ReCape: Watching The Cape
- Thread starter Elizabeth Grunewald
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Seconded. All her articles have left me with a bad taste. This one doesn't help.Mysnomer said:
Commenting on an article I found to be poor = crying.Shamus Young said:
Really? Can we not comment on an article without being called a crying fanboy? Is this really the road that we want to follow?
yeah the retcon version... I wonder how far Batman, as an icon, would have gotten if that was his orignal origin, ... and even 'if' your point had merit, at least he turned against them in the end.. he didn't hang out with them.HG131 said:
Yeah, it's weird, normally I do to. But, I dunno, maybe it's because she's picking on a new show, which I feel is unfair. If you go back to stuff that aired years ago, or things that should be evaluated in a vacuum (like a videogame), I think the snark works, because you are mocking a something that is fully realized. It's akin to trading friendly banter with a long time buddy. "Hey, remember that time when you had an episode constructed of nothing but bad cliches because the media watchdogs were on your case?" etc. etc. But in this instance, she's brutally ripping the pilot of a brand new property to shreds. That's more like kicking the crutches out from under the cripple and saying it's his fault he couldn't run away fast enough.Shamus Young said:
In summation: This article feels less like a humorous commentary and more like vicious bullying. But, hey, you're pretty good at this stuff Shamus, why don't you teach her the ropes.
Well, that sounds... forgetable. But then, it's not easy to predict the value of a series from the pilot alone. Might end up pretty darned badass. I'll probably do what I always do; wait, listen, and if the first season meets with general approval, I'll pick up the DVDs when they come out.
Not only was the pacing bad, but the actual action was written like it was supposed to be a cheesy Schwarzenegger action flick, replete with the necessary stretch of "hero gets his ass kicked for no apparent reason". They were trying to ape Batman, but even as a rookie Batman was able to hold his own against the villains.
The way an action movie works, the hero can beat the crap out of a bunch of minions at the beginning, but is handily defeated by the big baddie until he learns some new skill, gets a new weapon, or mysteriously stops sucking for no apparent reason. In a superhero story, the hero is always outgunned but is almost never completely incapacitated as quickly as The Cape is. Usually, they hold their own and the villain gets away, leaving a mystery in their wake.
In the first episode, The Cape told you who the villain is, who the back-stabbing best friend is, who the mysterious and distant ally is, and about the shadowy organization that is behind the main villain. They told all the big secrets and stripped all the mystery out of a show that is a cheap ripoff of the Dark Knight in the first episode. Are they stupid?! You keep the mystery as long as you can manage before it starts to irritate the audience, that way they feel like they have to keep watching this piece of dross just so they know what happens next. They got rid of the only thing that would have made comic geeks care and what would make regular people interested (coherent continuity and suspense) in one fell swoop.
Whoever wrote this thing (and came up with the concept of his super-power being cape-proficiency) should not be allowed near any paper, computer, recording device, or anything that could allow them to inflict their "stories" on an unsuspecting public again.
The way an action movie works, the hero can beat the crap out of a bunch of minions at the beginning, but is handily defeated by the big baddie until he learns some new skill, gets a new weapon, or mysteriously stops sucking for no apparent reason. In a superhero story, the hero is always outgunned but is almost never completely incapacitated as quickly as The Cape is. Usually, they hold their own and the villain gets away, leaving a mystery in their wake.
In the first episode, The Cape told you who the villain is, who the back-stabbing best friend is, who the mysterious and distant ally is, and about the shadowy organization that is behind the main villain. They told all the big secrets and stripped all the mystery out of a show that is a cheap ripoff of the Dark Knight in the first episode. Are they stupid?! You keep the mystery as long as you can manage before it starts to irritate the audience, that way they feel like they have to keep watching this piece of dross just so they know what happens next. They got rid of the only thing that would have made comic geeks care and what would make regular people interested (coherent continuity and suspense) in one fell swoop.
Whoever wrote this thing (and came up with the concept of his super-power being cape-proficiency) should not be allowed near any paper, computer, recording device, or anything that could allow them to inflict their "stories" on an unsuspecting public again.
When I first saw the promotional picture for this show, my initial thought was "Sweet! They're doing a TV series based on Thief?!"
Then I read the plot synopsis.
On the upside, that humongus crater my hopes left when they came crashing down? It's an in-ground pool now.
...I haven't watched TV in the last three years, and have nothing constructive to add to the conversation regarding the show itself, so... I'll get my coat.
Then I read the plot synopsis.
On the upside, that humongus crater my hopes left when they came crashing down? It's an in-ground pool now.
...I haven't watched TV in the last three years, and have nothing constructive to add to the conversation regarding the show itself, so... I'll get my coat.
A ridiculously boring summation of a ridiculously boring show. Hey, look at them both as comedy and I have the 2 hours + reading time back!
I liked it. Needs more Keith David and less boring family. And the computer chick needs some more acting lessons but has potential. 'Like, oh my god, I'm acting. Yaaahhhh.'
It'll be interesting to see who likes it and who doesn't. I don't think the over-thinkers of the world will enjoy it.
It'll be interesting to see who likes it and who doesn't. I don't think the over-thinkers of the world will enjoy it.
I thought it was ok. Both the article and the show. As soon as I saw the absolute irony of "Orwell is watching you," it immediately became a comedy to me. Also the chess piece contact lenses...oh god that's hilarious. And Summer Glau constantly saying she can't be caught but driving around in an uber conspicuous Mercedes. Incredibly cheesy but still kind of fun.
EDIT: Just wiki'd the writer and apparently he's doing a Shrek spin-off for Puss in Boots...they'll never let it die will they?
EDIT: Just wiki'd the writer and apparently he's doing a Shrek spin-off for Puss in Boots...they'll never let it die will they?
Pretty much this. I enjoyed the article on the Simpson's a while back particularly for this reason. Mocking an established franchise is perfectly fine. Even the mocking of GFWL. But this article was just done poorly. Some people are taking as a serious account of the pilot episode, adn will refuse to watch it. As a target audience (we're a bunch of geeks. We're (the Escapist) expected to watch things like the cape) doesn't tune in, the show is likely to get canceled before it can get better.Mysnomer said:
And we complain that there's nothing origianl on normal TV these days. Maybe because people watch the latest season of family guy or the Simpson's. I'm just glad I saw Cape all the way through rather than Burger Town.
The Cape was chessy super hero stuff. His "Don't give up hope" talk to his kid made me groan, but got a genuine smile when he starts lecturing Trip about math and listening to his mother. The villains were decent, and (for the guy saying they removed all the mysteries) the Totem, totec...whatever the card things are called group is still a mystery to be solved. Yes, it had pacing problems, odd dialogue, and plenty of other problems. but is was still fun to watch. Elizabeth just sounded like she hated it from the start. It was poorly done deconstructionist humor. If it stays at the current level, I'll probably stop watching. But, as has been said above, the pilot is usually the worse, and I hope for it to improve. Hopefully, it will have a chance to do so.
I thought the show was entertaining. Which is why I watch TV. Which is also why I have no business being a critic.
Well, yes it is cheesy, but it's the good cheese, y'know, the Batman and Robin cheese. Although it's understandable that we don't really care for that that type of campy-screwbally type of humor in "The Era of Gritty Remakes", but back in the advent of comic book hero TV shows, many shows relied on camp and cheese. Personally, I see it as someone trying to merge the two ages of comic book based media: "The Early Camp" and "The Later Grit". While it may not be perfect, it's only the Pilot episode, it could get better along the way.
One parting sentence: Don't judge a book by its cover.
One parting sentence: Don't judge a book by its cover.
Didn't watch it, but this recap is pretty much in line with the other reviews/recaps I've read. I certainly won't pass personal judgement on the show sight unseen, but when most people seem to be agreeing that it either kinda sucks or really sucks it's hard to ignore.
Eh...Neither the recap or the show really interests me that much. It's gotten to be were if you have seen one superhero you have seen them all these days (still gonna go see the Green Hornet and see if they did Bruce Lee's character justice or not.)
That being said, what's up with the hate always directed towards this particular writer. It's almost like it's a popularity hate thing like everyone does with Activision. Or is it a sarcastic hate? Did I miss something while I was not haunting this forums for a few months?
That being said, what's up with the hate always directed towards this particular writer. It's almost like it's a popularity hate thing like everyone does with Activision. Or is it a sarcastic hate? Did I miss something while I was not haunting this forums for a few months?
If anything I'd say the recap doesn't go far enough in tearing this show apart. The main character is vanilla as hell, the family is hokey and adds nothing thus far, Orwell/Summer Glau is just shoehorned in with no explanation and adds nothing except being there for fanboys to drool over, and the main villain is just evil because, well, he is. Which is the laziest and least interesting type of villain one can hope to create. And the entire show is just so damn rushed it's comical, he learns all his superhero abilities/powers in a two minute montage. Really? Movies take longer than that to set up their origins and they only have two hours to work with, you have at least several episodes before this crap gets cancelled. The writers though seem intent on just making this a villain of the week schtick instead of anything with a plot.
I applaud the idea of making a show that isn't a cop/medical drama, but everything else about this show was bad.
I applaud the idea of making a show that isn't a cop/medical drama, but everything else about this show was bad.
