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The donkey transformation scene is as disturbing as ever and the water animation during the whale sequence is stunning.

 
Okay, so Veronica Mars... This is actually very good. I'm pacing myself to a few episodes a week to get that old time tv experience, but already almost every episode has had a 'Hey, is that...?' moment (Paris Hilton, Amanda Seyfried, Jessica Chastain,...). I just have trouble remembering the names for now, because all those highschool guys (except Weevil) look the same to me, but hey, I was halfway through Storm of Swords by the time I got all the Stark children's names right.
Good stuff. Almost halfway season 1.

In parallel, I'm also watching Fargo S4, Siren S2 and Timeless S1, but those are on cable so I only get one episode per week.
 
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Last night my wife and I watched a Nova documentary on some current investigations of the Dead Sea Scrolls and similar texts. A number of fragments of them have come onto the market in the last decade or so, being bought mainly by American evangelicals (like the Museum of the Bible). Part of the show was about attempts to test these to determine their authenticity.

Maybe unsurprisingly, all the ones the show highlighted were forgeries. They were made on actual ancient papyrus, scavenged from other sites, and thus would pass carbon-dating and similar tests. How the forgeries were detected was quite interesting:
  • Apparently, some of the actual Dead Sea Scrolls have salt incrustations on them, since they were stored for millennia near that highly saline lake. For one of the documents, the forger had attempted to duplicate this but had used table salt, which doesn't look like the real Dead Sea salts under the microscope.
  • In another case, there was an odd mark in one part of the Biblical text the scroll fragment presented. The researcher was able to trace this back to a 1937 edition of the Hebrew Bible. At this particular juncture in the text, the editor had inserted a footnote marked by a tiny superscript Greek letter alpha. The forger had unwittingly reproduced the footnote mark!
The documentary also described the use of new technologies to allow the reading of a Hebrew Biblical text from En-Gedi which had carbonized when the synagogue that held it burned down c. 600. This involved a high-resolution CT scan of the still-rolled-up scroll and then computer modeling of the contents to allow it to be 'unrolled' virtually. The ink showed up in the scan because of its higher metal content.
 
Last night I saw part of the Trek TOS episode "Mirror, Mirror" on broadcast. I still think it is the best mirror-universe episode in all the Trek series. Though I'm a big fan of DS 9, I never cared for their mirror-universe stories and wished they had fewer of them.

Also, Uhura is hot in a bare-midriff uniform.
Uhura_Mirror.jpg
 
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Watched the opening ep of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Obviously very different on tone from Wandavision, unsurprisingly closer in feel to the second Captain America movie. A little surprised we only got a couple of action sequences, but was pleased to get quite a bit of character work for both Sam and Bucky.

Some thoughts hidden behind spoiler space...

That opening action/rescue sequence was seriously kickass. And was that Batroc Sam was fighting?

Between the episode itself and some of the closing credit images, we know we have the Flag Smashers (aka ULTIMATUM), John Walker as the new Captain America, and Baron Zemo. How Sam and Bucky deal with those three - and how they may interact with each other - will no doubt form the crux of the series. Given that Walker is almost certainly enhanced, and at least one of the Flag Smashers is as well, we might also get to see the Power Broker.

Seeing more signs of how the Snap and Blip have affected the world.

This looks like it may touch on some real world political stuff, which may make discussing it her at the Pub a bit tricky...

Really looking forward to the next episode.
 
Watched the opening ep of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Obviously very different on tone from Wandavision, unsurprisingly closer in feel to the second Captain America movie. A little surprised we only got a couple of action sequences, but was pleased to get quite a bit of character work for both Sam and Bucky.

Some thoughts hidden behind spoiler space...

That opening action/rescue sequence was seriously kickass. And was that Batroc Sam was fighting?

Between the episode itself and some of the closing credit images, we know we have the Flag Smashers (aka ULTIMATUM), John Walker as the new Captain America, and Baron Zemo. How Sam and Bucky deal with those three - and how they may interact with each other - will no doubt form the crux of the series. Given that Walker is almost certainly enhanced, and at least one of the Flag Smashers is as well, we might also get to see the Power Broker.

Seeing more signs of how the Snap and Blip have affected the world.

This looks like it may touch on some real world political stuff, which may make discussing it her at the Pub a bit tricky...

Really looking forward to the next episode.

Yeah, I enjoyed it, but looks like it's going to be a slow burn.

Watching The Stand now. Not my favourite King story, but so far is entertaining enough. Topical.

Has anyone here watched The Mist TV series? I kinda passed on it because the film is one of my favourite horror movies of the century (especially the B&W director's cut), and it didn't seem to me like a drawn-out TV adaption was necessary, but kinda curious now if it was worth it a all?
 
Watched the opening ep of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Obviously very different on tone from Wandavision, unsurprisingly closer in feel to the second Captain America movie. A little surprised we only got a couple of action sequences, but was pleased to get quite a bit of character work for both Sam and Bucky.

Some thoughts hidden behind spoiler space...

That opening action/rescue sequence was seriously kickass. And was that Batroc Sam was fighting?

Between the episode itself and some of the closing credit images, we know we have the Flag Smashers (aka ULTIMATUM), John Walker as the new Captain America, and Baron Zemo. How Sam and Bucky deal with those three - and how they may interact with each other - will no doubt form the crux of the series. Given that Walker is almost certainly enhanced, and at least one of the Flag Smashers is as well, we might also get to see the Power Broker.

Seeing more signs of how the Snap and Blip have affected the world.

This looks like it may touch on some real world political stuff, which may make discussing it her at the Pub a bit tricky...

Really looking forward to the next episode.

Yeah it was a solid start for sure. Definitely glad that it wasn’t all action. They need to expand the characters a bit given the nature of a series. And they did a good job of it.

Definitely seems like they’re not going to shy away from some of the politics/racial stuff. I personally think that’s a good move if handled properly. Hopefully it doesn’t make the show difficult to talk about here.
 
Started to watch the last NXT Takeover now that Peacock has more WWE material available, but stopped to watch the Snyder Cut of Justice League. Going back to Takeover in a bit
 
Yeah, I enjoyed it, but looks like it's going to be a slow burn.

Watching The Stand now. Not my favourite King story, but so far is entertaining enough. Topical.

Has anyone her watched The Mist TV series? I kinda passed on it because the film is one of my favourite horror movies of the century (especially the B&W director's cut), and it didn't seem to me like a drawn-out TV adaption was necessary, but kinda curious now if it was worth it a all?
I started to watch the first episode of the series as I love the novella and quite liked the film except for the ending (much prefer the ending in the novella) so I thought it could have potential. It looks cheap and cheesy so I turned it off but honestly I don't think I gave it a fair shot.
 
Welp... The Stand kinda sucked. Do not recommend.

It was however slightly amusing after having just seen Justice League, watching the Flash play a mutant homeless man masterbating over a garbage fire. I can't imagine that was the best choice for the actor's career path though...
 
Welp... The Stand kinda sucked. Do not recommend.

It was however slightly amusing after having just seen Justice League, watching the Flash play a mutant homeless man masterbating over a garbage fire. I can't imagine that was the best choice for the actor's career path though...

Well, he's been trying to tank his career for a while now, so that's not as bad as some other decisions.
 
Welp... The Stand kinda sucked. Do not recommend.

It was however slightly amusing after having just seen Justice League, watching the Flash play a mutant homeless man masterbating over a garbage fire. I can't imagine that was the best choice for the actor's career path though...
Didn't hurt Phillip Seymour Hoffman's career...although admittedly he was more a character and dramatic actor as opposed to starring in blockbusters per se.
 
Watched Reality Z, a Brazilian zombie show set in a reality TV set, dull at first but warmed up towards the end.

Current watching Lost Girl, an urban horror series about a Succubus waiting to choose the Light or Dark Fae. pretty good so far. Definitely Monster of the Week in nature, but pretty in places.
 
I started to watch the first episode of the series as I love the novella and quite liked the film except for the ending (much prefer the ending in the novella) ...

The end of the movie version of The Mist is one of the rare instances of an ending I hated so much that I now retroactively dislike the rest of the movie, which I had enjoyed up until that #$%^$%@ end.
 
So, what's good on Paramount + ? I ended up signing up for the free trial so I could finish iCarly, since Netflix only has the first three seasons & Paramount + has the rest. I've only got six eps of iCarly left, and I still have about 27 days left of the trial.

As for iCarly, the later seasons are still funny, but not as funny the earlier ones. It has the same issue as any series about goofy kids that goes on for a while: eventually those goofy kids grow up.

Also watched the Snyder cut of Justice League. It was fine, I guess. I never saw the theatrical cut, so I can't compare them. The only part I actively disliked was
the bit in the alternate timeline with Batman, Joker, etc. going through the wasteland
because it didn't seem to serve any purpose, other than to set up something for future movies.
 
Yeah it was a solid start for sure. Definitely glad that it wasn’t all action. They need to expand the characters a bit given the nature of a series. And they did a good job of it.

Definitely seems like they’re not going to shy away from some of the politics/racial stuff. I personally think that’s a good move if handled properly. Hopefully it doesn’t make the show difficult to talk about here.
Belated realization #42,397:

Of course Falcon has nephews. The person Captain America passed the shield to is literally Uncle Sam.
 
I like the ending of the Mist film better than the ending in the original story.

So did Stephen King.
IME most Stephen King adaptations tend to jump the shark near the end of the film. I've never read any of his books, so I don't know if they're the same in that respect. The Mist movie was a rare exception. I really liked that. The Mist Netflix series was... pretty bad.
 
We just started watching The Head and Tokyo Alice on Prime.

49A02Jacques-Mezger-The-Head.jpg


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IME most Stephen King adaptations tend to jump the shark near the end of the film. I've never read any of his books, so I don't know if they're the same in that respect. The Mist movie was a rare exception. I really liked that. The Mist Netflix series was... pretty bad.

The ending of the novella is ambigious and subtle and one of King's best. He often fumbles his endings but not in this case.

The ending of the film didn't bother me I just thought it was inferior and undermotivated.
 
The Mist film had an excellent ending, although it was absolutely brutal. Especially compared to the short story which was far less conclusive.

The other film based on his work where they significantly change the ending is Secret Window. The ending os far better in the movie, and they actually justify it.
 
The ending of the novella is ambigious and subtle and one of King's best. He often fumbles his endings but not in this case.

The ending of the film didn't bother me I just thought it was inferior and undermotivated.
My biggest problem with the movie ending is that it is too optimistic. Sure, the movie tacks on some really heavy-handed tragedy, but it it does that by making the threat something the military can just sweep up. It loses the powerful cosmic horror of the novella.
 
My biggest problem with the movie ending is that it is too optimistic. Sure, the movie tacks on some really heavy-handed tragedy, but it it does that by making the threat something the military can just sweep up. It loses the powerful cosmic horror of the novella.

For a second there I was like “I don’t think we saw the same movie....” but I get your point about the scope of the problem.

I think there was some “fear will be what gets us” kind of meaning in there. Pretty popular in the oughts.
 
After Tristram reminded me I watched the new The Stand mini-series as I was curious to check it out since I recently read the novel.




I'd say it has some of the flaws of the novel baked in but in general although flawed, rushed and clumsy in parts some of that is balanced out by improved dialogue, less corniness and tedium than in the text and some good, charming performances.

Kinnear makes Glen Bateman actually as funny and charming as the rather grating character in the novel is supposed to be. Ditto the actor playing Tom Cullen. Hell even Goldberg, who I often find insufferable makes the super-corny Mother Abigail a much more believable and less wince-inducing character.

Owen Teague is terrific as Harold, the strongest written character in the novel brought to full life here. Heard as Nadine is solid. Stu and Larry Underwood who I found rather bland on the page are more charismatic here due to the actors performing them.

The bad guys, similar to the novel, are more one dimensional but although I at first doubted Skarsgard as the very American Flagg he grew on me as the story progressed and I quite enjoyed his performance by the end.

Some have made a stink about the changes to the portrait of New Vegas but at least this more hedonistic vision instead of fearfully fascistic brings some needed energy and colour to the proceedings, something I thought the book passed on too much.

A few characters like Nick Andros and Trashcanman feel under-realized compared to their novel counterparts, which just goes to show how difficult it is to adapt such a sprawling and character-filled novel even over 9 one-hour episodes.

King wrote the new coda himself, skipping the long and occasionally tedious detailing of Stu and Tom's trip back with an extended story about Stu and Frannie in Maine, which is an eccentric choice but surprisingly to me on its own isn't a bad little character-based mini-movie with a lot of signature King quirks.

I'd be interested in what someone who hasn't read the novel makes of it, I suspect those familiar with the novel are thrown by the flashback structure of the first half and can sense the seams and compression more so than those coming to it new.

TL; DR: not bad but not great, I think of interest to those who have read the book and interested in how it has been adapted. Not sure how those who haven't read the novel will react.
 
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Skarsgard really let the whole thing down for me, he just lacks any sort of presence, I didn't find him intimidating or charming, just sort of a black hole onscreen.

While the Old Stand miniseries was pretty bad overall, I really think the guy playing Randall Flagg in that was miles above the new one, managing to be both charismatic and intimidating at the same time, mostly let down by some really, really awful CGI of the era.

randall-flagg-first-appeared-in-the-dark-man-1569006682.jpg
 
We had a massively productive day reorganizing the kitchen so I'm enjoying a victory beer and over halfway through Star Wars: A New Hope. I haven't seen this in at least 20 years but I can tell they've "modernized" the film a little. I'm okay with the changes but then again I haven't been a huge Star Wars fan since I was like, 10. More creatures, better special effects, a scene with Jabba. Alec Guinness is just awesome in this flick and I forgot that Carrie Fisher looks almost exactly like my mom- they were just about the the same age too (mom was 16 when she had me in 1974).

Edit: The Death Star run was awesome and my favorite part of the flick.
 
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Skarsgard really let the whole thing down for me, he just lacks any sort of presence, I didn't find him intimidating or charming, just sort of a black hole onscreen.

While the Old Stand miniseries was pretty bad overall, I really think the guy playing Randall Flagg in that was miles above the new one, managing to be both charismatic and intimidating at the same time, mostly let down by some really, really awful CGI of the era.

View attachment 28470

I also like Sinise as Stu in the 94' version.
 
I also like Sinise as Stu in the 94' version.

Yeah, I don't have a problem with either Stu.

Really, it's the (soooo literal) Deus Ex Machina ending that bothers me the most about the story. I wasn't able to make peace with it in the book, nor the first miniseries' variation, and I'd heard King had written a new ending for this series, but it's still mostly the same problem, with an epilogue slapped on that didn't do much for me. Like nothing the main characters did actually mattered at all. If they just sat on a farm with their magic black lady and sang kumbaya, nothing would have changed. It's like LOTR, if at the end, Tom Bombadil just randomly showed up and sat on the Ring, 'sploding it.
 
Yeah, I don't have a problem with either Stu.

Really, it's the (soooo literal) Deus Ex Machina ending that bothers me the most about the story. I wasn't able to make peace with it in the book, nor the first miniseries' variation, and I'd heard King had written a new ending for this series, but it's still mostly the same problem, with an epilogue slapped on that didn't do much for me. Like nothing the main characters did actually mattered at all. If they just sat on a farm with their magic black lady and sang kumbaya, nothing would have changed. It's like LOTR, if at the end, Tom Bombadil just randomly showed up and sat on the Ring, 'sploding it.

Yeah it is a major flaw of the novel and the one thing my wife who hasn't read the novel or seen the TV version also noted.

One could justify it as a form of Christian martyrdom crossed with the irrationality and violence of the Old Testament God
(and I think King has noted the latter as an influence) but it just doesn't feel dramatically satisfying.
 
Unfortunately for King, one of his strengths is coming up with complicated and detailed backstories for some of his characters that gives them a depth and humanity, no matter how fucked up and evil they are. Very little of this is possible to make it to the big or small screen, except through time-eating flashbacks for most of the characters, which is one of the reasons his adaptations can be very lackluster - they fail to contain what makes the books exceptional. Considering this version decides to use flashbacks for the main chronology, using a second layer of flashbacks would cause confusion the same way The Witcher did, for people who didn’t read the source material.

Doing one of the Stephen King ”series in a single book”, monster-sized novels, with all characterization intact would be several 9-episode seasons, if possible at all.
 
Honestly, the non-linear thing here felt even more gimmickyy than it did in The Witcher, as it served no purpose that I could tell in regards to information from past events significantly shedding light on events from the prsent preceeding them.
 
I'm trying to think of King adaptions I really liked. The Mist, obviously. The Shining, which wasn't really an adaption, which is why King hates it.

Misery was quite good. 1408 was a masterpiece. Really liked In the Tall Grass. And Children of the Corn.

I liked the extended version of Needful Things, which I sadly only ever got to see once and doesn't seem to have ever gotten any sort of home video release.

I don't think either adaption of IT succeeded.

There's a lot of adaptions of his works that aren't good but aren't bad, and are generally entertainiing enough: Pet Cemetary, Cat's Eye. Creepshow, Silver Bullet, Carrie, etc.

Shame about The Dark Tower. If done right, they could've had a Harry Potter-level film series on their hands.
 
I'm trying to think of King adaptions I really liked. The Mist, obviously. The Shining, which wasn't really an adaption, which is why King hates it.

Misery was quite good. 1408 was a masterpiece. Really liked In the Tall Grass. And Children of the Corn.

I liked the extended version of Needful Things, which I sadly only ever got to see once and doesn't seem to have ever gotten any sort of home video release.

I don't think either adaption of IT succeeded.

There's a lot of adaptions of his works that aren't good but aren't bad, and are generally entertainiing enough: Pet Cemetary, Cat's Eye. Creepshow, Silver Bullet, Carrie, etc.

Shame about The Dark Tower. If done right, they could've had a Harry Potter-level film series on their hands.
You didn’t like The Shawshank Redemption or Stand By Me? :devil:
 
You didn’t like The Shawshank Redemption or Stand By Me? :devil:

Oh yeah.

Hmmm...this is what I'll say about them (and The Green Mile), I saw them and could completey appreciate that they were very well done movies - well directed, well acted, total Oscar bait. But I had not an ounce of desire to see any one of them again in my lifetime. Just thinking about them bores me.
 
I saw the Snyder Cut of Justice League and if there is any Justice in the world, two things will happen.
  • They’ll allow Zak Snyder to finish what he started with the JL v. Darkseid series.
  • People will stop asking Joss Whedon to come in and work on shit he didn’t create.
 
I'm trying to think of King adaptions I really liked. The Mist, obviously. The Shining, which wasn't really an adaption, which is why King hates it.

Misery was quite good. 1408 was a masterpiece. Really liked In the Tall Grass. And Children of the Corn.

I liked the extended version of Needful Things, which I sadly only ever got to see once and doesn't seem to have ever gotten any sort of home video release.

I don't think either adaption of IT succeeded.

There's a lot of adaptions of his works that aren't good but aren't bad, and are generally entertainiing enough: Pet Cemetary, Cat's Eye. Creepshow, Silver Bullet, Carrie, etc.

Shame about The Dark Tower. If done right, they could've had a Harry Potter-level film series on their hands.
The Dead Zone is another good one.

Personally, I'd elevate Carrie into the solidly good category.

I haven't seen In the Tall Grass, but I read the novella. I liked it enough for the atmosphere and setting, but they didn't seem to have a good place to take the story. I'm curious to give the movie a look.
 
The Dead Zone is another good one.

Personally, I'd elevate Carrie into the solidly good category.

I haven't seen In the Tall Grass, but I read the novella. I liked it enough for the atmosphere and setting, but they didn't seem to have a good place to take the story. I'm curious to give the movie a look.

I haven't seen the Dead Zone, or Carrie for that matter, since my childhood so I should probably give both another watch.

I haven't read the novella of In The Tall Grass, so no idea how faithful it was, but the film has a nice Lovecraftian closed time loop going on.
 
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