Geek Confessional Thread 2024 [NOW 2025!]

[Mallus]

The notion that Verhoeven is secretly a genius screenwriter falls apart the moment anyone watches any of his other films.

Any?

Have you seen his Dutch-language film Black Book starring the actress who played Mellisandre on Game of Thrones?

 

[TiQuinn]

Any?

Have you seen his Dutch-language film Black Book starring the actress who played Mellisandre on Game of Thrones?

I think people confuse Paul Verhoeven with Joe Eszterhas.

 

[Retros_x]

your post reminded me of this, I read it the other day.

'The Simpsons' boss defends making Homer and Marge millennials: 'Not worried about messing with the timeline'

'The Simpsons' co-showrunner Matt Selman is defending making Homer and Marge millennials in recent seasons of the show: 'I am not worried about messing with the timeline.'

ew.com

thats quite interesting. I wonder if they only did this change to make a flashback with marge in the 90s as a teenager of if the characterization of the Simpsons did actually change. Because Homer and Marge were always written as boomers. The whole setup doesnt make sense if they are millenials. The man is working in a blue collar job and can financially support the full family living in a house? Find me the millenial that achieved that. Also their manners etc. Sure you can shift the timelines, but it doesn't change the complete cultural background that was in the mind of the OG Simpsons creators.

I can understand the assessment in the article of changing the timeline, but IMO they would need to shift the complete premise and characterization too.

 

[Mannahnin]

thats quite interesting. I wonder if they only did this change to make a flashback with marge in the 90s as a teenager of if the characterization of the Simpsons did actually change. Because Homer and Marge were always written as boomers. The whole setup doesnt make sense if they are millenials. The man is working in a blue collar job and can financially support the full family living in a house? Find me the millenial that achieved that. Also their manners etc. Sure you can shift the timelines, but it doesn't change the complete cultural background that was in the mind of the OG Simpsons creators.

I can understand the assessment in the article of changing the timeline, but IMO they would need to shift the complete premise and characterization too.

Not that I disagree, but TBF their unusually spacious home/comfortable living circumstances is still pretty consistent with live action sitcoms and family dramas. Homes and living situations being unrealistically nice and big enough to shoot in, in TV shows, has been a trope for decades. Theoretically you can squint past Homer making that kind of money since he's a safety guy at a nuclear plant, but you're right that the basic setup is at home in the 70s and 80s, not so much in the 2000s.

 

[trappedslider]

thats quite interesting. I wonder if they only did this change to make a flashback with marge in the 90s as a teenager of if the characterization of the Simpsons did actually change. Because Homer and Marge were always written as boomers. The whole setup doesnt make sense if they are millenials. The man is working in a blue collar job and can financially support the full family living in a house? Find me the millenial that achieved that. Also their manners etc. Sure you can shift the timelines, but it doesn't change the complete cultural background that was in the mind of the OG Simpsons creators.

I can understand the assessment in the article of changing the timeline, but IMO they would need to shift the complete premise and characterization too.

If you're wondering how he eats and breathes
and other science facts (la-la-la),
Just repeat to yourself, "It's just a show,
I should really just relax..."

 

[The Firebird]

Nope, Starship Troopers is still bad, no matter how many times people yell that it's a parody. Terrible acting, terrible script. The notion that Verhoeven is secretly a genius screenwriter falls apart the moment anyone watches any of his other films.

I find Verhoeven frustrating because his films raise some genuinely interesting themes. But rather than exploring them he takes the most ham-handed, exploitative way to answer those.

Flesh + Blood: To what extent are the structures of civilization (marriage, religion, hierarchy) built atop violence?
Verhoeven: Completely, let's spend ten minutes watching this woman get assaulted.

Robocop: How should we feel about the militarization of police forces in response to unchecked criminal enterprise?
Verhoeven: The corps are bad, come and see this guys face melt. (Nolan's Batman series has a more thoughtful take).

Starship Troopers: The human impulses that shape and direct violence are both necessary for survival and capable of extreme injustice. How do we use them wisely?
Verhoeven: Those impulses are bad, let's watch this guy get sliced in half (see Mad Max for an alternative).

 

[Mind of tempest]

I find Verhoeven frustrating because his films raise some genuinely interesting themes. But rather than exploring them he takes the most ham-handed, exploitative way to answer those.

Flesh + Blood: To what extent are the structures of civilization (marriage, religion, hierarchy) built atop violence?
Verhoeven: Completely, let's spend ten minutes watching this woman get assaulted.

Robocop: How should we feel about the militarization of police forces in response to unchecked criminal enterprise?
Verhoeven: The corps are bad, come and see this guys face melt. (Nolan's Batman series has a more thoughtful take).

Starship Troopers: The human impulses that shape and direct violence are both necessary for survival and capable of extreme injustice. How do we use them wisely?
Verhoeven: Those impulses are bad, let's watch this guy get sliced in half (see Mad Max for an alternative).

but those are also why they are kind of fun

 

[billd91]

Robocop: How should we feel about the militarization of police forces in response to unchecked criminal enterprise?
Verhoeven: The corps are bad, come and see this guys face melt. (Nolan's Batman series has a more thoughtful take).

Oh, I love Verhoeven’s take on corporate corruption. It’s so over the top blatant with the way they say the quiet part out loud. A junior exec gets bloodily gunned down and the Old Man says “Dick, I’m very disappointed in you.” Dick rants on about military contracts, replacement parts, for his problematic project exposing corruption in the military-industrial complex, and “Who cares if it works”. I love it!

 

[payn]

Oh, I love Verhoeven’s take on corporate corruption. It’s so over the top blatant with the way they say the quiet part out loud. A junior exec gets bloodily gunned down and the Old Man says “Dick, I’m very disappointed in you.” Dick rants on about military contracts, replacement parts, for his problematic project exposing corruption in the military-industrial complex, and “Who cares if it works”. I love it!

The old man was great! I love how they plan to blame the fallout in the ambitious scientist.

 

[Retros_x]

If you're wondering how he eats and breathes
and other science facts (la-la-la),
Just repeat to yourself, "It's just a show,
I should really just relax..."

I had to google that reference

Anyways I am less talking about scientific facts and more about characterization and cohesive writing. The Simpsons did care about that back when I watched them - but that was years ago, I think I stopped watching around season 15-18.