Brief observations on telly/movie stuff

[shapinglight]

Includes mention of last week's Doctor Who, a brief, barely spoilery at all comment on episode three of Agents of SHIELD season 2, and something about the first Captain America film, which I've finally seen three years after it came out.



I've really nothing much to say about that DW episode. The whole 'the moon is really an egg' thing was so far beyond silly I don't even want to talk about it. I thought the best scene in the episode was the one at the end, where Clara had a go at the Doctor. Everything she said was true, of course, but the thing is, it was just as true of the Doctor's previous incarnation, or of any of them. It's just that Capaldi's very angry version is more open and honest about it and doesn't bother trying to hide it. Plus, him not being young and good looking now, people (ie. Clara) don't make excuses for him to themselves any more.

I do quite like Courtney. I hope she sticks around.

I was in London the weekend just gone, visiting K and Mr K, and they have Netflix, so I finally got around to watching Captain America, which I liked very much. Despite the name and the costume, they managed to make the character not jingoistic at all. Chris Evans was very good in the role, Tommy Lee Jones was great, and I liked Agent Carter enough to be interested in watching the upcoming TV series about her.

We could have gone on and watched Captain America: the Winter Soldier straight afterwards, but S wanted to see the football so we didn't. Oh well.

As for this week's AoS, it continues to be better than the first series, though every mention of events from the first series makes me remember how crap it was, which detracts from my enjoyment. Also, they really, seriously need to find stuff for Hunter and Triplett to do to make them both more interesting and less eye-candy.

Finally, it amused me no end to see that Hydra are so evil -so very, very evil -that their scientists actually wear black lab coats. :)

Comments

[dragonyphoenix]

I liked both Captain America movies. I even liked the fight scenes, which I never like. I think Captain America, so far, is the best of the Avenger-related flicks.

I thought the suspense was lacking in the first movie. I mean, they even had a literal ticking clock and my reaction was "ho hum." But the great positively emotional moments were very upbeat. And overall I enjoyed it very much.

[shapinglight]

Yeah, I'd agree with that assessment. Definitely the best of the Avengers-related movies, though I thought Iron Man 1 was pretty good too.

[dragonyphoenix]

I did like Iron Man 1 as well. The one where they bring in that competitor, that Hammer guy? Oh my Goddess, I didn't think anyone could be more aggrandizingly annoying than Tony Stark.

[shapinglight]

Is that the first one? I don't remember that bit at all.

The first one was the one where all the bald guys were evil. ;)

[dalmeny]

their scientists actually wear black lab coats

ROTFL.

I enjoyed the first Captain America but I enjoyed the second film even more. Maybe I'll rewatch it today (off sick with a mild but exhausting virus).

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Agreed on Doctor Who. So far three people including myself were underwhelmed by that episode.

Will state that Captain America - the Winter Solider surprised me, it's actually better than the first one in some respects, and it sheds light on what the heck was going on with Marvel Agents of Shield - which suddenly got really good this season, while being crappy last season.
I'm told it has a lot to do with a big twist in Winter Solider.

[shapinglight]

ROTFL.

;)

I hope you enjoy the movie and feel better soon.

Also, I think your fears about Triplett are probably unfounded. Some glossy publicity photos of the cast were released the other day and he features in them.

I do feel that he's underwritten, though. Mac (the engineer guy) has only been in three episodes and I already feel he's been fleshed out better as a character.

As for Hunter, everything about him so far has been pretty cliche, with obvious plot hints dropped (ie. his mention of his ex-wife being 'crazy' - means she's bound to turn up). I'm still hopeful that will change, though not sure why I'm hopeful given the show's track record in season 1.

[shapinglight]

So far three people including myself were underwhelmed by that episode.

It wasn't bad bad or anything, just not that great.

I'm looking forward to seeing Winter Soldier now. The first film was really good! As for AoS, I understand that their plots were a bit hamstrung waiting for the movie to reveal the big plot twist, but I still think they could have done a lot better in the first half of the season.

Season 2 is really enjoyable so far, though.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

You made it further than I did with S1 AoS. I didn't make it past the first three-five episodes.

But I tuned in to see the S2 series premiere and was blown away by how good it was. Almost as if someone took a monkey wrench to the series and fixed everything that was wrong with it. Turning Ward into a villain was a stroke of genius.

Yeah...Doctor Who was an okay episode. But I don't know about your flist but 90% of the people on mine who watch DW, loved the episode and thought it was the best to date. Which had me thinking, uhm, okay..

[shapinglight]

Turning Ward into a villain was a stroke of genius.

Well, I dunno about genius, but it certainly was the best thing to do with the character. When he was 'good', he was so boring I developed a rabid hatred for him. When it turned out he was evil all along, it felt right, have to say.

As for DW, no one on my flist has had much to say about it that I've noticed, to be honest. I was late getting to see anyway, as I was away last weekend. This weekend I won't be online either, but I'll get back to your meta next week.

[sibilant.livejournal.com]

'The moon is an egg' was so silly it spoiled the episode for me. Especially as it had a classic Star Trek reset after all the excitement.

This series has been uneven to say the least. Capaldi is good though - he exposes all of the Doctor's flaws, as you say, and it's amazing how much more annoying they are when he's not young and pretty.

As for M:AoS - still not got over the horror of the episodes I watched in s1, but maybe one day I'll have a go at the 2nd season! Still waiting to see The Winter Soldier - really liked the first film, which I didn't expect.

[lyr]

Yeah, the black lab coats are pretty funny. And I liked the first Captain America fine, but I really loved Winter Soldier; it's deeper and more substantial, I think.

[shapinglight]

This series has been uneven to say the least. Capaldi is good though

Yes, very good, and Clara - who I found really annoying when Matt Smith was playing the Doctor, is pretty much bearable now.

[shapinglight]

I'm really looking forward to seeing it - though someone spoilered me for a very important plot point last night and I'm pretty miffed about it. :(

[dragonyphoenix]

No, the Hammer guy was from, I think, the second one.

Yeah, because Gandhi (Okay, Ben Kingsley) was sort of the bad guy in the third.

[shapinglight]

I haven't seen the second or third ones. I'll get around to it some time.

[dragonyphoenix]

I personally liked the first the best of the three. The third I liked better than the second. The villains in the second were annoying.

MINOR SPOILER below:

On the other hand, in the third this woman brings a plant that explodes when you touch it into her hotel room. And then, when someone almost touches it, doesn't say, "Hey that plant explodes. Don't touch it."

[shapinglight]

Have to say, she sounds like a very irresponsible person.

[dragonyphoenix]

*laughs* It was quite odd.