Saw “My Old Ass” yesterday. Really good. That is all.
Just got back from a 3 week trip to Austrailia. Watched “l saw the tv glow” at 40,000 feet somewhere over the pacific. Unusual and beautiful film that successfully sticks a difficult ending in a fourth wall bending narrative, a genre often prone to failure. Writing, direction, acting, score (very), and production values all strong–especially for a small budget film. A24 distributed, which got my attention. Movie is a gnostic fable that david lynch would/will/does enjoy watching. Not for most, but if you like this sort if thing its wonderful.
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Not sorry.
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Alien: Romulus is $25 to rent or $30 to “buy”. Not sure which is more of a ripoff.
4K disc ordered for $37, to be delivered on 12/3.
It’s the latest edition of a 7? 8? Movie series with 2 watchable movies.
You paid $38 too much.
I have heard good things about Romulus…
My cunning plan is to subscribe to Max when it streams on there in November (I have some shows to catch up on so it’s opportune). If it sucks I can cancel the pre-order.
I know you don’t agree, but I think 3 is a decent movie in the assembly cut version. The rest are irredeemable. Only Covenant comes close to decent but it’s inherently flawed by trying to continue the plot of Prometheus.
William Gibson (one of my favorite science fiction writers) was given first crack at the script of Aliens 3. The studio got rid of him after they got his initial draft. I’ve wondered how much better that movie/franchise would’ve been if Gibson was allowed to finish the job.
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Sorry, the audience would have to think instead of simply hiding under their chairs. Can’t have that.
I am not a fan of how Alien 3 begins (see below), but the big problem with the movie was the butchering by the studio over the wishes of a then-rookie David Fincher. The “Assembly Cut” is as close to Fincher’s original cut as they could make, apparently, and it’s a solid movie.
The character motivations make way more sense; notably Golic’s worship of the “the dragon” that drove him to releasing it from the smelter. To be honest, I only ever watched the theatrical cut once (like most people), so I cannot speak to how all the changes improve the movie, but I can confirm that the movie is substantially better re-cut close to Fincher’s original intention.
As to the beginning, an egg and/or face hugger had to be on the Sulako for the story to continue with Ripley at its center, as was required because she was so clearly the face of the franchise. With that constraint, they were basically forced into separating her from the other survivors of Aliens lest they end up simply rehashing Aliens.
Killing Newt and Hicks off screen was less traumatic for the audience (and cheaper for the studio - Michael Bien got paid more to let them use his picture in 3 than he did for starring in 2) than having it occur at some point in the main storyline. The Assembly Cut deals with Newt’s demise much better, including the autopsy scene that was originally cut by the studio, and there is also has a scene for the Bishop android which both help fill plot and motivation holes.
It ain’t perfect, but Alien 3 is now easily my 3rd favorite film in a 9-film franchise (albeit that I have yet to see the 9th).
Romulus is terrible. Directing, cinematography, acting…all quality. The script is dogshit…fan fiction with no ideas. Your chances of enjoying it…you have my sympathy.
On a positive note, super excited that the new Alien project will be coming out on hulu next year. Alien Earth 2025…in hawley i trust.
I heard that the soundtrack was good.
Holst wrote the greatest supervillain theme ever.
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The Planets walked so every 80s album with 2 absolute bangers and 8 tracks of filler could run.
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It’s one of my go-tos for when I’m flying.
Uranus, the Magician
Watch me magic some fire into your nostrils.
Venus: The Bringer of Peace is one of my favorite pieces of music full stop. Using it in the closing scenes of The Right Stuff was a chef’s kiss.
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There’s only a few days left, but anyone in the DFW area or willing to make the drive should see this film about Voyager 1 & 2 at the Amon Carter:
https://www.cartermuseum.org/exhibitions/dario-robleto-signal
Washington Post called it a masterpiece, fwiw. Amon Carter is screening the film in conjunction with the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. They’re showing it through June of next year. I may join Kara on one of her work trips down so I check it out for myself.
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As popular as Mars and Jupiter are, it’s really a complete work when you listen to it as whole. It’s really a long form Symphony/tone poem. So many iconic melodies and moods. And when it’s put together it’s a masterpiece beyond the initial visceral impact of Mars. Mars is a slap in the face to get you ready for the rest.
ETA: when folks give John Williams shit about imitating “The Planets” in his music, they obviously haven’t listened to Wagner’s Ring Cycle. Holst borrowed heavily from that as did most composers before Wagner (copying Berlioz, late Beethoven etc and the list of influence goes on and on)
Plagiarism is hard to quantify in classical music. Name a composer and then please tell me how they aren’t heavily influenced by what came before them. Even Messian (who I think was pretty freaking original, was clearly influenced by Bartok)
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