There is a 3 month free trial for Apple TV available with Sky VIP. I have just opted in. Someone expressed a view on this thread the other day, about free trials. I wouldnt have disagreed then, but I would now. They said that they always forget about the auto renewal, and therefore dont take out any free trials. I can see that. Although if you paid one months subscriotion, I woud see the payment of £8.99 for 4 months Apple TV, as good value for money. However there is no need to do this. If you took out the free trial today, you can immediately cancel the auto renewal. So you dont have to remember to cancel at the end, and the free trial will still run for the 3 months.
There are a number of shows on Apple that are well worth watching. I posted one on the documentary thread which was very good. It was regarding Mexican drug cartels laundering money through American horse racing.
I watched SOA from the outset wondering just how much it would differ from real MC. life.
For the uninitiated you have MCC which are Motorcycle clubs. In the UK these would typically be Owners clubs, and such clubs as FUBAR, Rejects, White Knights, Pie Eaters etc. You apply to join and the clubs are run very much as you would expect
Then you have MCs which are usually although not exclusively 1% outlaw motorcycle gangs such as Hells Angels, Outlaws, Satan's Slaves, Road Warriors, Blue Knights etc.
These are run on very strict lines with a President, Vice President, Man or Sargeant At Arms and a Road Captain. You have to be invited to join and this takes a long time and involves a lengthy probationary period.
The middle ground is occupied by "Support Clubs". These are not true MC but are clubs that operate with the blessing of the locally dominant MC, who can lay down rules under which the support club can operate.
Colours / Cuts, are everything. You earn them, you respect them and you defend them to the death.
That being established there are a few things that SOA gets wrong. The biggest is the influence that the females seem to have on their men. "Old Ladies" have no say in MC culture, they are there to be seen, to obey and to be obedient. I know that in todays society that causes outrage, but that's what it is.
Also, the main purpose of the MC is to take care of business, whatever that business happens to be. The casual attitude towards law enforcement is overdone as one of the biggest threats to the continuation of an MC is the law investigating a bar fight or some such trivial thing and uncovering something much bigger.
Whilst the public impression is of biker gangs meanacing society at will, the truth is that they prefer to fly under the radar and out of the glare of the public. Much of the more ugly side is hardly ever seen or even reported. Club business is never discussed with non patch holders and sanctions are in place to keep members in line. Really bad transgressions of club rules can lead to being "put out out in bad standing", probably the harshest punishment.
SOA has also been responsible for several cases of violence particularly in the States. One of the shows best selling piece of merchandise was a cut with the top and bottom rocker surrounding the centre piece. As if that wasn't bad enough some even sported the MC square and the 1% diamond.
Wear this at your peril. Any passing MC member on seeing it will stop and challenge you. If you're lucky you will be told to remove it, if not it will be removed for you as you are aggressively educated as to the faux paus you have just made.
It's a decent attempt at making a drama out of a very secretive closed shop.
Also check out the following films.
Stone - Set in Australia in the 70's and based on Hunter S Thompson's book written after spending a year with the H.A. Early Kawasaki KRs and not a Harley in sight.
Above The Law - Charlie Sheen portrays the true story of a cop sent deep undercover to infiltrate an MC. Michael Madsen is excellent as the leader.
Stone Cold - Brian Bosworth plays opposite Lance Henriksen and William Forsyth again infiltrating a violent MC. Very OTT but some realistic portrayal of MC culture.
This is probably not my thing, but Reacher is in it. The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024) Official Trailer
I watched SOA from the outset wondering just how much it would differ from real MC. life.
For the uninitiated you have MCC which are Motorcycle clubs. In the UK these would typically be Owners clubs, and such clubs as FUBAR, Rejects, White Knights, Pie Eaters etc. You apply to join and the clubs are run very much as you would expect
Then you have MCs which are usually although not exclusively 1% outlaw motorcycle gangs such as Hells Angels, Outlaws, Satan's Slaves, Road Warriors, Blue Knights etc.
These are run on very strict lines with a President, Vice President, Man or Sargeant At Arms and a Road Captain. You have to be invited to join and this takes a long time and involves a lengthy probationary period.
The middle ground is occupied by "Support Clubs". These are not true MC but are clubs that operate with the blessing of the locally dominant MC, who can lay down rules under which the support club can operate.
Colours / Cuts, are everything. You earn them, you respect them and you defend them to the death.
That being established there are a few things that SOA gets wrong. The biggest is the influence that the females seem to have on their men. "Old Ladies" have no say in MC culture, they are there to be seen, to obey and to be obedient. I know that in todays society that causes outrage, but that's what it is.
Also, the main purpose of the MC is to take care of business, whatever that business happens to be. The casual attitude towards law enforcement is overdone as one of the biggest threats to the continuation of an MC is the law investigating a bar fight or some such trivial thing and uncovering something much bigger.
Whilst the public impression is of biker gangs meanacing society at will, the truth is that they prefer to fly under the radar and out of the glare of the public. Much of the more ugly side is hardly ever seen or even reported. Club business is never discussed with non patch holders and sanctions are in place to keep members in line. Really bad transgressions of club rules can lead to being "put out out in bad standing", probably the harshest punishment.
SOA has also been responsible for several cases of violence particularly in the States. One of the shows best selling piece of merchandise was a cut with the top and bottom rocker surrounding the centre piece. As if that wasn't bad enough some even sported the MC square and the 1% diamond.
Wear this at your peril. Any passing MC member on seeing it will stop and challenge you. If you're lucky you will be told to remove it, if not it will be removed for you as you are aggressively educated as to the faux paus you have just made.
It's a decent attempt at making a drama out of a very secretive closed shop.
Also check out the following films.
Stone - Set in Australia in the 70's and based on Hunter S Thompson's book written after spending a year with the H.A. Early Kawasaki KRs and not a Harley in sight.
Above The Law - Charlie Sheen portrays the true story of a cop sent deep undercover to infiltrate an MC. Michael Madsen is excellent as the leader.
Stone Cold - Brian Bosworth plays opposite Lance Henriksen and William Forsyth again infiltrating a violent MC. Very OTT but some realistic portrayal of MC culture.
This is probably not my thing, but Reacher is in it. The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024) Official Trailer
Comments
The Covenant?
Good point TBF , that is so out of character for him though, thats probably why I liked it.
@Tikay10 I just don't dig on his posh boy obsession with and glorification of the underworld
The Day of the Jackal | Official Trailer
Good point TBF , that is so out of character for him though, thats probably why I liked it.
@Tikay10 I just don't dig on his posh boy obsession with and glorification of the underworld
You seen The Good Wife?
I would recommend it to anyone that hasnt seen it.
Paramount.
Defending Jacob — Official Trailer | Apple TV+
Extrapolations — Official Trailer | Apple TV+
Coming to Apple TV+
WOLFS — Official Trailer | Apple TV+
Causeway — Official Trailer | Apple TV+
Suspicion — Official Trailer | Apple TV+
Manhunt — Official Trailer | Apple TV+
Bad Sisters — Official Trailer | Apple TV+
Criminal Record — Official Trailer | Apple TV+
Presumed Innocent — Official Trailer | Apple TV+
Lady in the Lake — Official Trailer | Apple TV+
Shantaram — Official Trailer | Apple TV+
Slow Horses — Official Trailer | Apple TV+
Fancy Dance — Official Trailer | Apple TV+
Tehran — Official Trailer | Apple TV+
The Crowded Room — Official Trailer | Apple TV+
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/entertainment/movies/top-boy-star-lands-lead-movie-role-in-uk-set-biopic/ar-AA1okVGH?ocid=msedgntp&pc=NMTS&cvid=04e7b6518e954de3952c468fad8339b8&ei=122#fullscreen
Ted Lasso — Official Trailer | Apple TV+
Definitely worth a watch.