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shadowkat1. Saw The Martian this afternoon, which is the Ridely Scott/Matt Damon film based on the sci-fi novel by Andy Weir. It was rather good and quite close to the book. The only major changes were - assuming you read the book and remember it. 1) They cut out the rover tumbling into a crater and trying to evade a storm on Mars. Which is a lengthy section and sort of drug and my only quibble about the book, 2) the ending, and 3) less emphasis on the 1970s television shows (which admittedly is harder to do in a movie.)
It kept the tone of the book, and was like the book, quite funny and moving in places. Best Ridely Scott film that I've seen since maybe Gladiator or Blade Runner.
2. Television shows that I've watched and really enjoyed this week (because really, if you aren't enjoying a television show, why bother watching or writing about it?):
* Vampire Diaries- this is actually more entertaining this year than it was last year. Removing Elena from the series was a smart move. Although, she's not quite gone, still lurking in the background. But the Bonnie, Damon, and Alaric team-up is enjoyable. I prefer friendships in these series to romantic relationships, far more interesting. Also they are doing an intriguing three-year flash-forward, where the main characters are being hunted by someone, we don't know who --- although they clearly know who it is and it's clearly related to what is happening in the present. Much better than the last season.
* Grey's Anatomy - also better than last year and oddly for the same reason as Vamp Diaries. They got rid of the lead characters romantic love interest. And while he too is still lurking in the background as a conflict, the series is far more interesting and more focused on other types of relationships. Stoke of genius killing the romantic love interest off. This season has a much more cohesive ensemble cast that works well off of each other, instead of various individual personalities that seem disconnected. It's also a diverse and female centric cast.
* Nashville - better than last year as well, except they didn't kill any of the love interests off. Yet, they have shifted the emphasis back on the music industry and other relationships, which is working quite well. The drama also emphasizes how insanely homophobic, racist, and close-minded the country music industry and its fan base truly are. Which was to be honest, always my difficulty with country music. I prefer folk-country or Americana. It's a little less melodramatic and soapy this year.
* Once Upon a Time - is surprising me. I'm actually enjoying the King Arthur/Camelot story arc better than expected. They've done somewhat the same twist on the legend as they did with Peter Pan. At any rate, it's a completely different and somewhat twisted, not to mention vaguely satirical take on the King Arthur Legend.
Arthur is...the villain. And he's an interesting and complicated villain, similar to Peter Pan. (This show does have intriguing villains. Actually its villains are often more interesting than its heroes, which...is a problem.) Also, Emma Swan's arc as the Dark One is not what I expected. Nor for that matter is what they are doing with Mr. Gold or any of the other characters for that matter. Say what you will about OUAT, at least its not predictable.
* The Good Wife - great satire. This season has all sorts of manipulations, political and otherwise. With some cool casting additions. Jeffrey Dean Morgan as an investigator, Margo Martindale as a campaign supervisor, and a new female lawyer friend for Alicia. Plus guest appearances by Canning. So much better than last season. So glad I continued watching.
*Home Fires - about a women's community center right before WWII in a small county of England.
Their fight to keep the community center, the Women's Institute, going, in face of the RAF and other political maneuverings of various people in town. Reminds me a little of Call the Midwife, with various women characters of various ages during the 1930s and 40s in England. (I've realized I'm interested in the period before WWII, or between WWII and WWI more than the period during either War.)
*The Great British Baking Show -- my comfort television series. It's a British reality series about a baking competition. With two cheery female co-hosts, and a male and female judge in their 60s.
And unlike the American version, people don't like they've been chosen from Models Inc. Also they are warm, cooperative, kind, and nice to each other. It's a friendly competition. And there's less focus on interviews and more on the baking. I swear the Brits are better at reality series than Americans.
Particularly cooking shows.
It kept the tone of the book, and was like the book, quite funny and moving in places. Best Ridely Scott film that I've seen since maybe Gladiator or Blade Runner.
2. Television shows that I've watched and really enjoyed this week (because really, if you aren't enjoying a television show, why bother watching or writing about it?):
* Vampire Diaries- this is actually more entertaining this year than it was last year. Removing Elena from the series was a smart move. Although, she's not quite gone, still lurking in the background. But the Bonnie, Damon, and Alaric team-up is enjoyable. I prefer friendships in these series to romantic relationships, far more interesting. Also they are doing an intriguing three-year flash-forward, where the main characters are being hunted by someone, we don't know who --- although they clearly know who it is and it's clearly related to what is happening in the present. Much better than the last season.
* Grey's Anatomy - also better than last year and oddly for the same reason as Vamp Diaries. They got rid of the lead characters romantic love interest. And while he too is still lurking in the background as a conflict, the series is far more interesting and more focused on other types of relationships. Stoke of genius killing the romantic love interest off. This season has a much more cohesive ensemble cast that works well off of each other, instead of various individual personalities that seem disconnected. It's also a diverse and female centric cast.
* Nashville - better than last year as well, except they didn't kill any of the love interests off. Yet, they have shifted the emphasis back on the music industry and other relationships, which is working quite well. The drama also emphasizes how insanely homophobic, racist, and close-minded the country music industry and its fan base truly are. Which was to be honest, always my difficulty with country music. I prefer folk-country or Americana. It's a little less melodramatic and soapy this year.
* Once Upon a Time - is surprising me. I'm actually enjoying the King Arthur/Camelot story arc better than expected. They've done somewhat the same twist on the legend as they did with Peter Pan. At any rate, it's a completely different and somewhat twisted, not to mention vaguely satirical take on the King Arthur Legend.
Arthur is...the villain. And he's an interesting and complicated villain, similar to Peter Pan. (This show does have intriguing villains. Actually its villains are often more interesting than its heroes, which...is a problem.) Also, Emma Swan's arc as the Dark One is not what I expected. Nor for that matter is what they are doing with Mr. Gold or any of the other characters for that matter. Say what you will about OUAT, at least its not predictable.
* The Good Wife - great satire. This season has all sorts of manipulations, political and otherwise. With some cool casting additions. Jeffrey Dean Morgan as an investigator, Margo Martindale as a campaign supervisor, and a new female lawyer friend for Alicia. Plus guest appearances by Canning. So much better than last season. So glad I continued watching.
*Home Fires - about a women's community center right before WWII in a small county of England.
Their fight to keep the community center, the Women's Institute, going, in face of the RAF and other political maneuverings of various people in town. Reminds me a little of Call the Midwife, with various women characters of various ages during the 1930s and 40s in England. (I've realized I'm interested in the period before WWII, or between WWII and WWI more than the period during either War.)
*The Great British Baking Show -- my comfort television series. It's a British reality series about a baking competition. With two cheery female co-hosts, and a male and female judge in their 60s.
And unlike the American version, people don't like they've been chosen from Models Inc. Also they are warm, cooperative, kind, and nice to each other. It's a friendly competition. And there's less focus on interviews and more on the baking. I swear the Brits are better at reality series than Americans.
Particularly cooking shows.