Just recently we decided to jump onto the Netflix streaming services. Instantly I was amazed at the selection, but also dismayed at it. It got me doing tons of research over which is the ‘best’ service. But something happened somewhere along the way, and I realized a few things.
Fact is, the internet is taking over the world, isn’t it? TV can practically be replaced with the right combination of streaming services. Fact is, even streaming radio is a ton better than the repetitive crap that plays over the airways just about anywhere.
Showing posts with label tv. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tv. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Monday, July 1, 2013
Secrets in the Modern Age
Watching the season finale of Doctor Who, and the episode about the Fifth Doctor, I was struck with a statement someone said. It was about how there were surprises back then, shocks that no one saw coming, and how impossible that is to pull off in today’s age.
It is really driven home by how much we already know of the upcoming season of Doctor Who. There is supposed to be all this secrecy about who John Hurt’s Doctor really is, but people have picked apart a pair of interviews, and spread it around the internet. It’s a shame too, as I would have been wonderfully surprised by it.
I still remember watching Doctor Who when I was a child, and seeing him regenerate for the first time, I was shocked. When Aldric died I was absolutely flabbergasted, and that single moment taught me so much about life and death and so many other things. If I’d have known about it ahead of time...I know it would have been completely different.
Here’s something that’s hard to imagine, but try. Star Wars Episode I. I know, I already hear the groans, but imagine this for a moment. Watching it for the first time, and not knowing that Maul had a double bladed lightsaber. Just imagine that. People in the audience would have leaned forward thinking, “Oh man, this shit just got real.”
Most movie trailers have a snippet of the last scene in it. It might not reveal much, but if you know what to look for, then yeah, its pretty telling. Promethius would have been a ton better of a movie if we hadn’t known about the Alien tie in. We would have sat there thinking, “Oh wow, that looks familiar,” until it was revealed.
Surprises do still happen. The Red Wedding hit people that watch A Game of Thrones on HBO quite hard, even though the book the event took place in was published thirteen years ago. The Walking Dead tries pretty hard to keep a lid on things with their surprises, and succeeds in most cases.
I think back to the older days of TV. The ending to the Rosanne show was pretty unique and a wonderful surprise. Bob Newhart had a great surprise ending to his last TV series. If I remember correctly, in both instances they actually filmed a false scene to throw people off.
In today’s age secrets dissolve quickly, as social media has made gossip and sharing something world wide almost instantaneous. The only real surprises seem to happen in books and video games now-a-days. Which is a shame, as both of which are technically niche audiences. Certain movies in the past would have been far better without spoilers in the trailers. TV shows and movies have so many people working on the set, its impossible to truly keep a lid on anything.
Honestly, I never saw The Sixth Sense, but the ending was pretty easy to figure out with the trailers and all. What was the last TV show or movie that surprised you? I’m curious as to what you think about today’s technology and how hard it is to keep secrets from people who want to learn everything about a production. So please comment below!
It is really driven home by how much we already know of the upcoming season of Doctor Who. There is supposed to be all this secrecy about who John Hurt’s Doctor really is, but people have picked apart a pair of interviews, and spread it around the internet. It’s a shame too, as I would have been wonderfully surprised by it.
I still remember watching Doctor Who when I was a child, and seeing him regenerate for the first time, I was shocked. When Aldric died I was absolutely flabbergasted, and that single moment taught me so much about life and death and so many other things. If I’d have known about it ahead of time...I know it would have been completely different.
Here’s something that’s hard to imagine, but try. Star Wars Episode I. I know, I already hear the groans, but imagine this for a moment. Watching it for the first time, and not knowing that Maul had a double bladed lightsaber. Just imagine that. People in the audience would have leaned forward thinking, “Oh man, this shit just got real.”
Most movie trailers have a snippet of the last scene in it. It might not reveal much, but if you know what to look for, then yeah, its pretty telling. Promethius would have been a ton better of a movie if we hadn’t known about the Alien tie in. We would have sat there thinking, “Oh wow, that looks familiar,” until it was revealed.
Surprises do still happen. The Red Wedding hit people that watch A Game of Thrones on HBO quite hard, even though the book the event took place in was published thirteen years ago. The Walking Dead tries pretty hard to keep a lid on things with their surprises, and succeeds in most cases.
I think back to the older days of TV. The ending to the Rosanne show was pretty unique and a wonderful surprise. Bob Newhart had a great surprise ending to his last TV series. If I remember correctly, in both instances they actually filmed a false scene to throw people off.
In today’s age secrets dissolve quickly, as social media has made gossip and sharing something world wide almost instantaneous. The only real surprises seem to happen in books and video games now-a-days. Which is a shame, as both of which are technically niche audiences. Certain movies in the past would have been far better without spoilers in the trailers. TV shows and movies have so many people working on the set, its impossible to truly keep a lid on anything.
Honestly, I never saw The Sixth Sense, but the ending was pretty easy to figure out with the trailers and all. What was the last TV show or movie that surprised you? I’m curious as to what you think about today’s technology and how hard it is to keep secrets from people who want to learn everything about a production. So please comment below!
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
The Doctor Who Saved My Soul
Doctor Who, for those that don’t know, is one of the most popular television shows in the world. It originates from Britain, and is actually celebrating it beginning 50 years ago.... I don’t see how its not the longest running show ever....
When I first saw it, there was nothing on TV like it, especially not in the USA. The humor was not only funny, but incredibly smart, filled with all sorts of wonderful imagination. After watching that show, way back in the 80s, I grew a sort of disdain for the television shows in the US....
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