The Sword and Laser discussion
TV, Movies and Games
>
Daredevil - The Netflix Series
Looks like they're going with Frank Miller's version.
Paul wrote: "Gotta be better than Ben Afflac movie."
I can't see how it could possibly be worse. I think it will be good I'm more pumped for the Iron fist show. I still rate The Immortal Iron Fist as one of the best comics I've ever read.
I can't see how it could possibly be worse. I think it will be good I'm more pumped for the Iron fist show. I still rate The Immortal Iron Fist as one of the best comics I've ever read.
I'll watch. I also don't think the Ben Affleck movie is as bad as everyone says. Oh it was seriously flawed in parts, mostly the portrayal of Bullseye and the ridiculous playground fight, but other parts were fine.
Have you seen it lately? It was on Encore or something not too long ago and I caught part of it. The dialogue was so clumsy and the action scenes so irredeemably awful that I couldn't imagine anyone thought they were good on the day.Any given episode of Arrow is an order of magnitude better. Arrow is actually what Daredevil should have been.
Early reviews are looking good:Well, whatever preconceived notions you have about what Marvel is capable of, set them aside before you press play on their Daredevil Netflix series. This is such a pronounced departure from everything Marvel has defined itself by since the birth of the "Marvel Cinematic Universe" that it's virtually unrecognizable as what we've come to know as a Marvel "product."
Don't worry about any of that, though, because Daredevil is extraordinarily good.
http://www.denofgeek.us/tv/daredevil/...
Just watched the first episode and really liked it. Very gritty feel to it. I do wish there was more light on the fight scenes but I guess that's the nature of the character.
I'm halfway through the first one, have it on pause. The second episode is supposed to have a really great fight scene, looking forward to it.
Mod
Just hit the halfway point. Looks like all the pieces are on the table and things are about to get explodey.Something about this Atlas Investments logo on the door across the hall from Nelson & Murdoch rang a little bell in the back of my brain. Turns out it's similar to the logo of Atlas Comics, the first incarnation of Marvel.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_...
It gets increasingly gray as it goes along. He's walking a fine line between good and evil. Torture, murder, revenge... the darkness is gathering.We're nominally supposed to ge rooting for Daredevil and against Kingpin, but at this point they're really working on erasing the line defining the difference between Murdoch and Fisk. And I'm only halfway.
Trike wrote: "Just hit the halfway point. Looks like all the pieces are on the table and things are about to get explodey.Something about this Atlas Investments logo on the door across the hall from Nelson & ..."
I read that there are quite a few Easter eggs scattered throughout the episodes.
Trike wrote: "We're nominally supposed to ge rooting for Daredevil and against Kingpin, but at this point they're really working on erasing the line defining the difference between Murdoch and Fisk."I just resumed watching (dozing on and off with a sick dog) and they've talked for the first time, including this exchange:
"You and I have a lot in common."
"We're nothing alike."
"That's what you'll tell yourself."
Walter wrote: "I read that there are quite a few Easter eggs scattered throughout the episodes. "
I've noticed a few, but a couple are spoilery. I've avoided all the reviews and articles about the show so I can watch it fresh.
I'm 10 episodes in (2 more to wrap it up) and so far it's the best superhero tv show I've seen.It's a bit like Arrow but with more gravitas and less "Hollywood" if that makes sense.
I watched the first episode last night and I liked it; I would give it a B. I plan on watching more this weekend if I can tear myself away from Dark Souls 2: Scholar of First Sin.
I have some thoughts on the show, sorry they are a bit long to post here, but they are up on my blog https://theblindgm.wordpress.com/2015...
lets just say i am a little disappointed with things
I find it ridiculous when companies like Netflix try to weasel out of doing the right thing simply to save a few bucks.From an article I found that Christopher has probably already read but might be new info to others:
Fans to Netflix: Make Daredevil accessible to the blind
Tom DiChristopher
Robert Kingett, 25, is a self-proclaimed geek who enjoys video games and comic books. So it is no surprise he was looking forward to the Netflix original series on Marvel Comics' Daredevil, which debuted on Friday.
There was just one problem: Like Daredevil, Kingett is legally blind, and Netflix does not provide audio descriptions, a feature that narrates non-verbal action on screen to help the visually impaired better enjoy filmed entertainment.
Kingett is just one of a number of comic book fans—both blind and sighted—who are lobbying Netflix to make "Daredevil" accessible to the visually impaired. And while the fact that a show based on a blind protagonist will not have audio description has stirred consternation, the issue extends far beyond Daredevil's fictional world.
The cost of audio description is "a tuppence" compared to the price of producing movies and television, said Joel Snyder, president of Audio Description Associates. The company charges about $5,000 to write, voice, and record description for a roughly 21/2-hour movie, and about $1,000 for a 22-minute sitcom.
Since October 2012, Kingett has been writing to Netflix executives under the banner of the Accessible Netflix Project, a grassroots campaign now comprised of 11 blind volunteers who want the world's largest streaming video service to provide audio descriptions. The group has since asked Netflix to audio describe "Daredevil" in particular.
"It's entertainment, but accessibility is important regardless of if it's entertainment or education," said Kingett, who also lives with cerebral palsy and contributes stories to gaming publications about accessible video games for the blind.
To be sure, Netflix is not the only over-the-top service that fails to offer the feature. Neither Hulu nor Amazon Instant Video describe their originals.
Nor is the description common on broadcast television. FCC rules require local affiliates of CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox located in the top 25 markets—as well as the top five non-broadcast networks—to provide at least 50 hours of audio described programming per quarter. The regulation will expand to the largest 60 markets in July.
PBS and Turner Movie Classics offer audio description on select programming, though they are not required to do so.
But the case of "Daredevil" has touched a nerve among comic book fans, and some feel the show presents an opportunity for Netflix to take a leading roll in streaming audio description.
Last fall, New York-based comic book creator Rich Bernatovech began calling Netflix to ask the company to add audio descriptions to "Daredevil." He said he was inspired to take action after a woman at his local dog park told him her visually impaired son was disappointed to learn the show would not be described.
Bernatovech said he got no definitive answer from Netflix, so he took to Facebook to raise awareness among his friends and network of comic book professionals.
"Am I the only person who finds it bad that there is a show about a blind superhero coming on TV and people, more importantly children, who are visually impaired will not be able to enjoy this show unless they find their own way to get audio description?" he wrote.
Kuljit Mithra, who runs the Daredevil fansite manwithoutfear.com, posted links to the Accessible Netflix Project in support of the effort after Kingett contacted him.
"I thought it was a good idea. Why shouldn't Netflix provide audio description for the show?" he said in an email to CNBC.
The outcry among fans has moved the conversation forward. National non-profit law center Disability Rights Advocates has held talks with Netflix on behalf of the American Council for the Blind—and Kingett was one of the early movers who asked the firm to take on Netflix's accessibility issue.
"Robert [Kingett] was definitely key in bringing this to our attention, as well as others at the ACB. He's been very much a motivator in getting these issues addressed," Larry Paradis, executive director at Disability Rights Advocates, told CNBC.
Disability Rights Advocates is asking Netflix to describe their own original content, contractually oblige movie studios to provide descriptive narration tracks when they are already available, and make it easier for blind customers to identify which DVDs in its library are described.
A spokesperson for Netflix told CNBC, "We are working hard to provide great entertainment to all our members, including the hearing and visually disabled. We don't have any further updates to share at this time."
Netflix plans to triple the amount of original content it produces to 320 hours this year. Spending on originals increased 18 percent year over year to $270 million in 2014, Janney Capital Markets estimated in a recent research note.
Snyder, who holds a PhD in translation and helped pioneer audio description in the 80s, said the United States has fallen behind in the field despite getting an early start. Meanwhile, he estimated the UK now describes about 10 percent of its broadcasts, and said Canada is ramping up accessibility, too.
As for "Daredevil," he said he was not terribly concerned about the show being described, and cautioned that pursuing description for shows featuring blind characters might give content providers the impression that the visually impaired only want to see "The Miracle Worker."
"Blind people want to watch good television, good film—or bad television and bad film—just like sighted people," he said.
The American Foundation for the Blind estimates that 21 million people in the United States—about 6.5 percent of the population—have trouble seeing even with correction. "That's an untapped, underserved market," said Snyder.
The dearth of accessible entertainment encourages many blind people to seek out less-than-legal options in the gray market, Kingett told CNBC. He said emails circulate in the community that provide links to websites hosting unofficial content with audio descriptions.
"If [Netflix] actually did become accessible then so many of us would not have to go to the black market," Kingett said. "It's kind of an ironic joke: 'Hey, if you're blind, you know how to get accessible illegal content.'"
So, it was 3 more episodes instead of 2, but damn was it good. Easily the best superhero show on "TV" and a demonstration than Marvel can do more than with their franchise than big, fun, explode-y, popcorn flicks.
Thanks I actually had not seen that one, though I've seen a few like it
I will add to that article, no we don't just want the mearickle worker, but it'd be a nice start. Right now we're not even getting that
Just saw the first episode. Nice pick on Foggy Nelson, looks a lot like the comics character. The show ran like "Law and Order: Special Hero Unit." I'm disappointed we didn't see Kingpin yet.Some parts were out of place. I've worked in finance for quite some time and never heard of a Chief Accountant, it would be a Chief Financial Officer. Also, no one is a "secretary" any more, it would be "administrative assistant." If these are intended anachronisms, they still leave me puzzled.
As for the overall tone and feel, yeah, it's dead on Daredevil. Very close adaptation.
Off to see episode 2...
Yeah they really need to do something about blind people not being able to watch the show with the blind protagonist, that's kind of ridiculous.That aside, I've only watched one episode and, while I will go back to watch more, I'm not rushing back. It's just a big bag of clichés and over-worn ideas. Everyone seems to be raving about it being 'gritty', which may suit the comic, but on TV it just makes it feel like a DC property rather than a Marvel one, in a world where Marvel has been making great films and DC hasn't. The dialogue is super cheesy, it hasn't got a strong visual style (other than 'dark and grey'), the direction isn't great, particularly in the fights I've seen so far. The story could also not be more derivative if it tried.
Like I say, I'm not writing anything off after one episode, but I'm sceptical so far.
Mod
If they don't, I could see someone recording them and releasing them as a podcast. Not an ideal remedy but it would be better than nothing.
I have yet to watch the first Episode but it sounds promising.
I hope it's better than Flash and Arrow (Both OK but nothing special)
I'm on ep. 5 right now. They're really taking Fisk in a different direction than I expected. Excellent show all around.
Five episodes in and I think its amazing. By far the best superhero show ever on TV and its not even close. The closest superhero TV show to it would be Arrow but Arrow at times dips its toes into the cheese and despite its grit is very obviously a CW show full of beautiful people having soap opera worthy romances. I like Arrow a lot but its not perfect whereas Daredevil so far is. And the fight scene near the end of episode 2 is amazing. For those who haven't seen it yet, pay attention, because its one long continuous 5 minute shot which tells you that a whole lot of planning went in to it.
I especially love so far how they are showing that DD is vulnerable in fights and that no one, DD or bad guys, fall into the Hollywood cliche of being knocked out with one hit. People do get back up, people including DD show how tired they are getting in the fights, and it literally looks like neither has anything left by the end.
I loved the Kingpin easter egg in episode 5 I believe where he and Vanessa are mocking one of Vanessa's past suitors who always wore a white suit with an ascot seeing as thats how Kingpin in the comics is usually depicted.
I've only seen two episodes thus far, and it is definitely worthy of the hype. As the father of a son, the "Cut Man" flashbacks hit me right in the feels.Also, I love the gritty realism of the fight scenes. Nothing flashy, just a guy battling as hard as he can. It's stirring to see him just keep going, no matter how beaten and broken his body gets.
Some random thoughts after two episodes.* Karen Paige looks a lot like Gwyneth Paltrow, so I figured they were going for lookalikes. I thought the nurse looked like Rosario Dawson...then I thought she REALLY looked like Rosario Dawson...then I realized that she actually was. That's what I get for skipping info on stuff to avoid spoilers.
* I'm disappointed that after two episodes we haven't gotten a glimpse of the Kingpin.
* The black costume is right out of the comics and I'm enjoying that. Right around the same time I've been reading some trades of The Authority and have been noticing how Midnighter's cowl comes prominently across his nose, so much unlike a standard comics cowl that it looks strange. Looking at Daredevil's mask, it does the same. So the artists on The Authority took a look at how a mask would realistically look and drew that. Nice work.
* The producers aren't afraid to bring story elements decades forward. There aren't any more "Friday Night Fights" or a culture of watching midlist fighters, so Jack Murdoch wouldn't have a job today. Parts of Hells Kitchen are decades out of place. It doesn't matter. They all fit the story.
* The references to Marvel movies are nice. Rebuilding New York after the last Avengers movie and the possibilities for corruption with that kind of large scale corruption - nice touch. And of course too small for the Avengers to notice, so who *would* deal with it? That's a nice continuity and realism touch.
Agreed on the Marvel movie references. They are there just enough that you will catch them without distracting from the rest of the story. Somewhere in one of the first 3-4 episodes someone makes reference to how easy a fight would be if you had a suit of armor or magic hammer.
I watched the first two episodes and I'm loving it so far. That final fight scene in ep 2 was indeed amazing.
The main thing that worries about this series is that its setting the bar so incredibly high that the followup Netflix series may end up looking bad in comparison, kind of how Better Call Saul seems very disappointing as a follow up even though on its own merits its not that bad.
Mod
I think in some ways I like it better than Breaking Bad. Especially the Mike focused episodes.
I don't know how anyone could think Better Call Saul was a disappointment. That show is amazing. Easily the best prequel ever made, and I'm really looking forward to season two.One great thing about Daredevil is that they have a variety of people of all ages and races. It really underscores how much regular broadcast TV is just pretty people with pretty problems. They cast for acting ability, not beauty.
Vondie Curtis Hall is killing it in every scene he's in, and the guy playing Foggy is amazing.
Storywise, Daredevil is really surprising me. Everything is unfolding logically from both situations and characters. I read Miller's run on Daredevil 35 years ago, and I've forgotten the details, so I'm able to enjoy the show on its own merits.
I'm at episode four right now. I like how they're doing an origin for Kingpin as well as Daredevil. Even the beginning of his relationship with his wife. Kingpin always shielded his wife from the worst parts of his job, and we see the start of that here.Still miss the white suit, though.
I'm just at the end of episode 12. One more to go. Sad that it will be finished in an hour.Luke Cage is one of my all-time favorite superheroes, so I'm hoping that series is as good as Daredevil and Agent Carter. I kind of suspect we'll see some crossover with Daredevil's secondary characters in both the Cage and Jessica Jones series.
And may I just say about the end of episode 12: Oh. My. God.
Rik wrote: "The closest superhero TV show to it would be Arrow but Arrow at times dips its toes into the cheese and despite its grit is very obviously a CW show full of beautiful people having soap opera worthy romances. "I used almost this exact phrase (though not in English :p) to recommend Daredevil to my brother. He doesn't watch Arrow because he has a distinct dislike of "beautiful people shows" as he calls them (again, not in English :p ).
I do like Arrow but I agree that it has a little bit too much "Smallville" in it at times.
One of the things I liked most about Daredevil is that they spent almost as much time on making Kingpin into a real character, instead of a Bond-villain, as they do on Daredevil and his hangers-on.
Trike wrote: "I don't know how anyone could think Better Call Saul was a disappointment. That show is amazing. Easily the best prequel ever made, and I'm really looking forward to season two.It suffers in comparison to Breaking Bad. On its own merits its a semi good show, I've only watched the first three episodes at which point I stopped though I intend to go back someday, but BB is one of the greatest shows to ever be on TV so nearly everything suffers by comparison.
Since BCS is made by the same guys, you can trust it's just as good as BB.It's not the SAME as BB, but that's not the point. It has similar twists and there are two specific episodes (one with Mike) that are as dark as anything we saw in Breaking Bad.
Mod
Definitely worth going back. I really liked the first 3 episodes and it only gets better after that. Especially (As Rob & Trike have already mentioned) the episodes that heavily feature Mike, with Ep. 6 "Five-O" the stand out of those.
Trike wrote: "And may I just say about the end of episode 12: Oh. My. God."Not afraid to kill people off, are they? There were two deaths in the series ((view spoiler)) that shocked me, although I'm not familiar enough with the comic to know whether those are people who either didn't exist in the comic or were also killed in the comic.
Joseph wrote: "Trike wrote: "And may I just say about the end of episode 12: Oh. My. God."Not afraid to kill people off, are they? There were two deaths in the series ([spoilers removed]) that shocked me, alth..."
(view spoiler)
Trike wrote: "A spoiler-laden answer I can't quote directly."That's kind of what I thought, as I think about it. I'll miss them both, but for very different reasons.
Yeah...I'm just going to leave this here, and say that lawyers shouldn't watch TV about lawyers.http://newsite.jonestales.com/dir/?p=185
Frog wrote: "Yeah...I'm just going to leave this here, and say that lawyers shouldn't watch TV about lawyers.http://newsite.jonestales.com/dir/?p=185"
I'm a cop, not a lawyer, but that makes me fairly familiar with court rooms too. I hate watching courtroom stuff on TV almost as much as cop stuff because of how ridiculous its made to fit into one TV hour. In the DD episode where the guy killed a thug with a bowling ball and Matt Murdock represented him I couldn't stop rolling my eyes about how it went to jury trial so fast as in real life it would have been at least 3 months, probably closer to six, before trial and thats if the courts aren't backed up but in a place like NYC they are very backed up so it more likely it would have been two years. This kind of thing irks me nearly as much as seeing cops and military folks racking rounds into gun chambers (in reality we carry guns hot with one in the chamber at all times) and how on TV cops read people their rights immediately upon being arrested when the reality is 19 times out of 20 we never read people their rights.
Tassie Dave wrote: "I hope Netflix fixes the lack of audio description for the blind.Ask and ye shall receive.
http://www.cinemablend.com/television...
I watched the whole thing in about two and a half days. I want nothing more than to see them give Punisher this treatment. Prior to DD I had been wondering how well Disney would handle darker characters. They handle them well, apparently.
Frog wrote: "Yeah...I'm just going to leave this here, and say that lawyers shouldn't watch TV about lawyers.http://newsite.jonestales.com/dir/?p=185"
If you're a professional anything you shouldn't watch shows about your profession. Hell, TV shows and movies about TV shows and movies don't even bother to get it right.
The only real problem is when it bleeds over into real life, such as when actual criminals are released because their defense lawyers point out that the crime lab didn't do things the way they do them on the various versions of the science fiction TV show CSI.
On the plus side, as a guy who used to do martial arts, I found the fight scenes believable. That takes some doing. The stunt guy is skilled.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XC7GPdB...