These are old posts from a tv show and film that have long been out!
Ok so this isn't a story but I feel the need to say something somewhere.
Am I the only one who didn't like this episode? I know it was a massive contrast to the previous episode, so different in fact you can't really compare it. But 15 Million Merits was just plain boring. It wasn't a new concept but could have been a real damming piece of work slating all those who watch and partake in these new "opiate for the masses" type shows. But no, it was just a lazy stab at "what if we all worked to earn credits, we are all surrounded by violent/graphic/sadistic/or weird images and the only way out is to get on to Hot Shots". I just didn't cut it for me at all, the characters were weak, the vision of the future was just a composite of Matrix+1984+Brave New World (nothing new at all) and the main premise, the lets shoot x-Factor down in flames, didn't really have much air time at all.
For the most part it was all too obvious, bikes = daily grind, media images = media images, the only way to make something of yourself was to get on Hot Shot = I want to be famous and get on x-Factor as my life has little meaning. Was that the best they could have come up with?
The ending itself was crap, pure and simple. I know that it was meant to highlight mass mentality of "I want to be famous". It was cynical, but even in that context it didn't add up. You give someone all your merits to get them on the show, the outcome upsets you, you make a point to get on to make your point about the person you had feelings for and the whole situation. Two minutes later you're going "oh ok I'll become a guru". It really doesn't make sense. I have images of the Simpson's episode, where Krusty is no longer a sellout in favour of more morals is turned by the Canyonero company, springing to mind.
It could have been so much more, in fact they should have mixed the two episodes together, or have Bing slash his throat. That would have been more shocking. I doubt last night's show would make any avid x-Factor fan think twice about what they were watching or why.
One more thing... if the screens knew when someone wasn't watching when they were supposed to. Why didn't anyone stop Bing from smashing his screen?
15 Million Merits
Ok so this isn't a story but I feel the need to say something somewhere.
Am I the only one who didn't like this episode? I know it was a massive contrast to the previous episode, so different in fact you can't really compare it. But 15 Million Merits was just plain boring. It wasn't a new concept but could have been a real damming piece of work slating all those who watch and partake in these new "opiate for the masses" type shows. But no, it was just a lazy stab at "what if we all worked to earn credits, we are all surrounded by violent/graphic/sadistic/or weird images and the only way out is to get on to Hot Shots". I just didn't cut it for me at all, the characters were weak, the vision of the future was just a composite of Matrix+1984+Brave New World (nothing new at all) and the main premise, the lets shoot x-Factor down in flames, didn't really have much air time at all.
For the most part it was all too obvious, bikes = daily grind, media images = media images, the only way to make something of yourself was to get on Hot Shot = I want to be famous and get on x-Factor as my life has little meaning. Was that the best they could have come up with?
The ending itself was crap, pure and simple. I know that it was meant to highlight mass mentality of "I want to be famous". It was cynical, but even in that context it didn't add up. You give someone all your merits to get them on the show, the outcome upsets you, you make a point to get on to make your point about the person you had feelings for and the whole situation. Two minutes later you're going "oh ok I'll become a guru". It really doesn't make sense. I have images of the Simpson's episode, where Krusty is no longer a sellout in favour of more morals is turned by the Canyonero company, springing to mind.
It could have been so much more, in fact they should have mixed the two episodes together, or have Bing slash his throat. That would have been more shocking. I doubt last night's show would make any avid x-Factor fan think twice about what they were watching or why.
One more thing... if the screens knew when someone wasn't watching when they were supposed to. Why didn't anyone stop Bing from smashing his screen?
Chernobyl Diaries
Yesterday I came across a film trailer about a subject that has always fascinated me. Chernobyl - ok so it's not fluffy kittens and handbags, nor is it Disney. But I remember it happening, but being very young not understanding the full scale or impact of it. In fact I asked my mum if they would get super powers, American comic heroes would have you believe that so it seemed logical, the answer was blunt and to the point "no, they are likely to die of cancer" (things weren't going well for mum at the time so I think we can forgive the rather odd response).
I have read up on the subject (but by no means an expert) and have watched what I can about it where I can. So Chernobyl Diaries sounded interesting, perhaps the story would be from the point of view of one of the workers, a survivor in Prypiat or something like that. Instead what I saw was depressing and saddening, a sodding stalk and slash. Similar to The Hills have Eyes, silly Americans getting stuck where they shouldn't be and getting picked off one by one according to the rules of Stalk and Slash films.
May be I am being overly sensitive but turning an huge disaster that killed many, many people (there are no real records of the death toll due to the secretive nature of the government), caused fear in whole nations. In to a film about Americans going on an "extreme tour" to Chernobyl, that get stuck with their guide in Prypiat and being picked of one by one, by some unseen assailant, in very poor taste. You would not have this type of thing about 9/11 so why do it here.
The whole Chernobyl episode needs to be treated with respect, with an understanding (if not being able to be truly faithful to the story - some things don't translate well from real life to fiction), and care. Not like "oh we need another stalk and slash zombie fest film. What can we do?"
The film itself looks like any other of that type, and will follow certain rules of the genre. It's the subject matter I don't like. If you can make going to the ATM a terrifying experience (and not just queueing up for hours on a Saturday as everyone else pulls out all their wages and then you forgetting your PIN), then you can make anything else ordinary into a horror. Phonebooth was another similar sort of thing.
My point is, choose your subjects carefully, don't shy away from controversial topics. But treat them with respect.
I have read up on the subject (but by no means an expert) and have watched what I can about it where I can. So Chernobyl Diaries sounded interesting, perhaps the story would be from the point of view of one of the workers, a survivor in Prypiat or something like that. Instead what I saw was depressing and saddening, a sodding stalk and slash. Similar to The Hills have Eyes, silly Americans getting stuck where they shouldn't be and getting picked off one by one according to the rules of Stalk and Slash films.
May be I am being overly sensitive but turning an huge disaster that killed many, many people (there are no real records of the death toll due to the secretive nature of the government), caused fear in whole nations. In to a film about Americans going on an "extreme tour" to Chernobyl, that get stuck with their guide in Prypiat and being picked of one by one, by some unseen assailant, in very poor taste. You would not have this type of thing about 9/11 so why do it here.
The whole Chernobyl episode needs to be treated with respect, with an understanding (if not being able to be truly faithful to the story - some things don't translate well from real life to fiction), and care. Not like "oh we need another stalk and slash zombie fest film. What can we do?"
The film itself looks like any other of that type, and will follow certain rules of the genre. It's the subject matter I don't like. If you can make going to the ATM a terrifying experience (and not just queueing up for hours on a Saturday as everyone else pulls out all their wages and then you forgetting your PIN), then you can make anything else ordinary into a horror. Phonebooth was another similar sort of thing.
My point is, choose your subjects carefully, don't shy away from controversial topics. But treat them with respect.
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