The Get Down |OT| The boogie down Bronx (Baz Luhrmann - August 12th)

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B

berzeli

Banned
Half an hour into the first episode.

It really is Netflix's Vinyl. Except Luhrmann isn't half the filmmaker Scorsese is.
The writing is mediocre. The editing is atrocious; it tries to inject the frenetic Baz Luhrmann energy but ends up being confusing and horribly mismatched to the what is actually happening on screen. The cinematography (which usually is the one point where I always like Baz's films) is average - at best. The CGI is just so bad and often unnecessary.

I'm not even sure I'll finish the first episode.
Fuck I never thought I would compare something unfavourably to Vinyl, but you know at least HBO got competent looking show in terms of production values for their $100 million.
 
S

sprsk

force push the doodoo rock
In the middle of the 6th episode, loving it so far. But the show really makes it hard to relish the happy moments. Always feels like we're teetering on the edge of tragedy.

Edit: Yup that was great. Can't wait for the second half!
 
TDLink

TDLink

Member
duckroll said:
Depends on the family. It's not a kid's show, but I don't think there's much offensive stuff. The language is definitely R-rated, they drop f-bombs, n-words, etc. There's violence, there's sex, and there's lots of drugs. 3 episodes in I haven't seen any actual nudity or any graphic violence, so it depends on what the family is comfortable with.
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Thanks for the information.
 
D

duckroll

Member
Finished the last two episodes and goddamn that was amazing. I loved how they built up to the climax at the end, tying all the running threads together into the DJ Battle. Strong finish. I'm really happy with Part 1 and it didn't feel like a season cut into half at all. Too bad Part 2 seems so far away... :(

TDLink said:
Thanks for the information.
Click to expand...

The final episode of the show has some quick cuts of bare breasts, and some much stronger sexual/drug sequences, including a scene with one of the younger kids in an underground gay club which could be pretty uncomfortable for kids.
 
psrock

psrock

Member
Do not give up, this is show is like a poem that start slow and takes you to an adventure. It's fresh, funny, sad, and the music is amazing.
 
U

UnemployedVillain

Member
burgervan said:
I couldn't make it through the first episode. It all feels so artificial and corny and the editing is truly awful.
Click to expand...

That's completely intentional. It's not suppose to be played like a straight drama. I said this before, but it's more in the style of blacksploitation films where they have this magical realism to them

I posted my thoughts in the Black Culture Thread, but it was drowned in some fuckery (thanks harSon), so I'll post them again. Long story short, I really enjoyed it! I dunno why, but the whole time watching it, I got this sense of...I guess "familiarity"? I didn't grow up in the 70s (because I'm not old as fuck), nor did I grow up in the inner city, but I think just seeing an overwhelmingly black/hispanic cast really just made me feel comfortable. It really highlighted how little of those exist in the media. Obviously it was something I realized, but I think I've just gotten so conditioned to see minorities literally be minorities in casts that it never felt odd until I saw it get flipped. Anyway, I definitely recommend it!
 
S

spock

Member
Really enjoyed this. Think I enjoyed it more due to my age and growing up in NYC. However I think on the whole if you vibe with the style or story at all its worth the ride.
 
TDLink

TDLink

Member
duckroll said:
The final episode of the show has some quick cuts of bare breasts, and some much stronger sexual/drug sequences, including a scene with one of the younger kids in an underground gay club which could be pretty uncomfortable for kids.
Click to expand...

Yeah I'll watch on my own. Definitely going to watch though. Only 6 eps and sounds really unique.
 
Chuckie

Chuckie

Member
Just binge watched this this weekend and I absolutely loved it. However I have always loved that early hip hop/b-boy/graffiti culture so that is probably a big factor. Can't wait for part 2
 
G

GK86

Homeland Security Fail
I was finally able to watch the first episode...wow.

I get the complaints that it feels like it jumps around a lot, but man, that was quite the ride. It was engrossing and I didn't even noticed how long it took.

And yo, my boy Zeke got them bars.
 
N

number11

Member
I remember hearing this is Netflix's most expensive show.. the soundtrack must have been half the budget. I wonder how they paid for a certain track in episode 6.
 
R

Ran rp

Member
I'm dying to watch this but I can't until my new headphones arrive. Fujfiaopej. Glad to hear you guys are loving it, though!
 
B

burgervan

Member
UnemployedVillain said:
That's completely intentional. It's not suppose to be played like a straight drama. I said this before, but it's more in the style of blacksploitation films where they have this magical realism to them
Click to expand...

I got that, but the technical execution of it didn't work for me. I love the idea of mythologizing this time period and was excited to watch it, but the bad CG, the terrible editing, the inexplicable pacing, the mediocre cinematography made me lose faith that the artificial, cheesy qualities were intentional. The cutaways to stock news footage also seemed like a really lazy way of providing historical context.

I only watched the first half of the first episode so maybe it gets better, but it's obviously not for me.
 
B

BenjaminBirdie

Banned
burgervan said:
When it's as bad as it is here, it's very noticeable.
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I think it's clearly a stylistic choice. I think it's more there seems to be a sense that there's only one "right" way to edit motion pictures.

I've seen people give up on stuff after 20 minutes because of editing. In long form visual storytelling, editing contributes to entire experience. I have no idea what happened in Tree of Life, but the editing created a rhythm and dramatic experience that successfully led to its climax.

>shrug<

It's like people don't want to fuck with a style anymore
 
T

TarpitCarnivore

Member
Trying to watch this, but getting through initial episode is feeling like an exercise. It's just a mess and I have no idea what kind of story it's trying to tell. Is it about the Bronx? Is it about hip-hop & music? Is it a love story? I know it's possible to have all of those things, but this isn't very cohesive at all.

It also keeps going in and out of this musical moment and something cheese/cartoon. I keep waiting for some song or dance number to bust out and then it cuts to something else completely random.
 
J

JTripper

Member
I really enjoyed the first episode. Crazy editing aside, it was so energetic it was hard for me to dislike.

I'm almost done with episode 2, and I understand the criticisms of it dipping low in quality, but I actually like that it sort of finds a comfortable pace and actually feels like it becomes a tv show instead of being another 90 minute sequel that never stops to take a breath.

Honestly, the editing doesn't bother me that much. Sometimes scenes progress a little weirdly, but most of the time it's clearly a stylistic choice for transitions.
 
V

victreeb3l

Member
Just finished episode 1. Fucking loved it. The shots are gorgeous and the music is infectious. The disco and get down scene at the end got me so hyped lol.

Hate the way its edited however. Shit switches for no reason I feel like.
 
G

golem

Member
BenjaminBirdie said:
It's like people don't want to fuck with a style anymore
Click to expand...

Yeah, personally I didn't have any problems with the editing in the first episode. It kept things moving at a kinetic pace and never felt to me like scenes were missing anything or cut too soon. Didn't find the story hard to follow at all- yes there are alot of characters introduced and storylines present but you can see how they all come together (and the rest of the show handles this very well).

Man from UNCLE however, hated the editing in that. So many stupid cuts made just for stylistic purposes only or to try to mask terribly shot sequences. Guy Ritchie shit the bed on that one.
 
J

JTripper

Member
Episode 3 is a GREAT episode.

It uses historical context really well to create a specific backdrop for the characters. At times it felt like something Mad Men would pull off.
 
D

Discotheque

Banned
Finished the third. Okay first off Mylee in that pink dress....dios mio. I get why zeke is hilariously thirsty over her. It is completely understandable

Loving this show. I think it peaked with the pilot tho. That felt like some fantastical approach to new york and their pop culture. And after that it kind of dispelled all that and started playing it real straight. It's a bit disappointing. I hope baz directs more of the second half/season.

Also I used to think netflix shows were overlong and paced like garbage after arrested Development, orange is the new black and the marvel shows. But no its just those. Get Down, Stranger Things and especially Last Chance U don't overstay their welcome, nor do the episodes feel like they're padded or too lengthy for their own good. Netflix is on an upward trajectory now and this show is definitely one of the reasons why. Enjoying this quite a bit, moreso than stranger things honestly. I like these kids a lot more.
 
B

bob_arctor

Tough_Smooth
I have to be honest--I love the show because the nostalgia feels are so strong. St. Mary's Park. St. Ann's Avenue. The school they go to is a real school right in that same location. In one of the panning shots, you can see the top of 400 Brook Ave., the projects I grew up in, a couple of blocks from St. Mary's. I love those brief flashes of the project hallways whenever Ezekiel leaves his crib, too--those bricks and that color on them are authentic as fuck. I think the show itself is a bit of a mess but its energy makes it entertaining as hell. As crazy as it sounds, its over the top style reminds me of the movie Breakin'.
 
G

GK86

Homeland Security Fail
Just finished it. Maybe it is because I'm a hip-hop head. Maybe it's because I love that time period of NYC. Maybe it's because I'm from NYC. But I freaking loved it.

Justice Smith (Zeke) and Mamoudou Athie (Grandmaster Flash) knocked it out of the park for me. Especially Smith, I thought his character was the most compelling.

The
DJ battle
at the end of episode six was great.

I liked that they paid respects to the greats (Flash, Herc, Afrika Bambaataa), the locations, and the culture (b-boys, the writers, etc). I'm assuming Nas had a huge hand in that.

I can not wait for the second part.
 
K

Kaizer

Banned
JTripper said:
Episode 3 is a GREAT episode.

It uses historical context really well to create a specific backdrop for the characters. At times it felt like something Mad Men would pull off.
Click to expand...

Just finished the third one an hour ago & the way it ended definitely gave me the same historical feelings I'd get from watching Mad Men, episode was really well done.

GK86 said:
I love the fact that Jaden Smith is just playing himself.
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Hah, said the same thing to my family .
 
A

Air

Banned
Finished it and loved it. As someone whose family is from the Bronx (and my uncle was one of the pioneers of graffiti) and is currently living around the area the show takes place (there was a point I could have auditioned to be in t but I didn't have the time) I have to say it really resonated with me. I was prepared for the worst, but the show did everything right for me.

The worst parts are definitely the visual fx and there are some pacing issues, but this is what I had hoped vinyl would be (I really wanted to like vinyl and I wasn't as down on it as others, but the shows balance went off). Looking forward to the second half

&#9994;&#127998;
 
J

jmood88

Member
Jaden Smith is fucking awful in every role he plays. I have no idea how a casting director could look at his tape and give him a job.
 
D

duckroll

Member
The casting director ain't looking at his tape, but his name. :p

I thought he was fine here though. Crazy dude playing crazy dude.
 
A

Air

Banned
jmood88 said:
Jaden Smith is fucking awful in every role he plays. I have no idea how a casting director could look at his tape and give him a job.
Click to expand...

Jaden was actually really really good. He's exactly what I pictured a younger version of my uncle. Completely high all the time, spaced out but capable of making some great stuff.
 
B

bobbychalkers

Member
Just finished it, I need part 2 now...that was so much fun to watch. I love hip-hop and I know its roots but seeing it in this context with these tall tale-esque versions of real life DJs was amazing.
jmood88 said:
Jaden Smith is fucking awful in every role he plays. I have no idea how a casting director could look at his tape and give him a job.
Click to expand...
Jaden was great all throughout to me. Perfect role for him, he basically got to play himself.
 
Parallax

Parallax

best seen in the classic "Shadow of the Beast"
jmood88 said:
Jaden Smith is fucking awful in every role he plays. I have no idea how a casting director could look at his tape and give him a job.
Click to expand...

i think that him being a mooncase actually worked out for this role. he did a pretty good job so far
 
Cindi Mayweather

Cindi Mayweather

Member
UnemployedVillain said:
That's completely intentional. It's not suppose to be played like a straight drama. I said this before, but it's more in the style of blacksploitation films where they have this magical realism to them

I posted my thoughts in the Black Culture Thread, but it was drowned in some fuckery (thanks harSon), so I'll post them again. Long story short, I really enjoyed it! I dunno why, but the whole time watching it, I got this sense of...I guess "familiarity"? I didn't grow up in the 70s (because I'm not old as fuck), nor did I grow up in the inner city, but I think just seeing an overwhelmingly black/hispanic cast really just made me feel comfortable. It really highlighted how little of those exist in the media. Obviously it was something I realized, but I think I've just gotten so conditioned to see minorities literally be minorities in casts that it never felt odd until I saw it get flipped. Anyway, I definitely recommend it!
Click to expand...

I couldn't get how it wasn't a black and latino show that wasn't a sitcom or something. I found it so relatable, even though I grew up in the 80's and 90's and in the suburbs. I can't explain it, but it just worked for me on all levels and I felt comfortable watching it.

I love the kung fu mysticism and urban legend storytelling going on in the first episode. Felt like blaxploitation meets kung fu movies and the way this surrealism blended with the reality of Zeke and his friends and just trying to find love really resonated with me. They really acted like teens and despite all the complaints about the dialogue I thought it felt extremely natural.

Fucking Shao and his Bruce Lee belt buckle.
 
Cindi Mayweather

Cindi Mayweather

Member
Honestly, I don't trust most critics when it comes to black stories on the screen. They're often so far away from it, and are commonly more willing to be far more harsh towards such stories. I saw the word "mess" in a lot of reviews for The Get Down and that word not once showed in my vocabulary for describing the show. If you care to look at most black movies/shows you'd see low review scores for most of them which rate pretty highly among actual black viewers. Trusting critics when it comes to shows that star mostly minorities will often result in disappointment. Just watch it for yourself.

Reminds me of that video Seren made for The Wiz Live where critics bashed what is considered a hallmark in Black American theater, which you can watch here.
 
S

sprsk

force push the doodoo rock
Air said:
Finished it and loved it. As someone whose family is from the Bronx (and my uncle was one of the pioneers of graffiti) and is currently living around the area the show takes place (there was a point I could have auditioned to be in t but I didn't have the time) I have to say it really resonated with me. I was prepared for the worst, but the show did everything right for me.

The worst parts are definitely the visual fx and there are some pacing issues, but this is what I had hoped vinyl would be (I really wanted to like vinyl and I wasn't as down on it as others, but the shows balance went off). Looking forward to the second half

&#9994;&#127998;
Click to expand...

The thing about Vinyl is that given the time period it should have been about hip hop, but for some reason it was centered around a pretty generic punk group? Like what? Made no sense.

They did the subject matter right here, and properly focused it on the streets and the rise of hip-hop from a ground level, instead of a fucking idiotic, self-destructive record executive.

Loved how they did all that and included how early hip hop mixing was actually performed, showing the positivity that started the movement. Really respecting the subject matter in a way you don't see often. Loved how fantastical it felt, like a super hero origin story almost.

I'm not a Baz Luhrman fan (don't hate him either fwiw) but this really hit with me.
 
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