'BOARDWALK EMPIRE' on HBO HD - Page 3

Keep in mind that it's a PILOT, and not a self-contained feature. The show improves as it goes along. Remember all the people who slammed SPARTACUS based on its first episode? And look at how that developed into one of the best shows on television. Sunday night is just the intro and set-up. And, for those who do find themselves enjoying it...you'll know that it gets even better.

Says you. I still think Spartacus sucks.

What concerns me is the amount of money HBO has invested in Boardwalk could take away from other of their programming, especially the other upcoming high priced series, Game of Thrones.

I don't think you know him at all. He'll do fabulous in this role.

And I'm sure, for you, he will.

He may for me as well. I simply have doubts, based on his prior work that I've seen. We'll see.

Buscemi is 5' 9", which is close to average height, so he isn't Michael J. Fox tiny. I didn't know there was a rule that power brokers needed to be large to have influence. One doesn't need to be physically imposing to get their way - although, I will admit, it helps.

We'll find out soon enough, if he can pull it off.

Art

I don't worry about that. If Boardwalk Empire turns out to be a big hit, and I think it will, it will drive up HBO subscription rates and fund projects that don't create such income. Kind of like college football, which costs a lot of money but makes so much back that it ends up funding smaller, less profitable sports. Premium channels like HBO depend on "buzz". Boardwalk Empire is providing that in spades.

I am really looking forward to this. Not only to see how Buscemi handles the role (I think he'll do well), but also because it is Martin Scorsese doing TV. Martin effing Scorsese I tell you.

Oh yeah!!!

HBO apparently have no problem dropping cash on new products. They never have. You can look back at every lavish production they've put on screen and it never stops their production roster from getting bigger with each successive project.

They just dropped Avatar-levels of cash on The Pacific and they barely blinked. Even John Adams cost around the $100 million mark. GoT is a low budget experience by any comparison even if it costs $50 million. That sum can make a very good production if used well. I've seen great movies made for far less. As for next year I can't think of another HBO Event series on the roster so it appears GoT is getting that treatment which bodes very well for it.

In the case of Boardwalk, from the reports most of the budget is being spent on the startup costs for the set and since it's going to be around for a while yet that would be a worthwhile thing to spend money on. With the foundation already built next season should be a much cheaper venture (especially if the show is a hit overseas) and open up the HBO wallet for other projects.

After all, it's not as if their sub rates are going to drop next year. Or even stay the same.

Great stuff. I'm in.

So what did you guys think? I had doubts about Buscemi being the lead character as well but I think he really fits the part. I really enjoyed the first episode a lot. It looked great and it kept me interested. I'll be watching next week.

Big thumbs up from me. Lots of color, atmosphere, period elements and nicely established characters. It could fill the hole that Deadwood left.

The only thing I didn't like was the title sequence. Normally I'm a big fan of HBO treatments but I didn't think the one for BE evoked the style, period or feel of the show at all. The music was far too contemporary and the imagery was very boring. I imagine they were going for some kind of Midas reference but I don't think they pulled it off in an interesting way.

Yikes!! Are we sure Tarantino wasn't lurking about the sets? ... Splat!!

The headshot was surprisingly graphic and I didn't expect to see it but it's not really unusual for Scorsese. Certainly not as shockingly violent as some of his other gangster movies.

The head shot was important to establish the character's reaction to doing that. I think it's fair to say he was unaffected.

Thread title revised.

Agree that the opening isn't great. Too sunny, you know? I liked the music, but it needs something... else.

Like the surf washing blood off his wingtips?

Was that what it was? I thought it was booze

You could really see how hard they were working on the details, even little things like all the levers you had to pull to operate the automobiles of the day. I also like that they weren't trying to spoon feed you the plot/characters where the Chicago gangsters were concerned. Reminded me of Deadwood or the Sopranos, they just laid it out there and trusted that the viewer would use his/her brain (and maybe the rewind button) and figure things out for themselves.

So, do we know how it did last night in the ratings yet?

They might change it, wouldn't be unprecedented. 'Big Love' completely changed its title music and intro sequence last season, for the better I thought. 'Weeds' changed it's entire intro sequence after 3 seasons, jettisoning its distinctive "Little Houses" theme which they had already experimented with in different ways and replacing it with a simple clever title-board shot that provides a clue to a plotline or scene in the episode to come. In truth, the show had evolved beyond the location and situation so distinctively depicted in the original opening and a change was deemed necessary.

Some are just so darn good that they'd better not have changed them: 'The Sopranos' was perfect, genius. It's hard to imagine the show without it. 'Deadwood's theme was so hauntingly beautiful and really evoked the proper mood. And 'Rome's was very inventive and just weird enough to fit a time that was so foreign because it was so long ago and shrouded in legend. And just let me give a shout-out to 'John From Cincinnati's opening sequence featuring a shortened version of Joe Strummer's "Johnny Appleseed" and some great surf video. Loved that one.

Enjoyed it. A little predictable though.
Showing scars on the Chicago drivers face made it a bit obvious to me it was going to be Al Capone.
Knew husband of prego was going to give her a beat down right after she said you can drop me off here.
After seeing previews you had to think Jimmy would make it right with Thompson after the ambush.

I knew Dabney Coleman was in the series...but I honestly didn't realize that HE was the Commodore till I went to the HBO site to see who was playing who on this show.

I really like Kelly Macdonald. I hope we get to see her do a lot more.

It seems Nucky is showing more than a passing interest. I think we're going see a bit more of her.... maybe a lot!

Yeah, like marrying her after killing her abusive husband

I really admire Nucky's solution to both problems. That's the can-do thinking that makes America great. He got a fall-guy for the robbery, the jerk got what he deserved, and it cost Nucky nothing. Nucky is way ahead of everyone around him, so far.

Last night was a good introduction to most of the early characters with enough story to bring you back for more. It's a good foundation to expand on. I wasn't blown away, in fact, I was only moderately entertained, but I'm enthusiastic about what's in store. I did feel that Michael Pitt as Jimmy was "off". I've seen the actor play psycho teens in other TV series, decent menace though one dimensional. Jimmy, is a complex character and I believe, is going to be one of the main protagonists. The character, a returning ware hero that had seen too much, was well drawn. I just thought his acting chops weren't up to it...a tad whiny, IMO. Hopefully, he'll grow in the role. Everything else is good to go though.
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