[GreyHorace]

Well. Time to share my latest thoughts on the new media that I've enjoyed.

John Wick : Winston... tell them... Tell them all... Whoever comes, whoever it is... I'll kill them. I'll kill them all.
Winston : 'Course you will.

John Wick (film series 2014-2023) - Whoa. In the words of Keanu Reeves' character from The Matrix films, that was world's collective reaction when he came roaring back to stardom with the first John Wick film in 2014. Who would have thunk that a simple revenge flick of a retired assassin coming back to the life would spawn multiple sequels and a spinoff both for film (Ballerina) and tv (The Continental)?

Nestled between scenes of secret underworld societies and exotic locales are some of the most well directed action sequences in recent movie history. Rather than rely on big explosions and cgi fakery, the films opt for practical stuntwork and effects that make damn sure you know it's Keanu Reeves onscreen. And this is what the series is to it's core, a showcase of whatever crazy action setpiece the filmmakers can dream up with each new installment. The 4th film in particular is guilty of having some of the most over the top and ridiculous action set pieces that even by the series' standards is pushing it. But this is why I love this series. It may not be winning awards for screenplays or acting (Keanu as always is hilariously one note throughout the series) but it doesn't need to.

Doric: What is it exactly that you bring to this?
Edgin: Me? I'm, I'm a planner. I make plans.
Doric: You've already made the plan. So, what value do you have now?
Edgin: If, uh, the plan fails, the existing plan, I make a new plan
Doric: So, you make plans that fail?
Edgin: No.
Holga: He also plays the lute.
Edgin: Holga, not relevant.
[to Doric:]
Edgin: Trust me, I'm indispensable.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (film 2023) - Wow. Probably the biggest surprise for me of 2023. I remember seeing the first trailer and thinking it looked like hot garbage and even started a thread about it. A subsequent trailer was similarly terrible and failed to get me hyped. It certainly didn't help when the directors of the film said in an interview how fun it was to emasculate the male leads, and I and everyone thought it was going to be a woke fantasy shitshow. Sure enough, while it did have a strong opening weekend the movie's box office fell in the wake of juggernaut that is the Super Mario Bros. movie.

Which is a shame, because Honor Among Thieves is one of the most delightfully entertaining pieces of fantasy media I've watched in quite awhile. In the wake wholesale butchering of fantasy properties like The Witcher on Netflix, Tolkien's Middle Earth (Rings of Power) and Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time on Amazon, it's nice to have something that respects the source material it was based on and building upon it to make something audiences will enjoy. While directors Johnathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley's adaptation of the classic board game may not reach the heights of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, it's a highly entertaining and surprisingly moving film that features a strong cast, clever writing and some surprisingly solid visual effects. It may not spawn sequels as Wizards of the Coast may hope but I think this one may become a cult hit in the years to come. I've never been so glad to eat crow on something I thought was going to be a crapshow.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Doric: What is it exactly that you bring to this?
Edgin: Me? I'm, I'm a planner. I make plans.
Doric: You've already made the plan. So, what value do you have now?
Edgin: If, uh, the plan fails, the existing plan, I make a new plan
Doric: So, you make plans that fail?
Edgin: No.
Holga: He also plays the lute.
Edgin: Holga, not relevant.
[to Doric:]
Edgin: Trust me, I'm indispensable.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (film 2023) - Wow. Probably the biggest surprise for me of 2023. I remember seeing the first trailer and thinking it looked like hot garbage and even started a thread about it. A subsequent trailer was similarly terrible and failed to get me hyped. It certainly didn't help when the directors of the film said in an interview how fun it was to emasculate the male leads, and I and everyone thought it was going to be a woke fantasy shitshow. Sure enough, while it did have a strong opening weekend the movie's box office fell in the wake of juggernaut that is the Super Mario Bros. movie.

Which is a shame, because Honor Among Thieves is one of the most delightfully entertaining pieces of fantasy media I've watched in quite awhile. In the wake wholesale butchering of fantasy properties like The Witcher on Netflix, Tolkien's Middle Earth (Rings of Power) and Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time on Amazon, it's nice to have something that respects the source material it was based on and building upon it to make something audiences will enjoy. While directors Johnathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley's adaptation of the classic board game may not reach the heights of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, it's a highly entertaining and surprisingly moving film that features a strong cast, clever writing and some surprisingly solid visual effects. It may not spawn sequels as Wizards of the Coast may hope but I think this one may become a cult hit in the years to come. I've never been so glad to eat crow on something I thought was going to be a crapshow.

Heard only good things about it so far...

Bit sad it only made 150million so far.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

If someone hasn't heard so far, season 3 of Star Trek Picard is really amazing... Watch it!

 

[GreyHorace]

Heard only good things about it so far...

Bit sad it only made 150million so far.

Aside from the poor marketing and the directors' retarded comment about male emasculation, there were other factors I think that contributed to the film's dismal performance at the box office.

1) Paramount was supposed to release it in 2021, then pushed the date to 2022, until finally setting the date to March 2023. Unfortunately, it got sandwiched between the release of John Wick Chapter 4 and the Super Mario Bros. film. The latter of which is just dominating the box office right now.
2) It didn't help that in January of 2023, Wizards of the Coast's new draft of the Open Gaming Licensed Agreement for Dungeons & Dragons was leaked online and was met with immense fan backlash. Although WOTC eventually backtracked on their new OGL plans, I can imagine many D&D fans chose not to watch the movie as a way to stick it to Wizards.

So yeah. Just a number of factors that contributed to the film's poor box office, which is a shame. It's a great film that deserves more people to see it.

 

[WesternBlood]

First person POV of an avalanche:

 

[GreyHorace]

Welp. Little thread necro here with a new series I'm currently enjoying.

Larry Bird: Sit down and relax. I'll put on a show just for you.
Magic Johnson: (to the camera) I really don't like that motherfucker.

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (tv series 2022-current) - Set at the dawn of the 1980's, HBO's Winning Time chronicles the rise of the Los Angeles Lakers as the premiere basketball franchise of the National Basketball Association. Based on the book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s by Jeff Pearlman, the show starts with real estate businessman Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly) making the snap decision to purchase the Los Angeles Lakers and turn it's fortunes around, first by drafting the 1980 Number 1 overall pick, Earvin 'Magic' Johnson (Quincy Isaiah). From there, trials and tribulations abound as Buss has to learn how to manage a sports team in a league that's in danger of dying within the next few years; while Magic has to contend with teammates like all star center Kareem Abdul Jabbar (Solomon Hughes) who are both jealous of his fame and closeness to the boss, whilst dealing with comparisons to his hated rival, the Boston Celtics' Larry Bird (Sean Patrick Small).

If you go into this series expecting a clean uplifting sports drama, be forewarned. Winning Time is not afraid to show the dirt and sleaze amidst the glitz and glamour of the Showtime Lakers. From Jerry Buss being a total manwhore who sleeps with women old enough to be his daughter, to Magic following his example, which does get him in trouble later on and strains his relationship with his on and off again girlfriend Cookie Kelly (Tamera Tomakili). Despite that, the series does boast some strong performances; from John C. Reilly as Jerry Buss, Quincy Isaiah as Magic (he's so similar in both look and voice to the real life Magic it's kind of scary), Adrien Brody as the ambitious assistant coach Pat Riley and Solomon Hughes as Kareem. The real standout for me though, is Jason Clarke as Lakers legend Jerry West, who is so foul mouthed and miserable that it's hilarious to watch him navigate his role as the Lakers' new general manager.

 

[Yawnson]

Can't believe I forgot this.

The Mandalorian (2019-present) - After a Sequel Trilogy that crashed and burned, it was nice to have a series that harkens back to old school Star Wars in the best possible way. It's everything I loved about George Lucas' space fantasy saga but with a fresh voice behind it, courtesy of Jon Favreau.

Sadly Lizzo killed this series and made this post age poorly

 

[Yer Da]

Welp. Little thread necro here with a new series I'm currently enjoying.

Larry Bird: Sit down and relax. I'll put on a show just for you.
Magic Johnson: (to the camera) I really don't like that motherfucker.

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (tv series 2022-current) - Set at the dawn of the 1980's, HBO's Winning Time chronicles the rise of the Los Angeles Lakers as the premiere basketball franchise of the National Basketball Association. Based on the book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s by Jeff Pearlman, the show starts with real estate businessman Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly) making the snap decision to purchase the Los Angeles Lakers and turn it's fortunes around, first by drafting the 1980 Number 1 overall pick, Earvin 'Magic' Johnson (Quincy Isaiah). From there, trials and tribulations abound as Buss has to learn how to manage a sports team in a league that's in danger of dying within the next few years; while Magic has to contend with teammates like all star center Kareem Abdul Jabbar (Solomon Hughes) who are both jealous of his fame and closeness to the boss, whilst dealing with comparisons to his hated rival, the Boston Celtics' Larry Bird (Sean Patrick Small).

If you go into this series expecting a clean uplifting sports drama, be forewarned. Winning Time is not afraid to show the dirt and sleaze amidst the glitz and glamour of the Showtime Lakers. From Jerry Buss being a total manwhore who sleeps with women old enough to be his daughter, to Magic following his example, which does get him in trouble later on and strains his relationship with his on and off again girlfriend Cookie Kelly (Tamera Tomakili). Despite that, the series does boast some strong performances; from John C. Reilly as Jerry Buss, Quincy Isaiah as Magic (he's so similar in both look and voice to the real life Magic it's kind of scary), Adrien Brody as the ambitious assistant coach Pat Riley and Solomon Hughes as Kareem. The real standout for me though, is Jason Clarke as Lakers legend Jerry West, who is so foul mouthed and miserable that it's hilarious to watch him navigate his role as the Lakers' new general manager.

I haven't watched the newest episode but I've been really enjoying this too. Like you say the cast is fantastic. Kinda cool how Norm Nixon is played by his son. I like the various stylistic elements that it employs throughout, feels fitting for a story that's about the glitz and glamour of LA. The previous episode about Bird where parts of it are shot like a spaghetti western did a great job of giving us Bird's origin story so that he's built up as this obstacle they're going to have to overcome. The scene with him playing in jeans was a lot of fun, particularly since it apparently happened for real. Obviously getting Magic and Bird right were key to this (along with others like Kareem etc.) and they've done a great job with the casting for both.

I'm curious what approach they take going forward, do they stick with the 80s Lakers for more seasons? Seems like this season is taking place over a longer time period than last one, which was just a single basketball season. I know the writer of the book this is adapted from also wrote about the 2000s Kobe/Shaq era so I wonder if they jump forward to cover that stuff.

I'm going away on a trip tomorrow and was wondering about grabbing the Showtime book as something to read while I'm away.