ThunderPeel2001

No, it doesn't. CS is exaggerating. ITV isn't the "mum" channel, it's a huge mainstream channel like the BBC. As such, its programming is very mainstream and "safe", but it's not like the Hallmark Channel or anything like that. I think a lot of British people write it off as "yet another period drama" without actually seeing it, and so are surprised when it's well-regarded, but as soon as you watch it you realise it's much better than that.

Lol! Sorry, ColourfulStuff, but that's simply not true. It may not be aimed at people in their teens, but it's not aimed at middle-aged mums here, either. It's enjoyable schmaltz but it got too soapy for me in the fourth episode where they were carrying a dead body around the mansion in the dead of night. Before that moment I found it a fascinating portrayal of the differences in classes -- but then it turned into Dallas with butlers.

"Not Cotton Tails Remastered?!"

No problem. I seriously need to update it. Also, there's that whole Grim Fandango project I've been neglecting... Agghhh.

We need to rename this thread. Every time I see it I immediately get the theme song stuck on my head!

I loved that book. How's the radio adaptation? Seems like a good cast.

You can't actually buy chisels. You can only earn them. The stuff you can buy is pretty random and basic.

I find it kind of therapeutic.

I agree with you that's it's impressionistic in that sense. Interesting theory about the Ego and Id, but I personally don't buy that PTA would do something as literal or planned as that. Both the scenes you mention make perfect sense to me from a character study point of view. (And again, I think that's no small feat! Making characters that are both compelling and relatable is, for me, one of the highest praises I can think of.) But thanks for engaging in this discussion, I'll certainly be looking at the films with slightly different eyes next time I watch them!

Hmm. There's no dead ends in Last Crusade, but you could miss a fairly important clue to the description of the real Grail if you did something really dumb... like refuse to read the descriptions in the game at the point they're revealed. You can die, but then you can die in Fate of Atlantis, too.

Cool! I did not realise they did that. That's actually pretty exciting then.

It's interesting because they held a poll on the site for the name. Most people thought that World's Apart is a better title than Broken Age (including me)... but seeing it now, it feels quite right.

That is very cool.

I'm not sure what a "companion" is, to be honest. Is it an external story? Here's the full update, for people who haven't read it and who may be interested:

Hmm. I remain unconvinced. You say that The Master is especially rife with symbolism, but you haven't given any examples. To me PTA's process is clearly very organic and fluid, which is what helps his characters become so incredibly realised. I don't he's got a crystal clear idea of where he's going, I think he's brave enough to let two actors go at it and see where it takes them -- copying the structure of his script, but not to the letter. For that reason I don't think there's any real intellectual feats going on behind the scenes, and therefore no planned symbolism. He wants to capture these characters. He's not concerned with plot or arcs, or even a message, he just wants to capture characters being who they are. To me this is evident in all his best work: Boogie Nights, TWBB, The Master, and some parts of Magnolia. When he tries to be controlling, imbuing his films with a message or purpose, he seems to lose his way (the most of Magnolia, parts of Punch Drunk Love). TWBB definitely had a clear arc, but as you've quite rightly pointed out, there's still plenty of ambiguity over the inner-workings of Plainview. Again, this is no criticism of his work. I'm absolutely flabbergasted by his talent as a director, but I do think he builds a lot of his films in the editing room, rather than planning things with an eye for specific dialogue or controlling fine details. I think he's much more fluid and organic in his filmmaking than that. Actually, thinking about it, I'm not sure we're really at that much of an odds: I absolutely agree that his work as a director is masterful. It's surprising and hypnotic. I love it. I also agree that he's not overly concerned with answering everyone's questions. Happily letting characters be real: full of contradictions and complications. Edit: Also:

As excited as I am that Avellone will be onboard at $3.5 million, the fine print makes it less exciting: He'll simply be giving his feedback, not actively creating anything.

Great tips, guys! Thanks so much. I'd figured some of them out: The lack of satellites and engineers has already kicked my ass (I've got far too many scientists). A little annoying that the game is unforgiving if you make the wrong moves at the beginning, but I already want to play it again with my new knowledge. Also, no bugs since my initial one.

Hmm. I'm not convinced PTA is attempting anything deeper than astonishing character studies, which is not something to be dismissed or looked down upon. Quite the contrary, I don't know of another modern filmmaker who's as good at as him! I'll watch it again, though. What symbology is it, and The Master, "rife" with?

An interesting take! I should really watch it again. I think our views aren't completely incompatible, either. Although I saw him as a husk, I could be persuaded that there's some humanity in there -- even if it's just a drop. An interesting character, for sure!

Another perfect film from the same year: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. The best summarisation I read of it was this: The film just blows me away.

I mean that his characters drive the story, and not the other way around. The Master is only a character study, without much plot, and it works as that, for me. As for TWBB...

Sweet!

Sooooooooooo good.

I'm playing on Normal, and don't get me wrong, I'm really enjoying playing it -- I just seem to have lost control of the situations. The missions are tough, but fair, so it's really the management that I've fallen down on. I've been researching things in probably the "wrong" order and building the wrong types of facilities. It seems the game is quite unforgiving in this way: I've already lost two council members!

Hmm. I LOVE PTA, but I wouldn't agree that confusing the audience is one of his strong points. TWBB had a very specific meaning to me, and while I think PTA is always a slave to his characters (as he should be), that film had a pretty clear message in my opinion -- it just told it in a very non-judgemental way. But then again, I don't want someone to come along and tell me my interpretation is wrong! I think Magnolia was a beautiful and evocative mess. The film seemingly wanted you do see something deeper in it, but (imo) it failed miserably. A bold experiment, with some fantastic moments, but ultimately it was all over the place. Not so with Boogie Nights or There Will Be Blood (or even The Master), imo.