What are you watching?

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

^That!  

BTW, watching Blackadder

[Roland Deschain]

I've had to catch up with my BBC iPlayer favourites list, or risk losing the chance to watch what i've favourited. There have been some really good science and history programmes recently, so this has dominated my "TV" viewing.

^^^

[Swatopluk]

The Ed Show

[pieces o nine]

bb, see america is running a Bond, James Bond marathonette* [again].
I've [repeatedly] seen parts of The World is Not Enough and Goldeneye over the last 36" hours, with TWINE on yet again...



                                   

* This used to be the speciality of Spike TV (iirc), and gradually spread to other movie channels. The important point is that all US holidays -- and most US weekends -- are commemorated by at least one Bond, James Bond marathonette, if not several.

[Roland Deschain]

That has been the holiday tradition in the UK for many years now, with the films being shown on both BBC 1 and ITV. Christmas is always a Bondfest.

I watched a BBC production from the 80s yesterday, entitled Threads. It's about what would happen in the event of Nucular War, and involved bombs being dropped on the UK. It centred around one pregnant woman in Sheffield, and what life would be like. One of the scientific contributors was Carl Sagan, according to the credits. At just under 2 hours long, it was very good, and although the effects weren't great, it was still quite realistic enough. Scary stuff.

[Swatopluk]

I watched a BBC production from the 80s yesterday, entitled Threads. It's about what would happen in the event of Nucular War, and involved bombs being dropped on the UK. It centred around one pregnant woman in Sheffield, and what life would be like. One of the scientific contributors was Carl Sagan, according to the credits. At just under 2 hours long, it was very good, and although the effects weren't great, it was still quite realistic enough. Scary stuff.

It was a reaction to "The Day After" and Reagan's talk of "winning a nuclear war".
The official reaction was similar to that to "The War Game" (Peter Watkins): How do these BBC guys dare to undermine the government and scare the public?
There are a few pieces of ultra-black humor in there too. The educational videos are obvious but also look at the scenes where Ruth gives birth. In the US that would have led to blasphemy charges.
Btw, I have read some sarcastic comments from people from Sheffield that say that it would be difficult to see the difference between a pre- and post-nuclear Sheffield and that might have been a reason for the choice of location.

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

MI-5, a bit stiff if you ask me.

[Roland Deschain]

Swato, i'm glad i'm not the only one who's seen it. It was scary, and this is nothing but a good thing, as people need to realise the extent of the damage that a nuclear war could cause. I'm not a big fan of pussy-footing around with this sort of topic, and it told the truth, so good on the BBC! One thing I don't understand, though. Why would Ruth's birth scene be considered blasphemous? Is it because she gives birth in a barn? I must have missed something there.

I've not watched it yet, but I have Pearl Jam Twenty, the documentary directed by Cameron Crowe, bookmarked on the BBC iPlayer. Not sure if it's on the international version or not, but if you're in the UK, or know how to sort out a British IP address on your browser, it's there for watching right now. Don't be too long, though, as it disappears in 2-3 days!

[Swatopluk]

The scene right after the birth is clearly based on traditional nativity images*. Iirc there are some other occasions too that allude to classical imagery (with religious connotations). To transplant such items of 'salvation' into a context that makes it absolutely clear that there will be none would be seen as blasphemous mockery by a certain type of Christians (esp. in the US).

Apart from that, no mainstream filmmaker in the US would have gotten away with the final shots.

*edit: and it is supposed to be Christmas day

[pieces o nine]

Just watched a new Old Fart Rants video. He really makes me smile, and has either coined or borrowed my new favorite Right Wing Codeword: OBAMUNISM.

Hmmm - I just checked the Googles and apparently this term has been around for some time now. How did I miss it! Still, I wish I could put an OBAMUNISM 2012 bumper sticker on my car without risking serious vandalism...   

[Roland Deschain]

Hmmm - I just checked the Googles and apparently this term has been around for some time now. How did I miss it! Still, I wish I could put an OBAMUNISM 2012 bumper sticker on my car without risking serious vandalism...    

You know you want to. I dare you. I double dare you, Ms Nine! The people in the ocean o' sand won't get the irony...unless they see the sticker (think about that one).

EDIT: I was sidetracked and forgot to mention. On the BBC iPlayer at the moment are the first two episodes of Birdsong, an adaptation of the excellent book by Sebastian Falks. I've seen the first episode, and it was really good, although they seem to be missing the cover story at the moment (those who've read the book will know what that is), but that's neither here nor there. It's still a great adaptation so far, and i'm looking forward to watching part two.

I'm also going through a nostalgia phase, watching several films from the 80s part of my childhood. More on this later, though.

[Roland Deschain]

So more iPlayer goodness has followed yet more, with a little bit of poorness, but that's life. Part 2 of Birdsong was great, along with part 1, and did justice to the book by Sebastain Faulks. Episodes episodes 3 and 4 have been good too, continuing a great story arc. I also watched all 3 hours and 20 minutes of The Eurovision Song Contest, with not a single song standing out as being very good. The Russian grannies were funny, although i'm sure they were meant to be serious, but the winning song was really crap. Meh. Bring back Lordi!

What really caught my attention this week was Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here, an hour long documentary on the making of one of Floyd's best albums, and certainly one of their most melancholic. I sat in rapt attention for the whole thing, my eyes, ears, body, and brain soaking up every little nuance of the music played. It was a truly beautiful thing to hear, which i'm following up with the album itself whilst writing this. Not that I can really concentrate on this, as there's something taking my attention away, wanting me to fall into its sad beauty.

Not wanting to be crass, but if my brain could get an erection, this album, and especially the intro to Shine On You Crazy Diamond, could give me one. So immersed can I get into it when nothing else but me and the music exist. Hmm, this may set me off waxing lyrical about 'Floyd in the music board...

[Swatopluk]

Just back from the cinema where there was a program of old short filsm about the Berlin airports.
Originally today the new one should have opened but a lott seems to have gone wrong and it has been shifted to next year.
Which I appreciate. This way I'll have an airport in walking distance a bit longer. The new one is on the other side of the the city and I'd need, I think, 2 hours to get there, provided public transport does not run into trouble again.

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

Last night's The Daily Show, next The Colbert Report.

I was watching the Heat game last night... 

[Swatopluk]

Going through leftover downloads from the Alyona Show(RT), The Last Word(MSNBC), The Young Turks, Bill Moyers...