Posts by Zachary Nguyen2

shadowangler50 said:I've only given you one adaptation.
So you're claiming an idea was stolen? That’s nothing more than your own assumption. By that logic, wouldn't every single detective movie or series be based on a stolen concept?
Even if it was stolen, does that actually make a series bad? If we're going to talk about originality, let's not forget that South Koreans remade Three Bad Men. Is that how it works?

There's still Boardwalk Empire, The Walking Dead, Fargo, True Blood, and Once Upon a Time on the list. Sure, they aren't all absolute masterpieces, but they definitely have their charms. Don't they?

Wow, they actually did a remake? 🤣
Let me tell you how much the Spaghetti Western genre blew up because of copying.
Go watch Yojimbo, then go watch A Fistful of Dollars.

shadowangler50 said:I've only given you one adaptation.
So you're claiming an idea was stolen? That’s nothing more than your own assumption. By that logic, wouldn't every single detective movie or series be based on a stolen concept?
Even if it was stolen, does that actually make a series bad? If we're going to talk about originality, let's not forget that South Koreans remade Three Bad Men. Is that how it works?

There's still Boardwalk Empire, The Walking Dead, Fargo, True Blood, and Once Upon a Time on the list. Sure, they aren't all absolute masterpieces, but they definitely have their charms. Don't they?

Zachary Nguyen2 said:How many actually good shows are out there?
Right now, you've got maybe ten top-tier series at most.
And please, don't even get me started on that boring The Walking Dead.

☕

How many actually good shows are out there?
Right now, you've got maybe ten top-tier series at most.
And please, don't even get me started on that boring The Walking Dead.

I don't really watch much American cinema anymore. I've moved on to higher quality films.

Samuel Robinson2 said:How many truly great TV series have ever been made?
Maybe fifty at most. Anyone can rattle off a hundred brilliant movies without breaking a sweat, but trying to name a hundred legendary shows? Impossible.
Sure, you could stretch the list if you’re easily impressed by endless procedurals about American cops, lawyers, forensic experts, or firefighters🙏, not to mention politicians and presidents, ad infinitum.
A question for the binge-watchers out there.
Why isn't there a show—or maybe I just haven't seen it—that celebrates the heroic work of American sanitation workers or municipal crews from NY, Boston, or LA? These guys are basically unsung warriors for peace and democracy. Beyond just being selfless, they possess a level of grit and intelligence that rivals any firefighter or crime scene investigator.
It’s high time someone fixed this massive oversight.

Even the British can probably name 50 top-tier series.
It's because a movie lasts maybe 2 or 3 hours, while a series gives you at least 10 hours per season.

Kenneth Johnson12 said:Quote : shadow

I just finished watching The Cabin in the Woods. It was poor, truly poor. Coherence and The One I Love were already on my watchlist, and I intend to watch them along with the others. I appreciate the suggestions and hope they prove to be excellent. However, judging by The Cabin in the Woods, I have my doubts. We shall see. 🍿

Quote : shadow

Within the last five years, at most.
To add to my previous point: I am looking for top-tier comedies and thrillers. While there have been some solid dramas and sci-fi films lately, those genres simply don't interest me personally. If you could suggest something within the requested genres—specifically psychological thrillers—that would be appreciated. 😍 For instance, I consider the following to be top-tier films within their respective genres: Identity (2003), Shutter Island, Seven, Exam, Bridesmaids, and Crazy, Stupid, Love.

I could give you over 50 movies from the last decade, but most of them would be from Asia or Europe.

Mr. Nobody
The Other Guys
21 Jump Street
Exam
The Revenant
Kick-Ass
Machete
The Company Men
The Ides of March
Sherlock Holmes
District 9
Limitless
How to Train Your Dragon, Horrible
Horrible Bosses
Up in the Air
Tucker & Dale vs the Wild
Megamind
The King's Speech
I Love You Phillip Morris
Due Date
Law Abiding Citizen
Four Lions is a British film, but I had to include it because it's just that good.
Invictus
The Hangover
Zombieland
Up
Pandorum
Law Abiding Citizen

Not all of them are masterpieces, but I gave them all at least a 7/10.

Kenneth Johnson12 said:I am familiar with all these films; I have seen some, and I fail to see how any of them qualify as masterpieces.

Are these supposed to be children's movies? I am asking seriously.

Patrick's list is desperate. Of everything listed, Blue Ruin is the only one that seems to have any potential. Fine, at least you provided one title. Perhaps I will get lucky with another one, who knows. Though I doubt it.

It is.

Newer American films.

How much newer? Like within 10 years?

I need to check that out. 😁
By the way, I saw your avatar—have you seen the new Evil Dead yet?

bluenomad2 said:

Nicholas Watson Asks:
🤣 🙂
Sorry, but you remind me of someone. 🤣

Of course they aren't.

When it comes to prison themes, the series wins again. Oz. 🙏

Again?

Oz is a 90s series. I saw some debate on previous threads claiming today's shows outshine movies, but that's nonsense. This current era of television isn't better than when we had Wire, The Sopranos, Deadwood, The Shield, Carnivale. It doesn't even touch the quality of the 90s.

Most people look at a five-year window using current shows. You mentioned Wire and The Sopranos, but those wrapped up ages ago—they belonged to a different era. Back then, those series weren't even better than movies, let alone today.

Whenever I see someone asking for lists like that, it tells me everything. It’s usually people who claim modern shows are superior while dismissing current movies without actually doing any research. They were clearly raised on Hollywood.

James Garcia50 listed all those film industries. These days, it's the Romanian New Wave calling the shots, while the Koreans have been dominating since last decade—honestly, all of Asia is on fire right now. The French have cooled off a bit, but Scandinavia is stepping up to fill the gap. What am I supposed to do, just tell someone they have to watch some obscure Romanian gem? [Link to IMDb: The Raid 2: Berandal] So, what’s the endgame here? Honestly, I doubt they'll even watch it. The second they claimed modern movies are bad, it was obvious they haven't done any actual research—they were just raised on special effects.

Second off, even if they do watch it, I doubt they'll change their minds. There are plenty of idiots like that these days. The variety is massive, but obviously, very few people who prefer today's era of television actually enjoy those kinds of dramas. They should just go watch something by Farhadia instead.

The internet is largely responsible for why people think this way. You can find practically anything online these days. But when it comes to TV shows, it’s mostly garbage. Millions of new series drop every year, and the vast majority of them are pure trash. I've already mentioned those mindless comedies or the pathetic attempts at procedurals.

What I’m loving right now is Rectify; House of Cards and Mad Men are still killing it. Most modern series just rely on manufactured hype. Even the 90s weren't better than movies, despite being stronger than what we have today—they weren't better because the films being made back then were simply superior.

TV series will never catch up to movies. Film quality is always superior. Take Oz, for example. Then you have Midnight Express, Escape from Alcatraz, and Cool Hand Luke. Three completely different prison films.

Some might bring up Green Mile or Shawshank. But Oz stands alone; there's just no comparison. As for Prison Break, it’s a joke. 😁

If someone tries to tell me today that Orange is the New Black is a "great" series, I’ll just roll my eyes. A truly great show is one that leaves you breathless with almost every episode. Aside from some likable characters and a bit of humor, Orange is the New Black doesn't offer anything that makes me say, "That's the one!"

It’s not just that one show. Nowadays, series are built entirely on cheap shock value, constant twists, and nothing but sex appeal. Everything is just overblown.

Asians have been crushing it for the last 20 years.

Nicholas Watson said:🤣 🙂
Sorry, but you’re totally reminding me of someone here, 🤣

But yeah, they definitely aren't.

And honestly, when it comes to prison stories, the shows usually run circles around the movies. Take Oz, for example. 🙏

Why not?

James Garcia50 said:Nah, take another look.

Cellblock 211 isn't some police procedural; it's a prison movie.

Yeah, watch it again.
Aren't prison guards cops?

Daniel Ramirez3 said:I’d say things like *S.W.A.T.*, *End of Watch*, or even those gritty crime dramas—they're all pretty good in my book. Honestly, police movies and shows are kind of my guilty pleasure.

The whole topic itself feels like a generalization, much like most of the comments here. I also think series are blowing up because they're so much easier to access than they were 20 or 30 years ago. Back then, your only shot at seeing a show was if one of the few major networks decided to pick it up, but we all know how easy everything is to stream nowadays.

The FBI is easily one of the best action movies out there.
I haven't seen the sequel yet, so I can't really weigh in on that.
You could definitely group Cellblock 211 in with the police genre.

James Garcia50 said:The Wire is the only show that actually matters. It’s the exception that proves the rule, isn't it?

Not really.

It is.

It’s just because the pacing is too slow.

Nicholas Watson said:I mean, just look at *Zodiac*. It’s honestly tough to find another police procedural that hits quite that hard. Maybe *Serpico* comes close, but honestly, nothing else really jumps to mind immediately.

I remember the first two or three seasons of that show being pretty dull.

I just love NCIS. Everything else is garbage compared to it, and there's no debating that.

Nicholas Watson said:Now that's actually a pretty solid point you made there. 🙂

🙂

@auto
Man, you really won't let go of Prometheus, will you? Honestly, movies like that are exactly why people have stopped showing up to theaters just to binge series at home or hunt down torrents. You drop a bunch of cash on some hyped-up 3D experience only to realize you've basically paid for a total miss. 👎

So, you love the acting in Las Vegas, but you can't stand NCIS?🤣🤣

Kenneth Johnson12 said:Still waiting for someone to put together a list of about ten films so I actually have something worth watching. People keep mentioning great series in this thread, but nobody ever suggests specific movies unless they’re talking trash about them. I realize there are other threads for this, but I am specifically looking for top-tier recent films that match the quality of elite shows like GoT or Homeland. 🍿

What kind of vibe are you looking for?
New stuff, classics, Asian, European, or American?

Karen Smith9 said:Honestly, waiting around for a show to "get better" is pure masochism.🤣

Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn't. Just like in The Walking Dead.🤣

wiredraven82 said:Good grief, I absolutely loathe those FBI-style "procedural" shows. Honestly, I can't even wrap my head around them—whenever one pops up, I practically break out in hives. I find myself slamming the channel button with the speed of a gunslinger in an old Western just to escape, purely out of disbelief that I accidentally stumbled upon such garbage while browsing.

NCIS is great.