MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Just watched the first two episodes of the new South Park series and even by their standards… bloody hell!
Never a fan of South Park but I'm thinking I might start up whatever month's subscription I need to watch this.
Finished The Assassin last , presumably the scriptwriters ran out of time when the last first episode was due in and just decided any old toss would do?
FTFY. Cliched nonsense; a top assassin who can't hit their target and then decided to kill every wedding guest.
Hmm, you don't see a cheese fork nowadays. Well I wonder what you're going to do with that?
I don't rate Freddie Highmore, which doesn't help
I'm watching The Assassin on Amazon Prime, that's very good.
Although it does suffer from the usual movie cliche about "retired assassins" having miraculously lost none of their shooting and fighting skills when pitched against current assassins who have popped up to kill them.
Yes, I was genuinely surprised that it wasn't a completely realistic depiction of what might happen if an actual retired lady assassin with a very wet son was targeted by ex-colleagues out of the blue. Other than that, the whole thing seemed completely realistic, I felt the rusty skills cliché kind of ruined it 😐
Isn't the first rule of watching ridiculous TV simply that you just accept the endless totally unrealistic scenarios in the name of mindless entertainment. If you're going to start pulling at strings like that, the whole thing comes undone very quickly. Just saying...
Just in case anyone missed it, Love,Death and Robots released Volume 4 a couple of months ago.
(Netflix)
The Gone (again)
S2 on BBC started at the end of July, even better than S1 IMHO. S1 is still on BBC iplayer
Finally got round to the Handmaid's Tale final season. If you lost patience further back in the show, I think you could watch the last three episodes of Season 6 and get good closure - real emotional heft, despite some dodgy plotting if you stop to think about it too much.
I lost interest after series 1.
Did I miss much?
Watched "Weird", the Weird Al Yankovic biopic, on Prime with my daughter - very silly and entertaining.
The Veil - not a bad storyline, although confusing at times and full of holes, but the ending is utter rubbish.
The Veil
Ah, don't spoil it! I'm sort of enjoying it, not sure Lizzy Moss carries off the tough indestructible ninja side of things, but its a bit different and therefore keeping my interest... so far
Nothing was grabbing my (short)attention span,so turned turned to good old BBC (gawrd blessem) and found 'The Mystery of the Desert Kites' on I-Player. Absolutely fascinating 👍
Watched In The Heat of The Night ('67)on IPlayer last night. Sidney Poitier - Mr Tibbs - an out of town cop arrested for murder in a small Mississippi town.
Picked it up because a small local venuewas showing it. Felt pertinent to our times right now. Refreshing change (for me at least) to contemporary cinema, haven't watched any old films for ages.
Blimey, Sky have a new series of Peacemaker! About 3 years after s1? Can’t even remember if it was good, just remember watching it all and enjoying the opening dance sequence! Giving it a go anyway. (This one has a dance sequence but a different (terrible) song)
I'm watching Hearts of Darkness on C4, it's great - the documentary on the making of Apocalypse Now. Fascinating, and mental
Watched "Weird", the Weird Al Yankovic biopic
I watched this recently and enjoyed it. I didn't even realise who was playing weird Al until I looked it up whilst watching it.
Netflix have released (of all things) a documentary about Devo. It's interesting honest! - even if you're not a fan of their music. A film about a band who succeeded despite their best efforts.
Fit for TV, documentary about the Biggest Loser reality TV show on Netflix - I only stumbled across a part of this as my wife was watching it (she's a sucker for this sort of gonzo TV) and all I can say is - America...where everything is taken to it's logical extreme.
Mudtown on U/Alibi is pretty good and Hostage on Netflix is passable nonsense. Both new this week. I liked Mudtown more.
Mudtown on U/Alibi is pretty good
We enjoyed it and we’d have enjoyed it more if we could have got subtitles, as some of the dialogue was hard to follow.
Hostage on Netflix is passable nonsense.
Is that the one with Suranne 'I only have three facial expressions' Jones?
Yes, I was genuinely surprised that it wasn't a completely realistic depiction of what might happen if an actual retired lady assassin with a very wet son was targeted by ex-colleagues out of the blue. Other than that, the whole thing seemed completely realistic, I felt the rusty skills cliché kind of ruined it 😐
Ouch! But made me smile.
Netflix viewing...
We watched Official Secrets last night (just about to leave Netflix) and that was quite watchable. The real story sort of passed me by at the time.
I've also started Untamed. As much for the scenery as the plot so far.
If you've got a bit of WW2 history interest Netflix has a series called Hitler's Circle of Evil covering the more villainous members of the inner circle and a bit of the lead in history through the 30's. Very watchable, although clearly not as detailed as a hefty tome by a proper historian. There are some disturbing parallels in terms of incompetence, jingoism, nationalistic supremacy, scapegoating and flags lots of flags...
August shows so far
Pokerface S2
Untamed
Karen Pirie S1 & S2
All good watches. Currently watching the BBC Alba drama An t-Eileen. The scenery is stunning!
I also watched The Natural now that it is available on Netflix. It’s a beautiful movie, great acting and storytelling. It doesn’t seem to get mentioned in the discussions of great movies of the 1980s but I think it definitely one of the modern great films.
I enjoyed American Made, it's very loosely based on a bloke working for the CIA running guns to South America and drugs on the way back to make his money.
It's a little bit brain out fun, but hints at American meddling in South America causing all sorts of problems
Edit: on Netflix
I enjoyed the The William the Conqueror thing - BBC. On iPlayer and BBC at 9pm.
I watched this recently and enjoyed it. I didn't even realise who was playing weird Al until I looked it up whilst watching it.
Haha, he's quite good at comedy isn't he?
Let's not spoil it for anyone else who goes in blind.
I enjoyed the The William the Conqueror thing - BBC. On iPlayer and BBC at 9pm.
Too slow for me, the references to Earl Godwin and Queen Emma just got me thinking about how much better Vikings: Valhalla was. I gave up before ep.2
Enjoying the Piper Alpha documentary on BBC. Having worked for Oxy's successor and seen Piper through a helicopter window I was familiar with the general sequence of events, but the documentary really puts a human face on a tragedy and explains what happened very clearly.
+1
Fire in the night is a very good book on Piper Alpha.
Finished Hostage on Netflix last night. Enjoyed it in the end but needed to get over some of the absurdity of the plot though - not least the lack of security/close protection around the PM and her family. Same issue I had with Back Doves and the Diplomat but once I accept that you can't really have these dramas if you needed to play in all the security that surrounds very senior politicians then I they are fund
Bingeclock lets you see how much of your life you have spent binging TV shows. I've watched The Sopranos twice, so that's one solid week.
https://www.bingeclock.com/search/sopranos/
Probably about the same on Shaun the Sheep.
https://www.bingeclock.com/search/Shaun+the+Sheep/
Watched "Weird", the Weird Al Yankovic biopic
I watched this last night. It was very silly, seems to have been written by someone with no concern for historical facts. If it wasn't quite entertaining I would have just switched it off.
North Shore on Netflix is pretty good.
I just watched The Darkness, on C4. Worth watching for the Iceland scenery, and Lena Olin is an international treasure. The plot is fairly generic Iceland noir, but entertaining enough.
North Shore on Netflix is pretty good.
Agreed. I watched it when it was on Prime, I think, or maybe ITV. Something about Aussie shows that often makes them more engaging than others - maybe cause they're not afraid to call a dunny a sh*tter, or something... 🤣
We just started S2 of The Gone and it's fine. Well-made, good scenery; bit generic, but the characters are fairly well-drawn. You have to have your ear in though, between the mix of Kiwi/ Irish/ posh Irish that sounds English accents and the Maori words dropped in.
Also finally started The Bear a few weeks back and it's great. Being 30 minutes really helps I think; if it was hour long episodes it'd be too much, too intense; but you can dip in for 30 minutes, then have a breather... before bingeing 3 more episodes!
It was very silly, seems to have been written by someone with no concern for historical facts
agreed, strange choice to make it a comedy, given that Yankovich is such a noted historian/chronicler of facts 🤔
Just started s3 of The Tour last night; solid as usual. And Peacemaker .. still to decide after just one episode.
We did start watching Hostage ... absolutely rubbish; The casting and plot is just so cliche and stereotyped. I found myself more intrigued by Suranne Jones odd nose than the even odder plot; watched one episode and that was long enough .. terrible.
Did get further into Queen of the South - almost made it through all season 1. But concerned switching my brain off for so long may be dangerous. Very poor script again that requires you to just ignore the glaring obvious ...
Netflix have released (of all things) a documentary about Devo. It's interesting honest!
Brilliant recommendation! Cheers! Grinned the whole way through it. 😀
Not sure who recommended The Eternaut but just finished episode 2 and really enjoying it.
Yeah, did Assassin, which was kinda watchable and not too taxing. Hostage was just complete dross, and didn't get beyond E1.
But, we are watching True Detective S1 on Prime. We missed it the first time round on whatever service. It is absolutely excellent!
Well worth your time investment. And explains a lot about Louisiana and the Southern USA
But, we are watching True Detective S1 on Prime
You lucky,lucky things.
I still think S1 is the best of them.
I've been waiting for this to come up free on Prime - and it's here!
I still think S1 is the best of them.
The most recent one was an improvement, but they should have just stopped after S1.
Don't bother with 'The Monkey' on Prime, doesn't deliver on the trailer's promise.
Started Atomic on Now last night, first couple of episodes are good low effort fun.
Atomic has so many ridiculous things happen. Combine that with the number of comedy actors in it, I can't work out if it's supposed to be a comedy. Not sure I'll last cos it is bloody silly
Atomic is absolute cobblers, but it’s quite enjoyable cobblers that clearly knows it’s absolute cobblers and isn’t trying to pretend it’s anything but absolute cobblers
In contrast I’ve just watched the first 2 episodes of Dope Thief on Apple.
On paper it should be brilliant
It’s utter and complete shite! 2 hours of my life I’ll never get back
I don’t think I’ll be bothering with episode 3
I quite liked Atomic but then at night I'll watch anything that isn't Mrs Brown's Boys.
Atomic has so many ridiculous things happen. Combine that with the number of comedy actors in it
Christ, Theon Greyjoy teams up with Clem Fandango.
Kathryn Bigelow's House of Dynamite looks fantastic. Oct 24th for Netflix (3rd for Cinema).
https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/kathryn-bigelow-a-house-of-dynamite-teaser-sneak-peek
I'm still hung up on the "we need some petrol," when they're driving a diesel Hilux.
Oh yes, and then he sucks it up a tube like it's lemonade. I tried to syphon the petrol out of my car when it was written off, I nearly passed out from just the fumes coming up the pipe!! Maybe diesel is a tastier treat. 😀
Kathryn Bigelow's House of Dynamite looks fantastic
Innnteresting ..!
I'm still hung up on the "we need some petrol," when they're driving a diesel Hilux.
Oh yes, and then he sucks it up a tube like it's lemonade.
I definitely questioned that too. But then none of it is really that realistic. My wife is also judging it by the Bechdel test, so far, there are yet to be 2 women who are main characters in a scene together, let alone having a conversation.
If people enjoyed this level of stupidity in a show, did you watch Obliterated on Netflix, now that was low-brow entertainment!
Just watched ‘Highest to Lowest’ on AppleTV. Quite possibly the worst denzil Washington film ever. Which is a shame!
Watched 3 episodes of “Untamed” wi mum tonight, tis good with nice scenery of Yosemite
A character driven mystery thriller that follows Kyle Turner, a special agent for the National Parks Service who works to enforce human law in nature's vast wilderness. The investigation of a brutal death sends Turner on a collision course with the dark secrets within the park, and in his own past.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31710822/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_in_0_q_untamed
The OH watched Thursday Murder Club last night (Netflix). Gave up after 20 minutes, because the casting is apparently pretty wrong if you like the books, and Pierce Brosnan's accent is pretty wrong if you have ears.
Recently watched Mr Inbetween on Disney, we got a free month's trial, it's the best thing I've seen in years, well acted, well written and realistic dialogue with conversations people might actually have, well people who kill people for a living anyroad, highly recommended.
I’m not watching (or reading) Thursday Murder Club as I absolutely cannot stand Richard Osman and if I liked it my head would explode with the contradiction.
Rather liking Task with Mark Ruffalo as an FBI agent.
I'm very late to it but enjoying working my way through the first series of Designated Survivor. It gets a bit silly with every knock at the Oval Office door resulting in another crisis but it is still enjoyable.
Finished Hostage on Netflix last night. Enjoyed it in the end but needed to get over some of the absurdity of the plot though - not least the lack of security/close protection around the PM and her family.
Just started it, finished Episode 1 then came in search of this thread to find out if it was worth sticking with!
I know we're very late to the Vikings party, but heard a lot about it we watched the first two episodes.
Christ it's crap.
Just finished watching 11.22.63 on Amazon Prime.
As Stephen King adaptions go this is a decent one, and only 8 episodes so not too taxing.
Hostages.......
Just started it, finished Episode 1 then came in search of this thread to find out if it was worth sticking with!
No it's utterly tosh, and your life is worth so much more
a decent zombie movie (maybe not on Netflix, etc)
in case you wondered what Peter Jackson was up to, prior to LOTR.
anyway, Gretel & Hansel on Prime has some fantastic, atmospheric cinematography. Reminds me of the Nosferatu remake from the 1980’s. The one with the choral score that subsequently wound up on Kate Bush’s ‘hounds of love’ album.
I’ve just tested the sunk cost fallacy to destruction by sticking with Mobland until the end. Why, I have no idea.
Absolutely awful!
Bland formulaic rubbish that mostly consists of Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan phoning it in while doing truly terrible Oirish accents*.
The final episode was so bad that I was literally chewing my fist in embarrassment for everyone involved in it
* I watched the same pair in Thursday Murder Club last week. Well… for 20 minutes, before turning it off as it was utter and complete shite!
Rather liking Task with Mark Ruffalo as an FBI agent.
Good to hear. I read a review this week saying it's just miserable all the time - thoughts on that?
Just finished watching 11.22.63 on Amazon Prime.
I saw a trailer for that, and was really intrigued by the premise. Thought I might read it as a book first, but haven't got to that yet
I’ve just tested the sunk cost fallacy to destruction by sticking with Mobland until the end. Why, I have no idea.
Absolutely awful!
I've got to admit I got into this. Totally tongue-in-cheek and ridiculous but entertaining.
Mirren's character is bonkers. Well they all are. Only Hardy is sane.
Just watched 'Weapons.' Don't want to say anything much but the audacity of the script is off the chart.
For those who like things like Short Cuts / Magnolia with a more than a dash of genre twisting.
I liked it but probably not quite the 5 star horror it was sold on.
His previous film Barbarian was also bonkers.
in case you wondered what Peter Jackson was up to, prior to LOTR
Jackson was far more interesting and inventive pre-Lotr.
Bad Taste was incredible for the resources involved and Heavenly Creatures was damn good too.
Dead Alive / (Braindead) as it was known the UK is terrific too. Not seen this since cinema. Might check it out.
Binged Untamed over the last couple of days. We enjoyed it and the scenery is absolutely stunning.
Binged Untamed over the last couple of days. We enjoyed it and the scenery is absolutely stunning.
It was decent and a new series in different location is planned. It was an 'enjoy the journey - not the destination' series.
(Untamed was shot in BC Canada. Not chance of filming in Yosemite . Although I think there's there odd general scenery shot that is. )
Rather liking Task with Mark Ruffalo as an FBI agent.
Good to hear. I read a review this week saying it's just miserable all the time - thoughts on that?
Task is by the same guy who did Mare of East town, so yeah it's slow going and very much on the grim side. However Task ep1 was excellent. I would highly recommend Mare Of East town. It's a slow burner and the acting is outstanding.
Oh yeah, I really rated Mare. It was grey and a little bleak, but had moments of brightness and compelling characters, including Winslet's. The Guardian review was a bit sniffy saying Task wasn't even as bright as Mare.
But that seems to be the one Sky channel I actually have, so I'll check it out
If you get a thrill from watching people dress as Nazis, ‘Breslau’ on Disney+ is worth a look.
high production values with a twist of art deco.
Foundation series 3 finale, outstanding sci-fi.
Task ep1 was excellent.
Yep, a good watch that... made me set the ol Sky box to series link 👍
Beautifully written - bad guys with complex lives!
Hope it carries on with the same momentum. Too many shows recently with nothing other than ridiculously improbable body counts - and no scene setting and/or character building.
Slow-burn thrillers with good pay-offs are where it's at.