I feel like I'm missing out or something. 

Is it the one with Jason Stateham?

No buddy, I feel you. It's always better to see a film in the right company. I have fun memories of e.g. going to see Widows earlier in the year with someone I was quite fond off and whose gentle spirit reacted funny to the violence in that film  Or shaming a friend for opening his bag of crisps during A Quiet Place or being disappointed together with all my friends after waiting for what felt like ages to see the post-credits scene of the last Ape film and then finding out that it was just a monkey breathing It's just all those little moments that make it more fun together, not to mention the post-movie talks and the shared anticipation. 

JUmanji was terrible even as a mindless popcorn flick. Jack Black continued to be terrible, as did the Rock. Plot, characters, dialogue, visual effects, all boring. None of the gags landed their mark. Awful waste of time, and i was shocked to see it did well enough for a sequel

[Zorral]

Of course The Wire was vastly more than shoot-em ups.  Duh.

But that's what sucked people in.

It's the same with those of us who really enjoy watching Gommorah, etc.  It's about so much more than JUST the violence, it's about the culture of corruption that has destroyed the entire planet.  But it's the Bad Boyz we lurve, amirite? hmmmmm?  Otherwise, would you watch a good documentary on the cops and their corruption by drugs etc. and the political system as a whole  without all that involving character-driven violence?

Whereas in Treme, it was about character-driven culture.  But not so exciting as character driven violence amirite?

[Veltigar]

In my quest to eradicate my own intelligence, I managed to see Central Intelligence today. Same story as Jumanji, it's a far cry from being a masterpiece but I did like it very much. The Rock is just too damn likeable and I did always appreciate Kevin Hart. A shame they aren't playing in better movies. I saw that The Rock is rumoured to be part of a future Shane Black movie, so hopefully his charm will finally be coupled to a worthy director. 

 

Which sort of reminds me, anyone has any good comedies to recommend? I'd like to keep going with it, but my watch list is so dour and depressing, I need some help with some good recent comedy.  

1 hour ago, HelenaExMachina said:

JUmanji was terrible even as a mindless popcorn flick. Jack Black continued to be terrible, as did the Rock. Plot, characters, dialogue, visual effects, all boring. None of the gags landed their mark. Awful waste of time, and i was shocked to see it did well enough for a sequel

It was certainly no masterpiece, but I did like it  For once I'm glad that I got to enjoy this one.

[Jace, Extat]

3 hours ago, Veltigar said:

. I saw that The Rock is rumoured to be part of a future Shane Black movie, so hopefully his charm will finally be coupled to a worthy director. 

 

You haven't seen The Predator have you?

The most favorable explanation for that travesty I've seen is that Black set out to see how bad a film he could get deep into production as a joke.

[Martell Spy]

Well, I'm a season behind, but I bought season 2 of Snowfall and it is fantastic. The same great characters and some new ones, but the writing improved massively.

Season 3 of the Handmaid's tale is not really doing it for me so far and I've stalled out at around ep 4. 

Watching a bit of season 1 of Veronica Mars to prepare, as well. Kind of waiting for this month to end to watch Veronica Mars season 4 and OITNB.

[snowleper]

Midsommar was excellent.

It felt like a odd mashup between The Shining - with the careful camera work and set design, and Wickerman.

 

Just started 'Gentleman Jack' -- and I'm worried I'm not going to like it... Mostly because I suspect it's just another drama consciously and/or obliviously glorifying classist hierarchies and the over-representation of the rich and privileged in media.

But who knows. Maybe the narrative won't be blind to it's weak points -- and it'll be better than an uncritical HBO production of Downton Abby with an added slice of gay.