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spacemonkey
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Just got back into Slow Horses – S2 E1 and E2. Still funny and easy to watch. Oldman is brilliant. Only things I don’t like – and I know these feed the vibe – are Min is a d1ck and the hacker guy gets on my man8008s.
Slow Horses S2 has the challenge that the book's a bit meandery and not very tight. It's not bad by any measure, but compared to S1 and S3 it's a little unfocused, so it's interesting to see in the show where they made efforts to tighten it up and make it make more sense.
I must admit that the plotline in S2 made no sense to me whatsoever. S1 was outstanding though.
Another recommendation for Ted (TV series) here. A few jokes fall flat but overall pretty good.
Tried to watch Killers of the Flower Moon last night.
I'd actually never heard of it and my wife had got free apple so on it went.
Needed to be a mini series really - I mean the argument against that would be a loss of dramatic tension but it lost that a couple of hours in anyway so wouldn't have made any difference.
Was a classic case of a film being less than the sum of its parts in our opinion. Some good characters and some great acting, especially from DiCaprio and Gladstone. Unfortunately I thought De Niro was hamming it up - a bit too much meet the parents rather than James Conway. Superb cinematography/world building - really did feel like you were there
But ultimately gave up after 2.5 hrs - just not enough overall oooomph. Will probably finish it tonight but its a 5 out of 10 from me.
Killers of the Flower Moon
Has it’s own thread somewhere.. saw it at the cinema and felt similar, although swapping Dicaprio and de Niro, acting-wise. Made it to the end though, cos I’d paid 😄
Ted is just Peter Griffin as a teddy bear, I'm loving it so far.
Just finished Arctic Ascent. The scenery is unbelievable, but more unbeliveable is the idea of climbing those huge faces covered with crumbling rock. OK, my personal exploits extend to some VDiffs in the Peaks, so I am not well placed to judge, but it just feels mental !!
El Conde
Chilean black comedy about Augusto Pinochet as a vampire, narrated by a Margret Thatcher voice.
A gruesome satire.
"Past Lives" - read so much about it in the film mags - 5*s Empire, "a spine-tingling romance of lost chances" etc.. noticed it was on Netflix yesterday, so gave it a watch. It's good. Beautifully shot, you'd never guess it was a director's first film.
My spine didn't tingle though, I didn't blub (I am quite a softy), but it was a very [i]nice[/i] film 🙂
Been trying to watch Criminal Minds, but it's not a good story, they've got a decent cast, but the plot and how they get there is dire, stopped watching before the finale, as i thought they were going to do a clever twist, but they didn't. Such a shame as it had a decent cast, money and apple tend to do good stuff, but this reminded me more of a Harlan Coben series than an apple one 🙁
Avatar: The Last Airbender live action series has landed on Netflix. Any good ?
Four episodes into 'Constellation' on Apple TV.
Really clever psychological thriller, but definitely not 'brain out' telly, although they do make an effort to explain quantum superposition to those who have just staggered in from the pub.
Noomi Rapace and Jonathan Banks (Mike from Breaking Bad) are excellent.
Apple TV seems to be consistently coming up with quality stuff. Just finished S1 of 'Silo' too, which started slow but really got going towards the end of the run.
Airbender... i lasted 15 mins... if my lad were still 11, then maybe... but i'm a no.
Still working through Dark Winds on Sky. It's good, but probably more about the feel and atmosphere than the actual plot per se.
Also watching Mayor of Kingstown, and enjoying the shots of Hamilton, Kingston and Toronto. It's heavy going at times though.
And enjoying The Dry on RTE - easy-ish 30 minute episodes of "comedy with feeling" a la Catastrophe or similar.
Interesting to hear views of Killers of the Flower Moon. Between it and The Irishman, it sounds like late era Scorsese could perhaps do with a really good editor and/ or slightly less free rein.
We’ve just watched the first episode of the Gentlemen on Netflix and it’s absolutely bloody brilliant! Full on Guy Ritchie nonsense of the highest order! 😃
Yeah, we're a couple of episodes in, it's good fun.
Started Constellation last week, was somewhat miffed when I went to watch episode six on Thursday to discover it won't be available until Wednesday. It's quite eerie, I don't watch much spooky stuff usually.
Gentlemen +1. Two episodes in and it’s great
Waiting with baited breath for Fallout on Prime. Slightly reluctant to get too excited, but as someone with too many hours invested in New Vegas and Fallout 4 it actually looks like it might be decent.
If nothing else, they put Dogmeat in there!
Gentleman was ok, typical of a guy ritchie plot but with different actors, just for once I wish they’d portray growrooms as they are in reality, and without the stereotypical stoner grower.
Watched Captive State on Netfiix. Very low budget sci-fi about insurgents trying to overthrow an alien invasion some years after the event. Wasn't well reviewed and has a low rotten tomatoes score, so I wasn't expecting much. But its pretty good, got a great cast, they work well to make the alien presence alien "enough" given the limited budget and the plot's believable, the lead isn't a superhero, or super smart, he's just a dumb kid and the acting is first rate, and it's not flabby.
If you enjoyed Monsters (the 2010 Gareth Edwards film) I think you'd enjoy this.
Fallout trailervlooks good. But we'll see.
Another vote for The Gentlemen. It drops off a bit in places, almost like they're wondering how to fill 8 episodes but generally it's excellent.
Has anyone seen Damsel yet? It's gets some very mixed reviews... Wondering whether to give it a go or if it'll be a waste of 2hrs!
Paramount+
Mayor of Kingstown, good cast, lots of action
I'm enjoying Shogun on Disney+
Boy Swallows Universe is good. Surreal/comedy/tragedy growing up around drugs and violence in Aus in the 80s. There's a novel. Reported to be based on his life. Lots of mullets.
I’m quite enjoying The completely made up adventures of Dick Turpin on Apple TV. Lots of recognisable faces and just plain silly. 😀
Also really liking the Gentlemen. I do like the way Vinnie Jones is kept in the background, kinda adds a surreal sinister element to the plot.
Anyone else find Suzie rather attractive in a Lily Allen kinda way?
Also really liking the Gentlemen. I do like the way Vinnie Jones is kept in the background, kinda adds a surreal sinister element to the plot.
Giancarlo Esposito appears to be a little typecast though 😉
The Gentlemen is very silly, and very entertaining!
Giancarlo Esposito appears to be a little typecast though
And Ray Winstone. Still, a good series and I’d watch the second one. I reckon a 3rd could be a bit formulaic though….
Watched the first episode of the Gentlemen last night. I quite enjoyed it - amusing, stylishly filmed and complete nonsense. So, yeah, I enjoyed it. Mrs BC less so though.
I noticed yesterday also that American Fiction has dropped on Prime. Missed it in the cinema but it looked like a film worth watching.
Has anyone seen Damsel yet? It’s gets some very mixed reviews… Wondering whether to give it a go or if it’ll be a waste of 2hrs!
Answering my own question - it was just about OK.
Very "girl-power" kind of film featuring a dragon with excellent command of the English language and a lot of running from it and screaming.
Ray Winstone has clearly been busy on Netflix cos he's in Damsel, he's in The Gentlemen and I'm sure there's another current film that he's in too.
We're currently enjoying Shameless (US version) on Netflix. Never watched the original UK series and only stumbled across this by accident. Only on season 3 out of 11 though! Some great performances in there, and good to see that Jeremy Allen-White chap from The Bear playing a central character, though i think the casting throughout has been ace so far.
Also, +1 for the Dick Turpin thing with Noel Fielding. Silly, and getting better with each installment...
the gentlemen all a bit 'ackneyed by the end.
I got to episode 6 of DARK on Netflix and i have no clue what's going on... So it's being binned.
They have commissioned a second season of Silo too apparently.
Should hope so. They only got half way through the first book of the series, Wool. There was a lot of padding in the programme, to arrive at the climax of the season. Looking forward to season 2 to see how closely it follows the books.
I got to episode 6 of DARK on Netflix and i have no clue what’s going on… So it’s being binned.
I think Dark was one of the best things I’ve seen on Netflix. We watched all three seasons twice. You have to concentrate really hard on it though. Slight lapse in concentration and you’ve had it 😃
I enjoyed Dark, but the constant need to get the actors to talk in semi-nonsensical philosophical mumbo-jumbo, vis; "It is time that you and I can redeem the subjective freedoms that we've allowed to permeate the void" and so on grates after a while and the makers of the thing needing to tie-up Every. Single. Plot Point. At. The. End. Yes, you wrapped everything up in a very neat bow. No, knowing what happened to the penny didn't add anything to the experience as a whole.
Have we done 'The Glory' yet? So not Hollywood and such a pleasure to have to continually rewind 10secs to catch the dialogue. Loving foreign language stuff at the moment because the pacing is often so different
We watched all three seasons twice. You have to concentrate really hard on it though. Slight lapse in concentration and you’ve had it
Drawing a flowchart or sticking it all in Excel helps too. 🙂
the gentlemen all a bit ‘ackneyed by the end
Yeah, I'm on about episode seven and the fun part of the plot concept is rapidly disappearing. I'd rather Ray Winstone wasn't in it (or Giancarlo Esposito), they are both a bit immersion-breaking.
A couple of absolutely bonkers, really disturbing documentaries I've watched this week, both concerning internet nutjobbery of the highest order. An absolutely terrifying one about a ludicrously prolific stalker
And then an equally as terrifying one about online conspiracy theorists
Accused: The Hampstead Paedophile Hoax
The Damsel, I watched it last night as a passenger, to me it was a bit of a vanity project (Millie Bobbie brown was an exec producer) that looked like she wanted to prove that she doesn’t have much acting range yet and nobody proof-read it for massive plot holes…
….thought she was great in Stranger Things and I’m sure she’ll continue to do well, but even as a piece of brains-out tits and Dragons fluff (without tits in the keeping it PG/12 sense) it was lacking. If they’d spent some of the cgi dragon budget on script writing, it probably would have been better.
summary = Middle aged man didn’t enjoy thriller made for tweenie girls 😉
Whoever recommended Schitt’s Creek, thank you.
Just finished the Gentlemen. Excellent - really enjoyed it for what it was: 8 hours of Guy Richie "greatest hits". It's not particularly highbrow, but that's ok - I thought it was great: funny, stylish, with a decent plot and generally good fun.
Have since moved on to "The Regime" with Kate Winslet - seems good so far: quite Armando Iannuci-ish. Will report back
I watched The Gentlemen and actually enjoyed it despite my reservations, but I'd not rave about it.
What I am enjoying just now on netflix is Loudermilk, a comedy about a knob of a guy guy who runs an AA type group. 3 series and I'm just over half way through S2.
Halfway through The Gentlemen...... Enjoying it 👍
Started watching Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War on Netflix - "The series chronicles the creation of the atomic bomb and the spread of nuclear arms over the following decades. It continues past the dissolution of the Soviet Union to Vladimir Putin's ascent and the Russian invasion of Ukraine."
2 episodes in and very good so far.
Loudermilk is very good - It took some times to like it but I'm okay now - "what come first, the chicken or the egg?" was my big laugh so far.
Binged The Gentleman and while it ticks a lot of the Guy Ritchie tropes, I found it a bit thin which is a shame ads generally I really enjoy his character development and dialogue. It has of course left itself open for a second season.
I'm nearly done with The Night Agent, an episode or 2 left, it's great.
If you like things like Jason Bourne or 24 this should be right up your street.
>>> #notNetflix! <<< If you like books and want some easy watch TV,Richard E Grant is doing a travel series around some well known authors on BBC4/iPlayer.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p09nlfbk/write-around-the-world-with-richard-e-grant-series-1-episode-2
+1 for Night Agent, enjoyed that.
We started The Gone on iPlayer - Irish detective teams up with a Kiwi detective in NZ to find some a missing Irish couple. Very good so far, if not every innovative. Only thing is I'm having watch with subtitles on as the accents and general talking through their teeth make the dialogue somewhat incomprehensible
It sounds like Netflix have some decent stuff now I've not got it anymore.
I noticed Poor Things is on Disney+ now, and I'm gonna give that a watch when I have time.
Some bits of Poor Things are just Brilliant (with a capital B). Mark Ruffalo looks like he's just having the greatest time ever. The scenes with him and Emma Stone are some of the funniest comedy I've seen in a while. The dance scene alone is worth a rewind, including the "I wink back, for polite, I think" line...But y'know it wouldn't be a Yorgos Lanthimos film with a bit of controversy, and without giving too much away the "male gaze" on women's sex is just a bit "icky" at some points in the film, and falls to the voyeuristic side of things on more than one occasion, I mean don't get me wrong; Emma Stone's boobs are lovely, but they do have quite a lot of screen time for no real discernible point.
Still worth a watch though.
+1 for Night Agent, enjoyed that.
Night Agent was excellent, i think it popped up on here many many pages ago.
There's a season 2 in production at the moment.
Just started watching The Furies on Netflix. I'm quite enjoying it to be honest. A bit silly, French gangster/hitman thing.
Loudermilk is one we've binged through, saving the final few epsodes.. it's really good, great dry sarcastic humour and some quite insightful moments wrapped up in there too.
started watching the forgotten, which seems good so far, but I seem to like things with Nicola Walker in it.
and finally started to watch Dexter, now reminded by the 'have you got an internal monologue' thread. on season 2 now, long way to go, but it's entertaining.
"The Damsel, I watched it last night as a passenger,"
My kids enjoyed it. Boys, for reference. It was reasonable.
The plot is thinner than a wafer thin mint.
Too much hiding + screaming, too little revenge-based-ass-whooping.
Queen of the South is good so far one series in and is supposed to get better.
Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia is superb, another gem like Trailer Park Boys.
“The Damsel, I watched it last night as a passenger,”My kids enjoyed it. Boys, for reference. It was reasonable.
The plot is thinner than a wafer thin mint.
Too much hiding + screaming, too little revenge-based-ass-whooping.
Yeah, I said much the same a couple of pages ago. Could actually have been quite a good film if there'd been less running round a cave screaming and a bit more work from the scriptwriters. I'm curious as to how the dragon spoke such good English too although I suspect that's giving the film more thought than any of the actors gave it.
I started watching Gray which seems to think of itself as some sort of spy series with twists but has been very slow moving and rather unclear on what sort of plot it has so far. Not sure I can be bothered with the final 3 episodes.
Kin on BBC iPlayer.
An Irish version of the Sopranos set in Dublin.
I think this was mentioned a few pages back, and I'm definitely late to the party, but this was very good (series 1 is more of a slow burner but series 2 was exceptional IMO)
Anyone know if a Series 3 is in the pipeline?
Not going to be a series 3 of Kin unfortunately.
Enjoying the Night Agent at the moment.
The Outfit is also worth a watch.
Just watched the new Roadhouse on Prime with Jake Gyllenhaal and Connor McGregor. Excellent Saturday night fun. Much better than I'd expected.
Just watched the new Roadhouse on Prime with Jake Gyllenhaal and Connor McGregor. Excellent Saturday night fun. Much better than I’d expected.
I thought they did a great job with this.
Kept a 90s vibe with modern slickness.
Obviously McGregor has the physical attributes but his grinning presence was a bit too grating. Gyllenhaal - so good at playing the downbeat loner. And the western references were welcome.
Thoroughly enjoyed though, and well shot on wide-angle lenses - and we've moved away from the Michael Bay approach to chop chop editing which is to be appreciated.
I thought McGregor was useless in Roadhouse, but it was all just silly tosh, so didn't make it unwatchable. I don't see him having an acting career after this but, you never know ...
Late to the party as usual and yeah I know it's got its own thread but I've just finished Top Gun Maverick.
Could not stop grinning. Loved that. Wish I'd seen it on the big screen! 😎
Finally got around to watching Ghostbusters Afterlife on the BBC.
Enjoyable.
I'll watch the Frozen one in 3 years if I don't make it to the cinema whilst it is currently showing.
Anyone know if a Series 3 is in the pipeline?
Francis Magee, who played Brendan Kinsella, is also in s2 The Tourist as Frank McDonnell, an Irish crime lord.
Both series were running concurrently and it all got a bit confusing!
I thought McGregor was useless in Roadhouse, but it was all just silly tosh, so didn’t make it unwatchable. I don’t see him having an acting career after this but, you never know …
No I don't see it either, but I still think he worked in that over the top psycho nutter role.
I actually watched original Roadhouse again yesterday, and really enjoyed it. Obviously more of its day, before MMA properly existed when karate and Kung fu etc were still 'special' things in films. Was amazed how skinny Swayze was compared to today's buff hero's. Noticeable lack of diversity back then too.
Enjoyed Road house, so there's an original?
I don’t see him having an acting career after this but, you never know …
Expendables...
Enjoyed Road house, so there’s an original?
One of us is showing their age or lack or it 🤣
Yes, Patrick Swayze in 1989. It's grrrrreat.
I was at the age where Big Trouble in Little China appealed more to my sense of humour than Roadhouse... maybe... it was a long time ago. For instance I remembered this clip differently, but perhaps was confusing it with a Jackie Chan film.
Erm... That's Kurt Russell 🤔
No, that's Ming the Merciless.
The shorter members of the household have been really enjoying some westernised animé such as The Legend of Korra so was wondering if anyone has a Crunchyroll subscription & if you think it's worth it.