shadowkat | Entries tagged with film

1. A discussion on a thread elsewhere got me to thinking about problematic authors, actors, directors, and artists - whose behavior may or may not have affected how I view them and if I can watch or read or listen or look at their art any longer. And to the degree that I can separate the artist from the work? (Leaving aside of course the tricky subject of whether they are sending the proceeds or earnings from their work to nefarious and troublesome causes.)

Generally speaking, this is a personal thing, and people's mileage varies.

There's also a lot of variables at play. It depends on what the artist did, who they did it to, if they are still doing it, if they paid for it, how long ago it happened, and if whatever it was that happened happened as a direct result of the art or in the process of creating the art.

This of course involves work that I've not seen, read or heard yet, or didn't see, read or hear prior to the action or wasn't aware the action was occurring when I saw, read or heard it.

Examples?
( Read more... )

2. Work is work. I spent a lot of time doing something that needless to say was headache inducing. But it was a lovely day, if a might bit chilly - lows in the 40sF, highs in 50sF. I wore a jacket over a sweater and was fine. Took a walk around the piers near Battery Park, watched the boats, stood in the sun, and favored my knee a bit on the way back.

3. Tomorrow, I have to get a mammogram - the annual physical mammogram. ( Read more... )

4. A bit of good news? They didn't find any more tumors (cancerous or otherwise) in Sisinlaw. The CAT scan came back negative - well except for the one tumor they are removing. But there's nothing else but that one. We are very relieved.

5. Mother: Do you remember Dave Mannverick.
Me: No, why?
( Read more... )

( Read more... )

The lovely thing about getting older? Is I forget stuff.
I like forgetting stuff. I just wish I had more control over it - ie. "I don't like that particular memory - I know let's delete it - gone now."
They did a movie about that once? ( Read more... )

5. I should do meme questions...

Question a Day Meme - October

20. Today is International Chef’s Day (created in 2004 by esteemed chef Dr Bill Gallagher) and is focused on educating children around the world about the importance of eating healthy, promoting the career of chefs and helping change local communities. What was the last thing you made from scratch to eat?

A salad

21. It’s International Infection Week – we all got into the habit of carrying around some hand sanitiser back in the C19 days. Do you still do that?

Yes. I live in NYC? Although I don't always use it? But I have a ton of it. I have it at work. I have it in my bag. It's NYC?

22. Have you ever seen a Fabergé egg?

Yes. Once in a museum, and often in pictures. I've only a vague memory of it.

23. Michael Crichton was born on this day in 1942. Have you read any of his novels (e.g. Jurassic Park, The Andromeda Strain, The Great Train Robbery) or seen anything he screenwrote or produced (ER, Twister, Looker)?

Yes. I had friends who loved his writing and rec'd it. So I've read quite a few - borrowed.

Read: Jurassic Park, The Andromeda Strain, Rising Sun, Timeline (I only remember Jurassic Park, Andromeda Strain, and Rising Sun)

Movies adapted from his books that I've seen: Rising Sun, Jurassic Park, The Andromeda Strain, Disclosure, The Great Train Robbery

Television series and films he wrote? ER, Twister

Remember and Recommend? Andromeda Strain (it's excellent), Jurassic Park, ER and Twister

Rising Sun and Disclosure probably doesn't date well. And Timeline was horrible.

Crichton fell out of favor due to the fact that he didn't believe the science behind climate change.

Current Mood: tired

Read an article today at work about the Romanian film Fjord directed by Cristian Mungo. And he said something interesting in the article that I've been tossing around for some time now and trying to figure out how best to articulate.

[Per the article, Fjord] is the rare art house movie to pose uncomfortable questions for largely left-leaning audiences. Mungiu is himself politically liberal, but “Fjord” dramatizes a progressive brand of closed-mindedness and sanctimony that, he feels, rivals traits of the far right.

The extreme left behaves the same,” Mungiu said over coffee in a recent interview. “They are certain that they hold the truth. The only thing you do is divide the society to the level of division that exists today. We don’t live in society. We live in bubbles, on different shores of the same river.”

***

“It doesn’t mean, not even for a second, that I encourage the conservative view of the world,” Mungiu says. “But nowadays it’s considered that if you don’t use your energy as a filmmaker to make a film directly against that, it’s a big sin. Most of the films that people produce today are for or against something. These films don’t create a dialogue. Nobody else will watch them but people in this bubble. The film confirms to them they are already on the good side of things. The others are guilty.”

While playing “Fjord” at film festivals, Mungiu has stressed that this story could been set in any liberal society. He believes the same evolution of leftist ideals throughout Europe and in the United States is part of what’s fueling political polarization.

“Show a little bit more understanding,” says Mungiu, addressing progressives. “Try to be less dogmatic. The general habit is to label people. But you pretend to be smarter. I have more expectations from you.”

**

When “Fjord” won the Palme, Mungiu said in his acceptance speech that society had become “radicalized” — split down the middle, with one side judging other and neither communicating any longer."

****

I had a co-worker once use as a tag line on all of his emails: "When arguing with a fool, make sure you aren't the fool." It's kind of similar to when fighting monsters? Don't become the monster. Or when staring into the abyss, the abyss stares back into you.

I don't know if social media and the internet has made this type of radicalized and divisive dialogue worse or not over time? But I have found a lot of people attempting to cancel or shut down the side of the argument that they disagree with without listening first. Often resorting to name calling. They do it on minor trivial debates. I've had folks shut me down over debates over Buffy or Soap Operas or comics? Let alone politics.

And unfortunately discussing something with people you don't see face to face, and hear, and only see words floating across a computer screen - makes it easier to be well, cruel?
( Read more... )

Current Mood: contemplative

Almost forgot to share what I found via my work browser. It throws dumb articles at me? Some are worth a look, some really aren't? (Most of them are actually lists of horror films, novels, and scary places - which is disturbing. I suppose if I stopped clicking on them, it would stop throwing lists of horror movies at me? Want recs on horror movies, I can probably give them based on seeing all of these lists.)

This below article which I decided I had to share with folks (for reasons that currently escape me), finally provided information on the settlement between Skydance Media and the 12 State Attorney Generals who sued them over the Paramount/Warner Merger, along with the UK who also protested the merger, and the WGA.(They had to make settlements with a lot of people for this to go through.)

"After months of twists and turns that included a bidding war with Netflix and a legal fight with 12 state attorneys general and the Writers' Guild of America, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery officially closed their $110 billion merger on Tuesday.

The move creates an entertainment behemoth that will oversee multiple streaming services, including Paramount+, Pluto TV, HBO Max and Discovery+, and TV networks like CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, HBO and CNN. It will also oversee a vast library of IP, such as Harry Potter, the DC Universe, Game of Thrones, SpongeBob SquarePants and more." (Paramount is behind Star Trek, Yellowstone franchise, NCIS.) I guess it was only a matter of time, considering UPN (Paramount) and WB. (Warner) became CW in the early 00s.

Paramount/Warner Bros/Discovery 110 Billion Merger Closes (If they hadn't closed this week, it would have cost Skydance millions.)

"Paramount received clearance from Warner Bros. shareholders and regulators and governments representing 68 jurisdictions globally, including the U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Communications Commission, the European Commission and the United Kingdom's Competition and Markets Authority."

Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin also approved a settlement between Paramount and a dozen state attorneys general that includes commitments to invest $1.5 billion in domestic film and TV production over five years, release at least 30 films a year in theaters and negotiate the distribution agreements for each company's suite of cable networks separately.

The combined company also must set up an independent editorial board to oversee CNN and CBS News' operations and continue to operate Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery's studio lots for five years, among other things.

Failure to comply with the various commitments in the settlement range from a $30 million penalty per film that misses the theatrical goal to forced divestitures of the company's 49% Miramax stake within a 12-month period as well as BET, Comedy Central, VH1, Smithsonian, Destination America and Science Channel within a 120-day period.

Additionally, Paramount reached a separate resolution with the WGA, including a five-year layoff pause at CBS and a $17.5 million health fund contribution.

It also agreed to concessions in the U.K. and Europe, including terminating its stake in United International Pictures and commitments to not to combine linear channels with its streaming services, maintain the editorial independence of its news services and children's networks and provide more funding to Channel 5 to support high-quality news, original children's programming and drama. "

***

Alrighty then.

Now I'm trying to decide if it still makes sense to boycott Paramount + and Warner Brothers (HBO). Is this good news or bad news or neither? Inevitable at any rate.

I don't know if the Ellisons are actually using funds from Paramount (and soon Warner Brothers (HBO)) properties to fund nefarious political donations to folks like the Israeli government's war in Gaza, and the Republican Party. Truth is - I can't get away from the bastards? They invented Peoplesoft and Oracle, both of which are embedded in my work place and I use daily. Actually I want to decimate them for creating Peoplesoft, alone.

OTOH - I could save the money. I have too many streaming subscriptions, and some are bundled with other things (such as Apple and Amazon). Well it makes boycotting Harry Potter easier. But I'd miss The Pitt. It's my favorite live action television drama.

***

I despise mergers. I wish they'd stop. I've been a merger victim and am now a merger refugee. They only make life good for the rich idiots who benefited from the stock options.

The health insurance merger - resulted in the upper management and share holders making enough money that they could do whatever they wanted. While various employees who got laid off - had to scramble to find new jobs, ended up struggling to pay COBRA, and the customers health insurance costs went up.

Although...I did hear that some of them were not smart with their financial earnings and had to struggle to find work to support themselves, with a lot of difficulty.

I need to make dinner - probably bean salad and the rest of the cucumber soup. The doctor got back to me on my blood work - the only issue is the folate - and she told me to start taking 400 mg of folate daily. (I already started doing that - moment I discovered it - I bought folate. And had white corn grits this morning which is high in folate and iron.). The rest is fine - the high B12 either means I'm eating very healthy, or to reduce B12 intake. (I wasn't taking that much of it to begin with - I kept forgetting to take it, and have three full bottles of it.) B12 is supposed to become deficient with Menopause? But I've not experienced this? Maybe I just eat healthier than most women with menopause? IDK. (Shrugs) And she said the hemoglobin was normal - so obviously she wasn't concerned about that one blood count being slightly off (and she's the expert not me).

One of the things I've learned in life is to be skeptical of whatever I see on the internet.

Rainy Day, so I just stayed in and loafed. Slept in until 9, since I had issues getting to sleep last night. Ended up taking a shower around midnight to calm my nervous energy. I'm sensitive to shifts in weather. And it went from being over 80 on Friday to the low 60s and 50s today. Thankfully, I got to be outside most of the day on Saturday and on Wednesday, which were both beautiful days. And took long walks both days.
Made me feel less guilty for loafing today.

Watched three things:

1. Lanterns Episode 7 - yup, DC has a character and tone problem. While I'm enjoying Lanterns, it's a dark and gritty sci-fi noir mystery series, with horror components, not exactly superhero fare? Also, the most likable and engaging character remains Hal Jordan. John Stewart is not portrayed well in this series. ( Read more... )

I'm curious to see what survives post WB/Paramount merger - even though I'll unfortunately have to cancel my subscription come January (for reasons below the cut - mainly political). It is unfortunately a good fit? Both studios have gotten in the habit of producing increasingly dark and gritty adult fare, some of which verges on the violently sadistic. Star Trek is among the few light properties produced by either, and that's about to change in a big way. I fear the Ellison's and Skydance don't have the sensibility to continue with Star Trek as Gene Roddenberry envisioned it? ( Read more... )

2. Toy Story 5 - on Disney was enjoyable. And not quite as preachy as feared. ( Read more... )

After it - I watched the Taylor Swift music video associated with it (which is okay?) and "Lamp Story" - a twenty minute, if that, short on Little Bo Peep's journey from Baby Lamp to toy in the play ground. In some respects I liked it better than Toy Story 5 and Swift's romantic music video? Although both were enjoyable.

The world definitely is built well enough for multiple movies, and the later films are much lighter and in some respects more enjoyable than the first film - which was rather dark and had elements of horror in the narrative. Women write the later films, while the first was written by Joss Whedon et company.

3. Hoppers - a bit too much on the preachy side. And I kind of lost track of what it was trying to say somewhere in the middle of the film - partly because it does ask a bit of the audience? ( Read more... )
In short? Toy Story was much better on multiple levels. Although animation was fairly good for the most part. It does have an all star cast - which I find annoying, because I know there's a lot of under-employed talented voice actors out there, and really no need to cast employed actors such as Jon Hamm and Meryl Streep in roles. I didn't notice. So why bother?

****

Making my way through book 5 of Dungeon Crawler Carl series. At least I think it is book 5? I'm doing it on audible, so not quite as easy to keep track of which book is which. At any rate this one is "The Butchers Masquerade". A couple of notable points about this series? ( Read more... )

Spent most of the day watching television, while it rained. It's not that bad where I am? But I know that five miles north of me, there can be flooding. NYC is crazy when it comes to weather? It's a bunch of islands.
And it can be sunny in one place, and high winds and drenching down pours in another. Also the subways really aren't set up for drenching down pours. They are working on fixing the problem - however. They have an emergency response network set up. I know, I listened to a presentation on it.

1. Lanterns - I'm up to date on Lanterns. The problem I'm having with it - is that the only Lantern, I like is Hal Jordan. John Stewart isn't bad - but he annoys me. He's an entitled ass. Guy Gardner, is also an entitled arrogant ass. Hal Jordan on the other hand has a world weary vulnerability and a snarky sense of humor. Plus he's played by Kyle Chandler who I adore.

Why is this a problem? ( spoilers )

Lanterns, Supergirl and Peacemaker underline an on-going issue with DC's films and why they aren't as popular as Marvel's.

Most of their heroes and characters bare a disturbing resemblance to Chris Pratt's Star Lord in behavior, temperament and sense of humor. And let's face it, a little of Star Lord goes a long way? And the only reason Guardians worked is all the other characters in it?

Yes, that may appeal to a few fans, but not a general global audience? Movies have to appeal to a much bigger audience than television shows and well, comics. They are more expensive to make.

Other than that - I am still enjoying it. I like the mystery set up. Even though, it doesn't quite work for me that everyone hates Hal Jordan, when he's the most likable and appealing of the three. Honestly, who could hate Kyle Chandler?

2. The Witch - directed by Robert Eggers, starring Ana Taylor-Joy (her first major film role - her face is fuller in this role and she's a lot younger).

Disturbing film. I'd place it the category of atmospheric psychological thriller? Although more creepy than scary? It is violent in places. Graphically so. But the colors are so muted, it's not clear. And most of the violence is implied off screen. Particularly the violence against children - that's not really shown - but it is implied.

Eggers adapts it from various folktales, historical documents, and legends of New England at the time. It takes place in 1630 New England - and is about a family of Pilgrims who have been outcast from their settlement. The father refused to follow the dictates of the settlement and its teachings. As a result, they were cast out to fend on their own. Things do not go well - to say the least or much chaos ensues.

The cinematography is well done for the most part. Although it is hard to figure out what is happening in some sections - the more horrific sections actually. Eggers is of the less is more school in horror. So he suggests what is happening. Also it's stripped of color for the most part, and is shown in dull color tones. (Thankfully. Since this is a graphically violent movie.)

Trigger Warning? Child death is heavily featured and while it's not exactly shown so much as implied and happens off screen? It's graphic. It's also rather brutal. If you have issues with the death of small children, violence against children, babies, or the molestation a ten year old boy - and that triggers you? Best to avoid.

3. Backrooms - directed by Kate Parsons, and distributed by A24. This is the horror film that A24 found on Youtube and funded the original director to turn into a movie. A24 has helped revitalize the horror film genre. And honestly A24 is turning out some of the more innovative films right now.

This is one mind-fuck of a movie. Eerie, disturbing and creepy on various levels. Takes the concept of psychological thriller to a whole new level.

I kind of went in blind. And I think you almost have to? Because the movie is difficult to describe without massive spoilers.

The setup? An owner of a furniture store - Captain Clark's Furniture Warehouse goes to Mary, a psychologist, to air out his issues. One night, Clark alone, watching television in his warehouse - he discovers something odd and goes to investigate. He probably should have left well enough alone. But curiosity and all that...and discovers well, a series of insane back rooms to the furniture store...rooms that shouldn't exist, and are designed in weird ways that make no sense. Alarmed and terrified, he tells Mary about them, who doesn't believe him. So he decides to go back and get proof...things do not go well and much chaos ensues.

To say this is a weird-ass film is putting it mildly. But it is really hard to talk about without spoiling you? So...leaving it at that.

Did I like it? I don't know? Does one ever really like horror? Is it a good movie? It's different, and interesting, and compelling, and very disturbing, not to mention creepy. But I have seen similar things - in some respects it reminds me a lot of Severance? Except better pacing. (It's a movie not a series. I couldn't get past the third episode of Severance - which kept putting me to sleep - this held my attention. Also it's scarier than Severance.)

4. Kate Moss's Labyrinth - this is the television miniseries adapted from Moss's novel. Not the David Bowie film (which I kind of liked better?). It does however have an interesting cast? Sebastian Stan and Vanessa Kirby star in it - and it is among their earliest roles. As does John Hurt, Tony Curran, John Lynch, Tom Felton...

It jumps back and forth between 2012 and the 13th Century (Medieval Times), following two separate women's searches for the holy grail. But not linked to Arthur. It's a thriller. In both time lines - the women are in danger.
The modern day time line has better pacing and is easier to follow. It's not executed well. I've seen this thing done better elsewhere.

It is okay? But the jumps back and forth are kind of jarring and not set up well or synced. And you can tell it was a made-for-network-television two part mini-series by the act cuts, where commercial breaks were supposed to be? Commercial television tends to be a bit jumpy? With lots of act breaks.

Also the film stock has faded a bit.

That said - Stan and Kirby, who aren't given much to work with, shine, along with John Hurt. I have a girl crush on Vanessa Kirby. That actress is good in everything. This is among her first roles. As it is for Stan. I'm admittedly watching it mainly for them. Other than that, it's kind of disappointing and I'm not sure yet if I'll continue with it.

(I found it on Amazon Prime, although it's also streaming on Roku and Tubi.)

Overslept, mainly due to staying up way too late last night writing and editing the previous post. I also realized that I can't seem to talk about 9/11 without crying. It's the firefighters that get me every time. Also a main take away - was how discombobulated I felt? It was as if the world had suddenly decided out of the blue to go bat-shit crazy on me, and I had no idea why? My Aunts were calling me on the landline at work - out of nowhere. (They never called. And the two Aunts that did - California and Texas, of all places. I have no idea how they tracked down my work number at the time. We didn't have FB back then?) It was bizarre? It is odd the people who reach out during times of crisis, isn't it? It's never who you think its going to be?

***

Pretty day today. I took a long enough walk to grab groceries. A recipe for chickpea cookie dough called for brown sugar, but I couldn't find anything small? I don't tend to keep granulated or any sugar in my cabinets. The only sugar I have is raw honey and maple syrup. So, maybe use that? Or just the Betty Crocker GF (Gluten Free) Cookie Mix I bought (which makes the best GF cookies or the closest to actual cookies).

Caught up on Lanterns - which is really good. It's very character driven, and the mystery is twisty. Someone on threads or twitter stated that Lanterns was what Marvel's Secret Invasion should have been. They aren't wrong? But to be fair to Marvel - the invasion storyline works better with the DC Green Lantern and Manhunter mythos, than Marvels Scrull and Kree mythos. Comics (specifically superhero comics) do a lot of science fiction. More science fiction than much else actually?

It's on HBO Max - if you want to give it try. It may eventually pop elsewhere overseas. It's dark and gritty. The women look alike to me - but it has some really strong female roles within it. And some nice gender flips or twists. I was actually surprised in by the twists in the last two episodes.

Next up, is Supergirl which is finally streaming on HBO. (I'm in a superhero film mood, in case you haven't noticed.)

I'm still following the casting rumors on the X-men reboot with interest, which are entertaining. Many are rumors. ( Read more... )

After dinner and a shower, I watched the new Supergirl film. I figured out if I take a brief cold shower - with cold water on my chest, and back of the neck - I can reset my vagus nerve. It's why people do cold plunges. This is easier and cheaper - considering I don't live near an ocean or river or lake that I can take a cold plunge in, nor do I want to pay someone for it at a spa. (They have cold plunge spas in NYC. God, they have everything in NYC? Also, apparently there is an app now for literally everything? You can keep track of what you are reading/books you've bought on an app, writing prompts, learning to sing, learning a language, recipes, diet, etc.)

Supergirl requires a much lengthier review? But, I'll give a preview? It's okay. I like it a lot better than the series and the previous films, but those set such a low bar, that it's not really a compliment?
Milly Alcock is excellent in the role - and the best Supergirl that I've seen to date. (Again it is admittedly a very low bar?) The main plot is basically the science fiction version of True Grit, except in the role of Rooster Cogburn is...wait for it...( Read more... )

Like I said, it deserves a longer review? But I can see why it flopped at the box office. And I'm glad I didn't pay $20 for it. But if you subscribe to HBO MAX? It's a fun watch, particularly if you've ever seen True Grit (but only have a vague memory of it like I did). Drags a bit in the middle though. And the supporting characters are really annoying. Kara and Krypto are by far the best things in the movie. The dog is clearly CGI, so no animals were injured in the film.

Wasn't going to post tonight, but I found stuff to post about...

1. So, I've been looking for a reason to visit this insanely beautiful French Bookstore on the upper east side, and John Scalz's blog gave me one!

Literary Fall Event at Villa Albertine
( An Excuse to visit Villa Albertine - which is among the most beautiful book stores in the world )

I need to get out and enjoy the city a bit. I've gotten kind of depressed lately? Too much sitting around being bored at work.

Yeah, I know, I know - like I really need an excuse. But it takes an hour to get there by train. I RSVP'd for the afternoon events. But may go early?

2. I emailed myself an article on upcoming movies thrown at me from the work browser to share with you all.

16 Fall Movies You Need To Know About

I found eight that intrigued me.

( the eight films I found intriguing )

3. They were having interviews today at crazy workplace

ME: What are you interviewing for?
Bearded Guy who is young enough to be my kid: Management Analyst
( Read more... )
Sigh, this is why I'm depressed. Well one of the reasons. National news. Boredom. IBS. And bad knees are contributing factors. I chose not to get cookies today - IBS. Instead got electrolyte water and hershey bars with almonds, which oddly helped a great deal. Well that and a tums.

4. They hired one of the guys who auditioned to play Cyclops for the role of Angel in the new X-men Reboot. Asa Germane gets Angel role in Marvel's X-men Reboot. His last role was on Gen V. So he's good at playing angst ridden superheroes with mental health issues (which is kind of required for the X-men, they could give Thunderbolts a run for their money in that regard.)

1. I was bored again at work, so ended up discovering "Entertainment News" on my phone and MSN feeds:

( random entertainment links )

2. Book Meme

Finished The Camelot Caper by Elizabeth Peters - it was an audio book read by Grace Conlin (she is not a good audiobook narrator). Also the plot was confusing and kind of silly - which made it difficult to follow in audiobook. It's the first person of the aristocratic international art thief, John Smythe, who in this book is attempting to recreate the ruins of Camelot in order to bury the goods that his father had stolen on the property. Jess and her new boyfriend, a hapless mystery writer, are the inept detectives on the case. This was published in 1969, and dates better than one might suspect. It takes place in London and I think Cornwall.

Also finished Dungeon Crawler Carl in E-books, and wrote a review of it in another post. I enjoyed it more than Camelot Caper, and it was a nice fast read. Different. With a quirky sense of humor.

Currently reading/listening to Carl's Doomsday Scenario (I looked up the writer who prior to writing the Carl series - worked at cat shows, drawing pictures of people's pets and sold his artwork on Etsy. The Carl series has put him on the map. Most of his readers discovered it via audio books.) The audio book is admittedly more entertaining than the novels. Jeff Hays who narrates it - is excellent. Among the better narrators out there. He can do a myriad of voices - this thing has a lot of characters. He also does a fairly decent impression of Bruce Campbell's voice. It has a touch more character development than the last one. We learn more about the main characters, and the mechanics of the game - while still present, don't overshadow quite as much.

Also listening to Borrower of the Night (1973)- the first Vicky Bliss mystery, which introduces the main character, along with her first love interest Tony (an annoyingly arrogant male chauvinistic scholar - who feels the need to prove he's her intellectual superior when he's not proposing marriage), and Herr Schmidt who is a minor character in this one and barely featured. I think the writer is attempting to satirize Tony, but it doesn't quite work? It's not as good as the later mysteries. It dates well enough. But the male chauvinism is heavily apparent. It is now too. So...

Still working my way through the hardcover of This Kingdom will Not Kill Me. It's not the book's fault. This is a me issue. I have troubles sitting down and reading hardcover or paper back books - and can't cart them to and from work with me. Also by the time the week is over, I don't really want to read things?

3. Mother regaled me with the latest on my niece's research project - which her advisors, faculty, dean and the staff of her graduate program at the University of Montana are really excited about. Including one of the faculty, who happens to be an environmental lawyer. What is niece doing for her graduate project? ( niece's environmental research project )

I can see why they are excited about her project. I'm excited about her project. I've procured environmental remediation services for Long Island, and negotiated the contracts and change orders during my long career at the rail road. Also worked with a lot of environmental engineers. So I'm very proud of niece (obviously).

After she completes this she's hunting work - and has talked to her former boss in the California State Parks about possibilities. She's decided to go back to California once she fully graduates - where her current boyfriend lives and works.

Oh Niece saw the Odyssey with her boyfriend (a California Park Ranger) on IMAX in California and they loved it. But my mother's friends went to see it and ended up walking out of the theater during it - it was too violent and gory for them. They walked out during a scene with the sheep? Or dogs going over a cliff? This was according to Mother. I said, "well, it is a noir horror film". Nolan's films tend to be pretty dark. But I found it odd that that was what sent them out of the theater? I'd have had issues with the men being turned into pigs in graphic detail? Which is why I'm waiting for it to pop up on television, so I can skip over that part?

4. It was a beautiful day today. So I took a walk along the piers overlooking the Statue of Liberty. Also sat for a bit to watch the sail boats go by...I'd include a photo but this will have to wait until DW fixes its Insert Image - until then, I can't post anything. Annoying that.

Lazy weekend. Spent most of it dozing in my armchair - due to lack of sleep the night before. The weather hasn't necessarily been all that bad? Today it is in the 70sF (20s C) and overcast, with rain in the afternoon. Yesterday in the low 80sF (high 20s C).

I'm always exhausted by the time the weekend hits. I have no idea why. I remember having more energy when I was younger, busier and working a lot harder during the week.

Finished Book 1 of Dungeon Crawler Carl, now onto book 2, Dungeon Crawler Carl's Doomsday Scenario. The nice thing about this series is that I would never write it. So reading it - doesn't necessarily give me ideas or kill the ones that I already have. That's admittedly a mixed bag. I tend to look at books (films and television series) through two lenses? 1) the more "Objective": As a writer and writing critic- what is the writer trying to do here, what is the writer's aims and how does it further the story? What tricks are they employing? Does it work? Does the narrative style work? 2) the more "Subjective" - is this story working for me? On an emotional level? On an entertainment level? Why or why not?

Since I'm more of a macro than micro person, I don't really get that caught up on the fine print or itty bitty details or the logistics/fundamentals of how the world works. For example? I don't care if the world building is feasible or the word syntax is perfect. I skim over a lot of that? Or I handwave it - so there may be things in this book that will drive someone who is highly detail oriented crazy, but I didn't even notice.
( vague spoilers )
The characters are well drawn, I can see them in my head, with next to little description. I also can see the world. And hear the voices. While there's a lot of exposition being dropped constantly - it's told in an interesting enough manner that it doesn't distract or slow down the reading. And it does a good job of making the antagonists as interesting as the protagonists, and providing clues to more world-building and mysteries to keep the reader engaged.

I'd say it's different than just about anything else I've read within this particular subgenre of sci-fi. While it reminds me a lot of John Scalzi's writing style, and some of Stephen King (who is more horror than sci-fi), it isn't really like either? It is similar to Ready Player Now, but I like the book better than that one - and it moves faster. The game is also more interesting with higher stakes. And while the satire and the tone bears some resemblance to Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, it's far more accessible to a broader audience than Hitchiker is, and less esoteric. Hitchhiker is also dated.

At any rate, the story is working for me, along with the characters and world building. I really like the central characters and want to know what happens to them. And it's a nice fast read that doesn't require a lot of concentration and makes me laugh (which I require right now).

Overall? 4 out of 5 stars.

***

Re-watched Spiderman: No Way Home. Yep, Spiderman: Brand New Day is the better movie - from a purely objective perspective. Why? It unlike No Way Home, can work as a stand a lone. It nicely reboots the series. And it works various Marvel characters into the plot, without over-exposing them, or forcing the audience to watch all the movies to figure out what is going on. Marvel's biggest problem post-Endgame, was that they had all these exposition heavy movies that linked to each other and to television series. You had to watch everything to figure out what was going one with few exceptions, and they all had convoluted plots. No Way Home's plot makes no sense? Even the characters are confused by it. They spend half the movie looking at each other - going "huh?" ( Read more... )

Also tried to watch Loki s2 this weekend and kept dozing off during it. To the point, that it got incorporated into my dreams. I kept hearing Loki saying "And here I am" every once and a while.

This series has the same problems as No Way Home. ( vague spoilers for Loki )

D23 (the Disney Fan Convention) officially announced the cast of the new X-men live action reboot - to be released May 5, 2028.

And, they are definitely moving away from centering the story on Professor X (the actor portraying him is the least famous of the group), and more on the team and other characters. That was the mistake of the last six X-men films - the focus was on either Wolverine or Professor X and Magneto. And the X-men is about old white men? It's about outsiders. So the original six films alienated a lot of the core audience, and got repetitive.

The revealed cast is ( casting spoilers )

Many of the stars have been on Broadway recently according to Playbill

I'm excited about the fact that they've cast breakout star Inde Navarette.
She'll probably be in the Captain Marvel #3 film. That's a good role for her - since the character goes from being a villain to a hero, and has an interesting arc.

Here's the rest of the announcements, including trailers from the event:

Everything Announced at the 2026 D23 Event

( Read more... )

Here's the trailers released at D23 2026.

I've decided Robert Downy Jr is inspired casting for Victor Von Doom - he's most likely the Fantastic 4 Universe's version of Iron Man. The last trailer kind of gets it across. ( Read more... )

And, there's a really funny trailer in that link - in which they do a Lego parody of the Mandalorian and Grogu with Lego Animation. Star Wars kind of begs for parody.

I saw an interview recently - with George Lucas praising the benefits of AI for film making, and how it makes things easier. Not surprising. Lucas preferred working with special effects and designing better ways of doing special effects and filming, with advanced technology and computers - than working with people. He was the first to use computers and digital graphics in film - which is why the special effects in his Star Wars films back in the late 1970s/early 80s were so revolutionary. Also, why they hold up well. Oh by the way? They are re-releasing Star Wars and the Empire Strikes Back for a limited time this fall for their anniversary. (These are two films that I've seen at least twice in movie theaters, and more than 20 times at home, in every variation possible). They hold up well.

I like the metaphors of these films - it's why I loved Greek Myths, and fantasy, and speculative science fiction. One of the things I love about NYC - is I have access to so many of the cultural things that I love. And it's actually a really kind city - it takes care of the people inside it, for the most part. I've been in unkind cities that didn't. But NYC is a kind one with a lot of book stores, theaters, parks, and museums.

Friday Five

1. What is your favorite vegetable?

It varies? Currently raw baby spinach, baby kale (otherwise you can't eat it unless you cook it and eww), protein greens (includes pea shoots) and argula (so basically greens - which I eat three times a day it seems).

2. What is your least favorite (or most disliked) vegetable?

Okra, collard greens, and brussle sprouts.

3. How many half cup (one deciliter) servings of vegetables do you eat on a typical day?

I don't weigh or measure? But I eat greens three times a day, and often add cucumbers and onions, and others to the mix. I eat vegetables at least twice a day. I'm on a plant-based Mediterrean combo diet.

4. What is your favorite fruit?

Raspberries.

5. What is your least favorite (or most disliked) fruit?

Bananas, also green olives (although I don't think of them as a fruit)

***

Disney is doing some big announcements at the D23 Expo. Including the cast for the X-men Reboot (honestly I think it's a tad early - since that is filming in 2027 and being released in 2028, but Disney is building hype for it ahead of schedule). Also Vison Quest, Daredevil Born Again, and more on Doomsday.

Disney/Marvel is doing better with its programming at the moment than DC is. ( Read more... )

Casting rumors abound.

On tap for Television watching this weekend?

Lanterns on HBO Max
My Brilliant Career on Netflix (it's a new adaptation, and since I can't remember the book or the last adaptation...I've read both My Brilliant Career and My Career Goes Bung. Basically how hard it is to become a single female writer - in just about any century without patronage. In this case 1900 Australia.)

Also the last few episodes of X-men '97 S2.

1. Day Off

Went to Grand Central and Midtown for Doctor's Appointment and shopping.

Slept in - as in slept to 7 am as opposed to 5:55 am.

Hot and muggy, mostly just muggy. Akin to walking in a lukewarm sauna or steam room. Same yesterday. I was hot and sticky by the time I got home from my doctor's appointment this morning. It's about 86 F/ 30 C degrees, with 56% humidity. Yesterday was about the same. ( doctor's appointment ) My knee was bothering me by the time I got home.
Icing it now.

Of course I did walk for a bit (I was in a hurry and almost got turned around in the wrong direction hunting the doctor's office (very easy to do in Midtown - which has insanely long avenues, and horrific signage) ). It's about a fifteen to twenty minute walk to the doctor's office from Grand Central. I also decided to hunt for gluten free treats in Grand Central - apparently it has a few. The difficulty with Gluten Free in NYC - is that it is hard to get to most of the ideal spots? ( Read more... )

So after a lot of aimless wandering about (honestly Grand Central is a maze and their signage is abysmal (they go for style over substance - when it comes to signage - go for substance). ( Transit and I are going to have words). I went to Donut Planet (after someone gave me directions) - which I was told online - would have a broad selection of Gluten Free donuts. (No, just one type of donut, the almond coconut.) I think they confused it with vegan? They have a broad selection of "vegan" donuts, just as Insominac Cookies has a broad selection of vegan cookies.

And Eli Zanzabar in the Grand Central Market, which has noglu baked goods ( Read more... )

I was going to walk to the F, but my knee was beginning to throb, and I got kind of confused. ( NYC has a signage problem and an accessibility problem )

2. Yesterday at the Movies

As noted in a previous post, after work, I ventured to the movies with cjlasky in tow. We were hoping for a 4:15 pm show - with dinner after, but alas, NYCT had other plans. cjlasky's train was delayed by someone pulling the emergency break on a train at his station, and signal issues at another station. At least we can find out now what the issue is - in the past, we never knew.

So we moved our tickets to the 6:30 pm slot, and after exploring McNally's bookstore, and walking about aimlessly hunting a restaurant open at 5pm on a Monday night - we landed on a Sushi place. It was nice, but unfortunately did not have any A/C, and had the windows/doors open for the outside dining. We were sitting inside, next to the outdoor deck - when it decided to have a pop-up thunderstorm and the sky unleashed its fury. We didn't get wet, and it did make the air a little less heavy with humidity.

Then we went to the movie theater - The Cinemas, which bought out IPIC. Other than closing the restaurant and not letting folks order during the film, it had not changed at all. ( Read more... )

Spider Man : Brand New Day

I was already spoiled on who Sadie Sink was playing going in. But it didn't matter. By the way, she's excellent in the role. The casting in this, I thought, was mainly pitch perfect. The only role I had issues with or felt that the actor was a tad wooden? Trammel Tillman who played William Metzger. I wish he was better. He barely registered on screen. Actually, that was my main quibble with the film - I wish they'd directed that actor better - or found a better actor for that role. (And I'm not completely certain if that's a direction or an acting issue? I think the later, since everyone else was good in the film.)

( vague spoiler if you don't know who Sadie Sink is playing in the film )

I found the movie highly entertaining. It handled a large cast of characters far better than expected. Each character was given space to do its thing, and the director/writers found a way to show who each character was - visually and through action/dialogue in quick space of time. Examples? ( vague spoilier )

It's also a rather tightly written plot, with a few clever twists and turns here and there. Which is saying something for a superhero film, usually they aren't that tightly written. It's far from perfect, but for the most part the plot tracks and expands both thematically and develops all of the characters. There's a nice switcheroo or flip regarding the villains, that also changes Spiderman's perception of things, and his perception of his own powers. I wouldn't say it was necessarily innovative, but it works.

And the parallels between Spiderman, the misunderstood villain, and the Hulk are well done, better than I've seen previously. The misunderstood villain makes a good point - does hiding or suppressing ones power to appease others help? Or does it only provide others with control and power over you? Should we change ourselves for others? Should we give them that much power over us. ( Read more... )

They've kind of ret-conned the general overarching theme of Spiderman. ( spoilers No Way Home and Brand New Day )

I think it was fresne who once compared superhero stories to the Greek myths of old. I think that's an apt comparison. We've always told stories like these to entertain ourselves, and inspire. In dark times, or even not so dark ones, they can bring joy, wisdom, and inspiration. Is Spiderman any different than say Hercules or Odysseus or Telechamus or any number of Greek and Roman gods and heroes? And is it really any different to see Spiderman or the Odyssey? Both are stories about heroes grappling with monsters, and fellow heroes on their way home to loved ones. My niece saw the Odyssey recently and was on the edge of her seat, loving every minute, while I saw Spiderman Brand New Day - and felt the same. Pick the story that works for you - and ride it to its completion.

My fellow arachnid-phobics need not fear - outside of a bunch of web spinning and black eyes, we don't get the body horror of a man turning into a spider. ( Read more... )

Overall? I give it 9/10. I enjoyed the heck out of it. And will most likely watch it again when it comes out on television, partly because I had to go pee in the middle of it - and missed about ten minutes of it as result. ( vague spoilers ).

It really helps to see movies with folks who appreciate the same movies I do? I've learned over time - to see superhero films with fans of superhero films (bonus? the comics!). Do not see superhero films with people who don't like superhero films and think comics are silly. So, having seen films over the years with folks who don't fully appreciate the genre? I'm thankful to be able to see them with someone who does. It's more fun.

***

3. The X-men

This film does aid in setting up the Mutant Saga nicely. More so than any film prior and surprisingly so. ( spoilers for end of Spiderman and X-men film )

The next phase after Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars is the Mutant Saga - which features Black Panther III, X-men, Fantastic Four 2, Ghost Rider, etc. These are the films that I've been waiting for - these are the cool distinctive Marvel characters - these are the ones that put the character in comics.

1. Books

* Currently reading on ebook: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt D - it's the first novel in the best-selling series. And if you've been in a book store of late? You've seen it. Or spent any time on Book Instagram. I'm reading it for free on Kindle Unlimited, and have a few books with a credit on Audible.
( vague spoilers )

* On audio? I've finished The Vicky Bliss/John Smythe Mysteries - now I'm listening to The Camelot Caper,which introduces Smythe as a villain - and in a supporting role - takes place in Britain (obviously). It's his origin story more or less. And then Borrower of the Night - which introduces Vicky Bliss and her boss, Herr Dr. Schmidt. It takes place in Bavaria.

These are kind of cozy murder mysteries? Many don't have murders - and are just thrilling comedic capers. The best are Trojan Gold and Night Train to Memphis. The order is Camelot Caper, Borrower of the Night, Street of the Five Moons, Silhouette in Scarlet, Night Train to Memphis, and Laughter of Dead Kings. The last two end up in Egypt. The very last one, is in Munich, London, Rome, Egypt, and Munich. They focus on art theft, and murders related to art theft, with a kind of cocky not incredibly adept self-deprecating and snarky female detective, and over-educated aristocratic international art thief/antiques dealer - who sounds like Lord Peter Whimsy. The heroine sounds like Kathleen Turner. (So much so that people think Kathleen Turner is reading the audiobook - she's not.)

Quick, simple reads. For me? Comfort reads. Per Good Reads, the science-fiction/fantasy novelist Lois McMaster Bujold binge read them in 2018. (LOL!) I'm amused. She mentions she is pushing through them.
( more on Lois McMaster Bujold )

***

2. Entertainment Tidbits

* They've cast quite a bit of the new X-men film slated for 2028. It's filming in 2027. So far the cast is "Jean Grey", "Cyclops", "Beast", "Rogue", "Emma Frost"...that's who have cast to date. But I know they are looking for a Charles Xavier, and are waiting for Black Panther III to cast Storm. Also, they intend on casting Nightcrawler and have been in talks with the female star of Obsession, potentially for Mystique.
( Read more... )

* Robert Pattinson seems to playing a lot of villians in films of late, and doing a lot of A24 films, including Primetime. He's an underrated actor, who surprised me in the Drama. (I'm beginning to think Twilight was a director/script issue not an actor issue.)

* They are doing a ...Broadway musical adaptation of Purple Rain, with all the original songs from the film version. Lin Manuel-Miranda is among the producers (because of course he is).

3. The difficulty with Book to Film Adaptations, and What makes a film adaptation good?

Richard Brody of the New Yorker - writes What Makes an Adaptation Good?

( excerpts )

It's a good article written by a professional film critic who state rather aptly: "The recent release of Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” has turned just about every film critic in America into a classicist, and vice versa."

***

Why knowing film history and Hollywood history, and how films are actually made is important in regards to critiquing them?

( excerpt - how films often vary from the source material, are rewritten during filming, film without a script, or have the script changed along with the director halfway through )

"For filmmakers, the approach to a script (regardless of who wrote it or when) is akin to the approach to any literary classic: the situations and the characters are givens, and all that matters is one’s own interpretations, extrapolations, intuitions, and visions of them. ( Read more... )

***
What makes a good adaptation anyhow? It's an interesting question that has resurfaced with all the discourse (or hubbub depending on your point of view) over The Odyssey film adaptation. It's certainly not the first nor will be the last discourse over a film adaptation.

Mileage varies on it? And honestly, it depends on how much you love and revere the source material? Also, whether you read or remember it, and how clearly. Someone asked on one of the social media platforms : "Do you read the book before you see the movie or before the movie comes out?" (What if the book is an adaptation or novelization of the movie or television series? Then what?)
( my thoughts on this matter, if you are at all curious )

And here's a novelist's take on adapations of his work - a novelist who has had just about every novel he ever wrote adapted: John Le Carre - on Adaptations of His Work

( excerpt )

I can't find his famous quote - which I remember reading in Time Magazine or Premiere - where he famously stated that he expected the adaptations to vary from his work, because they are someone else's interpretation of it. And he grew over time to be curious to see how they looked at it, and how they viewed it differently than he did, what they saw in it that he didn't and what he was able to communicate to them through it. At the end of the day - that's what we are doing with art whether it be in film form, theater, a painting, a song, a book or a poem - trying to communicate what is in our head and hearts to someone else, and hoping for some sort of connection, preferably a positive one.

Tried out new shoes today - the commute is the ultimate test. And, interesting results? They grip the pavement better - making it actually easier to go down stairs, also providing better balance while walking. At first my feet were a little uncomfortable sitting at work - but after a while, they were fine. It's kind of like being barefoot but with shoes on.
Also they are attractive shoes. May get a pair for mother.

Came home did exercises, inclusive of marching/Tia chi walking with weights. Listened to audio book during all of this. I know I should do them more often during the day - but honestly, don't have either the time or the wherewithal. And I can't get myself inspired to work out at a gym near my workplace. Been there done that have the checkbook scars. Gym memberships tend to add up and are ridiculously hard to get out of.

Why I need to stay off of Threads:

Wil Wheaton whined about the loss of blogs and journals on the internet and how much he missed them.
John Scalzi gently reminded Wheaton that Scalzi's coming upon his 25th anniversary of his blog. (I'm hitting the 23rd anniversary of mine - although it did change platforms around 2016. I reminded Wheaton a week ago that there are still blogging platforms out there.)

Meanwhile...
( things have changed a great deal since I owned/raised cats...also the cats vs dog ownership conundrum )
And..

Variety : Translator Emily Wilson Slams Christopher Nolan's Bad Writing for the Film Odyssey
Poster 1: The irony. The translator hates the film.
Poster 2: What a way to trash the film that's turning your translation into a cash cow. Just sit back and enjoy getting more readers?

I wonder if she knows there's another film adaptation of the Odyssey that was released in 2024, and nominated for various awards, entitled The Return? And not based on her adaptation? [I feel sorry for the folks involved with The Return - they really didn't have Nolan's marketing skills. It's all about how you package and market things folks. Hint? It helps if you piss off the alt-right in the process.]

( Read more... )
Sometimes the internet bulletin boards can feel like chinese water torture? I go on them out of curiosity - you can get some news of upcoming books, movies, and television series from them.

***

Breaking Bad asked me if I wanted to go a training seminar on PPP.
Me: What is PPP?

( what is PPP )

I agreed to go with the caveat that I had jury duty next week. They are coordinating it for September. I'm bored - at least it should be interesting and a new skill. I'm learning about infrastructure economics whether I want to or not, apparently.

***

Question a Day Meme - July

26. Mick Jagger was born today in 1943. Do you have a favourite Rolling Stones song?

I really love Paint it Black and Sympathy for the Devil - which scream Stones, whenever I hear them.

Those are my favorite Stones songs.

27. It’s National Whisky Day! The first evidence of whisky production in Scotland comes from an entry in the Exchequer Rolls for 1494, where malt is sent “To Friar John Cor, by order of the king, to make aquavitae”, enough to make about 500 bottles. Do you like whiskey (Scottish, Irish or neither)?

Nope. Not a whiskey drinker. Although I have been known to do hot whiskey toddy's when I had a cold - when I was much younger.

1. Some entertainment links from the San Diego Comic Con - which has become the big one, with all the big studio announcements. Oh? Apparently the Comic Con closes now with An Interactive Viewing of the BTVS episode Once More with Feeling complete with sing-a-long. It has taken the place of Rocky Horror Picture Show interactive sing a longs and cosplaying at comic con. I'm rather amused.

Everything Announced at the Comic Con movie related..

Coyote vs. Acme - the Final Trailer

2. Dungeon Crawler Carl television series for Peacock (they hired the guy who narrates and does the voices on the audio books to voice "Princess Donut" and the fans of the audio books are over the moon about it. I'm on the fence - the book has two lead roles? Carl and Princess Donut (a fluffy show-winning Persian cat). Giving both leads to men - seems kind of....but it's a small thing, and I've admittedly not listened to the audio book yet.)

Do I like Dungeon Crawler Carl? I think it's overrated and very much slanted towards a young RPG video game playing readership? It very much makes me think of John Scalzi writing a Stephen King novel. If Stephen King and John Scalzi were to have a child? It would be Matt Diminnion. It has their sense of humor and writing style. If you don't like those writers? Probably best to skip. If you do - no guarantee you will like this.

That said, I am enjoying it - and was reading it most of the weekend. It's hard to put down. Well the first part of it is at any rate, around the 30% mark, it gets a bit repetitive and reminds me of why I don't stick with video games for very long? ( Read more... )

The writer definitely has something to say about our world. And for the most part I agree with him - at least at this point, that could change. ( spoiler )

3. Someone on Threads queried as to why for the first time in over 20 years, there was no new announcements about Star Trek films or television series in the franchise.

If you know anything about the group that bought Paramount and is currently trying to buy Warner Brothers - you will know why and it won't surprise you. ( why boycotting Paramount is a good idea )

I'm not telling anyone else what to do? But I cancelled Paramount Plus when they bought it, and am actively boycotting CBS. I find it amusing folks cancelled Disney for firing Jimmy Kimmel - then they rapidly rehired him, but did zip about CBS firing and cancelling the Stephen Colbert Show. I think it's because Skydance was clever about it - and did it slowly and insidiously.

4. Also been engrossed in the Elizabeth Peters Vicky Bliss audio books, which dare I say? I like even better than the actual books. Barbara Rosenblatt is an excellent narrator - and can do multiple voices and accents with seemingly ease. The fact she was doing them from 1983-1990s, is exemplary. Apparently they had great audio book readers back then.
I'm on my favorite right now - Night Train to Memphis. Peters employs the unreliable narrator trope quite well - the reader is so engrossed in the narrator's perspective that we don't pick up on things. Even though I've forgotten a bit of it (it's been a while since my last re-read?) - I am picking up on a few things now that the narrator doesn't see. It's also a gothic, and once again the narrator is suspecting her occasional lover/co-detective/crook of nefarious doings. This would have made a great television series - missed opportunity there. (But no...instead we get Dungeon Crawler Carl? The Vicky Bliss mysteries would have been so much easier to do. Ugh. None of the book series I want made into films and television shows are ever adapted, no, it's always the ones that I wish weren't adapted, because I do not want to watch that on screen or don't understand the appeal of either the books or the series.)

***

5. Today's Health Report

I did more exercises today. Also took a walk in the morning for groceries, as opposed to the afternoon - went to Met Fresh as opposed to the more expensive Food Coop and Farmers Market. (Ironic, I know, but there it is.) And some fixing/cooking of meals. I'm doing a good job of healthy eating. Becoming gluten intolerant, and having to do a health cleanse in my forties helped tremendously.

( the fixing of meals )

Pop culture news? Mainly because I'm woefully depressed and talking about this stuff tends to cheer me up? (It's either that or talking about why I'm depressed, which, just, no.)

1. New Official Avengers Doomsday Trailer has finally dropped.

Watch on YouTube

Social media interactions on it...
( Read more... )

That's a wickedly cool trailer - well if you are an MCU/comics fan. Also it's finally featuring some of my favorite characters. I may like it better than Endgame.

2. The X-Files Reboot is taking shape...and wrapped filming on the pilot.

Ryan Coogler Shot it in 65mm film

"First off, the actual series hasn’t been greenlit by Hulu; only the pilot was shot, written, and directed by Coogler, with production wrapping last month. More curiously, reports indicate it was shot on 65mm film by his “Sinners” DP, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, who won the Oscar for that film.
( for more )

3. Emma Thompson is adapting a feminist retelling of the Illiad

"Dame Emma Thompson is adapting a feminist retelling of Homer’s Iliad for the big screen.

The actress, known for her roles in Love Actually, Howards End, and more recently the romcom Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, revealed that she is trying to get her adaptation of Pat Barker’s The Silence of the Girls made into a film.
( Read more... )

4. The Odyssey - Film Feeding Frenzy (reminiscent of Oppenheimer but much crazier - it has to do with Nolan's insistence to film on 70mm IMAX to get people to see it in theaters).

I've asked various folks, and the consensus (mainly from outside the US) is that it can be enjoyed on a regular screen. (Making me wonder about a lot Americans - who seem to like things to be excessive? Or over the top? Maybe it's just me? But Americans seem to be more fanatical than elsewhere?)

This is good news. Because in NYC - the IMAX theaters and IMAX 70mm theaters are sold out - and tickets are costing $33 and up a ticket (Eh, apparently I was wrong - it's anywhere from $998- $1,000 a ticket on E-bay).

( film fanatics want to see it on Imax 70mm or Imax no matter what )

Some places are cheaper at $25 a ticket. Eh, I do not want to pay $25 to watch a movie. Apparently the IMAX screens at Lincoln Center in NYC are actually larger than the ones everywhere else - so some American film geeks - think they are literally worth traveling across the country for - and paying $50 for. (I kid you not - people are driving to NYC from Florida to see it (and Florida actually has 70mm Imax but apparently not as big as NYC's).

They went all out in NYC.

40 Foot Trojan Horse in Front of Lincoln Center Theaters

[I wonder if people realize that they could wait a few months, and still be able to see it? I mean I doubt it is going anywhere. It's a movie not a limited engagement Broadway show with actors who have to move on to other gigs in three to six months. ( Read more... )]

5. I finished Meg Whalen's The Thief in the Queen's Thief Trilogy - not sure I'll continue with the rest. I'm not overly fond of her writing style. I found it difficult to follow at times. It's in the unreliable narrator trope - the narrator is basically not telling us everything, but drops clues here and there. I found it more plot heavy than character centric. And outside of the main character, didn't really like anyone in it.

It's about a Thief in Greece - who gets himself caught and imprisoned by a King - to obtain the interest of the King's magus in the stealing of a rare artifact. He needs the Magus to show him where the artifact is hidden and provide the key to obtaining it. He can do the rest.

Why he wants it, and how he goes about stealing it, and obtaining his aim - is the plot. The difficulty is that we don't know why he wants it, or what his aim is exactly until the end. We just see how he goes about stealing it. It makes it difficult to care about the rest.

But your mileage may well vary. Also the writing style is young adult, which I'm not overly fond of?

Next up on ebooks, via Kindle Unlimited is Dungeon Crawler, Carl by Matt Dinniman - which Seth McFarland has gotten ahold of and is developing into a series. It's a darkly comic series with mixed reviews - and is wildly popular at the moment. It's all over the book stores. I see more copies of it than anything else. (I have it for free with a subscription. Yes, writers get paid if enough people read their books on Kindle Unlimited. I made mine available on it - I've not really made any money off of it...but..)

Also listening to the latest book in the Vicky Bliss series by Elizabeth Peters. Actually my favorite - Trojan Gold which was published in the 1980s. Elizabeth Peters (aka Barbara Mertz and Barbara Michaels) was an egyptologist and art historian, who served on many museum boards in the 1950s and 60s, also a feminist - in the 20th Century. She's dead now. She was born in 1927 and died in 2013. Best known for the Amelia Peabody mysteries. The narrator is astonishingly good - her heroine sounds like a breathy Kathleen Turner, and her hero like Peter O'Toole doing a Lord Peter Whimsy impression.

Around 3pm I went for a brief walk around the block - which took me to a Bengali/Pakistani Halalia Grocery Store, where I bought Kidney Beans, and chocolate (because I'm ceiliac and couldn't buy anything else, also on a plant-based diet).

Then to Lofty Pigeons Book Store - where I browsed and bought three books. (It has a new writer's group meeting there at 6:30pm on 7/20 which is tempting, but I've not had much luck with amateur writer's groups? College writer's groups - yes, worked well. But you really need a professional teacher/writer moderating them in class format or they kind of fall apart.) ( book store antics )

Books that I acquired?

* VE Schwab's Vicious (which I've been eyeing for a while now. Schwab is odd - the author's name is in huge print, the title of the book in small print, you'd think it would be the opposite?)

* "Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett" - (the author of Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries)

* "Dominion : the Silk and Iron Trilogy - Book One" by Jean Kwok" (it's a pretty book and well, rec'd by Illona Andrews...it's Asian folklore/myth featuring Tiger riders.)

I'm wondering about people on social media platforms like Twitter and Book Instagram? They keep asking things like...
( Read more... )
Where do these people live?

**
Today was lovely in comparison to the last five days? It was in the low 80sF, nice breeze, air quality at or around 69/71, no smoke visible in the air, blue sky, some clouds, clear.

Considering yesterday, portions of the city (not my area - I'm in an elevated area with fairly decent and new gutters, and not near rivers, creeks or oceans) got flooded. It rarely gets flooded any longer in my area. But Soho was under water (it kind of deserves it? Should clarify? Soho used to be a cool part of the city, then it got gentrified by real estate developers and turned into franchises, and they didn't clean the gutters and improve the infrastructure around it), Queens was (it is always underwater - it has the worst infrastructure). We had lots of thunderstorms and downpours yesterday - cleared off today. Along with most of the smoke.
***

I did exercises this morning - Tai Chi walking with weights (basically knee lift marching while holding and lifting 8 pound bar bells). Leg lifts with weights (6 pound weights), and yoga moves with knees, arms, and legs.

***

Television

* Lucky has a good cast, only three episodes so far on Apple. Stars Ana Taylor-Joy, Annette Being, Timothy Olphant, and William Fichtner (a favorite character actor as the main villain). ( Read more... )

These things are always convoluted. I'd classify it as violent femme noir.

* Rams - starring Sam Neil and Michael Caton, also Miranda Richardson. ( Read more... )

***

Question a Day Meme - August

17. It’s World Emoji Day! Do you often use them? If you do, what do you use most?

Not really. If I use them - it's usually laughter or a smile. And usually text or FB (which has them readily accessible).

18. Today, World Listening Day was created to draw attention to the way humans need to be listening to the world around us, including environmental awareness, soundscapes and acoustic ecology. What can you hear right now?

The air purifiers, fan, AC, and refrigerator - basically white noise. I barely notice it. There's a soft breeze outside. And in the distance, a jet or airplane. Also my breath. Peaceful sounds. Comforting sounds. I have a peaceful apartment - where for the most part - it's relatively quiet. I can hear birds, crickets and cicadas. This is not easy to find in Brooklyn or New York City, and still be in close walking distance to pharmacy, subway, grocery stores, book stores, library, and parks.

Oh as an aside? People keep saying that audio books count as reading? No. You aren't reading an audio book. You are listening to the book. ( Read more... )

19. 1922 American swimmer Johnny Weissmuller was the first to break the 1-minute barrier for 100m freestyle; swims 58.6s at Alameda, CA. Have you ever seen him acting in the Tarzan films? Do you have a favourite actor who portrayed Tarzan in a film or on TV?

Yes. He was horrible. A great swimmer but a bad actor. This was a trend - they did the same thing with Esther Williams. Neither had any acting talent whatsoever, also I did not find him attractive. (I've seen a lot of old movies on television in my life time - they used to show them a lot in the 20th Century - and honestly, it was all that was on back then.)

Favorite actor as Tarzan? Oh, Alexander Skarsgard. in the Legend of Tarzan - by far the best of the Tarzans. And I've seen all of them.

Alexander Skarsgard is one of those actors that I follow around. I will watch in just about anything.

Well, sort of good news? I no longer have to worry about jury summons occurring when I'm trying to fly down to see my mother. ( more on this )

Found out today that Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has been sold out for months in IMAX 70mm theaters, even though it literally opened today, with previews on Thursday.

People bought tickets in July 2025. For a movie. In 2025.

I'm guessing it's not sold out in regular IMAX and non-70mm. What's the big deal about 70mm IMAX? Nolan shoots his films in 70mm IMAX not 33mm like everyone else. Because he wants a specific definition to the film, and to ensure people see the film in a movie theater.

I don't know if I want to necessarily see it in IMAX. I read the San Francisco Gate's review - which included spoilers - and reminded me of what this story is actually about? I'd forgotten. I mean I knew generally speaking.

Some of the responses on social media to it are...well, puzzling? I didn't know people had issues with the casting choice of Elliot Page as Sinon, who is actually a minor role or cameo...

Poster: Elliot Page as Achilles is horrible, Brad Pitt was better.
Me: Elliot Page isn't playing Achilles - he is playing Sinon, Achilles doesn't appear in the Odyssey really. That's the Illiad. You are confusing the Illiad with the Odyssey.
( Read more... )

A lot of folks don't appear to understand what the Odyssey is about? (I'm not sure James Joyce did when he wrote Ulysses, which is loosely based on the Odyssey, albeit the Roman translation.) ( what the Odysessy is about thematically )

In other news? Tickets are going on sale now for Avengers: Doomsday, which is dropping sometime in December. This blows my mind. I also find it irritating.

What also blows my mind is what they consider a flop now?

2026 Box Office Hits and Flops

It's all based on revenue. And whether the film made more than it's budget and by how much. And damn, there are some horrible flicks that were hits? ( Read more... )

***

Apparently the Doofus (aka our National Embarrassment) had a hissy fit because all the broadcast channels declined to air his speech about the 2020 election being rigged. (No, that was the 2024 election. I wonder if he knows that the vast majority of Americans think the 2024 election was rigged by him and Elon Musk?) I knew ABC and NBC did - NBC went out of its way not to mention him at all during it's Fourth of July coverage. I only watch ABC and NBC on cable now, and PBS. I am boycotting CBS and FOX. And, I don't have access any longer to NY1, stupid Optimum.

***

Everyone was gone today at work - I had my area to myself. So I didn't have my earphones on most of the day. It was quiet. I was bored. Work is incredibly slow and boring at the moment. Even Breaking Bad is bored. He took today off. I spend most of my time playing on my phone, playing with a spreadsheet, playing with electronic filing, or playing on the internet - mainly just reading articles about movies, television shows, books, and haunted places around the world. I don't handle boredom well - it makes me irritable. I like to be busy and productive. It's a good thing I have jury duty coming up. That way I can at least read a book while waiting around for someone to call me. I have a lot of books to read. It shouldn't be an issue finding one.

**

They were screaming on Threads today. I think it was threads. ( Read more... )

Another day of Canadian wildfire smoke. A brownish orange haze has descended over the city and yes, the air smells like a campfire. Not bad enough to entail a shower - also I wasn't out in it that long - about ten minutes tops at one time.

According to ABC news this morning, there are more than 839 wild fires in Canada at the moment. And the smoke has flooded into the northern US, specifically the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, Rhode Island...and parts of Massachusetts.

Here's an interactive map of the wildfire air flow from Canada
( Read more... )

From NYC Center for Emergency Management

*****

Told my brother about how my workplace's "Ethics course" had an odd ethics question.

ME: So, Crazy Org had the following question on it's ethics course: "An employee who loves the arts, has begun selling individually framed AI generated art via TikTock. And has decided to use the agency's shipping labels to ship it. Can she do that?"
Brother: So AI is generating the ethics questions for an ethics course? That tracks. LOL!

That hadn't occurred to me - but it actually explains a lot of the questions and the audio. The irony...

***
My workplace is driving me crazy again with it's ineptitude and stupidity. I'd vent about what it is? But it would be an ethics violation.

***

Twitter aka X had a tweet today that made me pause...when I stumbled upon it:

"There's a literacy crisis! And I don't mean that people can't read words, but they have no ability to see nuance, to comprehend deeper meaning, or remember what actually happened or the details, or understand analogies or metaphors."

Me (after reading one too many idiotic tweets from soap fans, and after a couple of pointless meetings at work with idiots): It's a lot more than a literacy crisis. And it's not just books. It's a critical thinking crisis. And a lack of common sense. They can't think critically, they can't analyze, they can't see themes, or understand consequences.

The Earth, in the words of the all might Rupert Giles, is Doomed.

***

In movie news?

Horror movies are doing really well. ( Read more... )

That said, I think the Odyssey may do very well. ( Read more... )

MCU keeps teasing an X-men film. ( Read more... )

There are a few on streaming..."How to Make a Killing" featuring Glenn Powell (the new hot leading man of the moment - he looks a lot like Bill Pullman) - which is actually a remake of Kind Hearts and Coronets - starring Alec Guiness (where Guiness played all the parts). (I've seen the Guiness film, just can't remember it except vaguely). Also two series, "Ride or Die" starring the female lead from Ted Lasso and Octavia Butler as best friends, the Ted Lasso female lead is an assassin. And "Lucky" starring Ana Taylor-Joy, Annette Being, Timothy Olyphant, among others.

I need to get myself out and to a movie in a movie theater. It's admittedly cheaper than live theater, although pricier than it used to be (also modern audiences are annoying?). Although I need to do that too. Time was I saw at least two-three theater productions a year. But the rising cost of Broadway shows is preventing that (along with annoying audiences). How to Fix the Broadway Financial Crisis. Part of the problem is it is too geared to the tourist crowd and not enough to residents. You can get cheaper tickets, but it requires patience, speed and being resourceful.

****

Books

I picked up a book on Kindle Unlimited and may buy at a later point, depending on whether I like it on KU. The author's published just dropped her after green-lighting a two book deal because she wasn't selling well.
It's a romancefantasy (so I'm on the fence? I prefer fantasy/mystery or sci-fantasy, with a little romance but not as the central focus.)

The author is: Shalini Abeysekara ( Read more... )

Here it is This Monster of Mine.

My difficulty is it is yet another romance fantasy featuring an 18 year old.

It is a hybrid though? A romance/fantasy/mystery about lawyers in ancient Rome.

Anyhow, I'm enjoying The Queen's Thief - mainly because the lead character is crafty and smart, and has a dry wit. The story is told in the perspective of the thief, who is a clever strategist.
It's also an intricate mystery - emphasis on mystery/fantasy not romance.

Also have completed Street of the Five Moons on audio, and moved on to Silhouette in Scarlet - which in some respects is better, but also quite similar. ( Read more... )

***
Question a Day Memage: July

15. Today is Saint Swithin’s Day, which is celebrated for its connection to weather lore. People believe that the weather on this day sets the pattern for the next 40 days. What kind of weather will you be having for the next 40 days, based on today’s weather?

Hmm, yesterday, it was overcast, some sun, some rain, and in the upper eighties, felt like the 90s, with haze from the wild fires.

So I really hope that this is a myth?

16. It’s World Snake Day – do you ever see snakes where you live? Have you ever held one?

No. I live in a residential area within a city, and the only snakes are in museums or pet stores. I did see a yellow python once. Let's see if I can find a picture of it. (And no, I didn't touch or hold it, nor have I nor do I particularly want to? I'm not afraid of them? I just have a healthy respect for not being in close proximity to one of them?)

Found the yellow python - which is the last snake that I've seen up close and personal. Clearly that man's pet and performance art piece.

The wildfire smoke has finally made its way to NYC, and the tip of Manhattan. A brown haze was covering a good portion of the city today, and didn't begin to clear off until late afternoon. Air quality was 55, or poor per my phone's weather app, with a heat index of 95F and 90F (actual).
So I walked quickly to Pret, picked up a falafel, hummus (chickpea), olive, and shredded fermented beets over greens for lunch. I felt like I was walking through smoke. The air hung heavy, and was oppressive, and I felt slightly dizzy and congested when I re-entered my workplace. I feel for anyone who had to be outside today. I wouldn't have lasted long.

Work was slow today. The TPB at Crazy Org are trying to find a way to expedite things. (And as usual screwing up royally.) As much as I hate to break it to them - they are the problem. It would move much faster if it didn't have to be approved or reviewed or edited by them. Most of them are contracts litigation claims attorneys or contracts attorneys - and not regulatory lawyers. It's akin to having an primary care doctor look at your retinas to determine if there's detachment. Lawyers can't do everything any more than doctors can.

My pharmacy scared me today.

I'd noticed that I was running low on my blood pressure medication. Had about five pills left. So I ordered more on Sunday. They said it would be available today. I go to pick it up.
( Read more... )

***

On the pop culture movie front?

The Odyssey (which I have to look up every time I attempt to spell it) - has gotten excellent reviews. It's also controversial because well - they cast Oscar winning actress Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy and Zendaya as Athena.

Of course now, I'm interested in the movie, and may try to see it on IMAX, even though I've kind of seen one too many versions of the Odyssey.

What appears to be leading the race for the biggest super hero film flop - Supergirl. It's a shame, but I'm not surprised. That concept is really hard to pull off. Many have tried and failed. Although the Reviews are mixed. I think the difficulty is similar to The Marvels, and well Captain Marvel - characters that the audience is either unfamiliar with or not enthused over?

I've not rushed out to see it - mainly because I've been navigating various health issues this year that make going to and sitting in a movie theater for two to three hours - not something I want to do at the moment. It'll probably be long gone by the time I get my health issues under control.

***

Question a Day Meme - July:

12. If your physical condition were no object, is there a sport or activity you’d like to have tried and learned to a high level?

Aquathlon: A bike-free alternative consisting of either a run-swim-run or swim-run format. Many local triathlon events offer aquabike or aquathlon categories as standalone options.

or

Mountain Climbing. (Honestly I think Mountain Climbing would be more fun. Well outside of the height issue. But it did say if physical conditions were no object?)

13. Do you own a swimming costume? When was the last time you went swimming (pool or ocean)?

Yes, about four. Sigh...a while ago? I honestly can't remember. I think 2019 when I visited with family in a mini-family reunion in Tampa Bay, Florida - both pool and ocean. I don't think I've done it since the pandemic. Sad, but true. Just haven't had the opportunity.

I was a swimmer - but preferred pools. I don't really like to swim in water that has other living creatures in it?

14. Do you own a tape measure?

Yes, quite a few. I suck at using them. But I do own them, and misplace them at will. Considering I live in a small one bedroom apartment - it's amazing how easy it is for me to misplace things.

(I have a lot of stuff that I have to get rid of - then I'd be able to find the tape measures.)

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Page Summary

Friday is just tired...
The pitfalls of righteous discourse and actions...
The latest entertainment merger ....
Reviews and other stuff...
Mostly just reviews...
Saturday - I did nothing of consequence
Thursday is hanging in there...and wants to talk about stuff
Wednesday...
Dungeon Crawler Carl, Spiderman and Loki...(sounds like the start of a joke, doesn't it?)
Film and Television News out of the Disney Fan Convention..
Friday Five among other things..
Spiderman Brand New Day Review among other things..
Books, film news and what makes an adaptation good
Monday is awake and making do...
Sunday attempts to exit with grace and goes to sleep instead, stumbling on the way out
Pop Culture Round Up (Movies and Books) to cheer myself up..
A walk to the bookstore among other things...
Trying not to scream...so posting about the Odyssey instead
Wildfires, Movies, Bookes, Mememage..and Ethics courses written by AI, Oh My.
Weather, Health, Movies, and Memage....

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Page generated Oct. 25th, 2026 11:15 am

Spontaneous Musings

from a curious soul

Entries tagged with film

Friday is just tired...

The pitfalls of righteous discourse and actions...

The latest entertainment merger ....

Reviews and other stuff...

Mostly just reviews...

Saturday - I did nothing of consequence

Thursday is hanging in there...and wants to talk about stuff

Wednesday...

Dungeon Crawler Carl, Spiderman and Loki...(sounds like the start of a joke, doesn't it?)

Film and Television News out of the Disney Fan Convention..

Friday Five among other things..

Spiderman Brand New Day Review among other things..

Books, film news and what makes an adaptation good

Monday is awake and making do...

Sunday attempts to exit with grace and goes to sleep instead, stumbling on the way out

Pop Culture Round Up (Movies and Books) to cheer myself up..

A walk to the bookstore among other things...

Trying not to scream...so posting about the Odyssey instead

Wildfires, Movies, Bookes, Mememage..and Ethics courses written by AI, Oh My.

Weather, Health, Movies, and Memage....

Profile

Syndicate

Page Summary

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags