Harout
Member
Yeah, and I could give you a lump of shit with The Grand Tour painted on it and you'd give it 10/10.Originally Posted by MacGuffin View Post
Actually those are among my favorite episodes
You know, with some of the critics here I get the feeling you could give them a gold bar and they would say: "The color sucks".
10/10 from me because it was easily as good as the Botswana Special.
+1
Hear, hear, Webmonkey it had to be said.
I have been lurking on these forums and silently witnessing the withering away of CHM charisma, chemistry and passion for years now. Whilst sheep like MacGuffin eat up unstructured, uninspired 'entertainment'. Well let me tell you its terrible entertainment at that. Let alone a good car show.
Analysis on the rise and fall of CHM
To preface:
I love cars, the engineering and the thrill of piloting a man made machine as the epitome of mankind's dominion over nature.
I love film and stories of any kind. Be it a well written historical account, revelatory science fiction or a simple road trip exploring human friendship. This glorious art of withholding information and revealing it in such a provocative manner as to command emotion from its audience, is nothing short of astounding to me.
For the past seasons we were left with old rich men with nothing to prove. Who made high-production-value holiday videos cashing in on hype and superficial hallmarks. Personally I find nothing entertaining about a disinterested old man drifting about in yet another overly expensive car under a grey English sky whilst mumbling tired old metaphors.
During their prime. Many reviews had plot. They built up and told the story of a car within the context of engineering, the consumer and its competition. At the end of a review we had received a beautifully crafted short story of the inception, purpose and fate of a machine. Presented with artistry, charisma and passion. They made dry information very exciting and palatable by romanticizing it. See James May's fantastic FORD GT40 film.
This artistry too was evident in their challenges. For they had engaging story structure and compelling plot. They had a classic structure:
1.Establishing shot
2.the heroes are challenged
3.reluctantly accept the quest
4.hardship and low point
5.perseverance and discovery of a "love" for their machine companion.
6.glorious charge to victory!
The theme throughout the series was the relationship between man and machine. Man and the emotional bond with his best friend: the automobile.
Tragically: the Car Show. Became an Entertainment Show that depicted cars like they do houses on MTV Cribs. Depth for car enthusiasts was exchanged for shiny luxury items for the general audience to gasp at. The show no longer marveled at the machine. Instead it became pornography of inanimate objects for a materialistically obsessed and consumerist mass audience.
Followed by an Entertainment Show that became the most cringe worthy reality show ever. Because of the very blatant self congratulatory tone CHM have taken. Its safe to say they have lost their boyish innocence, their humility and the drive to make it. Which used to power their 'ambitious but rubbish' charm of being an underdog having cheeky fun, reveling in the misery of a small budget, wary of the establishment. This dynamic is what made them.
These guys are now replaced with accomplished and celebrated professionals going through the motions whilst on spectacular holidays with exclusive toys, showing off their lavish lifestyle. The audience living the perverted capitalist dream vicariously through Trump, Hilton and Kardashian. Shallow distraction for shallow wage slaves.
Without an engaging story and Innocent car enthusiasm. We are left with the gorgeous Top Gear cinematography which ends up being nothing more than jumped up car advertisement.
In conclusion. It was just a piece of media that catered part car enthusiasm and part entertainment in just the right blend to make me a very happy boy for a very long time.
Don't take my words to personally. I wish you all good health, happiness and prosperity in the new year.
-Harout