Film Flam

[chaotic neutral observer]

Network (1976) is the closest thing to a discordian film I have yet watched.  It's not the P.D. type of discordianism, oh no.  It's B.I.P. discordianism.

It's vicious, satirical, pessimistic, funny, depressing, poetic, and prophetic.  I'd put it on the shelf next to Dr. Strangelove.

Life is Bullshit.

[Cramulus]

Both were fun, but the D&D movie was better than the Mario movie.

That is all.

[Faust]

New evil dead film is basically a sequel to the Robin Williams jumanji and I love it

[Brother Mythos]

"How this laughable sci-fi flick embarrassed Hollywood into doing better science"

I read this review of The Core, a 2003 science fiction movie, with some amusement several months  ago, but did not recall having ever watched it. Then, just last week, I found it was scheduled to play on the ol' boob tube new simpleton flat-screen. So, I recorded it for my possible viewing pleasure.

As per the movie's review:

"No matter how much you might hate a movie, it is doubtful you loathe it as much as scientists despise this one infamous flick.

There is a motion picture so scientifically irresponsible that merely mentioning its title instantly arouses ire in countless otherwise stolid academic personalities. When first released in 2003, it badly bombed at the box office, prompting one physicist to speculate that the public stayed away because it could smell garbage. It "did not make money because people understood the science was so out to lunch," Emory University Physics Professor Sidney Perkowitz proclaimed at the time. Indeed, Perkowitz was so bothered by the movie's misinformation that he crafted a set of guidelines to help Hollywood studios avoid future embarrassments. Hundreds of fellow scientists expressed support for Perkowitz's position; today this movie is best remembered for helping inspire the creation of the Science & Entertainment Exchange, which promotes the use of better science in movies, television and other media."

Here's the link to the review:      https://www.salon.com/2023/02/05/the-core-science-entertainment-exchange/

While watching this movie, I quickly came to agree with the review's assessment. The "scientific" causes given for the many disaster scenes really are incredibly bad. I suspect the producers were aiming for this to be an Armageddon goes Journey to the Center of the Earth flick, but they ended well wide of the mark. On the other hand, if they had added even more "scientifically" bad disaster scenes, this movie might have become a cult classic.

On the plus side, this movie should be required watching for future science fiction writers and producers, as it's a magnificent example of how not to do the genre. Also, for what it's worth, the movie's production values are high, and the acting isn't bad.

I wouldn't recommend spending your money on the DVD. But, provided it appears free on the flat-screen, and if you're a die-hard science-fiction fan, you might find The Core entertaining.

[Scribbly]

Barbie was very fun and about as subtle as a brick to the face.

Hugely improved by walking out behind a couple and hearing:
"So you gonna do your own washing now?"
"Fuck off" (affectionate)

[Cain]

New evil dead film is basically a sequel to the Robin Williams jumanji and I love it

I was already gonna watch this, but now I feel I will enjoy it.

I'm also late to the party, but I watched the D&D movie. It was...alright, actually. Not saying it was great cinema because lol no it wasn't, but it was entertaining, light and had a surprising amount of Forgotten Realms lore in it, at least compared to what I was expecting.

I also felt the cast were pretty good. Chris Pine excels at the charming rogue role, that's a given. Michelle Rodriguez...I've not kept up with her career but either she's put on a decent amount of muscle in general or a decent amount for this role, and either way she sells the whole barbarian warrior angle. And while Hugh Grant is no Jeremy Irons, he was at least trying, bless him.

The Paladin fight scene was also pretty impressive, Regé-Jean Page had the classic Paladin stick up his ass, but he then took that stick and used it to beat down a half dozen Thayan assassins. And unless they did some very clever trickery it looks like he did the entire fight scene himself, which he should definitely get some kudos for.

[Cramulus]

I liked it too. I am glad they went for Guardians of the Galaxy and not LotR.

I thought the dragon was interesting. It's like.. the movie is called Dungeons and Dragons, so if it doesn't have a dragon in it, it fails -- so they had to cram one in there. And then, how do they do it?? Do they try to outdo Smough? scary red dragon has been done in so many films...

they chose a new visual direction, made it chubby. I thought that was clever! Hadn't seen a fat dragon fight in a movie before.

[Cain]

It was definitely a different take. And yeah, as you say, the Guardians of the Galaxy style approach really did work for them, and I felt it played to the cast's strengths. It had more of a feel of an actual D&D campaign that has gone slightly off the rails but is gradually getting back on course.

[Brother Mythos]

I'm not a Matthew McConaughey fan, so I started watching The Lincoln Lawyer, a 2011 film, more out of boredom than anything else. Mickey Haller, the criminal defense attorney played by McConaughey, initially appears to be every bit as sleazy as his clients. However, as the movie progresses, he's shown to actually follow a code of ethics.

This is a flick with a lot of interesting twists and turns, and I found it to be well worth the watch. I, also, now have more respect for McConaughey's acting ability.

[Brother Mythos]

I recently watched Nightmare Alley, a 2021 film, featuring Bradley Cooper, and an excellent supporting cast. Cooper plays a man with a questionable past who accidentally wanders into a traveling carnival, and slowly becomes an accepted member of the troupe.

This movie has been classified as a "neo-noir psychological thriller," and I completely agree that that assessment. The cinematography, settings, and most of the characters are dark, and I found the slow buildup of the first half of the movie difficult to watch. However, things move along much faster in the second half.

This movie will, definitely, not be to everyone's taste. But, if you're drawn to the overall neo-noir genre, you'll probably appreciate this flick.

[Brother Mythos]

I recently re-watched The Accountant (2016). It's one of the few movies I'm willing to watch more than once. Everything about this movie is great. Even the quite times between action scenes hold one's attention, and the storyline, the casting, the acting, and the overall pace of the movie are all top-notch. This flick is just begging for a sequel.

And, it's just been announced that Accountant 2 is in the works.

[Cain]

I'm not a Matthew McConaughey fan, so I started watching The Lincoln Lawyer, a 2011 film, more out of boredom than anything else. Mickey Haller, the criminal defense attorney played by McConaughey, initially appears to be every bit as sleazy as his clients. However, as the movie progresses, he's shown to actually follow a code of ethics.

This is a flick with a lot of interesting twists and turns, and I found it to be well worth the watch. I, also, now have more respect for McConaughey's acting ability.

I went into that film with zero expectations and I also really enjoyed it. As you say, it's twisty, unpredictable and definitely shows McConaughey's acting chops some.

Honestly my favourite genre of film "something I know absolutely nothing about but end up enjoying."

[Cain]

Also, FWIW, very true to the lawyers I dealt with, during my time doing legal research. There are definitely lawyers with zero conscience, but they don't work in criminal law, they're in acquisitions and mergers. If you want to make bucketloads of money and have no scruples, then criminal defence is a chump's game: corporate law and adjacent fields is where it's at.

[Cain]

I liked it too. I am glad they went for Guardians of the Galaxy and not LotR.

I thought the dragon was interesting. It's like.. the movie is called Dungeons and Dragons, so if it doesn't have a dragon in it, it fails -- so they had to cram one in there. And then, how do they do it?? Do they try to outdo Smough? scary red dragon has been done in so many films...

they chose a new visual direction, made it chubby. I thought that was clever! Hadn't seen a fat dragon fight in a movie before.

So I actually looked this up.

It's a chubby dragon in the lore. Like, 2nd edition lore. I know, I was as shocked as anyone. It was that dragon that nested in one of the duregar cities and was fed tribute to keep it from running rampage, so it got fat. Said city was near Menzoberranzan, and so it even fits for the right area of the Underdark, given the film takes place along the Sword Coast and Menzo is basically north and east of Waterdeep.

[Cain]

Found it https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Themberchaud