226 Reply by Trey

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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

Doctor Submarine wrote:

Now THAT would have been an ending that fans hated. Say what you will about the current ending, but at least it fits into the overall tone and mythology of the show.

Who are these fans you speak of?  Because I was one until the last season when the show took that bizarre left turn into magicland.  Up until that point it had been science fiction.   

In fact LOST won me over in its middle seasons, when it straight up admitted that it was a sci-fi show and had been all along.   They'd actually sneaked a goddam scifi show in under the radar but didn't admit it until it was the biggest thing on network television.  Which was awesome.

And I have different sources than Eddie, but mine also come from high up within ABC.  And he speaks true - the explanation for pretty much everything was going to be alien tech...

until that terrible last season when they threw out most of what they'd set up and literally said "a wizard did it" instead.    Ptui.   It was still sorta interesting, but ultimately - for me - pointless and sad and disappointing.

You know how that earlier draft of Prometheus was pretty much a straight sci-fi actioner until Ridley hired Lindelof to make it all deep and meaningful or whatever?   Same thing happened to LOST.  *shakes tiny fist*

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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

Jimmy B wrote:

The gears were built to control this and the polar bears were bred on the island to push the gears.

http://www.journaldugeek.com/files/2012/09/picard-facepalm.jpg

Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere. - Carl Sagan

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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

Dorkman wrote:

SPOILER Show
the whole thing being purgatory.

SPOILER Show
It wasn't. Despite what you might have heard from some who didn't understand the finale, nobody on the island was dead (well, except for the occasional ghost) and the vast majority of everything that happened on that show actually happened and mattered. The purgatory thing is really more of an epilogue intended to provide a happy ending to the character arcs.

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  • Teague
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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

As someone who doesn't know anything about Lost, everything everyone has said sounds fucking ridiculous.

...

Just being a non-contributing asshole over here. You could levy similar claims about Who, for instance.

Teague Chrystie

I have a tendency to fix your typos.

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230 Reply by Dave

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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

Right there with you on this one.

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231 Reply by Trey

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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

Well, sure - the same is true of a lot of shows, especially sci fi and fantasy.  Ever tried explaining Firefly to somebody who knows nothing about it?  "It's a Western in space, and... hey, come back!"

It's the execution that matters as always, and LOST in its prime was pretty great stuff.   I especially liked how hard they pushed the characters.   Nobody - not even the supposed "heroes" - got away clean. Everybody was messed up, or got messed up, over the course of the show.    And even the worst "villains" turned out to have such godawful back stories that you completely understood why they did such terrible things.

For a while there we had two truly great sci-fi shows on the air at once - Galactica and LOST.  Both of which sound pretty stupid if you try to describe them.

EDIT:  and, admittedly, both of which had their legacies tarnished a bit by final seasons full of foo-foo magical tripe.   But for a while there... golden.

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  • From: Indiana, USA
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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

Explaining Fringe would probably go the same way. I'm just finishing season 4, and the hits just keep on comin'.

http://www.zarban.com/pics/fringe-september.jpg

Warning: I'm probably rewriting this post as you read it.

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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

Dorkman wrote:
Jimmy B wrote:

The Island was powered by, essentially, electromagnetic energy underground. This energy, when utilised properly could send people off the Island. and also travel in time. The gears were built to control this and the polar bears were bred on the island to push the gears.  There was a fuck up with the energy when Locke left and that is when the time slipping happened.

Which again, mostly makes sense ("sense," anyway) in terms of an alien ship, and none in terms of

SPOILER Show
the whole thing being purgatory.

Ah, but-

SPOILER Show
It wasn't all purgatory, though. Everything that we saw happen actually did happen. People saw the last episode which is Jack crossing over and wrongly assumed everyone was dying at the same time. The first shot of the entire show is Jack opening his eye and the last shot of the series is him in roughly the same position closing his eye. A lot of pole took this to mean he was dying after just coming off the plane, which is wrong. There is a couple of lines that explains what is happening at the end that people tend to miss or ignore

And, yeah, reading the synopsis for most sci-fi shows you are not familiar with can make the show sound ridiculous. And I'm sure Trey is on the same page as me- when Lost ws good, it was pretty damn good.  I am going to stop explaining Lost to people who don't care. Thank you for your time big_smile

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  • Teague
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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

Zarban, fun fact: I composited a bunch of those shots in that Fringe comic you posted.

Sequence didn't turn out quite the way we were hoping, but, still, it's a fun fact.

Teague Chrystie

I have a tendency to fix your typos.

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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

YOUR FACT IS LAME AND YOU SHOULD FEEL LAME

...sorry, I got caught up thinking this was that other thread.

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  • Teague
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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

I don't understand how you could even feel that way, Michael.

Teague Chrystie

I have a tendency to fix your typos.

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237 Reply by Eddie

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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

Yeah, let's be clear, the island was NOT purgatory.  The idea is that The sideways flashes during season 7 take place in some sort of afterlife, but only after literally hundreds of years later (to catch up with when Hurley and Ben finally croak).  Everything on the island was absolutely real, in terms of the story it told.

Also, because I'm a buddhist nerd, I got a huge kick out of a character being named Dogen.

Eddie Doty

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238 Reply by Lamer

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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

Eddie wrote:

but only after literally hundreds of years later (to catch up with when Hurley and Ben finally croak).

This was the dumbest thing about the ending. Everyone should've died along with Jack (except for Kate, she should've been killed in the pilot).

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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

Teague wrote:

Zarban, fun fact: I composited a bunch of those shots in that Fringe comic you posted.

Sequence didn't turn out quite the way we were hoping, but, still, it's a fun fact.

I knew there was a reason I loved you.

Other than the sex, I mean.

Warning: I'm probably rewriting this post as you read it.

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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

I thought of another unpopular opinion I have and now have a chance to write it:

I hate dystopias-I get the idea that the future looks grim and that people imagine negative futures ect. but the whole "Hunger Games" "V for Vendetta" and all gets old, tiresome and frustrating. I don't need utopia or dystopia-just give me something realistic.

God loves you!

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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

Teague wrote:

I know a couple of music-buffs (like, Berklee students) who are super into Toto.

Who knew.

Because Steve Lukather is completely amazing and awesome.

HabeasPorpoise wrote:

1) I refuse to listen to the "Sunshine" or "Scott Pilgrim" DIF commentaries.  I am bound to their fate and I will risk no hurt to these movies.
.

I still haven't listened to the Scott Pilgrim commentary. I just can't bring myself to listen to the hate. I love that movie so much.

fcw wrote:


'Manhattan' is waaay better than 'Annie Hall', but Allen hasn't made an interesting film since 'Bullets over Broadway'.

This.

AshDigital wrote:

* I like the Tales of the Gold Monkey.

High five! This was my show as a kid, and it only lasted a season. sad

(I've also watched more episodes of 7th Heaven than I'd like to admit)


Now my confessions (sorry, lots to get off my chest, this is very cathartic)

I prefer Return of the Jedi to Empire. Ewoks are adorable, and those who hate them are horrible, cynical, heartless bastards.

Death Proof is FAR superior to Planet Terror.

Spy Kids is Rodriguez's best film.

Lord of the Rings also bores me (but they're VERY well made).

I share DIF's love of Titanic.

I like Ben Affleck a lot, as director and actor, don't ge the hate (mostly as an actor).

Chasing Amy is my favorite Kevin Smith film. Oh, and I'm still a Kevin Smith fan, liked Red State quite a bit.

I hated Magnolia, but have loved everything else PTA has done (haven't seen The Master yet though). Boogie Nights is in my top 5 films of all time probably.

2001 is absolutely Kubrick's best film smile

If you're bored by Fargo, take some ritalin and watch it again please.

Still love The Blair Witch Project, re-watched it this Halloween, still holds up for me.

I liked Transformers 1 & 3 (2 was shit though).

Wanted (Jolie) is a lot of fun. Love that movie.

Last Crusade is the best Indy movie smile

TV

I also like Studio 60 and The Newsroom

Buffy season 1 is good dammit.

Breaking Bad IS the best show on TV (though Community is the best comedy)

Babylon 5 was terrible.

Torchwood > Doctor Who

I hated the Lost ending, but loved the BSG ending, go figure.

The Angel series finale (Not Fade Away) was the best series finale of all time.

I also liked Dollhouse (own it on blu ray).

Music

Anyone who thinks Chinese Democracy is better than Appetite is tone deaf. tongue

I don't know what dubstep is.

I'm an atheist who likes Jesus Christ Superstar.

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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

Mr. Pointy wrote:

I hated the Lost ending

Don't want to get into a huge Lost conversation again, but what was it about it you hated? Did you hate season six as a whole or were you liking it until the finale? smile

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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

Mr. Pointy wrote:

I still haven't listened to the Scott Pilgrim commentary. I just can't bring myself to listen to the hate. I love that movie so much.

I don't get Scott Pilgrim. Now that's an unpopular opinion in some circles wink The movie has its moments, but overall... meh.

I listened to the official commentary and the DIF commentary and I still don't get it.

So honor the valiant who die 'neath your sword
But pity the warrior who slays all his foes...

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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

Mr. Pointy wrote:

I also like Studio 60 and The Newsroom

I'm gonna need some elaboration on why. No judgement, I'm honestly curious.

Mr. Pointy wrote:

I'm an atheist who likes Jesus Christ Superstar.

Same here. I still watch/listen to it all the time.

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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

Mr. Pointy wrote:

Ewoks are adorable, and those who hate them are horrible, cynical, heartless bastards.

Agreed!

Also, I recently watched Season 1 of Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead.


My opinion on both: meh
(do either get any better?)

Protection and power are overrated. I think you are very wise to choose happiness and love. -Uncle Iroh

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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

MadBadCoyote wrote:
Mr. Pointy wrote:

Ewoks are adorable, and those who hate them are horrible, cynical, heartless bastards.

Agreed!

Also, I recently watched Season 1 of Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead.


My opinion on both: meh
(do either get any better?)

Breaking Bad, hell yes. Stick with it, it pays off. The Walking Dead? Debatable. Some people thought season 2 dragged, and I see where they're coming from. Season 3 has been phenomenal thus far, though.

"The Doctor is Submarining through our brains." --Teague

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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

MadBadCoyote wrote:
Mr. Pointy wrote:

Ewoks are adorable, and those who hate them are horrible, cynical, heartless bastards.

Agreed!

Also, I recently watched Season 1 of Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead.


My opinion on both: meh
(do either get any better?)

I was totally in love with The Walking Dead pilot. I thought it was tremendous and couldn't recommend it enough. Then the season steadily went downhill from there.

Season two also had a pretty great opener, I thought. And then descended into HEALTHY amounts of suck faster than anything I'd ever seen.

Season three... great opener. Been going downhill since then, but not as quickly this time. Progress?

Except with Andrea. She continues to be the worst female character I can think of in television.

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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

C-Spin wrote:

Except with Andrea. She continues to be the worst female character I can think of in television.

Every time she's on screen I want to die. They don't even use her well. She's just there for the Governor to grumble exposition at.

Oh, here's an unpopular opinion. I haven't read the comics, but on the show Michonne is maybe the worst character they've ever had. She has absolutely zero personality, and no motivation for anything that she does or feels. It feels like they're just assuming that people will love her because she was awesome in the comics. But she hasn't actually done anything yet.

"The Doctor is Submarining through our brains." --Teague

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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

Doctor Submarine wrote:

Breaking Bad, hell yes. Stick with it, it pays off. The Walking Dead? Debatable. Some people thought season 2 dragged, and I see where they're coming from. Season 3 has been phenomenal thus far, though.

I agree wholeheartedly about The Walking Dead, I am amazed at just how much better it is now. Although, the last few eps of s2 were pretty good too in my opinion. Season three is just brilliant, though.

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Re: #45 - Unpopular Opinions

Jimmy B wrote:
Doctor Submarine wrote:

Breaking Bad, hell yes. Stick with it, it pays off. The Walking Dead? Debatable. Some people thought season 2 dragged, and I see where they're coming from. Season 3 has been phenomenal thus far, though.

I agree wholeheartedly about The Walking Dead, I am amazed at just how much better it is now. Although, the last few eps of s2 were pretty good too in my opinion. Season three is just brilliant, though.

I've got to disagree with season three being brilliant. Season three is competent, moreso than the seasons that came before. And most of the cast has found their character by now. And yet... I know it's a cliche to say that the book is better, but the show is just the story of the comics told less effectively. And I say this not even as a real fan of the comics. I had never heard of them until the show came out. I read the first five TPB's in between the season one finale and the season two premiere. It's a good comic, but I haven't had the urge to read more just yet. That said, the storytelling of the comic is head and shoulders above what they've done with the same material in the show. The characters are better developed and the story takes more shocking turns, even within a largely identical framework.

Last edited by C-Spin (2012-12-06 05:08:14)

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