Last film you saw, vol. 6

[Parrylakks Neko Samurai Find all posts View Profile Close Parrylakks]

Not sure if you mean that in the good or bad sense. There’s a lot of mixed reviews on it. I think (I’d have to re-watch to make sure) I like it more than Spectre and way more than Quantum of Silence. Without getting spoilerly, it’s certainly big and heavy (maybe too much?).

I mean it in a very very good sense. In regards to the ending, I actually expected it going in, but throughout the film other possibilities seemed to shift expectations until it actually happened. And the journey to that point? Absolutely amazing. The way it weaves in and out of the narrative of previous films was impressive, just as Spectre before it, and that 25 minute opening that was essentially an epilogue to Spectre was shocking. With that jump after the opening credits sequence, almost all sense of being ahead of the plot was lost (except that one big thing that you can guess when she gets on the train). And all that ultimately leads into what is basically the perfect ending for Craig's time as Bond. His has been a franchise tenure I would describe as 4 masterpieces and a stumble (Quantum, obviously).

Never before have we had such an intricately connected series of films within this franchise, and I doubt we will ever see something like it again.

A few years ago, I said that I hope Craig's run ends with [major spoiler] and then the next film returns the franchise to the previous formula, with each entry being a standalone adventure. I think that's exactly what's going to happen now -- especially given the "James Bond Will Return" line remaining at the end of the credits. What it's left us is an amazing 5 film sub franchise that will never be forgotten. I just hope the next actor is up for the challenge of following it up.

As for the mixed reviews, I can understand them. Some of the things that happen may seem a bit too convenient (like the outcome of the party scene), and others that are so far away from what people have come to expect from the franchise beyond Craig's films, but I also think those things is what makes this (and the previous film) so great. It shows us the side of Bond we usually only see hinted at. The Bond we only previously really saw in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and the film knows it. That's why we start on that old familiar road of pain and anguish. That's why we end with the first ever reuse of a previous film's theme song (the basic Bond theme, not withstanding).

They knew what they were doing and they did it well. I applaud them for being willing to do so.

[Space Cop The Dandy Find all posts View Profile Close Space Cop]

Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah:
Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001)

"The New York attack was Godzilla, right?
-That's what all the Americans claim, but our guys have their doubts."

The other 20th.

I mean it in a very very good sense. In regards to the ending, I actually expected it going in, but throughout the film other possibilities seemed to shift expectations until it actually happened. And the journey to that point? Absolutely amazing. . .

They knew what they were doing and they did it well. I applaud them for being willing to do so.

I don't get what the villain's endgame was, but I could've just missed that part.

I could see people being turned off by the very thing you're applauding. [big spoilers]

It's very dark. I mean previously they killed M (and from the book) Bond's first love. Now, Leiter gets it, he's estranged from his new love, finds out he has a daughter he doesn't know and dies. That's bleak. It's also very definitive for a series that avoided being definitive except one time. I could see where that might bother people, but I'm ok with it since it's clearly its own continuity. It is kind of shame they didn't let Pierce do the death of Bond. He had campaigned for that for years.

[Parrylakks Neko Samurai Find all posts View Profile Close Parrylakks]

I don't get what the villain's endgame was, but I could've just missed that part.

He explains himself during that conversation with James while he's holding his daughter captive. He says he's just like Bond, killing the people who need to be eliminated for the good of peace and prosperity, but his methods are much more precise -- "tidier" as he put it.

Looking at the simulation we see from just before that, almost the whole of Europe would be covered, but only a couple of million were being counted as dead. This suggests that only certain types of criminals were being targeted, albeit far more than Bond could ever hope to stop. We aren't told the villain's threshold for crime that makes one worthy of death in this fashion, but it's clear there is one.

We're told and we see just enough to piece it together. He views himself as the hero, referring to both himself and Bond as such, so he was never out to kill everyone. Eliminating Spectre was his test run. Eliminating the rest of the wrongdoers in Europe was going to be his follow up, but Bond prevented that.

As for what he did to Bond to prevent him his happy ending, that was most likely done out of spiteful jealousy, as he admitted to being in love with Bond's wife and had called that specific vile his insurance.

It doesn't hold your hand through these details -- the way Spectre did with Blofeld, or Skyfall did with Silva -- so this might also be part of some people's issue with the film, but it's all there. It's not a clean 'bad guy is bad because x and he wants to do y to achieve z' like many other Bond villains, but the xyz is still defined. You just have to look for it a bit closer (the y, in particular, requires attention).

[Space Cop The Dandy Find all posts View Profile Close Space Cop]

Old (2021)

"We're we fighting about something?
-We were.
Well, whatever it was, I'm not mad anymore. I can't remember, why did we want to leave this beach?"

He explains himself during that conversation with James while he's holding his daughter captive. He says he's just like Bond, killing the people who need to be eliminated for the good of peace and prosperity, but his methods are much more precise -- "tidier" as he put it.

Looking at the simulation we see from just before that, almost the whole of Europe would be covered, but only a couple of million were being counted as dead. This suggests that only certain types of criminals were being targeted, albeit far more than Bond could ever hope to stop. We aren't told the villain's threshold for crime that makes one worthy of death in this fashion, but it's clear there is one...

Got you.

I saw the map, but I didn't catch (or piece together) that it would be say criminals he was targeting. I thought it might be a Thanos (for that matter like Drax in Moonraker) type thing of just wiping out a percentage of the population. The criminal thing makes sense, though, since the whole point was that it could target specific people.

[Jeff Guardian of the Universe Find all posts View Profile Close Jeff]

/\ Was Old any good? Like, were there monsters, ghosts or ghouls on the island that were making people age rapidly?

[Space Cop The Dandy Find all posts View Profile Close Space Cop]

Rifftrax: The Bermuda Triangle (1978/2012)

"I can't believe The Puma Man fired me!"

Jesus this was long, probably could have chopped out ten minutes of bullshit at least . . .

Man, this thing just petered out. There was that sting at the end, but characterwise, it just kind of stopped.

/\ Was Old any good? Like, were there monsters, ghosts or ghouls on the island that were making people age rapidly?

It's not a monster movie, but the rapid aging thing is what it's about. I liked it. My mother is more of a fan of Shyamalan and she really liked it.

[Parrylakks Neko Samurai Find all posts View Profile Close Parrylakks]

Fun, albeit predictable, family comedy.

[Agent Purple The Illustrated Man Find all posts View Profile Close Agent Purple]

Man, this thing just petered out. There was that sting at the end, but characterwise, it just kind of stopped.

This is what you've reduced yourself to? Editing Rifftrax posters into other users' comments?

You've really fallen from grace, Space Cop. I used to have such respect and admiration for you, but no more.

[Space Cop The Dandy Find all posts View Profile Close Space Cop]

The Muppets (2011)

"Kermit, we found a celebrity! Jack Black has graciously agreed to host the show for us.
-That's great! Where is he?
In the trunk."

Re-watched this (which I love) for its 10th anniversary.

This is what you've reduced yourself to? Editing Rifftrax posters into other users' comments?
You've really fallen from grace, Space Cop. I used to have such respect and admiration for you, but no more.

Ha. I actually thought it was a nice acknowledgment that you beat me to the punch.

[Agent Purple The Illustrated Man Find all posts View Profile Close Agent Purple]

I do agree that film had a half-decent idea, but yeah, it just fell apart. We have this weird ghost ship story, the sea quake, a Chucky doll, the traumatized alcoholic doctor. There's a lot to work with and it's all awkwardly mashed together with no proper interweaving. Had they removed the evil doll bullshit and rearranged the order of events (sea quake, which causes ancient time loop curse or whatever, then ghost ships and phantom signals and whatever else, then big twist that everyone is already dead and have been for years) then maybe it would be better, but who knows.

[Space Cop The Dandy Find all posts View Profile Close Space Cop]

[Rifftrax:] Psychotronic Man (1979/2017)

"This movie was made on a dare. There's no other explanation."

[Parrylakks Neko Samurai Find all posts View Profile Close Parrylakks]

Fairly decent cop movie -- for the time period, it was probably mind blowing. The apparent argument it makes against legal procedure due to constitutional rights certainly didn't age well, though the egregious circumstances depicted in this film do paint a pretty good reason to discuss them. I just find it ironic that so many conservatives (actors like Eastwood, or otherwise) are so quick to toss aside the amendments they don't like (1, 4, 5, et cetera), but hold to the 2nd like its the 11th commandment -- of course, that's entirely beside the point. The point is that this is still a pretty decent movie, even if it's depicted extremes seem rather mild these days.

I've never actually seen the Dirty Harry films, but I got them all on sale today, so I'm giving them a go.

[Space Cop The Dandy Find all posts View Profile Close Space Cop]

Invasion from Inner Earth (1974)

"You just keep flying this bird to sanity."

My favorite Bill Rebane movie so far. Follows a group of people in a secluded cabin in Canada when the world seems to be ending (possibly involving extraterrestrials nesting in hollow earth unleashing a plague). Intercut with some footage of town scene during said apocalypse.

I've never actually seen the Dirty Harry films, but I got them all on sale today, so I'm giving them a go.

As you go through them, you'll see that the POV alternates. 1 & 3 are the more conservative side. 2 & 4 turn the criticism back on the cops. They purposely did that but #5 broke the pattern (though it's still fun in its own right if only so you can see Jim Carey pretend to sing "Welcome to the Jungle").

[Trey Strain Guardian of the Universe Find all posts View Profile Close Trey Strain]

Dirty Harry was written by Harry Julian Fink and Dean Riesner, a couple of very good television writers. Riesner wrote some of Clint Eastwood's most successful movies.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0277807/?ref_=tt_ov_wr

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0718466/?ref_=ttfc_fc_wr3

[Space Cop The Dandy Find all posts View Profile Close Space Cop]

The Silence of the Lambs (1990)

"I've no plans to call on you, Clarice. The world is more interesting with you in it."

Picked up the Criterion Tuesday (part of B&N's semi-annual sale) and watched it for the first time in some years.

Dirty Harry was written by Harry Julian Fink and Dean Riesner,
a couple of very good television writers. Riesner wrote some of Clint Eastwood's most successful movies.

And the second (Magnum Force) was written by John Milius, who wrote Apocalypse Now.