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Portlandia (2011)
Typical Cable Television
Naturally cable television slipped too far into the realm of low-budget content long ago, relying on little more than shock value and mockery rather than wit or quality writing, but today most of cable television just insults your intelligence. This series normally airs on the IFC Channel.
I viewed this series on Netflix, watching the pilot and the second episode expecting something different, but it is simply wasn't funny. Some reviewers would argue that I haven't given it a chance and that the last couple of seasons have improved, but I simply have better things to do.
Whether one calls this series "satire" or "mockery", it relies on "poking fun" at such a tiny sub- culture of urbanites normally found in only a couple of small neighborhoods in a normally easy- going, small city that it is just plain boring. Whether a series devotes itself to poking fun at "San Francisco leather daddies" or Dallas suburban "bubbas" or outer Laramie, Wyoming libertarian cowboys, the same "satire" of the same sub-genre, of a subculture of people gets boring fast. It would be one thing if the show was actually witty, whimsical, creative, or just plain odd, but it fails at all of the above. Maybe for typical reality TV viewers this is the closest to humor that they have seen in some time, but really, there is much better out there, and it probably airs on regular network television.
The question too is at what point does endlessly mocking the same population of people to the point of promoting disturbing stereotypes become more than a little tasteless? But whether it is rural Louisiana or New Jersey, that is how low cable television has gone today.
American Chopper: The Series (2002)
Tantrum TV at its worst
Reality shows today are really just extra low budget, poorly scripted soap operas of the past. Very few American reality shows are aired here in Japan, for the very fact that they make people too uncomfortable. This is one of the few that is aired in Japan due primarily to the popularity, yet rarity, of custom motorcycles amongst some people in Japan, but not because it is quality programming. This television series could probably expand their audience considerably, worldwide, if it toned down the incessant, yet petty, bickering, whining, and constant tantrums that turn so many away from typical reality shows.
Due to is popularity, and given that the standard reality show "tantrum TV" format has become so worn out, one would think this show would try a different approach--maybe a few more vintage, or classic bikes--but instead repackaged the show under a new name that focuses less on bikes, and more on petty bickering.
American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior (2010)
Tantrum TV at its worst.
Reality shows today are really just extra low budget, poorly scripted soap operas of the past. Very few American reality shows are aired here in Japan, for the very fact that they make people too uncomfortable. This is one of the few that is aired in Japan due primarily to the popularity yet rarity of custom motorcycles amongst some people in Japan, but not because it is quality programming. This television series could probably expand their audience considerably, worldwide, if it toned down the incessant, yet petty, bickering, whining, and constant tantrums that turn so many away from typical reality shows.
Due to is popularity, and given that the standard reality show "tantrum TV" format has become so worn out, one would think this show would try a different approach--maybe a few more vintage, or classic bikes--but instead repackaged the show under a new name that focuses less on bikes, and more on petty bickering.
The Matrix (1999)
An Important Philosophical Allegory
The Matrix is really a bit of "Plato's Allegory of the Cave" or the original Chinese "Frog in a Well" allegory. It centers mostly upon the more Buddhist idea of Two Truths, whereby the conventional reality that we live in is often shaped by our own prejudices, fears and insecurities. Perhaps there is also a touch of modern Situationalist Philosophy: "life is a spectacle" mostly contrived by the status quo, or powers-at-be and marketing forces around us.
I must admit I am surprised by the number of negative ratings of this movie. A bit over- rated, yes; but the movie hardly falls into the category of 1 to 4 star reckless, low-budget movies (such as Manos; The Hands of Fate) that have to try to be so bad.
Philosophical messages are best conveyed as allegories. This movie is a simple, yet important, allegory stretched out over 2 hours with enough basic symbolism, special affects and action to appeal to almost all audiences. The movie is designed to be thought provoking, and touches upon basic philosophical questions that are rarely addressed in modern movies. I have to wonder if audiences are somehow offended by the intent of the movie, or if audiences are simply so stuck in Plato's cave, the bottom of a well, so stuck in "the Matrix" as to totally miss it.