TV/Movies Megathread

[jimmy olsen]

@Sheilb:
You're weird man.

@Tim:
You're weird man.



That's some truly bizzare movies you just posted guys.  Can't you love Superheroes and Gladiator movies like normal people?

They're interesting!

[Eddie Teach]

Better weird than basic.

[Malthus]

Watching an interesting series - a Japanese animated series called the Vinland Saga.

Cultural appropriation! 

... actually, it is quite good! It is set during the invasion of England by the Danish king Sven Forkbeard (prince Cnut is a major character). At least so far, Vinland is mentioned, but is not the major focus.

In terms of history ... the broad outlines are roughly accurate, but obviously the characters, even historical named characters, are totally fiction. The period details are pretty sweet. The most obvious fiction element is that certain characters have what amounts to combat superpowers ... but the characterization and storytelling is very compelling. Combat happens, but the main focus is on the characters and their involvement in political intrigues.

All in all, an enjoyable addition to the corpus of series based on the Norsemen, despite (or perhaps because) it comes from the totally alien setting of Japanese anime.

[Syt]

I've been reading the manga for a couple dozen chapters. I liked it and need to pick it up again.

[Josquius]

I watched a few episodes but just couldn't get into it. I think the western setting clashed with the Japanese in my head. And the wrong history stood out more than it usually would. I dunno.

[Sheilbh]

@Sheilb:
You're weird man.

@Tim:
You're weird man.



That's some truly bizzare movies you just posted guys.  Can't you love Superheroes and Gladiator movies like normal people?

I like Superheroes (not Snyder ) and Gladiator too

[Malthus]

I watched a few episodes but just couldn't get into it. I think the western setting clashed with the Japanese in my head. And the wrong history stood out more than it usually would. I dunno.

I kinda enjoyed the fact it was a Japanese take on the Viking era. We see a lot of examples of Western takes on Eastern themes, like Avatar the Last Airbender (in a fantasy setting), it is interesting to see the influences going the other way.

Miyazaki does a lot of this - his Lupin and the western settings of a lot of his other movies (like Howl's Moving Castle), which I enjoyed as well.

[Savonarola]

The Black Widow (2021)

The poet, Alexander Pope, tried to write an epic poem; but became so frustrated by his inability to do so that he wrote a parody of an epic called, "The Rape of the Lock."  The work was such a devastating mockery of the conventions of epics that the genre largely disappeared from literature for over 300 years (it survived in opera, Der Ring des Nibelungen, but there's no such thing as too over-dramatic for an opera.)  When it did re-emerge as "The Lord of the Rings," Professor Tolkien wrote a different sort of epic, one that took into consideration Pope's criticism.

I would have expected the same to be true for the spy genre after "Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery;" whatever the film's faults, Mike Myers does manage to land some devastating blows on spy films.  Marvel's latest film, "The Black Widow," is an espionage film (with super powers); however it's a pre-Austin Powers movie.  When the megalomaniac super villain over-explains his nefarious plot to the Black Widow it's hard not to think of Dr. Evil.  When the megalomaniac super villain leaves our heroine in an inescapable death traps, it's hard not to think "Sharks with frickin' lasers."

Florence Pugh gives the film some sparkle as the Black Widow's kid sister.  David Harbour does provide some decent comic relief.  It's not one of Marvel's better films, but if you can turn your brain off and enjoy the explosions, ass-kicking and car chases (which makes up the bulk of the film), it's not a bad experience.

It does have a less than subtle girl power message to it; so look for it as a strong contender for this year's Best Picture at the Oscars.   

[Tonitrus]

The trailer is out for the new Masters of the Universe Netflix show, the one produced by Kevin Smith, and it hits me right in the center of childhood nostalgia. And the soundtrack is chef kiss worthy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81wyj65SJIo

Watched it today.  It's a dumpster fire.

[viper37]

I would have expected the same to be true for the spy genre after "Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery;" whatever the film's faults, Mike Myers does manage to land some devastating blows on spy films.  Marvel's latest film, "The Black Widow," is an espionage film (with super powers); however it's a pre-Austin Powers movie.  When the megalomaniac super villain over-explains his nefarious plot to the Black Widow it's hard not to think of Dr. Evil.  When the megalomaniac super villain leaves our heroine in an inescapable death traps, it's hard not to think "Sharks with frickin' lasers."

Hmm.  It's more a super hero film with spy elements in it.  It has all the halmarks of the main genre, despite the two main characters not being "enhanced" by anything else than their rigorous training.

I disagree about the vilain over explaining himself.  That's Black Widow "super power", and it references the first scene of the Avengers, when she "interrogates" a villain while being tied to a chair, surrounded by miscreants.  But it's also quite cliche that a super villain reveals his plan when he thinks his nemesis is in his power.

Florence Pugh gives the film some sparkle as the Black Widow's kid sister.  David Harbour does provide some decent comic relief.  It's not one of Marvel's better films, but if you can turn your brain off and enjoy the explosions, ass-kicking and car chases (which makes up the bulk of the film), it's not a bad experience.

I totally agree.  I like that actress, I think she has a strong future in front of her.
She was very good in that Israel spy thing.

[Valmy]

I haven't - I'll look out for it.

In a very different mood - I am so hyped for Lamb:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnEwJKVWjFM

I see the British are not the only Europeans with a slightly inappropriate devotion to sheep.

[Valmy]

Watching an interesting series - a Japanese animated series called the Vinland Saga.

Cultural appropriation! 

... actually, it is quite good! It is set during the invasion of England by the Danish king Sven Forkbeard (prince Cnut is a major character). At least so far, Vinland is mentioned, but is not the major focus.

In terms of history ... the broad outlines are roughly accurate, but obviously the characters, even historical named characters, are totally fiction. The period details are pretty sweet. The most obvious fiction element is that certain characters have what amounts to combat superpowers ... but the characterization and storytelling is very compelling. Combat happens, but the main focus is on the characters and their involvement in political intrigues.

All in all, an enjoyable addition to the corpus of series based on the Norsemen, despite (or perhaps because) it comes from the totally alien setting of Japanese anime.

It was a very famous...um...manga?...yes that's the word for Japanese comics. People have always told me to read it so it doesn't surprise me it is so great. I never got around to getting it though as I don't really do comics. Maybe an anime will be more my speed

As for the appropriation angle () I actually really like it when the Japanese do European themed topics. They really do strange things with it, kind of like Castlevania.

[Darth Wagtaros]

The trailer is out for the new Masters of the Universe Netflix show, the one produced by Kevin Smith, and it hits me right in the center of childhood nostalgia. And the soundtrack is chef kiss worthy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81wyj65SJIo

Watched it today.  It's a dumpster fire.

You hate strong women!

[The Larch]

The trailer is out for the new Masters of the Universe Netflix show, the one produced by Kevin Smith, and it hits me right in the center of childhood nostalgia. And the soundtrack is chef kiss worthy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81wyj65SJIo

Watched it today.  It's a dumpster fire.

Ellaborate. Also, is it just the 1st part, right?

[Tonitrus]

The trailer is out for the new Masters of the Universe Netflix show, the one produced by Kevin Smith, and it hits me right in the center of childhood nostalgia. And the soundtrack is chef kiss worthy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81wyj65SJIo

Watched it today.  It's a dumpster fire.

Ellaborate. Also, is it just the 1st part, right?

Wag's hyperbole is close to the mark...and that mark hits in the first episode, but it does carry through the rest of the episodes.

Going to have to spoiler tag to elaborate....[spoiler]I have to share the critique that is NOT "He-Man & the Masters of the Universe", but much more "Teela & the Masters of the Universe.  But not because of the "you hate strong women!" nonsense, I am actually easily on board with making Teela the central character...the problem is that they make her such an unlikable, insufferably horrible person.  Her tantrum after Prince Adam's death is spectacularly ridiculous, to the point of infecting/ruining the character and her motivations, to the point that they are unredeemable...and it continuous even in the end, to the point of chewing him out and guilt-tripping him in the fuckin' afterlife...."sure you died, but I had to live with knowing you LIED".  Tri-Klops and his mechaist religious order is just stupid.  Orko's character ark is annoying and low-level lame.  [/spoiler]

But it has good elements.  The animation is good.  Evil-Lyn gets some flak from the from the same quarter that spews the shallow hate on Teela, but I think she is far better character, and just amplifies what Teela could have been with better character motivations.

I think I was also revolted by having just heard enough of the aftershow with Kevin Smith, where he cannot help but smack his own ass repeatedly in self-conflaggelation with a[spoiler]"look at me !  aren't I such a courageous badass for killing Prince Adam TWICE!"..."and we did it all for you, the fans!"....what a fucking asshat.[/spoiler]