The New What Have You Been Watching Thread

[Alex]

I've been watching season 3 of The Office and at first I thought I would miss Jim but I'm actually enjoying the dynamic of the Stanford office employees. Dwight's attempt at befriending Ryan are quite funny too.

Yeah, I really like the way they introduce new characters who are often as strong as the older ones - and if not, as in the case with Andy Bernard (imho), they soon manage to make them extremely likable...

[Paul Monk]

I quite like Andy Bernard! He's a bit more of a comedy stereotype than the others though.
"Hey Big Tuna!"

[Alex]

Oh I love him now, but at first he used to annoy me a bit. But they really develop his character, and...well, as with chatting about Smallville with Steve, I can't really say any more until you're up to date!

I've watched the whole of Being Human S2 in the last 10 days or so and really loved it. As mentioned, Russell Tovey annoys at times (he's a good actor, and I still really can't work out if he's just miscast or if it's written weakly) but overall it really gripped me. The dark twists it took surprised throughout, and I loved how it ended too...

[WhiteCrowNZ]

anyone seen 'how to loose friends and alienate people'? a very poor simon pegg comedy. there was one bit that really made me choke though ...

[Lord President]

I am a huge fan of Russell Tovey in Being Human, I think he really works the whole angst of being a werewolf and trying to have a normal life at the same time. A lot of the time his performance really gets to me!

[Andrew Curnow]

I've not been watching much on TV recently, although Fringe is back on Sky One now, so that's something to look forward to. One exception, though, is that Claudia's been watching Tracey Beaker Returns on CBBC of a Sunday morning, and I've been catching it too. I don't mind admitting I've found it in places really very moving - it's good to know the Beeb can still knock up some quality kids drama (as well as SJS of course) even nowadays.

[WhiteCrowNZ]

We're going through Rome season 1 - another brilliant HBO history series.

And it's got Torchwoods Suzie in - though they've not killed her yet.

Been fancying an evening watching a film - hoped to get Fight Club which I'm really in the mood to watch. But couldn't get it.

Looked for ages through our collection looking for something which caught my fancy - decided to watch the absolutely superb BBC Space Race about Werner von Braun and Sergéi Koroliov.

[WhiteCrowNZ]

Well I finished watching Space Race at the weekend. I know it's slightly fictionalised, but it's really enjoyable.

One thing I enjoy about such series, and what they do with HBO like Band of Brothers, Rome, and From The Earth To The Moon, is really in a way bring alive history in a way we never really had when I was a child. You read all about this, there were pictures sometimes. These series allow you to kind of immerse yourself in the world, and are a great starting point for futher read research.

Space Race - I don't know how many times I've watched it, but still enjoy it (ironically I missed it when it was first on). I do feel you kind of come out rooting more for the Russians, as they're the underdogs, and because of the trial Korolyov had to go through (exile to Siberia). And partly because of the mystery around the man - he was refered to only as the Chief Designer, and it was only in the 1990s in a BBC series of documentaries (Red Star in Orbit) that details of Russia's space program really became public.

I'm now following that up with Tom Hank's From The Earth To The Moon - another interesting series. Although it's been pointed out to me that although Werner von Braun was the driving force behind Apollo, he's barely in it at all (a few cameos). I've heard because Tom Hanks and the production company were uncomfortable with von Brauns Nazi past and possible role within the death camps at his factory. It's interesting as of course From The Earth ... very much focuses on Americans getting into space - American engineering, American guts-and-glory pilots. Space Race mentions how America is uncomfortable that their space technology is driven by ex-Nazi technology, and the leading specialists as still ex-Nazis.

[Perry Vale]

Smalville S9 - First 3 eps, all a bit so-so. I can't believe how badly cast Zod is!

Superman The Movie - which seems to be a 2 1/2 hour prologue to Superman II. It was interesting to see how naive comic book adaptations were back then, compared to how they are made these days.

Superman II - Slightly better, but could have done with more focus on Zod etc., rather than Lois/Clark, imo

Lizzie & Sarah - ok, but not great

[Paul Monk]

Have you ever seen to the fan produced and Richard Donner approved, Donner cut of Superman II? Would be interested in what you thought.

[SiHart]

We watched that the other week. I was watching it trying to remember the original cut which I hadn't seen for a few years, so I think I probably need to see the original version sometime soon so I can see the changes.

However, one thing I didn't like was the change to the ending, which made a nonsense of the great joke with the Super-Clarke in the diner bit, which I always really liked.

Si xx

[Perry Vale]

Have you ever seen to the fan produced and Richard Donner approved, Donner cut of Superman II? Would be interested in what you thought.

I bought & watched the Donner Cut on Bluray, but it's over two years since I've seen it. As Si adds, I was quite unfamiliar with II at the time (having not seen it since the 80s), so I don't know how to compare it, but do recall really enjoying it. I might rewatch it soon to give a better appraisal.

[Paul Monk]

I didn't think it was any better to be honest.

[Perry Vale]

Smallville S9 04 'Echo' - Quite enjoyed this one

24 Day 8 (US) - It's really not getting any better, and the latest cliffhanger is a recycled plot from an earlier series!

Lost S6 - I seem to have missed an episode inbetween the latest, still going quite well though.

Superman III - Well, the first fifty minutes. Probably haven't seen this since it's tv premiere back in the day. I'd forgotten that the start of the film resembles a Pink Panther movie rather than Superman....

Glee - Really started to enjoy this show, although don't see where it could go with a second

Shameless - Has really, really gone off the boil, even with Mrs.Doyle from Father ted joining. Still a few funny moments though.

South Park S14 'The Tale Of Scrootie McBoogerballs' - More show-stealing from Butters, although not quite up to last week's

[WhiteCrowNZ]

Just watched Moon - which I really enjoyed. It feels a very familar beast in a way, kind of playing on themes from Solaris, Blade Runner and Gattaca I thought (all films I enjoy).

I think it probably deserves being labelled a "classic" in actual fact. It's very much what I'd call a "hard" science fiction movie. Clever and got you thinking.

[SiHart]

Moon was great. We made the effort to go into London to see it at the cinema and it was well worth it. A very classy and clever film.

Si xx

[stuartdg]

Look back on 70's telly Vol 2(vol 1 didn't appeal enough to me) and if you are of a certain age and remember ITV in the 70's this is well worth a punt.Highlights include Ace Of Wands and Timeslip(both already available on dvd),plus Raven and Tightrope...



Well done Network,now hurry up and put out Look back on 80's telly!

[Jon Masters]

Took the kids to see How to Train Your Dragon - another excellent kids animation in 3D.

Pah to adult films

[WhiteCrowNZ]

Took the kids to see How to Train Your Dragon - another excellent kids animation in 3D.

Cool - that's on our list of things to watch - not sure if we'll see it 2d or 3d at the moment. Good to know/blame someone who thought it was good.

[WhiteCrowNZ]

Moon was great. We made the effort to go into London to see it at the cinema and it was well worth it. A very classy and clever film.

It reminded me heaps of Solaris - being very station based and very talky. But it was a brilliant film with a lot of intelligence, and a lot to say about the concept of identity.

[Perry Vale]

Amongst my usual viewing, I happened across the film 'Fast Food Nation' by chance the other night on BBC HD. An excellent film I'd not heard of before, thoroughly recommended.

[shada pavlova]

Pah to adult films

I could recommend a few...

[WhiteCrowNZ]

Continuing a theme - I've kind of taken a break from From The Earth To The Moon to watch a 2009 TV movie called Moon Shot, which I thought overall quite average.

Space Race ... From The Earth To The Moon ... Moon ... Moon Shot - you might notice a pattern emerging.

This one had the usually excellent Anna Maxwell Martin as Mrs Armstrong. And Buffy's Spike James Marsters as Buzz Aldrin. A bit like From The Earth ... Buzz is kind of portrayed as very difficult again. Something I'm not sure is all together fair - I know he's had a big battle with depression and alcohol, but all the same.

[Paul Monk]

I've just watched the first episode of Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town. Thought it was good. A bit League of Gentlemen but with the Kids usual style. Looking forward to the next episodes

[Larry]

spent the last week watching Ashes to Ashes series 1 & 2 .