What I’ve Been Watching: June 2020
I didn’t have the motivation to focus on much digital media other than Youtube, for most of the year and now I don’t really have much time or focus for even tv (Hometown was the show of choice for the last several months, but I haven’t had time for that this past month). I have to spend hours on the computer for school, so I really need to get off to wind down enough to sleep. At least that is the goal.
I watched Coriolanus, or half of it. Yeah, don’t ever overhype things. More on that in a Coriolanus post when I have time.
I “tried” a episode of Brooklyn 99, and while I know the a show’s pilot isn’t a great thing to judge, I couldn’t be bothered to stop skimming it (actually, I’ve done a lot of skimming) or pursue the show further, everything was so TRYING SO HARD TO BE EDGY AND FUNNY and it was SO shallow, the acting was atrocious, and I only liked Andy Samberg’s character, but he was a cliche I’ve seen done better (Shawn Spencer, for example).
I rewatched some of Drake and Josh (for what is this, the fourth, fifth time?).
Also skimmed Schitt’s Creek (yeah, fyi, nsfw!) which is funny in some of the extreme, hedonistic, spoiling, extravagance of how the long adult Rose children and their parents lived previously. Definitely funny moments, but I found the plot tedious overall, and I was impatient of the parents’ sections sans kids and Alexis’ boring “drama,” the first Mutt moments were so strong and then that took a swift and deep nosedive into blah. David was definitely the best, and the full family and sibling moments could be quite funny. Nevertheless, it didn’t have the sharp banter/one-liners that I’ve realized I expect from favorites. I was about done by the end of season one even after skipping parts (anything to do with Roland, ugh, ugh, ugh, and most of the parents’ storylines, blah). I thought season 2 less funny.
I also, stupidly watched some Cary Grant movie called Houseboat or something. Very dull and very sexist/objectifying (which since I usually unlikely to say this, I usually think people read into many things too much from a place of ignorant modern privilege, and I’m not a modern “feminist”, and I generally think lots of people throw the baby out with the bath water, you know this is bad). Also am I crazy or does seem like the the 50’s and 60’s movies and television are worse in that way than 30’s and 40’s? It’s definitely been true of the ones I’ve seen. Maybe I should do a brief post on that.
The best media watching moment was when my youngest sister decided my mom needed to open her mind to different movies (besides Disney princess and Hallmark and the occasional sports movie). We went downstairs to look our choices over while Mom finished up some chores, and my sister decided to give her the choice between Pirates of the Caribbean and Catching Fire. Mom chose Pirates, and I think she did enjoy it, except for the boring end. We need to watch 2 and 3 with her. Ah, me those movies are so excellent. I wish the same people worked on the last two, the genius left you can certainly tell.
6 Comments
Skye
I also couldn’t really get into Brooklyn 99, i thought Psych was the better alternative too. Drake and Josh is soo good and always worth a rewatch. Yeah Schitt’s creek has it’s dumb moments, it’s really not for everyone. David is by far the best part. I do think the characters grow on you though, Moriah and Alexis both have good arcs throughout.
The first three Pirate movies are great! I agree you can feel the switch in the later ones.
Livia Rose
We literally set to watch the 2nd Pirates with mom, I’m always reminded that these are GOLD.
Yeah, Psych spoils a person for many other detective type shows. I do want to give Castle a rewatch, it just scared/scarred me more.
Its crazy that Drake and Josh is so incredible awesome to still watch as adult.
David’s attitude just killed me, his sarcasm just with his face, esp the sibling moments and with Stevie. It just wasn’t enough to carry me through. It’s definitely a momentary guilty pleasure.
Catherine@basedonthebook
I thought I was the only person in the world that didn’t love Brooklyn 99! I’d have it on in the background but I don’t get why it’s so loved. And 50’s/60’s films do seem worse for some reason – something to do with how the female characters are written?
Livia Rose
Well, I can’t say I tried very hard to like it, but it didn’t seem worthwhile to try after that first attempt. I vaguely thought about looking up the best episodes, but I’m looking for funny and surprisingly deep not trying to hard to be deep and that is what that felt like, so not a great fit.
Maybe also WHY they are written, like just one reason and just for the man? It’s not like that in all (like my favorite How to Steal a Million), maybe it just like that in the movies that aren’t that well written in the first place.
Marian
I’m so late to this post, but I have to say, I don’t think I’ve ever watched a Cary Grant movie I liked. 😆 Except Notorious, but I didn’t like it for him so much as Ingrid Bergman and the story overall.
How to Steal a Million is great!!
I did watch some excellent movies this summer which I still need to review. Of the three, you might enjoy Frantz (2016). It’s a post-WWI drama filmed in black & white, mostly in German/French with English subs. I really loved it. My mom didn’t as much, so your mileage may vary!
Yesterday I watched Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark for the first time. I know a lot of people love that film, but it really didn’t click for me.
Livia Rose
I didn’t the Cary Grant appeal at first, I watched him in a couple dramas and romances which I didn’t like and I don’t find him that attractive, so I didn’t get it. But then I started watching him in funny movies Like Arsenic and Old Lace, Monkey Business, and Bringing Up Baby, and I love him in those roles, humor is definitely his thing. I wouldn’t list him as the top favorite. Gregory Peck, William Powell, and Peter O’Toole are some of my favorites.
Yeah, I get the Harrison Ford appeal, but not the Indiana Jones movies overall, they are so violent and yet boring to me? But I think I’d try again.
I’ll have to add Frantz to my list of movies, that is more of what I’ve spent time on, adding to my never-ending list rather than watching. June and July have been swamped, I barely had time to even thing of movies, social media, etc.