thecuddlyninja said:
The Duffer Brothers' final film school project, which they wrote and directed:
The wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this. Most of the actors are ham sandwiches but I like the lead. The bookends was a nice touch. Some of their instincts are on display here, such as in the first scene where the locker door opens. We know from watching movies something bad will be behind there when it closes but they let the scene breathe to the point where you're lulled into a false sense of security. This moment has a nice connection with the end, as well.
This was really cool, cuddlyninja, thanks for sharing! Totally agree with your thoughts on it. I didn't love the writing, but it's a very competently directed piece for a student film. A lot of Stranger Things is already seen here, even with the opening titles.
jswert123456 said:
This video was amazing. Nailed it. Saved, and I'm watching with every Charlie Brown Christmas. Thanks, jswert!
Hero said:
Without the creature effect of the first season they lost a bit of charm but I really think they added a lot of substance to the characters. I think the Chicago episode was just so out of whack with the rest of the series. It felt like it was just there to set up wherever they plan to take it next year. Hopper felt really out-of-character this season, I didn't really understand his actions and he came off really abusive.
I agree, Hero. I thought S2 was almost as good as S1. People seemed to be down on it a bit once the surprise of the initial season wore off, but you're right, it was much deeper. I totally got where Hopper was coming from, though. From what we saw of his character, how could he react any other way?! He already had a daughter and lost her, and the stakes are so much higher with Eleven. He's terrified. And when Hopper is terrified, he fights. He's coming from a place of love For Ellle, though, and he wants to protect her. I thought it was a very touching story arc.
Masirimso17 said:
Duragizer said:
Rewatched Season 2 in preparation for Season 3. Without rabid excitement to blind me, I was better able to recognize all the various tiny imperfections this time around.
I really hope Nancy & Jonathan are finally demoted to background characters. They're so tepid, it's a cure for insomnia to watch them on-screen.
I liked Nancy and Jonathan.
My favorite is Steve though. Love how he's not a cliche jerk boyfriend and actually really grows as a character. And the bromance between him and Dustin is fantastic.
One odd criticism I have of the Duffer Brothers is I think they may listen to the fans
too much. There was a huge audience response to Steve's turn as not-such-a-bad-guy in S1, so they turn him into a genuine big brother in S2. Ok, nice, but then in S3 it's just completely over the top to a new level. Also in S2, you liked Erica? Great, 500% more Erica in S3! You guys missed Barb? Ok, here's
new Barb: Robin! Oh, you missed having one big central threat in S2? Ok, we're gonna give you a new, worse bully who will turn out good, and a new, bigger badder central monster!
Some people accused S2 of being more of the same and unoriginal, but S3 was waaaay more guilty of that. It became far too goofy and lost all the tension for me at a lot of points. I hope they tone it down in S4 and stop adding in more and more and more characters...it's spread too thin for these short seasons.