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Black Mirror / Charlie Brooker

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Topic: Black Mirror / Charlie Brooker
Posted By: Logan
Subject: Black Mirror / Charlie Brooker
Date Posted: December 30 2018 at 11:12
Who here has already seen /played the interactive Choose Your Own Adventurish Black Mirror: Bandersnatch on Netflix yet? I found it very engaging, and spent a long time on it -- it has quite the Donnie Darko vibe to it. Don't wish to spoil it, but I loved how Tangerine Dream's Phaedra, Isao Tomita's The Bermuda Triangle and Laurie Anderson's "O Superman" were incorporated, plus Philip K. Dick's Ubik.



I'm looking forward to season/series 5 of Black Mirror, which should come out in 2019. It's a shame that Charlie Brooker hasn't had the time to do a year end Screen Wipe for 2018 (or for 2017).

By the way, here's an interview with Charlie Brooker with Adam Buxton (he has one of my very favourite podcasts) which came out in May (doesn't seem that long ago to me).

http://adam-buxton.co.uk/podcasts/ep-76-charlie-brooker" rel="nofollow - http://adam-buxton.co.uk/podcasts/ep-76-charlie-brooker

I'm a fan of Black Mirror and Charlie Brooker generally, loved his Dead Set, which is also on Netflix (here in Canada), Nathan Barley co-written with Chris Morris, I enjoyed A Touch of Cloth considerably, and his various Wipes. Would love to see him collaborate with Steve Pemberton and Reese Shearsmith on a series at some time (he's a big fan of Inside No. 9).



Replies:
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: December 31 2018 at 08:36
I thought more people would have watched Bandersnatch already, but then I haven't noted many Black Mirror fans at this site over the past few years. It would probably be too dark for most people here (and it may be said that the darkness holds a mirror up to those who watch it) -- it's not all sunshine and Flower Kings. ;) At the billboard I belonged to some years before joining this forum, (lexx.com as FunkET) the people would have been all over such stuff. It was at that site that I was recommended Donnie Darko which Bandersnatch is reminiscent of, at least in part. Mind you, Black Mirror was recommended to me at this site some years ago (along with the disturbing Utopia).



image from The Wicker Man (1973), not Black Mirror.


Posted By: Meltdowner
Date Posted: December 31 2018 at 09:18
I watched White Christmas last week to get into a festive mood LOL 


Posted By: Argo2112
Date Posted: December 31 2018 at 09:19
I love Black Mirror but I haven't seen Bandersnatch yet. Is is available on Netflix or is it some internet promo thing?  


Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: December 31 2018 at 09:26
Originally posted by Meltdowner Meltdowner wrote:

I watched White Christmas last week to get into a festive mood LOL 



Haha, me too! And I watched Inside No. 9's The Devil of Christmas as an antidote to some of the sugary sweetness of Christmas.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6vnzki" rel="nofollow - https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6vnzki

Originally posted by Argo2112 Argo2112 wrote:

I love Black Mirror but I haven't seen <span style=": rgb248, 248, 252;">Bandersnatch yet. Is is available on Netflix or is it some internet promo thing?  </span>


Great to see another fan. Was feeling so alone after posting this topic. It's available on Netflix, and is listed separately from the Black Mirror television series.

Those who have already seen it may also wish to check out https://tuckersoft.net/ealing20541/" rel="nofollow - https://tuckersoft.net/ealing20541/


Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: December 31 2018 at 14:05
I've only started watching Black Mirror (I'm on episode 4 or 5). I like all of it moreso in theory right now than actual practice. But I should probably get back to watching it. I'll get to this particular one in due time (and hope my computer can play it properly). 

-------------
Dig me...But don't...Bury me
I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive
Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.


Posted By: MrMHead
Date Posted: December 31 2018 at 15:39
I'm Black Mirror fan
Being somewhat of a Luddite, some of the episodes are my worst nightmare LOL

A number of people I recommended it to have come back and said it was too dark for them and they didn't finish.

Somewhere I did notice something new with Black Mirror - I just didn't get the details yet.

Can Bandersnatch be played on Roku?

... And I'm no stranger to Tangerine Dream and Laurie Anderson.  Looking forward to it.

Thanks!



-------------
No Civilization here. Tried it on but it would not fit.
Seems only a thin veneer. A little rubbing and it comes off quick.
- The Bears


Posted By: Squonk19
Date Posted: December 31 2018 at 16:25
I'm a big Black Mirror fan, Logan - but need to work out which device will get me to interact with Bandersnatch with - as my Smart TV and iPad aren't up to it. I'll try out the PC tomorrow.

-------------
“Living in their pools, they soon forget about the sea.”


Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: December 31 2018 at 17:07
Originally posted by Man With Hat Man With Hat wrote:

I've only started watching Black Mirror (I'm on episode 4 or 5). I like all of it moreso in theory right now than actual practice. But I should probably get back to watching it. I'll get to this particular one in due time (and hope my computer can play it properly). 


Good luck on your computer. I think I in the right, or wrong depending upon how you look at it, headspace when I started watching Black Mirror with the first series and was instantly hooked. White Bear off the second series is the one I have watched the most times.

Originally posted by MrMHead MrMHead wrote:

I'm Black Mirror fan
Being somewhat of a Luddite, some of the episodes are my worst nightmare LOL

A number of people I recommended it to have come back and said it was too dark for them and they didn't finish.

Somewhere I did notice something new with Black Mirror - I just didn't get the details yet.

Can Bandersnatch be played on Roku?

... And I'm no stranger to Tangerine Dream and Laurie Anderson.  Looking forward to it.

Thanks!



I rather doubt that it will work on your Roku. The platforms are rather limited. I was able to watch it on both my iPad and on my TV which has a 4k digital box from Telus here in Canada and a built in Netflix app. Fortunately our home and neighborhood is also set up with fibre optics.

Originally posted by Squonk19 Squonk19 wrote:

I'm a big Black Mirror fan, Logan - but need to work out which device will get me to interact with Bandersnatch with - as my Smart TV and iPad aren't up to it. I'll try out the PC tomorrow.


I remember that you're a fan, was hoping you'd visit this thread. I think we missed discussing Inside No. 9's Deadline around Halloween (a show, as I've mentioned before, that Charlie Brooker loves).

PC might be a problem if it's running Windows 10, though finding the right browser might help (maybe non-Chrome). And one might might want to make sure that the app is updated to the latest version.

It's not currently set up for Apple TV or Chromecast and some "legacy" devices (outdated devices). I couldn't play it on my Wii U f I tried, or a smart Easy Bake oven presumably. Maybe Netflix will release Bandersnatch on more platforms. I wish I could play it on a ZX Spectrum (an early computer for me, followed by a Commodore 64). I could play Nohzdyve on a Spectrum emulator.

I found it to be a really interesting experience, but it's been somewhat divisive. I think that it's not confirming to certain Black viewer's expectations and hardcore, and some softcore, gamers might want more options. I like different. I like unconventional. I personally really appreciate it (resonates with me in various ways, and does ring me some nostalgia), and think it a very fine addition to the Black Mirror worlds.

Hope you both get the chance to experience it before long.


Posted By: MrMHead
Date Posted: December 31 2018 at 18:05
Originally posted by Logan Logan wrote:

 

I rather doubt that it will work on your Roku. The platforms are rather limited. I was able to watch it on both my iPad and on my TV which has a 4k digital box from Telus here in Canada and a built in Netflix app. Fortunately our home and neighborhood is also set up with fibre optics.

YIKES!
it does work on Roku!

I selected Frosties and Thompson Twins so far!!



-------------
No Civilization here. Tried it on but it would not fit.
Seems only a thin veneer. A little rubbing and it comes off quick.
- The Bears


Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: January 03 2019 at 13:05
Originally posted by MrMHead MrMHead wrote:

Originally posted by Logan Logan wrote:

 

I rather doubt that it will work on your Roku. The platforms are rather limited. I was able to watch it on both my iPad and on my TV which has a 4k digital box from Telus here in Canada and a built in Netflix app. Fortunately our home and neighborhood is also set up with fibre optics.


YIKES!
it does work on Roku!

I selected Frosties and Thompson Twins so far!!



Cool, those were my first choices too. I hope you found it engaging.


Posted By: MrMHead
Date Posted: January 05 2019 at 07:59
Originally posted by Logan Logan wrote:



Cool, those were my first choices too. I hope you found it engaging.

I went through it again, picking a few different choices.

SPOILER ALERT (kinda)

...Some choices lead you into a dead end  (sometimes "dead" literally) and you roll back to an earlier choice.
The first time through, I didn't hit the Laurie Anderson scene, but hit it after a few alternate choices.
I picked Tomita the 2nd time through, but Phaedra still played while he worked. ...
Interesting concept none-the-less.  And it certainly will boost the "Re Watch" metric! LOL

Looks like there's some interesting articles about it and Easter-eggs in it.

---
The King Crimson DVD "Eyes Wide Open" has a feature where at certain parts it will insert a random improv track - like a live KC concert (kinda).  So supposedly every time you watch it, it is different.
I haven't watched it enough times to have picked that out.



-------------
No Civilization here. Tried it on but it would not fit.
Seems only a thin veneer. A little rubbing and it comes off quick.
- The Bears


Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: January 05 2019 at 08:28
Originally posted by MrMHead MrMHead wrote:

Originally posted by Logan Logan wrote:



Cool, those were my first choices too. I hope you found it engaging.


I went through it again, picking a few different choices.

SPOILER ALERT (kinda)

...Some choices lead you into a dead end  (sometimes "dead" literally) and you roll back to an earlier choice.
The first time through, I didn't hit the Laurie Anderson scene, but hit it after a few alternate choices.
I picked Tomita the 2nd time through, but Phaedra still played while he worked. ...
Interesting concept none-the-less.  And it certainly will boost the "Re Watch" metric! LOL

Looks like there's some interesting articles about it and Easter-eggs in it.

---
The King Crimson DVD "Eyes Wide Open" has a feature where at certain parts it will insert a random improv track - like a live KC concert (kinda).  So supposedly every time you watch it, it is different.
I haven't watched it enough times to have picked that out.




I noticed that with Phaedra and The Bermuda Triangle too.

I should get that King Crimson DVD at some time.


Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: January 14 2019 at 03:16
I really enjoy Black Mirror. Not seen Bandersnatch yet.

I thought the earlier episodes were the best "Complete History of You" and "White Bear" being two of my favourites.

I love the darkness in the stories and the dystopian feel.

On a general note about Charlie Brooker I think he is a great writer, and I too miss his annual newswipe. I was watching the sitcom Nathan Barley the other week, which he co-wrote with satirist Chris Morris some years ago. Totally bizarre, and definitely not for everyone, but if you know the types of people being portrayed in it, you get it, and it's funny trust me

-------------
Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!


Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: January 14 2019 at 10:15
Originally posted by Blacksword Blacksword wrote:

I really enjoy Black Mirror. Not seen Bandersnatch yet.

I thought the earlier episodes were the best "Complete History of You" and "White Bear" being two of my favourites.

I love the darkness in the stories and the dystopian feel.

On a general note about Charlie Brooker I think he is a great writer, and I too miss his annual newswipe. I was watching the sitcom Nathan Barley the other week, which he co-wrote with satirist Chris Morris some years ago. Totally bizarre, and definitely not for everyone, but if you know the types of people being portrayed in it, you get it, and it's funny trust me


I also tend to enjoy the pre-Netflix, Channel 4 Black Mirror the most. "White Bear" may be my favourite episode, but I also love "The National Anthem" -- first episode and first one I saw and it hooked me, though I know people are divided on this one --, "Fifteen Million Merits" and the special "White Christmas". From the Netflix ones, I do find ""Shut Up and Dance" to be a particular stand-out, but then it's rather White Bearish. I also really liked "Hated in the Nation", "USS Callister", "Black Museum" and "Crocodile", though that's really depressing.

When Back Mirror came back on Netflix, I was a little disappointed with "Nosedive". It just felt to US generic to me, and padded. I do think that the Channel 4 ones were tighter and better made on the whole (bigger budgets can be a curse and with too many Netflix series I feel like it's led, or guided by committee somewhat).   It felt less "auteur" and sometimes too Americanised.

I also love "Nathan Barley", and I'm a big fan of Chris Morris ("Brass Eye", "The Day Today"). "Nathan Barley" is one of my favourite "sitcoms" -- it's definitely dark and bizarre. It is funny, but it's a different kind of funny than most people would be used to (it can be quite harrowing).   It was also quite a prescient series. I also seem to like pretty much anything that Julian Barratt has been in. The most recent series I've been watching has Barratt and Olivia Colman in it, and is called "Flowers".


Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: January 14 2019 at 11:14
By the way, for fans of "Black Mirror", two series that I would recommend are "Inside No. 9" (Brooker is a fan of it and I just adore that show) and Philip K. Dick's "Electric Dreams" which I like but don't find as good as "Black Mirror" or "Inside No. 9" -- the Steve Buscemi episode "Crazy Diamond" I liked very much there. Maybe "Electric Dreams" has more the feel of the 1990s "Outer Limits" on the whole than "Black Mirror".

And for dark sci-fi-ish shows, the British "Utopia" (a mindblowing show for me) and the Swedish "Real Humans" (or the English remake called "Humans") should appeal to many into "Black Mirror".


Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: January 15 2019 at 03:09
Originally posted by Logan Logan wrote:

Originally posted by Blacksword Blacksword wrote:

I really enjoy Black Mirror. Not seen Bandersnatch yet.

I thought the earlier episodes were the best "Complete History of You" and "White Bear" being two of my favourites.

I love the darkness in the stories and the dystopian feel.

On a general note about Charlie Brooker I think he is a great writer, and I too miss his annual newswipe. I was watching the sitcom Nathan Barley the other week, which he co-wrote with satirist Chris Morris some years ago. Totally bizarre, and definitely not for everyone, but if you know the types of people being portrayed in it, you get it, and it's funny trust me


I also tend to enjoy the pre-Netflix, Channel 4 Black Mirror the most. "White Bear" may be my favourite episode, but I also love "The National Anthem" -- first episode and first one I saw and it hooked me, though I know people are divided on this one --, "Fifteen Million Merits" and the special "White Christmas". From the Netflix ones, I do find ""Shut Up and Dance" to be a particular stand-out, but then it's rather White Bearish. I also really liked "Hated in the Nation", "USS Callister", "Black Museum" and "Crocodile", though that's really depressing.

When Back Mirror came back on Netflix, I was a little disappointed with "Nosedive". It just felt to US generic to me, and padded. I do think that the Channel 4 ones were tighter and better made on the whole (bigger budgets can be a curse and with too many Netflix series I feel like it's led, or guided by committee somewhat).   It felt less "auteur" and sometimes too Americanised.

I also love "Nathan Barley", and I'm a big fan of Chris Morris ("Brass Eye", "The Day Today"). "Nathan Barley" is one of my favourite "sitcoms" -- it's definitely dark and bizarre. It is funny, but it's a different kind of funny than most people would be used to (it can be quite harrowing).   It was also quite a prescient series. I also seem to like pretty much anything that Julian Barratt has been in. The most recent series I've been watching has Barratt and Olivia Colman in it, and is called "Flowers".


Shut up and Dance is a brilliant episode.

I quite liked the concept in Nosedive. I believe they have some kind of social rating system in China, similar to that used in the episode, based on 'approval' points.

A friend of mine worked in the music industry, and was based in south London in the late 90's. I spend a lot of time hanging out with people who could have been plucked straight out of Nathan Barley. The characters in the show, are not that unbelievable.

I'm a big fan of Chris Morris too. Brass Eye and The Day Today are two of my all time favourite satires. Do you think anything like Brass Eye would ever be commissioned these days? Personally, I doubt it. People would be far too upset by it, and politicians and celebrities will be wiser, and less likely to be duped than they were back then.

-------------
Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!


Posted By: Meltdowner
Date Posted: January 15 2019 at 03:57
"Nosedive" was the most depressing for me, maybe because it's futuristic but actually much closer to our reality and the bubblegum way it's presented is nauseating. Looking back, the third season was way better than the fourth.


Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: January 15 2019 at 05:25
Originally posted by Meltdowner Meltdowner wrote:

"Nosedive" was the most depressing for me, maybe because it's futuristic but actually much closer to our reality and the bubblegum way it's presented is nauseating. Looking back, the third season was way better than the fourth.


Certainly agree, third season was better.

I think the way Nosedive was presented, hi-lighted the vapid and superficial way that social media is used by so many of its most enthusiastic, and more..shall we say..narcissistic advocates. I think it works quite well.

-------------
Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!


Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: January 15 2019 at 09:51
I thin that the Nosedive concept was excellent, and I saw a news story on that social rating system in China that likened it to Black Mirror. I think this is the article I read: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/on-demand/2017/12/15/black-mirror-coming-true-china-rating-affects-home-transport/" rel="nofollow - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/on-demand/2017/12/15/black-mirror-coming-true-china-rating-affects-home-transport/ The vapidness worked for the story, and so did the setting. It's one of those Back mirror episodes that I found really predictable though (down to the trucker with the heart of gold). The most depressing episode for me of the series is probably Crocodile.

Personally, while I favour the Channel 4 Black Mirror's, I've really liked every series/ season of Black Mirror, and even the lowest points for me would be high points in most series.

I'm really looking forward to the next set, but have read that Bandersnatch might have delayed that since it ended up being harder to make than anticipated.



Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: June 05 2019 at 11:29
Just a note that "season" 5 of Black Mirror is now on Netflix. I've seen one of the three already (I started with the third with Hannah Montana, erm, Miley Cyrus).



The three season 5 episodes are:
"Striking Vipers"
"Smithereens"
""Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too"

I hope we can have some spoilerific discussion at some time.


Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: June 05 2019 at 13:54
^ interesting they went back to 3 episode seasons. 

I'm sure ill get to this at some point. 


-------------
Dig me...But don't...Bury me
I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive
Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.


Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: June 06 2019 at 11:25
Anyone know how one can get Netflix  for free...?
I already pay up the butt for Comcast cable and I'm not going to pay extra for separate services.

;)


-------------
One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin


Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: June 06 2019 at 12:08
Originally posted by dr wu23 dr wu23 wrote:

Anyone know how one can get Netflix  for free...?
I already pay up the butt for Comcast cable and I'm not going to pay extra for separate services.

;)


I might, at least for a free trial. Have you ever subscribed to Netflix?

Netflix commonly offers a free month trial, and it should be easy to unsubscribe before your trial is up. My problem is that I too rarely get around to unsubscribing to things that I no longer use regularly. Where I reside it's now only a 14 day free trial (I got one free month when I subscribed), but it might well be a month where you are. No harm in seeing if you're eligible. That said, if you subscribed to Netflix before, then I don't think you'd be eligible for a new free trial subscription.

See: https://www.netflix.com/" rel="nofollow - https://www.netflix.com/
And: https://help.netflix.com/en/node/16282/us" rel="nofollow - https://help.netflix.com/en/node/16282/us

If it were me, I would wait at least until Stranger Things comes out on July 4th before getting a free trial, or I might wait until late August since I'm looking forward to the Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance series which comes out on August 30, 2019.

The nice thing is that they drop the whole season at one time (not with everything), and tend to keep past seasons, so subscribing for long periods isn't as important as with shows which will, say, last eight episodes, and you only get one a week.   Netflix encourages binging.


Posted By: Argo2112
Date Posted: June 06 2019 at 15:01
Originally posted by dr wu23 dr wu23 wrote:

Anyone know how one can get Netflix  for free...?
I already pay up the butt for Comcast cable and I'm not going to pay extra for separate services.

;)

^ We are considering dumping some of the premium cable channels & keeping the streaming services. Seems like we get more mileage out of those lately. 


Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: June 06 2019 at 15:48
Thanks for the ideas.....my wife and I like Comcast because there are many channels we watch...but sadly ones like Prime and Netflix are extra. I might try the free trial idea.....



-------------
One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin



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