demagogue on 28/5/2025 at 03:39
I keep getting clips or video essays of The Wire on my YouTube feed, which leads me to watch some episodes again. It holds up so well. Every time I watch it I remember why it's one of the best shows ever. I saw some guy make a fan music video for it--I posted it in the music video thread--and he asked someone to make another video about the corruption and bureaucracy side of the show to the tune of Leonard Cohen's Everybody Knows, which inspired me to maybe try my hand out it, since I think it's a great idea, although I'd use a good cover version I found that's by a Black artist and allows me to remix it to better fit the video's vibe.
The point is that that show is so good, and I forget how good it is after time, then remember when I watch it again. It has a lot of layers, scenes calling back past scenes, and so much symbolism and references and little signals packed into scenes... like signs or voices in the background speaking to a scene, or the way the camera moves (e.g., as the camera is panning across characters, Marlow is talking about in the game some people die as it pans over Snoop and some get locked up as it passes over Chris), the way part of DeAngelo's story mirror's a scene from The Great Gatsby that he later reads in prison, the way Stringer always insists people close the door, then he's trapped into his most compromised position by a closed door, the way that Bodie's final stand works like he's being attacked by chess pieces... Once you start looking for little things like that they're all over the place and fun to find.
Sulphur on 3/6/2025 at 13:53
Nearing the end of Andor season 2. I thought the first season was the best thing that Star Wars had ever done since the original movie and Empire back in the day. With season 2, I'm starting to wonder if Star Wars even deserves Andor.
Not that S2 is markedly better constructed than the first - it's slow and lumpen and slightly ineffective at its worst, unevenly paced and not as crackling with energetic setpieces in comparison, but the weight of what it's doing allows its best, when it arrives, to shine brightly enough to singe afterimages into your retinas. It brings the human cost of freedom out into the cold light of day, and makes you look on as that price is paid repeatedly. This is a work that is a timely reminder of what the price of fascism is for a world that needs it now more than ever, and I marvel at the idea that a Star Wars show, of all things, was the one to so boldly raise that mirror to its face.
henke on 3/6/2025 at 17:04
Yeah I also watched Andor S2 recently. The final 5 episodes are great. I think this might be Stellan Skarsgård's greatest performance?
I rewatched Rogue One after finishing it and was kinda surprised to find that Andor's tone isn't serious only when compared to Star Wars in general, but to Rogue One as well. The film DOES mostly take itself seriously, but also suffers from some Whedon-esque quippy dialogue (as was the style at the time!) which was jarring when coming right off the series.
Thirith on 3/6/2025 at 21:10
Rogue One is also a different (sub-)genre, really. It's much more of a Dirty Dozen, team-on-a-mission story than Andor is. I'm looking forward to revisiting the film after finishing Andor (which we're watching on a weekly basis, and we're about halfway through S2), but I am *not* looking forward to some of Jyn Erso's dialogue. Say "hope" again, motherfucker, I dare you!
Harvester on 6/6/2025 at 21:45
There is a lot of direct-to-streaming content coming out nowadays and I only watch the stuff that seems up my alley and gets decent reviews, my time is too limited to watch slop. But it’s kind of sad that a movie like The Accountant 2 with Ben Affleck, a rare sequel that equals or even surpasses the original and, while it’s far from brilliant, in earlier times would definitely have gotten a theatrical release, is sent straight to Prime Video. In this age of streaming, studios bosses often don’t want to bother with theaters anymore.
Tocky on 7/6/2025 at 03:13
I'm afraid movies are going the way of the mall. Nobody wants to go anywhere anymore. They forget the experience of going to a place is part of the entertainment. Walking anywhere is dangerous or dirty or sweaty or something. Even Walmart shops for you. Just click. Exorcise is something you do on a treadmill.
BTW I just noticed a rat snake crawling atop my window. I went out and shone my light in his eyes just to let him know I could have done worse. Nature is getting too damn brave though I guess I do invite it by letting my wisteria grow in a tunnel next to my house.
Cipheron on 12/6/2025 at 19:19
[video=youtube;WsK-KPi_w3w]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsK-KPi_w3w[/video]
Big news: he managed to talk Rick Moranis out of retirement to come back and be in this.
heywood on 12/6/2025 at 19:55
With Mel Brooks just being an actor this time and not doing the writing or directing, I'm not sure what to expect. But Star Wars is overdue for a spoof, so I'm looking forward to this.
Starker on 12/6/2025 at 22:47
I mean, the guy is 98 at this point. Still being able to perform in front of the camera is already impressive.
Cipheron on 12/6/2025 at 22:57
That may be part of why Rick Moranis agreed to come back, as this is most likely the final ever Mel Brooks movie.
I saw some comments on the trailer that they tried to get Rick Moranis back for the Ghostbusters movies but he turned every one of those down.
