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antigwenallies Jul. 21st, 2011 10:42 pm)
beccadg.livejournal.com posting in antigwenallies Jul. 21st, 2011 10:42 pm)After having had the short review I made for this set up on Amazon for a while I'm thinking about expanding it. Jayson M. of Amazon Customer Service has told me, "Reviews aren't subject to restructuring based on a new submission or change to the content. The counter will also remain and will not be reset as well." Not sure he's accurate about the "new submission" part given how my favorite troll over there keeps resetting his counter by re-posting his review, but I'm just thinking of editing it--not resubmitting it.
First off, the lady they've got standing in front isn't the main character. He'd be the guy in the greatcoat on her left. His name is Captain Jack Harkness. He's the Doctor Who character that the spin-off series Torchwood was hung on. Jack is the Torchwood team's leader. It's his voice viewers hear in the opening for every episode of the Original Series. That voice over is absent from the miniseries Children of Earth included here. It's his actor John Barrowman who's billed first in each episode of every season of every series. Each season of the Original Series was ultimately about him, even the mini-series is ultimately about him. Jack is rightly featured at the front of his team in the packaging for both seasons of the Original Series. The packaging for the mini-series shares this set's unfortunate misplacement of him.
Second, this isn't just the complete Original Series. It's the Original Series bundled with the Children of Earth mini-series done after the Original Series finale "Exit Wounds." For those unfamiliar with both series, there are profound differences between the two. Those differences exist both in front of the camera and behind it as well. The show-runner for the Original Series, Chris Chibnall, who wrote eight episodes of the Original Series, did not work on the mini-series. The two writers from the Original Series who did work on the mini-series were responsible for one episode each during the Original Series. Neither earned the only Hugo nomination of any Torchwood series. That was earned by Catherine Tregenna who, in contrast to the writers on Children of Earth, wrote four episodes of the Original Series. The director who worked on Children of Earth did not work on the original series. There were directors who worked on several episodes of the Original Series--Andy Goddard and Ashley Way each directed six episodes of the Original Series. That's just the differences behind the camera. The team in front of it changed drastically as well. In the Original Series there was a cohesive team played by a collection of fine actors. In the mini-series the few surviving characters from the Original Series, at least played by their original actors, stumbled their way through the crowded and ridiculous story.
The BBC and producer Russell T. Davies would like to sell all of the Torchwood series, including Miracle Day as seasons of the same series. They can do it legally outside of the US. Here they gave Starz the right to call Miracle Day a Starz Original. While they might like to pretend all of the series are one, it's a shallow pretense. Miracle Day is a Starz Original. The Original Series and Children of Earth are different in all the ways I've outlined and more. Some people prefer one series to another. No one should buy this set without learning what they prefer. I prefer the Original Series and say save time and money. Buy the season sets for seasons One and Two. You'll have "The Complete Original Series," and won't have rewarded the BBC and Russell T. Davies for their shallow attempt at a scam.
The "Tips for Writing a Great Review" section says that the "ideal length" for a review is 75 to 500 words. This draft of my review expands it from 93 words to 521 according to Word. What do you all think of this longer version of my review?
x-posted at SCB
First off, the lady they've got standing in front isn't the main character. He'd be the guy in the greatcoat on her left. His name is Captain Jack Harkness. He's the Doctor Who character that the spin-off series Torchwood was hung on. Jack is the Torchwood team's leader. It's his voice viewers hear in the opening for every episode of the Original Series. That voice over is absent from the miniseries Children of Earth included here. It's his actor John Barrowman who's billed first in each episode of every season of every series. Each season of the Original Series was ultimately about him, even the mini-series is ultimately about him. Jack is rightly featured at the front of his team in the packaging for both seasons of the Original Series. The packaging for the mini-series shares this set's unfortunate misplacement of him.
Second, this isn't just the complete Original Series. It's the Original Series bundled with the Children of Earth mini-series done after the Original Series finale "Exit Wounds." For those unfamiliar with both series, there are profound differences between the two. Those differences exist both in front of the camera and behind it as well. The show-runner for the Original Series, Chris Chibnall, who wrote eight episodes of the Original Series, did not work on the mini-series. The two writers from the Original Series who did work on the mini-series were responsible for one episode each during the Original Series. Neither earned the only Hugo nomination of any Torchwood series. That was earned by Catherine Tregenna who, in contrast to the writers on Children of Earth, wrote four episodes of the Original Series. The director who worked on Children of Earth did not work on the original series. There were directors who worked on several episodes of the Original Series--Andy Goddard and Ashley Way each directed six episodes of the Original Series. That's just the differences behind the camera. The team in front of it changed drastically as well. In the Original Series there was a cohesive team played by a collection of fine actors. In the mini-series the few surviving characters from the Original Series, at least played by their original actors, stumbled their way through the crowded and ridiculous story.
The BBC and producer Russell T. Davies would like to sell all of the Torchwood series, including Miracle Day as seasons of the same series. They can do it legally outside of the US. Here they gave Starz the right to call Miracle Day a Starz Original. While they might like to pretend all of the series are one, it's a shallow pretense. Miracle Day is a Starz Original. The Original Series and Children of Earth are different in all the ways I've outlined and more. Some people prefer one series to another. No one should buy this set without learning what they prefer. I prefer the Original Series and say save time and money. Buy the season sets for seasons One and Two. You'll have "The Complete Original Series," and won't have rewarded the BBC and Russell T. Davies for their shallow attempt at a scam.
The "Tips for Writing a Great Review" section says that the "ideal length" for a review is 75 to 500 words. This draft of my review expands it from 93 words to 521 according to Word. What do you all think of this longer version of my review?
x-posted at SCB
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From:
no subject
I find this bit particularly helpful, informative and reasonable: 'The Original Series and Children of Earth are different in all the ways I've outlined and more. Some people prefer one series to another. No one should buy this set without learning what they prefer.' That's the very gist of the matter, isn't it?
I think you might like to further explain the on-screen differences between the shows, possibly at the expense of the detailed behind-the-scenes comparison if you're worried about length, as I, personally, find the actual show's content much more relevant to my deliberation on buying it rather than its production's intricacies.
At least, that's what I'd want to learn from a review. Y'know, something about the difference in tone, themes, character dynamics, characterisation, overall effect. Preferably styled with an attempt at objectivity. =)
Since you've asked for an opinion. =)
From:
no subject
Thanks. I was trying to sound more impartial, less dogmatic, and I really wanted to get the facts-and-figures in there.
That's the very gist of the matter, isn't it?
Well, It's why I object to them trying to sell the series bundled together. It's not why I object to Gwen being centered on the cover, or how sleazy I think it is for them to bundle the series together. Course that last is still very hostile. I just don't know if I can do the review without it.
I think you might like to further explain the on-screen differences between the shows...
I'm wary of doing that for two reasons. One of the reasons is that you aren't supposed to provide spoilers without a spoiler warning, and frankly I'm not sure what some people will consider spoilers. The other reason is that I don't want to be saying things that simply sound like rehashing of things other reviewers have said about the product. I want to be adding information that isn't getting expressed.
...possibly at the expense of the detailed behind-the-scenes comparison if you're worried about length, as I, personally, find the actual show's content much more relevant...
I added in the behind-the-scenes detail for two reasons. One is that those aren't subjective the way story analysis is. I can give hard facts-and-figures about the behind-the-scenes details. The other is that some people will be interested in the behind-the-scenes details. It's why DVDs come with behind-the-scenes information like featurettes and storyboards.
Y'know, something about the difference in tone, themes, character dynamics, characterisation, overall effect.
I guess I can look over the other reviews and think about how to talk about those things in my own way.
Preferably styled with an attempt at objectivity. =)
Yes! I'm really trying to get the "bitter" out of it. O-:)
Since you've asked for an opinion. =)
Thanks for sharing yours!
From:
no subject
As for Gwen in the centre: much as we'd wish it different, it's likely that she does have the most screen time... Hm, it also makes it look like Tosh and Owen are unimportant support cast, when they used to be no less - probably more - visible than Ianto.
Not that you need me pointing out these glaringly obvious things; just a bit of a rant, sorry. Could have gone on. =)
frankly I'm not sure what some people will consider spoilers
As a representative of 'some people', I'd consider that to be plot points, but not the - those things I mentioned: tone, dynamics, etc.
I don't want to be saying things that simply sound like rehashing of things other reviewers have said
Oh, I see; I didn't actually go there and read the other reviews. Got my s1&2 box set already. Demonstratively (in a one-man kitchen-sort-of demonstration, anyway) not contributing to CoE and CoE-package-deal sales. Yup.
I can give hard facts-and-figures about the behind-the-scenes details. The other is that some people will be interested in the behind-the-scenes details.
Just seemed a bit too technically detailed for me personally, and not enough on the content front, is all. It did make me consider the discrepancy between TW classic and CoE from a curious different angle, though. Different showrunners, writers, directors. Added to the usual suspects - different format, characterisations, focus, tone, etc. - the fact that these two can hardly be considered the same show stands out in newly sharp relief.
I'm really trying to get the "bitter" out of it.
America salutesI salute your efforts! The results are noticeable.From:
no subject
"Second, this isn't just the complete Original Series. It's the Original Series bundled with the Children of Earth mini-series done after the Original Series finale "Exit Wounds." For those unfamiliar with both series, there are profound differences between the two."
I like how you point out that there are definite differences between CoE and S1+2 but that you don't explicitly say that CoE is crap off the bat. Likewise, you point out that people shouldn't buy this SET, while not discouraging from the separate pieces, leaving them to decide which series they liked best.
It's funny, even the TV-tropes page has different pages for the three series. Funny how you can see that season one and two are a definite cohesive unit, but the rest is just unhinged.
From:
no subject
Thanks!
...but I'm not quite sure if it will be more effective than a short one...
*Nods.* I understand. Amazon's recommended length starts at 70 words, which is even shorter than my initial review, and stops at 500 which this review goes over. I really just want to include more facts-and-figures in my review. My initial one is pretty much my curt gut reaction to the set. I want to soften my tone and have more than raw feeling in this.
On Amazon and IMDB, where they come in the bulk, I often read the short ones.
*Half smiles.* I think this review is shorter than the glowing five star reviews that have the most helpful votes?
I like how you point out that there are definite differences between CoE and S1+2 but that you don't explicitly say that CoE is crap off the bat.
Thanks, again! It's really hard for me to talk about CoE without calling it crap.
Likewise, you point out that people shouldn't buy this SET, while not discouraging from the separate pieces, leaving them to decide which series they liked best.
*Grins.* Maybe if I work from there I can talk about CoE more without calling it crap?
It's funny, even the TV-tropes page has different pages for the three series.
Really? I've never been over to TV-tropes.
From:
no subject
Just throwing in an alternate approach here, when I contemplate buying something on Amazon I tend to read all the available reviews, paying special attention to the long and detailed ones, while simply skimming over the brief messages because what I'm looking for in product reviews is comprehensive nitpicky information, not the people's personal, unsupported by arguments, impressions.
Really? I've never been over to TV-tropes.
You've saved quite a few days of your life, then! That place is like a black hole. In the best sense. I think.
From:
no subject
*Nods.* I'd like to find a balance between "short and curt" and "long and... wandering."
...what I'm looking for in product reviews is comprehensive nitpicky information, not the people's personal, unsupported by arguments, impressions.
Sure. One of the trolls over there said of my review, "Thank you for the most pointless, confused and absolutely non-helpful review I've encountered in months. You seem to have an axe to grind without the requisite communication skills to make a valid point."
With my "short and curt" review it's easy not only for him to dismiss my review like that, but for other readers going through the reviews to do the same. With something longer and more detailed people will still disagree with me, but it'll be easier for them to see where I'm coming from.
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It's okay. I know some people don't bother to read the reviews, or even look at the rating for the product. I made the review partly to affect the overall rating for the product, and partly to give people who do read the reviews something critical as suppose to positive to read. When I first posted my short review the only other review there was a glowing Five Star one. No way is that set a Five Star set. No. Way.