Saturday Evening Movie Thread - 7/02/2022 [TheJamesMadison]

Mortal Engines

I don't normally focus on just a single film in these posts, but I got Christian Rivers' hilariously bad box office bomb of a film Mortal Engines as a rental just to check it out, and I was kind of flabbergasted at the awfulness on display. Adapted from the first in a series of young adult novels by Philip Reeve, using a screenplay by the writing team that gave us The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and directed by one of the key visual effects personnel from those films with Peter Jackson acting as producer, Mortal Engines is one of the most incomprehensible things I've ever seen. Overstuffed, obvious to the point of obtuseness, overbearing in tone, and overproduced, it is one of the nadirs of bad decisions that pissed away hundreds of millions of dollars in Hollywood with nothing in return.

Several years after its release, it seemed like a fascinating case study in how to not adapt a work, but before I could make that assertion I decided to actually read the book. And then I watched the movie again. Twice. The second time was with the director's commentary on to see if he offered any insight into the adaptation process.

I came away with thoughts.

The Book

So, let's start with the book by Phillip Reeve. I have literally no idea how this thing made it to publishing, much less spawned several sequels. It is, quite possibly, the worst book I have ever read.

Written in a way that precludes any kind of serious investment in anything that goes on, it's a thin adventure story with characters that could barely called characters who have the bare minimum of interaction with other characters to establish spare character traits that define them while, at the same time, being completely mutable to change their opinions on everything with the introduction of small pieces of information while also, at the same time, refusing to learn from any lesson.

While the characters are frustrating, it's the "shocking" reveals and the terrible world building that irritated me most. A character, Thaddeus Valentine, is introduced in one of the early chapters in such glowing and effusively positive terms that his turn to evil...within the same chapter...is both obvious and not shocking at all, and so much of the film hinges on the main character, Tom, and his near religious-like devotion to Valentine, a man he met once...in that scene. We also end up with a glut of characters introduced throughout the film (the final fifty pages still introduces new characters) like Reeve had no idea how to actually tell a human based story where characters had motivations.

The largest failing is probably the world building. The only reason to really pick up the book is the idea of a world where cities are mobile and consume each other in a concept called Municipal Darwinism is interesting on its face, but the book makes no effort to really dig into it. Aside from a couple of lines about how, literally, a thousand years before there was an age of heavy volcanic activity that forced static settlements to move to survive. Okay, that kind of makes sense in a "don't think too hard about it fantasy" sort of way, but what about the ensuing thousand years? In a time when there aren't massive volcanic eruptions anymore, why would anyone consider the energy consumption to move millions of tons around be preferrable to sitting in one place and growing food? It's thin, at best, and Reeve doesn't seem to understand the limitations of his own ideas. Nothing is really considered in any real depth, and everything about the book falls apart with the least amount of thought.

Also, it's filled with massive coincidences just to keep the story going, my favorite being when Tom and Hester Shaw end up in the middle of nowhere, a bog where no city would dare to tread because of the softness of the ground, only to have two cities drive past them moments later, the first of which crushes someone who's chasing them. It's ridiculous to the point of parody, but it's played straight.

The Adaptation

So, I went into reading the book, having seen the movie first, with the assumption that Peter Jackson, Phillipa Boyens, and Fran Walsh, the writers, had mangled the book. That they had brought in a bunch of material from other books in the series, squashed a bunch of stuff into a limited narrative space, and taken what was surely a halfway decent source and completely bungled the job. Well, this isn't much of a defense of the writing trio, but I have to say that after having read the book, they did a bang up job of adapting the book to the screen. It's pretty damn accurate and reflects the strengths and weaknesses of the book really well. In fact, I'd say that they actually improved on the book in a couple of small and insignificant ways.

That scene where Valentine is unnaturally good to the point of obviousness that he's definitely the bad guy? It's in the movie, not word for word (the conversation now revolves around a toaster instead of vagaries like in the book), but the change of focus onto something tangible and there makes the interactions between Tom and Thaddeus more grounded in something like a real conversation than the book. It's still a dumb and bad scene, but the dialogue works a bit better.

One of the things in the movie that I was positive had been drawn in from later books in the series was the character of Shrike, a sort of immortal robot soldier that had been built from a real man hundreds of years before and raised the character of Hester Shaw from the time her mother was killed by Valentine. His contributions in the film were so little and so unimportant to the actual movement of the plot and story that I was convinced that it had been awkwardly inserted where it didn't belong. Well, the writing trio on the film didn't do that. Shrike's entire story is in the book, but they cleaned it up a bit (there's a bit about the mayor of London having captured Shrike to create new immortal soldiers that's replaced by Thaddeus freeing Shrike from a prison). In both he's largely unimportant to actually getting characters around except to operate as a handful of arbitrary obstacles that just keep Tom and Hester from getting back to London too quickly, but the movie just makes his little sliver of the story a bit cleaner. It's still dumb, but it's cleaner. So, the essence of the book is preserved for the film, just polished slightly.

The film is pretty much the book in movie form. All of the basic narrative deficiencies are preserved to appeal to the fans of the book with no intention on actively digging into the work to find out what worked and what didn't, giving it a full adaptation to film. It's more of a translation than an adaptation. I imagine the fans of the books were reasonably happy with the end result.

Why?

I had a lot of why questions when I finished up my little exercise. Why did Peter Jackson decide to throw not only his producing weight but also the entire efforts of his dedicated writing team (including himself) to adapting it? He apparently acquired the rights back in 2008 with an eye to directing it himself, but why? What was in this story that excited him. He refused to direct it himself after The Hobbit because he was so tired, but why did Christian Rivers decide that Mortal Engines was going to be his feature film debut?

I honestly don't see the appeal beyond the world building. If I had gotten the assignment or felt the need to bring the world to cinemas, I'd tear out the story almost completely and rebuild it from the barest of narrative bones, approaching more like how Stanley Kubrick treated adaptations rather than how Jackson had treated The Lord of the Rings.

I think it highlights the problem in adaptation, especially of works that simply aren't that good. Why preserve the less than quality elements?

This is far from scientific, but I compared the number of ratings at Goodreads of the first books in the Mortal Engines, Hunger Games, The Maze Runner and Divergent book series, all books that got at least one mid to large scale cinematic adaptations. Organized from most to least number of ratings it is:

The Hunger Games: 7.4 million
Divergent: 3.4 million
The Maze Runner: 1.2 million
Mortal Engines: 58,000

The fan base for this book seems to be really, really small. Who were they expecting to come to the theaters on the power of the book's popularity? Who invests this kind of money (at least $100 million) on a special effects laden spectacle with a fan base this tiny? So, who are you going to enrage by tearing out the broken narrative innards (completely rewriting characters, changing the plot, and providing focus that the book never had)? Do they matter when you're trying to appeal to a broader audience?

Financially, I'd say that it's obvious. It was a massive write off for the studio, making only $87 million total across the world while Variety estimated that, combined with marketing costs and theatrical takes, the studio lost $100 million on the project. The movie was poorly received upon its release, and it's gained no levels of love in the ensuing few years. It certainly has its fans, and they're going to be pretty much the only ones to gravitate towards it in the future, artificially inflating the perceived opinion of the film in certain quarters.

I have no answers, though. The movie is a mess. The book was a mess. I have no idea how the thing got published in the first place, much less ignited Peter Jackson's imagination enough for him to invest so much money (don't feel so bad for him, though, he became a billionaire earlier this year).

Still, I'm just left with: Why?

Movies of Today

Opening in Theaters:

Minions: The Rise of Gru

Movies I Saw This Fortnight:

Elvis (Rating 2/4) Full Review "Overall, though, meh. Bloated, aimless, and thin, it has little to nothing to say about Elvis while just trying to hit the high points, but I do love that Baz Luhrmann paint job." [Theater]

The Last House on the Left (Rating 1.5/4) Full Review "I can see a certain, very rough promise in store for Wes Craven in his first film, but it cannot rise above its exploitation roots. He's trying, but he's not yet in a place where he can make it work yet." [Library]

The Hills Have Eyes (Rating 2/4) Full Review "It's not bad, but it's nothing particularly special either." [Library]

Swamp Thing (Rating 1/4) Full Review "It's not very fun, not very involving, and not very good." [Library]

Invitation to Hell (Rating 2.5/4) Full Review "Still, that ending is something else. I kind of loved it. It really wasn't enough to save the whole film, it's simply too dull up to that point to save, but I think it comes reasonably close. If you can make it through the first hour, there's something special towards the end." [YouTube]

A Nightmare on Elm Street (Rating 3/4) Full Review "I really do like this film. I think it's a good slasher with real imagination that takes horror seriously instead of just an excuse for gore, but I also feel like it could have really used another rewrite." [Library]

The Hills Have Eyes: Part II (Rating 0/4) Full Review "There is nothing to this film. From a basic narrative point of view, it's dead on arrival. From a visceral, just enjoy the gore, point of view, there's literally nothing to enjoy. There's barely even any T&A. This is probably the worst movie of Craven's career, and I can see why he would disown it." [Library]

Deadly Friend (Rating 2/4) Full Review "Without the bloody violence, this might have been a weird but passable entertainment. With the bloody violence, it gains the dimension of the guffaw which neither elevates nor degrades the rest of the film. It's an odd duck in this final form, though I would be somewhat curious in the original (which seems to have been lost)." [Library]

The Serpent and the Rainbow (Rating 3/4) Full Review "Still, overall, the descent into madness and terror that the film represents as a whole is something that I really did quite enjoy." [Library]

Contact

Email any suggestions or questions to thejamesmadison.aos at symbol gmail dot com.
I've also archived all the old posts here, by request. I'll add new posts a week after they originally post at the HQ.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 07:45 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Sorry.

I'm out with family and lost track of time.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison's Phone, read some movie thoughts at July 02, 2022 08:19 PM (ZX7EF)

2 2nd

Posted by: Rex B at July 02, 2022 08:21 PM (hyKw2)

3 I actually don't mind Mortal Engines. I watch it when it's on the tube.

Posted by: Napoleon XIV at July 02, 2022 08:21 PM (AiZBA)

4 Well I made the transition.

Posted by: Ciampino - - IKEA shelving Step 13: Shit ! at July 02, 2022 08:24 PM (qfLjt)

5 Evening, Horde....

My Movie Roulette continues this evening with The Possession, a decent horror flick involving a box inhabited by a demonic spirit. Naturally, it gets free and starts to possess a young girl.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 02, 2022 08:24 PM (K5n5d)

6 I thought some of the machines in Mortal Engines were pretty cool, particularly the centipede like one.

I remember at least two good things about Swamp Thing.

Posted by: No One of Consequence at July 02, 2022 08:25 PM (CAJOC)

7 Ya know I don't have a favorite bad movie that I enjoy ironically. I feel like there's something lacking in my life.

Posted by: N.L. Urker, my trench is full of chickens at July 02, 2022 08:25 PM (eGTCV)

8 The premise for The Mortal Engines is just laughable on its face. I found the premise of The Hunger Games hard enough to swallow.

Mortal Engines is just bad, bad, bad, and I've never seen it or read it. It just sounded like some sort of anti-capitalist screed. Not interested in that...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 02, 2022 08:26 PM (K5n5d)

9 I never made it through Mortal Engines. Barely made it through Maze Runner and only watched the Hunger Games because people said it was good. Meh. Didn't even attempt Divergent.

3 out of 4 were girl power stories right ?

Posted by: Anti doesn't matter at July 02, 2022 08:26 PM (UMHqX)

10 4 Well I made the transition.
Posted by: Ciampino - - IKEA shelving Step 13: Shit ! at July 02, 2022 08:24 PM (qfLjt)

-----------------------

Do we call you Ms. Ciampino now?

Posted by: No One of Consequence at July 02, 2022 08:27 PM (CAJOC)

11 Won't be here long I think

Posted by: Skip at July 02, 2022 08:28 PM (2JoB8)

12 I imagine Jackson was drawn to the spectacle. That seems to be his thing. And it doesn't have to be bad. One day, maybe, he'll get it right.

You know who could "adapt" a book? Spielberg & Zemeckis. Just chuck out...everything...except a few premises and run with it.

Roger Rabbit, Gump, RP1...just use the title and move on.

Or, I guess you could pick GOOD literature but where's the challenge in that?

Posted by: moviegique at July 02, 2022 08:28 PM (asXVI)

13 I watched Battlefield Earth and didn't hate it . Can't say I liked it but didn't hate it.

Posted by: Anti doesn't matter at July 02, 2022 08:30 PM (UMHqX)

14 TJM catching up on Halloween movies?

Posted by: Skip at July 02, 2022 08:30 PM (2JoB8)

15 Fun to read! I approve of this idea of devoting a movie thread to a movie that is bad in a way that requires thought and analysis to explain why it is bad.

Next week: The Room?

Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 08:30 PM (2hil/)

16 If you like moving cities, read instead "Cities in Flight" where a stardrive is found that works better the more mass you have, so entire cities are wrenched out of the ground and sail around building and selling things to outer planets.

The protagonist city is Manhattan Island itself wrenched out and into space.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 08:30 PM (eoQWY)

17 I liked the First Maze Runner movie, though I didn't care for some of the changes they made from the book.

I'm convinced the second Maze Runner movie was made by people who hadn't read the second book.

Posted by: No One of Consequence at July 02, 2022 08:31 PM (CAJOC)

18 So Jupiter Ascending > Mortal Engines?

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 08:31 PM (2Gfjx)

19 I'm watching the final episode of Stranger Things (2.5 hours!). I am strangely uninvolved with this season and only seeing it through to completion out of respect for the other, better seasons.

It's not bad, and has flashes of good, but...eh.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Analog Hipster at July 02, 2022 08:31 PM (Dc2NZ)

20 Battlefield Earth was OK, just ok

Posted by: Skip at July 02, 2022 08:32 PM (2JoB8)

21 Oldcat, were those the Spindizzies?

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Analog Hipster at July 02, 2022 08:32 PM (Dc2NZ)

22 I'm in favor of flinging Manhattan Island into space.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now the Summer of Our Discontent at July 02, 2022 08:32 PM (FVME7)

23 Mortal Engines is just bad, bad, bad

We'll put you down as undecided.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 02, 2022 08:33 PM (/NCI4)

24 hiya

Posted by: JT at July 02, 2022 08:34 PM (arJlL)

25 So Jupiter Ascending > Mortal Engines?
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 08:31 PM (2Gfjx)
---
Huh. I watched Jupiter Ascending last night as part of my Movie Roulette.

Not the worst movie ever made. The plot is somewhat nonsensical, but makes more sense than The Mortal Engines world-building.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 02, 2022 08:34 PM (K5n5d)

26 Hiya James Monroe !

Posted by: JT at July 02, 2022 08:34 PM (arJlL)

27 For a TV series, I highly recommend Mr Inbetween. Really disappointed that the star / writer decided to end the series when he was ahead. I read it was always his intention.

Posted by: Anti doesn't matter at July 02, 2022 08:34 PM (UMHqX)

28 So you know how sometimes a cultural phenomenon just flits by you, and later you hear that maybe you should have paid attention? Just had one of those today.

So, should I go back and watch Yellowstone?

Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 08:34 PM (2hil/)

29 10 4 Well I made the transition.
Posted by: Ciampino - - IKEA shelving Step 13: Shit ! at July 02, 2022 08:24 PM (qfLjt)
-----------------------
Do we call you Ms. Ciampino now?

Posted by: No One of Consequence at July 02, 2022 08:27 PM (CAJOC)
----
That would be Signora or Signorina .....
Looks in pants ... hmm .... No still Mister.

(This morning I missed the signal and was still going strong in the ONT when everyone migrated to the Tech Thread).

Posted by: Ciampino - - IKEA shelving Step 14: Find a stud-finder (no jokes please) at July 02, 2022 08:34 PM (qfLjt)

30 I started watching Plan 9 From Outer Space but I couldn't watch.

Posted by: N.L. Urker, my trench is full of chickens at July 02, 2022 08:35 PM (eGTCV)

31 Oldcat, were those the Spindizzies?
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Analog Hipster at July 02, 2022 08:32 PM (Dc2NZ)

Yes, the books are by James Blish. Obviously the first idea was just to have one of the oddest space vehicles you can think of, but the analogy to tramp steamers /hobos for the lifestyle grounded it some.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 08:35 PM (eoQWY)

32 Plan 9 from Outer Space, a movie so bad it killed Bela Lugosi

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 08:35 PM (2Gfjx)

33 I find myself more and more watching segments of movies I know well, not just because I'll enjoy it, but so as to avoid disappointment. I can watch some bit, and click it off without any regrets or desire to watch to the end. It's like snacking.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 02, 2022 08:36 PM (/NCI4)

34 Or, I guess you could pick GOOD literature but where's the challenge in that?
Posted by: moviegique at July 02, 2022 08:28 PM (asXVI)

There are actually some interesting works out there that could be awesome. Iain M Banks' Player of Games and Against a Dark Background are two. Personally I have always wanted to see an adaption of a mix of Godwhale and Half Past Human by T. J. Bass, but the Godwhale universe is so hopeless

Posted by: Kindltot at July 02, 2022 08:36 PM (xhaym)

35 I started watching Plan 9 From Outer Space but I couldn't watch.
Posted by: N.L. Urker, my trench is full of chickens at July 02, 2022 08:35 PM (eGTCV)

What's that movie where Peter Lorre is drunk (not acting)? I think it was Jack Nicholson's first movie.

Posted by: Napoleon XIV at July 02, 2022 08:37 PM (AiZBA)

36 32 Plan 9 from Outer Space, a movie so bad it killed Bela Lugosi
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 08:35 PM (2Gfjx)

Gotta wonder, was Ed Wood the first to use old footage of a dead dude in a movie, pretending he was still alive? It's not uncommon now. Maybe he was a pioneer.

Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 08:37 PM (2hil/)

37 I started watching Plan 9 From Outer Space but I couldn't watch.
Posted by: N.L. Urker, my trench is full of chickens at July 02, 2022 08:35 PM (eGTCV)

I like Ed Wood's stuff, at least he enjoyed what he was doing and most of his actors gave an effort, those that were alive anyhow.

He didn't drop any 200 million in the garbage, just a few grand a movie and the investor ( I think the chiropractor/vampire was an investor ) got to be in the movies for his money.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 08:37 PM (eoQWY)

38 Cities in flight?

Pierson Puppeteers move whole planets.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 08:38 PM (2Gfjx)

39 To me the most important part of making a book into a movie is proper casting. I didn't bother watching American Assassin because of the casting. So completely opposite of what I had in my head.

Posted by: Anti doesn't matter at July 02, 2022 08:38 PM (UMHqX)

40 35 What's that movie where Peter Lorre is drunk (not acting)? I think it was Jack Nicholson's first movie.
Posted by: Napoleon XIV at July 02, 2022 08:37 PM (AiZBA)

TIL that Peter Lorre was sober in some of his movies.

Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 08:38 PM (2hil/)

41
If you like moving cities, read instead "Cities in Flight" where a stardrive is found that works better the more mass you have, so entire cities are wrenched out of the ground and sail around building and selling things to outer planets.

The protagonist city is Manhattan Island itself wrenched out and into space.
Posted by: Oldcat

There was a Tom Baker Doctor Who episode "Pirate Planet" that had a similar story.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at July 02, 2022 08:38 PM (63Dwl)

42 25 So Jupiter Ascending > Mortal Engines?
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 08:31 PM (2Gfjx)
---
Huh. I watched Jupiter Ascending last night as part of my Movie Roulette.

Not the worst movie ever made. The plot is somewhat nonsensical, but makes more sense than The Mortal Engines world-building.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 02, 2022 08:34 PM (K5n5d)

----------------------

Been a while since I watched it, but I seem to recall the problem I had with it was that the plot kind of repeated itself at one point. The schemes against Jupiter by the others were basically the same.(probably didn't explain that well)

Posted by: No One of Consequence at July 02, 2022 08:38 PM (CAJOC)

43 Peter Lorre is drunk

The Raven

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 08:38 PM (2Gfjx)

44 Saw so a trailer for "Mortal Engines" once. Thought it was a Monty Python movie.

Posted by: Javems at July 02, 2022 08:39 PM (AmoqO)

45 There have been adaptations of comic books (oh, excuse moi, graphic novels) that I've liked quite a bit. Altered Carbon and Alice in Borderland come to mind. I suppose it's sort of a film maker's farm league, where you can see lots of stuff, most bad, but occasionally, something really good pops out.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 02, 2022 08:39 PM (/NCI4)

46 Pierson Puppeteers move whole planets.
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 08:38 PM (2Gfjx)
---
The Lensmen throw antimatter planets across the universe as weapons...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 02, 2022 08:39 PM (K5n5d)

47 Plan 9 from Outer Space, a movie so bad it killed Bela Lugosi
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 08:35 PM (2Gfjx)

Gotta wonder, was Ed Wood the first to use old footage of a dead dude in a movie, pretending he was still alive? It's not uncommon now. Maybe he was a pioneer.
Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 08:37 PM (2hil/)

Legosi died before Plan 9 started, he was 'working' on a vampire movie with Wood when he died. Hence the economical, if off the wall plot of aliens raising the dead to kinda have the vampire stuff make sense. Well it still didn't, but he tried.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 08:39 PM (eoQWY)

48 Speaking of James Blish, the British werewolf movie "The Beast Must Die" (1974), was based on his book "There Shall Be No Darkness". A man invites eight people to his isolated estate for the weekend. One of them is a werewolf.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Analog Hipster at July 02, 2022 08:40 PM (Dc2NZ)

49 Didn't Blish write the short story The Girl With the Jade Green Eyes?

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 08:41 PM (2Gfjx)

50 Been a while since I watched it, but I seem to recall the problem I had with it was that the plot kind of repeated itself at one point. The schemes against Jupiter by the others were basically the same.(probably didn't explain that well)
Posted by: No One of Consequence at July 02, 2022 08:38 PM (CAJOC)
---
Well, all three heirs of the ruling house wanted to coerce Jupiter (who was the reincarnation of their mother) to give up her claim to Earth. One tried to convince her to join in an alliance, one tried to marry her, and the third just tried to kill her. So they all had the same goal, but different means. But trope wise it's pretty standard stuff.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 02, 2022 08:41 PM (K5n5d)

51 Bumped: Disney apologists: Lightyear did bad, but it isn't any fault of Disney, it's just the pandemic, economy, and people don't have a taste for kids films.

Minions: We made almost as much money on opening day as Lightyear did all opening weekend and are on course to break the record for july 4 opening were the 4th is a Monday.

Disney: Yeah, well our new spinoff cartoon has a robot going shopping to get tampons for a boy, and we'll make up our losses with volume and loving tweets from childless weirdos who pirate their entertainment!
Posted by: Bete at July 02, 2022 08:09 PM (a0KPx)

Posted by: Bete at July 02, 2022 08:41 PM (a0KPx)

52 What's the opinion on the movie Phantasm ?

Posted by: Anti doesn't matter at July 02, 2022 08:42 PM (UMHqX)

53 Been a while since I watched it, but I seem to recall the problem I had with it was that the plot kind of repeated itself at one point. The schemes against Jupiter by the others were basically the same.(probably didn't explain that well)
Posted by: No One of Consequence at July 02, 2022 08:38 PM (CAJOC)

I think there are at least three reps of Imma gonna marry and kill Jupiter (the most important toilet cleaner ever) and have the dog - angel - man hero save her. You know Jupiter is queen of earth because of her bee powers.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 08:42 PM (eoQWY)

54 I know I've seen some "bad" movies in my time, but I can't remember them off hand. And there's a difference between "bad" movies and movies I don't like (Tree of Life)

As to movies I re-watch, I certainly don't re-watch movies that I don't like, or are bad in my estimation.

I want to be entertained, not tortured...

Posted by: browndog Official Mascot of Team Gizzard at July 02, 2022 08:43 PM (BgMrQ)

55 39 To me the most important part of making a book into a movie is proper casting. I didn't bother watching American Assassin because of the casting. So completely opposite of what I had in my head.
Posted by: Anti doesn't matter at July 02, 2022 08:38 PM (UMHqX)

This is about me, isn't it?

Posted by: Tom Cruise IS Jack Reacher at July 02, 2022 08:43 PM (2hil/)

56 Jupiter, "I just want everything the way it was."

Jupiter at end of movie, "Hey lets go flying around where everyone can see us."

Huh?

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 08:43 PM (2Gfjx)

57 The Lensmen throw antimatter planets across the universe as weapons...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 02, 2022 08:39 PM (K5n5d)

Lensmen books had a serious problem with power inflation - each book had a more serious foe to be wiped out as Lensman turn the knob up on the lenses to 11, 12....fifteen billion.

Readable enough, though.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 08:44 PM (eoQWY)

58 What's the opinion on the movie Phantasm ?
Posted by: Anti doesn't matter at July 02, 2022 08:42 PM (UMHqX)
---
It's a hot mess of a movie, but oddly compelling. Typical low-budget horror flick, but the villain (the Tall Man) is distinctive and unique.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 02, 2022 08:45 PM (K5n5d)

59 The Expanded Universe Star Wars novels had an issue with Force power levels hitting 9,000!

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 08:45 PM (2Gfjx)

60 I remember Mortal Engines as a particularly terrible movie.

And...a tranny? Really? Why? In the future when people have to worry about survival they are going to do this shit?

Posted by: 18-1 at July 02, 2022 08:46 PM (ESjRY)

61 Major bust on the border: enough midochlorians to empower 12,500 Darth Vaders.

Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 08:46 PM (2hil/)

62 It's a hot mess of a movie, but oddly compelling. Typical low-budget horror flick, but the villain (the Tall Man) is distinctive and unique.

I remember watching it and its sequels any time they came on back in the day.

Not sure the movies really make any sense but they were entertaining.

Posted by: 18-1 at July 02, 2022 08:47 PM (ESjRY)

63 I think (and have for ten years) that there is going to be a bloom of micro-budget films made in someone's garage that will blow the top off of Hollywood.
The equipment to do a mid-quality film runs about the cost of a new car, and there must be a lot of people shut out of performing arts and writing who might be willing to take a flyer on a really indie production.

Prelude to Axanar and the various Portal pastiches come to mind, as well as Seth Ickerman doing stuff like Blood Machines, literally in his garage.

Posted by: Kindltot at July 02, 2022 08:47 PM (xhaym)

64 The Forever War, the overpowering global government of Earth decrees homosexuality is the future as they continue to fight the Taurans

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 08:47 PM (2Gfjx)

65 The Expanded Universe Star Wars novels had an issue with Force power levels hitting 9,000!
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 08:45 PM (2Gfjx)
---
That's part of their charm, IMHO. The authors could come up with unique Force powers (some of which never saw the light of day again). The galaxy is a big place.

Unfortunately, the sequel trilogy threw out all of the established movie canon limitations on Force powers. J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson had no clue how to write magic systems.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 02, 2022 08:48 PM (K5n5d)

66 What's the opinion on the movie Phantasm ?
Posted by: Anti doesn't matter at July 02, 2022 08:42 PM (UMHqX)

An ex-girlfriend thought it was the most wonderful movie ever. I never saw it so I have to defer to her judgment

Posted by: Kindltot at July 02, 2022 08:48 PM (xhaym)

67 A Hollywood that cannot make a Grimnoir Trilogy movie is a Hollywood paralyzed by ideology over story.

Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 08:48 PM (2hil/)

68 I remember at least two good things about Swamp Thing.
Posted by: No One of Consequence at July 02, 2022 08:25 PM (CAJOC)

Which got the film originally pulled from theaters as Craven didn't have the actress sign a contract that included nudity, so the film was yoinked, and then edited? If so, the studio really needn't have bother.

And yet Roger Ebert thought it worth 3 stars.

Posted by: Bete at July 02, 2022 08:49 PM (a0KPx)

69 I had always hoped This Perfect Day would make a good book-to-movie.

They mangled Logan's Run.

Fleischer did a great job turning a so-so novella into the magnificent and prescient Soylent Green.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 02, 2022 08:49 PM (EZebt)

70 Cities in flight?

Pierson Puppeteers move whole planets.
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 08:38 PM (2Gfjx)

there is a 30s SF story called "Thundering Worlds" by Edmond Hamilton.

There's a more recent story Mutineer's Moon where the moon is a 50k year old battleship with a sentient computer trying to end a mutineer revolt that led to the crew becoming Earth's population....because the enemy Armada that wipes out all life it finds is coming this way again.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 08:49 PM (eoQWY)

71 I remember seeing Phantasm in movie theater on base in England, saw it many years later and didn't hold up

Posted by: Skip at July 02, 2022 08:50 PM (2JoB8)

72 Speaking of which, when is Hollywood going to make a terrible version of Ring World with extraneous gay/tranny characters?

Posted by: 18-1 at July 02, 2022 08:51 PM (ESjRY)

73 The lowest budget movie I liked was The Steel Helmet. A Korean War movie that used cut out tanks and UCLA students as extras. I think it had 100k budget though that was 1951 or 1952.

But I'd probably rank Halloween as the best made low budget movie .

Posted by: Anti doesn't matter at July 02, 2022 08:51 PM (UMHqX)

74 66 What's the opinion on the movie Phantasm ?
Posted by: Anti doesn't matter at July 02, 2022 08:42 PM (UMHqX)

An ex-girlfriend thought it was the most wonderful movie ever. I never saw it so I have to defer to her judgment
Posted by: Kindltot at July 02, 2022 08:48 PM (xhaym)

Is that based on Fantasma, the book by Thomas F Monteleone? That was one creepy book. Arguably not as creepy as The Blood of the Lamb, but still.

Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 08:51 PM (2hil/)

75 They mangled Logan's Run.

All I remember from that movie is Jenny Agutter...and maybe some glittery robot or something?

Posted by: 18-1 at July 02, 2022 08:51 PM (ESjRY)

76 Well, all three heirs of the ruling house wanted to coerce Jupiter (who was the reincarnation of their mother) to give up her claim to Earth. One tried to convince her to join in an alliance, one tried to marry her, and the third just tried to kill her. So they all had the same goal, but different means. But trope wise it's pretty standard stuff.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 02, 2022 08:41 PM (K5n5d)

This is the Bang/Marry/Kill quiz turned into a movie, isn't it.

Posted by: Kindltot at July 02, 2022 08:52 PM (xhaym)

77 Speaking of which, when is Hollywood going to make a terrible version of Ring World with extraneous gay/tranny characters?
Posted by: 18-1 at July 02, 2022 08:51 PM (ESjRY)

Teela Brown's Luck still winning the day, I see.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 08:52 PM (eoQWY)

78 Speaking of which, when is Hollywood going to make a terrible version of Ring World with extraneous gay/tranny characters?
Posted by: 18-1 at July 02, 2022 08:51 PM (ESjRY)

We already have the rights to do that to a book about a ring.

Posted by: Amazon at July 02, 2022 08:52 PM (a0KPx)

79 Mutineer's Moon is by David Weber. And he later kinda recycled that whole idea for Humans have to hide on a world far from the aliens that obliterated everything else man-made.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 08:52 PM (2Gfjx)

80 *Peruses thread*

*Sees nothing about Lone Wolf McQuade*

Dammit!

Posted by: Duke Lowell at July 02, 2022 08:53 PM (u73oe)

81 I suppose it's sort of a film maker's farm league, where you can see lots of stuff, most bad, but occasionally, something really good pops out.
Posted by: Archimedes

Road To Perdition and R.E.D. were both based on comic/graphic novels.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 02, 2022 08:53 PM (IEa8U)

82 Battlefield Earth was OK, just ok
Posted by: Skip at July 02, 2022 08:32 PM (2JoB

===

Are you clear?

Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 02, 2022 08:53 PM (EZebt)

83 Ringworld?

All the rikasha happens on the casting couch.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 08:53 PM (2Gfjx)

84 This is the Bang/Marry/Kill quiz turned into a movie, isn't it.
Posted by: Kindltot at July 02, 2022 08:52 PM (xhaym)
---
Well, maybe a variation on it. Kalique (the female heir) didn't have a "Bang" vibe to her, though. But Titus (Marry) and Balem (Kill) fit nicely...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 02, 2022 08:54 PM (K5n5d)

85 Apparently they made a terrible Dragon Ball movie at some point.

Hollywood's real complaint about it though? They cast a Caucasian actor as Goku.

Because obviously an alien monkey boy MUST be asian.

Posted by: 18-1 at July 02, 2022 08:54 PM (ESjRY)

86 *Peruses thread*

*Sees nothing about Lone Wolf McQuade*

Dammit!
Posted by: Duke Lowell at July 02, 2022 08:53 PM (u73oe)

Give TJM watched this film twice and read the book, he can't pretend to be above Cannon films.

Posted by: Bete at July 02, 2022 08:55 PM (a0KPx)

87 Or Kalique kept her kink on the very down low...

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 08:55 PM (2Gfjx)

88 Road To Perdition and R.E.D. were both based on comic/graphic novels.
Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 02, 2022 08:53 PM (IEa8

I really liked Road to Perdition. I would have loved it if they had casted someone else instead of Tom Hanks.

Posted by: Anti doesn't matter at July 02, 2022 08:55 PM (UMHqX)

89 The Expanded Universe Star Wars novels had an issue with Force power levels hitting 9,000!
Posted by: Anna Puma

Luke Skywalker trolls couple seeking to adopt and asking pregnant women to let them adopt rather than abort. Because he's evil.

https://bit.ly/3nAK6gY

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now the Summer of Our Discontent at July 02, 2022 08:55 PM (FVME7)

90 Are you clear?

No, but I have got my Thetans harmonizing with whatever song is on the radio.

Posted by: Blanco Basura - moronhorde.com. Not insurgents, counterrevolutionaries. at July 02, 2022 08:55 PM (Bd6X8)

91 Battlefield Earth was OK, just ok
Posted by: Skip at July 02, 2022 08:32 PM (2JoB
===

Are you clear?
Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 02, 2022 08:53 PM (EZebt)

Garkon! More of this excellent Kerbango, toot sweet!

Posted by: Count de Monet at July 02, 2022 08:55 PM (4I/2K)

92 Mutineer's Moon is by David Weber. And he later kinda recycled that whole idea for Humans have to hide on a world far from the aliens that obliterated everything else man-made.
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 08:52 PM (2Gfjx)

Yes, that's the first series I got tired of Weber - even his overinflated Harrington universe I was forcing my way through, though I may be behind some now.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 08:55 PM (eoQWY)

93 So you know how sometimes a cultural phenomenon just flits by you, and later you hear that maybe you should have paid attention? ...
Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 08:34 PM (2hil/)
===

An entire culture has flitted by me.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 02, 2022 08:57 PM (EZebt)

94 There's a more recent story Mutineer's Moon where the moon is a 50k year old battleship with a sentient computer trying to end a mutineer revolt that led to the crew becoming Earth's population....because the enemy Armada that wipes out all life it finds is coming this way again.
Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 08:49 PM (eoQWY)

That is basically the plot for The Wailing Asteroid by Murray Leinster. Most of his stand alone novels from the 60s and 70s would make decent movies with some padding and dialogue, he was a short story writer at heart.

Posted by: Kindltot at July 02, 2022 08:57 PM (xhaym)

95 55 39 To me the most important part of making a book into a movie is proper casting. I didn't bother watching American Assassin because of the casting. So completely opposite of what I had in my head.
Posted by: Anti doesn't matter at July 02, 2022 08:38 PM (UMHqX)

This is about me, isn't it?

Posted by: Tom Cruise IS Jack Reacher at July 02, 2022 08:43 PM (2hil/)
----
I haven't seen the movie but I have read all the Mitch Rapp books. Making Kennedy a POC will kill it for me so I won't watch it even if free. She is central in all the books and I have ONE mental picture of her. Plus she has a kid - is that in the movie?

Posted by: Ciampino - - IKEA shelving Step 14: Find a stud-finder (no jokes please) at July 02, 2022 08:57 PM (qfLjt)

96 I slogged through Harrington until the bitter end of conquering Mesa... but one of the books I plowed through in about six hours and promptly requested a refund from Amazon because it was so bad. Since it was digital and less than 24 hours, I got my money back.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 08:57 PM (2Gfjx)

97 93 So you know how sometimes a cultural phenomenon just flits by you, and later you hear that maybe you should have paid attention? ...
Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 08:34 PM (2hil/)
===

An entire culture has flitted by me.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 02, 2022 08:57 PM (EZebt)

Wow, they sell the good stuff in San Fran it seems.

Posted by: Bete at July 02, 2022 08:58 PM (a0KPx)

98 92 Yes, that's the first series I got tired of Weber - even his overinflated Harrington universe I was forcing my way through, though I may be behind some now.
Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 08:55 PM (eoQWY)

I got tired of Weber when Honor Harrington got promoted from plucky ship captain to boring bureaucrat.

Gotta wonder how fans of the vibrant coming-of-age tale that is the original Star Wars trilogy reacted to those Galactic Senate scenes in the prequels.

Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 08:58 PM (2hil/)

99 Thank you for going through that so that we dont have to.

Posted by: LASue at July 02, 2022 08:59 PM (Ed8Zd)

100 What's the opinion on the movie Phantasm ?
Posted by: Anti doesn't matter at July 02, 2022 08:42 PM (UMHqX)
====

Smoke lots of weed, dude!

Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 02, 2022 08:59 PM (EZebt)

101 68 I remember at least two good things about Swamp Thing.
Posted by: No One of Consequence at July

I remember. That was a bad movie I kinda liked ironically.

Posted by: N.L. Urker, at July 02, 2022 08:59 PM (eGTCV)

102 In Jupiter Ascending, I liked the concept of the aliens "harvesting " planets to make their youth juice. Very adenochrome

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at July 02, 2022 09:00 PM (/jQbM)

103 Gotta wonder how fans of the vibrant coming-of-age tale that is the original Star Wars trilogy reacted to those Galactic Senate scenes in the prequels.

Darth Jar Jar Binks was chewing the scenery and distracting people from that...

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:00 PM (2Gfjx)

104 100 Smoke lots of weed, dude!
Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 02, 2022 08:59 PM (EZebt)

Forum handle checks out. This is a valid post.

Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 09:00 PM (2hil/)

105 Battlefield Earth was OK, just ok
Posted by: Skip at July 02, 2022 08:32 PM (2JoB
===

Are you clear?
Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 02, 2022 08:53 PM (EZebt)

It was pretty terrible, and the tilty camera with flying dirt effects were headache inducing. We went opening day since we knew it would be terrible. The scenery chewing acting and lamebrain plot was worth a chuckle.

And who'd a thunk that current day US planes will be flyable after 1000 years in the hangars, and that spear chucking guys could learn to be expert flyers of them against alien overlords in about 10 minutes. Those 90s contractors were on the ball, thats for sure.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:01 PM (eoQWY)

106 91 Battlefield Earth was OK, just ok
Posted by: Skip at July 02, 2022 08:32 PM (2JoB
===

Are you clear?
Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 02, 2022 08:53 PM (EZebt)

Garkon! More of this excellent Kerbango, toot sweet!

Posted by: Count de Monet at July 02, 2022 08:55 PM (4I/2K)
----
I am impressed with your German, Count. Prussian?

Posted by: Ciampino - - IKEA shelving Step 15: Now start again by finding the studs at July 02, 2022 09:01 PM (qfLjt)

107 All I remember from that movie is Jenny Agutter...and maybe some glittery robot or something?
Posted by: 18-1 at July 02, 2022 08:51 PM (ESjRY)
===
No love for Farah Fawcett-Majors?

Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 02, 2022 09:01 PM (EZebt)

108 A good low budget movie I need to rewatch. The Night of the Comet.

Posted by: LASue at July 02, 2022 09:01 PM (Ed8Zd)

109 In Jupiter Ascending, I liked the concept of the aliens "harvesting " planets to make their youth juice. Very adenochrome
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at July 02, 2022 09:00 PM (/jQbM)

It had some interesting ideas and some excellent visuals. But it just doesn't really "click" as a great or even good movie. It's OK, not great...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 02, 2022 09:01 PM (K5n5d)

110 103 Darth Jar Jar Binks was chewing the scenery and distracting people from that...
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:00 PM (2Gfjx)

I sense that you are a fellow adherent to the theory that Jar Jar was intended to be a big villain reveal in the second prequel movie, but Lucas retreated under the hail of rotten fruit.

Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 09:01 PM (2hil/)

111 An entire culture has flitted by me.
Posted by: San Franpsycho

I went from barbarism to decadence without ever passing through culture.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now the Summer of Our Discontent at July 02, 2022 09:02 PM (FVME7)

112 No love for Farah Fawcett-Majors?

Watch Saturn Three with Kirk Douglas.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:02 PM (2Gfjx)

113 Gotta wonder how fans of the vibrant coming-of-age tale that is the original Star Wars trilogy reacted to those Galactic Senate scenes in the prequels.

Darth Jar Jar Binks was chewing the scenery and distracting people from that...
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:00 PM (2Gfjx)

I was getting annoyed at the Ewoks in the third movie. The first sequel checked me right out, I only watch scathing reviews now of them. Lots more content for that than the entire Extended Universe.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:02 PM (eoQWY)

114 The Night of the Comet.

"Daddy would've bought us Uzis!"

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:03 PM (2Gfjx)

115 A good low budget movie I need to rewatch. The Night of the Comet.
Posted by: LASue

Chicks with submachine guns.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now the Summer of Our Discontent at July 02, 2022 09:03 PM (FVME7)

116 108 A good low budget movie I need to rewatch. The Night of the Comet.
Posted by: LASue at July 02, 2022 09:01 PM (Ed8Zd)

Might have to check it out.

The low budget movie I need to rewatch is Night of the Lepus. Giant evil rabbits, starring Dr. McCoy. What more can you ask from life?

Of course it would be a double bill, with Them.

Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 09:03 PM (2hil/)

117 No love for Farah Fawcett-Majors?

Watch Saturn Three with Kirk Douglas.
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:02 PM (2Gfjx)

Scantily Clad Farah was worth the ticket. Naked 90 year old Kirk means they owe me 50 bucks in that-era money.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:03 PM (eoQWY)

118 I was getting annoyed at the Ewoks in the third movie. The first sequel checked me right out, I only watch scathing reviews now of them. Lots more content for that than the entire Extended Universe.
Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:02 PM (eoQWY)
---
The sequels launched a thousand YouTube careers...That's how bad they were.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 02, 2022 09:03 PM (K5n5d)

119 91 Battlefield Earth was OK, just ok
Posted by: Skip at July 02, 2022 08:32 PM (2JoB
===

Are you clear?
Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 02, 2022 08:53 PM (EZebt)

Garkon! More of this excellent Kerbango, toot sweet!
Posted by: Count de Monet at July 02, 2022 08:55 PM (4I/2K)
===
John Travolta was AWFUL in this movie. You would have thought he would have done a better job considering he made the movie because of his devotion to the Hubbard cult.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 02, 2022 09:04 PM (EZebt)

120 The low budget movie I need to rewatch is Night of the Lepus. Giant evil rabbits, starring Dr. McCoy. What more can you ask from life?

Of course it would be a double bill, with Them.
Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 09:03 PM (2hil/)

The slo-mo giant bunnies are worth the watch. Not scary though. The lady scientist is amusing.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:04 PM (eoQWY)

121 Another good movie that I assume was low budget. Go. Great cast including the cute guy from justified as a creepy but possibly redeemable drug dealer, Katie Holmes, the actor who Looks like tom cruise but isnt, and a blond comedian actor who had a short lived talk show. You know who I mean.

Posted by: LASue at July 02, 2022 09:05 PM (Ed8Zd)

122 Speaking of Kirk Douglas, I watched The Fury last week again after a couple of decades. Holds up pretty good. The last scene wasn't the best special effect though it was satisfying.

Posted by: Anti doesn't matter at July 02, 2022 09:05 PM (UMHqX)

123 The Night of the Comet.

"Daddy would've bought us Uzis!"
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:03 PM (2Gfjx)

❤️

Posted by: LASue at July 02, 2022 09:06 PM (Ed8Zd)

124 John Travolta was AWFUL in this movie. You would have thought he would have done a better job considering he made the movie because of his devotion to the Hubbard cult.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 02, 2022 09:04 PM (EZebt)

He gave it 190 thousand percent! I think he was chained to a wall for a while until that debacle blew over.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:06 PM (eoQWY)

125 Overstuffed means plush, right? Like a fat guy on an ottoman?

Posted by: Eromero at July 02, 2022 09:07 PM (0OP+5)

126 I've never been to a movie by myself.

Posted by: nurse ratched, just call me Pollyanna at July 02, 2022 09:07 PM (U2p+3)

127 Night of the Living Dead was if not the best, perhaps the most cultural impact in relation to budget film ever.

Posted by: Bete at July 02, 2022 09:08 PM (a0KPx)

128 Knowing our luck with Hollyweird. they would turn Scalzi's butchering of Piper's Fuzzy story into a movie.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:09 PM (2Gfjx)

129 The low budget movie I need to rewatch is Night of the Lepus. Giant evil rabbits, starring Dr. McCoy. What more can you ask from life?

Of course it would be a double bill, with Them.
Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 09:03 PM (2hil/)
---

RLM Best of the Worst: Night of the Lepus (and other stuff):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0QUo5jnhYE

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Analog Hipster at July 02, 2022 09:09 PM (Dc2NZ)

130 Darth Jar Jar Binks was chewing the scenery and distracting people from that...
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:00 PM (2Gfjx)

I sense that you are a fellow adherent to the theory that Jar Jar was intended to be a big villain reveal in the second prequel movie, but Lucas retreated under the hail of rotten fruit.
Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 09:01 PM (2hil/)

I adhere to the fact that internet discussion groups are better writers that Lucas ever was.

The sequels confirmed for me the tales he told of having plotted everything for all 9 movies before the first one was a big lie. Heck, Vader wasn't even going to be Luke's father and Leia his sister in the first movie, it made for too many incorrect statements and of course the incest/child abuse angles if you watch the first one with that knoweldge.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:09 PM (eoQWY)

131 126 I've never been to a movie by myself.
Posted by: nurse ratched, just call me Pollyanna at July 02, 2022 09:07 PM (U2p+3)

...that's how I've seen the majority of movies in my life.

Posted by: Bete at July 02, 2022 09:10 PM (a0KPx)

132 I read "Cities In Flight" and got a bit irritated by the hero of one time period only being mentioned in passing in a following period. And then only saying that he had later made a mistake so they executed him.

Posted by: Frank at July 02, 2022 09:10 PM (rglbH)

133 Road To Perdition and R.E.D. were both based on comic/graphic novels.

RED is one of my favorite movies, and is a perfect example of what I was talking about. I've seen it so many times, that I can tune it in, know exactly where I am and what's coming, and leave whenever.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 02, 2022 09:10 PM (/NCI4)

134 I saw Battlefield Earth and literally every bad movie made between 1995-2005 because I was a Big Brother and my Little demanded to see the worst. I remember this movie particularly.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 02, 2022 09:11 PM (EZebt)

135 Whats the movie with Rowdy Roddy Piper and the sunglasses that reveal the truth behind the propaganda?

Posted by: LASue at July 02, 2022 09:11 PM (Ed8Zd)

136 113 Gotta wonder how fans of the vibrant coming-of-age tale that is the original Star Wars trilogy reacted to those Galactic Senate scenes in the prequels.

Darth Jar Jar Binks was chewing the scenery and distracting people from that...
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:00 PM (2Gfjx)

I was getting annoyed at the Ewoks in the third movie. The first sequel checked me right out, I only watch scathing reviews now of them. Lots more content for that than the entire Extended Universe.
Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:02 PM (eoQWY)
I suspect the Ewoks would bite the nutz off of their enemies like those Laplander chicks biting the nuts off caribous in Mondo Cane. Hey, yo!

Posted by: Eromero at July 02, 2022 09:11 PM (0OP+5)

137 I've never been to a movie by myself.
Posted by: nurse ratched, just call me Pollyanna at July 02, 2022 09:07 PM (U2p+3)

...that's how I've seen the majority of movies in my life.
Posted by: Bete

How I prefer it. I can see what I want at the time that works for me and don't have some yammering throughout the movie next to me.

Posted by: BruceWayne at July 02, 2022 09:11 PM (MGB5H)

138 I would like to see Armor be made into a movie though it would be hard to hide the twist.

Posted by: Anti doesn't matter at July 02, 2022 09:11 PM (UMHqX)

139 A good B movie. Giant meningitis snails invade a small Florida town! No, wait. That's real life.

https://bit.ly/3R3Is4N

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now the Summer of Our Discontent at July 02, 2022 09:11 PM (FVME7)

140 135 Whats the movie with Rowdy Roddy Piper and the sunglasses that reveal the truth behind the propaganda?
Posted by: LASue at July 02, 2022 09:11 PM (Ed8Zd)
They Live

Posted by: Eromero at July 02, 2022 09:12 PM (0OP+5)

141 138 I would like to see Armor be made into a movie though it would be hard to hide the twist.
Posted by: Anti doesn't matter at July 02, 2022 09:11 PM (UMHqX)

This 100%!

Posted by: Eromero at July 02, 2022 09:13 PM (0OP+5)

142 Posted by: Archimedes at July 02, 2022 09:10 PM (/NCI4)

Red 2 was also pretty good for a sequel. Having top notch actors doesn't hurt either.

Posted by: Anti doesn't matter at July 02, 2022 09:13 PM (UMHqX)

143 135 Whats the movie with Rowdy Roddy Piper and the sunglasses that reveal the truth behind the propaganda?

Posted by: LASue at July 02, 2022 09:11 PM (Ed8Zd)

They Live

Posted by: Eromero at July 02, 2022 09:12 PM (0OP+5)
---
A classic John Carpenter flick...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 02, 2022 09:13 PM (K5n5d)

144 I think I'll go see Maverick tomorrow at the matinee. I've been wanting to see it. It's at the local theater, I could walk there if I wanted.

Posted by: nurse ratched, just call me Pollyanna at July 02, 2022 09:14 PM (U2p+3)

145 Knowing our luck with Hollyweird. they would turn Scalzi's butchering of Piper's Fuzzy story into a movie.
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:09 PM (2Gfjx)

Butchering it might make it better but likely not cancel it all out.

I've bought much of Piper and Post piper and friends of Piper books over the years, but Scalzis was one that I didn't finish the blurb for before moving on.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:14 PM (eoQWY)

146 140 135 Whats the movie with Rowdy Roddy Piper and the sunglasses that reveal the truth behind the propaganda?
Posted by: LASue at July 02, 2022 09:11 PM (Ed8Zd)
They Live

Posted by: Eromero at July 02, 2022 09:12 PM (0OP+5)
----
Who, Democrats?

Posted by: Ciampino at July 02, 2022 09:14 PM (qfLjt)

147 Adrienne Barbeau? Swamp Thing had two good points.

Posted by: Indignacio Vindacatorem at July 02, 2022 09:15 PM (tYZBZ)

148 John Cassavetes blowed up good. He blowed up REAL good.

Posted by: Big Jim McBob at July 02, 2022 09:15 PM (63Dwl)

149 I think I'll go see Maverick tomorrow at the matinee. I've been wanting to see it. It's at the local theater, I could walk there if I wanted.
Posted by: nurse ratched, just call me Pollyanna at July 02, 2022 09:14 PM (U2p+3)

Cross out going to the movies by yourself off your bucket list.

Posted by: Anti doesn't matter at July 02, 2022 09:16 PM (UMHqX)

150 Whats the movie with Rowdy Roddy Piper and the sunglasses that reveal the truth behind the propaganda?
Posted by: LASue at July 02, 2022 09:11 PM (Ed8Zd)
They Live
Posted by: Eromero

I can see them even without the glasses now. Take Lizzie Warren for example . . . .

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now the Summer of Our Discontent at July 02, 2022 09:17 PM (FVME7)

151 Y'all do know The Outlaw Josey Wales AND High Plains Drifter are both on teewee simultaneously?!

Posted by: Eromero at July 02, 2022 09:17 PM (0OP+5)

152 147 Adrienne Barbeau? Swamp Thing had two good points.

Posted by: Indignacio Vindacatorem at July 02, 2022 09:15 PM (tYZBZ)
----
Always good points regardless of size or shape. There's usually a bonus as well.

Posted by: Ciampino is not picky at July 02, 2022 09:17 PM (qfLjt)

153 Adrienne Barbeau? Swamp Thing had two good points.
Posted by: Indignacio Vindacatorem at July 02, 2022 09:15 PM (tYZBZ)

She was good in Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungles of Death, as is Bill Maher (well kinda, and yes that Bill Maher) and Shannon Tweed.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:17 PM (eoQWY)

154
Speaking of which, when is Hollywood going to make a terrible version of Ring World with extraneous gay/tranny characters?
Posted by: 18-1

"Rim Job LGBT" commin' right up!

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars at July 02, 2022 09:18 PM (pNxlR)

155 Late as always.

Posted by: Indignacio Vindacatorem at July 02, 2022 09:18 PM (tYZBZ)

156 Evenin'
(sips beer) Listening to Widespread Panic's first album.

They Live! is one of my favorites.

Posted by: Puddleglum at July 02, 2022 09:18 PM (sAmhv)

157 I'm looking at the most important impactful US presidents of the 20th century. I'm looking at them in descending order.

5 Teddy

4 Coolidge

3 Nixon

2 Reagan

1 FDR

Posted by: JCT at July 02, 2022 09:19 PM (0GCHy)

158 Barbeau movie high point was Escape From New York.

Posted by: Anti doesn't matter at July 02, 2022 09:19 PM (UMHqX)

159 150 Whats the movie with Rowdy Roddy Piper and the sunglasses that reveal the truth behind the propaganda?
Posted by: LASue at July 02, 2022 09:11 PM (Ed8Zd)
They Live
Posted by: Eromero

I can see them even without the glasses now. Take Lizzie Warren for example . . . .
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now the Summer of Our Discontent at July 02, 2022 09:17 PM (FVME7)
Emeffers are even here in ETEX in broad effing daylight. Bastards.

Posted by: Eromero at July 02, 2022 09:19 PM (0OP+5)

160 I have all of Piper's Fuzzy stories along with Fuzzybones and Golden Dream. The Scalzi version as soon as I learned he made Jack Halloway a shady lawyer I was out like a Fuzzy after a tin of Extee Three.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:19 PM (2Gfjx)

161 I thought it was Adrienne Barbells.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now the Summer of Our Discontent at July 02, 2022 09:19 PM (FVME7)

162 Red 2 was also pretty good for a sequel. Having top notch actors doesn't hurt either.

Not as good, but still good. Anything with Anthony Hopkins in it stands a reasonable chance.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 02, 2022 09:20 PM (/NCI4)

163 I am impressed with your German, Count. Prussian?
Posted by: Ciampino - - IKEA shelving Step 15: Now start again by finding the studs at July 02, 2022 09:01 PM (qfLjt)

Bavarian.

Posted by: Count de Monet at July 02, 2022 09:20 PM (4I/2K)

164 135 Whats the movie with Rowdy Roddy Piper and the sunglasses that reveal the truth behind the propaganda?
Posted by: LASue at July 02, 2022 09:11 PM (Ed8Zd)
===
They Live! is worth watching. He does a good job and its a relevant story.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 02, 2022 09:21 PM (EZebt)

165 I thought roddy piper was at his best in the episode of piper's pit when he challenged hogan

Posted by: BruceWayne at July 02, 2022 09:21 PM (MGB5H)

166 What's the definition of important and impactful? Asking because if you include FDR you have to have Wilson, his partner in crime, and I would think LBJ. Assume your not talking about positive impact as well other than Reagan and to a lesser extent Coolidge. Nixon is another negative example. Odd list without context.

Posted by: Indignacio Vindacatorem at July 02, 2022 09:21 PM (tYZBZ)

167 I have all of Piper's Fuzzy stories along with Fuzzybones and Golden Dream. The Scalzi version as soon as I learned he made Jack Halloway a shady lawyer I was out like a Fuzzy after a tin of Extee Three.
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:19 PM (2Gfjx)

You have the third Fuzzy book by Piper, published some decades after the suicide?

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:21 PM (eoQWY)

168 Did she get her kit off in Escape?

Posted by: Indignacio Vindacatorem at July 02, 2022 09:22 PM (tYZBZ)

169 161 I thought it was Adrienne Barbells.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now the Summer of Our Discontent at July 02, 2022 09:19 PM (FVME7)
----
I didn't know one could use them for exercise ..... pleasure yes!

Posted by: Ciampino is, well not too picky at July 02, 2022 09:23 PM (qfLjt)

170 157 I'm looking at the most important impactful US presidents of the 20th century. I'm looking at them in descending order.

5 Teddy
4 Coolidge
3 Nixon
2 Reagan
1 FDR
Posted by: JCT at July 02, 2022 09:19 PM (0GCHy)

Needs more Trump. Seriously, most don't know it yet, but the trend that we are in the middle of, that an honest historian would call the major issue of our times, is the attempted replacement of the Constitution with the Rule Of The Uniparty/Deep State alliance. No one dared point out this central fact, until Trump.

It's only consequential if we fix it, but I have hopes.

Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 09:23 PM (2hil/)

171 123 The Night of the Comet.

"Daddy would've bought us Uzis!"
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:03 PM (2Gfjx)

❤️

Posted by: LASue at July 02, 2022 09:06 PM (Ed8Zd)

Re-watched that the other night.

Posted by: Javems at July 02, 2022 09:23 PM (AmoqO)

172 Speaking of presidents . . .

President Biden
@POTUS
United States government official
My message to the companies running gas stations and setting prices at the pump is simple: this is a time of war and global peril.

Bring down the price you are charging at the pump to reflect the cost you're paying for the product. And do it now.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now the Summer of Our Discontent at July 02, 2022 09:23 PM (FVME7)

173 You have the third Fuzzy book by Piper, published some decades after the suicide?

You mean when Hugo Ingermann absconds with his legal fees? Yep.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:24 PM (2Gfjx)

174
I've never been to a movie by myself.
Posted by: nurse ratched, just call me Pollyanna

Bring your very own putty knife in order to free your feet from the ooey-gooey floor.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars at July 02, 2022 09:24 PM (pNxlR)

175 What's the definition of important and impactful? Asking because if you include FDR you have to have Wilson, his partner in crime, and I would think LBJ. Assume your not talking about positive impact as well other than Reagan and to a lesser extent Coolidge. Nixon is another negative example. Odd list without context.
Posted by: Indignacio Vindacatorem at July 02, 2022 09:21 PM (tYZBZ)

Yes, I don't see putting bad and good on a single scale as being that interesting. Wilson set Black rights back a generation, and his stroke gave an example to the puppeteer for the president fantasy the elite have to follow.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:24 PM (eoQWY)

176 127 Night of the Living Dead was if not the best, perhaps the most cultural impact in relation to budget film ever.
Posted by: Bete

I love that movie. I had family members in that movie. Well, under it. That graveyard they shot some of the movie in. I have family buried there. They were originally buried in their church cemetery, but the church closed, and they moved the bodies to the nearest cemetery. The Evans City Cemetery. Little family lore. Also, it's good to hear those Pittsburgese accents on the big screen.

Posted by: Puddleglum at July 02, 2022 09:24 PM (sAmhv)

177 164 They Live! is worth watching. He does a good job and its a relevant story.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 02, 2022 09:21 PM (EZebt)

True, but the World's Longest Fight Scene does get a bit tedious, after a while. And it's over sunglasses!

Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 09:24 PM (2hil/)

178 President Biden
@POTUS
United States government official
My message to the companies running gas stations and setting prices at the pump is simple: this is a time of war and global peril.

Bring down the price you are charging at the pump to reflect the cost you're paying for the product. And do it now.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now the Summer of Our Discontent at July 02, 2022 09:23 PM (FVME7)
---
There's nothing tyrannical or authoritarian about that message from friendly ol' Uncle Joe! /sarc

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 02, 2022 09:25 PM (K5n5d)

179 Bring your very own putty knife in order to free your feet from the ooey-gooey floor.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot:

They still have those kinds of theaters??

Posted by: BruceWayne at July 02, 2022 09:25 PM (MGB5H)

180 164 135 Whats the movie with Rowdy Roddy Piper and the sunglasses that reveal the truth behind the propaganda?
Posted by: LASue at July 02, 2022 09:11 PM (Ed8Zd)
===
They Live! is worth watching. He does a good job and its a relevant story.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 02, 2022 09:21 PM (EZebt)
And go get yourself some cheap sunglasses, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah.

Posted by: Eromero at July 02, 2022 09:25 PM (0OP+5)

181
President Biden
@POTUS
United States government official
My message to the companies running gas stations and setting prices at the pump is simple: this is a time of war and global peril.

Bring down the price you are charging at the pump to reflect the cost you're paying for the product. And do it now.

And you can just fuck right off, you evil cadaverous slime.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars at July 02, 2022 09:25 PM (pNxlR)

182
They still have those kinds of theaters??
Posted by: BruceWayne

Prolly not ...

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars at July 02, 2022 09:26 PM (pNxlR)

183 Most gas station owners make 2 to 3 cents a gallon selling gas. He's an idiot.

Posted by: Indignacio Vindacatorem at July 02, 2022 09:27 PM (tYZBZ)

184 The Green fanatics are suing the EPA over Permian Basin ozone levels, they want those oil fields shut down.

Come on Joey, match action to your lying cheap words.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:27 PM (2Gfjx)

185 You have the third Fuzzy book by Piper, published some decades after the suicide?

You mean when Hugo Ingermann absconds with his legal fees? Yep.
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:24 PM (2Gfjx)

Its where Little Fuzzy gets lost by a wildfire and meets up with the gang of wild fuzzies that were mentioned in one of the earlier books.

That kinda scuppered the book where Ingermann was the big baddy and Jack got the girl (I think that is Bones) but fits the situation better. A lot of personal stories in the early Federation stories are about ppl going on the lam / wandering to a new planet to start over.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:27 PM (eoQWY)

186 Well, I had two films I watched this week. I revisited Dirty Harry which I haven't seen since it was released. Still holds up pretty damn well. The second one was so bad I turned it off halfway through. The Man From Toronto. Please don't waste your time. Woody Harrelson must have needed a paycheck to participate in this horrid film.

Posted by: jewells45 at July 02, 2022 09:28 PM (nxdel)

187 Most gas station owners make 2 to 3 cents a gallon selling gas. He's an idiot.
Posted by: Indignacio Vindacatorem at July 02, 2022 09:27 PM (tYZBZ)
---
Like movie theaters, the real money is in the snacks!

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 02, 2022 09:28 PM (K5n5d)

188 He's an idiot.

For the State and its apparatchiks, that's a feature.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:28 PM (2Gfjx)

189 I wear my sunglasses at night
Because it's the only hit song I'll ever have
And no one will remember it
Except the idiot writing this comment

Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 09:28 PM (2hil/)

190 Life is too short to sit through bad movies or books.

Posted by: Ben Had at July 02, 2022 09:28 PM (p+U6d)

191 Bring down the price you are charging at the pump to reflect the cost you're paying for the product. And do it now.

And you can just fuck right off, you evil cadaverous slime.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars at July 02, 2022 09:25 PM (pNxlR)

Bring down the amount of stolen money you kept from our tax dollars on Ukraine deals to match what your shit policies are costing us first.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:29 PM (eoQWY)

192 Another hawt nymph - Jennifer Tilly. She did all the terrible Chucky movies.

Posted by: Ciampino says a bird in the hand, but two full hands is better at July 02, 2022 09:29 PM (qfLjt)

193 186 Well, I had two films I watched this week. I revisited Dirty Harry which I haven't seen since it was released. Still holds up pretty damn well. The second one was so bad I turned it off halfway through. The Man From Toronto. Please don't waste your time. Woody Harrelson must have needed a paycheck to participate in this horrid film.
Posted by: jewells45 at July 02, 2022 09:28 PM (nxdel)

Time to watch Kingpin and restore your faith in Woody!

Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 09:29 PM (2hil/)

194 82 Are you clear?
Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 02, 2022 08:53 PM (EZebt)

Crystal.

Posted by: guy standing there in his faggoty white uniform at July 02, 2022 09:29 PM (DTX3h)

195 Fuzzybones is not a satisfying story because the author knew that third book was lurking out there so he trapped himself

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:30 PM (2Gfjx)

196 Another hawt nymph - Jennifer Tilly. She did all the terrible Chucky movies.
Posted by: Ciampino

She was back in the shower too!

Posted by: BruceWayne at July 02, 2022 09:30 PM (MGB5H)

197 Needs more Trump. Seriously, most don't know it yet, but the trend that we are in the middle of, that an honest historian would call the major issue of our times, is the attempted replacement of the Constitution with the Rule Of The Uniparty/Deep State alliance. No one dared point out this central fact, until Trump.

It's only consequential if we fix it, but I have hopes.
Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 09:23 PM (2hil/)

He did say 20th Century

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:30 PM (eoQWY)

198 I think Mortal Engines was done because of the steampunk vibe.

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at July 02, 2022 09:30 PM (cMXNt)

199 194 Crystal.
Posted by: guy standing there in his faggoty white uniform at July 02, 2022 09:29 PM (DTX3h)

Bad Movie Dialog would make a really good thread.

Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 09:30 PM (2hil/)

200 12 I imagine Jackson was drawn to the spectacle. That seems to be his thing. And it doesn't have to be bad. One day, maybe, he'll get it right.

Posted by: moviegique at July 02, 2022 08:28 PM (asXVI)

Spectacle does seem to be Jackson's passion.

Posted by: davidt at July 02, 2022 09:30 PM (oTZbj)

201 Another hawt nymph - Jennifer Tilly. She did all the terrible Chucky movies.
Posted by: Ciampino

She was back in the shower too!
Posted by: BruceWayne

SHOW Lordy hahah

Posted by: BruceWayne at July 02, 2022 09:30 PM (MGB5H)

202 It's funny because I liked the movie, accepting all it's shortcomings as a story.

Posted by: G'rump928(c) at July 02, 2022 09:31 PM (I76dP)

203 197 He did say 20th Century
Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:30 PM (eoQWY)

So he did. Oops.

Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 09:31 PM (2hil/)

204 @POTUS
United States government official
My message to the companies running gas stations and setting prices at the pump is simple: this is a time of war and global peril.

Bring down the price you are charging at the pump to reflect the cost you're paying for the product. And do it now.

And you can just fuck right off, you evil cadaverous slime.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars at July 02, 2022 09:25 PM (pNxlR)

-----

This from a guy whose son made $500k per bubble "painting".

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at July 02, 2022 09:33 PM (cMXNt)

205 Little Fuzzy getting lost during that wildfire happens when Ingermann is representing the people who enslaved a group of Fuzzies to steal sunstones from the Charterless Zarathustra Company's vault.

Hugo thinks he has a sure fire way of getting his clients off because it seems Fuzzies can't lie.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:33 PM (2Gfjx)

206 191 Bring down the price you are charging at the pump to reflect the cost you're paying for the product. And do it now.

And you can just fuck right off, you evil cadaverous slime.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars at July 02, 2022 09:25 PM (pNxlR)

Bring down the amount of stolen money you kept from our tax dollars on Ukraine deals to match what your shit policies are costing us first.
Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:29 PM (eoQWY)
I'd love to know why they dick around with written instructions for the cadaver when they have implants in his ears, hell even in his brain? He's the perfect Manchurian Candidate, even better than ubama.

Posted by: Eromero at July 02, 2022 09:33 PM (0OP+5)

207 When I was at camp, we had movie night. I now realize that it was all movies that one could get rights to for about $1.50. Most of them starred Vincent Price. But one of them stuck in my memory. If you've seen it, I'd bet it's stuck there too: The Man With The X-Ray Eyes.

Didn't sleep so well, after that one.

Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 09:35 PM (2hil/)

208 >>>The Lensmen throw antimatter planets across the universe as weapons...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 02, 2022 08:39 PM (K5n5d)

Pffft.

- Gurren Lagann, battling with galaxies

Posted by: neurosis of the liver at July 02, 2022 09:36 PM (yk557)

209 Phoebe Cates was better in Fast Times At Ridgemont High than in High Plains Drifter. Discuss among yourselves.

Posted by: Eromero at July 02, 2022 09:37 PM (0OP+5)

210 Movies I have not seen, that I think I should see, just to be up to date with the culture:

Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Mean Girls

There are probably more.

Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 09:38 PM (2hil/)

211 Fuzzybones is not a satisfying story because the author knew that third book was lurking out there so he trapped himself
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:30 PM (2Gfjx)

Well even keeping in Piper's own universe you can have alternate timelines. It didn't seem like he was aware of the contents of the third book, as he used all the players (the fuzzy tribe and Ingermann) as major players, just not in the way Piper wrote it.

I just think he just was just not creative enough to diverge far and make a convincing Fuzzy Crisis. I just don't see how Ingermann could swing a threat to Fuzzies out of being accomplices to a bank job when the law founding the entire government was that Fuzzies are minor children, legally, and the big megacorp was allied so strongly on team Fuzzy. Hell, if Ingermann was getting close ol' Pappy Jack would just put a bullet into him and fix it that way.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:38 PM (eoQWY)

212 Father Guido Sarducci had a bit where he was going to start an Economics College. It would teach one thing: Supply and Demand.

Then he was going to start a Business College. It would teach one thing: Buy Something, The Sell It For More.

Posted by: davidt at July 02, 2022 09:38 PM (oTZbj)

213 Last movie I saw was Everything All At Once (or something like that)

hated it. Self-congratulating, overly crude, and good god redundant. I'm fine with the fact that people are gay and family/cultural heritage has not always been accepting, but sweet jeebus make your point and have a good story

First half was tolerable, the last was insufferable

Posted by: ghost of hallelujah at July 02, 2022 09:38 PM (sJHOI)

214 Mean Girls

There are probably more.
Posted by: Splunge at July 02, 2022 09:38 PM (2hil/)

On Wednesdays we wear pink.

Posted by: BruceWayne at July 02, 2022 09:38 PM (MGB5H)

215 Bring down the price you are charging at the pump to reflect the cost you're paying for the product. And do it now.

The motherfuckers are going to try to nationalize the domestic energy industry before the elections.

Posted by: G'rump928(c) at July 02, 2022 09:39 PM (I76dP)

216 Pappy Jack would just put a bullet into him and fix it that way.

"It was ruled a suicide."

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:39 PM (2Gfjx)

217 I'd love to know why they dick around with written instructions for the cadaver when they have implants in his ears, hell even in his brain? He's the perfect Manchurian Candidate, even better than ubama.
Posted by: Eromero at July 02, 2022 09:33 PM (0OP+5)

He's probably hard of hearing, and people are visual by nature.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:39 PM (eoQWY)

218 And TMJ, I'd like to see Mortal Engines if in my house. So I could get up and and make a head call, get a beer, make a sammich, feed the cat etc.

Posted by: Eromero at July 02, 2022 09:40 PM (0OP+5)

219 196 Another hawt nymph - Jennifer Tilly. She did all the terrible Chucky movies.
Posted by: Ciampino

She was back in the shower too!

Posted by: BruceWayne at July 02, 2022 09:30 PM (MGB5H)
----
I don't get the 'shower' connection. I actually enjoy her voice but a shower scene would be fireworks.

Posted by: Ciampino says two melons are better at July 02, 2022 09:40 PM (qfLjt)

220 Fast Times at Ridgemont High hasn't really aged that well. It does have the beautiful combination of The Cars - Moving in Stereo and Phoebe Cates. That scene is still watchable for,,,uh,,,obvious reasons.

Posted by: Puddleglum at July 02, 2022 09:41 PM (sAmhv)

221 I don't get the 'shower' connection. I actually enjoy her voice but a shower scene would be fireworks.
Posted by: Ciampino

It was show stupid thumbs. Fixed it like 2 posts down hahah

Posted by: BruceWayne at July 02, 2022 09:41 PM (MGB5H)

222 If thine eyes offend thee...

Posted by: Dr. Varno at July 02, 2022 09:41 PM (vuisn)

223 Little Fuzzy getting lost during that wildfire happens when Ingermann is representing the people who enslaved a group of Fuzzies to steal sunstones from the Charterless Zarathustra Company's vault.

Hugo thinks he has a sure fire way of getting his clients off because it seems Fuzzies can't lie.
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:33 PM (2Gfjx)

Great I'm mixing them up now myself.

So its the Fuzzy ship and too many sunstones was the crisis in Bones? So just being resident for some 100000 years doesn't count as 'native' as the legal tangle?

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:44 PM (eoQWY)

224 Jennifer Tilly's cleavage figured prominently in Liar Liar.

Posted by: davidt at July 02, 2022 09:44 PM (oTZbj)

225 Ah, Night of the Comet. "Daddy would have bought us Uzis" -- yep, but the lines that did it for me were in the sequence at the end of the picture. Crossing against the lights. The burden of civilization. Laughed my backside off.

Deep Rising and Night of the Creeps aren't too dusty either.

Am I the only one who thinks that Heinlein's Puppet Masters was butchered? Donald Sutherland was perfect casting for his part, but outside of that it seemed to me that they blew it. That one should be redone with proper casting and budget as a 3-part mini-series.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at July 02, 2022 09:44 PM (JzDjf)

226 Parts of Fast Times aged OK, others not as much

Posted by: ghost of hallelujah at July 02, 2022 09:45 PM (sJHOI)

227 Most teen movies don't age well. Unless there are some iconic figures like Phebe Cates.

Posted by: JCT at July 02, 2022 09:45 PM (0GCHy)

228
The motherfuckers are going to try to nationalize the domestic energy industry before the elections.

Posted by: G'rump928(c) at July 02, 2022 09:39 PM (I76dP)

Probably price controls to screw everything up, first. That is going to be exciting.

The other alternative is that instead they will try to do lockdowns over pandemic or blackouts or terrorism to reduce demands for fuel and other goods.

North Korea had a period of famine that they decided to deal with with a "everybody eat just two meals a day to be patriotic" drive

Posted by: Kindltot at July 02, 2022 09:46 PM (xhaym)

229 Just watched the first episode of Terminal List.

Man that was intense.

Picking up a lot of Jason Bourne vibes from it.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger at July 02, 2022 09:46 PM (NSWcw)

230 Golden Dream is the story about the Fuzzies' spaceship crashing on Zarathustra.

Fuzzybones takes place during the Thacker trial where IIRC there is a not so little civil disruption. And it all ends with the Piper characters in the same place they were in when the novel started.

Now I want to read all the stories again.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:46 PM (2Gfjx)

231 Just watched the first episode of Terminal List.

Man that was intense.

Picking up a lot of Jason Bourne vibes from it.
Posted by: Bitter Clinger

Just finishing it right now

Posted by: BruceWayne at July 02, 2022 09:47 PM (MGB5H)

232 It's quite obvious, and has been for a long time, what our dear Open Blogger and I enjoy in movies is quite different. I might as easily call his tastes crapulescent as he calls mine.

Thank God we're not all the same. Imagine the line for the restroom at [insert restaurant, theater, or sports venue].

Posted by: setnaffa at July 02, 2022 09:48 PM (ud6pL)

233 Pluck it out!

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at July 02, 2022 09:48 PM (63Dwl)

234 Jennifer Tilly was nekid in The Getaway (1994). She cucked her husband with Michael Madsen. I must have been drunk while watching this movie. I don't recall much of it. Baldwin was in it. James Woods. Kim Basinger. Had a reasonably good cast at the time.

Posted by: Puddleglum at July 02, 2022 09:49 PM (sAmhv)

235 228
The motherfuckers are going to try to nationalize the domestic energy industry before the elections.

Posted by: G'rump928(c) at July 02, 2022 09:39 PM (I76dP)

Probably price controls to screw everything up, first. That is going to be exciting.

The other alternative is that instead they will try to do lockdowns over pandemic or blackouts or terrorism to reduce demands for fuel and other goods.

North Korea had a period of famine that they decided to deal with with a "everybody eat just two meals a day to be patriotic" drive
Posted by: Kindltot at July 02, 2022 09:46 PM (xhaym)
Lockdown and 100% vote-by-mail with illegals, dead people, double and triple-voters, ballot harvesting and general horsefcukery. And that's when the FIGHT starts.

Posted by: Eromero at July 02, 2022 09:49 PM (0OP+5)

236 "The city... as if it were unborn. Rising into the sky with fingers of metal, limbs without flesh, girders without stone. Signs hanging without support. Wires dipping and swaying without poles. A city unborn. Flesh dissolved in an acid of light. A city of the dead."

Posted by: Dr. Varno at July 02, 2022 09:50 PM (vuisn)

237 Just Some Guy; LA Sue & Javens

Night of the Comet:

"He's either a gentleman or a fag. What are the odds?"

Posted by: mnw at July 02, 2022 09:50 PM (NLIak)

238
Lockdown and 100% vote-by-mail with illegals, dead people, double and triple-voters, ballot harvesting and general horsefcukery. And that's when the FIGHT starts.
Posted by: Eromero

Only dirty, racist insurrectionists will question the count.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at July 02, 2022 09:51 PM (63Dwl)

239 Hack.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, learning the value of horror with Wes Craven at July 02, 2022 09:51 PM (LvTSG)

240 The motherfuckers are going to try to nationalize the domestic energy industry before the elections.

Posted by: G'rump928(c) at July 02, 2022 09:39 PM (I76dP)

Probably price controls to screw everything up, first. That is going to be exciting.

The other alternative is that instead they will try to do lockdowns over pandemic or blackouts or terrorism to reduce demands for fuel and other goods.

North Korea had a period of famine that they decided to deal with with a "everybody eat just two meals a day to be patriotic" drive
Posted by: Kindltot at July 02, 2022 09:46 PM (xhaym)

Yeah, the price controls will come first, which leads to flat out shortages like the 70s. Odd and even days will be back.

Posted by: G'rump928(c) at July 02, 2022 09:51 PM (I76dP)

241 He's probably hard of hearing, and people are visual by nature.
Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:39 PM (eoQWY)

Definitely hard of thinking.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at July 02, 2022 09:51 PM (IXdAK)

242 Evening.

So, if I might continue on a bit of a rant the the other night.

*Ahem*

RIGHSTUF IS RELEASING MACROSS!!!!!!!! THANK THE FUCKING BUDDHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, and the new Top Gun was pretty damn cool.

That is all.

Posted by: Robert, the Devil on your shoulder at July 02, 2022 09:52 PM (8KKNI)

243 P.S.

Night of the Comet:

(after being gifted a serviceable handgun)

"What's THAT for? Date night in the barrio?"

Posted by: mnw at July 02, 2022 09:52 PM (NLIak)

244 I liked mortal engines, but I don't dig that deep into the nuts and bolts of sci-fi movies, because...its sci-fi. Yeah, there are tons of goofy sci-fi movies out there, but as long as its sci-fi I'm usually..usually cool with it.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at July 02, 2022 09:52 PM (VwHCD)

245 "The city... as if it were unborn. Rising into the sky with fingers of metal, limbs without flesh, girders without stone. Signs hanging without support. Wires dipping and swaying without poles. A city unborn. Flesh dissolved in an acid of light. A city of the dead."

https://youtu.be/7oGxbCc0Xq8

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:52 PM (2Gfjx)

246 Bitter Clinger

Well the proverbial shit really hit the fan at the end of that first episode did it not?!

Posted by: BruceWayne at July 02, 2022 09:53 PM (MGB5H)

247 Ano?

Which Macross?

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:54 PM (2Gfjx)

248 Ah, Night of the Comet. "Daddy would have bought us Uzis" -- yep, but the lines that did it for me were in the sequence at the end of the picture. Crossing against the lights. The burden of civilization. Laughed my backside off.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at July 02, 2022 09:44 PM (JzDjf)

Yeah, that was a cool movie. The cute blonde with the nice cans was an added bonus.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at July 02, 2022 09:55 PM (VwHCD)

249 What your perfectly reasonable horror film ratings miss is the boy-girl stuff going on in Hibbing, MN during the 70-80s movie palaces.

Horror films were the excuse to leap into each others arms and then make out. My dearest and bestest movie commentator should always account for the off screen audience horror movie hormones. I love you great work about movies, something I so love. Please, never stop writing about movies.

Posted by: Lost In Space at July 02, 2022 09:56 PM (MjtZJ)

250 Pedestrian traffic control:

Macross.

May not cross.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at July 02, 2022 09:56 PM (IXdAK)

251 Fuzzybones takes place during the Thacker trial where IIRC there is a not so little civil disruption. And it all ends with the Piper characters in the same place they were in when the novel started.

Now I want to read all the stories again.
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:46 PM (2Gfjx)

Ingermann triggers some sort of riot near the end when he tries to kill some girl. I forget if he gets away there or gets taken down. It just seemed too big city and organized than I pictured the planet, only some 20 years settled. There was some crime in Tramptown but I thought the extrapolation was a bit much.

Still were ok books though.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 02, 2022 09:58 PM (eoQWY)

252 Anime News Network July 02 2022

Right Stuff and Macross 7, oh kami why that one?

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:58 PM (2Gfjx)

253 Pluck it out!
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at July 02, 2022 09:48 PM (63Dwl)

Whack it off!!

Posted by: Skeeter On My Peter at July 02, 2022 09:59 PM (4I/2K)

254 CBD, if you are awake, I tried to reply to your email. no joy. Will meet on the corner of gub and thread tomorrow nacht.

Posted by: Eromero at July 02, 2022 10:01 PM (0OP+5)

255 234 Jennifer Tilly was nekid in The Getaway (1994). She cucked her husband with Michael Madsen. I must have been drunk while watching this movie. I don't recall much of it. Baldwin was in it. James Woods. Kim Basinger. Had a reasonably good cast at the time.

Posted by: Puddleglum at July 02, 2022 09:49 PM (sAmhv)
----
I haven't seen that movie. Mmm.
The only Getaway I've seen is the one with Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw.

Posted by: Ciampino by hard luck has not seen it at July 02, 2022 10:01 PM (qfLjt)

256 255: Oh yea, it was a remake.

Posted by: Puddleglum at July 02, 2022 10:02 PM (sAmhv)

257 Some academic studied it and fear increases the, uh, romantic feelings, of many women.

So horror movies, roller coasters, etc were not a bad choice for a date...

Posted by: Obligatory at July 02, 2022 10:02 PM (ESjRY)

258 So a horror movie on a roller coaster should be a real scream of a date?

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 10:03 PM (2Gfjx)

259 A lot of what the junta/Democrats can get away with ultimately come down to what the LIVs will put up with.

I seem to get a feeling that they presume things will suck until Nov, then they'll "vote the bums out" to get things back to normal.

But...things are going to get a LOT worse before Nov. And if the Dems someone steal enough elections to keep control it will be obvious.

Posted by: Obligatory at July 02, 2022 10:04 PM (ESjRY)

260 "Some academic studied it and fear increases the, uh, romantic feelings, of many women."

Scare the pants right off of them!

Posted by: Count Floyd at July 02, 2022 10:04 PM (oTZbj)

261 Which Macross?
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 09:54 PM (2Gfjx)

Macross 7, Frontier and Delta.

Posted by: Robert, the Devil on your shoulder at July 02, 2022 10:04 PM (e0p1G)

262 The Last American Virgin will never not be funny and have that poignant eternal truth ending.

Posted by: Count de Monet at July 02, 2022 10:05 PM (4I/2K)

263 Where you seeing Frontier and Delta, only saw mention of 7 on ANN where Right Stuff announced it as a convention

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 10:05 PM (2Gfjx)

264 Somebody is going to be in BIG trouble for letting Joe get on a computer unsupervised!

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now the Summer of Our Discontent at July 02, 2022 10:06 PM (FVME7)

265 And if the Dems someone steal enough elections to keep control it will be obvious.
---------

'Obvious'? Not a chance. We decide what is obvious.

Posted by: The Quisling MSM at July 02, 2022 10:06 PM (nDCOZ)

266 *looks at how long it has been since Delta was released*

We should be seeing a new series by now I would think.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 10:07 PM (2Gfjx)

267 Of course with Rightstuf getting the rights that means an expensive bare bones release and a special edition release with all the bells and whistles for which they will demand you submit to a thorough buggering.

Posted by: Robert, the Devil on your shoulder at July 02, 2022 10:07 PM (e0p1G)

268 Noooood

Posted by: BruceWayne at July 02, 2022 10:07 PM (MGB5H)

269 Macross 7 will get a two box set Blu-Ray release.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 10:08 PM (2Gfjx)

270 Where you seeing Frontier and Delta, only saw mention of 7 on ANN where Right Stuff announced it as a convention
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 10:05 PM (2Gfjx)

First place I saw it was the email announcement.

Also here...

http://tinyurl.com/593adwv9

This story, oddly, only mentions Frontier and Delta.

No word on *when* any of them get released.

Posted by: Robert, the Devil on your shoulder at July 02, 2022 10:10 PM (e0p1G)

271 Macross 7 will get a two box set Blu-Ray release.
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 10:08 PM (2Gfjx)

*Sigh*

*Readies the lube*

Posted by: Robert, the Devil on your shoulder at July 02, 2022 10:11 PM (e0p1G)

272 Seven and Delta have always left me out in the cold because both are about Max and Miryia's family. To me that is pandering to nostalgia. And the super heavy reliance on music being the weapon also left me feeling a bit out.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 10:12 PM (2Gfjx)

273 I guess it is time to watch my fan-subs of Macross Frontier again.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 02, 2022 10:15 PM (2Gfjx)

274 'Obvious'? Not a chance. We decide what is obvious.

One of the core notions in a representative republic is that the people can change the direction of the government through peaceful means.

By ending this the Dems are really setting up the country for some hard times.

Posted by: Obligatory at July 02, 2022 10:16 PM (ESjRY)

275 Movie I saw this week that probably nobody else ever saw, even though Harvey Keitel has a major role in it:

"Taking Sides"

I didn't like it that much. It's based on a real story. An exploration of whether German orchestra conductor Wilhelm Furtwangler was a bad boy for staying in Germany after Hitler came to power.

I'd like to hear the opinions of others, but the film wasn't exactly boffo at the box office.

Posted by: mnw at July 02, 2022 10:16 PM (NLIak)

276 What's that movie where Peter Lorre is drunk (not acting)? I think it was Jack Nicholson's first movie.
Posted by: Napoleon XIV at July 02, 2022 08:37 PM

I thought Nicholson's first move was "The Raven"

Posted by: Cybersmythe at July 02, 2022 10:22 PM (6jmQG)

277 Mortal Engines sounds like a perfect fit for RiffTrax/Mystery Science Theater 3000. Except they'd probably want too much money to license it....Which is a shame, since they'd probably make more money from the RiffTrax/MST3K purchases than they are making from DVD/streaming deals going on now....

Posted by: Castle Guy at July 02, 2022 10:30 PM (Lhaco)

278 I tried to watch the terminal list on Amazon. I got about 20-25 minutes in and turned it off. Acting wasn't good any action seem to lame and unrealistic.

Posted by: BillBixby at July 02, 2022 10:40 PM (nPGg6)

279 Maverick is lots of fun, with a very polished script. It was exactly the movie I thought it would be, only more so.

Only regret is I did not see it on IMAX.

Posted by: Pooklord at July 02, 2022 10:42 PM (WYLQs)

280 >>> Why did Peter Jackson decide to throw not only his producing weight but also the entire efforts of his dedicated writing team (including himself) to adapting it? He apparently acquired the rights back in 2008 with an eye to directing it himself, but why?

He also bought the rights to the Temeraire series. (Napoleonic wars with fighting Dragons!) So sad he hasn't devoted time to it yet, and focused on other projects clearly not equal to his talents.

Elvis:
I love the style of Baz Luhrmann's Red Carpet Cinema trilogy. (Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge.) It still feels so fresh and alive and fun. He moved on to more serious styles and movies, but I always felt that style was his most distinctive gift to cinema. I'm checking out Elvis just to see him back at it. I doubt it will be a 100% accurate biopic, but I hope it's fun visually. Elvis was a showman, any biopic worthy of the King should be a dazzling, fun show.

Posted by: LizLem at July 02, 2022 11:21 PM (SyQoN)

281 The Serpent and the Rainbow was a wonderful film for it's time. Definitely enjoyed it. That's entertainment.

Posted by: Dr. Bone at July 03, 2022 12:17 AM (0ocXn)

282 The book was a mess. I have no idea how the thing got published in the first place

I have some insight into this. Publishing houses are very insular and in most cases, used to setting literary trends rather than following them. The Harry Potter success took them completely, utterly by surprise (the first book is pretty good for a children's book, but it isn't that good). Realizing that they had missed a massively profitable trend, they promptly published absolutely everything in the slushpile. This is how The Hunger Games got published, incidentally; it wasn't originally a young adult novel, but Suzanne Collins' agent told her YA/children's fiction was the only kind of spec-fic the houses were publishing so she adapted the idea.

A similar thing is going on in adult fantasy; good luck getting something like Simon R. Green's Nightside series or any of Barker's works published today, but retool it as a "paranormal romance" and publishing companies will heave barrels of money at you.

Posted by: Daniel Ream at July 03, 2022 01:15 AM (TMX68)

283 I'm going to defend mortal engines for one thing: at least it tried something new. We live in an age of endless sequels and reboots of batman or star wars or jurassic Park or Spiderman.

I think the focus on these established properties is taking all the writers and ideas that should be forming the next big thing and shoe horning it into established franchises. You know why George Lucas wrote Star Wars? Because he couldn't get the rights to Flash Gordon.

Posted by: Eric at July 03, 2022 02:51 AM (TrR72)

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