Netflix/Amazon/Gaming and Book Recommendations

Richard Latimer

Well I'm watching Yellowstone (3 episodes in). Wasn't sure I was going to like it as not a massive fan of Western. But if the story's good the story's good. And it's good.

I recently watched a film called The Great Freedom. How when the allies liberated the concentration camps a certain group of people within didn't get set free. They went straight from one prison to another.

Excellent film shedding light on what gay people went through before it was decriminalised in the late 60's.

Then I watched a slow burning espionage thriller told through flashbacks with Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton trying to get to the bottom of who the mole was during a plane hijacking situation that went very bad. All The Old Knives.

If you like that sort of thing then it's an excellent watch.

My last film was just the typical Finnish girl meets Russian boy on a train simmering love story. Really held my interest though so if subtitles are your thing and romantic dramas, with a bit of comedy thrown, in don't put you off give it a go. Compartment Number 6.

Currently watching The Northman. Very violent, very bloody. Decent story. 3/5/5 perhaps.

John Folan

Just started Kin. How have I missed this?

John Folan

Axel F is excellent. A real throwback to the originals. This is how they should have treated the Star Wars sequels.

Matt Wood

@John-Folan Recently been watching World War 2 in colour on Paramount. Really good stuff. Gave me a weird flashback to being a kid though...

Anyone else watch the miniseries years ago about the Australian special forces raiding Japanese ships in Singapore? Had Jason Donovan in it, think it was called The Heroes

John Folan

@Matt-Wood said in Netflix/Amazon/Gaming and Book Recommendations:

@Richard-Latimer 100% agree, I should have commented earlier. Fantastic actor, so many varied roles too. Not the 'star' but his performance in Kelly's Heroes was just brilliant, and I am a huge Clint Eastwood fan.

One of my favourite films that. Also the weed smoking professor in Animal House

Matt Wood

@Richard-Latimer 100% agree, I should have commented earlier. Fantastic actor, so many varied roles too. Not the 'star' but his performance in Kelly's Heroes was just brilliant, and I am a huge Clint Eastwood fan.

Richard Latimer

Late to this but RIP Donald Sutherland, one of the best actors of all time.

Stole every scene he was in. Elevated The Hunger Games with his portrayal of the evil President Snow.

Ryan

@Richard-Latimer Ahaah that'll be mega!!

I haven't, I haven't actually finished into the spider verse, I need too.

What they have done with this is amazing, Spidey and his amazing friends - for younger children my daughter loves it, then when she grows out of that she will be big enough for the actual Spiderman, plus will know all the avengers etc... genius!

Richard Latimer

@Ryan it is on 4DX and 3D. Definitely taking my daughter for her birthday

Richard Latimer

@Ryan Have you seen the one I'm on about? Animation is a bit like Into The Spiderverse.

My kids want to see Insude Out 2 so may get to go.

Shame it's not on 4DX.

4DX is amazing fun!!

Ryan

@Richard-Latimer Amazing film!

I want to go watch inside out 2 lol

Richard Latimer

@Ryan yeah, I've always loved cartoons

The missus is Asian as well so she kind of got that whole Asian family dynamic

Definitely recommend Apollo 10 1/2 though. It's on netflix.

Ryan

@Richard-Latimer Turning Red is one of Isla's faves! Which I find fascinating because she's 3 and I feel like some of it should be over her head but she loves it.

I think it's pretty good, Disney films are amazing for me!

Richard Latimer

Most recently I've been catching up with a few kids films I wanted to watch that the kids have already seen and kept saying no to

Puss In Boots: The Last Wish
Turning Red
The Bad Guys

All a decent watch if you either have kids or are a big kid like me!

Last night I watched a film I'd had on my list for a while:

Apollo 10 1/2 A Space Aged Childhood.

Really cool animation is the first thing to say. Kid growing up in 60's Texas gets earmarked for a mission to the moon. Sounds strange I know but the majority of the film plays out looking back at his childhood up to that point.

Although I didn't grow up in the 60's it was wildly entertaining as the reminiscing over playing outside, making your own games up, lack of health and safety etc....

It's the same kind of reminiscing every generation has. From 60's right through to the noughty's no doubt.

It did leave me wondering though. What are Gen Z going to look back fondly on. How far will technology and society have to go so they too can wax lyrical over how it was all so much simpler growing up in 2024

Richard Latimer

I watched season 1 of Schitts Creek a while back and while I thought it was decent I put it on the back burner.

Picked up on season 2 recently and I'm now on the final episode of season 6.

Binged it all.

It is funny but the greatest strength is the shows heart. Most memorable moments are the warm and fuzzy ones.

Ryan

@John-Folan Easier to get clicks that way isn't it, human beings are wired to take certain misery than upside.... so feeds that need and the press etc... know this. Terrible!

Richard Latimer

Currently watching The Devils Hour which is messed up. Only just about starting to figure out what might be happening.

Watching with the missus and my son. He asks loads of questions about what's happening and all I can say is I haven't got a clue mate. We need to keep watching

Also just started Black Bird. I know this is going to be good from the first episode!

Richard Latimer

@Ryan said in Netflix/Amazon/Gaming and Book Recommendations:

@Martin I agree with you, I saw something recently about the best books of TikTok slated one book but the outline sounded good to me, I've read it and its way better than they made out.

Thats the way it's going online though, people are finding it easier to slate things to get views and clicks.

Its why I take the averages of everything as well as looking at what the top critics say.

You can give a bad a review but ordinarily a few dickheads can't affect the average. With one exception.

Review bombing. Adds another level to my research.

Some shows received just as many 1's as 10's.

I'm not having that. There isn't much worthy of a 1. When that's been done you can pretty much discount the 1's if there's a general uptick for the rest.

John Folan

@Richard-Latimer said in Netflix/Amazon/Gaming and Book Recommendations:

@Martin I take averages ratings from rotten tomato's and imdb for tv shows as well as Empire reviews and Guardian.

I have to have some kind of system so to speak or I'd try and watch everything

Just finished season 1 of Andor. Took me a few episodes to get unto but by the end I was hooked.

I think the fact it's just ground level rebellion against the Empire is what makes it so great. That and the characters. Dedra is just evil.

Not a bad system that.

Andor is so good. Dedra is a great character

John Folan

@Matt-Wood said in Netflix/Amazon/Gaming and Book Recommendations:

@John-Folan I loved Black Sails.

Read Treasure Island when I was little and always had a soft spot for it as a story so was hoping they would do a good job with black sails and boy they did not disappoint at all!

It’s absolutely brilliant