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shadowkat1. Television series based on superhero comic books:
* So far Gotham is the best and most innovative series that I've ever seen based on a superhero comic book series (and I've seen a lot of them). Not to mention the most compelling. With ambiguous characters, a wicked sense of humor, and clever twists - plus the style of the series feels like a graphic comic come to life. If you are a comic book snob, or a tv snob, particularly fond of noir and anti-heroes - check out this series yesterday.
The last episode focused on Harry Bullock - who is played by character actor Donal Logue of Terrier's fame. Although the stand-outs are the kids playing Oswald Cobblepot, Nygema, Bruce Wayne, and Selina Kyle - who are depicted in new ways.
* Agents of Shield does sort of pale in comparison. While fun, it does lack the depth and sly humor of Gotham. Gotham is basically for the television snob, Agents of Shield not so much. Also, no real superheros in Gotham - it's pure noire with a hero struggling against the pull of the abyss. Note to self - don't watch them back to back. That said - it's is getting more interesting and there's a particular plot arc that's intriguing me - because I can't figure out which direction they'll go. It's a toss-up.
I have no idea if Grant Douglas Ward is an irredeemable bad guy or just troubled. It's still sort of ambiguous. If you believe what his older brother, the esteemed Senator, Christian Ward, tells Coulson - Grant is evil incarnate similar to the Omen. That he made up stories, and blamed all his crimes on Christian. Which I have difficulty buying, too easy - and well, this is the same Senator who had been funding Talbot's campaign to take down SHIELD.
Also, from a story-telling perspective, it's far more interesting if now, when no on is willing to believe him, Grant is telling the truth. But, it's hard to tell which direction they are going. It could go either way.
Same with the story about the Father. Since he's being played by KM, I think Grant was most likely telling the truth about the Father. Although it doesn't entirely make sense that Hydra killed the wife - because why would he join Hydra? Also Raina stated it was both parents that tore the village apart - that both parents were monsters.
So, I'm intrigued.
Also intrigued by the new additions - Bobbie Morse (aka Mockingbird from the comics who in the comics becomes an Avenger and marries Hawkman), and her ex-hubby, played by Nick Blood (who is a fun character). They haven't developed Trip and the guy who is bonding with Fitz, who I like a great deal (the guy not Fitz, who is slowly growing on me but still grating). Simmons also grates on my nerves still for some reason.
*The Flash - is entertaining, but has a few weak points that need flushing out. Also my interest tends to wander during it. I like the use of John Wesley-Ship as the dad, Ship played the Flash in a television series of the same name back in the 1980s. Also the two father figures, Joe West and the head of Star Labs, who is a bit less moral and very manipulative. Unfortunately Caitlin and Cisco are a bit weak and either need to be developed more or dropped, as does Iris, the alleged love interest - who Barry has 0 chemistry with, and is dating her father's hot-shot partner, who feels miscast. Like I said, it's uneven. But it has potential.
* The Arrow - haven't seen this season yet. Arrow starts slow and then builds up speed as you go. I like the structure of it. And it has a rather good vigilante to hero arc going for it. Plus, unlike The Flash, the Arrow's support team is quite good, I adore Digger and Felicity Smoke.
2. Favorite Scary Movies
* Best Ghost Movies?
- The Haunting, directed by Robert Wise, starring Julie Harris, Rush Tamblyn (yes of West Side Story). Wise was a minimalist. Believing in less is more. As a result his film is far scarier than most films made today.
- The Sixth Sense - by M. Night Shalaman - great twist
- The Changeling - with George C. Scott
- The Ring or Ringu -almost put my tv in the hallway
- Poltergiest
- The Others
- The Shining
(I like ghost story horror flicks, can't you tell?)
* Best Vampire Movies?
- Let the Right One In
-The Lost Boys (most see viewing if you were a Buffy fan, since Whedon clearly borrowed heavily from it.)
- Nosfertru
- Shadow of the Vampire
-Innocent Blood by Luc Besson
-The Lair of the White Worm - which was off-beat
(Not so fond of this genre - it tends towards silly or gory)
* Best Alien/Sci-fi Horror Movies?
- Aliens by James Cameron
- Invasion of the Body Snatchers
- The Day the Earth Stood Still (okay not scary)
(not a huge fan, they tend toward either really gory or silly too.)
* Slasher Movies or Stalker Flicks
- Terminator by James Cameron
- Halloween by John Carpenter
- Scream by Kevin Williamson
- The Hitcher
- Nightmare on Elm Street (Johnny Depp is eaten by his bed)
- Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock
(Seen a lot in this genre...it was popular in the 1980s)
* Witch/Occult Movies
- The Blair Witch Project
- Harvest Home (okay it was a mini-series)
- The Omen
- Rosemary's Baby by Roman Polanski
- The Skeleton Key (haunting movie about hoodu and belief, has a twist ending)
- The Witches
* Nature's Gone Mad
- The Naked Jungle - with Charlton Heston battling Army Ants
- The Birds
- Jaws
- Jurassic Park
* Zombies
- Shaun of the Dead
-Night of the Comet
-World War Z
-Warm Bodies - a zombie romance, which was hilarious in places
(not a fan of zombies - find them disturbing and gross)
* Werewolves
- American Werewolf in London
- Wolf
(not a fan of the genre...don't like watching people turn into things, and well silly. So gory and silly...put me off this genre)
I tend to avoid anything too gory (so no cabins in the woods) or mad scientists.
Although if pressed these four mad scientist films bothered me or haunted me:
* SSsss - about a mad scientist who turns his lab assistants into snakes (which I couldn't make it through but continues to haunt me)
* The Island of Doctor Moreau - with Michael York
* Night Breed
* Altered States
* Cabin in the Woods by Joss Whedon and Drew Goodard
* Andromeda Strain - not really a mad scientist film, more a disease film, again by Robert Wise and well done.
* Cabin Fever (couldn't make it through the film - but the idea of disease being the bad guy was interesting twist)
The trick is characters, you have to have good characters in these movies or they don't work. If the audience doesn't care about the characters or like them, it's not going to be scary. Just dull.
* So far Gotham is the best and most innovative series that I've ever seen based on a superhero comic book series (and I've seen a lot of them). Not to mention the most compelling. With ambiguous characters, a wicked sense of humor, and clever twists - plus the style of the series feels like a graphic comic come to life. If you are a comic book snob, or a tv snob, particularly fond of noir and anti-heroes - check out this series yesterday.
The last episode focused on Harry Bullock - who is played by character actor Donal Logue of Terrier's fame. Although the stand-outs are the kids playing Oswald Cobblepot, Nygema, Bruce Wayne, and Selina Kyle - who are depicted in new ways.
* Agents of Shield does sort of pale in comparison. While fun, it does lack the depth and sly humor of Gotham. Gotham is basically for the television snob, Agents of Shield not so much. Also, no real superheros in Gotham - it's pure noire with a hero struggling against the pull of the abyss. Note to self - don't watch them back to back. That said - it's is getting more interesting and there's a particular plot arc that's intriguing me - because I can't figure out which direction they'll go. It's a toss-up.
I have no idea if Grant Douglas Ward is an irredeemable bad guy or just troubled. It's still sort of ambiguous. If you believe what his older brother, the esteemed Senator, Christian Ward, tells Coulson - Grant is evil incarnate similar to the Omen. That he made up stories, and blamed all his crimes on Christian. Which I have difficulty buying, too easy - and well, this is the same Senator who had been funding Talbot's campaign to take down SHIELD.
Also, from a story-telling perspective, it's far more interesting if now, when no on is willing to believe him, Grant is telling the truth. But, it's hard to tell which direction they are going. It could go either way.
Same with the story about the Father. Since he's being played by KM, I think Grant was most likely telling the truth about the Father. Although it doesn't entirely make sense that Hydra killed the wife - because why would he join Hydra? Also Raina stated it was both parents that tore the village apart - that both parents were monsters.
So, I'm intrigued.
Also intrigued by the new additions - Bobbie Morse (aka Mockingbird from the comics who in the comics becomes an Avenger and marries Hawkman), and her ex-hubby, played by Nick Blood (who is a fun character). They haven't developed Trip and the guy who is bonding with Fitz, who I like a great deal (the guy not Fitz, who is slowly growing on me but still grating). Simmons also grates on my nerves still for some reason.
*The Flash - is entertaining, but has a few weak points that need flushing out. Also my interest tends to wander during it. I like the use of John Wesley-Ship as the dad, Ship played the Flash in a television series of the same name back in the 1980s. Also the two father figures, Joe West and the head of Star Labs, who is a bit less moral and very manipulative. Unfortunately Caitlin and Cisco are a bit weak and either need to be developed more or dropped, as does Iris, the alleged love interest - who Barry has 0 chemistry with, and is dating her father's hot-shot partner, who feels miscast. Like I said, it's uneven. But it has potential.
* The Arrow - haven't seen this season yet. Arrow starts slow and then builds up speed as you go. I like the structure of it. And it has a rather good vigilante to hero arc going for it. Plus, unlike The Flash, the Arrow's support team is quite good, I adore Digger and Felicity Smoke.
2. Favorite Scary Movies
* Best Ghost Movies?
- The Haunting, directed by Robert Wise, starring Julie Harris, Rush Tamblyn (yes of West Side Story). Wise was a minimalist. Believing in less is more. As a result his film is far scarier than most films made today.
- The Sixth Sense - by M. Night Shalaman - great twist
- The Changeling - with George C. Scott
- The Ring or Ringu -almost put my tv in the hallway
- Poltergiest
- The Others
- The Shining
(I like ghost story horror flicks, can't you tell?)
* Best Vampire Movies?
- Let the Right One In
-The Lost Boys (most see viewing if you were a Buffy fan, since Whedon clearly borrowed heavily from it.)
- Nosfertru
- Shadow of the Vampire
-Innocent Blood by Luc Besson
-The Lair of the White Worm - which was off-beat
(Not so fond of this genre - it tends towards silly or gory)
* Best Alien/Sci-fi Horror Movies?
- Aliens by James Cameron
- Invasion of the Body Snatchers
- The Day the Earth Stood Still (okay not scary)
(not a huge fan, they tend toward either really gory or silly too.)
* Slasher Movies or Stalker Flicks
- Terminator by James Cameron
- Halloween by John Carpenter
- Scream by Kevin Williamson
- The Hitcher
- Nightmare on Elm Street (Johnny Depp is eaten by his bed)
- Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock
(Seen a lot in this genre...it was popular in the 1980s)
* Witch/Occult Movies
- The Blair Witch Project
- Harvest Home (okay it was a mini-series)
- The Omen
- Rosemary's Baby by Roman Polanski
- The Skeleton Key (haunting movie about hoodu and belief, has a twist ending)
- The Witches
* Nature's Gone Mad
- The Naked Jungle - with Charlton Heston battling Army Ants
- The Birds
- Jaws
- Jurassic Park
* Zombies
- Shaun of the Dead
-Night of the Comet
-World War Z
-Warm Bodies - a zombie romance, which was hilarious in places
(not a fan of zombies - find them disturbing and gross)
* Werewolves
- American Werewolf in London
- Wolf
(not a fan of the genre...don't like watching people turn into things, and well silly. So gory and silly...put me off this genre)
I tend to avoid anything too gory (so no cabins in the woods) or mad scientists.
Although if pressed these four mad scientist films bothered me or haunted me:
* SSsss - about a mad scientist who turns his lab assistants into snakes (which I couldn't make it through but continues to haunt me)
* The Island of Doctor Moreau - with Michael York
* Night Breed
* Altered States
* Cabin in the Woods by Joss Whedon and Drew Goodard
* Andromeda Strain - not really a mad scientist film, more a disease film, again by Robert Wise and well done.
* Cabin Fever (couldn't make it through the film - but the idea of disease being the bad guy was interesting twist)
The trick is characters, you have to have good characters in these movies or they don't work. If the audience doesn't care about the characters or like them, it's not going to be scary. Just dull.
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no subject
Date: 2014-10-31 08:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-11-01 02:44 am (UTC)It's my go to film for scarey, also amongst the few films that scared my brother. And one of the few I remember vividly.
no subject
Date: 2014-10-31 08:39 pm (UTC)I've only seen a little of The Flash, and while Grant Gustin is perfect as Barry (like Stephen Amell is perfect as Oliver - but I just have to say that as a person the guy is kind of a douche - he doesn't want to watch Arrested Development because its the MEDIA TELLING HIM TO WATCH. We have issues about his entertainment choices and ideas about social media), there really needs to be a solid ensemble behind him. You can tell Laurel is the weakest link on Arrow, but I think it might be too early to say who's the weakest link on The Flash (though I have been told it's Iris, especially after Felicity made her cameo and was the greatest thing ever).
I apologize for going off on all of this. I've been following fan reception of the two shows for a research paper I'm writing about how fans who have read the comics and fans who have only seen the TV show read the show differently, and I have a lot of opinions and am very biased to one side. It's something I've been starting to do lately.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-01 03:17 am (UTC)like Stephen Amell is perfect as Oliver - but I just have to say that as a person the guy is kind of a douche - he doesn't want to watch Arrested Development because its the MEDIA TELLING HIM TO WATCH. We have issues about his entertainment choices and ideas about social media
Uhm, I think I may be missing something here? But how does that make him a douche?
no subject
Date: 2014-11-01 06:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-11-01 08:36 pm (UTC)More and more professional entertainers, politicians, actors, etc - have gotten themselves into a heap load of trouble with TWITTER. The smart ones have someone else manage their account and beta everything they post.
Social Media is addictive and dangerous. If you aren't careful - you can expose yourself to all sorts of nastiness. At work - we got a lot of information on why it was important to limit our online presence. And I'm very careful. Twitter? Sigh, unless you want to promote something - stay away. And never take anything on it seriously.