What Have You Watched Recently?

[Old Man]

On 4/6/2024 at 1:11 PM, Lord Liaden said:

And finally exchanging Jolene Blalock's ridiculous body stocking for a proper uniform.

 

Sad that it got cut off so soon.

 

Phrasing?

 

8 hours ago, Pariah said:

( And let's not forget how much better Deanna Troi looked in a proper uniform than in her three rotating catsuits.  )

 

Such as this S1 classic?

 

[Lord Liaden]

37 minutes ago, Old Man said:

 

Phrasing?

 

 

Paragraph editing?

[Pariah]

50 minutes ago, Old Man said:

Such as this S1 classic?

 

 

That's still a better look than any of her three catsuits. At least it's a uniform. 

[Bazza]

I’m still a fan of the one-piece body-suit uniform. 
 

 

Edited April 8 by Bazza

[Ternaugh]

Smokey and the Bandit: The second-highest grossing movie of 1977, and it made enough of an impression on me as a child that I could remember all of the lyrics to the songs (I caught myself singing along to "Eastbound and Down"). It's a funny, nostalgic watch. (Netflix)

 

The Black Hole: Disney doing a darker movie, with the crew of the Palomino discovering a ship lost for 20 years on the edge of a black hole. The plot's a mix of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Dante's Divine Comedy. I originally watched this in theaters with my parents, and it's remained a quirky favorite of mine over the years. (Disney+)

[Ternaugh]

The first two episodes of the Fallout series on Amazon Prime. I'm enjoying it so far.

 

Singin' in the Rain: Classic musical about the birth of talkies, It's a very good watch. This is the 2022 UHD release, which has a beautiful picture* and an excellent 5.1 mix. (4K UHD Blu-ray)

 

The Land that Time Forgot: Doug McClure movie from the mid-seventies, based upon the Edgar Rice Burroughs book. This one I originally saw at the drive-in with my parents, back when it originally came out. Both of my parents liked SF/fantasy, so this is one that we'd watch whenever it was shown later on TV. The special effects are rough in a few places, including seeing a turnbuckle wire tensioner on the cables holding up a pterodactyl, but it's still an enjoyable, nostalgic watch. (DVD)

 

 

*For whatever reason, the disc uses HDR color, while the digital copy uses Dolby Vision. 

[Michael Hopcroft]

I got a chance to see the first bit of a little-known animated series called Phantom 2040.  The Phantom is a superhero from the jungles of -- somewhere -- called "The Ghost Who Walks" because he seems to exist everywhere in history. The reality is that the mantle of the phantom has been passed along the generations for centuries. And in this series, set in the then-distant future of 2040, the new Phantom emerges in a near-dystopian cyberpunk-style world. The newest son is a grad-school ecologist trying to save a global ecosystem that is rapidly disintegrating, which unknowingly pits him against a ruthless mega-billionairess and her psychotic son (who usually speaks as though he is conveying the wishes of his ever-present cat, especially when he is being excessively cruel -- in hi8s very first scene he murders his robot butler for no reason whatsoever).

 

In this episode, I found the style of the animation quite interesting and so different from the superhero-cartoon aesthetic of its times that I had to wonder where I had seen it before -- until I put my finger on the source. Which was the legendary MTV adult cartoon Aeon Flux. Those of us who were old enough to watch it will probably never forget the angular, languid look of the series. And while Phantom 2040 was aimed at a younger audience, it shares many themes in common with its predecessor. But while Aeon embraced and even relished the decay in her world (and her eternal rivalry with the powerful Trevor Goodchild), the Phantom is trying to reverse the decay and restore hope to a planet that has precious little of it left. 

[Lord Liaden]

I'm not sure if you're aware that The Phantom is one of the seminal figures in the evolution of comic-book heroes, having first appeared in newspaper strips in 1936, and published almost continuously ever since. He was the first hero to wear a colorful skin-tight costume, and a mask with pupiless eyes. He had a secret jungle headquarters and animal companions. He's often considered a transitional figure between pulp-era characters like the Shadow and Tarzan, and the likes of Superman, Batman, and Captain America.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phantom

[mattingly]

6 hours ago, Michael Hopcroft said:

I got a chance to see the first bit of a little-known animated series called Phantom 2040.

 

I watched them all when they came out, and liked the cyberpunk spin on the pirate-fighting jungle hero. 

I looked at them a year or two ago, and the animation style bugged me too much to get far.

[Old Man]

Civil War starring Kirsten Dunst and a smidge of Nick Offerman.  First things first--the writers tried really really hard to make sure that neither side in the conflict directly correspond to real life sides in the civil war that's coming this November.  It did this to convey the horror and confusion of actual modern civil war in a U.S. setting, and it did a pretty good job of it in spite of the fact that the protagonists are combat journalists trying their best to be dispassionate.  Lots of gunfire, explosions, and blood, not so much torture and gore.  It could easily have been more shocking, but I've been watching Russians blow up every day for two years so maybe I'm just jaded.  Worth seeing in the theater for full effect, and as a bonus, if you see it we can discuss the dystopian setting.  One post credits scene with Steve Rogers.  No, not really.

[DShomshak]

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season Two finally came in at the library. I've seen the first three eps and Im impressed. Season One was pretty good overall, but no eps I would call really great. Season Two is starting strong, with three eps I rate as very good. The actors seem more comfortable in their roles, and the writers are daring to push the characters harder. "Ad Astra Per Aspera"deserves special mention as the best attempt at courtroom drama I've yet seen from ST, with a wily lawyer actually finding a way to use Federation law and Starfleet regulations to get the result she wants. Considerably better than "Cpourtmartial" (TOS), "The Measure of a Man" (TNG), or the TNG one with Ardra (though that was still a pretty good story).

 

Dean Shomshak

 

I look forward to the rest of the season.

[death tribble]

A Hitch in Time

This is a Children's Film Foundation film about two kids who discover a professor working on a time machine. The professor is played by Patrick Troughton who used to be Dr Who. The kids end up going backwards in time and then back to the present. They keep running into the young girl's ancestors and the ancestors of the history teacher. Not that bad.

 

Spearhead Season 2

The soldiers are in West Germany with the change of cast explained by changes in military personnel. Again there is a down side throughout the series. A corporal's marriage has problems as the wife is pregnant by another man; a sergeant gets involved with a woman who escaped from East Germany and might be a spy; private Stevens revels the reason he is angry all the time is that his wife left him taking his son; private Stevens gets news that his son has been killed and he commits suicide; the new lieutenant rescues a man from no-man's land between East and West who later dies and private Adams father visits his son after his mother has died and they go to the Belsen memorial which was quite affecting. The last episode ses the soldiers back in Northern Ireland where they lose one of their number and the IRA booby trap the body when it is found.

 

Maigret

Maigret and the Princess. A diplomat dies and Maigret gets called in to investigate. He had a lifelong platonic relationship with a princess and so the government want to close the case and examine his letters. His relations are examined but Maigret works out that the man committed suicide and his housekeeper covered it up so that he could get a Christian burial.

Maigret At all Lengths. A note is delivered to the police saying a fortune teller will be killed and it happens. Maigret investigates and finds a web leading to a fraud and blackmail.

Maigret's Failure. An old school mate of Maigret asks to see him but Maigret is lukewarm as he did not like him. The day after the man is dead and Maigret tries to find out who done it and why. The outcome is different to the Rupert Davies version but the killer is the same.

 

Dark Prince: The True Story of Dracula

Rudolph Martin who played Ari in NCIS plays Dracula and it looks at his life from his birth until the Turks killed him. This looks at Tepes and has him trying to explain himself to the Eastern Church as he sided with the King of Hungary who was Catholic and is played by Roger Daltrey. Not bad,.

 

Black Widow

Van Heflin, George Raft and Ginger Rogers in an investigation of a Broadway producer after a young woman writer kills herself in the producer's apartment. Except she was pregnant and was murdered. But as the producer did not kill her who did ?

 

The Death of Adolf Hitler

This was made for TV and looks at the last days of Hitler as the Russians close in and those closest to him abandon him. Only Eva stays loyal. Frank Finley plays Hitler. Well worth seeing if you get the chance, This was made in 1973. A later version which Anthony Hopkins was made in 1981

 

The Black Velvet Band 

A group of thieves try to steal the Crown Jewels, are caught and then transported for life. They escape off the coast of South Africa and flee inwards chased by the army people who were escorting them. The thieves clash with Dutch settlers and make an ally of a Royal bastard. One of their number is killed but they manage to escape north of the river to safety.

 

Offerings

A child is bullied by his peers and pushed down a well. Years afterwards he suddenly awakens and leaves the hospital to take revenge on the kids who hurt him. For a cheap feature, it is not that bad.

 

Avalanche

An impending avalanche causes a village to be evacuated. This includes an English teacher and the orphans he is looking after. But one of the village child ren goes back for her dog leading other children to go after her and then some of the adults including the teacher. This is billed as a kids film but is not bad.

 

Amityville 1992 It's About Time

This time the evil comes in the form of the clock which is infected with the evil. There were a couple of faces that were recognisable in the cast but I would watch it for Shawn Weatherley who was in Baywatch.

 

Wrestlemania 33

The New Day were the hosts for the event and this was important for one of the matches that came up.

First off came A J Styles vs Shane McMahon which was about the poor booking  he was getting

Next Jericho fought Kevin Owens for the United States championship. This was the culmination of the Jericho and Owens friendship story and Owens ended up winning

The RAW Women's championship was contested next. Bayley was holding on to the championship against Nia Jax, Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks. This was a fatal fourway match with Jax eliminated first, then Banks and finally Bayley pinned Flair.

This was followed by the RAW tag team titles match. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson as champions had to defend against Cesaro and Sheamus and Enzo Amore and Big Cass. Then the New Day announced that another team was being added. So it was them, yes ? No ! It was the returning Hardy Boys who went on to win.

John Cena and Nikki Bella then took on The Miz and his wife Maryse. The latter had been parodying the former which led to them fighting at Wrestlemania. The match ended with Nikki and John pinning their respective opponents. And then John proposed to Nikki in the ring.

The non sanctioned match had the returning Seth Rollins taking on Triple H. Seth had been injured and had been 'betrayed' by Triple H. He was therefore able to defeat him.

Bray Wyatt then took on Randy Orton. Wyatt was WWE Champion and Orton beat him.

Goldberg and Brock Lesner then clashed for the WWE Universal title which Brock then won.

Alexa Bliss was then defending the Smackdown Women's championship against Naomi, Mickie James, Becky Lynch, Natalya and Carmella. Naomi picked up the win on Alexa.

The last match was Roman Reigns taking on the Undertaker with the former winning and supposedly retiring the Undertaker who left his signature clothes in the ring. This was a good match.

The preshow matches were the Andre the Giant Battle Royale which Mojo Rawley won, Neville vs Austin Aries which Neville won and Baron Corbin vs Dean Ambrose which Dean won.

Lastly there was the 2017 Hall of Fame with Diamond Dallas Page, The Rock and Roll Express, Ravishing Rick Rude, Beth Phoenix, Eric LeGrand, Teddy Long and Kurt Angle as the Inductees.

 

Wrestlemania 38

This again was a two day event.

The USOs took on Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs for teh Smackdown Tag Team championships withe the USOs retaining

Next Drew McIntyre defeated Happy Corbin which was to be expected.

The Miz and Logan Paul then took on Rey and Dominick Mysterio. The former won and then The Miz turned on Logan Paul.

Bianca Belair then took on Becky Lynch for the RAW Women's Championship and won it.

Seth Rollins was then taking on an opponent of Mr McMahon's choosing and this was the returning Cody Rhodes who beat him.

Charlotte Flair then took on the winner of the Royal Rumble Rinda Rousey and actually defeated her. 

There was a triple threat match for the RAW tag team championship between RKBro (Orton and Riddle), the Street Profits and Alpha Academy. The Champions RKBro retained

In a battle of the big men Bobby Lashley defeated Omos

Next up was the comedy match Johnny Knoxville (and his colleagues) vs Sami Zayn. This was won by Zayn getting trapped in a giant mousetrap.

The Women's tag team match was next with Naomi and Sasha Banks taking on Queen Zelina and Carmella, Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley and Natalya and Shayna Bazler. Naomi and Sasha won the belts.

A J Styles and Edge the clashed with the latter winning

Sheamus and Ridge Holland then took on The New Day and beat them.

The 2022 Hall of Fame class was introduced and the inductees especially the Undertaker were thanked by the crowd.

The announcer Pat Macafee was then fighting Austin Theory  under the eyes of Mr MacMahon. After Pat won then a match was made for Pat vs Mr MacMahon with Austin interfering to ensure Mr MacMahon won.

The two main matches were on the last disc and this was Steve Austin taking on Kevin Owens on an episode pf the KO show and Austin had an enjoyable stomping of him.

Lastly there was the main match between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesner. Each had a title belt and it was winner takes all. Reigns won.

The last item was the Undertaker's induction from the Hall of Fame. There was nothing else from the Hall of Fame which was a tad surprising.

During the match build ups we were also treated to the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

[slikmar]

through 3 episodes of the Prime series Fallout. Is well done and fun so far, though violent. For fans of the video games I highly recommend it.

[death tribble]

Time for another big update. Grab a drink and kick back. There is a pattern and a method to my madness. Can you tell what it is yet ?

 

The Four Just Men

This was based on novels by Edgar Wallace or at least the premise was. It was a 30 minute TV series that ran for one season of over 30 episodes at the end of the 1950s. The first episode had four men who fought in the war gathered together again by their ex-commanding officer who wants them to fight for justice and against tyranny. They agree and off we go. One is a lawyer in America, another is an American journalist in Paris, the third a British Member of Parliament and the fourth is an Italian hotelier. What you then have is a story based in one of the countries each week with maybe a phone call showing one of the others. Richard Conte was the lawyer, Dan Dailey the journalist, Jack Hawkins the MP and Vittorio De Sica as the hotelier. The stories are many and varied ranging from taking on the mafia, fighting local prejudice, dealing with wartime treachery, slavery, fraud and other topics. Granted it is a bit dated but worth a look as some of the ideas would fit for Pulp, Dark Champions or Champions.

 

The Brain from Planet Arous

This has an alien criminal taking over a guy while he is pursued by another of his race who takes over the guy's dog. The criminal tries to take over the world by using his powers to destroy aircraft in mid air and ships at sea. It probably sounds better than what I am typing but it is worth a look.

 

The Great Van Robbery

A small group of criminals rob a van carrying new bank notes and the hunt is then on for them or whoever passes on the notes. Interpol is involved as the notes eventually turn up abroad and they have to be traced to source. The chief investigator is a guy usually seen as a heavy in films of the time, Denis Shaw. He is seen in a couple of fight scenes using judo moves which for a 50s movie is pretty good. Well worth a look especially if you want to set a story in these times.

 

The Devil's Jest

After the deaths of two British officers in the war the intelligence chaps are trying to trace someone who is transmitting to the Germans. But who is doing it ? The two officers uncovered something which is why they were killed. Not bad.

 

Murder in Eden

This revolves around a police investigation into an art gallery after a noted art critic is murdered. A French journalist teams up with the police investigator. But she is not a journalist. The crux of the matter is forgery and that someone involved with the gallery is forging work which is then passed off as true and real paintings replaced which are then sold to others.

 

The Ghost of Rashamon Hall

A group are telling ghost stories on a stormy night when they are interrupted by the arrival of a stranger, a doctor. With the aid of the others he tells the story of a young couple who take over a building which has a reputation with the locals. They then begin to see and hear things. The man seeks help and he contacts the doctor who agrees to come to the place and helps uncover the truth. However when one of the group scoffs at the idea of ghosts, the doctor vanishes before the eyes of the group. Valentine Dyall plays the doctor and he was well known for his sinister voice.

 

The House in Marsh Road

This is another ghost story film but you don't see the ghost although things move. The couple in this case are a woman who inherits the hose and her feckless husband. The husband is a writer who starts seeing another woman and the pair decide to kill the wife and then sell the house. But the ghost in the house does not like that idea and sets the house ablaze killing the pair.

 

Invasion

This is a 1965 film where an alien who looks like a human being is taken to hospital after being hot by a car. At first they do not know he is an alien but he is being pursued by others of his people. However the twist is that the pursuers are women and men are subservient to them. A force field is also thrown up around the hospital causing the temperature to rise dramatically. Eventually the male alien manages to get away but is shot down and killed as he tries to escape in his craft.

 

The Shape of Things to Come

Based on H G Wells work but made in the 1930s and relevant as it was felt to take a poke at Mussolini especially with Ralph Richardson's portrayal of The Boss. It predicted the use and importance of air warfare. A very influential film if a bit dated now but well worth a look.   

[death tribble]

I split this into two as I was remiss in working out just how much I had seen.

 

The Lost Continent

After a missile goes astray scientists are sent out to find out where it went and why, They find a hidden island and at the top of a mountain find dinosaurs in a hidden lair in the clouds. The find the missile and get the navigation components before fleeing the island as it tears itself apart. Cesar Romero who went on to play The Joker in Batman plays the chief pilot. See once and forget.

 

The Beach Girls and the Monster

After his friend is injured in a crash the son of a scientist prefers to surf instead of study. His father tries to get him back from this just trivial nonsense. But at the beach a monster appears and begins killing. The dialogue is tripe, some of the act6ors are too old for the parts and it is not bad for a beach movie of the period.

 

The Cabinet of Calligari

This movie will tax you as it is a movie dealing with mental health and the behaviour of the guy in charge might trouble people. A woman has a car accident and finds what turns out to be an asylum. She is allowed to spend the night but is then not allowed to leave, She tries to make friends in order to leave but gets nowhere. Until you find out she is actually undergoing treatment.

 

Portrait of Alison

A car goes off a mountain road in Italy and the brothers of the driver are informed. One is a painter and the other is a pilot. Their brother was a journalist and who was chasing a story about diamond smugglers. The painter is asked to paint a portrait of the woman who was in his brother's car by her father. However a number of people including people at the journalists office are involved in the racket. And the woman in the car is still alive, this is Alison. Then a model for the painter is killed, Alison reappears, her father disappears and someone tries to blackmail people involved. The boss is caught at the very end as he tries to dispose of evidence.

 

Bulldog Drummond's Revenge

John Howard plays Drummond who gets involved when he finds a suitcase that has been thrown out of a plane. It contains a new explosive. Despite Scotland Yard trying to keep him out of it and his fiancee trying to extricate him, he and his pals pursue the matter on train and ship. Fun and useful for pulp GMs.

 

Dakota Lil

After a train robbery, the Treasury department sends out a special investigator to help recover the bills which will probably need a forger as they are all unsigned. This is where Dakota Lil comes in and the investigator tries to find her in order to get her to help him get the bills. The investigator is crossed by Lil who goes into business for herself finding the lead. The link is supposedly Butch Cassidy's gang but there is no Sundance Kid. Again this is not bad.

 

Black Tuesday

Several criminals are due to be put to death but a breakout is arranged from the death chamber and the crooks escape prison but the police are after them. And they have a shoot out with the law. Edward G Robinson plays the chief crook. This is well worth a look.

 

The Ghost Goes West

Robert Donat plays two roles, a Scottish laird who is trying to sell up his estate as he has no money and his ancestor a man doomed to walk his earth until local rivals claim that his family were better. The ghost was cursed because he fled the rivals and was accidentally killed by a wayward cannon shot. The ghost is often seen at night and the American buyer decides to move the estate to America with the added attraction of the ghost. The ghost puts in an appearance aboard ship which delights the people and makes news The American buyer has a rival who it turns out is a direct descendant of the rivals which allows the ghost to finally ascend.

 

711 Ocean Drive

This is about illegal gambling in America particularly on horse racing and how horse racing could be fixed at the time not by doping the horses or bribing the jockets but delaying the results via radio. It is pretty good but does carry the heavy message 'Don't Gamble !' 

[mattingly]

20 hours ago, DShomshak said:

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season Two finally came in at the library. I've seen the first three eps and I'm impressed.

 

It gets EVEN BETTER!

 

[Grailknight]

Unless you just truly hate all things anime, I highly recommend you go to see SpyXFamily, Code:White. If you're at all into anime, this is almost required viewing.

 

It's the best movie I've seen this year. It has everything you'd expect in a theatrical release. High quality animation and score, a catchy score, good writing and excellent acting. Two of the mains are fairly dense emotionally, but that's part of the charm of the series. And you don't need to be a series follower to get into it. Everything you need is set forth in the beginning of the movie so you can become wrapped up in the unfolding story. 

 

10 out of 10. I haven't laughed this hard in a movie in a long time and the entire audience was laughing throughout.

 

[DShomshak]

A small note on ST: SNW's episode "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow": I liked the little exchange about, no, they aren't in New York City, they're in Toronto. I've heard that Toronto is often called upon to stand in for other cities; it's nice to see it on TV as itself. (Though IIRC "Forever Knight" was set in Toronto, so it does get to shine under its own name now and then. I still found it amusing. I also appreciate any acknowledgment by TV that North America consists of more than New York and California.

 

It would have been even funnier if they'd filmed somewhere else and said it was Toronto. But IMDB tells me that Strange New Worlds is filmed in Ontario.

 

Dean Shomshak

[Lord Liaden]

The three biggest urban areas in Canada -- Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal -- are major centers for international film and television production. Calgary also sees a lot of that work. Canadians often spot familiar landmarks from those cities in movies and shows supposedly set elsewhere.

[Michael Hopcroft]

Dune Part Two is -- something. It's not a movie for the casual viewer seeking escapism. This is a film that revolves almost entirely on very serious topics and addresses them as such -- topics like the nature of religion itself and its social effects and consequences.

 

I would have had a better time seeing SpyxFamily, but won't get the chance due to my work schedule.

[slikmar]

went to see Kung Fu Panda 4. Po must choose a successor. Was fun, and Po still kicks butt, but in almost all other ways is still a buffoon (which sort of bothers me) though he does redeem himself at the end. Worth seeing if you enjoyed the other 3.

[slikmar]

On 4/23/2024 at 9:07 PM, Michael Hopcroft said:

Dune Part Two is -- something. It's not a movie for the casual viewer seeking escapism. This is a film that revolves almost entirely on very serious topics and addresses them as such -- topics like the nature of religion itself and its social effects and consequences.

 

I would have had a better time seeing SpyxFamily, but won't get the chance due to my work schedule.

Saw this today. I have commented on Chalamet and how impressed I was with his acting in this and his other parts, let me also give equal voice to Zendaya who conveys a lot with just her face and eyes through the movie and is also playing a much different character then we have seen, as well. As MH said, not a light movie, but I think well done. There are changes I am not sure I am happy with from the book, but I think they are a result of modern times. The very fanaticism of religion shown in this movie, to me, is enhanced from the original book and didnt really make its appearance till the 2nd book on originally, though granted has been over 30+ years since I read the original. The other change I am not sure of I will spoiler:

Spoiler

Not sure I like Chani's change from the book of supporting and understanding what Paul is doing to the movie where she almost outwardly opposes him by movies end.

Finally, the cinematography is fantastic and they way they show scale when dealing with the ships, or even toward the end Paul walking through a crowd is impressive. It started early in the first movie with you watching the people loading a giant ship, this flying to a much larger ship and then finally this mite of a ship being loaded onto the star spanning one. They do something similar in this with one of the spice harvesters, where you see the men in armor walking next to it from a distance and they might as well be ants.

[Old Man]

16 hours ago, slikmar said:

Saw this today. I have commented on Chalamet and how impressed I was with his acting in this and his other parts, let me also give equal voice to Zendaya who conveys a lot with just her face and eyes through the movie and is also playing a much different character then we have seen, as well. As MH said, not a light movie, but I think well done. There are changes I am not sure I am happy with from the book, but I think they are a result of modern times. The very fanaticism of religion shown in this movie, to me, is enhanced from the original book and didnt really make its appearance till the 2nd book on originally, though granted has been over 30+ years since I read the original.

 

I read the first book between Part I and II and I discovered that I'd forgotten how important the fanaticism was to the plot.  Paul spends a significant amount of time and energy trying to avert the inevitable jihad.

 

That said, there was a lot less open worship of Paul in the book.  In the movie there's so much rapturous "Lisan al-Gaib!" that it's become a meme.

 

Quote

The other change I am not sure of I will spoiler:

  Reveal hidden contents

Not sure I like Chani's change from the book of supporting and understanding what Paul is doing to the movie where she almost outwardly opposes him by movies end.

 

 

I don't mind this change, but it is a change.  I do wonder what the implications are for Part III, since I haven't read Messiah yet.

 

Quote

Finally, the cinematography is fantastic and they way they show scale when dealing with the ships, or even toward the end Paul walking through a crowd is impressive. It started early in the first movie with you watching the people loading a giant ship, this flying to a much larger ship and then finally this mite of a ship being loaded onto the star spanning one. They do something similar in this with one of the spice harvesters, where you see the men in armor walking next to it from a distance and they might as well be ants.

 

Villeneuve is a brilliant cinematographer.  Every frame of the movie could be printed and mounted on a wall.  Blade Runner 2049, Arrival, and Sicario were likewise. 

 

If you want to see a jarring directorial change, watch the Villeneuve-directed Sicario and then watch its not-Villeneuve-directed sequel. 

[slikmar]

9 hours ago, Old Man said:

I read the first book between Part I and II and I discovered that I'd forgotten how important the fanaticism was to the plot.  Paul spends a significant amount of time and energy trying to avert the inevitable jihad.

 

That said, there was a lot less open worship of Paul in the book.  In the movie there's so much rapturous "Lisan al-Gaib!" that it's become a meme.

Thanks, as I said, I haven't read book in 20-40 years, so could have been forgetting.

 

As I said, I was amazed with his ability to show Scale. Last movie I remember doing so well was Star Wars opening, where we got the big ship, Leia's, then the Star Destroyer that went on forever. This reminded me of that in a lot of cases.

 

I forgot one other change not thrilled with, but maybe I was wrong then too:

Spoiler

Them starting a war at end of movie with the other houses. IIRC, the Navigators (or whatever they are called) stepped in immediately to stop this because of the interruption of the spice production. But again, I could be wrong.

 

[Grailknight]

12 hours ago, slikmar said:

Thanks, as I said, I haven't read book in 20-40 years, so could have been forgetting.

 

As I said, I was amazed with his ability to show Scale. Last movie I remember doing so well was Star Wars opening, where we got the big ship, Leia's, then the Star Destroyer that went on forever. This reminded me of that in a lot of cases.

 

I forgot one other change not thrilled with, but maybe I was wrong then too:

  Hide contents

Them starting a war at end of movie with the other houses. IIRC, the Navigators (or whatever they are called) stepped in immediately to stop this because of the interruption of the spice production. But again, I could be wrong.

 

 

They do start the jihad directly after this. The navigators have no choice but to allow it because spice is necessary for their abilities and because the navigators' limited prescience has shown that any attempt to seize the planet directly ends in an extinction level war on Arrakis which destroys spice production forever.