I've been waiting for RPO to show up on streaming. I was interested to see it at first, but the obvious alterations made by Spielberg & co. put me off it.
As for The Expanse, I couldn't stomach the first book so I never bothered with the tv series.
This film showed up on Amazon Prime Video, so I thought I’d give it a try. I have mixed feelings about it. It is very much a Phillip K. Dick film, and even has a character called “Phil” that is no doubt a stand-in for PKD himself. He is a SF writer that stays up all night taking amphetamines and drinking whiskey while writing. The story involves a the rise of a fascist state in the US lead by a President Freemont who is serving his fifth term in office. Gestapo-like Frends of the American People (FAP) root out subversion.
In this situation, our protagonist Nick Brady begins to have very lucid dreams. Eventually, he comes to believe these are in fact transmissions from an alien source. These aliens are our progenitors and want to help us. Nick becomes an executive of a record company with the help of these dreams to guide him, now he is lead to plot the overthrow of the corrupt regime turning the US into a totalitarian state.
Well, this is quite a relavent film given the US political situation these days, so I found the paranoid and dystopian aspects to be pretty spot-on. However, the ropey CGI sequences could have used some more work. Nevertheless, I’m sure they did the best they could with a limited budget. The film was reportedly filmed in 2007 but wasn’t finished till 2010 and wasn’t widely distributed for years thereafter. It is a pretty bleak film, but ends on a somewhat hopeful note. Interestingly, it features singer Alanis Morrissette in a supporting role, which I found pretty interesting. So, an interesting film, recommended for PKD fans.
Hmm, the last film I watched was absolutely ridiculous. So bad I couldn't believe it. Mother..
The storyline was just absurd, and they struggled all the way through (as I did).
I'd be hard pressed to give it 4 out of 10.
Wasn't bad for a kids movie, the funny parts worked for me, but it seems like Pixar doesn't work that hard on plots anymore which kind of kills the adult-cross-over appeal. Amazing how badly Pixar lost its way -- quality story telling of Monsters Inc, Toy Story and even Incredibles 1 is long gone.
The Incredibles 2
I enjoyed it with my god daughter (12 and she loved it) and would give it 4/5 ( yes the first one was a 5/5 film but you can only have a surprising new premiss once with the same cast... sort of the catch 22 of sequels you have to keep the folks that loved the fist one with more of the same and when you do folks say its just more of the same old thing.... )
perhaps it would have been more fun if every one in the cast was 14 years older and the plan to mainstream the supers had 14 years of going wrong as the background the kids are college and mr and mrs are on their third breakup over who got stuck with bringing up Jack Jack
I watched the 2018 HBO version of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, and found it to be as atmospheric and dystopian as one could hope. It really is a good update, and I thought the addition of technology and social media was done really well. The emojis were a great touch, especially when projected onto buildings along with the latest “news” and reactions from citizens.
This is a pretty grim film, but it has a touch of hope at the end. Earlier adaptations were a bit easier on the protagonists. The visuals were outstanding though, and the techno-surveillance state it portrays seems all too possible. It is a pretty moving film, and I think it is worth watching.
The wife and I enjoyed Ladybird moderately. We've seen a large number of films along the same lines: this ain't the worst or best. Ronan is an excellent actress, pretty much our fave, but she's a bit long-in-the-tooth for this role. We loved her in Death Defying Acts (a similar role) and Atonement. Surprised we were to see Sheldon's mama nominated for her decent performance here.
*** A Quiet Place
Worth watching (once.) I'm not much on tour de force, gimmick narratives.
***
On 4 July we watched the 2nd and final episodes of the old HBO series, John Adams. Both are set on and about two Independence Days, 50 years apart.
Excellent. I have not seen a feature film of late which approaches the quality of this TV show.
Me too.
off topic: Valis remains my fave PKD novel. I would never have read it, save that it was on the Lost reading list, as was The Invention of Morel. Not every book on that List is of that quality. My wife had to labor to complete Huxley's Island.
Unsane - the latest from Steven Soderbergh, in which a woman is involuntarily committed to a mental institution whilst being stalked.
Really liked it, Claire Foy (from the Crown, doing something completely different), was brilliant. All shot on iphone too.
Ant-Man...worst marvel movie in a while. Terrible sidekicks & terrible villain...a truly tiny bit of humor, some size changing fun & at times I felt actual boredom. At best, some might consider harmless, somewhat funny, somewhat charming, somewhat entertaining, marvel lite. I guess that is what the first Ant-Man was...a successful marvel-lite movie. This movie isn't so much worse really, just enough that it swung the pendulum for me from charming to annoying.
A excellent or terrific entertaining movie from start to the end, and a Terrific Sequel.
The movie has a simple straight forward story, 3 dimensional believable likable heroes with returning characters from the 4th Movie and 3 Dimensional Villains including the Big Bad, exciting terrific climax,great drama, great action, new characters, terrific music that fits the scenes, and a marvelous ending that sets up the 6th Movie, decent dialogue and memorable terrific lines, and something extra.
It’s common that a Main Villain or the Big Bad will give a monologue to explain his or her motives for why he or she believes he isn’t a Bad Guy, and this sequel has that when Eli gives valid intelligent logical reasons why what he is doing the making money using dinosaurs in an auction really isn’t that different sine Claire was making money using the dinosaurs in Jurassic World mostly a Extraordinary Zoo in the 4th movie that he directly mentions, also Owen trained Raptors which is why he decides it’s really not wrong to create a Prototype Predator the whole be involved with the behavior of a Predator.
This movie talks shows and talks about continuity from the other Jurassic Park movies including events in the 4th movie so it succeeds as a direct sequel with returning charters. This includes a picture shown of the Creator of Jurassic Park, also Owen and Claire talking about their relationship including issues with if it did or didn’t end.
Footage from the 4th movie is shown.
A high amount of action with capturing a Raptor that doesn’t go down without a fight after the tranquilizers, also Owen and others having to move fast off the Island and avoid getting killed by the dinosaurs stampede, the TRex and other predatory dinosaurs, and getting out of a vehicle after falling in the water.
Maisie is able to avoid getting captured by Eli Mills, and did save the dinosaurs by pushing the button so they could get released. As expected she is in danger but she shows she’s not a helpless damsel which its great because new character and good character so terrific she isn’t wasted to be in danger and nothing besides that because that would be predictable uncreative lameass writing.
Maisie, Owen, Claire, Zia and Franklin all good characters all get a chance to shine in this movie which is great because it’s awful writing to have main good characters and not all of them get a chance to shine. It’s dejavu of Young Guns because Billy the Kid and The Regulators all got chances to shine.
It’s a challenging decision for Owen and the good guys because not a high amount of time having to decide don’t push the button which would have the result of the dinosaurs killed by a hydrogen cyanide gas because the animals are in the danger unprotected area, or push the button opening floodgates with no turning back since the dinosaurs would be moving free in downtown Cities and other areas where humans are.
Claire and Owen and others choose not to save dinosaurs at the great cost of unsafe urban areas and other areas for humans, and not foreseeable at all because it happens off screen the kid Maisie pushes the button. She heard the warning and still decided to release the dinosaurs so can’t be called innocent when most likely irreparable damage happens for future movies.
Still a likable character but still she has made a decision that has a great cost that she may regret in future movies possibly.
A great surprise reveal when Henry Wu is shown talking to the Big Bad Eli Mills along with the buyers, and a other main Bad Guy a seasoned mercenary Ken Wheately.
Ken Wheately the leader of the Mercenaries is a great Bad Guy, and he wants to make a necklace using dinosaur teeth all from different dinosaurs so it does make him a unique memorable Villain for the Jurassic Park movie series.
He does the dirty work for Eli similar to Clarence Boddicker working for Dick Jones in Roboop.
He does use a tranquilizer on the IndorRaptor enters the cage, and the IndorRaptor having fun with the situation after awaking pretends sleeping and attacks the remorseless Mercenary by eating him. He is a vicious Villain that created pain for dinosaurs so unlikely you’ll feel sad when he is killed by the IndorRaptor which is fitting.
The IndorRaptor a main attraction in this movie does kill multiple characters during the climax. Great to see a Unique Prototype Predator was not wasted since it’s creating deaths and destruction along with hunting 3 Good Charaters, and fighting Blue the Velociraptor.
It’s never stated what the IndorRaptor a prototype dinosaurs and formidable predator would be used when sold to others. I would guess because of it’s tactical advantages and arsenal the Militaries would want to buy IndorRaptors.
Also the IndorRaptor and other dinosaurs create violence and destruction after getting released, and a satisfying violent death for the Big Bad
The exciting Terrific climax is Owen, Claire and Maisie being chased by the IndorRaptor that similar to the Terminator does not give up, and Blue does fight the prototype Predator The IndorRaptor. Also releasing the dinassours and having to make the challenging decision release the dinosaurs with no turning back, or don’t push the button which will kill them because of the deadly gas.
Shown is dinosaurs in the Zoo, Urban areas and other areas, also after the Credits a scene shows dinosaurs in Downtown Las Vegas which is something extra sand most likely inspired by the MCU Movies since the MCU Is a Terrific Successful Powerhouse Cinematic Universe.
A movie that lives up to it’s literal title. It should be called American Ninjas 4 The Annihilation because it has American Ninjas.
It’s a decent entertaining Action movie start to the end with a straight forward plot, decent action, drama, high action packed climax, great Ninja costumes and weapons, and likable heroes.It has flaws that could have been removed which is why this movie underachieves and isn’t a great movie.Also it is a Glorious Ridiculous Action movie which you can see if you watch the movie.
This really is the last official movie in the American Ninja movie because the 5th movie has 0 returning characters, and is a in name only sequel for the American Ninja movie series.
This is far closer to Double Dragon than the embarrassment unfaithful awful movie is including a Dynamite Double of 2 Badass Warriors that defeat and smash foes , and Hollywood royally fumbled by not casting a Great Action Star Actor David Bradley as Billy Lee because proven he can play Heroes that are Martial Artists.
The Likable heroes are Sean a Badass Ninja and CIA Agent, also Joe a Badass Ninja from the 1st 2 American Ninja movies that left the army and became a teacher, and Sean’s sidekick Carl. Sarah is the love interest for Sean and she does help Sean and others hide when they are being pursued by the Corrupt Police.
Yellow, Black, and other colors for the Ninjas so great variety for the Army of Ninjas which are henchmen of the Big Bad Colonel Mulgrew, also a great scene of the Ninjas moving through a deadly obstacle course with several Ninjas dying. Also Ninjas practicing moves.
This takes place 1 year after American Ninja and 0 explanation for how after 1 year Sean is a CIA Agent, and no explanation for how Sean and Joe 2 characters that never talked and met in the other 3 American Ninja movies become best friends. These are great flaws because happens offscreen which is awful writing along with 0 explanations.
The great flaws this movie has is Sean and Joe the badass Ninjas the 2 main heroes are rarely challenged when fighting the Ninjas which makes it undramatic and dull since all to easy for Joe and Sean plus others to defeat the Ninjas.
Joe didn’t easily defeat a Ninja that is a imposter which he discovers after killing the Imposter. He removes a terrific quality mask, and sees this isn’t Sean it’s a Imposter.
Joe also fights the Ninja Captain, and while the Ninja Captain isn’t a pushover except I was never worried that Joe could lose to this adversary which makes the climax lame and undramatic.
Also Colonel Mulgrew has a deadly weapon except again I wasn’t worried that Sean wouldn’t defeat the Big Bad that is Colonel Mulgrew . Without the deadly weapon no doubt Sean easily defeats Colonel Mulgrew under 20 seconds.
These fights involving the main 2 Heroes both badass Ninjas are not short but still undramatic and dull.
The Ninjas are undershown, a waste of characters that could have been Great Villains if they were formidable adversaries for most of the movie, Sean and Joe fighting on screen together doesn’t happen that much in this movie.
Also since the switch is showing Joe fighting the Ninja Captain, and Sean fighting Colonel Mulgrew which is awful because I want to watch 2 full fights not 2 fights that changes focus and location.
A suitcase Nuke that is shown and said in the movie it could destroy New York City is never used which is a huge waste of a destructive weapon that isn’t used.
Also an utterly unoriginal dime a dozen Villain a Muslim Militant that is going to use a explosive. Zero effort to create an original Villain.
Also The Police Captain does search a Mortuary looking for Sean, Carl and another character. He uses his gun to touch the bodies that are under sheets to see if the person responds. The best action that he doesn’t use is remove the Sheet, and since he doesn’t use that best action he doesn’t find the good guys he does touch a good guy with his gun that doesn’t respond which is why he assumes the person is dead, also he was close to where Sean was behind a table but because of awful writing he sees the body on the table but not Sean’s head also Sean is sitting down so unbelievable with hiding in plain sight that the Police Captain didn’t see him.
For the Climax A legion easily invades a Fort kills Ninjas and the Corrupt Police during the Invasion because they have explosives, and guns.
Sean is able to climb a area, kill Ninjas, enter the building and kill more Ninjas. He fights a imposter and kills the Imposter. He moves to the area where Sean and others are going to be executed by being burned alive where Sean is able to use gas bombs and free Sean and others that easily defeat Ninjas.
Also a guy uses a rocket launcher to destroy the Helicopter which kills the other Big Bad Sheik Maksood a Muslim Militant.
Sean does fight the Ninja Captain, and Joe is able to rescue the damsel and kill Colonel Mulgrew.
Sean easily defeats Ninjas, and also easily kills and defeats Ninjas before entering the Building and after entering the Building. Sean does catch a arrow with his mouth that he uses to stab a Ninja, the Ninja is above Joe in the exact right spot so Joe can throw a weapon to kill him.
This is a glorious ridiculous Action movie, also the Ninjas were underwater, and then move above water to surround the American Commandos that are in a boat how damn convenient it’s unknown how long the Ninjas were underwater.
If you watch the entire movie you’ll see this is a Glorious Ridiculous Action movie.
In the movies Jaws, Predator, Cobra, Alien, 90s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles these have great climaxes because it’s challenging for the hero or heroes to defeat the main Villain and you are worried the hero or heroes could lose which makes it a great dramatic climax.
The Ninjas shown to be successful killing Soldiers plus capturing Soldiers at the start of the movie, capturing Sean and friends with a Net, and dodging gun shots. I wanted to see more of the Ninjas shown as component Villains, also shown more.
(2018) Deadpool 2
9/10
A great action drama movie with a simple story start to the end, 3 dimensional characters, does justice with Cable, Juggernaut, Firefist, and other mutants, and sets up the 3rd movie, great drama including logical reasons why the violence is happening, exciting great climax, great breaking the 4th wall lines, great action, genuine funny parts and a terrific extra scene.
Cable’s family is murdered by Russell aka Firefist a mutant that can manipulate fire. This does get shown in a flashback that explains Cable’s motive to murder Russell in the past so his family isn’t murdered by Russell, that is why Cable time travels back to the past to kill the kid Russell before he murders the Headmaster so his family survives.
Deadpool is shown killing bad guys in the opening scene, he doesn’t kill a Bad Guy because he escapes to a safe area, the same bad guy is able to find Deadpool where he lives and kills Vanessa.
Deadpool knowing he’s responsible for Vanessa getting murdered is somber, attempts suicide by using a explosive that fails since he has a healing factor.
Deadpool disagrees that Russell can’t be saved if he hasn’t murdered the Headmaster which Cable knows is the 1st person he murders. This is the event of why Russell becomes a remorseless murder if he murders the Headmaster which is why Deadpool wants to save him before that so Cable doesn’t have to kill him.
Deadpool and Domino are both fighting Cable because they don’t know why Cable wants to kill Russell, and Deadpool does disagree that Russell should be killed if he hasn’t murdered a person. This is why Cable decides to offer to work with Deadpool and the X-Factor to prevent Russell’s 1st murder.
Domino is shown in action including moving into a Transportation Truck that has Mutant Prisoners, fighting Cable, parachuting, etc.
It was great that Colossus quoted Robocop from the 1st movie with the whole trouble line which Deadpool recognized and says that’s from Robocop. Deadpool breaking the 4th wall saying that family movies including the Disney movie Bambi start with a death, it was a joke he names a Saw movie because Saw movies are not family movies.
He talks about the Box office success of Deadpool a high grossing rated R movie that isn’t higher than The Rated R Drama movie Passion of Christ the amount of money made at the box office the highest amount for a Rated R movie, autographs Ryan Reynolds for a picture instead of Deadpool, looking at the camera that’s just lazy writing in response to time traveling explained in this movie, and does when first seeing Juggernaut says information including his 1st appearance in a comic book, brings up information Cable reminding him of Winter Soldier, the whole DC Cinematic Universe you must be from the DC Universe to Cable with being dark.
I’m shocked that Juggernaut, Dopinder and others don’t ask him about the information they don’t know about when breaking the 4th wall, also ask who is he talking to when breaking the 4th wall.
This has a exciting great climax with Juggernaut fighting Cable and Deadpool without sweating, it becomes a great fight with Colosssus fighting Juggernaut and is able to defeat him by fighting dirty. Also Domino moving through the Orphanage moving the orphans out of the building. Russell pursuing the headmaster using his fire manipulation powers wrecking the Building.
Juggernaut easily fights Deadpool, and rips his body in half.
The genuine funny parts is Deadpool imitates a scene from Say Anything to persuade Colossus to help them save Russell with a song playing, Deadpool having to walk with baby legs, Peter has no powers and is hired for X-Factor, Dopinder wants to become a Hitman, etc.
Since the staff and the Headmaster abused Russell and other mutants it logically explain the emergency with Russell using his mutant powers outside the Orphanage building with the intent to destroy the orphanage building and hurt staff and the Headmaster.
Deadpool does attempt to persuade Russell not to murder the Headmaster it’s unsuccessful, Deadpool puts on a collar that prevents mutant powers from being active, Cable shoots at the Russell and Deadpool sacrifices himself jumping in front with Deadpool is shot and killed. Wilson is reunited with Vanessa in the afterlife but finds out it isn’t his time.
The future has been altered Cable’s family survives, he time travels back several minutes straps Vannesa’s token in front of Deadpool’s heart, now Deadpool again sacrifices himself but doesn’t die because the token stops the bullet.
Impeccable timing because Deadpool talks about karma for why Russell and others shouldn’t murder the Headmasster, and the Taxi Driver Dopinder driving fast drives through a area and runs over the Headmaster.
In the extra scene Deadpool time travels to the past preventing Peter and others from dying, kills the lameass Deadpool before he fights Wolverine in X Men Origins Wolverine, and kills Ryan Reynolds before he can sign to be in the abomination awful movie the embarrassment that is Green Lantern.
Most likely this X-Factor will be shown in the 3rd movie.
Ready Player One, which is definitely changed from the book.
Also watched The Incredibles 2 and couldn't help but wonder if the house they moved into perhaps used to belong to Syndrome?
