What are you watching in 2024?

[Golden Avalanche]

Agreed.

Which is really interesting cause he had to seemingly grind so much to get where he was. You'd think he'd have significant fortitude.

Yep.

And it puts into a good light guys who had similar period of success, drifted a bit, and then revived their game to win again. Seems to help prove the theory that the elite level guys are truly built differently then the very good guys.

[Mutaman]

However, the plot is wildly absurd.

You're the first person I've ever heard say that.

[mu_hilltopper]

Just finished the first season of The OA / Netflix.

Whoa.  No doubt, I was captivated.  And the season finale really .. whoa.  Hard to explain why it was so gripping.

Super don't want to be disappointed for S2.

[Uncle Rico]

You're the first person I've ever heard say that.

Read Kevin Williamson’s review. I understand the plot ideas but they’re ludicrous

[MuggsyB]

The WSJ did not like Coacaine Bear.  Apparently the director was trying to emulate the Coen Brothers and failed miserably. 

[cheebs09]

The WSJ did not like Coacaine Bear.  Apparently the director was trying to emulate the Coen Brothers and failed miserably.

I think the WSJ and I have different senses of humor. I haven’t seen the movie, but it seems like comedy movies that lack in quality can still make me laugh quite a bit.

[ATL MU Warrior]

The WSJ did not like Coacaine Bear.  Apparently the director was trying to emulate the Coen Brothers and failed miserably.

When I think about reading a movie review, my first instinct is to read the WSJ.

[Spotcheck Billy]

The Whale was better than we expected.

[MuggsyB]

When I think about reading a movie review, my first instinct is to read the WSJ.

I'm not sure why they would be better or worse than anyone else.  They and the NYT do a good job with book and theater reviews. 

[Mutaman]

Read Kevin Williamson’s review. I understand the plot ideas but they’re ludicrous

"First, a gun-nerd objection."

That's the first thing you want to say about the movie?

"One other weird thing: Every third person in this movie is Comanche"

??????

National Review ? Guess Armond White was busy.

[Uncle Rico]

"First, a gun-nerd objection."

That's the first thing you want to say about the movie?

"One other weird thing: Every third person in this movie is Comanche"

??????

National Review ? Guess Armond White was busy.

I’m hardly a National Review fan but Williamson has always been pretty good read. 

He’s right about the ludicrous nature of the movie.

I enjoyed the hell out of the movie and would recommend.  Most movie plots are ridiculous if we think about it. 

[Mutaman]

 Most movie plots are ridiculous if we think about it.

Fair enough. The music is also just terrific.
Nick Cave (of course)
Towns Van Zandt
Ray Wylie Hubbard
Waylon
Chris Stapleton

[Mutaman]

woops

[Hards Alumni]

1883 is very good and I like 1923 so far. I am a Star Trek Junkie and find Discovery and Strange New Worlds enjoyable.

Have you watched, "The Expanse" or "Firefly"?

[Hards Alumni]

Just finished the first season of The OA / Netflix.

Whoa.  No doubt, I was captivated.  And the season finale really .. whoa.  Hard to explain why it was so gripping.

Super don't want to be disappointed for S2.

I stopped after S1, my wife continued and enjoyed.

[MU82]

Damn, that was one intense mothereffen episode. What a show.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Damn, that was one intense mothereffen episode. What a show.

That was something. They added a little more context from the game that helped explain something that never made sense to me. Without giving anything away, they are doing a fantastic job foreshadowing season 2. Lots of little things that I only know to pick up on because I know what's coming.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Bummed there’s only one more episode and a likely long wait until S2. Part of me wishes I had never played the games but it doesn’t take away from how good the show is.

[MU82]

That was something. They added a little more context from the game that helped explain something that never made sense to me. Without giving anything away, they are doing a fantastic job foreshadowing season 2. Lots of little things that I only know to pick up on because I know what's coming.

Thanks for not giving anything away, TAMU. I had never even heard of the game until 2 months ago, have never see it, and am not likely to ever see it. I don't want to know what's coming, just as I didn't want to know what was coming in GoT.

Like VBMG, I'm bummed that this incredible first season is almost over and we'll have to wait a year or two for S2!

Meanwhile ...

Bella Ramsey has gone from "fine young performer" to effen superstar IMHO. Her performances in these last 2 episodes -- totally carrying them while Pedro Pascal had relatively little screen time -- I mean, I don't know what goes into Emmy nominations, but come on!

[JWags85]

Surprised that it hasn't been brought up yet, but Shrinking on Apple+ is the funniest show of the last year and change.  Its some of the wittiest, sharpest writing Ive seen in a LONG time.

Jason Segal is very funny and does what he does best, but Harrison Ford absolutely STEALS nearly every scene he's in...comedically.  Obviously he's an incredible actor and an icon, but he's not been in a good comedic movie in decades.  Not exactly his wheelhouse, but he's unreal.

Show was created by Segal, Bill Lawrence (created Scrubs, co-created Spin City and Ted Lasson) and ROY F*!%$!G KENT, so that alone gave it bona fides.

Related, Harrison Ford with a very interesting year.  In the past 8 years, he's made 5 non-animated movies (and 1 cameo).  Of the 5, 1 was as Hans Solo in Force Awakens, 1 was reprising Rick Deckard in Blade Runner 2049, and the other was the 3rd in the Expendables franchise.  So 2 new original movies, Age of Adaline and Call of the Wild.  Now suddenly, at age 80, never acted in a TV series as a lead, he's a lead in 1923 and now in Shrinking, the latter a type of role he's never done.  Its kind of awesome. 

Didn't make a ton of sense then I realized that his adopted son he has with Calista Flockhart recently entered his 20s.  So a super successful and wealthy actor in his 60s stepped back to raise his young kid and enjoy semi-retirement.  And now as a renewed empty-nester of sorts, might as well get back on the horse, no pun intended.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Surprised that it hasn't been brought up yet, but Shrinking on Apple+ is the funniest show of the last year and change.  Its some of the wittiest, sharpest writing Ive seen in a LONG time.

Jason Segal is very funny and does what he does best, but Harrison Ford absolutely STEALS nearly every scene he's in...comedically.  Obviously he's an incredible actor and an icon, but he's not been in a good comedic movie in decades.  Not exactly his wheelhouse, but he's unreal.

Show was created by Segal, Bill Lawrence (created Scrubs, co-created Spin City and Ted Lasson) and ROY F*!%$!G KENT, so that alone gave it bona fides.

Related, Harrison Ford with a very interesting year.  In the past 8 years, he's made 5 non-animated movies (and 1 cameo).  Of the 5, 1 was as Hans Solo in Force Awakens, 1 was reprising Rick Deckard in Blade Runner 2049, and the other was the 3rd in the Expendables franchise.  So 2 new original movies, Age of Adaline and Call of the Wild.  Now suddenly, at age 80, never acted in a TV series as a lead, he's a lead in 1923 and now in Shrinking, the latter a type of role he's never done.  Its kind of awesome. 

Didn't make a ton of sense then I realized that his adopted son he has with Calista Flockhart recently entered his 20s.  So a super successful and wealthy actor in his 60s stepped back to raise his young kid and enjoy semi-retirement.  And now as a renewed empty-nester of sorts, might as well get back on the horse, no pun intended.

And everyone loved his hug of "Short Round" at the Oscars as he got to the present the Oscar to Key Huy Quan.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Surprised that it hasn't been brought up yet, but Shrinking on Apple+ is the funniest show of the last year and change.  Its some of the wittiest, sharpest writing Ive seen in a LONG time.

Jason Segal is very funny and does what he does best, but Harrison Ford absolutely STEALS nearly every scene he's in...comedically.  Obviously he's an incredible actor and an icon, but he's not been in a good comedic movie in decades.  Not exactly his wheelhouse, but he's unreal.

Show was created by Segal, Bill Lawrence (created Scrubs, co-created Spin City and Ted Lasson) and ROY F*!%$!G KENT, so that alone gave it bona fides.

Related, Harrison Ford with a very interesting year.  In the past 8 years, he's made 5 non-animated movies (and 1 cameo).  Of the 5, 1 was as Hans Solo in Force Awakens, 1 was reprising Rick Deckard in Blade Runner 2049, and the other was the 3rd in the Expendables franchise.  So 2 new original movies, Age of Adaline and Call of the Wild.  Now suddenly, at age 80, never acted in a TV series as a lead, he's a lead in 1923 and now in Shrinking, the latter a type of role he's never done.  Its kind of awesome. 

Didn't make a ton of sense then I realized that his adopted son he has with Calista Flockhart recently entered his 20s.  So a super successful and wealthy actor in his 60s stepped back to raise his young kid and enjoy semi-retirement.  And now as a renewed empty-nester of sorts, might as well get back on the horse, no pun intended.

Shrinking is excellent.  The "Can we play that song I like?" scene with Ford in the 3rd or 4th episode is brilliant and apparently he was the one who picked the song. 

[MU82]

Shrinking is fun. Not as funny IMHO as, say, Ted Lasso or Hacks, to name a couple other current comedies, but we find ourselves chuckling several times every episode.

[StillAWarrior]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the season finale of The Last of Us.

I looked back at my initial post about the show:

I also started watching TLOU last week. It’s good. Well done and really good performances. I know absolutely nothing about the game, so for me it’s really just going to need to stand in its own as a post-apocalyptic zombie show. Unless, of course, it’s more than that. Which brings me to E3 which I watched last night and…well…it was “more than that.” Good episode of television. Since I know nothing of the game, I’m just getting to know these characters which is why I need to ask, “Are we not going to talk about what Ellie did in that basement space?! WTF?!”

I thought it was a very good show. Perhaps not great, but very good. I watched every episode and will, no doubt, watch the next season. Pascal and Ramsey are extremely good and definitely deserve nominations for their work -- and likely should win.

The show is definitely more than just a "post-apocalyptic zombie show." I was actually surprised by how little they showed or focused on the "zombies" (yes, I know, they're not zombies). One challenge with the show -- at least for me -- is that it is so unrelenting in its sadness. TSeeing some interviews with the creators of the show, they really lean into that. Clearly in their mind, that's a feature, not a bug.

But, it was really, really good. I think that the structure of the show which mimics levels of the video game makes for some extremely memorable episodes because they stand alone so well and don't blend into each other in my memory. The Bill and Frank episode was a brilliant piece of compact and efficient story telling -- that really served the overarching theme of the show. The shopping mall episode was a masterclass in building tension -- of various types (trying to avoid spoilers here) -- again in service of the show's theme.

And the ending...what an amazing and morally ambiguous ending. Lots to think and talk about.  But again, wholly consistent with the theme of the show that was so carefully established in the preceding episodes.

[MU82]

The development of Ellie's character was spectacular -- well written and superbly acted. Loved Pascal and several of the supporting actors too. Of the 9 episodes, I'd call at least a half-dozen "great."

"Tension" is a great word, SAW. Most every episode was dripping with tension. Such an intense show. Definitely my favorite series in a while, and I wish we didn't have to wait however long to see what happens next. (Gamers who think they know what happens next: No spoilers, please!!)