• ℹ️ Heads up...

    This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.

Watched anything good lately?

Let’s get real, for a show that famously picks whatever side they’ll get the most jokes out of for the subject of the week, were we expecting much else..?
 
I've just caught up on "Atomic People" on BBC4.
This is not a program you can duel-screen (almost 100% subtitled for a start).

I've heard / read many personal testimonies from the Hibakusha over the years. Horrifying, yet morbidly fascinating.

But a solid hour and a half of it in a row? And they do NOT hold back.

...
I'm... I'm speechless.
.... I, of all people, am speechless....
 
Mandy. The most I've laughed out loud at TV program in a long while. The last two episodes especially; the taxi sequence absolutely slayed me and the music video parody is perfect. Everything Diane Morgan does is incredible.
 
The King Of The Hill revival on Disney+

Used to be a mainstay of Saturdays watching The Simpsons, Futurama, Family Guy, and KoTH.

Made a great decision in time jumping the series, Hank and Peggy Hill are returning from working in Saudi Arabia, Bobby now runs a restaurant.
 
Wednesday: Season 2
With the second season of Wednesday now having been released in full on Netflix, I watched the final four episodes today. And I have to say, I think this was another really strong instalment; season 2 is a strong follow up to the excellent first season! I’ll admit I wasn’t sure initially, as they seemed to introduce quite a few different subplots, but it did all come together and make sense in the end and lead to a very satisfying conclusion! Jenna Ortega once again provides a really strong performance as the namesake character, and there are some fun new character additions for the season as well, including a new principal played by Steve Buscemi and a new Nevermore student played by Evie Templeton. I wasn’t sure how they’d follow up the first season, but I once again found the plot really gripping, and there were certainly a good few surprises. I, for one, definitely enjoyed it and would certainly recommend it; I hope there is a season 3!
 
This is an odd one.

STV has some decent old programmes that time has forgot. Recently Byker Grove has become available.

Byker Grove is one of those programmes only remembered for 3 things 1, PJ/Ant/Duncan/Dec. 2, Jeff man. 3, howey spuggie. (Also spuggies favourite band is Half man Half Biscuit.)

Anyway, it's aged very well. Yes the acting is ropey at times. But it's amazing to see what they could get away with at around 5pm back in 90s. Duncan/Dec doing a Nazi salute as a start.

But it's well worth a watch, I am enjoying it. Nostalgia clearly hasn't dented my view if it. Yes it suffers from dodgy plot's but it's done on a budget. Also, I have picked up a game. Spot the Nonce. As it's the early 90s, the theme of adults behaving weird around young teens always comes up. But not always resolved.

ANd it also gave the world Jill Halfpenny. The first photo of woman I had on my wall as a kid.
 
Me and memissus just did our own Science Fiction Double Feature....

When Worlds Collide (said George Pal to his bride).
A classic I've not seen since I was way too young to understand it. If Wernher Von Braun designed the biblical ark, this would be the result. So many of the astronomical things are right...... yet they forgot to check minor details like "how to fly a plane".
Mostly interesting for the social implications. Modern films like Don't Look Up owe everything to this.

*****

(Anne Francis stars in) Forbidden Planet.
I thought I knew this film. Turns out I knew it only by homage / parody.
Within seconds, my phone and tablet were stashed and the screen had my full attention. For its day, this was "hard" sci fi.
This is THE Star Trek pilot. Forget your Alien zoo. Just swap the grey uniforms for gold / blue / red. Roddenberry watched this and said "hold my sexist beverage".
Would be almost perfect, were it not for the "Aha! We've found a teenage girl after months in hypersleep with other men" attitude.

Now please excuse me, I'm off to get drunk and watch Return to The Forbidden Planet.
 
Been watching IT: Welcome to Derry

I have to say it's really got me hooked. Bit of a slow start but the last few episodes have been very good with this week's (episode 7) being one of the best episodes of TV I have seen in a while.

If you're fans of Pennywise / IT then this is a must watch.
 
Really been enjoying  Plur1bus since it started on Apple TV. Only a few episodes left of the the season now.

Also made me jump back into Better Call Saul and I'm slowly watching that for the first time.

Also with season 2 out on new years day I'm watching The Night Manager for the first time on the iPlayer.
 
Can You Keep a Secret?
This new BBC sitcom with Dawn French and Mark Heap has apparently been absolutely slated online, but I actually quite liked it myself! It’s quite an odd premise; essentially, Dawn French’s character is pretending that Mark Heap’s character has died and is cashing in on the life insurance, but in reality, he’s still alive and living in the loft… as always, Mark Heap is wonderfully weird, and the whole thing is just quite an entertaining jaunt, in my opinion! Aspects of it are maybe a bit fanciful, but if you like a light laugh, I‘d certainly give this a go!
 
Matt N said:
Can You Keep a Secret?
This new BBC sitcom with Dawn French and Mark Heap has apparently been absolutely slated online, but I actually quite liked it myself! It’s quite an odd premise; essentially, Dawn French’s character is pretending that Mark Heap’s character has died and is cashing in on the life insurance, but in reality, he’s still alive and living in the loft… as always, Mark Heap is wonderfully weird, and the whole thing is just quite an entertaining jaunt, in my opinion! Aspects of it are maybe a bit fanciful, but if you like a light laugh, I‘d certainly give this a go!
Click to expand...

Yes, I'm a couple of episodes in and it's enjoyable enough. I think the problem is it asks you to make a couple of leaps that are so far outside of reality that it heads towards farce, but then wants some level of emotion and pathos that it hasn't really earned by being so farcical. I dont think it knows quite what it is supposed to be.

The idea isnt particularly original and is one that has been done better. Im still happy enough watching Mark Heap in anything though.

If you want to watch Dawn French in something better, please find the wonderful and largely forgotten Roger and Val Have Just Got In. That's a show that earns its pathos.
 
Ive watched a few movies over the winter. Compared to the.. average movie or show chosen for family movie night, this has been a fantastic collection

Wake Up Dead Man
Another one of those Daniel Craig murder mysteries. I was equally hooked by the thrilling mystery as much as I was the visuals and nuanced look on religion and modern politics, things I’m sure have been a point of contention in peoples minds as of late. Some of the things you miss ended in me kicking myself. However, as sweet as the main preist character is, I had trouble really believing his bad qualities. They felt a little stapled on and separate to the rest his character, although I have met people who feel like this, so I’m split calling this a real problem.

Great light-hearted watch.

The Shining
Knew I would love this movie. I did. Theres so many secrets to dig into in this well acted, stunningly directed tale. While I wouldn’t say it is the scariest thing I’ve ever seen, Jack Torrance can be a terrifyingly realistic abuser. Everyone feels on edge around him and you always fear he will violently snap in a lot of interactions. Having (thankfully brief) interactions with people like this, all the actors nailed it. Its impressive to see a horror movie based entirely off of a typically crooked family dynamic; I was shocked to remember it came out in the 70’s, it must of been well ahead of its time!

I got jumscared by the day of the week at one point, do watch this movie.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top