Chz
Stark Raving Sane
I enjoyed the older series (A Cook's Tour) more, as it seemed a bit more spontaneous. But Parts Unknown is still damned fine tv. He's definitely more... tired? in the later series.
Netflix recommendations
- Thread starter Jon-of-arc
- Start date
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
Thanks again for this, I just watched it (Oxygen) - as you say, there is a very suffocatey bit at the beginning, but the focus shifts off that.
Despite me saying not long ago on this thread that I was tired of small group/solo space survival scenarios, this one joins the list of ones I like - I did enjoy it even if the overall premise was a little predictable and I'd spotted the probable solution before it occurred to the main character
- but I did think it was enjoyable and entertaining and well paced, kept my interest throughout.In terms of my customary "English Dub" review for those who struggle with subtitles only, this one gets good marks - the VO for the main character is really very good.
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
Right. I've just watched the second to last episode. I've been on meds through the rest (which is going to be my excuse). This is 'The i-Land' level of comically shit Netflix programming (albeit with a decent look and budget). No offence to 12 year olds, but it's like it's been written by a 12 year old and what they might imagine being various types of grown up might be like. Obvs I'm going to watch the last one at some point, but it would have to pull something quite seriously incredible out of the bag to make this all worth while.
It's not too slow paced to be good, (it's too shit to be good) but there is not enough between the opening double backstar mystery and the end to keep that interest going. Two blackstars? This one much stronger than the original? Why? Oh well, let's just forget about it. . . . five episodes later. . . . "We need to find out now, before it's too late!!"
Can't imagine it will ever return.
Anyway, I have somehow codeined and morphined my way through it and now I only have one 30 minute episode to go. . . I just wish I had watched it with my daughter so that we could have pointed and laughed at it together.
T & P
|-o-| (-o-) |-o-|
Yeah, pretty much agree. And as already mentioned by others, the whole Christian & ‘obey your father’ undertones were just insufferable.
Well, I now await your report on Oxygen, and hope you will pass the Po-faced Cunt Test
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
Arrrrh. Just watched the last one. Utter utter utter shit. They gave soooo much money to such bad writers. What an utter mess.
No development. Just people saying EXACTLY the same thing over and over again to 'define' their character. At first I really thought all the cheesy stuff was a part of who the characters were, maybe in the same way that they first appeared in 'The Boys'. No. "The code, the code, the code". Handy that they could easily beat the original black star without killing him, but the clone killed two of them and looked like he could destroy them all (and the whole world) no problem and had to be killed.
So many plot holes all over the place, too many to mention.
How does this shite get made?
I'll try oxygen tonight (still laid up in bed). It had better be good, I'm going to hold you responsible.
wiskey
Albatross Admirer
It doesn't imo.
I enjoyed the Irregulars - not renewed by Netflix, and even Shadow and Bone or whatever it's called was better than Jupiter's Legacy.
ETA: ah, you got to the end.
...
... I was supposed to take notice of that? I'm not even sure who Blackstar was let alone that there were two and they were different!Ps - feel better soon
Last edited:
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
Really? That seemed to be the only actual plot point of the modern day storyline.It doesn't imo.
I enjoyed the Irregulars - not renewed by Netflix, and even Shadow and Bone or whatever it's called was better than Jupiter's Legacy.
ETA: ah, you got to the end.
...
I honestly thought at first the different stories would reveal something interesting like two timelines, or a non superhero offset universe. . . . no, it's all exactly what it was from the start. They all go somewhere and get superhero powers . . . no other explanation. Nothing else whatsoever is revealed during the seven episode story of the journey that we didn't know already. All the 'bad kids' side plot, nothing progresses beyond episode 2 (maybe 3) we have learnt all about their characters immediately. Another hilarious irritant of the 'model' one is that several times she shows her super speed by 'super speeding' literally two meters and stopping during confrontations. Not for a leap or to punch or push. Just goes from standing two meters away to standing two meters closer.
Anyway I'm 30 or so minutes into that oxygen thing and my daughter has finished drying her hair, so I am going to get back to it. I hope it's not just a 'source code' plot rip off.
Laters
krtek a houby
Merry Xmas!
3 eps into a Polish drama, The Mire.
Set in the grim early 80s, it's all very Scandi-style with period detail (Ladas etc) and lots of foreboding shots and moods.
So, without spoiling it, 2 journalists (one rookie, one veteran) are told to stay off a case and they don't. I think.
It's not bad, just disappointed with the roles for women in it. So far, we've got prostitutes, murder victims, suicide victims, grieving mothers, grieving widows and pregnant stay at home wives and a rude receptionist.
It's a bit negative and am wondering if this is deliberate. Anyway, will stay til the bitter end.
Set in the grim early 80s, it's all very Scandi-style with period detail (Ladas etc) and lots of foreboding shots and moods.
So, without spoiling it, 2 journalists (one rookie, one veteran) are told to stay off a case and they don't. I think.
It's not bad, just disappointed with the roles for women in it. So far, we've got prostitutes, murder victims, suicide victims, grieving mothers, grieving widows and pregnant stay at home wives and a rude receptionist.
It's a bit negative and am wondering if this is deliberate. Anyway, will stay til the bitter end.
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
I watched Dance of the 41 (El Baile de los 41) a couple of days ago and have in the intervening time been thinking best how to describe it.
It is a historical drama film centred around an elite gay (and by necessity secret) society in Mexico in the late 19th/early 20th Century, and the famous raid that gives the film its title, which saw 41 men arrested, beaten, and sent to prison in harsh conditions.
I sat fascinated throughout - it is an odd mix of a film in a way, there are some very raunchy orgy scenes early on and seems almost lighthearted at the start, but by the end it is very poignant and upsetting.
The film is told with its primary focus on the fabled and alleged 42nd member, politician and son-in-law of the President of Mexico at the time, with focus on his (heavily dramatised, since there is not much historical record to back up anything about his private life) relationships with both his male lover and the strained and increasingly problematic relationship with his wife.
My one main criticism is that I felt his wife Amada's character was poorly developed and she increasingly comes across as an unsympathetic and controlling individual, I do think she could have had a bit more personality beyond the tortured/torturing spiteful and jealous portrayal.
I do think though that it is a good film and well worth seeing, it depicts an important historical event which isn't much documented or dramatised, and I am glad that I watched it. As a period drama it is wonderful in terms of sets, costuming etc, and there are some good performances, Alfonso Herrera (who you may also have seen on Netflix in Sense8) is excellent in the leading role.
Usual review from me on the English dubbing: - very good effort, not 100% perfect but pretty damn good, will not detract jarringly from your enjoyment if you cannot understand Spanish or manage with subtitles alone.
It is a historical drama film centred around an elite gay (and by necessity secret) society in Mexico in the late 19th/early 20th Century, and the famous raid that gives the film its title, which saw 41 men arrested, beaten, and sent to prison in harsh conditions.
I sat fascinated throughout - it is an odd mix of a film in a way, there are some very raunchy orgy scenes early on and seems almost lighthearted at the start, but by the end it is very poignant and upsetting.
The film is told with its primary focus on the fabled and alleged 42nd member, politician and son-in-law of the President of Mexico at the time, with focus on his (heavily dramatised, since there is not much historical record to back up anything about his private life) relationships with both his male lover and the strained and increasingly problematic relationship with his wife.
My one main criticism is that I felt his wife Amada's character was poorly developed and she increasingly comes across as an unsympathetic and controlling individual, I do think she could have had a bit more personality beyond the tortured/torturing spiteful and jealous portrayal.
I do think though that it is a good film and well worth seeing, it depicts an important historical event which isn't much documented or dramatised, and I am glad that I watched it. As a period drama it is wonderful in terms of sets, costuming etc, and there are some good performances, Alfonso Herrera (who you may also have seen on Netflix in Sense8) is excellent in the leading role.
Usual review from me on the English dubbing: - very good effort, not 100% perfect but pretty damn good, will not detract jarringly from your enjoyment if you cannot understand Spanish or manage with subtitles alone.
Last edited:
paul mckenna
Bellend
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
At least I am trying to express my feelings about something by thinking about it and typing some words.
T & P
|-o-| (-o-) |-o-|
Already finished S2 of Love, Death + Robots. Happy to report that imo at least the overall quality is at least as good as S1. Sadly there are only eight instalments in this series, unless they’re planning to drop more later.
Only one ‘meh’ episode for me. A couple of them, superb. Look out for Snow in the Desert- great. My favourite of all has to be the shortest- the Christmas themed episode. Just brilliant. Don’t let your kids watch it though
Only one ‘meh’ episode for me. A couple of them, superb. Look out for Snow in the Desert- great. My favourite of all has to be the shortest- the Christmas themed episode. Just brilliant. Don’t let your kids watch it though
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
Already finished S2 of Love, Death + Robots. Happy to report that imo at least the overall quality is at least as good as S1. Sadly there are only eight instalments in this series, unless they’re planning to drop more later.
Only one ‘meh’ episode for me. A couple of them, superb. Look out for Snow in the Desert- great. My favourite of all has to be the shortest- the Christmas themed episode. Just brilliant. Don’t let your kids watch it though
Thanks to your recommendation I started watching S1 - the entire thing had sort of passed me by.
Very enjoyable! CGI sex scenes are just weird and unnatural looking though, or is it just me?
T & P
|-o-| (-o-) |-o-|
The beauty of it is that each episode is by a different artist, with a different style and vision. Some of them are better than others but that’s part of the fun.
Of the S1 episodes, several still stick to mind. The one about the astronaut on. A space walk who finds herself in difficulty was fantastic
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
ice-is-forming
I was born naked, shameless & fucking outrageous..
Stateless. Based on true life events. Sad and quirky, six series season about refugees ( and others ) who find themselves in a camp in north Australia.
AnnO'Neemus
Is so vanilla
I dunno, Hard Kill is also on Netflix, another Bruce-Willis-phones-it-in film.
I think the laughable special effects in Anti Life push it into the so bad that it's good category, whereas Hard Kill was just sooo bad that it's bad.
Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
Marriage Story is actually quite good.
AnnO'Neemus
Is so vanilla
If you fancy cooking up some Nigerian food yourself, there's a 'cook along' online cookery class offered by Migrateful, a charity that works with refugees. The classes are £20, plus booking fee. And of course you have to buy the ingredients to cook at home too.
There's a Nigerian one coming up - Thu, 27 May 2021, 18:00 BST | Betty's cook-along dishes will be Jollof Rice, Nigerian Peanut Soup and Fried Plantain. - but they also have lots of cooks of other nationalities and different heritages cooking anything and everything from Syrian to Ecuadorian to Sri Lankan to Gambian, etc.
Join Betty in preparing a wonderful Nigerian meal for her new online cookery class! She is a wonderful teacher, chef and story-teller. She will share the secrets to traditional Nigerian dishes. This is your chance to learn a brand new cuisine, support an amazing cause, and eat great food!
The class will be conducted as an interactive virtual cook-along. The classes usually range from 1-2 hours long. The chef will lead the group step by step through the recipes; stopping frequently to answer questions, share anecdotes, and provide feedback on your dishes!
Before the class we will send you a list of ingredients, quantities and equipment so you can join ready to learn! We will also send you a reminder email 3 days before the class takes place that will include the Zoom link, titled "Your upcoming online Migrateful Class". You can also find the Zoom link on the Online Event Page, accessible through the link included in the Eventbrite reminder email. We will also include the zoom link in the Eventbrite Order Confirmation email.
Betty's cook-along dishes will be Jollof Rice, Nigerian Peanut Soup and Fried Plantain.
Equipment List
2 Large saucepan
Blender or food processor
2 Frying pan
Chopping board
Knife
Ingredients List
150g Basmati rice or long grained rice
200 grams of chicken thigh chopped into approx 16 pieces
1 tin plum tomatoes
1 small onion, chopped
1 ½ red scotch bonnet chilli (optional)
1 tsp tomato puree
4 ½ cubes vegetable or chicken stock
1 ½ tsp curry powder
3 bay leaves
½ tsp thyme
1 tbsp palm oil (optional)
200g smooth peanut butter
500ml water
1 smoked/fresh mackerel (or any other fish or chicken. For veggie option 300g of mushrooms)
2 yellow plantains
Vegetable oil
Salt to taste
Message from Betty: “My name is Betty. I was born in Nigeria. I came to London when I was 16. It wasn’t easy coming to a new country on my own, but I had to grow up fast. I don’t like to call myself a victim. I am a survivor. The thing I found most difficult when I first came to London was realising for the first time that I was different and that people looked at me differently here. I felt very alone. The first Christmas was the most lonely. I missed my family, especially my dad. I love to cook and I love to eat not just any food but good food. I feel alive when I see others enjoying my cooking. It is a form of therapy for me, I like to get my hands into something and cooking is the best way I can do that.
Nigerian cuisine has so many different dishes. We have lots of different tribes in Nigeria and different cultures and languages and so everyone has their own way of cooking. We celebrate every occasion with food – it’s a huge part of our culture. Cooking is something that Nigerian families always do together and recipes are passed on through generations. Sharing food with friends and family is really important to me and this is why I love Migrateful.
Joining Migrateful is one of the most rewarding things I have done for a long time. I never thought I could ever have the confidence to cook in front of other people that weren’t my family. It’s great to meet other chefs that are in a similar situation to me, also experiencing the difficulty of the immigration process. I can be myself in this group and I really appreciate it.”
Online | Migrateful
www.migrateful.org
Mrs Miggins
Eternal
Brightburn is surprisingly much better than expected.
A different take on the "Superman landing on earth as a baby destined to do good" story. The gruesome stuff is very gruesome which made it very watchable indeed (if you like that kind of thing).
A different take on the "Superman landing on earth as a baby destined to do good" story. The gruesome stuff is very gruesome which made it very watchable indeed (if you like that kind of thing).
harpo
Listening to Radio Jackie
That's true. It had us laughing like drains.
T & P
|-o-| (-o-) |-o-|
Have just watched the first episode of Halston. A new biopic miniseries by Ryan Murphy about the fashion designer. Starring Ewan McGregor as the main lead. Which might be seen as an interesting casting choice, given that Halston was gay and the entertainment industry (and Ryan Murphy in particular) seem to have been firmly moving towards picking gay actors to play gay characters.
But whereas I couldn’t say how well McGregor portrays Helston, he’s good in this. Or at least not an impediment to the enjoyment of this series, one episode in at least.
Not spectacular but no less than 6.5/ 10 for me so far, and watchable stuff.
en.m.wikipedia.org
But whereas I couldn’t say how well McGregor portrays Helston, he’s good in this. Or at least not an impediment to the enjoyment of this series, one episode in at least.
Not spectacular but no less than 6.5/ 10 for me so far, and watchable stuff.
Halston (miniseries) - Wikipedia
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
I've not seen it, but just hearing the write up has kind of ruined it for me. I know the whole story without watching. Shame as it sounds pretty good.
Same with 'The Platform'.
keybored
Well done. You remember cat good.
Anyone watching Startup? It just popped up on my suggestions and I've never heard of it, I think it's a few years old but new to Netflix.
Wikipedia suggests "professional critics" weren't keen on it but I'd be interested in what actual humans think of it.
Wikipedia suggests "professional critics" weren't keen on it but I'd be interested in what actual humans think of it.
Similar threads
