Rules here are the same as they are with the movies thread: If you post spoilers, warn beforehand. Other than that, say whatever you want.
Let's, see, recently I watched:
Tremors (2003) - This series aired on Sci-Fi channel back in the day. It has the only 100% pure attendance regular of the Tremors franchise: Michael Gross. The other cast members are pretty much first-timers. Some of the guest regulars includes Christopher Lloyd, Michael Rooker, and an episode with Vivica A. Fox. This was essentially a "Freak of the Week" series that went 13 episodes. I didn't really understand how much material could be used to provide an entire TV series about "graboids", "screechers" and "ass blasters". Sure enough, after the first three or four episodes, they add another element to the series pertaining to what is in today's standards the gene-splicing CRISPR experiment with massive steroids, which opens the door to all kinds of hybrid creatures prowling about the town of Perfection.
It's not that great of a series, but it was alright for what it has to offer. The characters are likeable, some of the creativity of the low budget was utilized well to provide a passable visualization of some rather robust creature concepts. I don't think anyone needs to watch it, but if you like this kinda stuff, it will deliver well enough.
Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies (2020) - A somewhat interesting documentary on the cultural shifts in mainstream movies and how nudity has always been prevalent in film. I must say, I am quite educated on this subject. I think they hit about 60% of the essential representations of nudity in film from the 1920s to the late-2000s. However, there were also many things missing. I found the most fascinating part of the documentary was when they were discussing the earlier years, with the Hayes Code, up to roughly 1970, when hardcore porn (like "Debbie Does Dallas", "The Green Door", and "Deep Throat") were part of normal movie theater releases at the time. Granted, as stated in this doc, "Midnight Cowboy" was X-rated and won Best Picture that year... and then X became the de-facto ownership of hardcore sex movies shortly thereafter. As a huge movie buff, I found most of this talk about people in the buff to be slightly informative... but a lot of references that I would have found fascinating to discuss ended up not being referenced at all.
It's not "bad", and I think for more average movie watchers, this would be informative and educational. There is a lot of nudity in this documentary, though, so if you're offended by lots of boobs, asses, and - GULP - even man-things, then skip it.
Pretending I'm Superman: The Tony Hawk Video Game Story (2020) - This is a 1hr 15min documentary about Tony Hawk's contribution to the Tony Hawk console releases. It's a rather lengthy commercial/promotional video for the Tony Hawk 1 & 2 reboot release that just came out. Slightly interesting, but not that educational. Kinda cool to hear some of the real-life skaters from those earlier games talking about how the series boosted their image, and skateboarding popularity in general.
Perry Mason (2020) - This is a so-called "darker" take on Perry Mason as we may have known him from the old Raymond Burr era. Season 1 is, at its core, an origin story. But beware... this version of Perry Mason has moral ambiguities, and (OMG) is an alcoholic! Woah! It's not bad. But it also isn't worthy of your attention if you have other stuff to watch. Take it or leave it.
The Terror, Seasons 1 - 2 (2018 - 2019) - This is a fantasy/thriller/horror series that has self-encapsulated seasons. Season 1 covered a real life event of an expedition of British sailors who tried to circumnavigate the North Pole back in 1842. That's about as far as the truth of the story goes. This first season had a great cast, some solid writing, but a lackluster desire to throw pseudo-paranormal and psychological events into the equation. I would recommend season 1 for people that love slow moving, character-driven thrillers that display the ever-spiraling descent into madness due to the stresses of ship-based adventures of the mid-19th century. I liked it, but it lacked real vision and dramatic bite once all was said and done. It was carried mostly by the awesome cast.
Season 2 takes place mostly at a Japanese internment camp in the U.S. during WWII. A family is haunted by a strange spirit that seems hell-bent on destroying any chance of happiness. This ghost is a "yurei", which is essentially a Japanese folklore spirit demon. There is a lot of other Japanese spirit-lore thrown into the mix. I was intrigued for the first 3 or 4 episodes. But then, it started to get more and more stupid. By the last three episodes, I felt like I didn't even need to watch the rest. I finished the season, though, and I must say that it pretty much sucked. Would I watch a third season? Not sure. This reminds me of "American Horror Story", where I watched 5 seasons of that show before I realized that although they may have many great ideas and moments of inspiration, the writers/creators really have no clue how to close a deal with satisfaction.
The Civil War (1990) - The famous Ken Burns documentary on the civil war. It was "good". I don't love it like many people do. I will say this, though... there is a letter read aloud at the end of the first season that blew me the fu*k away. It was written by a Major sent to his wife just before the Battle of Bull Run. I will cut and paste my translation for all of you to read. After this, I will say nothing more about the documentary:
Before the battle of Bull Run in 1861 (Civil War), Sullivan Ballou wrote a letter to his wife:
July 14, 1861, Washington DC
Dear Sarah,
The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days, perhaps tomorrow, and lest I should not be able to write you again, I feel compelled to write you a few lines that may fall under your eye when I am no more. I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause of which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter.
I know how American civilization leans now upon the triumph of the government, and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the revolution, and I am willing, perfectly willing to lay down all my joys in this life to help maintain this government, and to pay that debt.
Sarah... my love for you is deathless. It seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but omnipotence can break, and yet my love of country comes over me like a strong wind, and bares me irresistably with all those chains to the battlefield. The memory of all the blissful moments I have enjoyed with you come crowding over me, and I feel most deeply grateful to God, and you, that I have enjoyed them for so long. How hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes and the future years, when God willing we might still have hoped, and lived together and seen our boys grow up to honorable manhood around us.
If I do not return, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I loved you, nor that the last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name.
Forgive my many faults and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless, how foolish I have sometimes been, but oh Sarah, if the dead can come back to this earth, and flit unseen around those they love, I shall always be with you in the brightest day and the darkest night. Always. Always. And when the soft breeze fans your cheek, it shall be my breath, or the cool air at your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.
Sarah, do not mourn me dead. Think I am gone, and wait for me, for we shall meet again.
He died a week later at the battle of Bull Run.
Let's, see, recently I watched:
Tremors (2003) - This series aired on Sci-Fi channel back in the day. It has the only 100% pure attendance regular of the Tremors franchise: Michael Gross. The other cast members are pretty much first-timers. Some of the guest regulars includes Christopher Lloyd, Michael Rooker, and an episode with Vivica A. Fox. This was essentially a "Freak of the Week" series that went 13 episodes. I didn't really understand how much material could be used to provide an entire TV series about "graboids", "screechers" and "ass blasters". Sure enough, after the first three or four episodes, they add another element to the series pertaining to what is in today's standards the gene-splicing CRISPR experiment with massive steroids, which opens the door to all kinds of hybrid creatures prowling about the town of Perfection.
It's not that great of a series, but it was alright for what it has to offer. The characters are likeable, some of the creativity of the low budget was utilized well to provide a passable visualization of some rather robust creature concepts. I don't think anyone needs to watch it, but if you like this kinda stuff, it will deliver well enough.
Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies (2020) - A somewhat interesting documentary on the cultural shifts in mainstream movies and how nudity has always been prevalent in film. I must say, I am quite educated on this subject. I think they hit about 60% of the essential representations of nudity in film from the 1920s to the late-2000s. However, there were also many things missing. I found the most fascinating part of the documentary was when they were discussing the earlier years, with the Hayes Code, up to roughly 1970, when hardcore porn (like "Debbie Does Dallas", "The Green Door", and "Deep Throat") were part of normal movie theater releases at the time. Granted, as stated in this doc, "Midnight Cowboy" was X-rated and won Best Picture that year... and then X became the de-facto ownership of hardcore sex movies shortly thereafter. As a huge movie buff, I found most of this talk about people in the buff to be slightly informative... but a lot of references that I would have found fascinating to discuss ended up not being referenced at all.
It's not "bad", and I think for more average movie watchers, this would be informative and educational. There is a lot of nudity in this documentary, though, so if you're offended by lots of boobs, asses, and - GULP - even man-things, then skip it.
Pretending I'm Superman: The Tony Hawk Video Game Story (2020) - This is a 1hr 15min documentary about Tony Hawk's contribution to the Tony Hawk console releases. It's a rather lengthy commercial/promotional video for the Tony Hawk 1 & 2 reboot release that just came out. Slightly interesting, but not that educational. Kinda cool to hear some of the real-life skaters from those earlier games talking about how the series boosted their image, and skateboarding popularity in general.
Perry Mason (2020) - This is a so-called "darker" take on Perry Mason as we may have known him from the old Raymond Burr era. Season 1 is, at its core, an origin story. But beware... this version of Perry Mason has moral ambiguities, and (OMG) is an alcoholic! Woah! It's not bad. But it also isn't worthy of your attention if you have other stuff to watch. Take it or leave it.
The Terror, Seasons 1 - 2 (2018 - 2019) - This is a fantasy/thriller/horror series that has self-encapsulated seasons. Season 1 covered a real life event of an expedition of British sailors who tried to circumnavigate the North Pole back in 1842. That's about as far as the truth of the story goes. This first season had a great cast, some solid writing, but a lackluster desire to throw pseudo-paranormal and psychological events into the equation. I would recommend season 1 for people that love slow moving, character-driven thrillers that display the ever-spiraling descent into madness due to the stresses of ship-based adventures of the mid-19th century. I liked it, but it lacked real vision and dramatic bite once all was said and done. It was carried mostly by the awesome cast.
Season 2 takes place mostly at a Japanese internment camp in the U.S. during WWII. A family is haunted by a strange spirit that seems hell-bent on destroying any chance of happiness. This ghost is a "yurei", which is essentially a Japanese folklore spirit demon. There is a lot of other Japanese spirit-lore thrown into the mix. I was intrigued for the first 3 or 4 episodes. But then, it started to get more and more stupid. By the last three episodes, I felt like I didn't even need to watch the rest. I finished the season, though, and I must say that it pretty much sucked. Would I watch a third season? Not sure. This reminds me of "American Horror Story", where I watched 5 seasons of that show before I realized that although they may have many great ideas and moments of inspiration, the writers/creators really have no clue how to close a deal with satisfaction.
The Civil War (1990) - The famous Ken Burns documentary on the civil war. It was "good". I don't love it like many people do. I will say this, though... there is a letter read aloud at the end of the first season that blew me the fu*k away. It was written by a Major sent to his wife just before the Battle of Bull Run. I will cut and paste my translation for all of you to read. After this, I will say nothing more about the documentary:
Before the battle of Bull Run in 1861 (Civil War), Sullivan Ballou wrote a letter to his wife:
July 14, 1861, Washington DC
Dear Sarah,
The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days, perhaps tomorrow, and lest I should not be able to write you again, I feel compelled to write you a few lines that may fall under your eye when I am no more. I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause of which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter.
I know how American civilization leans now upon the triumph of the government, and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the revolution, and I am willing, perfectly willing to lay down all my joys in this life to help maintain this government, and to pay that debt.
Sarah... my love for you is deathless. It seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but omnipotence can break, and yet my love of country comes over me like a strong wind, and bares me irresistably with all those chains to the battlefield. The memory of all the blissful moments I have enjoyed with you come crowding over me, and I feel most deeply grateful to God, and you, that I have enjoyed them for so long. How hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes and the future years, when God willing we might still have hoped, and lived together and seen our boys grow up to honorable manhood around us.
If I do not return, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I loved you, nor that the last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name.
Forgive my many faults and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless, how foolish I have sometimes been, but oh Sarah, if the dead can come back to this earth, and flit unseen around those they love, I shall always be with you in the brightest day and the darkest night. Always. Always. And when the soft breeze fans your cheek, it shall be my breath, or the cool air at your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.
Sarah, do not mourn me dead. Think I am gone, and wait for me, for we shall meet again.
He died a week later at the battle of Bull Run.