What are you watching now ? Movies and TV

Chips · Post by **Chips** » Wed, 5. Sep 18, 21:36

Unsurprisingly, given another thread, RWBY (Anime). Bloody brilliant.

Looking forward to Michael Palin - apparently 2 part docu on Channel 5 about North Korea. If it's anything to go by his usual travel programs, it will be brilliant about a little known about country.

Morkonan · Post by **Morkonan** » Thu, 6. Sep 18, 01:31

I watched "Life" the other night. A typical "alien stuff horror film."

Meh. It was "fair." But, it was pretty darn stupid... Yeah, that thing that's reaching towards you from its petri-dish with a psuedopod? Don't poke it with your friggin finger you dumb @$%@$%... KILL IT WITH FIRE.

Anyway, the point of this post is to give props to one, and only one, thing that movie did extremely well. In fact, it was awesome and it hasn't really been done that way, before...

In most horror, there's a threat. It's usually personal and the consequences are one's life (Or something equally valuable/personal.) OK, fine, we all get that. BUT, the way a "monster" is characterized and "how" it presents that threat are what really define the movie. What does the Xenomorph in Alien do? It tears you some new holes, rips you to shreds and, perhaps, sexually violates you if it feels like it. If you're a female, that is. (Yes, that was in "Alien" but it usually gets cut.)

Every monster has its "thing." Most rely on killing, violation, subjugation, subornation, etc.. Sometimes, it's an existential threat that involves all of the above. The manner of that threat characterizes the monster and how visceral the audience reacts to it.

What was the "Life" monsters threatening power? Strength. That was its superpower over humans. It's stronk... Superstronk. And, that line was pushed pretty darn hard. It was, however, virtually ignored when it could mean the most, but whenever the darn thing interacted with a human victim, it didn't win by jabbing them with poison, slicing off limbs, biting off heads, etc.. It overcame them and made them a victim because it made them helpless through sheer brute strength.

The movie was kinda sucky. But, that was one wonderful bit that was really done very well.

Hank001 · Post by **Hank001** » Thu, 6. Sep 18, 01:54

Here's what I'm watching in 2hrs 7 min:

He's a show I'm watching that starts in a couple of hours (7pm PDT) and you might find interesting if you can stream it (I wait and download ex post facto)

Live Stream Lecture. NASA@60 "The Role of Robots"

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/lecture ... 20180905-1

Link to Live Stream near bottom:

http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl2

Speaker:
Moderator:
Preston Dyches – JPL Public Outreach Specialist

Panel Speakers:
Rob Manning
Julie Webster
Charles Norton
Anne Marinan

Location:
Thursday, September 6, 2018, 7pm
The von Kármán Auditorium at JPL
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA

After this tonight I'm watching "Threads" (Thanks pjknibbs for the suggestion. Amazon Prime delivered it today along with the original "Andromeda Strain" and a Bruce Dern in "Silent Running")

And what do I end up watching? Theresa May answering official questions in the House of Commings that somehow prempted CSPAN 3's programming. (Somebody's comment on what a more functional democracy looks like?)

pjknibbs · Post by **pjknibbs** » Thu, 6. Sep 18, 09:27

Hank001 wrote: And what do I end up watching? Theresa May answering official questions in the House of Commings that somehow prempted CSPAN 3's programming. (Somebody's comment on what a more functional democracy looks like?)

If Prime Minister's Questions looks like a "more functional" democracy to you, I dread to imagine the hellhole you must exist in.

Hank001 · Post by **Hank001** » Thu, 6. Sep 18, 09:43

pjknibbs notes:

If Prime Minister's Questions looks like a "more functional" democracy to you, I dread to imagine the hellhole you must exist in.

I and six others were gathered around the tube and I was about to toss "Threads" into the DVD when CSPAN3 went right from the chaos of the Kavenaugh confirmations hearings into a live broadcast of Commons. It got a collective "WHOA" from us all and made our politics at present look like a "love fest". You didn't have name calling, bare knuckled fights, screaming people drug from the gallery or the procedures changing mid hearing to suit the majority.

"Threads" got thumbs up from the gang and a second viewing. Right now we're watching "The Day After" that I spent 20 min finding in a closet. All here send cheers for suggesting "Threads". None of us had seen it before.

pjknibbs · Post by **pjknibbs** » Thu, 6. Sep 18, 13:32

I'm not surprised you'd not seen it, it being a very British view of nuclear war (e.g. dark as heck!). "The Day After" makes everything look very hopeful in comparison...

Hank001 · Post by **Hank001** » Thu, 6. Sep 18, 13:48

@pjknibbs

Optimistic to say the least. But thanks again for the suggestion.
And about seeing May and Commons; she looked like she was having a bit of fun. I know it might not hit you that way, but even your MP's made a time of it. Refreshing to say the least.

clakclak · Post by **clakclak** » Thu, 6. Sep 18, 15:11

Watched the Coneheads movie the other day and I must say I was suprised how entertaining it was.

Morkonan · Post by **Morkonan** » Thu, 6. Sep 18, 16:36

clakclak wrote:Watched the Coneheads movie the other day and I must say I was suprised how entertaining it was.

I love that movie! I'm older, so was blessed to see them doing the "Coneheads" skits on Saturday Night Live and I have fond memories of those days and that cast.

But, even besides that, it's still a good, funny, movie.

Stars_InTheirEyes · Post by **Stars_InTheirEyes** » Fri, 7. Sep 18, 00:37

Recently finished season 3 of The Expanse. It's gotten much better season after season and I'm so glad Amazon picked it up after the last episode. Getting some real Mass Effect vibes from it.

I'll get round to watching the latest season of The 100, but from what I remember of it, I didn't like where that was heading.

The Expanse is the best sci-fi show for a good few years, in my opinion.

felter · Post by **felter** » Fri, 7. Sep 18, 03:23

Just finished watching Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency on Netflix. it's based on novel series, written by Douglas Adams. So if you like Hitch-hikers guide you would probably like this, I certainly did.

Another good one on Netflix that I enjoyed recently is the alienist. It's a detective series, made me think of an American Holmes. They are investigating the murders of boy prostitutes, so some may cringe at the content, but it is pretty good.

Morkonan · Post by **Morkonan** » Fri, 7. Sep 18, 03:44

On ESPN2 in the US, I am currently watching the World Cup... DODGEBALL championships!

W_O_R_L_D__C_U_P__D_O_D_G_E_B_A_L_L_!!!!

Currently, it's Malaysia vs Austria.

I have no idea wtf is happening, but the players seem excited. There appears to be some kind of rules and stuff. Some guy just got beaned in the head, I think, so that's exciting... But, the camera people don't really have a handle on covering the action very well.

Anyway, it's World Cup Dodgeball. What a world!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztLcDpRJl9o

Redvers Ganderpoke · Post by **Redvers Ganderpoke** » Fri, 7. Sep 18, 17:31

felter wrote:Just finished watching Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency on Netflix. it's based on novel series, written by Douglas Adams. So if you like Hitch-hikers guide you would probably like this, I certainly did.

.

I didn't like this it was too far removed from the books.

burger1 · Post by **burger1** » Fri, 7. Sep 18, 18:05

felter wrote:Just finished watching Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency on Netflix. it's based on novel series, written by Douglas Adams. So if you like Hitch-hikers guide you would probably like this, I certainly did.

.

I liked season 2 but have trouble watching most of season 1. It would have been nice to have had a season 3.

Watched Black Panther, Wonder Woman, Warcraft and Underworld Blood Wars via netflix and a region thingy. Underworld Blood Wars was a let down for a series finale.

Started watching Schitt's Creek which has Eugene Levy and some of his relatives in it. It's not super but it's ok. 8/10 on imdb. It might be free to watch on cbc (Canada region restricted?)

https://www.cbc.ca/schittscreek/episodes/season3

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3526078/

felter · Post by **felter** » Fri, 7. Sep 18, 19:38

I never judge anything by it's book, I always look at them as being two different things. Same as Television programmes based on a profession as the two will never be the same and for recording purposes they have to take some liberties.

By the way Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency audio book is on YouTube, the linked version is even read by Douglas Adams himself.

Hank001 · Post by **Hank001** » Sun, 9. Sep 18, 18:17

My cousin was looking for something to watch while lunch was cooking and yells at me "I didn't Peter Cushing played Doctor Who!".
I nearly chopped my finger off. "What are you on about?" I said walking out to find the opening credits of "Doctor Who and the Daleks" playing on his TV. "Record it!". He was. Been trying to find that movie for eons! Just happened to show up on Comet TV. Saw it exactly once when it was at the theater eons ago.

brucewarren · Post by **brucewarren** » Sun, 9. Sep 18, 20:02

Been a very long time since I saw it but if memory serves that film was let down by a rather poor implementation of the Dalek gun.

Instead of the lethal directed energy weapon we all know and love they seemed to carry some sort of gas pipe. Not nearly deadly enough IMO.

Wikipedia explains that it was a last minute change. Apparently they were originally intended to carry flame throwers. A bit more Daleky but 'elf and safety didn't think it a good idea so they got fire extinguishers instead.

Can you imagine what Daleks packing flame throwers would have looked like on the silver screen? Sadly it was not to be.

Hank001 · Post by **Hank001** » Sun, 9. Sep 18, 20:18

Well I already had the sequel with Cushing: "Dalek Invasion of Earth 2150 AD" My cousin and I watched the show and now the TV is playing the sequel so where here explaining Doctor Who to his kids. I just got off of Amazon Prime where I found that 3rd party sellers have put the DVD's up for sale at outrageous prices (cheapest was $40 or £52 for used DVD). So I'm happy that he's recording them and I'll walk him through editing out the commercials later. While I was on Amazon I preordered Doctor Who season 11 which is coming out in October. If you've seen it then give me you're opinion of the new lady Doctor. I'm more concerned about Steven Moffit leaving as Show Runner than I am about the Doctor's sex change.

pjknibbs · Post by **pjknibbs** » Sun, 9. Sep 18, 21:48

Was never a big fan of the Cushing Dr. Who movies, if only because they kind of changed the backstory and just made him an eccentric old man rather than an ancient alien.

Hank001 · Post by **Hank001** » Sun, 9. Sep 18, 22:56

@ pjknibbs

Guess it's the old story of "What plays better on the silver screen".
Just pulled "The Unearthy Child" (Pilot episode) out of the closet.
Hartnell was better than Cushing. Even in back and white.

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What are you watching now ? Movies and TV