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Whatcha watching?
- Thread starter Gorn
- Start date
Most of the ones I've seen had American 'celebs' (using that term loosely) from all those Housewives series, and former contestants on other reality shows...Survivor, Big Brother, The Bachelor, Below Decks, etc, and some shows on the Bravo network.
Since I don't watch any of those types of shows, I'd never heard of any of them (other than Boston Rob). But too many of them really love the sound of their own voice, and love to argue with anybody over anything. Twenty contestants all having a 'look at ME' persona, all trying to get the most face time on camera. Not my idea of entertaining. YMMV. I'll stick with the non-celebs versions.
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I have to say, there was a huge amount of anticipation, and expectation back in 1999, when The Phantom Menace was due to be released.
The hype machine went into overdrive, everyone was gearing up for a new cultural phenomenon - it was insane.
My friend won tickets for a large group of us to go to the first U.K. screening, we couldn't believe our luck.
Another group of friends, and relatives, desperately wanted to see it on the opening night - but nobody thought there'd be any chance, because we all expected it to have sold out the moment the tickets went on sale.
I swung by my local cinema in London, and was astounded to find that not only were tickets available - but that only about 5 tickets had been sold, for a huge theatre.
Anyway, I remember going into that 1st screening excited to see the movie, and thrilled that I was going to get to see it twice on its opening day...
I came out of that 1st screening thinking "oh crap! I have to see this twice in one day".
The evening screening was barely 1/3 full - but there's no way anybody could have know in advance, and Star Wars is the very definition of critic proof.
The movie went on to make an absolute ton at the box office, and kids loved Jar-Jar - so I'm not too concerned about the fortunes of this movie.
I've mostly enjoyed that series (despite myself), so I won't complain if I get dragged to see the movie in this week's round of family birthdays - though I'll just as happily see it on Disney+ at some point.
Yeah, I think for the most part (probably a few reality stars crept in) the U.K. celebrity version was actual celebrities, of varying degrees of fame.
I watched it. Not my thing. Can't really knock it, as the directing was solid, nothing seemed out of place, and the actors did great in their roles. Just not my type of movie, I suppose. It reminds me of the Coen Brothers' "Miller's Crossing" in that I can't really say any negatives about it, just that it did nothing for me. Both are similar in that I just didn't find myself caring about any of the main characters. I think most of all, as I age, I realize I want movies to be an escape from the seriousness of this world (even if the movie I'm watching itself is serious). This movie is certainly NOT that. Maybe I'd have liked it more as a "historical" western set in the 1800s? As it is, I think it's too close to real life, and I deal with enough serious and similar situations at my day job.
In short, I absolutely get the praise for this film, but it's just not for me. It'll be joining some others in the "to-go" pile. My favorite Coen films continue to be their lighter fare, with O Brother Where Art Thou, Raising Arizona, and The Big Lebowski being standouts thus far. I also enjoyed Barton Fink as a strange comedy/drama hybrid. There are many of their films I have yet to watch, though, so there is plenty of room to add to the list.
And in that vein, what should I watch next? I have their take on True Grit here, which I've seen once. I remember it being good, but I was dating my wife at the time, and wasn't necessarily completely focused on the movie. Maybe I'll like a traditional western of theirs more? I also have Fargo and Hail, Caesar! which I have yet to watch. Or maybe a palette cleanser of sorts and something absolutely goofy/odd like an early Abrams/Zucker film (Kentucky Fried Movie), Six String Samurai, or Napoleon Dynamite - none of which I've seen before. Decisions, decisions...
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One day, I'll watch the series...
I watched maybe 2 episodes - possibly into the 3rd - but once they explained the "ice cream machine" from Empire Strikes Back, I stopped. To my uber-nerd, original trilogy-loving self, that can't be improved upon. The series peaked at that very instant. I don't care what the rest of the story is - we know what Willrow Hood was running with on Cloud City. Nerd-euphoria engaged, and I'd like to recall the series fondly. As it is, it was an amazing run I saw.
Oh man, Miller's Crossing, Lebowski aside, is hands down my favorite Coen Brothers' movie. I can absolutely see why someone wouldn't enjoy it, or No Country, if lighter fare is what you're after in your entertainment. I totally understand respecting a movie on the merits, but not enjoying it.
Hudsucker Proxy didn’t hit me right. Neither did Hail Caesar. My favorite director is Fincher. Even his videos with George Michal crushed. Hell- his “Got Milk” commercial was great.
Doesn't necessarily have to be lighter fare (though often it is as I deal with plenty of serious stuff in my day job and need a reprieve), but I need it to be some sort of escape. Similar to TV shows - my wife LOVES crime drama stuff. I can't do it because it's too close to the real world. Give me all sorts of serious, crazy, sci-fi dystopias (which are sadly starting to become more true to life...) and I'm a happy man. I'll dissect and analyze all day. Wanna talk The Omega Man? Sure! Same with films set in historic periods. The influence of The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari on modern film? Of course! There's enough of a distance for me. But put it in a relatively modern setting, and it becomes too similar to real life for me to really enjoy. They can be excellent films, but not entertainment for me as an individual. If I want the "real world", I'll watch a documentary! (And I often do, for topics I'm interested in - which is usually something historic!)
The Coens just seem to be an interesting mix of movies that are all done well in every technical sense, with no real flaws of any sort, but either seem to hit me as either great or not at all. It's an interesting quirk, and one of the reasons I keep watching their films. They've ALL been solid movies on their own merits - but not always for my tastes. Other producers/directors/writers/etc. I've watched I seem to hit me more generally - I either like their body of work or not. I quite like every Mel Brooks film I've seen, even ones that weren't spectacular or generally lauded. Same with Clint Eastwood. I watched Cry Macho a few weeks ago. I told myself it wasn't great while watching, and he certainly has better films. And yet, I couldn't look away. I'm kind of intrigued on a personal level as to what it is about the Coens I am myself so conflicted about. Perhaps it's the duality of mankind's nature? Or is discussing the discussion of films getting a bit too meta?
I'll stop now, as I'm sure nobody wants to read my former English-major self's essays!
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I don't think I love any Coen brothers movies besides Fargo. Fargo is a masterpiece. A perfect movie. True Grit is Great. No Country for Old Men is great. I think Big Lebowski is overrated and has some great parts, at best.
Totally get it, I deal with heavy/emotional subject matter at work and I like a good escape too. I watch a LOT of sci fi, but also a lot of horror. That may be counterintuitive, but given the mostly formulaic nature of the genre I generally know what's going to happen and the predictability is comforting somehow. Kind of like watching crime shows that way, I guess. My line of work is in the medical/social work field, so not crime/violence related, fwiw.
That said, there are definitely movie topics I'm not into, no matter how good the film. Movies like We Have to Talk about Kevin, or shows like Adolescence, which are both seemingly brilliant, just aren't the kind of thing I want to watch. Hell, even Guardians of the Galaxy III had things in it that made it never-again watch for me.
That said, I find movies like Weapons, oddly enough, absolutely hilarious. Taste is a weird thing.
So maybe I should watch Fargo tonight? My thoughts mirrored yours on The Big Lebowski for a while. It's since grown on me after catching bits here and there. Certainly not for everyone.
I deal with a lot of mental illness in my profession. Seeing some of those things portrayed on the screen is all too real a possibility for many of the people I come into contact with. I don't need to be reminded of the seriousness of what could happen. And as far as the formulaic nature of a film can go, there's a reason I like to watch various takes on a single plot/subject. I love to compare and contrast ideas, and see what works and why. It's also why I have 30-odd versions/adaptations of Beowulf in various formats. Sometimes the formula is comforting.
But ironically, in horror, I find it off-putting. Not in a negative way, but if it's supposed to scare me and I know it's coming, it doesn't scare me. So horror films rarely work for me, because I'm always expecting something to happen, so when it does, it's never a surprise. I may not predict the exact scenario, but I know horrible things are going to happen. I feel for a horror movie to truly work on me, I need it to be pitched as something totally different, like some sort of period piece or rom-com. Then, when I least expect it - bam - horror stuff starts.
Yeah, the reviews are meh. I do like the Mandalorian series, so I'll catch this at some point, but likewise not invest in a movie ticket to see it.
For me, the best thing in the Star Wars universe after the original series has been Andor. I was sorry it had to end.
I just watched Falling Down last night. It's another movie I like and watched again, but it's definitely not an escape from the seriousness of this world.
-Mike
Okay...so that's Hormuz Jeff...and I need to download Peelr and use Text-O to contact...got it!
What? You think it might be a scam? Seems legit to me.
That is an excellent film, and has been on my "re-watch" list for a LONG while. Definitely not an escape, but different enough from my normal daily stuff. And I really feel for the main characters, even if some of the actions are extreme. It's weirdly cathartic, but also makes you feel guilty for feeling that way. Such a great, relatively forgotten, and under- appreciated film. Gotta be in the right head space, which us why I haven't re-watched it lately.
It may also help that I first watched that film before I entered my profession, so maybe I don't associate it as much with my profession. Perhaps I will upon another re-watch?
