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 Post subject: Spartacus: Blood and Sand - discuss
PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2011 16:47 
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Having recently bought this on Blu-ray and watched it through twice, I've gotta say that this has easily been the best TV series series that I've watched for, well, ages.

After a poor start it really gets into gear with some great plots, characters and some marvellous fight scenes.

Plenty of boobies too, along with some male nudity for the ladies too (one guy appears to have been cross-bred with a horse ........ ).

Overall, a damn fine series that I would unhesitatingly award a score of 10/10


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 Post subject: Re: Spartacus: Blood and Sand - discuss
PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2011 17:06 
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:this:

Is a brilliant series, some of the acting is a tad dodgy at times but that doesn't detract from it too much.

If you liked that i would seriously recommend Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, which is a prequel following the rise of the House of Batiatus and the fighters. Fills in allot of awesome backstory also

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 Post subject: Re: Spartacus: Blood and Sand - discuss
PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2011 17:11 
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It starts off being everything you fear it's going to be - a soft-core 300 rip-off aimed at 14-year-old-boys that's somehow even more pompous, leering and stupid than 300 was.

By about the 4th episode it's actually really good - a properly epic grand guignol melodrama anchored by a few terrific performances (John Hannah and Lucy Lawless in particular, both clearly having an absolute whale of a time). The prequel mini-series, Gods Of The Arena, is arguably even better. Spartacus is definitely flawed and very definitely bloody embarassing to admit to watching in polite company, but once it hits its stride it's very enjoyable, well-crafted and deceptively smart.

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 Post subject: Re: Spartacus: Blood and Sand - discuss
PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2011 17:12 
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Have seen Gods of the Arena - also very good, but I'd rank Blood and Sand a bit higher. :)

Only thing that bugged me about Blood and Sand was the unrealistic amounts of blood that gushed forth from every wound, but they did seem to tone it tone as the series goes on so that it's (mostly) more realistic in terms of quantity.


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 Post subject: Re: Spartacus: Blood and Sand - discuss
PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2011 17:24 

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See also: Camelot, only Camelot has Eva Green in it. Latest episode, first scene is Eva's norks floating about in the bath, then her standing up and dripping everywhere while some guys has a wank at her through a crack in the door. Brilliant telly.

Also features swords, beards and a cracking Merlin.


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 Post subject: Re: Spartacus: Blood and Sand - discuss
PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2011 17:30 
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I've watched the first episode due to a friend recomendation, and found it awful. Awful acting, awful and overused cgi and tries too hard to be edgy resulting is some truly cringe worthy moments (the battles and the softcore porn parts). I wasn't expecting something as good as HBO's Rome, but it's impossible to forget that amazing show.

Luckly i started with Breaking Bad right after and it's ace. A bit like Fargo meets No Country for Old Men meets Weed (but good).


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 Post subject: Re: Spartacus: Blood and Sand - discuss
PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2011 17:56 
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 Post subject: Re: Spartacus: Blood and Sand - discuss
PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2011 18:25 
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RuySan wrote:
I've watched the first episode due to a friend recomendation, and found it awful. Awful acting, awful and overused cgi and tries too hard to be edgy resulting is some truly cringe worthy moments (the battles and the softcore porn parts). I wasn't expecting something as good as HBO's Rome, but it's impossible to forget that amazing show.

Luckly i started with Breaking Bad right after and it's ace. A bit like Fargo meets No Country for Old Men meets Weed (but good).



As said above Spartacus starts off abit cringe worthy but it picks itself up dusts itself off and becomes surprisingly good, but yes Breaking bad is brilliant, am on series three at the moment :D

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 Post subject: Re: Spartacus: Blood and Sand - discuss
PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2011 18:33 
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RuySan wrote:
I've watched the first episode due to a friend recomendation, and found it awful. Awful acting, awful and overused cgi and tries too hard to be edgy resulting is some truly cringe worthy moments (the battles and the softcore porn parts). I wasn't expecting something as good as HBO's Rome, but it's impossible to forget that amazing show.


Honestly, no-one should judge Spartacus: Blood and Sand based on the first episode. Watch up to episode 4 at least - I even found that it markedly improved during episode 2.


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 Post subject: Re: Spartacus: Blood and Sand - discuss
PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2011 20:28 
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Four_Candles wrote:
RuySan wrote:
I've watched the first episode due to a friend recomendation, and found it awful. Awful acting, awful and overused cgi and tries too hard to be edgy resulting is some truly cringe worthy moments (the battles and the softcore porn parts). I wasn't expecting something as good as HBO's Rome, but it's impossible to forget that amazing show.


Honestly, no-one should judge Spartacus: Blood and Sand based on the first episode. Watch up to episode 4 at least - I even found that it markedly improved during episode 2.


I don't know why i shouldn't. Isn't the pilot supposed to give a first good impression?

Speaking of which,Breaking Bad pilot is probably the best ever, even though isn't my favorite series.


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 Post subject: Re: Spartacus: Blood and Sand - discuss
PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2011 20:49 
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Sometimes pilots stink, sometimes they don't. Yes, they SHOULD give a good first impression but they often aren't representative of the series that follows (either one way or the other - usually I find that a pilot is great and what follows is lousy).

Why not at least try the next 3 episodes and see if your opinion changes? Can't do any harm.


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 Post subject: Re: Spartacus: Blood and Sand - discuss
PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2011 21:34 
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Meh, not enough sex or violence for me.

3/10

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 Post subject: Re: Spartacus: Blood and Sand - discuss
PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2011 21:37 
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I'd give it a solid 7/10. It was very poorly acted to start with, with a couple of exceptions, and mistakes violence for drama.
Got much better towards the end though.


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 Post subject: Re: Spartacus: Blood and Sand - discuss
PostPosted: Fri May 20, 2011 8:53 
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GovernmentYard wrote:
See also: Camelot.

Or better yet: don't see Camelot.

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 Post subject: Re: Spartacus: Blood and Sand - discuss
PostPosted: Fri May 20, 2011 9:05 
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GovernmentYard wrote:
Also features swords, beards and a cracking Merlin.


Is that a street word for minge?

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 Post subject: Re: Spartacus: Blood and Sand - discuss
PostPosted: Fri May 20, 2011 9:14 
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I find Eva Green terrifying... in a good way. It's those eyes.

But, boobies you say?

*googles*


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 Post subject: Re: Spartacus: Blood and Sand - discuss
PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 17:12 
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Anybody been watching the new series? I've really been enjoying it and there have been a couple of genuinely jaw-dropping moments including one this week where Spartacus wins an argument in the most emphatic way possible.

It's not for everyone but it's just about my favourite drama on TV at the moment.

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 Post subject: Re: Spartacus: Blood and Sand - discuss
PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 17:17 
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I have, this series took a long while to get going I thought, it's only the past couple of episodes where it picked up IMO (I haven't seen the latest episode yet though).
ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!
The return of Ganicus and the destruction of the arena was where things started to get a lot more interesting. Before that was just way too much buildup and random running around


I do find it enjoyable in a visceral kind of way :D


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 Post subject: Re: Spartacus: Blood and Sand - discuss
PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 17:18 
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I got through most of the first series, and it was silly, mindless fun, but with about four episodes left both the missus and I got a little bored and haven't had much desire to finish it.

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 Post subject: Re: Spartacus: Blood and Sand - discuss
PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 17:21 
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The second series "prequel" was actually better than the first series, I thought.


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 Post subject: Re: Spartacus: Blood and Sand - discuss
PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 18:07 
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Mrs B is watching it, but my interest is near zero without the amazing quote machine that was Batiatus.


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