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Post by berkley on Jul 26, 2024 0:03:01 GMT -5
My first son (whose Disney+ subscription he shares with his parents) convinced me to give the new version of Shogun a second try, after I had dropped it due to its videogame-style CGI. I was a fan of the original show when it aired way back when, so I wasn't particularly thrilled to learn that someone thought they could do better. Still, credit where credit's due: some of the acting is pretty good, the pace is brisk, and this new adaptation of Clavell's novel does try to be its own thing. I actually liked the first four episodes. The new Shogun is a little americanized, naturally. It's a challenge nowadays to find a historical production that doesn't feel like today's California. The lady Mariko is now capable of taking on several armoured warriors at once, whirling like a dervish in her kimono and using a lance to great effect. The future shogun, Toranaga, is far nobler here than in the original series (or in the novel); his selfish ruthlessness has given way to stern commitment to duty. Such changes aren't noticeable when one is unfamiliar with the story, but it feels more like fantasy set in an idealized medieval Japan than it does serious historical fiction. The use of CGI obviously emphasizes this impression; nothing beats practical effect (or real boats and castles) when it comes to verisimilitude. One aspect that can be a blessing or a curse depending on one's point of view is that the Japanese dialogs are all subtitled. In the original series, we viewers were almost always kept in the dark as to what people were saying, sharing the befuddlement of the English main character. On the one hand the change means that we can better understand how different characters intrigue against one another; on the other hand, we don't get the impression that we discover Japan at the same time the hero does. One thing that might have been cool would be for the Portuguese to speak Portuguese and the Dutch, Dutch. I know most viewers don't much care for subtitles and that using English for all European languages makes for easier viewing, but still.
I remember how popular both Clavell's book and the original tv miniseries (as we used to call them - has this term has outlived its usefulness now that many series are limited by a defined ending?) but haven't seen the one or read the other. I think I will read the book at least, though, one of these days. And then maybe try one or both of the tv versions. But this is a case where I'm pretty sure I want to read the book first.
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Jul 26, 2024 5:38:17 GMT -5
berkley, I really enjoyed the book. Read it twice, and that was after having seen the TV series. It's been a while now, but I still remember it fondly.
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Post by DubipR on Jul 26, 2024 9:52:35 GMT -5
I finished Deadloch Season 1 on Prime. This series is an Australian black comedy murder mystery. The premise is when a dead body of a local male from the town of Deadloch in Tasmania, its up to Senior Sergeant Dulcie Collins and outsider detective Detective Eddie Redcliffe to solve this case. As it gets going, the community secrets come out. Its very funny in its humor, delivery and premise. Part Brooklyn 99/Part True Detective. Its a very funny. Once you get past the first 2 episodes its a fun and solid 8 episode binge. -R
Excellent, I'd like to hear more about series from parts of the world we in Canada don't see or hear enough of.
My brother and sister in-law hipped me to the series. They were listening to some podcast where a TV critic about the Emmy nominations and that her favorite show of 2023 was Deadloch. They looked it up, found it on Prime and binged it. They told me and I loved it. |
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Post by driver1980 on Oct 18, 2024 9:28:31 GMT -5
My favourite current show - 9-1-1 - returned last night (well, not so much returned, but the first episode was available on Disney+).
They seem to keep finding new and exciting ways to showcase firefighters’ exploits. In this episode, a flatbed lorry crashed - and it happened to be transporting killer bees, 22 million of them to be precise…
I must admit, I was curious as to whether bees would really be transported on a flatbed lorry rather than a secure lorry with a trailer and canvas. It’s hardly securing a rather dangerous insect. But, hey, if everything went smoothly, there wouldn’t be a need for lots of firefighter action.
I’ve seen a few firefighting shows. Here in the UK, we had London’s Burning. I’ve seen Chicago Fire and Station 18. I would say 9-1-1 is the most entertaining of all the firefighter shows, and I like each and every couple and character in it, their arcs are always interesting.
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Post by codystarbuck on Oct 19, 2024 18:19:57 GMT -5
I was happy to see that Have I got News For You was back on, in the UK, which means we get the episodes by Friday evening, depending on when someone uploads them on Youtube and if the BBC steps in. I also saw that an American version finally happened; but, it is exactly what I feared an American version might be: comedians making jokes, without a real discussion of the news and why a particular story matters. The UK show has tons of jokes and comedians; but, it also has serious journalists who discuss the stories as well as crack jokes and it has highlighted real outrages, over its lifetime. I don't see the American version lasting if it can't do better than just making fun of conspiracy theories about politically motivated weather control. That's low-hanging fruit. Even the Daily Show is more insightful than that and this thing is airing on CNN.
It's still early days; maybe they will get better with the news content and discussion.
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Post by driver1980 on Oct 27, 2024 14:11:01 GMT -5
The current season of 9-1-1 is probably my favourite yet. Latest episode (or at least the latest one to air here) has Sgt. Athena Grant in the air on an aeroplane that has been in a mid-air collision - and only she can land it! This is pedantic, but Station 118 of the LAFD appears to be on standby, and the firefighters are connected to passengers on the plane via mobile phone - in order to talk them through some first aid. I’m guessing they’ll be attending the airport once the plane lands, but I thought each airport was legally required to have its own fire service, with specialist engines and firefighters who are trained in aviation-related incidents. Oh well. While I’m here, and I’m sure someone here might know, is there any reason why airport fire engines are shaped differently, there has to be a practical reason, right? I mean, they can look something like this:  I’m guessing the shape, particularly at the front, isn’t simply cosmetic, and somehow pertains to aviation firefighting… |
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Post by EdoBosnar on Oct 27, 2024 16:11:29 GMT -5
Just finished watching season 3 of Only Murders in the Building last night...
I honestly thought it would lose steam after the second season, but it still lots of fun - Martin, Short and Gomez remain delightful, and this season's special guest stars, Paul Rudd and, esp., Meryl Streep were quite excellent (Matthew Broderick, playing an annoying version of himself, also appeared in an episode, plus a cameo in the season finale, and was also quite funny).
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Nov 2, 2024 17:30:30 GMT -5
I've just watched Red Riding 1980 on Tubi. It's part of a British miniseries set against the mystery of the Yorkshire Ripper, a famous serial killer.
The 1980 episode has the verisimilitude and depressing atmosphere of a French movie, I thought, which is decidedly a good thing. No a action sequence, no unlikely coincidence nor deus ex machina resolution; just a grim and methodical tale of a policeman trying to find a killer and prevent more murders while facing a clearly corrupt hierarchy. It's pretty tense, and the climax was very... well, for lack pf a better word, very dramatic.
I will definitely watch the other episodes, set in different time periods.
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Post by codystarbuck on Nov 2, 2024 18:19:09 GMT -5
The current season of 9-1-1 is probably my favourite yet. Latest episode (or at least the latest one to air here) has Sgt. Athena Grant in the air on an aeroplane that has been in a mid-air collision - and only she can land it! This is pedantic, but Station 118 of the LAFD appears to be on standby, and the firefighters are connected to passengers on the plane via mobile phone - in order to talk them through some first aid. I’m guessing they’ll be attending the airport once the plane lands, but I thought each airport was legally required to have its own fire service, with specialist engines and firefighters who are trained in aviation-related incidents. Oh well. While I’m here, and I’m sure someone here might know, is there any reason why airport fire engines are shaped differently, there has to be a practical reason, right? I mean, they can look something like this: I’m guessing the shape, particularly at the front, isn’t simply cosmetic, and somehow pertains to aviation firefighting… My guess would be visibility. You have hazards in several directions, at an airport, so I could see wanting a greater field of vision, for the cab. Maybe Mike Trim designed it.  |
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Post by DubipR on Nov 3, 2024 21:09:15 GMT -5
Going back to HBO MAX and giving Treme a re-watch. Haven't watched since its airing. I'm a fan of all David Simon projects. I know Simon fans were hoping a Wire-esque feel but I enjoyed it when it came on. As I finished Season 1, I still love it. Amazing music. Solid writing and amazing cast, using a lot of Simon/Fontana cast members. The whole story behind Hurricane Katrina and its outcome.. its engaging.
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Post by berkley on Nov 3, 2024 21:28:13 GMT -5
Going back to HBO MAX and giving Treme a re-watch. Haven't watched since its airing. I'm a fan of all David Simon projects. I know Simon fans were hoping a Wire-esque feel but I enjoyed it when it came on. As I finished Season 1, I still love it. Amazing music. Solid writing and amazing cast, using a lot of Simon/Fontana cast members. The whole story behind Hurricane Katrina and its outcome.. its engaging. Somehow I've missed hearing about this until now. Like everyone, I was impressed by The Wire and New Orleans has always been one of the more interesting of the famous US cities, so I should probably give it a try. |
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