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  1.  

    hey, I’m just glad that they didn’t dumb down the wolf’s creeptasticness. I remember in early stages they were talking about cutting Moments in the Woods and the whole plot about the baker’s wife being seduced by the prince and I’m soooo glad they didn’t go that route. I get some of the cuts to the score. Like, I love the Act 1 finale but as a movie doesn’t really follow the two act structure, I get why it was cut (same goes for the Act 2 opening….though I wish we’d at least got some of that because that key change that makes everything sound creepy and uncertain is fucking brilliant). And like, I get why they cut No More as well because it’s probably a bad idea to have two slow songs in a row (at least for a general audience) and I’m glad they kept the instrumental and the conversation between the baker and his dad got the point across almost as well.

    honestly I’m just glad to see a movie musical with solid performances all around (like there was no one I felt was horrible) because that’s just so rare. and I’m especially glad that Disney didn’t completely gut the story or remove the mature elements/themes. I mean, the original Broadway cast is one of those casts that is just basically perfect and it can’t be topped, but I think the transition to film was mostly smooth and my complaints are (relatively) minor.

    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeJan 21st 2015
     

    I still wish they’d done the reprise of Agony. It was hilarious, and the only song those two actors got.

    •  
      CommentAuthorPryotra
    • CommentTimeJan 21st 2015
     

    I think they didn’t want to do Rapunzel’s death scene, so they had to cut that out for it to make sense for her to just leave. It was too bad, it was pure gold to watch both guys trying to out ham one another.

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeJan 30th 2015
     

    I don’t get what all the fuss is about Boyhood. The story isn’t very strong, the characters aren’t particularly engaging, and there’s no kind of overarching narrative theme that I could see to drive the thing forwards.

    •  
      CommentAuthorpugbutter
    • CommentTimeJan 30th 2015
     

    “We trained him wrong on purpose. As a joke!”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRWxJiMM3Jg

    • CommentAuthorDave
    • CommentTimeJan 30th 2015
     

    I don’t get what all the fuss is about Boyhood. The story isn’t very strong, the characters aren’t particularly engaging, and there’s no kind of overarching narrative theme that I could see to drive the thing forwards.

    “Oh, look at our cool concept, we’re so edgy and original that we don’t need any of strong storyline or interesting characters nonsense!” Just because your idea is original doesn’t mean you’re fucking Michelangelo or something, ladies and gentlemen.

    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeJan 30th 2015
     

    I think Jim Butcher definitively proved that skillful execution trumps good/original idea.

    • CommentAuthorDave
    • CommentTimeJan 30th 2015
     

    I think Jim Butcher definitively proved that skillful execution trumps good/original idea.

    I have found that that holds true for everything from writing to sex.

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeJan 31st 2015 edited
     

    It wasn’t so much that nothing happened, it’s that there was seemingly no emphasis on presentation, it was just cold and documentary-like. It didn’t try to present the ordinary as extraordinary, or vice versa. As far as I’m aware, all great works of art have done either one of those. Boyhood just… is. It didn’t try to present a story, or a particular narrative viewpoint, or any of the techniques of fiction like dramatic irony, kairosis (i.e. a character’s development/growth over time, which was kind of the central conceit of the project), any particularly strong themes or conflicts, or even anything resembling a purposeful plot. Sure that can be a kind of counter-artistic artwork as well, to defy the conventions of fiction by presenting the ordinary as ordinary, but it just doesn’t make for an entertaining or memorable film. The conflicts that are there are underwhelming and sort of blend into the background, and character development is (surprise!) hindered by the fact that every other scene is an abrupt timejump to several months or years later without allowing each situation to properly develop or unfold. There isn’t even a clearly-defined narrative perspective.

    I just didn’t connect emotionally to any of the characters, or even to the story itself despite coming from a similar background as the main character.

    I have found that that holds true for everything from writing to sex.

    Any everything in between, including cooking, app development, sculpture, and even bricklaying.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeJan 31st 2015
     
    Hey, Marvel? Got a proposition for you. Admittedly, I'm not very much into comic book movies these days, but I had an idea that would get a tremendous number of butts into theater seats. You're mainstay is Robert Downey, Jr., a huge fan favorite. You have Tom Hiddelston as Loki, yet another fan favorite. You have Chris Pratt as Star Lord, a much more recent fan favorite. And now you've cast Benedict Cumberbatch, a traffic-stopping fan favorite.

    Find some way to cast Nathan Fillion. Then put all five of these guys in the same movie.
    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeJan 31st 2015
     

    He was a voice of one of the inmates in GOTG, and also he was the voice of Green Lantern (Hal) in the animated Justice League, Captain Hammer in Doctor Horrible, and Hermes in Percy Jackson.. It’s not like he lacks experience in the genre.

  2.  

    TATIANA MASLANY IN STAR WARS.

    Goddamn it, they found my one weakness. Guess I have to shell out for a ticket now.

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeFeb 2nd 2015
     

    :O

    Oooh.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeFeb 2nd 2015
     
    As much as I'd support you shelling out for _all_ the upcoming movies... I'm pretty sure she's only been cast in Gareth Edwards' standalone flick. Oh, and apparently Michael Fassbender's name has popped up in a Star Wars rumor or two.
  3.  

    I’m pretty sure she’s only been cast in Gareth Edwards’ standalone flick.

    Yeah, I know…but she’s been cast as the lead. If Michael Fassbender popped up in this movie I wouldn’t know what to do.

  4.  

    I’m pretty sure she didn’t get it actually.

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeFeb 4th 2015
     

    Yeah, I just saw that… :(

    Oh well.

  5.  

    Awesome, now I don’t have to pay for a ticket. Win-win.

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeFeb 5th 2015
     

    The more I read/hear about the Fifty Shades of Grey adaptation, the more intensely amused I am at what a disaster it’s going to be.

    Not that I have any plans to watch it, but I may be open to reading snarky reviews of it.

    Hint hint.

  6.  

    I feel bad for those actors, but did they not know what they were getting themselves into? It is pretty sad that they dislike one another so much, but then again, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart were actually dating when Twilight was made, so presumably they had chemistry – but I defy you to actually find it in the movie. Although maybe they were able to have more fun and laugh about it off-set, because they also seemed pretty aware of its stupidity.

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeFeb 5th 2015
     

    Yeah, I was reading the comments (I know, I know, why am I reading comments on Gawker…) and someone pointed out that it’s probably less that they met and couldn’t stand each other, and more that neither of them was comfortable with what they were doing so it kind of spills over into not being comfortable with the person you’re doing it with.

    I can’t imagine they really did know what they were getting into when they signed on… if they didn’t read the books themselves, then probably all they knew was “erotica that everybody’s flipping out over”.

    The fact that it’s a movie at all is just bizarre to me… I mean a Hollywood production. The porn version was a no-brainer. What even is there left, once you take out the explicit sex scenes? I guarantee nobody was reading it because they were just so enthralled by Ana’s character arc. Unless they had brain damage.

  7.  

    idk Swen I’ve had plenty of people try to tell me that they don’t read it for the porn and that it’s a ‘moving’ story.

    moves you to vomit maybe

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeFeb 6th 2015
     
    ....yeah, no. That's a lie, and a pretty obvious one, too.
    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeFeb 6th 2015
     

    they don’t read it for the porn and that it’s a ‘moving’ story.

    Yeah, and guys by Playboy for the articles. Pull the other one – it’s got bells on.

  8.  

    Hey, don’t be dissing on Playboy. They’ve had some freaking good stories published in their pages over the years.

    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeFeb 6th 2015
     

    True, but I doubt anyone would pick up a copy just for a story. That’s more like an added bonus.

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeFeb 6th 2015 edited
     

    edit: sorry, wrong thread. I saw the M, and my brain overlaid the “ovies” with “inor Quibbles”.

  9.  

    But gUYSS Ana and Christian have such a timeless and b00tiful love story

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeFeb 7th 2015
     

    Made me just cry, with the beauty.

    Oh wait no, that was just blood dripping from my eyeballs.

    • CommentAuthorDave
    • CommentTimeFeb 7th 2015
     

    Oh wait no, that was just blood dripping from my eyeballs.

    So . . . reading Fifty Shades of Grey will result in contracting Ebola?

    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeFeb 7th 2015
     

    That could explain some things…

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeFeb 10th 2015
     
    "MCU and Spider-Man fans... rejoice.":http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/31347936
    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeFeb 10th 2015
     

    here’s hoping that with MCU’s influence they can between them pull off a decent, enjoyable Spidey flick.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeFeb 10th 2015
     
    They can start by excommunicating Kurtzman and Orci.
    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeFeb 10th 2015
     

    That’s awesome.

    ...time for Donald Glover rumors again?

  10.  

    ...time for Donald Glover rumors again?

    I’m not sure the world we live in is cool enough TBH

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeFeb 10th 2015
     

    GIVE US DONALD GLOVER. GIVE HIM TO US.

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeFeb 11th 2015
     

    For a moment I was envisioning Danny Glover as Spiderman.

    A brief, glorious moment.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeFeb 13th 2015 edited
     
    Nevermind.
    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeFeb 16th 2015
     

    My family got About Time from Netflix, and we watched it last night. I didn’t catch all of it, but in general it’s a good movie. I do think it gets better after the guy hooks up with the girl, though. But the “I’m going to go back in time and change things so that this girl hooks up with me instead of her current boyfriend because I can” felt a bit squicky. And I did like how it showed that altering the past does have consequences for everything afterwards.

    • CommentAuthorDave
    • CommentTimeFeb 21st 2015
     

    So I saw the sequel to that Dead Snow flick. I’ve seen and done some fucked up shit in my day, but that ending. That ending, man O_o Just . . . WTF?

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeFeb 21st 2015
     

    Tai Chi Hero is on tonight.

    I saw Tai Chi Zero last saturday, this is the second part of the story.

    As much as I enjoyed it, I would really like to see a movie adaptation of Yang The Invincible (he was a real actual person and that was his real actual nickname) that doesn’t involve ridiculous steampunk mechanisms and demon-horns and wire-fu.

    Still, the fight scenes are pretty cool.

  11.  

    Saw both Kingsman and The Duff with friends.

    Kingsman was pretty fun and fun to watch, but I wasn’t that find of the way the fight scenes were shot. Maybe it’s just a matter of taste, but a lot of the action felt like to was shot too close to the camera.

    The Duff was… well, a teen drama. You could follow every plot point if you’ve seen any teen movie. While it has some alright moments, I’m still a bit disappointed how they handled the love triangle.

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeFeb 24th 2015
     

    I would really like to see a movie adaptation of Yang The Invincible (he was a real actual person and that was his real actual nickname) that doesn’t involve ridiculous steampunk mechanisms and demon-horns and wire-fu.

    I wish to formally retract this statement. The steampunk elements were awesome. Who doesn’t want a clockwork brass-and-leather suit complete with tiny spinning flywheels on the front that does kung fu for you?

    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeFeb 26th 2015
     

    I watched the Power Rangers fan film that’s been making the rounds. And honestly, I liked it. Yes, it’s dark and gritty, but I enjoy that kind of thing. This does to the original Power Rangers what Watchmen did to Golden/Silver Age superheroes.

    That’s not to say I want the entire franchise to be like this movie. It’s an interesting take on the material, but a feature-length movie like this would be too much.

    Basically, if you were/are a fan of the franchise (especially the original version), check it out – it’s on youtube, and it’s only about 12 minutes long.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeApr 18th 2015
     
    Something seems to be missing here....


    Ah, yes. "I find your lack of trailers disturbing.":https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngElkyQ6Rhs
    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeApr 19th 2015
     

    <3!!!

    I still don’t know if I’ll actually like the thing. But I’m more than willing to give it a shot.

    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeApr 22nd 2015 edited
     

    Saw the new trailer for Batman v. Superman. I thought it looked alright, and I want to see more.

    One thing I noticed that no one else seems to be commenting on – the soldiers with the Superman-S logo on their arms, who are kneeling down to him at ~ 0:40 are wearing Stahlhelms. It might be nothing, but it wouldn’t surprise me if some neo-Nazi types latched on to Supes

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeApr 22nd 2015
     

    I’m gonna be honest. The whole concept is still just so bizarre to me, that I can’t get at all excited about it.

    Like, is it a reboot of Batman? Or is it somehow related to the Nolan movies? Or is it just the sequel to Man of Steel that happens to have Batman in it? I don’t know any of these things, and I’m finding it hard to care, which is a bad sign because I love Batman.

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeApr 22nd 2015
     

    I prefer the retro remix with Adam West and Christopher Reeves.

    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeApr 22nd 2015
     

    @ swenson:

    It’s a sequel to Man of Steel – no connection to the Nolan films. I’m not sure if it qualifies as a reboot or not, because I don’t think it’s going to be an origin story for Batman (which would, quite frankly, be a good thing. Everyone knows Batman’s origin).

    I can understand not being all that interested, because we just finished the Nolan-verse Batman films a few years ago, so there’s bound to be some fatigue. Same with Sony’s rebooting of Spiderman – look how that went. The main reason I see for introducing Batman now is because Warner/DC is trying to ape Disney/Marvel. Which is all well and good, but they could also try introducing other members of the Justice League first – like, say, Wonder Woman.

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeApr 22nd 2015
     

    Ugh, yes. Wonder Woman is the one I’m tentatively excited about, because at least it’s something new. I’ll reserve judgment until trailers and whatnot start coming out for it, but as much as I hate to say it, I am kind of done with Batman at the moment.

    If they could make the movie be as fun as Arrow and the Flash are, that might get me more interested, but it looks very bleak, very dull (in terms of color), and I’m very meh on that. (not that Arrow and the Flash are classics or anything, and I don’t even watch them regularly, but at least I’m always highly entertained when I do see an episode)

    Thanks for the clarification, btw!

    @Taku – lol, I love that.

  12.  

    Man of Steel might be the most boring piece of fiction ever created and I’ll be shocked off my ass if the sequel rises above the level of “pure garbage.”

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeApr 23rd 2015 edited
     
    Should be no surprise to anyone I've watched that Star Wars teaser nonstop since Thursday. I especially love the subtle, ridiculously awesome detail they used for Luke's narration. But I imagine almost all of you don't care, so, moving on....

    bq. ...I’m finding it hard to care, which is a bad sign because I _love_ Batman.

    I'm in the same boat. My pulse didn't waiver at all watching that teaser and I've been a Batman fan since the Animated Series. Every time I see or hear anything about Batman v. Superman, I just remember _World's Finest_, and that just gets me thinking about Kevin Conroy Batman.

    bq. ... we just finished the Nolan-verse Batman films a few years ago, so there’s bound to be some fatigue.

    It's not that, really. This teaser, and thus our perception of the movie, is about hanging our sympathies on Superman. The world is pretty upset over the whole debacle in Metropolis, up to and including drawing the ire of Batman. Problem is, I don't care about Superman. _Man of Steel_ didn't make me sympathize with him enough to draw me into the teaser. And, to be honest, I'd rather have Throat Cancer Batman than Robocop Batman. One thing I never liked about casting Affleck as Batman is that he doesn't have the chords for it.

    On an unrelated note, Marvel's done something amazing: Danny Elfman is co-composer for the _Age of Ultron_ score. It may be too early to call, but "this may be the best theme put to a Marvel film":https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFxHm3QxkiM&list=PLsmGlfWTzJzuCJyeeNnr_8EB_1q4rB6Hv&index=2, and certainly the best since SIlvestri's original Avengers theme. And, yes, that theme is Elfman's work, not Brian Tyler's.
    •  
      CommentAuthorFalling
    • CommentTimeApr 23rd 2015
     

    I am actually pumped about the new Star Wars film based on the second trailer. I am afraid to be pumped, but I am.

    I was nitpicky about the first trailer, but I have zero complaints about this. I just LOVE the opening shot with the crashed X-wing and Star Destroyer. If Abrams can capture those sorts of imagery, I’m sold. Furthermore, it speaks well of a well-thought universe that has lasting consequences. History matter, events do not simply arise for the moment on camera and then vanish without impact. Solid secondary world subcreation just in one shot.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeApr 23rd 2015
     
    bq. I just LOVE the opening shot with the crashed X-wing and Star Destroyer.

    I would've loved the shot even if those ships weren't in it. That's a gorgeous shot, Star Wars-specific landmarks aside. I'm really very impressed with how the cinematography is turning out, having been worried Abrams would capture the story with endless shaky cam. But you want to know what detail in the trailer sold me fully on the movie? The opening narration from Luke Skywalker is pulled from _Return of the Jedi_ when he's talking to Leia in the Ewok village; they rearranged some of the dialogue to fit the narrative needs of the trailer. The thing about the narration, though, is the echo you hear after almost every line... that's the same dialogue rerecorded by Mark Hamill (if you listen carefully, you can hear the difference, especially with the line "My father has it"). Young Luke speaks, old Luke echoes.

    _That_ blew my mind. If they're putting that sort of subtle storytelling detail into a _teaser_, then the movie is going to be amazing.
    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeApr 23rd 2015
     

    Oh, the crashed Star Destroyer was beautiful.

  13.  

    I’d be more excited if I had any clue what the basic plot is at this point.

  14.  

    I’m not really that fond of the visual style showcased in the Star Wars teasers but at least it looks like it’ll be better than shooting every non-action scene like it’s a sit-down interview on the evening news. They’ve done nothing to undermine my cautious optimism at this point.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeApr 23rd 2015
     
    At the very least, it'll be nice to have it offset the dour cinematography we'll be getting when the DC movie train leaves the station next year.
    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeApr 25th 2015 edited
     

    I finally got to see Real Steel. It’s basically Rocky with robots, or that one episode of Futurama. But who doesn’t love a good by-the-books underdog fight movie? The formula was completely there; they had the everyman hero with a literally blank face for the audience to project onto (still more emotion than Bella Swan, somehow), the grizzled no-nonsense former-pro with a permanent 5-o’clock shadow, the adorably plucky youngster with determination and heart, and the douchebag villain who is some how even more of a douche than the douchebag grizzled ex-contender.

    Also, props to Hugh for acting far more of an asshole in the first half than I think he is physically capable of being in real life. /it was almost uncomfortable how much of a dick his character was.

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeApr 25th 2015
     

    Kingsman: The Secret Service

    Good goddamn that was a delightful movie. Holy shit.

    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeMay 1st 2015 edited
     

    Avengers: Age of Ultron – very good, much fun, etc.

    And this version of Quicksilver is much better than the one from the X-Men movies. For one, he wasn’t an annoying little punk. Two, he actually contributed to the plot, rather than being included solely so Marvel/Disney could thumb their noses at Fox.

    Edit: However, I’m a bit iffy on Vision. He feels a bit Stu-ish, like they were trying a bit too hard to prove that he’s awesome and amazing and wonderful. Kinda like Galahad in Le Mort d’Arthur, honestly.

  15.  

    Pretty much loved it, but for one major issue.

    •  
      CommentAuthorThea
    • CommentTimeMay 1st 2015 edited
     

    I haven’t decided whether I’ll actually go see Avengers 2 in the theater or wait for Netflix. I liked the first one, but I think I’ve just got fatigue. I looked up the Agents of Shield series a couple times, which meant my phone kept showing me news about anything Marvel related. So many spoilers. I will say that I liked the Avenger characters showing up the das_sporking review of 50 Shades.

    But has anyone seen Age of Adeline? That one looks anything, but. Well, to start with, I certainly don’t trust trailers in any direction anymore.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeMay 2nd 2015
     
    bq. And this version of Quicksilver is much better than the one from the X-Men movies.

    Except his accent is terrible. Like, "Cate Blanchett from Indy 4" terrible.
  16.  

    Except his accent is terrible. Like, “Cate Blanchett from Indy 4” terrible.

    Who cares, he owned

    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeMay 2nd 2015
     

    Except his accent is terrible. Like, “Cate Blanchett from Indy 4” terrible.

    I’ll gladly take “horrible accent” over “obnoxious POS” for flaws.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeMay 2nd 2015
     
    bq. Who cares, he owned.

    Sounds like you need to change your pants.

    bq. I’ll gladly take “horrible accent” over “obnoxious POS” for flaws.

    Except one is a character trait and the other is bad acting.
    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeMay 2nd 2015
     

    Except his accent is terrible.

    Better or worse than Nic Cage’s “Captain Corelli”?

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeMay 2nd 2015
     
    The only good Nic Cage accent was the one from _Vampire's Kiss_. Whatever it was. In all seriousness, though, I can't say. I have something of an ear for the Slavic and Scandinavian languages, but not much beyond that. Also, I haven't seen that movie.
    •  
      CommentAuthorsansafro187
    • CommentTimeMay 3rd 2015 edited
     

    He got the character across effectively despite being given very little material to work with, I would describe that as good acting. I honestly don’t give even the tiniest shit if his accent wasn’t accurate enough to the mother tongue of Indeterminate Eastern European Country.

    who

    cares

    e: Pardon me, I forgot the name of the proud fictional nation of Sokovia. I can’t believe they would let Aaron Taylor-Johnson bungle the Sokovian accent so bad. Boy, I really hope somebody got fired for that blunder.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeMay 3rd 2015
     
    Please excuse my critique, Chief Whedon-Marvel Apologist. Horrible Slavic accents shatter my disbelief in the already shoddy fictional onscreen universe presented, wherein there are already no stakes, little emotional investment, cookie cutter plotlines, terrible cinematography, and tenuous continuity. I shall forthwith remove myself from this conversation regarding your villain of the week, paint by numbers Superhero Movie #11.

  17.  

    I haven’t had the chance to see Avengers yet but I have seen a lot of kids dressing up to see their favorite superheroes. It’s kind of nice to see that they’re still keeping kids’ interests despite the fact that the recent movies seem like they’re trying to go for drama more and more.

  18.  

    Horrible Slavic accents shatter my disbelief in the already shoddy fictional onscreen universe presented, wherein there are already no stakes, little emotional investment, cookie cutter plotlines, terrible cinematography, and tenuous continuity. I shall forthwith remove myself from this conversation regarding your villain of the week, paint by numbers Superhero Movie #11.

    Maybe you should be critical of those things since they actually matter, unlike an accent disturbing your sensitive “ear for Slavic languages.”(Aside: Do you actually speak any Slavic languages or have some otherwise concrete basis for why the accent was bad or are you just evaluating it by your feels?)

    Oh and

    Please excuse my critique, Chief Whedon-Marvel Apologist.

    lol, that’s me, you caught me

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeMay 3rd 2015
     
    bq. Do you actually speak any Slavic languages or have some otherwise concrete basis for why the accent was bad or are you just evaluating it by your feels?

    I speak, read, and write Russian, taught for two years by a Ukrainian native. I'm also aware of the breadth of Slavic languages, from Russian to Polish to Serbo-Croatian. It doesn't matter that "Sokovia" is a fictional country, it's clearly intended to be a Slavic country, hence the accent is clearly intended to sound Slavic. Whether you're talking about Russian, Polish, or Serbo-Croatian, you have a language type with distinctions in pronunciation and diction.

    Mickey Rourke's accent in _Iron Man 2_ is very good. Aaron Taylor Johnson's isn't.
    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeMay 3rd 2015
     

    I speak, read, and write Russian, taught for two years by a Ukrainian native.

    I took two years of Russian from actual Russians, and his accent didn’t bother me at all.

    I get that you don’t like the movie, Rocky, but an actor doing a bad accent isn’t enough to make his/her performance terrible (at least to me).

    This version of Quicksilver was, IMO, much better than the one from the X-Men movie. He was interesting, had believable motivations, and had some good funny moments.

    And when I call Fox’s Quciksilver an obnoxious POS, I’m absolutely certain that wasn’t intentional, because I’m certain Fox wanted people to like their version of the character. But Fox did with Quicksilver what Marvel/Disney did with Vision, only worse, because at least Vision didn’t upstage pretty much all the other characters, and very quickly established that he can be trusted. The only good thing Fox’s Quicksilver did was walk out of the movie ten minutes after he showed up. Marvel/Disney put Quicksilver in the movie for a reason; Fox did it in an attempt to beat Marvel/Disney to the punch. And it shows.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeMay 3rd 2015 edited
     
    Ok, I get it. My criticisms and observations are entirely inconsequential. I suppose I should just get used to that. But all the same, I'm tired of having to defend my every interest or disinterest against a cavalcade of opposition (especially when my reasons don't matter), or just watch one comment after another echo endlessly against these digital walls while conversations trundle on past my clearly mute and invisible presence. It's gotten to the point I can't stimulate dialogue unless it's blatantly antagonistic. I'll take my leave of the site and let the rest of you revel in your unity of opinion... which is funny, since I'd actually already left. Not sure why I came back. Good riddance to me.

    So, whoever's in charge around here, I want this account deleted. Today.
    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeMay 4th 2015
     

    guys, it’s just a movie.

    it’s just a movie, guys.

    :mixed

  19.  

    Kinda seems a little melodramatic to describe eyerolling and fairly gentle ribbing over textural nitpickery as a cavalcade of opposition by the II thoughtpolice but do what you feel, dogg.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeMay 4th 2015
     
    bq. I took two years of Russian from actual Russians....

    Well, I guess that settles it. My teacher was Ukrainian so I only know _pseudo-Russian_, which means my opinion about the accent is entirely worthless.
  20.  

    Hey Rocky, this might be a bit too little too late, but I’m sorry you were ignored when you were being positive and I’m sorry your opinion’s under constant assault.This feels like the accent is just the straw that broke the camel’s back and that this is something that’s been brewing for a while. I know that apologies don’t really fix much, but I am sorry and really don’t want to see you leave.

    •  
      CommentAuthorFalling
    • CommentTimeMay 5th 2015
     

    :( I feel like that got hostile very quickly for reasons I don’t entirely understand.
    I hope you don’t go, Rocky.

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeMay 7th 2015
     

    Well, staying on the topic of Avengers and ignoring the previous argument… I finally got a chance to see it.

    •  
      CommentAuthorPryotra
    • CommentTimeMay 12th 2015
     

    Agree that Hulk/Widow was hamfisted as all get out, but still kinda sweet. I still don’t ship them and I don’t think I ever will, but it was OK.

    Same here. I didn’t really see the problem that some people had with it.

    I kind of would have liked something involving Tony and the Vision. I was a little surprised that the two never interacted after Vision was born.

    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2015
     

    Alright, so I just got back from Mad Mas: Fury Road, and it was awesome. Very simple and straightforward – it’s basically a two-hour chase scene, so if you’ve seen any of the trailers, you know pretty much everything there is to know. And that’s actually pretty good, in my opinion, because the movie knows what it is, and is very good at being what it is.

    One thing I really loved was that the bad guys have their own in-movie soundtrack – there’s a big car with four guys pounding on drums with a guy wailing on an electric guitar in front. It’s absolutely insane, but totally awesome at the same time. Like pretty much everything else in the movie.

    Also, I know some MRA-types have gotten pretty riled up about the movie, and I can see why. If anything, that’s one more reason to see it.

    I do have a few nitpicks, though: Charlize Theron doesn’t even attempt an accent, which is weird, since everyone else an Australian/British/Commonwealth accent. Also, there’s a bit near the end that’s very clearly intended to take advantage of the 3D, but’s just gratuitous in 2D.

    •  
      CommentAuthorFalling
    • CommentTimeMay 16th 2015 edited
     

    I hadn’t heard about that- just googled it. Geez, this story is everywhere. Does Return of Kings actually have big circulation or did all the media organizations decide to jump on it? I was vaguely aware of that website just because we’ve had to ban some PUA’s from Team Liquid, but I just assumed RoK was just some hideyhole on the internet with little clout.

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeMay 16th 2015
     

    I have now watched Avengers 2: The Avengening.

    I don’t know if it was just me, but I super wasn’t into this movie.

    •  
      CommentAuthorResistance
    • CommentTimeMay 16th 2015
     

    Any good movies besides Avengers (I saw it in France . . . in French, quite an experience) that I can see in 3D?

    •  
      CommentAuthorFalling
    • CommentTimeMay 16th 2015
     

    I’m not the best judge as I don’t go out of my way to see superhero films. (Though I have wound up loving certain one.) However, this one I enjoyed in the moment, but I can’t think I’d ever really want to see it again. With some friends to see the extended cut, sure. But not on my own.

    One thing- I don’t really understand how Tony convinced Bruce that AI was a good idea the first time… but I REALLY don’t understand how he convinced him the second time. Both times he didn’t provide compelling evidence and the second time I would want a landslide of evidence before attempting it again- that or complete desperation as a last resort.

    •  
      CommentAuthorPryotra
    • CommentTimeMay 16th 2015
     

    Does Return of Kings actually have big circulation or did all the media organizations decide to jump on it?

    I think that the media just kind of decided to jump on it.

    I just assumed RoK was just some hideyhole on the internet with little clout.

    To my limited knowledge, even most MRAs think that RoK is a joke. I mean they’re the morons who think that short haired girls are emotionally broken beyond repair or something to that effect.

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeMay 16th 2015 edited
     

    but I REALLY don’t understand how he convinced him the second time.

    to quote:

    “we’re mad scientists”

    Not the most compelling argument, no.

    EDIT:

    I think the thing that really got me about Avengers 2 is that is leaned so heavily on previous movies. It’s not a movie that can stand alone, and I had to expend effort while watching the movie to wor out which reference comes from which former movie.

    I did not realise that Avengers and Guardians Of The Galaxy occurred in the same universe or had anything to do with one another, for example, and I really would have preferred not to have to break my suspension of disbelief to work out what part of the Marvel Universe was being talked about and how it is relevant to the current movie.

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeMay 16th 2015
     

    The only connections in the earlier movies were in after-credits scenes—the one in Thor 2 where Sif and them dropped off the Aether with the Collector (who was a big part of the GoG movie), and the one from Avengers with Thanos. But it’s not made super explicit (and there’s very little in GoG to connect it back to the other Marvel movies), so I’m sure a lot of people didn’t make the connection. (I only knew about it because I read news articles that talked about it, myself!)

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeMay 16th 2015
     

    • CommentAuthorDave
    • CommentTimeMay 18th 2015
     

    I have to agree with Apep, Mad Max doesn’t try to be anything more than what it is: pure entertainment. If you’re looking for some kind of deeper meaning, you’re gonna leave disappointed, if you just want something to vegetate with while you wind down from the week, then you’re in luck.

    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeMay 18th 2015
     

    Well, I don’t know if I’d say there’s no deeper meaning or implications – there’s stuff there if you’re look. There’s just never a point where the characters sit down and spell them out, mostly because they’re too busy running.

  21.  

    Mad Max seemed really obviously feminist to me and it owned fucking bones IMO.

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeJun 11th 2015
     

    Just heard about Christopher Lee passing away. :(

    I did not realize he was in his 90s! He was certainly a very spry 93.

    •  
      CommentAuthorPryotra
    • CommentTimeJun 11th 2015
     

    I just heard from you. :(

    A lot of my favorite actors/writers have died this year.

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeJun 13th 2015 edited
     

    Peter Jackson posted a moving tribute on Facebook.