Netflix/Prime/Hulu/BritBox Binge Watching: Coronavirus Edition

[Bunny Hop]

Re the Root/Hinds “Persuasion”: Was this ever in a movie theater?

Yes, I’m sure I first saw it at the cinema.

I wonder if Jane Eyre has the most film and television adaptations of any novel.

I think that record is held by either Dracula or The Hound of the Baskervilles (Edit: It's Dracula, followed by Les Miserables and A Christmas Carol. Jane Eyre doesn't even make the top ten).

My favorite Jane Eyre adaptation is the one with Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens. They have so much chemistry.

That version was okay but it irritates me when they try and insert things to make it more ‘relatable’ for modern audiences, which happened a few times in that version. See also both the Frances O'Connor and Billie Piper versions of Mansfield Park.

 

[Cachoo]

I am woman, hear me ROAR: Now this looks off-beat and fun:

ROAR Trailer (2022) Nicole Kidman, Comedy Series

ROAR Trailer (2022) Nicole Kidman, Fivel Stewart, Comedy Series© 2022 - Apple TV+

youtu.be

 

[clairecloutier]

We just finished Bridgerton season 2 last night, and my feeling from the middle episodes held. Overall I liked it more than season 1. This review captures some of what I liked: https://mashable.com/article/bridgerton-season-2-review-netflix.

My husband felt the plot was too drawn-out and consequently at times implausible. I somewhat agree with this. Having to do eight episodes every season might be too much? He argued that they could have told the whole story in six episodes. I don't really disagree. I still enjoyed it though.

I really liked some of the actors in season 2. Simone Ashley was so great as Kate, and the actress who played her sister (Charithra Chandran) was also excellent. I also love the Queen, although her airtime is minimal. Same with Lady Bridgerton. And the new Lord Featherington was amusing. OTOH, I don't really love the actor who plays Collin Bridgerton. I find him quite stiff. His scenes with Penelope are unsatisfying to me because his dialogue and manner toward her are so stilted. I just don't buy them as close friends. I also don't really love the actress who plays Eloise. I know we're supposed to like her character, but I find her acting a bit kitschy and mannered. Her romance with the printer shop boy felt utterly implausible.

I know some people complained there wasn't enough sex in this season, but I felt like Kate & Anthony's big moment in episode 7 made up for that quite well, LOL. (Kind of an aside, but I found some of the sex scenes in season 1 more quirky/cringey than truly hot. Maybe it's just me. )

 

[MacMadame]

I found some of the sex scenes in season 1 more quirky/cringey than truly hot

I thought there was too much sex in season 1. So hearing there is less in season 2 is good. (Still haven't watched because we're working our way through Star Trek Discovery.)

 

[vgerdes]

I don't really love the actor who plays Collin Bridgerton. I find him quite stiff. His scenes with Penelope are unsatisfying to me because his dialogue and manner toward her are so stilted. I just don't buy them as close friends. I also don't really love the actress who plays Eloise. I know we're supposed to like her character, but I find her acting a bit kitschy and mannered. Her romance with the printer shop boy felt utterly implausible.

Agree with you about Eloise. She's supposed to be endearingly quirky, but she gets on my nerves more often than not. I do enjoy Penelope and Collin, however. I find their awkwardness with each other to be quite charming.

 

[Cachoo]

Ugh! I watched the Netflix Doc about Jimmy Savile and I feel like I
need a shower. Such evil slime…

 

[myhoneyhoney]

Hubby and I binged watched Bridgerton. We both enjoyed it but I agree, season 2 felt drawn out. I could’ve done without an episode or 2 in season 2.

This show is the reason I now tell the kids to promenade with the dog before he pees in here.

 

[Buzz]

Ugh! I watched the Netflix Doc about Jimmy Savile and I feel like I
need a shower. Such evil slime…

I can’t watch that. He died at the ripe old age of 84 after a lifetime of raping hundreds of women and children. And even then the BBC still suppressed a documentary about his crimes.

 

[Marta24]

I also watched Bridgerton. I preferred season 2 to season 1. The chemistry between Anthony and Kate was amazing. When Simone Ashley's casting as Kate was announced, I was super excited to see what she would do with the role. I already liked her on Sex Education and she did not disappoint.

 

[LeafOnTheWind]

We watched "When We Were Bullies".

I am still trying to figure out how this garbage became Oscar nominated. The premise is that the filmmaker went back and interviewed his grade school classmates to see if they all remember a mob bullying incident against one student.

Through interviews and animated re-creations, these people and the filmmaker sort through their recollections, trying to figure out exactly what happened — and why they still can’t shake it.

Except they did nothing but talk about how weird the kid was and how he didn't fit in. I didn't hear a whole lot of introspection and remorse other than we were kids and kids pick on weakness. He didn't bother contacting the bullied kid in person and wimped out by writing a bullshit note ending in "I'm sorry". It didn't sound remorseful because 90% of it was his brother had died the year before and he was in pain and was trying to hide his own vulnerability.

Everything about this just made me angry. If this is the best his introspection could come up with then he learned nothing at all. He's still using this kid's trauma as an excuse to talk only about himself. I'm just really in a pissy mood now after watching this. The human race sucks.

 

[LeafOnTheWind]

Better stuff to watch. Night Court is on the IMDB channel on Amazon Prime. Guaranteed laughs ahead after that dreck from before.

 

[Cachoo]

Metal Lords is a delight. I was wary as I am not a metal fan and I thought this might be a metal version of “School of Rock.” It is not. The three leads are terrific and there are some truly funny moments in this film. It captures the angst involved with teenaged years without turning into a Lifetime movie. One of the leads is a talented guitarist in life which is a plus. Even when one of the characters has insufferable moments you still root for him to learn to get out of his own way. Good stuff….Netflix.

 

[sk9tingfan]

Future STARZ releases reportedly confirmed include season 7 of Outlander as well as a prequel to Outlander. Both are currently in production and the latter has been under wraps as to content since filming began last January. I guess we'll have to see.

 

[Cachoo]

More Andrew Garfield (Yyyyyaaaassss!)

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

 

[Sylvia]

For those who are interested, "Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain" premieres on CNN tonight, Sunday, April 10 from 9-11:30 pm ET - "The film traces Bourdain's rapid transformation from line cook to writer to globe-trotting television host.":

Anthony Bourdain documentary dives deep into a restlessness 'he could never turn off'

"Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain" chronicles Bourdain's trajectory from New York chef to globe-trotting TV personality and examines his 2018 suicide. CNN spoke with director Morgan Neville about what he learned in making the film.

www.cnn.com

‘Roadrunner: A Film about Anthony Bourdain’ on CNN free live stream: How to watch online without cable

"Roadrunner: A Film about Anthony Bourdain" is airing for the first time on CNN on Sunday, April 10 at 9 p.m. There are several ways to watch with a free live stream.

www.nj.com

ETA - also available to stream (not free) on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video and will be available on HBO Max at some point.

 

[Buzz]

Moon Knight episode 3 promo

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[Yehudi]

All The Old Knives: 6/10 with all 6 points going to Thandiwe. I figured out the big twist right away, so the rest of the movie was a slog.

 

[Cachoo]

I just watched an episode of "Law and Order: Los Angeles." I never knew the series existed. Corey Stoll, Skeet Ulrich and Regina Hall are the stars. I'm not sure how well it will go over as the setting is Tinseltown. On Prime...

 

[sk9tingfan]

Loving the new second season of Sanditon! There's the usual set of villains and naive new characters, while the existing ones become even wiser to the villains' tactics. One of the villains has already been revealed, saving a new character's virtue. Only six episodes long (sigh), Forbes has reported that a third season is in the works. While originally a British production, an American production company has taken the series over because of the demand from American audiences.

 

[Allskate]

I've started watching the new Netflix series "Our Great National Parks." The cinematography is incredible. I hope there's a second series.

 

[MacMadame]

I have to say that I am not enjoying Bridgerton S2 as much as I expected to. I don't mind it when movies and tv shows change things from books because books aren't movies. But I do mind it when changes are not there to make the movie better. There are so many things this season where I turned to my husband and said "that did NOT happen." I didn't do that last season.

I was okay with the larger role that Lady Danbury is playing and that they made the Queen an actual character rather than someone who was mostly just there (as in "oh, the Queen has shown up to this ball") and very occasionally interacted with the characters. I am even okay with them telling the story in chronological order rather than book order. But changes for no good reason are annoying.

Like all the drama and angst with flashbacks even over Anthony's reaction to his father's death. The books were able to portray what his father's death meant to him without being so dramatic or spending so much time on it.

I think my main issue is with the actors playing Kate and Anthony and their acting choices though. In the books, they had their foibles but they were likable and you were rooting for them to get together. In the series, they are very unlikeable and don't seem destined for each other. At least at the halfway point.

Also, and this may be my faulty memory, but I remember the younger sister as being a bit more vapid, and wasn't there another suitor around that she seemed more compatible with that you were rooting for her to get together with? Maybe that one will show up later or maybe I'm misremembering. It's been a very, very long time since I read the books.

 

[Judy]

Ugh! I watched the Netflix Doc about Jimmy Savile and I feel like I
need a shower. Such evil slime…

Yeah .. def can’t do that either.

 

[sk9tingfan]

On the Magnolia Channel, for some reason, I keep on watching Homework. It's about two spouses married for the second time, each bringing 3 sons into the marriage, and then having a baby girl. They live in Utah and bought an old 20,000 square foot elementary school that they are turning into their forever home. I think I keep on watching it because their esthetic is so ugly that it is fascinating.

 

[skategal]

I have to say that I am not enjoying Bridgerton S2 as much as I expected to. I don't mind it when movies and tv shows change things from books because books aren't movies. But I do mind it when changes are not there to make the movie better. There are so many things this season where I turned to my husband and said "that did NOT happen." I didn't do that last season.

I was okay with the larger role that Lady Danbury is playing and that they made the Queen an actual character rather than someone who was mostly just there (as in "oh, the Queen has shown up to this ball") and very occasionally interacted with the characters. I am even okay with them telling the story in chronological order rather than book order. But changes for no good reason are annoying.

Like all the drama and angst with flashbacks even over Anthony's reaction to his father's death. The books were able to portray what his father's death meant to him without being so dramatic or spending so much time on it.

I think my main issue is with the actors playing Kate and Anthony and their acting choices though. In the books, they had their foibles but they were likable and you were rooting for them to get together. In the series, they are very unlikeable and don't seem destined for each other. At least at the halfway point.

Also, and this may be my faulty memory, but I remember the younger sister as being a bit more vapid, and wasn't there another suitor around that she seemed more compatible with that you were rooting for her to get together with? Maybe that one will show up later or maybe I'm misremembering. It's been a very, very long time since I read the books.

I wish I could tell you that those things get better as the season goes on but….

I haven’t even read the books but there were points I wanted to punch out Anthony and Kate and the writers.

 

[Bunny Hop]

I think my main issue is with the actors playing Kate and Anthony and their acting choices though. In the books, they had their foibles but they were likable and you were rooting for them to get together. In the series, they are very unlikeable and don't seem destined for each other. At least at the halfway point.

Oh dear, that does not bode well. I haven't started watching it yet (trying to finish other series I'm in the middle of first) but my main issue with a lot of recent series is that the characters are portrayed in a way to make them unlikeable. Which means I'm then not invested in finding out what happens to them.

 

[Cachoo]

I’m enjoying “The First Lady” on Showtime. The three stars are compelling and the supporting cast is good. I’m shocked though: I had no idea Martin Luther King’s elderly mother was shot and killed in the 70’s. That floored me…that poor family.

 

[MacMadame]

Oh dear, that does not bode well. I haven't started watching it yet (trying to finish other series I'm in the middle of first) but my main issue with a lot of recent series is that the characters are portrayed in a way to make them unlikeable. Which means I'm then not invested in finding out what happens to them.

I've finished now and I think they did a better job in the 2nd half of showing why the couple was suited for each other -- on paper anyway. Their chemistry got a bit better too especially when Kate started letting her hair down (literally, not figuratively).

But I am most invested in Pen at this point. Eloise comes across as a spoiled brat who cares only for herself and I don't care about Bennedict's art school woes. (Which also are not faithful to the books.)

 

[sk9tingfan]

Looking forward to "Gaslit" with Julia Roberts on STARZ this Sunday.

 

[skategal]

Oh dear, that does not bode well. I haven't started watching it yet (trying to finish other series I'm in the middle of first) but my main issue with a lot of recent series is that the characters are portrayed in a way to make them unlikeable. Which means I'm then not invested in finding out what happens to them.

I found them more dense and stubborn than unlikeable.

Plus they hated each other so convincingly that it was hard to imagine them actually getting together long-term.

 

[clairecloutier]

I completely disagree about Kate and Anthony on Bridgerton ... but, I guess no need to repeat myself!

We just finished watching the first season of Abbott Elementary. It was fun. I like shows that are set in different workplaces, not the usual cops/lawyers/or big business scenarios. And it was nice to see a show about teachers that was funny and humorous, instead of ostentatiously uplifting or motivational or whatever. Teachers are real people, after all. Like any sitcom, some of the jokes were a bit obvious, but it was a good watch.

Before that, we watched the first 5 episodes of Pachinko on AppleTV. Waiting for the final 3 episodes to drop before we finish watching. This series is sort of starkly beautiful, visually, and also very interesting, as it's about something I had little exposure to--i.e., Korea during the pre-WWII Japanese occupation, and the life of Koreans who moved to Japan during that era. Quite fascinating. I haven't read the book yet, so I can't speak to how well it was adapted from the book. But, just on its own as a series, I am enjoying it a lot.