TV, films and books don't hook me

The thread about books got me thinking. I probably only get really absorbed by any TV/film/book about once a year and find it quite disappointing.

I find nearly all American TV and films totally uninteresting and I haven't been to the cinema for about two years. It is normally a documentary or BBC drama that gets me interested on the odd occasions it does happen. I haven't found a decent book for over two years now!

Anyone else feel like this? Am I just becoming cynical or old I wonder?? Any suggestions??

Ness Order wrote: The thread about books got me thinking. I probably only get really absorbed by any TV/film/book about once a year and find it quite disappointing.

I find nearly all American TV and films totally uninteresting and I haven't been to the cinema for about two years. It is normally a documentary or BBC drama that gets me interested on the odd occasions it does happen. I haven't found a decent book for over two years now!

Anyone else feel like this? Am I just becoming cynical or old I wonder?? Any suggestions??

I think you're mostly becoming cynical and old. I do agree with you to an extent. The only new TV show I regularly watch is CSI (as well as a sports talk show). Otherwise, the only things I watch are documentaries and sporting events. There are still some good movies, but nothing I'd wait in line hours for, as I did for The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Not too many new authors I'm into. I've always been more into the classics though I'll admit I've read Dan Brown's books as well as some books by Lincoln Child & Doug Preston, Mary Stewart, Piers Anthony, and a few others I won't bother to mention.

Ness Order wrote: The thread about books got me thinking. I probably only get really absorbed by any TV/film/book about once a year and find it quite disappointing.

I find nearly all American TV and films totally uninteresting and I haven't been to the cinema for about two years. It is normally a documentary or BBC drama that gets me interested on the odd occasions it does happen. I haven't found a decent book for over two years now!

Anyone else feel like this? Am I just becoming cynical or old I wonder?? Any suggestions??

Totally agree. Haven't been to the cinema in years and years. Only ever read on holiday (my holiday book in Italy the other week was about the history of Ryanair!!). When it comes to watching DVD's I can very rarely get to the end of one. The thought of even committing two hours of my life to something which I know is likely to be shite bothers me. Some movies blow me away mind, Swingers, Dumb & Dumber and Lost In translation are films I could watch over and over, 99% of the rest I'd happily never watch again (if I even watched them to the end in the first place).

I do however read 3 newspapers every day and countless magazines.

Can't remember the last time I went to the cinema, may have been a dozen times in my life? Read a lot of crime fiction though, get through a couple of books a week on the train to and from work. As for TV, very rarely watch it at all. Can't sit through a whole football match even.

No, you're not getting cynical Ness, there's just a whole load more crap out there now.

I think there's a finite amount of talent. So, back in the day, only the best authors got published; and before all the digital channels only the better programes were on TV; & before multi-screen Cinema only the best movies got shown.

But now, anyone with a reasonable ammount of cash can make a movie - but that dosent give them tallent. Theres a shitload of crapper programmes being made now, to fill in the timeslots on the thousands of digital TV stations. Books are now a throwaway item - & most published writers stick to throwaway pap too.

So, the same amount of tallent is now being spread f - a - r thinner than it used to be, & we have to wade through gallons of shite in the hope of coming accross 1 decent show/movie/book/whatever.

end of rant.

old

El Jarvo wrote: You're being cynical and jaded!

Sat and watched "Sorted" (which has been class) in 'real time' last night, whereas the other episodes I've all watched after the event and found it hard to get me head round the fact I couldn't just replay or slope off and had to remain on me sofa for that requisite hour.

Considering the Beeb alone has come up with that, Life on Mars and The Street thus far this year, then I don't see how people can complain.

I love watching the BBC miniseries when they do a book, such as Bleak House or Pride and Prejudice. They always seem to do a great job!

Think you have a point Al, the sheer volume of stuff out there does tend to prevent you making a decision. Years ago when there were only three TV channels and no internet, you knew that everyone you spoke to the next day would have watched the same thing as you.

Did enjoy Life on Mars and a couple of episodes of The Street, but not much since.

Never picked up any of Dan Brown’s, but there must be something in it to get everyone hooked - or is it just good marketing?

I don't really bother with films or books as generally I have a really short attention span. Having said that every so often I go through a phase of reading constantly and get through a couple of books a day.

I read all the time, but tend to only watch telly when there's a good series on. As for the cinema, no, it's a waste of a good night out, if i'm going to go out i want a drink!

I watch films and read books for a living. Dunno what that says about me (probably that I should "get a proper job" etc, etc....)

(The Good Doctor) Martin Fradley wrote: I watch films and read books for a living. Dunno what that says about me (probably that I should "get a proper job" etc, etc....)

Not as good as being a Playboy photographer, but still a very good living!

Shellshocker wrote:

(The Good Doctor) Martin Fradley wrote: I watch films and read books for a living. Dunno what that says about me (probably that I should "get a proper job" etc, etc....)

Not as good as being a Playboy photographer, but still a very good living!

Yeah, but you have to work with a bunch of cunts. Oh, hang on.......

(Sorry.)

Hardly watch TV, except for the odd match. Used to love my films, but studying it at uni has put me off them!!! I try to read everyday, but sometimes just can't be bothered. Probably a result of doing English at uni as well!!

Christopher Owens wrote: Hardly watch TV, except for the odd match. Used to love my films, but studying it at uni has put me off them!!! I try to read everyday, but sometimes just can't be bothered. Probably a result of doing English at uni as well!!

Uni seems to take the fun out of everything. Who says education is a good thing?

Shellshocker wrote:

Christopher Owens wrote: Hardly watch TV, except for the odd match. Used to love my films, but studying it at uni has put me off them!!! I try to read everyday, but sometimes just can't be bothered. Probably a result of doing English at uni as well!!

Uni seems to take the fun out of everything. Who says education is a good thing?

This one looks kinda fun, dontcha think?:

http://filmstudies.berkeley.edu/undergrad\_courses.html#108.2

Imagine that on a CV...

(The Good Doctor) Martin Fradley wrote:

Shellshocker wrote:

Christopher Owens wrote: Hardly watch TV, except for the odd match. Used to love my films, but studying it at uni has put me off them!!! I try to read everyday, but sometimes just can't be bothered. Probably a result of doing English at uni as well!!

Uni seems to take the fun out of everything. Who says education is a good thing?

This one looks kinda fun, dontcha think?:

http://filmstudies.berkeley.edu/undergrad\_courses.html#108.2

Good times. Leve it to Berkeley. No doubt they have a course on the benefits of marijuana too. :)

Only once in a while does a TV series come on that i have to catch every minute of every episode.

A lot of the time i seem to catch bits here and bits there.BBC's Sorted being an exmaple.Saw most of the first one and quite liked it.Missed the second and then caught most of this weeks.Same with books for me.I start them and dont finish them or read bits which if it's a story is pretty dumb eh?

Like previous peeps have said there's just too much out there nowadays , can't keep up:\ohwell:

I do think i'm old and cynical too.A lot of films and music i just feel i've seen and heard it all before

Once in a while a film will blow me away but mostly a waste of time and/or money

Ness Order wrote: The thread about books got me thinking. I probably only get really absorbed by any TV/film/book about once a year and find it quite disappointing.

I find nearly all American TV and films totally uninteresting and I haven't been to the cinema for about two years. It is normally a documentary or BBC drama that gets me interested on the odd occasions it does happen. I haven't found a decent book for over two years now!

Anyone else feel like this? Am I just becoming cynical or old I wonder?? Any suggestions??

Diagnosis: depression - losing interest in things

On the sheer volume thing noted before, I have to agree that it doesn't only create more crap shows, but I think it takes money away from the good shows. I could deal with a few good shows, ignoring the crap. But I have a DVR and can have my channel listing ignore the crappy channels to only what I like. Even so, it's still hard to find anything good. The only thing I watch religiously is 2 1/2 Men. That one is great, but I think you have to be a guy to enjoy it. Other than that, I find myself constantly watching the Simpsons, though I think their time has gone by a few years back. Also "Everyone Hates Chris". And CSI every so often.

What is with all the reruns nowadays? Seems they only make 5 shows a year and show them in continiuos loops.

I stick to either nonfiction or classics for reading. I hate Mark Twain, and what he did to literature, describing endlessly about nothing. All today's novels are based off this. Plus I like to get something out of the red, new knowledge, moral, or something. Today's novels are purely entertainment. I have too many things to do to waste my life on those books.

JHC

68Pontiac wrote: Other than that, I find myself constantly watching the Simpsons, though I think their time has gone by a few years back. JHC

The Simpsons used to be the best written show on TV, but it's probably been about 8 years since it's been really good. I still catch the new episodes sometimes, but I'd rather watch the old episodes for the 10th time.

Shellshocker wrote:

68Pontiac wrote: Other than that, I find myself constantly watching the Simpsons, though I think their time has gone by a few years back. JHC

The Simpsons used to be the best written show on TV, but it's probably been about 8 years since it's been really good. I still catch the new episodes sometimes, but I'd rather watch the old episodes for the 10th time.

Yeah, the new material is downright disturbing.

JHC

68Pontiac wrote:

Shellshocker wrote:

68Pontiac wrote: Other than that, I find myself constantly watching the Simpsons, though I think their time has gone by a few years back. JHC

The Simpsons used to be the best written show on TV, but it's probably been about 8 years since it's been really good. I still catch the new episodes sometimes, but I'd rather watch the old episodes for the 10th time.

Yeah, the new material is downright disturbing.

JHC

Sometimes it almost seems a parody of itself. Sad.

I've gone off novels and hardly read any books for lack of time... but when I get a chance I like true life mysteries, ghost stories, the afterlife, books that set me wondering. Neville Randall, Life after Death, is a good one... Colin Wilson's Afterlife. Other than that I'm a news junkie... truth is stranger than fiction!

The Da Vinci Code was for me great as I loved the Louvre from when I was small and I loved all the extreme Catholic symbolism that ran with the plot. A far better book was Angels and Demons : darker and set in Rome with the fantastic landmarks that even as a tourist made it really come alive. I have in the last few years read more and wanted to read more (boring fart perhaps) but the last fiction that I read that I really enjoyed was John Colapinto : About The Author. Set in NYC it was very good and very interesting.

I think Minx said she could read several books in a day. Well unless they were Peter & Jane books I would certainly struggle with that.

Pompeii was also a good book by Robert Harris if you're into historical faction. I went through a major (and still am come to think of it) worship of Rome. I loved the HBO/BBC series of "Rome" even though it was undoubtedly sensationalist in its chracters and imagery. Looking forward to the second series when filming is finished.

Right. Going for a lie down now after all that outburst. Anyone seen John Sludden's avatar btw? Naughty.........

:bag:

Doggy wrote:

Anyone seen John Sludden's avatar btw? Naughty.........

:bag:

...........But nice

Must confess I broadly agree with miss Order's original point. I cannot be ARSED with most movies and TV these days, ESPECIALLY that which comes from America.

My TV watching habbits are becoming silly, I pay for SKY, but never ever watch it, except the Simpsons ( a notable exception to my boycott of Americana) and F1. Instead I download all the TV I watch on torrents, I suppose mainly legally since I pay for the channels anyway. But most of what I watch is British and of a documentary nature, recently I been catching up on missed Top Gear and Horizon. I've also been gorging on Radio 4 documentaries and Dr Who audio plays.

Harlan Ellison once wrote that TV shows show the same 8 stories perpetually re-set...I tend to agree and really cannae be bucked with it.