|
Post by Kimby on Oct 19, 2023 3:06:10 GMT
I am not a fan of Amazing Race, because the show brings out the worst in people who are visiting in foreign countries. Ugly Americans writ large. Travel isn’t about going fast. It’s about soaking up what there is to see in each place.
|
|
|
Post by lugg on Oct 19, 2023 19:22:34 GMT
I completely get what you are saying K2 and Kimby and agree, but I just love the cinematography (particularly of the Canadian series) If they were not followed by a crew we would not have that. Plus ( maybe) the UK version is more gentle / genteel ?
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Oct 20, 2023 5:27:30 GMT
Did anyone else watch the new Ken Burns 2-part miniseries American Buffalo?
Really well done with lots of information about Native Americans and their reliance on and reverence for Bison bison.
Also a sobering account of the white mans mistreatment of both the bison and the natives. And wrapping up with efforts to recover the buffalo and return them to the prairies, much of which was filmed just up the road from us.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Oct 20, 2023 6:17:55 GMT
I do want to see that, but am sticking to lighter fare right now.
The heaviest thing I'm seeing, which I've only just started, is The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. It's a three-part mini series made by the BBC in 1996.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Oct 21, 2023 0:55:07 GMT
|
|
|
Post by cheerypeabrain on Oct 27, 2023 18:01:50 GMT
We just finished watching Bodies on Netflix. We both enjoyed it, not particularly challenging but enough fo us to binge the 8 episodes over 3 days. Also starting to enjoy season 2 of Loki on Disney...altho we are thinking of getting rid of both Netflix and the Disney channel...we dont watch enough to justify the price tag.
|
|
|
Post by patricklondon on Nov 2, 2023 11:34:14 GMT
First episode of the new series of Shetland last night. Ashley Jensen is the new lead detective (miles away in style from her Agatha Raisin), complete with troubled family past (of course), Phyllis Logan is on board for her "dour matriarch not to be messed with" speciality - and they don't employ Jamie Sives for nothing, so no doubt there will be plotlines for him to be developed. Which is as well, because the first episode doesn't appear to leave you in any doubt as to who done what and why, but no doubt plots will thicken and complicate. And the scenery really stars, not least because they hit some sunny weather, at least for that episode (enhanced by my tuner having found a secure and stable signal for the HD channel). My blog | My photos | My video clips | My Librivox recordings"too literate to be spam"
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Nov 2, 2023 17:17:14 GMT
I tried watching Shetland back when, & for whatever reason did not stick with it. This trailer makes me think I need to give it another chance. And yes -- that scenery!
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Nov 6, 2023 2:52:55 GMT
I started to post this in Pet Peeves, then decided it might as well go here.
Last night I started watching All the Light We Cannot See. It's okay so far, except that it's way too far over into the melodrama spectrum. The evil Nazi, for instance, is so manic, so over the top gloatingly evil that it's distracting. The father of the girl is so good, so kind, so patient that it's cloying.
And that brings me to the pet peeve part. The father is played by Mark Ruffalo. Ruffalo's natural speaking voice is pleasant, with a generically cultured US accent -- in short, a voice that would serve any actor well in any number of roles. But no, in this role he has gone full-bore Meryl Streep and is doing some kind of accent. What it is & why he's doing it I cannot tell you. I guess I should be grateful that, since the show takes place in France, Ruffalo didn't decide to do one of those excruciating fake French accents that are supposed to magically trick our brains into thinking that we're hearing French.
|
|
|
Post by lugg on Nov 7, 2023 20:10:39 GMT
I have just started Bodies ... the first episode did not grab me , but I know from reading the reviews that it will do if I stick with it. Otherwise I am watching Series 2 of Time; I am a fan of anything that Jimmy McGovern does really. - one episode in and I am hooked . www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/time-season-2-cast-bbc/And of course I am loving Masterchef ; The Professionals ---Series 16 www.thestaffcanteen.com/MasterChef-The-Professionals-2023#/Thanks for the info re Shetland; All The light .. and American Buffalo - will give them all a try .
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Nov 10, 2023 22:04:52 GMT
I watched episode three of All the Light We Cannot See last night.
Sheeeeeesh!!!
Was the script cobbled together during the writers' strike? Was it written by a child? Was it extruded by the AI we're supposed to be so afraid of?
Not only is it simplistic drivel, everyone is speaking excruciatingly s l o w l y, I suspect to fill up the time left by the lack of real dialogue.
The book has been turned into melodrama and the actors are not able to act themselves free of that quagmire. The guy playing the radio operator is probably good, although it's hard to tell when he's been given maybe a maximum of fifteen lines of dialogue so far. Others -- Hugh Laurie in particular -- are obviously good actors, but have been instructed to silently count slowly to one hundred before answering or reacting to anything. The woman who plays his sister is reduced to lots of intense gazes since she also has not been given enough to do. The woman who plays the older version of the blind girl has been irritating me ever since I learned that she too is aping some kind of accent along with whatever the hell Mark Ruffalo is spouting.
The episode I saw last night had father & daughter remove their shoes to splash around & harvest some oysters in a grotto. All I could think of was how fakey that was, because the water should have been swirling with blood from where their feet would have been cut to ribbons on the oyster shells. This should give an idea of how unengaged I've been by a book-to-series that should have been absolutely riveting.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Nov 12, 2023 0:14:37 GMT
I’ve only watched the first episode of All The Light…. Loved the book, but I’m not sure I can handle watching the rest of the series.
I have been watching, and enjoying, this sequel to the Cédric Klapisch trilogy "L’Auberge Espagnole."
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Nov 15, 2023 0:59:59 GMT
I’ve only watched the first episode of All The Light…. Loved the book, but I’m not sure I can handle watching the rest of the series. Wise woman. If anyone thought I was too harsh in my assessment of the series, on Rotten Tomatoes all critics gave it a 28% rating. The top critics only 16%. www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/all_the_light_we_cannot_see
|
|
|
Post by casimira on Nov 18, 2023 16:24:34 GMT
Despite all the negative critiques of ALL THE LIGHT... I can't help but say despite it being melodramatic etc. (I have not read the book so..) I cannot concur with all the shredding it has received.
There are times when I can overlook these flaws and still be blown away by a story such as this.
And, blown away I was.
I guess I'm a sucker for these types of films.
|
|
|
Post by cheerypeabrain on Nov 18, 2023 16:30:01 GMT
Shingles has left me quite wishy washy and pathetic so I'm still having to take it easy. Last week I read Patrick Stewart's autobiography which made me want to watch Star Trek The Next Generation from the start...it's very cheesy but I'm enjoying it anyway..have only skipped a couple of episodes
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Nov 18, 2023 17:56:44 GMT
Is anyone else watching Lessons in Chemistry? I reported on the first episode a page back, I think, & have stuck with the show. It almost lost me with the episode that is the dog's diary, but is back on track. It is a wholesome & mostly good-hearted show with lessons about various forms of prejudice built in -- sort of simplistic & broad, but overall quite bearable. The two leads do make it more compelling. I've developed a crush on Lewis Pullman and quite an admiration for Brie Larson as an actress.
Watched the first episode of season six (final season) of The Crown. The woman playing Princess Diana is pretty believable, ditto the woman playing Camilla. The guy playing Dodi is kind of a sad sack. Dominic West as Prince Charles resembles Dominic West to an amazing degree.
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Nov 18, 2023 18:36:47 GMT
I watched 4 episodes of Taylor Sheridan’s 1923 on the plane this week. It covers a middle generation of the Dutton family, and takes place during the American range wars between sheep ranchers and cattlemen. It also has a second story involving Indian schools - often run by religious orders - that brutalized young natives and obliterated their culture in the guise of teaching them how to get along in the white man’s world.
This series is even more violent than Yellowstone (set in the near-past) and 1883, which covered the Dutton family’s move west prior to Montana statehood. A nice touch is the narration by the same actress who played Elsa in 1883, Isabel May.
|
|
|
Post by cheerypeabrain on Nov 18, 2023 18:58:35 GMT
I love the book Lessons in Chemistry. I don't know if the tv series could do it justice in my eyes.
My friends' son is doing well on Bake Off...star baker one week and pretty close to star baker a couple of other times. The judges seem to favour the more outgoing competitors and it's taken Josh a few weeks to come out of his shell..he could still win I think.
Doctor Who is back on our screens next week. Looking forward to that. Tonight I've got Strictly Come Dancing on for some unfathomable reason. This week the competitors are in the Blackpool Tower Ballroom which is supposed to be a highlight super special place for ballroom dancing. I've not watched a 'Blackpool week' before....don't know if I'll watch much more....*sigh*
When did Saturday nights on tv get so dire?
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Nov 18, 2023 19:09:11 GMT
You are so right Cheery butSaturday nights were never great but they are particularly dire these days.
|
|
|
Post by lugg on Nov 18, 2023 20:32:55 GMT
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Nov 18, 2023 22:15:04 GMT
I love the book Lessons in Chemistry. I don't know if the tv series could do it justice in my eyes. I did not read the book, but Lewis Pullman is awfully cute.I had to look up MC the Professionals -- it's about cooking?! Sounds like worthy viewing -- thank you. Re: Life ~ You are made of tougher (or at least more adult) stuff than I, Lugg! My viewing tastes recently have run to the fluffy.it's taken Josh a few weeks to come out of his shell..he could still win I think. Josh is your friend's son??! I love Josh & would love to see him win. Have to say that I'm rooting for Matty as well and of course spunky Tasha. I think Dan is teetering on the brink & quite possibly will be the next to go. I felt terrible for Kristy because she tried so hard & was so devastated when things don't turn out. It was a nice group of people this time around -- did not want to push anyones face into the batter or anything & the comic team are more fun than annoying for a change. Noel's schtick about Paul got old long ago, but Noel does have a beautiful voice & I mostly like his weird humor. Alison is great because she seems to be genuinely having fun.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Nov 18, 2023 23:06:19 GMT
My friends' son is doing well on Bake Off...star baker one week and pretty close to star baker a couple of other times. The judges seem to favour the more outgoing competitors and it's taken Josh a few weeks to come out of his shell..he could still win I think. Oh, my goodness! I’ve just now realized the connection after reading Bixa’s response to you, Cheery. Josh is a wonderful baker and seems like such a fine, nice person! There have been some really good people on the show this season, so it’s anyone’s game, but I certainly think Josh has a great chance of winning. How exciting! I agree about Allison. I think she’s been a very good addition to the show.
|
|
|
Post by cheerypeabrain on Nov 19, 2023 20:45:12 GMT
I have to say I haven't seen Josh since he was a baby! Altho I worked with his parents until I retired in 2016. Just exchange xmas cards these days. Nice people. I'm rooting for Josh of course His Mum vanished from the web in the summer..not that she was a prolific poster! Wondered why, but then a lot of people have had enough of social media these days.
|
|
|
Post by cheerypeabrain on Nov 19, 2023 20:48:52 GMT
Jeff is watching All the Light... but I wasn't drawn in. He's binging it on his tablet. I'm watching Antiques Roadshow whilst sewing...
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Nov 19, 2023 21:15:06 GMT
Did you notice early in Roadshow an onion bottle found in the River Lugg?!
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Nov 20, 2023 4:37:34 GMT
I am (of course) watching The Crown. This is season six & will be the last season. Four episodes were released on November 16 and another six will be released on December 14. The episode I watched tonight was number three.
Much of what happens is already known even to people who don't care about the royals, simply because it was so much in the news. Lots of the harassment of Diana by the paparazzi is shown and it's obvious that sort of thing would make anyone crazy. What is not obvious is something that kept occurring to me: How hard would it have been for her to don a dark wig and some frumpy clothes in order to give the slip to the press? When you're six feet tall & your face has been on every publication in existence, surely a disguise would seem in order, right?
|
|
|
Post by lugg on Nov 20, 2023 20:26:50 GMT
Did you notice early in Roadshow an onion bottle found in the River Lugg?! No !! will have to catch up
|
|
|
Post by lugg on Nov 20, 2023 20:32:28 GMT
My friends' son is doing well on Bake Off...star baker one week and pretty close to star baker a couple of other times. The judges seem to favour the more outgoing competitors and it's taken Josh a few weeks to come out of his shell..he could still win I think. Another AP connection to Bake Off here, albeit with a more tenuous link , one of the bakers was from my home town . She is out now but did well. Saku Chandrasekara www.herefordtimes.com/news/23909648.herefordshires-saku-exits-great-british-bake-off/
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Nov 20, 2023 22:19:18 GMT
She did do well & got a Hollywood hug to boot.
What in heaven's name is an onion bottle?
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Nov 20, 2023 22:23:15 GMT
Saku was a wonderful addition to Bake Off. Such a sweet and cheerful person!
|
|