Black Mirror - Charlie Brooker

[Substance242]

S04E05, Metalhead (dogs) - I was expecting some flashback like it started with reeeally cute toys and maybe hack or something, but here I am thinking about it, so why would I need some explanation, me not stupid, right? So all good, tomorrow the last episode.

[elevenism]

I liked the new season but I just didn't find it to be quite as good as the other three.

[Wolfkiller]

I liked the new season but I just didn't find it to be quite as good as the other three.

I enjoyed them, but I feel like they lacked creativity in that three of the episodes Spoiler: used the same tech gimmick from White Christmas, conscious digital copies of people.

[elevenism]

I enjoyed them, but I feel like they lacked creativity in that three of the episodes Spoiler: used the same tech gimmick from White Christmas, conscious digital copies of people.

Yeah, this seems to be one of CB's deep personal fears.

[Wolfkiller]

Yeah, this seems to be one of CB's deep personal fears.

I don't blame him. The ep I named in the spoiler tags was terrifying. That one really stuck with me after seeing it.

[joplinpicasso]

IMO the repetition of the use of the tech either belies the creativity of past seasons/episodes or further focuses on a point that Brooker really is worried about, yeah. I've been fascinated about the copy-paste-delete dilemma of consciousness ever since Nolan's The Prestige. It basically comes from this for those who may not know: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teletr...tation_paradox

[Vertigo]

Loved Metalhead. Most suspenseful piece of film I've seen in a long time. I loved how they made use of the black and white format, focusing on interesting textures, lighting and vistas. I don't know how they did the effects, either, but they looked 100% practical. If there was CGI in there then jeez, make every effects film black and white.

The episode had this really visceral feel - everything felt very real. Part of that's the aforementioned filming and effects, but also little things like choosing an older actress with age lines, lots of close angles where you can see beads of sweat and individual hairs raising, and the sound design of the robot itself - the clicking of its little feet. Those are all tricks you see employed in the best work of James Cameron and Steven Spielberg, so I thought Metalhead showed an incredibly high standard of filmmaking.

[Volband]

Loved Metalhead. Most suspenseful piece of film I've seen in a long time. I loved how they made use of the black and white format, focusing on interesting textures, lighting and vistas. I don't know how they did the effects, either, but they looked 100% practical. If there was CGI in there then jeez, made every effects film black and white.

The episode had this really visceral feel - everything felt very real. Part of that's the aforementioned filming and effects, but also little things like choosing an older actress with age lines, lots of close angles where you can see beads of sweat and individual hairs raising, and the sound design of the robot itself - the clicking of its little feet. Those are all tricks you see employed in the best work of James Cameron and Steven Spielberg, so I thought Metalhead showed an incredibly high standard of filmmaking.

Reminded me of Tetsuo.

I liked the ending, but I think it is the least enjoyable episode if you are not into those things you praised. Being sandwiched between Hang the DJ and Black Museum does not help rating Metalhead either.

[neorev]

The first ever ‘Black Mirror’ movie is coming this year
https://www.nme.com/news/film/black-...etflix-2423496

[neorev]

[Substance242]

So, forgive me silly question, but when watched on Netflix platform (TV, tablet...), Bandersnatch is really interactive I guess? With some pop up appearing? Then there must have been updates of all used apps probably...?

Reminds me, back in the 80s in my country (Czechoslovakia then), there was like biig show on one of our two available TV channels where people were making the choice how will the story continue. Movie paused, announcers let people turn on lights for choice A, then for choice B, and some dude in power plant measured when there was bigger peak. :-) Seriously. Plus live wide shots of lights in some town, but I can't find anything about this now.

Update: Aaand, also from Czechoslovakia - first interactive movie, 1967! :-) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinoautomat

[r_z]

Yes, the movie let's you choose at certain points which path(s) the protagonist should follow. Depending on your choices there's a different outcome/ending.
This is not simply a gimmick, but rather part of the "theme" of this episode. #nospoilers

[Kodiak33]

https://www.thewrap.com/black-mirror...s-zx-spectrum/

[Jinsai]

Bandersnatch is great, though it’s strange to hear so much discussion about it without hearing people talk about the “visual novel” genre of game. Maybe people just aren’t as familiar with it in the west?

[ickyvicky]

I think I finished Bandersnatch? Haha....it was a little creepy for me for some reason. "Bury The Body / Chop Him Up" I was like oh god....lol

[neorev]

[october_midnight]

[Jinsai]

So....

I like the Ashley Too episode. I really don't know I how I felt about the other two. I'm a huge fan of the show I just maybe need to watch them again

[snaapz]

I watched the animal in her cage (Ashley) episode. I've only watched a handful of other BM episodes.... This Ashley one had a great story and over all my wife and I enjoyed it; however a few parts felt like it was more of a kids/teen Goodbumps (tv show).

[Kodiak33]

Spoiler: I liked Striking Vipers because it has alot of thinking layers to it (infidelity due to technology, what if your best friend was suddenly a hot girl/guy whatever, porn and desensitizing you to your partner).

[eachpassingphase]

So while I liked the three latest episodes, I didn't have the emotional reaction to them that I've had to previous episodes. "The Entire History of You" made me straight-up weep like a child. But it's still excellent and I love this show.

[Jinsai]

So while I liked the three latest episodes, I didn't have the emotional reaction to them that I've had to previous episodes. "The Entire History of You" made me straight-up weep like a child. But it's still excellent and I love this show.

I agree... "Be Right Back" as well - that actually turned me into a fucking mess. This season, it felt like the first two episodes were more contemplations on a concept than a terrifying reveal of "where we're going and what it's doing to our empathy and emotions."

I can see how people would think the appeal of Ashley Too was juvenile in some ways, but I thought that was probably intentional? Especially when the aunt is pathetically whimpering "I don't want to die." That especially felt like a dark take on "the bad guy's been beaten by the kids!" moment you'd expect from young-adult/kid lit/shows... and w/ Miley Cyrus as the lead, it somehow made the whole thing work and feel convincing on that level.

I liked it, the whole season I guess, but yeah, it all did feel very different.

[Swykk]

I enjoyed Ashley Too. Angourie Rice was fantastic in The Nice Guys and she did well here too. I have never had a problem with Miley, who also did fine.

Smithereens was utter shit apart from Topher Grace’s take on Jack Dorsey.

I haven’t watched the other one yet.

[elevenism]

I had a hard time figuring out what Striking Vipers was trying to say.

[Jinsai]

I had a hard time figuring out what Striking Vipers was trying to say.

I think it was more of a humorous take on disassociated fantasy and how we put up distracting barriers that can eventually lead to us being confused as to what we even love or care about... wherein plutonic "love" can become perverse and cross a boundary...

But the episode was ultimately working in this short burst of "humor" here... taking itself a little less seriously. But I think that was "the point," more or less.

[Kodiak33]

I had a hard time figuring out what Striking Vipers was trying to say.

My spoiler is what I got out of it...I could be wrong.

[elevenism]

The Ashley Too episode has a bit of a Ziggy Stardust/Mechanical Animals sort of vibe going on.

[AThousandDaysBefore]

I haven't seen the new season yet but I found that Trent wrote the new version of Hlah for the last chapter

[Kodiak33]

I watched all three, actually liked them quite a bit.

[Miss.Selfdestruct]

Watched all 3 new episodes last night. Man, the ratio of good/bad episodes seems fairly even now. These last 2 seasons seem very uninspired and turn to established and well liked concepts when there's still much to explore technologically.

Striking Vipers-- Thought they were scared to go all the way here, story and character development wise, by using awesome tech to compliment humanity. It felt like it was cut short.

Smithereens-- People not being able to handle social media. Boring. Hasn't this been done to death already?

Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too-- Very fun, didn't contribute something new as BM tends to do. That said, Ashley's rant near the end about fabricated soulless entertainment hit home. Literally just read a work email about something testing better for retention... sigh.