Boardwalk Empire

[Bearcat99]

Anybody see this..? What did you think..? I liked it so far. I like Scorcese though. I think it is a rather interesting direction on the gangster genre.. The fact that it is based on actual people is a nice touch.. even if some things arestretched.. I like the sets & costumes ... It really kind of puts you in the 20s...

[danjama]

I've heard good things and plan to see it asap.

[danjama]

Just watched it. Excellent viewing - Steve Buscemi has had this coming for a long time, he deserves it. Great acting, great constumes, great set design and best of all, great story. I'm excited to see where it all goes.

[p-11.cAce]

Just watched it. Excellent viewing - Steve Buscemi has had this coming for a long time, he deserves it. Great acting, great constumes, great set design and best of all, great story. I'm excited to see where it all goes.

+1 http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/25.gif http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/25.gif

[Worf101]

Hmmmm kinda don't know what to make of this. First anything involving crime and HBO is going to suffer in comparison to the 500 pound gorilla in the room that is "The Sopranos". Simple as that, no getting around it. In that they spent $18 large on the first episode (that's 18 MILLION Dollars for the un-initiated among you) I think this series should almost be looked at as individual films.

1. Production Values - First rate they spent the money and it shoes. "Godfather" like scale of authenticity. The cars, uniforms, clothes you name it... right on the money.

2. Script - Pretty good. Not crackling vintage Scorsese but better than the average fare. I enjoyed listening and felt that people were speaking and actiing believably.

3. Acting - Well you either love or hate that "Droopy Dog" that is Steve Buscemi. I think he did pretty well as a small time city treasurer in Atlantic City who was smart enough and savvy enough to see prohibition for what it was and what it was going to be, but who also gets in over his head almost immediately. Buscemi and Micheal Pitt who plays is right hand man are effective and vigorous, but you'd expect nothing else from HBO who finds itself outside looking in for the first time due to the success of AMC's PrimeTime offerings.

4. Overall Score: - I give the show a solid B. Character development was a little rushed and the idea of a young Lucky Luciano and Alphonse Capone being in pre-prohibition Atlantic City is a bit of a stretch. However I believe that over time we'll grow to love these folks as much as did Tony and Company.

Worf
From another forum I freqent

[R_Target]

Missed episode 2-gonna catch it tonight. So far, so good...

Really though, I'm more excited about Eastbound & Down Season 2. http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/25.gif

[danjama]

There is only one similarity between Boardwalk and The Sopranos, and so I don't think we should hold them in the same light or try to compare one to the other.

As for production values, you're right it does show - not only through the set/costumes/props, but also in duration, which was almost that of a feature film.

I do agree with the character development seeming a bit rushed, but it's understandable really, with so much pressure to hook people or lose the show.

BTW is this supposed to be a mini-series or a full set of series succeeding each other?

[Bearcat99]

Consider the beauty of this series though... [i]We dont need too much character developement.. Luciano, Rothstien, Capone.. I am surprised they didn't throw Giancanna in there because he used to run with Capone for a while..

[saipan1972]

ill give it a c+.

its only 2 episodes in so i have hope for it. hasnt really grabbed me like true blood or the tudors. i like the cast and costumes.

any hawaii 5-0 fans? i was hoping for a show true to the original, the new one pales in comparison.

[leitmotiv]

Breezy cynicism and horrific violence was very effective in capturing the atmosphere of the '60's in Scorsese's "Goodfellas." It still worked in his excellent "Casino". It doesn't work in "Boardwalk Empire" because the method is now as stale as last week's bread. Scorsese has gotten so trite he has come to think "one size fits all." HBO loves anything which is superficial and cynical.

[Bearcat99]

Originally posted by leitmotiv:
Breezy cynicism and horrific violence was very effective in capturing the atmosphere of the '60's in Scorsese's "Goodfellas." It still worked in his excellent "Casino". It doesn't work in "Boardwalk Empire" because the method is now as stale as last week's bread. Scorsese has gotten so trite he has come to think "one size fits all." HBO loves anything which is superficial and cynical.

http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/shady.gif D@mn.. you are always standing over the keg with your zipper down... http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[Messaschnitzel]

Originally posted by Bearcat99:
http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/shady.gif D@mn.. you are always standing over the keg with your zipper down... http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

Is that like going to the punch bowl, only to find a Baby Ruth bar floating in it? http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/winky.gif

Seriously, I checked out the storyline, show details and it looks good, although I'll have to wait awhile until it comes out on DVD to see it.

[Bearcat99]

It is a figure os speech.. pi$$ing in the beer..

[danjama]

Originally posted by leitmotiv:
I feel like this has been done in previous works by Scorsese, not to mention other filmmakers, but that doesn't mean it wasn't an excellent mixture of drama, conflict and character focus, all used in the right amounts to keep me interested in where the series is going.

Fixed that for you.

(Seriously though, did you consider that your problem might be the frame of mind you were in when watching? What exactly did you expect from this series?).

[GoToAway]

Originally posted by danjama:
(Seriously though, did you consider that your problem might be the frame of mind you were in when watching? What exactly did you expect from this series?). A valid point.

I'm not sure I've ever seen leit actually like anything at all.

[Messaschnitzel]

http://blogs.amctv.com/movie-blog/The-Untouchables-Costner-DeNiro-560.jpg

"You know what your problem is? You keep making movies with the same theme! 'Waterworld' is just 'The Postman' swimmin' around in the goddam bathtub!"

"Oh yeah? Well, I figured out it was you who was the psycho in 'Hide and Seek' during the first half hour of the movie. Say...what do you think about us coming up with a 1920s Prohibition era gangster series script that we can sell to HBO?"

http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/winky.gif

[saipan1972]

season 2 has started and the soundtrack has been released. show sure picked up steam.

[Bo_Nidle]

Enjoyed series one but it was a slow burner and was picking up at the end.

I think the trailers for series two show the action to be picking up the pace as the prohibition power struggles intensified.

Quality entertainment.