Movie/TV recommendations

[elmuerte]

Can't recall which Dr Who episodes I liked best, but the weeping angels episode are indeed all great.

I think SSDs list is quite ok. I'd like to add:

Season 2:

"The Impossible Planet"

"The Satan Pit"

I generally like the space/futuristic episodes the most.

[Roderick]

Cowboys and Aliens is the worst film I've seen in ages. Someone in front of me started using their phone, and instead of being annoyed, like I would normally, I found myself watching their screen instead if the film. I couldn't have cared less about what was happening on screen.

Pretty though, with some good performances. Well directed, too.

So, here's my take on this film. I liked the bits with the cowboys. I hated the bits with the aliens. There you have it.

Maybe I've become way too involved in this, but what the fuck is wrong with storytellers who don't understand the basic premise of an alien race? If a species is capable of building artificial space ships, then they are by definition highly communicative and live in a stratified society filled with specialists. They will have a hierarchical system of economics and politics supporting them. This is why I can't fucking stand it when 'aliens' could indiscriminately be replaced by 'monsters'. Spacefaring Aliens are not scary animals who go RROOAOAAAHHHWWRRR!!, that is insane and if you think that please don't write stories.

[ThunderPeel2001]

So, here's my take on this film. I liked the bits with the cowboys. I hated the bits with the aliens. There you have it.

Maybe I've become way too involved in this, but what the fuck is wrong with storytellers who don't understand the basic premise of an alien race? If a species is capable of building artificial space ships, then they are by definition highly communicative and live in a stratified society filled with specialists. They will have a hierarchical system of economics and politics supporting them. This is why I can't fucking stand it when 'aliens' could indiscriminately be replaced by 'monsters'. Spacefaring Aliens are not scary animals who go RROOAOAAAHHHWWRRR!!, that is insane and if you think that please don't write stories.

Well just to play devil's advocate on this. Isn't it possible that the aliens just see humans as nothing more than cattle standing in the way of a resource they want to get their hands on? Also that the aliens we see are their equivalent of an army following orders -- their mission is clear: Take what they want and become very good at stopping human opposition... not open up a dialogue.

Alien/s used the "space aliens as monsters" and I thought it worked brilliantly :-/

Also I may have been too harsh on the film -- maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for it. I can't even pinpoint what I disliked about it... it was just really bland to me.

Edited September 4, 2011 by ThunderPeel2001

[miffy495]

Alien/s used the "space aliens as monsters" and I thought it worked brilliantly :-/

True, but they didn't build their own spaceships. I think Rodi's problem is more with "These things are obviously organized and intelligent enough to create a far better form of space travel than anything we've ever come up with. Why are they drooling monsters?" Note his use of the term "Spacefaring Aliens".

[ThunderPeel2001]

True, but they didn't build their own spaceships. I think Rodi's problem is more with "These things are obviously organized and intelligent enough to create a far better form of space travel than anything we've ever come up with. Why are they drooling monsters?" Note his use of the term "Spacefaring Aliens".

Ah, yes. Good point.

[Roderick]

You got my back, Miffy!

[Kolzig]

Cowboys and Aliens is the worst film I've seen in ages. Someone in front of me started using their phone, and instead of being annoyed, like I would normally, I found myself watching their screen instead if the film. I couldn't have cared less about what was happening on screen.

Pretty though, with some good performances. Well directed, too.

Shame to hear that, and also Rodi's comments.

I was expecting it to be a lot better. It's been a long time since Harrison Ford did anything worth to watch so I had my hopes up. I will most likely still go watch it as soon as it arrives here just see for myself. Oh and it is coming this weeks Friday apparently to Finland.

I totally understand Rodi's take on this. The concept of aliens building spaceships to travel to other sides of galaxies and still be just monsters is a stupid idea. They should be higher beings with more intelligence than humans.

[Hermie]

I caught a screening of Black Dynamite yesterday, as you may already know, that movie is pure fun.

[Ben X]

Shame to hear that, and also Rodi's comments.

I was expecting it to be a lot better. It's been a long time since Harrison Ford did anything worth to watch so I had my hopes up. I will most likely still go watch it as soon as it arrives here just see for myself. Oh and it is coming this weeks Friday apparently to Finland.

I totally understand Rodi's take on this. The concept of aliens building spaceships to travel to other sides of galaxies and still be just monsters is a stupid idea. They should be higher beings with more intelligence than humans.

Well, Signor and I enjoyed it a bit more than those guys. Also, I didn't have a problem with the aliens. You see them do high-tech stuff too, they're just nasty arseholes. Predator was a high-tech monster too, anyone got a problem with that film? Because if they do, I'll need to be borrowing the fighting trousers.

[SignorSuperdouche]

The concept of aliens building spaceships to travel to other sides of galaxies and still be just monsters is a stupid idea. They should be higher beings with more intelligence than humans.

I sympathise with this perspective and would love to see more thought out science fiction - but that's like saying Cowboys and Aliens is a bad film due to a stupid portrayal of aliens is like saying Back to the Future is a bad film because it has a stupid portrayal of time travel.

[ThunderPeel2001]

I sympathise with this perspective and would love to see more thought out science fiction - but that's like saying Cowboys and Aliens is a bad film due to a stupid portrayal of aliens is like saying Back to the Future is a bad film because it has a stupid portrayal of time travel.

Stupid portrayal of time travel...? Who has the fighting trousers?

Actually I'm pretty sure I came up with valid reasons why the aliens could act the way they did and still be equally as smart/more intelligent than humans: They're army aliens. They're not there to ask questions. Also the aliens in C&A where shown to be quite scientific, doing experiments on humans, etc. Right?

[Kolzig]

Well, I'll go watch it anyway and then I'll say my opinion.

[Orv]

Latest Warehouse 13, two things.

A. Nice to see Kate Mulgrew is still around. Love her acting.

B. What the fuck?!

E: Via Suits on USA, possibly the best straight-faced line this year of television:

Are you that pony, Mike?

Edited September 6, 2011 by Orvidos

[ThunderPeel2001]

That's Jane Espenson, too, isn't it? She rocks. Did I mention that?

[Thyroid]

That's Jane Espenson, too, isn't it? She rocks. Did I mention that?

Lo and behold, I see this, turn off the laptop, go to watch an episode of Game of Thrones (pretty good so far!) and her name comes-up as co-writer on episode six...which causes me to rush back here and write this useless post. Yes.

[Orv]

That's Jane Espenson, too, isn't it? She rocks. Did I mention that?

So it is! Well, I hate to be the guy that jumps on the, "This writer is so great!" bandwagon, but I guess I have no choice!

[Ben X]

So, is Warehouse worth giving another go in the current season (I think 3 is starting on SyFy over here)? I watched a couple of the very first eps and it was terrible.

[Orv]

So, is Warehouse worth giving another go in the current season (I think 3 is starting on SyFy over here)? I watched a couple of the very first eps and it was terrible.

It's been wonderfully odd for me from the get-go, so I really couldn't say. It has (generally) improved and the current storyline, while somewhat cliche, is fairly interesting.

If you didn't like it to begin with though, I'm not sure that'll change in any way.

[ThunderPeel2001]

So it is! Well, I hate to be the guy that jumps on the, "This writer is so great!" bandwagon, but I guess I have no choice!

Wait. So we're all agreeing on something? This feels weird

[elmuerte]

So, is Warehouse worth giving another go in the current season (I think 3 is starting on SyFy over here)? I watched a couple of the very first eps and it was terrible.

Nope, same old stuff. Actually, it's even worse than before.

[ThunderPeel2001]

From what I can see, Espenson only worked on the pilot episode. That's enough for someone to get a created by credit. Still, shame to hear it's getting such a mixed response here, though.

[Hermie]

Would I enjoy it as a fan of Eureka? It seems those two are often compared/accompany each other, including a crossover.

[elmuerte]

You might like part of the first season, but warehouse 13 is quite different from Eureka. Warehouse 13 is often a bit like "The librarian". They just don't put much effort in the story of artifacts. Currently it's more about the relations between the characters and the weak story arch.

[Ben X]

From what I can see, Espenson only worked on the pilot episode. That's enough for someone to get a created by credit.

That's the usual way to get it, I believe.

[elmuerte]

The last Futurama episode is absolutetively awesome. :tup::tup:

I especially enjoyed the 8bit segment.