NathanGordon

I've never seen an Ocean's movie, but I'm super excited for that. The director has made some fairly milquetoast films, though maybe the cast will rise above. I keep waiting for Sandy B to make more interesting films at this stage of her career but maybe she just doesn't have the clout I would assume she has, given how sexist and lame Hollywood is. Anne Heche and Sandra Oh's new film looks fun. Written and directed by Onur Turkel, one of the more infamous (worst?) guests on Doug Loves Movies.

How fucking cool is that? That is god damn movie magic. I hate waxing nostalgic about the good old days of practical effects, but that is ingenious.

Four Loko is still made, they had to take the caffeine out because it was fun and won't someone think of the poor children!?. There was a brief indignant moral panic over it, as though the caffeine is the real problem with binge drinking. Vile stuff, although two cans would get you LIT (12% alcohol, almost as strong as wine). Paul posted this on his Instagram and I can't stop watching. You may need to pack a lunch for this journey. https://youtu.be/-gVoW7umx84

Oh hey it's that movie I always mix up with Cool World in my mind. Am I the only one?

I don't know what happening on this forum or in real life anymore. I actually stopped coming here for several weeks because a couple of posts made me scratch my head (not anyone in particular). After the election I felt like I needed to reassess my perspective, because I was clearly out of step with a lot of people, right? The marches and events of the last week in the US have both reaffirmed my commitment to progressivism and also made me take a hard look at my ideals (like, punching white supremacists, for example). This forum is a place for fans of a movie podcast, and I really love everyone here for keeping it funny and real. Something that I try to do these days while reading spicy online comments is try and evaluate intent and impact. I believe all of y'all are basically good folk who mean well, and I personally try (not always succeed, mind you) to assume everyone has good intentions. I got really huffy last week in the A Dog's Purpose thread. I'm still embarrassed about that, and I'm sorry to Taylor Anne and Cameron for being a jerk. I hope it didn't give the forum a bad vibe. The US is in such a state right now and politics are all I have on my mind. Thanks to Dan for moderating

It's weird because Besson is no dummy and is capable of making really good films (Nikita, 5th Element, Leon, Big Blue) but he clearly didn't give a fuck on this one. The premise is barely thought through, Morgan Freeman is acting in paycheck mode (god bless him), and Scarjo's limited range is a hindrance here. I think the Malick-y moments like when she calls her mother are actually the best part of the film, and show the potential for what could have been. Someone mentioned Transcendence, which is a very apt comprison -- both films about people becoming USB drives, both films refuse to believe the audience is smart enough to explore the philosophical implications of superhuman intelligence, devolving into CGI battles instead of actual writing.

What do you think are the chances of Seth Green being a guest?

Hard Cider IS a pretty good drag name. *wow, I feel like I need a drink or nine after listening to that director interview.

Dude, these are fun movies. Do you not enjoy the Fast & Furious films?

This movie is FUCKING GARBAGE. I was so angry after I watched this, it was one of the few times I bothered to go on imdb and write a review. This is a film where John Hurt builds a talking, time traveling Lamborghini and meets not just the singer from INXS, but Mary fucking Shelley. It turns out that the story of Dr. Frankenstein is actually *Law & Order sound effect* TRUE, and the shittiest possible Frankenstein's monster wants the Lamborghini for himself. A movie so bad it gave Raul Julia stomach cancer.

I was looking at Beauty & the Beast fan art and went down a deep, dark rabbit hole from which I've only just recovered. I forget how obsessive some pop culture fans can be. This one artist had hundreds of Gaston drawings made with colored pencils, some less rudimentary than others. I hesitate to make an armchair psychological diagnosis. Boi is THICC tho.

Add me to this, please!

From what I understand, $120 million for a theatrical release isn't even "hugely expensive" anymore, it's mid budget. And Rob Lowe is a legit celeb whose popularity has far exceeded his teen hunk status. I mean I guess that's not inaccurate but most people today recognize him for Parks & Rec. I just can't watch bad kid's movies for fun. I've had to skip all those -- Gooby, Kazaam, Smurfs, etc. There's something really offensive about truly awful, cynical, condescending media made by adults for children.

Literal rioting in the streets if Streep won. But I feel like she would be smart enough to give it away or refuse it or something.

I'm really curious where the whole trope of shitty beatnik poetry started in earnest. I remember seeing this referenced in older comedies and magazines like Mad or National Lampoons, but then I actually started reading the Beats in high school and it was cool stuff like Burroughs and Keroauc -- who are basically the polar opposite of the beret wearing, bongo playing coffee house stereotype. It makes me think that the stereotype never really existed, except as a way for the status quo to hate youth culture of the 1950s.

The poetry is weird and dumb but intentionally so. It essentially functions like a Greek chorus. Mike Myers is incredibly charming when he's playing himself basically straight, that's what I love about this movie. It makes sense that he was so successful (for a time), he seems really wholesome and nice.

Good casting! He's supposed to be an uncharasmatic jerk. After seeing Keanu in Neon Demon (and John Wick, though that's more antihero) I think there's a villainous side to his acting that he hasn't had the opportunity to express.

I apologize for soapboxing, I shouldn't have. I love you guys. I am also passionate about this issue. I'm going to leave my comments up, but I'm excusing myself from this conversation. I am sorry.

I apologize for offending you. Not as much as you love a passive aggressive world of snark, but if that's what gets you through the day after kicking a puppy, that's cool. Some issues really are an either/or proposition, like supporting animal exploitation and abuse. If someone feels they need to define an ethical area for themselves that enables them to see some animals as less deserving of a comfortable life, that is their prerogative. This poor German Shepard, though.

It's cute that there's a tempest in a teapot about that German Shepard video, when there is similar or worse going on in many productions. This is not a unique situation; it just happened to be filmed and leaked. People get outraged about incidents like this and then go on to eat Chicken Fil-A for lunch and take their children to zoos. I feel like you just can't have it both ways with animals; you either are complicit in the abuse, exploitation, and consumption of them, or you aren't. I'm sure this movie is garbage just like the book. The idea of having to kill the same dog five times to make a narrative point about how love is important or some Hallmark shit makes my skin crawl.* *nvm, I'm in diabetic shock after eating four boxes of those candy message hearts. They had text message abbreviations and emojis on them!

^^^ that dress is awesome! I'm sure she knows exactly what that pattern is, that's not just off rack from the Dress Barn.

Don't you start talking about troublesome shit in Disney movies, you and I both know that is an endless well.

Was it bad? Good? It seemed like it came and went. It didn't seem to have much buzz after release. I still can't believe there's no one calling themselves DJ Fantastic Beats.

I'm not a huge fan of either film but respect their contributions to cinema blah blah Roger Ebert recorded commentary tracks for both of these that are well worth checking out. The Citizen Kane one especially is like a film class, with Ebert breaking down the cinematography, editing, all the language of film that we really take for granted, which Welles was breaking new ground with. I still don't like the film a lot, it's not a favorite, but worth seeing for how influential it is. I mean, I'd still rather watch The Little Mermaid. (It has better music than Beauty & the Beast, after all...)

There's large swaths of Scorsese and Coppola I haven't bothered to see. Or other important dude directors from the 60s and 70s, that kind of stuff just doesn't interest me anymore. I've seen only a few Billy Wilder films. I've never seen Scream, American Pie, or Titanic. Bits and pieces, here and there, but I'm just never going to sit down and watch Titanic. At a certain point, you've picked up so much through cultural osmosis that it feels redundant. I'm dating a Scottish lady who has never seen a single Star Wars movie, but it's not like she's been in a coma and doesn't know what Jedis are. (We do have lots of "what exactly is a street fighter?" moments, though.)