[Closed] Recent Viewing Part III

I'm very trustworthy! When I express my opinion of a film, you can be 100% sure that it's my opinion.

Peter

Yes you do.

Peter

Also just finished Boardwalk Empire: Season 2

The continuing story about gangsters and political corruption in Atlantic City in 1920, right after the Volstead Act came into play.

Loved it. Absolutely loved it.
The different story lines come to a very satisfying closure insofar as they can (I'm slightly surprised there's a third season? I guess a lot of storylines need rebooting then?).

The acting is uniformly excellent, the set pieces amazing (it certainly helps that I'm a bit of a Roaring Twenties nut), the storylines (vice, violence, corruption, conscience, redemption...all the Great Topics are in there) compelling throughout.
And the music is just marvelous!
There is no original soundtrack whatsoever: rather the music consists of twenties' hit songs, used both diegetically and as background mood. The great thing is that rather than use the original recordings, the producer has sought (and found!) artists to rerecord all of them, which makes for excellent quality (the soundtrack CD is just lovely, if you're into early jazz).

I'm taking a bit of a breather before diving into season 3 to let the mood of season 2 linger and settle, so I will go into it with re-aligned expectations. I'm a bit weary with the previous two seasons and the pretty much finished main storyline, it might otherwise disappoint a bit.

And there's enough in storage to keep me entertained in the meantime.

No, it's not.
In fact i would say it's more of the same.

It's relatively slow, and there are no real protagonists (there are very few people in the series I actually like. Come to think of it, there's none! But then again, that's quite comparable to The Sopranos.)
So I can totally understand this to be an acquired taste.

As said, I think it REALLY helps that I absolutely adore the era.
I like the fashion, the cars, the music, the culture. The lot!

But word to the wise: if you didn't enjoy season 1, by all means steer clear from the rest.

I totally agree with that Peter.

You're often very wrong too! ( my little wizard has often wept at your negative views on truly classic films )

Just started on Alcatraz.

"In 1963 Alcatraz was closed, and the inmates were all transferred.
But that's not what really happened"

Inmates from 1963 are suddenly appearing in modern day San Francisco, up to their historical no-good tricks, with an added mission apparently...but how? And why?

It's a pretty good premise, but so far, 6 episodes in, it doesn't really deliver just yet.
Produced by J.J. Abrams, this plays somewhat as a Lost Lite (aided along in no small deal by a very similar, Giacchino-headed soundtrack, a main appearance by Jorge "Hurley" Garcia, and the bumper sound of prison gates closing which is insanely reminiscent of the sound Lost's 'smoke monster' made), but with none of the creepy moodiness and truly baffling mystery.

It's fairly entertaining, though thoroughly lightweight.
Not sure if I'll see this one through.

http://youtu.be/kIdFzP0TJxc?t=5s

I remember starting on that. Didn't stay with it for long.

I feel bad now.

Anyway, I'm considering starting on 24 or Prison break. They seem to get raving reviews. Anyone has thoughts on these shows?

Peter

24 is an excellent show, although the concept got a bit watered out in the later seasons. The intensity of the suspense was great. It's basically the same thing they're trying with HOMELAND now, only that is more on the intrigue side of things.

PRISON BREAK I never started on.

I watched about four episodes and it was a "case of the week" type of affair. It needed a hook but didn't have one. I think it got cancelled after about 12 episodes and I have no idea if they tied everything up.

I like it too. I don't think it's much like 24.

I've not seen Prison Break, but 24 I seem to remember being quite entertaining (if a little gimmicky). I did give up watching it after about 4 seasons since it just repeats the same idea over and over. Also, I also seem to recall almost zero character development given that it's set in, well, 24 hours. But perhaps later seasons remedied that?

Homeland is by a couple of the writers/producers of 24 I believe. The first series was excellent but by the end of it they had used up what made it unique (is Brody good or bad?). Season 2 felt like it was turning back into 24 again. I haven't started watching season 3.

I suppose it's good that 24 is coming back next year.

The third season of HOMELAND is off to a great start, IMO.

I think it has LOTS in common with 24, from the way the different narrative lines overlap, the introduction of "new" baddies, the whole terrorist thing, the mystery of the man behind it all etc. It's not as straight-out action/thriller as 24, but it has some of the same 'vibe'.