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BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated Indiana jones and the dial of destiny (2023) in Movies
Jul 9, 2023
Needed A Spark
Have you ever gone to a live stage play/musical on a Friday or Saturday evening and you can just feel the crackle of excitement and energy in the air and the performers on stage seem to catch that surge of energy and their performances are turned up a notch because of it?
And then, you return to that same theater - for the same show - for a Wednesday matinee and things are just flat. Same show, same performers, same entertainment, but that “spark” just isn’t there?
Such is the case of INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY - the Wednesday Matinee performance of an Indiana Jones adventures.
This James Mangold (FORD v FERRARI) Directed Indiana Jones adventure hits all the right notes - chase scenes, fights on a moving train, treasure hunt/quest for an ancient artifact, Indy getting into (and out of) trouble, etc…but Dial of Destiny never quite elevated itself above the norm.
80 year old Harrison Ford (and some stunt doubles and a boatload of de-aging software) is back, of course, as Indiana Jones and it is like pulling on an old, tattered sweatshirt - very comfortable and comforting. He is aided (in a cameo) by John Rhys-Davies’ Sallah (good to see him in an Indy movie again) and by rock solid additions of Antonio Banderas (ZORRO) and good ol’ Toby Jones (INFAMOUS) as colleagues and fellow adventurers as well as an above-average turn by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (TV’s FLEABAG).
These folks fight Nazis (naturally) and a bad guy played by Mads Mikkelsen (ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY) in an adventure that was “just fine” but “nothing special”, all set to a score by 90 year old John Williams(!). Oh, and don’t forget the welcome appearance of Karen Allen as Marion Ravenswood in what was one of the highlight scenes of the film.
Unfortunately, Mangold never elevates these characters, the chases, the escapes, the call backs to earlier Indiana Jones films above a pleasant warmth of memory, recalling all the good times/grand adventures that Indy has taken the audience on throughout the years. This film needed someone/some THING to help elevate it above the norm.
It needed Steven Spielberg to Direct.
Letter Grade: B
7 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
And then, you return to that same theater - for the same show - for a Wednesday matinee and things are just flat. Same show, same performers, same entertainment, but that “spark” just isn’t there?
Such is the case of INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY - the Wednesday Matinee performance of an Indiana Jones adventures.
This James Mangold (FORD v FERRARI) Directed Indiana Jones adventure hits all the right notes - chase scenes, fights on a moving train, treasure hunt/quest for an ancient artifact, Indy getting into (and out of) trouble, etc…but Dial of Destiny never quite elevated itself above the norm.
80 year old Harrison Ford (and some stunt doubles and a boatload of de-aging software) is back, of course, as Indiana Jones and it is like pulling on an old, tattered sweatshirt - very comfortable and comforting. He is aided (in a cameo) by John Rhys-Davies’ Sallah (good to see him in an Indy movie again) and by rock solid additions of Antonio Banderas (ZORRO) and good ol’ Toby Jones (INFAMOUS) as colleagues and fellow adventurers as well as an above-average turn by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (TV’s FLEABAG).
These folks fight Nazis (naturally) and a bad guy played by Mads Mikkelsen (ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY) in an adventure that was “just fine” but “nothing special”, all set to a score by 90 year old John Williams(!). Oh, and don’t forget the welcome appearance of Karen Allen as Marion Ravenswood in what was one of the highlight scenes of the film.
Unfortunately, Mangold never elevates these characters, the chases, the escapes, the call backs to earlier Indiana Jones films above a pleasant warmth of memory, recalling all the good times/grand adventures that Indy has taken the audience on throughout the years. This film needed someone/some THING to help elevate it above the norm.
It needed Steven Spielberg to Direct.
Letter Grade: B
7 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons From The Twentieth Century in Books
Jan 3, 2018
READ THIS NOW!
Apologies for such a forthright command, but this pithy and punchy short book is an absolute must-read. In less than 200 pages, Timothy Snyder, a Yale chair and renowned historian, describes why our actions today matter.
Along with Burleigh and Kershaw he has exposed the monstrosities of the evil regimes ruled by Hitler, Mussolini, Lenin, Stalin, Pol Pot and other tyrants who have murdered at home and abroad. Having extensively studied both right-wing and left-wing tyrannical regimes, Snyder goes onto look at the 2016 presidential campaign and Donald Trump. "Post-truth is pre-fascism," he writes, in one of many passages that seem to cast the US as a society in a pre-fascist stage.
Snyder succinctly suggests that 20 lessons from history are invaluable if we are to avoid democracy collapsing as it did after 1918. History he agrees does not repeat but it does instruct.
In a world where truth, reality and fantasy are thrown into a huge melting pot - having a book that researched facts, presents political history and encourages the reader to make their own decisions is a liberating read.
Along with Burleigh and Kershaw he has exposed the monstrosities of the evil regimes ruled by Hitler, Mussolini, Lenin, Stalin, Pol Pot and other tyrants who have murdered at home and abroad. Having extensively studied both right-wing and left-wing tyrannical regimes, Snyder goes onto look at the 2016 presidential campaign and Donald Trump. "Post-truth is pre-fascism," he writes, in one of many passages that seem to cast the US as a society in a pre-fascist stage.
Snyder succinctly suggests that 20 lessons from history are invaluable if we are to avoid democracy collapsing as it did after 1918. History he agrees does not repeat but it does instruct.
In a world where truth, reality and fantasy are thrown into a huge melting pot - having a book that researched facts, presents political history and encourages the reader to make their own decisions is a liberating read.
okletmereviewit (4 KP) rated Margaret Cho: PsyCHO (2015) in Movies
May 11, 2018
she isn't as funny as she use to be
Contains spoilers, click to show
Is it me or has Margaret Cho lost her "funny"? It seems to me that over the course of the last few years that she has become less funny and more mainstream.
Before during with her stand up it was more edgy and hard hitting and funny. Most of her comedy from pre 2003 was amazing and insightful. But now it feels like she just gets on stage and drones on for however long she has been booked.
There were parts of this stand up that were funny, but for the most part it was like sitting in a class waiting for the bell to ring.
Through out her career she has undergone many changes, from coming out to weight loss. And before her comedy reflected the funnier aspects of her life, but now is kind of a sad dribble of what she once was. Don't get me wrong, I will continue to watch her stand up routine in hopes of her making me laugh like she once did. But for right now I don't find her all that funny any more.
Before during with her stand up it was more edgy and hard hitting and funny. Most of her comedy from pre 2003 was amazing and insightful. But now it feels like she just gets on stage and drones on for however long she has been booked.
There were parts of this stand up that were funny, but for the most part it was like sitting in a class waiting for the bell to ring.
Through out her career she has undergone many changes, from coming out to weight loss. And before her comedy reflected the funnier aspects of her life, but now is kind of a sad dribble of what she once was. Don't get me wrong, I will continue to watch her stand up routine in hopes of her making me laugh like she once did. But for right now I don't find her all that funny any more.
Andy K (10821 KP) rated The Lobster (2015) in Movies
Apr 15, 2018 (Updated Apr 15, 2018)
Rather like a trip to the dentist!
The title may suggest I didn't like the film, but that's not correct. I guess I just meant watching a film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos makes you uneasy, awkward and you are not sure what is about to happen. In the case of this film, though, I found it very interesting, surreal, deadpan and funny all at the same time.
The unusual premise involves people checking into a hotel where they 45 days to find love or must become an animal. Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz navigate their way through this extremely unusual film not for most tastes I would imagine. After recently watching The Killing of a Sacred Deer, i was curious to check this one out and I wasn't disappointed.
The actors must have had a hard time showing little emotion and not cracking up when they sputter the awkward, contrite but witty dialogue and some of the very bizarre situations they find themselves in.
Still, with myriads of films under my belt at this stage in my life, I'll gladly take something original over Fast & Furious 27.
The unusual premise involves people checking into a hotel where they 45 days to find love or must become an animal. Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz navigate their way through this extremely unusual film not for most tastes I would imagine. After recently watching The Killing of a Sacred Deer, i was curious to check this one out and I wasn't disappointed.
The actors must have had a hard time showing little emotion and not cracking up when they sputter the awkward, contrite but witty dialogue and some of the very bizarre situations they find themselves in.
Still, with myriads of films under my belt at this stage in my life, I'll gladly take something original over Fast & Furious 27.
CHILLFILTR (46 KP) rated Electric Light by James Bay in Music
Jun 5, 2019 (Updated Jun 5, 2019)
https://chillfiltr.com/blog/2019/5/24/james-bay-bad
Bad is the latest single from Electric Light, which is the latest studio album by British singer-songwriter James Bay. He took the world by storm in 2014 when his EP Let It Go debuted on the iTunes album top 10.
Since then, he has shared the stage with Ed Sheeran, performed on the Burberry runway, and toured with Hozier: his star is certainly on the rise, while his classic combination of angelic falsetto and crush-worthy good looks will continue to bring adoring new fans to his side. Produced by Dan Wilson, Bad quickly became a fan favorite after a recent US headline tour this spring. It features the melancholic soul of his powerful tenor voice, as well as a stripped-down roots vibe from the rhythm section that leaves the vulnerability intact - we are left with the painful residue of a tough situation.
Bay says of the track:
'I wanted to be honest about some of my own stories and other stories I was being pulled into. Bad is a break up song, it’s just not my break up.'
Bad is the latest single from Electric Light, which is the latest studio album by British singer-songwriter James Bay. He took the world by storm in 2014 when his EP Let It Go debuted on the iTunes album top 10.
Since then, he has shared the stage with Ed Sheeran, performed on the Burberry runway, and toured with Hozier: his star is certainly on the rise, while his classic combination of angelic falsetto and crush-worthy good looks will continue to bring adoring new fans to his side. Produced by Dan Wilson, Bad quickly became a fan favorite after a recent US headline tour this spring. It features the melancholic soul of his powerful tenor voice, as well as a stripped-down roots vibe from the rhythm section that leaves the vulnerability intact - we are left with the painful residue of a tough situation.
Bay says of the track:
'I wanted to be honest about some of my own stories and other stories I was being pulled into. Bad is a break up song, it’s just not my break up.'
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea in Books
Jan 17, 2018
An utterly bleak story of an invisible man
Masaji Ishikawa's story is truly soul-crushing, the level of trauma is beyond comprehension, therefore read it with caution.
Ishikawa describes his life under the North Korean regime as gruelling, horrifically terrifying, and there are some completely hopeless moments where you think why even bother anymore.
His journey begins in Japan, the child of a Japanese mother and Korean father, he was forced at a young age to move to North Korea under the pretence of "returning" to his motherland, though he never believed so. His father, an originally extremely violent man became pacified as he realised the perilous situation he bought his family into. But they soon face the truth and brutality of their circumstances.
The narrator defects at a much later stage in life, living around 30 years under the dictatorship, but leaving his family behind. He questions whether he made the right decision in the end as the consequences are revealed and the reader is left writhing in agony at his pain.
It is not an easy read, but it is important to understand the level of complexity and the reality of the situation. An absolute must read.
Ishikawa describes his life under the North Korean regime as gruelling, horrifically terrifying, and there are some completely hopeless moments where you think why even bother anymore.
His journey begins in Japan, the child of a Japanese mother and Korean father, he was forced at a young age to move to North Korea under the pretence of "returning" to his motherland, though he never believed so. His father, an originally extremely violent man became pacified as he realised the perilous situation he bought his family into. But they soon face the truth and brutality of their circumstances.
The narrator defects at a much later stage in life, living around 30 years under the dictatorship, but leaving his family behind. He questions whether he made the right decision in the end as the consequences are revealed and the reader is left writhing in agony at his pain.
It is not an easy read, but it is important to understand the level of complexity and the reality of the situation. An absolute must read.
This is the third or fourth time I've had to read this for my classes, and I have got to say, it does not disappoint! I love how I am able to catch new details each time I read it.
This time I focused on Ophelia and her "madness." I have some theories about why she acts mad, and that it is not necessarily her losing control, but gaining it in her own way. This is the first moment where she is able to act on her own in the whole play. The first time that she does not have a male controlling all of her actions.
I love being able to see the different interpretations of the play both on stage and on the screen. The to be or not to be speech will always be one of my favorites.
This is in my top three favorite Shakespeare plays of all time because of the intricacies in the plot and the characters. I can't wait to get to study this again with a new professor to get different insights on the play itself.
This time I focused on Ophelia and her "madness." I have some theories about why she acts mad, and that it is not necessarily her losing control, but gaining it in her own way. This is the first moment where she is able to act on her own in the whole play. The first time that she does not have a male controlling all of her actions.
I love being able to see the different interpretations of the play both on stage and on the screen. The to be or not to be speech will always be one of my favorites.
This is in my top three favorite Shakespeare plays of all time because of the intricacies in the plot and the characters. I can't wait to get to study this again with a new professor to get different insights on the play itself.
Ross (3284 KP) rated The Incredibles 2 (2018) in Movies
Jul 16, 2018
I had characterised the first Incredibles film as a "boys' Disney film", alongside Cars - something for my son to get a little more out of than he does from Moana etc, but still enough for my daughters to enjoy too - plus a decent amount of action and humour for us parents. Interestingly, it is Violet, the teenage daughter of the family, that takes centre stage for a lot of the sequel, her struggle to find a balance between superhero-dom and normal teenage life teetering on the edge.
In terms of storyline, it really is much of a repeat of the original film - this time it is the mother, ElastiGirl, that is back in action while Mr Incredible is left holding the baby. The plot, and the motive of the villain, is at time a little confusing for kids, and also pretty tenuous - there really isn't any need for major twists in kids' films!
The humour mainly comes from the emergence of baby Jack-Jack's powers - a multitude of abilities appearing with little control over them.
A good film, but a little long and with a slightly failed plot.
In terms of storyline, it really is much of a repeat of the original film - this time it is the mother, ElastiGirl, that is back in action while Mr Incredible is left holding the baby. The plot, and the motive of the villain, is at time a little confusing for kids, and also pretty tenuous - there really isn't any need for major twists in kids' films!
The humour mainly comes from the emergence of baby Jack-Jack's powers - a multitude of abilities appearing with little control over them.
A good film, but a little long and with a slightly failed plot.
FilmIntuition (33 KP) rated The Art of Escaping in Books
Sep 20, 2018
Set in Rhode Island, Erin Callahan's The Art of Escaping takes place in the summer between junior and senior year, when most students are busy making plans for their future or trying to pad their applications for college.
Then there are those like our unusual protagonist Mattie who uses her three months away from class to find herself by daring to pursue her passion for escapology.
Tracking down the daughter of her favorite escape artist (a local, female Houdini, if you will), although she's hesitant at first, Miyu gradually gives in and begins teaching Mattie the tricks of her mother's trade from lock picking to underwater escapes. Soon enough Mattie is performing her act under a stage persona at a hip speakeasy like club.
An entertaining albeit unusual YA novel that strains your suspension of disbelief, Callahan's Art gets better the further you get into it.
And while its overly stylized characters come off as wise beyond their years and their retro interests and dialogue might have played better if the book - already retro in feel - had been set in the '80s or '90s, it's a fun, fast, and wholly original read nonetheless.
Then there are those like our unusual protagonist Mattie who uses her three months away from class to find herself by daring to pursue her passion for escapology.
Tracking down the daughter of her favorite escape artist (a local, female Houdini, if you will), although she's hesitant at first, Miyu gradually gives in and begins teaching Mattie the tricks of her mother's trade from lock picking to underwater escapes. Soon enough Mattie is performing her act under a stage persona at a hip speakeasy like club.
An entertaining albeit unusual YA novel that strains your suspension of disbelief, Callahan's Art gets better the further you get into it.
And while its overly stylized characters come off as wise beyond their years and their retro interests and dialogue might have played better if the book - already retro in feel - had been set in the '80s or '90s, it's a fun, fast, and wholly original read nonetheless.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo in Books
Dec 3, 2019
Better than a biography
Until seeing Trainwreck, I didn't really rate Amy Schumer as she's made some other pretty poor films. But Trainwreck was great and I'm pleased to say her book is along the same lines.
This is an autobiography but not. Amy tells us humorous anecdotes and sometimes serious and emotional stories about different aspects of her life. Each chapter has a subject or topic of interest, but it is in no way a linear life story. Instead they're rather jumbled but it all makes sense. Amy has a rather laid back conversation style, which for the most part works as it fits in with the stories she's telling although there are times when it gets too conversational - there are just some things that dont come across as well in writing as they would do on stage. Theres a lot of good heartwarming messages in this book, but of course with a decent amount of humour too. I enjoyed reading this a lot more than I expected and it was nice to find out more about a comedian I knew little about. It womt win any writing awards, but it's definitely entertaining.
This is an autobiography but not. Amy tells us humorous anecdotes and sometimes serious and emotional stories about different aspects of her life. Each chapter has a subject or topic of interest, but it is in no way a linear life story. Instead they're rather jumbled but it all makes sense. Amy has a rather laid back conversation style, which for the most part works as it fits in with the stories she's telling although there are times when it gets too conversational - there are just some things that dont come across as well in writing as they would do on stage. Theres a lot of good heartwarming messages in this book, but of course with a decent amount of humour too. I enjoyed reading this a lot more than I expected and it was nice to find out more about a comedian I knew little about. It womt win any writing awards, but it's definitely entertaining.