Did I see any movies this month? I think it was all TV.
132 thoughts on “Third Monday Movie Day”
This is here now.
you do realize that this is the third monday, right? so why is this post here already????
I watched about five minutes of Bloodrayne: The Third Reich last night on some movie channel, which was more than long enough for me to realize that (a) it was terminally stupid and (b) I really didn't have an excuse for not going to bed. Why do investors continue to finance Uwe Boll's dreck?
I mean, seriously. His HIGHEST rated movie (I won't disrespect the term "film") on rotten tomatoes pulls in only a 25 pct fresh rating, or roughly the percentage of Americans who claim to have been anally probed by aliens.
from his Repository bio:
He has been described as the "Ed Wood of the 21st Century" due to making one critically panned movie after another. Yet, he is notable for getting famous actors such as Oscar winner Ben Kingsley, Ray Liotta, Jason Statham and Michael Madsen to star in his movies.
This made me laugh. Actors gotta eat, I guess. (Ben Kingsley, in particular, has taken on a seemingly disproportionately high number of schlock roles in his career, despite some iconic roles)
you do realize that this is the third monday, right? so why is this post here already????
I think it's been months to a year since it's been late, actually. Granted, I often forget about it until the very day, so my content in the post is...light.
You were eight days late in April, though the first of the month was a Monday. Also a day late in January and two days late in November and September of last year. Also I ruined your mojo in July. Time to check how that compares to the monthly Book post.
Eh, I'll take it. I remember you ruining my mojo on a day I couldn't be there.
The Book posts have been punctual this year. October's was late a day, but I did that on purpose. Last year almost missed October completely: it was three weeks late. July's just didn't happen at all.
punctual only because I've asked for pinch hitters frequently 🙂
13 Going On 30: Date night...sigh. Think Big but with Jennifer Garner in place of Tom Hanks...and not nearly as interesting or clever. Not by half. I do like Mark Ruffalo and don't mind Garner so it wasn't terrible. 6/10
Oblivion: I didn't see the plot twist coming, but that doesn't mean anything about this was really a surprise. 5/10
His Girl Friday: Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell and directed by Howard Hawks - I was expecting more from this, but I suppose fast-paced and funny is sufficient, even if I don't really care about anyone involved. 6/10
Archangel (Pts 1 & 2): Made for television movie starring Daniels Craig post Layer Cake and pre Casino Royale as a history professor in Russia looking into Stalin mysteries. 6/10 so far
Walking Dead - Season 4, Episodes 1 & 2: still entertaining enough to keep me coming back. 6/10
Breaking Bad - Season 2, Episodes 8 & 9: Wow. It's getting so I have to pace myself, these are so intense. 7.5/10
I saw 13 Going on 30 with my wife early on in our relationship. It didn't totally suck, but I ended up being pretty bugged by one thing. I'll spoiler it for some reason.
When Garner goes back, she bullies the "mean girl" in her big moment as much as the mean girl bullied her. This is growth, then? I know it's just a quick thing and it's supposed to be the cheer moment, but if Garner was able to see her future and change to become a better person, why wasn't she willing to do the same for Judy Greer? Am I to believe she was beyond hope, just because the movie wasn't about her? That's so self-centered.
Breaking Bad will just get better.
Breaking Bad will just get better.
Boy will it ever. If you thought you needed to pace yourself in season 2, CoC, it might take you awhile to finish the rest.
My take was that Garner didn't like the person she found herself to be at 30; a change that happened after being unhappy with herself and joining the popular girls. Splashing a drink on the mean girl and tearing up the homework she'd done for her didn't really strike me as bullying.* More like she learned to accept who she was at 13 and it resulted in her being a better, happier person at 30.
* at least not in the traditional sense
We'll continue to work through Breaking Bad - it's such a challenge to only watch 1 or 2 that we typically have to budget a free evening, which are in short supply.
Oh, I got where it was going - I just think a better movie would have devised a plan to have their cake and eat it too.
That's certainly fair. Considering my choices were variations of Sixteen Candles, Dirty Dancing or this, I'd say I made out alright.
Oh, GOSH yes.
Previously unbeknownst to me, my wife has an Amazon Prime membership. I watched all three seasons of Downton Abbey.
This is like watching Days of our Lives set in early 20th Century England. My favorite laugh out loud moment was when the chap who was paralyzed from the waist down suddenly stands up and starts walking without any sort of physical therapy. So, he didn't use his legs for a year or two, then one day he tries to prevent his fiancee from falling and he just stands up and starts walking and is good to go from that point forward. LOL. Having said that, it's pretty good fun, if you are into that sort of thing.
It's sooooooo manipulative, but it gets me almost every time, probably because the acting and direction are so strong. I very much doubt that DOOL has writing that strong (and certainly the acting can't compare, unless daytime soaps have changed in the fifteen years since I dated someone who watched them).
Well, yeah, but DOOL does 5 hours a week. DA does about 10 hours a year.
I did enjoy it, for sure. I like the middle daughter. She's a hoot.
The daughters are great. I celebrate all of them, for very different character-based reasons.
And, yeah, I know actors are put into hopeless situations on daytime TV. There's no time to re-shoot much of anything, so almost everything makes the airwaves. It's no picnic for the writers, either, who have to drag out a single conversation for two weeks just to give a couple of characters something to do while the focus is on others.
I was disappointed when the eldest daughter didn't have mostly white, mood-altered hair.
I think being the grand daugher of DEATH made it that way from birth.
Oh, but I will say that one thing that I love seeing is a panel of soap actors answering questions for fans. One day at work this past month, it had been left on CBS and one of the daytime talk shows had a full recurring cast for one of their soaps. The whole thing was hilarious. The women in the audience just kept asking questions about what the characters were going to do long after it had been established that the actors had absolutely no idea. Finally one brave woman asked an attractive black cast member to take off his shirt, and it devolved from there. Great, train-wreck stuff.
Killing off the youngest daughter was a cruel twist. I really liked watching her. I'm also pretty stunned that they killed off Matthew. I thought he was going to kind of take control of the story. But, I guess they wanted his wife to have some new love interests. His son is the heir now, I think, so that's all good. Time to have that oldest daughter tempt some new suitors.
Yeah, the show has balls, for sure. No easy answers. I appreciate that.
The actor who played Matthew indicated to the showrunners that he was not going to renew his contract after season three, so they had to get him off the show somehow. Dying in a fiery crash on the Christmas Special? Perfect!
In spite of the sudsy and ridiculous plot turns, I've enjoyed that program very much. The Abbey (and surrounding grounds) alone make for a visual feast. It's like a bunch of Sargentpaintings come to life.
I see. Man, they really invested a ton in his character in the third season. He was the only guy on the cast who had any training to building the estate, so we'll see if the Irish s-i-l can take over.
I describe Downton Abbey as a soap opera, but with good writing and acting.
I'm glad they tied things up for the most part, and I'm going to assume that they did, in fact, show a dead Walt even though his eyes remained open because the entire show felt like it needed closure without as little ambiguity as possible.
Also, the last half of the series was probably the most intense tv I've ever seen. Damn.
I go back and forth on the ending. I don't think Walt deserved a hero's exit so I was a little perturbed that the show created an even worse guy for him to tangle with, but they had to end it somehow. Jesse's ending was the ambiguous one, and open to discussion. He survived, but his world is in ruins. He's got another dead girlfriend and no life to return to. He's just living. I can't imagine he starts making good decisions here, but we know he's the most good-hearted of the surviving characters besides Flynn, so maybe he'll have a revelation and build on his freedom.
I don't have a huge problem with him getting a hero's exit, really. Walt's whole life prior to the meth was as a nice and seemingly honorable man. Yeah, he became a monster because he let his ego get the best of him. But since he was finally able to admit that to himself, he was able to at least make things as right as he could with his last day.
I thought he was beyond redemption at that point, and his character didn't deserve it. The show had worked really hard to establish that he had given up nearly all of his heart. They did create a reason for it - Walt foolishly had believed that he could walk the line forever, including keeping Hank alive, and when Hank was murdered it did motivate his later actions - but to go that route after all this time seemed a little too clean when the Hank-Walt face-off was much more dramatic when there wasn't an easily detestable, mustache-twirling third party.
Fair enough, and I can't say I totally disagree with you. I'm probably just trying to justify it in my mind because the show was so good. That said, at the very worst, the ending certainly doesn't change that fact, and Walt did, I assume, die knowing that he pretty much ruined the lives of everyone around him and even though Flynn will likely get his money, he's still badly messed up and his life will probably be shit.
Yeah, I'm nitpicking. I wanted the best for the best, and the ending reached the Hall of Very Good. It's fine enough.
Also, it feels frickin great to be able to discuss the show with everyone. Thank you, friend's Amazon Prime account.
Let's see, I watched Les Mis last week. I was totally blown away by Hugh Jackman. I've also had the music stuck in my head.
Finished up The Shield. I don't think it ever really recovered from when the godawful Forrest Whitaker season. The final season of Breaking Bad (which was frequently compared to The Shield) was miles better (which isn't exactly fair to The Shield because the final season of BB was OMFG!!!!eleventy2!!).
Sheenie and I are through almost two seasons of The West Wing and I find it enjoyable enough. It's not tooooo preachy.
Is anyone else watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine? I have to say I managed to avoid being exposed to too much Andy Samberg in the last few years, so I don't find him annoying yet, but they're walking a fine line (much like early P&R with the annoying Leslie Knope) and may need to dial back his character. Andre Braugher is still the greatest.
The Bridge was a complete disaster mid-season with a completely uninteresting serial killer and ridiculously contrived plots. The reboot for season 2 "looks" promising, but it also is the premise that season 1 was claiming to explore (the dead girls of Juarez), so we'll see how much slack I'll give them.
I haven't seen Brookyln Nine-Nine, but I know what you mean with characters like that. You establish them as unbearable, so even after you pull back, the audience still thinks of them as unbearable so when you need to tell a story surrounding that fact, they buy in.
I've been considering that one just because I haven't watched a lot of sitcoms in recent years, but I just don't know.
I saw a couple of episodes and found myself to be pretty much completely bored and struggling to find laughs. I've also had no prior Andy Samberg experience, so I didn't have any preconceived notions about him, but I now think I dislike the guy.
I have very little frame of reference for him, but haven't really been into much of what I've seen.
Samberg has my begrudging respect, if only for marrying the enchanting Joanna Newsom.
yup, that's about what i know of him. they must be fun to hang out with at parties.
Finished up The Shield. I don't think it ever really recovered from when the godawful Forrest Whitaker season. The final season of Breaking Bad (which was frequently compared to The Shield) was miles better (which isn't exactly fair to The Shield because the final season of BB was OMFG!!!!eleventy2!!).
I saw you post this earlier and I was definitely bummed out. I'm really surprised the show didn't pick up for you after "Postpartum." I found the stuff with Kavanaugh to be not great, but it did do a good job of setting up the end game of the series. I think BB definitely did some stuff better than The Shield, but I found the ending of The Shield miles ahead of Breaking Bad's.
Yeah, I know a lot of people who weren't satisfied because he lived. But what he got was far worse. It was a pretty perfect ending for Vic. But those last couple of episodes with Vic recounting all of the horrible things he'd done, and Shane's "family meeting..." I still have pretty frequent flashbacks to how awful that stuff all made me feel. It's what's prevented me from starting a rewatch despite my strong desire to do so, haha.
I had this ridiculous month where I watched a lot of TV solely out of habit. I caught up to the end of season 3 of The Walking Dead, which I rarely liked in the first two seasons (though the third season was much better, primarily because
Jon Bernthal isn't there anymore to completely suck).
The writing team is finally bringing dangling threads to the forefront and not just ignoring them, like the show did early on when the episodes were freelanced out and there was nobody keeping it all together.
Yesterday the Milkmaid and I watched 12 episodes of How I Met Your Mother. That show has slipped so far I don't know why we did that, although there was enough good content for 2-3 episodes, and I'm still curious to see the ending. Kudos to them for making me feel that way, I guess.
I also nearly finished with season 8 of The Office. It's not as bad as the folks who really hate it at this point say it is, but it does seem like the writers are doing an impression of the show, and not actually doing the show. They constantly recycle plots and character moments from the early seasons, just with different characters. Again, I find myself needing to reach the end, just because I'm so close.
I did watch the two opening episodes of season two of Game of Thrones, so it wasn't all self-mutilation. The season is opening slowly after all the fire near the end of season one, but it's never dull and the dialogue is brilliant. I have the next couple of episodes ready to go and expect to watch them today.
The writing team is finally bringing dangling threads to the forefront and not just ignoring them
You mean you didn't love the pace of set up something interesting, then immediately follow it with two episodes where people yak about their love interests for the entire episode? Getting through season 2 was a mighty chore so I haven't started with 3 yet, but I've heard it's far, far, far better.
It may as well be a different show. The show still tackles all these issues between characters, as I think it should, but the pacing is much better, unnecessary pieces are moved out, and there's always something bringing you to the next episode (and more often than not, the viewer's investment is rewarded, unlike with the first two seasons). The dialogue is even a bit better, though it's not among the greats by any means. It's well-shot - something I didn't believe early, particularly with all the poorly-lit action scenes - so there's that, too. The villain is more cartoonish than a zombie, but in a show about zombies, I guess that's alright.
The last episode of season 2 was just brutal. From the expert marksmanship in moving cars (that was the last episode, right?) to the funniest scene ever, Rick's confession, where I was unable to even pay attention to the dialogue because of Sarah Wayne-Callie's atrociously hilarious facial "emoting" behind Rick was some of the worst tv I've ever seen. Season 3 just came out on Netflix, but I've been going back and forth on wanting to watch.
I've been reading the comics, and I'm aware of something that happens in season 3 that will motivate me to watch, though.
I was unable to even pay attention to the dialogue because of Sarah Wayne-Callie's atrociously hilarious facial "emoting" behind Rick was some of the worst tv I've ever seen.
Oh, I know. Just really funny stuff there, and anytime she's asked to carry a heavy load in a scene. The worst moment on that show for me, of the ones not involving Jon Bernthal, was the terrible religious talk she had with Rick where she was asking why she'd want her son to live in that world. Terrible writing, awful delivery (by her; Andrew Lincoln is usually adequate) and bizarre gesturing.
I do like Andrew Lincoln as Rick, he's doing a fine enough job. Darryl is easily the best character with actual character development. What I find funny is that the game is easily the best Walking Dead version in terms of characters, acting and story over the graphic novels and show.
What I find funny is that the game is easily the best Walking Dead version in terms of characters, acting and story over the graphic novels and show.
THIS.
Yes, it was mind-blowing. What an ending.
If you have time, I'd say go for Season 3 - it's well worth the effort of slogging through that second season.
I bailed midway through season 2 and don't plan to return.
The third season of the Walking Dead is vastly superior (and seems to be bringing that momentum into Season 4), though the show still has the same issues that it always has (and always will, I'm sure). It's hard to provide drama without a villain, it's hard to provide true threat without people dying, but you can't kill too many main characters, but if you're killing characters that we haven't met (and no, one episode of "hey, guys, this is Steve, I'm sure we'll get along great, and I'm sure he won't die anytime soon" doesn't count as getting to know someone), then there's no emotional connection.
However, the show has found ways around that issue, and with more and more people watching, the budget gets bigger, which means that we get to have more and better looking zombies, which isn't a bad thing.
On killing off lesser characters (season three spoilers abound):
The way the prisoners were picked clean within five episodes was irritating. They survived for a year but the second they met the stars, they just couldn't seem to be smart or careful anymore? Ugh. However, the season did kill off Lori and Andrea, which shows that once again, it's committed to raising the bar for the acting. I'd also argue that Milton had become a pretty major character by the time he was taken out, with a complicated story to tell.
The Governor...man, I don't know. He's as cartoonish as any villain in any TV show, but man, the actor can play it. The end of the season is irritating, though, as the promised war never really materializes, nor does either side lose that major piece. No, Milton and Andrea don't count as big enough pieces.
The "not really war" at the end of season 3 did irritate me, as well, just because a lot of the Governor's* actions stop making any sort of sense, and just start being because he's CRAAAAZYYYY - the problem is, the "crazy" part wasn't really established. Cruelly calculating? Yes. Crazy? Maybe a little, but not enough to gun down a carload of his own allies.
* I agree about the Governor. If he wasn't so well-acted, he'd be a lot harder to swallow.
Also, when discussing season 3 deaths, you forgot T-Dog. Heh.
I didn't forget T-Dog - I just didn't mention him, because the show rarely did. The writers had no idea what to do with him, and I'd love to see a total series line count for him, just to see if he reached the number of lines that The Governor got in any single episode he appeared in. I'm betting not. T-Dog didn't love anybody, he didn't kill anything important, he didn't add to discussions and he didn't ever lead a team. He was just there. And sometimes, he wasn't even that. He'd be gone for an entire episode despite having to be in the vicinity.
I knew he was dying when the episode came, because he was given five or six lines before that (an impressive haul, for him). Then Lori dies in the same damned episode, removing any punch that his death may have had. Did he piss off a writer? Good Lord.
I was joking about you forgetting him, of course. My followup was going to be that you mentioned him about as often as the characters in the show did (though, having Herschel refer to him as "T-Dog" cracked me up for some reason).
He was one of the least essential "main" characters I've ever seen in any show,
Third season was much, much better. Remove some crappy characters, add in a villain that's not a undead mindless eating machine, get some other characters worked in- they'll need another season like that to remove the rest of the blech of season two from my memory, but it's a good start.
Although I have issues with how Rick's group is always "almost" out of ammo when they are killing zombies, but then they have hundreds (thousands?) of rounds to waste raiding the Governor's town.
I did like seeing Morgan (from season 1) though they didn't really close that off, and it was nice to get Merle's story line resolved, and Michonne has been a solid addition. Plus, Carl is becoming a sociopathic badass, which is cool.
add in a villain that's not a undead mindless eating machine
...he's not far from this, really. But at least he delivers lines.
I finished off the last episode of Burn Notice last night. Sure, it was formulaic and often contrived, but I enjoyed it and Sam Axe's chin.
Gravity was amazing. Full stop.
One of Lindsey's co-workers said she was bored, so I was a little apprehensive. I literally do not believe I've ever seen a less boring movie. It is fraught with tension from minute one to credits roll. I never would have believed I'd like a Sandra Bullock movie this much.
TwentyNine Palms: I'm not sure why I watched this, other than the fact that I found it on my hard drive and was testing out a new PS3 media server application. Holy cats, was this pretentious twaddle. Even getting past the fact that I couldn't understand a word anyone was saying (part of the point, I suppose, either that, or this was aimed only at people who speak French, English and Russian. It didn't have subtitled, but again... this is not the problem I had with the movie). It's merely irritating and a little boring for the first hour and a half or so, but I shouldn't have worried about such trivial matters - the ending came, and it made the entire thing pointless AND left me with an even worse taste than I would've already gotten from watching a dysfunctional couple passive-aggressively argue and screw for 90 minutes.
So yeah... A+
Pitch Perfect. Kinda fun. It's amazing to me that they spun a massive pop song out of that little ditty Anna Kendrick does. The guy from Workaholics is perfect.
i not only saw a movie, but i saw one in the theater!!!!11 grandma was in town and made us go out while she watched the boy. i wasn't gungho about anything in particular, so it ended up being between don jon and gravity. obviously i went with the latter as the former seemed just fine for DVD.
and yes, it was pretty frickin' good. "fraught with tension" is right. jane had to leave for a few minutes in the middle of the movie to calm herself down a little. besides a little bit of questionable science
the biggest being that clooney's momentum (or lack thereof) would not drag her with him. all she had to do is tug the line a little and he would have come right back. i'm fine with a little bit of fudging, but not on such a basic principle that has such drastic consequence on the story line
I was pretty sure that Clooney wasn't actually there, but was pretty happy to be proven right.
I would say that it's a "must see", but also a "watch this in a movie theater". However, I didn't see it in 3D. I hear that it was revolutionary, but... you all know my view on that technology. For those that may have seen it as such, I ask. Was it, in fact, revolutionary?
besides that big one, it wasn't so egregious to ruin it, no. and the parts they got right (which was the majority of it) were very impressive.
i heard similar things and really wanted to watch it in 3D (as i still haven't seen anything in it), but jane is prone to headaches and motion sickness, so we agreed to just got 2D.
I don't care how revolutionary a movie in 3D might seem, I feel you guys did the right thing by avoiding it. We must kill this awful menace soon before it causes any more harm.
i'm curious enough to see it once at least. and if so, might as well do it for a good one.
I saw it in IMAX 3D yesterday. First time seeing such a thing. I think it enhanced the movie and I'm not sure I would have liked it all that much without it. I found Bullocks character unsympathetic (and not developed enough) to carry the movie. This was mostly the effects for me.
IMAX is a whole different beast, though, and one I agree can add to a movie since it actually does make you feel "in" the thing. Regular old 3D, though, can go away yesterday.
even with IMAX, I'm pretty much opposed to 3D, unless it is a nature flick a la Soarin' Over California. It is gimmickry. I am holding out for Star Wars-style holograms.
I love that attraction. It's the only thing we did twice when we went there a couple of years ago.
J & I are planning to return to LA for AX again next year, and we're bringing another friend. She wants to go to Disney, but I assume we'll have been full up of standing in lines and spending a lot of money after the con. That being said, this sounds so cool I almost want to go to do just this.
I found Bullocks character unsympathetic (and not developed enough) to carry the movie. This was mostly the effects for me.
yeah, i can definitely agree with that. the whole back story felt pretty hung on, but it wasn't essential to the "plot" so it was acceptable enough.
I went to it in 3D on opening night and saw it in 2D two nights later. I don't think it added all that much to the film. Honestly, I think seeing it on a giant screen added the most to the movie. I agree that the back story and stuff didn't need to be there, and honestly I probably could've done with even less dialog but I assume that it would not be the giant hit it has been without that, so...
I'm not reading the spoilers because I plan to see the movie, but yesterday Sheenie and I were at the newer Air & Space Museum (not the one on the mall, but the one out by Dulles Airport). They have the Space Shuttle Discovery on display, and while walking through the space wing I heard a guide pointing and explaining exactly how the movie Gravity theoretically could have happened. He was a pro (like Wayne Jarvis) because he did not show any disdain or frustration about being asked about a fiction movie for what was probably the thousandth time in the last month.
yeah, i thought the main reason that everything unfolded the way it did was a bit far-fetched, but i later found out that it's a very real possibility (though, still, some liberties were taken in the movie).
also, i appreciate his efforts. whatever it takes to get people interested in science.
I thought the pop song came before Kendrick's version??
Movie came out in 2012, all of the song's radio success has been in 2013.
Though if you meant that the song existed previously, it certainly did, but Anna Kendrick's version did not, and that's the version that's been everywhere over the past few months.
TV Programs that I watched this month:
Scandal. Still absurd and logic-offensive. Still fun.
Parks and Recreation. The last season was still a blast, and this season, while not quite at the peaks of season three and four, is still in line with the show's standing as my favorite TV comedy ever. There are still three or four big laughs to be had every single episode. Even the Office's second and third seasons didn't hit like that.
Modern Family: I really, really liked the first two seasons, but my God, this show needs to go away. It's obvious that everyone hates each other. Whereas the show had a spark of joy and goodness every so often back in the day, no it is essentially the "watch Cam and Mitchell hate each other" show. Every time the advert comes on and ABC mentions how it's won a million "Best Comedy" Emmys, Linds and I just shake our heads.
Revenge started back up. The third season seems like it's going to be a lot better than the second.
I start on Archer's fourth season, since I had recorded it. It's still great the whole way through.
i haven't really been wowed by the P&R i've seen so far (at least, not in reference to their previous work), but it's still pretty good.
How much have you seen? That's a fairly vital question, because after the first season, Linds and I were pretty take it or leave it, but it built steam from there.
It certainly seems like that writing staff has a tough time introducing characters, because a lot of the early episodes of Parks and Rec had a lot of the issues that the first season of The Office suffered from.
oh no, i'm current up to a week before last. seasons (last episode of) 1-5 were golden. the london episode was good enough, but i just wasn't really feeling the next two as much.
Ah, I forget that I was, as of last year, the only person on this site that hadn't seen every episode.
Well, I got nothin' for ya, then.
Not the only person.
i was one of those too. i started watching about when mid-way through the 5th was airing.
Saw it for the first time this weekend. Ever.
My wife has been watching Scandal, but I don't think I will join her. From what I've seen, it seems like the situations are too ridiculous and the acting seemed wooden. But, its always good for my wife to have something to watch that I don't need to be there for in those situations where she's feeding the bauble in the middle of the night.
Season 4 of Parks and Rec is finally up on the Netflix, so I get to enjoy that. I agree with your assessment as the greatest comedy ever.
And yeah, I gave up on Modern Family after season 2 as well, although I don't always change the channel right away if its a Ty Burrell scene, because he will alway be great.
I am quite certain that Ty Burrell is the only reason Linds and I still watch that show.
Scandal is soapy as hell. I've recently found out that I have a weakness for certain soapy shows, so it works. When it's working, it's just so.... ridiculous. I can like that.
I don't watch Modern Family very often (that's the mrs' queue, not mine), but these comments surprise me. Most of the episodes I've seen have been quite funny.
On the other hand, I sometimes enjoy Family Circus, so my taste may be suspect.
I think if you jump into Modern Family right now you'd never understand why anyone would complain about it. However, seasons one and two were miles ahead of what's come since.
I watched the first couple of episodes of P&R this weekend (Amazon Prime!!!!1111!!).
The first season and a half is pretty uneven, but if you make it to midway through season 2 the payoff is incredible.
very true. i've never laughed out loud like an idiot by myself so much before.
I have a gif of that bookmarked at work in case something is annoying new and i need cheering up.
Which one?
I actually have both of the important Ron Swanson gifs, but I'm assuming they were talking about the cheesburger incident, which had me laughing uncontrollably for twenty minutes after that episode ended.
Heh. I considered that one, but dismissed it, since I didn't recall it being as funny as it actually is.
the one that will always make me laugh is Ron Swanson's drunken dance at the Snakehole lounge.
That was my other bookmarked gif, but I can't find it on this computer, sadly.
Yup. That one is awesome.
Can't think of movies I've watched except Oblivion, which visually was very nice. Not that original, but still entertaining. Had to work to overlook Tom Cruise.
So far I've given Marvel Agents of SHIELD and Sleepy Hollow a try from the new season of shows. Sleepy Hollow looks like a nice replacement for Fringe, but AoS is going to have to improve. Nov. 4 is when Almost Human debuts -- yes, it's an I, Robot (and Alien Nation) type clone but I'll give it a try.
Nov. 1 -- Ender's Game If you haven't read the book, DO IT
I watched the first episode of Sleepy Hollow and was reasonably entertained. I haven't seen any since, though, because of kids, but it seemed like fun, absurdist sci-fi, which is ok by me.
I'm getting a little excited for Ender's Game, and I don't get excited for movies. And yes, READ THE BOOK!
I have read the book. I really, really like it. For this reason, I'm getting worried about the movie (though I'll obviously watch it, because I'm a part of the problem, not the solution).
Nov. 4 is when Almost Human debuts -- yes, it's an I, Robot (and Alien Nation type clone) but I'll give it a try.
Ditto. The wife and I are skeptical but are going to give it a try anyway.
Yeah, I'll probably give it a try (or at least record a few episodes, see the middling reviews and never watch them, before deleting them off the DVR to repeat the process on some other interesting-looking show).
I personally liked the movie, so if it's an extension of that, more or less, that's fine with me. Good casting too.
I've read the book, but I'm setting my "get ready for it" date to be whenever the DVD is released, because I'm stubborn.
i will be re-reading the book (again) before i see the movie, but i'm not holding out much hope for it.
Even Orson Scott Card says it won't (can't) be like the book, but I'd still like to see it as a good movie. It certainly hasn't suffered from John Carter's misguided PR.
Aye to that latter point.
ditto on AOS. It has been a disappointment so far. Although they continue to feature Chloe Bennet's hooters, so it should hang on to the 10-18 male demographic for a while.
Hmm... that's disappointing. The show has, thus far, been on the "record and forget to watch" list. I'll have to make a move sometime soon and see how it is.
It would have struggled to meet expectations no matter what. But the stories to date have been pedestrian.
Oh, and I watched season one of Game of Thrones and have 2 more eps of season two to finish.
I picked up Ender's Game last week and finished it in 2 days...I hope the movie is even half as enjoyable.*
Though the 'creation of a religion' ending felt tacked on and I don't quite understand the interstellar travel/anti-aging stuff.
I'd encourage you to read Speaker for the Dead and Ender's Shadow next, ASAP. The former for getting a better handle on the thing you mention in the spoiler (allegedly, Speaker was the book Card "really" wanted to write when he side-tracked to turn a short story/novella into Ender's Game); the latter for gaining additional perspective on Ender's Game itself.
They're certainly on the radar.
Saw Moonrise Kingdom. Endearing movie. Love the kids. Like every other Anderson movie, it feels a little too cold at times.
Otherwise just been showing movies I love to my wife for the first time. The Sting, Bad News Bears, and [Rec] have been hits.
I still need to see [Rec].
Me too.
every other Anderson movie
Excepting Mr. Fox?
Also, this weekend, I saw the pilot for 30 Rock. This is the first time I've ever seen this show, too.
Not much viewing here. Finished through Season 4 of Breaking Bad.
Finding it really hard to gather the momentum to start Season 5. I know there are loose ends to be tied up (including the fairly large "law enforcement" one) and that new issues will be introduced, but... I don't know that I want to see any of those things.
I enjoyed both Wreck-It Ralph and Epic.
If we ever have a fifth, it'll be hard to keep "Vanellope" off my girl-name list.
This is here now.
you do realize that this is the third monday, right? so why is this post here already????
I watched about five minutes of Bloodrayne: The Third Reich last night on some movie channel, which was more than long enough for me to realize that (a) it was terminally stupid and (b) I really didn't have an excuse for not going to bed. Why do investors continue to finance Uwe Boll's dreck?
I mean, seriously. His HIGHEST rated movie (I won't disrespect the term "film") on rotten tomatoes pulls in only a 25 pct fresh rating, or roughly the percentage of Americans who claim to have been anally probed by aliens.
from his Repository bio:
This made me laugh. Actors gotta eat, I guess. (Ben Kingsley, in particular, has taken on a seemingly disproportionately high number of schlock roles in his career, despite some iconic roles)
you do realize that this is the third monday, right? so why is this post here already????
I think it's been months to a year since it's been late, actually. Granted, I often forget about it until the very day, so my content in the post is...light.
You were eight days late in April, though the first of the month was a Monday. Also a day late in January and two days late in November and September of last year. Also I ruined your mojo in July. Time to check how that compares to the monthly Book post.
Eh, I'll take it. I remember you ruining my mojo on a day I couldn't be there.
The Book posts have been punctual this year. October's was late a day, but I did that on purpose. Last year almost missed October completely: it was three weeks late. July's just didn't happen at all.
punctual only because I've asked for pinch hitters frequently 🙂
13 Going On 30: Date night...sigh. Think Big but with Jennifer Garner in place of Tom Hanks...and not nearly as interesting or clever. Not by half. I do like Mark Ruffalo and don't mind Garner so it wasn't terrible. 6/10
Oblivion: I didn't see the plot twist coming, but that doesn't mean anything about this was really a surprise. 5/10
His Girl Friday: Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell and directed by Howard Hawks - I was expecting more from this, but I suppose fast-paced and funny is sufficient, even if I don't really care about anyone involved. 6/10
Archangel (Pts 1 & 2): Made for television movie starring Daniels Craig post Layer Cake and pre Casino Royale as a history professor in Russia looking into Stalin mysteries. 6/10 so far
Walking Dead - Season 4, Episodes 1 & 2: still entertaining enough to keep me coming back. 6/10
Breaking Bad - Season 2, Episodes 8 & 9: Wow. It's getting so I have to pace myself, these are so intense. 7.5/10
I saw 13 Going on 30 with my wife early on in our relationship. It didn't totally suck, but I ended up being pretty bugged by one thing. I'll spoiler it for some reason.
Breaking Bad will just get better.
Breaking Bad will just get better.
Boy will it ever. If you thought you needed to pace yourself in season 2, CoC, it might take you awhile to finish the rest.
Spooky:
We'll continue to work through Breaking Bad - it's such a challenge to only watch 1 or 2 that we typically have to budget a free evening, which are in short supply.
Oh, I got where it was going - I just think a better movie would have devised a plan to have their cake and eat it too.
That's certainly fair. Considering my choices were variations of Sixteen Candles, Dirty Dancing or this, I'd say I made out alright.
Oh, GOSH yes.
Previously unbeknownst to me, my wife has an Amazon Prime membership. I watched all three seasons of Downton Abbey.
It's sooooooo manipulative, but it gets me almost every time, probably because the acting and direction are so strong. I very much doubt that DOOL has writing that strong (and certainly the acting can't compare, unless daytime soaps have changed in the fifteen years since I dated someone who watched them).
Well, yeah, but DOOL does 5 hours a week. DA does about 10 hours a year.
I did enjoy it, for sure. I like the middle daughter. She's a hoot.
The daughters are great. I celebrate all of them, for very different character-based reasons.
And, yeah, I know actors are put into hopeless situations on daytime TV. There's no time to re-shoot much of anything, so almost everything makes the airwaves. It's no picnic for the writers, either, who have to drag out a single conversation for two weeks just to give a couple of characters something to do while the focus is on others.
I was disappointed when the eldest daughter didn't have mostly white, mood-altered hair.
Oh, but I will say that one thing that I love seeing is a panel of soap actors answering questions for fans. One day at work this past month, it had been left on CBS and one of the daytime talk shows had a full recurring cast for one of their soaps. The whole thing was hilarious. The women in the audience just kept asking questions about what the characters were going to do long after it had been established that the actors had absolutely no idea. Finally one brave woman asked an attractive black cast member to take off his shirt, and it devolved from there. Great, train-wreck stuff.
Yeah, the show has balls, for sure. No easy answers. I appreciate that.
In spite of the sudsy and ridiculous plot turns, I've enjoyed that program very much. The Abbey (and surrounding grounds) alone make for a visual feast. It's like a bunch of Sargent paintings come to life.
All that everyone's said.
I describe Downton Abbey as a soap opera, but with good writing and acting.
I finished Breaking Bad this weekend.
Also, it feels frickin great to be able to discuss the show with everyone. Thank you, friend's Amazon Prime account.
Let's see, I watched Les Mis last week. I was totally blown away by Hugh Jackman. I've also had the music stuck in my head.
Finished up The Shield. I don't think it ever really recovered from when the godawful Forrest Whitaker season. The final season of Breaking Bad (which was frequently compared to The Shield) was miles better (which isn't exactly fair to The Shield because the final season of BB was OMFG!!!!eleventy2!!).
Sheenie and I are through almost two seasons of The West Wing and I find it enjoyable enough. It's not tooooo preachy.
Is anyone else watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine? I have to say I managed to avoid being exposed to too much Andy Samberg in the last few years, so I don't find him annoying yet, but they're walking a fine line (much like early P&R with the annoying Leslie Knope) and may need to dial back his character. Andre Braugher is still the greatest.
The Bridge was a complete disaster mid-season with a completely uninteresting serial killer and ridiculously contrived plots. The reboot for season 2 "looks" promising, but it also is the premise that season 1 was claiming to explore (the dead girls of Juarez), so we'll see how much slack I'll give them.
I haven't seen Brookyln Nine-Nine, but I know what you mean with characters like that. You establish them as unbearable, so even after you pull back, the audience still thinks of them as unbearable so when you need to tell a story surrounding that fact, they buy in.
I've been considering that one just because I haven't watched a lot of sitcoms in recent years, but I just don't know.
I saw a couple of episodes and found myself to be pretty much completely bored and struggling to find laughs. I've also had no prior Andy Samberg experience, so I didn't have any preconceived notions about him, but I now think I dislike the guy.
I have very little frame of reference for him, but haven't really been into much of what I've seen.
Samberg has my begrudging respect, if only for marrying the enchanting Joanna Newsom.
yup, that's about what i know of him. they must be fun to hang out with at parties.
I saw you post this earlier and I was definitely bummed out. I'm really surprised the show didn't pick up for you after "Postpartum." I found the stuff with Kavanaugh to be not great, but it did do a good job of setting up the end game of the series. I think BB definitely did some stuff better than The Shield, but I found the ending of The Shield miles ahead of Breaking Bad's.
I had this ridiculous month where I watched a lot of TV solely out of habit. I caught up to the end of season 3 of The Walking Dead, which I rarely liked in the first two seasons (though the third season was much better, primarily because
The writing team is finally bringing dangling threads to the forefront and not just ignoring them, like the show did early on when the episodes were freelanced out and there was nobody keeping it all together.
Yesterday the Milkmaid and I watched 12 episodes of How I Met Your Mother. That show has slipped so far I don't know why we did that, although there was enough good content for 2-3 episodes, and I'm still curious to see the ending. Kudos to them for making me feel that way, I guess.
I also nearly finished with season 8 of The Office. It's not as bad as the folks who really hate it at this point say it is, but it does seem like the writers are doing an impression of the show, and not actually doing the show. They constantly recycle plots and character moments from the early seasons, just with different characters. Again, I find myself needing to reach the end, just because I'm so close.
I did watch the two opening episodes of season two of Game of Thrones, so it wasn't all self-mutilation. The season is opening slowly after all the fire near the end of season one, but it's never dull and the dialogue is brilliant. I have the next couple of episodes ready to go and expect to watch them today.
The writing team is finally bringing dangling threads to the forefront and not just ignoring them
You mean you didn't love the pace of set up something interesting, then immediately follow it with two episodes where people yak about their love interests for the entire episode? Getting through season 2 was a mighty chore so I haven't started with 3 yet, but I've heard it's far, far, far better.
It may as well be a different show. The show still tackles all these issues between characters, as I think it should, but the pacing is much better, unnecessary pieces are moved out, and there's always something bringing you to the next episode (and more often than not, the viewer's investment is rewarded, unlike with the first two seasons). The dialogue is even a bit better, though it's not among the greats by any means. It's well-shot - something I didn't believe early, particularly with all the poorly-lit action scenes - so there's that, too. The villain is more cartoonish than a zombie, but in a show about zombies, I guess that's alright.
I've only seen through season 2...
Yes, it was mind-blowing. What an ending.
If you have time, I'd say go for Season 3 - it's well worth the effort of slogging through that second season.
I bailed midway through season 2 and don't plan to return.
The third season of the Walking Dead is vastly superior (and seems to be bringing that momentum into Season 4), though the show still has the same issues that it always has (and always will, I'm sure). It's hard to provide drama without a villain, it's hard to provide true threat without people dying, but you can't kill too many main characters, but if you're killing characters that we haven't met (and no, one episode of "hey, guys, this is Steve, I'm sure we'll get along great, and I'm sure he won't die anytime soon" doesn't count as getting to know someone), then there's no emotional connection.
However, the show has found ways around that issue, and with more and more people watching, the budget gets bigger, which means that we get to have more and better looking zombies, which isn't a bad thing.
On killing off lesser characters (season three spoilers abound):
I agree on every count there.
Third season was much, much better. Remove some crappy characters, add in a villain that's not a undead mindless eating machine, get some other characters worked in- they'll need another season like that to remove the rest of the blech of season two from my memory, but it's a good start.
I finished off the last episode of Burn Notice last night. Sure, it was formulaic and often contrived, but I enjoyed it and Sam Axe's chin.
Gravity was amazing. Full stop.
One of Lindsey's co-workers said she was bored, so I was a little apprehensive. I literally do not believe I've ever seen a less boring movie. It is fraught with tension from minute one to credits roll. I never would have believed I'd like a Sandra Bullock movie this much.
TwentyNine Palms: I'm not sure why I watched this, other than the fact that I found it on my hard drive and was testing out a new PS3 media server application. Holy cats, was this pretentious twaddle. Even getting past the fact that I couldn't understand a word anyone was saying (part of the point, I suppose, either that, or this was aimed only at people who speak French, English and Russian. It didn't have subtitled, but again... this is not the problem I had with the movie). It's merely irritating and a little boring for the first hour and a half or so, but I shouldn't have worried about such trivial matters - the ending came, and it made the entire thing pointless AND left me with an even worse taste than I would've already gotten from watching a dysfunctional couple passive-aggressively argue and screw for 90 minutes.
So yeah... A+
Pitch Perfect. Kinda fun. It's amazing to me that they spun a massive pop song out of that little ditty Anna Kendrick does. The guy from Workaholics is perfect.
i not only saw a movie, but i saw one in the theater!!!!11 grandma was in town and made us go out while she watched the boy. i wasn't gungho about anything in particular, so it ended up being between don jon and gravity. obviously i went with the latter as the former seemed just fine for DVD.
and yes, it was pretty frickin' good. "fraught with tension" is right. jane had to leave for a few minutes in the middle of the movie to calm herself down a little. besides a little bit of questionable science
and one moment that had me worried for the plot
, it was indeed an extremely well-done movie.
and yeah, bullock was actually serviceable in her role.
Yeah, the questionable science almost derailed that scene for me, as well. Suspension of disbelief won out, though.
I would say that it's a "must see", but also a "watch this in a movie theater". However, I didn't see it in 3D. I hear that it was revolutionary, but... you all know my view on that technology. For those that may have seen it as such, I ask. Was it, in fact, revolutionary?
besides that big one, it wasn't so egregious to ruin it, no. and the parts they got right (which was the majority of it) were very impressive.
i heard similar things and really wanted to watch it in 3D (as i still haven't seen anything in it), but jane is prone to headaches and motion sickness, so we agreed to just got 2D.
I don't care how revolutionary a movie in 3D might seem, I feel you guys did the right thing by avoiding it. We must kill this awful menace soon before it causes any more harm.
i'm curious enough to see it once at least. and if so, might as well do it for a good one.
I saw it in IMAX 3D yesterday. First time seeing such a thing. I think it enhanced the movie and I'm not sure I would have liked it all that much without it. I found Bullocks character unsympathetic (and not developed enough) to carry the movie. This was mostly the effects for me.
IMAX is a whole different beast, though, and one I agree can add to a movie since it actually does make you feel "in" the thing. Regular old 3D, though, can go away yesterday.
even with IMAX, I'm pretty much opposed to 3D, unless it is a nature flick a la Soarin' Over California. It is gimmickry. I am holding out for Star Wars-style holograms.
I love that attraction. It's the only thing we did twice when we went there a couple of years ago.
J & I are planning to return to LA for AX again next year, and we're bringing another friend. She wants to go to Disney, but I assume we'll have been full up of standing in lines and spending a lot of money after the con. That being said, this sounds so cool I almost want to go to do just this.
I found Bullocks character unsympathetic (and not developed enough) to carry the movie. This was mostly the effects for me.
yeah, i can definitely agree with that. the whole back story felt pretty hung on, but it wasn't essential to the "plot" so it was acceptable enough.
I went to it in 3D on opening night and saw it in 2D two nights later. I don't think it added all that much to the film. Honestly, I think seeing it on a giant screen added the most to the movie. I agree that the back story and stuff didn't need to be there, and honestly I probably could've done with even less dialog but I assume that it would not be the giant hit it has been without that, so...
I'm not reading the spoilers because I plan to see the movie, but yesterday Sheenie and I were at the newer Air & Space Museum (not the one on the mall, but the one out by Dulles Airport). They have the Space Shuttle Discovery on display, and while walking through the space wing I heard a guide pointing and explaining exactly how the movie Gravity theoretically could have happened. He was a pro (like Wayne Jarvis) because he did not show any disdain or frustration about being asked about a fiction movie for what was probably the thousandth time in the last month.
yeah, i thought the main reason that everything unfolded the way it did was a bit far-fetched, but i later found out that it's a very real possibility (though, still, some liberties were taken in the movie).
also, i appreciate his efforts. whatever it takes to get people interested in science.
I thought the pop song came before Kendrick's version??
Movie came out in 2012, all of the song's radio success has been in 2013.
Though if you meant that the song existed previously, it certainly did, but Anna Kendrick's version did not, and that's the version that's been everywhere over the past few months.
TV Programs that I watched this month:
Scandal. Still absurd and logic-offensive. Still fun.
Parks and Recreation. The last season was still a blast, and this season, while not quite at the peaks of season three and four, is still in line with the show's standing as my favorite TV comedy ever. There are still three or four big laughs to be had every single episode. Even the Office's second and third seasons didn't hit like that.
Modern Family: I really, really liked the first two seasons, but my God, this show needs to go away. It's obvious that everyone hates each other. Whereas the show had a spark of joy and goodness every so often back in the day, no it is essentially the "watch Cam and Mitchell hate each other" show. Every time the advert comes on and ABC mentions how it's won a million "Best Comedy" Emmys, Linds and I just shake our heads.
Revenge started back up. The third season seems like it's going to be a lot better than the second.
I start on Archer's fourth season, since I had recorded it. It's still great the whole way through.
i haven't really been wowed by the P&R i've seen so far (at least, not in reference to their previous work), but it's still pretty good.
How much have you seen? That's a fairly vital question, because after the first season, Linds and I were pretty take it or leave it, but it built steam from there.
It certainly seems like that writing staff has a tough time introducing characters, because a lot of the early episodes of Parks and Rec had a lot of the issues that the first season of The Office suffered from.
oh no, i'm current up to a week before last. seasons (last episode of) 1-5 were golden. the london episode was good enough, but i just wasn't really feeling the next two as much.
Ah, I forget that I was, as of last year, the only person on this site that hadn't seen every episode.
Well, I got nothin' for ya, then.
Not the only person.
i was one of those too. i started watching about when mid-way through the 5th was airing.
Saw it for the first time this weekend. Ever.
My wife has been watching Scandal, but I don't think I will join her. From what I've seen, it seems like the situations are too ridiculous and the acting seemed wooden. But, its always good for my wife to have something to watch that I don't need to be there for in those situations where she's feeding the bauble in the middle of the night.
Season 4 of Parks and Rec is finally up on the Netflix, so I get to enjoy that. I agree with your assessment as the greatest comedy ever.
And yeah, I gave up on Modern Family after season 2 as well, although I don't always change the channel right away if its a Ty Burrell scene, because he will alway be great.
I am quite certain that Ty Burrell is the only reason Linds and I still watch that show.
Scandal is soapy as hell. I've recently found out that I have a weakness for certain soapy shows, so it works. When it's working, it's just so.... ridiculous. I can like that.
I don't watch Modern Family very often (that's the mrs' queue, not mine), but these comments surprise me. Most of the episodes I've seen have been quite funny.
I think if you jump into Modern Family right now you'd never understand why anyone would complain about it. However, seasons one and two were miles ahead of what's come since.
I watched the first couple of episodes of P&R this weekend (Amazon Prime!!!!1111!!).
The first season and a half is pretty uneven, but if you make it to midway through season 2 the payoff is incredible.
very true. i've never laughed out loud like an idiot by myself so much before.
I have a gif of that bookmarked at work in case something is annoying new and i need cheering up.
Which one?
I actually have both of the important Ron Swanson gifs, but I'm assuming they were talking about the cheesburger incident, which had me laughing uncontrollably for twenty minutes after that episode ended.
Now I'm embarrassed to be blanking. Episode?
This might be the better way to do it.
Heh. I considered that one, but dismissed it, since I didn't recall it being as funny as it actually is.
the one that will always make me laugh is Ron Swanson's drunken dance at the Snakehole lounge.
That was my other bookmarked gif, but I can't find it on this computer, sadly.
Yup. That one is awesome.
Can't think of movies I've watched except Oblivion, which visually was very nice. Not that original, but still entertaining. Had to work to overlook Tom Cruise.
So far I've given Marvel Agents of SHIELD and Sleepy Hollow a try from the new season of shows. Sleepy Hollow looks like a nice replacement for Fringe, but AoS is going to have to improve. Nov. 4 is when Almost Human debuts -- yes, it's an I, Robot (and Alien Nation) type clone but I'll give it a try.
Nov. 1 -- Ender's Game If you haven't read the book, DO IT
I watched the first episode of Sleepy Hollow and was reasonably entertained. I haven't seen any since, though, because of kids, but it seemed like fun, absurdist sci-fi, which is ok by me.
I'm getting a little excited for Ender's Game, and I don't get excited for movies. And yes, READ THE BOOK!
I have read the book. I really, really like it. For this reason, I'm getting worried about the movie (though I'll obviously watch it, because I'm a part of the problem, not the solution).
Nov. 4 is when Almost Human debuts -- yes, it's an I, Robot (and Alien Nation type clone) but I'll give it a try.
Ditto. The wife and I are skeptical but are going to give it a try anyway.
Yeah, I'll probably give it a try (or at least record a few episodes, see the middling reviews and never watch them, before deleting them off the DVR to repeat the process on some other interesting-looking show).
I personally liked the movie, so if it's an extension of that, more or less, that's fine with me. Good casting too.
I've read the book, but I'm setting my "get ready for it" date to be whenever the DVD is released, because I'm stubborn.
i will be re-reading the book (again) before i see the movie, but i'm not holding out much hope for it.
Even Orson Scott Card says it won't (can't) be like the book, but I'd still like to see it as a good movie. It certainly hasn't suffered from John Carter's misguided PR.
Aye to that latter point.
ditto on AOS. It has been a disappointment so far. Although they continue to feature Chloe Bennet's hooters, so it should hang on to the 10-18 male demographic for a while.
Hmm... that's disappointing. The show has, thus far, been on the "record and forget to watch" list. I'll have to make a move sometime soon and see how it is.
It would have struggled to meet expectations no matter what. But the stories to date have been pedestrian.
Oh, and I watched season one of Game of Thrones and have 2 more eps of season two to finish.
I picked up Ender's Game last week and finished it in 2 days...I hope the movie is even half as enjoyable.*
*
I'd encourage you to read Speaker for the Dead and Ender's Shadow next, ASAP. The former for getting a better handle on the thing you mention in the spoiler (allegedly, Speaker was the book Card "really" wanted to write when he side-tracked to turn a short story/novella into Ender's Game); the latter for gaining additional perspective on Ender's Game itself.
They're certainly on the radar.
Saw Moonrise Kingdom. Endearing movie. Love the kids. Like every other Anderson movie, it feels a little too cold at times.
Otherwise just been showing movies I love to my wife for the first time. The Sting, Bad News Bears, and [Rec] have been hits.
I still need to see [Rec].
Me too.
every other Anderson movie
Excepting Mr. Fox?
Also, this weekend, I saw the pilot for 30 Rock. This is the first time I've ever seen this show, too.
Not much viewing here. Finished through Season 4 of Breaking Bad.
Finding it really hard to gather the momentum to start Season 5. I know there are loose ends to be tied up (including the fairly large "law enforcement" one) and that new issues will be introduced, but... I don't know that I want to see any of those things.
I enjoyed both Wreck-It Ralph and Epic.
If we ever have a fifth, it'll be hard to keep "Vanellope" off my girl-name list.