A family saga with a supernatural twist, set in a German town, where the disappearance of two young children exposes the relationships among four families.
Starting Dark
Only into S1e3, but what stands out thus far = very German. Granted, this is a program out of Germany, but my American mind brought up on melting pot casts is struck immediately with how all the actors appear very German. I'm watching with English dubs and subs, and they are quite good to keep things moving, but facial appearance, body types, and then extending to clothing and home-family environments are all very....German. Back to the story, the cast has about a dozen key members ranging from a core group of teens, through their parents (who have their own interweaving stories). The character connections have a bit of a soap opera feel, but I think it's laying a foundation for complexities as the main plot develops and effects them each directly, then secondarily based upon those relationships. Main plot isn't being brought out directly, but we are given a few small glimpses into the antagonist, and hat he's doing, but not why. Only ep3, so I can't say it's really drawing me in but I haven't tuned out yet either. I'll update later towards the end of S1.
Spoke too soon. Had only finished s1e2. Episodes 3-8 took off like a rocket fueled roller coaster created by some demented asshole that loves corkscrews and loops. Now that I've finished s1, and am starting s2 (there is a s3)., all I have to say is wtf! But, in a good way. Production is top notch, color quality, acting, etc. One major complaint is that they left the sound guy as last in line for editing, so he's got the same deep ominous tones dragging out too long on scenes and repeated all the damn time = annoying af. BUT, he also does a good job of laying in soundtracks to help with the story line. I'm still having a real hard time mapping people between who they are in 2019...and when we warp to 1986 to see them as teens, but it is intentional on their part. Not the confusion, but the fact that everyone's lives are intertwined in real messed up ways.
Let me attempt to restate what this is, because my 2 episodes summary sucked in representing the whole. We begin with some teens in 2019 in a small German town, with our focal lead Jonus not so much the 'leader' but the central figure in the teen group. The parents all know each other from growing up there as well. A boy goes missing, and some weird things are happening (dead birds everywhere, for example). The missing boy is the son of a current cop....who's brother also disappeared like this 33y ago (part of why he is a cop). We then start alternating between 2019 and 1986, when the cop used to be the focal leader of the teen group of that era. A few boys go missing in 2019, and a few were missing in 1986, we get shown some parallels, but it isn't about the parallels so much as who the characters are and the relationships between them = who lies, to whom, and why; who ends up marrying who and having which kids. There's your spaghetti mess of relationships getting it's foundation. Next, we start learning there is a wormhole of sorts connecting 2019 & 1986, and Jonus goes thru looking for the missing 2019 kid. The entire s1 is following a few characters moving thru the time hole trying to fix things, independent of one another, and questioning if they can make a difference, or if this is what already occurred - meanwhile, people in 'their time' are dealing with the fallout. Wrinkle in an antagonist, Noah, who doesn't get much background but presents as a preacher all the while doing evil, along with his henchman Hegle. As time travelers go back and forth, and we further twist together people's lives, we late in s1 introduce a leap (by accident?) of the cop trying to stop Hegle, and ending up in 1953 (another 33y gap) but Hegle is a child.
To conclude s1, we have people trapped in the wrong times, some aware and some not, of the implications of their out-of-time presence and what it means, what they can do. And we transition from s1 to s2 with Jonus leaping thru another hole, and ending up in the future (2020, months after the 2019 events), while we start alternating with scenes from 1920 (33y gap to 1953) with our evil priest, Noah, as a man digging in the wormhole area.
One could say they are widening the time brackets to extend the tv series, which is likely true, but it also fits quite well with the developing plots and twists. IMDB gives the ongoing series an 8.7/10, and I'd have to agree. Aside from annoying sound effects, and the trouble of following who-when, this is clicking along very well. It doesn't drag, it doesn't skip, it has appropriate special effects as opposed to sucky or over-the-top, it doesn't waste time on tangents with no meaning. You're strapped in, and they just launched the roller coaster rocket. Hang on.
BTW do you watch in English, or German with subs?
AUGH!!! Finished s2e8 of Dark, and wow.
So getting thru the season, at times, felt like we are all just stuck in a blender with various characters from different times interacting and different people with varying intent or missions (several seek to undo the time loops...but...). So, yeah, binging was a bit mind numbing (that, and I tried to get some work done). Still the same stellar cast and writing and everything, I'm just a bit worn thin from it. And then to close s2...the type of cliff hangar I never saw coming, but it fits so damn well it left me distraught there is no s3 available!!! Still very recommended, but ugh...we need s3!
Altered Carbon (2018 - )
Not at all what I expected when I started this up. Consider this as Blade Runner of sorts, except done with modern special effects, and the intent to be a series rather than a stand alone film. The premise is that we are way, way off in the future where at age 1 each person has a disc at the base of their skull that contains their consciousness, and bodies are considered expendable 'sleeves'. So, a person can be 'backed up' from that disc, and inserted into another body, affording the opportunity to live forever. That the other body used to be someone (tough luck for them) or a clone (for the rich that can afford it) or enhanced with bio or tech advancements (for the ultra rich) is just added wrinkles to this opportunity. We start with a prisoner's disc being inserted into a body by a super rich man and being promised his freedom and a pardon if he can solve who/how the rich guy was murdered, or if he committed suicide. Realize, the rich guy gets backed up daily and just came back in a clone 'sleeve', but wants to know what happened. Our prisoner is a bit more interesting in that he killed his father when he was about 10, to save his sister and himself from the abusive father who had already killed their mom. At 10, he was then recruited into the galactic police force known as CTAC and trained to be a kick ass fighter 'protecting' the known population. Later, he was betrayed by the CTAC guys that recruited him, he joined a rebellion team and was trained by them to be an 'Envoy' which is another type of kick ass fighter. He was then captured, imprisoned for being with the rebels, and we now have him revived into a body for this detective job....but put into the body of a tough guy cop that nobody likes (reborn with a target on his back).
It feels visually like a cleaner version of Blade Runner, but the story doesn't follow that (as described above). The characters and acting get an unusual twist in that people can be inserted into just about any available body, so sometimes our protagonist can't tell who he is dealing with behind the face, adding a few plot twists along the way. There are a few supporting characters that are ok, a little better than meh but not dominating with their side stories which are also above meh. Acting is B+, violence is A-, nudity is abound so that helps. I'm only into s1e8 of two seasons, and while I can probably walk away at any point and not feel I'm missing something, I'll likely see it thru. So far, giving it 7.5/10
As for myself as I mentioned in the other film thread in terms of Netflix originals I watched 'Okja'. It was an interesting film as I've come to expect when watching Bong Joon-ho's films. I found it to be worth the time I spent watching it. I enjoyed the film. The mix of relatively light hearted moments combined with the juxtaposition of various more serious subject matter that the film addresses fit quite well IMHO. I found the cast of the film to fit the roles quite well. I enjoyed Tilda Swinton's performance as Lucy & Nancy Mirando. I also found Jake Gyllenhaal's character to be an interesting performance. Overall a film that I found to be worthwhile. (y)
Gave it a look, maybe I just wasn't in the right mindset. Tilda did well, Jake seemed to be a mockery of the role and not that prominent given he's the second biggest name on the bill. The kid did very well, but the ALF team, while a little cute, were overall empty - even the leader, while trying to be a strong voice, came off as less than needed, IMO. It seemed like the entire film wasn't sure if it wanted to make a political statement, or be a kids film, and it fell in between. The quality was great, especially the CGI. And while it was an acceptable watch, it's not one I can think to recommend to anyone. Like I said, maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind.
Finished Altered Carbon s2.
I have to say, the wrap up to s1 was done very well. Hardly ever anymore is a season finale done in a way that pulls all the threads together and gives it to you in a nice bow package. Yes, there's a minor open end to launch s2, but you could end the series right here and be fine with it. Very much liked s1. Final verdict 8/10.
S2 operates very well within the same construct (mind discs put in sleeve bodies), and they brought in Anthony Mackie (Falcon from the Avengers movies), so at least a step up to a semi-known name. He plays our lead, and we have a whole new cast to support the s2 storyline, but they did weave in the actors from s1 throughout quite nicely. If s1 was 8/10, I'll give this one 7/10 for having a wholly contained storyline, good characters and writing, a new world of opportunity with it's own politics and sub-plots. Where it should get dinged, and I didn't, is that s1 was littered with nudity. S2 had a whopping two scenes in the entire 8ep and even those were weak and unwanted.
They can easily create s3 or as many seasons as they wish. It feels like they can get a good 4-5 seasons before the concept becomes tired and trite. But at least they'll have the flexibility to bring in new faces or cameo old ones.
Indeed. I have a tendency to watch a good amount of films that put good visuals over the film itself. As for the Jake character I also thought it was over the top I just found his body language interesting. I'm on the autism spectrum though (Aspergers) & I don't necessarily understand body language. I'm guessing I interpreted that aspect differently than the average viewer.
In terms of my film watching I tend to do my movie watching while I'm eating my dinner / winding down the night. In those scenarios oftentimes something that looks good but doesn't require a ton of attention is what I'm looking for. It would definitely make a difference in how a film is perceived now that I think on it.
I would agree mindset would have an impact on movie viewing. In my case I'm often looking for something relatively 'fluffy?' or at least something I don't have to be super focused on. I read fast enough that I can watch subtitled films without an issue while I eat but I digress. I'm sure it is quite likely that my viewing habits have an effect on my analysis. It's interesting to see how people look at completely different aspects of whatever topic is at hand (in this case films) when they are deciding how they feel about said subject though. No matter how one looks at it I wouldn't consider myself to be much of a movie critic.
As I mentioned I tend to watch them with a pretty light handed view so to speak. Pretty much if the film isn't so bad I turn it off I'm usually alright with it.
I do sit down & watch a film without distractions at times. I just happen to watch a movie or TV series with dinner most often. So that particular viewing "angle" is the one with which I generally view most films through.
It just felt to me like he was doing a bad impression of Jim Carey doing the role.
98% of mine is on the computer while I'm doing other stuff (playing on the phone or another screen, avoiding my day job, etc). I can't remember the last time I was focused on what I was watching.
I don't spend time on 'fluff'. However, I have lost many hours of my life to watching utterly horrible films, unable to stop until the end solely for the 'dont let it win' defiance and suffering. I'm a sadist that way, not seeking out crap, but finding it often and not dropping it until the end. :D
Cheers.
Netflix. I'm not very opinionated and watch anything horror and some comedy if I've heard about it before
I consider it a good show if I can't predict the next scene. The same with films
The one thing I can't figure out is why there's so many dubbed shows. I didn't know that was a thing anymore and I won't watch. The reason I watch is to hear everything, especially voice and soundtrack. Without that I may as well read a book
I think I may have used the wrong word in choosing to use the word "fluff". I meant it in more visual terms. As an example the movie I watched last night 'Shadow' fits the bill.
In my case it's exceedingly rare I don't at least try to make it through the film. Honestly I can only think of one film right off that I turned off, 'The Bad Batch'.
The reason there are so many though is likely due to the fact that Netflix has a decent amount of content that is produced for / in markets other than English speaking ones.
You can usually opt to watch in the original language with subtitles instead. I use subtitles even when I watch something in English so it’s no skin off my back lol. As I get older it’s harder and and harder to understand people when they talk.Netflix. I'm not very opinionated and watch anything horror and some comedy if I've heard about it before
I consider it a good show if I can't predict the next scene. The same with films
The one thing I can't figure out is why there's so many dubbed shows. I didn't know that was a thing anymore and I won't watch. The reason I watch is to hear everything, especially voice and soundtrack. Without that I may as well read a book