Of Course: The 12 Left-Wing AGs Settle with Paramount/Skydance, Allowing the Merger, But Only With "Guardrails for CNN"

So this many-million-dollar lawsuit was all about keeping CNN a hard-left propaganda outlet.

Note that four of the left-wing AGs are dropping out of the communist coalition to demand further concessions, so I can't say this deal is actually struck quite yet.

Done! Paramount Settles Antitrust Suit, Set To Seal Deal For Warner Bros. Discovery

UPDATED WITH MORE DETAILS: Paramount has settled an antitrust lawsuit brought by a dozen state attorneys general led by California's Rob Bonta, the last obstacle to closing its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Deadline has confirmed.
Specifics are still scant but will come when the deal is formally announced later this morning. There will be concessions. Deadline hears that Paramount has agreed to some CNN guardrails, financial penalties linked to CEO David Ellison's 30 movies a year commitment, and some sort of separation of the studios for a period.

They mean they want Warner Bros. to remain separated from Paramount/Skydance for a period, which I heard was two years. Usually mergers involve reducing corporate staff by combining the old staff and firing the now-redundant staffers. So this is a move to keep those jobs for a period.

Terms of the deal are said to include an investment of $1.5 billion for home-grown film production and protecting and creating jobs, along with requirements for additional domestic production if the federal government approves tax incentives. The settlement also provides for a $47.5 million workforce development fund and obligation to honor existing collective bargaining agreements.

By promising to create "domestic" or "home grown" jobs, do they mean just in California, or the United States? I assume the latter, but I'm not sure.

News of settlement talks began trickling out on Friday but four of the AGs in the group were subsequently described as holding out for more concessions from Paramount. The attorneys general of New York, Connecticut, Minnesota [Keith Ellison] and Nevada came around late Sunday, sources tell Deadline, after assurances from California's Bonta that he would hold Paramount's "feet to the fire" to ensure the company stuck to its commitments. He had said previously he preferred structural remedies like asset sales to resolve antitrust issues, rather than behavioral remedies, which require monitoring.
...
"It's jobs, job, jobs, that's what this all about," a source close to power players in Sacramento told Deadline.
Of course, with $6 billion in cost savings promised to investors, expectations remain for significant layoffs, though those details will become more clear in the coming days and weeks.
Paramount shares rose 9% on the news. WBD gained 10%, trading at about $30.50. The deal calls for Paramount to take out Warner stockholders for $31 a share.

We don't know yet what "guardrails for CNN" have been agreed to. What I would guess is that Paramount/Skydance agreed to keep current CNN management on for some period. Maybe 3-5 years or something. It obviously can't be forever.

Update: So now we know -- Paramount/Skydance agreed to appoint a board of liberals to monitor the management of both CNN and CBS.

To keep out "bias."

Boy oh boy, wouldn't want any bias creeping in to CNN or CBS!

More on the Jake Tapper Permanent Employment Treaty:

Under the agreement, Bonta announced that Paramount is legally required to distribute at least 30 movies in theaters annually and will face a financial penalty if it fails to do so.
The company also committed to spending an additional $1.5 billion on film production over the next five years, with a guaranteed increase in the proportion of movies produced within the U.S., specifically benefiting Hollywood, according to Bonta.

Wait, so is the deal to produce "home grown" jobs in the US or in the Hollywood area? That seems to claim both or either.

Additionally, Paramount agreed to establish an independent board of journalists to oversee the newsrooms of CNN and CBS News to preserve editorial integrity and prevent consolidated corporate bias, Bonta said.

Independent journalists may include Dan Rather, John Harwood, Jim Sciutto, and Don Lemon. I'm making that up but I'm sure that's who the left has in mind.

Oh, and why not add Tater to the board, too!

.@brianstelter on AG Bonta's presser and Paramount's response

9.21.26 pic.twitter.com/LXUQH8lK3i
— Jeff Storobinsky (@JeffStorobinsky) September 21, 2026

Now that we've set the precedent that the government can sue media companies to end bias, when does Trump's AG Kash Patel put this new power into action?

December, 2020. Jake Tapper says that during Trump's first term, he refused to have some of Trump's people on his show because they lied too much. Tapper said that he couldn't put lies on air. 😂

Tapper claimed that Kayleigh McEnany lies like most people breathe and that she… pic.twitter.com/3Yn64GuisJ
— MAZE (@mazemoore) September 21, 2026

The deranged partisan freaks like Mark Ruffalo demand that the deal be scuttled.

The primary group mobilizing opposition to the Paramount--Warner Bros. Discovery merger condemned the state attorneys general settlement of their antitrust lawsuit to block the transaction.
Just minutes before California Attorney General Rob Bonta was to appear at a press conference to announce the details of the settlement, the Block the Merger Coalition put out a statement calling the proposed resolution "a bad deal for the future of film, entertainment, independent journalism, and a strong democracy in this country."
"We are disappointed and angry that the interests of average Americans have been trampled to benefit oligarch billionaires," the group said.

Who the f*** do they think own major movie studios? Do they think they're mom-and-pop shops?

No, of course not, this is all stupid communist agit-prop.

In addition to demonstrations and online campaigns, the coalition helped organize an open letter of industry professionals opposing the transaction, including JJ Abrams, Damon Lindelof, David Fincher and Denis Villeneuve.

The only person there I wouldn't want to boycott is David Fincher, but I'm sure I can live without him.

As for Denis Villeneuve -- I know everyone's supposed to say he's great but I think he's boring as hell. His idea of making something feel "important" is just to make it slow and film it in low-key, low-energy way.

I didn't like Dune or Dune 2. I might actually like the David Lynch version more, but that might be too spicy a hot-take for me to commit to.

...

Mark Ruffalo, a prominent opponent of the merger, weighed in on X earlier on Monday. "Gavin Newsom hands huge win to Trump and his billionaire cronies," he wrote, referring to the governor's involvement in reaching a settlement.

In some Hollywood: Shit or Garbage? material: the Resident Evil movie is supposedly the first good Resident Evil movie. What I've heard critics say is that it's not based on any of the actual characters from the game -- it has its own original characters -- but it is based on the scenarios of the game, including puzzle-like levels, I mean movie scenes, the main character has to figure his way through.

In other words, the world of Resident Evil is fairly well adapted, while it doesn't include any of the characters featured in the game.

Which is an interesting way of being both very faithful to the material while also ignoring much of the material.

Multiple reviews say, however, that it ends abruptly and that the climax is rushed.

It's directed by the guy who did Weapons so I'm inclined to think it's pretty good. I dunno. I'll wait for it to be on TV.

Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 03:40 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Open channel d

Posted by: Open Channel D at September 21, 2026 03:40 PM (LuSSV)

2 e546buh35e j35

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at September 21, 2026 03:41 PM (mmrXZ)

3 Reading the content!

Posted by: 13times at September 21, 2026 03:42 PM (6iKlf)

4 Even if the merger goes through, the company will face lawfare from the communists in perpetuity.

Posted by: Open Channel D at September 21, 2026 03:43 PM (LuSSV)

5 Mark Ruffalo, a prominent opponent of the merger, weighed in on X earlier on Monday. "Gavin Newsom hands huge win to Trump and his billionaire cronies," he wrote, referring to the governor's involvement in reaching a settlement.

=======

1. Any time Mark Ruffalo loses at something, an angel gets its wings.

2. This is a lesson to Ruffalo that the Democrat party will always betray him, and he must leave it and back a third party challenge from the left exclusively. No Democrat is a friend. They are friendly betrayers, at best.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 03:43 PM (SvJcA)

6 Corgis called

Posted by: rickb223 at September 21, 2026 03:43 PM (hGTKn)

7 Which is an interesting way of being both very faithful to the material while also ignoring much of the material.

=======

I've been wondering about video game adaptations into movies.

Are some of the worst of them...the best adaptations?

Like...Super Mario Galaxy...is not a good movie. But it represents the video game experience rather well.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 03:44 PM (SvJcA)

8 Shouldn't take this deal and move out of CA... Would be much better

Posted by: It's me donna at September 21, 2026 03:44 PM (+gK6I)

9
assurances from California's Bonta that he would hold Paramount's "feet to the fire" to ensure the company stuck to its commitments.

================

So, California is going to sue Ellison every time he takes a breath.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at September 21, 2026 03:44 PM (mmrXZ)

10 "Additionally, Paramount agreed to establish an independent board of journalists to oversee the newsrooms of CNN and CBS News to preserve editorial integrity and prevent consolidated corporate bias, Bonta said. "

LOL, an "independent" board of journalists, who do they think they are kidding?

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at September 21, 2026 03:45 PM (I43vL)

11 9
assurances from California's Bonta that he would hold Paramount's "feet to the fire" to ensure the company stuck to its commitments.

================

So, California is going to sue Ellison every time he takes a breath.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at September 21, 2026 03:44 PM (mmrXZ)

=========

Ellison will complete the merger and then move Paramount/WB out of California anyway.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 03:45 PM (SvJcA)

12 This deal literally is text book Fascism.

Posted by: Community Notes at September 21, 2026 03:45 PM (/TiS1)

13 Additionally, Paramount agreed to establish an independent board of journalists to oversee the newsrooms of CNN and CBS News to preserve editorial integrity and prevent consolidated corporate bias, Bonta said.
________

Where's the Disney/ABC board for this?

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at September 21, 2026 03:45 PM (XvL8K)

14
None dare call it Fascism.

Posted by: Auspex at September 21, 2026 03:45 PM (Y8DZL)

15 How is it legal that they force concessions for an approved transaction?

Posted by: steevy at September 21, 2026 03:45 PM (YwEeS)

16 2. This is a lesson to Ruffalo that the Democrat party will always betray him, and he must leave it and back a third party challenge from the left exclusively. No Democrat is a friend. They are friendly betrayers, at best.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 03:43 PM (SvJcA)
-----

Like every other Democrat, when faced with being shanked in the kidney by one of his allies, Ruffalo will say "Thank you sir! May I have another?" and continue being a retard.

Posted by: ballistic at September 21, 2026 03:46 PM (5aZAZ)

17 Did it ever occur to Tapper that this administration doesn’t lie, but what he thinks is true just isn’t?

Posted by: Piper at September 21, 2026 03:46 PM (ZdaMQ)

18 Paramount agreed to establish an independent board of journalists to oversee the newsrooms of CNN and CBS News to preserve editorial integrity and prevent consolidated corporate bias, Bonta said.

So, neo-marxist politruk. Such democracy, very freedom. Wow.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at September 21, 2026 03:46 PM (HeG1i)

19
I found out who Denis Villeneuve was when I watched something called "Prisoners" on YouTube, and I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT. It was so bad I decided to look up this Denis Villeneuve. I had no idea he was a thing, but I shouldn't be shocked.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at September 21, 2026 03:46 PM (mmrXZ)

20 "We are disappointed and angry that the interests of average Americans have been trampled to benefit oligarch billionaires,"

FYI, "oligarch" means "hung like a race horse"

Posted by: Oglebay at September 21, 2026 03:46 PM (2ap+5)

21 I would rather they moved out of California but I get the feeling the Ellisons want to save Hollywood rather than create their own new infrastructure.

Posted by: Open Channel D at September 21, 2026 03:46 PM (LuSSV)

22 Willowed but Brad Pitt's new movie Heart of the Beast released this week. Should be a blockbuster. A man and his dog can't lose.

It's a Paramount movie.

Posted by: polynikes at September 21, 2026 03:47 PM (KC5Lt)

23 16 Like every other Democrat, when faced with being shanked in the kidney by one of his allies, Ruffalo will say "Thank you sir! May I have another?" and continue being a retard.

Posted by: ballistic at September 21, 2026 03:46 PM (5aZAZ)

=======

It's true.

Ruffalo is retarded and will not learn the lesson.

But he still should learn it.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 03:47 PM (SvJcA)

24
Yeah, I'm also curious about that "domestic" requirement. When did Ellison ever threaten to go overseas?

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at September 21, 2026 03:47 PM (mmrXZ)

25 21 I would rather they moved out of California but I get the feeling the Ellisons want to save Hollywood rather than create their own new infrastructure.
Posted by: Open Channel D at September 21, 2026 03:46 PM (LuSSV)

It's dead Jim....

Posted by: It's me donna at September 21, 2026 03:47 PM (+gK6I)

26 24
Yeah, I'm also curious about that "domestic" requirement. When did Ellison ever threaten to go overseas?

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at September 21, 2026 03:47 PM (mmrXZ)

=======

Tennessee is practically a foreign nation to the third-world California.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 03:47 PM (SvJcA)

27 FIRST!!!!!

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at September 21, 2026 03:48 PM (ccf/V)

28 Heh....maintaining their leftwing cred while getting booted from the White House for being a leftwing shithole 'news' network.

Priceless.........

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at September 21, 2026 03:48 PM (ccf/V)

29 Buffalo should just be thankful for the pity fuck Marvel gave him in the latest Spider-Man movie.

Posted by: Open Channel D at September 21, 2026 03:48 PM (LuSSV)

30
Paramount agreed to establish an independent board of journalists to oversee the newsrooms of CNN and CBS News to preserve editorial integrity and prevent consolidated corporate bias, Bonta said.

================

I can see this going either way.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at September 21, 2026 03:49 PM (mmrXZ)

31 So I guess this isn't "fascism" when government tells business if and when it can conduct business and how.

Some settlement. Capitulation is more like it.

But... the shareholders will approve it if they think they'll make a buck or two. So it's all hunky-dory

Posted by: OneEyedJack at September 21, 2026 03:49 PM (zafwz)

32 So Bonta is demanding Leni Riefenstahl produce 30 movies for the Reich every year or face penalties.

Didn't we used to call that 'fascism'? Or is it not that when they do it?

Posted by: AZ Hi Desert (Gringo fuertemente armado-Tempus belli) at September 21, 2026 03:50 PM (jkdU5)

33 CNN is still on the air? Who knew. Who watches that drek?

Posted by: Drying Paint at September 21, 2026 03:50 PM (6VpiA)

34 Is "independent oversite" enforceable? Seems that's a 1-A violation out of the gate.
As others smarter than me have no doubt pointed out, this reads more like a fig leaf for the various states.

Posted by: nooneyouknowyouknow at September 21, 2026 03:50 PM (Iwv3U)

35 Mark Ruffalo, a prominent opponent of the merger, weighed in on X earlier on Monday. "Gavin Newsom hands huge win to Trump and his billionaire cronies," he wrote, referring to the governor's involvement in reaching a settlement.

Why on earth does Mark Ruffalo warrant coverage of his opinions? It's like asking "But what does PeeWee Herman think?" about quantum electrodynamics.

Posted by: Archimedes at September 21, 2026 03:50 PM (Riz8t)

36
In addition to demonstrations and online campaigns, the coalition helped organize an open letter of industry professionals opposing the transaction, including JJ Abrams, Damon Lindelof, David Fincher and Denis Villeneuve.

THOSE guys are FAGS!!!

Posted by: Jeff Spicoli at September 21, 2026 03:50 PM (ccf/V)

37 I've not paid attention so Paramount is not moving now?

Posted by: polynikes at September 21, 2026 03:51 PM (KC5Lt)

38 >>>As for Denis Villeneuve -- I know everyone's supposed to say he's great but I think he's boring as hell.

I largely agree, but Sicario is very much an exception. An excellent film, well developed, believable characters and a plot that moves along at a quick pace.

Posted by: Anon Y. Mous at September 21, 2026 03:51 PM (syz1S)

39
>>Terms of the deal are said to include an investment of $1.5 billion for home-grown film production and protecting and creating jobs

=================

Be hilarious if a big chunk of that money went to AI production. In fact, I'm sure a big chunk will.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at September 21, 2026 03:51 PM (mmrXZ)

40 So, Tater's not going into cold storage?

Posted by: Ida-Ho at September 21, 2026 03:51 PM (Fn+3X)

41 I can't imagine how, but I want to believe that the Trump DOJ will step in to scuttle this deal as it fails to benefit the public as a whole.
Like, the actual public interest requirement of anti-trust litigation.

Or, to put it another way, keep this tied up in litigation past the October deadline--forcing Paramount to exit CA.

But for real, how can this be legal?

They file suit on almost no legitimate legal theory and extort out a "settlement" that solely benefits just one of the states that sued--and not the general public of the whole United States?

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at September 21, 2026 03:51 PM (3cUTc)

42 So, Tater's not going into cold storage?
==
Don't tell me he has started to sprout "eyes". Yikes.

Posted by: That nasty at September 21, 2026 03:52 PM (anL5R)

43 I’m not surprised Lindelof is opposed to this—I doubt the Ellisons let him continue to rape the character of Green Lantern like he has been doing in the execrable Lanterns show.

Posted by: Open Channel D at September 21, 2026 03:53 PM (LuSSV)

44 Paramount agreed to establish an independent board of journalists to oversee the newsrooms of CNN and CBS News to preserve editorial integrity and prevent consolidated corporate bias, Bonta said.

================

I can see this going either way.

Define "journalist".

Posted by: Archimedes at September 21, 2026 03:53 PM (Riz8t)

45 I can see this going either way.

Independent journalists board: James O'Keefe and Nick Shirley. Done and done.

Posted by: Ian S. at September 21, 2026 03:53 PM (2ocoG)

46
so Paramount is not moving now?
Posted by: polynikes

=================

Seems like that's not in the compromise. The legal conflict and accompanying threats were all about the takeover. That's been settled, but is anyone seeing anything about staying in California?

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at September 21, 2026 03:54 PM (mmrXZ)

47 CNN -

You can how much the left relies on their propaganda outlets that they go to these lengths to protect them.

They really are terrified that if they lose control of the MSM that the entire project will fall apart.

They fear this like Merz fears AfD.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 21, 2026 03:54 PM (6ydKt)

48 They file suit on almost no legitimate legal theory and extort out a "settlement" that solely benefits just one of the states that sued--and not the general public of the whole United States?
==
*confused attornies gen'l scratch heads*

But maintaining the status quo at CNN is in the entire country's best interests.

Posted by: Liberal Geniuses at September 21, 2026 03:54 PM (anL5R)

49 Yeah, I'm also curious about that "domestic" requirement. When did Ellison ever threaten to go overseas?

Like 90% of TV is filmed in either Vancouver or Toronto. Canada is technically a foreign country, even though it's mostly just Gay New York.

Posted by: Ian S. at September 21, 2026 03:55 PM (2ocoG)

50 garbage. deal needs to be rejected out of hand.

"They file suit on almost no legitimate legal theory and extort out a "settlement" that solely benefits just one of the states that sued--and not the general public of the whole United States?"

the story of commie lawfare in a nutshell. all that's missing is a "consent decree" and a fat check to the ngos.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at September 21, 2026 03:55 PM (VyBeY)

51 Who the hell does Ruffalo think is going to give him $12M (his reported salary for the last Spiderman movie) for a week or two of mo-cap work if not "oligarch billionaires?"

Posted by: Octochicken at September 21, 2026 03:55 PM (oCS0o)

52 Hollywood, L.A. at large and even West Hollywood and Beverly Hills is a dirty, graffitied, turd world kind of place. Demolition is the only solution.

Posted by: Cleansing Wildfire? at September 21, 2026 03:55 PM (Fn+3X)

53 Multiple reviews say, however, that it ends abruptly and that the climax is rushed.
_____

That's what she said.

Posted by: Too difficult to pass up at September 21, 2026 03:56 PM (Dv3i1)

54 48 *confused attornies gen'l scratch heads*

But maintaining the status quo at CNN is in the entire country's best interests.

Posted by: Liberal Geniuses at September 21, 2026 03:54 PM (anL5R)

=======

The left thinks CNN is some powerhouse that moves the nation, it seems.

I suspect the network's influence is....much less than that, and the left is living a fantasy.

The Democrat Party nearly nuked the economy of a one of the major cities in the union to save a network most people ignore in airports.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 03:56 PM (SvJcA)

55 New Silent Hill game comes out on the 23rd.
Looks interesting.

But, for the first time in decades, a new Castlevania comes out on October 14.
Castlevainia: Belmont's Curse
2d metroidvainia style.
I will buy.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at September 21, 2026 03:56 PM (3cUTc)

56 51 Who the hell does Ruffalo think is going to give him $12M (his reported salary for the last Spiderman movie) for a week or two of mo-cap work if not "oligarch billionaires?"

Posted by: Octochicken at September 21, 2026 03:55 PM (oCS0o)

======

"I know I didn't really earn it, and it makes me feel really bad, but I won't give any of it away. So, to make myself feel better, I advocate for pure communisms instead."

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 03:57 PM (SvJcA)

57 Bonta thought it was a good idea to fight Paramount, now he's completely destroyed his reputation and any goodwill he had from those still supporting him🤣 Fucking idiot 🤣🤣

Bonta will never sleep again after his mess. Now we need some popcorn for a documentary based on Bonta’s life and his downfall. Would be a great paramount/warner bros movie.

He could have still been a God. It was possible for California to hold the line until the ticking fees kicked in.
But the Ellisons were too clever.

This capitulation proves that we cannot rely on the willingness of business minded politicians, red or blue, to protect our country. We must protect it ourselves.

BUT BUT BUT CONCESSIONS!!! Bro, even I thought Bonta would be able to leverage a extraction of SOME structural remedies.

He didn't even do that.

What a absolute self own and PROOF it was never about stopping the merger and only about getting his name out there.

This man will never become governor.

It was always about CNN and CBS. Bonta won

Glad state tax payers were able to fund this donkey show by the AGs so they got an editorial review committee - great use of tax dollars 🤦‍♂️

Posted by: Intercepted Reddit Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at September 21, 2026 03:57 PM (sMaFa)

58 Who the hell does Ruffalo think is going to give him $12M (his reported salary for the last Spiderman movie) for a week or two of mo-cap work if not "oligarch billionaires?"
==
I heard on the grapevine that his is really really stupid. Like almost not functional intelligence. He probably has no idea how much money he got paid, or how much was taken in taxes, or even where it is now.

Posted by: HWN at September 21, 2026 03:57 PM (anL5R)

59 This deal literally is text book Fascism.
Posted by: Community Notes at September 21, 2026 03:45 PM (/TiS1)

Sure but probably difficult to enforce once Paramount gets their freedom and is in a free state.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 03:57 PM (uhVAy)

60 v
55 New Silent Hill game comes out on the 23rd.
Looks interesting.

But, for the first time in decades, a new Castlevania comes out on October 14.
Castlevainia: Belmont's Curse
2d metroidvainia style.
I will buy.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at September 21, 2026 03:56 PM (3cUTc)

======

I really struggle with Metroivania as a genre.

I bought Hollow Knight and I've gotten a good way through it, but I just eventually hit a wall where I feel like there's no direction and I kind of lose interest.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 03:58 PM (SvJcA)

61 "We are disappointed and angry that the interests of average Americans have been trampled to benefit oligarch billionaires," the group said.
---
Fucking Hollywood doesn't even want to make movies that the average Americans will go and see. Instead they want to waste millions of dollars on "message movies".

Stop the bullshit.

Posted by: Axeman at September 21, 2026 03:58 PM (Fi81e)

62 But, is there a death watch for CNN yet?

Whatever else happens, I'd really like that particular shit show to die a horrible death with many, many unemployed.

*I just spent 3 hours mowing the property and my arthritis hates me, so I'm a bit pissed off*

Posted by: Martini Farmer at September 21, 2026 03:58 PM (2Cry5)

63 I’ve heard tater eyes are poisonous.

Posted by: Eromero at September 21, 2026 03:58 PM (LHPAg)

64 The left thinks CNN is some powerhouse that moves the nation, it seems.

I suspect the network's influence is....much less than that, and the left is living a fantasy.

The Democrat Party nearly nuked the economy of a one of the major cities in the union to save a network most people ignore in airports.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 03:56 PM (SvJcA)

its no longer shown in airports from what I understand.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 03:59 PM (uhVAy)

65 The official statement from Hollywood: "Waaaaaaaa!!!"

Posted by: Axeman at September 21, 2026 03:59 PM (Fi81e)

66 I find the review by Critical Drinker more entertaining than most movies he reviews.

Now, I usually don't see the movie anyway, but........

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at September 21, 2026 03:59 PM (ccf/V)

67 "this is all stupid communist agit-prop"

truest words ever said, and universally applicable besides!

or shorter version: "it's all an op"

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at September 21, 2026 03:59 PM (VyBeY)

68 or shorter version: "it's all an op"
Posted by: sock_rat_eez

But, is it gay?

Posted by: Admiral Ackbar at September 21, 2026 04:01 PM (sMaFa)

69
Mark Ruffalo, a prominent opponent of the merger, weighed in on X earlier on Monday. "Gavin Newsom hands huge win to Trump and his billionaire cronies," he wrote, referring to the governor's involvement in reaching a settlement.

I am always amused at how the rich is very, very
concerned with the megarich.

Lil Marky you are worth millions, why don't you give half of that to charity you hypocrite? No one needs a billion dollars? Ok, but also no one needs 16 million either. Pay up buttercup

Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:01 PM (sKqQm)

70 My big issue with the new Resident Evil movie is that if you're going to have it in the same universe but specifically not reference anything from the game...it better be pretty damn good or else you're not even going to have nostalgia or 'memberberries propping it up.

And from what I've seen and heard, this new RE movie is...meh. At least it's only 90min long.

Posted by: Thrawn at September 21, 2026 04:01 PM (oPFtC)

71 Anyone who didn't know Paramount was bluffing couldn't win a game of Go Fish.

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at September 21, 2026 04:01 PM (bX16E)

72 Probably a terrible deal for stockholders, but who cares? At least it will keep their sorry Hollyweird asses out of the Great State of Tennesse. Hooray!

Posted by: Martin Tell at September 21, 2026 04:01 PM (6yK+O)

73 I didn't like Dune or Dune 2. I might actually like the David Lynch version more, but that might be too spicy a hot-take for me to commit to.

It looks nice.
It seems like the story was told better, and more thoroughly, than the Lynch version. But it just seemed dull and subdued the entire time.
Maybe that was the acting or direction, but it’s not a movie I feel like I’d want to sit through more than once as opposed to something like LOTR which is rewatchable despite the length.

I still like the 80s version of Dune more and maybe that’s just nostalgia talking.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 21, 2026 04:01 PM (6ydKt)

74 69
I am always amused at how the rich is very, very
concerned with the megarich.

Lil Marky you are worth millions, why don't you give half of that to charity you hypocrite? No one needs a billion dollars? Ok, but also no one needs 16 million either. Pay up buttercup

Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:01 PM (sKqQm)

=======

He should give every penny and then rent out a house in Compton, giving his rental money to a poor, Hispanic mother who is barely keeping the mortgage afloat because of all the oligarchs stealing her money from her pocket every week.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 04:02 PM (SvJcA)

75 I heard on the grapevine that his is really really stupid. Like almost not functional intelligence. He probably has no idea how much money he got paid, or how much was taken in taxes, or even where it is now.
Posted by: HWN at September 21, 2026 03:57 PM (anL5R)

Hulk *dumbest* there is!

Posted by: Thrawn at September 21, 2026 04:02 PM (oPFtC)

76 I've noticed every recent show/movie I've gotten into is filmed somewhere outside of CA. Good going Newsom and co!

Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:02 PM (sKqQm)

77 What's to stop them from making low budget shit movies just to hit the 30 movie release requirement?

Posted by: Mark1971 at September 21, 2026 04:02 PM (/OKHJ)

78 See the Communist News Network is suing President Trump for doing what they wanted the Auto-Pen administration to do to Fox

Posted by: Skip at September 21, 2026 04:02 PM (Ia/+0)

79 So who gets their news from CNN or CBS?

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at September 21, 2026 04:02 PM (LWsa7)

80 Dune 1 was excellent and Dune 2 sucked donkey dick . Of course just IMO.

Posted by: polynikes at September 21, 2026 04:03 PM (KC5Lt)

81 I suspect within a few years most movies will just be AI scripts anyway.

You can make them anywhere with a good internet connection to a datacenter...

Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:03 PM (sKqQm)

82 I don't want to give Rand any credit, but I remember watching Atlas Shrugged Part I and thinking how much I didn't buy in to the scenario that now comes to mind when I think of all this hubbub over the Skydance thing.

Posted by: Axeman at September 21, 2026 04:03 PM (Fi81e)

83 What's to stop them from making low budget shit movies just to hit the 30 movie release requirement?
===
super-easy barely and inconvenience!!!

Posted by: pitch meeting at September 21, 2026 04:03 PM (anL5R)

84 76 I've noticed every recent show/movie I've gotten into is filmed somewhere outside of CA. Good going Newsom and co!

Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:02 PM (sKqQm)

=======

LA has been dying as an industry town since the 90s when they started making "New York" movies in Toronto or "generic American city" movies in Vancouver.

It's just expanded ever since to studios in places like Austin or Atlanta.

It's really expensive to film in Los Angeles, and every production fights over tax incentives from the state government to bring the costs down.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 04:03 PM (SvJcA)

85 77 What's to stop them from making low budget shit movies just to hit the 30 movie release requirement?
Posted by: Mark1971

Why lose millions when we can lose.....billions?

Posted by: Dr. Evil, new Paramount CEO at September 21, 2026 04:03 PM (sMaFa)

86 Bonta will never sleep again after his mess. Now we need some popcorn for a documentary based on Bonta’s life and his downfall. Would be a great paramount/warner bros movie.

I'll settle for Drinker making him the focus of a "Crash and Burn" installment.

Posted by: Octochicken at September 21, 2026 04:04 PM (oCS0o)

87 Uh oh.

https://tinyurl.com/8uhf6z7b

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Where's My Cookie? at September 21, 2026 04:04 PM (ndZc7)

88 ***Tapper claimed that Kayleigh McEnany lies like most people breathe and that she...
---

Hate has no home, here.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at September 21, 2026 04:04 PM (iLKq8)

89 Release 30 I-Phone filmed movies .

Posted by: polynikes at September 21, 2026 04:04 PM (KC5Lt)

90 I really struggle with Metroivania as a genre.

I bought Hollow Knight and I've gotten a good way through it, but I just eventually hit a wall where I feel like there's no direction and I kind of lose interest.

I really enjoy the actual Metroid and Castlevania games (and the "just legally distinct enough" Bloodstained that IGA made after leaving Konami), but the other ones like Hollow Knight don't scratch the itch for me as well.

Posted by: Ian S. at September 21, 2026 04:04 PM (2ocoG)

91 82 I don't want to give Rand any credit, but I remember watching Atlas Shrugged Part I and thinking how much I didn't buy in to the scenario that now comes to mind when I think of all this hubbub over the Skydance thing.

Posted by: Axeman at September 21, 2026 04:03 PM (Fi81e)

=======

Part 1 was solid. Part 2 was surprisingly good...it felt like a good thriller.

Part 3 was trash.

Also, Teller has a small cameo in the first one, I believe (might have been the second), where he actually speaks!

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 04:04 PM (SvJcA)

92 83 What's to stop them from making low budget shit movies just to hit the 30 movie release requirement?
===
super-easy barely and inconvenience!!!

Posted by: pitch meeting at September 21, 2026 04:03 PM (anL5R)

=======

In England, these were called quota quickies.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 04:05 PM (SvJcA)

93 90 I really enjoy the actual Metroid and Castlevania games (and the "just legally distinct enough" Bloodstained that IGA made after leaving Konami), but the other ones like Hollow Knight don't scratch the itch for me as well.

Posted by: Ian S. at September 21, 2026 04:04 PM (2ocoG)

========

I love the art and feel of Hollow Knight.

I just don't want to backtrack through all of these tunnels one more time.

Plus, it's a soulslike, so you die easy.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 04:06 PM (SvJcA)

94 or release 30 AI movies and call it a day.
Just make sure the AI is in CA, which shouldn’t be hard.

It’s not very different than what Pixar does.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 21, 2026 04:06 PM (6ydKt)

95 I don't see anything that would prevent CNN from being sold for scrap

Posted by: Smell the Glove at September 21, 2026 04:06 PM (taL2t)

96 Uh oh.

https://tinyurl.com/8uhf6z7b

Whenever I see Heather Cox I always thinks its Ana Marie Cox, the Washtionette leaker.

Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:06 PM (sKqQm)

97 35 Mark Ruffalo, a prominent [anti-American bitch]
---

Why is he still here in this country?
Why has he not been deported?

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at September 21, 2026 04:07 PM (iLKq8)

98 I don't want to give Rand any credit, but I remember watching Atlas Shrugged Part I and thinking how much I didn't buy in to the scenario that now comes to mind when I think of all this hubbub over the Skydance thing.

A lot of people have noted that Rand's seemingly over the top leftist villains actually understated the retardation of the actual left.

Posted by: Ian S. at September 21, 2026 04:07 PM (2ocoG)

99 Actually it looks like Butterball Powerbottom has lost some weight since 2020. Marginally less potato-ey.

Posted by: Pug Mahon at September 21, 2026 04:07 PM (PSEDc)

100 I’ve heard tater eyes are poisonous.
Posted by: Eromero at September 21, 2026 03:58 PM (LHPAg)

The sprouts are. Green parts are. Green parts of the potato itself are.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:07 PM (uhVAy)

101 98 I don't want to give Rand any credit, but I remember watching Atlas Shrugged Part I and thinking how much I didn't buy in to the scenario that now comes to mind when I think of all this hubbub over the Skydance thing.

A lot of people have noted that Rand's seemingly over the top leftist villains actually understated the retardation of the actual left.

Posted by: Ian S. at September 21, 2026 04:07 PM (2ocoG)

========

She saw the world well. She just couldn't write convincing characters or a short speech to save her life.

And her views on sex were weird.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 04:08 PM (SvJcA)

102 I am still amused the people ranting about the Trump admin lying don't want to discuss their claims that COVID came from a wet market or that the clot shot stops the spread of COVID...

Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:08 PM (sKqQm)

103 Watch an independent council of journalists ride CNN all the way into the ground.

Then I wonder if Paramount will be contractually required to pump lifeblood into a coma patient.

It's just a call that an ideologically locked outlet has to firm up the ideological lock. Which, to me, flags just one more level of ideological paralysis.

I just don't know why Paramount is legally required to fund it.

Posted by: Axeman at September 21, 2026 04:08 PM (Fi81e)

104 Mark Ruffalo, a prominent [anti-American bitch]
---

Why is he still here in this country?
Why has he not been deported?
==
He serves as a cautionary tale to others who would allow their children to eat paint chips.

Posted by: Serious Voice Over Guy at September 21, 2026 04:08 PM (anL5R)

105 I am still amused the people ranting about the Trump admin lying don't want to discuss their claims that COVID came from a wet market or that the clot shot stops the spread of COVID...

Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:08 PM (sKqQm)
---
They have moved on from that---gaah!!--can't you give it a rest?!!

Posted by: Axeman at September 21, 2026 04:09 PM (Fi81e)

106 What's to stop them from making low budget shit movies just to hit the 30 movie release requirement?

As with "independent journalists", the devil is in the details of how you define these things. I suspect the AG knew he had already lost, so accepted the terms knowing that Paramount would simply make a mockery of them in the short to medium term. He's just trying to extricate himself from a box of his own making, because he's an idiot.

Posted by: Archimedes at September 21, 2026 04:09 PM (Riz8t)

107 Yeah it was always just about CNN, which I suspect Ellison will sell off soon anyway. What confuses me is why the left is so absolutely desperate to keep CNN protected and leftist. They get 400k viewers at a time, they barely are affecting public opinion at all.

This "walkout" the press is doing will only show how little impact they have and how few people actually consume their crap.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:09 PM (KyEAU)

108 Green parts of the potato itself are.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:07 PM (uhVAy)

Solanine. Or solonine. It's a neurotoxin!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at September 21, 2026 04:10 PM (k5CNB)

109 I didn't like Dune or Dune 2. I might actually like the David Lynch version more, but that might be too spicy a hot-take for me to commit to.

That's how I see it more or less.

Lynch's Dune sucks, but it entertains.
New Dune just sucks.

Posted by: it puts the lotion in the basket at September 21, 2026 04:10 PM (ca8Qt)

110 88 ***Tapper claimed that Kayleigh McEnany lies like most people breathe and that she...
---

Tapper has no self-awareness at all. That punk bitch can't back up his claim while all I have to do is copy ace's archive of Tapper posts to embarrass him about what a lying douchebag he is.

Posted by: polynikes at September 21, 2026 04:10 PM (KC5Lt)

111 Truth Social:

While in New York City, I’m on the way to one of my favorite places in the World, Gracie Mansion. I spent lots of hours there over the years, with some great Mayors, some average Mayors, and some bad Mayors. It will be interesting to see how it looks now, invited by Mayor Mamdani. Look forward to it. MAKE NEW YORK CITY GREAT AGAIN! President DONALD J. TRUMP

Posted by: rickb223 at September 21, 2026 04:10 PM (hGTKn)

112 What's to stop them from making low budget shit movies just to hit the 30 movie release requirement?

My guess is we'll see a regular ocean of low budget horror and romance stuff. Which is good, theaters need that stuff. The fixation on blockbusters has basically destroyed the entire system.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:10 PM (KyEAU)

113
oligarch billionaires

First it was billionaires. The it was oligarchs.
Now it's oligarch billionaires.
Waiting for billionaire oligarchs.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at September 21, 2026 04:11 PM (Cqx++)

114 Mark Ruffalo, a prominent [anti-American bitch]
---

Why is he still here in this country?
Why has he not been deported?

Just as a guess, I'd say because he's an American citizen, born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on November 22, 1967.

Posted by: Archimedes at September 21, 2026 04:11 PM (Riz8t)

115 Watch an independent council of journalists ride CNN all the way into the ground.

Then I wonder if Paramount will be contractually required to pump lifeblood into a coma patient.

It's just a call that an ideologically locked outlet has to firm up the ideological lock. Which, to me, flags just one more level of ideological paralysis.

I just don't know why Paramount is legally required to fund it.
Posted by: Axeman at September 21, 2026 04:08 PM (Fi81e)

Sure, but they could just put it into a new division outside of CA, and resist the panel and start showing them on the web or something and evade all the agreements and expenses. TV media is dead, too much dead weight and expense.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:11 PM (uhVAy)

116 @61- "Stop the bullshit."

Hey, we are talking about lawyers and politicians here, there is no stopping the bullshit.

Posted by: Case at September 21, 2026 04:11 PM (xJpuh)

117 She saw the world well. She just couldn't write convincing characters or a short speech to save her life.

And her views on sex were weird.

TBH I suspect "weird" sex views are more common that people realize.

Any time I go on the left side of the internet I'm bombard by people in polycules, that have "open" relationships, or think it is nifty to cut your sex organs off.

And to be fair you've got Seven of Nine's husband wanting to show her off in a sex club or whatever the hell Eric Greitens was doing on the other side.

In the old days there was pressure to not let people know whatever odd stuff you were into and that's mostly gone now.

Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:11 PM (sKqQm)

118 Green parts of the potato itself are.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:07 PM (uhVAy)

Solanine. Or solonine. It's a neurotoxin!
===
Much like my man juice. Which is also green.

Posted by: Stelter - Love Machine at September 21, 2026 04:11 PM (anL5R)

119 This shit makes Mahomet blush.

Posted by: Hokey Pokey at September 21, 2026 04:11 PM (N/kIV)

120 Leftists live in a indoctrinated bubble

Posted by: Skip at September 21, 2026 04:12 PM (Ia/+0)

121 This headline may explain why the AGs abruptly settled:

Bloomberg-Backed Climate Group Paying Salaries of Democratic State AG Officials Quietly Shuts Down Amid Congressional, Legal Scrutiny

https://tinyurl.com/3sz6w32x

Posted by: Ian S. at September 21, 2026 04:12 PM (2ocoG)

122 I’m cleaning the cat boxes and had to sit down awhile, there’s a Star Trek on and it’s ghey as heck.

Posted by: Eromero at September 21, 2026 04:12 PM (LHPAg)

123 112 What's to stop them from making low budget shit movies just to hit the 30 movie release requirement?

My guess is we'll see a regular ocean of low budget horror and romance stuff. Which is good, theaters need that stuff. The fixation on blockbusters has basically destroyed the entire system.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:10 PM (KyEAU)

======

Eh, the problem is that Ellison is obsessed with blockbusters.

SkyDance almost exclusively funds huge productions that get shoved to streaming with no impact.

Like Fountain of Youth starring John Krasinski, Natalie Portman, and directed by Guy Ritchie. Never heard of it?

Not a surprise.

But Ellison did fund it with about $175 million in Skydance money.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 04:12 PM (SvJcA)

124 It’s uncanny how much Ayn Rand got right.

The Dems may not be fighting over steel and railroads but they certainly do over every other thing through hoaxes and moral panics followed by politicians and bureaucrats to the rescue.

Ayn probably would’ve been impressed by the sheer audacity of the Climate Cult and what the left has managed to do by pushing that lie.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 21, 2026 04:12 PM (6ydKt)

125 What's to stop them from making low budget shit movies just to hit the 30 movie release requirement?

My guess is we'll see a regular ocean of low budget horror and romance stuff. Which is good, theaters need that stuff. The fixation on blockbusters has basically destroyed the entire system.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:10 PM (KyEAU)

Can't be more shit than what hollywood produces for 300 mil per movie.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:12 PM (uhVAy)

126 I didn't like Dune or Dune 2. I might actually like the David Lynch version more, but that might be too spicy a hot-take for me to commit to.

That's how I see it more or less.

Lynch's Dune sucks, but it entertains.
New Dune just sucks.

I guess I'm in the minority, but I really liked both new Dunes.

Posted by: Archimedes at September 21, 2026 04:12 PM (Riz8t)

127 Much like my man juice. Which is also green.
Posted by: Stelter - Love Machine at September 21, 2026 04:11 PM (anL5R)

So was my mammary juice that Luke Skywalker used to sustain himself on Exile Planet.

Posted by: TLJ Alien at September 21, 2026 04:13 PM (oPFtC)

128 At this point, they're just rubbing our noses in it.

Posted by: Beverly at September 21, 2026 04:13 PM (reMys)

129 I like the new Dune movies with two exceptions:

1) The Paul actor doesn't look the part too...effeminate. He can act fine but even Kyle MacLachlan looked more the part though his acting was...uh...not his best.

2) The girl playing Chani in the newer movies doesn't look the part and can't act. I pretend they just didn't cast that role and the movie becomes much better.

Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:14 PM (sKqQm)

130 It's amusing hearing leftists, who have insisted for years theres no bias in the media, howl like monkeys when they think they are going to lose control over the media.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 21, 2026 04:14 PM (viF8m)

131 At this point, they're just rubbing our noses in it.
Posted by: Beverly at September 21, 2026 04:13 PM (reMys)

In what? The more cancer they keep in CNN the better. Let them have ownership that hates them and cuts their support as much as they can.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:15 PM (uhVAy)

132 Like Fountain of Youth starring John Krasinski, Natalie Portman,
==
How could anyone resist star power like that?

Posted by: Studio Executive at September 21, 2026 04:15 PM (anL5R)

133
Uh oh.

https://tinyurl.com/8uhf6z7b
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Where's My Cookie? at September 21, 2026 04:04 PM (ndZc7)

Leads to:
The Media Begins to Turn
Against Trump
HEATHER COX RICHARDSON
TODAY AT 5:35PM

Would have made sense with a dateline in 2015, just after Trump came down the golden escalator and declared his first run for the presidency as a Republican.

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at September 21, 2026 04:15 PM (LWsa7)

134 2) The girl playing Chani in the newer movies doesn't look the part and can't act. I pretend they just didn't cast that role and the movie becomes much better.
Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:14 PM (sKqQm)

I think that's Zendaya, who is everywhere for some bizarre reason. There must be a bet between some Hollyweirdo bigwigs to see how long they can maintain her "stardom".

Posted by: TLJ Alien at September 21, 2026 04:15 PM (oPFtC)

135 But we are real news, Mr. President.....

Posted by: CNN at September 21, 2026 04:15 PM (OT3gL)

136 It's amusing hearing leftists, who have insisted for years theres no bias in the media, howl like monkeys when they think they are going to lose control over the media.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 21, 2026 04:14 PM (viF8m)
---
Well, there *is* no bias in the media, but you're going to put it in. And they want to keep America from being lied to (because they think it's lies).

Posted by: Axeman at September 21, 2026 04:15 PM (Fi81e)

137

Spencer Pratt
@spencerpratt
·
1h
The idea that you could have some commie writer just spew out nothing but insane woke gobbledygook and you’re forced to pay them in full for 5 years and you can’t rid of them for any reason no matter how bad they get?
Unreal.

Todd Spangler
@xpangler
·
1h
Under WGA's settlement with Paramount, the company has agreed to not lay off any writers at CBS News Broadcast for 5 years

Posted by: beckster at September 21, 2026 04:15 PM (kX27y)

138 I guess I'm in the minority, but I really liked both new Dunes.
Posted by: Archimedes at September 21, 2026 04:12 PM (Riz8t)

But what are your thoughts on Prometheus?

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 21, 2026 04:15 PM (6ydKt)

139
What confuses me is why the left is so absolutely desperate to keep CNN protected and leftist. They get 400k viewers at a time, they barely are affecting public opinion at all.

Prestige

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at September 21, 2026 04:15 PM (Cqx++)

140 Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:11 PM (sKqQm)

Wonder Woman was created out of the creator's sexual perversions.

Posted by: polynikes at September 21, 2026 04:15 PM (KC5Lt)

141 Natalie Portman can act. She just usually doesn't bother.

Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:16 PM (sKqQm)

142 126
I guess I'm in the minority, but I really liked both new Dunes.

Posted by: Archimedes at September 21, 2026 04:12 PM (Riz8t)

========

Their IMDB rankings are 8.0 and 8.4, respectively.

Their audience scores on RT are 90% and 95%, respectively.

Their LetterboxD scores are 3.9 and 4.4, respectively.

Most people like them a lot.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 04:16 PM (SvJcA)

143 What does Paramount/Skydance get out of this "deal?"

Sounds like Hollywood/CA is just going to make Paramount their bitch for the foreseeable future.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at September 21, 2026 04:16 PM (FZ29D)

144
Saw "Resident Evil"...

Very fun horror movie. and yes, the movie is kind of shot with the idea that it's a single player running through a sandbox game.

Starts small and builds to a nice climax. Which may feel rushed, because there is a slight chance that it could lead into an RE2 sequel.

I don't think it's actually rushed though as it hits the peak of absolute horror for the movie and then ends, which is fine in my book..

Very well directed. Easy dialogue scripting as the main character mainly just says "Fuck" fifty million times. Good acting throughout.

Some humor, nice horror.

Not as good as "Weapons" because the story isn't particularly deep. It's a thrill ride.

Good time at the movies. Check it out.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 21, 2026 04:17 PM (iJfKG)

145 Impeach!

JD Vance slips, calls Democrats the "Fart Left"

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Where's My Cookie? at September 21, 2026 04:17 PM (ndZc7)

146 1h
Under WGA's settlement with Paramount, the company has agreed to not lay off any writers at CBS News Broadcast for 5 years
Posted by: beckster at September 21, 2026 04:15 PM (kX27y)

Nothing says they have to give them any assignments in those 5 years. Or just in the hot new Greenland bureau on the glacier.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:17 PM (uhVAy)

147 Eh, the problem is that Ellison is obsessed with blockbusters.

Yeah I think he'll have his pet projects, but the studios cannot put out 30 of those a year. My guess is that they will have one department that puts out the bulk of their requirements and then Ellison's dream projects.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:17 PM (KyEAU)

148 132 Like Fountain of Youth starring John Krasinski, Natalie Portman,
==
How could anyone resist star power like that?

Posted by: Studio Executive at September 21, 2026 04:15 PM (anL5R)

=======

Star power is a myth.

It had some purchase in the tightly controlled studio era, and we occasionally get a real movie star once a generation or so (will Smith in the late 90s/early 00s, Tom Cruise in the 2010s, early 2020s, but that's probably over now).

But most stars are just recognizable actors that no one actually buys tickets to movies to see specifically.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 04:17 PM (SvJcA)

149 Natalie Portman can act. She just usually doesn't bother.
Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:16 PM (sKqQm

I can't watch The Professional anymore since I can't unsee Pedo film once someone pointed it out.

Posted by: polynikes at September 21, 2026 04:17 PM (KC5Lt)

150 Wonder Woman was created out of the creator's sexual perversions.

I was raised on the Linda Carter Wonderwoman and Superfriends.

And then when I read some of the original wonderwoman comics it was, uh, rather different.

Rather then fighting Cheetah over whatever the McGuffin of the day was or stopping mobsters, original Wonderwoman seemed to spend her time either tying up other amazonians and spanking them or vice versa....

Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:17 PM (sKqQm)

151
The Frog's version of Dune is gorgeous to look at, and has a few scenes that are legit awesome, like pretty much every scene with Khal Drogo, and when the heroic bagpipe music kicks in during the frontal charge scene with the sunburned anus guy Brolin leading (despite the charge being tactically stupid, and Gurney Halleck going into battle without his Combat Pug like Patrick Stewart).

But yeah, there's so much about it that sucks camel anus. Not the least of which is the total scrubbing of the word "jihad".

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at September 21, 2026 04:18 PM (y9nCu)

152 I liked Zendaya in the Spider-Man movies.
She can play the smart & fun teenage girl pretty well.

But I’m not sure her acting ability can carry her much beyond that. Although she might be good in the Euphoria show where she plats an addict, I don’t watch it.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 21, 2026 04:18 PM (6ydKt)

153 What does Paramount/Skydance get out of this "deal?"

Sounds like Hollywood/CA is just going to make Paramount their bitch for the foreseeable future.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at September 21, 2026 04:16 PM (FZ29D)

They get out of CA. The rest can be managed.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:18 PM (uhVAy)

154
Star power is a myth.

It had some purchase in the tightly controlled studio era, and we occasionally get a real movie star once a generation or so (will Smith in the late 90s/early 00s, Tom Cruise in the 2010s, early 2020s, but that's probably over now).

I watched 28 Years Later The Bone Temple solely because Ralph Fiennes was in it.

This was a mistake.

Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:18 PM (sKqQm)

155 Like Fountain of Youth starring John Krasinski, Natalie Portman, and directed by Guy Ritchie. Never heard of it?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 04:12 PM (SvJcA)
---
I saw it. But I'd watching anything Guy Ritchie.

Posted by: Axeman at September 21, 2026 04:19 PM (Fi81e)

156 Under WGA's settlement with Paramount, the company has agreed to not lay off any writers at CBS News Broadcast for 5 years
Posted by: beckster at September 21, 2026 04:15 PM (kX27y)

Nothing says they have to give them any assignments in those 5 years. Or just in the hot new Greenland bureau on the glacier.

I foresee a series of probing, in-depth stories on the Indian (dot) sewage system.

Posted by: Archimedes at September 21, 2026 04:19 PM (Riz8t)

157 I think that's Zendaya, who is everywhere for some bizarre reason. There must be a bet between some Hollyweirdo bigwigs to see how long they can maintain her "stardom".

the problem is that she has been in multiple massively lucrative movies. She's been in five movies that earned a billion or more, and many that made close.

Was she why? Oh no, not even close. You could swap her out for pretty much anyone and get that much. But that's not how Hollywood sees things.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:19 PM (KyEAU)

158 I guess I'm in the minority, but I really liked both new Dunes.

Posted by: Archimedes at September 21, 2026 04:12 PM (Riz8t)

========

Their IMDB rankings are 8.0 and 8.4, respectively.

Their audience scores on RT are 90% and 95%, respectively.

Their LetterboxD scores are 3.9 and 4.4, respectively.

Most people like them a lot.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 04:16 PM (SvJcA)

I like both Dunes.

Not sure about the upcoming 3rd one though as it makes it look like a big showdown between the main character and his "wife", which i don't remember being any part of the books I read.

so, it may turn into a girl boss movie which would be a shame.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 21, 2026 04:19 PM (iJfKG)

159 ynch's Dune sucks, but it entertains.
New Dune just sucks.

I guess I'm in the minority, but I really liked both new Dunes.
--
I saw the Lynch one - the edited one not the uncut one - and it was okay but man did it jump and skip - understandably. I did see Dune part 1 and thought it pretty good. I liked the part with the attack on Arrakkis and the way they handled the attempt on Harkkonen's life - nice. I thought Dune 1 did a nice job on other elements of the book. Haven't seen Dune 2 yet.

Posted by: Studio Executive at September 21, 2026 04:19 PM (anL5R)

160 Eh, the problem is that Ellison is obsessed with blockbusters.

There's nothing left to make into a blockbuster.
Anything anyone makes "offends" everyone else.

Posted by: rickb223 at September 21, 2026 04:19 PM (hGTKn)

161 JD Vance slips, calls Democrats the "Fart Left"

If called on it, he just needs to mention Eric Swalwell.

Posted by: Ian S. at September 21, 2026 04:20 PM (2ocoG)

162 Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 04:17 PM (SvJcA)

I will give a movie a chance if it has Sam Rockwell, Keanu Reeves or Mathew McConnaughey.

Posted by: polynikes at September 21, 2026 04:20 PM (KC5Lt)

163 Natalie Portman can act. She just usually doesn't bother.

She is really quite good when she tries, but usually you get her Star Wars effort in which she shows up and reads lines.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:20 PM (KyEAU)

164 Can't be more shit than what hollywood produces for 300 mil per movie.
Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:12 PM (uhVAy)

Where is Roger Corman when we need him? I know he’s dead, but couldn’t he come back as a zombie?

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at September 21, 2026 04:20 PM (LWsa7)

165 Natalie Portman can act. She just usually doesn't bother.
Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:16 PM (sKqQm)

She didn't laugh in that Star Wars "Sand" love duet. That's Academy Award stuff.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:20 PM (uhVAy)

166 154 I watched 28 Years Later The Bone Temple solely because Ralph Fiennes was in it.

This was a mistake.

Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:18 PM (sKqQm)

=======

It should be noted that that movie did not do well at the box office.

Because Ralph Fiennes is not a movie star. He's a recognizable actor.

The number of people who buy tickets to see just him are vanishingly small. You don't pay him millions of dollar (no public info on his pay, but I would imagine at least $5 million or so) to have people not show up.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 04:20 PM (SvJcA)

167 155 Like Fountain of Youth starring John Krasinski, Natalie Portman, and directed by Guy Ritchie. Never heard of it?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 04:12 PM (SvJcA)
---
I saw it. But I'd watching anything Guy Ritchie.

Posted by: Axeman at September 21, 2026 04:19 PM (Fi81e)

========

I didn't know it existed until well after its released. And I watched it.

And I think it might be one of Ritchie's worst films. Just, bland.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at September 21, 2026 04:21 PM (SvJcA)

168 It looks nice.
It seems like the story was told better, and more thoroughly, than the Lynch version. But it just seemed dull and subdued the entire time.
Maybe that was the acting or direction, but it’s not a movie I feel like I’d want to sit through more than once as opposed to something like LOTR which is rewatchable despite the length.

I still like the 80s version of Dune more and maybe that’s just nostalgia talking.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 21, 2026 04:01 PM (6ydKt)
----
Dune really isn't an "action" franchise. This is why the movies focus on spectacle rather than plot.

The books are mostly people sitting around chatting about how awful prescience is.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at September 21, 2026 04:21 PM (FZ29D)

169 I think that's Zendaya, who is everywhere for some bizarre reason. There must be a bet between some Hollyweirdo bigwigs to see how long they can maintain her "stardom".
==
There is probably a dollar bet riding on it.

Posted by: DYSWIDT? at September 21, 2026 04:21 PM (anL5R)

170 Speaking of Sam Rockwell I can't believe Rotten Tomatoes gives Mr Right such a low rating. It's 90% for me.

Posted by: polynikes at September 21, 2026 04:21 PM (KC5Lt)

171 Reclaiming my time!!

Posted by: Maxine at September 21, 2026 04:21 PM (Fi81e)

172 Additionally, Paramount agreed to establish an independent board of journalists to oversee the newsrooms of CNN and CBS News to preserve editorial integrity and prevent consolidated corporate bias, Bonta said.
_________________________

No teeth. An independent board of journalists can whine all they want, but I doubt that Bari Weiss is going to give a shit what they advise.

What's amusing is that editorial integrity and consolidated corporate bias is the agenda, and this board is supposed to oppose it. Limbaugh started the trend of doing a MONTAGE!!! of different media outlets not only holding the same coporate opinion, BUT using the exact same words and phrases to promote it.

The boad of journalists is a paper tiger with no purpose other than a few lucky unemployed journalists getting to take a break from their newly failing podcasts. That's all.

Posted by: Orson at September 21, 2026 04:22 PM (dIske)

173 Oh and Mel Gibson. I always give his movies a chance.

Posted by: polynikes at September 21, 2026 04:22 PM (KC5Lt)

174 Speaking of Sam Rockwell I can't believe Rotten Tomatoes gives Mr Right such a low rating. It's 90% for me.
Posted by: polynikes at September 21, 2026 04:21 PM (KC5Lt)

Rotten T has been a captured organization for a long time.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:23 PM (uhVAy)

175 In fairness to Portman, she was being directed by George Lucas and delivering dialogue written by him.

Posted by: Open Channel D at September 21, 2026 04:23 PM (LuSSV)

176 She is really quite good when she tries, but usually you get her Star Wars effort in which she shows up and reads lines.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:20 PM (KyEAU)
---
This too, is the story of Sam Jackson.

Posted by: Maxine at September 21, 2026 04:23 PM (Fi81e)

177 Zendaya almost certainly made it big because she was willing to do whatever it took to get those first big rules and by whatever I mean a bunch of producers and directors.

And she was smart in picking the roles she got in return and as someone else pointed out she was in a bunch of $$$ movies.

So sort of like how Taylor Swift has limited singing talents but know business, Zandaya can't act really at all but she knows how to get the roles that will line her up for the future...

Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:24 PM (sKqQm)

178 She is really quite good when she tries, but usually you get her Star Wars effort in which she shows up and reads lines.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:20 PM (KyEAU)

"So, this is how democracy dies...with thunderous applause".

I laughed at that line. Wait, I wasn't supposed to?

Posted by: Thrawn at September 21, 2026 04:24 PM (oPFtC)

179 What's interesting about the "independent boards" to oversee CBS and CNN is that, first, there is no prohibition against the same management managing both news operations, no requirement they be housed separately, and no penalty if the "independent board" is ignored.

To me, this looks like California caved, big time. The only thing they got is a guarantee LA will keep the Paramount HQ and, even there, the state got no assurance the company will not move all jobs except maybe a few symbolic C suite titles to Nashville.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at September 21, 2026 04:24 PM (N3b7w)

180 A lot of people have noted that Rand's seemingly over the top leftist villains actually understated the retardation of the actual left.

Posted by: Ian S.

And yet, they continue to win. Shows how powerful the message of "vote for me and I'll take shit from the top 10% and give it to the bottom 90%".

Posted by: Moron Analyst at September 21, 2026 04:24 PM (sMaFa)

181 The boad of journalists is a paper tiger with no purpose other than a few lucky unemployed journalists getting to take a break from their newly failing podcasts. That's all.
Posted by: Orson at September 21, 2026 04:22 PM (dIske)

That might be a fun trick - put the people they want to get rid of on the board. Have like a hundred and fifty of them on Zoom calls every other day.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:24 PM (uhVAy)

182 Oh and Mel Gibson. I always give his movies a chance.
==
Yeah, he's no namby pamby story teller.

You seen dragged across concrete?

Posted by: DYSWIDT? at September 21, 2026 04:24 PM (anL5R)

183 In fairness to Portman, she was being directed by George Lucas and delivering dialogue written by him.

Posted by: Open Channel D at September 21, 2026 04:23 PM (LuSSV)
---
"You can write this crap, George--but you sure the hell can't say it!" -- Harrison Ford

Posted by: Maxine at September 21, 2026 04:24 PM (Fi81e)

184 You seen dragged across concrete?
Posted by: DYSWIDT? at September 21, 2026 04:24 PM (anL5R)

Yes. Very good but I like Get the Gringo and Blood Father much more.

Posted by: polynikes at September 21, 2026 04:25 PM (KC5Lt)

185 A lot of people have noted that Rand's seemingly over the top leftist villains actually understated the retardation of the actual left.

See also Bond villains.

18-1 decades ago: This is stupid no one would announce their evil organization's plans and dress like a Sci Fi wierdo

18-1 when first seeing Klaus Schwab: WHAT THE HELL? Ian Fleming undersold this stuff

Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:26 PM (sKqQm)

186 BBC Breaking News
@BBCBreaking
Flights delayed at major US airports after workers accidentally cut fibre cable - follow live
. . . .
Federal Aviation Administration official Bryan Bedford says the issue is related to a system that guides planes during take-off and landing

He says a crucial cable was damaged by construction crews in New Jersey, and it will take 13 hours to repair: ‘Somebody dug it up'

Ground stops have been ordered in New Jersey, while New York City, Boston and Philadelphia are experiencing disruption

The major east coast disruption comes ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Tuesday

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Where's My Cookie? at September 21, 2026 04:26 PM (ndZc7)

187 Yes. Very good but I like Get the Gringo and Blood Father much more.
Posted by: polynikes at September 21, 2026 04:25 PM (KC5Lt)

Yes.. Get the Gringo is one of my favorites.. Pretty gritty..

Posted by: It's me donna at September 21, 2026 04:26 PM (+gK6I)

188 I think Samuel L Jackson did his loud foul mouthed angry guy role so many times he forgot out to do anything else.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:26 PM (KyEAU)

189 See the Communist News Network is suing President Trump for doing what they wanted the Auto-Pen administration to do to Fox

In 2009 the Obama did all of those things to Fox.

Obama lying about it now as if his team never did such a thing is typical Obama.

Posted by: Community Notes at September 21, 2026 04:26 PM (9s47C)

190 175 In fairness to Portman, she was being directed by George Lucas and delivering dialogue written by him.
Posted by: Open Channel D

I don’t like sand. It’s coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere. Not like here. Here everything is soft and smooth.

Posted by: George Lucas writes unforgettable lines at September 21, 2026 04:26 PM (sMaFa)

191 And yet, they continue to win. Shows how powerful the message of "vote for me and I'll take shit from the top 10% and give it to the bottom 90%".

A non-trivial percentage of the voting public vote solely on who they think will give them more money

Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:27 PM (sKqQm)

192 I haven't see Blood Father. I also liked Gringo.
Concrete is pretty freakin dark.

Did you see the dark Santa he did?

Posted by: Yeah, he is amusing himself at September 21, 2026 04:27 PM (anL5R)

193 Zendaya is in some Netflix series about Special Ops girl boss. No idea what the series is called.

She got nekkid for a shower scene. Backside looked pretty good.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at September 21, 2026 04:27 PM (BAWkL)

194 This all seems to assume that money losing CNN stays in business. I think that is a poor assumption.

Posted by: sniffybigtoe at September 21, 2026 04:27 PM (+yqga)

195 One movie I am really looking forward to is the Templars defense of Malta. Such an epic story and very appropriate for now.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:27 PM (KyEAU)

196
To me, this looks like California caved, big time. The only thing they got is a guarantee LA will keep the Paramount HQ and, even there, the state got no assurance the company will not move all jobs except maybe a few symbolic C suite titles to Nashville.

As I said in #106, they know they lost bigly. Now it's just a matter of pretending they didn't so as to fool their idiot supporters.

Posted by: Archimedes at September 21, 2026 04:27 PM (Riz8t)

197 Ground stops have been ordered in New Jersey, while New York City, Boston and Philadelphia are experiencing disruption

The major east coast disruption comes ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Tuesday
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Where's My Cookie? at September 21, 2026 04:26 PM (ndZc7)
==============================
It's an op.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at September 21, 2026 04:27 PM (N3b7w)

198 18-1 when first seeing Klaus Schwab: WHAT THE HELL? Ian Fleming undersold this stuff

Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:26 PM (sKqQm)
---
Also Tony Fraudci is a Bond villain. There's a rumor he was looking for a residential volcano.

Posted by: Axeman at September 21, 2026 04:28 PM (Fi81e)

199 I think Samuel L Jackson did his loud foul mouthed angry guy role so many times he forgot out to do anything else.

M-F is to Samuel Jackson as screaming is to Sam Kinison.

Posted by: Community Notes at September 21, 2026 04:28 PM (9s47C)

200 Federal Aviation Administration official Bryan Bedford says the issue is related to a system that guides planes during take-off and landing

He says a crucial cable was damaged by construction crews in New Jersey, and it will take 13 hours to repair: ‘Somebody dug it up'

Ground stops have been ordered in New Jersey, while New York City, Boston and Philadelphia are experiencing disruption

The major east coast disruption comes ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Tuesday
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Where's My Cookie? at September 21, 2026 04:26 PM (ndZc7)

Wasn't this the plot of Die Hard 2, where the dood heading up Section 31 had a team disable the airport where their drug lord (but anti-commie) general was coming in?

Posted by: Thrawn at September 21, 2026 04:28 PM (oPFtC)

201 Zendaya is in some Netflix series about Special Ops girl boss. No idea what the series is called.

Every time she's been a headliner for a movie its earned about as much as my book sales, and people say "eh, she was pretty good."

The problem is that she comes across as sneering and contemptuous, its hard to like.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:28 PM (KyEAU)

202 She got nekkid for a shower scene. Backside looked pretty good.
Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at September 21, 2026 04:27 PM (BAWkL)

Poo-poo comes out of those though!

Posted by: Thrawn at September 21, 2026 04:29 PM (oPFtC)

203 As I said in #106, they know they lost bigly. Now it's just a matter of pretending they didn't so as to fool their idiot supporters.
Posted by: Archimedes at September 21, 2026 04:27
====================
I should have read deeper into the thread! Glad we agree.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at September 21, 2026 04:29 PM (svKyi)

204 Did you see the dark Santa he did?

Posted by: Yeah, he is amusing himself at September 21, 2026 04:27 PM (anL5R)
---
I was going to mention that one.

With Walton Goggins.

Posted by: Axeman at September 21, 2026 04:29 PM (Fi81e)

205 Heard kn local radio Philadelphia and Newark were involved in ghis shutdown

Posted by: Skip at September 21, 2026 04:29 PM (Ia/+0)

206 The “Fart Left”: I don’t know, it could get some traction.

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at September 21, 2026 04:29 PM (LWsa7)

207 >>>Why on earth does Mark Ruffalo warrant coverage of his opinions? It's like asking "But what does PeeWee Herman think?" about quantum electrodynamics.

Posted by: Archimedes

>Mark wouldn't have made it past 10th grade in my high school. He would have been severely beaten and suspended by his jock strap in an atomic wedgie from the basketball hoop.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at September 21, 2026 04:29 PM (5C90x)

208 Did you see the dark Santa he did?

Posted by: Yeah, he is amusing himself at September 21, 2026 04:27 PM (anL5R)
---
I was going to mention that one.

With Walton Goggins.
==
Now that's a Christmas movie!

Posted by: Bruce Willis at September 21, 2026 04:30 PM (anL5R)

209 Mark wouldn't have made it past 10th grade in my high school. He would have been severely beaten and suspended by his jock strap in an atomic wedgie from the basketball hoop.

It is useful to remember that all these guys were the drama kid weirdos on school, the people you laughed at and kept to themselves writing in their diary about awful everyone is.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:30 PM (KyEAU)

210 Zendaya is in some Netflix series about Special Ops girl boss. No idea what the series is called.

Every time she's been a headliner for a movie its earned about as much as my book sales, and people say "eh, she was pretty good."

The problem is that she comes across as sneering and contemptuous, its hard to like.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:28 PM (KyEAU)

She's one of the few women that are allowed to be kinda pretty. All women characters look to be sneering and contemptuous, so that doesn't hold her back.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:30 PM (uhVAy)

211 Ruffalo got his big break from a movie he was in with Jennifer Garner.

She was good in it, he was, well, there.

13 going on 30 I think was the title?

Posted by: 18-1 at September 21, 2026 04:30 PM (sKqQm)

212 Posted by: Yeah, he is amusing himself at September 21, 2026 04:27 PM (anL5R)

Concrete was done by the same guy who did BoneTomahawk and Brawl in Cellblock 99.

Loved Brawl in Cellblock 99.

Posted by: polynikes at September 21, 2026 04:31 PM (KC5Lt)

213 And yet, they continue to win. Shows how powerful the message of "vote for me and I'll take shit from the top 10% and give it to the bottom 90%".

And now you see the pathology of universal suffrage in that it is a one-way ratchet of spending because purchasing votes is the only way to stay in power—it will never again be on policy because we are not a monoculture.

All societies that engage in universal suffrage eventually crash.

Posted by: Community Notes at September 21, 2026 04:31 PM (rgGn5)

214 Mark wouldn't have made it past 10th grade in my high school. He would have been severely beaten and suspended by his jock strap in an atomic wedgie from the basketball hoop.

It is useful to remember that all these guys were the drama kid weirdos on school, the people you laughed at and kept to themselves writing in their diary about awful everyone is.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:30 PM (KyEAU)

Even the nerds mocked them.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:31 PM (uhVAy)

215 Say what again!

Posted by: JackStraw at September 21, 2026 04:31 PM (viF8m)

216
Speaking of Guy Ritchie and Netflix...

His "The Gentlemen" series is very entertaining.

Lots of fun to watch and chock-full of Guy ritchie goodness.

Very much worth your while to checkout.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 21, 2026 04:31 PM (iJfKG)

217 Wasn't this the plot of Die Hard 2

-
Fly Hard

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Where's My Cookie? at September 21, 2026 04:31 PM (ndZc7)

218 The “Fart Left”: I don’t know, it could get some traction.

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at September 21, 2026 04:29 PM (LWsa7)
---
Or in that general direction.

Posted by: Axeman at September 21, 2026 04:32 PM (Fi81e)

219 And yet, they continue to win. Shows how powerful the message of "vote for me and I'll take shit from the top 10% and give it to the bottom 90%".

And now you see the pathology of universal suffrage in that it is a one-way ratchet of spending because purchasing votes is the only way to stay in power—it will never again be on policy because we are not a monoculture.

All societies that engage in universal suffrage eventually crash.
Posted by: Community Notes at September 21, 2026 04:31 PM (rgGn5)

De Toqueville noted that in what, 1850 or something?

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:32 PM (uhVAy)

220 Someone said that Zendaya 's acting range involves different kinds of scowling

Posted by: Smell the Glove at September 21, 2026 04:32 PM (taL2t)

221 I thought the ground stop was because of the "Nor'Easter" forecast later this week.

Posted by: 88C+u at September 21, 2026 04:32 PM (88C+u)

222 Independent board of commissars more like.

Posted by: Defenestratus at September 21, 2026 04:33 PM (WYStd)

223 "78 See the Communist News Network is suing President Trump for doing what they wanted the Auto-Pen administration to do to Fox

Posted by: Skip at September 21, 2026 04:02 PM (Ia/+0) "

admirably succinct summation. yup.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at September 21, 2026 04:33 PM (VyBeY)

224 the drama kid effect is very evident in movie writing as well. Every jock I knew in school was a good guy, there were none of the douchebags who bullied everyone and were retards. I am sure some are out there but most of them were nice dudes.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:33 PM (KyEAU)

225 People who hit “reply all” need to be shot.

Posted by: nurse ratched at September 21, 2026 04:33 PM (4G+hB)

226
Bonta will never sleep again after his mess. Now we need some popcorn for a documentary based on Bonta’s life and his downfall. Would be a great paramount/warner bros movie.

Posted by: Intercepted Reddit Transmissions

================

BS, he'll come out preening. So will Newsom. "We saved the most important industry in California!! Jillions of jobs! Zillions in investment!!!!"

Anyway, Bonta won't get a chance to replace Becerra until 2034, and I don't think he'll keep that long.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at September 21, 2026 04:34 PM (mmrXZ)

227 board of zampolits

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at September 21, 2026 04:34 PM (VyBeY)

228 183 In fairness to Portman, she was being directed by George Lucas and delivering dialogue written by him.

Posted by: Open Channel D at September 21, 2026 04:23 PM (LuSSV)
_________________________

There is a hilarious scene in "The Clone Wars" movie that always makes me laugh. Portman's character is supposed to be this brash leader....and tough. But, after falling out a transport and waking up on the sand...the scene just falls apart when they her show her running at the very end of the scene. She runs like a toddler. Always makes me laugh.

https://tinyurl.com/98swscar

Posted by: Orson at September 21, 2026 04:34 PM (dIske)

229 De Toqueville noted that in what, 1850 or something?
====

1835 Vol 1.

Posted by: Billie Dawn at September 21, 2026 04:34 PM (anL5R)

230 Someone suggested this on Twixxer and I agree: the white house needs to just broadcast everything they do publicly on a streaming channel and bypass the news entirely. Just a raw CSPAN delivery without commentary or editing.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:35 PM (KyEAU)

231 Lynch's Dune is superior to anything Denis Villeneuve did.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at September 21, 2026 04:35 PM (CHHv1)

232 Someone said that Zendaya 's acting range involves different kinds of scowling
Posted by: Smell the Glove at September 21, 2026 04:32 PM (taL2t)

I forgot which smartass actress said it about Katherine Hepburn ' She has an acting range from A to C'

Posted by: polynikes at September 21, 2026 04:35 PM (KC5Lt)

233
She got nekkid for a shower scene. Backside looked pretty good.
Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at September 21, 2026 04:27 PM (BAWkL)

Might've been a stunt butt.

Lots of actresses use those for nekkid scenes, especially if they're judged not quite pulchritudinous enough in the goods department.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 21, 2026 04:35 PM (iJfKG)

234 Fatman -- that's Gibson's Santa movie.

Posted by: Axeman at September 21, 2026 04:36 PM (Fi81e)

235 Someone suggested this on Twixxer and I agree: the white house needs to just broadcast everything they do publicly on a streaming channel and bypass the news entirely. Just a raw CSPAN delivery without commentary or editing.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:35 PM (KyEAU)

Make the press do SuperChats with cash donations to get a question answered. Balance the budget that way.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:36 PM (uhVAy)

236 What did you do in Hollywood Grandma?

Posted by: I was a stunt butt for a few years at September 21, 2026 04:37 PM (2Ez/1)

237 Blood Father is badass. Highly recommend.

Posted by: polynikes at September 21, 2026 04:37 PM (KC5Lt)

238 Fatman's got his eye on you.

Posted by: Santa at September 21, 2026 04:38 PM (2Ez/1)

239 Even though he's a character actor and not a big star, I always liked David Strathairn. I don't care if he's got a funny name.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Where's My Cookie? at September 21, 2026 04:38 PM (ndZc7)

240 "188 I think Samuel L Jackson did his loud foul mouthed angry guy role so many times he forgot out to do anything else.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:26 PM (KyEAU)"

role? you mean he was acting?
I. Did. Not. Know. That.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at September 21, 2026 04:38 PM (VyBeY)

241 It was Bonta's wife who wrote and sponsored the law prohibiting citizen investigation of fraud in California. She's in the state assembly, and was mightily offended at the exposure of all the massive fraud.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at September 21, 2026 04:38 PM (svKyi)

242 There is a hilarious scene in "The Clone Wars" movie that always makes me laugh. Portman's character is supposed to be this brash leader....and tough. But, after falling out a transport and waking up on the sand...the scene just falls apart when they her show her running at the very end of the scene. She runs like a toddler. Always makes me laugh.

https://tinyurl.com/98swscar
Posted by: Orson at September 21, 2026 04:34 PM (dIske)

Why would you let your 'general' fall out of the aircraft? And why not stop the mission to pick up the corpse if you did?

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:38 PM (uhVAy)

243 Make the press do SuperChats with cash donations to get a question answered. Balance the budget that way.

I like this idea. Have thee press secretary read them off. "Brian Stelter from his basement asks...."

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:39 PM (KyEAU)

244 No, we DON'T list stunt butts in the credits.

Posted by: IMDB at September 21, 2026 04:39 PM (2Ez/1)

245 It was Bonta's wife who wrote and sponsored the law prohibiting citizen investigation of fraud in California. She's in the state assembly, and was mightily offended at the exposure of all the massive fraud.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at September 21, 2026 04:38 PM (svKyi)

Funny how small the in group is. All these tight groups.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:40 PM (uhVAy)

246 Under WGA's settlement with Paramount, the company has agreed to not lay off any writers at CBS News Broadcast for 5 years
Posted by: beckste

Eh, just reassign them to clean the archives, or some other manual labor-type job. They'll quit, no need to lay them off.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at September 21, 2026 04:40 PM (vJrRc)

247 Make the press do SuperChats with cash donations to get a question answered. Balance the budget that way.

I like this idea. Have thee press secretary read them off. "Brian Stelter from his basement asks...."
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:39 PM (KyEAU)
---
"You can find a longer answer on my Patreon, if you go there" -- President Donald J Trump

Posted by: Axeman at September 21, 2026 04:41 PM (Fi81e)

248 Hmmm, did Bari Weiss just get neutered?

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 21, 2026 04:41 PM (zZu0s)

249
And yet, they continue to win. Shows how powerful the message of "vote for me and I'll take shit from the top 10% and give it to the bottom 90%".

A non-trivial percentage of the voting public vote solely on who they think will give them more money

It's hard to beat Santa Claus.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at September 21, 2026 04:41 PM (Cqx++)

250 Might've been a stunt butt.

Lots of actresses use those for nekkid scenes, especially if they're judged not quite pulchritudinous enough in the goods department.
Posted by: naturalfake

Somebody had a nice ass.

I'll never watch it again. It was kinda dumb. I must have tuned in at the right time.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at September 21, 2026 04:41 PM (BAWkL)

251 His "The Gentlemen" series is very entertaining.

-
The chicken scene is hilarious.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Where's My Cookie? at September 21, 2026 04:41 PM (ndZc7)

252 Under WGA's settlement with Paramount, the company has agreed to not lay off any writers at CBS News Broadcast for 5 years
Posted by: beckste

Eh, just reassign them to clean the archives, or some other manual labor-type job. They'll quit, no need to lay them off.
Posted by: FeatherBlade at September 21, 2026 04:40 PM (vJrRc)

Just tell them to write, then tell them to rewrite it. Never publish it.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:41 PM (uhVAy)

253 There is a hilarious scene in "The Clone Wars" movie that always makes me laugh. Portman's character is supposed to be this brash leader....and tough. But, after falling out a transport and waking up on the sand...the scene just falls apart when they her show her running at the very end of the scene. She runs like a toddler. Always makes me laugh.

https://tinyurl.com/98swscar
==
Wait that was all CGI right? Not even really her? I mean, they could have animated her running a little more humanly, but I think the computer was stuck on robot.

Posted by: Nobody caught my Melanie Griffin Movie Reference at September 21, 2026 04:41 PM (anL5R)

254 I think Sam Jackson was his best in Black Snake Moan though the movie pretty much sucked.

Posted by: polynikes at September 21, 2026 04:41 PM (KC5Lt)

255 the Resident Evil movie is supposedly the first good Resident Evil movie.

-----

Hey, the first few were.... okay, they sucked, but Milla Jovovich is hot.

Posted by: Cave Johnson at September 21, 2026 04:42 PM (WhtqQ)

256 You can be sure if it's Netflix, it's trash.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at September 21, 2026 04:42 PM (iLKq8)

257 Hmmm... note the timeline.

There was a report that Paramount wanted to move out of Calif, and move to Nashville... but it would take 3 years to get enough office space for the move...

Now, suddenly we see a bunch of 3 year time limits on stuff.

Posted by: Romeo13 at September 21, 2026 04:43 PM (mP0Kj)

258 Snakes on a plane.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 21, 2026 04:43 PM (zZu0s)

259 Wait that was all CGI right? Not even really her? I mean, they could have animated her running a little more humanly, but I think the computer was stuck on robot.
Posted by: Nobody caught my Melanie Griffin Movie Reference at September 21, 2026 04:41 PM (anL5R)

Probably just greenscreen magic, with her trying to pretend she was running on sand.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:43 PM (uhVAy)

260
I'm looking around, and I can't find any obligation for Paramount/Skydance to remain in California.

Wiseguys online are saying Ellison can comply with the terms while building new facilities in Nashville.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at September 21, 2026 04:44 PM (mmrXZ)

261 Speaking of trash, I started watching Hudson Hawk last night. Its all over the place, but I kind of like it anyway.

Posted by: What you talkin bout Bruce Willis at September 21, 2026 04:44 PM (anL5R)

262 I think Sam Jackson was his best in Black Snake Moan though the movie pretty much sucked.

Wednesday Addams grew up.

Posted by: Community Notes at September 21, 2026 04:45 PM (BvPIe)

263 NOW move out of California, LOL!

Posted by: Max Power at September 21, 2026 04:45 PM (TO3+g)

264 Hudson Hawk suffers from uneven tone and horrible bad guys. Why Sandra Bernhard ever got any work in anything ever baffles me.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:45 PM (KyEAU)

265 Hey, the first few were.... okay, they sucked, but Milla Jovovich is hot.
Posted by: Cave Johnson at September 21, 2026 04:42 PM (WhtqQ)

Paul WS Anderson thought so, that's why he married her after the first RE movie.

Posted by: Thrawn at September 21, 2026 04:45 PM (oPFtC)

266 Speaking of trash, I started watching Hudson Hawk last night. Its all over the place, but I kind of like it anyway.
Posted by: What you talkin bout Bruce Willis at September 21, 2026 04:44 PM (anL5R)

Probably now the worst drek of the last 70 years looks pretty good. I used to wonder how dark ages and such happened in the past, now I guess I know.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:45 PM (uhVAy)

267 Speaking of trash, I started watching Hudson Hawk last night. Its all over the place, but I kind of like it anyway.

Posted by: What you talkin bout Bruce Willis at September 21, 2026 04:44 PM (anL5R)
---
Never made it all the way through that movie, although I have tried more than once.

Posted by: Axeman at September 21, 2026 04:46 PM (Fi81e)

268 Wednesday Addams grew up.
Posted by: Community Notes at September 21, 2026 04:45 PM (BvPIe)

Into the biggest slut ever on the big screen. Lord almighty.

Posted by: polynikes at September 21, 2026 04:46 PM (KC5Lt)

269 I'm fine with guardrails for CNN, as long as the guardrails have explosives on them so they can be detonated at anytime, for any reason.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at September 21, 2026 04:46 PM (sAmhv)

270 Funny thing... if you don't spend this money in a certain place, then our Lawsuit will stop you from doing what you want...

Isn't this the very definition of Extortion?

Posted by: Romeo13 at September 21, 2026 04:46 PM (mP0Kj)

271 Hudson Hawk suffers from uneven tone and horrible bad guys. Why Sandra Bernhard ever got any work in anything ever baffles me.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:45 PM (KyEAU)

She was on Letterman a lot for no discernable reason to me.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:46 PM (uhVAy)

272 X, just now:
---
Denmark granted special residence permits to 321 stateless Palestinians from Lebanon in 1992. By the end of 2019, Danish government data showed that 196 of the original 321 (61%) had been found guilty of at least one criminal offense.

Posted by: Axeman at September 21, 2026 04:47 PM (Fi81e)

273 Funny thing... if you don't spend this money in a certain place, then our Lawsuit will stop you from doing what you want...

Isn't this the very definition of Extortion?
Posted by: Romeo13 at September 21, 2026 04:46 PM (mP0Kj)

They have to win that lawsuit.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:47 PM (uhVAy)

274 the Resident Evil movie is supposedly the first good Resident Evil movie.

According to Resident Evil fans is not a Resident Evil movie but people seem to like it okay

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:47 PM (KyEAU)

275 Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:45 PM (KyEAU)

She was good in The King of Comedy.

Posted by: polynikes at September 21, 2026 04:48 PM (KC5Lt)

276 Denmark granted special residence permits to 321 stateless Palestinians from Lebanon in 1992. By the end of 2019, Danish government data showed that 196 of the original 321 (61%) had been found guilty of at least one criminal offense.
Posted by: Axeman at September 21, 2026 04:47 PM (Fi81e)

Well, you select for criminals who don't even identify with the country they live in, they hardly can be expected to be good citizens after that.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:48 PM (uhVAy)

277 273 Funny thing... if you don't spend this money in a certain place, then our Lawsuit will stop you from doing what you want...

Isn't this the very definition of Extortion?
Posted by: Romeo13 at September 21, 2026 04:46 PM (mP0Kj)

They have to win that lawsuit.
Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:47 PM (uhVAy)

Not really, they can tie this up in courts for years...

Posted by: Romeo13 at September 21, 2026 04:49 PM (mP0Kj)

278 She was on Letterman a lot for no discernable reason to me.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:46 PM (uhVAy)
---
Letterman loved giving time to fellow standups.

And she found a way to make it into something.

Posted by: Axeman at September 21, 2026 04:49 PM (Fi81e)

279 >>>As for Denis Villeneuve -- I know everyone's supposed to say he's great but I think he's boring as hell. His idea of making something feel "important" is just to make it slow and film it in low-key, low-energy way.

THANK YOU, ACE!!!! 100%

Posted by: Max Power at September 21, 2026 04:49 PM (TO3+g)

280 She was good in The King of Comedy.

Lorraine Bracco was good in Goodfellas, at some point we have to admit that great directors can get a good performance even out of a turd.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 21, 2026 04:50 PM (KyEAU)

281 Tater and Tapper in a split screen. That is who the media believes are our social media thoughtleaders. There is your indicator to show that half of the population is low IQ.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at September 21, 2026 04:50 PM (5C90x)

282 Funny thing... if you don't spend this money in a certain place, then our Lawsuit will stop you from doing what you want...

Isn't this the very definition of Extortion?
Posted by: Romeo13 at September 21, 2026 04:46 PM (mP0Kj)

They have to win that lawsuit.
Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:47 PM (uhVAy)

Not really, they can tie this up in courts for years...
Posted by: Romeo13 at September 21, 2026 04:49 PM (mP0Kj)

Works for both sides, meanwhile this waiting period runs out...

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:50 PM (uhVAy)

283 ...$6 billion in cost savings promised to investors...

BWAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!!
Oh stop it. You're killing me here.
Whenever politicians talk about cost savings, hold on to your wallets.

Posted by: Diogenes at September 21, 2026 04:51 PM (2WIwB)

284 Nood - Vast majority of asylum claims are fake and ghey.

Posted by: Thrawn at September 21, 2026 04:52 PM (oPFtC)

285 "273 Funny thing... if you don't spend this money in a certain place, then our Lawsuit will stop you from doing what you want...

Isn't this the very definition of Extortion?
Posted by: Romeo13 at September 21, 2026 04:46 PM (mP0Kj)

They have to win that lawsuit.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 21, 2026 04:47 PM (uhVAy) "

not any more, they don't. settled out of court, sounds like ...
but I'm not saying it's not extortion.

(types / deletes)

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at September 21, 2026 04:52 PM (VyBeY)

286 Isn't this the very definition of Extortion?
Posted by: Romeo13 at September 21, 2026 04:46 PM (mP0Kj)
---
Sounds like a fucking taking.

Posted by: Axeman at September 21, 2026 04:54 PM (Fi81e)

287 They will spend more money on movies by charging more rent to the movie productions.

Posted by: MikeN at September 21, 2026 05:06 PM (O09iF)

288 I saw the "Resident Evil" movie. It's "good," in the sense that the director gets that he's supposed to be entertaining you.

But it's very much aware of its own limitations. There is no competence to be found here, which is relatable--for a while. If everybody everywhere is just a jerk-off, the fun is going to be short-lived.

So the problem is, it's too realistic.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 21, 2026 05:24 PM (K40fF)

289 Ace! Sicario!

Posted by: Little Larry Sellers at September 21, 2026 05:30 PM (4vd8A)

290 The 12 Blue State AGs want CNN to be able to rig the US elections and are welling to lose 85,000 jobs to do so.

Posted by: wferrin at September 21, 2026 06:56 PM (k/B7i)

291 So what if Ellison lets the 'independent board of Journalists' make certain that CNN stays reliably left, then cuts payroll and spending in response to ratings? Or sells the whole thing to someone about 15 seconds after the deal closes? Or every time some high-priced 'talent' comes up for renewal, offer to renew at, say, 40% of their previous contract?

Posted by: JB1000 at September 21, 2026 07:00 PM (xRPi/)

292 I read the agreement at the link.

There is a payoff to the AGs of $40M. I am not sure if that is per state or combined.

There is a payoff for someone to monitor for compliance and whatever "experts" that person hires.

The news monitoring requires 5 people with 10 years of being a reporter, 3 years with credentials, no more than 2 "affiliated" with any one political party.
2 GOP, 2 Conservative, 1 Libertarian?

It requires the company to make "commercially reasonable efforts" to use the Lots in Hollywood.
Please do not hurt yourself laughing.

Oh, there is a force majeure provision if riots and supply chain interruptions make compliance impossible.
Really, be careful with the laughter!

The film making requirements are $300M/year for 5 years, making 30 movies/year, 6 of which much cost $50M with appropriate publicity.
Those 6, at the minimum, more than cover spending requirement. That means the other 20 (4 MUST be indie productions) can cost . . . well, however much is enough to meet the release requirements.

The whole thing ends after 5 years, just in time for facilities outside of Cali to be ready.

Posted by: Sam at September 21, 2026 07:37 PM (7jMef)

Processing 0.05, elapsed 0.0582 seconds.
15 queries taking 0.0166 seconds, 301 records returned.
Page size 176 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.