'The Apprentice' review: Sebastian Stan dazzling as Donald Trump, from raw hustler to larger-than-life tycoon - Chicago Sun-Times

https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2024/10/09/apprentice-review-donald-trump-movie-sebastian-stan-roy-cohn-jeremy-strong

Poison gas and the Invisible Man

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HGaGWb_WoWM

What Lord of the Rings Bloopers Reveal About The Making Of The Movie

https://youtube.com/shorts/8oY8Lt_hRno?si=p25pOOo2VEPCnh74

Buster Keaton. The time when movies didn't need voiceovers.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nYK6EqqB8T4

Sam Witwer Explains Why Luke Skywalker is The GOAT

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/f9vt_09rCHk

15 Years Later, I Finally Understand Inglorious Basterds

According to the video, Inglorious Bastards symbolizes American national identity, and the decline of film as a form of storytelling.

Michael Keaton as Batman surprises a kid

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Q8HQxH_iV2g

Reagan

I did not think Dennis Quaid would be the right person to play Ronald Reagan.  This is the same actor who played Gordon Cooper 40 years ago in The Right Stuff, one of my favorite movies.  In that film, Quaid displayed his wide boyish grin, which is on display here as well, and gives away that under all that makeup we are watching Quaid and not Reagan.  However, Quaid gives an Oscar-worthy performance as Reagan, capturing perfectly not only the voice but also the essence of who Reagan was.

The problem with any two-hour biography is that it is going to be rushed.   Ronald Reagan's entire life was much more complicated than what can be shown in two hours.  A single event in his life might take two hours to tell perfectly.  The movie is more of a collection of brief highlights of Reagan's life.  There are so many details left out that I feel shortchanged.  For example, we see David Stockman for only about 5 seconds, and the film barely covers the Iran-Contra scandal.  However, the movie succeeds brilliantly at capturing the emotional feel of Reagan.

Had this been a three-hour movie like Oppenheimer, it could have captured more detail about Reagan's life, but Oppenheimer didn't do this very well and was more of a soap opera.  However, a longer run time wouldn't have made the film any more entertaining.  You can tell that the movie had a limited budget and they did the best they could with the budget they had.

I'm impressed by the performances of a great many supporting actors.

The negative reviews have much to do with how people feel about Ronald Reagan.  If you lived through the 1970s and 1980s then you are going to have a different perspective than people who didn't.  The 1970s was likely the worst decade for the nation in my lifetime.  There was the Watergate scandal, the oil crisis, and then during the Jimmy Carter presidency, we had monstrous inflation,  high interest rates, unemployment, a deep recession, and the Iranian hostage crisis.  Ronald Reagan came along and said that we as a nation are better than this, and we have only forgotten what a great nation we are.  Things did improve significantly under his presidency.

The rushed presentation reminds me of "The Iron Lady", but the difference is that "The Iron Lady" is highly critical of Margaret Thatcher, and this film adores Ronald Reagan.  For older Americans who also adore Reagan, it is preaching to the choir.

The story is told from the perspective of a fictional KGB political analyst whose job was to monitor Reagan as a potential threat to the Soviet Union.  I have no doubt that such people existed, but here it comes off as a gimmick, but it also works by putting Reagan into the context of the Cold War.  Reagan was such a strong anti-communist that the movie made that the main focus of his life.

Since the movie was released during an election year some people might view it as political propaganda.  However, the plan was to release three years ago but the film was delayed by COVID and the writer's strike.

I was so impressed that I wanted to applaud at the end.  I didn't at first because I thought that it might look silly to applaud a motion picture, but when the rest of the audience applauded, I joined in.

Rating:  A-.  Although far from a complete biography, the movie does an excellent job of capturing who Ronald Reagan was.

When film critics clearly just do not get the movie

Whatever Happened to the DEATH STAR?

The Truth About Yoda’s Origin From George Lucas!

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5MV6k2u_VEc

The Jetsons - 1950s Super Panavision 70

What you can generate with AI these days, is just astonishing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZOnC8hdX8k

@frankpoperowitzmusic   2 days ago
I could watch two straight hours of Jane just strolling around the apartment.

Disney Plus: You paying more for less is their brilliant business strategy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DppIlEH3GaU

Good video!

A Google search shows that Disney+ is offering three months for $1.99 per month.  This is the version with ads.

Last year on Black Friday I got a combination of Disney+ and Hulu for a year for $3 per month.  

There was a similar offer on HBO Max, now just called Max.  It is my favorite streaming service.

Years ago, I got the Disney+ pre-start discount where I was paying around $4 per month by paying for three years in advance. The problem is that I didn't see a ton of new content that I wanted to watch. I had already seen most of the stuff worth watching.

A must watch version of "Ahsoka"? (The Patterson Cut Review)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s1af99ZNEg

https://www.kaipattersonfilms.com/ahsoka

The Wild Robot | Rotten Tomatoes

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_wild_robot

What Could Have Been: George Lucas' SEQUEL Trilogy

https://youtu.be/nUDNtspH1bI?si=Sc7XO7PotKHxBGue

Why is "The Empire Strikes Back" considered the best Star Wars film? (Star Wars Discussion)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbUdTONl8MY

@john2001plus

0 seconds ago
I had just barely graduated High School when I drove to Indianapolis to see TESB at a big theater with a large curved screen.  I sat in the front row.  At one point my head had to turn quite a ways to follow a ship flying across the big curved screen.  It felt almost 3D.

I grew up in the 1970s.  The country was in a state of malaise for the entire decade.  We had suffered through the Vietnam War, Watergate, the oil crisis, stagnation, and inflation.  China and Russia were evil empires trying to take over their neighbors.  

Star Wars was a beacon of hope.  It said that good could stand against evil.  The Empire Strikes Back became my favorite movie and it still is.

I'm slowly turning into an old man but I am still a die-hard Star Wars fan.

Matt Walsh Ranks The Top 5 Most OVERRATED Films

@john2001plus

2 minutes ago

Matt, You could not be more wrong on Star Wars. Adults loved these films too. I was 17 when the first movie came out, and 20 when The Empire Strikes Black came out, which is still my all-time favorite film. On a scale of 1 to 10, the Louisville movie critic gave Empire an 11. Siskel and Eibert gushed over the first two films.

Show less

@john2001plus

9 minutes ago

I remember being blown away by Avengers Infinity War. I am not a huge Marvel fan, but this one impressed me.

THE EMPEROR (Ian McDiarmid) meets George Lucas! #starwars #shorts

https://youtube.com/shorts/0EP1kJj46qU?si=5Pxpb-nfGLBxeX5X

As Astra: A Massive Missed Opportunity

https://youtu.be/DUwlliWrcYY?si=LZ27VgAb5NzIYttR

A is for Alien Read-Aloud

I saw this book advertised on Facebook and thought it was a joke.  Let's take the scariest movie monster of all time and put it in a children's book.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vidgv0Ea0UA

STAR WARS JUST CANCELLED ANOTHER MOVIE! (maybe)

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

I liked the Acolyte better than most people, because most of the fans hated the show, but the finish failed to deliver and turned the series into a daytime soap opera.  However, most YouTubers judged the show negatively before it even aired.  The ratings were abysmal, and almost nobody watched this show.

Disney and Lucasfilm failed partly because their Star Wars shows pushed a woke agenda, which I can live with, but the shows mainly failed because the writing was weak.  

However, Rogue One is a great movie, and Andor season one is a fantastic television spin-off of Rogue One and the best Star Wars Disney has made.  

The Mandorian season 1 was pretty good and the second season was excellent.  However, the third season was barely passable.

'The Acolyte' Canceled: Disney's Star Wars Spinoff Done After One Season

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/the-acolyte-canceled-star-wars-1235978593/

No surprise. Disney made a mediocre show that at best split the fans. I liked the first six episodes but the payoff wasn't great.

Best wishes,

John Coffey

The Reagan Era | Dennis Quaid

Shave and a Haircut

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jUVWn3csvSw

I knew the name because it was mentioned in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" which I saw 35 years ago.

This other video is interesting...

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1RUAe32TBPM

George Lucas On The Problems With Big Studios!

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7rRFd_uLCnw

Manny Jacinto on why some don't like "The Acolyte"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqIEIirZ9so

@john2001plus
5 minutes ago 

Hey Thor,

I don't interpret the message of The Acolyte in the same way you do.  I don't think that it is saying that the bad guys are the good guys and are justified in murder, any more than Tony Soprano is portrayed as the good guy and is justified committing murder.  You can have a show where a good character turns bad, a show where most of the characters make bad choices, and a show where the bad guys are the main characters.

I know that Leslye Headland made a bunch of statements way out in left field showing her own biases.  However, in the show, these biases aren't so clear.  Yes, the characters do bad things and make bad choices, but it is not clear that the show is defending those choices or saying that the Jedi are bad.

The pre-release comments by Leslye Headland convinced many YouTubers that this was what the show was going to be about, and there was a backlash before the show even started.

In my opinion, the first six episodes are not excellent, but just good enough to be entertaining.  Unfortunately, the show failed to deliver and the payoff was disappointing.

I doubt that Disney would waste another 180 million dollars on a lackluster show, but I would like to see a second season that adds some clarity to the story.  I want to see the bad guys get justice and maybe for Osha and the Jedi to get redemption.  There is still enough mystery in the series for us to get a follow-up.

Best wishes,

John Coffey

P.S.  I think that the series accomplished what it was supposed to; it got people like me to subscribe to Disney+.

Orson Welles tells a brilliant Churchill story

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/r41PPe_Hcrk

The Bad Batch || We're a Family

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbU3lFEonu0

The Beauty of BAD BATCH FINAL SEASON

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDz1bArDzIg

ABOUT STAR WARS George Lucas

https://youtube.com/shorts/5azoEzwTi60?si=BF-3Y5SLiTsmyq7i

The Star Wars: Concept Trailer

I'm impressed.  Before the original Star Wars movie was created, George Lucas commissioned artist Ralph McQuarrie to create some beautiful concept paintings of what the movie might look like.  These paintings helped inspire the visual effects and the look of the film.

Now someone has taken those paintings and animated them with CGI.  It is short but looks terrific.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7JKT9e-c7E

George MacKay Reveals His Most Dramatic Scene in 1917 Was a Mistake

1917 is one of my favorite movies.

The Bad Batch Is Beautiful - YouTube

The Creator

 

After an atomic bombing of Los Angeles by AI, the United States is in a war with Japan to destroy all the intelligent robots.  Whereas the Japanese live harmoniously with the robots, the United States is hellbent on their destruction.

Some of the robots aren't that different from human beings. They feel and possibly suffer, and mourn each other when they die.  

Sergeant Joshua Taylor is sent on a mission to capture a new AI weapon, and this weapon turns out to be in the form of a little girl.  Taylor begins to bond with it and he is also on a side quest to find his wife behind enemy lines and uses the "girl" to help find her.  This creates a conflict with his commanding officer who is a little too gung-ho about killing robots.  She is trying to hunt down both Taylor and the girl.

This movie has shades of Blade Runner and the film A.I. Artificial Intelligence.  Both movies make you question what it means to be human and if a machine can have human qualities.  The ending is reminiscent of Elysium.

The film shows the suffering, destruction, and utter pointlessness of war, which is emotionally powerful for the audience.

The Creator received positive but mixed reviews.  Some criticized the overall tone and the complexity of the story.  However, the movie was made on a shoestring 80 million dollar budget, and it deserves credit for looking gorgeous, like a much bigger budget production.  It is visually impressive and unique.

This is an epic story that I think will age very well.  It could be remembered alongside Blade Runner.  However, the movie's ideas are better than their execution, and the complicated story feels a bit messy.

Rating A-.

The Creator is available for streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

This is what Tarantino HATED about 1917 Movie

Jodi Benson - Part of Your World

Band of Brothers Actor on Filming Iconic WWII Miniseries | James Madio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zq2WMxOhz0

1917 Extended Featurette - The Making of 1917 (2020)

Band of Brother's Cast Visit Paris With The Real Band of Brothers Soldiers

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VkTPCrDrBCQ

How to Create your own Worst Enemies: A Disney Story

Good video:

George Lucas reveals TRUTH about "THERE IS ANOTHER"

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/i2V3uIiTk7Y

Is the problem that some Star Wars fans don’t understand or care about the "story" of Star Wars?

@john2001plus
7 minutes ago

Hey Thor,

First, I love your analysis; your channels are my favorite on YouTube.

But I wonder if you have taken the wrong approach toward this show.  You seemed so concerned about preserving canon and the message, you appeared to be worried about this show before it started and formed a negative bias.   You make assumptions about the show's message and what it will say about the Jedi.

I previously said that it was too early to come to this conclusion.  I don't yet have reason to think that the show will say that the Sith aren't so bad and have some good points, or call into question if evil isn't really evil, or that the Jedi are responsible for evil.

But I can see why you think these things.  If your assumptions prove correct, and the show breaks cannon and/or blames the Jedi for evil, I will be forced to admit that the show is poorly written in the context of the Star Wars universe.   However, I don't yet know that this is where the show is going.  You very well may be correct, but my impression is that it will go in a different direction.

The cast and director made comments about the series that many YouTubers possibly took out of context.  They developed a negative bias before the show started.  I could be wrong and they were right to be biased against this show, but I am willing to let it play out and see where it goes.

I make these comments because I have really enjoyed the series.  If the show doesn't work for you, I respect that.  We disagreed on the quality of the first four episodes.  I felt that there was plenty there to hold my interest.  

A show lives or dies on the quality of the characters.  You stated that you had little reason to be interested in them.  I became invested in the characters which is a big part of why I have enjoyed the show, despite any flaws it might have.   My first impression left me a bit uncertain, but when I rewatched the episodes I got sucked into the story and the mysteries it presents.

You made comments about the vagueness of the series, but I expected the show to drag out its mysteries.

I hold TV series to an entirely different standard than I do movies.  I realize The Acolyte has a high budget, but it is still not as high as the movies.  It could be better, but not everything is going to be another Andor, and a halfway-decent TV show in the Star Wars universe is enough to be entertaining.

Best wishes,

John Coffey

"The Acolyte" Episode Five: A spectacle without substance

@john2001plus
In the end, the show will either make sense or it won't. If some of Thor's predictions are true and the show breaks cannon, then I will be forced to admit that the show is poorly written in the context of the Star Wars universe.

However, I think the reason why I have enjoyed the series is that I haven't tried to 2nd guess and overanalyze where it is going, what its motivations are, and how it is all going to make sense.  I'm willing to wait and let it play out, especially since the show presents itself as a mystery. 

I already agree that it could be better, but I wasn't expecting another Andor or a Game of Thrones.  I didn't have high expectations.  For me, the show is good enough as entertainment. 

I am invested in these characters, especially, Mae, Osha, and Sol, which is a big part of why I have enjoyed the show. 

If the show doesn't work for Thor (and all the other YouTubers) then I respect that. People have different tastes.

The Acolyte" would be better (or worse) if it wasn't Star Wars? And many more questions...

@john2001plus

5:45 The difference between Thor and me is that I have enjoyed the series so far.  The mystery has kept my interest.  

I am dumbfounded about why so many YouTubers hate the show.

Blazing Saddles Most Loved Line Was Actually A Mistake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWnNaQpf98U

Critical Drinker - Why Are Modern Movies So Negative?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bLqzZBa6kfE

JOHN RHYS-DAVIES Tiptoes Around the Difficulties Working Alongside the Late Great SEAN CONNERY - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7SNj-t_gBs

Gettysburg Behind the Scenes: How Jeff Daniels was Cast as Chamberlain

How other shows/franchises do it so much better than Star Wars?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4N5NPI7OT4

@john2001plus

0 seconds ago
I hear all the YouTubers claim that The Acolyte is bad and I am dumbfounded because I am enjoying what I have seen so far.  I get the impression that people don't understand what the show is trying to do.

I acknowledge that there are better shows and that The Acolyte could be better, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying the show for what it is.  Not everything will be another Andor, so is it good enough?

Maybe the series will redeem itself for most fans, or maybe it won't.  

Disney/Lucasfilm, maybe it's finally time to hear out the fans disappointed with Star Wars

Hey Thor,

If we are being honest, not all the hate toward The Acolyte is due to people thinking the show is poor quality although I am sure that is a major factor.  So many people feel "burned" by previous Disney girl-boss Mary-Sue shows that the moment they heard that it has a female lead and a gay director who made some controversial comments that were taken out of context, they refused to watch the show.  This is what my friends are telling me.  And those who feel so slighted are hyper-critical of it for its wokeness.  People have developed a knee-jerk reaction to anything that looks woke because they lump it all into the same basket as Captain Marvel and Rey.  The fanbase has built up resentment, so maybe the practical thing Disney should do is give us some classical male heroes which is what most people like.  There is still room for female heroes as there always has been. 

This is what happened to "Lightyear" which I thought was a pretty good movie.  Because it has a same-sex couple and a blink-and-you-will-miss-it lesbian kiss, there was a huge boycott campaign promoted by conservative talk show hosts.  The movie bombed because nobody watched it.  I tried to convince my friends to watch it, and they refused thinking it was too controversial.  People are reacting to what they hear instead of watching it and deciding for themselves.

I don't think that The Acolyte is bad.  I don't think that the third episode is bad for not revealing all of its cards.  We were told that the show's point was to have a mystery told from different perspectives.  I look forward to watching how the mystery plays out.  However, the show makes story-telling choices that don't sit well with the general audience. 

The Acolyte has enough of a budget that it could be better, but this leads to my second issue regarding Star Wars fans.  They expect perfection.  TV shows never have the same budget as major movies, and even The Acolyte has a lower budget than The Rise of Skywalker, so I am willing to give TV shows a bit more leeway.  I am just grateful that the show is entertaining even if it is not perfect.  Like you, I want it to be better, but that isn't always possible given the budget.  

For example, there was an outstanding George Lucas movie that was effectively turned into a TV show and nobody complained about the show being inferior even though it was.  The show was a huge hit.  The movie was American Graffiti and the show was Happy Days.

I would feel honored if you would comment on this. 

Best wishes, 

John Coffey

Michael Caine meets his Wife

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3d3IpXZwrvE

The Acolyte

Audrey Hepburn

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MEA2xtSc0l0

Fun Fact About: Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KY8PqczrWZI

Top 20 Greatest Closing Lines in Movies

Star Wars movies and TV shows ranked

Aaron:  Have you ever given a ranking of all the Star Wars films?

Star Wars rankings are controversial. For example, I like the prequels more than most people, and I thought Solo was no better than average. One problem is that it is hard to pick favorites from all the movies I like. Items 3 through 7 are almost a tie.

All this content is available on Disney+ streaming.

So here goes...

1. Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back. (My favorite movie.)

2. Episode 4: A New Hope.

3. Episode 6: Return of The Jedi.

4. Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. (I liked this more than most people. It is underrated.)

5. Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith (An epic finish to the trilogy.)

6. Episode 2: Attack of the Clones.

7. Rogue One (The best of Disney Star Wars.)

8. Episode 8: The Last Jedi. (Despite all the problems people rightfully complain about, the underlying story is a good one. This movie had the potential to take Star Wars in a badly needed new direction by saying that you didn't have to be a Skywalker or a Palpatine to use the force. Then J.J. Abrams threw this all away in Episode 9.)

9. Episode 7: The Force Awakens. (Good but the sequels are an incoherent mess because they didn't have a grand plan for the entire trilogy, but instead let each director do their own thing.)

10. Episode 9: The Rise of Skywalker (The movie is entertaining, but bringing back Palpatine ruins Darth Vader's sacrifice effectively diminishing Return of the Jedi. I liked this movie less than most people. The plot is like a video game where the characters have to go on multiple side quests to achieve an illogical objective. For example, Rey and Kilo Ren have the same objective to go to Exogol and fight Palpatine, but are fighting to the death over it.)

11. Solo. (Barely entertaining. The story is closer to a made-for-TV series. We get a space train robbery, space gangsters, and a sexual robot. The movie was a financial flop.)


Most of the Star Wars TV series are very good, including the animated ones.

1. Andor. (Takes Star Wars in a new direction by not having space wizards, but focussing on people struggling to live under fascism. The first season was a fantastic story.)

2. The Mandalorian. (The quality of the first two seasons is outstanding. Something happened with the third season, possibly COVID-19 because it is only average at best. The show is going to be turned into the next Star Wars movie in 2026)

3. The Bad Batch (Animated. Sequel series to The Clone Wars series. The story focuses on a group of genetically altered clones who rebel against and try to flee from the evil Empire.)

4. Star Wars Rebels (Animated and introduced a great set of characters.)

5. The Clone Wars. (Animated. The 3D animation looked primitive at first but improved with each new season. By the time we got to the end of The Bad Batch, the animation was extraordinary. Tells some great stories occurring between movie episodes 2 and 3, greatly expands upon the character of Anakin Skywalker, and introduces the fan-favorite character Ahsoka Tano. However, it is uneven, and there were a few dull episodes.)

6. Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi. (I liked this show much more than most people. However, the story and quality suffer from being a TV show.)

7. Star Wars Ahsoka. (A live-action sequel to Star Wars Rebels. I enjoyed it very much but many people had problems with it. Some parts aren't very logical. I look forward to season 2.)

8. The Book of Boba Fett. (A spin-off of The Mandalorian, but it doesn't excel. It also suffers from being a TV show, but I liked it despite many problems.)

9. Star Wars Resistance. (Kid-friendly animated show that is mostly forgettable.)

10. Star Wars: The Young Jedi Adventures. (Made for small children. I didn't watch it)

There are some Lego Star Wars shows that I haven't watched much of.  These are comedies, and what few I have seen are entertaining.

Iconic Story!

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/p-b2CILdGwA

Jamie Lee Curtis Reveals What She Really Thinks About Schwarzenegger | E...

The Star Wars Sequels: Disney's Anti-Trilogy

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

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace - 25 Years Later

Humans Need Not Apply

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Pq-S557XQU

This video is almost 10 years old but seems current.

Mufasa: The Lion King | Teaser Trailer

What CIVIL WAR Is Really About

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G_KY2kRbUQ

Dictators arise because of a crisis causing the public to support stability over democracy.

The Pacific (2010): How Much Money Did HBO Lose?

Darth Plagueis: The 'unseen' threat responsible for it all (Battle of the Heroes & Villains)

I'm finishing the Darth Plagueis audiobook.  It is ranked on many lists as the best Star Wars book.

It is very much a prequel to the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy.  I think that it ends shortly before Episode 1 begins.  What is interesting is how it shows all the events that lead up to Episode 1.  There might be too much politics for some people, but Plagueis is shown to be the behind-the-scenes mastermind who engineered the fall of The Republic.

Palpatine gets equal time as he progresses from a young apprentice to a Sith Lord.  His interactions with Plagueis are interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Hhe66_pOKs

Flynn Movie: Deliver the Truth. Whatever the Cost.

This might be interesting.  I'll try to watch it.

https://www.flynnmovie.com/

Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare - Decent But Disappointing

John Rhys-Davies shares horrible situation on Indiana Jones

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WYBXyQAL4iI

Ranking The 9 Main Star Wars Musical Scores

"If" this plot leak is true, there's little hope for Episode IX

This is an interesting leak from 4.5 years ago for the upcoming The Rise of Skywalker (The Rise of Crapwalker.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rps8nZFiYoA

Shatner

"Last year, I had a life-changing experience at 90 years old. I went to space, after decades of playing an iconic science-fiction character who was exploring the universe. I thought I would experience a deep connection with the immensity around us, a deep call for endless exploration.

I was absolutely wrong. The strongest feeling, that dominated everything else by far, was the deepest grief that I had ever experienced.

I understood, in the clearest possible way, that we were living on a tiny oasis of life, surrounded by an immensity of death. I didn't see infinite possibilities of worlds to explore, adventures to have, or living creatures to connect with. I saw the deepest darkness I could have ever imagined, contrasting so starkly with the welcoming warmth of our nurturing home planet.

This was an immensely powerful awakening for me. It filled me with sadness. I realized that we had spent decades, if not centuries, being obsessed with looking away, with looking outside. I did my share in popularizing the idea that space was the final frontier. But I had to get to space to understand that Earth is and will stay our only home. And that we have been ravaging it, relentlessly, making it uninhabitable."

~ William Shatner

Star Wars - 1950's Super Panavision 70

Star Wars reimagined as a 1950s movie. I think that this is AI-generated. We are living in a new age.

https://youtu.be/cUm3oRYV7yM?si=SeR1gKPINBa_DBe7

Hypothetically, if Star Wars had been made in the 1950s, it would have been like Flash Gordon.

The Downfall of Streaming TV | The Bubble has Burst

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq_XeZyp1QY

How Killers of The Flower Moon Confronts The Viewer

Star Wars will NEVER be the same again...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxfVslD1dFw&t=286s

 

I can see why Batman vs. Superman got mostly negative reviews. The movie is overloaded with action sequences and drags out too long. But the film is underrated. Between all those action sequences are bits of dialog, so brief that you have to pay attention to keep up, that are gold. Jesse Eisenberg steals the show as Lex Luther. He is a welcome surprise, playing a really manic Luther with some cool dialog.

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/batman_v_superman_dawn_of_justice

Post From 4 Years Ago About Video Resolution

 When 4K TV's first came out, some people pointed out that your eyes can't see in 4K. (I know mine can't.) I bought a 4K TV anyway on a Walmart Black Friday sale at a great price.

The 4K designation is a bit deceptive because the 4K refers to the number of horizontal pixels. In the past, video resolutions were designated by the number of lines vertically. Therefore, just so we are clear, 4K is 2160P, and 1080P is 2K.

Old tube TV's broadcast in 480i, which means the video was only 480 lines, and the TV takes two 1/60th of a second cycles to draw the entire screen.

The most you can get out of broadcast TV right now is 1080i. The old TV shows that dominate broadcast TV were recorded on videotape, which is 480i, so that how they are broadcast today. Blu-ray disks are typically 1080P, and DVD's can be as low as 480p. There is a special Blu-ray format that is 4K, but you need a Blu-ray player that supports it.

When movie theaters started using digital projection, the format they used was 2K, and some later movies were shown in 4K. I am one who sits on the front row of a theater when everybody else sits 2/3 of the way back. (That's kind of nice for me actually.) Even with a giant screen in front of me, I can't notice any lack of resolution with a 2K or 4K projection.

My favorite computer resolution is 1440P, which is technically 2.5K, and this is what I use now. This is an ideal resolution for playing games. The Apple iMac that I own is capable of 5K, which is overkill on Apple's part because it doesn't make sense to have that much detail on a 27-inch monitor.

On my computer, I routinely watch videos that are 720P and I never notice any lack of clarity.

So now the industry is developing 8K TV's, which is insane. Your eyes will not see the difference, and there's not going to be any content available in 8K. The new videogame systems that are coming out this year are also going to support 8K, but likely just for content and not for games which will be in 4K instead. Right now you can buy a 98 inch Samsung 8K TV for $79,000. This is insane.

Star Wars Meme Monday with Thor & Naboo (Episode 107) and Special Treat

Star Wars has the bad habit of bringing back dead characters...

If Bach Wrote The "Cantina Band" Song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd7FRjhwSxc

Dee Bradley Baker doing clone voices for five and a half minutes

I realize that not everyone likes animation, but animated Star Wars has some great characters and stories.  The Batd Batch is exceptional.

Not everyone likes science fiction, but I am impressed at how many voices Dee Bradley Baker does.  He voices most of the show.

I am surprised at how enthusiastic the audience is.