What are you watching?

[soltakss]

Basically, the same reason The Doctor, someone who travels through all of time and space, mostly travels with 20th Century Earthers.

Yes, New Doctor Who did that a lot. Old Doctor Who had Time Lords, robots and aliens as companions.

 

[Baulderstone]

Yes, New Doctor Who did that a lot. Old Doctor Who had Time Lords, robots and aliens as companions.

Yes, the old show had more variety, but even then there was still a distinct bias towards the 20th Century.

 

[Lofgeornost]

Well, I finished season 1 of Star Trek: Picard. I enjoyed watching it, and as it turns out I was wrong about the big secret. There were some things I found a little jarring about the show, though:

Spoiler: My Minor Picard Gripes

The tone of the series shifted pretty abruptly towards its end. In the middle, almost all of the characters were quite broken and it looked like the best one could hope for was mere survival. Agnes, for example, was nearly a basket case because of her murder of Bruce Maddox and was on her way to turn herself in for that crime. By the end she seems unbothered by it and there is no more discussion of her being incarcerated. I suppose you could say that Commodore Oh had mind-controlled her with the Admonition, but the show isn't really clear on that.

Once I saw the 'golem' I knew that, somehow, Picard was going to be uploaded into it. I'm not sure that was a good move, though, particularly given his final exchange with Data's electronic 'ghost.' Data asks to be terminated on the grounds that death is what gives life meaning. Coupling that with Picard's resurrection is dissonant, to say the least. I think it would have been better if Picard had not died, but merely been willing to sacrifice his life for the synthetics, placing himself in a situation where death seems inevitable. That could have pushed Soji to turn off the beacon. Since 'golem' Picard simply seems to be a precise copy of original Picard without the brain disease (which the show could have left out anyway), we don't really need to make him synthetic, do we?

I am also not sure why the show decided that the Romulan Empire should have been destroyed 14 years earlier in a supernova. When it comes down to it, there seems to be a working Romulan government which acts just like the old empire. They could have had the same plotline with the Zhat Vash, captive Borg cube, etc. whether the Romulans were destroyed or not. The main reason for the destruction seems to be to (1) give a reason why Picard left Star Fleet and (2) provide motivation for his current actions--he is making up for not saving the Romulans before. But you could have achieved the same thing with a tighter focus on the issue of synthetics in the Federation:

• Moved by Data's death, Picard leaves starship command to be the administrative head of Star Fleet's attempts to create more androids.
• When the synthetics massacre people on Mars, Picard resigns in an attempt to stop the ban on synthetics (rather than over the Romulan issue).

As far as I can see, this gives you the same result with less needless complications. It would make it hard to explain why his entourage at his home are Romulans, but then there is not particular reason for them to be Romulans. It would require rethinking his relationship with the Romulan 'warrior nuns' and Elnor. But you could have essentially the same story, except that Picard was visiting that planet because his group was building a facility there for developing synthetic life. Once he resigns, he no longer comes...

I don't want to be negative. I liked the show and its cast, especially Allison Pill and Michelle Hurd, and some of the writing was very good--of course, it was Michael Chabon, at least in part.

 

[TristramEvans]

 

[Simon Hogwood]

Well, I finished season 1 of Star Trek: Picard. I enjoyed watching it, and as it turns out I was wrong about the big secret. There were some things I found a little jarring about the show, though:

It's worth pointing out that the devastation wreaked on the Romulans by the supernova had already been established by Prime Spock's backstory in Star Trek (2009). And I think they also mentioned that Picard wouldn't live any longer in his golem body than he would have normally, brain disease notwithstanding.

 

[TristramEvans]

Yes, the old show had more variety, but even then there was still a distinct bias towards the 20th Century.

One of them never even left it...

 

[Voros]

Watching on TCM the early and very pre-Code Lubitsch The Smiling Lieutenant with a radiant Claudette Colbert, Miriam Hopkins and Maurice Chevalier. I haven't seen a Lubitsch film that wasn't top drawer and this is no exception. So charming, clever and ribald. I don't think we had a richer period of film comedy than in the 30s and 40s before the Code choked things off. Imagine an alternate history where American comedy was allowed to continue down the paths blazed by Lubitsch, Preston Sturges, Leo McCarey and early Capra. These days I think the best comedy is on TV and draws on these greats.

 

[Kilted Rob]

 

[Lofgeornost]

It's worth pointing out that the devastation wreaked on the Romulans by the supernova had already been established by Prime Spock's backstory in Star Trek (2009). And I think they also mentioned that Picard wouldn't live any longer in his golem body than he would have normally, brain disease notwithstanding.

I had forgotten about references to the Romulan supernova in the Abrams Star Trek movie, which I am just as happy to forget, on the whole.

As to the other issue:that is my point. If golem Picard is just human Picard without the brain disease--and the brain disease was an invention of Star Trek: Picard--then we could just as well have done without both the disease and the fix. 'Wheresoe'er I turn my view/ All is changed but nothing new...

 

[under_score]

Just watched Blood on Satan's Claw this afternoon. I think someone talked about it upthread. I enjoyed it. Pretty solid rural village has a witchcraft problem story. It's probably not something I'd rewatch regularly like Wicker Man, but I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a good folk horror movie.

 

[Kilted Rob]

 

[Nobby-W]

I remember seeing that, although I can't remember anything about it except that it had Mr. T in the cast.

 

[urbwar]

I watched about 3 episodes of Metal Hurlant on Prime. It started off so-so, but the second episode was really well done

 

[3rik]

Still not entirely sold on Tales from the Loop, but we keep watching it anyway.

 

[JRT]

I should remind folks that, if you have Disney+, today The Muppet Show (the original) dropped on Disney+. All Five Seasons.

 

[Lofgeornost]

I should remind folks that, if you have Disney+, today The Muppet Show (the original) dropped on Disney+. All Five Seasons.

Thanks for the reminder. Alas, I don't, or I'd be interested. I sometimes think my wife and I were about the only people who enjoyed the Muppet Show reboot of a couple of years ago.

 

[chuckdee]

I watched about 3 episodes of Metal Hurlant on Prime. It started off so-so, but the second episode was really well done

There was a bit recently making (good) fun of the choreography, but I really liked some of the episodes.

 

[urbwar]

There was a bit recently making (good) fun of the choreography, but I really liked some of the episodes.

Yeah, the fight scenes in the first episode were a little corny, which was sad given they had 3 people who are trained martial artists/action film actors in it

 

[chuckdee]

Yeah, the fight scenes in the first episode were a little corny, which was sad given they had 3 people who are trained martial artists/action film actors in it

I think those were early in their career, and they were probably trying to make cinematic and cool fights, and not paying attention to the logical advancement.

I love the way one stuntwoman explained how they actually do fights with people that know how to fight- they decide on a flow, in order to show progress in the fight, and the individual actors insert moves that are appropriate for their body to perform, with the fight choreographer having last say. Many times, they don't do that, looking at more external facing than the internal mechanics of the fight, making them nonsensical. You see this a lot with fights where the actor doesn't have the experience.

 

[E-Rocker]

Thanks for the reminder. Alas, I don't, or I'd be interested. I sometimes think my wife and I were about the only people who enjoyed the Muppet Show reboot of a couple of years ago.

You mean the single-camera one where

Spoiler: spoiler

Kermit and Piggy break up?

I thought it was pretty good.

 

[3rik]

Still not entirely sold on Tales from the Loop, but we keep watching it anyway.

After today's episode, we're reaching the conclusion that it's really not all that great. The pretentiousness and the silliness are now starting to make us laugh, rather than evoke a sense of mystery and drama.

 

[Stan]

After today's episode, we're reaching the conclusion that it's really not all that great. The pretentiousness and the silliness are now starting to make us laugh, rather than evoke a sense of mystery and drama.

I got only ~3 eps in. I found it ok but kinda slow.

 

[Lofgeornost]

You mean the single-camera one where

Spoiler: spoiler

Kermit and Piggy break up?

I thought it was pretty good.

That's the series. One of my favorite bits from it was when Piggy was modeling a dress made by Uncle Deadly:

Uncle Deadly: "She's wearing 'Uncle' by Deadly."
[Back of the dress rips, Piggy's tail emerges.]
Uncle Deadly: "She's wearing Vera Wang!"

 

[soltakss]

Finished Ghoul, pretty good horror series, very claustrophobic.

Watched Invisible City, a Brazilian Folk Horrorish series, enjoyed it.

 

[urbwar]

Finished Ghoul, pretty good horror series, very claustrophobic.

Was that the 3 part one set in a near future India?

 

[Kilted Rob]

The Original Muppet Show.

 

[E-Rocker]

The other night I watched the movie Polaroid, about a haunted Polaroid camera. It was... fine. Didn't make much of an impression, but I don't regret watching it.

In about an hour, I will be watching one of my favorite bands, Lucero, stream a concert from Memphis.

 

[Voros]

The Original Muppet Show.

Me too, Liza Minelli is so gorgeous in the 70s.

 

[TristramEvans]

 

[Giganotosaurus]

God I love rotoscoped animation.

 

[TristramEvans]

God I love rotoscoped animation.

Yeah, haven't seen much good rotoscoped stuff since the 80s. Fire and Ice may have been the last one.

 

[E-Rocker]

My fave episode of the OG Muppet Show is the one with Alice Cooper. Although when I was little, it was probably the one with John Denver.

 

[Giganotosaurus]

Fire and Ice may have been the last one.

The full film seems to be on youtube for free! I'm suprised.

 

[soltakss]

Was that the 3 part one set in a near future India?

Yes, that's the one. It has a slow start, but is only 3 episodes, so gets pretty good.

Currently watching Tribes of Europe, a Young Adult post-apocalypse thing set in Germany.

 

[Lofgeornost]

I caught a little of Ernst Lubitsch's Ninotchka (1939) on broadcast last night. I'd never seen it before, but now I'm hooked, so I've requested it from the library.

It's a Garbo picture, of course, but in the scenes I saw, from rather late in the film, she was getting upstaged by Ina Claire playing Swana. I don't think I've ever seen Claire act before. Looking at her credits on IMDB, I see that she was in the original version of The Awful Truth (1929); I've only seen the 1937 remake.

 

[JRT]

Some people were wondering if the Muppet show had anything missing. I went there because I was trying to find the Alice in Wonderland adaptation episode, because I remember picking this up and posting this vid to ENWorld years ago when people we discussing a Jabberwock monster and I mentioned that poem is very weird.


But when they said it's a Brooke Shields episode, I couldn't find it.

Apparently that is one of two episodes missing in the United States. The complete details are here--but basically, we've got everything mostly intact, with just a few issues with song rights requiring a few sketches be omitted. The list is here.

Complete List: What’s Missing From The Muppet Show On Disney Plus | What's On Disney Plus

On February 19, Disney Plus subscribers in the U.S. and European nations celebrated the long-awaited release of The Muppet Show. Since it premiered in fall 1976, the entire run of producer/puppeteer Jim Henson’s beloved variety-comedy show has never been widely available in any format...

whatsondisneyplus.com

I'm going to have fun with watching these. One thing interesting is that the variety show format had so many guests, and many are a time capsule of the era--seeing a few names I don't even recognize, and seeing a lot of people who have passed on and gone--this is kind of a cool time capsule.

I enjoyed seeing Victor Borge, because I remember as a kid seeing the sequence with seeing him, Fozzie, and a talking bust of Beethoven fall asleep...but I didn't remember the weird act where a group of pigs dressed like leatherclad bikers and Gonzo and his Chicken Harem (with rainbow afro-wigs) decided to sing dueling versions of Macho Man! (As Kermit said, "strange and unknown territory")

I expect some serious Internet memes as the new generation gets exposed to this.

 

[urbwar]

Yes, that's the one. It has a slow start, but is only 3 episodes, so gets pretty good.

Yeah, I had seen that one awhile back. I enjoyed it. Been meaning to check out that other horror series they have, Betaal

 

[Voros]

I caught a little of Ernst Lubitsch's Ninotchka (1939) on broadcast last night. I'd never seen it before, but now I'm hooked, so I've requested it from the library.

It's a Garbo picture, of course, but in the scenes I saw, from rather late in the film, she was getting upstaged by Ina Claire playing Swana. I don't think I've ever seen Claire act before. Looking at her credits on IMDB, I see that she was in the original version of The Awful Truth (1929); I've only seen the 1937 remake.

I love Ninotchka, it is both a charming romantic comedy and a hilarious black satire of communism. Lubitsch's To Be or Not to Be also manages to walk that tightrope while mocking fascism.

 

[Voros]

Some people were wondering if the Muppet show had anything missing. I went there because I was trying to find the Alice in Wonderland adaptation episode, because I remember picking this up and posting this vid to ENWorld years ago when people we discussing a Jabberwock monster and I mentioned that poem is very weird.


But when they said it's a Brooke Shields episode, I couldn't find it.

Apparently that is one of two episodes missing in the United States. The complete details are here--but basically, we've got everything mostly intact, with just a few issues with song rights requiring a few sketches be omitted. The list is here.

Complete List: What’s Missing From The Muppet Show On Disney Plus | What's On Disney Plus

On February 19, Disney Plus subscribers in the U.S. and European nations celebrated the long-awaited release of The Muppet Show. Since it premiered in fall 1976, the entire run of producer/puppeteer Jim Henson’s beloved variety-comedy show has never been widely available in any format...

whatsondisneyplus.com

I'm going to have fun with watching these. One thing interesting is that the variety show format had so many guests, and many are a time capsule of the era--seeing a few names I don't even recognize, and seeing a lot of people who have passed on and gone--this is kind of a cool time capsule.

I enjoyed seeing Victor Borge, because I remember as a kid seeing the sequence with seeing him, Fozzie, and a talking bust of Beethoven fall asleep...but I didn't remember the weird act where a group of pigs dressed like leatherclad bikers and Gonzo and his Chicken Harem (with rainbow afro-wigs) decided to sing dueling versions of Macho Man! (As Kermit said, "strange and unknown territory")

I expect some serious Internet memes as the new generation gets exposed to this.

The Debbie Harry music sequences are fun with punk muppets in the band.

 

[urbwar]

I watched a martial arts film called The Blade of Storms last night. It was ok, but nothing special. The version I saw was dubbed in English, except all voice actors had Hindi accents. Of course, the only trailer I can find is in chinese only, with no english subtitles