Actually, the title is misleading. This isn't a "who's better"-thread, it's more of a rant-based anti-Fifth Gear thread. And let me just say, before I get started, that if you're already thinking about replying with "Well if you don't like it, don't watch it!", just leave. I don't even want to hear your opinion, because if you use the above sentence, all you say is, in my eyes, rendered completely useless.
I've never liked Fifth Gear. It's always been my proof that things get dull when they get too serious, while on the other hand, things can get too silly as well. It's an art form, it's about finding the perfect balance. It's kind of like holding a speech - to keep people interested, you have to vary your speech with a couple of jokes or witty quotes, and have some strong points in between.
Fifth Gear never mastered that. Also, I can't look at Tiff Nedell for more than 15 seconds at the time. His constant twitching and weird mannerisms remind me of those of Christopher Walken, just not even half the fun. And don't even mention the rest of the crew.
But now there's a new thing about Fifth Gear that pisses me off even more than the previously mentioned things - camera work and production work.
Now, I should probably mention here that I love a well produced film or tv-series. Top Gear is one of those shows - it's always a thrill to watch new episodes because there are always new themes, effects etc. I've watched a lot of Top Gear episodes since the new format came, and I've seen the production standard rise enormously, from the above-standard productions in the first seasons to the insanely great (for a BBC tv-series, in my opinion) productions from the latest seasons.
I've also watched a couple Fifth Gear episodes, old and new, and noticed a change in production work there. And of course, I can't complain about it improving, but I can complain about the direction it has taken.
Why in all of orange and flaming hell do they have to imitate Top Gear?
I've been aware of it for some time now, but it became especially clear to me today, when I saw Vicki reviewing the newest MX-5. The shots, the filters, the effects, the panning - every-fucking-thing had Top Gear written all over it.
Sure, you could argue that the Fifth Gear production team has just chosen the same stylistic direction as the Top Gear production team, but that argument so obviously falls to pieces when you watch a full episode or two.
I'd say that one Fifth Gear episode consists of 50% Top Gear imitation, 25% experimental work and 25% boring shots.
Now, the experimental shots I'm talking about are shots in which the Fifth Gear production team test their own ideas and effects. For example, the MX-5 review started with an introduction to the car, it's reputation and it's evolution. It featured a shot of the car driving around, digitally manipulated to be black and white, while the car (red) stood out in colours. And what an ugly, ugly, ugly clip. It was so obviously half-arsed, I actually felt slightly offended. The whole car was supposed to be in colours at all times, like described above, but instead there were constant glitches all over the place, with some parts of the car in black and white and some parts in colour.
And that is probably what pisses me off the most about Fifth Gear, the poor imitation, which they cannot even be bothered to do throughout the whole episode.
Just like Jeremy Clarkson wants a car that is designed to be as good as it can be and no less, I, as the viewer, demand a show that is designed to be as good as it can be, and I think you should too.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and I think Fifth Gear missed the point there. Who are they trying to impress or flatter, the viewers or "the other show"?
I've never liked Fifth Gear. It's always been my proof that things get dull when they get too serious, while on the other hand, things can get too silly as well. It's an art form, it's about finding the perfect balance. It's kind of like holding a speech - to keep people interested, you have to vary your speech with a couple of jokes or witty quotes, and have some strong points in between.
Fifth Gear never mastered that. Also, I can't look at Tiff Nedell for more than 15 seconds at the time. His constant twitching and weird mannerisms remind me of those of Christopher Walken, just not even half the fun. And don't even mention the rest of the crew.
But now there's a new thing about Fifth Gear that pisses me off even more than the previously mentioned things - camera work and production work.
Now, I should probably mention here that I love a well produced film or tv-series. Top Gear is one of those shows - it's always a thrill to watch new episodes because there are always new themes, effects etc. I've watched a lot of Top Gear episodes since the new format came, and I've seen the production standard rise enormously, from the above-standard productions in the first seasons to the insanely great (for a BBC tv-series, in my opinion) productions from the latest seasons.
I've also watched a couple Fifth Gear episodes, old and new, and noticed a change in production work there. And of course, I can't complain about it improving, but I can complain about the direction it has taken.
Why in all of orange and flaming hell do they have to imitate Top Gear?
I've been aware of it for some time now, but it became especially clear to me today, when I saw Vicki reviewing the newest MX-5. The shots, the filters, the effects, the panning - every-fucking-thing had Top Gear written all over it.
Sure, you could argue that the Fifth Gear production team has just chosen the same stylistic direction as the Top Gear production team, but that argument so obviously falls to pieces when you watch a full episode or two.
I'd say that one Fifth Gear episode consists of 50% Top Gear imitation, 25% experimental work and 25% boring shots.
Now, the experimental shots I'm talking about are shots in which the Fifth Gear production team test their own ideas and effects. For example, the MX-5 review started with an introduction to the car, it's reputation and it's evolution. It featured a shot of the car driving around, digitally manipulated to be black and white, while the car (red) stood out in colours. And what an ugly, ugly, ugly clip. It was so obviously half-arsed, I actually felt slightly offended. The whole car was supposed to be in colours at all times, like described above, but instead there were constant glitches all over the place, with some parts of the car in black and white and some parts in colour.
And that is probably what pisses me off the most about Fifth Gear, the poor imitation, which they cannot even be bothered to do throughout the whole episode.
Just like Jeremy Clarkson wants a car that is designed to be as good as it can be and no less, I, as the viewer, demand a show that is designed to be as good as it can be, and I think you should too.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and I think Fifth Gear missed the point there. Who are they trying to impress or flatter, the viewers or "the other show"?