What movies or TV shows are you watching now?

[giddyup]

Just started watching the new season of the popular Irish crime drama Love/Hate. Excellent show!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvMkcoQr7K8

I agree. Just finished downloading Series 2, 3, 4 as I only caught the first series on TV. Pity they killed off Aidan Gillen as the crime boss, he was brilliant.

[Frank James]

I was a big fan of early 1960's British social realist films...The L-Shaped Room; Room at the Top; Saturday Night and Sunday Morning; Look Back in Anger; This Sporting Life; and my all-time favorite The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner. These sorts of films apparently went out of style, or perhaps couldn't get funding. The only filmmaker keeping that tradition alive that I know of is Ken Loach. Gary Oldham gave it a shot with Nil by Mouth, but that one was so nasty and mean spirited I had to quit after a half hour. Michael Caine in Harry Browne came close.

Just watched a good one that goes a little way toward reviving that great tradition, called Wasteland. A group of young semi-slackers from Leeds hatch a plot to knock over the kingdom of the local drug kingpin. It's a low budget "heist" film, told in an interesting way. The young unknown troupe of actors are all very good, and veteran character actor Timothy Spall anchors things as a compassionate policeman. Can't wait to see him in the new "Turner" film.

I had to struggle with the accents of the supporting cast. Fortunately the interview scenes between Spall and the young ringleader are clearly spoken. The only "bad" thing about the film is the unfortunate choice of title. Wasteland? Signifies nothing relating to the film that I can see.

A very worthy effort. Support your independent filmmakers when they do great work like this.

8-1/2

[giddyup]

I was a big fan of early 1960's British social realist films...The L-Shaped Room; Room at the Top; Saturday Night and Sunday Morning; Look Back in Anger; This Sporting Life; and my all-time favorite The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner. These sorts of films apparently went out of style, or perhaps couldn't get funding. The only filmmaker keeping that tradition alive that I know of is Ken Loach. Gary Oldham gave it a shot with Nil by Mouth, but that one was so nasty and mean spirited I had to quit after a half hour. Michael Caine in Harry Browne came close.

Just watched a good one that goes a little way toward reviving that great tradition, called Wasteland. A group of young semi-slackers from Leeds hatch a plot to knock over the kingdom of the local drug kingpin. It's a low budget "heist" film, told in an interesting way. The young unknown troupe of actors are all very good, and veteran character actor Timothy Spall anchors things as a compassionate policeman. Can't wait to see him in the new "Turner" film.

I had to struggle with the accents of the supporting cast. Fortunately the interview scenes between Spall and the young ringleader are clearly spoken. The only "bad" thing about the film is the unfortunate choice of title. Wasteland? Signifies nothing relating to the film that I can see.

A very worthy effort. Support your independent filmmakers when they do great work like this.

8-1/2

Wasteland is also known as The Rise.

[Frank James]

Part 3 of "Page Eight: Salting the Battlefield" was for me a mild letdown, as they wrapped things up. It was almost enough to watch the tender scenes between Johnny and Margo. Judy Davis observes that Johnny (Bill Nighy, playing the role to perfection) is better at falling in love, than being in love.

Ralph Fiennes does a great job as the Prime Minister. The consummate politician, unfazed by scandal. Who did he model this role on?

This is another series where you've just got to suspend your quibbles, in favor of enjoying the great style and pace. Don't worry your head over how:

Johnny stays on the run for months, easily evading the all-out manhunt by MI5. Where does he get his money? He rents cars, buys tickets, pays for rooms, gets fake passports, etc. You just can't do that stuff without valid credit cards. He passes in and out of airports. With his distinctive face and way of moving, it seems they would be able to track him quite easily. And how does Rollo not get found out?

Still, it's a very enjoyable series. Hope to see Mr. Worricker again, and Margo (Helena Bonham Carter, what a fine lady!) too.

[BookMan]

Just finished the series finale of Legends, and it ended interestingly, and seems more and more like the Bourne Identity. It was not riveting viewing, but my kinda show and got 57% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Do I think it will be renewed? Possibly, on the strength of Sean Bean. I surely hope so because I enjoyed that first season.

I liked it, except the last episode he was beaten to a pulp, but by the same evening, all he had was a slight split lip

I enjoyed Legends...and thanks for reminding me to watch the last episode of the season!

[BookMan]

Part 3 of "Page Eight: Salting the Battlefield" was for me a mild letdown, as they wrapped things up. It was almost enough to watch the tender scenes between Johnny and Margo. Judy Davis observes that Johnny (Bill Nighy, playing the role to perfection) is better at falling in love, than being in love.

Ralph Fiennes does a great job as the Prime Minister. The consummate politician, unfazed by scandal. Who did he model this role on?

This is another series where you've just got to suspend your quibbles, in favor of enjoying the great style and pace. Don't worry your head over how:

Johnny stays on the run for months, easily evading the all-out manhunt by MI5. Where does he get his money? He rents cars, buys tickets, pays for rooms, gets fake passports, etc. You just can't do that stuff without valid credit cards. He passes in and out of airports. With his distinctive face and way of moving, it seems they would be able to track him quite easily. And how does Rollo not get found out?

Still, it's a very enjoyable series. Hope to see Mr. Worricker again, and Margo (Helena Bonham Carter, what a fine lady!) too.

I agree with the mild letdown sentiments for part 3.. First two installments were better but overall it was enjoyable

[GrantSmith]

Just finished watching the first episode of The Embassy..

For the most part a typical rundown of how foreigners up in thailand, could've done without the surrogacy issue (probably done because it was a hot topic at the time)

Shows the public what our Aussie diplomats actually do, in case anyone thought they were just here on a working holiday.

Glad I can't watch it 'live' so can flick through the boring parts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BBXHdIQfzw

Edited to add in the youtube link to the full episode, no need to play with Pirates in the Bay...

Edited October 20, 2014 by GrantSmith

[JB300]

Gold Rush Alaska is back [emoji106][emoji4]

[giddyup]

Homeland Series 4.

[keemapoot]

Homeland Series 4.

Not sure if you watched this week's episode, but Carrie used her cougar techniques on that poor med student! Must watch Homeland episode.

[giddyup]

Homeland Series 4.

Not sure if you watched this week's episode, but Carrie used her cougar techniques on that poor med student! Must watch Homeland episode.

No, only watched Episode 1 last night, will watch more tonight.

[keemapoot]

Homeland Series 4.

Not sure if you watched this week's episode, but Carrie used her cougar techniques on that poor med student! Must watch Homeland episode.

No, only watched Episode 1 last night, will watch more tonight.

It's easy to see why she has received almost 10 emmys, golden globes, etc., and been nominated 15 times. She really is an excellent actress.

Edited October 21, 2014 by keemapoot

[giddyup]

Homeland Series 4.

Not sure if you watched this week's episode, but Carrie used her cougar techniques on that poor med student! Must watch Homeland episode.

No, only watched Episode 1 last night, will watch more tonight.

It's easy to see why she has received almost 10 emmys, golden globes, etc., and been nominated 15 times. She really is an excellent actress.

No more Brodie unfortunately. If you want to watch another excellent series (if you haven't already) try Ray Donovan, it's brilliant.

Edited October 21, 2014 by giddyup

[Ulysses G.]

Homeland Series 4.

Not sure if you watched this week's episode, but Carrie used her cougar techniques on that poor med student! Must watch Homeland episode.

I don't find Carrie attractive at all, but she actually got me a little horny when she seduced that poor kid. I got the feeling she just did it out of pure pragmatism as a spy, but that could - and probably will - change.

[keemapoot]

^That is what I meant about Claire Danes superior acting skills. Carrie was obviously looking for a hook to keep the kid at her apartment and as any good spy will do, uses every tool in her toolbox, but unsure if those tools were rusty - with one single look in the mirror at herself (assessing her desirability, age, and the chances should could seduce him and under what pretext) gave an emmy-winning scene performance. No dialogue needed at all.

[StreetCowboy]

I'm watching a re-run of The Big Fish on satellite at the moment...

[irlguy1]

Just started watching the new season of the popular Irish crime drama Love/Hate. Excellent show!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvMkcoQr7K8

I agree. Just finished downloading Series 2, 3, 4 as I only caught the first series on TV. Pity they killed off Aidan Gillen as the crime boss, he was brilliant.

WOULD A FRICKIN SPOILER ALERT WARNING KILL YOU ?

[irlguy1]

Double post

Edited October 21, 2014 by irlguy1

[irlguy1]

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Edited October 21, 2014 by irlguy1

[irlguy1]

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Edited October 21, 2014 by irlguy1

[keemapoot]

Downton Abbey - am loving it!! A couple of years ago i had never watched it. I downloaded the first two series and did a mega watching of them and have been hooked ever since. I never watch it live on a Sunday night ( i hate ad breaks) but download it about an hour later without the ads. Lady Mary is getting a bit raunchy, what?!

And a one night stand no less!!!! Poor King George V must be turning in his grave.

Lady Mary goes Nympho and now her mom, Countess Grantham? What is Carson putting in the afternoon tea for the ladies at Grantham? Anyway, that was a good scrap for the old boy to prove he's still Lord of that manor.

[BookMan]

Caught up with Fury, starring Brad Pitt.

Awesome war action movie. best I have seen since Saving Private Ryan. In fact I liked many aspects of this movie better.

Well worth seeing this one on the big screen

The trailers for this movie really do not do it justice.

8/10 from me.

[i claudius]

Did I mention Plebs before on p bay very funny about 2 young guys and their slave in ancient Rome one works in an office and is called shredder ,guess what his job is

[Frank James]

One more episode left of the Boardwalk Empire. This whole series of eight seems to be structured around showing us what happened to all of the mainstay characters, who we have been watching for five years. Interspersed with this are lengthy digressions to Nucky's childhood and early adulthood, showing us how a poor boy determined to make his way in the early Twentieth Century world of Robber Barons and Unfetterred Rapacity and Greed, gets drawn into the evil orbit of Atlantic City's Godfather, The "Commodore." Nucky is determined to make himself "useful", and rise above his squalid beginnings, and the Commodore grants him his wish, in spades.

The guy who plays Nucky as a young man looks like he could be Steve Buscemi's son. They have fitted him up with Nucky's very imperfect teeth, and he does a fine job as Early Nucky. I wish they had written the Patricia Arquette character into the series much earlier than Season 4. I would have much rather watched her sashay around, swinging those big hips, than to endure the insane doings of Gillian the Junky.

HBO went all out on quality for this production, and stuck with it for a long time. It has earned its place alongside such classics as The Wire, The Borgias, Deadwood, Rome, The Sopranos, and Breaking Bad. I hope Martin Scorsese and Mark Wahlberg will combine talents again for another great project. Congratulations to everyone involved with this series.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

First 2/3 of Gone Girl was very good, then it fell apart at the end.

Next one to see John Wick.

[Frank James]

PS: re Boardwalk...

I just realized rapacity and greed are almost the same thing (after looking it up, as I should have done beforehand, sorry.) However, rapacity drives the greedy person to actively pursue the twisted object of lust and desire. From my reading of history, the super-rich capitalists of that day were about the same as the ones of today, in their drive to acquire, but they had an advantage in that there were relatively few regulations in their way.

By the time Nucky became the Boss of Atlantic City, he had to deal with many more impediments to gathering and keeping power and wealth, starting with the Prohibition Agency, which later morphed into the FBI.

[wolf5370]

Currently watching (or have just finished in some cases):

- Flash: OK, turn brain off and leave running in second monitor

- Sons of Anarchy: Love this show - so sad this is the last season - Gemma is on tenterhooks!

- Vampire Diaries: OK, I'm hooked - started watching it with my kids back in season 1 - now its just me watching it (kids gave up on it after ssn 2!). I just enjoy it, so deal

- Originals: Slightly more grown up version of VD (erm that's Vampire Diaries ) - offshoot. Enjoy it.

- Peaky Blinders: (I understand this may be hard to watch for non-Brits due to the accents - but believe me they are really mild compared to reality - especially back then!). Second series continues. Based on truth drama about post WW1 (ex soldiers actually) violent gang in England (Birmingham) - Peaky Blinders used to sew razor blades into their peaked caps as weapons (they learned to fight with them), hence the name! Some slightly (to quite) ropey accents - especially the Irish ones - but forgivable after a fashion.

- Detectorists: British comedy (may be a bit too subtle or British for some!) - about a couple of metal detector enthusiast who get permission to detect on farm land that is thought to be (locally at least) an old Saxon king's last resting place - and possibly where the mad farmer buried his wife! Bigger, more affiliated, and quasi-evil competing detectorist club trying hard to nudge in on the hunt - with some underhandedness to boot. Some love triangles are in there too. Strange ide for a plot - but works well and is quite funny IMO.

- The Great Fire: Mini-series showing the Great Fire of London as a drama - with lots of spy intrigue, foolish people in authority, and drama. Some big(ish) names in the line up. First episode was good - introducing the characters and setting the scene. Very much worth the watch!

- The 100: Just started again on season 2. Not sure yet, keep you posted. I did enjoy season 1 though, even though many didn't - so I think a "Marmite" show perhaps . Can't say much without spoilers on the opener, so leave it at that.

- Chicago PD: Love this searies (although I don't watch Chicago Fire as I find it slushy, man-meat viewing, i.e. aimed at the fairer sex, and not my cup of Rosie). Episode 5 (ssn2) the best so far I think

- Arrow: Like the Flash (which is actually an offshoot anyway). Second monitor, background affair. OK, but no need to concentrate on it in any way.

- Stalker: I like this new series. Some very flawed, but quite brilliant, cops (that actually seem to dislike each other to varying degrees). Good so far.

- Ink Master: Always watch this show. Not the best line up this year though - only 2 or 3 good tattooist (one or two we have seen before in earlier seasons too) - but OK.

- Face Off: Another comp. show I like. Down to the last 3 now - finale next week!

- Walking Dead: Great as always

- Z Nation: WD rip off perhaps (?). Good though - if not as good as WD, by a long shot! - getting better, liked the last episode : got rid of an annoying character (no, not saying which - watch it), and Murphy stops being a complete pussy!

- NCIS New Orleans: I like NCIS, always have. This offshoot stars the guy from Quantum Leap and Star trek: Enterprise. I am hoping he will grow on my - he certainly has a better character than in those other series - but he hasn't thus far. I do like the two that work for him though - and the ME staff.

- Person of Interest: Another show I love (equal top with SOA I think). I love the way they turn it all upside down each season and a whole new environment exists - keeps it fresh. Like that they have expanded Root's part too.

- Manhattan: Enjoyed this show - think it has just ended though. Drama about making the first atomic bomb during the WW2. Interesting take - all the real scientists except Oppenheimer (who they make purely an administrator and non-scientist role) are replaced with made up versions - to protect the innocent (would have been nice to see the fun that Faynman got up to during his time there - like cracking everyone's safes and leaving behind cryptic messages to scare the bajeebers out of the military spy hunters - and mnaki8ng up new codes each week in a game he played with his wife: sending shredded paper sporting encrypted love letters on them - must have also drove the code crackers nuts!)

- Our Girl: First episode was not great, mostly due to it needing to introduce a lot of back story/family for the main character. Quite good though - about a London girl that has done nothing with her life and sees little furture for herself - joins the Army on a whim and becomes a med in Afghanistan. Over all it was a bit rushed (trying to fit it all in 6 episodes) and the soldiers were very unprofessional generally - especially the OIC and the main male soldier character - but ignoring the realisticness, quite a good drama nonetheless.

- Black List: Another great show returned for another season (happily). A lot has changed with the dynamics of the main characters - which is good. The main character in this show, Reddington (not Liz IMO), is just great at being intimidating, cool and a dozen steps ahead at each turn - Liz is good too. So far this season though, secondary character seem to have faded away into the recesses and play little part - which is a shame.

- Sleepy Hollow: More brain-switched-off fun. Enjoy this show. Headless Horsemen has become a bit of an under-the-thumb-pussy though - compared to season 1!

- Forever: Interesting cop show with an immortal ME - who is trying to find out why he cannot die (actually why is never stays dead - he dies often!). Semi-serious show; quite a few laughs, historic flashbacks, but fairly solid crime plots too - and a Sherlock Holmes like crime solving ability (gleaned from being an ME for a 100 years - and being 250 years old - no doubt).

- Scorpion: A group of super-geniuses, with flaws a plenty, and all the emotional and socialising issues one would expect. Pretty far fetched, but fun nonetheless. Enjoyable show as long as not taken too seriously of course - like driving a Ferrari and 200+mph carrying a laptop that is plugged into a plane doing a fly-by overhead - yeah right! The usual IT problems that always occur in such programs too - hacking is easily accomplished in 2 minutes - and a programmer can replace system software for any industry and any equipment in minutes with no need to understand the underlying infrastructure/architecture at all - doh! (it washes less and less as time goes on and people are more and more computer literate).

- Gotham: Not as bad as I though it was going to be. Set when Bruce is just a kid, well before Bat Man, Though still using that outlandish comic book style of characterisation and plot. Fun, mindless viewing.

- Homeland - Good as always. Miss Brodie's wife (hot as h3ll ) - but there you go. This show needs a great lead actor - and it has one - as well as good supporting actors too boot. One of the best shows from the States IMO - ever.

- Madam Secretary: Fairly new show. I am enjoying this immensely. Intrigue is building as we look to see just how deep the corruption is and whether two accidents were accidents at all! I like the family dynamic in this show too - especially the little anarchist son. Husband was my main bug-bear, but the writers seem to have woken up to that the last episode I happy to report.

- The Code (AU): Australian drama about a high performing autistic kids, his reporter older brother (who raised him - mother is in the looney-bin) - and their discovery of a major cover up of a big Government contracted company that lead to loss of life - and possibly dangerous pollution. Typically low budget Aussie TV drama - relies on good plot and good acting (although Aussie actors always seem a bit wooden to me - probably just the accent), which this has. Enjoyed it.

- Utopia US: A Big-Brother like fly-on-the-wall thingamy. 15 of the weirdest, dumbest and abnormal social pariahs that can be found, placed into a homestead with a few acres of land, a lake, two cows (3 now) and some chicken and given 5 grand and no amenities other than a hut and a BBQ (water and electric stop at the gate - so need to be plumbed in). Left to create a society and (eventually) fend for themselves financially. Often cringe-worthy - fun just to watch the ongoing disaster - I usually hate these kinds of shows BTW.

- Doctor Who: Love the show (always have) - but never quite sure why (?)

- QI: Just have to

- Have I got news for you: See QI

- Real Time with Bill Maher: Just why do Republicans go on his show - he just rips holes in them. Totally biased of course, but great fun watching the sport.

- Bar Rescue: Stumbled on this the other day - and watched a recent episode - enjoyed it so started watching from show 1. It is amazing how many of these failed bar owners all have the same hang ups (wanting to hold on to failed concepts and names that have not helped their businesses in the past, but think it is a brand). Hot headed style of the main presenter is fun to watch - in the UK someone would have smacked him the mouth well before episode 3 lol! He is good though - and invariably right! Like the quick update at the end too (missing from a lot of these make-over type shops) - some show just how dumb these bar owners are as they drop back to their failed concepts and go tits-up.

- The Knick: Excellent show. Flawed junky doctors and racism in USA during this time, put under a lens of a single doctor who was well educated and under the wings of many great European Drs before returning the America, where he finds it hard to get any recognition or even be allowed to do his job. A nun who gives abortions; and the Ambulance men who beat other ambulance men over the profits had from transporting a patient (rather like here in Thailand - with private Ambulances in the sticks often being little more than minibuses or pickups - and the lack of medical training is blatant!).

- Lewis: Lewis has returned, as he is recalled from retirement to work for his old sergeant (no DI). Not sure yet, dynamic has changed a little too much IMO - with the (ex)sergeant suddenly becoming precious, which hardly suits his earlier character.

That's all I can think of for now

[i claudius]

Thanks for detectors will give it a go but Dr who is the worst series ever and I have loved it since I was young

[Ulysses G.]

I have been looking forward the the new version of "Left Behind". It is based on a series of books about The Rapture - all Christians are supposed to vanish from Earth at some point and ascend to heaven. I liked the books, although the first one was best and they went downhill the more that were written.

There was another movie done in 2000 that was pretty terrible. It was really hokey and seemed like a really lame TV movie from the 70s, rather than a serious film. This new one had a bigger budget and a big star - Nicholas Cage - so I thought it would be better, but it was very similar. It felt like watching a cheesy episode of the "Love Boat". I would give it 1 1/2 stars out of 5.

[giddyup]

I have been looking forward the the new version of "Left Behind". It is based on a series of books about The Rapture - all Christians are supposed to vanish from Earth at some point and ascend to heaven. I liked the books, although the first one was best and they went downhill the more that were written.

There was another movie done in 2000 that was pretty terrible. It was really hokey and seemed like a really lame TV movie from the 70s, rather than a serious film. This new one had a bigger budget and a big star - Nicholas Cage - so I thought it would be better, but it was very similar. It felt like watching a cheesy episode of the "Love Boat". I would give it 1 1/2 stars out of 5.

I think you are being very generous giving it 1 1/2 stars, I would give it a big fat zero. Worst movie I've seen in a long time, boring, plodding plot and terrible acting. Nicholas Cage has scraped the bottom of the barrel with this one. I mean, didn't he read the script?