So what have you guys been watching lately?

[Gamerforlife]

I'm sad to admit I'm pretty excited for the Black Dynamite cartoon coming out on the 15th. It has an interesting animation style, like Boondocks but with more of a seventies and disco vibe with bright colors and such.

Its based off of the Black Dynamite movie from 2009, which is a spoof of the blacksploitation series about Black Dolomite. I've seen the movie, but it was on at a party and I honestly missed most of it. The previews seemed good, but I was slightly offput about a physical joke inserted with a bunch of white womens panties dropping because of the fact Black Dynamite is, um, black. It fits with the blacksploitation and all, but it seems in bad taste to promote the idea that someone is more attractive due to race.

That's rather typical of the kind of comedy that's in that movie. I mean it is blacksploitation after all. I loved the movie. It has one of best final acts of any movie I've ever seen. The last couple scenes and the final battle at the end are absolutely hilarious. I posted some of my favorite scenes in another thread. Oh wait, I found them. Guess I'll link them here. There's some spoilers, but I don't think spoilers really hurt this movie. It's really all about the comedy, not the plot.






Since you brought it up, everybody should see that movie. It's such a great little gem of a movie that I never hear anyone talk about

[Luke]

I want a sitcom cross over titled:

Full House of Payne.

[Forlorn Drifter]

I'm sad to admit I'm pretty excited for the Black Dynamite cartoon coming out on the 15th. It has an interesting animation style, like Boondocks but with more of a seventies and disco vibe with bright colors and such.

Its based off of the Black Dynamite movie from 2009, which is a spoof of the blacksploitation series about Black Dolomite. I've seen the movie, but it was on at a party and I honestly missed most of it. The previews seemed good, but I was slightly offput about a physical joke inserted with a bunch of white womens panties dropping because of the fact Black Dynamite is, um, black. It fits with the blacksploitation and all, but it seems in bad taste to promote the idea that someone is more attractive due to race.

That's rather typical of the kind of comedy that's in that movie. I mean it is blacksploitation after all. I loved the movie. It has one of best final acts of any movie I've ever seen. The last couple scenes and the final battle at the end are absolutely hilarious. I posted some of my favorite scenes in another thread. Oh wait, I found them. Guess I'll link them here. There's some spoilers, but I don't think spoilers really hurt this movie. It's really all about the comedy, not the plot.






Since you brought it up, everybody should see that movie. It's such a great little gem of a movie that I never hear anyone talk about

Oh, I understand its part of it all, and I know its not serious. I still don't consider it the best thing to promote. Its like me jokingly saying that all the asian women in the room will drop their panties when I walk in becasue I'm a light haired white. Even as a joke, many don't take it that way.

[Gamerforlife]

Just watched episode 10, "The Cost" of The Wire. I swear, I knew how that episode was going to end long before I got there. You could see all the clues being put into place throughout the episode. Still, while I wasn't shocked at all, it was executed so well it made for a powerful moment. This show really does feel a lot more realistic than most other shows. Makes those dramatic moments really hit home.

[Gamerforlife]

Watching episode 12 of The Wire. I'm nearly done with the first season. Is it weird that the majority of the characters I like are the "street" characters as opposed to the cops, most of which I find either uninteresting or obnoxious? I find myself far more invested in the "street" portion of each episode, as opposed to the "law" side of it.

I really like D'Angelo, the stripper girl, and Wallace. I also respect Avon Barksdale and Sringer Bell just for being so damn smart, careful, and strategic. I also think Omar is a badass.

"Omar coming yo!"

[Gamerforlife]

Finished season 1 of the Wire. It certainly is a very good show that I'm glad I watched. However, going by just that first season I would say that the show doesn't live up to the hype. It's not that good. I wonder if gets better and better with subsequent seasons though, like a lot of other shows do. The Wire is a show that gets so caught up in little details and minutia that it gets boring at times. It's like there are frequently times on the show where you are sitting through boring stuff waiting for something more interesting to happen. When those interesting moments come though, the show is excellent. The format and style of the show is very different from a lot of other TV shows. That doesn't necessarily mean it's better though. However, if you prize realism the show has that in spades

Seeing as people often compare The Wire to Breaking Bad I would say that I enjoyed BB's season 1 quite a deal more than The Wire season 1. Both great shows though when all is said and done, but BB is consistently entertaining while The Wire is kind of a slow burn type of show that has it's boring moments

[sabrage]

Finished season 1 of the Wire. It certainly is a very good show that I'm glad I watched. However, going by just that first season I would say that the show doesn't live up to the hype. It's not that good. I wonder if gets better and better with subsequent seasons though, like a lot of other shows do. The Wire is a show that gets so caught up in little details and minutia that it gets boring at times. It's like there are frequently times on the show where you are sitting through boring stuff waiting for something more interesting to happen. When those interesting moments come though, the show is excellent. The format and style of the show is very different from a lot of other TV shows. That doesn't necessarily mean it's better though. However, if you prize realism the show has that in spades

Season 5 is easily my favorite, for what it's worth. I wouldn't say that any particular season is weaker than the others; they each focus on different facets of city life so it just depends what your fascination is.

I don't think there's any direct parallel to draw with Breaking Bad; they're just both gritty, well-written shows. Breaking Bad is certainly more eminently entertaining, but again that doesn't make it necessarily better.

[Gamerforlife]

Finished season 1 of the Wire. It certainly is a very good show that I'm glad I watched. However, going by just that first season I would say that the show doesn't live up to the hype. It's not that good. I wonder if gets better and better with subsequent seasons though, like a lot of other shows do. The Wire is a show that gets so caught up in little details and minutia that it gets boring at times. It's like there are frequently times on the show where you are sitting through boring stuff waiting for something more interesting to happen. When those interesting moments come though, the show is excellent. The format and style of the show is very different from a lot of other TV shows. That doesn't necessarily mean it's better though. However, if you prize realism the show has that in spades

Season 5 is easily my favorite, for what it's worth. I wouldn't say that any particular season is weaker than the others; they each focus on different facets of city life so it just depends what your fascination is.

I don't think there's any direct parallel to draw with Breaking Bad; they're just both gritty, well-written shows. Breaking Bad is certainly more eminently entertaining, but again that doesn't make it necessarily better.

I've heard a lot of people point out the latter seasons being the ones they love. I guess I have to keep watching and make up my own mind.

The show's slow pacing and dense story put me off at times, but I liked a lot of the characters and seeing their stories play out. I love some of the themes the show explores as well. The show's realism impresses me, but I'm not sure that I would want everything I watch to be like this. The Wire often feels more like a documentary than a TV show. Given the show's realism, the death of a certain character in the second to last episode was one of the most genuinely gut wrenching, hard to watch deaths I've seen in a TV show. What's interesting about The Wire is that when someone is about to die or be greviously wounded, you can't expect someone to just show up and save the day like other shows. The show is like real life. Sometimes people die and there are no heroes or protagonists that are going to show up and save them.

[Gamerforlife]

Started season 2, and that first episode was boring as hell. This is The Wire though, and I have to resign myself to the show's sluggish pacing, doing things in two or three episodes that it probably could have done in one. I'm kind of annoyed with the new characters though, after I finally got used to everyone in season 1. Now there's new people for me to keep track of.

I'm sticking with it though, as I know from watching season 1 that there's always a payoff for staying with the show despite how slowly it moves and how it has a tendency to throw too many characters at you

[Gamerforlife]

Last two episodes of Mad Men season 1 are really good. I feel like everything really comes together in those two episodes and the show starts to hit its stride. The revelation of Don Draper's past was really cool, and this thing between him and Pete has my interest. I might stick with it for another season. I've heard some hate for Betty Draper from some long time viewers. I find that interesting, as so far I have no dislike for her character at all. I actually kind of sympathize with her. Honestly, the females in this show kind of have it rough in this male dominated Mad Men universe. Speaking of the ladies....

Good god, that Joan character. She doesn't even look real. She's ridiculously top heavy and doesn't walk like a real woman. I get that she's supposed to be the hot one, but I find that she looks like a ridiculous cartoon character. She's sort of like a caricature of what beautiful women might have looked like during that time period.

Peggy starts to undergo an interesting character evolution towards the end of this season.

Rather odd seeing Stephanie Courtney in this show. Some of you may recognize her at the mascot character for Progressive Insurance, Flo. Didn't know she had any serious acting roles outside that dorky character she plays in the Progressive commercials.