What Have You Watched Recently?

[slikmar]

15 hours ago, Pariah said:

So, what to watch next? I've been catching the occasional episode of the original series. I'm about a third of the way through season 2, as I recall. Maybe I'll pick up there and finish watching it. And maybe I'll watch a few of the movies as well.

I would recommend The Orville. We don't get to watch the continuation on streaming due to reasons, but when was on normal tv, felt like the best Star Trek (even though wasn't) going.

[Old Man]

So I reluctantly went and saw Barbie at the insistence of my wife, and I wound up liking it more than she did.  Granted, I had no idea what to expect.  Having seen it, I would describe it as a stoner comedy that still thoughtfully addresses issues of identity, sexuality, and representation.  I'm especially impressed by the performances of the cast, who managed to play some extremely ridiculous scenes with a straight face and also tackled some really complex emotional sequences.  Worth seeing in the theater for shared audience reaction.

 

The movie does contain a bit of Will Ferrell so consider yourself warned.  No post-credits scenes.

[Logan D. Hurricanes]

I'm looking forward to both Barbie (any movie that pisses off the right this much has to be good) and Oppenheimer, but I won't sit in a theater for them. Maybe I'm just too old for that now. 

[Logan D. Hurricanes]

The Exorcism of God, horror. I appreciate that they were trying to do something different with the story, but the effort to be edgy resulted in a few eye-rolling moments. It was slow and the numerous jump scares weren't enough to keep me interested. I kept falling asleep. Cinematography was nice, make-up was really good in some spots, 2/4. 

[Ternaugh]

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds dropped a "surprise episode", which involves a cross-over with Star Trek: Lower Decks. It's fun. (Paramount+)

 

 

[mattingly]

7 hours ago, Ternaugh said:

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds dropped a "surprise episode", which involves a cross-over with Star Trek: Lower Decks. It's fun. (Paramount+)

 

It's a lot of fun!

 

[Old Man]

Oppenheimer, which a) was nearly three hours long and b) largely focused on the morality of building the Bomb in the first place, with some McCarthyism thrown in for good measure.  Volume in the theater was turned way the hell up, which made it hard to miss the fact that the (excellent) soundtrack does not let up for a second.  It was good, if slow, but I wish it had at least tried to go into the physics.  Like, at all.  Should be an Academy Award factory for everyone in it, if the strike's over by then.

 

Didn't stick around for any post-credits sequences if there were any, not only was the film three hours long but it was also preceded by literally 30 minutes of ads and trailers and that's not an exaggeration.

[Pariah]

On 7/22/2023 at 10:35 PM, Ternaugh said:

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds dropped a "surprise episode", which involves a cross-over with Star Trek: Lower Decks. It's fun. (Paramount+)

 

The episode in question, "Those Old Scientists", was remarkably well executed. I've never had any particular desire to watch Lower Decks, and this episode didn't really change that fact, but the two guest stars more than held their own with the excellent cast of Strange New Worlds. Ensigns Boimler (especially) and Mariner had some fantastic interactions with Pike, Una, Spock, Uhura, and the rest. It had kind of a Galaxy Quest vibe—fanboy/fangirl meets heroes and geeks out. And the episode pretty much ignored the fourth wall for the last two minutes or so. Extremely entertaining.

[Pariah]

Speaking of which....

 

         

[Pariah]

...and now we know what a M*A*S*H unit looked like in the Federation - Klingon War. Yikes.

[slikmar]

3 hours ago, Pariah said:

Speaking of which....

 

         

Harder to believe she is 50 or married to Jerry O'Connell.

[DShomshak]

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. A workmanlike bit of Fantasy filmmaking, which IMO puts it ahead of most attempts at Fantasy filmmaking. I can't say there's anything wrong with this flick: acting and dialogue are OK, the plot doesn't have gaping holes (though a magic artifact that was the subject of a large section of the film was forgotten about later, the characters were, I grant, kinda busy with other things), and the CGI monsters are spot on. A few chuckles, some adequately gamerish "clever" use of a magic artifact, and a Significant Choice you can see coming a mile away. Characteriization is at best ankle-deep, but that's okay for a popcorn movie.

 

If you know D&D you may be amused to see representations of classic "bits" such as typically D&D-ish monsters (owlbear, displacer beast, gelatinous cube, mimic in treasure chest form) and one of those pointless self-destruct traps that how is it still there after so long? But also diverging from game for on the whole good reasons of cinema (druid shapeshifting is less limited, and that's apparently all druids do; no hint of "spell slots")). Abundant references to the Forgotten Realms setting which I might like if I gave a rat's ass about the Forgotten Realms. Hard to say how a person who knew nothing of D&D or the Forgotten Realms would take all the worldbuilding, but I give props for showing a lot of stuff without feeling the need to explain and justify everything -- as if we didn't know, going in, that this was a Fantasy movie.

 

Dean Shomshak

[Tech]

An episode of Miraculous.

[Ternaugh]

The first three episodes of Twisted Metal on Peacock. It's enjoyable enough for me to finish the 10 episodes.

 

Slowly working my way through the Moonlighting DVDs for a nostalgic watch.

[Lord Liaden]

7 hours ago, DShomshak said:

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. A workmanlike bit of Fantasy filmmaking, which IMO puts it ahead of most attempts at Fantasy filmmaking. I can't say there's anything wrong with this flick: acting and dialogue are OK, the plot doesn't have gaping holes (though a magic artifact that was the subject of a large section of the film was forgotten about later, the characters were, I grant, kinda busy with other things), and the CGI monsters are spot on. A few chuckles, some adequately gamerish "clever" use of a magic artifact, and a Significant Choice you can see coming a mile away. Characteriization is at best ankle-deep, but that's okay for a popcorn movie.

 

If you know D&D you may be amused to see representations of classic "bits" such as typically D&D-ish monsters (owlbear, displacer beast, gelatinous cube, mimic in treasure chest form) and one of those pointless self-destruct traps that how is it still there after so long? But also diverging from game for on the whole good reasons of cinema (druid shapeshifting is less limited, and that's apparently all druids do; no hint of "spell slots")). Abundant references to the Forgotten Realms setting which I might like if I gave a rat's ass about the Forgotten Realms. Hard to say how a person who knew nothing of D&D or the Forgotten Realms would take all the worldbuilding, but I give props for showing a lot of stuff without feeling the need to explain and justify everything -- as if we didn't know, going in, that this was a Fantasy movie.

 

Dean Shomshak

 

I found this film to be the most sheer fun I've had at the movie theater in a long time. It knows what kind of movie it's supposed to be and doesn't take itself too seriously, but still has heart. Humor is common but mostly character- and situation-driven rather than forced. The characters essentially reflect the archetypes that fill roles in an adventuring party, but even include a DM-controlled NPC guide inserted to help them get their McGuffin, only to move on when his role is over. I thought the plot well reflected a standard D&D quest, right up to the PCs ruining the puzzle the DM has carefully crafted, so he has to improvise an item to move the plot along, which the PCs then abuse for the rest of game. The pace is rapid, the action is well-choreographed and imaginative. The banter and teasing among the main characters sounds just like a group of players around a gaming table.

 

BTW the film's Rotten Tomatoes score is 90% critic, 93% audience, notable for being one of those rare times that both closely agree.

[death tribble]

Road to Bali

Bing Crosby and Bob Hope are in Australia before fleeing to Bali thus the title. They are attempting to help Dorothy Lamour against her brother. It is fun though a tad dated.

 

Deathsport

This is a sequel to Death Race 2000 but is not as good. It has David Carradine and Richard Lynch. It is short and cheerful but the film lacks the punch of the previous one. Deathsport is fighting people in an arena who are riding motorbikes aka Death Machines. People use blasters which instantly disintegrate people. Sadly one of these was Brenda Venus who I recognised and would like to have seen more of. I recall the adverts for this and thus 'I condemn you to Deathsport'. Watch for Lynch and Carradine.

 

Den of Thieves

Gerard Butler plays a Los Angeles Sheriff Lieutenant who finds a new group of criminals operating on his pitch. He and his colleagues lean on a bartender who has contact with them and they work out the thieves have military experience. But what are they really after ? And can the cops stop them ? This is pretty good. O'Shea Jackson plays the bartender. He is Ice Cube's son and it is like looking at a clone> Worth at least one look.

 

Glastonbury 2023

I did not see much of this when it was on and thus missed some things. Elton John's final UK concert was part of the menu and he gave a good farewell performance. The Arctic Monkeys were also headliners on one day and this was ok but their older stuff was what people wanted. Alt J left me feeling kind of MEH. Blondie were on but no Chris Stein with Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols along instead. As I knew the material it was still good. Manic Street Preachers did an entertaining one hour set. At the same time as Elton John, Queens of the Stone Age performed and that was good. Generation Sex did a small set. This is Billy Idol and Tony James of Generation X and Steve Jones and Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols. They did some work by each band. Not bad. Sparks doing Glastonbury for the first time with Cate Blanchett was fun as they did new material and what the crowd wanted i.e This Town Ain't Big Enough For the Both of Us. Editors and Royal Blood also had sets that I watched. Chvrches performed and this was one of the highlights for me. Christine and the Queens did a headline set although he/she has gone off the deep end judging by his/her comments between songs, Lords opf Music take them there. Yusuf/Cat Stevens had the legends slot and he mixed old and new except for Lady D'Abanville which he did not do. Guns N Roses did a two hour plus set. I did not know Slash and Duff were back with Axl. It was good despite their age.

I should have looked at more of the artists. However soem of the artists are coming to the end of their careers.

 

Tobruk

Rock Hudson and George Peppard star in this film about hitting the port in order to disrupt Rommel's oil supply. I have seen the film before but it bears re-watching as the raiders are trying to get in as POWs escorted by Afrika Korps. The latter played by German born Jews led by Peppard. Complications ensue when they pick up a father and daughter trying to help the Germans who have to be silenced before they reach the port. Also has Leo Gordon who usually played a bad guy playing one of the Jews and one of the only ones who escapes at the end.. I will watch this again. It is that type of movie.

 

Tour De France 2023

I have become addicted to cycling and this is the main addiction as ITV screens most of the stages from start to finish. It started in Bilbao this year and that looked good. The battle was to be between Pogacar and Vingegaard as it was last year. And it delivered in spades. It was so close for most of the race. Both Yates brothers (they are twins) were competing in the same race as before when they were on the same team only one would be brought. On the first stage they ended up first and second, Crossing into France the race took a diagonal across the South towards the Alps. Mark Cavendish was looking for a sprint victory which could leave him with the most stage wins in the race ever. Sadly a broken chain stopped him on one stage and a crash the day after took him out of the race. This was supposed to be his retirement year but he may yet come back as his team have said they would let him for one more crack at the record next year. Two other notable names were retiring. Peter Sagan who had basically an anonymous race and Thibault Pinot who was given a send off of heroic magnitude on one day in the mountains. Jasper Philpsen took four of the sprint stages and could have got more but was denied in rather spectacular fashion on the last stage but also thwarted by breakaways on two others. One team who had not had a win at the Tour since 2008 took two victories and that was Cofidis. The main battle was between Jumbo Visma and UAE and while the latter won three stages with the former winning only one, Jumbo Visma won the day as they had the overall winner in Vingegaard. He took the time trial stage in spectacular fashion and Pogacar broke on the Queen stage losing over six minutes to his rival. Pogacar won the 20th stage to show he was still a force to be reckoned with. For the first time in 4 years the King of the Mountains did not go to the Yellow Jersey which was nice as it made that competition open. Several older racers won stages which meant something to me as I knew the names. There were two photo finishes which showed how tight the race could be. Jumbo were not as dominant as last year with Wout Van Aert distracted by the imminent delivery of his child. He left the race before the finish. They only won one stage. But the rivalry between Pogacar and Vingegaard was good. At one stage only ten seconds between them. Last year UAE collapsed as several of their riders were taken out which allowed Jumbo to work on Pogacar. This year  they were evenly matched only hampered by a crash Pogacar had earlier in the season. The Tour returned to the Puy de Dome for the first time in over 30 years which did allow for Tour history to be re-enacted as first and second duelled here famously in the 60s. The highlights programme this year did not have a tour quiz over the advert breaks which I missed but it did have a talk on the geology of the Tour by Professor Douwe von Hinsbergen of Utrecht University which was fun.

[Scott Ruggels]

A new Season of The Dragon Prince has dropped on Netflix, and I Binge watched it all Saturday after the game.  The tone goes darker, and the Sun Elves subplot gets a lot more screen time. Big things are moving about.

Edited July 29, 2023 by Scott Ruggels

[Christopher R Taylor]

Quote

BTW the film's Rotten Tomatoes score is 90% critic, 93% audience, notable for being one of those rare times that both closely agree.

 

I wish it had done better, it lost money, but they are talking sequel still.

[Lord Liaden]

Streaming will be the key. If it does well there, a sequel would be likely. Several circumstances worked against the movie doing well at the box office, but word of mouth among those who saw the film appears to be very strong.

[slikmar]

4 hours ago, Lord Liaden said:

Several circumstances worked against the movie doing well at the box office

The prior D&D movies potentially being the biggest.

[Ternaugh]

Batman Begins: First of the three Batman films directed by Christopher Nolan. This is the 4K version, and the film looks and sounds great. (UHD Blu-ray)

 

Real Genius: The story of a bunch of college students who are working on a laser project, which turns out to actually be for a covert weapons platform. This is the 4K version of the film, and it's definitely worth a watch. (UHD Blu-ray)

[slikmar]

Going to guess you mean the series and NOT the Pauly Shore movie.

[slikmar]

Went and saw Haunted Mansion today, better than I expected and worth seeing. All the silliness of the Haunted Mansion done pretty well with an interesting understory of the characters.

[Pariah]

I'm watching the NFL preseason Hall of Fame Game between the Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets.

 

And no, I'm not an addict. I can stop watching anytime that I want.

[L. Marcus]

Saw Oppenheimer yesterday. I suspect it'll really make a splash at the Academy Awards for this year.