Search
Search results
The Marinated Meeple (1853 KP) rated Good Will Hunting (1997) in Movies
Apr 1, 2018
My favorite Robin Williams Film, and that is saying something...
This is another Modern Classic about potential and brains, but also about where you come from and how you adapt. Here's an anecdote about finding the right studio: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck found a clever way to choose the right studio for their script: the story goes that on page sixty of the script, they wrote a completely out-of-nowhere sex scene between Will and Chuckie. They took it to every major studio, and nobody even mentioned the scene. When they met with Harvey Weinstein at Miramax, he said, "I only have one really big note on the script. About page sixty, the two leads, both straight men, have a sex scene. What the hell is that?" Damon and Affleck explained that they put that scene specifically in there, to show them who actually read the script, and who didn't. As Weinstein was the only person who brought it up, Miramax was the studio chosen to produce the film.
Also for those of you out there who think just because something is done in school it's not good: When Matt Damon was in his fifth year at Harvard, he was in a playwriting class. The culmination of it was to write a one-act play, and he just started writing a movie, which, with the help of Ben Affleck, became this movie.
"But the question is whether or not you're perfect for each other." were they talking about Ben and Matt?
I guess Ben liked Them Apples, LOL, just kidding.... and here's another Alternate Movie Poster.
Also for those of you out there who think just because something is done in school it's not good: When Matt Damon was in his fifth year at Harvard, he was in a playwriting class. The culmination of it was to write a one-act play, and he just started writing a movie, which, with the help of Ben Affleck, became this movie.
"But the question is whether or not you're perfect for each other." were they talking about Ben and Matt?
I guess Ben liked Them Apples, LOL, just kidding.... and here's another Alternate Movie Poster.
David McK (3713 KP) rated Batman: The Long Halloween in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Of all the Superhero's around, I personally think that Batman has the best Rogue's gallery of villains: Superman, for instance, has Lex Luthor And (to a lesser extent) General Zod, while Spiderman has, what, Green Goblin? Dr Octopus? Venom?
Batman, on the other hand (and purely off the top of my head): The Joker. The Penguin. Poison Ivy. The Riddler. Catwoman (on/off as a villain). Scarecrow. Bane. And Two-Face.
Admittedly, some of those characters are now more famous than they used to be before due to the various Batman films, with the last four (And the first) mentioned in my list all appearing in the more-recent Christopher Nolan 'Dark Knight' series of Batman films. Of that trilogy, the second movie concerned itself principally with two main villains: The Joker, and Harvey Dent (aka Two-Face) and, in particular, the circumstances that led District Attorney Dent to become Two-Face.
Those circumstances are also the subject of this graphic novel, which also has a foreword/introduction by the director and writer of 'The Dark Knight', Christopher Nolan and David Goyer, in which they acknowledge the huge debt their movie owes to this novel.
This is also commonly cited as one of the better Batman stories, and is set during the early days of Batman's crusade against criminality in Gotham - there's no Robin here, nor Oracle (well, there is, but only as a baby), for instance.
As such, it makes a good intro (IMO) into the Batman mythos, not far behind the futuristic The Dark Knight Returns or the early-set Year One.
Batman, on the other hand (and purely off the top of my head): The Joker. The Penguin. Poison Ivy. The Riddler. Catwoman (on/off as a villain). Scarecrow. Bane. And Two-Face.
Admittedly, some of those characters are now more famous than they used to be before due to the various Batman films, with the last four (And the first) mentioned in my list all appearing in the more-recent Christopher Nolan 'Dark Knight' series of Batman films. Of that trilogy, the second movie concerned itself principally with two main villains: The Joker, and Harvey Dent (aka Two-Face) and, in particular, the circumstances that led District Attorney Dent to become Two-Face.
Those circumstances are also the subject of this graphic novel, which also has a foreword/introduction by the director and writer of 'The Dark Knight', Christopher Nolan and David Goyer, in which they acknowledge the huge debt their movie owes to this novel.
This is also commonly cited as one of the better Batman stories, and is set during the early days of Batman's crusade against criminality in Gotham - there's no Robin here, nor Oracle (well, there is, but only as a baby), for instance.
As such, it makes a good intro (IMO) into the Batman mythos, not far behind the futuristic The Dark Knight Returns or the early-set Year One.
Erika (17789 KP) rated Mary Poppins Returns (2018) in Movies
Dec 22, 2018 (Updated Dec 22, 2018)
A sequel no one asked for, but Disney was going to give it to us whether we wanted it or not...
Unnecessary is the main word I would use to describe this film. Mary Poppins (1964) is actually practically perfect in every way, like the lady herself; and anything to follow was going to pale in comparison. Maybe I would have been more tolerant if Christopher Robin hadn't had an extremely similar plot, but I was honestly just counting down the minutes until it was over.
The music was ok, I guess, sufficient. I just can't believe Emily Blunt in period pieces, she has a face that knows about text messaging (I am a huge Blunt fan, btw). I'm glad Disney decided to keep the whole, American doing the crappiest Cockney accent thing going. I get why they chose Lin-Manuel Miranda, he's very entertaining, and I know he did that Hamilton thing (zero interest in that). The only parts I loved him in was when he was just dancing, no singing with the bad accent. The lamplighter song was by far the best out of the lot.
In the end, I've seen this same movie several times. I'm really doubting whether I want to see Aladdin, and I'll never give Disney my money again for a remake/sequel to a classic film (aside from possibly Aladdin).
Honestly, I don't know who would actually love this film. Who was it even made for? I think the reason they want everyone to see it the first weekend is so it doesn't get around how just ok the film was.
The music was ok, I guess, sufficient. I just can't believe Emily Blunt in period pieces, she has a face that knows about text messaging (I am a huge Blunt fan, btw). I'm glad Disney decided to keep the whole, American doing the crappiest Cockney accent thing going. I get why they chose Lin-Manuel Miranda, he's very entertaining, and I know he did that Hamilton thing (zero interest in that). The only parts I loved him in was when he was just dancing, no singing with the bad accent. The lamplighter song was by far the best out of the lot.
In the end, I've seen this same movie several times. I'm really doubting whether I want to see Aladdin, and I'll never give Disney my money again for a remake/sequel to a classic film (aside from possibly Aladdin).
Honestly, I don't know who would actually love this film. Who was it even made for? I think the reason they want everyone to see it the first weekend is so it doesn't get around how just ok the film was.
Kaz (232 KP) rated Stranger Things - Season 3 in TV
Jul 28, 2019
A Brilliant Series
I'm a big fan of 'Stranger Things' but felt that season 2 wasn't quite a good as the first season.
I was so happy that season 3 was on par with the season 1.
It does take a while to get going, I wasn't sure how all of the strands of story were going to tie together, but in the end, it all came together brilliantly.
I liked how we got to know secondary characters from season 2, for example, Erica and Billy. Also I loved the addition of Robin in the series. It felt like she had been in the show all along.
This series is definitely darker and more horror based than previous seasons. I could see influences from 80's horror films and so, this had plenty of gory scenes which made this more 'grown up', which I really liked.
I also really liked how this season commented on the problem of equality in the workplace for women. I also think that there were a lot of strong female characters throughout.
This series doesn't have too many lighter moments, but the omnes that are there, are extremely funny. I particularly loved the interactions between Dustin and Erica. There was also an epic moment with Dustin near the end of the season, which was just genius.
The series ended in a satisfactory way, it also had some emotional scenes. Also we are left with plenty of questions, which will hopefully be answered in season 4. I can't wait!
I was so happy that season 3 was on par with the season 1.
It does take a while to get going, I wasn't sure how all of the strands of story were going to tie together, but in the end, it all came together brilliantly.
I liked how we got to know secondary characters from season 2, for example, Erica and Billy. Also I loved the addition of Robin in the series. It felt like she had been in the show all along.
This series is definitely darker and more horror based than previous seasons. I could see influences from 80's horror films and so, this had plenty of gory scenes which made this more 'grown up', which I really liked.
I also really liked how this season commented on the problem of equality in the workplace for women. I also think that there were a lot of strong female characters throughout.
This series doesn't have too many lighter moments, but the omnes that are there, are extremely funny. I particularly loved the interactions between Dustin and Erica. There was also an epic moment with Dustin near the end of the season, which was just genius.
The series ended in a satisfactory way, it also had some emotional scenes. Also we are left with plenty of questions, which will hopefully be answered in season 4. I can't wait!
Philip's Month-by-Month Stargazing: The Guide to the Northern Night Sky: 2017
Heather Couper and Nigel Henbest
Book
Philip's Month-by-Month Stargazing 2017 is a concise guide to the northern-hemisphere night sky,...
PS
Philip's Stargazing: Month-by-Month Guide to the Northern Night Sky: 2014
Heather Couper and Nigel Henbest
Book
Philip's Stargazing 2014 is a concise guide to the northern night sky, helping starwatchers to see...
Total Bowhunting Manual
Scott Bestul and David Hurteau
Book
From Field & Stream magazine's bow-hunting experts and the authors of the Total Deer Hunter Manual,...
Michael Foreman: An Illustrated Life
Book
"One of my earliest memories is lying on the floor in front of the kitchen fire, drawing..." Michael...
TI
The Inheritance
Book
A collection of novellas and stories from one of the most critically acclaimed authors in the...
Christians and Jews in Angevin England: The York Massacre of 1190, Narratives and Contexts
Sarah Rees Jones and Sethina C. Watson
Book
The mass suicide and murder of the men, women and children of the Jewish community in York on 16...