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Messages - Mardroid

#31
Film & TV / Re: Wheel Of Time.....
08 January, 2022, 05:57:39 PM
Quote from: Radbacker on 27 December, 2021, 12:44:10 AM
We'll I didn't mind the final episode but they have made some serious changes from the books that may cause some major issues further down the track.  Still I was on the edge of my seat through most of that and the missus who hasn't read the books liked it.  Here's hoping for a bit of course correction at the start of next season which the issues they had after the actor that played Matt left the show and has now been recast.
One thing I really didn't like though [spoiler]having Nyneve get burnt out and killed by a he one power and then bringing her back to life it's a big point in the books and particularly at the end of book 3 you can't cure death, even the Dragon the most powerful chaneller ever born can't do it[/spoiler]
[spoiler][/spoiler]
CU Radbacker

[spoiler]I don't think Nynaeve was meant to actually be dead, but on the verge. She was healed just in time by Egwene. She did look dead though. They probably should have toned back the amount of damage she sustained.

Going by the books though, Egwene, while a powerful channeler* is not a talented healer and I'm not convinced she would have managed that. But then this isn't the books. It would have been more believable if it had been Nynaeve healing Egwene from close death as healing is very much her thing, but Nynaeve had already had her moment in the previous (rather good) Logain episode.[/spoiler]

I really enjoyed the books, (even those books in the middle that others didn't) and I enjoyed this series too, although it could have been a bit better. It does depart somewhat from the books but is pretty true to them. I think Mat's character was wrong (which isn't to knock that actor or the character he did portray... it just wasn't Mat. He is meant to be a cheeky rascal, and a bit of a rogue and a trickster,  although the actor does portray [spoiler]degradation under the influence of the Shadar Logoth dagger) [/spoiler] pretty well.

He also [spoiler] left the series too early, [/spoiler] but I understand that was due to real world stuff caused by break in shooting caused by the pandemic  and the actor's leaving which couldn't be helped. Hey probably dealt with this as well as they could.

Overall, with reservations, I enjoyed that, and I look forward to more.

*[spoiler]albeit minuscule compared to Nynaeve, but she is exceptionally powerful.[/spoiler]
#32
Film & TV / Re: The Book of Boba Fett
08 January, 2022, 05:08:51 PM
I've seen criticism online, but I'm enjoying it. I think some aren't so keen due to the slower pace and less episodic nature than The Mandalorian (and I think the two timelines per episode get on some people's wick) but I think it works well. I love The Mandalorian, but I'm also glad this isn't more of the same (although both lean into the Western genre somewhat)  with just a different bloke in similar armour.

The train heist scene in the latest episode was particularly good.

Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 30 December, 2021, 09:51:50 PM
[spoiler]I never thought to question why Tuskens don't die of thirst[/spoiler].

[spoiler]I confess, I was unaware those little black balls were meant to be melons, although it did seem strange that the Tuskens would intentionally bury their water in such small receptacles. Even odder was that there was a jet of water shooting out of the ground in an earlier scene and kid still made Boba and the rodian dig up melons.[/spoiler]
#33
Books & Comics / Re: Monster Fun
08 January, 2022, 03:48:21 PM
While I wasn't taken by most of the Halloween special (to be fair it's not aimed at a middle aged bloke like me... but I do enjoy some entertainment targeted towards kids. This is no criticism of the artwork, by the way, that was great.) I enjoyed the new Leopard strip. I did raise an eyebrow at the [spoiler]Totem[/spoiler] theme, as I remember that being an arc in Spider-man as well and Leopard borrows a lot from that already. They seem to be doing something a bit different with it here though, so fair enough.

I will probably buy the next issue or two to see how it goes. Not sure I'll get it just for The Leopard of Lime Street as that would prove expensive, but the rest of the strips were not awful, and I'm happy to give them more of a chance.

Regardless of whether I continue to get this or not, I am very glad it exists and that Rebellion are expanding their comics output.
#34
News / Re: Hawk the slayer coming to 2000AD
08 January, 2022, 02:59:49 PM
I'm not sure I've ever actually seen Hawk the Slayer, although seeing the description and images ring a bell. That means I've probably watched it part the way through.

I will try to watch the film properly before I read the comic.
#35
Film & TV / Re: Last movie watched...
12 July, 2021, 12:18:18 AM
Quote from: Daveycandlish on 10 July, 2021, 07:03:57 PM
It's a bit... shouty. All those kids spend 90 minutes going "Aaaaaaah!"

That's mainly what irritated me about that film. It's got good stuff in it, though. The overall premise is decent, they just needed to tone down the annoying shouting kids. I remember two films coming out around the same time: The Goonies, and Gremlins. The latter I loved...although no shouty kids. At least not human ones.

Coincidentally (in that it's set in the 80s and is centred around kids) I watched Super-8 today. It was okay, although I felt it dragged a bit, and I found it somewhat predictable.

Not sure what it says that near the end, I found certain scenes familiar and concluded that I think I've seen it before... and somehow forgot most of it.

The kids weren't annoying and shouty though. The actual Super-8 zombie film footage in end credits was amusing.

The film felt like the kind that, with just a bit of tweaking and tightening could have been better. Or maybe it's just because I was a bit tired when I watched it. (Started a new job* this week which means I need to sort out my sleep cycle. )

Oh the train crash effects scene at the start was phenomenal!

*Or more accurately returned to old job which I originally lost due to Covid situation, but  now in a permanent situation, which is nice.
#36
Film & TV / Re: The Mandalorian
10 June, 2021, 01:13:02 PM
I think I've only seen one (maybe two) bounty Hunter rodians including Greedo*, but you make good points. (Although I'm pretty much enjoying all the Filoni and co stuff. I like some of the nostalgic stuff but I do hope they don't get stuck there also.)

Amusingly, it didn't click straight away that the episode with jawas and sandcrawler were actually on a desert planet that wasn't tatooine. In their case it doesn't really bother me that they all appear to be scavengers as it makes senses in their desert clan based society. Same with a lot of  hutts being crime lords, in a mafioso crime family sense, although it would be nice to see at least one individual in a different role.

While not a fully intelligent being, seeing a [spoiler]rancor in an endearing light was welcome[/spoiler] in the recent Bad Batch series. [spoiler]If it turns out to be that rancor from RotJ, though, I'd feel rather sorry for it. Never thought I'd say that about the rancor! Other canon material suggests it's another individual, but as that material is in books, it wouldn't be the first time that stuff is overwritten.[/spoiler]

I would like to see more different types of alien in future series. You do tend to see the same species reoccur - not a bad thing in itself, as it's not just the humans who are interstellar travellers - but new creatures to continue that sense of Star Wars alien wonder would be great. Frog lady from The Mandalorian and that huge weird creature who runs much of the crime on Correllia in Solo are steps in the right direction, but a lot more different things as background characters would be great.

* Is it bad that the possible pun in his name only just occurred to me?
#37
Film & TV / Re: Last movie watched...
04 May, 2021, 03:10:21 AM
Quote from: TordelBack on 14 April, 2021, 11:04:12 PM
Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure. Watched this for the first time since the first time, when I was too sophis...sofistic... old to do any more than cringe.  And... I actually enjoyed it.

It does a hell of a lot with what was obviously a budget consisting of a fiver and a family bag of crisps, and while its retelling of The Hobbit with furry onesies is distinctly dumbed-down, it's also quite surprisingly pretty, and dare I say it, engaging. The hunting-beast stop motion (and prop) is quite scary, the Gorax is a neat bit of bluescreen, and there are some stunning matt paintings. The Towani kids aren't nearly as irritating as I remembered (their parents are morons,though), and the only real letdowns are the profusion of terrestrial animals (stick a horn or some googly eyes on those ponies fercrissakes) and the painful lack of movement in many of the Ewok masks: even this is made up for by some solid physical acting. 

It was particularly cool to see Logray strut his stuff,  although I do wonder why the Ewoks were so wowed by specifically the levitating of their Golden God Threepio (this is a Prequel to RotJ) when this is a power their own mystics have.

Anyhow, it's been added to my personal canon with no regrets. Can you believe that there's never been any official SW figures of any of the new characters? I'd pay good money for Chucka-Trok on his pony.

Should I risk Battle for Endor, a film I do not think I've ever seen?

I watched them both for the first time recently and I think I actually preferred the sequel. Warning: [spoiler]Something happens at the start that reminds me of Alien 3.[/spoiler]
#38
Film & TV / Re: Last movie watched...
03 May, 2021, 11:20:26 PM
Quote from: Funt Solo on 09 April, 2021, 08:38:40 PM
Thunder Force

++BEFORE WATCHING++

Two overweight women in superhero costumes suggests that this will be one of those scream-a-lot US comedies that's probably not very funny. Like an 80s sitcom, there'll be a moral message strapped in somewhere, accompanied by some hugging. There will be a scene, played for laughs, focused on how difficult it is to get into the tight costumes. Because Melissa McCarthy's in it, there'll also be some gross-out humour.

++AFTER WATCHING++

They didn't do a scene about the difficulty of getting into the costumes - instead it was about how difficult it was for two people that size to get into a Lamborghini.

A comedy of no laughs.

I liked the fact that the film was centred on two overweight ladies. You don't see that very often. It's good to see films centred on people of different physical types, just as we see (and are) all different types in the real world.  Diversity in film is improving, but it's decidedly wanting in certain areas...

... but yeah, I didn't find the film very good either. The crab guy was very amusing in that initial fight scene though, when he [spoiler]scurries out of harm's reach sideways.[/spoiler]
#39
Film & TV / Re: Last movie watched...
26 March, 2021, 02:46:40 PM
Quote from: pictsy on 26 March, 2021, 02:08:20 PM
Quote from: Mardroid on 26 March, 2021, 01:50:45 PM
I loved Beastmaster too, and it's also been years that I've seen it. Did the scene involve [spoiler]those bird head things? [/spoiler] I found those quite disturbing at the time.

There are [spoiler]creatures with sort-of wings that enveloped people and (I assume) ate them.[/spoiler]  Definitely one of the few highlights.

That's them. [spoiler]When standing upright the wings look like they're wrapped in cloaks. The film leaves it up to the imagination as to how their victims are consumed as their beaks don't seem to be involved. Just a lot of movement then dropping bones. Brrrr. [/spoiler]

Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 26 March, 2021, 02:05:26 PM
Quote from: Mardroid on 26 March, 2021, 01:54:53 PM
Also: Wolfen.

Haven't seen that in years, so my memory may be lying to me, but I remember it being pretty good.

It's been a while since I've seen it too, and I enjoyed it. It's weird, and enjoyably so, and does a whole different thing with the werewolf* thing, and there's an [spoiler]eco message[/spoiler] in there too.

There was a bit that managed to be daft and dark at the same time, [spoiler]like the decapitation by wolf, moving eyes scene. [/spoiler]. And that classic [spoiler]"it's all in your head" scene with the Native American on the beach[/spoiler]. Heh.

* Okay, wolfen [spoiler]aren't werewolves, at least in the shape shifting sense[/spoiler], but I'm sure you get what I mean.
#40
Film & TV / Re: Last movie watched...
26 March, 2021, 01:54:53 PM
Quote from: milstar on 17 March, 2021, 04:09:23 PM
Now that we are in sword and sorcery, dragons and dungeons, has anybody seen Q:The Winged Serpeant by Larry Cohen?

Oh yes! I've forgotten most of it, but remember enjoying it.

Also: Wolfen.
#41
Film & TV / Re: Last movie watched...
26 March, 2021, 01:50:45 PM
Quote from: I, Cosh on 17 March, 2021, 10:43:03 AM
Quote from: pictsy on 17 March, 2021, 09:40:07 AM
It's fun.  Now I have switch gears from Sci-Fi to Fantasy, my next film will be Beastmaster and it will be my first viewing.
Not seen it for years but I loved Beastmaster when I was a kid. Might even have seen it twice at the pictures. There's one quite disgusting part in which left a lasting impression on the 8 year old Cosh.

I loved Beastmaster too, and it's also been years that I've seen it. Did the scene involve [spoiler]those bird head things? [/spoiler] I found those quite disturbing at the time.
#42
I watched it recently. It was enjoyable enough. Despite being four hours I wasn't bored at all. That being said, I didn't find it all that different from the theatrical cut (which I also liked) although if I'd watched them back to back I'd probably have picked up on more.

It probably is the better of the two in a lot of ways in that you get more character depth for Cyborg and the horned spiky bad guy with the German sounding name, which I've forgotten. And the Darkseid stuff was cool. And I liked [spoiler]that extra twist where the Flash helps to save the day. I much preferred this to the stuff with Superman sidelining him and the stuff with the Russian family in the other cut.[/spoiler]

Tonally it's quite different, quite somber and worshipful - the latter I could have done without. [spoiler]Credit where it's due, those ladies singing a hymn while Aquaman returns to the sea had beautiful voices, but I found the scene a bit cringey.[/spoiler] On the other hand, I liked some of the humour in the Whedon cut.

I think my favourite take would be a mixture of both cuts, but with some of the padding removed.

The epilogue was interesting, but did feel a bit superfluous. Well, unless they do something with it in future films. I guess it's possible. [spoiler]Although considered not canon, that could change, and besides, this extra stuff doesn't really contradict what happened in the theatrical release all that much, so it could have happened offscreen as it were. I'm getting a bit tired of the dark superman thing though. Let him be the proper hero from now on.[/spoiler]
#43
Film & TV / Re: Last movie watched...
14 March, 2021, 01:18:57 PM
Quote from: wedgeski on 12 March, 2021, 09:04:53 AM
Quote from: pictsy on 11 March, 2021, 10:49:58 PM
This is a highly entertaining film.  It's hyper-violent post-apocalypse with aesthetics of an 80's kids toy thrown in.  Plus Michael Ironside plays the villain.  That was delightful to see.
If this is your bag and you haven't already seen it, Space Hunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone is another fine example of Ironside metal, if you can put up with the film's exploitative nonsense.

I loved that film although it's been years since I've seen it.  [spoiler]Bounty hunters.Android ladies. Cursed Earth (sort of). Creepy mutant kids. A giant cyborg. And what was with those attractive but bad ladies who seemed to live in an underground river?[/spoiler]  Silly, a little scary in places (for younger me, although present day me would shrug it off. It was mainly those [spoiler]mutant kids[/spoiler]) but a lot of fun.

Thinking back, I can see why you thought it exploitative though, although it didn't really register at the time.
#44
Film & TV / Re: Wonder Woman 1984
14 March, 2021, 01:01:54 PM
I didn't mind Aquaman. I.e. I enjoyed it well enough but there's lots better and I'm not in a rush to watch it again.

So, since I seem to have a lower enjoyment threshold than a lot of other people, I'd imagine I'll like Wonderwoman 1984 ( or whatever it's called).

I remember when I knew it was being streamed on Amazon, I did looked forward to watching it... then saw the rental price.

I didn't expect it to be the same price as regular rental since this is a cinema release alternative but, that's actually more than I pay at the cinema!

Depending on the cinema of course. Since prices are more, others less. And I guess I'm paying for it to be sent to me too rather than having to travel, but then there isn't the cinema experience either, so it's all swings and roundabouts. Bit then I think,  I could buy the film for around that price in less than a year's time!

Anyway, putting it off for now.

Oddly I am very much looking forward to the director's cut off Justice League this month although I liked the Whedon version. (Another film everyone else seems to dislike.) I don't think I'll be able to put that one off, although I'm still uncertain at four hours it won't drag. I'm just... so.... curious... (Yes I remember the one about the cat.)

#45
Prog / Re: Prog 2221 - Taking the Biscuit!
05 March, 2021, 02:43:16 AM
Quote from: Richard on 01 March, 2021, 03:19:54 PM
I quite like psycho Red tormented by the guilt of her involuntary murders.

Me too. Rather than considering her as amoral, I'd say she is both more moral, and at the same time, more dangerous than she has been before.  With early Red, under Wagner, Ezquerra and Grant, I got the impression she was a bit of a rascal who kind of revelled a bit in what she was, although there was a bit of tragedy even then. And I didn't get the impression she was particularly dangerous to innocents... although she could be if she starved.

There were other stories later where we saw more of her backstory that we saw more of the tragic side to her, but now she seems to be way on the other side of the spectrum.

Now it seems she really has been a danger to innocents, but I don't think it was ever a random murder spree. I think these situations are still very much in the minority, but fact is, sometimes she gets caught short, so to speak, and if she is in a starved state, she will reach a stage where the thirst takes over and she has no control of herself. But she is also shows more guilt and remorse for her actions than before.

I'm not sure she was so much blaming the thirst as stating a fact.  At the start of the story she was literally out in the desert tracking someone, and hadn't fed in days. I'm not sure how she ended up starving on a cruise ship. You'd have thought she would have made preparations before taking the security job, but we just don't know the full story there.

I don't see this so much as a contradiction to what happened before as more of an exploration of how her condition responds in extreme circumstances.