What are you watching now ? Movies and TV

[Gavrushka]

I've just watched the first two episodes of Vampire Academy, a Peacock original, via Sky. - I'm surprised to say it's damned good, with great characters and a decent twist on the overworn YA vampire squee trope.

And I'm struggling to carry on watching House of the Dragon. It's simply feels like a cash grab now, with little in the way of a plot other than the faction development over the succession.

[Alan Phipps]

Re House of the Dragon: If you read the book Fire & Blood by George RR Martin on which the series is based, it is just a fictional history prequel of the ill-fated House Targaryen dynasty that appears in Game of Thrones. Hence, almost by definition, the series is a pseudo family history dramatisation with added special effects. That *is* the plot.

[oldspacegamer]

I just watched Dark Star, one of my fave scifi movies of all time. If you've not seen it, please watch it!

[Gavrushka]

Re House of the Dragon: If you read the book Fire & Blood by George RR Martin on which the series is based, it is just a fictional history prequel of the ill-fated House Targaryen dynasty that appears in Game of Thrones. Hence, almost by definition, the series is a pseudo family history dramatisation with added special effects. That *is* the plot.

I'd not read the prequel, so I'd presupposed it'd be more of the same, which now I can see it isn't and was never supposed to be.

I might give the book a read, but I've already decided to abandon the series.

[Redvers Ganderpoke]

As my wife keeps telling me I have a high threshold for "rubbish" TV programmes but I seem to have reached my limit with The Rings of Power. After all controversy about the casting I determined to give it a good go and just treat it as fantasy series. Unfortunately, it's a bit like "Discovery" in that I don't give two hoots about the characters. Whether this is down to the acting, the scripts or something else( perhaps even me). Even the special effects are wearing a bit thin (as is the music).
Tried Andor this weekend but had to give up as the sound mix was awful (we are in Wales for the week, so could be the holiday cottage's TV.) Will try again when we get home and a half decent sound system.

[Tamina]

As my wife keeps telling me I have a high threshold for "rubbish" TV programmes but I seem to have reached my limit with The Rings of Power.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - ofc - but I am still surprised about the harshness "rubbish". To me, LotR is an okayish movie trilogy, some people take that as a personal insult but I don't care, the movies haven't aged very well The Rings of Power is the first LotR thing I actually enjoy watching, waiting for every episode week by week The controversy I have seen, mostly comes from self-proclaimed "fans" (aka the worst kind of people) who hate black, female and black female characters in their beloved pure-white-men movie franchise

Anyway, I share your opinnions about the scripts sometimes, and some special effects are weirdly mediocre for a series with such a high budget and LotR background but rubbish?? From a man with a high threshold? Render me surprised.

[Chips]

Very late to the party, i'm watching "Modern Family" as I found it on Disney+ following the £2 trial month.

[burger1]

As my wife keeps telling me I have a high threshold for "rubbish" TV programmes but I seem to have reached my limit with The Rings of Power. After all controversy about the casting I determined to give it a good go and just treat it as fantasy series. Unfortunately, it's a bit like "Discovery" in that I don't give two hoots about the characters. Whether this is down to the acting, the scripts or something else( perhaps even me). Even the special effects are wearing a bit thin (as is the music).
Tried Andor this weekend but had to give up as the sound mix was awful (we are in Wales for the week, so could be the holiday cottage's TV.) Will try again when we get home and a half decent sound system.

Sound mix is normal with Disney Plus. Can try night mode on tv, volume/loudness equalization/normalization or mess around with the equalizer (down on the left [bass] then up on the right [voices]).

If your on windows press windows key + x and click on settings. Then system, then sound in the left column, then sound control panel on the very right column. Select your output device and then click on properties. Then enhancements and volume equalization and click apply.

[pjknibbs]

Not really movie or TV, but I happened to find the full album of Jeff Wayne's musical version of War of the Worlds on Youtube and have been listening to it while having this chemo done, and I had totally forgotten just what a bangin' set of music it is. Cheesy as all heck, don't get me wrong, but sometimes cheese is good!

[CBJ]

I think I still have that on vinyl somewhere. Cheesy, as you say, but a really good vintage cheddar.

[Redvers Ganderpoke]

I think I still have that on vinyl somewhere. Cheesy, as you say, but a really good vintage cheddar.

I do too, nothing to play it on though . My record player bit the dust long time ago. (Or rather the drive belt perished and started to slip, very interesting effect.)

[birdtable]

One of those strange locked in memories, I was leaving Portsmouth (UK) passing the public golf course (wonder if that has been built over) when I first heard War of Worlds on radio.. Still remember clearly to this day... 40 odd years ago.

[burger1]

They are making a tv series based on the old Time Bandits (1981) movie. There's a Willow (1988) tv series releasing on Nov 30, 2022 on Disney Plus.

Time Bandits (1981)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081633/

https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/e2-80 ... r-AA12mcyR

Andor episode 4 was ok. Series will be compressed into 2 seasons vs the originally slated 5 seasons. Probably been mentioned by others. Apparently She Hulk is beating it for views.

Leverage Redemption season 2 releasing Nov 16, 2022. The show has a couple characters from The Librarians.

[Tamina]

Just realized "Andor" is a Star Wars series, after opening Disney+ after a long time again.
The first episode is so boring I nearly stopped watching but I take MrWho and the others by their word that it is getting better from Episode 3 and up

[euclid]

I highly recommend Everything Everywhere all at Once available in Amazon Prime.

Cheers Euclid

[mr.WHO]

The first episode is so boring I nearly stopped watching but I take MrWho and the others by their word that it is getting better from Episode 3 and up

It seems that each of Andors arc is set of approx 3 episodes by the same director:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andor_(TV ... )#Episodes

The first arc is very slow with episodes 1 and 2, but it's well concluded with action in episode 3.

Now the new arc is slow again, with episode 4 being focused on introduction to "espionage/heist" as well as to imperial internal politics (Senate and ISB).
Hopefully action will pick up already in episode 5, but it might be again that we would need to wait for episode 6 to finalize this arc.


Andor pace and setting is rather peculiar and specific, so I can fully understand it might not be in a taste of typical Disney/Hero action fan.

Personaly I enjoy Andor slow and grim setting, especially the audio and video - somehow it goes well with Atumn weather outside.

Same with Andor soundtrack - somehow it's barelly Star Wars'ish and more of a Blade Runner, but still fits quite well.

[Tamina]

It is not the lack of action but the first two Episodes just don't have any grip. Many things, like the "funny" robot (it seems every new Star Wars thingy needs its own cute robot now) or the mysterious background story just don't really work out.

I have watched Episode 3 in the meantime and while there is a bit more action and especially more grip, it still appears somehow shallow, to me at least. Like, I am not even that interested in the mysterious buyer guy. Yet, I think, it was intended by the writers that I should be.

It is not a bad show by all means but I am not seeing myself waiting every week for a new episode. I am going to wait until the next story arc to be fully released. Thanks for the tip btw, makes it easier to watch when you know that

[mr.WHO]

I have watched Episode 3 in the meantime and while there is a bit more action and especially more grip, it still appears somehow shallow, to me at least. Like, I am not even that interested in the mysterious buyer guy. Yet, I think, it was intended by the writers that I should be.

It is not a bad show by all means but I am not seeing myself waiting every week for a new episode. I am going to wait until the next story arc to be fully released. Thanks for the tip btw, makes it easier to watch when you know that

"Mysterious buyer" part gets more detailed in Episode 4.

However, you're right - after I watched Episode 4, I immediately wanted to jump to Episode 5, but I have to wait a week.
Sitting down and waiting for full arc to be released is definetly the best way to enjoy the show.

On different note - it seem that writers have proper skills and plans for how the action goes and Disney contracted Andor to be closed and finished story in 2 seasons (2x12 Episodes).
This means no milking the story, no fillers/improvisations or crossover jumps to different story (aka Mando, Ashoka and Bobba).

[Tamina]

I highly recommend Everything Everywhere all at Once available in Amazon Prime.

Cheers Euclid

Not included in the flatrate It is on my must watch list because of your recommendation but the trailer did not really convince me to buy it (bit weird).

Instead I started watching "Glitch" on Netflix. A Korean series, about a girl who sees "things" but as a viewer you are left in the dark if it is real, unreal or both. It is slow and mysterious in a good way

[Ketraar]

It is on my must watch list because of your recommendation but the trailer did not really convince me to buy it (bit weird).

I can backup that recommendation. Its a much better "multiverse" movie then Doctor Strange and is also a pretty grounded family and "coming of (old) age" story. One of if not the best Michelle Yeoh performance and the best actor comeback of all time. Short Round, if you know the reference (or google it )

MFG

Ketraar