Movies

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While I’m not a big fan of musicals: when Netflix suggested musical remake of The Producers, I filed it as “Yeah, I oughta get around to watching that.” Glad I did.

Early segments such as the beginning with Max and Leo aren’t my cup of tea. The more theater oriented sequences made me wonder if there is such a thing as a Mel Brooks I wouldn’t like. But by the time Will Ferrell and his favorite pigeon popped up, I was pretty sure it would be worth watching. Actually that pigeon might of been mye biggest laugh during the whole film, lol. Later on the choice of a more on stage style proves rather appropriate for many reasons.
By the time the opening night ends, and Franz shows up to shoot Max and Leo: we’re firmly in ROFLMAO territory all the way to the end. Nathan Lane’s performance was especially stellar throughout.
I find the whole concept terribly amusing. Two fools trying to make a play so bad that it has to flop, and boy howdy did they pick an idea for that plan. It’s actually a tougher sell that anyone would invest in their cockamamie play than it is that someone would actually make a flop with the intent to cook their books. But of course despite intentionally doing everything wrong: it somehow goes horribly right, and they’re all screwed, screwed, screwed. Hahah!
Plus it’s kind of a sweet that they manage to make fun of the old Nazis along the way. I can easily imagine some evil bastards rolling over in their grave at what a farcesical thing they made.
Makes me remember a quote I came across some years ago: “If you stand on a soapbox and trade rhetoric with a dictator you never win…That’s what they do so well: they seduce people. But if you ridicule them, bring them down with laughter, they can’t win. You show how crazy they are.”
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Generally, I’ve never had high hopes for Netflix films. Just that they would be entertaining. And then there’s The Old Guard. Now that was a good action flick.

Given the context, I also love how Copley’s wall. Tracking the people they’ve crossed paths with and the impact made by those saved.
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My mother had a habit of watching The Devil’s Advocate whenever it was on television, and was perhaps her favorite Al Pacino flick. Put Al in a movie and she would probably watch it: but The Devil’s Advocate was one she enjoyed. Personally, I had always tended to skip it; citing that it’s not my kind of subject matter. As a kid, I’d usually opt to be elsewhere and over the years have probably seen only bits and pieces in passing.
Seeing it pop up on Netflix: I finally opted to watch it. If I’ve ever seen the whole film straight through: it’s probably been around twenty years. I have to admit it’s easier to notice how great the film’s execution is than as a kid.
I rather love how Al’s character of Milton is so utterly insidious. As he warns Kevin, “He’s the one you never see coming”. Because that’s how things go to hell. How the notion of free will and temptation fit into the story is surprisingly well crafted. The ending is also pretty damned spectacular.
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Bruce Campbell Reveals Evil Dead 4 Title, Evil Dead Now

“It’s okay to pass it along to another idiot to try and stop evil from destroying the world. One idiot tried ⁠— he did pretty good”

Considering the caliber of idiot Ash Williams is: I think that’s a rather fair statement….lol. I’m curious to see what kind of idiot ends up filling his shoes.

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From tonight’s movie:

鳴る神の 少し響みて
さし曇り
雨も降らぬか
きみを留めむ
[A faint clap of thunder
Clouded skies
Perhaps rain comes
If so, will you stay here with me?]

鳴る神の 少し響みて
降らずとも
吾は留まらむ
妹し留めば
[A faint clap of thunder
Even if rain comes not
I will stay here
Together with you]

That was kind of beautiful enough, that I almost wonder if there’s any collection of the poems that are in both Japanese, and a worthwhile adaption to English.

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Check out “Salt” on Netflix
https://www.netflix.com/title/70118402?s=i&trkid=13752289

While a pretty good thriller that pretty much is what it sounds like, and perhaps in need of a little plot armor, I’ve got to admit two things:

  1. I enjoyed it for what it is.
  2. It went in unexpected directions.
And that going off in an unexpected direction is part of why I enjoyed it, lol.
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Check out “Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll” on Netflix
https://www.netflix.com/title/81208936?s=i&trkid=14170286

Rather thrilled to find the #VioletEvergarden movie released, and made its way to Netflix.

While the series is principally Violet’s story, the film is a more heartwarming tale focused on the side story of the two sisters that she meets. Which I think is a rather lovely thing. The side story takes place at a time after Violet has developed as a character, and shows a world that has like her, begun to recover from the war. So it makes more sense for a movie like this than one focused on Violet’s story; the main series rewards us with a character that can create such an aside, and not have to devote extra to her development. Well, providing you actually watched the beautiful series 😉

Violet Evergarden is one of a handful of anime characters that will likely stick with me a long time. A character introduced to us as constantly on fire, and not yet able to realize that her arms were perhaps the smallest thing she lost to the war.

Because of how the main series tells Violet’s story, I can appreciate the depth of the backdrop even more. You’ll notice how rapidly the city has evolved, and how common place postal service has become. It’s quite nicely executed behind the story, IMHO.

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Going with a dinner double feature of Olympus Has Fallen, and Angel Has Fallen was an interesting pair.

I remember watching the first film in the series on cable shortly after it came out, and finding it a nice action movie if a tad brutal. Give or take that a bunch of office workers who have barely played Halo or CoD, would probably make better cannon fodder for guarding the front door. But that was kind of the point I suppose.

Angel Has Fallen is a rather more varied film. Starting off with a return to its more Call of Duty generation like approach before descending into The Fugitive, and than back into straight up action. Somehow though, I find the best parts are about Mike and his dad.

‘Cuz if his dad had to be a crazy old man, at least he’s a rather handy, crazy old man. And the ending after the credits may have made me laugh quite a bit.

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Watching The Last Stand (2013), I can definitely say was worth while.

Of particularly great scenes, include: Schwarzenegger’s various interactions with the diner folks, Luis the Tommygun Guizmán, a surprise Vickers gun courtesy of the town nut, and what the Sheriff probably thought was just a little old lady before the thugs showed up. Not to mention the Camaro at the end.

As an action movie it was entertaining. Can you really ask for more than that? Currently it’s available for streaming on Amazon Prime, and on Hulu.