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Why do you say Zenith is a rip-off of Moore's work (Watchmen?)

Don't know for Zenith, but he ripped Alan off in Future Shocks.

The Invisible Man by HG Wells.

Reading this book felt like a chore to me. Wells' prose feels too mundane, enough to keep me off engaged in the story. And characters are written flat and miserable, without anything that makes them attractive enough to invest yourself in them. That goes for the Invisible Man himself, a character you're forced to hate. I like to think that Wells' ideas are better than their execution, although I have never read any other Wells novel so far, if I merit his work after The Invisible Man, that is.
Although, one thing this novel did to me. I have never thought about it, but the idea behind invisibility actually sounds more plausible than some random gibberish commonly found in other SF novels. It sounds weird, yes, but not without some wisdom.

[Assault on Precinct 13]

Assault on Precinct 13

Ah... The 1970s. I remember thinking how ballsy Carpenter must have been to show a kid killed without any remorse. Then again, the decade was no-holds-barred one like this movie.

Cruising

The movie has great potential to stir unrest, not just as a movie that created a massive controversy in 1979 (released the following year). Tbh, I was sure that I was never going to see the picture, but I did. Billy Friedkin's cop thriller could be the grittiest NY picture ever filmed. I realized this when I saw the movie for the first time at the age of 15; after the first murder scene, which immensely freaked me out, I realized this would not be for the weak stomach. Which came into play later on. Here we come to the first infamous, controversial aspect of the film. If anybody who didn't follow, a serial killer murders gay people and. In a rather forgettable role, Al Pacino plays a cop whose character physically matches the look of the victims is sent undercover to the underground gay world, of leather and S&M. And those scenes in the nightclubs, grossed me out. Even today, I felt vastly uncomfortable while watching those. And I'll say that probably it wasn't Friedkin's intention, but the film has considerable potential to turn people homophobic. So, criticisms made that the film is made to shock heterosexuals, unintentionally hold some weight. I know that people have various fetishes, but these are not mine. And watching those scenes made me feel a bit dirty. As if it drew the worst parts out of me.
The next aspect of the controversy is the plot. Friedkin (and I watched the making of the documentary) stated that he deliberately made the film uncertain. And yes, the film heavily relies on ambiguity. While I am drawn to the mystical quality, I realized the film ultimately falls flat because

things, murder cases, remain basically unresolved.

And the film raises many questions without answering them. And there are scenes in it that have nothing to do with the plot (like cops who harass two transsexuals). Friedkin's idea that more killers are operating (the film is based on actual events) is legit. Still, unfortunately, he painted the movie as a "whodunit mystery," which is totally misleading. Hell, it's not even a "whydunit." I have nothing against the ambiguity in films, but only when it's done coherently. Not everything needs to be explained, but not everything should feel so alien to the audience. Right now, I think that the movie is too intellectual for its own good. And here, even character development is ambiguous, or should I say, non-existent. And Pacino is shamelessly wasted here. Paul Sorvino, his boss, plays his part so lifelessly, as if he wonders, "what am I doing in a movie like this?". Dialogues (Friedkin also wrote the movie) are cringe, to say at least. Pick-up routines between gays, probably worked in the 1970s. Now I don't know anyone who talks like that, regardless of sexual affiliation. But I must commend the serial killer. I mean, the voice. Soothing, yet having irresistible, but quite eerie, ominous quality to it. Btw, the documentary reveals that the voice dubbed the lines said by the actors playing the killer(s), also voices the father of one of the suspects and for a line in the crucial part of the film of the said suspect.
Finally, one more interesting thing. The version I watched at the age of 15 had some disclaimer at the beginning, no opening credits. It went, "the movie is not representative of the gay community as a whole" or something. The version I watched yesterday omitted that. Instead, it started with the Warner Bros logo, followed by the Cruising title.

Grant's work on Zenith is a must-have and probably his magnum opus at 2000ad. His Future Shocks, Rogue Trooper and Inferno are forgettable (to say at least).

Grant 2
Alec 0

I took my first shot of vaccine today. Figured the time is ripe. I had Moderna, which is fine, although I considered Pfizer (AZ no chance). Unfortunately, not all have been that lucky. My Mom who got AZ shot months ago is left empty-handed for the second jab. "Lack of supplies" , sort to speak of. When the new batch of vaccines will arrive, no one knows.

But what worries me here, is the virus so far corroborated ability to mutate. Can't help but  to wonder whether every country in the world will have their own version of covid.

[FASTER]

FASTER

Billy Bob Thornton plays a junkie cop hunting down Dwayne Johnson's revenge-crazed killer, while The Rock also avoids a prissy billionaire assassin.

This was a whole lot better than it ought to have been. Then again, it did have Billy Bob in it.

This passed me by when it came out - 10 or 11 years ago - and I watched it on Netflix on a whim. It was really quite noir fun.

What I love about that movie is how conveniently uses 1970s aesthetics. The score, camera angles, lighting, bleak story...I just wished that in order to fully look like a 1970s picture they made Rock die at the end ([spoiler]when Billy Bob shoots him in the head[/spoiler]).

Flawless

This was so-so experience. The film is not flawless, but it has some warmth in it. DeNiro is ultra-conservative cop, who suffers a stroke, which lives him half-paralyzed (his speech is impacted as is his whole right side). Philip Seymour Hoffman in his effeminate pre-Capote role's as DeNiro's drag queen and transexual neighbour. Hoffman's acting may be the best part of the film. Unfortunately, the whole thing is pretty overused and it basically leaves you no surprise. Typical story about two guys who initially hate each other. but grow to be friends later on. As result, the movie is often aimless in terms of the plot, instead everything is subordinated to character development (there is a subplot that involves a gangster seeking stolen money). But what I find the most objecting about the film is the portrayal of transsexual people as sex-crazed freaks. But given it's Joel Schumacher's film (who also wrote it), I don't think it was intentional. Nor I think it's homophobic. Despite numerous homosexual, often rife with the phobic suffix remarks. Although, I do find occasionally hilarious exchange between the two ("I'd rather suck a Hitler's dead dick" - I bet you already did"). Or "I am more man than you'll ever be and closest to woman that you'll ever get".

But shouldn't we then vote for the "real guy" instead of pseudonym? I mean, pseudonyms are pretty commonplace today and we never take for e.x Robert Galbraight as someone on his own when we all know it's none other than JKR.

Wait... Is Kenneth one of the regular 2000ad droids? Like Alec Trench stood for Alan Grant? Quick search on the Google was fruitless, except I found this:



I now wait for the John Wagner vs TB Grover thread.

Well, I got an appointment with my GP's mental health nurse, and not to sound negative, but it was a complete waste of time.  Just saying things like "You've got to focus", that's the damned point, I CAN'T 'just focus', I'm having major sleep problems and life just feels hopeless.  She says "you can change that", well gee, why didn't I think of that, I guess its just that damned easy.

Hopeless, hopeless, hopeless.

Yep... this sounds all too familiar. To me, it was "find a job". Well, I did and it didn't fix all my problems except less time for spare. Yet, when I think about it, isn't a sort of inspiring thing that you are alive? With every second that goes by, that your heart keeps beating. Like in Full Metal Jacket, when Pvt Joker says "I am in a world of shit, but I am alive". The problem with the shrinks is that they are not inside your head and are taught to mechanically say things from a psychology textbook.
You Jade, gotta find some hook to be onto. It's tough, but at least try. Perhaps you do something creative and use your life as inspiration. Like Van Gogh. Although I defo not suggest to whittle your ear in the process, but I suppose his paintings helped him to cope with life.

This Shark's post is so spot-on! To the letter.

[Alan 2Dan 3]

Well, Hebden had a few reall good Future Shocks. And let's not forget Meltdown Man. Then again, Dan is a legend in his own right.

Alan 2
Dan 3

Finished Bioshock Burial at Sea, both eps. The trip down to memory lane (re-visiting Rapture) was welcome, but more plot confusions and contrivances follow. The first ep is bit short and the gameplay feels washed up. The second felt like playing Batman in the Arkham series. And bloody hell, are these two episodes trying to shed my tears. Especially the ending of the Episode 2. Very depressing, very sad. But harrowing it was, I was surprised how the plot ties conveniently to the original Bioshock (Ken Levine is mad genius).

[Gerry 4Ken 1]

Gerry 4
Ken 1

Ah yes, if you disagree onto something, you must be a troll. In where official history is far from a seldom links posted on this forum. Which, I must say, statement that and Wild West and both world wars were more diverse and non-white people had much bigger contribution than being enslavement victims, equals propaganda done in Song of the South. Everything else makes you a historical revisionist cunt.

I mean, here and there you could find an exception to the rule, a black man who possessed a land in the Wild West, Tuskagee airmen, Red Tails etc, soldiers who fought for Nazi Germany in Africa, British Commonwealth... But let's not get ahead of ourselves, shall we?

Actually, I am done with this here. I am sure there are other threads we can butt our heads with.

The trouble is that the meds I'm on, most of them are not optional.  I'm on anti-convulsants (Epilim), I'm on blood thinners, Metaformin for diabetes, blood pressure pills and beta blockers to name a few.  I'm also on painkillers for migraines though the strength of those has been lessened as I've been on them for a long time, but a good chunk of them is not really an option.  I've refused anti depressants before as they don't really solve the problem and don't want more pills.

Well, I hope that you'll be well.  Like I said, the ideal life would be without meds, but sometimes it is not meant to be. I had anti-depressants too, but I ditched them as well, as they don't finish the job. As it is, unfortunately, mental issues are the toughest and barely any shrink in existence is a wizard to make  them go away. That is why I said that every man should find something to do, hobby, traveling, creative work, anything that would help 'em ease the pain.

So, you're determined that there were no black soldiers on Omaha beach, despite seeing a photo of them, because of The Magnificent Seven? Okay. Figure I can safely assume trolling or idiocy here. I shall retreat. You have the floor.

TMS is just one of the reasons. And for the record, the authenticity of the photo is unconfirmed. Sorry, but it is. And if you really care about objectivity, you wouldn't bleat about, let's say a scene on Omaha beach with no black soldiers, than a scene with no non-white soldiers in let's say Burma (who took part in the conflict equally or more than native UK troops).

But since it is mentioned, showing an image of black cowboy in the Wild West is a type of oxymoron. Cowboy, as someone who supervises a property under orders of his landowner - just to make that clear. Not gunslinger or outlaw. Still, those cowboys were extremely scarce in numbers.

The only idiocy here is stating that history lied us too long. And honestly, we have nothing else to discuss elsewhere.

Ah yes. 18th century USA. A place and time  famous for having no black peoples, nor any form of conflict pertaining to the continuing enslavement of black people.

I'm calling trolling at this point.

If the trolling is saying that black people had no part above their horrible enslavement, I would agree.

The Magnificent Seven is a piece of genre fantasy – a western remake of The Seven Samurai. It doesn't matter what tone of skin the cast are.

Well, I suppose the controversy behind U-571 also doesn't matter.

Just because I happen to give more credit on the people who substantially battled (and ultimately won) both conflicts in the trenches of European soil, doesn't make me racist.

Consistently ignoring evidence that completely disproves your point kind of does.

So far I haven't seen that someone disapproved my point.
I can go on like this forever.