The Sword and Laser discussion

Brave New World, after a "meh" first episode, wound up being pretty fantastic! It stars, among others, young Han Solo and Viserys Targaryen. And I am now a Harry Lloyd fan girl.

SpongeBob Anime Ep #1: Bubble Bass Arc

https://youtu.be/TBO9ANTBCjM

recommended by Scalzi

Interesting article from EW: https://ew.com/tv/tv-reviews/why-are-...

The premise stated in the first paragraph:

Why are all these science-fiction shows so awful?

Westworld, Star Trek: Picard, Devs, and other series are making the same mistake.

Science fiction was once a niche TV commodity, but March brought three major live-action genre projects. Star Trek: Picard finished its debut season on CBS All Access. FX shared Devs with Hulu, pitching the miniseries as prestige bait for the chattering class. Season 3 of Westworld was HBO's new hope for a buzzy, sexy-violent epic. And they were all terrible.

I wasn’t wowed by season 3 of Westworld but I didn’t expect much from it. Except for Black Mirror, I haven’t seen any of the others mentioned. Picard, Devs, Brave New World, Rick & Morty, etc.

Just rewatched an old New Zealand film from the 80's: The Quiet Earth. Such a good, thoughtful movie. It still holds up. You can find it on Amazon Prime.

Phil wrote: "Just rewatched an old New Zealand film from the 80's: The Quiet Earth. Such a good, thoughtful movie. It still holds up. You can find it on Amazon Prime."

I recall liking that.

Trike wrote: "Interesting article from EW: https://ew.com/tv/tv-reviews/why-are-...

The premise stated in the first paragraph:

Why are all these science-fiction shows so awful?

Westwo..."

I didn't think Picard was awful but I agree with Dan Murrell (a reviewer on Youtube) when he says he wishes that all the main characters didn't have to be miserable and have tragic backstories. He thinks that's a standard trope recently and is getting out of hand.

Incomparable podcast liked Devs (by Ex-Machina and Annihilation director) enough to do an episode on it "It’s unique, beautiful, thought provoking, and doesn’t remotely stick the landing.": https://www.theincomparable.com/thein... I liked PIcard ok except for the ending.

An astronomer reviews sci-fi movies: https://youtu.be/yr4Rolh_TQM

Phil wrote: "Just rewatched an old New Zealand film from the 80's: The Quiet Earth. Such a good, thoughtful movie. It still holds up. You can find it on Amazon Prime."

I have the DVD....I should dust it off.

Tamahome wrote: "Incomparable podcast liked Devs (by Ex-Machina and Annihilation director) enough to do an episode on it "It’s unique, beautiful, thought provoking, and doesn’t remotely stick the landing.": https:/..."

I couldn't get past the first episode, too violent for me, or the wrong kind of violence, or something.

Just finished watching Muppets Now. I thought it was great. Some bits were funnier then others, but when it really worked I laughed hard. The setup is that these are snippets of various web shows that they are uploading. When they are in this setup, it's a little weak, but once they get into the segments, it gets much better. I think my favorite bit was the cooking competition with the Swedish Chef.

Oh, and the Dragon Demo 2 is also about to leave the space station.

I finally started watching The Man in the High Castle, and now I can’t stop!

At first it was a bit too grim and depressing for me, but now I am hooked. So well done.

Jessica wrote: "I finally started watching The Man in the High Castle, and now I can’t stop!

At first it was a bit too grim and depressing for me, but now I am hooked. So well done."

It is super great.

I so glad Harley Quinn is now on HBO Max. It's a lot edgier than I expected. I saw the first four episodes. Her scenes with Robin have been the best! King Shark is another cool character. The bond between Harley and Ivy will be fun.

Phillip wrote: "The bond between Harley and Ivy will be fun."

Wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more ;-)

Jessica wrote: "I finally started watching The Man in the High Castle, and now I can’t stop!

At first it was a bit too grim and depressing for me, but now I am hooked. So well done."


It is really well done. All the characters have such depth.

Finished up watching 'Sapphire and Steel', now that was a weird series. Continuing on with my Joanna Lumley binge with season 3 of 'Absolutely Fabulous'. Anyone know if 'The New Avengers' is available anywhere other than buying the DVDs?

Am I the only one who watches game movies?

Such as ...?

(I own all the Resident Evil movies and have watched them multiple times; ditto Silent Hill and the Warcraft movie.)

Running Man!

Trike wrote: "Am I the only one who watches game movies?"

Trike that was a very unTrike like post. Were you being that vague on purpose? Usually movie and tv shows are something I expect at least 3 paragraphs from you on before asking a question like that. ;-)

But I'll bite. Since being around here, it's only deepened my thoughts that what I think is good, I think is good, and what I don't, I don't. It doesn't matter as much where the IP originated. Good comic book movies are good movies, and not good comic book movies are not good movies. Same goes for books, sports, and yes, games. Although I do remember finding it funny seeing the CG beholder in that awful Dunguns and Dragons movie. Will I give a property more of a look if I enjoyed it in another media, usually yes. But depending what I've heard, I may go in with a more reserved attitude.

Was that what you were asking about?

I assumed Trike meant actual video of games being played with all the cut scenes.

"The Last of Us" which I want to play some day has had a movie made of it being played through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4QBS...

I watched a pretty good movie today called Read Me. It's not really a genre movie, except the guy in it sort of has a super power. Even though he's dyslexic, he's really good at "reading people". I believe it was on kickstarter too. It's nice and short too, 1 hr 24 min.

It’s not a movie, but Castlevania the series on Netflix is really good!

Tassie Dave wrote: "I assumed Trike meant actual video of games being played with all the cut scenes."

Dave has it.

For example, Halo 5: Guardians (with Keith David as the Arbiter and Nathan Fillion in a secondary role) — https://youtu.be/1zV4lPugzOk

Elder Scrolls Online compilation, which is less a narrative film than the best bits from Blur Studio, which makes the best films and trailers, full stop — https://youtu.be/Feu5jLg6P0Q

Similarly, Blur’s Star Wars Old Republic stuff: https://youtu.be/nfjWANrhl5g

...and so on.

Some game cut scenes are very cinematic.

I'd love Ubisoft Montreal to make full animated movies of the various Assassin's Creed timelines. They have done some shorts like "Embers" but I'd love a full series of them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ6lI...

The cut scenes in Kingdom Hearts 3 are breathtakingly beautiful. I wouldn't recommend watching a playthrough tho. The game designers seem to have put all their efforts into the cut scenes and not the game.

I just started watching The Expanse and I’m already loving it. 🙌

Watched Star Trek Discovery Season Two on CBS All Access. Episode one introduced Captain Pike from the Enterprise pre-Captain Kirk. The Enterprise crew was so good that they created a spin-off for next year named Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Watching The Last Kingdom Season 2 on Netflix. The series is based on the historical fiction Saxon stories novels by Bernard Cornwall and set in the 800s. It is medieval fantasy without magic and well worth watching.
Planning on watching The Last Kingdom Season 3 on Netflix next. After that I will watch Season 4, then either Altered Carbon Season One on Netflix, The Shannara Chronicles Season One and Two on Netflix, or American Gods Season Two on DVD.

Agents of Shield just concluded with their last season/episode. I have been watching it since the first episode aired and the conclusion was very emotional and satisfying - and also left some doors open for some spin-offs, maybe??

If only this was on Disney+

https://youtu.be/WMKOBko6_PU

ahhh ha ha ha hah...

You mean this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sOHS...

Tamahome wrote: "You mean this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sOHS..."

In the US, there were three episodes shown on tv which have been edited in various ways. I think this is the edit for UK theaters. I'd like Disney+ to stream the original episodes.

Watched all seasons of Lucifer before the first half of the fifth season dropped on Netflix.

Just be on the safe side I keep my expectations low and I like what I saw. Not a fan of cliffhangers but I get why they do them.

I've started watching The Mary Tyler Moore Show for the first time. For some reason, this show wasn't available in syndication in my neck of the woods when I was growing up. I'm only about six episodes in but it's been fun so far.

Misti wrote: "I've started watching The Mary Tyler Moore Show for the first time. For some reason, this show wasn't available in syndication in my neck of the woods when I was growing up. I'm only about six epis..."

“You know what? You’ve got spunk.”
“Well, yes.”
“I hate spunk!”

I watched the first season of Legend of Korra on Netflix. It’s weird to see a 1920s steampunk version of Airbender, but I enjoyed it.

Tenzin: I don’t know how to get through to that girl!
Pema: Dear, the best thing you can do right now is give Korra some space.
Tenzin: (to his eldest daughter) You must promise me your teenage years will be nothing like this!
Jinora: (reluctantly pauses reading her book) I make no such promises.

Viola wrote: "Just be on the safe side I keep my expectations low and I like what I saw. Not a fan of cliffhangers but I get why they do them."

Well, in this case, production had to shut down due to COVID before they were done with the season, so it wasn't meant to be a cliffhanger.

Louie wrote: "Viola wrote: "Just be on the safe side I keep my expectations low and I like what I saw. Not a fan of cliffhangers but I get why they do them."

Well, in this case, production had to shut down due ..."

I know that. And it is still a cliff-hanger, they choose to end episode 8 like that to make you watch episode 9.

My wife and I are watching Upload on Amazon. If you liked the Good Place, this is done in a similar vein, except they can actually say the cuss words they couldn't, and its a younger cast. It can be a bit superficial, but it makes up for it with cutting satire of the internet and the ever automated world we are living in. We are about half way in so far and looking forward to more.

I really like Sensitivity Training. It's not genre, but it is about a female scientist that is very rude (and truthful) to people, and the female sensitivity trainer assigned to her. Very funny.

For some reason I can't stop watching What We Do In The Shadows these days. I just laugh! I'm on my second run through.

Tassie Dave wrote: I'd love Ubisoft Montreal to make full animated movies of the various Assassin's Creed timelines

I'm still stinging over how bad the movie was.

But a Horizon Zero Dawn show, or maybe prequel on how things got that way, I'd love.

I watched" Vivarium" last week and this week I watched " I see you." Both on Amazon. each disturbing.

Can someone explain Inherent Vice to me? (Thomas Pynchon lite)

Having seen it, I can say, with confidence: "No."

Just finished up watching Season 2 of NOS4A2. This wrapped up the book nicely but made a couple of tweaks to the ending, leaving the possibility of a 3rd season. Great book, great TV show.

AndrewP wrote: "Just finished up watching Season 2 of NOS4A2. This wrapped up the book nicely but made a couple of tweaks to the ending, leaving the possibility of a 3rd season. Great book, great TV show."

Sounds like there won't be a season 3. I've just started watching season 2 myself. Took me a few episodes to get back into it, but I'm enjoying it now.

The original book is by Joe Hill, son of Stephen King. He wrote Locke & Key and Horns too. I read part of the book.

Yeah. I've read the book. My it was basically two parts. Part one was season 1, and part 2 is season 2, so it works out well.

A third season would have been new story afterwards.