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I am finally watching Erik the Viking after 30 years. I am disappointed to say that I am over halfway through and still waiting for it to be funny or interesting.
 
I am finally watching Erik the Viking after 30 years. I am disappointed to say that I am over halfway through and still waiting for it to be funny or interesting.

It wasn''t that funny 30 years ago, I can't imagine time made it so. There was one funny scene, on a boat, you'll know it when you see it
 
The King's Man, because after a weeks closure, the theatres reopened again yesterday.

I liked the Kingsman - The Secret Service very much; I though the Golden Circle was a mess, trying to outdo the original in outlandishness and violence but ultimately failing.

The King's Man manages to be its own thing. OK, it's an origin story so there are callbacks and subversions of famous lines from the previous two, but it more felt like... 'Sense and Sensibility and Zombies' and a bit of '1917' to me. Posh Brits talking at length about the importance of being a gentleman, or what defines being a Man (m/f/x), and then suddenly mad mayhem action. I also felt that this was what League of Extraordinary Gentleman might have been. The pacing was a bit slow at times, and Gemma and Aaron were poorly written and could have used, not more, but better screen time.
But in all I enjoyed this last movie of 2021. I didn't leave the theatre as thrilled as after No Way Home or the first Kingsman, but certainly not with the existential ennui I felt after Eternals or Matrix 4.

Edit: I liked Ralph Fiennes with the sword cane and the bowler hat. Reminded me of something else...
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I have HBOMax for a little while longer (got in on one of those special deals), and finally sat down and watch the new Matrix movie. I have always been more interested in the philosophical side of the movies, and there was some interesting stuff along those lines in the first half of the movie. There was also a whole meta-criticism thing directed at the entertainment industry that was clever. By the second half of the film, though, it all devolved into a sort of sappy jumbled mess that felt really rushed. At this point, I think the whole Matrix story and world would be better served by a more low-key TV series of some sort, done by Netflix or HBO or some other company of that sort.

I tried to start watching the second season of the Witcher, only to realize that I have forgotten too much about the first season to jump right back in. So I shifted over to Lock and Key, with the same results. It looks like I'll be reading through some season summaries this weekend to get back on track.
 
[ . . . ]

I tried to start watching the second season of the Witcher, only to realize that I have forgotten too much about the first season to jump right back in. So I shifted over to Lock and Key, with the same results. It looks like I'll be reading through some season summaries this weekend to get back on track.

There's a 15 minute recap of the first season of The Witcher if you hunt around on Netflix.
 
Finished Super Crooks. It was fun, and not dark like Jupiter's Legacy. Now that it's out, I'm diving right into Cobra Kai season 4.
 
Shadow in the Cloud is not gonna win any prizes, but it's a low budget movie that could have been an episode of Amazing Stories or in an issue of Heavy Metal. Wildly over the top finale!
Don't watch the trailer (I didn't), as it spoils everything.
 
Watched the Rifftrax of Samurai Cop. Will note that this movie has a lot of bad haircuts (among the men, the women have great hair!) and seems to have no idea what a samurai is.

 
Just started season 6 of Clone Wars, finished season 4 of Aggretsuko, and... Queer Eye is back!!

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I just realized that the second season of "Beforeigners" is on HBO Max. I had completely forgotten about that series, somehow. I just started watching the new episodes.

For those who aren't aware of it, it is a Norwegian series about people from earlier periods in time being randomly pulled into modern times, focusing on a lot of the social issues that would result from that.
 
Watched an anime series on Netflix called Blue Period, based on an award-winning manga. It's a coming-of-age story about a boy graduating from high school and studying to get into art school.
 
Having just finished Cobra Kai, this season was more of a roller coaster than the previous ones. Early on, I was conflicted on whether I liked some of the character arcs, but by the end, I was like "Damn". The tournament this year was really good, as the matches were much better (since the kids have grown in skill, it's harder for either side to always score an easy win). Now I'm not sure what I'll watch next. I'm in the middle of this Korean movie called Musudan, which feels like a predator rip off, but it's not really grabbing me.
 
Now I'm not sure what I'll watch next. I'm in the middle of this Korean movie called Musudan, which feels like a predator rip off, but it's not really grabbing me.

This might amuse you.

 
I am finally watching Erik the Viking after 30 years. I am disappointed to say that I am over halfway through and still waiting for it to be funny or interesting.

I saw that when it came out. It's been a long time since I saw it, not a great movie but I liked it.

It is not really a "funny" movie, not a serious Viking film, and definitely not your usual Monty Python film despite the appearance of several MP alumni.


I happen to like Terry Jones work, he has done several documentaries which his subtle humor makes enjoyable, but isn't out of place.
 
Watched season 4 of Cobra Kai. I thought season 2 and 3 were each progressively a step down. Not bad tv, just not meeting the high bar of season 1 and the trajectory had me feeling cautious about the series continuing. But season 4 I'd rank right behind season 1. It puts the focus back on Johnny and Daniel trying to co-exist with their conflicting styles. The ridiculous fights of season 3 have been scaled back and the season is all about training for the next tournament. Most of the kids' plotlines deal with the complexity of bullying, constantly changing who is a villain in the situation, something the show has handled very well from the start. Almost everyone gets some satisfying character development.
Best of all, they managed to bring back one of the most ridiculous 80s villains, Terry Silver, and make him a fun character. Even acknowledging the absurdity of Karate Kid 3 (
cocaine's a hell of a drug
). After season 3 I figured one more season needs to end the series, but now I'm kinda looking forward to a 5th.
 
After season 3 I figured one more season needs to end the series, but now I'm kinda looking forward to a 5th.
I haven't watched it yet. Still have some things in the queue before it. But the creators said they have a trajectory laid out that should last for 7 seasons- maybe 8 depending on how the last arc goes.
 
I'm really hoping Mike Barnes (the secondary villain of KK3) returns next season. After the events of this season, I think they set up him returning. Of course, I'm wondering if we might one day see Hillary Swank's character, given she was Miyagi's other student
 
Just started Only Murders in the Building on Disney+ (in Canada, believe it is on Hulu in the US) and it is a funny, clever satire of true crime and murder mysteries.

 
I'm really hoping Mike Barnes (the secondary villain of KK3) returns next season. After the events of this season, I think they set up him returning. Of course, I'm wondering if we might one day see Hillary Swank's character, given she was Miyagi's other student
I definitely think that was the implication of Terry's "friends". Hillary Swank I could see doing a one-off thing, like Elizabeth Shue.
 
This weekend I caught the first episode of Masterpiece Theater's new version of Around the World in 80 Days, which got as far as Paris (and day 2). If you're as old as I am, you probably can't think of the book without the theme to the 1970s animated version running through your head. It's decades since I read the novel, or saw any other adaptations, but based on my shaky memories this new one has changed the story a lot to appeal to a modern audience. Rather than being an icy and unflappable English gentleman, the new Phileas Fogg (played by David Tennant) is a rather sad and hapless figure, who apparently once planned to travel but never had the courage to do so. The arrival of a postcard marked 'Coward' rouses him from his lethargy, and he departs on his famous journey. Passepartout, his new French valet (played by Ibrahim Koma) is a more formidable character than I remember the domestic in the novel as being; a fair amount of the first episode has to do with his family's background in French revolutionary activity. And Fix, who accompanies the two on their trip, is not a detective trailing Fogg because he suspects him of robbery, but a young female journalist (played by Leonie Benesch) chronicling the trip as a way to get her own byline.

I doubt if anyone would or could do a straight adaptation of the novel nowadays. Too much of its appeal for its original audience (I suspect) lay in the details of how Fogg manages to pull off his difficult but not impossible task, though of course there are other attractions to the tale as well. But the specifics of how one could circumnavigate the globe in 1872 probably wouldn't engage a modern audience. I did find it a bit odd that Fix has been changed from an opponent of Fogg's to a collaborator, though.
 
Around the world in 80 days, with Passepartout..
So Fogg can marry Belinda Maze...

By Jove, I even know some of the lyrics!

Though 'My version' will always be the one with David Niven.
 
This weekend I caught the first episode of Masterpiece Theater's new version of Around the World in 80 Days, which got as far as Paris (and day 2). If you're as old as I am, you probably can't think of the book without the theme to the 1970s animated version running through your head. It's decades since I read the novel, or saw any other adaptations, but based on my shaky memories this new one has changed the story a lot to appeal to a modern audience. Rather than being an icy and unflappable English gentleman, the new Phileas Fogg (played by David Tennant) is a rather sad and hapless figure, who apparently once planned to travel but never had the courage to do so. The arrival of a postcard marked 'Coward' rouses him from his lethargy, and he departs on his famous journey. Passepartout, his new French valet (played by Ibrahim Koma) is a more formidable character than I remember the domestic in the novel as being; a fair amount of the first episode has to do with his family's background in French revolutionary activity. And Fix, who accompanies the two on their trip, is not a detective trailing Fogg because he suspects him of robbery, but a young female journalist (played by Leonie Benesch) chronicling the trip as a way to get her own byline.

I doubt if anyone would or could do a straight adaptation of the novel nowadays. Too much of its appeal for its original audience (I suspect) lay in the details of how Fogg manages to pull off his difficult but not impossible task, though of course there are other attractions to the tale as well. But the specifics of how one could circumnavigate the globe in 1872 probably wouldn't engage a modern audience. I did find it a bit odd that Fix has been changed from an opponent of Fogg's to a collaborator, though.

The Inkle video game of 80 Days is excellent although I have no idea how faithful it is.
 
Around the world in 80 days, with Passepartout..
So Fogg can marry Belinda Maze...

By Jove, I even know some of the lyrics!

Though 'My version' will always be the one with David Niven.
The part of the lyrics that sticks with me is:
Fogg may fail, because of Fix
Unless Fogg nixes Fix's tricks...


Niven is, I think, perfect for the sort of imperturbable English gentleman that Verne wrote about. I don't remember the book all that well, but one part of it that really sticks in my memory is Fogg's reaction just after making the wager. He has been playing Whist with his friends in the Reform club when the bet is made. This is how Verne describes it at the end of chapter 3:

The clock struck seven, and the party offered to suspend the game so that Mr. Fogg might make his preparations for departure.
"I am quite ready now," was his tranquil response. "Diamonds are trumps: be so good as to play, gentlemen."
 
I've just finished Cobra Kai. I love how the dynamics in the show keep shifting. My prediction for next season is

conflict between the newly resurgent Cobra Kai - headed up by Terry Silver and Mike Barnes - and a defiant Miyagi-Do (including a bunch of Eagle Fang students) headed by LaRusso and Chozen. Johnny will be taking Eagle Fang to the streets of Mexico City and him and Miguel will be replaying much of KK2 only with Miguel in the Miyagi role and Johnny as Daniel.

Of course I could be wrong.
 
I've just finished Cobra Kai. I love how the dynamics in the show keep shifting. My prediction for next season is

conflict between the newly resurgent Cobra Kai - headed up by Terry Silver and Mike Barnes - and a defiant Miyagi-Do (including a bunch of Eagle Fang students) headed by LaRusso and Chozen. Johnny will be taking Eagle Fang to the streets of Mexico City and him and Miguel will be replaying much of KK2 only with Miguel in the Miyagi role and Johnny as Daniel.

Of course I could be wrong.
I haven't watched the new season yet because I have so much on my backlog, but I did want to say that I saw an interesting interview with Zabka/Macchio when they talked about what was up for grabs.

They call the world of Cobra Kai the Miyagiverse- Mr. Miyagi is the center of everything. Anyone that had any contact with Mr Miyagi is up for grabs for inclusion. This conveniently leaves out the Kung Fu Kid. (I really liked that movie, but think the title is unfortunate- as shown by the fact that it is titled The Kung Fu Kid in China)
 
I've been watching the show Shooter on Netflix. I never saw the movie on which it's loosely based. I enjoyed the first two seasons quite a bit. The third and final season is really dumb, but it's short and I like the characters, so I'll see it through to the end.
 
book of boba fett. so far, i'm loving it.
I'm watching it now. Had to bail in the first episode- there was something about it I didn't like, and wanted to come back to it later to see if I can get in the mood for it.
 
Not a big Star Wars guy but we enjoyed episode 1 of The Bad Batch. It used solid well-worn tropes but still managed to be entertaining. Bunny has never seen Star Wars before and she liked it immensely even though she doesn't know any of the lore. I thought it looked pretty good as well but Bunny says the animation quality is excellent because of the details like weathered armor and such (I don't know a thing about the nuances of animation other than it's a ton of work).
 
Since I'm way behind, I'm trying to mini-binge NCIS. I finished off season 16, and am 10 episodes into season 17. After that, I'll take a break from that a few days (since I just binged 11 or 12 episodes). Not sure what to watch next. I haven't checked out anything on Shudder in awhile, so maybe I'll watch a horror movie
 
book of boba fett. so far, i'm loving it.
Finished the first episode. I figured out what I wasn't liking about it. Boba Fett is not a nice guy. He has a code, but he'll do whatever is necessary to get the job done. This guy isn't that Boba Fett. It seems like maybe they're deconstructing him? Not sure.

But this isn't the guy that named his ship Slave I.
 
Finished the first episode. I figured out what I wasn't liking about it. Boba Fett is not a nice guy. He has a code, but he'll do whatever is necessary to get the job done. This guy isn't that Boba Fett. It seems like maybe they're deconstructing him? Not sure.

But this isn't the guy that named his ship Slave I.
This is my current complaint. They are making him kinda noble, and I’m not sure I like that
 
But do we honestly know enough about him to really say?

I mean, over the years I’ve read some comics and a couple of novels that expanded on Boba Fett’s motivations and traits and all that.

But i gm oring any of those sources, and all we know is what we’ve seen in the films. He’s a bounty hunter, he’s somewhat ruthless, his father was killed by jedi right in front of him….and that’s about it.

I think what they’re doing is trying to make Boba Fett justifiably cool. Like, for whatever reason, everyone thought he was awesome when he first showed up. Mostly because of his look, given how little he actually does in the movies. And then that ignoble end….accidentally knocked into the Sarlac, which then cartoonishly burped (which gets an original trilogy pass, but if in the prequels or sequels would have caused endless amounts of outrage).

When he showed up in the Mandalorian, it was like “here’s the character we always wanted”. But until this show, we know almost nothing about him. His time with the Tuskens is the most detail we’ve gotten, other than his childhood with Jango.

The Mandalorian seems very much a western. Book of Boba Fett so far kind of reminds me of something more like Conan. The warrior who becomes ruler by his own hand. Although the assault on the train certainly brought in the western vibe to this show too.
 
I think what they’re doing is trying to make Boba Fett justifiably cool.
But I haven't seen anything that makes him such.

Just going from the first episode The Gammoreans save him. Fennec goes after the assassins. The assassins that I assume are there because he didn't pay tribute. Which was requested because he backed down and didn't make an example of the major domo. Getting away from the sarlaac was cool, but stripped by Jawa? It didn't really come around until the end of the episode when he impressed the Sand People by saving (I guess) the chief's son?

It just didn't hit for me. And in a lot of those cases, other than plot armor, he should have been dead. Which doesn't give a feeling of badassery to me. It seems they're Disneyfying him, rather than going Star Wars villain with him. I want something like the Darth Vader novel they had for Boba Fett. But this, as I said, feels like more of a deconstruction. Especially with his naivete.
 
But I haven't seen anything that makes him such.

Just going from the first episode The Gammoreans save him. Fennec goes after the assassins. The assassins that I assume are there because he didn't pay tribute. Which was requested because he backed down and didn't make an example of the major domo. Getting away from the sarlaac was cool, but stripped by Jawa? It didn't really come around until the end of the episode when he impressed the Sand People by saving (I guess) the chief's son?

It just didn't hit for me. And in a lot of those cases, other than plot armor, he should have been dead. Which doesn't give a feeling of badassery to me. It seems they're Disneyfying him, rather than going Star Wars villain with him. I want something like the Darth Vader novel they had for Boba Fett. But this, as I said, feels like more of a deconstruction. Especially with his naivete.

I get that. I think what we saw of him in The Mandalorian went a pretty good way to showing him as a badass. As for this show…
I think what makes him badass, for me, is that he simply takes so much punishment and does not stop. They just keep piling the punishment on him and he just deals with it. It seems to me that he’s been mangled so often that he has to sleep in a bacta tank every night. Or perhaps that’s just lingering effects from the Sarlac?

I have to say that killing that four-armed desert creature seemed pretty awesome, too. And I like the way that he slowly earned the respect of the Tusken.

I think we’ll have to see more of the current events to see how things are there. Does he seem naive? Maybe. Or is it more the shift from employee to boss, and how different that must be. But his ability to change tact with the Tusken hints that perhaps he’s craftier than he seems, or has the potentialto be.


All in all, I’ve liked the show so far. Ithink there are some blanks that need filling. And while I agree I don’t want him to become a straight up hero or even close to it, I don't mind him having some morality. But if he’s gonna be a crime boss, then there still has to be the criminal element to it.

We’ll see.
 
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