Mark’s movie corner.

[Daddyjt 8,807]

I revisited this one the other night with my son, after everyone else had gone to bed. I had forgotten how great a movie Jacob’s Ladder is.  Not a horror movie exactly, not a war movie exactly, and not a thriller exactly.  It’s a little bit of everything, and it works rather well.  A great performance by a young Tim Robbins, and an equally great performance by the late Elizabeth Peña - but the one that really steals the show is Danny Aiello.  Some downright creepy moments, but no cheap jump-scares.  The cinematography is absolutely amazing, and the score mirrors the film to a “T”.  Also one of the greatest twists of an ending, and I’ll for warn you - this is one if the 5 or so movies that actually makes me cry a bit at the end... Emotionally powerful stuff, and a timeless message.

 

 

 

[AndrewJohn 9,170]

I caught this movie the other night on Netflix.  Movie from 2013 with Kurt Russel and Matt Dillon.

 

Takes place in Toronto, and is a double-cross film (trying not to give it away).  And, true to form with the stars, it has some very dry humor, that made it fun to watch.  Lighthearted, but complex, and you had to think...

 

 

 

 

[Bobby1970 1,408]

In August 1966, in a Vietnamese rubber plantation called Long Tan, 108 young and inexperienced Australian and New Zealand soldiers are fighting for their lives against 2500 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong soldiers.

 

[oldtexasdog 2,395]

Queens Gambit

 

Susan and I have been watching this series . It's only one season long but it's good.

https://youtu.be/CDrieqwSdgI

 

[Rob 4,700]

This is a really good movie. 

 

[AndrewJohn 9,170]

3 hours ago, oldtexasdog said:

Queens Gambit

 

Susan and I have been watching this series . It's only one season long but it's good.

https://youtu.be/CDrieqwSdgI

 

 

@oldtexasdog, Susan (my Susan) and I just finished that limited series.  I thought it was excellent.  I originally shied away thinking it was something focused on British royalty, then my daughter told us to watch it - so I was hooked after the first episode. 

 

What an excellent story about the intricacies of emotional abuse, addiction, relapse, psychosis and insanity that existed in the 50's and 60's. 

 

Did you catch that the suicidal Mother in the beginning had a PhD in Mathematics?  Very subtle.

 

 

Edited December 22, 2020 by AndrewJohn

[Daddyjt 8,807]

1 hour ago, AndrewJohn said:

 

@oldtexasdog, Susan (my Susan) and I just finished that limited series.  I thought it was excellent.  I originally shied away thinking it was something focused on British royalty, then my daughter told us to watch it - so I was hooked after the first episode. 

 

What an excellent story about the intricacies of emotional abuse, addiction, relapse, psychosis and insanity that existed in the 50's and 60's. 

 

Did you catch that the suicidal Mother in the beginning had a PhD in Mathematics?  Very subtle.

 

 

I look forward to seeing this hopefully on DVD in the future...

[Daddyjt 8,807]

Another of my favorite off-beat Mel Gibson films is Get The Gringo.  This movie is part drama, part action flick, with a healthy dose of dark comedy, and just a splash of love story. 
 

Im not usually a fan of narration (it’s usually a crutch to fill-in plot gaps in a troublesome script), but Mel’s narration in this film is sardonic smart-assery that is at time laugh out loud funny.  The story is a fun ride, and a twist at the end is the icing on the cake. 
 

And the sound track is wonderful!

 

 

[AndrewJohn 9,170]

Saw this movie the other day on Prime.  It came out in 2010.  It's a movie based on some truth, about how internet porn got started..., but honestly, it's much more than that in terms of "transactional" money making.

 

It will really get you thinking about things... the internet, always-on technology, russian mafia, how Vegas works..., and business - how money is made via being the transactional component of the supply chain - not the supply itself.  Post viewing, your mind will see just about everything looking for the "middle-men" component.  Or, not. 😉 

 

Some good stars and recognizable faces, too.  Luke Wilson is excellent.

 

 

Edited December 22, 2020 by AndrewJohn

[oldtexasdog 2,395]

Gravity

Not a lot of dialog but in Dolby Atmos 

 

 

 

 

[Sk1Bum 10,413]

My favorite Christmas movies today:

 

   

[itchitch 4,140]

I try to watch this every Christmas Eve:

 

 

[AndrewJohn 9,170]

Saw "Whiplash" with J K Simmons, and Miles Teller, the other night.   

 

Love this genre of jazz music...,  when in High School, our high school jazz band won first in state competition every year..., relentless teacher back then, too.

 

Whiplash with J K Simmons - he plays the part well.

 

 

Some very interesting facts about the movie..., 

• J.K. Simmons does play jazz piano...
• Miles Teller (Andrew) played drums since he was 15, and performed 40% of the music in the movie.
• It took 19 days to film... More at this link.
• https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Trivia/Whiplash 

 

 

[Rob 4,700]

Looks like a good movie so far. 

 

[Bobby1970 1,408]

[Rob 4,700]

Another good movie tonight. 

 

[Daddyjt 8,807]

So I’ve watched Tenet twice now, and I’m still confused. I knew going in that I was going to have to be on my toes for a Nolan film (see also Interstellar and Inception).  However, this one is on a whole new level.  Complicating understanding is perhaps the worst sound mix I’ve heard in a long time - mushy diffuse dialogue (often times hampered by gas masks on the main charachters),  and WAY over mixed bass (I had to turn my sub down from 35 to 20, and it was still heavy).

 

I think  there are some holes in the plot, but I can’t say for sure.  All that said, it IS quite a fun film - great effects, and very satisfying when some of the plot elements come together as the film progresses.

 

I recommend you see it, if for no other reason than maybe you can explain some of the finer points to me...

 

 

[Rob 4,700]

Another good Netflix movie. 

 

[Sk1Bum 10,413]

For those of you with Amazon Prime, I have enjoyed The Boys with Karl Urban.

 

Be forwarned, it is surprising graphic.

 

https://www.primevideo.com/detail/The-Boys/0KRGHGZCHKS920ZQGY5LBRF7MA

 

https://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1650703897?playlistId=tt1190634&ref_=tt_ov_vi

 

[itchitch 4,140]

On 12/27/2020 at 7:26 AM, AndrewJohn said:

Saw "Whiplash" with J K Simmons, and Miles Teller, the other night.   

 

Love this genre of jazz music...,  when in High School, our high school jazz band won first in state competition every year..., relentless teacher back then, too.

 

Whiplash with J K Simmons - he plays the part well.

 

 

Some very interesting facts about the movie..., 

• J.K. Simmons does play jazz piano...
• Miles Teller (Andrew) played drums since he was 15, and performed 40% of the music in the movie.
• It took 19 days to film... More at this link.
• https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Trivia/Whiplash 

 

 

I have been meaning to reply to this for quite a while. 
 

My teenage kids had surprised me with a very thoughtful Christmas present. I was very touched. Most fathers out there can feel like nobody in the house “hears” them. They see me air drumming and tapping my feet when we are playing tunes in the house and car. 
 

I sold my drum kit right after college and haven’t played since. 
 

They assembled everything after I went to sleep Christmas Eve. 
 

We had just watched this movie...

It’s back to practicing paradiddles because I am awful now. 
 

Great and timely movie !

 

 

[Dadvw 2,852]

I just watched this one yesterday......it was shrink wrapped and had a $.25 sticker on it.......VHS too.......😂

 

[Daddyjt 8,807]

1 hour ago, Dadvw said:

I just watched this one yesterday......it was shrink wrapped and had a $.25 sticker on it.......VHS too.......😂

 

I’m your Huckleberry...!

[Brian_at_HHH 2,646]

5 hours ago, itchitch said:

My teenage kids had surprised me with a very thoughtful Christmas present. I was very touched. Most fathers out there can feel like nobody in the house “hears” them. They see me air drumming and tapping my feet when we are playing tunes in the house and car. 
 

I sold my drum kit right after college and haven’t played since. 
 

They assembled everything after I went to sleep Christmas Eve. 

 

That's totally cool, Itch!  Way to go to your kids!!!  

[AndrewJohn 9,170]

15 hours ago, itchitch said:

We had just watched this movie...

It’s back to practicing paradiddles because I am awful now. 
 

Great and timely movie !

 

Simply Awesome..., 

[Sk1Bum 10,413]

21 Bridges starring Chadwick Boseman, JK Simmons, Keith David, Taylor Kitsch, and Gigi Pritzker is an outstanding movie with outstanding performances by Boseman and Simmons. 

 

After uncovering a massive conspiracy, an embattled NYPD detective joins a citywide manhunt for two young cop killers. As the night unfolds, he soon becomes unsure of who to pursue -- and who's in pursuit of him.