TV/Movies Megathread

[Syt]

Watched the latest episode of Star Wars Rebels (which was mediocre) and thought, "That female bounty hunter sounds a lot like Zoe from Firefly!" Turns out it's indeed Gina Torres.

I may have watched Firefly a few times.

[Eddie Teach]

Re: Badlands. It's some kind of post-apocalyptic setting. I'm willing to forgive the stupid premise that a ban on guns is enforceable by men with swords for the sake of the cool fight scenes. But I wasn't wowed by any of the story elements, either.

oh? there's a story?

I like it a little more after episode 2. It's no Walking Dead, but neither was Walking Dead at this point.

[Barrister]

Okay, finished the Man in the High Castle.  Major weakness is that three "main characters" who part of a love triangle are not very interesting, and the gal is particularly dimwitted.  The first half of the episodes drag a little bit, and a lot of the plot doesn't go anywhere.  It really picks up toward the end.

That pretty much agrees with my analysis...I thought the "villains" were the most interesting characters (and superior actors)...including Tagomi.  The "heroes" were pretty dull...and completely agree on the girl.

Most interesting character was Japanese secret police man.  On the rare occasions we see actual members of the resistance they are interesting.  Juliana is the least interesting, and least sympathetic character.  And this is a show with Hitler in it.

[Malthus]

I'm willing to forgive the stupid premise that a ban on guns is enforceable by men with swords for the sake of the cool fight scenes.

Hey, it worked for the Japanese. 

[Eddie Teach]

Some Japanese police carry guns, and of course the army has them too.

[Malthus]

Some Japanese police carry guns, and of course the army has them too.

I meant the Tokugawa-era gun control - not present day.  The Tokugawa Shogunate won the wars of the 16th-17th centuries with armies armed largely with guns - then deliberately got rid of them and had them mostly outlawed (except for a small number of hunting pieces) - and reintroduced the samurai sword as the main weapon (commoners were also forbidden swords).  In short, men wielding swords enforced gun a gun ban ... but as far as I know, that is the only case.

[Valmy]

Watched the latest episode of Star Wars Rebels (which was mediocre) and thought, "That female bounty hunter sounds a lot like Zoe from Firefly!" Turns out it's indeed Gina Torres.

I may have watched Firefly a few times.

My kids find it uninteresting for some reason. Must be too complex for a five and three year old to understand.

[Eddie Teach]

Well, that primarily worked because the Japanese didn't know how to manufacture the guns. Also, muskets and arquebuses weren't quite as dominant as modern firearms.

[Syt]

Watched the latest episode of Star Wars Rebels (which was mediocre) and thought, "That female bounty hunter sounds a lot like Zoe from Firefly!" Turns out it's indeed Gina Torres.

I may have watched Firefly a few times.

My kids find it uninteresting for some reason. Must be too complex for a five and three year old to understand.

I wouldn't recommend Firefly to preschoolers, no.


Yeah, I think Rebels is great for 8-10 and up.

[Darth Wagtaros]

I'll really, really, miss Gravity Falls.

[Valmy]

Some Japanese police carry guns, and of course the army has them too.

I meant the Tokugawa-era gun control - not present day.  The Tokugawa Shogunate won the wars of the 16th-17th centuries with armies armed largely with guns - then deliberately got rid of them and had them mostly outlawed (except for a small number of hunting pieces) - and reintroduced the samurai sword as the main weapon (commoners were also forbidden swords).  In short, men wielding swords enforced gun a gun ban ... but as far as I know, that is the only case.

Well that was hardly the only thing that was banned. That was a pretty hardcore cultural cleansing that went on.

[Malthus]

Well, that primarily worked because the Japanese didn't know how to manufacture the guns. Also, muskets and arquebuses weren't quite as dominant as modern firearms.

The first part isn't true - the Japanese were making indigenous guns on a large scale within a few years of their introduction by Europeans (and in fact a small local gun-making industry making 'luxury' sports guns for aristocrats continued even after the Tokugawa shut down widespread ownership of guns). Also, it was obvious to the Japanese guns - even the primitive guns of the day - were superior for winning battles - that's why each side armed themselves with them in the "warring states" period.

Needless to say, as far as mano-a-mano dueling goes, a sword is more likely to beat an arquebus than a Glock. 

[Valmy]

Also, it was obvious to the Japanese guns - even the primitive guns of the day - were superior for winning battles - that's why each side armed themselves with them in the "warring states" period.

Exactly why the Shogunate didn't want everybody stockpiling those things.

No second amendment in Japan

[Josephus]

Speaking of Star Wars....there's a chrome extension that will block Star Wars spoilers

http://www.avclub.com/article/new-chrome-extension-will-block-those-pesky-star-w-228903

[Tonitrus]

Okay, finished the Man in the High Castle.  Major weakness is that three "main characters" who part of a love triangle are not very interesting, and the gal is particularly dimwitted.  The first half of the episodes drag a little bit, and a lot of the plot doesn't go anywhere.  It really picks up toward the end.

That pretty much agrees with my analysis...I thought the "villains" were the most interesting characters (and superior actors)...including Tagomi.  The "heroes" were pretty dull...and completely agree on the girl.

Most interesting character was Japanese secret police man.  On the rare occasions we see actual members of the resistance they are interesting.  Juliana is the least interesting, and least sympathetic character.  And this is a show with Hitler in it.

It's funny, because Hitler... [spoiler]is actually portrayed as being somewhat reasonable...and implies that a potential Heydrich or Goebbels succession would be far worse...i.e. nuclear war.[/spoiler]