What I just finished watching and what I thought about it (non-anime)

[tasanime]

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A chance for you to discuss non-anime you have just finished watching such as films, series, cartoons, TV programmes, documentaries etc and your thoughts on it.

They can be as long and as short as you like, discussing a whole series or a single episode, a short review or comment. Just remember to use spoiler tags for your spoilers with indication of what you are about to discuss in them.

You may be familiar with the thread of the same name in the General anime discussion forum and a little more aware of what the expectations are for such a thread (just to give you the general idea) : What I just finished watching and what I thought about it 2 (USE SPOILER TAGS)

[tasanime]

Children of men http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/child..._men/#synopsis
It's certainly not a film for the weak hearted as it presents it's viewer with a possible future not too far from our own. Imagine a future in which all of our current political and environmental problems have accumulated to the point of a self-destructive world. Imagine a society where Immigrants are captured and sent to camps and ghettos, bombings are frequent among anti-political groups and action groups, the government now further dictates and strives to control every being and people are desperate for a form of repentance? Well, Children of men successfully addresses many of the issues we currently face in society and the possible outcomes of. And it does this by exploring one man's role in a potential future for it, an unlikely protagonist who had previously given up on hope.

Let me say I was both horrified and overwhelmed by how well these issues were addressed throughout the film and the many subtle historical and religious references that aid in the overall message. Clive Owen was fantastically well cast and never distracted from the central theme but did manage to completely engage me in his character. It's quite difficult to articulate just what this film did to me, though I will say it made me fear for our own future and by god did it humble me. And for a film to have that much of an impact on a person surely deserves a viewing by anyone with a desire to be effected and to reflect on the society they live in today.
5/5.

[tasanime]

The Grudge 2.
http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/grudge_2/#synopsis

Jesus Christ I can't believe how awful that was.
Just don't watch it.
Please, just don't watch it.
-1/5

[Justice4243]

It's been a bit since I've watched "Children of Men". I liked it, some crazy directing and an interesting plot.

[Duomaxwe]

I don't really watch TV, so basically I only watch anime that I download on my computer <.<
So I can't even really think of anything none anime I've finished watching lately..

I have seen a show on TV called "Mad Men" a few times which I thought was good and intended to follow, but then I always got distracted and missed it lol.

Mad Men depicts the society and culture of the early 1960s, highlighting cigarette smoking, drinking (alcoholic beverages), sexism, and racial bias as examples of how that era, not so long ago, was so radically different from the present. Smoking, more common in 1960 than it is now, is featured throughout the series; almost every character can be seen smoking multiple times in the course of one episode. In the pilot, representatives of Lucky Strike cigarettes come to Sterling Cooper looking for a new advertising campaign in the wake of a Reader's Digest report that smoking will lead to various health issues including lung cancer. The show presents a culture where men who are engaged or married freely partake of sexual relationships with other women. The series also observes advertising as a corporate outlet for creativity for mainstream, middle-class, young, white men.

So yeah, from what I saw of it, it'd be worth watching, I'd even consider downloading it at some time.

Other than that, the only none cartoon based program I watch on a regular basis would be The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, both of which I download.

[Kenikki]

Malcolm In The Middle 3rd Season

I had seen 1st and 2nd season a pretty long time ago and from my memory it was pretty much so-so. But damn this show is funny! Gotta get started on 4th season quick

[Justice4243]

Avatar Chapter 3, 15 and 16. The show is REALLY good at throwing cliffhangers right at your head. I'm glad this resolved quite a few issues, but man, did it add a few more...

Props to Kenikki for inadvertently letting me know it finally came out on the Anime equivalence of this thread.

[Holychrono]

--Best Movies of 1989--

Glory:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glory_%28film%29
By far the best Civil War movie out there with great characters, acting, and is at the top 10 of my favorite movies.

Lean on Me:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lean_on_Me_%28film%29
Another great drama featured in a school setting. The acting character development and directing were superb on all levels and makes me give them two thumbs up. Truly a great find.

Note: Hmmmm, both are based on a true story. Coincidence?

[tasanime]

I Am Legend
http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/i_am_legend/#synopsis

Hmmm, you've got to be concerned when you're more worried about the death of a dog over the central lead haven't you?

I didn't really like the film, I mean it was passable but nothing I'd ever spend money on. The use of CGI for the zombie thingies took away any real fear of the enemy for me so I wasn't quite sure how I was supposed to be feeling throughout it. There was some suspense during the first half but that turned into more of a psychological slant midway then a hollywood blow-out by the end. There was no consistency in direction is what I'm trying to say leaving you wondering what the hell it was you just watched and what the point was of it all. It just really lacked character, no originality.
2/5

[Kenikki]

Malcolm In The Middle 4th Season

This series is so damn dysfuntionally funny, it's addictive! Gotta get season 5