Violence On TV
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I have a bit of a different take on things: I'm a writer and I tend toward the macabre in my style, so when violence is done well, when fight scenes are well choreographed, and when the makeup and acting are spot on, it's all delicious to me. On the other hand, I don't watch modern warfare shit. Anything newer than WWII, forget it. And I think zombies have been sooo overdone, it's like the vampire craze of the 90's and 00's. Give it a rest, already. Hrmph.
I love me some good TV violence. From campy Robocop, Dead Alive type affairs to more honest and gritty pieces like No Country for Old Men. That said, I find it annoying that graphic horror movie adds play at all times of the day and before YouTube videos aimed at kids (although on YouTube it's more of an algorithm issue). I think dirty and violent art need to be out there but it also needs to be avoidable by those that do not wish to see it, or do not wish their kids to see it. Funny enough, although people complain about video games they actually have the most exacting and useful ratings system in the world. I wish they would apply it to Movies because the movie rating system is a complete joke.
Favorite violent movies: Kill Bill, (even though I hate David Caradine), and Natural Born Killers. I even appreciated Sons of Anarchy, although I decided to forego the last two seasons, not wanting to everything just go straight to Hell.
Personally I think writing is a lot better in the T.V. world than it is in film right now. All Hollywood seems to be doing lately is remaking old movies or making movies out of old T.V. shows.
Interestingly, I don't mind any of it that we watch. I'm sure it's because I've been desensitized to it, but I don't think it's the end-all, be-all that it doesn't affect me. One of the things that I've found is that I can detach myself from the viewing experience and look at the larger picture (no pun intended) with a critical eye.
*Disclosure - we watch shows ONLY on Netflix/Amazon. We're looking into AcornTV again since they have such a great selection.*
We love Criminal Minds, although trailboss' post ABOVE hit on some points that bother me; specifically, the Gulfstream and the gas-guzzling SUVs. I'm not against either, but think of where the money comes from to maintain these things... I can suspend my disbelief in Criminal Minds because the unbelievable things aren't so awful as to make me balk at them. Let me give you some examples of other crime shows that I can only watch one episode of before my suspension of disbelief is destroyed.
Numb3rs- A team of FBI agents are so bad at their jobs that they have to enlist a math genius to come up with some algorithm to solve the case of the week. Mmm-hmm.
Bones- A world-renowned forensic anthropologist helps the FBI solve murders, except that she follows the FBI agent to every scene and interrogation in addition to shooting a gun. Yeah. OK.
Crossing Jordan- A medical examiner in Boston goes around town following leads with her cop friend and has fired a gun more times that any M.E. probably ever have. (Don't get me wrong. We love Jordan and when we first got married, it was one of "our shows" we watched every week together, but I can only watch one episode)
There are more, but I'm going to stop before I ruin someone's favorite show.
Shows we like (aside from Criminal Minds)? Again, trailboss nailed it with the british crime dramas. Finding a gun in those shows (with the exception of Luther) is exceedingly rare. Refreshing, even.
Vera- Love her accent and she's a whip to boot.
Wallander (with Kenneth Branagh) - Excellent series that takes place in Norway. Love it.
Miss Fisher's Mysteries - My wife loves the 1920's style and I like that it takes place in Australia. Miss Fisher is nice to look at and have fun with but I think Dot is the one to marry.
Inspector Lewis/Morse - We like Lewis because Hathaway is a great DS and he is enough like Morse to be an excellent counter to Lewis' non-Oxford-ness. Morse is a little more slow and my wife can't get into it.
Endeavor - Inspector Morse's prequel series. Love it. Far better than the series "Inspector Morse" and they do a nice job showing how Morse got the way he did.
Midsommer Murders - I like it because it's good fun even if it seems like most of Midsommer county's residents would either be in jail or dead by now.
Murdoch Mysteries - I dig it but the wife isn't a fan. Guess she's not down with Canadian police.
Poirot/Miss Marple - Suchet is THE ONLY Poirot in my book just like Joan Hickson is THE ONLY Miss Marple. Can't go wrong with the Queen of Crime.
There are others but those are the real stand-outs.
Anyway. Sorry to hijack the thread.
-Jason
*Disclosure - we watch shows ONLY on Netflix/Amazon. We're looking into AcornTV again since they have such a great selection.*
We love Criminal Minds, although trailboss' post ABOVE hit on some points that bother me; specifically, the Gulfstream and the gas-guzzling SUVs. I'm not against either, but think of where the money comes from to maintain these things... I can suspend my disbelief in Criminal Minds because the unbelievable things aren't so awful as to make me balk at them. Let me give you some examples of other crime shows that I can only watch one episode of before my suspension of disbelief is destroyed.
Numb3rs- A team of FBI agents are so bad at their jobs that they have to enlist a math genius to come up with some algorithm to solve the case of the week. Mmm-hmm.
Bones- A world-renowned forensic anthropologist helps the FBI solve murders, except that she follows the FBI agent to every scene and interrogation in addition to shooting a gun. Yeah. OK.
Crossing Jordan- A medical examiner in Boston goes around town following leads with her cop friend and has fired a gun more times that any M.E. probably ever have. (Don't get me wrong. We love Jordan and when we first got married, it was one of "our shows" we watched every week together, but I can only watch one episode)
There are more, but I'm going to stop before I ruin someone's favorite show.
Shows we like (aside from Criminal Minds)? Again, trailboss nailed it with the british crime dramas. Finding a gun in those shows (with the exception of Luther) is exceedingly rare. Refreshing, even.
Vera- Love her accent and she's a whip to boot.
Wallander (with Kenneth Branagh) - Excellent series that takes place in Norway. Love it.
Miss Fisher's Mysteries - My wife loves the 1920's style and I like that it takes place in Australia. Miss Fisher is nice to look at and have fun with but I think Dot is the one to marry.
Inspector Lewis/Morse - We like Lewis because Hathaway is a great DS and he is enough like Morse to be an excellent counter to Lewis' non-Oxford-ness. Morse is a little more slow and my wife can't get into it.
Endeavor - Inspector Morse's prequel series. Love it. Far better than the series "Inspector Morse" and they do a nice job showing how Morse got the way he did.
Midsommer Murders - I like it because it's good fun even if it seems like most of Midsommer county's residents would either be in jail or dead by now.
Murdoch Mysteries - I dig it but the wife isn't a fan. Guess she's not down with Canadian police.
Poirot/Miss Marple - Suchet is THE ONLY Poirot in my book just like Joan Hickson is THE ONLY Miss Marple. Can't go wrong with the Queen of Crime.
There are others but those are the real stand-outs.
Anyway. Sorry to hijack the thread.
-Jason
Hey now, I loved Numb3rs and Bones! lol.
I also love David Suchet's Poirot, will only watch a Marple if Joan Hickson is in it, love the old Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes', I'll watch Midsommer Murders if the lady has it on, just got into Miss Fisher's Mysteries (Essie Davis is a hottie plus it's good writing), and I am a big fan of Murdoch Mysteries (though I'm far behind on the current season).
I also love David Suchet's Poirot, will only watch a Marple if Joan Hickson is in it, love the old Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes', I'll watch Midsommer Murders if the lady has it on, just got into Miss Fisher's Mysteries (Essie Davis is a hottie plus it's good writing), and I am a big fan of Murdoch Mysteries (though I'm far behind on the current season).
I dont have nexflix or Amazon, but I would like to add a few more to the list of "Whodunit/Crime" types.
Cadfael - set in the 1400s, Brother Cadfael is an ex-soldier turned monk, with a detective bent. A wonderful series.
Jonathon Creek - a stage magician's assistant (he actually comes up with the magicians stunts) gets thrown in with an investigative journalist, solves crimes using his unique way of seeing things.
Hu$tle - A group of conmen/grifters rob from the rich to line their own pockets. However, they only steal from those who can afford it, and those who deserve it.
New Tricks - A cold-case-files type. A DI brings on board a few retired officers, using their experience, as well as modern techniques to shed new light on old cases. Who says you can't teach an old dog...
Cadfael - set in the 1400s, Brother Cadfael is an ex-soldier turned monk, with a detective bent. A wonderful series.
Jonathon Creek - a stage magician's assistant (he actually comes up with the magicians stunts) gets thrown in with an investigative journalist, solves crimes using his unique way of seeing things.
Hu$tle - A group of conmen/grifters rob from the rich to line their own pockets. However, they only steal from those who can afford it, and those who deserve it.
New Tricks - A cold-case-files type. A DI brings on board a few retired officers, using their experience, as well as modern techniques to shed new light on old cases. Who says you can't teach an old dog...
I've noticed that after watching Game of Thrones and Vikings, that when I tried to watch the movie Hercules without the splattering of gore or nudity that it just seemed lame to me.
Love Miss Fisher's Mysteries and Midsomer Murders. Also, the Agatha Christie stuff with David Suchet as Hurcule` Poirot is very very good! (In the same vein as Miss Fisher's Mysteries, as far as being set with period costumes and settings)
Bradley, I will watch that next, thank you. I know that the production timing of the British and Swedish series overlapped, despite them being totally separate productions. At times, they were even both shooting at the same location. What did you like better about the Swedish version?
Swedish Wallander had more faults as a Detective as British version but it was a more likeable faults, had a dog called Jesse, and it to me was more believable. My wife does not like movies you have to read but she liked this one very much.
I just heard Andrew Lincoln (The Walking Dead) interviewed on XM radio last week. He contrasted the way series are made in the US versus those made in England. The US will run a series for multiple years with bigger budgets and more commitment/development while series in the UK have very short runs. We just finished watching the two season series "The Fall" with Gillian Anderson. It had its share of violence but was overall very good.
I lucked out this Christmas, the lady gave me the complete Jeremy Brett Holmes series on DVD. I was ecstatic about that one because I've been waiting for two years or so for Netlifx to put it back up.
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