(Netflix) Stranger Things

[DMHead777]

Just finished it. Really good series. I have some minor problems that involve overuse of CGI, but it was a lot of fun. A major complaint I have is

Spoiler...

In no way would a government agency allow any of these people to live. When the kids were running away and only 1-2 helicopters were searching was quite laughable. They seemed to just stop looking for the kids and pop up an episode later in super small numbers.

Other than that, had a great time. Looking forward to a season 2

[Michael Myers]

Pretty good show, I love the 80s setting but I wish there were demons involved instead of alien-like creatures. A solid 7/10 from me.

[strtfghtr]

Really liked this show. Lovecraft + Stephen King + Spielberg + Silent Hill = awesomness

[IrishG3nt]

THIS SHOW IS MIND BLOWING! I really like everything about it!

[Solo]

[DMHead777]

I really hope the second season gets more of a budget. I'm assuming a lot of the problems are due to a proper budget, which is understandable. I still don't see how people are hyping up this show so much. It has decent writing and great acting, but as the series goes on it becomes more and more of what we seen before in the horror genre. If this was a film (that obviously has some edits lol) it would probably get mediocre reviews. The CGI is way too over the top in some cases and the plot holes are pretty in your face.

I was watching it a second time with my girlfriend and there are a few aspects I just could not ignore. Eleven gets more and more ridiculous as the series goes on, but I have a personal grudge against anything involving little girls/boys and psychic powers. I have seen it so much in horror films that it basically becomes a reason to bypass plot holes. Stuck in a sticky situation? Don't worry because THIS person can move shit with her mind. I'm really on the fence about this series. The first time I watched it, I liked it a lot, but seeing it again really shows it's weaknesses.

The acting by the kids is great and I loved the sheriff. I also enjoyed the past throwbacks to horror films. My question is do people love this show because it has those obvious throwbacks? I don't see the hype beyond that though. If it stood on its own, I couldn't see it going farther than a season 2.

My revised complaints..

Spoiler...

-I don't see how the government would let any of these towns people live. Trusting a few dozen people to keep their mouths shut is just too unbelievable to me. Especially when the newspaper comes out saying the kid is actually alive. The kid has a death certificate and had a funeral held for him. He's just magically alive and no one questions it?

-Why did the government just stop looking for these kids? Before they entered the school everyone was driving around and going from place to place. I don't see how they didn't have every street on lock down for this amazing telekinetic girl.

-I keep saying the government, because from what I remember correctly, this is a branch of the government, but seriously? These guys couldn't catch these kids on bikes? They hid in an abandoned bus and TWO helicopters overhead couldn't spot them? They also couldn't listen in on radio conversations when they knew the kids used them to communicate?

-The ending battle between Eleven and that monster was so anticlimactic that you knew everything that would happen before hand.

-I don't understand why the villain went everywhere with his security team. Is he a scientists? Has he any military training? Because he looked at that monster and just dies. Very unsatisfying for a guy of this caliber, to torture a little girl over the course of YEARS, only to be dead in a few seconds.

-The CGI was ridiculous at times

I don't want to be a negative nancy. I loved most things about this show including the cast and writing, but there are a lot of things you can't just simply ignore.

The things I loved..

Spoiler...

I love that the kids sister went out with Steve in the end. It ignored the cliches of her ending up with him instead of the jock and really turned Steve's character around. I was very surprised.

-I really liked the use of practical effects when they could get away with it. That deer was very real looking and the entire forest scene was great.

-I loved that they didn't know what the monster was. It was an unsuspected life form that they had no idea was even there. I liked it even more that they didn't explain it.

-I obviously love the past horror throw backs. Plus the teacher watching The Thing? Amazing

-Winona Ryder and the lights. She was awesome

I am not sure why this show has so much hype. I'm assuming the general movie watcher hasn't seen a lot of these cliches in horror films before so a lot of this is new to them. To the horror vets that did enjoy this..why? Was it because they threw in past horror items that made you go, "Hey, Evil Dead poster? This show is awesome!" Because I clearly can't see why Stranger Things has received this much attention. I'm not trying to be a dick, I just would like to hear some other opinions.

[Solo]

Personally feel that it's meant to be an intriguing and entertaining ride that's executed pretty well, but just as importantly not necessarily intended to be taken ultra seriously.

I think they were going for a neat little story that's craftily driven and/or complimented by unmistakable homage and the undying spirit of yesteryear nostalgia. In this vein they suceeded heavily.

[koolmike]

Well done Solo...bullseye

[tacticalbacon]

This random reddit comment puts into words what I think is special about the show.

The kids in this movie (the four you see in the first episode playing a game) are the exact same age I was in 1983.
Stranger Things is hard for me to watch not because of pacing or any of the other reasons I see in the comments. It's hard for me to watch because it is so accurate in terms of what the 80s felt like that it starts bringing out lots of my childhood memories. It doesn't just capture what 80s entertainment felt like, it captures what the 80s actually felt like to kids living through it.
I'm impressed and disturbed by this.

I really didn't watch it with an analytical or critical eye, I just enjoyed it for the nostalgia bomb it was and the feelings it evoked.

You have made me curious if I would feel any different after a second viewing though.

[IrishG3nt]

I'm assuming the general movie watcher hasn't seen a lot of these cliches in horror films before

Honestly this is why I love it so much. When interviewing the kids for this they made them read script from Stand By Me. When the cast was chosen they made them watch such films like ET, The Goonies...another one I can't remember. The nods to all the classics in it are AWESOME. There are so many of them. I think they nailed that 80's feel so perfectly. They didn't just grab kids and toss them and 80's style clothes...they actually look like they are from the 80's. I love the Goldbergs but they look like now a day kids just dressed up in 80's crap. I love the style it is shot in as well.

don't even get me started on the soundtrack!?! SOO GOOD! I think when you put it all together it JUST WORKS and WORKS WELL. I judge shows based on if it grabs my attention or not. I watched the 8 episodes in 2 nights.....work nights that is

....DM I am aware of your Goonies opinion as well...:stone:........

I really didn't watch it with an analytical or critical eye, I just enjoyed it for the nostalgia bomb it was and the feelings it evoked.

^^yes to this! Exactly this!

[Macready]

Sometimes people are way too critical of what they watch and are downright nit-picky.
This show is perfection from top to bottom. It is exactly what they set forth to make and for that I am happy I got to experience it.

[IrishG3nt]

[deadcellsociety]

.DM I am aware of your Goonies opinion as well..

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!

[DMHead777]

This show is perfection from top to bottom.

Perfect? I don't think many fans would even say that. Some things I said were probably nitpicking, but the CGI, lack of any new ideas and plot holes stuck out like a sore thumb.

....DM I am aware of your Goonies opinion as well..

hahaha whatever. Movie is terrible!

I understand you have to enjoy it for what it is. My question is why is it ok to talk about the negatives of horror films in general, but when something super hyped comes that has obvious problems then it's "nitpicking"? Seems like bandwagoners will look passed something just because it has a HUGE following. Don't get me wrong, I liked the show, but let's not say silly things like it is perfect.

[Macready]

For the record DM you aren't nitpicking, there will always be parts of shows/movies that everyone doesn't like. You enjoyed it overall and aren't holding your negatives against it to say it was actually bad.

Nitpicking I am referring to for this show is I heard a lot of people say they didn't like it because it borrows too much from other movies and actually didn't think the show was any good because of it. That is just crazy talk and talk from someone who obviously doesn't respect quality.

The fact this show put me right back to this time as I was the same exact age as these kids at the same exact time gave me a feeling I haven't ever felt since then. That alone makes this perfect for me. Not perfect for everyone but yes, for me to say it is perfect is 100% truth in my eyes.

[strtfghtr]

....DM I am aware of your Goonies opinion as well...........

This got a full out Laugh Out Loud from me. Bravo Irish

[IrishG3nt]

DM knows i'm only messing with him...not everyone's cup O' tea apparently.

As for the nitpicking. Has there ever been anything made that EVERYONE has loved and made since start to finish with no plot holes!?

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besides GOONIES

[Macready]

[IrishG3nt]

[El Ahrairah]

I find people's reaction to this show interesting and while its a great series, i think its been propped up to a level it does not really deserve.

Reasons for this? I dont know.
Im thinking its a combination of Goonies and Hipsters.
At least in my opinion this is what i see.
I think suggesting its a 7 of 10 or 7.5 of 10 is very honest. But i see ssssoooo many people calling it perfect and a 10 of 10 or even 9 of 10 is really overdoing it. And it seems to be the hipster class that will overate the living shit out of anything they enjoy and that mentality has seemed to catch on with the average viewer in this case.