I'm all about horror this time of year.
The Wailing (available on Netflix, FYI)
...
Rating: 9/10
That movie was awesome!
Speaking of horror, Train To Busan was also good (and also on Netflix).
The latter, an entertaining Victorian Gothic tale about a London serial killer in the years before Jack the Ripper.
Just watched that one, as well!
I highly recommend A Tale of Two Sisters if you like Korean Horror. It's my favorite.
The latter, an entertaining Victorian Gothic tale about a London serial killer in the years before Jack the Ripper.
That sounds excellent!
Ant-Man and the Wasp. Meh. It's a nice safe Marvel movie. 6/10 because I knew what to expect and it didn't disappoint, but it also didn't wow me in any way whatsoever.
For reference, here are my scores for other, recent Marvel movies:
Black Panther: 6/10 (It was aiiight, but man, what shoddy CGI!)
Avengers: Infinity War: 8/10 (Wow, that ending!)
I just realized that it's been a couple of months since I've seen a movie.
Thor: Ragnarok. All of the critics loved it. I enjoyed the other two, but this one annoyed the crud out of me. I was surprised that my husband and son didn't care for it, either.
5/10, and I'm being extremely generous.
I'd give Black Panther 5/10. I was surprised. I thought it'd be a lot better considering the reaction from critics.
I've read there was concern among some critics that they'd be accused of racism if they criticized Black Panther. South Park even made fun of it...
I am currently slogging my way through Black Panther in fits and starts. I wanted to like it I really did. I can't figure out if it's because I'm a writer that the story was so obvious to me, or if Marvel just telegraphed it that bad, but I really was disappointed in comparison to my expectations.
Anyone see Leave No Trace? Loved that one -- subtle, restrained, beautifully acted. 10/10.
Anyone see Leave No Trace? Loved that one -- subtle, restrained, beautifully acted. 10/10.
That looks terrific. It's now on my Watch list. :)
Then again, I really like Black Panther. :icon_mrgreen:
Then again, I really like Black Panther. :icon_mrgreen:
I'll stop dumping on it. :)
I've read there was concern among some critics that they'd be accused of racism if they criticized Black Panther. South Park even made fun of it...
Ugh. There's a lot of this happening in our movie culture at the moment. It's discouraging.
The last movie I watched was Jumanji. I wasn't going to watch it because how can you top Robin Williams.
I'm so glad they went in a different direction so I was able to enjoy the movie for what it was. 9/10 because as the nuns always told me, nobody's perfect.
A lot of it has to do with the fact many reviewers are also on social media 24-7, and it's almost imperative they stick to the "right opinions." I'm not saying what the "right" opinions are, I'm just saying... If you want to keep your job, it sometimes behooves you not to ruffle feathers in 2018.
The last movie I watched was Jumanji. I wasn't going to watch it because how can you top Robin Williams.
I'm so glad they went in a different direction so I was able to enjoy the movie for what it was. 9/10 because as the nuns always told me, nobody's perfect.
I was so ready to hate the new Jumanji. A remake of a 90s kids movie? Come on. But it was really fun. I'd agree with the 9/10.
The last movie I watched was Jumanji. I wasn't going to watch it because how can you top Robin Williams.
I'm so glad they went in a different direction so I was able to enjoy the movie for what it was. 9/10 because as the nuns always told me, nobody's perfect.
I was so ready to hate the new Jumanji. A remake of a 90s kids movie? Come on. But it was really fun. I'd agree with the 9/10.
Anyone have a vote on whether that movie would be okay for a pair of eight-year-olds? Excuse me, eight-and-a-half-year-olds? I saw the trailers and thought maybe ...
The last movie I watched was Jumanji. I wasn't going to watch it because how can you top Robin Williams.
I'm so glad they went in a different direction so I was able to enjoy the movie for what it was. 9/10 because as the nuns always told me, nobody's perfect.
I was so ready to hate the new Jumanji. A remake of a 90s kids movie? Come on. But it was really fun. I'd agree with the 9/10.
Anyone have a vote on whether that movie would be okay for a pair of eight-year-olds? Excuse me, eight-and-a-half-year-olds? I saw the trailers and thought maybe ...
Well there's the one scene with Jack Black where he's actually a girl who got turned into a man for the game and he discovers ... The Appendage. As an adult :icon_rofl:
Overall, it might be too intense in some scenes for that age.
Anyone have a vote on whether that movie would be okay for a pair of eight-year-olds? Excuse me, eight-and-a-half-year-olds? I saw the trailers and thought maybe ...
The last movie I watched was Jumanji. I wasn't going to watch it because how can you top Robin Williams.
I'm so glad they went in a different direction so I was able to enjoy the movie for what it was. 9/10 because as the nuns always told me, nobody's perfect.
I was so ready to hate the new Jumanji. A remake of a 90s kids movie? Come on. But it was really fun. I'd agree with the 9/10.
Anyone have a vote on whether that movie would be okay for a pair of eight-year-olds? Excuse me, eight-and-a-half-year-olds? I saw the trailers and thought maybe ...
Well there's the one scene with Jack Black where he's actually a girl who got turned into a man for the game and he discovers ... The Appendage. As an adult :icon_rofl:
Overall, it might be too intense in some scenes for that age.
Hmm. I *think* they'd find the appendage-discovery quite amusing ... maybe also sort of horrifying. Hello Freud. Grin
Anyone have a vote on whether that movie would be okay for a pair of eight-year-olds? Excuse me, eight-and-a-half-year-olds? I saw the trailers and thought maybe ...
Becca, at first I was going to mention that 'Jumanji' does feature some intense action scenes and a bit of humor aimed more at adults, but then I remembered that I saw 'Blade Runner' when I was eight, so measuring based on that bit of anecdotal evidence, 'Jumanji' should be fine. I enjoyed the movie quite a bit, and I could see kids getting a kick out of it. Keep in mind though, I don't have kids of my own, so my barometer may be off on that.
Sounds like it'd be okay -- thanks, abides. Stuff that's significantly raunchy, gory, or disturbing is a no-no, but general fantasy-type action/violence is fine. Like, Star Wars has been fine. Ant-Man and the Wasp is fine. The very first Jurassic Park, where the lawyer gets gulped down whole -- that's fine. The next one, where two dinos visibly pull someone apart between them, and there's stringy bits ... gonna wait a bit longer on that.
We took them to see Crazy Rich Asians, and they liked it. But at the beginning, one of them leaned over and whispered, "Is this a kissing movie?" Props for the unwitting Princess Bride reference, eh?? :cheers
Some of what gets to them is hard for adults to predict. You know that bit in Back to the Future where Michael J. Fox has a photo of himself and his siblings, and it's erasing from the bottom up as alterations to the past threaten to change the future? That bothered one them quite a bit. Never would've occurred to me beforehand as an issue.
Sounds like it'd be okay -- thanks, abides. Stuff that's significantly raunchy, gory, or disturbing is a no-no, but general fantasy-type action/violence is fine. Like, Star Wars has been fine. Ant-Man and the Wasp is fine. The very first Jurassic Park, where the lawyer gets gulped down whole -- that's fine. The next one, where two dinos visibly pull someone apart between them, and there's stringy bits ... gonna wait a bit longer on that.
We took them to see Crazy Rich Asians, and they liked it. But at the beginning, one of them leaned over and whispered, "Is this a kissing movie?" Props for the unwitting Princess Bride reference, eh?? :cheers
Some of what gets to them is hard for adults to predict. You know that bit in Back to the Future where Michael J. Fox has a photo of himself and his siblings, and it's erasing from the bottom up as alterations to the past threaten to change the future? That bothered one them quite a bit. Never would've occurred to me beforehand as an issue.
Yes, if I recall correctly, 'Jumanji' is mostly, maybe even all, fantasy-type violence. That's funny about the 'Back to the Future' thing. You're right, I wouldn't have thought any part of that film would bother a child, but one's perception of certain concepts can be hard to predict. I remember being quite affected by Cameron's emotional moment staring into a painting at a gallery during a Smiths song in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off', so I guess you never know. 'Jumanji' doesn't really have anything in it that's quite that nuanced or emotionally intense, as far as I can recall, so it should be pretty safe.
Adding it to our list ... thanks!
Oddly, I don't even remember the moment you mention in Ferris Bueller. Interesting how artworks speak to different people differently, eh?
Adding it to our list ... thanks!
Oddly, I don't even remember the moment you mention in Ferris Bueller. Interesting how artworks speak to different people differently, eh?
Yeah, I think it was the combination of the melancholy of the song and Cameron's own internal battle/existential crisis (though I wouldn't have been able to articulate it as that as a kid) that he was reckoning with and contemplating during that moment of reflection staring into the painting that got to me emotionally. It's like he saw the turmoil in the child in the painting and recognized something similar in himself - a recognition of the loss of his own innocence or a yearning to be understood and recognizing that he never had - and you could read it on him, which was also conveyed in the way the scene was cut together as well.
Of course, like anything else, it's entirely possible I'm reading way too much into this. :icon_redface:
Adding it to our list ... thanks!
Oddly, I don't even remember the moment you mention in Ferris Bueller. Interesting how artworks speak to different people differently, eh?
Yeah, I think it was the combination of the melancholy of the song and Cameron's own internal battle/existential crisis (though I wouldn't have been able to articulate it as that as a kid) that he was reckoning with and contemplating during that moment of reflection staring into the painting that got to me emotionally. It's like he saw the turmoil in the child in the painting and recognized something similar in himself - a recognition of the loss of his own innocence or a yearning to be understood and recognizing that he never had - and you could read it on him, which was also conveyed in the way the scene was cut together as well.
Of course, like anything else, it's entirely possible I'm reading way too much into this. :icon_redface:
Saw a mention of THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN THE WALLS. Had never heard of the book or the film, but it was Jack Black and Cate Blanchett and the trailer looked like fun and it was a rainy afternoon and I was in the mood for a theatre movie so....
Blech. Two hours and ten bucks I'll never see again. I kept thinking about walking out but since I wasn't familiar with the book I wanted to know the end (it was even worse than I'd feared).
Saw a mention of THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN THE WALLS. Had never heard of the book or the film, but it was Jack Black and Cate Blanchett and the trailer looked like fun and it was a rainy afternoon and I was in the mood for a theatre movie so....
Blech. Two hours and ten bucks I'll never see again. I kept thinking about walking out but since I wasn't familiar with the book I wanted to know the end (it was even worse than I'd feared).
I don't know. I liked it. Of course, I like movies like that. Nanny McPhee and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children are the kind of movies I like and Clock fits right in there with them.
Just saw MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT.
Good entry into the series. Nothing original or creative, but ticks all the right boxes for fans of the genre and series. It's like a good book series -- gives the reader everything they want, but doesn't try to reinvent the wheel. Everyone put in a good day's work, but that's about it.
Just saw MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT.
Good entry into the series. Nothing original or creative, but ticks all the right boxes for fans of the genre and series. It's like a good book series -- gives the reader everything they want, but doesn't try to reinvent the wheel. Everyone put in a good day's work, but that's about it.
I think the bathroom scene is the best thing about that movie.
I think the bathroom scene is the best thing about that movie.
Just saw MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT.
Good entry into the series. Nothing original or creative, but ticks all the right boxes for fans of the genre and series. It's like a good book series -- gives the reader everything they want, but doesn't try to reinvent the wheel. Everyone put in a good day's work, but that's about it.
I think the bathroom scene is the best thing about that movie.
Probably because it's the most "realistic" sequence in the whole movie. Everything is was over-the-top and silly. That sequence belonged more in an indie action flick.
Watched this one last night...
... Ready Player One which I found disappointing. Unlike a lot of very vocal people, I enjoyed the book, and probably made a mistake watching the movie after reading the book, so I kept going "But why did they...ah, never mind."
Just saw MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT.
Good entry into the series. Nothing original or creative, but ticks all the right boxes for fans of the genre and series. It's like a good book series -- gives the reader everything they want, but doesn't try to reinvent the wheel. Everyone put in a good day's work, but that's about it.
I think the bathroom scene is the best thing about that movie.
Probably because it's the most "realistic" sequence in the whole movie. Everything is was over-the-top and silly. That sequence belonged more in an indie action flick.
It's a measure of just how over-the-top these flicks are that it seems even scare-quote "realistic" for people to get thrown into walls hard enough to rain down plaster and broken tiles and still be perfectly functional.
Totally enjoyed it. 8/10. Grin
I don't have a problem with Neeson as an actor, but he seems to have a way of gravitating towards mediocre or bad movies. If a movie stars him, then that's a pretty safe bet the movie should be avoided, even if Neeson puts in a great performance.
Yeah, agreed on 'The Commuter'...it was terrible.
Same can be said for 'Hold the Dark'...awful.
Same can be said for 'Hold the Dark'...awful.
I don't have a problem with Neeson as an actor, but he seems to have a way of gravitating towards mediocre or bad movies. If a movie stars him, then that's a pretty safe bet the movie should be avoided, even if Neeson puts in a great performance.
Just saw MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT.
Good entry into the series. Nothing original or creative, but ticks all the right boxes for fans of the genre and series. It's like a good book series -- gives the reader everything they want, but doesn't try to reinvent the wheel. Everyone put in a good day's work, but that's about it.
I think the bathroom scene is the best thing about that movie.
Probably because it's the most "realistic" sequence in the whole movie. Everything is was over-the-top and silly. That sequence belonged more in an indie action flick.
It's a measure of just how over-the-top these flicks are that it seems even scare-quote "realistic" for people to get thrown into walls hard enough to rain down plaster and broken tiles and still be perfectly functional.
Totally enjoyed it. 8/10. Grin
Haha, for sure. The final 10 minutes or so, with the helicopters... God. I had to pick my eyeballs up from the floor after they fell out of their sockets from rolling around so much.
A quick note of thanks to all for using the SPOILER feature.
As someone who's behind on the latest releases, I appreciate it. :)
A quick note of thanks to all for using the SPOILER feature.
As someone who's behind on the latest releases, I appreciate it. :)
A quick note of thanks to all for using the SPOILER feature.
As someone who's behind on the latest releases, I appreciate it. :)
I managed to spoil the movie Jacob's Ladder for someone recently, so I'm aware of the possibility. That movie is 28 years old, and still I was chastised. Not that there's anything to spoil...
When it comes to Liam Neeson...can't forget he's in 'The Lego Movie'. I love that flick.
I must admit, I have no idea how to use the 'Spoiler' feature. Trial and error, I guess? ...
I must admit, I have no idea how to use the 'Spoiler' feature. Trial and error, I guess? ...
Click on the Sp button to create the tags, then:
(https://agentsofdisrupt.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/spoilers.png)
Saw this movie for the third time.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71Cm8DaqfOL._RI_.jpg)
Rating: 9/10
Horror is tough to do right. This one nails it.
It's currently on HBO.
... Ready Player One which I found disappointing. Unlike a lot of very vocal people, I enjoyed the book, and probably made a mistake watching the movie after reading the book, so I kept going "But why did they...ah, never mind."
I was ready for a big change in the story, so the movie worked for me just as well as the book. I like both.
Brilliant movie! Which ending did you watch? The US or UK one?
... Ready Player One which I found disappointing. Unlike a lot of very vocal people, I enjoyed the book, and probably made a mistake watching the movie after reading the book, so I kept going "But why did they...ah, never mind."
I was ready for a big change in the story, so the movie worked for me just as well as the book. I like both.
Good point about the ending. I always struggle to be fair to a movie, if I have read the book. I actually really liked the actors, I thought Wade, H, ar3mis (can't remember the spelling!) were all great. A bit disappointed with Daito and Shoto who seemed a bit side lined in the movie version though.
Heinlein intended his story for young boys, but wrote it more or less seriously. The one redeeming merit for director Paul Verhoeven's film is that by remaining faithful to Heinlein's material and period, it adds an element of sly satire. This is like the squarest but most technically advanced sci-fi movie of the 1950s, a film in which the sets and costumes look like a cross between Buck Rogers and the Archie comic books, and the characters look like they stepped out of Pepsodent ads.
Ebert, and pretty much every critic at the time, missed that it's a satire of the source material.
Brilliant movie! Which ending did you watch? The US or UK one?
I saw the U.S. version, but I've read about the UK version. It sounds like a great ending!
Which one do you prefer?
I really like Jenny Nicholson's thoughtful analysis of movies.
Recently watched this...
(https://news.newonnetflix.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/calibre-poster.jpg)
Rating: 8/10
It's a solid thriller that moves at a quick clip.
Recently watched this...
(https://news.newonnetflix.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/calibre-poster.jpg)
Rating: 8/10
It's a solid thriller that moves at a quick clip.
Will have to check that one out.
Also, I don't want to be the reason you don't watch 'Hold the Dark', because...well, you might like it...hard to say - tastes differ.
Recently watched this...
(https://news.newonnetflix.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/calibre-poster.jpg)
Rating: 8/10
It's a solid thriller that moves at a quick clip.
Will have to check that one out.
Also should mention...at the risk of being assailed with pitchforks and torches...recently re-watched 'Superman: The Movie' starring Christopher Reeve - hadn't seen it in decades.
It was...not good. 4/10. *runs for underground bunker*
A double-bill of The Lady in the Van, starring Maggie Smith and Alex Jennings, and The Limehouse Golem, starring Bill Nighy.
The former a semi-biographical account of writer Alan Bennett's encounters with a homeless woman over the decades.
Crazy Rich Asians! Total fun. Smart. Some excellent acting (Michelle Yeoh, Awkwafina). Just a perfect break from too much reality. Saw it twice.
Saw this recently (my third time)...
The Game is currently on Netflix.
Saw this recently (my third time)...
The Game is currently on Netflix.
I really like this movie. Thought it was quite clever when I watched it. Might rewatch this weekend.
A double-bill of The Lady in the Van, starring Maggie Smith and Alex Jennings, and The Limehouse Golem, starring Bill Nighy.
...
The latter, an entertaining Victorian Gothic tale about a London serial killer in the years before Jack the Ripper.
A double-bill of The Lady in the Van, starring Maggie Smith and Alex Jennings, and The Limehouse Golem, starring Bill Nighy.
...
The latter, an entertaining Victorian Gothic tale about a London serial killer in the years before Jack the Ripper.
I watched The Limehouse Golem yesterday.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNDU5YzgyOGYtNTFjMi00Mzg4LWFhODMtMjY3OWM0ZjM0YTVkXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzQwMTY2Nzk@._V1_.jpg)
Great storytelling. And Bill Nighy was awesome.
Rating: 8/10
The Limehouse Golem is currently on Hulu.
Watched this last night...
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/44/Minority_Report_Poster.jpg/220px-Minority_Report_Poster.jpg)
Rating: 9/10
Terrific direction with cinematography by the great Janusz Kamiński.
And that cast! I like Cruise, but Peter Stormare, Colin Farrell, Max von Sydow, and Samantha Morton?!
Yes, please, and thank you.
Oh... And Peter Stormare?
I watched Disney's Tarzan yesterday.
(https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/cinemorgue/images/2/2e/7efc379d88fe25e4cee52b7d9d2de2d4.jpg)
Rating: 9/10
A terrific story supported by brilliant animation.
Tarzan is currently on Netflix.
(http://irishfilmcritic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Villainess.jpg)
Jesus! I have no idea how they even filmed some of these action sequences. One part John Wick, one part La Femme Nikita, and one part Kill Bill. Over the top amazing. It's a Korean film, so I'm sure some of the emotional depth is lost in translation (like Japanese horror), but it was still full up with story. For the anime style, super-action, how dark is dark? fan...
Actually, I am almost ashamed to admit that I watched, for the very first time last night, The Big Lebowski.
That's just, like, my opinion man. :icon_mrgreen:
I wasn't feeling well Saturday, when my husband turned on So I Married an Axe Murderer. We both have always loved the movie, and watch it every time it's on. It still makes me laugh, and it did help me feel better.
8/10
Actually, I am almost ashamed to admit that I watched, for the very first time last night, The Big Lebowski.
Over the next few months, you will come to realize that 2.7% modern life = references to that one film. That's just, like, my opinion man. :icon_mrgreen:
I watched this a few days ago...
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61OUGpUfAyL._SY679_.jpg)
Great story and terrific effects. I was mesmerized. At 2 hours and 42 minutes, it flew by.
Rating: 9/10.
Avatar is on HBO through Oct. 31.
Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman. Since I seem to be on a Jane Austen kick, I think I'll try to find a good version of Emma next.
Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman. Since I seem to be on a Jane Austen kick, I think I'll try to find a good version of Emma next.
(https://ak1.ostkcdn.com/images/products/17126186/Clueless-Movie-Poster-With-Choice-of-Frame-24x36-91e43d22-f906-4361-81fe-1674038c97c9_600.jpg)
Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman. Since I seem to be on a Jane Austen kick, I think I'll try to find a good version of Emma next.
(https://ak1.ostkcdn.com/images/products/17126186/Clueless-Movie-Poster-With-Choice-of-Frame-24x36-91e43d22-f906-4361-81fe-1674038c97c9_600.jpg)
I recently watched this film...
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYzgxNjVjY2QtYTEyNy00OTU2LWJjNDYtNDBhMWZmY2EzNzIxXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjE5MjUyOTM@._V1_.jpg)
Great story. And it's nice to see Harrison Ford without the damn earring.
Rating: 8/10
Side note: Lukas Haas really was a cute kid!
(http://www.teenidols4you.com/blink/Actors/lukas_haas/ti4u_lh_wit15.jpg)
Witness is on Amazon Prime through Oct. 31.
Witness is on Amazon Prime through Oct. 31.
Love that movie. I'll have to watch it tomorrow. Or maybe even tonight. HF is one of my favorite actors, ever since he wasn't a scruffy looking nerf-herder.
Witness is on Amazon Prime through Oct. 31.
Love that movie. I'll have to watch it tomorrow. Or maybe even tonight. HF is one of my favorite actors, ever since he wasn't a scruffy looking nerf-herder.
See if you can spot an actor who became a A-lister years later. This person is essentially an extra in Witness. Grin
Witness is on Amazon Prime through Oct. 31.
Love that movie. I'll have to watch it tomorrow. Or maybe even tonight. HF is one of my favorite actors, ever since he wasn't a scruffy looking nerf-herder.
See if you can spot an actor who became a A-lister years later. This person is essentially an extra in Witness. Grin
Witness is on Amazon Prime through Oct. 31.
Love that movie. I'll have to watch it tomorrow. Or maybe even tonight. HF is one of my favorite actors, ever since he wasn't a scruffy looking nerf-herder.
See if you can spot an actor who became a A-lister years later. This person is essentially an extra in Witness. Grin
I'm much better at identifying actors by their voices than by their faces. Faces can change especially when the face you're most familiar with is covered in 2-3 days of beard surrounded by scraggly hair.
First thought I recognized him at the barn raising sitting next to Alexander Goudonov. Didn't know who he was at that point but there was something about his expressions. Then at the ice cream incident, he was only on for a few seconds but sometimes a quick flash is better to prod memory. Aragorn!
Surprisingly, he was named in the credits.
I might never have known if you hadn't said something but then once someone seems familiar I have to track them down. I'm not always right but I have to try.
Witness is on Amazon Prime through Oct. 31.
Love that movie. I'll have to watch it tomorrow. Or maybe even tonight. HF is one of my favorite actors, ever since he wasn't a scruffy looking nerf-herder.
See if you can spot an actor who became a A-lister years later. This person is essentially an extra in Witness. Grin
I'm much better at identifying actors by their voices than by their faces. Faces can change especially when the face you're most familiar with is covered in 2-3 days of beard surrounded by scraggly hair.
First thought I recognized him at the barn raising sitting next to Alexander Goudonov. Didn't know who he was at that point but there was something about his expressions. Then at the ice cream incident, he was only on for a few seconds but sometimes a quick flash is better to prod memory. Aragorn!
Surprisingly, he was named in the credits.
I might never have known if you hadn't said something but then once someone seems familiar I have to track them down. I'm not always right but I have to try.
You nailed it!
It's a little surreal, right? Kinda like watching Mystic Pizza ("Whoa! Is that Matt Damon?!") Grin
I'm much better at identifying actors by their voices than by their faces. Faces can change especially when the face you're most familiar with is covered in 2-3 days of beard surrounded by scraggly hair.
You forgot the most important Gary Oldman role.
(https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/moviemorgue/images/a/a2/Sirius_Black.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20131112161610)
You forgot the most important Gary Oldman role.
(https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/moviemorgue/images/a/a2/Sirius_Black.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20131112161610)
You forgot the most important Gary Oldman role.
(https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/moviemorgue/images/a/a2/Sirius_Black.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20131112161610)
I had a list of about ten different photos of Gary lined up, but then thought Tim would ban me for life if I posted it. grint
And, not to disagree with your assessment of Mr. Oldman's best role, but I do have to disagree.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNWZkOTk4YzItMjU0Yy00MDFiLWIyNmYtYWUxODM2Y2I4OTYwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzM2NzgzNjM@._V1_.jpg)
The Book of Eli.
The only movie I've ever watched twice. It's the twist, folks, the twist!
The Book of Eli.
The only movie I've ever watched twice. It's the twist, folks, the twist!
That movie has taken some flak. But I dug it.
It's post-apoc w/ Denzel. What's not to like? Grin
Rating: 9/10
Disclaimer: I'm a sucker for the Alien movies. Discount my rating accordingly.
I didn't say best. I said most important. It was the third movie which Cuaron totally ruined. Oldman was one of the few (very few) saving graces of that movie.
I didn't say best. I said most important. It was the third movie which Cuaron totally ruined. Oldman was one of the few (very few) saving graces of that movie.
Oh dear ... my absolute favorite of all the films ... :icon_redface:
I didn't say best. I said most important. It was the third movie which Cuaron totally ruined. Oldman was one of the few (very few) saving graces of that movie.
Oh dear ... my absolute favorite of all the films ... :icon_redface:
It was my favorite of the books, probably because of Sirius.
I'm glad somebody liked the movie. Most of the Chamber of Secrets forum did not.
I finished watching Taken starring Liam Neeson a few minutes ago. (It's on HBO.)
(https://is5-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Video49/v4/fd/96/99/fd969994-af18-2348-24bd-c651c84061a1/pr_source.lsr/268x0w.png)
Rating: 6
First, too artsy with all that clock symbolism. I'm not saying that they should go back to the simplicity of the first two movies. They were appropriate for those two books. By the third book, things had started to get darker. But Cuaron didn't make it darker. He made it dirtier.
Cuaron sprinkled Mexican symbols all over the place. It's England, not Mexico.
Most importantly, none of the actors were up to par and to me, that's down to the director. "He was their friend and he betrayed them." That's an example of what could have been a great scene and Dan Radcliffe was even then a good actor, but he didn't come off as being emotional. It was very superficial. Evan Alan Rickman, one of my very favorite actors, seemed like he was reading the script and not feeling it at all.
And don't get me started on the shrunken heads, what Padfoot and Moony looked liked in their animal state, and the Quidditch match.
Even too much dinosaur.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom...too much dinosaur.
I find I almost always prefer film adaptations that aren't too tightly constrained by their source material.
@Anarchist: I agree with your general assessment of those films, except Columbus and Ritual, haven't see them yet. For some reason, that list reminded me of Goodfellas, which I'm overdue watching again.
I'm crossing my fingers for Alita.
(https://www.foxmovies.com/s3/dev-temp/en-US/__5bb5606234a5f.jpg)
Has anyone seen the new Fantastic Beasts? If so, what'd you think?
Has anyone seen the new Fantastic Beasts? If so, what'd you think?
Lots of conflicting feelings. Visually, it was great, but I found the character development incredibly weak (sort of feels like they tried to cram too much into one movie) and I miss the charm and humor from the first movie. I don't mind sequels being darker, just not this much darker this soon.
...But the Zouwu was goddamn adorable!
Has anyone seen the new Fantastic Beasts? If so, what'd you think?
I like Deadpool's joke about Taken: at some point you have to wonder if he's just a bad parent.
This one was beyond stupid, beyond goofy, beyond lacking substance; it was ridiculously written - and yet...they had me at Jurassic-shark. Catch it for free, and I'm ashamed to admit it, but...
:tup3b
What's a film you think is terrific (not just a guilty pleasure, but really high quality) that everyone else you know thinks is mediocre at best?
My biggie is Shyamalan's Unbreakable.
What's a film you think is terrific (not just a guilty pleasure, but really high quality) that everyone else you know thinks is mediocre at best?
My biggie is Shyamalan's Unbreakable.
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2
What's a film you think is terrific (not just a guilty pleasure, but really high quality) that everyone else you know thinks is mediocre at best?
My biggie is Shyamalan's Unbreakable.
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2
I'm embarrassed to say I haven't seen either of the Guardians movies ...
To me, they're also a throwback to the 70s/80s when Hollywood creatives seemed less averse to telling fantastical stories imbued with emotion in an earnest way, without fear of being made fun of by the cool kids. Yes, both movies feature a lot of "cool" humor, but they also have a lot of heart. They embrace the cheese, and that's a welcome change in today's cynical, post-post, deconstructionist everything. They're definitely my favorite of all the Marvel films, and are more along the lines of what I'd wished Disney had done with the new Star Wars movies.
Of course, ymmv. :icon_cool:
(https://s3.r29static.com//bin/entry/bf4/0,0,2000,1050/x,80/1934844/image.jpg)
I really like the Guardians movies too, but then, so do most people - even the critics. RT has the movies rated at 91/92% and 83/88% respectively. So I'm not sure that qualifies for Becca's challenge - a movie everyone else thinks is mediocre at best.
...
(https://s2-ssl.dmcdn.net/pp3Rs/x1080-KMA.jpg) 59/77
This movie follows in the best traditions of SF horror, exceptionally well done.
(http://horrorfuel.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/RESIDENT-EVIL-Movie-1-e1495656567724.jpeg) 34/67
What's not to like about zombie Dobermans and a sociopathic AI?
...
Saw this recently...
(https://occ-0-1009-999.1.nflxso.net/art/3735a/b5a525e65954d15611a92d2185c2193a0743735a.jpg)
Written and directed by Paul Greengrass, a talented storyteller (Bourne Supremacy, United 93, Bloody Sunday, etc.). It's a dramatization of the 2011 Norway attacks (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Norway_attacks) and the events that followed them.
Rating: 8/10
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e1/Sleepless_in_seattle.jpg)
Watched "Sleepless in Seattle" last night. I loved it when it first came out - I was in my early 20s. I remember being particularly swept up by the whole "will they meet" thing at the end. This time round, while I enjoyed the movie, I didn't particularly care about the relationship / love angle at all. I found myself sympathising most with Meg Ryan's dumped boyfriend! Poor guy. She treated him pretty shabbily.
Just saw Nightcrawler. What a movie. I found it fascinating and disturbing. Don't watch if you are feeling vulnerable. And of course, it's the actor who played Donnie Darko. He is basically the devil, but everything he says is corporate-motivational-speak. Calm, reasonable, and completely insane.
I don't think Episodes I-III were as bad as the critics and most fans made out. I won't say I'll watch them again, but I might watch Ep I again. The problem with II and III for me was the absolutely horrible acting. HC, especially, but even NP. To me, that's down to the director. (Yes, Becca, just like HP-3)
Just watched this one...
(https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/6736/6736874_sa.jpg)
And at the risk of being repetitive...I watched both of these for the umpteenth time this weekend...
(https://arabiangazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/jumanji-moview-review.jpg)
(https://www.geek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/big-hero-6-tv-625x350.jpg)
:tup3b :tup3b :tup3b
Next up...
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71t1C2Xv6ZL._SY550_.jpg)
I laughed all the way through.
Rating: 9/10
I feel odd recommending comedy because tastes vary. But if you enjoy vampires and your comedic preferences are slightly off-center, check this one out.
What We Do In The Shadows is currently on Amazon Prime.
Saw a Jim Jarmusch movie called Paterson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paterson_(film)) last night, based on or in dialogue with William Carlos Williams's epic poem of the same title. Really good, though off-beat, as Jarmusch's films tend to be. Very little plot arc, light magic-realist touches. Came out in 2016. My fave of his films so far. Recommend! 9/10
Saw a Jim Jarmusch movie called Paterson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paterson_(film)) last night, based on or in dialogue with William Carlos Williams's epic poem of the same title. Really good, though off-beat, as Jarmusch's films tend to be. Very little plot arc, light magic-realist touches. Came out in 2016. My fave of his films so far. Recommend! 9/10
I was going to watch Paterson a few months ago, but my wife said she didn't like. So I passed on it.
But now that I'm thinking about it, she fell asleep while watching Aliens.
Paterson is back on the list! :)
she fell asleep while watching Aliens.
she fell asleep while watching Aliens.
I watched Outlaw King (starring Chris Pine). I am incredibly picky about historical movies, but I have this one a big: :tup3b
I watched Outlaw King (starring Chris Pine). I am incredibly picky about historical movies, but I have this one a big: :tup3b
Saw a Jim Jarmusch movie called Paterson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paterson_(film)) last night, based on or in dialogue with William Carlos Williams's epic poem of the same title. Really good, though off-beat, as Jarmusch's films tend to be. Very little plot arc, light magic-realist touches. Came out in 2016. My fave of his films so far. Recommend! 9/10
Last night watched The Santa Clause and the night before rewatched last year's Dr. Who Christmas special. Tonight I think I'll watch The Ghost of Christmas Eve with the Trans Siberian Orchestra.
Watched Into the Spiderverse and it is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND AWESOME.
(https://www.conservativebookclub.com/wp-content/uploads/Venom.jpg)
It had everything but a story. Hardy's character spends a lot of time hanging out on the edge of being unlikable, and I can't see a reason for it. But he has just enough charm to make it work. Venom's pretty fun though. It's almost good...sort of...maybe...???
:tup3b very rentable
Mary Poppins Returns. Me and dozens of well-behaved young children.
I'm increasingly of the opinion that Hollywood writers have been replaced by accountants.
Finished this one five minutes ago...
(https://www.moviemem.com/images/pictures/store/british-quad/CRIMESANDMISDEMEANORSQUAD.jpg)
I'm not a Woody Allen fan. But I really liked Crimes and Misdemeanors. It's darker than Allen's normal fare. Landau is terrific.
Rating: 8/10
It's on HBO through Dec. 31.
Re-watched this and it held up well:
Just back from seeing 'The Favourite'. It was extremely well acted but definitely NOT a comedy as I have heard from some sources. The idea was interesting because of the strong focus on three real women, with the men relegated to the background. My son said to me on the way out 'I don't know how much of it was real history' and I replied 'I think we can deduce the answer from the use of "OK"by one of the characters'. (There were other examples)
I am often surprised too by how long some phrases have been around - however The Favourite is based on events (a lot of them completely fictitious) in Queen Anne's court (early 18th century). There were quite a few 21st century usages too. I think they were meant to add to the general edgy, modern feel of the film but they didn't help!
It was strange because just before we set out for the cinema I thought, I hope this isn't going to be like Burn After Reading, which was supposed to be hilarious but I didn't find even mildly amusing. This film wasn't as pointless as that one but it was quite annoying. The background music had a way of intruding into the foreground with a repetitive cello note, and my son, who makes films himself, didn't like the cinematography. It will be interesting to see if it wins any Oscars.
...Burn After Reading, which was supposed to be hilarious but I didn't find even mildly amusing...
...Burn After Reading, which was supposed to be hilarious but I didn't find even mildly amusing...
Same here. For a long time, I thought I was the only one who didn't "get it." Nice to see someone else with the same opinion. :cheers
So I finally got around to watching this...
So I finally got around to watching this...
(https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/images/solo-banner-mobile-light_475e4331.jpeg?region=0%2C0%2C1920%2C1024)
I read that it was more like Han's Wookieepedia page than a movie - and they were right. It was a bad movie, never mind a bad Star Wars movie...and insulting to boot. It's no wonder the box office tanked. Someone needs to tell Disney that at some point, they're going to have to actually tell a story, preferably a new one. Flashy Easter eggs and pseudo-fan fiction are not movies.
Solo wasn't that great, but I still enjoyed it. I look upon such movies as Tongue & Cheek.
I also enjoyed "Close", which I wouldn't have seen had PJ Post not recommended it
I agree about Solo. I had to not think of him as the one and only Han Solo. That made it easier to watch. Woody Harrelson was very good. It was okay as a backstory.
I agree about Solo. I had to not think of him as the one and only Han Solo. That made it easier to watch. Woody Harrelson was very good. It was okay as a backstory.
Woody Harrelson was great. IMO: Without him, the movie wouldn't have had the necessary punch
Saw this last night...
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/514mHdkzQXL.jpg)
A dark story. Macabre even. But it pulls you in. It's directed by Tom Tykwer whose films have a unique feel. The visuals of Perfume are awesome.
Rating: 9/10.
Perfume: A Story Of A Murderer is currently available on Amazon Prime.
The Limehouse Golem, starring Bill Nighy.
I think I'll try Ant Man and the Wasp.
I think I'll try Ant Man and the Wasp.
For what it's worth, it's helpful to have watched the first film (Ant-Man) beforehand. Unfortunately, Ant-Man not available on Netflix.
Two beautiful films: The Least of These (about missionary Graham Staines) and Peter Jackson's WWI restored footage (from the Imperial museum) with narration by the veterans themselves. Stunning. Moving. Brilliant.
I think I'll try Ant Man and the Wasp.
For what it's worth, it's helpful to have watched the first film (Ant-Man) beforehand. Unfortunately, Ant-Man not available on Netflix.
Paul Rudd has so much charisma that it's impossible to dislike him. Evangeline Lilly owned her role. And the rest of the cast, from Michael Douglas and Laurence Fishburne to Michael Pena and Randall Park, totally chewed through their scenes.
That Peter Jackson film sounds good. What is the name?
That Peter Jackson film sounds good. What is the name?
I'm pretty sure she's referring to They Shall Not Grow Old. It really is an amazing piece of restoration by Jackson. He cleaned up the lines and spots, slowed the speed down to normal, colorized it, used lip readers to figure out what the men were saying, and then used voice actors to provide the voices. The background narration is provided by audio recordings made of actual veterans during the 1960s and 1970s. Added sound effects, etc. Really incredible stuff.
Loved the commentary after the film.
I don't know why the showings are so limited.
Thanks Jeff.
MaggieAnn, I don't know why the showings are so limited. I hope they increase their showings. I missed it the first time because of a Dr. appt. and was soooo happy to see it on the big screen. Peter Jackson is such a stickler for details. Loved the commentary after the film.
That Peter Jackson film sounds good. What is the name?
I'm pretty sure she's referring to They Shall Not Grow Old. It really is an amazing piece of restoration by Jackson. He cleaned up the lines and spots, slowed the speed down to normal, colorized it, used lip readers to figure out what the men were saying, and then used voice actors to provide the voices. The background narration is provided by audio recordings made of actual veterans during the 1960s and 1970s. Added sound effects, etc. Really incredible stuff.
That Peter Jackson film sounds good. What is the name?
I'm pretty sure she's referring to They Shall Not Grow Old. It really is an amazing piece of restoration by Jackson. He cleaned up the lines and spots, slowed the speed down to normal, colorized it, used lip readers to figure out what the men were saying, and then used voice actors to provide the voices. The background narration is provided by audio recordings made of actual veterans during the 1960s and 1970s. Added sound effects, etc. Really incredible stuff.
I'm not certain I could get through it. Just the trailer alone has me sniffling.
This movie...
(https://in.bmscdn.com/iedb/movies/images/mobile/listing/xxlarge/widows-et00069914-29-01-2018-10-12-06.jpg)
Sucks. A lot.
The trailer IS NOT the movie. It's a perfect example of a story not knowing what it is. This movie is drunk.
Is it a heist/caper film? A dark-underbelly political thriller? The exploration of a failing family dynasty? An exposé of urban poverty and gang violence? A homage to dark 70's dramas? A feel-good feminist empowerment story? Sort of, yeah, but no, not really...
It's so all over the place as to make zero sense. The writing is terrible, the pacing is bad - and the tone couldn't have been more consistently morose if it was directed by Zack Snyder. Oh...and any attempt at being socially relevant (woke) fails miserably because the characters are about as cliché as humanly possible. The film relies heavily on either the actor's previous roles, as was the case with Liam Neisen, or audience expectations for the grossly stereotypical character types presented, to fill in their back stories. Viola Davis...yes, THAT Viola Davis, would have been right at home saying, "I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere." She is so flat, wooden and single note that we have no choice but to blame the director, who is also responsible for how hamfistedly predictable the movie is. The scenes feel like they've been lifted from other, really good movies and rearranged into this f*cking mess. Yo...directors: before you go all Kubrik on our ass with camera angles and lighting and other clever sh*t, put together a decent story. K? K?? Guardians did it - twice!
This movie pissed me off because the premise sounded so cool. It promised one thing, but gave me something else, something I didn't want. (marketing tip)
AND...AND...they hurt a dog. Duh fuque?
:rant
Watched this one last night...
(https://djqh0pophbxqy.cloudfront.net/wpdata/images/85857-m.jpg)
Rating: 3/10
Terrible directing. Terrible writing. Terrible acting.
Consider this a PSA.
Space flight was made to look like an absolute misery – and maybe it was – a cross between being stuck inside a washing machine on the spin-cycle and in a vacuum cleaner.
I thought Cabin in the Woods was rather so-so, but don't remember enough about it to remember why :).
Space flight was made to look like an absolute misery – and maybe it was – a cross between being stuck inside a washing machine on the spin-cycle and in a vacuum cleaner.
Imagine driving in a mini-van for a week with two other guys and having to wash with wet towels, pee out the window, and poop in ziploc bags that you store in a box in the back until you get home. And only being able to go outside for one day half-way through the trip... while wearing SCUBA gear.
It may also be that Cameron has the stronger influence (both professional and personal) to push actors to their emotional limits. From reading the interviews, it seems like some of the actors came away from The Abyss with a deep hatred for the way they were treated.
I saw Captain Marvel. It had its humorous moments, and most of the fight scenes were blessedly shorter than the interminable ones in Avengers and Guardians, and...all the rest. I'm eager to see Captain Marvel punch out Thanos in about a second. He's totally boring.
Saw this one last night, when it came to the Redbox. Pretty good movie. I look forward to the next one.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZjFiMGUzMTAtNDAwMC00ZjRhLTk0OTUtMmJiMzM5ZmVjODQxXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMDM2NDM2MQ@@._V1_.jpg)
Given I have the flu
Given I have the flu
Sorry to hear that. Hope you get well soon. :Healing:
(https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/36/590x/spider-man-into-the-spider-verse-dvd-blu-ray-release-date-1092884.jpg?r=1551210600886)I LOVED this movie.
:tup3b :tup3b :tup3b
It was about as bad as the title would suggest.
It was about as bad as the title would suggest.
I liked Bumblebee. grint
Trapped in an inescapable family setting, I was recently coerced into watching Hacksaw Ridge. The movie is war-porn from start to finish. I kept my eyes closed most of the time. When considering the torture-porn in Passion of the Christ, it seems to me that Mel Gibson is f*cked up and that the fetish for violence among his fans is an indication that they need psychoanalysis.
(https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/36/590x/Avengers-Endgame-review-1117789.jpg?r=1556099235473)
One thumbs-up for every hour...so good!
:tup3b :tup3b :tup3b
Do you have any actors in mind for your characters?
Trapped in an inescapable family setting, I was recently coerced into watching Hacksaw Ridge. The movie is war-porn from start to finish. I kept my eyes closed most of the time. When considering the torture-porn in Passion of the Christ, it seems to me that Mel Gibson is f*cked up and that the fetish for violence among his fans is an indication that they need psychoanalysis.
Ready Player One.
It was good. Not great, but good. Would watch again. As one born in the 1970s, I enjoyed the 1980s nostalgia. :cool:
The last movie I watched was -
Really enjoyed it, despite the critical panning from some quarters of the media. I seem to have also developed a thing for the guy who plays John Deacon.... who turns out was the boy from the first Jurassic Park movie.
We saw this a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed it. I didn't know about the sanitizing complaints. How much did people want to see? When he told the band he was HIV positive and that he just wanted to make as much music as possible in the time he had left, I thought the movie honored that sentiment. I really enjoyed the sequences where they were composing the songs.The last movie I watched was -
Really enjoyed it, despite the critical panning from some quarters of the media. I seem to have also developed a thing for the guy who plays John Deacon.... who turns out was the boy from the first Jurassic Park movie.
I just saw this. I know, I'm always late to the party. I did enjoy it, although I could see what critics meant about sanitizing parts of Mercury's lifestyle. On the other hand, we don't need to see every detail to get the general idea. I thought Rami Malek was excellent as Mercury and of course, the music was fantastic.
Went to a matinee showing of Crawl. Suprisingly great! I enjoy monster/creature movies, even the cheesy ones, but this one had unusually good pacing and had me jumping out of my seat on the regular.
I am Mother was okay. I'm currently on episode 7 of Another Life and it's great. :-)
No kidding. I read some of the Another Life reviews and wondered if I was even watching the same show. Crazy. :-)
The funny thing is that a lot of the gripes of a lot of the reviewers are the exact reasons I like the show.
I'm a huge fan of Buffy, so it's not like I can't watch TV with young 'uns. This one was just too jarring. (There was another show recently with the same problem, and I dumped that too.)
There was an ep of Stargate SG1 where they suggested all kinds of wacky ideas for a fictional TV show based on the actual TV show. One of them was millenials playing the SG1 team, and after a brief clip the real team just went... nope. I can't watch a show like Another Life without remembering that ep, alas.
Love SG. Still miss it. :)
I am Mother didn't really do a lot for me once the twists came. It felt kind of stupid to be honest, but I do know a lot of people really love that one and think it was deep and moving. I'm just contrary I guess. :) I did like the build up of suspense--that was really well done.
No kidding. I read some of the Another Life reviews and wondered if I was even watching the same show. Crazy. :-)
The funny thing is that a lot of the gripes of a lot of the reviewers are the exact reasons I like the show.
I'm a huge fan of Buffy, so it's not like I can't watch TV with young 'uns. This one was just too jarring. (There was another show recently with the same problem, and I dumped that too.)
There was an ep of Stargate SG1 where they suggested all kinds of wacky ideas for a fictional TV show based on the actual TV show. One of them was millenials playing the SG1 team, and after a brief clip the real team just went... nope. I can't watch a show like Another Life without remembering that ep, alas.
Ditto. Also adds to the list of reasons to despise Syfy. Grrr. :evil2:
I kind of have mixed feelings. On the one hand, I kind of like seeing the original creator's vision for a project, seeing the fictional world they envisioned coming to fruition. And Stargate: SG-1 didn't have the creator's involvement. And I liked it a lot. So I feel a bit hypocritical in that regard, because they've talked about doing a reboot or continuation from the original movie by the original creator and I'm like, meh, I want a continuation of the TV series with the creators of the show. It'd be interesting to see what the original creator envisioned, yes, but still I want more SG-1. Or Atlantis or even Universe. So a reboot or whatever, meh.
I certainly had a few questions about plot holesI had a ton of questions about that. I've made up some answers, but even with that, the ending still fell flat for me. I just can't come up with a scenario that makes some of the stuff from the last 1/4 of the movie make sense to me. It was certainly compelling though and didn't look low budget to me. Just TV movie budget., but it was shot on a tiny budget and they did wonders with what they had.
I was so let down when that ended. There still seemed to be so much story there.
I happen to really enjoy reading fan fiction for lots of stuff, and I have to say I'm always amazed at how much I like some if it more than the creator's own version.
On the one hand, I'd like to see some fan fiction written in my universes, but on the other, I think I wouldn't like it all if some of it turned out better than my own work in my own universes. :icon_eek: :icon_mrgreen:
I remember that. Wormhole X-Treme! :icon_rofl: My favorite part was the Farscape parody.
I remember that. Wormhole X-Treme! :icon_rofl: My favorite part was the Farscape parody.
Since I'm also a huge Farscape fan ... agreed! I always liked that the main characters appeared in both shows.
Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood. I think this may be the best Tarantino movie ever. Loved it.
My favorite Tarantino scene:"They call him El."
"Okay, Pei Mei... Here I come."
Just watched Excalibur again for the gazillionth time. Man, what a masterpiece. Boorman is a genius. It seems like I discover something new in that movie every time I watch it. I realized this time that when Percival pulls Excalibur from Mordred's body, the music is the same brass dum-dum from Siegfried's Funeral Music that we heard earlier when Arthur pulled the sword from the stone. The movie begins and ends with Siegfried's Funeral Music, and the torch is passed, too, in the form of possession of Excalibur, via the same brass punctuation in that music.
The movie is full of themes and subtleties, and I love discovering new things about it.
Just watched Excalibur again for the gazillionth time. Man, what a masterpiece. Boorman is a genius. It seems like I discover something new in that movie every time I watch it. I realized this time that when Percival pulls Excalibur from Mordred's body, the music is the same brass dum-dum from Siegfried's Funeral Music that we heard earlier when Arthur pulled the sword from the stone. The movie begins and ends with Siegfried's Funeral Music, and the torch is passed, too, in the form of possession of Excalibur, via the same brass punctuation in that music.
The movie is full of themes and subtleties, and I love discovering new things about it.
The one from the 80's with Nigel Terry as Merlin?
(https://www.filminquiry.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Excalibur3.jpg)
+1
Just watched Excalibur again for the gazillionth time. Man, what a masterpiece. Boorman is a genius. It seems like I discover something new in that movie every time I watch it. I realized this time that when Percival pulls Excalibur from Mordred's body, the music is the same brass dum-dum from Siegfried's Funeral Music that we heard earlier when Arthur pulled the sword from the stone. The movie begins and ends with Siegfried's Funeral Music, and the torch is passed, too, in the form of possession of Excalibur, via the same brass punctuation in that music.
The movie is full of themes and subtleties, and I love discovering new things about it.
The one from the 80's with Nigel Terry as Merlin?
Yes, but Nigel Terry was Arthur. Nicol Williamson was Merlin.
"Are you just a dream, Merlin?"
"A dream to some... a nightmare to others!"
Fun fact: John Boorman originally wanted to film The Lord of the Rings, but that plan proved unworkable, so he did Excalibur instead. Chalk this up as one of those "things that should have been." A Boorman LOTR would have been the bee's knees, in my opinion.
When I was a teenager, I thought the movie was just okay. I thought the anachronistic armor made it kind of cheesy and campy. And some things I just didn't get at all, like the animals gathering around Lancelot and Guinevere during the consummation of their affair. Years later, though, I realized that it's not supposed to be historically accurate or realistic or whatever. It's meant to represent a Romantic ideal. Almost everything in it is symbolic. Once I started watching the movie in that light, it all sort of clicked for me.(https://www.filminquiry.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Excalibur3.jpg)
+1
"I've often thought that in the hereafter of our lives, when I owe no more to the future and can be just a man... that we may meet. You'll come to me, claim me yours, and know that I am your husband. It is a dream I have." :icon_cry:
Some viewers say the big eyes gave them an uncanny valley sensation, but I didn't experience that at all. We know from the start that she's a robot, so the big eyes don't seem unnatural to me; they're just part of the design. In fact, I actually liked the big eyes.
Jeff, I think I'll stick to my sappy Christmas movies.
Bingeing them on Amazon Prime. Trying to stick to one a day and I've still got my classic Christmas movie DVDs.
Jeff, I think I'll stick to my sappy Christmas movies.
Bingeing them on Amazon Prime. Trying to stick to one a day and I've still got my classic Christmas movie DVDs.
Good idea. 'tis the season, after all.
I have a few favorite Christmas movies that I try to watch every year to get me in the mood. They're not really sappy, though. They're Die Hard, Trading Places, and Death Race. :icon_mrgreen:
I've never seen Death Race
A great example of what can be done with a couple of camcorders and a budget that includes a few cases of beer.
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I did a search for "Cannonball Run," and one of the first links to pop up was a Dailymotion link where someone had uploaded the whole 1981 movie. I'd never seen it before, believe it or not, so I figured "why not?" and decided to watch it.
When it comes to taste, my sensibilities are almost always in line with the audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes, not the critics' scores. On rare occasions, though, the opposite happens, and that's the case here.
This movie is bad. :icon_sad:
It was a guilty pleasure at the time. I don't think anyone really thought it was good, but it was entertaining. Comedy can be pretty "of the time" and this was a middling one even then.
Knives Out.
RESET is a non-commercial, feature-length film made by a dedicated cast and crew for the simple love of filmmaking and storytelling. This original story was made with a near-zero budget and relies on the strength of that story and the talents of everyone involved.
Please let us know what you think - show us your thumb and leave a comment.
I absolutely agree. I wasn't expecting world-class writing. I'm susceptible to "guilty pleasure" movies, though, and I was hoping I'd like it for that reason. It just didn't happen for me. :shrug
At lunch time today, I watched the 1956 sci-fi Forbidden Planet. It stars Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, and Leslie Nielsen and although corny in places, it was ground-breaking at the time. Plus, that classic robot that appears in so many movies and some episodes of Lost in Space (as an evil robot, I think) features in the movie.
Last month I watched movies that friends had a hand in. About 15 years ago, one of my students told me he wanted to work in movies, and I told him to dream big, work hard, and one day he'll send me a photo of himself with an Oscar. A few years ago he sent me a photo of him holding two Oscars for Hacksaw Ridge - he was on the small sound editing and editing team that won the Oscars. His team also worked on The Dressmaker and The Railwayman, so I watched them, too. Other friends worked on or in Red Dog, Australia, Racing Stripes, War Horse, Charlotte's Web, Storm Boy, Tomorrow When the War Began, The Great Gatsby (not the Robert Redford one), and some others, so, even though I'd seen them all before, I had an enjoyable time watching movies that somehow involve friends. It seemed as good a theme as any.
Happens. Even with classics. I have a feeling I'd love The Wild Bunch to this day if I'd first watched it in the eighties the way I still love Pale Rider or True Grit (original) but I didn't get to it until a couple years ago and I was too late to the party. And others will surprise you like The Apartment or African Queen. Never know.
We were so optimistic about AI back then. That lasted until HAL 9000 came along. Then we got Ash from Alien, and Maximilian in The Black Hole, and The Terminator, and The Matrix, and so on. We've basically convinced ourselves that AI will destroy us. We're probably right.
I'm glad that, once more, Star Trek were ahead of their time and granted Data the status of a life-form.
6 Underground on Netflix.
The only one remaining is Die Hard. Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs... :cool:
The only one remaining is Die Hard. Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs... :cool:
"Nine million terrorists in the world and I gotta kill one with smaller feet than my sister."
I'm also watching the usual Christmas movie lineup. Death Race and Trading Places are out of the way. The only one remaining is Die Hard. Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs... :cool:
I'm also watching the usual Christmas movie lineup. Death Race and Trading Places are out of the way. The only one remaining is Die Hard. Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs... :cool:
Don't forget Lethal Weapon. That's a Christmas movie, too. grint
I'm also watching the usual Christmas movie lineup. Death Race and Trading Places are out of the way. The only one remaining is Die Hard. Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs... :cool:
Don't forget Lethal Weapon. That's a Christmas movie, too. grint
My two sons, aware that I usually did my viewing on a tiny television in the corner of the room and that I'd got the idea everything was currently filmed in the dark, got together to give me a much bigger set for Christmas, so I've been enjoying some movies on the larger screen - I must admit it makes most things look better, except that one quiz show presenter now seems to have a chronic skin condition!
The best movie I've watched so far was definitely 'Bridge of Spies'. I love the Cold War detail - although I lived through the 60s I now realise that events such as the Gary Powers incident didn't make a lot of sense to me at the time. Although I remember we were all terrified at the time of the Cuban crisis.
Now, I think that it's the best Star Wars movie, even though it's not my favorite.
Now, I think that it's the best Star Wars movie, even though it's not my favorite.
Same here. I'm not sure which one I like best, but if I had to pick one right now, I'd probably go with ROTJ. But I think ESB is hands down the best-written and best-filmed episode.
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I watched this last night. OMG. The Beatles were so young, and the film was gloriously politically incorrect. They looked like they were having such fun sending up their image, and the music took me right back to 1964. Brilliant.
Movies I enjoyed the most this year:Forgot to mention Saving Private Ryan and The Terminal.
Bumblebee, Baby Driver, Skyscraper, The Magnificent Seven (2016), Aliens in the Attic, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Into the Storm (2014), Death Wish (2018), Six Days Seven Nights.
1917.
Fairly harrowing, but astonishing filmmaking that's basically real-time with no cuts.
I can't wait to see it. Mendes is a great storyteller.
I can't wait to see it. Mendes is a great storyteller.
SPECTRE is the exception that proves the rule. :hehe
Knives Out.
I expected to like it more. It was okay.
I'd rate it a 5.
I feel the same way. Many are calling it a throwback to classic detectives but I thought it was more of the same "What really happened? Oh, here's what happened even though I didn't set it up". It's not like he left actual clues beyond some obvious hand waving. I think it's another example of Rian Johnson spending too much time showing how clever he is and not enough time telling a cohesive story. Brick was pretentious and unrealistic, Looper was a great idea that fell back on common tropes, and The Last Jedi is full of missed opportunities for great storytelling both in general and within the Star Wars universe. His pacing in all his movies is inconsistent.
I'm curious what part of Ford v Ferrari you found cheesy.
Checking out Outbreak, a movie about the viral threat that, it increasingly seems, the media wished they could report on.
It's on Netflix
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Artemis Fowl... what a let down. The books came out when I was in middle school, so it's been a while but I know that aint it.Oh I was going to tell my friend about that one. Her kid was mad for those books.
We watched John Wick last night. Won't be watching the second one.
I don't mind a good revenge flick but this was definitely lacking in plot, character development, dialogue, the occasional funny one liner, dry, dark or not. Typically I get upset when the characters seem like real people. These were just all cardboard cutouts. The most interesting part of the movie was when the assassin who broke the rules got killed at a place that Microsoft had as a screen saver this week. My husband likes the Kill Bill Movies but he didn't think much of this one.We watched John Wick last night. Won't be watching the second one.
The John Wick films are definitely targeted to a niche audience.
Personally, I love 'em. But my wife does not (to put it mildly).
My husband likes the Kill Bill Movies but he didn't think much of this one.
Artemis Fowl... what a let down. The books came out when I was in middle school, so it's been a while but I know that aint it.Oh I was going to tell my friend about that one. Her kid was mad for those books.
We watched John Wick last night. Won't be watching the second one.
Artemis Fowl was just a terrible movie, from the directing, to acting, to pacing, to structure, to plot, to characterization, to you name it. I can't believe Disney released it like that. It was a complete mess - even worse than Rise of Skywalker, which is actually saying quite a lot. On the other hand...
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:tup3b
Best movie I've seen recently I got from Redbox: Ford vs Ferrari (2019, Damon and Bale). It's terrific! 🥳👍
I want to see both of those, but we just wait till we can get it for free. DVDs from the library aren't a great option now.Best movie I've seen recently I got from Redbox: Ford vs Ferrari (2019, Damon and Bale). It's terrific! 🥳👍
I loved it as well. Like Ad Astra, which I recently watched (see above), I feel like Ford vs. Ferrari did an excellent job of not over playing the race scenes, (and in Ad Astra, not overplaying the sci-fi gimmicky-ness) going for realistic as opposed to trying to push the viewers pulse rate up with unrealistic action scenes.
Great story to boot.
It just depends, a lot of people like it, obviously. It was a lot of fight/kill many people scenes in a row. Just got boring for us. To give you an example of our taste we liked Wonder Woman, up until the end, then I was saying "You're the god killer, killer him already" and my husband fell asleep. I don't mind fight scenes, or gun fights or car chase sequences, but when they go on for twenty minutes and then 5 minutes later, oh look another one, I'm out. There's something out there for everyone. And sorry to disagree, but Point Break was all Swayze. :)Artemis Fowl... what a let down. The books came out when I was in middle school, so it's been a while but I know that aint it.Oh I was going to tell my friend about that one. Her kid was mad for those books.
We watched John Wick last night. Won't be watching the second one.
Kids might like it. Kids who grew up probably won't.
Oh, really? That's on my list. I've heard so many good things. Point Break is one of those movies I saw when I was younger, and I watched it a bazillion times, so I have a soft spot for Keanu.
...but Point Break was all Swayze. :)
There's something out there for everyone. And sorry to disagree, but Point Break was all Swayze. :)
I'm putting baby in the corner and forgetting all about her
Watched Wargames on offer from YouTube Movies. Not the first time I've seen it, of course, but it popped up in the recommendation sidebar while I was watching something else, and it was "free with ads," so I figured why not. It's always good for a re-watch.
And I love that opening scene. "Turn your key, sir!" :icon_eek:
Watched Wargames on offer from YouTube Movies. Not the first time I've seen it, of course, but it popped up in the recommendation sidebar while I was watching something else, and it was "free with ads," so I figured why not. It's always good for a re-watch.
And I love that opening scene. "Turn your key, sir!" :icon_eek:
(https://www.joblo.com/assets/images/oldsite/posters/images/full/killer-joe-first-poster.jpg)
Currently on Hulu (https://www.hulu.com/movie/killer-joe-53571f3a-8adf-4e8e-832b-df43d197cbe0).
Directed by William Friedkin and written by Tracy Letts. It's unsettling in the same way Bug was (directed and written by the same duo).
Matthew McConaughey is excellent.
FYI: It's NC-17. And not just because of the sexual content. There's brutal violence, too.
(https://www.joblo.com/assets/images/oldsite/posters/images/full/killer-joe-first-poster.jpg)
Currently on Hulu (https://www.hulu.com/movie/killer-joe-53571f3a-8adf-4e8e-832b-df43d197cbe0).
Directed by William Friedkin and written by Tracy Letts. It's unsettling in the same way Bug was (directed and written by the same duo).
Matthew McConaughey is excellent.
FYI: It's NC-17. And not just because of the sexual content. There's brutal violence, too.
Really liked this one. The subject matter of Bug sounded dull by comparison so I gave it a pass. Should I reconsider?
Shannon is pretty great. Oy, Take Shelter! (I dare you to love Man Of Steel, though...)
All right. You've sold me. I'll throw it on the cue.
ETA: Netflix predicts I will give it 2.5 stars. :shrug
Smart storytelling that begins with a great premise. Most films these days could use more of those ingredients.
Speaking of Man of Steel, Zack Snyder is one of those directors that I really want to like, especially after Watchmen (loved it). But he keeps swinging and missing.
Speaking of Man of Steel, Zack Snyder is one of those directors that I really want to like, especially after Watchmen (loved it). But he keeps swinging and missing.
I feel the same, though the jabs at Joss Whedon during this whole Snyder Cut affair tarnish it some for me.
But he's got a great eye. Watchmen missed the mark a little for me because he seemed to overlook the far from subtle subtext of the source, but Dawn of the Dead and 300 both kind of blew me away. Even Sucker Punch had some unforgettable imagery, but boy did it expose his weaknesses as a storyteller that have dogged everything he's made since.
A terrific little gem.
RE: Thunder RoadA terrific little gem.
Agreed. I watched it recently too and really enjoyed it. Jim Cummings followup is Wolf of Snow Hollow which I've heard is very different in tone, but equally good. I've got it on my Netflix DVD list for when it releases next month and you can rent it now. I expect eventually it'll make Prime, but I'm not waiting. :)
Also, never, skip the trailers.
Others are terrible. I'll never forgive the people who made the trailer for The Matrix.
Others are terrible. I'll never forgive the people who made the trailer for The Matrix.
I'm guessing you're in the minority there.
I thought it was a spectacular trailer. All the plot is in there (upon review after seeing it) but it's cut together in such a way that it's disguised by the "what is the matrix?"/"You can't be told; you have to see it for yourself." theme. It's such a strong mystery hook, it's JJ Abrams porn.
The End of the Affair. Well done. Now I want to read the book.
Recently binged Broadchurch - Classic British crime serial, well worth the time.
Just started season three of The Fall - Hardcore British crime psychological drama. Gillian Anderson (X-Files) surprised me with her understated acting. Caution, there are long passages without dialog but it all seems to flow.
... they fail spectacularly at pacing....
... they fail spectacularly at pacing....
Agreed. However, I always seem to come back to: Is it the pacing or is it my learned expectation of instant gratification?
This isn't a movie, but I'm putting it here anyway...
Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones
This isn't a movie, but I'm putting it here anyway...
Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones
And after that...
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This one made me laugh and cry.
A lot of people seem to have missed the points he made because he was all kinds of offensive as usual, which to an extent I understand, but it's a shame because they're good ones, and he ended on the highest note.
Chapelle is great, but stays right in that lane of comedy intended to make the audiences uncomfortable. The reaction is no surprise.
I watched "The Mole Agent" a documentary where a private detective hires an 80 year old employee for the purpose of going undercover in a nursing home to investigate allegations of abuse. Without spoiling anything, it's not that dark. The message is ultimately really sweet and the protagonist is awesome.
Chapelle is great, but stays right in that lane of comedy intended to make the audiences uncomfortable. The reaction is no surprise.
I'm looking forward to watching The Closer.
I didn't realize until last night that Chappelle had so many stand-up shows on Netflix (I don't normally watch this type of content).
I watched Once Upon A Time In The West last night.
What are the better westerns out there - ones that might hold up?
No Time To Die (James Bond)
Middling among the Daniel Craig era Bond films. Aside from one sequence in Cuba with an extended cameo from Ana De Armas it's Quantum Of Solace territory.
Funny how I bailed on so many franchises I once faithfully followed....
Star Wars after I sawA New Hope remakeThe Force Awakens with Mary Sue Ray
Eh...
Funny how I bailed on so many franchises I once faithfully followed....
Star Wars after I sawA New Hope remakeThe Force Awakens with Mary Sue Ray
Star Trek (reboot) after I sawThe Wrath of Khan remakeInto Darkness. Cumberbatch ain't no Montalban
James Bond after I saw the Daniel Craig version of Spectre. Blofeld was never so bland.
I gave up on The Hobbit after #2... How can you make 3 movies out of Tolkien's shortest book? Of course, invented characters like Tauriel didn't help
I probably won't watch Daniel Villeneuve's Dune. The danger signals are there for anyone to see. I first read Dune in the late 70s and have a deep attachment to Frank Herbert's vision.
Meh. I'm a cranky old man and can't stand anything that comes out of Hollywierd anymore, especially Disney properties.
For PJ Post on Westerns.
The Outlaw Josey Wales.
Whoever turned me on to The Highwaymen with Costner....big thanks!
Have watched it 3x.
So atmospheric. For once East Texas looked like East Texas.
For long form Western.....Lonesome Dove.
Edited to add another recommendation. Mongol. Free on YouTube.
I haven't seen any of the Hobbit movies, nor will I. As soon as I heard it was going to be a trilogy, I knew it was going to wildly diverge from the book. The internet confirmed my suspicions.
Watched this last night...
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A fantastic slow-burn mystery. Taylor Sheridan is a talented storyteller. And Renner and Olsen are great, as usual. I've now watched it twice. I'll surely watch it again at some point.
Currently on Netflix.
That’s a bummer. Casino Royale and Skyfall were so good, the sequence was one good one bad and repeat so i thought they might go out on a high note.
News of the World - Fairly routine Western but enjoyable. Pushes no boundaries, takes no chances.
Red River. Just showed up on Kanopy so I gave it a shot. It's revered as Howard Hawks masterpiece and one of the best westerns ever. Sadly, it didn't hold up for me. I can't even figure out what the appeal was at the time. All due to Wayne's somewhat unexpected character arc, perhaps? Not sure.
Sorry you didn't like Red River. It was made in 1948 but I probably didn't see it until the late 50s early 60s. And I probably watched it with my dad who had most likely seen it on the big screen. It's been one of my favorites ever since.
Sorry you didn't like Red River. It was made in 1948 but I probably didn't see it until the late 50s early 60s. And I probably watched it with my dad who had most likely seen it on the big screen. It's been one of my favorites ever since.
Certainly not your fault. It's been on my list to catch up with since well before you mentioned it. I figured you saw it fairly young. I'm mildly interested in what in particular stood out for you vs other westerns, but won't press. You don't need to defend it or anything. :)
Through today's lens, it portrays its female characters rather poorly, basically as insane props who exist only to lust for their chosen man who mostly couldn't care less about them. And the emotional resolution of the conflict was unintentionally rushed/funny which made it rather unsatisfying. (To be fair, the treatment of non-white characters was better than average for the time, the cattle drive setting is unique, and the Wayne character arc is atypical for him.)
I found it interesting that "Writer Borden Chase readily admitted that the storyline was Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) with saddles and stirrups."
Blood Red Sky
A bunch of hijackers on an overseas flight don't realize one of the passengers also happens to be a vampire.
Love the premise. The movie doesn't quite live up to it, IMO.
It's on Netflix.
Watched The Sting a few days ago. I've seen it before a number of times, but only on television. I recently bought the DVD, and this was my first time watching it on disk.
It's still a great movie. Grin
Every time someone mentions The Sting, I regret that I never got around to seeing it. Maybe I'll remember this weekend.
Every time someone mentions The Sting, I regret that I never got around to seeing it. Maybe I'll remember this weekend.
I hope you do. And if you do, please come back to this thread and post your thoughts about it.
Newman and Redford put in great performances, but for my money, Robert Shaw takes the cake.
And, of course, I love that Scott Joplin music. :band:
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Solid film. 7/10. It won't win Oscars (does anyone care about Oscars anymore?), but it's good entertainment if you like the John Wick films.
With a 90-minute runtime, there's minimal fluff.
Currently on HBO Max.
RT page (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/nobody_2021).
Watched The Sting a few days ago. I've seen it before a number of times, but only on television. I recently bought the DVD, and this was my first time watching it on disk.
It's still a great movie. Grin
Watched The Sting a few days ago. I've seen it before a number of times, but only on television. I recently bought the DVD, and this was my first time watching it on disk.
It's still a great movie. Grin
:heart: I have the album and a book with all the music! Can hardly play it anymore.
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Solid film. 7/10.
Thanks for the heads up, Jeff. Not that I would watch anything like The Protege anyway.
Give me something that I can laugh at like Cat Ballou. Funny from beginning to end. Lee Marvin won an Oscar and he said the horse deserved half of it.
There's probably an awesome "female assassin" movie out there somewhere, but this ain't it.
There's probably an awesome "female assassin" movie out there somewhere, but this ain't it.
I'm not sure there is, at least not a modern one. La Femme Nikita and Kill Bill are great but 30 and 20 years old respectively.
The Kill Bill movies have a lot of great scenes, and I consider the movies on the whole to be "almost great," but they could have been edited down a bit, in my opinion. I'm especially not a fan of the animated flashback stuff.
One of my favorite sequences in any movie ever is the two "buried alive" scenes bookending the "cruel tutelage of Pai Mei" scene. It's a whole hero's journey in and of itself. It's just fantastic.
The Ten Commandments. Yeah, it's that time of year again.
It's still epic and visually spectacular. Yul Brynner still looks like the baddest dude on the block. :cool:
(https://i.postimg.cc/8c7wvVj8/yul-brynner-250.gif) (https://postimages.org/)
I watched War Games (again) last night and the thing that most struck me as being outdated (apart from the modem) was the computer security. I found it unbelievable that he could log into Norad using just someone's first name, whereas I had to set up a new Google account not long ago because I couldn't get past the 2-factor authentication on the old one.
I still like the movie though.
I watched War Games (again) last night and the thing that most struck me as being outdated (apart from the modem) was the computer security. I found it unbelievable that he could log into Norad using just someone's first name, whereas I had to set up a new Google account not long ago because I couldn't get past the 2-factor authentication on the old one.
I still like the movie though.
Ronald Reagan, a former Hollywood star, screened WarGames at Camp David the weekend it was released, and it freaked him out. As Slate’s Fred Kaplan described in his book Dark Territory: The Secret History of Cyber War, Reagan brought it up a few day later at a White House meeting that included the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and asked, “Could something like this really happen? Could someone break into our most sensitive computers?” The answer came back a week later: “Mr. President, the problem is much worse than you think.” That led not only to a significant revamp of how computer security was handled at the Defense Department, but also passage of an anti-hacking law that would eventually evolve into our current Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Clips of WarGames were shown during the congressional hearings where lawmakers debated the need for hacking legislation.
I'm rewatching Lord of the Rings. I'm on The Two Towers. Forgot how long they were and I don't know how I sat through three hours in the theater.
I'll probably watch The Rings of Power.
I'm rewatching Lord of the Rings. I'm on The Two Towers. Forgot how long they were and I don't know how I sat through three hours in the theater.
The theatrical versions were significantly shorter than the extended versions. I saw the movies in the theater, but I also have the DVDs, and I only watch the extended versions now. Even though they're longer, they're better, so they don't feel long.
I would also add that the DVDs came with bonus discs that offer a wealth of behind-the-scenes info, and those bonus discs are amazing in their own right.QuoteI'll probably watch The Rings of Power.
Good luck. Reviews have not been good so far. Not surprising when you see the writers' practically nonexistent resumes.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4259881/?ref_=tt_ov_wr
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4260438/?ref_=tt_ov_wr
For the amount of money Amazon is spending on this, they should have had Milius and Spielberg collaborating on it. :icon_rolleyes:
Watched the second episode of Rings of Power. I particularly enjoyed the dwarves and Elrond.
Watched the second episode of Rings of Power. I particularly enjoyed the dwarves and Elrond.
👍Agree. Elrond's visit to Khazad-dum and scenes with the dwarves Durin and Disa are easily the best part of the series so far.
Visuals are great in the series.
The Harfoots are entertaining.
Arondir (not a lore character; created for the series -- in a drug-induced haze I suspect) is a blight on the series and all that's good and decent in the world.
Galadriel vacillates between being rather boring and a bit of a bitch. Maybe she'll improve as she spends more time in Middle Earth. Worried that her and Halbrand (not a lore character; made for the series) are going to start banging given some of their scenes. That'd end the series for me as by the time of the show -- midway through the second age -- Galadriel has been married to Celeborn (absent from the series so far) for more than 1500 years and she's still married to him thousands of years later in the third age in which LOTR occurs.
The pacing is a bit slow, largely owing to cameras lingering for effect on still, non-speaking faces time and time again (soap opera style melodrama? or brazenly trying to stretch running time? 🤷♂️)
Overall it's ok. If Galadriel lightens up and Arondir dies a horrible, agonizing death it'd improve to good. If they veer back a bit and stay in the lanes of Tolkien lore it might turn out great.
Just watched the first two episodes of Andor on ABC. If this is an example of what I'm missing out on by not subscribing to Disney+, I'm glad I'm not subscribing to Disney+.
Just watched the first two episodes of Andor on ABC. If this is an example of what I'm missing out on by not subscribing to Disney+, I'm glad I'm not subscribing to Disney+.
Andor has turned out to be really good. Very non-Disney. Very old scifi.
Long Hot Summer--an oldie but a goodie. Makes me want to read the story.
Long Hot Summer--an oldie but a goodie. Makes me want to read the story.
One of my favorites but which movie version? The Paul Newman or Don Johnson? I LOVED the Don Johnson made-for-tv one. I have it on DVD.
And yeah, can't go wrong with a classic!