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Post by asiaticdarkperson on Apr 6, 2013 13:03:53 GMT -5
You get it for that cheap? Wow! For an Internet bundle (unlimited Internet costs a fortune), basic channels and basic phone service, I pay $125 a month. You're paying exactly 10 times what we pay for unlimited internet. But we get satellite TV for free, and the phone bill is usually negligible. Most people here figure they don't need unlimited bandwidth, and they pay like 5 dollars a month for 256k ADSL.
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Post by grainnerhuad on Apr 13, 2013 21:55:18 GMT -5
So, I have a couple of recommendations. Just watched "John dies at the End" which was surreal, fun and bloody, all things that I like. It was written by Cracked.com writer David Wong and makes me want to read the next book in his twisted series, something about spiders in his brain. The previews on the DVD looked watch- worthy too-"The Sorcerer and the White Snake", "Sushi Girl"( especially this one), "Storage 24","the ABC's of Death"-All look great. Has anyone heard of any of these?
Also , I went to Evil Dead the opening night, I couldn't help myself as I LOVE the franchise, having even seen the musical on stage. It was loads of fun! Some of the cheeze I love was lost, I admit, but- NO CGI!!! which was incredible as it really worked to make everything realistic. There were beloved plot twists lost, but, inserted were some good modern day ones. After watching it I found myself wishing they would give some other 80's horror a reboot. Immediately "Phantasm" comes to mind. Good news is "Carrie" will be, it was shown in previews. Also Rob Zombie has a new work about Salem Witches coming. The scariest preview was "One Night A Year" which portrays a nation (U.S.) everyone gets a freebee to commit heinous crimes like torture, rape, murder. They call it the purge and in exchange everyone acts and works productively the test of the year. It looked scary because I could totally see it being embraced by our culture. Finally, there was a skulking film that looked like PETA wrote and payed for it called " you're next" in which people in animal masks hunt a family on a hunting retreat. So what have you seen/heard of lately?
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Post by karlsie on Apr 14, 2013 19:38:03 GMT -5
I spent a couple of days in Anchorage, so it was a catch up on some of the shows sort of thing. Honestly, if I had unlimited television/Netflix access at home, I would not know what to do with the time I spent in Anchorage. Anchorage is my video glut time.
I was introduced to House of Cards. It has a slow build-up but promises plenty of intrigue. However, if the script writers thought they were delivering any surprises concerning politics, I hate to disappoint them. So far, the most hair-rising scene was Kevin Spacey strangling a dog that had been hit by a car to put him out of his misery, at the very beginning of the series. To be fair, I've only watched three episodes. Will it heat up? Maybe I've finally become desensitized by thrillers.
I also watched half a dozen episodes of American Horror Story: Murder House. Horror isn't truly on my list of favorite genre, but I appreciated any plot that shows good character development. American Horror stays delightfully true to its character presentation.
Anyone who dies in the murder house is able to be seen and heard by everyone, as though still alive. They don't become monstrous or twisted just because they are dead. They carry their personalities with them, and continue on with the same behaviors and motivations they exhibited when alive. The twist is that some of the dead don't know they are dead, and it becomes hard to decide whether some of the characters you see are alive or dead.
The suspense involves a hinted at evil that has nothing to do with the dead residents, but that drops in subtly enough to raise the hairs on your neck. And now, midway through the season, I am left to wonder if Vivian, the newest occupant of the house; along with hubby and daughter; is going to have Rosemary's baby.
American Horror Story was skillfully conceived and even offers a little comic relief. Zachary Quintos, who I embraced more readily as villainous Skylar on Heroes than as a young Spock, is one of the resident ghosts, along with his significant other. He and his other, however, are homosexuals who haven't settled their jealousies. When Quintos' beloved wanders off to the gay bars on Halloween (when all the dead are allowed to walk freely among the living), he mourns he's stuck forever with an unfaithful partner.
On one of the technology deprived television stations that actually supports captions, I've settled into catching the episodes of the new series, Hannibal. Do I like it? Absolutely! Mads Mikkelsen doesn't try to imitate Anthony Hopkins and his blood chilling Hannibal performance. He delivers his own interpretation, and his own creepiness.
I also like the strength of character they gave special investigator, Will Grahams. Instead of a shrinking violet, with no personality of his own, Will Grahams is tortured by his abilities to look inside a killer's mind and define the motivations. He leaps at you in full three-dimensional color. We all know who Hannibal is. The surprise is in the development of Will Grahams. Do I care whether or not it's accurate? Not at all. They've made the show interesting and fresh. A re-make of the movie, broken into episodes, would be just plain boring.
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Post by grainnerhuad on Apr 16, 2013 9:58:51 GMT -5
I too have been following Hannibal and like it so far. I appreciate it for the same reasons; they aren't attempting to capture the same Hannibal at all and I am very intrigued/connected with Graham. Karla, I think given your enjoyment of this and Murder House, you will like the slow character burn of Bates Motel. Give it a try if you get a chance. It's A&E as well so it should have captions.
Quinto btw, wrote a lot of American Horror Story so it's always interesting to see what character he gives himself. The second season- "Asylum" has Quinto with one of the best characters I've seen him do even if the suspense is not quite the same as Murder House. I won't give anything else away.
I just recorded Sci-Fi channel's newest offering- " Defiance" which is a future story of an alien race mixing with humans on the recovering battlefield of Earth. It'll be interesting to see how it turns out as Sci-Fi has thrown a lot of money at it; releasing a video game at the same time as the series. Sci-Fi has been doing pretty well with their fantasy series' lately so hopefully they will not blunder this one. I keep meaning to check out Watehouse 13- their other Sci-Fi serial but never have enough time.
Another Netflix offering I'm interested in comes out on the 19th- "Hemlock Grove" if Netfix keeps up their good track record, there may be no need for network T.V. In the near future. Although, I must say, "House of Cards" sounds about like what I expected. Intrigue is hard yo capture in this time.
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Post by karlsie on Apr 19, 2013 18:37:13 GMT -5
Grainne, don't say "I told you so". I watched Les Miserables last night. I have never seen such a botched up presentation of a perfectly good novel. The faux opera was delivered in the most unimaginative warbling of a half dozen monotonous notes, without a single tune or melody. The acting wanted to be, should have been wonderful, but they were stuck with rhyming lines, apparently constructed by a sixth grader. They fast tracked through a complex plot, turning it into a shallow grave of meaningless characters. I think they were striving for the passion delivered in "Jesus Christ Superstar". Instead, they ended up with more Bible thumping than a Southern Baptist Revival. They ultimately concluded the French revolutionaries were crusaders. Say what?
The DVD mediocrity spectacular offered a preview of their Hollywood reincarnation of Ana Karenina. I'm terrified of viewing the mutilation of my all-time favorite novel. I have a somewhat snobbish opinion of Tolstoy's delicate work, anyway. I believe the only theater that can adequately present Russian literature is Russian theater.
On the other hand, I also watched the rough and tumble production of Tarantino's version of Django. Never mind that he completely tossed aside the 1966 version to create his own plot line. While spaghetti westerns seem a little incongruous for this director usually assorted with various mobs, thugs and gangs, he was characteristically devoted to the viewer treat of a blood fest.
Maturity becomes Leonardo DiCaprio. While the first impression was he still seemed kind of baby faced for the ruthless plantation owner, Calvin Candie, you very quickly forget you're watching DiCaprio, and are completely convinced he is this genteel southern monarch, teetering between polite society and a completely dispassionate view of his slaves as objects. His performance lends me a shred of confidence that he will successfully carry out his role as The Great Gatsby; provided Hollywood doesn't botch it.
Quinto scripted in his role in Murder House? Wow! My respect for him deepens. I always do fall for snapping black eyes that seem to sheer through seven layers of skin and fiddle around with examining your brain, but when I discover there's keen intelligence behind those flashing eyes, I turn into silly putty.
Grainne, considering you were right on target with Les Miserables, I've decided to take your advice and seek out Bates Motel. I can't wait to catch up on the rest of the American Horror Story series. If we can't have "deep and thoughtful", I would at least like to watch "entertaining".
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Post by grainnerhuad on Apr 23, 2013 15:44:24 GMT -5
LOL! Okay i won't say it. Honestly, everyone has a different tolerance for musicals and Les Mis. in particular. I could have been your thing, I knew already it wasn't mine.
I am interested in the Ana Karenina reboot though. I hope they don't botch it. It could be really great. I have heard that Django is actually quite good and the material treated well, if people can get past the fact that they didn't make it (Spike Lee) and their own dissonance about racial issues.
The Great Gatsby I'm less that anxious to see. Every short story of the Jazz era set to film so far has missed the plot completely. I think Hollywood is too far separated from the era and the actual people to portray it well. It's more than the look and the glamour, there were so many undercurrents going on then.
Yes Quinto did his part and many of the others for Murder House. He is a real talent. Like I said before his part in the American Horror Story Asylum is even bigger and more complicated. Not that the entire season is more complicated but his part is just... well, I won't give anything away, it's delicious.
I started watching Netflix's new series Hemlock and while it's a bit incongruous in its start up- it feels like it's written for teens but there is more overt sex scenes than what you would get on television. I'd say it's slightly tamed down from True Blood and not a fashion forward as say-Vampire Diaries. It's another one that is pure entertainment. It has a cast of mostly regular people you see on these shows. The lead villain was a Vampire on The Gates... The conflicted guy was on some werewolf show. But it does throw in some new to series' elements like the Romany and genetic engineering. Also another Skarsgarrd appears as a lead. I swear they breed nice looking young men in Sweden, or at least the Skarsgarrd family just to be Vampires for us. His brother plays Eric Northman on True Blood and is the only reason I watch the show besides the fabulous Lafayette.
Speaking of foreign paranormal thrillers, I just found and started watching the one season of 'Kingdom Hospital' which was originally written by Lars Von Trier as 'The Kingdom' in Denmark which had a two season run, I may switch over to that. It is thus far confusing but captivating enough to keep me watching the next episode. I'm on 4 and honestly have no idea what's going on.
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Post by karlsie on Apr 24, 2013 3:12:37 GMT -5
I'm nervous about Ana Karenina. If Hollywood botches it, I'll never forgive them. It's like botching up Gone with the Wind. If you can't acquire the emotional impact, don't do it!
Robert Redford did a pretty good Great Gatsby, but this was a time period when Hollywood placed closer attention to form and high impact delivery. DiCaprio doesn't have the commanding appearance of Redford, yet he could still pull it off, provided he doesn't try to be an imitation, and instead, uses his own interpretation of the character.
I actually like musicals quite a bit, and I also like opera, but usually in its classical form. Les Miserables shot for classical and failed miserably. They would have been better off creating a musical with actual lines instead of idiotic rhyme, and songs that contain melodies and good lyrics. Something more along the lines of Fiddler on the Roof or The Sound of Music. Those were good musicals.
With spring coming, it's either going to be a DVD watching frenzy if it turns out to be a lousy summer, or off to the wild blue yonder to go camping.
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Post by grainnerhuad on Apr 24, 2013 16:16:11 GMT -5
Since every Les Mis. production has used that same score, I would stay away from all of them. It is really one of my most hated musicals and I usually like musicals too.
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