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Post by masterofallgoons on Apr 18, 2024 17:52:38 GMT
You know what would make for a funny sequel to Cast Away? Him trying to secure a car loan or rent an apartment after getting back. Having been gone for 4 years, and legally declared dead, he has no "recent payment history" so his credit would be in the shitter. Even faced with a logical explanation, credit reporting agencies are some of the most myopic people on the planet. No way in hell FexEx is footing the bill. Although I guess if it took place today, he could launch a GoFundMe and do pretty well. Reminds me of this scene.
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Post by Rey Kahuka on Apr 22, 2024 12:32:14 GMT
I am tackling the 3 Body Problem, a new science fiction show on Netflix, based on the eponymous book by Chinese author Cixin Liu. The book had been on my radar since it became a worldwide success a few years ago but only now with the release of the TV show did I finally get around to reading it. I enjoyed it well enough so next step is watching the show. First episode (of eight) was pretty good. Started this a few weeks back but haven't kept up with it. Maybe three episodes in, I can't remember. My favorite scene so far was first contact with the aliens. "You're lucky I received your message first. I am a pacifist. If anyone else sees this, we will come and conquer your planet. Do not reply." And the embittered woman who has lost faith in humanity tells them to come conquer us. The story works not only as a worst case scenario for first contact with aliens, but also as a commentary on the dangers of advanced technology, and how easily it could be used for catastrophic effect if put into the wrong hands. I don't love the video game aspect of the storytelling, but as it's the eye candy and probably the selling point of the show, I suppose it's necessary until (if/when) the aliens show up. I have to get caught up on a few other shows, but I'll circle back to this one.
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Post by Jep Gambardella on Apr 22, 2024 13:39:44 GMT
I am tackling the 3 Body Problem, a new science fiction show on Netflix, based on the eponymous book by Chinese author Cixin Liu. The book had been on my radar since it became a worldwide success a few years ago but only now with the release of the TV show did I finally get around to reading it. I enjoyed it well enough so next step is watching the show. First episode (of eight) was pretty good. Started this a few weeks back but haven't kept up with it. Maybe three episodes in, I can't remember. My favorite scene so far was first contact with the aliens. "You're lucky I received your message first. I am a pacifist. If anyone else sees this, we will come and conquer your planet. Do not reply." And the embittered woman who has lost faith in humanity tells them to come conquer us. The story works not only as a worst case scenario for first contact with aliens, but also as a commentary on the dangers of advanced technology, and how easily it could be used for catastrophic effect if put into the wrong hands. I don't love the video game aspect of the storytelling, but as it's the eye candy and probably the selling point of the show, I suppose it's necessary until (if/when) the aliens show up. I have to get caught up on a few other shows, but I'll circle back to this one.
The video game gets far more page time than it gets screen time. In the book, there are more levels and the progression in the understanding of the "Three-body problem" is described in more detail. It works in the book, but it was probably a good idea to trim it mercilessly for TV.
I haven't finished it yet but I am still enjoying it. I hope the rumours about Netflix pulling the plug on a second season are not true. I haven't read the second book yet, but my brother says he's liked it even more than the first.
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Post by Jep Gambardella on Apr 28, 2024 4:34:17 GMT
I tried to watch Under the Skin (Jonathan Glazer, 2013) mostly because I was impressed by the director’s most recent film, Zone of Interest, but also because I had read that Scarlett Johansson appears naked in it. I think we are all men in this thread so I can admit to it.
From the start I was rhetorically asking myself “what the fuck is this” but I tried my best to stick with it, hoping that things would fall into place eventually. One hour in and I decided to cut my losses. There is only so much I can take of watching Scarlett Johansson drive around in a van picking up men to consume in some bizarre way.
If anyone has seen it and enjoyed it, an explanation of what I missed would be appreciated.
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Post by masterofallgoons on Apr 28, 2024 13:30:49 GMT
I tried to watch Under the Skin (Jonathan Glazer, 2013) mostly because I was impressed by the director’s most recent film, Zone of Interest, but also because I had read that Scarlett Johansson appears naked in it. I think we are all men in this thread so I can admit to it. From the start I was rhetorically asking myself “what the fuck is this” but I tried my best to stick with it, hoping that things would fall into place eventually. One hour in and I decided to cut my losses. There is only so much I can take of watching Scarlett Johansson drive around in a van picking up men to consume in some bizarre way. If anyone has seen it and enjoyed it, an explanation of what I missed would be appreciated. I liked it, but Klaw was the real champion for this title. He encouraged me to watch it while I encouraged him to watch Almodavar's The Skin I Live In. I'll let him explain what he appreciates about it, but I like a cryptic and artsy dark meditation like this. It ends up paying off in odd ways too. I'm glad I gave it a shot.
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Post by Rey Kahuka on Apr 30, 2024 15:27:04 GMT
Ended up seeing The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024) last week. It was a fun little romp, typical of Guy Ritchie's other films. The cast was solid and though the villain was a bit cartoonish, I think that was the point. Virtually all of the violence in the entire film is played for laughs. It wasn't quite as, I don't know, rip-roaring as I thought it would be, but it was enjoyable, nonetheless. And yes, I was that annoying guy that leans over and tells his wife Ian Fleming is the author of the Bond books when Fleming shows up as a character in the film. It's worth a watch if you usually get a kick out of Ritchie's films, though I have to admit, I might have liked it better as a more serious action/thriller.
Separate topic, but a continuation of a previous conversation in the thread. There was a woman in the concession line wearing a MAGA hat and it took me five seconds to guess she was there to watch Civil War (I listened to the usher direct her to her theater to confirm). She's exactly the person I was talking about earlier in the thread, either ignoring or misinterpreting the probable message of that film. Most rational people (including, surely, the filmmakers) understand that Civil War is and would be terrible, and while it's unlikely here in the modern US, it sadly is still not an impossible scenario, as the two political parties become more extreme and their most radical followers start treating political ideologies as some kind of holy war.
Not to stray into politics too far, I'm going to focus on this particular woman in the MAGA hat. Here is someone clearly stating they are in favor of this imaginary Civil War. It's like cosplayers who go to Star Wars movies, or a guy in face paint at a football game. You're sending a message loud and clear that you're into this shit. Think about that for a second. Someone is enthusiastic for a breakdown in our society so extreme as to become an all-out war. Like the football fan, they want you to know who's side they're on in this conflict.
Obviously the film is fictitious and doesn't feature any real politicians as characters. And though I haven't seen Civil War, again I'm assuming the point of the film is a warning not to let things escalate to that point. Come to your senses and drop the 'us vs. them' mentality, particularly regarding your fellow American. Now I'll ask again, what message do you think MAGA lady took from this film?
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Post by sdm3 on Apr 30, 2024 15:51:04 GMT
Ended up seeing The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024) last week. We were supposed to see this today (currently abroad) but the plans didn't work out. Looks pretty good. Nothing good, I'll bet. MAGA lady was probably rooting for Jesse Plemons.
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Post by klawrencio79 on Apr 30, 2024 17:21:05 GMT
On a flight home yesterday, I watched Blackberry (2023), which is a fictionalized account of the meteoric rise and precipitous fall of BlackBerry back in the early-mid 00s. This seems to be a popular means of generating movies and shows now that 80s nostalgia has started to fade - the corporate docudrama. I really liked The Dropout (the one about Elizabeth Holmes starring Amanda Seyfried), the Uber one was pretty good, and I really really wanted to like this one solely due to the cast, led by Glenn Howerton who is giving his absolute all. Howerton is the reason to watch this movie, he's really funny and this is the first time I've seen him in a leading role. The problem is that, as funny as he is, he is completely one note the entire time. Further, while the movie tries to develop its characters through their various ticks, it fails to gel in that regard. For instance, there's a great early scene with Jay Baruchel (who plays the co-founder of the company, Mike Laziridis) where he eschews preparing for a pivotal meeting so he can disassemble and repair an intercom that is buzzing. It's a terrific little nod to his character sans exposition, but that's kinda it. For every character. Jim Balsillie (Howerton) loves hockey, and otherwise he just yells at everyone. There's no real story at all beyond just the plot points. Yeah, it's played for laughs but I found myself largely disinterested towards the end. Plus, Mike Laziridis has an abrupt character shift from one scene to the next and it's pretty jarring and kinda throws the movie off kilter a little. There are certainly worse things to watch, but I didn't like this one as much as I had hoped.
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Post by Rey Kahuka on Apr 30, 2024 17:24:33 GMT
So I finished Shogun the other day and I have to say, it was underwhelming. After a very strong start, the show just kind of meandered along and ended with a whimper. To compare it to GOT, it would almost be like saying, "What if Ned Stark outmaneuvered everyone politically from the outside, and in the end nothing actually happened?" You would call that a boring story. I don't want to call Shogun boring, because the political intrigue and characterization of all involved parties at the beginning was excellent. But it never felt like anyone had an angle that went anywhere, other than Toranaga. And to end it with a five minute exposition scene where he reveals his whole plan, without actually showing the battle the entire series was leading up to is just puzzling.
The final episode is framed as a flashback by a dying elderly John Blackthorne, which is odd because it adds nothing to the story (and in fact works to its detriment by telling us he survived this entire saga), and isn't a technique ever used previously in the series. Why do it there? If the point was to show the wit of Toranaga instead of highlighting his battle prowess, maybe that works better on the page than on the screen. In the end the entire saga comes across as a whole lot of nothing, where scheming characters have hollow agendas that serve as nothing but filler in the big picture. Little to no drama in the final episode, it essentially runs as an hour long epilogue.
The performances were excellent, I just wish the story felt like it went somewhere by the end.
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