Disney Thread!

"TJM, you've posted so much this week, but nary a word about movies? Are you okay?"

Yes, I'm fine. All is well, but I've held off long enough. The boss put out Disney threads from time to time, so I will limit myself to one Disney thread this whole week.

So, let's talk about Thunderbolts*.

It comes out this week, and tracking is...not great:

Currently, U.S. and Canada presales for Thunderbolts* stands at $12M+, which is on pace with another first installment MCU movie, 2021's Eternals ($71.2M). The presales figure is also ahead of that year's Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings ($75.3M) and behind this year's Captain America: Brave New World ($88.8M). Hence, the current opening projection on Thunderbolts* is $70M-$75M domestic at 4,300 theaters, with another $90M-$100M abroad.
How to Watch the Marvel Movies in Chronological Order
Like previous MCU titles, the expected draws are males over and under 25. Given that Thunderbolts* is largely Florence Pugh's movie, it will be interesting to see if her Little Women and Don't Worry Darling female fanbase shows up; women under 25 are currently trailing men under 25 in first choice.

Look at these star-fucking losers thinking that Florence Pugh is a box office draw.

Assuming a $70 million opening, one can expect the film to end up with somewhere between $200 and $250 million total US box office. Maybe the same worldwide for a total between $400 million and $500 million. That's a lot of money.

But then you have to do the actual calculation to figure out how much Disney needs to make to break even. The marketing budget will be at least $100 million. The purported budget is $180 million (though, that number is old and there were at least two sets of reshoots, last summer and then last November, reportedly not nearly as extensive as the last Captain America movie). So, that's, bare minimum, a $280 million investment that Disney needs to get back from box office receipts it shares with theaters.

It needs to make, at least, $466 million to break even.

Disney may get that. Maybe. And that's why major studios greenlight giant films: to maybe make their money back.

Out of the top ten movies so far of 2025, Disney has four of them. That's not bad, is it? Well, one of them is Moana 2, which came out last year (and is a genuine, big hit for the studio, lots of cash). The other three are Snow White with $200 million total worldwide so far (on a $350 million, at least, budget), Mufasa: The Lion King (also released last year and a solid, though not great, hit, for the studio, it most likely made its money back at $722 million total worldwide), and Captain America: Brave New World ($414 million at a cost of, most likely $350-380 million to produce, not even market).

Disney more and more reminds me of MGM from the 1950s, easily the biggest movie studio of the time with the biggest hits, but unable to actually turn a profit because their spectacle musicals were so expensive and their sets so badly run that the studio under Louis B. Meyer simply could not make enough money. It's why they sold their library to television that decade. They needed the money.

Disney is a deeply unhealthy film studio right now, and Thunderbolts* does not look like it's going to reverse any of the issues. Maybe Fantastic Four: The First Steps will do it?

Early tracking is not clear (I saw something about a $64 million opening, which would be horrible, but marketing has only started and the number will probably go up, assuming that number is accurate at all), but I'm sure the cast is on board with trying to expand the fanbase as much as possible. Let's see what Pedro Pascal, Mr. Fantastic himself Reed Richards, had to say recently. He couldn't possibly have done something like Rachel Zeigler in the run-up to Snow White's opening, right?

Pedro Pascal blasted #HarryPotter author J.K. Rowling for her latest trans tweets, calling the author a "heinous loser" in a comment on Instagram https://t.co/Eqoo5oceZq pic.twitter.com/osbWOLbyfx
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) April 24, 2025

Okay...maybe not.

Below, I saw Captain America: Brave New World, and I had thoughts. I felt like this was the best place for them.

Captain America: Serious Degradation

I've largely disengaged from modern blockbusters, especially comic book movies, out of sheer disinterest. However, I got a chance to see Captain America: Brave New World last week for free, and I took the chance out of curiosity.

Bleh.

However, it made me think about the degradation of the Marvel brand from an internal perspective mostly because the movie was making very explicit efforts to tie back to Captain America: The Winter Soldier, often considered one of the best Marvel films. The Winter Soldier was made in the veins of 70s political thrillers with an antagonist with no head (the Hydra organization's name says it all) and a hero on the run and against the corrupt system. Its action is more muted and grounded by Marvel standards (it still includes three flying aircraft carriers, so it's a comparative thing).

Brave New World is about political intrigue, centering on the actions of the newly elected US President, General Thaddeus Ross played by Harrison Ford, and some subplots from some previous movies like The Eternals and The Incredible Hulk. It's supposed to be filled with intrigue and has this 70s thriller feel to it, but it doesn't work nearly as well.

The reasons the film doesn't work as a movie interest me less than how the idea of making this kind of movie has changed over the last ten years or so.

Main Ideas

So, let's pull together what I'm talking about, the connective tissue, the things both movies try to do similarly.

There's the serious tone, the effort to ground the film in something approaching reality, the use of politicians as movers of the plot, and an embrace of conspiracy.

In The Winter Soldier, those are accomplished through a story about Steve Rogers having to adapt to this new time after having been frozen for 70 years and only brought back right before the big fight in the first Avengersmovie. He believes in America as it was in the 40s when he was frozen, but he's faced with an America controlled by shadowy elements. That gets centers on a cabinet secretary played by Robert Redford who is one of the most powerful members of Hydra, the shadowy, deep state organization that wants to use a program in their new helicarriers to target and potentially kill every potential threat in the world.

In Brave New World it's about a treaty effort by Ross to equitably share the adamantium (the metal that will go into making Wolverine's claws at some point) with the world as discovered in the giant alien thing partially submerged in The Indian Ocean at the end of The Eternals (I think, I haven't seen it). This gets sidelined when Sam Wilson's friend, Isaiah Bradley (I think he was introduced in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but I never watched it), suddenly stands up in the White House and tries to kill Ross. Turns out he was being mind controlled by someone from Ross's past, the gamma infused super genius Samuel Sterns whom Ross had held illegally imprisoned for decades to help craft his rise to power. Also, Ross has a small subplot about his daughter, Betty, not liking him because of the events from The Incredible Hulk.

Why does it work in one and not the other?

Focus

One thing I always have in my mind is the Classical Unities, three concepts that are considered to be ideals for telling stories. The one I care about is Unity of Action (Unity of time and place are more appropriate for Greek drama than much of anything else), saying that there should be one principle action in a story. This can be renamed as a film having a Core Idea, the one central driving force and reason the story exists.

Both The Winter Soldier and Braven New World have this, but the first works a whole lot better than the second.

In The Winter Soldier, it's about Cap rejecting the American government of the day, about how it's being manipulated by shadowy forces. Cap must fight the good fight, a constantly re-evolving and growing organization, and against all odds. This meshes well with his character, a man out of time, while, despite the nebulous nature of the threat, the path towards discovery of the conspiracy is clearly written and outlined. There's a series of steps that Cap must take to find out what's going on, going deeper into a black hole of conspiracy until he must punch things better. It works.

It's tight. It's good stuff. And it has the added interesting wrinkle of being against the executive being able to kill anyone in the world without oversight, and it was released during the Obama administration when he did just that...to two American citizens. I don't think the Russo Brothers are at all anything other than left-wing, but it's an interesting wrinkle.

Now, Brave New World does not have this strength, but I will give it some kind of credit. If you want to distill the film down to one word, you can. It's "legacy". Mostly the legacy of America, as manifested in Isaiah's story, and General Ross's ambitions for legacy as president (he says it explicitly at one point). You can also throw in Sam Wilson himself since he's taken on the mantle of Captain America from Steve Rogers and has to deal with it. But, honestly, none of it actually works because the legacy idea on any of them doesn't actually...say anything. It's thin and pushed aside for plot mechanics and never really resolved. I suspect a lot of it has to do with reshoots (so many reshoots, reportedly). It's why Sam himself never...seems very important to the movie. He's a plot device to get us from one storythread to the next, and not a whole lot else. He's caught in Ross's movie, at best.

What does Ross's need for a treaty, his need for resolution with Betty (I'm certain this entire subplot was added in reshoots to make Ross more sympathetic), or Ross's treatment of Sterns have to do with Wilson or his emotional journey...at all? If you can say that both are dealing with the idea of legacy, the two actually still don't mesh. Wilson's story is supposed to be about living up to someone else's reputation while Ross's is about facing his own. It's a real clash that doesn't work.

Plot

One wouldn't expect an MCU movie to have terrible action (questionable CGI, sure, but not terrible action), and Brave New World delivers fine on it. The problem, though, is that the story stringing these perfectly...fine action sequences is just so...uncompelling. A lot of it has to do with the last section, about how Sam Wilson doesn't feel like he's anything more than a cog in a plot machine dedicated to Ross's character journey, but more has to do with the fact that the string of clues to uncover is just...not well hidden.

The only thing that's really a secret is that Ross becomes Red Hulk in the final act, which the marketing spoiled. However, everything else about Ross hiding stuff is obvious and even explicit from the get-go. The specifics end up revolving around a hidden character, Sterns, who has no history in the franchise as far as I can tell. The mystery is around the specifics of Sterns, and they're just not that interesting or, again, tied at all to our main character.

So, Wilson goes on this journey of discovery of plot details, but none of it relates to his own journey at all. He's essentially a cop in a procedural. Except the movie isn't treated like a procedural. It's treated like a 4-quadrant action-adventure with a main character with an arc. It's just more to create this disconnect with the audience, something that The Winter Soldier does not share.

In The Winter Soldier, the entire plot revolves around a personal issue to Steve Rogers: his relationship to his childhood friend Bucky Barnes, who was discovered by Soviets during WWII and turned into a brainless, dangerous super soldier. He's become the spear tip of Hydra, the bad organization of the film, and Steve has to fight him, but also try and redeem him. It's solid storytelling mechanics to tie a plot to a character. It's clean. It's efficient. It works.

By comparison, Brave New World is just a complete mess.

Brand

Of course, that doesn't explain the box office of Brave New World. Captain Marvel was kind of crappy, and it made more than a billion dollars.

No, the problem is that the brand got broke. Years of mismanagement, bad larger directional decisions (the multi-verse was a very expensive bust), and general distaste for the most loyal members of its traditional fanbase. Outright antagonism towards your own customers ends up creating an effect, and a movie reportedly costing at least $380 million to produce (and, probably another $150-200 million to market) needs to make A LOT of money to break even at the box office when you include the theatrical distributors get a cut of every ticket (general rule people use is that theaters get 40% of ticket sales on average, the contracts are weird).

You can pull off antagonism against your audience in Captain Marvel at the height of the MCU's popularity, but you can't with Brave New World when the MCU's popularity is obviously much lower than before. There's still something to be said for a film that can make $400 million at the box office worldwide, but...Disney isn't happy about it.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at 02:20 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Burn mouse burn

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at May 01, 2025 02:21 PM (N1tpc)

2
And the new fake "Superman" is gonna suck, too.

Posted by: Soothsayer at May 01, 2025 02:21 PM (qKvR9)

3 I can't read all of that and make the top 10, JM.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at May 01, 2025 02:22 PM (6ydKt)

4 I nooded first or I'd have been first.

Gave everybody a head start.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at May 01, 2025 02:22 PM (6ydKt)

5 3 I can't read all of that and make the top 10, JM.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at May 01, 2025 02:22 PM (6ydKt)

=====

You're not supposed to read the content at all!

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 02:22 PM (GBKbO)

6
Leaks for the new fake Superman show that Superman will be vexed by "online trolls."

This is why Superman, James Bond, etc. belong in the 50's & 60's. You can't "modernize" everything. It doesn't work.

Would you "modernize" a Western? Of course not.

Posted by: Soothsayer at May 01, 2025 02:23 PM (qKvR9)

7 "I've largely disengaged from modern blockbusters, especially comic book movies, out of sheer disinterest. However, I got a chance to see Captain America: Brave New World last week for free, and I took the chance out of curiosity."

It wasn't free and it wasn't worth the 3 hours of your life that are now gone.

But we appreciate your sacrifice.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at May 01, 2025 02:24 PM (N1tpc)

8 7 It wasn't free and it wasn't worth the 3 hours of your life that are now gone.

But we appreciate your sacrifice.
Posted by: Formerly Virginian at May 01, 2025 02:24 PM (N1tpc)

=====

Sub-2 hours actually.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 02:24 PM (GBKbO)

9
Chris Gore suspects the studio sent out "plants" to the theaters to loudly pretend they enjoyed the movie.

Also, Thunderbolts is about depression and mental illness. Fun, right!?

Posted by: Soothsayer at May 01, 2025 02:25 PM (qKvR9)

10
Ahhh my wife, my wife uuggg! With my wife I get no respect. I fell asleep with a cigarette in my hand, she lit it

Posted by: Zombie Rodney Dangerfield at May 01, 2025 02:26 PM (5hfjS)

11 Would you "modernize" a Western? Of course not. /i]

Well, some might say you could. Some people. You know.

Posted by: Capt Mal Reynolds at May 01, 2025 02:26 PM (t0Rmr)

12 It's apparently my turn to be willowed! It's a lonely feeling.

Posted by: Lady in Black at May 01, 2025 02:26 PM (qBdHI)

13 Thunderbolts don't look particularly interesting or good to me, but then I thought Minecraft looked idiotic as well so who knows. My guess is that a team of unknowns with bad marketing* in an era people don't trust marvel any more to make good content won't fare particularly well. But we'll see.

*Those trailers: constant lame millennial snark humor with no story discernable, complete with the lame and overused "slow version of old pop song" in the background... yeah.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 02:26 PM (2VST1)

14 Is the rumor true that Disney is going to do a remake of Prometheus??

Posted by: tubal at May 01, 2025 02:26 PM (PCK5/)

15 I think this best sums up all the Marvel movies in less than 3 seconds:

http://tiny.cc/r6ei001

Posted by: brak at May 01, 2025 02:27 PM (jGJov)

16 Update to the last thread.

>>@EricLDaugh
·
>>3m
🚨 BREAKING: Mike Waltz is moved to being the Next US Ambassador to the United Nations after being out as National Security Advisor.

>>Marco Rubio is now the Interim National Security Advisor.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 01, 2025 02:27 PM (viF8m)

17 Chris Gore suspects the studio sent out "plants" to the theaters to loudly pretend they enjoyed the movie.

He's not the only one, I have heard it from several different reviewers, one group of people in the audience cheering and laughing loudly at EVERYTHING. I am reminded of the Mister Hilter sketch on Monty Python "you know, he's right!"

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 02:27 PM (2VST1)

18
Good!

I knew Mike Waltz wasn't a disloyal lout.

Posted by: Soothsayer at May 01, 2025 02:28 PM (qKvR9)

19 Fake and ghey..

Posted by: tubal at May 01, 2025 02:28 PM (PCK5/)

20 In The Winter Soldier, it's about Cap rejecting the American government of the day, about how it's being manipulated by shadowy forces. Cap must fight the good fight, a constantly re-evolving and growing organization, and against all odds.

Imagine if Disney made the corrupt American government one of the left. The president would be a demented, senile crapweasel, manipulated by shadowy leftists and the media, whose only goal is to destroy the country they hate.

I mean, sure, the odds of that happening are very, very low, but still. It's just a movie.

Posted by: Archimedes at May 01, 2025 02:28 PM (s8j++)

21 TJM, good that included the movie house's cut which is up to 50% domestic, less international. So wouldn't' that be $560+ million? Also toy marketing is going to be very low as no known characters.

YMMV

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable a Clear and Present Danger at May 01, 2025 02:28 PM (17s+e)

22 I hope the Mouse dies

Posted by: Skip at May 01, 2025 02:28 PM (ypFCm)

23 🚨 BREAKING: Mike Waltz is moved to being the Next US Ambassador to the United Nations after being out as National Security Advisor.

ok so this tells me Waltz was not a mole, just a doofus who hired a bad egg (Wong).

so he gets dinged but not totally out in the wilderness

Posted by: Black Orchid at May 01, 2025 02:29 PM (Pv3Rg)

24 21 TJM, good that included the movie house's cut which is up to 50% domestic, less international. So wouldn't' that be $560+ million? Also toy marketing is going to be very low as no known characters.

YMMV
Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable a Clear and Present Danger at May 01, 2025 02:28 PM (17s+e)

======

The number I always see is that studios get 60% of ticket sales on average.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 02:29 PM (GBKbO)

25 Some wag on X posted a fake news bit claiming that WB was doing Lethal Weapon V featuring the daughters of Riggs and Murtaugh (Rachel Zegler and Cynthia Erivo) called "Lethal Weapons."

The problem with that kind of joke is that its too plausible to be funny. You could really see them do it.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 02:29 PM (2VST1)

26 If they wanted to make a "new" Superman movie do the Injustice plot.

Spoilers: Superman gets tired of criminals going in and out of Arkam Asylum and killing people and starts killed villains then "induces order" on the world governments and anyone that gets in his way. Batman tries to convince him to step down, then puts together a team of super heroes/villains to fight him

And if you added nuance to it you could make a compelling case that both Superman and Batman are right in some ways.

Though...Hollywood can't do nuance.

Posted by: 18-1 at May 01, 2025 02:29 PM (t0Rmr)

27 Nitpicky, but Robert Redford's character in Winter Soldier wasn't a senator. He was 'Secretary Pierce', I guess undersecretary of the 'World Security Council'... And former US Ambassador to Colombia. Garry Shandling's character was the senator...

Posted by: bearski at May 01, 2025 02:29 PM (Bhsk7)

28 I'd hate to be the guy in charge of choreographing fights scenes. The director comes to him and says "I want something completely new, something the audience hasn't seen before, something that won't bore them".

It's impossible, I tells ya.

Posted by: Archimedes at May 01, 2025 02:30 PM (s8j++)

29 These are movies about comic books, right?

Posted by: Person who doesn't read comic books at May 01, 2025 02:30 PM (dg+HA)

30 lol I never liked Marvel stuff so

disney will right itself I think, it just might take a while. it's a big ship, like the USA, it will take a while to turn. Moana II was good, they can still do good stuff. stopping the live action nonsense is a step in the right direction

Posted by: Black Orchid at May 01, 2025 02:30 PM (Pv3Rg)

31 This is like when I'm on the Pixy thread. Clueless.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at May 01, 2025 02:30 PM (RIvkX)

32 I loved Winter Soldier. I had no interest in Brave New World. Part of it's my general disillusionment with Marvel, but even the marketing for the movie just...turned me off somehow. It felt more annoying than anything.

Posted by: Dr. T at May 01, 2025 02:30 PM (EynyL)

33 Why is Harrison Ford suddenly making movies? Is he dying? Is it a cash grab as he circles the drain?

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at May 01, 2025 02:30 PM (wBaIH)

34 Sub-2 hours actually.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 02:24 PM (GBKbO)

Perfect illustration of how little I know about Marvel today.

Like you, I just don't care about the blockbusters anymore.

Endgame was the end. (And it wasn't great, but at least it had a lot of great things about it.)

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at May 01, 2025 02:31 PM (N1tpc)

35 Leaks for the new fake Superman show that Superman will be vexed by "online trolls."

Its probably just a one-off quick gag, likely poking fun at Zach Snyder fans. Its not like Lex Luthor hasn't done this in the past in the comics, using media to attack Superman.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 02:31 PM (2VST1)

36 22 I hope the Mouse dies
Posted by: Skip at May 01, 2025 02:28 PM (ypFCm)

=======

The film division got a shot in the arm last year with three big hits (Inside Out 2, Deadpool and Wolverine, and Moana 2).

But Disney is much bigger than the film division, and it reverting to recent form of underperforming mega-investments won't topple the whole company.

Best case, realistic scenario is probably Disney selling off major properties to try and inject cash into the film division.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 02:31 PM (GBKbO)

37 Who in the H-E-double hockey sticks is Pedro Pascal?

Posted by: Lady in Black at May 01, 2025 02:31 PM (qBdHI)

38 Some wag on X posted a fake news bit claiming that WB was doing Lethal Weapon V featuring the daughters of Riggs and Murtaugh (Rachel Zegler and Cynthia Erivo) called "Lethal Weapons."

The problem with that kind of joke is that its too plausible to be funny. You could really see them do it.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 02:29 PM (2VST1)

Their most lethal weapon - the criminals die of laughter.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at May 01, 2025 02:31 PM (VNX3d)

39 I can't understand how anyone can spend $300 million making a movie, unless $290 million is just handed out to friends and family along the way.

Roger Corman made entertaining movies for $50,000.

Posted by: Tom Servo at May 01, 2025 02:31 PM (uWKK8)

40 27 Nitpicky, but Robert Redford's character in Winter Soldier wasn't a senator. He was 'Secretary Pierce', I guess undersecretary of the 'World Security Council'... And former US Ambassador to Colombia. Garry Shandling's character was the senator...
Posted by: bearski at May 01, 2025 02:29 PM (Bhsk7)

=======

Should I fix this...?

Ugh...I'll fix it...

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 02:31 PM (GBKbO)

41 To read any X post by Laura Loomer, the Trump administration is hiring so many leftists, it sounds like nearly the whole lot of them is suspect.

Lara Loomer is... a bit unstable and desperate for clicks.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 02:32 PM (2VST1)

42 Remember Hydra, a shadowy group that control whole governments behind the scenes by co-opting politicial figures for its own benefit, is complete fiction.

Unless the WEF which is totally a different thing.

Posted by: 18-1 at May 01, 2025 02:32 PM (t0Rmr)

43 37 Who in the H-E-double hockey sticks is Pedro Pascal?

Posted by: Lady in Black at May 01, 2025 02:31 PM (qBdHI)

And just like that, it once again becomes an Emily Kaplan thread.

Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at May 01, 2025 02:32 PM (KbCG3)

44 The number I always see is that studios get 60% of ticket sales on average.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 02:29 PM (GBKbO)
===

Thanks. Is that in aggregate international, domestic, opening versus opening? It's hollywood baby so we will never really know.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable a Clear and Present Danger at May 01, 2025 02:32 PM (17s+e)

45 33 Why is Harrison Ford suddenly making movies? Is he dying? Is it a cash grab as he circles the drain?
Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at May 01, 2025 02:30 PM (wBaIH)

======

He's been working regularly the whole time.

He's just taking Disney paycheck money now. They must be big paydays.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 02:32 PM (GBKbO)

46
I'm into Tales of Wells Fargo and Bat Masterson, at the moment.

Also just downloaded a 1987 movie called The Time Guardian. Anyone know of this?

Posted by: Soothsayer at May 01, 2025 02:32 PM (qKvR9)

47 >>Marco Rubio is now the Interim National Security Advisor.

Like Kissinger

Posted by: Mark1971 at May 01, 2025 02:34 PM (Vj4xA)

48 46
I'm into Tales of Wells Fargo and Bat Masterson, at the moment.

Also just downloaded a 1987 movie called The Time Guardian. Anyone know of this?

Posted by: Soothsayer at May 01, 2025 02:32 PM (qKvR9)

Just started watching Tales of Wells Fargo. Finished Bat Masterson last year.

My favorite part about Bat was that the woman in each episode was related to the main character in a way so that she was still accessible to Bat as a love interest. A whole lot of nieces trying to save their uncles back in the day.

Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at May 01, 2025 02:34 PM (KbCG3)

49 44 Thanks. Is that in aggregate international, domestic, opening versus opening? It's hollywood baby so we will never really know.
Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable a Clear and Present Danger at May 01, 2025 02:32 PM (17s+e)

=======

It's American box office.

China is something like 90-10, 10 going to the studio. Europe, I think, trends more towards theaters as well.

Contracts are surprisingly individualized with heavier studio takes for bigger movies that taper off over weeks.

But, the generally accepted guesstimate is 60-40 split overall. But that's really what it is: a guesstimate. The contracts aren't public.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 02:34 PM (GBKbO)

50 I'd hate to be the guy in charge of choreographing fights scenes. The director comes to him and says "I want something completely new, something the audience hasn't seen before, something that won't bore them".

Its worse than that. Marvel literally has a different team doing action scenes than the rest of the movie. Directors are given the movie, but they only direct the non-action parts. The action parts are filmed sometimes before the other parts are shot.

The rumor is -- and is likely true -- that Avengers Doomsday is already filming without a finished script

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 02:34 PM (2VST1)

51 I doubt I will see Thundercats but if I do it will be raining and on a cable channel with commercials while I'm making chile verde.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable a Clear and Present Danger at May 01, 2025 02:35 PM (17s+e)

52 >>>Those trailers: constant lame millennial snark humor with no story discernable, complete with the lame and overused "slow version of old pop song" in the background... yeah.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 02:26 PM (2VST1)

I'm just tired of the whole thing. It's another "existential threat to life as we know it," for the 87th time. You can't always be ratcheting up the stakes in these movies; you're never going to get another Thanos. At some point, Disney is going to have to reduce the wannabe epic scale of these movies and tell more contained stories if it wants the franchise to survive.

Posted by: Dr. T at May 01, 2025 02:35 PM (EynyL)

53 50 The rumor is -- and is likely true -- that Avengers Doomsday is already filming without a finished script
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 02:34 PM (2VST1)

=======

I don't think that's a rumor. I think that's confirmed.

They don't have a finished cast either.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 02:35 PM (GBKbO)

54 What kind is the Lion Kind?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at May 01, 2025 02:35 PM (63Dwl)

55 BREAKING: Mike Waltz is moved to being the Next US Ambassador to the United Nations after being out as National Security Advisor.

>>Marco Rubio is now the Interim National Security Advisor.
Posted by: JackStraw
--------------

Second chances?

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 01, 2025 02:36 PM (0duCh)

56
Re: Tales

Dale Robertson is a very likable screen presence.

Anyone remember the short-lived 80's series J.J. Starbuck? Good show...for a Stephen Cannell product.

Posted by: Soothsayer at May 01, 2025 02:36 PM (qKvR9)

57 Something happened after 2015 or so that most Hollywood writing rooms turn out some pretty terrible product.

I'm not saying pre-woke was perfect, but it got really noticeable how bad the writing, and entire production itself, had gotten worse in so many projects.

I haven't seen Brave New World, but I might check it after reading your great review here, TJM.

And I agree, The Winter Soldier was one of the best of the MCU in its prime. It was much better than its contemporary, Iron Man 2.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at May 01, 2025 02:37 PM (6ydKt)

58 Rubio has overperformed in light of my initial assessment of the guy. A pleasant surprise.

Posted by: tubal at May 01, 2025 02:37 PM (PCK5/)

59 Like you, I just don't care about the blockbusters anymore.

Endgame was the end. (And it wasn't great, but at least it had a lot of great things about it.)
Posted by: Formerly Virginian at May 01, 2025 02:31 PM (N1tpc)

More succinct version of what I was trying to say. For me, the MCU was all wrapped up with Endgame, and (much as I did like Guardians of the Galaxy 3) nothing afterward really counted.

Posted by: Dr. T at May 01, 2025 02:37 PM (EynyL)

60 test

Posted by: Chairborne!...Desk From Above! at May 01, 2025 02:38 PM (C4BAC)

61 60 test
Posted by: Chairborne!...Desk From Above! at May 01, 2025 02:38 PM (C4BAC)

Solid B+

Posted by: tubal at May 01, 2025 02:38 PM (PCK5/)

62 43 Ford has been making movies, so why did I assume he died of shame after the "Crystal Skull" nuked the refrigerator?

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at May 01, 2025 02:38 PM (wBaIH)

63 Rubio has overperformed in light of my initial assessment of the guy. A pleasant surprise.

Posted by: tubal at May 01, 2025 02:37 PM (PCK5/)
===

He has overperformed in light of his previous 14 years in the senate. I am more than surprised at the job he has done. My only question is "Where was this Marco Rubio the last 14 years?"

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable a Clear and Present Danger at May 01, 2025 02:39 PM (17s+e)

64 Florence Pew, amirite or amirite?

Posted by: JuJuBee at May 01, 2025 02:39 PM (tM5h4)

65 Posted by: tubal at May 01, 2025 02:38 PM (PCK5/)

;-)

Posted by: Chairborne!...Desk From Above! at May 01, 2025 02:39 PM (C4BAC)

66 "There's still something to be said for a film that can make $400 million at the box office worldwide, but...Disney isn't happy about it."

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

Who is 'Disney'? Bob Iger? His board? Shareholders? All support Iger who's been driving the Disney herd off the cliff for years now to show he's the most influential servant of woke on the planet... I mean, they're probably not happy to lose money, but they probably view it as a 'goodwill' cost of being moral, while the parks etc. prop the rest of the company up... Are they even truly effective businessmen? Would they consider it better for Disney to go bankrupt than to champion traditional American (and Disney) values? I think they would. In which case, maybe they're not happy, but they ain't gonna change much...

Posted by: bearski at May 01, 2025 02:39 PM (Bhsk7)

67 At some point, Disney is going to have to reduce the wannabe epic scale of these movies and tell more contained stories if it wants the franchise to survive.

I'd like to believe that but they seem incapable of even considering a smaller, character-driven story.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 02:40 PM (2VST1)

68 Something happened after 2015 or so that most Hollywood writing rooms turn out some pretty terrible product.

I suspect quality was deprioritized compared to getting Trump/Republicans and full time promoting globohomo.

Hollywood has been leftwing forever and has made plenty of horrible narrative driving movies. But...there was a notion that they wanted to make *good* narrative driving movies until recently. Now this objective notion of good is racist or something

Posted by: 18-1 at May 01, 2025 02:40 PM (t0Rmr)

69 66 Who is 'Disney'? Bob Iger? His board? Shareholders? All support Iger who's been driving the Disney herd off the cliff for years now to show he's the most influential servant of woke on the planet... I mean, they're probably not happy to lose money, but they probably view it as a 'goodwill' cost of being moral, while the parks etc. prop the rest of the company up... Are they even truly effective businessmen? Would they consider it better for Disney to go bankrupt than to champion traditional American (and Disney) values? I think they would. In which case, maybe they're not happy, but they ain't gonna change much...
Posted by: bearski at May 01, 2025 02:39 PM (Bhsk7)

=======

Reshoots completely changed the point of the film, from what I understand.

Their messaging was muddled, at best.

They didn't get their narrative joy out of the movie.

The debased themselves to try and appeal to the lost fans, and they're going to lose money for it.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 02:41 PM (GBKbO)

70 "You can pull off antagonism against your audience in Captain Marvel at the height of the MCU's popularity"

You can, certainly.

Once.

Once you rip the mask off, there's no putting it back on.

Posted by: Gaff at May 01, 2025 02:41 PM (EqzMw)

71
How about a little Quick Jeopardy trivia!

Answer: African country whose Portuguese name means "mountains of the lion."

Posted by: Soothsayer at May 01, 2025 02:41 PM (qKvR9)

72 When did Pedro Pascal become a thing? The looks like he's coming off a three day bender. JK Rowling got hits for taking a stand, while Pedro will be forgotten quickly

Posted by: Smell the Glove at May 01, 2025 02:42 PM (Er3Q7)

73 26 If they wanted to make a "new" Superman movie do the Injustice plot.

Spoilers: Superman gets tired of criminals going in and out of Arkam Asylum and killing people and starts killed villains then "induces order" on the world governments and anyone that gets in his way. Batman tries to convince him to step down, then puts together a team of super heroes/villains to fight him

And if you added nuance to it you could make a compelling case that both Superman and Batman are right in some ways.

Though...Hollywood can't do nuance.
Posted by: 18-1 at May 01, 2025 02:29 PM (t0Rmr)

DC's animation arm tried adapting the game/comics and came up with... something... but it wasn't a very good effort.

Posted by: Octochicken at May 01, 2025 02:42 PM (oCS0o)

74 Would they consider it better for Disney to go bankrupt than to champion traditional American (and Disney) values? I think they would. In which case, maybe they're not happy, but they ain't gonna change much...
Posted by: bearski at May 01, 2025 02:39 PM (Bhsk7)
===

A good 60% of America would be ecstatic if Disney went bankrupt.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable a Clear and Present Danger at May 01, 2025 02:42 PM (17s+e)

75 Thunderbolts, for a Marvel film these days, actually is relatively inexpensive, probably under 200 million. It doesn't have any super expensive stars, and there were no stories of major reshoots or delays. So it probably could make money at 400 million but... I'm doubtful it gets close.

And following it up?

Ironheart, the little girl genius nobody likes.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 02:42 PM (2VST1)

76 I'm just going to throw out a general Hollywood sucks and is bereft of any original ideas. I recently watched a Korean movie called 'Oldboy.' An intense film with a shocking conclusion that has garnered very good ratings. And here comes Hollywood to remake it with Josh Brolin. Second movie I saw a while ago and was a very, very good Swedish thriller called 'The Vanishing.' Yep, along comes Hollywood to remake this deeply chilling and disturbing movie...with Jeff Bridges. Where are Hollywood's own original ideas? They have none.

Posted by: Lady in Black at May 01, 2025 02:42 PM (qBdHI)

77 Occasionally a real movie, other than from Clint Eastwood or Mel Gibson, comes along. They usually receive acclaim, notoriety, and profits. Enough so that Disney and others could catch a hint but instead they intentionally put people's brains into a meat grinder.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 01, 2025 02:42 PM (0duCh)

78 Hollywood keeps hiring Pedro Pascal because everyone knows Hollywood is full of pedrophiles.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at May 01, 2025 02:43 PM (WPL6O)

79 At some point, Disney is going to have to reduce the wannabe epic scale of these movies and tell more contained stories if it wants the franchise to survive.

This is a problem with movie series of the type their superhero movies are.

Their last main villain, Thanos, wanted to kill half the universe and Kang, if you consider him, wanted to control the multiverse.

What goes beyond that? Oh Galactacus wants to destroy just earth? BORING.

Heck, I remember Buffy the Vampire Slayer made fun of this at one point 20 years ago...

Posted by: 18-1 at May 01, 2025 02:43 PM (t0Rmr)

80 72 When did Pedro Pascal become a thing? The looks like he's coming off a three day bender. JK Rowling got hits for taking a stand, while Pedro will be forgotten quickly
Posted by: Smell the Glove at May 01, 2025 02:42 PM (Er3Q7)

======

First time I heard of him was his role in one season of Game of Thrones.

From everything I understand, he's a SJW through and through, including having a tranny sister (brother? don't care). And that's how he's ingratiated himself into Hollywood's executive levels.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 02:43 PM (GBKbO)

81 One of the bigger YT movie critics (maybe it was Drinker, but I'm not positive) said one of the problems with Brave New World was that it's really a Hulk movie with Falcap shoehorned in as the protagonist.

Posted by: Octochicken at May 01, 2025 02:44 PM (oCS0o)

82 76 I'm just going to throw out a general Hollywood sucks and is bereft of any original ideas. I recently watched a Korean movie called 'Oldboy.' An intense film with a shocking conclusion that has garnered very good ratings. And here comes Hollywood to remake it with Josh Brolin. Second movie I saw a while ago and was a very, very good Swedish thriller called 'The Vanishing.' Yep, along comes Hollywood to remake this deeply chilling and disturbing movie...with Jeff Bridges. Where are Hollywood's own original ideas? They have none.
Posted by: Lady in Black at May 01, 2025 02:42 PM (qBdHI)

======

Oldboy was based on a manga.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 02:44 PM (GBKbO)

83 Should I fix this...? Ugh...I'll fix it...
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla

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

Ha, sorry. A true movie geek couldn't let that detail go by without popping off... 'The Lion Kind' wasn't important though... ;-)

Posted by: bearski at May 01, 2025 02:44 PM (Bhsk7)

84 I though Florence Pugh with her pert little rack was cute in Oppenheimer.

Speaking of which, how is Nurse and her chest pains? I can't bear the thought of it being serious. There's too much sorrow on this site these days.

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at May 01, 2025 02:44 PM (wBaIH)

85 If Hollywood, and especially Disney, could just get off of The Message for a few hours in a movie, they could start making money again.

Revenge of the Sith was in theaters again last week and made like $28 million.

That should be a huge message to Disney and Lucasfilm.

They've got to hire people based on talent and not a checklist or they'll just keep going downhill.

Waiting it out for the political tide to turn might just bankrupt a lot of studios.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at May 01, 2025 02:44 PM (6ydKt)

86 When did Pedro Pascal become a thing? The looks like he's coming off a three day bender. JK Rowling got hits for taking a stand, while Pedro will be forgotten quickly

I assume he became successful in the normal way - blowing directors.

Posted by: 18-1 at May 01, 2025 02:44 PM (t0Rmr)

87 I do hope Pudgy Mustache and the not-so-Fantastic Four is a complete flop.

Posted by: Open Channel D at May 01, 2025 02:44 PM (tgTrV)

88 Something happened after 2015 or so that most Hollywood writing rooms turn out some pretty terrible product.

One of the major factors was that most of the old time writers were fired or sideboarded for being too "male, pale, and stale." Newer writers were brought on largely for their physical characteristics and ideology rather than talent, experience, and skill.

Lacking depth of experience and lived years, they write mostly self-inserts about them and what little life they have lived, or politically-driven narratives. So you get She Hulk attorney at law by people who know nothing about court drama or law and all she does is complain, drink, sleep around, and feel sorry for herself

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 02:44 PM (2VST1)

89 Thunder- a reaction to lightning passing through the air super heating it so that it expands quickly

Bolt- A term used to describe the substance/appearance of lightning

__________________________

Thunder is a reaction to lightning and oxygen. Not the other way around. Therefore, there is no such thing as a thunderbolt. There is, arguably, a Boltthunder.

You're welcome.

Posted by: Orson at May 01, 2025 02:45 PM (dIske)

90 I'm just going to throw out a general Hollywood sucks and is bereft of any original ideas. I recently watched a Korean movie called 'Oldboy.' An intense film with a shocking conclusion that has garnered very good ratings. And here comes Hollywood to remake it with Josh Brolin. Second movie I saw a while ago and was a very, very good Swedish thriller called 'The Vanishing.' Yep, along comes Hollywood to remake this deeply chilling and disturbing movie...with Jeff Bridges. Where are Hollywood's own original ideas? They have none.

Posted by: Lady in Black
===

This is the super creative's super creativeness of creation by the creative people of creative Hollywood creating some creation!!

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable a Clear and Present Danger at May 01, 2025 02:45 PM (17s+e)

91 How about a little Quick Jeopardy trivia!

Answer: African country whose Portuguese name means "mountains of the lion."

Posted by: Soothsayer at May 01, 2025 02:41 PM (qKvR9)

Without looking it up, I'm going to guess, Angola.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at May 01, 2025 02:46 PM (6ydKt)

92
I don't understand Disney's $90 stock price in light of the broadcast and amusement properties problems on top of the movie wokefest failures.

Posted by: Auspex at May 01, 2025 02:46 PM (j4U/Z)

93 Supposedly Sinners is entertaining and fairly fresh (although it has From Dusk Til Dawn vibes). Hollywood is capable of interesting fresh stuff, just rarely and almost by accident.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 02:47 PM (2VST1)

94
Without looking it up, I'm going to guess, Angola.
Posted by: SpeakingOf

Good guess, but no.

Posted by: Soothsayer Trebek at May 01, 2025 02:47 PM (qKvR9)

95 69... They debased themselves to try and appeal to the lost fans, and they're going to lose money for it.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla

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

Yeah, and I wonder which they feel more bad about: losing money or 'debasing' their wokeness? Kinda feel like it's more the latter...

Posted by: bearski at May 01, 2025 02:47 PM (Bhsk7)

96 >>>along comes Hollywood to remake this deeply chilling and disturbing movie...with Jeff Bridges.
------

Demosthenes put pebbles in his mouth to help him speak clearly.
Jeff should take a hint and take the rocks out of his.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 01, 2025 02:47 PM (0duCh)

97 55 BREAKING: Mike Waltz is moved to being the Next US Ambassador to the United Nations after being out as National Security Advisor.

>>Marco Rubio is now the Interim National Security Advisor.
Posted by: JackStraw
--------------

Second chances?
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 01, 2025 02:36 PM (0duCh)

It keeps Waltz on the reservation, rather than him getting requests to do the Sunday talk show circuit, dealing with the MSM trying to have him dump on Trump.

Posted by: Darrell Harris at May 01, 2025 02:47 PM (0CU3H)

98
Where's Jackstraw?

Posted by: Soothsayer Trebek at May 01, 2025 02:47 PM (qKvR9)

99 African country whose Portuguese name means "mountains of the lion."

Posted by: Soothsayer at May 01, 2025 02:41 PM (qKvR9)

_____________________________

Minneapolis?

Posted by: Orson at May 01, 2025 02:47 PM (dIske)

100 Universal's most recent theme park is making Disney's stuff look lame and old and boring. And the cruise industry is just not what it once was. And their streaming service is in bad shape. I suspect Disney is feeling the crunch, its not like they have "cloud" hosting to fall back on like Amazon.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 02:48 PM (2VST1)

101 Where was this Marco Rubio the last 14 years?"
Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable a Clear and Present Danger

trapped by a turtle!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at May 01, 2025 02:48 PM (eFnJ7)

102
Am I stupid for not knowing this until now?

It is possible to get from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic by boat.

Posted by: Soothsayer Trebek at May 01, 2025 02:49 PM (qKvR9)

103 When people watch television from the 1990s over watching movies from the 2020s, Hollywood is in some deep shit.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable a Clear and Present Danger at May 01, 2025 02:49 PM (17s+e)

104 100 Universal's most recent theme park is making Disney's stuff look lame and old and boring. And the cruise industry is just not what it once was. And their streaming service is in bad shape. I suspect Disney is feeling the crunch, its not like they have "cloud" hosting to fall back on like Amazon.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 02:48 PM (2VST1)

======

I think their cruise line is doing great, actually.

They added a new ship last year. They're adding another ship later this year.

That's aggressive expansion. Those ships ain't cheap.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 02:49 PM (GBKbO)

105 Injustice is such a cynical take on Superman—I would rather they let the character die than pervert it in such a way.

Posted by: Open Channel D at May 01, 2025 02:49 PM (tgTrV)

106 Lacking depth of experience and lived years, they write mostly self-inserts about them and what little life they have lived, or politically-driven narratives. So you get She Hulk attorney at law by people who know nothing about court drama or law and all she does is complain, drink, sleep around, and feel sorry for herself

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 02:44 PM (2VST1)

-- --

You're right, and it's obvious how shallow a lot of writing has become lately.

Without experience you can still research a lot of topics and it seems they don't even both with that.

It's like soap opera level plotting and dialogue for everything.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at May 01, 2025 02:49 PM (6ydKt)

107 32 I loved Winter Soldier. I had no interest in Brave New World. Part of it's my general disillusionment with Marvel, but even the marketing for the movie just...turned me off somehow. It felt more annoying than anything.
Posted by: Dr. T at May 01, 2025 02:30 PM (EynyL)

Winter Soldier was the single best Marvel MCU movie. The first Cap movie was the second best one. I don't need to see any of the others.

Posted by: Darrell Harris at May 01, 2025 02:50 PM (0CU3H)

108 African country whose Portuguese name means "mountains of the lion."

Posted by: Soothsayer at May 01, 2025 02:41 PM (qKvR9)

_____________________________

Minneapolis?

Posted by: Orson
==

SNORT

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable a Clear and Present Danger at May 01, 2025 02:50 PM (17s+e)

109 Did anyone figure out what the asterisk in Thunderbolts* was all about?

Posted by: Blast Hardcheese at May 01, 2025 02:50 PM (V362x)

110
The Great Loop

I never heard of this before. The Great Loop is, like, a 6000 mile trip, by small boat, from the Great Lakes to Florida (or New York) and vice versa.

Posted by: Soothsayer Trebek at May 01, 2025 02:50 PM (qKvR9)

111 Gunther Eagleman™
@GuntherEagleman
🚨HOLY SH*T!! We know why Fauci requested a preemptive pardon!

The biolabs in Ukraine are REAL!

Tulsi Gabbard: "We are working with Jay Bhattacharya, the new NIH director on this, as well as Secretary Kennedy is looking at the gain of function research that in the case of the Wuhan Lab, as well as many others."

"Many of these other biolabs around the world were actually US-funded and led to this dangerous kind of research that, in many examples, has resulted in either a pandemic or some other major health crisis."

"It's because this gain-of-function research is happening in biolabs around the world. That by the way is still on the US Embassy Ukraine's website today about how the US has funded these biolabs."

"US -unded bio labs in Ukraine when the Russia-Ukraine war kicked off for this very reason. Who knows what kinds of pathogens are in these labs and if released could create another Covid like pandemic. And for that I was called a Russian asset. You're, you know, trumpeting Putin's talking points."

Posted by: SMOD at May 01, 2025 02:50 PM (RHGPo)

112 Didn't get Marvel even when it was supposedly good. I did like Guardians though but that's about it.

Posted by: ... at May 01, 2025 02:50 PM (M/tYi)

113 Injustice is such a cynical take on Superman—I would rather they let the character die than pervert it in such a way.

Yeah it was kind of interesting, once. But they keep redoing it over and over and over and over. The Boys is entirely "what if Superheroes were horrendous jerks?"

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 02:50 PM (2VST1)

114 OK, I gave in to AI.

Sierra Leone.

Which makes sense, I just literally never think of Sierra Leone unless there's a war on the news or something.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at May 01, 2025 02:51 PM (6ydKt)

115 If you don't wear a mask when you're healthy you're literally killing grandma, but we have to keep the secret biolabs running!!

Posted by: ... at May 01, 2025 02:51 PM (M/tYi)

116 Did anyone figure out what the asterisk in Thunderbolts* was all about?
==

* = Balloon Knot = Starfish = Crispy Star

Just like in town.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable a Clear and Present Danger at May 01, 2025 02:52 PM (17s+e)

117 Did anyone figure out what the asterisk in Thunderbolts* was all about?

If people don't care here I can give a lot of spoilers and a basic story rundown. They do explain it, sort of.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 02:53 PM (2VST1)

118 Apparently, Thunderbolts is about heroes dealing with depression and includes a half hour therapy session scene.

https://youtu.be/9tfCOsfqcnk

Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at May 01, 2025 02:53 PM (DIweC)

119
Posted by: Soothsayer Trebek at May 01, 2025 02:50 PM (qKvR9)

_____________________________
Mississippi River, the Erie Canal, or the St. Lawrence Seaway

So, three ways to do it from Chicago.

Posted by: Orson at May 01, 2025 02:53 PM (dIske)

120 its not like they have "cloud" hosting to fall back on like Amazon.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 02:48 PM (2VST1)

or a trillion dollar online retail business.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at May 01, 2025 02:53 PM (6ydKt)

121
Here's my plan.

1.) Find out which of the third world hellholes we have extradition treaties with treats prisoners the very worst. Bone saw interrogations, that sort of thing.

2.) Use tariff negotiations to give them a very, very generous, preferential trade deal - *before* they pass their "anyone who irritates Donald Trump is a felon in Shitcanistan" law. Wouldn't want an appearance of a quid pro quo.

3.) Shitcanistan issues warrants on half a million or so federal scumbags, and the State Department makes good on our treaty obligations by packing them like sardines into overseas shipping containers, and rendering these felons up to the tender mercies of Shitcanistani Justice.

4.) Profit.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at May 01, 2025 02:54 PM (BI5O2)

122 Isn't it about time for them to start remaking the marvel movies? They started like 15 years ago. Time for a gritty reboot, preferably with race swapped bisexual leads this time.

Posted by: brak at May 01, 2025 02:54 PM (NMEps)

123 Injustice is such a cynical take on Superman—I would rather they let the character die than pervert it in such a way.

Well, this is why I think it would require nuance.

Batman's take - where the Joker and the rest get loose every so often and get to mass murder people - because heroes aren't allowed to kill and apparently neither is the justice system, is also wrong.

Posted by: 18-1 at May 01, 2025 02:54 PM (t0Rmr)

124
So you could buy a little 30' speed boat, with a v-berth to sleep in, small galley, and travel all over the Great Lakes, down the Mississipi (I think), then out to the Gulf of America. Or you could start in Boston and go down the coast and then up the river to the Great Lakes and finish in Chicago.

Posted by: Soothsayer Trebek at May 01, 2025 02:54 PM (qKvR9)

125 Fuck Disney. I hope Universal and their new theme park crush them like the degenerate worms they are.

Posted by: Time to get put down, Mickey at May 01, 2025 02:55 PM (TbWk/)

126 I did like Guardians though but that's about it.

Posted by: ... at May 01, 2025 02:50 PM (M/tYi)

-- --

Which was an all-around fun, funny, flick with some great, diverse, characters.

And not an ounce of woke, that I can remember, in any of it.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at May 01, 2025 02:55 PM (6ydKt)

127 Disney has a fundamental woke corrupt corporate mind set. That isn't going to change anytime soon so Disney won't be changing.

Personnel is policy.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable a Clear and Present Danger at May 01, 2025 02:55 PM (17s+e)

128 Man...I am out of touch with pop culture. Never heard of this guy Pedro Pascal.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 01, 2025 02:55 PM (XeU6L)

129 Disney's $90 stock price Is half what it was five years ago. And the failing of the parks is killing any rebounds

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at May 01, 2025 02:55 PM (wBaIH)

130 With a precious few exceptions, the only superhero movies I've even glanced at is via Pitch Meeting. Ryan's takes are far more entertaining than the actual films.

Posted by: Pug Mahon at May 01, 2025 02:55 PM (PSEDc)

131
Mississippi River, the Erie Canal, or the St. Lawrence Seaway

So, three ways to do it from Chicago.
Posted by: Orson

Amazing. Did not know this.

Posted by: Soothsayer Trebek at May 01, 2025 02:55 PM (qKvR9)

132 125 Fuck Disney. I hope Universal and their new theme park crush them like the degenerate worms they are.
Posted by: Time to get put down, Mickey at May 01, 2025 02:55 PM (TbWk/)

=======

Disney's response is to remodel a bunch of Magic Kingdom.

So, they're going to shut down something like a third of the footprint of their major theme park for months and months.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 02:55 PM (GBKbO)

133 >>Who in the H-E-double hockey sticks is Pedro Pascal?

He's the next guy who's going to dump Jennifer Aniston after getting sick of her shit.

Posted by: one hour sober at May 01, 2025 02:55 PM (Y1sOo)

134 Batman's take - where the Joker and the rest get loose every so often and get to mass murder people - because heroes aren't allowed to kill and apparently neither is the justice system, is also wrong.

Yeah but that's a flaw with how the villains are written. Batman's moral code was created and established back when the villains did zany and mean spirited crimes, not brutal mass murdering horror crimes. Each writer had to take THEIR Joker to a worse place, he's even more badass!!! SEEE MY JOKER IS SCARIER THAN YOURS.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 02:56 PM (2VST1)

135 And not an ounce of woke, that I can remember, in any of it.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at May 01, 2025 02:55 PM (6ydKt)

Came out before the magic year of 2015 when the plan to infest culture with every ounce of their pungent bullshit really took off.

Posted by: ... at May 01, 2025 02:57 PM (M/tYi)

136
Sierra Leone.

Which makes sense...
Posted by: SpeakingOf

Indeed it does.

Posted by: Soothsayer Trebek at May 01, 2025 02:57 PM (qKvR9)

137 "Ironwoman of Wokekanda" is going to be a blockbusting blockbuster!

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable a Clear and Present Danger at May 01, 2025 02:57 PM (17s+e)

138 A non-trivial number of people seem to think Wakanda is a real place.

Posted by: 18-1 at May 01, 2025 02:59 PM (t0Rmr)

139 100 Universal's most recent theme park is making Disney's stuff look lame and old and boring.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor

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

They're trying, but I'm not seeing it surpassing Disney World. Yeah, Disney is kinda stale, but not to grade schoolers who don't know much better, and Disney has a bench of characters deeper than Universal can touch. Minions, Mario Bros... they can't compete with Mickey & pals, Toy Story, the princesses, Star Wars, Marvel... Even as much as Disney tries to destroy them, kids and grown ups still know the originals and the attractions themselves reflect them more than the 'woke revisions'... I'd love to punish Disney and Universal looks fun, but still doesn't feel like more than 2nd tier compared to Disney. Unless you're crazy for Harry Potter. None of our kids are though...

But it will be good for some competition to slice some of Disney's park share and put more pressure on the studios to be profitable and not woke...

Posted by: bearski at May 01, 2025 02:59 PM (Bhsk7)

140 So basically Thunderbolts* has an asterisk because they aren't actually called the Thunderbolts, they aren't even a team until the end of the movie where they are announced as the new Avengers.

And yes, mental health features strongly in the plot and story, the characters, etc. They beat the big bad guy with the power of love.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 03:00 PM (2VST1)

141 Now I'm looking at info for Portuguese colonies in Africa and I learned the "phone" word Portuguese speakers (Francophone, Anglophone, etc.). Anybody know what it is without Googling? I had never heard this word.

Posted by: Mark1971 at May 01, 2025 03:00 PM (Vj4xA)

142 Man...I am out of touch with pop culture. Never heard of this guy Pedro Pascal.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 01, 2025 02:55 PM (XeU6L)
====

Already sick to death of him.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at May 01, 2025 03:00 PM (RIvkX)

143 139 But it will be good for some competition to slice some of Disney's park share and put more pressure on the studios to be profitable and not woke...
Posted by: bearski at May 01, 2025 02:59 PM (Bhsk7)

=======

Added wrinkle:

Universal also has Marvel rights.

A large section of Islands of Adventure is Marvel comics.

But it's only comics, not the movies. But, since the costumes are the same and Universal has all of the main characters from X-Men to F4, it's a distinction without much of a difference.

One of their best coasters is The Hulk.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 03:01 PM (GBKbO)

144 And yes, mental health features strongly in the plot and story, the characters, etc. They beat the big bad guy with the power of love.

So its a sequel to the Carebears movie?

Posted by: 18-1 at May 01, 2025 03:01 PM (t0Rmr)

145

lol, wait!

Did PDT just punk the Democrats AGAIN??

Temu obama shot his stupid dollar-store-obama mouth off, taking a victory lap about Mike Waltz getting the heave-ho, only to find out the President is moving Waltz to a new, high-up position?!?!

lol, the Democrats thought they got their "scalp," today. Nope, only their pal Wong was shit-canned, lololololol.

Posted by: Soothsayer Trebek at May 01, 2025 03:01 PM (qKvR9)

146 And yes, mental health features strongly in the plot and story, the characters, etc. They beat the big bad guy with the power of love.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 03:00 PM (2VST1)
====
Sounds cringeworthy

Posted by: San Franpsycho at May 01, 2025 03:01 PM (RIvkX)

147 Captain African America defeated the Red Hulk with the power of love, too. And cherry tree blossoms

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 03:02 PM (2VST1)

148 At their core, superheroes are created for children ( and children at heart). Forcing adult problems and real world issues onto them narratively conflicts with their essential nature. Winter Soldier worked because the politics were not the focus, and the character of Captain America was not subverted to tell the story. Injustice didn’t work because the characters were subverted to service the story, meaning neither the characters nor the story was served well.

Posted by: Open Channel D at May 01, 2025 03:03 PM (tgTrV)

149
Anybody know what it is without Googling? I had never heard this word.
Posted by: Mark1971

Portophone?

Lisbophone?

Goose-o-phone?

Posted by: Soothsayer Trebek at May 01, 2025 03:03 PM (qKvR9)

150 Disney's $90 stock price Is half what it was five years ago. And the failing of the parks is killing any rebounds

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at May 01, 2025 02:55 PM

If you factor in inflation it is about one quarter what it was 5 years ago.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at May 01, 2025 03:03 PM (e5NfL)

151 147 Captain African America defeated the Red Hulk with the power of love, too. And cherry tree blossoms
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 03:02 PM (2VST1)

=======

Betty should have shown up in that scene. It's the only way Red Hulk calming down makes any sense.

Hell, they reshot a bunch of shit in that very scene (it's incredibly obvious, the green screen work is not great). I suspect the original cut had Cap beating Red Hulk into submission.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 03:03 PM (GBKbO)

152 Now I'm looking at info for Portuguese colonies in Africa and I learned the "phone" word Portuguese speakers (Francophone, Anglophone, etc.). Anybody know what it is without Googling? I had never heard this word.

Posted by: Mark1971

Lusophone. (Portugal = Lusitania to the Romans, yeah I know)

Posted by: Brother Tim (102mm/W59), Keeper of the Tim Continuum at May 01, 2025 03:04 PM (OUMaO)

153 Pedro Pascal is just another over paid ,narcissistic idiot actor. Him and Bill Maher should just suck each other’s dick while they tell each other how smart they are.

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at May 01, 2025 03:04 PM (VofaG)

154 On the Waltz appointment, it may be a way to ease him out instead of firing. UN Ambassador is an Advice and Consent post. He isn't getting through the Senate after the BS with Signal.

Posted by: AZ Hi Desert (Gringo fuertemente armado-Tempus belli) at May 01, 2025 03:05 PM (OKalV)

155 Betty should have shown up in that scene. It's the only way Red Hulk calming down makes any sense.

I suspect that probably that was the original story but then its Cap needing help from a white person or whatever. There's zero reason for her to even be in the movie at all other than to calm president Hulk down. The entire movie feels like it was a Hulk script that they adapted to be Cap.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 03:05 PM (2VST1)

156 And that's what it is. Bullsh*t.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at May 01, 2025 03:05 PM (RIvkX)

157 155 I suspect that probably that was the original story but then its Cap needing help from a white person or whatever. There's zero reason for her to even be in the movie at all other than to calm president Hulk down. The entire movie feels like it was a Hulk script that they adapted to be Cap.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 03:05 PM (2VST1)

======

I think Betty's addition was entirely added in reshoots.

She integrates so badly with the movie around her.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 03:06 PM (GBKbO)

158 A non-trivial number of people seem to think Wakanda is a real place.

it's what Africa would be if white people never went there

Posted by: ESPN at May 01, 2025 03:06 PM (jGJov)

159 No movie fronted by Flaurence Pugh or David Harbor will be successful, box office poison, the two of them.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at May 01, 2025 03:07 PM (XV/Pl)

160 The best explanation I have heard for Pedro Pascal's inexplicably common casting is that he's a white-passing hispanic, so they get their diversity quota but with a guy who can seem white. And he's queer as a 3 dollar bill, which is just added to his resume.

The guy isn't terrible, he's just... meh. He's not leading man material.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 03:07 PM (2VST1)

161 The Chosen.

Posted by: Come and see at May 01, 2025 03:07 PM (dg+HA)

162 A full decade of this shit although Hollywood has been propagndizing for far longer. But 2015 is a great cutoff if you want to have an idea if something sucks gay tranny commie balls.

Posted by: ... at May 01, 2025 03:08 PM (M/tYi)

163 A non-trivial number of people seem to think Wakanda is a real place.

it's what Africa would be if white people never went there

Posted by: ESPN at May 01, 2025 03:06 PM

If the white man never went to Africa where would have been able to sell each other into slavery?

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at May 01, 2025 03:08 PM (e5NfL)

164 The fascinating thing is Disney has access to 60 years worth of incredible Marvel characters, story lines and IP, and this is the hogswallop they churn out.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at May 01, 2025 03:09 PM (XV/Pl)

165 I have read that originally President Hulk was more of a direct villain and stand in for Trump before the re-shoots.

Posted by: Open Channel D at May 01, 2025 03:09 PM (tgTrV)

166 The number I always see is that studios get 60% of ticket sales on average.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 02:29 PM (GBKbO)

On first run it used to be 100% for the first few weeks, PLUS a fairly large fee from the theater chain to play the movie. When I worked part time as a projectionist back in the 70's, 80's and early 90's, that was normal. And that was with General Cinema, Fox, and Redstone as well as others. The entire profit was gained through the concession stand.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at May 01, 2025 03:09 PM (5xuJ/)

167 I am just baffled how Disney Marvel thought taking such a great concept as the Thunderbolts comic and turning into... this... was a great idea. Thunderbolts is something you cobble together after like 10 more years of established content, to get the villains in place.

And stop killing off the antagonist, for crying out loud.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 03:10 PM (2VST1)

168 166 On first run it used to be 100% for the first few weeks, PLUS a fairly large fee from the theater chain to play the movie. When I worked part time as a projectionist back in the 70's, 80's and early 90's, that was normal. And that was with General Cinema, Fox, and Redstone as well as others. The entire profit was gained through the concession stand.
Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at May 01, 2025 03:09 PM (5xuJ/)

=======

I remember reading that Lucas' contract for Episode 1 was very, very unusual in that he got 90% for the first 2-3 weeks of release.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 03:10 PM (GBKbO)

169 It struck me a couple days ago that they could continue the Steve Rogers story line, in a cool 1950’s to 1960’s setting. Period settings and cars, living with his sweetheart. They could even sub in a new actor, as everyone would recognize Rogers and he would need extensive disguise to remain anonymous.

Posted by: Hawkpilot at May 01, 2025 03:10 PM (YLdqf)

170 I’ve been watching or trying to watch a lot of movies on Roku, Plex, etc that I’ve never heard of that star some big names.

Last night I watched a crappy one called Gloria that starred Sharon Stone. She did a great job acting but the movie was just crap.

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at May 01, 2025 03:12 PM (VofaG)

171 It struck me a couple days ago that they could continue the Steve Rogers story line, in a cool 1950’s to 1960’s setting. Period settings and cars, living with his sweetheart.

One of the least effective parts of the movies was trying to pretend that Captain America was this beloved figure that everyone was awed by and adored. He was around for a few months at the end of WW2 and then was lost in ice. There was not TIME for him to be remembered and beloved.

There was one scene that was proper in Avengers: the cop going "who the hell are you and why should we listen?" The rest of the time everyone is in awe of Cap. He hadn't earned it by that point.

Its like the grand love story for all time between Scarlet Witch and Vision, all of which happened... off camera between movies.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 03:12 PM (2VST1)

172 I am just baffled how Disney Marvel thought taking such a great concept as the Thunderbolts comic and turning into... this... was a great idea. Thunderbolts is something you cobble together after like 10 more years of established content, to get the villains in place.

And stop killing off the antagonist, for crying out loud.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor

Wait until you find out what the asterisk in the title means.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at May 01, 2025 03:13 PM (mlg/3)

173 I wish I liked the Men in Black series because they are showing all of them now. I really don’t like Will Smith.

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at May 01, 2025 03:14 PM (VofaG)

174 TL;DR: Meh, it's no Prometheus.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at May 01, 2025 03:14 PM (0sNs1)

175
I find myself really enjoying old movies without characters using their cellphones and internet to get things done.

For example, I dunno, Bullit. If a character wanted to talk to someone they stopped at a payphone or showed up in person.

Posted by: Soothsayer Trebek at May 01, 2025 03:15 PM (qKvR9)

176 Bonk bonk on the head

Posted by: Dr. Varno at May 01, 2025 03:15 PM (+OXMa)

177 >>> 172
==
Wait until you find out what the asterisk in the title means.
Posted by: weft cut-loop at May 01, 2025 03:13 PM (mlg/3)

It's a strike-shortened season; fewer games played than usual.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at May 01, 2025 03:15 PM (Vqx30)

178 Is the newest Alien movie any good? Alien Romulus. It’s playing for free.

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at May 01, 2025 03:16 PM (VofaG)

179 Wakanda -
They would have sold them to the Arabs, or do you consider Arabs white?

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at May 01, 2025 03:16 PM (jHien)

180 Part of what made the Marvel movies work for fans, is that the characters were adapted close enough to the comics that the viewer could fill in the blanks in the movies with their knowledge of the comics and it would essentially “work” as a part of the movie experience. As Marvel has moved farther from the source material, this has eliminated this part of the viewing experience from fans.

Posted by: Open Channel D at May 01, 2025 03:17 PM (tgTrV)

181 Is the newest Alien movie any good? Alien Romulus. It’s playing for free.
Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth

From what I've heard from the Youtube reviewers is that it's full of idiot characters to progress the idiot plot. So, exactly like the last two.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at May 01, 2025 03:18 PM (mlg/3)

182 Captain Marvel would have made maybe 500 million if it had not been between the two big Avengers movies and promoted as "must see" to understand the finale. Which, of course, it was not. Even its biggest fans thought it was mid.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 03:18 PM (2VST1)

183
Game of Thrones is a GREAT illustration of modern hollywood punks not being able to deal with pre-cellphone/pre-jet plane circumstances.

Those idiot producers had characters travelling thousands of miles by boat in minutes. They had crows flying thousands of miles to deliver messages...in minutes

Posted by: Soothsayer Trebek at May 01, 2025 03:18 PM (qKvR9)

184 Simpler, Winter Soldier worked because it was still fucking Captain America... the Icon of American Idealism and Patriotism from Old School America.

Next movie did not even have Captain America... not the old school patriot... he was replaced with the 'new Hotness'...

They paved Paradise and put in a Parking lot.

Posted by: Romeo13 at May 01, 2025 03:18 PM (QAkQ3)

185 105 Injustice is such a cynical take on Superman—I would rather they let the character die than pervert it in such a way.

Posted by: Open Channel D at May 01, 2025 02:49 PM (tgTrV)

There was the Injustice timeline from the likewise named fighting game where Superman takes over the world after the Joker nukes Metropolis and kills a pregnant(?) Lois Lane in the process. That was a more believable motivation than the other Injustice timelines I've read about.

Posted by: Farquad at May 01, 2025 03:18 PM (bwvMs)

186 "You're right, and it's obvious how shallow a lot of writing has become lately.

Without experience you can still research a lot of topics and it seems they don't even both with that.

Posted by: SpeakingO"

They make for lack of depth and experiencing by putting in lots of f-bombs. More than you would hear in a biker bar. It's bizarre because rarely hear most people speaking like that in normal conversation. I suppose this is considered edgy.

Posted by: Riply at May 01, 2025 03:18 PM (GUOwU)

187 I have read that originally President Hulk was more of a direct villain and stand in for Trump before the re-shoots.

Posted by: Open Channel D at May 01, 2025 03:09 PM (tgTrV)

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

#GreenManBad!

Posted by: ShainS at May 01, 2025 03:18 PM (mY0cx)

188 187 I have read that originally President Hulk was more of a direct villain and stand in for Trump before the re-shoots.

Posted by: Open Channel D at May 01, 2025 03:09 PM (tgTrV)

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

#GreenManBad!
Posted by: ShainS at May 01, 2025 03:18 PM (mY0cx)

=====

Red Hulk.

RedManBad.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 03:19 PM (GBKbO)

189 With a precious few exceptions, the only superhero movies I've even glanced at is via Pitch Meeting. Ryan's takes are far more entertaining than the actual films.
Posted by: Pug Mahon at May 01, 2025 02:55 PM (PSEDc)

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

Same. I'd add in The Critical Drinker and Space Ice as well.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at May 01, 2025 03:20 PM (2UnvF)

190 *He was around for a few months at the end of WW2 and then was lost in ice. There was not TIME for him to be remembered and beloved.*

Well, we was certainly beloved at the end of WW2, according to First Avenger. So, if you put him back then, hiding out with his sweetie, he would need a disguise. Thus, vaguely Steve-ish new actor. Also, it looks like they’re playing up his fame still, I saw a trailer for a new Hawkeye series, and they’re showing a Cap broadway show in the background.

Posted by: Hawkpilot at May 01, 2025 03:20 PM (YLdqf)

191
They wouldn't know how to set James Bond in the 60's, where he belongs. They wouldn't know how to make a movie without internet, cellphones, and other plot crutches.

Posted by: Soothsayer at May 01, 2025 03:20 PM (qKvR9)

192 As Marvel has moved farther from the source material, this has eliminated this part of the viewing experience from fans.

And they started to focus on very obscure, minor, and not favorite characters. Instead of Thor you got Ms Marvel. Instead of Captain America, you got Ghost. The entire focus shifted from established, beloved heroes to unliked or unknown characters.

James Gunn made that work with Guardians of the Galaxy because he's really good at that kind of thing: making a large cast interesting and entertaining, even if its not a very good movie overall. But they thought they could do that with ANYTHING, so we get absolutely woeful crap like Eternals (which even the most devoted Marvel Comics fans are a bit unclear on), and super side nobody characters like US Agent.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 03:21 PM (2VST1)

193 171 It struck me a couple days ago that they could continue the Steve Rogers story line, in a cool 1950’s to 1960’s setting. Period settings and cars, living with his sweetheart.

One of the least effective parts of the movies was trying to pretend that Captain America was this beloved figure that everyone was awed by and adored. He was around for a few months at the end of WW2 and then was lost in ice. There was not TIME for him to be remembered and beloved.

There was one scene that was proper in Avengers: the cop going "who the hell are you and why should we listen?" The rest of the time everyone is in awe of Cap. He hadn't earned it by that point.

Its like the grand love story for all time between Scarlet Witch and Vision, all of which happened... off camera between movies.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 03:12 PM (2VST1)

Err, you do remember all the stuff he did in promoting the war in the first movie, right? It was one of the bigger plot points....

Posted by: Farquad at May 01, 2025 03:21 PM (bwvMs)

194 Those idiot producers had characters travelling thousands of miles by boat in minutes. They had crows flying thousands of miles to deliver messages...in minutes

I have not seen the show because I thought the book was not very good, but from what I understand the distances and times were more plausible early on and it was at the end of the show that suddenly everything was just around the corner

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 03:22 PM (2VST1)

195 If the white man never went to Africa where would have been able to sell each other into slavery?

To give a serious answer, they sold more slaves to the Muslims then they did to the Europeans.

But the Muslims generally castrated the male slaves so they didn't have long living black populations.

Posted by: 18-1 at May 01, 2025 03:23 PM (t0Rmr)

196 194 Those idiot producers had characters travelling thousands of miles by boat in minutes. They had crows flying thousands of miles to deliver messages...in minutes

I have not seen the show because I thought the book was not very good, but from what I understand the distances and times were more plausible early on and it was at the end of the show that suddenly everything was just around the corner
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 03:22 PM (2VST1)

======

Passage of time was never clear. Every cut could be weeks. I dunno.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 03:23 PM (GBKbO)

197 Err, you do remember all the stuff he did in promoting the war in the first movie, right? It was one of the bigger plot points

Sure. So did a lot of 40's celebrities. You remember them? Do you know them and can you name them? If Will Rogers was thawed out of ice, who'd even know his name now??

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 03:23 PM (2VST1)

198 I’m not a comic book movie fan but I did really like the first Iron Man and the first two Guardians of the Galaxy. I think they appealed to both the fans and non-fans . That’s the formula they need .

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at May 01, 2025 03:24 PM (VofaG)

199 163 A non-trivial number of people seem to think Wakanda is a real place.

it's what Africa would be if white people never went there

Posted by: ESPN at May 01, 2025 03:06 PM

You got it exactly backwards. Wakanda is what Africa would have been if it was populated by Europeans.

Posted by: Tom Servo at May 01, 2025 03:25 PM (uWKK8)

200 Cap being a huge hero and beloved worked in the comics because it was like fifteen years between him being frozen and him being found by the Avengers. He'd spent years in the war, fighting Nazis and working in the USA to fight saboteurs and fifth columnists. The guys who remembered Captain America in the war were guys who had fought in the war.

Shifting Cap to 2011 means the time shift is huge now, its nearly 70 years. The guys who fought with Cap are dead or in retirement homes. Their KIDS are retired.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 03:26 PM (2VST1)

201 Putting Superman in the injustice scenario to begin with is a betrayal of the character, and at odds with the inherent nature of the character. If a Superman story does not work for all ages, then it is by definition *not* a good Superman story. Superman being tricked into killing his pregnant wife is the worst kind of garbage that betrays the very nature of the character. This kind of nonsense is written for adults ashamed that they are still reading comics and desperately wanting it to be “adult”.

Posted by: Open Channel D at May 01, 2025 03:26 PM (tgTrV)

202 If this is an auditorium television thread, I got through OtherLife earlier this week. It's an attempt to draw out those DS9 (or TNG) episode where the baddies lock some criminal into a prison OF HIS MIND. DS9 probably did this best with Miles O'Brien.

Posted by: gKWVE at May 01, 2025 03:26 PM (gKWVE)

203 The next time you are around non-horde people ask them to name a WWII hero or leader. I suspect you'll get a few Eisenhowers and that's it.

Even if Capt America was very popular in 1945 most people in modern 2025 wouldn't know about him because he'd be one of those old white people that the schools don't want to teach about anymore...

Posted by: 18-1 at May 01, 2025 03:26 PM (t0Rmr)

204 Will Rogers was thawed out of ice, who'd even know his name now??*

Exactly. I’m not talking about now. I’m saying you could continue the series, with Steve Rogers, after he jumped back in time. He was famous then.

Posted by: Hawkpilot at May 01, 2025 03:26 PM (YLdqf)

205 Waltz will be perfect at the UN. He is loyal to Trump.

Posted by: runner at May 01, 2025 03:27 PM (g47mK)

206 183
Game of Thrones is a GREAT illustration of modern hollywood punks not being able to deal with pre-cellphone/pre-jet plane circumstances.

Those idiot producers had characters travelling thousands of miles by boat in minutes. They had crows flying thousands of miles to deliver messages...in minutes
Posted by: Soothsayer Trebek at May 01, 2025 03:18 PM (qKvR9)

Star Trek TOS had subspace messages going back and forth across the galaxy practically instantaneously. Come to think of it, all the Treks did.

Posted by: Darrell Harris at May 01, 2025 03:27 PM (dvjAC)

207 I haven’t seen all the comic book movies but Suicide Squad has to be at the top of the list as one of the worst.

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at May 01, 2025 03:27 PM (VofaG)

208
Look at these star-fucking losers thinking that Florence Pugh is a box office draw.

Because she's willing to do nude and topless scenes. And everyone knows that nerdy comicbook fans have never seen boobs or a vajayjay.

But judging by Oppenheimer, she's doughy and has underwhelming ta-tas.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at May 01, 2025 03:28 PM (y9nCu)

209 197 Err, you do remember all the stuff he did in promoting the war in the first movie, right? It was one of the bigger plot points

Sure. So did a lot of 40's celebrities. You remember them? Do you know them and can you name them? If Will Rogers was thawed out of ice, who'd even know his name now??

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 03:23 PM (2VST1)

How many of them were war heroes? And there was the story of his sacrifice and all of that. They built an entire mythology around him. And then he's thawed out decades later. An interesting take would be how he deals with the hero worship (like with Agent Coulson). He was sick and tired of the war promotion in the first movie and had to beg Howard Stark to smuggle him back to Europe IIRC.

Posted by: Farquad at May 01, 2025 03:28 PM (bwvMs)

210 206 Star Trek TOS had subspace messages going back and forth across the galaxy practically instantaneously. Come to think of it, all the Treks did.
Posted by: Darrell Harris at May 01, 2025 03:27 PM (dvjAC)

=======

I like it better when it's called the Ansible.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 03:28 PM (GBKbO)

211 You want people to research a subject?! They don’t know how! The old ways of taking 3’ x 5’ cards and taking notes on them from documented sources, and _paraphrasing_ the ideas in your own words is, apparently, no longer taught. That’s why they are always plagiarizing. They look up the references digitally then copy without restating ideas in their own words (that’s crucial - that makes sure you know the ideas, but use your own words), then they just pluck the copied bit, with or without citation, with or without understanding, into their presentation that they pass off as their own thoughts on the subject. Instant plagiarism! I saw it a lot in my latter years as a teacher.

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at May 01, 2025 03:28 PM (jHien)

212 You got it exactly backwards. Wakanda is what Africa would have been if it was populated by Europeans.

During the Cold War, South Africa was an important country - the most important one in Africa. They probably even had nukes.

Since the rise of the ANC they've become just another African shithole country.

Posted by: 18-1 at May 01, 2025 03:28 PM (t0Rmr)

213 The White House Launches Familiar Looking Website for 'Trusted News Sites and Resources'

We've been wanting something like this.

townhall.com/ tipsheet/ leahbarkoukis/ 2025/05/01/ the-white-house- wire- n2656378
that's the source

here's a link:
https://tinyurl.com/bdzeja53

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 01, 2025 03:28 PM (0duCh)

214

lol, anyone remember this when you were a kid watching Superman?

The walls are closing in. Superman is weakened by kryptonite. So to save Lois & Jimmy, Superman...well, Superman does the unthinkable to Lois:

https://is.gd/dsnqP5

Posted by: Soothsayer at May 01, 2025 03:28 PM (qKvR9)

215 I find it interesting the news went around before any formal anything was made and the internal staff did not know. Now they can scoop up more leakers!

Posted by: runner at May 01, 2025 03:29 PM (g47mK)

216 I probably won't be voting for Pedro.

Posted by: tcn in AK at May 01, 2025 03:29 PM (a4NoL)

217 Exactly. I’m not talking about now. I’m saying you could continue the series, with Steve Rogers, after he jumped back in time. He was famous then.

That whole thing makes my brain hurt. Were there two captain Americas around at the same time? One of them just utterly ignoring all the horrendous stuff happening in the world while he danced with the girl he barely knew?

Yeah, having him active behind the scenes (maybe as Nomad, although that concept sucked) would work better.

But he shouldn't have aged like that. The super soldier serum slows aging, too.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 03:29 PM (2VST1)

218
Star Trek TOS had subspace messages going back and forth across the galaxy practically instantaneously. Come to think of it, all the Treks did.
Posted by: Darrell Harris

Only when it was absolutely necessary!

Posted by: Soothsayer at May 01, 2025 03:30 PM (qKvR9)

219 Since the rise of the ANC they've become just another African shithole country.
Posted by: 18-1 at May 01, 2025 03:28 PM (t0Rmr)

The problem with Africa is that it is full of Africans. The smart ones moved to the West.

Posted by: tcn in AK at May 01, 2025 03:30 PM (a4NoL)

220
I also loved how Star Wars' "transporters" had unlimited range.

Posted by: Soothsayer at May 01, 2025 03:31 PM (qKvR9)

221 LOL, Polygon got sold and πολύς employees are gon

Posted by: gKWVE at May 01, 2025 03:31 PM (gKWVE)

222
In fact, I can't think of any time when "range" of the transporter was an issue. Maybe once.

Posted by: Soothsayer at May 01, 2025 03:31 PM (qKvR9)

223 I also loved how Star Wars' "transporters" had unlimited range.

The range and ability of the tech depended tremendously on the needs of the plot.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 03:32 PM (2VST1)

224 Didn't they "invent" transporters to save money on shuttle sets?

Posted by: 18-1 at May 01, 2025 03:32 PM (t0Rmr)

225 TOS, at least at the beginning, had much more of a premise that the distances were so vast that the drama would come from the decisions the captain would have to make, as there would not be time to communicate with superiors and ask for instructions.

Posted by: Open Channel D at May 01, 2025 03:32 PM (tgTrV)

226 224 Didn't they "invent" transporters to save money on shuttle sets?
Posted by: 18-1 at May 01, 2025 03:32 PM (t0Rmr)

=======

Yes.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, smashy-smashy with Godzilla at May 01, 2025 03:32 PM (GBKbO)

227 By the way, the White House has a Drudge-style news aggregator now heh "The White House Wire"

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 03:32 PM (2VST1)

228 A non-trivial number of people seem to think Wakanda is a real place.
---
The Breakfast Klub in Houston, fantastic chicken and waffles.
Entire outside painted with a Wakanda mural.
I don't know what to think of that, if serious or aspirational, both lead to sad conclusions

I can't think of a whitey equivalant.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at May 01, 2025 03:33 PM (NwfFc)

229 >>>South Africa was an important country - the most important one in Africa. They probably even had nukes.

The did have nukes. Only nuclear power to give them up. They didn't like the though of them being used to settle tribal disagreements and personal blood feuds once they turned the government over.

Posted by: brak at May 01, 2025 03:33 PM (jGJov)

230 If Will Rogers was thawed out of ice, who'd even know his name now??
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 01, 2025 03:23 PM (2VST1)

There is an airport named after him in Alaska. So, somebody would.

Posted by: tcn in AK at May 01, 2025 03:33 PM (a4NoL)

231 @216

>>I probably won't be voting for Pedro.

If you don't, Tina won't get and ham and La Fawnda will get deported, and that will make Uncle Rico sad.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at May 01, 2025 03:33 PM (XV/Pl)

232 The Breakfast Klub in Houston, fantastic chicken and waffles.
Entire outside painted with a Wakanda mural.
I don't know what to think of that, if serious or aspirational, both lead to sad conclusions

they painted over the giant Obama mural? that's what it was for years -- funny that repalced it

Posted by: brak at May 01, 2025 03:33 PM (jGJov)

233 NOOD Trash

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at May 01, 2025 03:33 PM (VNX3d)

234 Only nuclear power to give them up.
-----------
The Ukes gave their nukes up, too.

Posted by: Pudinhead at May 01, 2025 03:34 PM (pZ64F)

235 Yes wakanda apparently has the xhosa language

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at May 01, 2025 03:34 PM (bXbFr)

236 The Ukes gave their nukes up, too.

well they were the Soviets nukes but yeah, good point

Posted by: brak at May 01, 2025 03:35 PM (jGJov)

237 The whitey equivalent to Wakanda is probably Atlantis. Maybe Thule. Definitely all that British tribe-of-Israel we wuz.
Little of that is taken seriously today.

Posted by: gKWVE at May 01, 2025 03:35 PM (gKWVE)

238 Two things about writers, especially screenplay writers: their characters' intelligence is limited by their own intelligence and they can only write what they know. Our schools are churning out ignorant nitwits who only know the things within their own experience, and have replaced the old school writers over the past 10 years, so we get the crap that we get now, for the "modern audience".

Posted by: Farquad at May 01, 2025 03:36 PM (bwvMs)

239 138 A non-trivial number of people seem to think Wakanda is a real place.
Posted by: 18-1

Hey, if it's not real then where's all the world's supply of Vibranium come from?

Posted by: Auspex at May 01, 2025 03:37 PM (j4U/Z)

240 The Ukes gave their nukes up, too.
Posted by: Pudinhead at May 01, 2025 03:34 PM (pZ64F)

hard to give up that which you never owned

Posted by: runner at May 01, 2025 03:37 PM (g47mK)

241 "When people watch television from the 1990's over watching movies from 2020's, Hollywood is in some deep shit."- Jukin

Well Hollywood is in deep shit then. I would rather watch an older movie than most of anything Hollywood puts out anymore. Their movies suck and their remakes suck even worse. All this pc crap has ruined movies. I don't want to be preached at by lefty assholes issues. I just want to be entertained. That is what they are supposed to do. I mean you really have to search to find a good movie anymore.

Posted by: Case at May 01, 2025 03:37 PM (OrSPY)

242 Asgard was the converse

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at May 01, 2025 03:39 PM (bXbFr)

243 We have nukes all over Europe - UK, Germany, Italy, France, Turkey, the Netherlands, Greece, and Belgium. Do they "own" the nukes or does the US. I think the US.

Posted by: runner at May 01, 2025 03:39 PM (g47mK)

244 Would be wild if Belgium split in half and the Walloons appropriated the nukes.

Posted by: runner at May 01, 2025 03:40 PM (g47mK)

245 When did belgium get nukes

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at May 01, 2025 03:41 PM (bXbFr)

246 Only nuclear power to give them up…

Ukraine had nukes and gave them up on the promise the US would defend them. Sounds like some other treaties the US made, with the various tribes…

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at May 01, 2025 03:48 PM (jHien)

247 Britain developed its own atom bomb concurrently with the US. It was originally meant for Berlin, but that was obviated by conventional warfare. If we had not been able to develop the B-29 Superfortress to deliver the bomb to Japan, Britain was standing by with the Avro Lancaster, the only other plane that could have done the job.

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at May 01, 2025 03:53 PM (jHien)

248 We are living in a world where entire political parties operate as criminal organizations and there is a global cabal of ultrarich openly subverting entire nations.

Any "political thriller", especially of the the superhero variety, can't compete. And if they rip the story from the headlines invariably the movie falls short.

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at May 01, 2025 03:53 PM (Wzq2W)

249 Expert on island capsizing and congresscritter Hank Johnson searches for the exact metaphor.

Daily Caller@DailyCaller
Democrat Rep. Hank Johnson: “I’m not a Latino at the Home Depot”

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Soldier of the Persistence at May 01, 2025 04:00 PM (L/fGl)

250 The Captain Marvel box office depended on a hoax, in that the ending of 'Infinity War' lead the audience to believe that the character would contribute something important to the continuity. Instead she was little more than a missile to take out large spaceships and dogpile on a severely weakened Thanos, who was replaced by the climax with a younger uninjured Thanos. There was little for the audience to engage, as she was the least engaging character in her own eponymous movie. With a name that made no sense since the Kree Mar-Vell she had respected and wanted to emulate never existed in the MCU.

Posted by: Epobirs at May 01, 2025 04:25 PM (/0z9K)

251 #134

The Joker was leaving a trail of bodies in his very first appearance. The coolest one was the guy publicly threatened, in his home under police protection. The phone rings, a voice shouts "JOKER!", and he keels over dead. The phone receiver had been rigged before the threat was made with a poisoned dart that was pushed into the victim's ear by sheer volume of the shout.

As for mass murder, that really didn't happen a lot until Frank Miller had the supposedly rehabilitated Joker kill the entire audience of a David Letterman-esque late night talk show. Depictions of the Joker changed after that.

Posted by: Epobirs at May 01, 2025 04:44 PM (/0z9K)

252 They beat the big bad guy with the power of love.

You know..
the power of love, it's a curious thing. It makes one man weak; it makes another man sing. It can change a hawk to a little white dove. Why are you still reading? Go download this awesome, timeless hit by Huey Lewis and the News!

Posted by: Nelly at May 01, 2025 04:53 PM (pSknm)

253 I, Samuel Sterns, WHO MEN CALL LEADER! has been a Hulk regular for decades. He's at the very end of the Ed Norton movie, his head expanding. Leader is his supervillain name.

Posted by: hurricane567 at May 01, 2025 04:58 PM (Qxzn5)

254 "Look at these star-fucking losers thinking that Florence Pugh is a box office draw."

I think she is ok in a character actor or secondary role, or maybe in some period dramas, where an English accent helps. Her looks are those that would fit in as pretty normal as opposed to bombshell. But most of her movies, where she is a lead, are not very good.

Posted by: Evi L. Bloggerlady at May 01, 2025 05:50 PM (8yM+6)

255 "Britain developed its own atom bomb concurrently with the US. It was originally meant for Berlin, but that was obviated by conventional warfare. If we had not been able to develop the B-29 Superfortress to deliver the bomb to Japan, Britain was standing by with the Avro Lancaster, the only other plane that could have done the job."

Britain obtained nuclear weapons in 1952.

Posted by: Evi L. Bloggerlady at May 01, 2025 05:52 PM (8yM+6)

256 Disney's been losing Money over load of Box Office Flops like Strange World and Elementals and Thunderbolts wont make it any better plus remakes of their Animal Classics to

Posted by: Spurwing Plover at May 01, 2025 06:02 PM (FLiOE)

Processing 0.05, elapsed 0.0546 seconds.
15 queries taking 0.0152 seconds, 265 records returned.
Page size 164 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.