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Post by crimmyj on Apr 9, 2015 13:30:44 GMT -5
This is interesting. An article about deaths on various TV shows--namely TVD--and why it's not such a good idea to do it too often. I think I've already ranted about this, but this guy does a better job explaining it. www.tvovermind.com/arrow/tv-shows-need-respect-death-order-carry-dramatic-weight-255174
TV Shows Need To Respect Death In Order To Carry Dramatic WeightI’ve noticed a trend recently on TV that’s starting to irk me. I suppose it’s more of an issue with all fiction, but it seems to have manifested itself on television more pressingly lately, and actually, many of the problems are relegated to TV shows on a single channel. I’m talking about the inability of certain fiction to respect death, and how they play resurrection cards too many times in too many ways so the work in question loses a sense of authority. In effect, it’s the boy who cried wolf. More often than not, given the channel’s focus on supernatural/superpowered themed shows, The CW specifically has four of its major shows falling victim to this trap in various ways. First, there’s The Vampire Diaries and The Originals, which share the same universe and are focused on vampires, witches, and werewolves and the like. Everyone knows that, of course, vampirism is all about life after death. In the show, people become vampires if they die with vampire blood in their system. Fair enough, but that isn’t what I’m talking about. Rather, The Vampire Diaries created what became known as “The Other Side.” It’s a nebulous sort of purgatory where dead supernatural beings were condemned to wander. It’s more or less the afterlife, except through various bits of magic, characters were able to come back from the dead no matter how long they’d been out of commission. The Vampire Diaries has killed pretty much every member of its cast at one point or another, but through vampire conversion, protection rings, or a trip to the Other Side, they’ve brought most of these characters back. Perhaps most famously, Alaric had been dead for years before a journey into the Other Side allowed the show to retrieve him, and he’s back to being a regular. Recently, the Other Side was destroyed at the end of last season, inviting a more “when you’re dead, you’re dead” philosophy, but so far, that hasn’t really been put to the test with any new major character deaths. Bonnie and Damon “died” when the Other Side collapsed, but they were actually flung into a parallel universe prison world, so that doesn't count. That may be about to change, however, as with the departure of Nina Dobrev, The Vampire Diaries will probably have to kill her off to make her exit seem final for the show. Permanent death for a major character. It’s rare, and Dobrev herself views this as the same kind of issue I do. “In the beginning, the shock value of killing Vicki [Kayla Ewell] in the first few episodes made us stand out,” Dobrev said in an interview with Buzzfeed last May. “As soon as you start bringing people back, you kinda lose that. I mean, it’s great for me, personally, because I get to hang out with my friends, but from a story standpoint, now you don’t care or believe when someone dies because you’ve seen how easily they can come back. The witches can always fix it, somehow. It’s been six years, so I think it would be good to go down the list and cross them off.” But The Vampire Diaries and The Originals aren’t the only TV shows on The CW guilty of this. Both The Flash and Arrow have now invented ways to defy death, or rather, pulled them from the comics. Arrow has introduced the Lazarus Pit, and while no one but Ra’s al Ghul himself has used it yet, the fact that Caity Lotz has been attached to a new Arrow/Flash spin-off, after her character, Sara Lance, has been killed off, means that Sara could very well be the first to be resurrected using the Lazarus Pit’s magic. Meanwhile, on The Flash, Barry Allen now has the ability to actually go back in time and prevent all the deaths he wants. He doesn’t know it, but altering the timeline managed to save Cisco’s life, after we all saw him murdered by Dr. Wells. The problem with all of this is that it creates a distinct lack of stakes when characters can simply come back to life. You simply don’t believe any major character is dead after they’ve been killed, and if they are, you can then say “well,, why don’t they just do this and bring them back?” given that it’s happened before. To counter this, I could turn to more “realistic” shows like Breaking Bad and The Sopranos and Dexter, where nobody every truly comes back from the dead (though faking your death is another thing entirely). However, instead I’ll reference one CW show that actually gets it right: The 100. That show has killed very, very major characters in very unexpected ways, but they have never brought anyone back despite being a science fiction series. Their reality is grounded, and the show benefits as a result. Their character deaths mean something, which is in contrast to a show like Arrow, where we can watch the main character be stabbed with a sword and kicked off a mountain, and not even bat an eyelash because we know he’ll be fine. It’s kind of too late for these shows, because they’ve already established their mythology. But once you cross that line and death becomes irrelevant, your show loses a significant amount of dramatic punch, which you may never get back. Read more at www.tvovermind.com/arrow/tv-shows-need-respect-death-order-carry-dramatic-weight-255174#ryDYMXxK1FcB8YDZ.99I think I would agree with this especially in regards to TVD. but it is unfair for right now to lump in Arrow and The Flash into this discussion. For starters the Lazarus Pit has yet to be used, this isn't something written into the show as some deux ex machina to bring people back, it is a part of Ra's al Ghul persona. Comic books and their heroes are a different genre of themselves that sure because of supernatural powers and aliens there are characters you can't really kill, but to say death is meaningless isn't the entire picture. With seaosn 3 almost done we have had plenty of meaningful deaths in Arrow, Tommy, Moira, Robert Queen, Shado, Sara (I have my doubts they are going to use the lazarus pit to bring her back, I think Caity Lotz will play another character...the dc world isn't going to have 2 Canaries) so the only thing this author can use against Arrow is when Ra's stabbed Oliver and threw him off the cliff...yes he was going to live for one...he is Arrow, for two that was the prophecy the man you survived death by Ra's al Ghul becomes the next demon's head. So death is hardly irrelevant considering the impact both tommy's and moira's death had on the show (neither of which are coming back ever). They are right about The 100 (which is why if you aren't watching that show YOU SHOULD) but Arrow probably has just as many meaningful permanent deaths as that show. And The Flash...again...comics, Those are his abilities, super speed, using the speedforce to phase and travel through time. It isn't going to be something he uses all the time to change bad things to good. This author has apparently not read comics before if they think there is a lack of stakes because some poeple survive death or some superheroes have superpowers (I know crazy right). These instances are nothing like TVD in which they continually created loopholes to resurrect every character they ever killed.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2015 23:59:56 GMT -5
Here's an hilarious video of Nina "at Coachella." Ha! Looks like someone forgot to tell her Coachella's in Indio, California. But hey, she's there in spirit, right? BTW, I swear that woman was a hippie in another lifetime. There's no doubt about that.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2015 0:27:31 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2015 10:22:06 GMT -5
What happens when a TV show outgrows its premise? Well this article pretty much explains that. Julie and Caroline really need to take notes on this. www.denofgeek.us/tv/tv/245585/what-happens-when-a-tv-show-outgrows-its-premiseWhat happens when a TV show outgrows its premise?TV shows either have to evolve or die when they outlive their original premise. Change is vital to survival... Television shows, network US television shows especially, tend to start off with an obvious hook. The ability to describe a premise in a single word or sentence is a valuable part of getting something on the air in the first place, and so it’s no wonder we get a slew of pilots every year with silly one-word descriptors and obvious, over-the-top characterizations. But what happens when a show outlives that part, and evolves into something that doesn’t even resemble the original premise? It happens more often than we may immediately realize, and it comes down to a number of factors. There are network notes soon after a show has premiered, but there's also audience reaction, sometimes so strong that it demands change for series hoping to stay on television for any significant amount of time. Series grow and evolve naturally because of their overall length as opposed to a film franchise (which, themselves, can change dramatically from one to the next), but it's also an accepted fact that some go through this process more gracefully than others. Most seasoned TV watchers know that a pilot, while a decent indication of what a show is and can be, is nowhere near the finished product. People can be recast, ideas dropped or changed and characters completely cut out, but there are also many cases in which a show does all of this much further down the line. The difference then, however, is that there’s an existing audience to appease and a reputation to maintain, and that’s where it gets tricky. News recently hit that The Vampire Diaries would be shedding many of its original cast members – protagonist Nina Dobrev included – capping off a sixth season that's seen the show rapidly recover from a creative slump that had seen interest increasingly decline over the last couple of years. It was a show that started off with more of a definite identity than most – cash in on the popularity of The Twilight Saga (even though, yes, The Vampire Diaries books actually came out before Stephenie Meyers' cash cow series) with an entire series in which a teenage girl can dither between two hunky suitors. And that worked for a while, even if the show itself was actually far better than the synopsis during its first two seasons. Then something happened, and suddenly all we seemed to have left was the love triangle – stuck in a never-ending cycle of Elena picking one brother or the other. It was the reverse of the original problem, in that it devolved over time. There was soon backlash from fans tuning in for the series’ many other virtues to go along with the stale arguments still going on between the different sides of the shipping war, and the writers were forced to go back to the drawing board before the new season aired. This resulted in season six not only getting rid of said love triangle, but also apparently scaling back Elena as a character. This had been coming for a while, the slightly unfortunate (or fortunate) side-effect of having brilliant supporting characters on any show. It’s another big problem a lot of shows face, too, when the main character is completely taken over by another in terms of audience popularity. Some stick with their original idea, either out of preference or necessity, but others jump at the chance to shift their cast around to suit the appetite of an increasingly vocal fanbase. It’s debatable whether this is necessarily something showrunners should do even when they're able to. While there are plenty of people who would love Daryl to oust Rick as the main player on The Walking Dead, for example, doing so would also make it an entirely different series. It could be better, or it could be worse. It would just be different, and time can always be better spent developing what you already have. Certain genres suffer from these issues more than others, with comedy and teen/YA dramas seemingly having to go through more face-lifts than any other. Comedies airing on ABC, for example, are notorious for their one-word monikers tying them down to a particular, slightly ridiculous, idea – Trophy Wife, Selfie etc. Like it or not, a title is often the only thing a large portion of the desired audience have to go on, and by episode two or three the series themselves have often developed way beyond the boundaries of that initial box. Selfie was a very sweet, admirably sincere romantic comedy that didn't really stick to the initial "My Fair Lady in the internet age" premise beyond the first 10 minutes of its pilot. By this point, though, swathes of potential viewers had vowed to steer clear, and it became the latest quirky sitcom to disappear from the network before a single season was even finished airing. Some are slightly luckier. New Girl has a title and a premise that was pretty much built for a single season, but the show is still going, now barely recognizable from its first few episodes. It's an ensemble show rather than the Zooey Deschanel vehicle it was in the beginning, and the 'New' of the title could only ever apply for a short time. Cougar Town also suffered from the same problem, leading to it being cancelled by ABC (before being picked up for TBS, then cancelled again). Throughout The Vampire Diaries’ current season, too, it has been former supporting character Caroline Forbes who has taken up the mantel of hero (or chief villain – it’s that kind of show), getting the meatiest storylines, the most character development, and even a love story with one of the former hunky suitors. It’s a great example of a show rolling with the punches, admitting defeat in one area that once so defined it and being better off in the long run. The noteworthy part is that it did it well into its sixth year, at a point when another series might have just resigned itself to treading water until cancellation came. The Vampire Diaries has been renewed for a seventh season, and has never been stronger. Arrow may be going through a similar thing, with the show effectively killing its main character off for a multi-episode arc in which the sidekicks got to play hero. Now that he's back, fans have started pushing back against Oliver Queen, and the great development for the supporting cast has meant that many of them would make just as capable main players. Hence the multiple spinoffs, I guess. Doctor Who uniquely dodges this very issue by trading in a new protagonist every few seasons, keeping up with audience appetite and keeping things fresh whenever a new actor is cast. Think what The Big Bang Theory might look like had the show not completely altered its path when adding love interests for the majority of its central characters – there's a high chance it would still be ludicrously successful, but would the last few years of its run still have been so entertaining for long-time fans? Lost also recognized that it couldn't stick with its flashback format for too long, switching to flash-forwards in season four and flash-sideways in season six. Though changing things from the original idea for a series can often do nothing for the general perception brought on by an unfortunate title or initial advertising, sometimes sticking too strictly to a premise can be just as much of an issue. Shows like Smallville, for example, were always tied down to a particular format or setting, and the inability to throw out those boundaries can significantly hamper a series in its later years. Smallville was set primarily in Metropolis between seasons six and ten, but could never fully abandon its roots for fear of making its title nonsensical. Then there was the "no tights, no flights" rule set ahead of season one, which led to a lot of frustrating backtracking and unnecessary compromise on costume when the show should really have had Clark Kent suit up long before the series' final episode. There are many that are largely immune to the problem – Game Of Thrones, for example, will probably never be swayed from its storyline – but that happens a lot more on cable than the wild west of network television. Netflix, of course, is the new player here, with shows like Daredevil or House Of Cards unable to change due to the platform's strategy of releasing entire series in one chunk. One of the problems is that network television almost never has the luxury of crafting meticulous long-term plans for multiple seasons, taking it year by year or even week by week in an effort to maintain quality while also staying on the air. It's a balancing act and, while some shows are prone to sticking with what works until their time has played out, others are constantly changing in an attempt to settle into a groove – any groove. But the brilliant thing about fiction told over a long period of time is that sometimes characters, relationships and plots can take on a life of their own, and series have to recognise this in order to keep going in a direction that doesn't turn fans off. When a show outlives the life-span of its initial premise, writers have to go with it or risk simply running on the spot, shedding viewers in the process.
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Post by crimmyj on Apr 21, 2015 11:00:37 GMT -5
"has never been stronger" ? excuse me, what? I get what the article is trying to say but claiming TVD has never been stronger while trudging its least coherent season.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2015 17:31:00 GMT -5
" has never been stronger" ? excuse me, what? I get what the article is trying to say but claiming TVD has never been stronger while trudging its least coherent season. Yeah, that part is a complete joke, but I agree with everything else in the article.
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2015 23:42:54 GMT -5
Here's a poll from IMDB.com of actresses with the most beautiful eyes. Surprisingly Nina wasn't one of them, but whatever, it was a good list anyway. It was really hard to choose though, cause some of these actresses are my favorites and they all have beautiful eyes, but I eventually chose Kristen Stewart (my favorite), then Aishwarya Rai, Elizabeth Taylor, Charlize Theron, Cameron Diaz, Megan Fox, Mila Kunis, Scarlett Johansson, Marilyn Monroe and Kristin Kreuk. www.imdb.com/poll/inhjSu-KyXI/?ref_=po_re
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2015 17:22:11 GMT -5
crimmyj and Mac would love this. (I do too.) Granted, I've dialed down my sarcasm considerably since I've been on the site, but I do bring it out on occasions, and it's always fun when I do. At-least for me it is. It's nice to know there's something else to it besides the laughs. www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/10-reasons-sarcastic-people-are-smarter-than-you-think.htmlTen Reasons Sarcastic People Are Smarter Than You ThinkCOMMUNICATION MOTIVATION BY MARGIELYN MUSSER Some people choose being sarcastic because beating someone up can probably get you arrested in today’s society. Some say being sarcastic is an emotional tool to shield your feelings. Others say that it is a way to insult the idiots of this world and get away with it. If you don’t get sarcasm, you might need to get with the program and start using your brain. There are several studies out that are now showing that sarcastic people are smarter than you think. So we have put together 10 solid reasons why sarcastic people are actually really smart. 1. They can see right through youAccording to Dr. Shaman-Tsoory, who is a psychologist at the University of Haifa, “understanding other people’s state of mind and emotions are related to our ability to understand sarcasm.” Yes, this means they can see right through you and your smoke and mirrors. If they are responding with a sarcastic remark to your “I was late because…” story, then they probably do not believe you. They can read you pretty easily and know what to say to trigger whatever emotion they want. It is pretty much the closest thing to a mind-reading super power. You were warned. 2. They have sharper brainsIn an article that Richard Chin wrote for the Smithsonian, h explained that the human brain has to work harder to understand sarcasm. That means that people who use sarcasm often work their brains just a little bit harder than you. So that friend coming up with the quick quips to snap back at you may be a jerk, but they are a sharp jerk. 3. They are great problem solversIn the very same article, it goes over that sarcasm also helps them with their creative problem solving skills. Yup, go ahead and write them onto your zombie apocalypse team list. They will probably save your life. 4. They are equipped with the key social skill for today’s societyIt is said by John Haiman, a linguist at Macalaster College, that sarcasm is practically the primary language in today’s society. Usually sarcastic people are going to be keeping the conversation going and not be the person awkwardly standing in the back pretending to laugh at everyone else’s jokes. 5. They not only have great minds, they have thick skinSarcastic people are smart enough not to take everything to heart. This means they don’t burst out into tears when you are teasing each other over being tipsy after a few beers. They can throw the punches as well as take them. You rarely find them playing the victim in the situation, because let’s face it, no one likes a victim. 6. They have healthier brainsAccording to researchers at the University of California San Francisco and Neuropsychologist Katherine Rankin, the lack of ability to pick up on sarcasm can be an early warning sign of brain damage. It was found in a study that subjects with Fronto-Temporal Dementia had difficulty picking up on sarcasm. 7. They make their friends and significant others smarterDue to their constant way of communicating, sarcastic people affect the brains of the people around them. There are three stages our brains need to take to understand irony. If you are around them while watching TV, driving, or shopping, then you had to use your brain a little bit more to understand their thought process. They are doing you a favor, so be sure to thank them. 8. They don’t get arrested while getting evenThey are excellent at emotional warfare. If you have ever been in an argument with a sarcastic person, there is probably a sewed up scar on your heart from something they have said. It definitely beats getting arrested for aggravated assault, but it lasts a lot longer. As in, forever. 9. They can deliver a gentle insult and still make you laughRemarks like, “I didn’t climb the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian, but I can make an exception for you” can sound really nice, until you think about it. Did they just insult your way of life and have you respond with thank you? They can make someone laugh out loud at a remark and then watch as the realization kicks in that it was an insult. If you haven’t tried this yet, you need to. 10. They have friends that truly love themThey know that their friends are truly their friends because what kind of person willingly deals with such steady sarcasm everyday? More than likely, they are all sarcastic together, snickering at the gentle insult they just delivered to one another on a silver platter. It is a fun hobby to them, like playing baseball.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2015 4:21:04 GMT -5
I recently saw the pilot for CBS's new show Supergirl, and I have to say: it's really good! Very very good in fact. Normally, pilots can go either way in their debuts--as far as quality is concerned--which isn't necessarily indicative of its success or failure as a series, but after seeing it, I think CBS has a hit on their hands. It has great production values, a compelling storyline, and a good cast--with Melissa Benoist leading as the titular hero in a sort of atypical version of the previous supergirls with their blond hair and blue eyes. But don't let that influence you in any way, cause not only is she beautiful, but very captivating as Kara, playing up her cousin's image as the sweet, but nerdy every girl, complete with glasses and toned-down fashion sense. I found her instantly appealing, and with time I'm sure that feeling will only grow. A show generally rest on the capabilities of its actors, and I think with her in the lead role, they have at-least a fighting chance. I hope the ratings are strong when it premieres, cause it has great potential as a series, and I would hate to see that potential dissipate because of lackluster ratings. I can't wait to see it in November; It might very well become my new go-to show.
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Post by crimmyj on Jun 7, 2015 12:29:08 GMT -5
crimmyj and Mac would love this. (I do too.) Granted, I've dialed down my sarcasm considerably since I've been on the site, but I do bring it out on occasions, and it's always fun when I do. At-least for me it is. It's nice to know there's something else to it besides the laughs. www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/10-reasons-sarcastic-people-are-smarter-than-you-think.htmlTen Reasons Sarcastic People Are Smarter Than You ThinkCOMMUNICATION MOTIVATION BY MARGIELYN MUSSER Some people choose being sarcastic because beating someone up can probably get you arrested in today’s society. Some say being sarcastic is an emotional tool to shield your feelings. Others say that it is a way to insult the idiots of this world and get away with it. If you don’t get sarcasm, you might need to get with the program and start using your brain. There are several studies out that are now showing that sarcastic people are smarter than you think. So we have put together 10 solid reasons why sarcastic people are actually really smart. 1. They can see right through youAccording to Dr. Shaman-Tsoory, who is a psychologist at the University of Haifa, “understanding other people’s state of mind and emotions are related to our ability to understand sarcasm.” Yes, this means they can see right through you and your smoke and mirrors. If they are responding with a sarcastic remark to your “I was late because…” story, then they probably do not believe you. They can read you pretty easily and know what to say to trigger whatever emotion they want. It is pretty much the closest thing to a mind-reading super power. You were warned. 2. They have sharper brainsIn an article that Richard Chin wrote for the Smithsonian, h explained that the human brain has to work harder to understand sarcasm. That means that people who use sarcasm often work their brains just a little bit harder than you. So that friend coming up with the quick quips to snap back at you may be a jerk, but they are a sharp jerk. 3. They are great problem solversIn the very same article, it goes over that sarcasm also helps them with their creative problem solving skills. Yup, go ahead and write them onto your zombie apocalypse team list. They will probably save your life. 4. They are equipped with the key social skill for today’s societyIt is said by John Haiman, a linguist at Macalaster College, that sarcasm is practically the primary language in today’s society. Usually sarcastic people are going to be keeping the conversation going and not be the person awkwardly standing in the back pretending to laugh at everyone else’s jokes. 5. They not only have great minds, they have thick skinSarcastic people are smart enough not to take everything to heart. This means they don’t burst out into tears when you are teasing each other over being tipsy after a few beers. They can throw the punches as well as take them. You rarely find them playing the victim in the situation, because let’s face it, no one likes a victim. 6. They have healthier brainsAccording to researchers at the University of California San Francisco and Neuropsychologist Katherine Rankin, the lack of ability to pick up on sarcasm can be an early warning sign of brain damage. It was found in a study that subjects with Fronto-Temporal Dementia had difficulty picking up on sarcasm. 7. They make their friends and significant others smarterDue to their constant way of communicating, sarcastic people affect the brains of the people around them. There are three stages our brains need to take to understand irony. If you are around them while watching TV, driving, or shopping, then you had to use your brain a little bit more to understand their thought process. They are doing you a favor, so be sure to thank them. 8. They don’t get arrested while getting evenThey are excellent at emotional warfare. If you have ever been in an argument with a sarcastic person, there is probably a sewed up scar on your heart from something they have said. It definitely beats getting arrested for aggravated assault, but it lasts a lot longer. As in, forever. 9. They can deliver a gentle insult and still make you laughRemarks like, “I didn’t climb the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian, but I can make an exception for you” can sound really nice, until you think about it. Did they just insult your way of life and have you respond with thank you? They can make someone laugh out loud at a remark and then watch as the realization kicks in that it was an insult. If you haven’t tried this yet, you need to. 10. They have friends that truly love themThey know that their friends are truly their friends because what kind of person willingly deals with such steady sarcasm everyday? More than likely, they are all sarcastic together, snickering at the gentle insult they just delivered to one another on a silver platter. It is a fun hobby to them, like playing baseball. haha...awesome! ALL HAIL YOUR SARCASTIC OVERLORDS!!
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Post by crimmyj on Jun 7, 2015 12:33:36 GMT -5
I recently saw the pilot for CBS's new show Supergirl, and I have to say: it's really good! Very very good in fact. Normally, pilots can go either way in their debuts--as far as quality is concerned--which isn't necessarily indicative of its success or failure as a series, but after seeing it, I think CBS has a hit on their hands. It has great production values, a compelling storyline, and a good cast--with Melissa Benoist leading as the titular hero in a sort of atypical version of the previous supergirls with their blond hair and blue eyes. But don't let that influence you in any way, cause not only is she beautiful, but very captivating as Kara, playing up her cousin's image as the sweet, but nerdy every girl, complete with glasses and toned-down fashion sense. I found her instantly appealing, and with time I'm sure that feeling will only grow. A show generally rest on the capabilities of its actors, and I think with her in the lead role, they have at-least a fighting chance. I hope the ratings are strong when it premieres, cause it has great potential as a series, and I would hate to see that potential dissipate because of lackluster ratings. I can't wait to see it in November; It might very well become my new go-to show. oh I am totally watching Supergirl! That trailer looked great. Plus its another Greg Berlanti show (the dude behind Arrow and The Flash, both of which I am a huge fan of) plus he also has another new show on CW "Legends of Tomorrow" which is a spinoff of Arrow and The Flash. Basically he knows what he is doing when it comes to creating a superhero show.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2015 16:57:27 GMT -5
I recently saw the pilot for CBS's new show Supergirl, and I have to say: it's really good! Very very good in fact. Normally, pilots can go either way in their debuts--as far as quality is concerned--which isn't necessarily indicative of its success or failure as a series, but after seeing it, I think CBS has a hit on their hands. It has great production values, a compelling storyline, and a good cast--with Melissa Benoist leading as the titular hero in a sort of atypical version of the previous supergirls with their blond hair and blue eyes. But don't let that influence you in any way, cause not only is she beautiful, but very captivating as Kara, playing up her cousin's image as the sweet, but nerdy every girl, complete with glasses and toned-down fashion sense. I found her instantly appealing, and with time I'm sure that feeling will only grow. A show generally rest on the capabilities of its actors, and I think with her in the lead role, they have at-least a fighting chance. I hope the ratings are strong when it premieres, cause it has great potential as a series, and I would hate to see that potential dissipate because of lackluster ratings. I can't wait to see it in November; It might very well become my new go-to show. oh I am totally watching Supergirl! That trailer looked great. Plus its another Greg Berlanti show (the dude behind Arrow and The Flash, both of which I am a huge fan of) plus he also has another new show on CW "Legends of Tomorrow" which is a spinoff of Arrow and The Flash. Basically he knows what he is doing when it comes to creating a superhero show. Crim, I'm all for expanding your horizons, but I hope his others shows doesn't suffer because of it. We all know how disastrous that can be with showrunners juggling too many things at once. Hopefully this guy is different and he has enough competent (and I'm looking at you TVD) people in charge who would keep his vision of the show intact. We'll see what happens, but the Supergirl premiere was really good; I'm sure you'll like it.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2015 6:50:37 GMT -5
I talked about how much I loved the movie Nightcrawler before on the site, but never as well as this guy that gave a review of it on Amazon. Really great job by him. And if you haven't seen it -- do so! It's really good. Hollywood Hatemail of the Highest Order BY C.K. Lidster Hollywood has always had a complicated relationship with the news media, and in particular freelance photographers. Studios and celebrities need them, they use them, but they also absolutely f***ing hate them. They don't stop filming when you scream 'CUT!' They get pushy and they don't believe that 'private moments' exist for movie stars or rock bands or athletes. There's no doubt that they're morally objectionable, in a way that I could never even pretend to get indignant about with a straight face. WTF do I care about George Clooney's privacy? It makes his fairly comfortable existence less so, at times, but treating it like a social concern which needs to be addressed is laughable. Should it rate higher than homelessness? As far as 'problems that don't affect me personally, but still demand a furrowed brow' are concerned, the paparazzi don't come close to making the list. 'Nightcrawler' is a brilliant film, and it takes the disgust that most stars feel for the paparazzi and extends its targeting range to include the freelance videographers who exploit not just the most painful 'perp-walk'-type moments of the rich and famous, but the everyday tragedies borne of cars and guns. It makes the viewer feel what it might be like to see their loved-one's bloody corpse on the 11 O'clock News. It also cleverly 'plays up the racism angle', as an LA news producer might say; white victims in affluent neighborhoods make the cut, while African-American or Hispanic victims do not. Is that still true? It might be, and I have to confess, when I finished watching 'Nightcrawler', I think I believed it. This fictional film feels more true than 99% of the scripts claiming to be 'based on a true story'. 'Nightcrawler' is Hollywood hatemail of the highest order, fulfilling a function similar to Brett Easton Ellis's 'American Psycho' -- which was an over-the-top satire of Wall Street and the faceless, manicured savages in bespoke suits who ruled New York in the mid-80's. This too, is glittering gold-plated propaganda, and it also works as excellent film-making. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Lou Bloom, perhaps the most terrifying anti-hero since Christian Bale's dead-on portrayal of Patrick Bateman. Gyllenhaal manages to short-circuit and re-direct his natural charisma, mastering the manufactured smile and dead-eyed stare of a psychopathic con-man, addicted to Weegee-style snuff-shot death art; he is one of the most unforgettable movie monsters I've seen in years. Spouting business-school basics and clichéd self-help mantras with the kind of conviction that only a lunatic or extremely gifted liar could pull off, he takes insane risks to beat the competition to whatever blood-spattered horror-show advertises itself on the police scanner. Then he beats the cops to the scene, and whatever he finds is just raw material, to be manipulated and edited by the auteur. Rene Russo co-stars, providing an excellent performance as the soul-less news producer who encourages Bloom's predatory exploits; Riz Ahmed plays the weak-willed assistant, whose moral compass loses north in the presence of his boss's magnetic personality, his fearlessness, ambition and unwavering self-confidence. This is writer Dan Gilroy's first directorial effort, and with 'Nightcrawler' he lives up to the stellar accomplishments of a very talented family. His mother was an artist and writer; his father, Frank D. Gilroy, was a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright; and Tony Gilroy, who was nominated for Academy Awards as the writer and director of the acclaimed 'Michael Clayton', is his older brother. There's something to be said for sibling rivalry and living in the shadow of genius, I guess, if 'Nightcrawler' is any indication. Tony is one of the film's producers, and a third brother -- John Gilroy -- offered up his services as editor, his chosen profession. Editors are the unsung heroes of any successful film, and Brother No. 3 does the family proud. Gilroy has created a thriller that is more concerned with the way other characters react to the anti-hero's remorseless, shark-like personality than trying to explain the enigma that is Lou Bloom. When we first meet him, he's a violent thief, and there are no explanations given for his a-moral, obsessively business-minded world-view. He remains as much of a sub-zero cypher as Anton Chigurh, but without the epic and near-elemental menace at his command. There is no pretense of character development or growth; Bloom is still a predator who exists in his own moral vacuum, driven by wants and needs, limited only by what he can and can't get away with. If Bloom represents freelance journalism in America, it's not a subtle commentary, but it might be apt. Should we all be horrified by the 'if it bleeds it leads' sensationalism and callousness of TV journalism? Sure, why not. I'll add it to the 500-page Atrocity Index I cry myself to sleep with every night. But 'Nightcrawler' is a great film, whether you view it as high-test propaganda or a horror-movie featuring the monster that celebrities see in their worst nightmares. This is unique, fascinating stuff, and a future classic.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2015 7:38:34 GMT -5
I found this really amusing. Here's some Pick-up lines I'm sure the ladies on this site will love. Maybe some of them were used on you before? You never know. Funny stuff though Are you a magician? Because whenever I look at you, everyone else disappears! I'm not a photographer, but I can picture me and you together. Are you an interior decorator? Because when I saw you, the entire room became beautiful. Are you religious? Because you're the answer to all my prayers. Are you a camera? Because every time I look at you, I smile. Did you sit in a pile of sugar? Cause you have a pretty sweet ass. Do you have a Band-Aid? Because I just scraped my knee falling for you. Do you know what my shirt is made of? Boyfriend material. If I were a stop light, I'd turn red everytime you passed by, just so I could stare at you a bit longer. I wanna live in your socks so I can be with you every step of the way. If you were a vegetable you'd be a cute-cumber. I seem to have lost my phone number. Can I have yours? Is your daddy a Baker? Because you've got some nice buns! There are people who say Disneyland is the happiest place on earth. Apparently, none of them have ever been in your arms. Did you invent the airplane? Cause you seem Wright for me. If God made anything more beautiful than you, I'm sure he'd keep it for himself. Do you have a map? I'm getting lost in your eyes. I don't have a library card, but do you mind if I check you out? Are you an orphanage? Cause I wanna give you kids. I was feeling a little off today, but you definitely turned me on. Are you my Appendix? Because I have a funny feeling in my stomach that makes me feel like I should take you out. I'm sorry, I don't think we've met. I wouldn't forget a pretty face like that. My buddies bet me that I wouldn't be able to start a conversation with the most beautiful girl in the bar. Wanna buy some drinks with their money? Are you a fruit, because Honeydew you know how fine you look right now?
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Post by Ruby on Jun 14, 2015 7:05:40 GMT -5
I found this really amusing. Here's some Pick-up lines I'm sure the ladies on this site will love. Maybe some of them were used on you before? You never know. Funny stuff though Are you a magician? Because whenever I look at you, everyone else disappears! I'm not a photographer, but I can picture me and you together. Are you an interior decorator? Because when I saw you, the entire room became beautiful. Are you religious? Because you're the answer to all my prayers. Are you a camera? Because every time I look at you, I smile. Did you sit in a pile of sugar? Cause you have a pretty sweet ass. Do you have a Band-Aid? Because I just scraped my knee falling for you. Do you know what my shirt is made of? Boyfriend material. If I were a stop light, I'd turn red everytime you passed by, just so I could stare at you a bit longer. I wanna live in your socks so I can be with you every step of the way. If you were a vegetable you'd be a cute-cumber. I seem to have lost my phone number. Can I have yours? Is your daddy a Baker? Because you've got some nice buns! There are people who say Disneyland is the happiest place on earth. Apparently, none of them have ever been in your arms. Did you invent the airplane? Cause you seem Wright for me. If God made anything more beautiful than you, I'm sure he'd keep it for himself. Do you have a map? I'm getting lost in your eyes. I don't have a library card, but do you mind if I check you out? Are you an orphanage? Cause I wanna give you kids. I was feeling a little off today, but you definitely turned me on. Are you my Appendix? Because I have a funny feeling in my stomach that makes me feel like I should take you out. I'm sorry, I don't think we've met. I wouldn't forget a pretty face like that. My buddies bet me that I wouldn't be able to start a conversation with the most beautiful girl in the bar. Wanna buy some drinks with their money? Are you a fruit, because Honeydew you know how fine you look right now? One time while I was ordering at a fast food place, we were with a group of co workers and when I asked him what he was going to order, he looked at me very intensely and said "what I want is not on this menu." Lol Sent from my SM-G900T using proboards
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