Kino
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Post by Kino on Apr 23, 2008 20:29:16 GMT
I see where you're coming from, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it. LOL. It's all good.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Apr 28, 2008 2:12:05 GMT
Just watched the last seven episodes of season 2 on the bounce, with a break for a glass water of after the penultimate ended. It had a great run in its second half.
SEASON 2 SPOILERS
Favourite moment: Omar's response to Levy in the courtroom, about Levy being just the same as Omar, but with a briefcase instead of a shotgun.
I think my favourite characters are Rawls and Stringer; and, oddly, Avon's moving up there too (great writing, to fetch us round to his way of thinking by the end of season 2 too; it's going to be quite a tense struggle between Stringer and him in season 3, methinks - their final phone conversation in the last episode is a great scene).
I think Rawls and Stringer are my favourite characters because I happen to think the actors playing them are the best on the show, too. (Subsequently, I'm not all that big a fan of Greggs, nor Ziggy or the Greek; warming more and more to Herc and Carver. Daniels and McNulty consistently great (though nobody can play a convincing drunk to save their life!).)
"Storm Warning" was probably my favourite episode. Ziggy killing GG was completely unexpected (though the fucked-up post-prod stuff they did immediately after intrudes upon the feel of the show), and Prez punching Valchek was nearly as satisfying as Omar with Levy in the courtroom.
Roll on season 3.
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RNL
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Post by RNL on Apr 28, 2008 2:16:59 GMT
SEASON 2 SPOILERS
You're referring to the expressionistic slo-mo whirling and blurring? I thought that was jarring and out of place too.
Same goes for the re-cap montage to "Walk the Line", and the similar use of music in the final episode (I think).
Contrast it with the sparse, straightforward staging of the gunfight that results in the death of the kid in the window. Couldn't be less glamorous or flamboyant.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Apr 28, 2008 2:20:05 GMT
SEASON 2 SPOILERS
Definitely. The "Walk the Line" sequence is actually good in itself, but I agree with you on it. The climactic montages with which each of the first two seasons have ended now are excusable, given how they both sum the previous season up and set up the next.
Favourite characters after season 2, wetdog?
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Apr 28, 2008 2:21:40 GMT
SEASON 2 SPOILERS
Also, I must confess that even with subtitles a lot of the port stuff went way the fuck over my head for much of the first half of the season; maybe it's meant to be that way, I don't know, and it's not necessarily a criticism - I'm quite the fan of no-bullshit story development.
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RNL
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Post by RNL on Apr 28, 2008 2:26:39 GMT
SEASON 2 SPOILERS
I still think Omar is that dude. Daniels also.
Bunk for comic relief.
Beadie is a very good addition, very likable.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Apr 28, 2008 14:54:12 GMT
By zee vay; Omar's in one episode of The Sopranos (not much, but ya know...), and Charley Scalies (Horseface) plays Tony's old football coach in one or two episodes, too. Director Tim Van Patten is a major creative figure on Sops.
Check it out, yo.
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Kino
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Post by Kino on Apr 28, 2008 20:24:15 GMT
SEASON 2 SPOILERSAlso, I must confess that even with subtitles a lot of the port stuff went way the fuck over my head for much of the first half of the season. Like, which stuff specifically? I remember sort of trying to make sense of their rationale behind their actions on the 1st viewing - got the gist, but found myself feeling like I didn't grasp it all. I grasped it better on revisits.
That's what I like about the show's storytelling. For the most part, they give us just enough. While we may not grasp everything on initial viewings, each revisit is rewarding. Amazing considering the show is granting us substantial access to stuff that's not seen on tv or film. If they were more expository, it would come off written like a CSI episode or something.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Apr 28, 2008 20:43:36 GMT
SEASON 2 SPOILERS
Well, how the actual contraband thing worked, how nobody can get jobs ("days"; a union problem or something?), that sort of stuff.
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Kino
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Post by Kino on Apr 28, 2008 20:59:58 GMT
SEASON 2 SPOILERS
Did you follow those things/understand more as the season went along?
"Days" - simply not enough work to go around. That's why Sobotka was fighting so hard for the dredging and pier work so that his people would get more work via new and more cargo that would come in.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Apr 28, 2008 21:29:55 GMT
SEASON 2 SPOILERS
There's a few terms I didn't understand. IBS and dredging, to name but two. I'm not familiar with this environment; I get the gist, though, and yeah, I understood more as it went on.
The terms and specific syntax (abbrevs in particular) are nothing compared to the ones the police use. But they're alright, I can deal with those.
I can deal with anything. Look at my muscles.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Apr 30, 2008 23:44:37 GMT
Fuck me is Daniels well-toned. I want his biceps. His breasts, too.
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RNL
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Post by RNL on May 1, 2008 0:05:51 GMT
Yeah, he's like an action figure. Big triangular torso.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on May 1, 2008 0:54:49 GMT
I love the way he says "BULLSHIT!" and "You piece of shit!".
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Capo
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Post by Capo on May 1, 2008 2:38:33 GMT
I love the way he says "BULLSHIT!" Yeah, I like that. I like how each of the characters have dialogue distinctive to them; a sign of good writing. McNulty: "What the fuck did I do?" I'm two episodes into season 3, and if it maintains this pace and direction, it'll easily be my favourite so far.
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RNL
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Post by RNL on May 2, 2008 16:46:48 GMT
Season 3 is the best yet by far.
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Kino
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Post by Kino on May 2, 2008 23:28:50 GMT
I certainly hope that members on this site are watching this series, but just not posting thoughts and criticism.
If that's not the case, what's stopping you? Apologies if you're already watching episodes and just not posting, but what say you bobbyreed, Boz, svsg, Mike Sullivan, et al.?
Am I wrong in thinking that sometimes it's reputation that has people watching films, listening to music, and reading novels? Is The Wire not just talked about enough just yet?
Is it the daunting amount of hours one spends on four seasons on DVD which comes out to roughly 40-50 odd hours?
I realize that saying The Best TV Series isn't saying much if one doesn't think much about television, but not all things on tv are created equal. Yes, there are reality shows, Punked, Jackass, etc.
But The Sopranos, Deadwood, Six Feet Under, and The Wire have elevated television. Honestly, it's not far-fetched to say that The Wire, The Sopranos, and Deadwood have outdone some contemporary American and world cinema in certain aspects.
Don't forget that cinema giants like Bergman (Scenes From a Marriage, Fanny and Alexander), Kieslowski (The Decalogue), and Fassbinder (Berlin Alexanderplatz) have also shown the depth that tv offers.
You might end up not liking it, but that notion doesn't stop this board from watching reputable, acclaimed movies, right? There's always a chance you might not like something or you might be surprised.
I guess what I'm getting is at. Why take chances on so many directors, but not The Wire?
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Post by svsg on May 3, 2008 1:02:56 GMT
I don't have whichever channel that shows The Wire. I have queued the 5 DVDs of first season in my blockbuster online, but they all have a long wait. Frankly by the time I get them, I am not sure I will have the enthusiasm to watch them. The reason is I want to be able to discuss with you guys as and when majority of people are watching it. The same is with movies too. I feel bad that I watch all the good movies MUCH after you guys have seen it. But I keep thinking "better late than never".
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Kino
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Post by Kino on May 3, 2008 1:21:39 GMT
I don't have whichever channel that shows The Wire. HBO. Does Blockbuster still do the in-store free exchange of returned online DVDs for those in the store? Could go that route. Hey, I've discussed stuff like In The Mood For Love and L'eclisse with you long after the Antonioni thread was made and previous discussions of those films took place. And if it isn't already obvious (I'm sure you guys are sick of it), I will forever be down to discuss this show. And, thanks, for responding.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on May 3, 2008 1:31:24 GMT
Yeah, I have no problem discussing stuff I saw ways back; if anything, when new blood see stuff I love, I relish it and thrive - makes me want to see the work again. And not just when they like it too; DVC's (valid) comments on TWBB made me want to see it again immediately.
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