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Stranger Things |OT| Hey, you guys...it's our time. It's our time in here July 15th
- Thread starter GK86
- Start date
Dusk Golem
A 21st Century Rockefeller
Just started watching with two friends, three episodes in thus far. Loving it so far, right up my alley in a number of ways too. It really is like a fantastically done blend of 70s/80s horror/sci-fi/kid & teen drama all mixed into one, with a hint of Twin Peaks, Silent Hill, X-Files, Goonies, & a few others in a blend, but backed with fantastic acting, music, camera work, direction, and style. So far at least, but it's gotten better with each episode for me, so can't imagine it letting off. Excited to watch more with them later today probably.
Soundtrack "coming soon"
http://www.factmag.com/2016/07/27/stranger-things-soundtrack/
Insta-buy when its released.
http://www.factmag.com/2016/07/27/stranger-things-soundtrack/
Insta-buy when its released.
I agree but I think that's partially due to how effective the frame work was at the beginning. Just seeing the monster 'jump' from location to location was terrifying. The more you explain, the more mundane something becomes.
Cross-posting this from the Pop Culture Art/Posters/Prints thread:
No title, unfortunately, though Matt Ferguson will have an edition with a title available at Thought Bubble, for those in the UK.Tomorrow, Thursday, July 28th at 12pm ET for one hour on Bottleneck: "The Upside Down" by Matt Ferguson
16" x 20" screen print. Numbered timed edition, $45
KidGalactus
Member
Something tells me you don't know anything about design/quality.
Anoregon
The flight plan I just filed with the agency list me, my men, Dr. Pavel here. But only one of you!
I actually kind of prefer it not having a title/obvious descriptor of what it's from
Grabbed one, thanks! For $60 shipped it'll make an awesome conversation piece
Do you remember which episode it's from?
It happens a few times but the time I remember most vividly is when she is alone in the house just checking everything out, like the TV and the recliner, which is anywhere from episode 3-5, I think.
Just impulse bought this waiting in line for lunch. Thanks for posting!
Hmm...yeah just hear it. Sounds very '80s, but could very well be just part of the written score.
CrichtonKicks
Member
Does Netflix usually wait this long on renewal news? Maybe it's just selective memory but I feel like the news usually comes pretty quick. Would be shocked if ST doesn't get a second season just based on the amount of acclaim.
Maybe they're looking at a more long term plan? A 2 or even 3 year renewal might be possible if they like the Duffers Harry Potter-type vision. They'll renew it. They renewed some garbage series. Netflix isn't going to blow it on what might be their most hyped series which isn't a licensed brand.
Man, I want to listen to it in its entirety.
Lumpy Onion
Member
Finished last night after watching in four sittings over the last four days. LOVED IT! Such a damn good cast through and through. This was just about perfect IMO and as someone who grew up in the 80's I think they captured the time period well. And while it has many themes I have seen before I think they were done with such class that I don't care (I have a friend who won't shut up about spotting cliches and tropes and it drives me up the wall....does noticing reocurring themes in fiction make you smarter or something?).
In episode seven I noticed a man with a box of old stuff walking toward the screen. In it was Dungeon!, which was my favorite game growing up. Essentially a rather simplistic board game with some of the ideas from D&D. Even though it was quite basic I found that it really captured my imagination as a youth (especially the monster and treasure art). I am guessing the makers of the show felt the same.
In episode seven I noticed a man with a box of old stuff walking toward the screen. In it was Dungeon!, which was my favorite game growing up. Essentially a rather simplistic board game with some of the ideas from D&D. Even though it was quite basic I found that it really captured my imagination as a youth (especially the monster and treasure art). I am guessing the makers of the show felt the same.
In episode seven I noticed a man with a box of old stuff walking toward the screen. In it was Dungeon!, which was my favorite game growing up. Essentially a rather simplistic board game with some of the ideas from D&D. Even though it was quite basic I found that it really captured my imagination as a youth (especially the monster and treasure art). I am guessing the makers of the show felt the same.
Dude, thanks for that blast from the past. I played that too.
Dusk Golem
A 21st Century Rockefeller
There's no way they aren't going to renew it as it's blown up in the public eye, a lot are watching it, and all the acclaim its getting. They surely are aware at this point they may have a real cult hit on their hands.
I think the reason we haven't gotten word is because they're deciding how many seasons to renew it for. The creators said they had multiple seasons worth of ideas and made the show's concept to go on for more than one season, and even more than two seasons. So I take it the delay in word may be because Netflix might be deciding how to renew it and working out not just renewing it for a second season, but possibly beyond. Taking the time to see if they should just go in for one season, or go more full in like they did with Orange is the New Black as said above.
I will be purchasing the soundtrack when available, both because it's great and to show my support.
I think the reason we haven't gotten word is because they're deciding how many seasons to renew it for. The creators said they had multiple seasons worth of ideas and made the show's concept to go on for more than one season, and even more than two seasons. So I take it the delay in word may be because Netflix might be deciding how to renew it and working out not just renewing it for a second season, but possibly beyond. Taking the time to see if they should just go in for one season, or go more full in like they did with Orange is the New Black as said above.
I will be purchasing the soundtrack when available, both because it's great and to show my support.
TheWorthyEdge
Member
Agreed. Really liked Lucas a lot.
Yes
NightShift
Member
I'm not an expert in any way but I think I'm quite knowledgeable when it comes to monster designs. The best designs are meant to invoke some kind of natural fear and maybe it was just me but this monster wasn't doing it. What was working though was when they were barely showing the thing, giving brief glimpses and obscuring it in shadow. The lanky human figure was entering uncanny valley territory in a good way but lost that impact when you saw how fake it looked.
Also, I wasn't clear when I said quality but I was talking about the CG. Probably a poor choice of words considering the budget they must have been working with.
The Hermit
Member
When te first episode showed that The thing poster in The basemenet, it had me.
Only to later have people watching the movie and even part of the score.
<3
Only to later have people watching the movie and even part of the score.
<3
BrokenFiction
Member
Potential spoiler for a cool t-shirt.
https://teespring.com/stranger-things-barb-lives#pid=2&cid=2397&sid=front
TerminalDogma
Member
So I sat down to watch maybe two or three episodes of this yesterday since hearing my friends rave about it. I ended up watching the entire season, a short break between episode 5 and the last 3 to make and eat dinner. Man, this is some good television. It was also meant to be binge watched, outside of I believe one (maybe two) episodes they all just kind of bleed into each other. The writing was also amazing, I don't think there was really anything wasted. Everything had a pay off, to some degree. Great stuff.
MightyHedgehog
Member
I really liked this. The writing for the kids was believable enough and the actors' performances were pretty solid and made the show work. It was difficult not to feel the nostalgia the creators clearly have for the time and place, and it would've cut against the whole feeling of general authenticity if the retro goo were laid on any more thickly, but it was doled out just right. Personally, the general Byers family situation felt pretty familiar to me. As an '80s kid who was ten in '83 and played my share of DnD during that general time period, I especially appreciated the inclusion of the tabletop stuff. Overall, the show reminded me of my time growing up and spending time in small towns, riding my bike around everywhere with friends as a latchkey kid, and of my constant trips to Wargames West in ABQ during middle school when I lived nearby. The whole show worked its magic on me and I want to see more.
JoJoShabadoo
Member
I really did not expect to like this show, after seeing the trailer. Yet, 3 episodes in and I absolutely love it. It has so much charm, and it's incredibly iconic.
The absolute highlight for me, by far, was in episode 3 when
That scene really was perfect.
The absolute highlight for me, by far, was in episode 3 when
Winona says blink once for yes, twice for no. The music and her acting/expressions were perfect, the scene really came together with the short dream-like melody playing when he blinked once for "Are you alive" and the music sounding distorted when he blinked twice to "Are you safe"
BuckRobotron
Member
Show is great. On episode 6 now. The 80s setting feels just right and makes me want to revisit 80s favorite movies. Manages somehow to competently mix the vibes of period Spielberg, Valley Girl/teen drama, John Carpenter, etc. All of the cast is solid, younger or older.
Airola
Member
Finished the season. It's ok. At moments it's great and at moments it's very very mediocre.
THE GOOD:
THE BAD:
Overall I did enjoy it, and the Stephen King novel vibes are truly heartwarming, but I can't understand the 9,2 score it currently has on IMDb. It isn't as baffling as it's with True Detective as this show was much much much better than that, but it's still baffling how everyone seems to think this is the best thing ever. Especially with that travesty of a monster.
THE GOOD:
-Great actors. Apart from Winona Ryder, who overacted a lot yet still was quite ok, the rest of the cast were excellent. Regardless of age or gender, they all were very very good.
-At best the series was like reading a Stephen King book. At moments I thought this was more King's The Body than what Stand by Me was. That movie didn't quite capture the feeling of the novel, but this was very close to it.
-On technical side, I like how they didn't overdo it. They didn't try to show-off their skills and they didn't overdo the whole retro vibe. This didn't feel like a post-retro pastiche but it felt more like the genuine thing.
-The kids were very sympathetic, as were the teens too. Both the good guys and the bad guys. Again, it was exactly as reading a Stephen King novel. The feeling of these groups of kids had the feeling of, say, It, Salem's Lot and The Body nailed perfectly. I would say this might be the best attempt to bring young Stephen King characters to a television screen. The toothless guy was great.
-I loved the redeeming of the bully character (I'm really bad with remembering names). The girl's boyfriend. Jonathans rival. The scene at the house with them trying to kill the monster was great (apart from the monster itself).
-At best the series was like reading a Stephen King book. At moments I thought this was more King's The Body than what Stand by Me was. That movie didn't quite capture the feeling of the novel, but this was very close to it.
-On technical side, I like how they didn't overdo it. They didn't try to show-off their skills and they didn't overdo the whole retro vibe. This didn't feel like a post-retro pastiche but it felt more like the genuine thing.
-The kids were very sympathetic, as were the teens too. Both the good guys and the bad guys. Again, it was exactly as reading a Stephen King novel. The feeling of these groups of kids had the feeling of, say, It, Salem's Lot and The Body nailed perfectly. I would say this might be the best attempt to bring young Stephen King characters to a television screen. The toothless guy was great.
-I loved the redeeming of the bully character (I'm really bad with remembering names). The girl's boyfriend. Jonathans rival. The scene at the house with them trying to kill the monster was great (apart from the monster itself).
THE BAD:
-The monster was awful. It was terrible. Absolutely horrible. This "plant-face" mutant design was like something from Resident Evil Revelations or Dead Space. Or from some other game where the first monster they show is just like some mutant from the end part of an old Resident Evil game, with a tiny bit of a modern Silent Hill monster. I have never liked that type of monsters.
-The Upside-Down World, or whatever it was, was a bit disappointing. I don't know how much they used CGI in it but that's what it definitely looked like. When you try to bring an authentic feel of the early 80's, all kinds of CGI things ruin the experience. It didn't feel like a shadowy otherworld. It looked like a modern horror video game.
-I felt the story was a bit lacking. The main thing didn't have enough hooks. It often felt like all the things apart the real mystery held up better. The scifi-horror mystery just wasn't interesting enough. It wasn't bad but it could've been so much better.
-As much as I liked the kids, the scene where they played the RPG near the end of the last episode felt over-enthusiastic. Before this scene the kids and the throwbacks to the 80s entertainment were handled with certain kind of finesse. That scene didn't really have it anymore. While before it felt like the kids are really in that world and the characters have themselves decided what they enjoy doing, this scene felt like the directors were forcing them to make "the good old days with D&D" feel much more exciting than it really was.
-The Upside-Down World, or whatever it was, was a bit disappointing. I don't know how much they used CGI in it but that's what it definitely looked like. When you try to bring an authentic feel of the early 80's, all kinds of CGI things ruin the experience. It didn't feel like a shadowy otherworld. It looked like a modern horror video game.
-I felt the story was a bit lacking. The main thing didn't have enough hooks. It often felt like all the things apart the real mystery held up better. The scifi-horror mystery just wasn't interesting enough. It wasn't bad but it could've been so much better.
-As much as I liked the kids, the scene where they played the RPG near the end of the last episode felt over-enthusiastic. Before this scene the kids and the throwbacks to the 80s entertainment were handled with certain kind of finesse. That scene didn't really have it anymore. While before it felt like the kids are really in that world and the characters have themselves decided what they enjoy doing, this scene felt like the directors were forcing them to make "the good old days with D&D" feel much more exciting than it really was.
Overall I did enjoy it, and the Stephen King novel vibes are truly heartwarming, but I can't understand the 9,2 score it currently has on IMDb. It isn't as baffling as it's with True Detective as this show was much much much better than that, but it's still baffling how everyone seems to think this is the best thing ever. Especially with that travesty of a monster.
To each there own but I liked the monster weak CG and all but I like those kinds of creatures. Also I'm fairly certain most of the
Upside Down was mostly practical from the interviews I read and actually a budgetary thing for turning out like it did. Again I thought it was rather effective but I like the Silent Hill corroded real world thing
MaKTaiL
Member
ElectricBlanketFire
Member
Just finished the first episode.
This is so up my alley.
This is so up my alley.
Insane Metal
Member
Guys where can I buy a poster or something from this show? I need it.
Ugh, that beautiful illustration of the characters would make one hell of a poster
edit: could someone post a picture of it? I feel it's under appreciated ITT