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David McK (3692 KP) rated The Old Guard (2020) in Movies
Jul 14, 2020 (Updated Apr 11, 2021)
Netflix's newest (at the time of writing) action-adventure, starring Charlize Theron as the leader of a group of immortals (whose immortality can come and go at any point) that have been alive for centuries, if not (in her case) for millennia. Think a less Scottish Highlander, and with the immortals working together rather than trying to chop each others heads off.
Apparently based on a relatively-new comic series, you can also tell that this is a straight-to-TV affair, with it not *quite* having the budget or flair of a Hollywood film. It's also unclear just what happens if any of these immortals lose a limb - does it grow back?
Anyway, the driving force behind this is the discovery of a new immortal, just after the other's last mission goes sideways, with Big Pharma - in a plot development that will surprise no one - now out to see if they can extract the secret of their immortality from the group (who don't know it themselves).
Also definitely set up for a sequel: if it is half as good as this one, I'll be watching.
Apparently based on a relatively-new comic series, you can also tell that this is a straight-to-TV affair, with it not *quite* having the budget or flair of a Hollywood film. It's also unclear just what happens if any of these immortals lose a limb - does it grow back?
Anyway, the driving force behind this is the discovery of a new immortal, just after the other's last mission goes sideways, with Big Pharma - in a plot development that will surprise no one - now out to see if they can extract the secret of their immortality from the group (who don't know it themselves).
Also definitely set up for a sequel: if it is half as good as this one, I'll be watching.
Austin Garrick recommended M (Movie) (1931) in Movies (curated)
The School of Sophisticated Drinking: An Intoxicating History of Seven Spirits
Kerstin Ehmer, Beate Hindermann and Kevin Brauch
Book
Wherever and whenever people have been found talking, they have been found drinking: an age-old...
Irresistible: Why We Can't Stop Checking, Scrolling, Clicking and Watching
Book
"Truly addictive". (Malcolm Gladwell). "Brilliant". (Susan Cain). "Essential". (Charles Duhigg). How...
Eduardo Sanchez recommended Notting Hill (1999) in Movies (curated)
Joel Schumacher recommended Blade Runner (1982) in Movies (curated)
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2470 KP) rated The Sharpest Needle in Books
Feb 3, 2021
Blackmailing a Star
It’s August 1939, and silent film actress Marion Davies has been receiving poison pen letters from someone calling himself Argus. The letters threaten to reveal something from Marion’s past, something that could ruin her current relationship with William Randolph Hurst. When she turns to Lillian Frost and Edith Head for help, Edith can’t help but think there is more to the situation than there first appears to be. Then a dead body turns up. Can Lillian and Edith figure out what is going on?
There is so much to praise in this book. The plot is strong and always keeps us engaged. It does get a little convoluted as we reach the climax, but as long as you pay attention, you’ll follow what is happening. Real people and fictional characters rub elbows seamlessly, and they all appear fully formed to us. I love watching for cameos. The news of the day impacts the character, and therefore us. Yet we also have talk about the films coming out during that time, which I enjoyed. This is more than a Hollywood mystery. If you enjoy historical mysteries, you need to read these books today.
There is so much to praise in this book. The plot is strong and always keeps us engaged. It does get a little convoluted as we reach the climax, but as long as you pay attention, you’ll follow what is happening. Real people and fictional characters rub elbows seamlessly, and they all appear fully formed to us. I love watching for cameos. The news of the day impacts the character, and therefore us. Yet we also have talk about the films coming out during that time, which I enjoyed. This is more than a Hollywood mystery. If you enjoy historical mysteries, you need to read these books today.
Amy Adams recommended Gone With the Wind (1939) in Movies (curated)
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated This Is the End (2013) in Movies
Apr 7, 2021
"𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘺, 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴."
First time since the theater and - as everyone else has already pointed out - it still remains as infectiously fun as ever. Also as everyone else has pointed out psychopathic, windbreaker-ed Michael Cera in full-on boss mode is some of the greatest comedic offerings of the 21st century. Honestly I've always loved this entire lightning-in-a-bottle idea where Rogen and his friends (all playing self-deprecating caricatures of themselves) are just hanging out at James Franco's place and then the apocalypse happens - where it gets used as little more than an analog to peddle their usual jocular, caustic brand of comedy. These are probably the only people in Hollywood who could even pull off this premise let alone without it coming out as some sort of pretentious vanity project. Wish we had more of the opening party stuff before it gets into the doomsday plot, and it treads in its last act - maybe about 10 or so minutes too long as a whole. But it still rules, and what killer demon design + effectwork. Hill and McBride walk away with it (after being bodied by Cera, of course).
First time since the theater and - as everyone else has already pointed out - it still remains as infectiously fun as ever. Also as everyone else has pointed out psychopathic, windbreaker-ed Michael Cera in full-on boss mode is some of the greatest comedic offerings of the 21st century. Honestly I've always loved this entire lightning-in-a-bottle idea where Rogen and his friends (all playing self-deprecating caricatures of themselves) are just hanging out at James Franco's place and then the apocalypse happens - where it gets used as little more than an analog to peddle their usual jocular, caustic brand of comedy. These are probably the only people in Hollywood who could even pull off this premise let alone without it coming out as some sort of pretentious vanity project. Wish we had more of the opening party stuff before it gets into the doomsday plot, and it treads in its last act - maybe about 10 or so minutes too long as a whole. But it still rules, and what killer demon design + effectwork. Hill and McBride walk away with it (after being bodied by Cera, of course).







