TV/Movies Megathread

[Admiral Yi]

Currently in the middle of The King, about Henry V.  Nice production values, but I don't see what this rendition adds, except for a band's worth of pretty boys poncing around in armor.

Gah, completely fucking up Agincourt.

And that speech!  "England is the space between you!!!"

[Admiral Yi]

That's too painful.  I'm skipping the battle.

[celedhring]

Watchmen episode 3. Pleasantly confounding  This seemed the episode most similar to the comic, the "joke" Jean Smart's character tells throughout the episode felt very Alan Moore-ish.

Also, just to make sure, is her character supposed to be the [spoiler]second silk spectre[/spoiler]? The fact she carries the Blake surname threw me off a bit.

[celedhring]

Also... His Dark Materials show seems... okay I guess? It went a bit through the motions in the first episode, and although I didn't really find anything displeasing, I wasn't impressed by much either. it kinda felt like a Harry Potter film without magicians in it. Mrs Coulter seems nailed on, though, which is a big plus.

[Habbaku]

That's too painful.  I'm skipping the battle.

The battle was very pretty, but also very poorly handled. It's not even like they didn't have the budget to properly show it. It just seemed like they didn't want to? English line goes in, French line goes in, first volley loosed, second French line goes in, second volley loosed...and then just a massive, muddy scrum that doesn't show at all why the English won?

Sigh. Here's to waiting another 20 years for a proper representation.

[Malthus]

That's too painful.  I'm skipping the battle.

The battle was very pretty, but also very poorly handled. It's not even like they didn't have the budget to properly show it. It just seemed like they didn't want to? English line goes in, French line goes in, first volley loosed, second French line goes in, second volley loosed...and then just a massive, muddy scrum that doesn't show at all why the English won?

Sigh. Here's to waiting another 20 years for a proper representation.

Very rarely do movies or TV shows make any attempt to show medieval battles with any sort of realism. I think they believe audiences expect a random melee, and will be bored or disappointed by realism.

[Valmy]

And so many fire arrows lighting up the battle.

[Habbaku]

That's too painful.  I'm skipping the battle.

The battle was very pretty, but also very poorly handled. It's not even like they didn't have the budget to properly show it. It just seemed like they didn't want to? English line goes in, French line goes in, first volley loosed, second French line goes in, second volley loosed...and then just a massive, muddy scrum that doesn't show at all why the English won?

Sigh. Here's to waiting another 20 years for a proper representation.

Very rarely do movies or TV shows make any attempt to show medieval battles with any sort of realism. I think they believe audiences expect a random melee, and will be bored or disappointed by realism.

Oh, I totally understand the realities of trying to depict it and worrying over whether the audience will like it. But this is an historical epic/Shakespearean adaptation. If anything, you have the audience that wants realism, or at least wants lip-service to it. They even spend a scene talking about the battle strategy! How hard would it have been--with the budget they clearly possessed--to just stick to that script instead of showcasing what looked to be just the English getting lucky?

[Malthus]

Oh, I totally understand the realities of trying to depict it and worrying over whether the audience will like it. But this is an historical epic/Shakespearean adaptation. If anything, you have the audience that wants realism, or at least wants lip-service to it. They even spend a scene talking about the battle strategy! How hard would it have been--with the budget they clearly possessed--to just stick to that script instead of showcasing what looked to be just the English getting lucky?

I agree - I'd like to see more realism. It just doesn't seem to happen much.

[crazy canuck]

Not sure realism is what Shakespeare was going for though.

[Habbaku]

Of course not, but the film isn't even a direct adaptation of the Shakespearean work. Since they're heavily departing from the "source" material, they lose nothing by going even further.

[Zoupa]

Watchmen episode 3. Pleasantly confounding  This seemed the episode most similar to the comic, the "joke" Jean Smart's character tells throughout the episode felt very Alan Moore-ish.

Also, just to make sure, is her character supposed to be the [spoiler]second silk spectre[/spoiler]? The fact she carries the Blake surname threw me off a bit.

That's her dad's name after all. According to Peteypedia she had it changed to Blake.

[celedhring]

Ah, wasn't aware of this "Peteypedia" thingie.

[Zoupa]

Kind of a companion website to the show. Pretty cool.

[Zoupa]

Btw Pete is the FBI kid that works the projector.