John August says: TV dramas better than films

[deadeye]

Re: John August says: TV dramas better than films

Sorry. You're right, O. I forgot it's a cyber world we live in.

If cyber world is too far removed from the real world then something is going wrong. lol

[odocoileus]

Re: John August says: TV dramas better than films

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:G...e_-_Louvre.jpg

[P.G. Bauhaus]

Re: John August says: TV dramas better than films

It's about people complaining about bad language?

Yeah, that article was pretty f-ckn lame. I made the mistake of posting it before I actually read it.

TV has been getting better. Rent Battlestar Galactica for evidence.

Ugh, I tried watching the original movie or miniseries or whatever it was. With Edward James Olmos. I couldn't finish it though. Military B.S. plus soap opera does not equal quality sci-fi to me. I guess it gets better later though?

[sarajb]

Re: John August says: TV dramas better than films

lol!

Given the hair color, I guess I'm the nutter.

[deadeye]

Re: John August says: TV dramas better than films

Yeah, that article was pretty f-ckn lame. I made the mistake of posting it before I actually read it.



Ugh, I tried watching the original movie or miniseries or whatever it was. With Edward James Olmos. I couldn't finish it though. Military B.S. plus soap opera does not equal quality sci-fi to me. I guess it gets better later though?

It's in the subtext. A whole heap better than the original.

[Priya]

Re: John August says: TV dramas better than films

But I don't think 40 Year Old Virgin will have the staying power of, let's say, Taxi Driver or Psyhco.

Apples and oranges.

40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN will have the staying power of, let's say, ANIMAL HOUSE or CADDYSHACK.

[sc111]

Re: John August says: TV dramas better than films

Apples and oranges.

40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN will have the staying power of, let's say, ANIMAL HOUSE or CADDYSHACK.

I was being facetious. The title of the thread highlights drama.

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

Re: John August says: TV dramas better than films

Let me get this straight you think TV writers have more time and that makes it easier to write. More time than feature writers?

What I mean is that they have more screen time to tell the story (as in seven seasons for a tv series vs 2 hours for a feature film).

[Taotropics]

Re: John August says: TV dramas better than films

I think it's a mistake to compare the mediums. It's like saying that sprinters are running better right now than marathoners. Or cinnamon is tasting better these days than cumin.

To tell a story in 64 one hour installments is a completely different proposition than telling a story in two hours or six hours (trilogies, sequels).

To say movies in general are not as good as TV in general is, on the surface (to me at least) a nonsensical proposition. Now it does appear to be true that quality TV seems to be reaching a wider viewership than quality movies. "Pan's Labrynth", "Childen Of Men" and "Babel" were not seen or appreciated as widely as "The Sopranos" and "24". Why is hard to say...it may be that in our busy livesl, we are better able to tolerate the complexity of art in the comfort of our own home. I know I sometimes feel like it's a "chore" to see a film I know is supposed to be amazing but that doesn't have sexy explosions or bodies to pull me into the theater ("Lives of Others" for ex.). But the ones I miss I usually enjoy later on DVD and it seems the same audience for HBO dramas probably is doing the same thing.

The very best television (which for me is only three shows: "The Sopranos", "Six Feet Under" and "The Wire") exploits the native advantages of more time for storytelling to invest their drama with the detail, erudition and expansiveness of the novel. Some movies have accopmplished this ("The Decalogue" and Rohmer's "Six Moral Tales" come to mind) by creating a series of shorter films strung together by a common theme. But the opportunities to make these kinds of films have all but evaporated. The only "serial" filmmaking the American public will tolerate is in enormous fantasy franchises where the themes cannot rise above those most likely to move a twelve year old.

No question in my mind that the best Ricky Gervais ("Office", "Extras") or Larry David ranks with the best film comedies ("Borat", the Apatow movies). But the dramas or so different I wouldnt' know how to compare them.

[deadeye]

Re: John August says: TV dramas better than films

Now it does appear to be true that quality TV seems to be reaching a wider viewership than quality movies. "Pan's Labrynth", "Childen Of Men" and "Babel" were not seen or appreciated as widely as "The Sopranos" and "24". Why is hard to say.

In the last 30 years it has always been the case. No mystery. A popular TV programme will always outgross a movie in audience numbers. I've written for TV shows with a 10 million plus audience. And they were crap. But still the equivalent of a 100 million dollar movie audience.

[qualitycontrol]

Re: John August says: TV dramas better than films

Yeah, that article was pretty f-ckn lame. I made the mistake of posting it before I actually read it.



Ugh, I tried watching the original movie or miniseries or whatever it was. With Edward James Olmos. I couldn't finish it though. Military B.S. plus soap opera does not equal quality sci-fi to me. I guess it gets better later though?

I thought the mini-series was a little weak myself and season 1 does have some off-shoot sections that are dull but check out the first actual show episode entitled "33" --

http://tv-links.co.uk/listings/1/11

I really like the show and I can admit it is almost like a soap opera for boys. However, the play between Gaius Baltar and the figure of Six in his head is really great.

This show got me willing to take a chance on TV again... and I work in TV. I just didn't watch any new TV shows for years until this show came around and my friend forced me to watch it.

Despite its problems 24 can be as good as an action movie or political drama but I do know Bourne blows it away. It can also be murky on politics and morality but a solid show. And, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia makes jokes that never seem to find their way into more mainstreamed cinema. I think there's some more risks in television.

I've been more excited for TV shows this past year than films. Although, now after seeing trailers for stuff like the new Coen Brothers and Croenenberg... I don't know. That said, TV shows are awesome to dive into for summers instead of the blockbusters.

[P.G. Bauhaus]

Re: John August says: TV dramas better than films

Or cinnamon is tasting better these days than cumin.

This is clearly true though.