I don't really know how to put in words my love for this show. This was a very satisfying finale and the description could not be more perfect.
We got the answers we needed but its up to us whether we want to believe them. I believe Nora but it doesn't matter. This has always been a love story between two very broken people. Kevin realizing he has been just running from his life and just keeps coming back (see the end of every season). He becomes obsessed about finding Nora and him coming up short for all those years is truly heartbreaking. Nora finding her children and realizing that she is not needed. Spending all that time to just look at them from a distance and see them one last time. They fixed their problems the best the could. In the end, when they finally get back together, they are honest with each other and can be happy together, no more bullet proof vests and bags over the head. The last shot was beautiful with the two of them in a house and the messages of love coming back home. This was a surprisingly happy ending to an overall very depressing show and I'm ok with that.
This is one of, if not, the greatest TV shows ever.
Thoughts based on the first episode.
I like zombie movies, especially the old ones. And what the more recent films of the genre don't pay attention to is the fact that zombies are dumb, they are slow. "Night of the living dead" [minor spoiler ahead] ends with humanity prevailing (in a way), and it's not surprising, decaying slow-moving corpses are a threat that can be dealt with. [end of spoiler] But I guess it doesn't make for a good movie or a long-running series. And film makers would rather have a grittier, tougher, depressing ending, that would make it clear that humanity is doomed and they are willing to toss all logic aside. But I've never felt it, because it doesn't make any sense. It's like a cliche now, and I'm sick of it. [minor spoilers for 28 days/weeks later ahead] 28 days later had an amazing ending. But the sequel had to go and ruin it: "Yeah! Zombies are everywhere, humanity is doomed, look at it! Are you depressed yet, are you?! Isn't this cool and exciting?" No! Quit it. [end of spoilers]
My point is, Fear the Walking Dead shows the start of the epidemic from a social standpoint and it does it well. It seems realistic. I watch it and I think "yeah, that is probably how it would have happened". Not fast with lots of screaming and people running around, but with lots of confused people not knowing what's going on. The government doesn't know how to deal with this problem, no one does.
This show finally dares to answer the question: if zombies are slow and dumb - how are they in power? Even when people see a walker, they don't fully comprehend it, they can't believe their eyes. They have never seen a zombie-movie, there's no such thing as a walker yet. No one knows the true gravity of the situation, they don't know what awaits them, they don't know there is going to be an apocalypse.
And that's why it's interesting for me to watch.
I also continue hoping for a zombie movie sequel taking place after the apocalypse, where survivors would have to deal with the guilt of things they've done, trying to rebuild society, scientists trying to figure out what caused the epidemic (with possible flashback). But I don't think it'll happen, because the majority apparently thinks it's boring. And it's a shame. Oh, well.
Zach is such a learning-disabled kid. Up to that point an actually rather decent episode.
But goddamn Zach again, ruining the episode. Not that I care too much about Nora, though.
But really, the character Zach is not redeemable for me from this point on, even if I ignore my pretty strong dissatisfaction with the actor.
Nice to see how the hunter wasn't holding up his part of the bargain. He agreed that Setrakian reads the book first and then gives it to Quinlan. But he (Quinlan) suspected from the beginning Setrakian wouldn't give the book up and somehow we must get some suspense into this episode between those two asap, right? Meh. Again this writing with too little care (but I'd admit the writing overall was much better, comparatively).
But they were smarter this time not to pan over too much text in the book and this time it had umlauts in it.
Ah, consistency and an eye for detail, weak spots for The Strain, destroying any kind of immersion.
I probably won't be back for S3. It went too much downhill this season.
The only thing that would make me consider getting back to it is knowing it gets more action, now that Eph can go on a hunting spree.
Oh, and I wonder who they will get as a recast next for Zach. ;)
The comment about "screwing the secretary, eh? A bit of a cliché" was brilliant.
"Say goodbye to eternal life", yeah what a threat by a masterkiller like Eph. Cheesy one-liner.
Being the stupid clichéd love affair that it really is, I didn't and don't care for the secretary, but must question the way Palmer was secured. Actually he wasn't secured whatsoever by his bodyguard. He was made a much simpler target instead.
Previously, the bodyguard even directly looked into the scope of Eph's rifle but didn't see anything. It's equally absurd to even think a second about Eph being able to hit Palmer in the first place. He wasn't able to do so with a much lesser distance and a still-standing Eichhorst. He should know it himself that he is incapable of hitting his target. His alcoholism is no excuse here.
Hilarious was also the secretary being operated in Palmer's office. What the actual f. What an unsterile and unprepaired environment. But in a hospital the master's appearance couldn't that easily happen, right?
The script seems pretty rushed, written in a too strict timeframe or too little care or even both. I think it's both.
I bet Palmer is only killed by Eichhorst later on. Cliffhanger was pretty obvious, at least the book part of the cliffhanger.
All in all an okay-ish episode. No Zach, that is worth a bonus point.
The German in the book, was it Google translated?
The complete English title of the Occido Lumen is supposed to read as "Occido Lumen - A complete account of the first rise of the Strigoi and full confutation of all arguments produced against their existence".
German was:
"Ein compleat Konto des ersten Aufstieg der Strigo und volle Widerlegung aller Argumente gegen thier(?) Existenz produziert"
If I translate that back as it is (ignoring that compleat is not German, just like thier), I'd end up with:
A complete bank account of the first rise of the Strigo and full confutation of all arguments against their existence produced.
Better would have been:
Eine gründliche Auseinandersetzung des ersten Aufstiegs der Strigo und eine volle Widerlegung aller aufgestellten Argumente gegen ihre Existenz.
Sounds still somewhat bumpy and lengthy but that's what the English title says. It kinda goes around three edges instead of one.
To say "going to proof the existence of the Strigo" is shorter than saying "going to refute produced arguments against their existence" and means the same. In English the lengthy version sounds better, in German it's the shorter version that sounds better.
In our digital world you might expect maybe not 100% accurate non-English texts but you could demand a little more than that.
Especially considering the actor of Eichhorst is actually German. Shouldn't be a big deal asking him for an appropriate translation of at least the title.
The mythology described on the other page is pretty much accurate but the German is not at all. But interesting nontheless, if you care for mythology that is. The other sides of the book are written awkwardly as well, but most of all umlauts and the ß are missing entirely. This would suggest the used font didn't support umlauts when they copied it from Google to print it out. Seriously, it's no problem to use ue, ae, oe instead of ü, ä, ö or ss instead of ß but leaving them out completely? No-Go.
I know the book thingy is only a minor thing, even though the book itself plays a bigger role, but I like to pay attention of how my native language is (ab)used in fiction.
i don't know what to say, other than i love this goddamn movie. i can truly say that my experience was enhanced by the fact that i'm not straight, as i definitely feel like this was a movie made for people who are struggling/have struggled with coming out. that's not to say it can't be enjoyed by a wide demographic of people (as it obviously can and has been), but i definitely feel like they got the "gay high school experience" down to a t in a way that it makes it all the more enjoyable if you've been through it. all of simon's mannerisms are incredibly relatable, and the dialogue is especially touching and well written (i cried buckets). their tagline, "everyone deserves a great love story" pretty much sums up my feelings, and not to be dramatic (too late), but it's a rom-com that i can really connect with on a deeper level and for that i'm grateful.
in addition to literally everybody, i encourage any lgbt+ people to see this if you're struggling with your identity or the fear of what others will think, or even the fear that you'll never find anybody to love or that loves you. this is truly a movie that you watch and think, "this guy gets it".
The Normal Heart is a very powerful, emotional and devastating film that tells the story of activist Ned Weeks, a homosexual who fights for the health rights of the Gay community during the 80s, when the HIV-AIDS virus appeared in large mass destroying immense lives.
Ryan Murphy, the well known writer, director and producer of film and television, (best known for having created and written series such as American Horror Story, Nip/Tuck and Glee) is responsible for this work. The film can definitely be emotional, messing with our emotions thanks to the great performances. However the film has some problems, not being too conclusive about a few points. The issue of health care is not very explored as well as the growth and evolution of the association "Gay Men's Health Crisis".
Mark Ruffalo, an actor who I admire for some time, gives the performance of his life devoting himself completely to a very courageous role with all his heart and soul! It's a pleasure to see when an actor is able to exceed beyond what we are already expected of him. I think he has always been a very underrated actor and seeing him here gave me a certain pride because once again he proved me that he is able to touch us with a great performance. Matt Bomer, Alfred Molina, Julia Roberts, Taylor Kitsch and other supporting roles in the film were also very good. The only one I was unable to connect with was Jim Parsons character. Sorry but the guy annoys me a little.
Most of all, The Normal Heart is a beautiful film that pays tribute to all those who have already passed away because of the HIV virus, also showing the big problem that society has discriminated anyone who is different. We are all human beings, we are all equal, we all have the same rights.
I'm sorry but WTF? Is everyone gonna ignore the fact that he just left the love of his life to marry her abusive husband just because a crazy man told him so? It doesn't make any sense! [flips the table]
Why the heck would Sadie die? If she didn't die in the original timeline then wouldn't her dying be the change that the hat guy says is impossible? And btw - we do know that it is possible to change the past (i.e. Sadie's death) - Jake DID save JFK! Goddammit, Stephen!
In all honesty, the ending seems unfinished. It's like Stephen King just went "Eh. Good 'nuf." Although I sincerely hope that the book ending was better fleshed out.
And yeah, I know that Sadie's husband "dies unexpectedly in a car crash" (real convenient btw) and that she's lead a good life all things considered. But it just seems like a shame Jake doesn't want BOTH of them to be happy. I mean if that is a possibility. And I also do get the main idea about the dark and the light. But this little titbit just ruins it for me. Such a positive message ruined by a small incongruity in the plot. I actually really enjoyed the mini-series right up to that point.
P.S.:Oh, and one more thing, the part with the alternative future was kind of ham-fisted. I mean, we get it: don't mess with the past too much. But the apocalypse? I mean, really?
Weekend by Andrew Haigh
Now, I've seen a lot of gay movies in the past that had no substance whatsoever, and completely relied on the audience members to be gay to even enjoy it, and this is not one of those movies.The director has such a good grasp on film making and human emotion, it's astounding.
This is the most honest film I've ever seen in terms of a depiction of a gay relationship, and you don't have to be gay yourself to enjoy the movie. That is, of course, unless you're a socially detached dinosaur from Uganda. I mean, gay people are able to watch straight relationship movies all the time, it's not like you need a super power to be able to feel human emotion,and they did touch on that notion philosophically, through dialogue in the film, as well, but if your gut response to this movie is "Eww! That's gross!" then you should probably just kill yourself, cuz there's a lot of worse things on this planet, and I don't know how you're going to cope with that.
When it came to the acting, both of the actors were great and easy to relate to. Fantastic movie, and I'd definitely recommend it.
