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Post by polly on Sept 17, 2020 18:43:04 GMT
How are you with the production values for it? It's got some nice entries like "Nightcrawlers" or "Shatterday", but I find for some episodes, I get more out of it if I switch across and watch it in monochrome. I think it's pretty good for what it is. It was pioneering the techniques later used on the TNG-era Star Treks and other sci-fi shows where they'd shoot on film but edit to tape and composite the effects at that stage. It works pretty well, though it sometimes has that Doctor Who problem with visible differences between the film and video material. Outside of the effects, it seems pretty...normal for American TV of the 80s? If I compare it to Hill Street, it seems slightly cheaper, but that may be because Twilight Zone didn't get a remastering of any kind and looks pretty fuzzy even on DVD. Occasionally it reminds me of early days X-Files.
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Post by johnhurtdoctor on Sept 17, 2020 19:00:55 GMT
DES after 2 gripping episodes i found the final one a bit of a let down, more crown court that big trial and a bit of a damp squib to end on...... but Tennet was top notch throughout not sure about may's but defiantly wins cigarette waver of the year....... but to be truthful I do find these docudrama's on such recent events when many of those effected still with us, questionable and a bit uncomfortable to watch but compelling at the same time. as with Sheridan smith in Moorside, Tennet goes to show give them a real character to play and they just nail it no fuss, no whistles and bells just a honest and truthful portrayal. Yes I'm not really into these sort of dramas, I have heard how good he is in the role but they often focus on the killer in these things. Maybe this one is different but the victims are usually a footnote to a deep examination of the killer & the process of catching them & putting them on trial.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2020 21:09:25 GMT
How are you with the production values for it? It's got some nice entries like "Nightcrawlers" or "Shatterday", but I find for some episodes, I get more out of it if I switch across and watch it in monochrome. I think it's pretty good for what it is. It was pioneering the techniques later used on the TNG-era Star Treks and other sci-fi shows where they'd shoot on film but edit to tape and composite the effects at that stage. It works pretty well, though it sometimes has that Doctor Who problem with visible differences between the film and video material. Outside of the effects, it seems pretty...normal for American TV of the 80s? If I compare it to Hill Street, it seems slightly cheaper, but that may be because Twilight Zone didn't get a remastering of any kind and looks pretty fuzzy even on DVD. Occasionally it reminds me of early days X-Files. Yeah, you're right, it does have that same kind of aura. I think TNG and The X-Files might have drawn inspiration from some of the premises, come to think of it... The slightly cheaper production values are an interesting curio because it's a series packed with recognisable names. People who were either already notable or well on their way to becoming so. It's like a sci-fi crucible. On the writing side, we've got Harlan Ellison, J. Michael Straczynski (pre- B5, post- She-ra), George R.R. Martin (pre- GoT, mid- Beauty and the Beast), Rockne S. O'Bannon (pre- Farscape) and Stephen King (mid- Dark Tower), from memory. It was a strong idea to bring in directors like William Friedkin and Wes Craven to do some of the filming as well. And the actors range from a highly-recognisable Martin Landau and Janet Leigh to an early Kristoffer Tabori (who'd later go on to voice HK-47 in The Knights of the Old Republic games). It's almost like watching The Great Escape at times. Everyone's here.
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Post by polly on Sept 18, 2020 5:05:24 GMT
Yeah, you're right, it does have that same kind of aura. I think TNG and The X-Files might have drawn inspiration from some of the premises, come to think of it... The slightly cheaper production values are an interesting curio because it's a series packed with recognisable names. People who were either already notable or well on their way to becoming so. It's like a sci-fi crucible. On the writing side, we've got Harlan Ellison, J. Michael Straczynski (pre- B5, post- She-ra), George R.R. Martin (pre- GoT, mid- Beauty and the Beast), Rockne S. O'Bannon (pre- Farscape) and Stephen King (mid- Dark Tower), from memory. It was a strong idea to bring in directors like William Friedkin and Wes Craven to do some of the filming as well. And the actors range from a highly-recognisable Martin Landau and Janet Leigh to an early Kristoffer Tabori (who'd later go on to voice HK-47 in The Knights of the Old Republic games). It's almost like watching The Great Escape at times. Everyone's here. Star power is something it certainly does not lack. At least once per episode somebody very impressive turns up on screen, or behind the camera (heck, see below). That's been fun. I have to imagine that the Twilight Zone name held such gravitas it would be hard to pass up the opportunity. The Twilight Zone '85: Season 1, Episodes 7-8 - Pick of the night is "Dealer's Choice," in which Morgan Freeman and his buddies play cards with the devil. It was, I daresay, a hoot. Certainly brought me back out of the torpor induced by this evening's other stories. Hill Street Blues: "An Oy for an Oy" - Seeing Michael Richards without foot-tall Eraserhead hair and five minutes of applause every time he comes through a door seems very unusual post-Seinfeld.
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Post by johnhurtdoctor on Sept 18, 2020 10:04:08 GMT
The Boys s2 e5 - We Gotta Go Now. Another great episode.
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Post by johnhurtdoctor on Sept 18, 2020 18:03:28 GMT
Raised By Wolves Episode 6 - Lost Paradise. {Spoiler} the second episode of a tv show i have watched today to feature people having sex in mid-air.
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Post by inchmix on Sept 18, 2020 20:58:54 GMT
Raised by Wolves as well. Like this show!
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Post by johnhurtdoctor on Sept 18, 2020 21:29:42 GMT
Catching up with Lovecraft Country. Still really enjoying it despite some issues. {Spoiler} The fridging of a trans character was problematic.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2020 22:29:56 GMT
There's a wonderful series streaming on Netflix called Extraordinary You. It's a K-drama about a character who becomes aware she's living in the pages of a comic book. Something she initially takes in her stride, except for one major thing... She discovers that she isn't the protagonist. I recommend it to anyone who'd be a fan of something like The Mind Robber or even Sapphire and Steel. It's great fun.
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Post by polly on Sept 19, 2020 4:40:01 GMT
Hill Street Blues: "Fathers and Huns"
The Twilight Zone '85: Season 1, Episodes 9-10 - Stories like "The Uncle Devil Show" are why the hour long, multi-story format doesn't work for this kind of thing. Like "Wish Bank" before it, it's five minutes of nothing born of a need to fill time.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2020 8:20:45 GMT
The Evacuees (1975)- shown on BBC4 the other night as a tribute to the late Alan Parker. Brilliant, funny and heart warming drama about the evacuation in 1940, of a class of Jewish schoolboys from working class Manchester to Blackpool and the height of the Blitz.
The script was a semi-autobiographical tale by Jack Rosenthal and starred his wife, Maureen Lipman. I have to watch this again on iPlayer as it was sharply observed, with the usual brilliant dialogue and with the fantastic wit one comes to expect from Rosenthal. Some memorable lines. Very intelligently observed too, in the way that the motivations of the couple they go to stay with is succinctly portrayed.
Also one can appreciate the talent of Alan Parker who went on from this to do Bugsy Malone. His ability to draw out nuanced and natural performances from the young cast with some brilliant comic timing shone all the way through. He had an ability to make the Boys more interesting characters than the adults, which is a rare thing. No stage school acting here or awkward waiting for cues.
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Post by timegirl on Sept 20, 2020 13:21:19 GMT
Cobra Kai I just finished season 2 of Cobra Kai, why is this show so addictive and even better than the Karate Kid movies?! Seriously! The finale was amazing! That scene at the school was crazy! I can’t wait for season 3!
Side note: I am calling it now Elizabeth Shue is coming back! Also I really hope they eventually do an episode In Okinawa and that they bring back the ridiculous villain from the 3rd movie! What if they even brought in Hilary Sjodrell from the forth movie?! If so I hope she brings the dancing monks with her!😁
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Post by polly on Sept 22, 2020 4:55:42 GMT
Hill Street Blues: Season 6, Episodes 9-10 - After years of poking fun at Law & Order without actually watching it, I am surprised to find myself impressed with a Dick Wolf script.
The Twilight Zone: Season 1, Episode 11 - A good pair of stories, although "The Beacon" could have used some more time to flesh things out.
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Post by polly on Sept 24, 2020 3:38:28 GMT
The Twilight Zone '85: Season 1, Episodes 12-13 - I find it kind of weird that show like this even bothered with a Christmas episode. But, then, so did the original series. Spotted Jonathan Frakes as a cheesy hunk at a Christmas party.
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Post by polly on Sept 25, 2020 5:38:37 GMT
Only Fools and Horses: "To Hull and Back" - The first of the feature-length specials proves to be quite a grand adventure. I noticed that this was shot and edited much more like a film than the regular episodes are. I especially liked Denzil losing his mind.
The Twilight Zone '85: Season 1, Episode 14 - Space leprechauns. That is all.
Blackadder: "Head" - Yeah, I know "Bells" aired first but it was out of order, so this is the premiere so far as I'm concerned. I have come to appreciate the first series more than I once did, but man, we're really cooking now. Queenie is my favorite new addition.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2020 22:09:49 GMT
Nice mix tonight - getting a choice of viewing for once:
Day of the Triffids (Blu Ray remaster) Episodes 3 & 4. Too much fuss made about the de-interlacing of the video footage. Bar a few low lit scenes, it is barely noticeable and still a good upscale. Gripping and harrowing for a PG rated drama that heavily influenced 28 Days later (watched a fortnight ago) with a few key story beats 'borrowed'. Strong recommend.
Adam Adamant Lives!: The League of Uncharitable Ladies. Produced by Verity Lambert. Directed by Ridley Scott. Don't see that on the credits often. Great fun and some very experimental direction by Scott - and a few fluffs that perhaps explains why it is not highlighted in his filmography. Nice 60's counter culture twist that a group of well meaning ladies trying to kill off men with bad intentions are being used for ill intentions themselves by a bad man with a profit motive. And a good man with good intentions saves them. There's moral there, I guess.
Fury from the Deep episode 2 (B&W Animation): As with Adam Adamant (about half lost), its understandable that not everything broadcast could be archived forever according to the economics of the time, but the sheer lack of quality control....Biddy Baxter managed to save Blue Peter - how not one person with the means said "no - keep that, its Very Good" astounds me.
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Post by polly on Sept 27, 2020 6:41:38 GMT
Hill Street Blues: Season 6, Episodes 11-12 - I just found out that Betty Thomas (Lucy) later became a director of such films as Private Parts, The Brady Bunch Movie, and Alvin and the friggin' Chipmunks Squeakuel. I am having difficulty processing this fact.
Blackadder: "Bells"/"Potato" - It's not really relevant anymore since we have DVDs, but I completely understand why you'd want to open with "Bells." It's an absolute barn-burner of an episode. One of the rare times "laugh til you cry" is literal. And between Lord Flashheart and Tom Baker's total lunacy, these two episodes more than make up for the ham quota vacated by Brian Blessed.
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Post by johnhurtdoctor on Sept 27, 2020 20:58:04 GMT
Criminal Season 2 episode 1. Great show, glad it has got a 2nd season.
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shutupbanks
Castellan
There’s a horror movie called Alien? That’s really offensive. No wonder everyone keeps invading you.
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Post by shutupbanks on Sept 28, 2020 2:01:51 GMT
Mars, Season 2
I’ve taken more than a while to get to this. I really enjoyed the first season, with its mix of documentary and drama. It had a really slow build-up but was still a fascinating story about what happens on Mars (the drama) and what’s happening in our own time to lead up to it (the documentary). This season starts boldly with a “Five Years Later” slide and leaps into the action. The colony is well-established but other interests are starting to creep in...
I ducked over to the IMDB page and found a whole bunch of reviews that slated it for it “left-wing” viewpoints. It is definitely true that it does side with environmentalists but it also presents capitalists as a sort of “heroic” class of explorer and, given that the focus of this season is the expansion of the colony and the development/ exploitation of resources for the terraforming of Mars, it doesn’t seem unrealistic that it should focus on what’s worked or not here on Earth.
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Post by Timelord007 on Sept 28, 2020 7:21:10 GMT
The Boys S2 Ep6, well this episode has gone all too cock...... Ithought I'd seen everything? obviously not. Going need lie down in dark room with my Tibetan singing bowls relaxation CD after watching this episode, try forget those images.
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