Anyone else been an avid watcher of any or all of The Killing, Borgen, The Bridge, Sebastien Bergman, Wallander, Spiral and Inspector Montalbano? Whats your fave, or too hard to pick (like in my case) and whats your thoughts on any of them? The only one I haven't got into is Wallander, I think I've seen the odd episode, but I'll have to get the boxset or download them at some point. The first series of the Killing was brilliant, it had realistic characters that you believed in and dealt with the human consequences of a crime rather than wrapping up everything in an hour. The ending maybe was a bit anticlimactic, but there had been so many twists and turns that it was hard for it not to be. The second series was ok but not a touch on the first. I really enjoyed Borgen as it was good to see a foreign drama that wasn't a police/crime related show. If you'd of asked people if they would be interested in a show about Denmark's Government I bet you would have got a few blank stares, but it was riveting and had strong female characters like the killing who weren't just pin-up airheads that you see in a lot of American and British mainstream drama. Again I got pretty involved in the story and character over the series and it had some good twist and turns, clever writing and dealt with philosophical and moral questions. I haven't seen the West Wing, but I imagine Borgen would easily hold its own against it. Montalbano was a good detective genre programme, with some good characterization, but it didn't have too much weight to it. There were a few dodgy plots but I forgave it and I enjoyed it nonetheless. It also made me want to go to Sicily alot. I watched the first hour of Bergman and have 30 minutes of the first episode left, but i'm already loving it. The protagonist is great and i'm wrapped up in the story already. I know some people have issues with subtitles, but you get used to it and don't even notice that you're reading them after a short while. It might be a snobbish thing to say, but I think people who limit themselves to British and American TV and films are kind of limiting themselves to about 5% of the TV and films the world produces. I know a lot of the other 95% is rubbish, but we create loads of rubbish too and some of that 95% is absolutely brilliant.
Robingram, try and rent or order Braquo, its a French cop show, bloody brilliant mate, not sure when it's on TV. I got it off Lovefilm. I messed up by watching the US Killing before the Danish one, big mistake probably, they gave the Danish people cameos in the show which was funny as you'd get random Americans popping up with Danish accents.
Yeah i've heard of it. It was on Sky Atlantic wasn't it, but I don't have sky. Cheers for the recommendation, I'll get round to it! I'm currently with orange for broadband and they've recently blocked the pirate bay, so i'll have to pay for something for the first time in a while!
I watched an IRA film last night, starring Tommy Lee Jones and Jeff Bridges, there were some shocking Irish accents going on.
The worst accent I heard on a film was Don Cheadles Cockney in the Oceans films, Jude Laws Australian in Contagion is pretty bad too. Gave up on torrents myself Robingram think Pirate Bay still there. Lovefilm very good value to make up for it also I heard good things about NetFlix but I'm more into films than TV myself generally.
Was/is the Danish version of 'The Killing' called 'Forbrydelsen' or something like that? Just downloaded the US version but, from your comments, I'm inclined to look for the original. I've seen some of the (Kenneth Branagh) 'Wallanders and enjoyed them.
Watch the Danish version first I think we all agree, wish I had the US one is OKish . One thing I glad I got right is that I watched the Swedish versions of the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, there is no way at all that the American remake can be any better and the Swedish Salander is Salander in my eyes!
The recent Scandanavian dramas have been superb, particulalry The Killing and The Bridge. Yet nothing in my opinion surpasses The Wire.
Monty was a bit too lightweight and family-friendly. Some baffling cases but not much genuine danger or evil. Wallander was better and perhaps the best-developed characters and realistic stories The Bridge was the tensest and most gripping by far- ****s over septic or brit cop dramas. Bergman- jury still out. PS we may have a serial killer on our hands in pt 2. Just saying like.
And Treme (another David 'The Wire' Simon job) is reckoned to be ace. New Orleans after Katrina, the big black guy out of The Wire (McNulty's mate) and stacks of good New Orleans music and street stuff. Two series, both downloadable. Yet to watch 'em...
Not seen those, but my current addiction is Prisoners of War (Hatufim) - the original Homeland shown on Sky arts 1
Thought Borgen & The Bridge were brilliant. Especially liked the female TV interviewer in Borgen! Talking of accents, I once saw a film with John Wayne playing a German sea captain (unbelievable I Know)! Said things like "the hell you will" in the weirdest German accent ever! Sadly can't remember the name of the film.
If we're talking American cop shows I'll tell you one to avoid like the bubonic plague. Blue bloods. I series linked it and had the whole series recorded. Watched( endured) one episode and deleted the rest. Dog ****.
