Bando
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
I've got some regrets!
Posts: 2,431
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Kings
Mar 16, 2009 21:41:44 GMT -5
Post by Bando on Mar 16, 2009 21:41:44 GMT -5
Anyone watch this? (from the ratings, apparently no). I just saw the pilot on Hulu, and I've got to say, I was pretty impressed. Ian McShane is brilliant in everything, of course, but the whole world they created was pretty mesmerizing.
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Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
123 Fireballs!
Posts: 10,355
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Kings
Mar 17, 2009 8:24:40 GMT -5
Post by Boz on Mar 17, 2009 8:24:40 GMT -5
I am very leery of modern interpretations of old stories. I think this is mainly because of all the really lousy Shakespeare interpretations that I have tried to give a chance. Everything from "Men of Respect" (not too awful, John Turturro was good) to "Romeo + Juliet" (really horrible acting, but the soundtrack was good anyway) to the truly abominable "O" (burn the tapes of that, bury the ashes and salt the earth above the grave).
OK, sure, in some ways, everything is a modern interpretation of an old story (even true in Shakespeare's time, since he cough-borrowed-cough a large number of his plots and themes from the Italians), but these "direct inspiration" type deals usually turn me off.
Having said that, I trust Bando & Buffalo when it comes to what is good television, so if you guys say its worth a shot, I'm inclined to check it out.
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Kings
Mar 17, 2009 8:47:50 GMT -5
Post by HoyasAreHungry on Mar 17, 2009 8:47:50 GMT -5
I too was intrigued by it....it wasn't horrible albeit a bit predictable perhaps. I thought the cinematography was the best part personally. I'll probably watch it again next week before passing final judgment though..
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Bando
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
I've got some regrets!
Posts: 2,431
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Kings
Mar 17, 2009 9:55:28 GMT -5
Post by Bando on Mar 17, 2009 9:55:28 GMT -5
I am very leery of modern interpretations of old stories. I think this is mainly because of all the really lousy Shakespeare interpretations that I have tried to give a chance. Everything from "Men of Respect" (not too awful, John Turturro was good) to "Romeo + Juliet" (really horrible acting, but the soundtrack was good anyway) to the truly abominable "O" (burn the tapes of that, bury the ashes and salt the earth above the grave). OK, sure, in some ways, everything is a modern interpretation of an old story (even true in Shakespeare's time, since he cough-borrowed-cough a large number of his plots and themes from the Italians), but these "direct inspiration" type deals usually turn me off. Having said that, I trust Bando & Buffalo when it comes to what is good television, so if you guys say its worth a shot, I'm inclined to check it out. I mean, I'm not willing to say the show is great or anything right now. And I might just be digging on the premise (absolute monarchy in a very US-like modern world). But I'm going to keep watching for now. I can tell you what I didn't like (SPOILERS). They didn't really need to name the Gathian tanks "Goliaths" to get the point across. Nor did they need to take the crown of butterflies concept into actual reality, it worked a lot better as a metaphor.
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Kings
Mar 17, 2009 11:24:42 GMT -5
Post by strummer8526 on Mar 17, 2009 11:24:42 GMT -5
The crown was actually my biggest problem. I wasn't following as closely as I would have liked (I had to read and keep the TV on in the background). But when I looked up and saw that, it seemed a bit over the top.
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jgalt
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,380
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Kings
Mar 17, 2009 12:26:22 GMT -5
Post by jgalt on Mar 17, 2009 12:26:22 GMT -5
The crown was actually my biggest problem. I wasn't following as closely as I would have liked (I had to read and keep the TV on in the background). But when I looked up and saw that, it seemed a bit over the top. I like Bondo was very intregued by the plot when i first saw the ad for it. The only scene i have seen was the butterfly scene and i thought that was pretty corny. I may start watching on Hulu when i have free time. Was the rest of the show Better, worse, or about the same as the butterfly scene?
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Bando
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
I've got some regrets!
Posts: 2,431
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Kings
Mar 17, 2009 12:31:46 GMT -5
Post by Bando on Mar 17, 2009 12:31:46 GMT -5
The crown was actually my biggest problem. I wasn't following as closely as I would have liked (I had to read and keep the TV on in the background). But when I looked up and saw that, it seemed a bit over the top. I like Bondo was very intregued by the plot when i first saw the ad for it. The only scene i have seen was the butterfly scene and i thought that was pretty corny. I may start watching on Hulu when i have free time. Was the rest of the show Better, worse, or about the same as the butterfly scene? I would say better. Lots of hints at political intrigue, Ian McShane doing all sorts of speechifying, and like everyone has said, the cinematography is fantastic. I enjoyed the pilot until I found out the butterfly crown was literally true.
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hoopsmccan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,429
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Kings
Mar 18, 2009 10:55:42 GMT -5
Post by hoopsmccan on Mar 18, 2009 10:55:42 GMT -5
Not bad, recorded it and watched it last night. Agree with points already made...the butterfly crown thing was weak and they beat us over the head with the Goliath tank thing. Its one thing to name the tanks that (not great, but I can deal), but then to have the newscaster say David vs. Goliath just in case the viewer is too dumb to put it together. I also think things are moving too quickly...it was the first episode and already have: the king's financial and spiritual backers moving on, a new king "anointed" by the animal kingdom, people plotting the kings downfall, and a war starting/finishing/starting/finishing. I guess with network TV, you need to grab people quickly, but the rushed nature means you have gloss over things and dumb them down a bit. As a serious intellectual, that bothers me.
We'll see, its worth checking out for another episode or two.
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Kings
Mar 18, 2009 11:44:09 GMT -5
Post by strummer8526 on Mar 18, 2009 11:44:09 GMT -5
Not bad, recorded it and watched it last night. Agree with points already made...the butterfly crown thing was weak and they beat us over the head with the Goliath tank thing. Its one thing to name the tanks that (not great, but I can deal), but then to have the newscaster say David vs. Goliath just in case the viewer is too dumb to put it together. I also think things are moving too quickly...it was the first episode and already have: the king's financial and spiritual backers moving on, a new king "anointed" by the animal kingdom, people plotting the kings downfall, and a war starting/finishing/starting/finishing. I guess with network TV, you need to grab people quickly, but the rushed nature means you have gloss over things and dumb them down a bit. As a serious intellectual, that bothers me. We'll see, its worth checking out for another episode or two. I agree with it doing too much. It was a sort of subtle, more nuanced show but w/ a plot moving at Jack Bauer 24-speed. Hopefully, when it drops to 1 hour at a time, it will also develop a bit more of a pace.
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The Stig
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,844
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Kings
Mar 22, 2009 20:51:09 GMT -5
Post by The Stig on Mar 22, 2009 20:51:09 GMT -5
Just saw the second episode. I thought it was pretty good, but it seems like the sort of show where you have to catch every episode to understand it.
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jgalt
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,380
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Kings
Mar 22, 2009 22:08:42 GMT -5
Post by jgalt on Mar 22, 2009 22:08:42 GMT -5
i watched the first episode. it was ok, could be good. ill probably watch the next episode when it goes on hulu. i feel like this show could be better if it was on HBO or Showtime because it could be edgier and less formulaic.
Im willing to give it a shot. I think of it in the same way i dont Battle star (not in quality but in type) in that they both create feasible realities and have to convince the viewer that it is ok that the characters say "frack" or that they are engaged in a war with Gath. Battlestar did it really well (from the few episodes i have seen) and hopefully kings can find that same success.
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jgalt
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,380
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Kings
Apr 7, 2009 18:22:28 GMT -5
Post by jgalt on Apr 7, 2009 18:22:28 GMT -5
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Bando
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
I've got some regrets!
Posts: 2,431
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Kings
Apr 7, 2009 22:53:40 GMT -5
Post by Bando on Apr 7, 2009 22:53:40 GMT -5
I still like it, and am watching regularly (although on Hulu). But you're right that this means it's getting canceled, either soon or at the end of the first season. It's a shame, I think it has a lot of promise.
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hoopsmccan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,429
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Kings
Apr 8, 2009 7:47:52 GMT -5
Post by hoopsmccan on Apr 8, 2009 7:47:52 GMT -5
The show looks like an infomercial for Proactiv. I might have to switch to Hulu because the high def, big screen version is distracting...
hm
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