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#341 Re: Guns N' Roses » Predictions for the next decade? » 217 weeks ago

Holy motherfucking of god.  Nothing says we don't give a shit than some of those "designs'.  They don't need to hire a new artists or whatever, they have Slash back.  You think he couldn't draw up some crap that is better than that junk.  I do wonder what the hell the market word means in that 200 dollar jacket.

The mass produced shit you can get at Target, Hot Topic etc is better than the GNR crap for a portion of the cost as well.  It's sad what they have turned into.

#342 Re: The Garden » Current Events Thread » 217 weeks ago

That's fucking awful.  I mean have some respect she just died.  It's probably some far left wing professor complaining about colonialism etc.
I was neutral on her.  But she did a long life most of it in the public spotlight where most of your private family life is dumped onto the news/tabloids.  And she was the queen when she was 25.  That can't be easy on anyone.

Yeah, Charles doesn't project strength to me. He's also 73.  Crazy that the kid, George, is 3rd in line.

#343 Re: The Garden » NFL 2022/23 season » 218 weeks ago

faldor wrote:

It's been puzzling to say the least.  They're trying that Shanahan/McVay style offense, but they don't quite have the personnel to pull it off.  Bill could end up having a hand in calling offensive plays if things go south. Patricia was an assistant offensive line coach before he switched over to defense, but it still doesn't make much sense.

I expect the Ravens to be better this year.  Their defense is good and they were ravaged pretty bad by injuries last year.  Although aside from Andrews and Lamar, they don't have many guys that scare you on offense.  That's their home opener, so maybe they're able to pull that one out.  Certainly hope they can beat the Steelers, although they have a good D and some weapons on offense.  They always struggle in Miami, but maybe the Dolphins take a little while to gel with a new coach. 

How are the Titans looking this year?  I was shocked they traded AJ Brown during the draft.  Did they just not want to pay him top dollar going forward?  Sounds like Burks isn't quite ready to be super impactful right away.  They always seem to be in the mix, but I'd have to think this is a pretty important year for the real Ryan Tannehill to stand up.  Great two years ago, then a few steps back last year.

Is it switching OL systems from power types to the quicker more nimble type OL zone blocking types that are needed in the Shanhan system?  Generally (this is outsider perspective) I thought the Pats were good at developing OL.  The other thing is I don't see a good WR on the roster.  I think WR are a little overvalued but you kind of have to have at worst solid starter types. I don't think you need a "star" per se but you do need guys can start and contribute.  I don't really see this in the WR that NE has.  Maybe it's wrong because I don't watch them but Agolohor, Jakoby Myers, Devante Parker, and Bourne don't seem like the greatest.  I like Parker as a bounce back candidate though (not a TUA fan at all in MIA, kinda dumb for them to trade for Hill).  It might take a year if they are switching offensive systems just to get personel in there.

I think they can shut down Jackson.  Gotta follow the KC blueprint.  Be disciplined and don't overpursue.  Get your best DB to shadow Mark Andrews.  Make him throw outside.  Just be glad you don't play them in week one: they destroy teams.  It's ok if they get a bunch of rushing yards, clamp down in the red zone and force them to settle for FG.

The Titans look OK.  Their WR room was god awful last year due to depth and injuries.  I don't think Brown wanted to be there anymore and made ridiculous contract demands.  They were forced to trade him.  They got decent value.  They also had no TE to replace Jonnu Smith.  They had problems in the middle of the field because of this.  They signed Austin Hooper and drafted some TE in the mid rounds.  The OL may the problem.  They need to pass block better.  Tannehill gets maligned on a national level.  No one was putting up stats on the Titans last year with their OL pass blocking issues and WR that were going in and out.  Think the 2019 Pats season with Brady.  I think they win the divison and make the playoffs, outside of that I have no clue.

#344 Re: The Sunset Strip » Most Recent Movie You've Seen » 218 weeks ago

James wrote:

It'll happen this decade.

I'm looking forward to it...it might lead to another golden age. It opens up so many possibilities....

Prequels/sequels to iconic films

Resurrecting franchises

All star casts spanning the history of Hollywood


Instead of paying 40 million to someone like Scarlett Johansen, pay 5-10 million to Audrey Hepburn's estate.

Movie star salaries will collapse.

The tech would also lead to the creation of fictitious celebs/actors. We're ready for this...our culture already worships talentless garbage on social media. Drown the influencer market in fake influencers.

Downsides to this tech but not when it comes to Hollywood.

This has actually happened now.  They used AI to finish Roy Schneider's last film (he died before completion) and now they are re-releasing this into theaters this week.

The film is called Beautiful Blue Eys.  I might actually watch this.

#345 Re: The Garden » NFL 2022/23 season » 218 weeks ago

faldor wrote:

Josh McDaniels left to coach the Raiders and they never hired an offensive coordinator to replace him. Instead, Matt Patricia is calling the plays, an ex failed head coach and former defensive coordinator. And Joe Judge is coaching the QBs, a failed head coach & former special teams coordinator. Plus they’ve installed a new offense this season. Needless to say, it’s not off to a good start. The optimistic view is they haven’t game planned yet & they’ll let Mac have more of a say once they get going. We will see. It just doesn’t seem like they’re well positioned heading into Mac’s 2nd year. Brady would be able to mask most deficiencies, but that’s a lot to ask of a 2nd year QB.

Their defense should be decent, but they were pretty good last year until they wilted at the end and they couldn’t stop anyone down the stretch. They need to improve against the run. They’ve been gashed the last two seasons. And I honestly don’t see any big improvements in that department. We’ll see.

They have a tough schedule to start. I think they’ll be lucky to go 1-3 out of the chute (@Miami, @Pitt, Ravens, @Packers). They have some winnable games in the middle and it gets tough again at the end.

This is really weird to me.  They seemed to have a decent offensive system last year to ease in Mac Jones as a rookie starting QB.  I mean bludgeon teams with the run.  Then take deep shots with the outside WR on play action passes.  Then use both TE down the seams/middle of the field.  A lot of teams use this philosophy/system and it works.  Once Mac proves/gets conformatable add more onto the guy's plate etc.  Patricia who was a good DC is now calling the plays on offense?  This reminds me of when the Eagles gave their DC slot to the OL coach.  It would probably make more sense to have Judge call the plays since he has more experience on the offensive side of the ball.  Belicheck is the GOAT coach, so I guess you just have to wait and see. 

No idea what to think about the Ravens.  The only super difficult game on the first four is @GB.  The first 3 are pick em/winnable to me.

#346 Re: The Garden » NFL 2022/23 season » 218 weeks ago

faldor wrote:

As a Patriots fan, I am not very hopeful.  They looked awful over the summer.  That doesn't always mean much, but it's tough to get too excited based on how bad they've looked.  I'm predicting a 7-10 season.

What's going on there?  I haven't paid attention to anything outside of the Titans.  I figure Belicheck will at least have them winning games they shouldn't and the divison isn't hard outside of the two Buffalo games.  I think they win the other 3 divison games where they don't play BUF.  They might lose the opener vs MIA though since they seem like they never play well in MIA. I haven't looked at their schedule yet. Also it depends which guys played in preseason, if the 3rd stringers looked awful it's not a big deal.

James wrote:

I don't know if it's because I am a more casual fan nowadays or something else but I've noticed preseason has a different vibe now. For one thing..I noticed teams don't seem to play their starters much anymore.

Preseason has been shortened... this should've happened decades ago. Three games?!? It was like 5 or 6 in the 90s.

Even though my fandom has dropped significantly this past decade or so, I'm gonna try to keep my interest going for the full season. Two main reasons....

Bears are essentially starting from scratch...an overhaul that was years overdue. Maybe they can turn it into a Cinderella year.

Brady. I'm not really a fan but he's an icon and this is likely his last year. When these types go away, especially in this era, they are never replaced.

So the haters and lovers better enjoy him while he's here.

Weird.  My fandom has actually increased since the 90s.  My MLB fandom is the one has dropped like a rock though.  Preseason games are sleeping pills, the less the better. 

Bears might be one of the worst teams in the league.  They really should have done the reset LAST YEAR and not wasted Fields' rookie year.

Just for storyline purposes, Brady should have retired after the Super Bowl win vs the Chiefs.  But he's like a fucking cyborg.  I also think he's done after this year.  Crazy that he's already signed a brodcasting contract that pays him a ton more than 90% of most NFL players.

faldor wrote:

This is likely Brady’s last year in Tampa. There’s some speculation that he could bolt for Miami though next season and get a stake in ownership. He was set to go there with Sean Payton until that fell apart. Also interesting note from Dana White recently that he and Gronk were going to both go to the Raiders but Gruden wouldn’t sign off on it.

I don't know which part of the speculations were more insane: the entire Dolphins Brady/Payton saga or the fact that the Raiders turned down Brady.  Guess Carr was the guy that Brady mentioned a few years ago (the "you're sticking with THAT GUY comment).

The Dolphins also got a first rounder taken away because of their shennanigans on the Brady/Payton chase.

#347 Re: The Sunset Strip » Most Recent Movie You've Seen » 218 weeks ago

James wrote:

Catherine Zeta Jones is the other head scratcher. She sticks out among the group. She's not very convincing in the role neither.

I never understood the fascination. She's in Zorro and then hooks up with Michael Douglas...so this means she gets a permanent spot on the A list?!?  18

Out of the main list of late 90s-early 00s A listers, she's probably the least deserving.

This is just conjecture and rumors but I read where she was doing Connery and that's why she got the break in Entrapement.  That and the Douglas marriage kept her at A list for a few years until she had mental issues, bipolar I think.

James wrote:

Another thing I can't stand about the Woke madness is how you're not allowed to offer any genuine criticism. Articles, reviews, and social media platforms get flooded with attempts to kill off any criticism or "haters" by blaming racism, transphobia, sexism, or "white fragility" for any negativity directed at this nonsense.

It shows how flimsy and fragile this movement really is.

I'm curious how this goes.  I saw this awful movie preview yesterday.  It was for the gay/trans movie called Bros.  I'm objecting to it not because any of the trans, gay, woke nonsense, but it just looked a damn awful film whose jokes I didn't find funny at all.  Pretty sure Im not the only person who thought this film preview was awful.  I hope people are able to raise objections to this film (or any other film) based on the film itslef.

I don't actually mind Clooney.  I think he's miscast a little as this classic leading man type when he is kind of a smug asshole in most of his films.  I think he is an A listeer.  But I don't think his roles or rep matches what he actually is as an actor which I'm not sure makes any sense at all.

I find Matt Damon really boring though.  I think the Departed may have been the only thing I liked.  I remember watching The Talented Mr. Ripley and watching Jude Law act in circles all around Damon and wondering why the hell Law wasn't cast as Ripley. I too can stand Damon in Private Ryan but that's probably because he isn't in the movie that long.  I think Affleck is probably the worse actor of the two but I can tolerate him more than Damon.

#348 Re: The Sunset Strip » Most Recent Movie You've Seen » 218 weeks ago

James wrote:

Oceans 11 - This is pretty good... great plot, amazing cast, it moves along at a quick pace. Only one problem.... they're having waaaay too much fun filming this. Every scene contains either laughing, smiling, or a shit eating grin. It's like winking at the audience...it takes me out of the story.

I know it's a light hearted film but they go overboard. I bet the set was a 24/7 party for these people.


Oceans 12 - This is a stinker. The audience is still being winked at every few minutes...but this time the plot sucks...and so does the ending.

I rolled my eyes when Julia Roberts character has to impersonate Julia Roberts.  So unnecessary. I've always hated this concept... going back to the Honeymooners when Ralph and Ed are looking for Jackie Gleason and Art Carney or Fred Sanford and Redd Foxx on Sanford and Son.

They're not even trying at that point. If they don't really care, why should we?

I might watch 13 tonight. That movie Burial I've been looking forward to for a couple months just hit one of those movie sites I watch. This will probably be my double feature.

I think 13 might have been my favorite one.  It's less light hearted and has a little grit in it and makes the stakes higher.  I'd say you probably enjoy it.  Spot on criticism of 12 and 11.  I hate heist films that seem too easy or just don't take it seriously enough, if you've ever seen Now You See Me, it's the same concept.

Oh on 12, yeah I HATED that Roberts part near the end.  I thought it was a mediocre sequel up to that point but the ending there just dumped it into "I will never watch this shit ever again" status.

I generally dislike remakes to begin with UNLESS there is a director I like who is at the helm.  Or it's just a totally different concept from the original film.  About the only remake I'm interested in is John Woo remaking (his own film) The Killer.

Bird on A Wire.  I'm pretty sure I saw this in the early 90s.  Mel is in top form here and continues his string of hits.  Goldie Hawn plays her usual nervous, energetic perona well here.  Yes, it's predicatable and lags a little in the second half but it's fun.  I wish they would have used the bad guys more (esp David Carradine) in the film.  Oh, if they wanted to turn this into one of those love triangle comedy films they could have, as I thought Joan Severence (Rachel) had almost as good chemistry with Gibson in her brief scenes together.

Three Thousand Years of Longing.  I'm not sure what to think about this one.  I was reading some criticism about this prior to watching...and I think I agree that the darker aspects of this film are the best.  And that the director made a mistake in veering it towards another direction in the last section.  Oh, this is beautfully filmed.  I have no idea how this is marketed as but it's closer to 1001 Arabian Nights than Aladdin.

#349 Re: The Sunset Strip » Most Recent Movie You've Seen » 218 weeks ago

James wrote:

Yeah..Jones was playing Jones. He does it well ...but Oscar worthy? Not really. It might be one of those situations where he wins as payback for not winning years earlier. I hate the politics of the Oscars. It's why Pacino won for Scent of A Woman.

Fiennes put in one of the best performances of the decade. You couldn't play a sadistic Nazi better than he did. His eyes really sell it.

I like that story about the surviving Schindler Jews going to the set and when they saw Fiennes in character, they started shaking because it so closely resembled the real Goth.

To really see a contrast, watch this and then Fiennes in Quiz Show.

Neeson doesn't have a lot of range but the performance was still impressive. He was unlucky going up against Hanks who wasn't going to lose under any circumstances. The moment I saw Forrest Gump a year later, I knew that was winning no matter who was in the running.

I'm still surprised that the Academy didn't give him an unprecedented "3peat" with Apollo 13. I guess even they knew how ridiculous it would be.

I need to rewatch Schindler's List.  I remember being quite moved when I saw it in the 90s.  Of all the 90s films that were super over,  I've found that Forrest Gump doesn't really hold up.  I watched it a few years ago and just found it totally annoying and ridiculous.  This is not really a shot on Hanks who is a fine actor and still an A-lister now in the 2020s.  It's very hard to stay on top in Hollywood for that long.

Aside from the usual Fiennes roles that everyone seems to know, Strange Days that was a 90s film was a really good Fiennes (and sci fi movie).

James wrote:

Metro - Eddie Murphy and Rapaport do not make a good team. Zero chemistry and Murphy takes up most of the scenes solo. Hard to do a buddy cop film when the other guy has so little to work with.


Inception - This still holds up. Amazing FX. Still don't like the ending though.

The problem with Rappaport is he is a supporting actor.  Every time I see him elevated in something higher to that it fails.  I had a problem with the end of Inception too but it's a good film.

Nocturama.  This ones really weird.  A bunch of Parisian kids plan out a bunch of bombings  and hide out in a shopping mall afterwards.  Of the two parts , the bombing part/planning is the better half.  When they head to the mall, it stops the momentum for a bit.  I just find it hard to connect the consumer "aspect" to what I just watched.  It doesn't totally derail the film.   But watching it, you just realize what morons most of the characters are and how pointless the acts of terrorism were.  My fav part is when someone mentions their acts barely got mentioned on facebook.  Still I did enjoy this film and the beginning and end of this film where there is almost zero diaglogue is very intense and interesting.

Savage Three.  some 70s Italian crime film.  This one's too much of a downer for me and it isn't as good as the other's I've seen .  I like the cop that tries to solve the crimes but it is just depressing watching people commit crimes for the "hell of it"

#350 Re: The Sunset Strip » Most Recent Movie You've Seen » 218 weeks ago

James wrote:

I always think of Schindler's List when I hear about him...his peak. Robbed of an Oscar...so was Fiennes.


I had to look up what the hell these guys lost to.  Tom Hanks in Philadelphia won Best Actor.  It was an "Oscar Bait" role for Hanks.  But I remember nothing of the FILM itself outisde of the Springsteen song that won an Oscar, I think.  The film was rather dull (to me) from the one time I saw it.

Fiennes lost to Tommy Lee Jones in the Fugitive.  It's not exactly the toughest of roles to pull off for Jones and he does go over the top a little. I'd say Fiennes was probably robbed more. I mean Jones was fine it's just not one of those high degree of difficulty roles.  Honestly, I think Malkovich was better In the Line of Fire (like Fiennes, nominated but lost out to Jones).

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