I was recently browsing through movies and noticed a new movie coming this September, "End of Watch". As someone who enjoys "COPS" and the similar, this is something that has piqued my interest. If you haven't seen the trailer yet it is on the Internet Movie Database, and as of now it is simply described as, "A drama centered on the long-term friendship and partnership between two cops."

For those LEO's out there, are these shows something that still interests you guys? Or has being a police officer turned you off to that type of programming?

That is pretty much the answer I expected. You deal with a lot of those situations every day, so watching it at home would seem unappealing.

When I watch police movies I find myself critiquing more than enjoying. "That's illegal", "It doesn't work like that", "three gunfights a day, really", "I would have got fired for that"........these along with many other quotes come along with watching police movies. I think my wife gets sick of me doing it.

Luck on the theme.  I hope it goes over. Maybe it will offset the trashpile of tired Good Cop/Bad Cop themes or Robocop themes that always put me to sleep.

Friends hate me in the movies because I won't shut up. Formulas bore the daylights out of me. No matter what the theme is,  I won't 'willingly suspend disbelief'.  I get antsy. I want to  zing my popcorn box and break for the door.  And yes.  I have actually asked for and recieved my money back.

I am a remote hog. I watch five shows at once.   I see every element that goes into a shot.  It's all canned. Composition and lighting. Camera movement.  Editing style - pace, especially in cop shows - ALL of it is trash.  Hack directors cram in 1000 gimmicks right from cooked-up scenarios to pure unadulterated bs, soap-opera hams grinding out canned dialogue, etc. They lose me in five minutes.  I like Bad Boys.  I like the sweaty backyard chases and the take-downs in trailer hallways. I like to see smalltime crack dealers wedged between the john and the bathtub.  With the little mutt looking on. ARF!  It's waaay better than dwarf roller derby.

I'm waiting for the FBI to bust loose THEIR version.

I despise sexed-up CSI low-key lighting - every lab set looks tricked out for a freaking candle-lit dinner.  I hate the heavy eyelights and botoxed lips.  Every 'hanging moment' of 'deep meaning' looks like someone is poised for a kiss over the corpsework.  Phew.  And puhleeze - LOCK DOWN THE DING DONG TRIPOD HEAD on those lame Law and Order 'cinema verite' shots. It's a city sidewalk, not the deck of a freaking galleon.  Pass the seasick bag.

Nevermind. Just gimme e the crystal teddy bears on QVC.  I need CONTENT!!

As for reality - life imitates art. Why shouldn't cops imitate television's idea of a cop?  That's why whenever a cop is writing me a ticket, I look to see if he's showing his good side to the lens.  Annnd - since I can't send flowers to his dressing room, I just plead guilty in court. 

It's the right thing to do.

If a movie does manage to suck me in, I replay it obsessively to see how the director pulled it off.   If a movie makes me blub up, I get on my knees in gratitude.  Then I get a snack.

To Marly. . . . .are you sure you covered everything?  Didn't leave anything out?  Sounds to me like you started down a path but stopped about 1/2 way down.  Don't you really want to let go and tell us all what you really think of this new age of television shows and movies?

Car 54 Where are You

I watch Gangland somtimes and anything about prison. My wife always complains though, she says you work in prison all day and then you come home and watch it too, dont you get enough at work? I just think of it as training its interesting to see what others do across the country, and gang information is always changing.

I'm pretty much a documentary kind of guy. I like the Alaska State Troopers or the wild game cop documentaries on Nat Geo, but CSI and those types of shows bore me. That's what I do and I never solve a case in an hour and I don't have any of those silly gadgets to do my job for me. Court has become a dog and pony show now with the CSI Effect, although it is going by the way side little by little. I must admit NYC 22 has been a good watch, but I'm smart enough to know that it's just a show too.

I have been enjoying the paranormal investigative shows and I find that very intriguing! I know what awaits me when I cross the river, but it's neat when you catch some evidence as to the existence of the paranormal...

Discussion topic is so good.  It sure sounds like the more layered dramatic performance belongs to Jake Gyllenhaal, with Pena as the comic sidekick. But I had the great pleasure to see his work and preparation for this role and I tell you from all truth- He is wonderful in this role. So when it does come out, do support it.

The stars of this movie are Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena. Jake did well in 'Jarheads' and Michael was the sympathetic FBI agent in 'The Shooter' with Mark Wahlberg. I would be interested in the chemistry they would have in the movie.

Plus, I generally watch movies like these looking for continuity errors. It is a small pasttime of mine. I kinda lose the plot and actual character development in lieu of finding the technical flaws in the movie, like, a pistol slide out of battery and it is still firing, a glass half full in one scene and full the next. I guess I am a cinemagraphic technician. I definitely am not wow'd by CGI. I also attempt to calculate on-set explosions, trying to figure out how much gasoline they used to get an X-sized orange fireball. I look for cables and cords that help flip vehicles. That kinda stuff.

The movie 'Tombstone', although a wonderful movie, is replete with continiuity errors.

And oh, I do not watch cop shows on TV. Waste of time.

Anymore I tend to stay away from Cop shows or movies.  After doing the job for as long as I did, since I'm not playing an active role in what's being seen or done, then it doesn't interest me now.  My ex was big on the true crime shows on tv and could never figure out why I didn't watch them, even after I explained it to her.  So I doubt very seriously that I will see this movie.